Fall Reading List Possibility #13

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

It was on the list, so I got it off the shelf. Immediately, I thought this might be a bad idea. Why? Because the cover describes it as a combination between Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace, both of which I hated. Also, this is the oldest book on the reading list. I wondered why. Apparently, this is the first book that is considered young adult. Well, that seemed to explain why it was on my reading list. It had to be done, so I read it.

I'll be the first to admit that this book was nothing like the two books it was compared to. It was actually much easier to read, and stay focused on. I won't say I enjoyed it, however.

This book takes place at a Catholic boys' school in New England. There's a corrupt teacher, and a "secret society." We hear from several different character's perspectives. It's about a school fundraiser, and what happens to the one boy who decides he doesn't want to participate. It's not good, and the ending is a bit unresolved, as the reader doesn't know what happens to the dissenter.

What would have made this better, in my opinion, is knowing why Jerry didn't want to sell the chocolates. For the first two weeks, it makes sense, but after that, he doesn't give much of a reason. Then again, if everyone knew why he didn't want to sell the chocolates, it probably wouldn't have ended the way that it did. I also really wanted to see Archie get what was coming to him, but that didn't happen either. Those things were a bit of a let down for me.

Fall Reading List Possibility #12

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

This has been on my Kindle for months, it looks like it may be on my young adult reading list for fall, and I was shamed by my team because I hadn't read it yet. All these are reasons I decided to read this book at this time.

Melinda is raped at a party during the summer before her freshman year of high school. All her friends hate her because she called the cops, and they broke up the party. No one knows the reason why Melinda called the cops because Melinda can't talk about what happened. She has become a social pariah for something that wasn't her fault.

When she does talk about it, the person she tells doesn't believe her, and thinks she is just jealous. School becomes an unsafe place for Melinda from time to time. She does, however, find some solace in the project she has to complete for art, a hidden away closet, and the flowers she plants in her yard.

I thought that this was well written, considering the author is an adult trying to think like a teenager, She does a good job with it, and Melinda is believable. Not all books written this way are successful. I would like to read more from this author because of her treatment of this book.

TAYSHAS #18

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

Harry, when he was eight, was tied to a dogwood tree by children he wanted to play with. They ran off when it started to rain, and the tree was struck by lightning and caught fire with Harry still tied to it. Physically and emotionally scarred, Harry has a hard time with life. He's a loner and is picked on a great deal. One day in junior high while being bullied at lunch, another kid, Johnny, stands up for him.

Harry and Johnny become friends and start a band. Things go well for them, and they go on tour. There are problems.

What I got out of this is that Harry never stands up for himself, even when, or especially when his best friend is the one who treats him badly. If I have one complaint, that's it-that Harry just takes what's dished out.

TAYSHAS #17

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Jersey is 16, and lives with her mother, stepfather, and pre-school aged little sister, Marin. One day, just before school was out for the year, Jersey's mother took Marin to dance class, and a horrible hurricane hit. Jersey lost her house while she was in the basement. Two days later, her stepfather found her, and informed her that the tornado took her mother and sister from her.

As if this isn't bad enough, no one seems to want Jersey. She really has no one to take her in, until the most unlikely people do.

This was a gut wrenching, realistic novel about loss.

TAYSHAS #16

Rotten by Michael Northrop

I thought I was done with TAYSHAS for this year, but then I got my ducks. One of my ducks is a black and tan dog, that I got because it reminded me of my black and tan dachshund. One of my librarians said it looked like Rotten. When I gave her a confused look, she asked if I read the book with the dog on the cover. I hadn't and it was there, so here we are.

JD is just home from upstate, and his mother rescued a Rottweiler while he was gone. Johnny Rotten, or JR, is what JD has decided his name is. JR doesn't like men much, but JD is working on him. One day, one of JD's idiot friends comes over and gets bitten. This bite is thrown out of proportion, and JD and his mom are now being sued. Things don't look good for JR, who has a bully breed history. Will JD be able to save his canine buddy?

Prequel Novella

Fear Trials by Lindsay Cummings

I liked Murder Complex so much that I got the prequel novella on my kindle. It's a fairly short read, but it highlights how Meadow became the killer that she had to be to survive the Shallows. It also shows Koi, and how he acts toward Meadow after he fails. We also get to see Meadow's mother in a much different light than in the main book.

This was a good, short read to tide me over till the sequel comes out in May.

TAYSHAS #15

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

I always say that in teaching, the relationships with students is more important than the content I teach. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I am the teacher kids go to when they feel they need to talk to. I know this, and the counselors have told me this too. They purposely put the kids who need someone with me. I've had a student come out to me and ask for advice about telling her friends. I've talked one out of suicide. There's nothing special about me, per se, I just listen. I'm good at that. I have yet to have a student who is transgendered, but I feel that having read this book will help me to be empathetic when that day comes.

Brendan is a high school senior. He has a baby sister, a mother, an interloper, and a girlfriend. He is on the wrestling team, even though he hates it. Brendan also thinks he may be transgender. He is experiencing some serious confusion, as he is caught between liking aspects of being male, yet wanting to be female. It has caused problems with his girlfriend, and things get worse when his best friend catches him in a bra.

Lucky for Brendan, he meets Angel, who is also transgender, and works at a youth center for transgender teens. Angel has been through some rough times herself, but she is someone that Brendan can talk to. While there's no true resolution to this story, I'd like to believe that Brendan turns out ok. There were some dark times for him as he wrestled with his identity, and my heart broke for him. I want him to be ok.

This was told in verse, but this didn't detract from the message at all. In fact, for once, it was an easier read than it might have been. I like that the author also included messages within some of the poems.

All in all, and I know this sounds cheesy, but I feel like a better person for having read this.

TAYSHAS #14

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

Apparently books about girls in boarding schools are one of the themes of this year's list. Last year, it was boys in boarding schools.

Jam is sent to a boarding school in Vermont because she is having trouble coping with the death of her boyfriend, Reeve. This particular school caters, if you will, to people who have problems. Jam is chosen for a select English program. There are only four other students in the class, and it is the teacher's swan song.

The students are required to write in a journal in this class, and something happens to each of them when they do. This draws the five of them together, and helps them to heal.

I liked this book until I read the truth about Reeve. Then I felt cheated. Frankly, if her classmates had known this, I believe they would have felt cheated by Jam as well.

Might be on my fall reading list

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexi

Some months ago, I saw the reading list for the Spring 2015 Young Adult Lit class, and this book was on it. I am taking that class this fall, and unless the list changes drastically, I am one book closer to having the list done.

I can see why this book has won so many awards. It's a nice mix of humor and realism, and you feel things with the narrator. It's great when the reader can laugh along with and feel things with the narrator.

Arnold "Junior" Spirit lives on an Indian reservation in Washington state. He has some health issues which makes him come across as a wimp, and many people mess with him. His best friend, Rowdy, protects him. On the first day of his freshman year, Junior gets upset because he is given a textbook that belonged to his mother when she was in high school, many years before. Junior gets so mad that he throws the book at his teacher and breaks his nose. While serving the suspension for this infraction, this teacher comes by and tells Junior he's better than the school on the reservation. Junior ends up going to a high school in a "nearby" white community.

At first, Junior is not well liked because he is different. He doesn't fit in at his school, and he doesn't fit in on the reservation because they feel like he has betrayed them for wanting better for himself. Junior makes some friends, plays varsity basketball, and becomes popular. Sounds good, right? Well, this is when the author gets serious. He makes no secret that alcoholism is a problem on the reservation, and because of alcohol, Junior loses three important people in his life. I cried with Junior when I read this.

Like I said, this book makes you feel what the narrator feels. That seems to be a rare and wonderful thing.

TAYSHAS #13

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

Emily is now away at boarding school. It was thought best for her after her boyfriend killed himself in the school library because she was pregnant and wouldn't marry him. That is the meat of the story.

Emily happens to share her birthday with Emily Dickinson, goes to the same school she did, and is a poet as well. Emily finds a connection with the famous poet.

Yea.

This was a fairly quick read, but not entirely entertaining.

TAYSHAS #12

Coaltown Jesus by Ron Koertge

I chose this because it was short, and then two different people told me I would like this book. It's short, and the format looks like verse. It was sweet, and gave me a new perspective on Jesus. Apparently, he's funny and likes Almond Joy candy bars.

Walker's brother recently died, and he has asked Jesus to help his mother cope with it. Turns out, Walker needs help coping too, though he doesn't realize it yet. Jesus hangs out with Walker for a few days, and Walker is able to see the beauty in what is around him. Jesus helps him, just like we believers think he will do.

I like this version of Jesus, and I hope he's this cool in Heaven.

TAYSHAS #11

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

On the recommendation of one of my students and one of the school librarians, I read this book. For the first 75% of the book, I didn't like it. Not sure why I didn't give up, but I guess I am glad I didn't. I guess.

Noah and Jude are twins. Noah is crazy artistic and Jude is outgoing. The book is told by Noah at age fourteen and Jude at age sixteen. Basically, what happens before and after their mother's death. We learn their secrets and their heartbreaks, as well as their mother's.

Like I said, and ok book. It's winning a ton of awards, but I just don't understand why. I didn't think it was anything special, particularly since it took so much before I liked the book.