Textbook Analysis Chart

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Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T.S.Easton

In a gender-role sensitive world, this book has come at just the right time. I thought this was perfectly written and captured the true message that if you enjoy something, embrace it. Ben Fletcher got in a bit of trouble for stealing and signs up for a class as part of the consequence. He thinks he has signed up for a class with a teacher he has a crush on, but instead he has signed up for a knitting class! While he thinks it is a girly hobby and doesn't even want to give it a try at first, he eventually discovers that this may be his passion since  he is good at it and it calms him down. Friends and family don't understand his new passion, so he struggles with the decision to embrace it or hide it away from everyone. This book is an incredible read for any teens since most people can relate with a secret hobby or passion that they may be afraid to share due to stereotyping or family beliefs, Author T.S.Easton did a wonderful job portraying the difficult situation and later shedding light to make readers happy from cover to cover.

2016 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

 Easton, T. (2016). Boys don't knit: In public. Square Fish. 

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

This book is not something I would have ever chosen for myself but had such intense plot and story development that it was very suspenseful. I prefer books with well-developed characters, and this book did not do a great job with this. As the title suggests, a fictional society has a specific set of rules enforced the government and people. The setting takes place in a dystopic society where hostages are essentially exchanged for political justice and power. One of the main characters is named Talis who works during the entire book to maintain peace and justice without harming others. When cities declare war, they are bombed and destroyed to send a message. I would recommend this book for teens (older than 13 years of age) just because of the language and violence.

2016 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Bow, E., & Bernet, J. (2016). The scorpion rules. Paris: Lumen. 

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Peppi can't catch a break at her new school and goes out of her way to remain unnoticed. This doesn't last long since she starts out the first day of school by tripping into a boy in the hallway and proceeds to shove him to look cool. Determined to apologize, months go by and Peppi cannot grasp ahold of her anxiety long enough to apologize for the situation.Jaime is apart of the Science Club at their school while she is a member of the Art Club. After finally apologizing for her actions earlier in the year, their friendship is difficult to maintain since their clubs are rivals. They are stuck in the middle of the two clubs as they battle it out to see who will earn a seat at the club fair. While they attempt to be civil, this rivalry makes life more difficult than expected. This is a sweet graphic novel about friendship, difference and acceptance while being a teenager and would be the perfect addition to any library.

2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

 Chmakova, S., Xu, R., McCommon, M., & Lee, J. (2015). Awkward. New York, NY: Yen Press. 

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

 

This book is a must-read for young adults, especially with racial tension playing such a large role in the media recently. The author set the scene for this book in East Texas during the 1937 school explosion while a young girl named Naomi who is Mexican and Wash who is African-American. The challenges they face in this small oil town will enlighten those who have never experienced racial turmoil before. Naomi finds a close friend in Wash which creates issues throughout their town. I felt that readers of all ethnicities would be filled with emotion reading this intense and dramatic page-turner of a story by Ashley Hope Perez. This book has a story that will enlighten and challenge young adults around the world.

Printz Honor Award 2015

Pérez, A. H. (2015). Out of darkness. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

 

Written with two parts, before and after, author John Green brings a unique twist to a dramatic mystery to find answers. In the before sections of the book, Miles meets new friends at school after a big move. He meets Colonel, Alaska, and Takumi without realizing what lied ahead. Miles'new friends introduced him to social life and drinking. Over time, Miles falls in love with Alaska who we find out in the after section was killed in an accident. Her friends don't want to believe the news and decide to open their own investigation to find out what really happened to their friend. This story is the perfect read for teens of all ages with themes of drama, love,, and language throughout.

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. New York, NY: Dutton Books. 

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

This book is about a girl named Bridget who suffered from a roller blade accident and has a new view of life based on the advice from a nurse while she was in the hospital. Determined to make a difference and not give in to stereotypes, Bridget builds friendships and attempts to make the best of her junior high experience. After her accident, Bridget changes her name to Bridge in addition to her new positive outlook on life. Her friends at school stay close with her and act as huge supporting roles when things get tough. In a time where most stories about teenagers involve bullying and drama, it is a nice change of pace to see friendships where people are being built up rather than torn down. 

Stead, R. (2015). Goodbye stranger. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. 

The Rat with the Human Face by Tom Angleberger

The town of Crickenberg might seem quiet and somewhat boring, but Lyle and his friends are determined to find an adventure. They have formed a society called the Qwikpick Society and are looking everywhere for a second mystery to solve. Just when their efforts seem somewhat underwhelming, they overhear someone talking about a rat with a human face that is in an old building. Their efforts to find this creature are quickly ended when Lyle is caught misbehaving and the society's future is at risk. This book reminded me of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and has a similar lighthearted style that would appeal to many teens.

Angleberger, T. (2015). The Rat with the Human Face (The Qwikpick Papers). New York, NY: Amulet Books. 

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

This book tells the story of a boy named Ben who has a blood disease that has only given him one year to live. Any other teen would have confided in a friend or relative but not Ben. He chose to decline treatment and did not want anyone to know about his disease or how long he had to live. The one thing he knew for sure was that he was going to make a difference and live life to the fullest. Ben's confidence and attitude drives him to befriend a beautiful girl at school, join the football team, and stand up to a teacher at school. After building relationships with friends and classmates, he decides that they should know about his illness. He shares his news with them and has their support as he finishes out his last projected year of life. I think this book was very challenging to read both mentally and emotionally. As a teenager, I would not have chosen a book about this topic because I know it would make me emotional. While this book was written for teens and young adults, I feel that many ages would benefit from the life lesson Chris Crutcher has presented through the main character, Ben.

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. Retrieved July 19, 2016, from https://www.amazon.com/Deadline-Chris-Crutcher-ebook/dp/B0026772Y2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1469139066&sr=8-1 

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

This story takes place in a small town in California called Creekview. Skylar and Josh had been acquaintances. Skylar had just graduated high school and college was just within her reach. Josh had joined the Marines and while deployed in Afghanistan, lost his leg in an explosion. Skylar's dreams of college were put in jeopardy as her mother lost her job and her substance abuse began to threaten her dreams. Josh and Skylar found themselves working at a hotel. They formed a bond and a wonderful friendship developed. This friendship eventually blossomed into a romance.This story was written from alternating points of view although Skylar's part is longer. Josh's point of view is more about the things he didn't share publicly. This book is heartfelt and emotional as each deal with struggles and forma bond to help each other. This book is recommended for the mature young adult audience due to themes of war and adult content.

2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults (YALSA)

Demetrios, H. (2015). I'll meet you there (1st ed.). New York, NY: Henry Holt & Co. 

Ask the Passengers by A.S.King

Astrid Jones does not fit the expectations set by her family and does not feel comfortable sharing her secrets. In an effort to vent, she lays on a picnic table in her yard and talks to the passengers on airplanes as they fly overhead. She does not think her parents will agree with her lifestyle and would be upset to know that she likes girls. While she wants to tell her friends and family, she does not feel that it is a safe environment. I would recommend this book to young adults in high school and possibly more for girls due to the nature of the topic. Astrid has tons of questions and wants answers without being condemned for being curious.

King, A. S. (2012). Ask the passengers: A novel. New York, NY: Little, Brown. 

The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks

Told through diary format, Linus explains the terrifying events that took place after being abducted and trapped in an underground bunker. He thought he was helping a blind man when suddenly he wakes up in a nightmare with five other abductees. Having to figure out their surroundings and captors, this story was a page turner and kept the reader hoping for a happy ending or great escape from the bunker. The people who were abducted were all different ages and personalities but were all united in their efforts to escape.

2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults (YALSA)

 Brooks, K. (2015). The bunker diary. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. 

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline is an African American girl growing up in the 1960s facing the challenges of being a minority amidst the racial tension of the country during that time period. With the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights Movement, she wrote beautiful poems about what it was like to grow up in this era. This book is suitable for anyone who is interested in Civil Rightd, specifically young adults who are African American or wanting enlightenment on this time period and the struggles that were faced.

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming (1st ed.). Nancy Paulsen Books. 

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is a graphic novel which tells the story of its author and her childhood in Tehran, Iran. It details her family life during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Iran isn't actually evil, but the people who ran the country were. Marjane grew up in Iran just as things started getting bad. Students were separated by gender and family members were being executed simply because they were thought to be spies. It was a rough time to grow up there, but Marjane not only survived protests and bombings-- she moved back and forth to Vienna. This book would appeal to other persecuted citizens or those who had family dealing with persecution. Also, students who do not understand immigration may read this to understand how fortunate life can be in comparison to what Marjane went through as a child.

Satrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis (1st ed.). Barcelona: Norma Editorial. 

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

The setting for this dark fantasy book takes place in a town called Fairfold. Humans and the fae live here. It is a protected existence as long as tourists come to see the glass coffin in the forest where a cursed prince and his horns are found. The main character is Hazel, who serves as the narrator. Hazel is complicated and explores relationships in many aspects of life. The first is her brother, Ben. The second is Jack, who she secretly wishes would love her back. She also explores the relationship with herself. This book is full of twists, turns, and reflections. It explores guilt, secrets, relationships, courage, fate, and choices. The book could be controversial for very young readers due to content.

Black, H. (2016). The darkest part of the forest. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Gabi's diary tells all about her teenage life during her senior year. She is an amazing friend, caring daughter, and has a million things going through her head at any given moment. Learning from her mother's past getting pregnant outside of wedlock, she is very cautious and thoughtful about the consent and desire for sexual relationships. When her friend is raped by a boy at school, it consumes her life and she begins to think about how many others have been affected in similar situations. Gabi has incredible thoughts about the way women's bodies are portrayed in the media and by others. She is described in such great detail that I felt like Gabi was a real girl that I knew by the end of the book. Any teenage girl who reads this book will be challenged to think deeply and encouraged to be courageous regardless of the outcome. This book was phenomenal.

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://www.amazon.com/Gabi-Girl-Pieces-Isabel-Quintero-ebook/dp/B00LDYEVZ2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Cece was four years old when a case of the meningitis almost took her life. While she survived, her hearing was impacted causing her to be deaf. A hearing aid helps but does not assist her in understanding. Life can be pretty hard for any child, but Cece struggles with everyday situations like slumber parties where some things can be more challenging. This book has some comic relief when her sonic ear allows her to hear her teachers both in and out of the classroom, which she describes as a super power of sorts. This book has a beautiful message to inspire any children who feel different at times but also makes other children aware of diversity. I loved seeing the illustrations in the graphic novel since they used clever drawings like the other children having bunny-like ears representing their hearing compared to Cece's. This books is inspiring for any young adult and has a sweet message with comic relief throughout.

Bell, C., & Lasky, D. (2014). El Deafo. Retrieved June 30, 2016, from https://www.amazon.com/El-Deafo-Cece-Bell-ebook/dp/B00LW8U2UM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=