Inexcusable, By Chris Lynch

Title: Inexcusable
Author: Chris Lynch
Publish Date: May 8, 2007
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 176
ISBN: 1416939725

Price: Paperback $7.99
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult
Price: $7.99
Annotation: Everybody loves Keir. Or so he thinks. He is the typical "good guy." But when his girlfriend accuses him of rape he uses his good guy status as an excuse for the accusation's impossibility.

Summary: High school senior Keir thinks of himself a charming and lovable rascal. So does everyone around him, including his widowed dad. He likes being popular. Keir would never do anything to hurt anyone on purpose-just a little silliness while drinking or experimenting with drugs–and that doesn't even count. But, when he tackles a little too hard, or or vandalizes a town statues as a prank, he writes it off as normal, mischievous or sporty behavior. But, he cant write off date rape, no matter how hard he tries...

Evaluation: Many rape stories such as Laurie Halse Anderson's famous novel Speak, are from the perspective of the victim. This book explores the psychological minefield of the rapist. This book is exceptional for this first person narrative along with the fact that it is an National Award Finalist and a page turner!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Date Rape, Facing Your Mistakes, Denial, Perpetrator's Perspective, Danger's of Drinking and Drug Use

Reason this Book was Chosen: For the unique perspective.

After the Moment, by Garrett Freymann-Weyr (Guest Review)

Title: After the Moment
Author: Garrett Freymann-Weyr

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1 edition

Publishing Date: May 18, 2009
Language: English

Price: Hardcover $16.00
ISBN-10: 061860572X

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Reader's Annotation: Maia Morland is smart but challenged while Leigh, new to town, is popular and totally in love with Maia. What happends after the moment? And what happens if it is a little to real and not like some pretty romance story?

Synopsis: After the Moment is a touching and realistic novel that shows a girl, Maia Morland, who suffers from many aspects of self mutilation (eating disorders, cutting). Leigh Hunter is a popular, smart jock that moves to Maia's town because his half sisters father passed away and needs help coping. When Leigh and Maia meet, he sees past the exterior and becomes immediately attracted and interested in Maia. Overtime, you notice the story unfold and head down the paths of violence, war, failed love, and so on.

Evaluation: The book, to me, was good (not great), but I would still recommend it for people looking for the issues dealt with in this book. It was slightly challenging to follow all the side character's stories, so I kind of just focused on Maia and Leigh's story and allowed myself to become confused while reading about the supporting characters.

Reason this Book was Chosen: The novel is a good, easy read, and touching. Again, not incredible, but it definitely deals with many real life topics that teens may face. It was written by Printz Honor author Garret Freymann-Weyr.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: This book deals with heavy issues that many teens face such as eating disorders, self-mutilation, and the sorrows of failed love. Parental suggestion for mild sexual innuendo.

Teenreads.com brings up an interesting point: “Garret Freymann-Weyr's novels for young adults are inevitably distinct. Her teenagers seem serious beyond their years, deeply invested not only in their own lives but also in the often complicated lives of their adult family members. AFTER THE MOMENT is no exception, and its male protagonist further cements Freymann-Weyr's reputation as a risk-taking author unafraid of tackling topics, and taking perspectives, unusual in young adult literature.”

Author Website: http://www.freymann-weyr.com/

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher

Title: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Author: Chris Crutcher
Publish Date: March 18, 2003
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 304

Price: Paperback $8.99
ISBN: 0060094893
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: A disfigured girl and an overweight boy bear the intense and emotional scars of years bullying together. They share a biting view of the world around them until senior year surprisingly sends them into different courses.

Summary: Eric a.k.a. "Moby" and Sarah are comrades that share a common problem. Both are misfits. Eric is obese and Sarah has intense scarring from an accident that happened when she was young. After Moby joins the swimming team, he begins to loose weight his extra weight! But, he fears he might lose Sarah's friendship...
Will Sarah confront her horrific history and the emotions that go along with her abusive father?
And, will the friendship fail or grow in exhilarating and unanticipated ways?

Evaluation: A fictitious story that pulls at your heart for a place in the real world (or even your own world) as something that you can relate to. Both funny and tragic, it illustrates a friendship that will stay with you even after you leave the pages of the book. Chris Crutcher's writing is funny, straightforward and believable.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: A tool that can illustrate love, loyalty and courage during battle with obesity, bullying, disfigurement and an onslaught of other life problems

Reason this book was chosen: Though abusive parents are often dealt with in the pages of YA, not many books deal with obesity. To have Crutcher approach it, makes it a must read!

Rules of Survival, By Nancy Werlin

Title:The Rules of Survival

Author: Nancy Werlin

Publish Date: September 2006

Publisher: Penguin Group

Pages: 272pp

ISBN: 0803730012

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 12 and up

Price: $16.14

Annotation: Matthew is the eldest of three siblings (both sisters) and the son of a manic, out of control, abusive mother. The story unfolds of their story in a letter to his sister about their mother and their lives during that time.

Summary: Matthew, Callie and Emmy live with their crazy, manic (actually unbearable) mother Nikki. They grew up knowing that their mother could crack in rage at anytime, or take them on a manic rollercoaster of over the top fancies like theme parks and obsessive love interests. Tip-toeing around her was a way of life, just as was dealing with her in her insane moments. When Matt and Callie meet a man named Murdock, their mother sinks her fancy into him and for a while they live happily. When the house of cards comes crumbling down, so do the children's hopes of help from Murdock. Matt is foiled at the hopes of his savoir falling through. And seeing Murdock wash his hands of their mothers dashes him even further. Will Murdock be able to help them at all, what about their father? Can anybody help them escape the life that seems so grim and hopeless. And will their mother crack and explode beyond anything they ever dreamed of if they actually stand up to her?

Evaluation: This book is so intense, I don't even know how she wrote it without going crazy. Reading it was so hard I can't even find words to express the rage and sorrow I felt being in that world. Helpless and frustrated and screaming inside were common place while reading it. Werlin's writing allows you to really be in the moment and the cover art is the best metaphor for a scenario like this that I have ever seen.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Child Abuse, Children having to be the parents, Standing up to your abuser, Strength, Hope, Asking for help, Siblings Alliances

Reason this book was chosen: Because it was just exactly how it really it. Horrible. You can't not include something that powerful, even if it's horrible. If it wasn't horrible it wouldn't be honest, right?

Website: http://www.nancywerlin.com/

Freaks and Revelations

Title:Freaks And Revelations
Author:David Willis Hurlin
Publish Date:November 4, 2009
Publisher:Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages:240 pages
ISBN:0316049964
Classification:
Genre:
Age Range:Young Adult
Price: $12.23

Annotation: The true and disturbing story of a violent clash between one homeless, gay 13 year old boy and another older, neo-nazi boy.

Summary: Based on a true story that was shared on both NPR and The Oprah Show, "Freaks and Revelations" follows two boys in alternate voices in order to get both perspectives. One boy is a 17 year old misfit, Doug, who has a mohawk and rebels and starts off somewhat cool. And Jason, who was cast out by his family. As the book goes on, and the boys cross paths, Doug prejudice takes over and the ugly violence that ensues ends in tears for the reader and blood for the young boy. And its a rude awakening for the rest of the world.

Evaluation: This book made me cry. Uncontrollably. Mostly because I have seen this crap happen and it's honest and sad. I really liked that it didn't try to make it prettier or easier for kids to takes. It is straightforward. Reality. And what's more, knowing it is based on a true story makes it all the more teary eyed for me. It's horrible.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Tolerance, Acceptance, Awareness

Reason this book was chosen: Because of the truth in the story. Because of this:

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Title: Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publish Date: September 14, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 384

Price: Hardcover $17.99
ISBN: 0439023483

Price: Hardcover

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: As punishment for a long past rebellion, the citizens of the 12 districts are randomly selected to fight to the death on a televised show. In the famished 12th district, Peeta and Katniss are thrown together & chosen to represent their district and fight to be the single person left alive. The only way to win is to stay alive...and only one can win.

Summary: In the not to far off future, in the 12th District, in what was once the country of the United States of America, lives Katniss. Standing in for her younger sister who was chosen by lottery to participate in the "Hunger Games," Katniss is forced to fight to the death with & against Peeta (the male representative also chosen by lottery). In the Arena, they are forced to fight each other as well as Capitol created death traps all while being broadcast to the citizens daily. In the spirit of reality TV the Capitol uses the Hunger Games to teach the citizens a lesson that uprising is not an option and that the people are powerless. Peeta and Katniss create a surprising bond, but are also forced to try and kill each other. There is nothing left to do but fight to try and get out alive.

Evaluation: Suzanne Collins states that she got her idea while watching TV one night, and there being nothing to watch but reality TV and the iraq war. The apparent mix between Gladiator style fighting and todays culture of reality TV and entertainment style news coverings of Iraq turn this book not only into one of the funnest pieces of YA written but also into an important commentary on our society. It fun, you root for the characters, and feel empathy for society.

A wonderful, though violent tale.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Therapeutic topics include Reality Entertainment, War, Dissent, Love, Survival, Loss

Reason this Book was Chosen: Because this is by far one of the top choices of reads in YA lot today. However, it's use of violence makes it a prime target for disapproval. However, I feel that it's worth supersedes the controversy.

What Happened to Cass McBride?, By Gale Giles

Title: What Happened to Cass McBride

Author: Gail Giles

Publish Date: November 2006

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0316166383

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 14 and up

Price: $13.25

Annotation: After a brutal suicide, the brother will stop at nothing to get revenge. Even if this means burying alive the person her thinks is responsible: Cass McBride, the most beautiful girl in school.

Summary: Kyle Kirby's brother has committed suicide. And the day before Cass McBride- prom queen would-be - feels she may have hand an unknowing hand in it. In fact, could it be HER FAULT? Just the day before David kirby killed himself he decides to step out of his comfort zone and ask her one a date. She was nice to him when turning him down, but made fun of the incident in a classroom note to her friend. Unfortunately she never meant for David to find the note. When Kyle finds out he turns his sadness and grief into anger and revenge and kidnaps Cass and literally buries her alive. He tortures her and nearly kills her in what turns out to be days of searching to find her. Cass decides to use her manipulative talent to try and stay alive, while the police continue to search, and Kyle is left to face the way he deals with his abusive mother and the part she plays in the whole thing.

Evaluation: A psychological freak-out that turns drama into suspense that at times leaves you feeling somewhat claustrophobic. The way the chapters change perspective and the pace the story stays on make it entirely readable and easily enjoyable book. The end left me somewhat unfulfilled but its a testimate to the strength of the entire book because I still HIGHLY recommend it!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Give an outside and painfully realistic view of how your behavior can affect others.

Reason this book was chosen: While waiting for Shattering Glass, I read this book to get a taste of the famous Gail Giles. This book opened my eyes up to the worth of realistic and controversial fiction. And I specifically chose this one because the premiss was out of this world. But, somehow Giles makes it totally plausible.

Shattering Glass, by Gail Giles

Title: Shattering Glass

Author: Gail Giles

Publish Date: August 2003

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0689858000

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Suspense

Age Range: 13 and up

Price: $7.99

Annotation: When Rob, the charismatic king of popularity in his the senior class, turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.

Summary: Fat, clumsy Simon Glass is a total nerd and a loser. Until Rob Haynes showed up in his life, Simon is the brunt of teasing from almost everyone. Rob, a transfer with personality and charm, takes over the school easily and he has plans for Simon. Rob is setting out to make Simon a popular Prom King from his clumsy current state and Rob knows he can do it. And he does do it. Simon rises and rises on the high school popularity charts, but as he does he gets more and more confident and more and more devious and dark. As things get stickier and secrets are revealed this experiment turns deadly.

Evaluation: Once again, Gail makes the suspense and horror totally plausible and again I found myself paging through this book rapidly, stopping only now and then to mouth the words "wow" to myself. I love her perspective and I loved the tone of Shattering Glass.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Issues with Violence, Bullying, Family Issue, Friends, Incest,

Manipulation, Sexual Content, Sexual Abuse, Murder, Nerds, Peer pressure, Popularity, relationships, Violence

Reason this book was chosen: I have actually seen this agenda play out in school of turning someone from nerd to cool and was intrigued by the idea of a book about it. Also knowing the style of Giles and hearing about end I was knew that no matter what it would be a great read.

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0439023491
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Series: The Hunger Games

Reader's Annotation: The sequel to the stunning Hunger Games, Catching Fires takes off where Katniss has won the Hunger Games against all odds. Now, she and Peeta should be happy. But the Capitol isn't happy with what's happened at all, and they may not let it go.

Summary: Now that Katniss and Peeta have suvived the Hunger Games they are faced with fame and even moer troubles! It's as if there hell has just begun! While trying to make sense of her feelings for Peeta, she finds herself in the middle of yet another Games. It seems as if the Capitol will do anything to repress the civil dissent that has seemed to grow around Catniss. Will the Capitol win?

Evaluation: Just as good as the first one! It's political and edgy and continue to raise great issues about facism and entertainment. Collins' writing is so engrossing you find it hard to wait for the final installment. It makes you want to turn the channel when Surviver is on the televsion!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Dealing with Loss, Staying Strong in the Face of Adversity, Reealistic Views of Fame and Reality TV, Violence

Official Website: http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by JK Rowling

By: J.K Rowling

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; 1st Edition, Book Seven (7)

Publish Date Hardcover: July 21, 2007

ISBN: 0545010225

Page #: 784 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: Older Teen, Younger Teen (With discretion)

Series Titles: Harry Potter

Reader's Annotation: The final tale in the famous Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Potter finally confronts Voldemort and saves the day. Is anybody surprised?

Synopsis: Harry Potter doesn't return to Hogwarts, now under the charge of a new, darker headmaster. Is Snape friend or Foe? What will become of Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione? How will Harry's psyche withstand the forces of darkness on this new wild path of combat and exclusion? In the whopping 784 page conclusion, these questions and more will be answered, but don't expect to be reading about the child-wizard, all doe eyed and innocent. This Harry has a decidedly different battle that is not only outward but inward. The building self-doubt that was planted in the earlier books threatens to take over. Sadly not all come out alive. Not a fan of the beginning Potter installments, years six and seven have won me over in shear entertainment and darkness. In the end, all that darkness comes back into the light with a bang.

Evaluation: Much to my chagrin, after managing to stay out of the whole Harry Potter phenom for quite a while (and yes, while working at a library and book store), I finally picked up the last book. I may be alone here but this is the only book I read in the series. I tried to read another after I finished this but it didn't appeal to me. However this last one had a notably darker edge and dealt with some pretty hardcore issues.

Bibliotherapuetic Usefulness: Dumbledore is a powerful gay figure, sexuality brims everywhere, bloodshed and death present itself

Why this book was chosen: This book is darker then the others. And has more depth and also, JK Rowling has admitted that the main wizard, Albus Dumbledore was in fact gay. Suddenly HP had a new audience!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (UK: Philosopher's) Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Title: The Chocolate War

Author: Robert Cormier

Publish Date: 1974

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 271pp

ISBN: 0394828054

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 12 and up

Price: $8.95

Annotation: In a religious, all boys school, Jerry Renault has decided to not sell the chocolates in the school fundraiser. This may not seem like a big deal, but with the secret society The Vigils teaming up with the headmaster and teacher Father Leon, torturing and bullying has become Jerry's life. Jerry must mow face an all in out school war of bullying and power struggles.

Summary: Jerry Renault is a student in an all boys religious school. Every year they have a candy selling fundraiser. This year father Leon has his mind set to break records and push the students to sell more. He secretly meats with the head of the secret society The Vigils and they agree to a secret plan. When Jerry follows his orders not to sell chocolates anger ensues. Assured that The Vigils has an ultimate plan, Father Leon continues to let them partake in bullying and peer pressure. But when the time comes for Jerry to sell the chocolates again, he defiantly refuses, he ends up challenging both Father Leon and the all powerful Vigils. The act turns the school into an power struggle that turns into a bullying war. Is it worth it?

Evaluation: It funny because as a child I never read this book. I actually thought it was a book about diabetes. Although this is a funny memory, when being introduced to this book I had a residue of disinterest. However, let me stand corrected because this book is a classic in young adult literature for a reason. It's stunning and authentic. It paints a picture of the reality of bullying, peer pressure, religious hypocrisy, and rebellion. It's quite good.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Perspective of bullying and power struggles, abuse of power, religious schooling, religious manipulation, violence, fear, rebellion, standing up to peer pressure

Reason this book was chosen: It's a classic, having been controversial over language and violence (and I am sure having such a hypocritical Father didn't help much-nobody likes commentary on their religion). It was me one of the most important books on this list and although it's dated it's still relevant and entertaining.