The Lit XChange

2010-09-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

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Create your own slideshow at animoto.com.

Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien

2010-05-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

It is the future and there are those who live inside the wall and those who live out. Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone lives outside the wall. She has followed in the footsteps of her mother who is a highly regarded mid-wife, committed to the the mission of the Enclave, to live the Enclave lifestyle and to serve it. When Gaia's mother and father are arrested by those who they dutifully serve, Gaia begins to question everything that she has been taught to believe. Gaia's only choice is to now enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or to die if necessary trying.
This first novel by high school English teacher Caragh O'Brien will make you feel like you have been thrown into this futuristic world and are questioning everything that you once felt was true. The author has always been interested in decoding language and skillfully uses this as an intrical component of the story. Birth Marked ends on a cliffhanger and without a doubt leaves it open to a sequel. It was recently a YALSA Young Adult Fiction nominee.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels, this is for you.
I love reading first time authors and this one did not disappoint!

Operation Teen Book Drop!

2010-04-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Be a part of teens helping teens. Through Tuesday, April 27 drop off a gently used teen read book in the library. These books will be distributed to homebound and hospitalized teen throughout the area. This is part of a national reading initiative called TBD! Operation Teen Book Drop co-sponsored by readergirlz and Guys Lit Wire. Help us reach our goal of 100 books by April 27!

Celebrating National Poetry Month

2010-04-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Do you like to write poetry? Do you enjoy sharing poetry readings with others? Then this event is for you!

Help the FHS library celebrate National Poetry Month by participating in the library's 1st annual Poetry Slam. (Due to state testing, we will celebrate the week of May 6.) Join us in the library during any of the lunches on Thursday, May 6th, to perform an original poem or one from another poet. Look for flyers around campus or drop by the library to get more details.

There will be prize drawings for participants.

Already onboard is Ms. Black's Creative Writing Class. You will want to be a part of all the fun!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2010-04-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Seventeen year old Lennie, bookworm and band geek has always spent her time neatly tucked away in the shadow of her fiery older sister Bailey. But when Bailey suddenly dies, Lennie is immediately thrown into the center of her own life and suddenly finds herself juggling the affections of two boy. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend. His grief pretty much mirrors Lennie's. Then there is Joe, the new boy in town. Joe, a transplant from Paris is a girl's dream. He has a smile that melts, a sultry European accent and has musical talent that just makes him the hottest thing the band room has to offer.

This book will make you laugh and cry. It is heartbreaking and beautifully written. Jandy Nelson has hit the mark on this one. Chick lit readers will devour this!

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

2010-03-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

In the 1960s, Rico Fuentes, a pale-skinned Cuban American teenager, abandons drug-infected New York City for the picket fence and apple pie world of Wisconsin, only to discover that he still feels like an outsider and that violent and judgmental people can be found even in the wholesome Midwest.

Teens will be able to relate to the authentic voice of Oscar Hijuelos.

While browsing the shelves in my library I came across this book. It caught my attention and turned out to be a terrific read! Recommend it to those who liked The Outsiders.

This is definitely one I will share with my guy readers.

Teen Tech Week in the FHS Library

2010-03-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

We will be having events everyday at 8 am. See the schedule below. Plan to join us for these fun events!

Tuesday, March 9: Create your own Avatar

Wednesday, March 10: Check out the newest Google Tools!

Thursday, March 11: Get Nooked! A representative from Barnes and Noble will be here with Nooks to demonstrate the features of their new EReader. You won't want to miss this!

Friday, March 12: Show us your Apps. Bring your tech device and share your favorite Apps. Yes! You can legitimately use your iphone in the library.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2010-02-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

You know how a book just moves you to the point that you have to discuss it with others who have read it. That is that this book did to me. I couldn't get it out of my mind and have re-read it more then once.

Set in early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, "Skeeter" has just returned to Jackson after graduating from Ole Miss. Skeeter unlike her friends, is unmarried and mostly in limbo, but has the dream of being a writer.

Abileen, is a regal and devoted black woman who has proudly raised over seventeen of Jackson's finest young children while serving as domestic help in the homes of their parents. Abileen is grieving the loss of her son who lost his life due to racial strife.

Minny, who is Abileen's younger friend, is one of the sassiest among most of the domestic help in Jackson. She can cook like nobody's business, but also has a tongue that can get her fired from a job faster then you can say "pass the grits". Minny finally gets hired by a young lady who is too new to town for others to quite know her reputation. She also carries a secret of her own.

From totally different worlds, these three women come together for a clandestine project that can put all of them at great risk. The Help is a timeless and universal story that holds a message for all who read it.

Great discussion for classrooms studying the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.

Suggestion: Ask your librarian to booktalk The Help as an introduction to a discussion about civil rights.

I'm Down: a memoir by Mishna Wolff

2010-02-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

Mishna Wolff grew up in the 80's in a poor black neighborhood with her single father who truly thought he was a black men. He strutted around with the short afro type perm, polyester pants, gold chains and at times even the white patent leather shoes. Mishna's father tried early to make his white daughter "down". Boy did he try!

Sadly for Mishna, she just didn't quite fit in. She couldn't sing or dance and she definitely couldn't "double Dutch". No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't quite live up to her father's definition of "down". She was shy, not cool and felt painfully white in a neighborhood where she tried, but just couldn't fit in.

I'm Down is hip, hysterical and will have you howling with laughter. It will also have you questioning what it means to be black and white in America.

Read it, talk about it and definitely recommend it to others.

Numbers by Rachel Ward

2010-01-29T14:04:00.001-08:00

Check out the booktrailer for Numbers by Rachel Ward

Lit Tweet....The Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

2010-01-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

When three teenaged boys suspect that their English teacher is responsible for their friend's disappearance, they must navigate a maze of assorted clues, fraying friendships, violence, and Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" before learning the truth.

Blue Plate Special by Michelle Kwasney

2010-01-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Blue Plate Special is told through the perspective of three very different teenage girls - Madeline in the 1970s, Desiree in the 1990s, and Ariel in the 2009. I found each of their stories compelling and beautifully written. I especially like Desiree's story told in verse. The music references to each era really added to the girl's stories. Though it may seem as if chapters jumping between three different girls and three different decades would confuse the reader, I thought the narrative was flawlessly pulled off. Overall, I found each of the girls to be really interesting, multi-layered characters. Even though they made bad decisions and were born into a lot of bad circumstances, I thought they were survivors. I also enjoyed the references to the 'blue plate special', and it's importance to Tad and Madeline.

This was a truly powerful novel. It emotionally pulled me in from start to finish. The author did a brilliant job of telling the story from multiple viewpoints. Highly recommended.

The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford

2010-01-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Christopher just needed a job to kill time the summer after high school graduation. He didn’t expect it to be in the morgue. Or that he would accidentally discover a murder cover-up. Or that his discovery would lead him to a full-blown investigation involving bribery, kidnappings, more murders . . . and his best friend. And he certainly could never have predicted that Tina—loud, insanely hot, ambitious newspaper reporter Tina—would be his partner. But all of that did happen. And Christopher’s life will never be the same.With plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and dry wit, The Morgue and Me is a page-turning modern take on the classic detective genre.Review: I like a good mystery so was looking forward to reading this one. And, I really like the cover. I had a difficult time getting into the book and almost gave up at one point, but something kept me going. I think it was the main character, Christopher. He's a guy who is just out of high school, but the author makes him someone who really loves his family, which seemed unusual for the gender/age group/genre. It isn't mushy-lovey-dovey stuff, but little comments thrown in throughout the book that give Christopher a solid grounding and I really liked that. So, I kept going and am glad that I did! I stayed up late last night to finish the book I was so into what was happening as all the loose ends of the mystery come together. I ended up going from maybe not finishing the book to enjoying it.

(Summary from the inside book flip)

Lit Tweet......The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman

2010-01-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Gecko, Arjay, and Terence, all in trouble with the law, must find a way to keep their halfway house open in order to stay out of juvenile detention.

TAYSHAS 2010 IS HERE!

2009-12-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Tayshas High School Reading List was just released. There is a record-breaking number of books on the list this year. It has something for all readers, not matter what you thing is. Click on this link and select 2010 Tayshas Reading List. Then get to the FHS Library, browse our display and grab whose books you want to read before they are all gone.
Then Read On!

Are you an aspiring writer? Do you want to get published?

2009-12-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

Do you have a story?
Share your novels, stories, poems, and essays with the inkpop community for a chance to get published!
Click on this Ink Pop link for more details.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2009-11-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

High school sophomore Nora has always been very cautious in her relationships, but all her sense of caution goes out the window when she gets sight of Patch, a new boy in school. He is mesmerizing and has a dark side she can sense. She is mysteriously and strongly drawn to him, despite warnings from her best friend, the school counselor, and her own instincts. Has he always been a bad boy?

This debut author has the ability to write in a true voice that many teens will relate to. Look for the sequel Crescendo coming in the fall of 2010.

Check out the author's website at: http://www.beccafitzpatrick.com/

Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult

2009-11-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

This is a review from Ms. Walker - 9th grade English teacher at FHS

This novel is set in the Pennsylvania Amish community where an unspeakable crime has been committed. Violence and worldliness are in direct opposition to the peaceful god-fearing Amish community. This is a hard-to-put-down page turner right to the very end.

Thanks Ms. Walker!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

2009-11-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

This first novel by author Betty Smith was highly received at the time of publication and went on to become a classic.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of Francie Nolan and her family including brother Neeley, mother Katie and father Johnny. This powerful look at poverty in the early 1900s leads Katie to teach her children that they are above handouts and will take responsibility for their lives even if it means little food on the table and surviving life in a cold walk up apartment in a shabby neighborhood.

Francie is a young girl coming to grips with some of the horrific realities of her life in Brooklyn: death, hunger, pure human hatred, and meanness. She experiences life through books, observation and writing and goes on to find what the future holds for her.

This book has a timeless message. It shows the resilience of those who struggle and the love that endures even through the hardships life throws our way.

Teens' Top Ten 2009

2009-10-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Each year, thousands of teens vote in the Young Adult Library Services Association's Teens' Top Ten, the only booklist created entirely by and for teens. In 2009, teens cast more than 11,000 votes, choosing the top ten teen books from a list of twenty-five finalists.
The 2009 winners were announced in a webcast produced by World Wrestling Entertainment and featuring WWE Divas Brie and Nikki Bella and winner John Green.
Note: You may not be able to access the link to the webcast on youtube from this link, but check it out on your home computer.

The 2009 Teens' Top Ten is: (check the call numbers below for the location of these titles in our library)
Paper Towns by John Green (F GRE)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (F MEY)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (F COL)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (F CLA)
Identical by Ellen Hopkins (F HOP)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (F GAI)
Wake by Lisa McMann (F McM)
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (F LOC)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (F CAS)

John Green, the 2009 winner, also created a video about his win.

2009-10-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Book It! to the FHS Library

What: Our student-led Book Club Meeting

When: Thursday, November 5, 8 am in the library

Why: Because you need to know!

Don't miss your opportunity to be a part of this group.

The Orange Houses by Paul Griffin

2009-10-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Unlike other books, as soon as you begin reading The Orange Houses, you learn the stark conclusion. This powerful, raw book tells the tale of three young people who meet in one of the toughest neighborhood in NYC. Tamika, aka Mik is a fifteen year old girl who wears nasty, noisy hearing aids that she really wears just to block out all the confusion and violence of the city. Mik lives with her mother who works two jobs just to support Mik and herself. Jimmi is an ex-Iraq war veteran who received a mandatory discharge and came home messed up in the head and surviving the street by sheer will and drugs to relieve the flashbacks he would just as soon forget.
Fatima is an illegal immigrant from Africa whose family paid her way over by boat in hopes she would find freedom and a future in the U.S. She survives by living in a deserted old building, selling papers on the street and staying clear of the authorities.
Jimmi introduces Mik and Fatima who bond together in their love of art and bringing smiles to the faces of the children they volunteer to help.
Fatima stands out as a beacon of hope for Jimmi and Mik as she sees in America a hope she never thought she would feel.
The Orange Houses is a short tale that is gritty, matter of fact and unforgettable. It doesn’t get any more real than this! Don’t miss it.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

2009-10-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

Sixteen-year-old Princess Talia was told beware of the accursed spindle. Of course she didn't listen and was pricked by the needle of the spindle. Legend was since she pricked herself, her husband would be the next male she kissed.

Seventeen-year-old Jack was looking for a little adventure the day he ditched his tour group and ended up in a comatose town with a hot-looking chick. He just couldn't resist, kissing the girl. Because Talia broke the curse and brought ruin upon her country, she had no choice but to run away with Jack, a mere commoner.

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old and now is on her way to your parents home in Miami. That is the dilemma Jack finds himself in at this moment.

Lit Tweet....Willow by Julia Hoban

2009-10-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Willow, sixteen, who was driving the car that killed both of her parents, copes with the pain and guilt of cutting herself, until she meets a smart and sensitive boy who is determined to help her stop.

2009-10-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

It is time to celebrate........
Teen Read Week, October 18-24, 2009

Check out the schedule below for events and activities being held in the library.
Stop by the library or listen for announcements for more details.
You won't want to miss out!!

Monday 10/19
Get Lucky-check out the FHS Lit exchange & blog a book for a chance to win a prize!

Tuesday 10/20
Meet the author, FHS student, Sam Argentieri 12 -2 p.m

Wednesday 10/21
Altered Books! Make your very own Paperback wallet

Thursday 10/22
Book Trailers are cool and easy to create. Learn how to make your own.

All events are in the library before school unless noted otherwise.

Are you ready for more Twilight?

2009-09-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

Check out the latest movie trailer.....

Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers

2009-09-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

“If you could change one thing, what would it be?”
The one question Lil J keeps asking himself over and over.
Why, because he listens to his buddy Rico and is caught in the middle of a drug deal gone bad. What are his options now? With a gunshot wound to the hand, Rico in jail and the undercover cop clinging to life, he’ll do anything to change the last 24 hours.
As he stumbles into a crack house, it seems his decisions have gone from bad to worse. Is it possible to believe he might have a second chance?
Dope Sick another realistic, compelling and riveting read by Walter Dean Myers

Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

2009-09-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Could life get any better for Cody? He is quarterback of the football team, has colleges scouting him, has great grade and IS dating the hottest girl in school.
When Clea (his girlfriend goes off to a college prep school), Cody takes a major nosedive. His grade plummet, he has a foot ball injury and basically flunks out of school. On top of everything, Clea goes missing. Cody is frantic. He hops a plain and joins the search for Clea. While poking around, he doesn’t like what he sees. Secrets he uncovers bring him closer to what happened to Clea, but puts Cody in extreme danger.
Reality Check will hook you from the very start. Cody’s character is convincing and the plot twists and turns leave you thinking you can solve this mystery. Think again!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2009-09-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

The one you been waiting for! Catching Fire sequel to The Hunger Games is out and will leave you on the edge of your seat. It has revenge, suspense, adventure, intrigue, and twists and turns you never expect. You will be anxiously waiting for the conslusion of this thrilling trilogy. Be patient, I will probably not be out until next year. Catching Fire is not to be missed!

Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Ana Godbersen

2009-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Splendor the fourth book in the Luxe Series is due out October 27. More false friends and scandalous rumors!

Look for details and updates on the series website at: http://www.theluxebooks.com/. Check out the Luxe gossip column, free downloads and "win the look of splendor" contest.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2009-08-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sarah Dessen's newest novel follows insomniac Auden as she spends the summer at the beach with her self-absorbed father and stepmom with a new baby in tow. For Auden things get off to a rocky start as she second guesses whether her beach summer may have been a mistake. She settles in, starts to make friends and even tests out the social scene. Then she meets Eli, a guarded and mysterious guy, Auden’s feels comfortable with Eli and begins to open up. But, Auden is not used to opening up to anyone. Can she be open to new things – including Eli? Along for the Ride is a wonderful book about second chances and learning to live in the moment know that your future can follow a path you least expect.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-08-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

The orphan Bod, short for Nobody, is taken in by the inhabitants of a graveyard as a child of eighteen months and raised lovingly and carefully to the age of eighteen years by the community of ghosts and otherworldly creatures.
2009 Newbery Award Winner

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-05-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

This is a powerful new book from acclaimed adult author Laurie Halse Anderson. In an excerpt from the book, Halse writes "Why? You want to know why? Step into a tanning booth and fry yourself for two or three days. After your skin bubbles and peels off, roll in coarse salt, then pull on long underwear woven from spun glass and razor wire. Over that goes your regular clothes, as long as they are tight." "Puke and starve and cut and drink because you don't want to feel any of this. Puke and starve and cut and drink because you need an anesthetic and it works." Why would a teen would want to throw away her life? Why? Because she has suffered from an eating disorder since the age of 11. Life is a roller coaster and unless you have experienced anorexia, you can never understand. A must read for teens and adults who want to understand how life shattering an eating disorder can be.

All We Know of Heaaven: a novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard

2009-04-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Sixteen-year-old best friends Maureen and Bridget are in a terrible accident where Bridget dies and is incorrectly identified as Maureen; but when Maureen recovers, she must deal with the repercussions of the accident as well as the loss of her best friend.

True to life story of mistaken identity that leads to heartbreak and ultimately conflict between two families that are never quite the same.

Bliss by Lauren Myracle

2009-04-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Having grown up in a California commune, Bliss sees her aloof grandmother's Atlanta world as a foreign country, but she is determined to be nice as a freshman at an elite high school, which makes her the perfect target for Sandy, a girl obsessed with the occult.

Horror at its best! Go grab it. This one should fly off the shelf.

Our Living Earth: a story of people, ecology, and preservation/Yann Arthus-Bertrand; text by Isabelle Delonnoy

2009-04-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

A photographic journey that focuses on people around the world who are making environmental changes in order to protect the earth.

For those who have a calling to preserve our planet, this is a must read. Eye opening statistics and outstanding photography.

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

2009-04-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.
Being a big mystery reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists especially toward the end. This author also publishes under the name Jordan Cray.

Breaking Up by Aimee Friedman

2009-02-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

This is the first graphic novel from New York Times bestselling author Aimee Friedman. Ms. Friedman tells the story of four teen girls who have been friends since they can remember. Chloe Sacks is an aspiring artist who tells the story through flashbacks. The inseparable friends go into their junior year at the Georgia O’Keefe School for the Arts aka “Fashion High”. Chloe thinks they are in for the year of their life. Soon they find out they have only one class together. Not only are their schedules are changing, but lots of other things as well. Relationships aren’t the same, dating is not the same and controlling parents are about to bring the girls over the edge.
Breaking Up will draw readers in right from the start and keep you reading. Teens will be able to relate to the real life type issues faced by the characters.
Author Friedman brings teen angst to new heights.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

2009-02-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

There is a strange phenomenon in high schools all over the U.S. Oakvale High is one of those high schools where teens who die are coming back as differently biotic or living impaired. Phoebe who has never been popular with her pale skin and goth dress, falls for Tommy; leader of the dead kids. Oakvale football star Adam takes notice which leads to an intersection of two boys willing to do anything to make Phoebe happy.

If you like sharp, funny, original stories, Generation Dead is for you.

Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson

2009-02-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

Imagine you are seventeen year old Frances. You live in the dreamiest world anyone could imagine. You, your mother and sisters spend your days soaking in the sun, running in fields of daisies and daydreaming. You are living a fairytale. Fast forward to today. You’ve been adopted. You are going to high school, living an ordinary life in the suburbs. Did you dream about your early life or was it true? You have buried the memories for so long, you are not sure until one day your mother returns and all the memories are thrusts back at you. Bad memories you have tried so hard to forget. Along the way you strike up a relationship with Nix, the new boy at school. Your lives seem to parallel, because he has secrets just like you. But his actions make you question if it’s best to have him in your life right now.
The last fifty or so pages have twists and turns that will keep you reading to the end.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

2009-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

Groomed by his father to be a star player, football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

2009-02-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

Private Robin Perry joins the army during his senior year in high school because "I felt like crap after 9-11 and I wanted to do something, to stand up for my country." In February 2003 he becomes part of the initial U.S. troop deployment in the second Iraq war. He tells his story in honest, soul-searching letters to his uncle Richie and through cheerful letters to his mother. Robin starts his tour of duty optimistically, but soon wonders what the war is really about, and finally concludes that "we were in a war of complete randomness. A war that has no logic except the constant adding up of numbers. How many are dead?" Robin takes readers behind the headlines to the everyday life of a soldier, an existence full of fear, bravery, boredom, confusion, compassion, and violence. Myers has created a voice in Robin that never wavers from that of a young man trying to make some sense out of his tasks and his duty as a soldier. The book takes a non-political approach letting readers to create their own definitions for the central word: war.

Compelling read.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

2009-02-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Marvin is stuck in New York City for the summer working at her quirky family's historic hotel. But little does she know that this summer just might be one of her most memorable summers. Along the way she meet a handsome, intriguing boy who is come to NYC for summer theatre. She becomes the assistant to an eccentric older actress to Mrs. Amberson who ends up moveing into Scarlett's suite. At the same time, she takes a personal interest in Scarlett's mishaps, hatching scheme after disastrous scheme to save the hotel, resolve Scarlett's love life, and jumpstart her older brother Spencer's acting career. Johnson has created a madcap of calamities that are infused with humor, friendship and fun. A joy to read!

Paper Towns by John Green

2009-02-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.
This book is amusing, imaginative and definitely for older readers with growing pains who will relate to the characters angst.
It was selected as a "best book for young adults 2009".

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

2009-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

You are about ready to graduate from high school, you are off to a great college in the fall and you have just convinced your parent you and your best friend Win should ride your bikes cross country from the east coast to Seattle’s west coast. For Chris this is the trip of a lifetime. Things start out great. The weather is beautiful; you meet and have interesting conversations with people. You even find people who offer you a warm place to sleep and a hot meal. But you and Win have a disagreement and the next thing you know Win disappears. You just think he decides to go it on his own, but when you return home and go off to college, the FBI comes asking questions. Win is still missing. Will you be a suspect in his disappearance?
This is a great mystery, real to life and a compelling read.

The Falconer's Knot: Friars, Flirtations and Foul Play by Mary Hoffman

2009-01-16T11:48:00.000-08:00

Silvano and Chiara, teens sent to live in a friary and a nunnery in Renaissance Italy, are drawn to one another and dream of a future together, but when murders are committed in the friary, they must discover who is behind the crimes before they can realize their love.

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez by Alan Sitomer

2009-01-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Fifteen year old Sonia Rodriguez wants to be the first in her family to graduate from high school and go on to college. But just when she thinks it may really be possible, her traditional family values and culture put roadblocks up everywhere. Her mother is present, but seems to be absent, her father is her biggest cheerleader, but spends hours at work just trying to support his family and she has a drunkle (her drunk uncle) who just complicates everyone's life. Will Sonia be able to fulfill her dream? Reading her secret story lets readers relate to her struggle but will also be a cause to cheer for her success.
Subjects: family problems, Mexican-Americans, immigration

Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

2009-01-13T14:43:00.000-08:00

Sixteen year old Katniss is selected as her district's representative to the Hunger Games. A reality show that pits teens from the twelve districts in her colony to fight to the death while the district residents watch the action live on television. Can Katniss survive? If so, will she be the first from her district in years to be declared the sole survivor? Read The Hunger Games to see if goes back to her district to wide acclaim.

First is a series. The second book won't come soon enough.