Tag Archives: Familial Relationships

The Truth According to Us…Adult Crossover Historical Fiction

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Barrows, Annie. The Truth According to Us. New York: The Dial Press, 2015. 978-0-38534-294-0. 512 p. $28.00. Gr.9+.

Though marketed mainly for adults, this new novel by Annie Barrows will appeal to teens who enjoy character-driven and historical dramas. Set in the fictional small town of Macedonia, WV, in the summer of 1938, the novel focuses on one family, the Romeyns, whose simple lives are uprooted when Layla Beck comes to board with them. Layla has been cut off by her Senator father, and her uncle gets her a job through the WPA to write the history of Macedonia. Living in the family home are Jottie, the eldest sister and matriarch of the family, her gallivanting brother Felix, his two daughters, Willa and Bird, from a divorce, and twins Mae and Minerva (who are both married but choose to spend a majority of their time living in the family home). The family’s father used to run the local mill, American Everlasting, but the reader slowly learns why the family is no longer associated with the mill. The novel is told through twelve-year old Willa’s first person narration, letters from Layla to her family, and third person from the point of view of Layla and Jottie, who also recounts frequent memories from her youth. Jottie was in love with Felix’s best friend Vause Hamilton, whose tragic death at a young age haunts the family and guides the plot through the long hot summer of 1938. As Layla uncovers the town’s history, Willa discovers more about her secretive father (and aims to protect him from a budding relationship with Layla). Jottie wrestles with loyalty to her brother and happiness for herself. The passages from Willa are enjoyable and reminiscent of Scout’s voice in To Kill a Mockingbird. Jottie’s memories are heartbreaking and powerful. At its heart, this is a family drama that takes readers back to a simpler time while encouraging them to think on their own familial relationships and how simple actions and events change the course of our lives forever. I highly recommend this to teens who enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird. This is a definite must for all high school collections.

Historical Fiction (Great Depression)    Lindsey Myers, Shady Side Academy Senior School

I truly enjoyed this novel. Not only because I could relate to living in a small town in West Virginia, but also because Barrows is such a gifted storyteller and her characters are so interesting. None of them are perfect, and it is their faults that make them interesting and unique to the reader. This would make an excellent choice for a book club to read, as the actions and opinions of the characters could be constantly debated and argued for or against. I look forward to reading future titles by this author.

Footer Davis Probably is Crazy

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Vaught, Susan. Footer Davis Probably is Crazy. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. 978-1-4814-2276-5. $16.00. 229p. Gr. 5-8.

Nine days ago there was a fire at the Abrams farm.  Mr. Abrams was shot and killed, and Cissy and Doc, his grandchildren, are assumed dead.  Eleven year old, Fontana “Footer” Davis, is determined to figure out what happened at the Abrams farm.  With the help of her best friend, Peavine, and his sister, Angel, they set out to interview neighbors and “witnesses” of the fire.  Footer, though, is worried about more than just figuring out what happened to Cissy and Doc; her mother is back in the hospital in Memphis battling her bi-polar disorder.  To top it all off, Stephanie Bridges, from the Mississippi Children and Family Services office, is now interfering in Footer’s life after she gets into a fight at school and is caught reading (and writing) about serial killers.  As Footer tries to manage Steph, misses her mother, and tries to figure out the Abrams’ mystery, she continues to visualize the night of the fire, smelling smoke and seeing images of Cissy Abrams and her mother with a shotgun.  Footer wonders if she is going crazy like her mother or if she was actually at the Abrams’ the night of the fire.  Susan Vaught captures the trials of coping with mental disease, family relationships and family services, and the impact of a traumatic event on a young mind through the innocence of an eleven year old.  Although Footer Davis Probably is Crazy lacks in development and tries to balance a bit too many sub-plots, this is an enjoyable read for middle grade students and provides students with a strong female protagonist.

Realistic Fiction         Erin Parkinson, Lincoln JSHS, Ellwood City

Footer Davis reminded me of Sheila Turnage’s character, Mo LoBeau, from her Tupelo Landing series but is not nearly as well developed a character.  Vaught tries to cover too many issues in Footer Davis Probably is Crazy, and therefore loses focus.  I was expecting Footer to be as amusing as Mo, but she wasn’t.  Her questioning of everything is very realistic (and I loved the fear of Walruses), but the novel shifts too much which causes gaps in the story and some confusion at times.

Displacement…new from Lucy Knisley

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Knisley, Lucy. Displacement: A Travelogue. Seattle: Fantagraphics Books, Inc., 2015. 978-1-60699-810-6. 156 p. $19.99. Gr. 9 and up.

Lucy Knisley, queen of the graphic travelogue, returns with this earnest account of accompanying her 90-something grandparents on a cruise in 2012. She manages her grandmother’s dementia and her grandfather’s physical limitations (including incontinence) with outward calm and cheerful patience. Internally, though, she wrestles with anxiety, frustration, and sorrow over their declining health. She brings along a copy of her grandfather’s unpublished World War II memoir as a conversation starter and connection to her grandparents’ youth. At the end of each chapter, she includes an excerpt and illustrates the scene, cleverly reminding readers that old people weren’t always old. As Knisley writes, the trip she chronicled in The Age of License was about independence, sex, youth, and adventure. This trip is about respect for her elders, sympathy, mortality, and familial love. It’s very different, to be sure, but it depicts an equally important aspect of growing up. It’s a welcome addition to Lucy Knisley’s outstanding coming-of-age travelogues.
914; Travelogue            Amy V. Pickett, Ridley High School

The contemplative full-page panel on page 61, in which she reflects on how her family shows affection, would work well as part of a mini-lesson on reading comics. And, is it too soon to start looking forward to Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride, coming in May?

Edgewater

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Sheinmel, Courtney. Edgewater. New York: Amulet. 2015. 978-1-419716416. 336p. $17.95. Grades 8 to 12.

Edgewater, a beautiful coastal town for the rich and the famous full of mansions and pristine beaches; a small town feel with all of the upgrades. Lorrie has lived here all of her life. She goes to the prestigious Hillyer Academy during the school year and an expensive equestrian camp in the summers. But, Lorrie Hollander is different from her wealthy, entitled neighbors. Her mother left her 12 years ago in the “care” of her mentally unstable Aunt Gigi. Although Gigi makes some effort to keep up pretenses by doling out Lorrie’s trust fund, their once beautiful estate has become a pitiful shell of its former self. Lorrie begins to realize that not everything is as it seems. Bills begin to go unpaid. The house is in even worse shape than usual. The last straw is a letter from her school saying that her spot at Hillyer has been given to another student since her tuition has not been paid. Lorrie learns that her mother has a secret past that connects her to one of the wealthiest and most important families on the island. How does Lorrie fit into the tangle of lies and deceit? How can she take care of her and her sister by herself?

I wasn’t sure about this book at the start. It read like a typical teen-angst novel. It took me a few chapters to really get into the groove of this book, but I soon began to respect and eventually love Lorrie. Her grit and determination to take care of her sister made me cheer for her all the way to the end. I was also emotional when Lorrie had to make tough choices and sell items that were very dear to her in order to pay her bills. I wanted things to end well for her (although I won’t tell you whether or not they did). Teens will connect with this book on many levels. I always have students looking for horse-themed books, and this one has enough to hook them and keep them reading. The celebrity angle will also hook teens, as well as the romance theme. Once I connected with these characters, I really liked this book and recommend it highly.

Realistic Fiction        Corey Hall, Elizabethtown Area MS/HS

Realistic Fiction – Orbiting Jupiter; A 52-Hertz Whale, and This Raging Light

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Schmidt, Gary D. Orbiting Jupiter. New York: Clarion, 2015. 978-0-544-46222-9. 192 p. $17.99. Gr. 7 and up.

Jack is a typical 6th grade boy. He lives on a farm in rural Maine, is responsible for daily chores, and is a good student at his school. One day his world changes when his parents tell him they are taking in a foster child. Jack meets his foster brother, Joseph, a dark, brooding, 8th grader who exhibits signs of abuse and neglect. As the two get to know each other, Joseph reveals a secret that he has been hiding. He has a daughter named Jupiter, and he will stop at nothing to find her in the foster system, even if it means risking his own life in the process.

The author shares a strong connection to the foster system and how family isn’t always made up of blood relatives. He presents a balanced view of the struggles facing social workers as they fight for the rights of the children and families they serve. The author also addresses difficult issues such as child abuse, bullying, and teenage pregnancy, in a way that is honest and fair.

This book is an excellent resource to share with students who may be struggling with some of the same things that Joseph is dealing with, particularly the death of a loved one, abuse, or bullying. It would be a great addition to a “survival” or “overcomer” unit.

Realistic Fiction    Corey Hall, Elizabethtown Area School District

 

 

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Sommer, Bill., & Tilghman, Natalie. A 52-Hertz Whale. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Lab, 2015. 978-1-4677-7917-3. 200p. $18.99. Grades 8 to 12.

You never know where you will find a friend. James is a 14-year old who struggles with social skills and feels like his only friend is a humpback whale named Salt that he follows online. When Salt separates from his pod and is beached, James contacts a very unlikely ally. He emails Darren, a 20-something “wannabe” filmmaker who once volunteered as a tutor in James’s classroom. The two strike an unlikely friendship, and although Darren knows nothing about whales, he provides wacky advice on everything from girls to friends to jobs.

The story is told through a series of emails that pass between not only James and Darren, but also a host of supporting characters that connect and strengthen the story. This book is a unique look at friendship in the technology age, along with love, loss, and yeti suits (yes, yeti suits). Even though much of the interaction is silly and funny, there are some serious interactions that would be excellent for book group or small group discussion. Students who appreciate Eleanor & Park and Winger will enjoy the strange and eccentric world of A 52-Hertz Whale.

Realistic Fiction     Corey Hall, Elizabethtown Area MS/HS

 

 

raginglight

Laure, Estelle. This Raging Light. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 978054453429-2. 288 p. $17.99. Gr 8 to 12.

Lucille is an ordinary 17-year old girl. She hangs out with her best friend Eden. She has a secret crush on Eden’s brother, Digby. Everything looks normal on the outside, but what Lucille is hiding is that her mother took off, and her father was committed to a psychiatric ward, so Lucille is raising her 10-year old sister, Wren. Alone, scared, and out of money, Lucille has to find a job and childcare in order to keep her little family together. In this sweet story, Lucille learns that she is not alone, that she has a community that surrounds her and watches out for her.

Highly recommended for late middle school or high school students. Themes of family, loss, friendship, and independence permeate the book. This is a great option for discussion starters or book club.

Realistic Fiction    Corey Hall, Elizabethtown Area MS/HS

When My Heart Was Wicked

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Stirling, Tricia. When My Heart Was Wicked. New York: Scholastic Press, 2015. Print. 978-0545695732. 192 p. $17.99. Gr. 9+.

This debut novel packs a lot into a quick 173 pages, but Tricia Stirling succeeds in creating a darkly enchanting tale of one young girl’s quest to define herself. When we first meet Lacey, her beloved father has recently passed away and she is living with Anna, her stepmother. Suddenly, her mother, who had been missing for 3 years, returns and forces Lacey to move back to Sacramento with her. Though unwilling, Lacey complies. Her unwillingness stems from her feeling that she becomes a completely different person when she is in the shadow of her mother- dark, angry, and evil. With her father and Anna she is light, happy, and kind. She knows that this Lacey cannot be sustained when she is living with her unpredictable and dangerous mother. Her mother is some sort of witch (her powers are never clearly defined), and her ability to craft spells has been passed on to Lacey. These skills prove to be useful in her new school in which she is bullied by a group of girls. Lacey is also singled out by a boy with a sketchy reputation, and though warned by one of his prior victims, she falls prey to his advances and becomes the target of his vicious rumors when she refuses to have sex with him.  Lacey begins to perform small spells and have occasional outbursts that make her feel like she is once again turning into the evil daughter of her evil mother. The text occasionally falls into a stream of consciousness narrative, and the reader must keep up with Lacey throughout her rambling thoughts. She jumps back and forth between past events and the present, and the reader is left to pick up the pieces and figure out what it is that makes her both love and hate her mother. This ambiguity works well with the novel’s theme of the difficulties that lie in defining oneself outside of one’s family and friends. Lacey does make friends in her new school, and these relationships keep her grounded amid the fraying relationship with her unpredictable mother. The characters are interesting and realistic, though one wonders how Lacey’s mother can be considered a fit guardian for her daughter. This novel will engage readers who enjoy dark tales with a realistic edge to them.

Realistic (Supernatural) Fiction           Lindsey Myers, Peters Township High School

 

Similar to how the main character struggled to define herself, I struggled to define my feelings about this novel from beginning to end. It is captivating and Lacey has a unique voice, but the interspersing of witchcraft caught me off guard on occasion, possibly because the rest of the novel is typical young adult drama- dealing with a new school and friends, bullying, fighting with parents, etc. The witchcraft did lift it up out of the “general” realistic fiction into something supernatural and dark, which I believe will appeal to teens looking for something more than the standard fare. I am eager to see more from this author.

Written in the Stars

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Saeed, Aisha. Written in the Stars. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015. 978-0-399-17170-3. 284 p. $17.99. Gr. 8-11.

Naila yearns to join her friends in typical American teenage activities, but her conservative Pakistani parents won’t allow her to even talk to boys, let alone date them.  They have no idea she has been in a secret relationship with Saif for a year — until they show up at prom and drag her off the dance floor.  Furious and ashamed, they whisk her off to Pakistan, determined to rearrange her moral priorities before she is scheduled to begin college.  In Pakistan, the author immerses Naila and the reader in the details of a rich culture: the women’s beautifully embroidered salwar kamizes, the fragrant chai, the boisterous kin.  But Naila’s bliss is tinged with apprehension, which turns to terror and then desperation when she finds out her parents plan to marry her off to an unknown young man.  While the dialogue may seem flat in some scenes, the sparse prose allows the reader to experience the culture shock Naila feels.  U.S.-born Naila’s incredulous perspective provides American teens an authentic glimpse into a scenario that may be unbelievable to them but is unfortunately horrifyingly familiar to many South Asian girls.

Realistic Fiction      Kristen Rowe, Plum Senior High School

Saint Anything…new from Sarah Dessen

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Dessen, Sarah. Saint Anything. New York: Viking, 2015. Print. 978-0451474704. 432 p. $19.99. Gr. 9-12.

Sarah Dessen has become well-known for crafting engaging, complex stories of young teens dealing with difficult issues and experiences. Her latest novel, Saint Anything, carries on this tradition and immerses the reader once again in an emotionally charged story. All of her life, Sydney Stanford’s handsome and charismatic brother, Peyton, has stolen the spotlight. Yet his increasingly poor decisions lead to a drunk-driving incident that leaves a young boy paralyzed and Peyton in prison. Sydney’s mother seems to side with Peyton and puts his needs first, forgetting about the victim. She also leans on and trusts Ames, Peyton’s friend, even though he always gives Sydney a “creepy” vibe. Sydney alone seems to carry with her the burden of Peyton’s actions every day. To escape her brother’s shadow, she decides to leave Perkins Day, a private school, and attend Jackson High, the local public school. One day she walks into Seaside, a local pizza place, and meets the Chatham family, the owners of the establishment. She quickly becomes friends with the beautiful and vivacious Layla and her handsome yet quiet brother Mac. Soon, Sydney becomes a part of their family, attending concerts for Mac’s band and exploring the woods behind their house. However, things become increasingly tense at home between Sydney and her parents as their relationship with Peyton becomes strained. The resolution is a bit predictable, but the characters are interesting and engaging as usual and readers will fall easily into the story. Most will empathize with Sydney and wonder why her mother insists on siding with Peyton (the one character I would have liked to have heard more from). Overall, this is a strong addition to Dessen’s line up, and will be well-received by her fans.

It is no secret that I love Sarah Dessen, and always enjoy picking up one of her books. I fall so easily into the story, and Dessen’s writing is simple and comforting. This story does deal with a very serious issue, but not from the point of view of the one committing the crime. Instead, viewers are given a glimpse into the lives of those affected by the actions of the perpetrator. While I did enjoy Sydney and her point of view, I would have liked to have heard more of Peyton’s story, and how he was dealing with the guilt. I do, however, I understand that this was Sydney’s story, not Peyton’s. Possibly, Dessen could write a short novella about his experiences? This would expand a reader’s empathy and maybe even further develop the character of Peyton’s mother as well. Or, maybe I need to begin writing some Sarah Dessen fan fiction…

Realistic Fiction      Lindsey Myers, Peters Township High School

 

Review 2:

Living in her older brother Peyton’s shadow, Sydney is longing to feel the sunshine of her parents’ affections. Peyton is incarcerated after a string of bad decisions, resulting in a stay in rehab and being jailed for drinking and driving which resulted in paralyzing a boy who was riding home on his bike. Sydney has never been the child her parents have had to worry about, but after mounting bills for her brothers’ defense start to become overwhelming, she decides to help her parents by enrolling in a public school and exiting her elite private school.  It is by accident that she wanders into a local pizza  place where she meets the Chathams, a brother and sister duo who will change her world.  For Sydney, this unconditional acceptance and love is eye-opening.  It gives her the confidence and support she is lacking in her own family. Told with the sweet teenage voice of Sydney, the novel captures the way in which teenagers are constantly looking to fit in somewhere and when they do, the way in which they flourish emotionally is truly incredible.

Dessen, known for playing on the heartstrings, hits it out of the park with this novel.  She creates characters who share commonalities with readers, allowing them to relate to the situations and problems. The main conflict of the novel is the way Sydney’s parents are so wrapped up in the issues surrounding her brother, rather than her own emotional well-being. Dessen gives credibility to teens who are searching for change and the confidence to achieve it.

Realistic Fiction, Romance               Brooke Gerlach, Manheim Central Middle Schoo

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

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Toten, Teresa. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B. New York: Delacorte Press, 2015. 978-0-553-50786-7. $17.99. 289p. Gr. 8+.
Adam Spencer Ross.  Meds:  Anafranil 25 mg 1 x per day; Ativan as needed 4-6.  Primary presenting compulsions: ordering, counting, magical thinking (re: clearing rituals).
Adam struggles with the same issues other 15-year-olds encounter: divorced parents, a challenging step-brother, and making friends.  He also has more critical issues including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and a mother who hordes mass quantities of accoutrements.  With the help of his small group therapy sessions and individual counseling with Chuck, Adam believes he’s adequately coping with life.  Then enters Robyn Plummer, and Adam’s overwhelming desire to save her compels him to follow her home, through the cemetery, where he learns her mother committed suicide.  While Robyn is older and incredibly beautiful, she is drawn to Adam, someone she can finally confide in with honestly.  Masked in the superhero identities chosen during group session, Batman (Adam), Robin (Robyn), and the rest of the lovable group of mavericks venture to town, exploring the realm of the Catholic Church, friendships, and first love.  Adam truly believes he can save Robyn, but suddenly he’s getting worse.  In order to be a hero, he will have to sacrifice his beloved and be candid with the people who care about him.

 

Adam is an incredibly charming and endearing character.  Readers will cheer for him as he helps his friends overcome problems and comforts his step-brother “Sweetie” during recurring meltdowns.  His indelible strength and compassion for others make him simply irresistible.  Readers will learn more about the complexities and hindrances of OCD, the poignant intervals of debilitating agony relieved with surprising moments of clarity and humorous witticism.  Fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy Toten’s latest book.

Realistic Fiction    Christine Massey, JWP Middle School

On the Fence

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West, Kasie.  On the Fence. New York, NY: HarperTeen, 2014.  978-0-062-23567-1.  $9.99. 304p.  Gr. 9 and up. 

Charlie, short for Charlotte, would choose athletic shorts and Nikes over dresses and make up any day of the week.  Her mother passed away when she was young, which left her father alone to raise Charlie and her three older brothers. She has always been “one of the guys” and automatically gets thrown into the crazy antics of her brothers and their friends, including her almost brother and next door neighbor, Braden.  Charlie gets thrown for a loop when her father makes her pick up a part-time job when she gets her umpteenth speeding ticket.  The only job she can find is in an upscale clothing boutique, and she is completely out of her element when her new boss forces her to wear makeup and girly clothes.  Fearing their taunts, Charlie hides her work persona from her family and friends.  An unexpected midnight run in and deep conversation with Braden leaves Charlie questioning whether her feelings toward him are more than brotherly, but when she shows her feelings he misunderstands her, and she is humiliated.  She throws herself into a relationship with a boy who she met through her new work friends when she was acting like the girly version of Charlie, not her true self. Her life becomes even more confusing when her work and home life collide, and she is forced to explain herself, even to Braden, whose feelings towards her may be more than brotherly as well.

Realistic Fiction    Melissa Daugherty, Sharon City Schools

I wouldn’t say this was one of the best books I read all year, but it was an enjoyable story.  I read it in two sittings and was fully entertained by the characters.  The dynamics of Charlie’s family is my favorite thing about this one.  The relationship she has with her brothers are completely unrealistic to actual siblings, but the interactions are sweet and good natured.  On the Fence is popular with my Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han fans.