Tough Stuff: After by Amy Efaw

There are hard hitting topics that never get mentioned or talked about. There are terrible things that teenagers do that adults don't know how to respond to. In this series of posts I'll be mentioning books geared towards teenagers that deal with "tough stuff": suicide, abortion, eating disorders, gang violence, and rape. We can't pretend that this kind of stuff goes over teens' heads. These books approach the issues and give understanding and show preventative measures.

After

Devon is an athlete with Olympic dreams. She is a straight A student and known for being a responsible member of her community. Despite being raised by a single mother who constantly seemed to have priorities other than raising her daughter, Devon is a model student. That is until the day her world is changed. Devon stays home sick from school and is on the couch disoriented when her mother comes home. Cops knock on the door informing Devon's mother that they found a baby in a dumpster nearby and asks if they could have a look around the apartment.

Devon has done the unthinkable and the question this book answers, what happens After? She is in a detention center and going through a court trial for attempted murder. How does her defense make a case? Why did she do it? At what lengths does she go to deny it all... even to herself?

This is an incredible read. It is absolutely riveting, you can't stop turning the pages. I have to say that it is a gut-wrenching topic but it is SO fascinating to see Efaw's take on it. We get to see what lead Devon to this even if it is heartbreaking you begin to understand her and even relate to how she felt. Brilliantly written!! It is a dark book with a dark subject but ultimately a worthwhile read.

That's all for now!

Signing Off,

Reader Girl

Sci-Fi Books We Love: Ally Condie's Matched

Back from a five day hiatus and ready to talk about a delightful book I reread over the weekend. I was in Illinois and spent an evening reading my book. Also I just found out today that I will be teaching eighth grade next year and could not be happier about it! Now onto our next bout of Dystopian Fiction!

Book I: Matched

Cassia lives in a world where society finds your optimal "match" and starting at age 17 you have the possibility of being matched. Cassia knows the probability of being matched on your birthday is miniscule. So you can imagine Cassia's surprise when she is summoned right after her birthday to go into town with her mother and father to be matched. Cassia finds relief in the fact that her best friend Xander has also been summoned, the matching ceremony generally finds the matchees a bundle of nerves. When it is Cassia's turn to be matched she goes to the stage and waits for the screen to light up with her match because chances are he lives in another community and has to be shown on a screen by satellite, and the screen turns black. It turns black because her match is in the room. When they call Xander's name Cassia can hardly believe her luck. She goes home to look at Xander's match card and when she opens it... it is not Xander's face she sees but another boy from her community, Ky. An official comes to tell her that the officials made a mistake and give her Xander's card. According to the official and Cassia all is remedied. However, she begins to notice Ky and it seems for the first time he also begins to notice her too. It seems the community can match everyone with unparalleled accuracy however when they make a "mistake" what does that really mean for Cassia, Ky, and Xander? Do you have choices or is everything chosen for you?

I can't wait to see what happens next in Condie's next

installment coming out November 2011!

Book II: Crossed

That's all for now!

Signing off,

Reader Girl

Sci-Fi Books We Love: Veronica Roth's Divergent

In my previous post I mentioned the growing trend of dystopian novels in Young Adult Fiction. However I failed to explain what dystopia is. Dystopia (according to Wikipedia) is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian. Essentially not really a perfect world but darn, if it doesn't try to be.

I think the trend is because we are coming upon a very weary generation. We have a group of kids who it seems have never seen their nation at its finest. Politics have been uniquely polarized in the last 10 years which leads to a more moderate counter-culture coming up. They are weary of siding with anyone because in their eyes both sides have done wrong. Statistically we have more students growing up in single parent house holds and the sense is that there is something wrong and broken in families. The economy has been a roller coaster the last ten years and I think our students are looking for answers.

Dystopian novels are author's answer or word of warning to these students. As the Hunger Games presents, don't give up your personal freedom for "bread and circuses" or as the Uglies that outward beauty is not a sign of achievement. I like that our students are getting a dose of something of substance. What is your answer to this broken world? I'd tell you mine, but you'd guess, its the only Answer.

Book I: Divergent

Set in Chicago many years from now Beatrice Prior's world is divided into five factions: Abnegation (selfless), Dauntless (brave), Candor (honest), Amity (Peaceful), and Erudite (intelligent). We meet Beatrice Prior as she enters the most important decision of her young life. She must choose which faction she will spend the rest of her life with. Her family is Abnegation, they are selfless, she envies her mothers natural selflessness and while it doesn't come naturally to her she is thankful for the harmony in which she lives. The day before the choosing ceremony she goes into a simulation which will tell her what faction she is most naturally akin to. For most people the simulation narrows there choice to one, but when Beatrice goes in for her simulation her world is changed. We follow Beatrice as she chooses her faction and learns just what it means to be Divergent. We also begin to see the fabric that binds these factions begin to fall apart. The factions were meant to rid the world of evil by focusing on virtues but it seems that corruption is hard to keep away in any world. You will love Beatrice and her kickin' attitude! You will be horrified at Eric, wish for friends like Christina and will and you will sa-woon for Four! ENJOY!

That's all for now!

Signing off,

Reader Girl

Books of Summer: Jessi Kirby's Moonglass

So when it comes to reading new books I often feel a certain skepticism. "Is this book really worth the 12-15$ I'll spend on it? Do I really even trust the reviewers?" However nothing gets me to read a book like a recommendation from an author I love.

In this case, Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen is on the quoted as saying "I couldn't put this book down. Kirby's voice is fresh and wise, all at once. An incredible first novel." The last book I read she said she loved was The Summer I turned Pretty and after reading my previous blog you know how much I loved that book! So again upon Ms. Dessen's recommendation I read it and yet again I was NOT disappointed.

Moonglass

Moonglass follows Anna as she and her father relocate to the beach town where her mother and father met many years ago. Her father manages the lifeguard company on the beach and Anna is strictly warned to stay away from the "lifeguarding staff" and the lifeguards are likewise warned to stay away from her. She meets a lifeguard named Tyler and it seems that she won't be able to follow the guideline her father set before her.

More than the lifeguards there are many townies who have a lot to teach her about her mother and father and the times they spent living along this beach. Her mother's past is what interests and scares her most of all, and its the mystery she is most interested in solving.

As with most YA fiction I find myself always longing to understand the relationship between the boy and girl. In this book Anna and Tyler don't disappoint. Tyler is kind and witty. He and Anna have a banter that makes you find them even more endearing.

Great book that you don't want to put down.

You can't wait to find out about Anna's

past right along with her!

That's all for now!

Signing off,

Reader Girl

Books of Summer: Sarah Dessen Part II

So as I last posted I was going to tell you about another of my favorite Sarah Dessen books and tell you a little bit about her latest one. She has other books that have come out between Just Listen and What Happened to Goodbye, namely, Lock and Key and Along for the Ride.

Lock and Key has Ruby and Chris. They are cute and it a very different story than Sarah Dessen's usual stuff. However in that sense it is also pretty refreshing. I enjoyed it for sure and perhaps over time I'll learn to love it like I love her others.

Along for the Ride is actually surprisingly funny. Auden the protagonist has a feminist, scholarly mother, which leads to some HILARIOUSLY biting commentary. Auden and Eli have a funny chemistry. Some of my favorite one liners come from Along for the Ride. :-)

HOWEVER we aren't here to talk about Lock and Key or Along for the Ride.

Just Listen

"Annabel, Annabel, Annabel Green," (set to the poem Annabel Lee by Edgar Alan Poe). Annabel Green has what everybody deems to be the perfect life. She is a model, her sisters are beautiful, and her family lives in a beautiful glass house in "The Arbors". However in one night at the end of school last year everything changed for Annabel. She now spends her school days sitting on a ledge at lunch about six feet away from Owen Armstrong. Owen is known as the angriest kid around. However Annabel finds out he is MUCH more than he appears. Annabel internal dialogues a lot but she has some very funny observations about her life both past and present. However my favorite character in the book is Owen's little sister... Mallory. Mallory enters the book in a "blur of pink" she is bubbly and hilarious. Her introduction is my favorite section of ANY Sarah Dessen book. I LOVE this book and it is pretty much wonderful!

What Happened to Goodbye?

Ah Sarah's latest venture. I look forward to summer knowing that Sarah Dessen may come out with a new book. In this book she didn't disappoint. Mclean (named for a Basketball Coaching Legend) goes through life putting on different masks. When she arrives in Lakeview all bets are off. She meets a neighbor Dave and he begins to actually create a lasting friendship, and he likewise begins to see through her mask and get to know her for who she is and the mystery of where she comes from. I loved this book because we got to see McLean really transform and it talks a lot about the pain of divorce and different ways of coping. Dave is a really sweet understated character and it brings about a very "boy next door charm". This works because he is in fact the boy next door. Wonderful book, endearing and charming. I plan on reading it again and again.

That's all for now!

Signing off,

Reader Girl