Running Loose

Running Loose

Chris Crutcher

216 pgs

Greenwillow Books (2003)

Subject Matter: sportsmanship, football, love, death

Louie Banks is a senior in high school and has everything he could ever want. A cute girl friend and one of the top stars on the football team he's got it going on. He is definitely on top of the food chain until he defies the coach's game plan to purposefully injure one of the players from a rival team. He makes a scene of throwing off his helmet on the football field and this creates a year long feud between him, the coach, and the principal. Things are pretty rocky from then on out but he still has his girlfriend... until that also changes. His life is ripped apart and he has a hard time getting it put back together, especially with everyone at his high school knowing everything about him.

Review: Great book of football and life's problems

Now You Know: A book where a boy does not follow the rules

Day of Tears

Day of Tears

Julius Lester

192 pgs

Hyperion Book CH (2007)

Subject Matter: slaves, slave auction, post civil war

A historical novel written in dialog and monologue. The biggest slave auction in the United States history is because Pierce Butler gambled all his money and must pay off his debts. He sells most of his slaves, including Emma, who had taken care of his children until this point in time. He had promised that she would not be sold, but when more money was offered for her services than could have been expected, he broke down and was greedy. Emma was sold to a woman from Kentucky, married and ran away to Canada. The story line jumps between what was present day and what is the future with the main characters reflecting on their actions and why they did what they did.

Review: Interesting because the amounts that the slaves were sold for are included

Now You Know: Slaves are people too!

The First Part Last

The First Part Last

Angela Johnson

144 pgs

Simon Pulse (2004)

Subject Matter: new father, baby, school

Bobby is a single, teen father. At the young age of 16 he is terrified and overwhelmed with caring for his new baby. His mother does not want him to become dependent on her and refuses to help out more than is totally necessary. He is caring for this new child while trying to get himself through school so that he can graduate and get a job to provide for himself and this young child. The books switches back and forth between 'now' when this baby, Feather, fills his life with the joy that he so desperately needs, and 'then' when his girlfriend was pregnant, preparing to bring this little life into the world. The difficult decision of whether to keep the baby or give it up for adoption is a real problem and when Nia suffers from irreversible postpartum brain damage Bobby decides to take the child home.

Review: Tender father story of him and his new baby

Now You Know: A story of teen pregnancy

Angel's Gate

Angel's Gate

Gary Crew

252 pgs

Allen and Unwin (2006)

Subject Matter: wild children, Australia, mystery/detective

Flannagan is murdered up in the hills, and no one knows who did it. There were a few men who were with him that night and they are put on trial but found no further evidence. Flannagan was the father of two children, one boy and one girl. Left on their own, they turn wild and learn to fend for themselves in a wild kind of way. When Leena is captured, Kimmy becomes her friend in a gentle sort of way. Leena confides in him and he takes it upon himself to find the murderer. As Kimmy and Leena learn more about one another, they form a friendship that is precious among just the two of them. Leena will not allow anyone else to get close to her. Kimmy becomes braver as he realizes that he is the one person Leena totally trusts, and Leena learns that there are people who are willing to help her, if given the chance.

Review: A great mystery as to who killed who and what to do with the wild children.

Now You Know: A great story that even an eight-year-old-would love

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska

John Green

221 pgs

Penguin Group (2005)

Subject Matter: interpersonal relations, boarding schools, Alabama, death

Pudge moves from his home high school in FL to go to a boarding school in AL. He's not very popular and has a hard time making friends until he meets his roommate, Chip, and is instantly part of a very special clique. This clique specializes in pranks and is always trying to pull one-up on the weekend warriors of the school, the rich kids attending only because their parents want them to. They usually live within driving distance and tend to go home for the weekends. Alaska and Chip are the masterminds of this ordeal and conjure up the perfect junior prank. Alaska is a girl full of spunk and light but has a dark secret that keeps her from totally loving life. She goes through moods like white on rice, quickly changing all of the time. As the friends outsmart The Eagle, the nickname for the dean of students at Culver Creek, Alaska breaks down and does some irrational things. The rest of the school is left looking for the meaning of life.

Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here

Joan Bauer

186 pgs

G.P. Putnam's Sons (2000)

Subject Matter: restaurants, cancer, politics, local government

Gleason Beal steals all the money from the diner Addie and Hope are currently working at, leaving them searching for work. G.T. Stopp has been diagnosed with leukemia and is in need of a head cook and a waitress, meaning Addie and Hope. They move to the diner and are confronted with a political campaign as G.T. decides to run for mayor. As newcomers to the town they are quickly wrapped in the town politics, especially as some kids from the school put together a campaign and Braverman asks Hope if she would like to join. Joining the campaigning, Hope finds friends she's never had, and the workers at the restaurant give her the family she's never had.

Review: Good book of finding out what life is about and the ability of friendships and the way they change lives

Now You Know: Sex and drinking are big deals and so is death.

You Don't Know Me

You Don't Know Me

David Klass

262 pgs

Frances Foster Books (2001)

Subject Matter: high school, self-perception, abuse, love, infatuation

Beezer gets caught shoplifting and he can no longer ask Gloria on a date. John take the opportunity to take the idea of Beezer and Gloria says, "yes." The whole night is a disaster and John realizes how shallow beautiful people can be. He thought he was in love with this girl and that she liked him back but the night continues to get worse and he realizes that Gloria is not the girl he thought she was. Her father comes home and believes that John is taking advantage of Gloria, when really it is the other way around, and scares him out of the house. On the way home, John's mom's abusive father picks him up and they commit a crime. John is in danger of his life before Mr. Steenwilly happeningly drives by.

Review: A scarily true story of abuse and what happens when a boy thinks he is in love.

Warnings: Graphic scenes