Young Adult Literature

Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The Crossover.  New York.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Mr.  Alexander uses a unique style for twelve-year Josh Bell tells about his love for basketball.  Josh and his identical twin brother Jordan are star players on their school’s basketball team.  Josh uses rhymes to express what is going on in his life.  Every topic began on a new page with a title, definition, or a certain emphasis.  It appears to be a story told in free verse poetry.  The book is divided as if it is a basketball game it includes the warm up and overtime instead of traditional chapters.  The theme of the book is basketball.  The author shows a family’s love for basketball through a former basketball star and his sons.  The father known as the “Da Man” trains his boys to be phenomenal basketball players and brothers even after suffering a heart attack and being very ill.This book is good for readers who love basketball, are reluctant readers, or enjoy family.

This is a book from the 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

Other work by Kwame Alexander.

 

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Bell, CeCe.  (2014).  El Deafo.  New York, New York.  Amulet Books.

El Deafo is great for a student who enjoys reading through comic strips.  It is good for a person who is challenged with being different due to a disability or impairment.  It is good for students to identify with someone or something to feel comfortable with your differences. While reading it is easy to develop an empathetic bond with the main character.  Cece Bell describes losing her hearing at four years old due to meningitis.  She tries learning to read lips but had trouble with that. She was sent to a school to learn sign language and to learn to read lips.  She had no interest in learning sign language.  She could hear sounds without the hearing aids.  When she is given hearing aids  she his able to hear her teacher and even things that she was not able to hear.  Through her development she struggles finding friends.   She learns that she has to wear glasses after an incident that scares one of her friends.  CeCe Bell  uses humor tell her story of being deaf  and the challenges she faces.  She even shares her first crush Mike.  This is an autobiographical graphic novel. 

This book is on the list for great graphic novels for 2015.  Below is another book by Cece Bell.

Black, Holly.  (2013).  The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.  New York, New York.  Little, Brown and Company.

Tana the protagonist, woke up in a bath tub after falling asleep at a party hiding from her ex-boyfriend Aidan.  All her friends at the party had been slaughtered by vampires.  Tanna saves Aidan and the vampire Gavriel.  The three some escape from the vampires who were still there.  Aiden had been infected by one of the vampires and would turn into one eventually.  The three travel to Coldtown.  The back of Tanna’s knee was scrapped by one of the vampire’s teeth causing her to worry that she would be infected.  She did not want to experience the horrible terror her mother once had to locked in chained in a dark basement because she was infected.  They met Midnight and Winter who wanted to go to Coldtown and become vampires.  While in Coldtown Aidan kills a person as he turns into a complete vampire sucking blood from the person’s arm.  Tanna is caught on camera killing two vampires, one of whom infects her.  Tanna eventually kills the famous vampire Lucien Moreau out of revenge.  The book ends with quarantining herself to rid herself of the infection.  Gavriel the vampire would spend the twelve weeks of quarantine with her in the basement.  The two had form a romantic human and vampire romance. 

Black uses, fear, bravery, determination and romance to have the reader turn the page.  There is constant conflict between humans and vampires.  As the plot continues to unfold the reader anticipates what Tanna would do next.  The book glorifies being a vampire.  Every character in the story has a connection with a vampire or has someone who has been infected by a vampire.

Other work by Holly Black

 Brown, Jeffery.  (2013). Jedi Academy.  New York, New York. Scholastic Inc.

Roan always dreamed of flight school.  His dad and brothers were pilots.  He received a rejection letter and thought he would have to settle for plant school.  A week before classes started he received a letter inviting him to attend Jedi Academy.  He had trouble adjusting when he first started.  There were other students there who made fun of him.  He had a lot of trouble learning to use the Force.  After returning from spending Spring Break with his friends he participated in a Light Saber Fencing Tournament.  His team lost after he accidently disqualified his team by using the Force to turn off an opponent’s sword.  Before going home for Summer break, he learn to control the Force.  He earned a B+ in his principles of the force class, were before he received a D+.  He went home for Summer break feeling more comfortable with being the new kid at the academy and with friends.  He had one special friend Gaiana who he liked very much.  The setting of this book is a school on another planet that is taught by aliens with light saber swords.  This book can be found on the Quick Pick list.

Other books in this series.

King, A.S.  (2010).  Please Ignore Vera Dietz.  New York.  Random House Inc.

Vera is an eighteen-year-old high school who student who works as a pizza technician.  Vera holds many secrets of her best friend Charlie, who died under crazy circumstances.  Vera was in love with Charlie and still is as she is constantly reminded of him.  Vera and Charlie had been friends since they learned to walk.  Charlie loved to smoke cigarettes and enjoyed sharing his tree house with Vera.  Vera tells the story through her eyes.  She uses alcohol to cope with her feelings of losing Charlie twice, her mother leaving her and her dad and her dad who is very cheap.  Her dad strongly disapproves of drinking.  Vera had a few incidents after drinking. Vera goes through high school under the radar as Charlie becomes the popular kid.  Their friendship is busted up by group of Detentionheads and Jenny Flick.    A thousand Charlies showed any time insisting that Vera tell what really happened the night that Charlie died.  No one sees these Charlies but Vera.  She is eventually convinced by the Charlies to go to the police after finding the notes her left for her on napkins in the big oak tree that they climb together.  Development tasks are seen in this book. She describes how she goes through puberty.  There evidence of the changes in relationship with her parents.  

Another book by A.S. King below:

Alexie, Sherman.  (2007).  The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian.  NY:  Little Brown.  
Junior was born with too much fluid on his brain.  The medical problems did not keep him from being picked on and beat up by people in his community.  Junior lived with his mother, alcoholic dad, Grandma and his sister/  The family lived poor on Spokane Indian Reservation.  Junior experiences the death of family members including his grandmother, sister and his dog.  Junior was picked on by everyone but his best friend Randy.  Upon entering high school Junior was fed up with the lack of a quality education.  He asked his parents if he could go to school at Reardan.  Though he was labeled as a traitor he continued school despite being shunned on the Rez and even by his best friend Randy.  He wanted to experience life outside the Rez and After being there for a while he finally gains some popularity.  He continued to draw cartoons and even became a star on the school's basketball team.  After finishing his freshman year he and Randy mend their friendship.
Through the plot of the story you can see how the protagonist, Junior works to change his predetermined destiny.  How does he change his destiny?  He continues to attend school at Reardan, a school in the White community twenty-two miles away from the Rez.  Junior displays bravery and determination as he works to achieve his goal.  He wants to be able to see the world and enjoy it.  He doesn't want to be a poor alcoholic like most of the men in Spokane.
Other work by Sherman Alexie

Gaiman, Neil. (2008).  The Graveyard Book.  New York: HarperCollins.

Nobody Owen’s family is killed in the first pages of the book.  He escapes to a graveyard.  He is raised by the dead people and given freedom of the graveyard.  He communicates with the dead traveling to their tombs.  He can travel through the walls in the graveyard.  The reader travels with him through life as he deals with leaving the graveyard risking his safety.  He goes to school in the city and it doesn’t work out.  He meets the only friend, Scarlet, he made outside the graveyard.  This leads to the man, Jack who tried to kill him.  Jack had killed Nobody’s parents.  If Nobody lived to be an adult it would put an end to the brotherhood of the Jacks.  He survived that ordeal.   After fifteen years, he left the graveyard never to return to live as the living people do.

The author does great in keeping the reader’s interest.  Neiman gives the reader enough to visualize the boy traveling to different parts of the graveyard and the cemetery.

Another book by Neil Gaiman

Selznick, Brian.  (2011). Wonderstruck.  New York: Scholastic.

Ben was born deaf in one ear.  He lost his hearing in the other ear after lightning struck his home.  He was an only child.  He lost his mother in a car accident.  He visits his home he lived in with his mom during a storm one day.  He finds a book mark in one of his mom’s books with a name and number he thought to be his dad.  He is struck by lightning as he tries to call the number.  He loses his hearing in the other ear.  Story plot: Ben leaves the hospital in Minnesota and travels to New York to find his father that he never knew.  He is deaf and has a hard time reading lips.  He made friends with Jamie after reaching New York.  Jamie helps him to hide in one of the unused rooms in the museum where her dad works.  He locates the bookstore listed on the back of the bookmark.  He met his father’s mother, Rose, and learned the story about his parents.

The other story in this book is told in pictures only.  The pictures tell the story of his grandmother and her experience as a deaf child.  It also shows flashes of his dreams that become reality.  Rose runs away to New York to see her idol.  The idol turns out to be her mother.  She runs away and ends up at the same Museum Ben went to.  The story is nearly 50 years apart.  Rose and Ben meet at the bookstore.  Rose is Ben’s grandmother, the mother of his dad.  Rose tells Ben her life story as they visit the Queens Museum of Art.

Wonderstruck first appeals to readers who enjoy illustrations.  This was a page turner.  For a student who enjoys the mysteries of life or puzzles they would enjoy this.  The pieces of the story were here and there and came together nicely.  

Walter, Dean M. (1999).  Monster.  New York:Harper

Steve Harmon, a sixteen year-old young Blackman from Harlem.  He is in the Manhatten Dentention Center for a felony murder charge.  He is accused of being the lookout for a drug store robberry.  People he know commited the crime.  Steve and his friend James King are labeled as monsters by the Assistant District Attorney.  As he goes through this experience of jail and the trial he journals.  The entries are in the form of a screen play. He wants to be a film maker.    Through his journal and his scripts you see that Steve hates being locked up.  Steve thinks that his attorney thinks that he is guilty even when she shows up to get a list of people for character witness.  Steve was acquitted, found not guilty.  This experience has changed his life.  King and Bobo stay in jail for the crime and he gets to return to his family.    

The scenes are from the detention center and the courtroom.  The mood of the book is dark from beginning to the end.  Steve is discouraged , afraid that he no longer knows himself.  

Anderson, Laurie H.  (199).  Speak.  New York.  Penguin.

Melinda Sordino spends her freshman year mute.  She is shunned by her classmates fro calling the police to a party the Summer before school started.  The only friend she has is Heather who is new to town.  Heather tries to get her involved in school, but Melinda doesn’t want to.  Throught the school year Melinda struggles with her tree project in her Art class, the only class she enjoys.   On the last day of school she finally turns in a finished project.  She does poorly in all other classes. She skips days of school going to the mall.  She often spends time in an unused janitor’s closet that she turned into a space of her own.   She has regular meetings with her guidance counselor who is concerned with her behavior and desire to remain mute.  She begins to relive what happened that Summer as she sees Andy Evans who she named IT.  She eventually finds the courage to tell her former best friend that she was raped by Andy Evans.  Rachel doesn’t believe her and thinks she is just jealous because she is dating him.  After telling Rachel she is more confident in herself.  Andy approaches her in her janitor’s the week after the prom where is was dumped by Rachel.  Andy locks her in the closet and attempts to do the same thing.  This time Melinda screams and fights.  She is found by the lacrosse team who wastes no time telling the school what they saw happening in the closet.

The author uses symbolism in this story.  The tree symbolizes her growth of all that she had to struggle with.  It nearly took her everyday of the school year to finish this tree.  It took nearly the same amount of time to gain her confidence and speak.

Another book by Laurie Anderson:

Garden, Nancy.  (1982).  Annie on my mind.  New York. FSG. 

Liza meets Annie at the Metroplitan Musuem.  Liz is fascinated by Annie.  Liza attends Foster Private School wher she is the student council president.  Annie attends public sachool on the other side of town.  She is punished by the headmistress who said that she breached the failure to report rule.  Liza knew that Sally had started a ear piercing business.  The school is in a financial crisis and does  not need any negative publicity according to Mrs. Poindexter.  One student’s ear was infected, Jenny.  Jenny is the daughter of Mr. Piccolo, who manages the financial campaign for the school.  Liza is suspended from school for a week.  Mrs. Poindexter will allow the student body to do a vote of confidence to determine if she would remain student council president.  During the week of her suspension Liza and Annie spend a lot of time together getting to know eachother.  The two grow closer together and exchanged rings as gifts for Christmas.  Annie tells Liza in a letter that she is gay and loves Liza.  While looking after Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson’s cats over Spring Break the two grow even closer.  They spend a lot of quality time together at teachers’ house having breakfast and lunch there.  Annie discovers that the teachers are gay after reading books on the booksheleves in the teachers bedroom.  On the day the teachers were to return the girls found themselves in the bed kissing after playing out a fantasy with sauce pans and helmets.  Liza answers the door after hearing a loud knock at the door.  It happens to be Ms. Baxter and Sally.  Liza had missed a student council meeting where she was suppose to share a speech that she had written.  Ms. Baxter reports her findings to the school.  Liza is expelled from school when she returns.  When her parents get the news her mom takes it badly while her dad is supportive.  Liza meets before the board of trustees.  The board voted that her sexuality did not have anything to do with the school.  Ms.Windmer and Ms. Stevenson retires and decides to spend time in their country house painting and writing.  The teachers were supportive of the girls relationship.  After not speaking for months the girls connect and make plans to see eachother during their Winter break from their universities. 

The author continues to build the plot from the first day the girls meet.  The girls over time build a deep love for eachother.  They meet eachother’s family.  Liza’s family even attends Annie’s school progam with her to hear Annie sing.  They accept that they are gay and become more comfortable with it.  The two want to spend their lives together.  The two go two universities far apart, but never forget eachother.

Other work by Nancy Garden:

Gephart, Donna (2016).  Lily and Dunkin.  New York: Delacorte.

Timothy McGrother was born as a boy but feels like a girl and goes by the name Lily Jo.  His desire to become a girl is accepted by his mother and sister.  Her dad is afraid that he will be made fun of and possibly hurt.  Norbet Dorfman, Dunkin, lives with bipolar disorder.  He and his mother moved from New Jersey to Florida to stay with his grandmother.  His father is in New Jersey in a mental facility.  Lily and Dunkin first see each other in the neighborhood the week before school starts.  Dunkin see Lily helping her dad takes groceries inside the house and waves at her.  When they see each other the next time Lily tells Dunkin that her sister dared her to wear the dress.  Through the book Lily struggles with trying to come out.  Her father struggles with it to.  Her mother finally convinces Lily's dad to get help with understanding the transition.  The two have a friendship that blossoms.  Dunkin brings another friend into their group.  They deal with other issues as well.  Dunkin worries about making the basketball team.  He is nagged by his grandmother about drinking enough water and staying fit.  Lily Jo worries about attending the school dance, and she also leads a protest.  She wants to save the trees outside the public library.
Adolescent develop is evident here as the two struggle with friendships and self identity.

Another favorite by Donna Gephart:

Green, John  (2012).  The Fault In Our Stars.  New York: Penguin Group.

Sixteen year old Hazel Grace reluctantly attends the cancer support group.  Hazel was diagnosed with lung cancer.   Attending a meeting she meets Agustus Waters.  Augustus Waters is also a cancer survivor.  His cancer caused him to loose his leg and wear a prosthetic leg.  Hazel shares her favorite book, Imperial Affliction with Augustus.  .  Augustus has her to read a book based on a video game that Augustus likes.  Like Hazel, he feels that the author cheated them by the way he ended the book.  They felt like he left out a conclusion.  Hazel had written Peter Van Houten, the author of Imperial Affliction, many times.  Augustus was able to contact Van Houten’s assistant Lidewij.  Augustus uses his cancer wish to get a trip to Amsterdam for the two and Hazel’s mom.  The two met Lidewij and Peter Van Houten in Amsterdam.  Mr. Von Houten treated them badly.  They discover that he is a miserable alcoholic.  He did not provide them with the answers about the book they wanted.  While in Amsterdam Augustus tells Hazel that he had a scan before the trip and cancer has spread through his body.  After returning home Augustus’s health worsens.  Hazel spends the last few months caring for him.  She even wrote a pre eulogy for him.  He died eight days after the eulogy.  Mr. Von Houten attends the funeral for Augustus.  While in town Mr. Von Houten in his drunken state shares with Hazel Grace the reason for his bitterness.  He had a daughter who died of leukemia at the age of eight.   

 

Harris, Robie.  (2009).  It’s perfectly normal.  Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

This book provides readers with information about the body and the changes the body goes through. It answers questions about puberty, sexual idenity, sex, family dynamics, and give details about the body.  The pictures in the book do not hide anything about body parts showing nude bodies that display the male and female sex organs inside and outside.  Throughout the book the bird and bee make comments about the information presented.  The dialogue between the two creatures are shown with conversation bubbles.  This is a go to guide for parents and teens about sex and sex health. 

 

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Ness, Patrick.  (2008).  The knife of never letting go.  Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.
Todd Hewitt lives with his two adoptive uncles Ben and Cillian.  (Todd gets along better with Ben.)
They live in Prentisstown in the new world.  They are the only human colony.  The town is only men.   There was a disease on the settlement that killed all the women and some of the men.  Todd lost both parents.  There are no kids in the town.  Todd is the youngest there.  At the age of thirteen, in one month, he will become a man. The disease they was suppose to wipe out the human population allowed people to hear other people's thoughts.  This is called Noise. The animals even made noise.  The only people that Todd can talk to are Ben and Cillian because he hasn't become a man yet.
While picking apples with his dog Manchee, Todd hears silence.  He then discovers a girl Viola.  Other people in the town notices the word silence in his Noise and began looking for him.  Ben and Cillian gives him a backpack with essentials and his mother's journal.  Todd flees to the forest as the men in town search for him and Viola.  

The men of Prentisstown want Todd to come back.  Todd, Viola and Manchee run through Swampy land until they come to a town with women, men and children.  Aaron who is the town's preacher attack the three.  Todd and Manchee forces him into the lake where is attacked by crocodiles.  Todd learned that Viola crash landed on New World.  Using a map trying to get to Haven the three meet Hildy who takes them into the nearest town.  Men from Prentisstown finds the town and burn it and anyone who did not want to join them.  Todd comes across Aaron again who stabs him.  Manchee is used a distraction to help Todd get Viola.  They were able to escape.  Todd ends up in another town.  He unexpectedly sees Ben there hiding.  The people in the town help by fighting the men from Prentisstown.  Todd learns from Ben that the Noise is part of the planet.  The men of Prentisstown were upset by the women's ability to remain silent.  The women were killed and banished.  Todd must kill someone in order to become a man.  Aaron wants him to kill him but it doesn't happen because he is killed by Viola.  They encounter Davy again who shoot Viola.  After reaching Haven the mayor is there.  Todd surrenders to save Viola.
This is a science fiction and dystopia.  The citizens are controlled by the mayor.  Citizens cannot learn to read or write.  They are monitored in this case by their Noise.  This was my first time reading a book like this.  It was quite interesting.

Another book by Patrick Ness

 

Quintero, Isabel.  (2014).  Gabi: A girl in pieces.  TX: Cinco Puntos.

Quintero uses three characters to address serious issues that face teenagers.
Gabi's mother always tell her "Jos abiertos, piernas cerradas", translation open eyes closed legs.  Her mother doesn't want her to be another statistic getting pregnant before marriage.  Her mom had her at twenty-five out of wedlock and was beaten by Gabi's grandmother because of it.  Gabi's best friend Cindy calls to tell her she is pregnant.  She attended a party with German, got drunk and had sex in his car.  The two later go and buy a pregnancy test to confirm the pregnancy.  Cindy's mom is furious when she is told and even yells at Gabi who was there to support.  Sebastian "comes out" to Gabi telling her he is gay.  She already knew.  When he tells his parents he is gay they kick him out of their house and he goes to live with Gabi temporarily.  Gabi's mom is constantly on her about eating and her weight.  She hides her favorite treats in her room so that she can eat them without being judged.  Gabi thinks a lot about sex.  When she has sex for the first time with her boyfriend he asks her if it is okay.  His dad tols him "if a girl says no, it's no.  Gabi hates German when Cindy tells her that he raped her.  Gabi continues to try and help Cindy encouraging her and helping her.  Gabi even gets suspended for  a confrontation she starts with German.  She is suspended from school and can't walk at graduation.  Cindy doesn't says that he didn't hit her just pinned her down.  She gets upset with how Gabi is reacting to the situation.
Sebastian eventually moves in with his aunt.  His parents will have nothing to do with him.  He tells Gabi about how he prayed not to be gay and how he tried liking girls.  HIs aunt doesn't want him to bring boys to her house.  He dates a boy name Pedro.  HIs aunt caught him without pants with Pedro.  She sends him to a psychologists to talk him out of being a gay.  She also sends him to a priest to pray the gay away.
Gabi, the protagonist, is brave ans supportive of her friends.  She challenges the expectations others have for her.  She is okay with her body and herself the way she is.  

Another book by Isabel Quintero:

Satrapi, Marjane.  (2004).  Persepolis.  NY: Pantheon.

Marjane tells abou her life growing up in Iran.  She grew up during the Islamic Revolution.  Her parents and other family members would attend the protest.  She did not like the social inequalities that she saw.  She wanted to fix those problems.  She wanted to make sure that the elderly didn’t suffer either.  She felt as if she was a prophet of God and received messages from him.  Her parents told her of how her grandfather was a prince and was overthrown and imprisoned by the Shah regime.  As she attends school changes take place do to the changes in the country’s leadership.  The boys and girls are seperated and the girls are required to wear veils. Her grandmother and uncle visit and give her more history about the Shah.  The country’s ruler is forced out. War breaks out in Iran.  People move away from the country.  Food is scarce and families live in fear of being arrested or bombed.  Marjane is seen as a rebel.  She does not like the fact that girls are under a strict dress code and is approached by the women Guardians of the Revolution.  She isn’t appropiately dressed like a muslim female should be.  Marjane’s parents send her to Vienna to live with a friend and attend a French school.  They felt that this is safer for her while there was war in Iran.  Her parents was sad to send her off, but thought it was in her best interest to go. 

Marjane Satrapi uses humor in her graphic novel to tell about being a youth growing up during the Islamic Revolution.  She gives a lot of history about the country.  As a outspoken girl she takes readers on a journey that teaches that is unforgettable and educational. 

Another book by Marjane Satrapi:

Angleberger, Tom. (2011).  Darth Paper strikes back: an Origami Yoda book.  New York: Abrams.

Harvey shows up to school on the first day with Darth Paper.  The previous school year Dwight and  Origami Yoda did a lot to make the lives of the students better by giving advice.  Even the popular kids who wouldn't normally talk to them would come for advice.  Darth Paper and Origami Yoda are paper puppets.  Harvey with Darth Paper share insults and negativity throughout the school.  Friendships are broken, Mike is crying again, and Dwight has been suspended from school.  Jen, a cheerleader comes to Origami Yoda for advice.  Dwight whispers in her ear "Zero Hour Comes.  Prepare to Meet Your Doom!  Later that afternoon Dwight is called to the principal's office.  He was kicked out of school.  He told Tommy and  that they must write a case for the school board because he was kicked out of school.  Tommy believes that Darth Paper is the cause of the bad things going on in their school this year.  Dwight would have to spend the rest of the semester at the Correctional and Remedial Education Facility. CREF was a place where really bad kids were sent. Tommy and Harvey attended the school board meeting in Dwight's defense.  There words had no impact. Dwight's mother yelled at the school board and said that he would no longer attend the school.  Dwight will go to a private school.  He will go to school with Caroline a girl he likes.  The book ends with Tommy going to brunch with Sara and her family.  He thought Sara liked Tater Tot since they had played putt-putt together.  Everything eventually worked out.
The boys worked together to help their friend who was expelled from school.  The presence of Darth Paper seem to be the worse thing of the school year.  In the end all were happy with the way things turned out well for everyone.
Below is the next book that is a part of this series by Tom Angleberger.

Block, Francesca, L.  (2013).  Love in the time of global warming.  New York: Henry Holt & Company.  

Penelope who is called Pen loses everything when the Earth Shaker destroyed Los Angeles.  She no longer have her parents her brother Venice or their brother Venice.  She brlieves her family is alive somewhere she just have to find them.  There are giants who roam the city feeding on humans. Pen travels through Los Angeles to Las Vegas having to be brave.  She eludes an angry group by jumping into a bus and driving it.  Penelope's dad worked for Kronen the man who took one of her eyes promising her mother in exchange.  Kronen created the giants that caused the Earth Shaker.  Her dad lost his job when he discovered this and questioned what Kronen did.  She finds out that Merk is her real father.  He saved her twice during this story.  He take her back to the hose where she lived.  There she finds her brother and their dog.  Orange butterflies have lead Pen helping her in her search of her family.  In the end the family is reunited and their garden magically grows.  They had been surviving on very little, water and canned foods.

The author uses imagery in this book.  She uses imagery to create mental images for the readers.  Pen uses painting that she enjoys to describe the scenes.

Smith, Andrew. (2013).  Winger.  New York: Simon Schuster.  

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen year old student at a boarding school for rich kids. Ryan Dean is nicknamed Winger because that is the position he plays on the Rugby team. Chas, Ryan Dean's roomate, forces Ryan Dean to drink beer while playing poker.  This upsets Annie.  Ryan Dean like Annie and his wish is to prove that he is good enough for her. He has studies sessions with Chas' girlfriend Meagan.  Ryan Dean is left with stitches over his eye as he tries to retaliate for JP taking Annie to the Halloween Dance.  Ryan Dean visits with Annie and her family during a weekend trip to Seattle.  She confuses him by kissing him twice, holding his hand and saying she can't love him.    Ryan Dean tells Meagan that they can no longer see each other after he admits to Chas that they have kissed.  Meagan admits that she is in love with him.  Ryan Dean has a good friend Joey, who is gay.  He keeps it secret to avoid drama.  He tells him there is boy on campus who is interested in him.  After the Halloween party Joey didn't return that night. Another student tells Ryan Dean that Joey had gotten into a fight with Casey and Nick.  Joey is found dead in the woods.  He had been beaten to death after he was stripped and tied to a tree by Casey and Nick.  

Mr. Smith uses the relationships of the characters tell the story.  Ryan Dean seems mature as the story continues.  After the tragic loss of his friend he builds bonds with other guys that he didn't get along with before.  He learns that love is important.

Stead, Rebecca (2012).  Liar and spy.  New York: Random House.

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Crutcher, Chris.  (2001).  Whale Talk.  New York: HarperCollins.

The Tao Jones, known as T.J. tells this story from his perspective.  T.J. is a high school senior who lives with his White adoptive parents.  The family lives in Cutter, Washington which is predominantly White.  T.J. is part African American and part Japanese.  He says what is on his mind and is quick tempered.  T.J. is asked by his English teacher, Mr. Simet to help him form a swim team because he does want to coach wrestling this school year.  T.J. sees Mike Barbour picking on Chris Coughlin about wearing his dead brother's lettermen jacket. Chris is mentally disabled, and his brother was star athlete before he died.  After seeing Chris swim at the Y T.J. asks Chris to join the swim team.  He gets more people to join the team after passing out flyers.  A man named Oliver who is later called Icko by the team becomes the team's assistant coach and bus driver.  In order to receive a lettermen  jacket the team must beat their personal best each time.  As the team travels to their meets the boys open up to each other.  They learn why their team member Andy Mott has a prosthetic leg.  The team helps the members on the team who were not passing their classes.
T.J. continues to visit his therapist, Georgia, he had since he was two when he started living with his adoptive parents.  While T.J. is there he sometimes helps her with some of her patients.  One patient, Heidi, is the step daughter of an enemy Rich Marshall.  Rich Marshal is a graduate of Cutter High, but spends a lot of his time there helping the football team.  Heidi is abused by Rich Marshall.  His family including his twin boys eventually moves in with T.J. and his family.  There is a restraining order against Rich Marshall, he isn't suppose to contact his family.  Rich Marshall calls to speak Alicia his wife traveling from pay phone to pay phone to call.  T.J.'s dad gets fed up and warns Rich Marshall to back off.
The swim team continues to work hard and earn their lettermen jackets.  T.J. did not earn his lettermen.  He didn't care about the jacket.  T.J. thinks the athletic department is too competitive.  He even had Mike Barbour the football player to swim against Chris Coughlin.  Mike Barber didn't win.  T.J. puts together a basketball team that included his dad and Andy Mott.  T.J.'s dad is shot and killed during a basketball game by Rich Marshall.  After his father's death T.J. meets his step brother Kyle Couples.  Kyle and his dad had a lot in common.  They both enjoyed whales and motorcycles.
There is a lot of conflict in the story.  Members of the athletic department are upset with T.J. because he is a good athlete but won't join a team.  There is racial conflict.  The family conflict between Rich Marshall and children social services.  The athletic team gives the swim team and their coaches a hard time about their lettermen jackets.

Telgemeier, Raina. (1986). The babysitters club: Kristy's great idea.  New York: Scholastic. 

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Sheiken, Steve.  (2012).  The Chicago Port 50. New York: Roaring Books Press.