The Amber Spyglass ~ Philip Pullman

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (2000)
ISBN: 0-679-87926-9
518 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Fantasy, adventure
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: In this conclusion to the His Dark Materials trilogy, beings from countless worlds converge to battle the Authority in a cosmic showdown, but the outcome is all down to young Lyra and Will.

Summary: Moving between worlds with the golden compass and the subtle knife, Lyra and Will face incredible dangers and unknown enemies. With help from Lyra’s beloved Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear king, and two tiny spies, Lyra and Will make a journey to a world where only the dead have ventured before. There they make a stunning discovery that can alter the course of history—if only they can manage a safe return to the world of the living. Meanwhile, in a world peopled not with humans but with other intelligent creatures, physicist Mary Malone fashions a spyglass of amber through which she sees that Dust is streaming away at an alarming pace. Unbeknownst to them all, the fate of Lord Asriel’s war against the Authority, and indeed the fate of all the worlds, rests on Lyra, Will and Mary, and their ability to make the right choices at the right time.

Notes: This is book 3 of the His Dark Materials trilogy; the preceding books are The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. The entire trilogy is outstanding, probing at philosophical and theological issues in ways that only the genre of fantasy can.
Flags: 5

Anahita's Woven Riddle ~ Meghan Nuttal Sayers

Publisher: Amulet Books (2008)
ISBN: 978-0810995482
384 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: A nomadic weaver in the deserts of Persia, Anahita agrees to marry the man who correctly solves the riddle she has woven into her wedding carpet.

Summary: In 19th century Persia, women marry according to their families’ wishes. Content with her weaving and hoping to apprentice herself to her tribe’s dyemaster, Anahita would rather not marry just yet. Striking an unusual compromise with her father, Farhad, Anahita agrees to weave a riddle into her wedding carpet and marry the man who solves the riddle. This arrangement causes tension within Anahita’s tribe, first among the conservative families who feel Anahita has over-stepped her place as a female, and then with the entire tribe when Anahita’s would-be husband (the Khan who represents the tribe to the shah’s government) angrily cuts off the tribe’s water supply, forcing a difficult migration for the nomadic shepherds. In the face of the tribe’s criticism, Anahita nearly quails, but impending battles for migratory rights force Anahita to look beyond her own future to that of the entire community. As the number of her suitors increases to include, among others, her childhood friend Dariyoush, her schoolteacher Reza, and the mysterious Arash, Anahita realizes not just her childhood but her entire way of life may be coming to an end.

Notes: Filled with details of desert landscape and nomadic life, this story transports the reader to a seemingly mythical place. Though there are no flying carpets in Anahita’s world, her story has a magical quality.
Flags: 4

Being a Girl ~ Kim Cattrall

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-316-01102-0
128 pgs

Classification: YA Non-fiction
Genre: Health
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: Kim Cattrall draws from her life experience, including her years of portraying strong, sexy women on stage and screen, to offer advice to girls about growing up to the be women they want to be.

Summary: Since her Sex and the City character Samantha Jones seems to have all the answers when it comes to her womanhood, fans of the show felt that actress Kim Cattrall must know something too. Weaving her personal coming-of-age story into her discussion, Cattrall addresses the joys and trials of being a girl in today’s world. Cattrall covers topics ranging from inner and outer beauty to relationships with family and friends to sexual intelligence. The central message is the importance of a strong sense of self, which Cattrall encourages girls to discover in healthy ways sooner rather than later.

Notes: Cattrall’s honesty, combined with photographs of the actress from her youth and throughout her career, gives this book the feel of a conversation with a trusted mentor. The book would most benefit younger teens and older tweens, but as Sex and the City is inappropriate for this age group, it is hard to say if girls would be interested in Cattrall’s perspective.
Flags: 3

The Boy in Striped Pajamas (Movie)

Based on The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Studio: Miramax Films (2008)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Historical, drama
Director: Mark Herman
Main Cast: Asa Butterfield, Zac Mattoon O'Brien

Viewer’s Annotation: Bruno misses his playmates when his family moves from the city to the country, so he is delighted to meet Shmuel who lives on a “farm” and wears striped pajamas; but when the adventuresome Bruno dons pajamas and slips under the barbed wire fence, he realizes that his new friend’s world is nothing that he believed it to be.

Summary: Eight-year-old Bruno is proud of his father, a German soldier recently promoted. When his father needs to relocate to carry out his latest duties, Bruno moves with his family from their Berlin home to an unusual manor house in the countryside. From his new bedroom window, Bruno sees in the distance a cluster of buildings and he thinks he is seeing a farm where all the farmers wear striped pajamas. Determined to explore despite his mother’s insistence that he play in the front courtyard, Bruno makes his way to the work camp and befriends Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the barbed wire fence. With all the innocence, naivete, and foolishness of childhood, Bruno and Shmuel come up with a plan for Bruno to make his way into the camp, thinking they will have a grand adventure looking for Shmuel’s father. Once inside the camp, Bruno finally registers some of the truth of his own father’s duties to the Fatherland.

Notes: This shocking story juxtaposes the sweet joys of childhood with the harrowing realities of the Holocaust. Vera Farmiga’s performance as Bruno’s mother is particularly moving.
Flags: 5

Breaking Dawn ~ Stephanie Meyer

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2008)
ISBN: 978-0-316-06792-8
756 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Romance, fantasy, vampires
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: Human Bella Swan, vampire Edward Cullen and Quileute werewolf Jacob Black redefine their relationships as they cope with the greatest challenges of their mortal and immortal lives.

Summary: Newlyweds Bella and Edward Cullen face many more dilemmas than the average teen couple. Namely, how to fulfill their promise to the Volturi (the governing body of the greater vampire community) to turn Bella into a vampire; how to preserve peace with the pack of Quileute werewolves with whom they’ve a treaty vowing not to create a new vampire; and how to cope with Bella’s human father who knows nothing of vampires nor werewolves. Then the couple gets the greatest honeymoon surprise of all…and the additional complications that go with it. Narrated from Bella’s and from Jacob’s point of view, this final installment of the Twilight saga is gripping and dramatic, and main character Bella finally emerges as a decent heroine.

Notes: This is book 4 of 4, The Twilight Saga. The series as a whole is entertaining enough, though the strength of the stories lies in Meyer’s depiction of the vampire community, rather than in the characterization of the main female character.
Flags: 4

A Company of Swans ~ Eva Ibbotson

Publisher: Speak (1985)
ISBN: 978-0-14-240940-4
374 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: When Harriett Morton runs away from her oppressive father’s household to join a traveling ballet company bound for the Amazon, she falls in love with enigmatic Rom Verney and refuses to return home even after her father tracks her down.

Summary: Harriet Morton’s father is Merlin Professor of the Classics at Kings College in Cambridge. Professor Morton is sexist, frugal and narrow-minded, and he envisions for his daughter a life married to a respectable academic. He has even selected the perfect candidate: fussy, unimaginative entomologist Edward Finch-Dutton, whose great ambition is to classify as many species of fleas as he can discover. Harriet has other ideas for her life. A gifted ballet dancer, she is offered a position in the corps of a traveling company journeying to the Amazon. Harriet goes against her father’s wishes and after her debut performance meets British exile Rom Verney. They quickly fall in love, but their dreams for the future are threatened when Harriet’s father and would-be fiancé track her all the way to South America.

Notes: This historical romance has all the sophistication and story-telling finesse of adult romance writers Jude Devareaux and Judith McNaught without the steamy (and usually cheesy) love scenes.
Flags: 4

A Countess Below Stairs ~ Eva Ibbotson

Publisher: Speak (1981)
ISBN: 978-0-14-240-865-0
383 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Anna Grazinsky is meant to be a Russian countess but her country’s revolution leaves her family penniless and Anna takes a job as a maid in the household of a British lord in an attempt to rebuild her life.

Summary: The Grazinskys are renowned among Russian aristocracy for their hospitality as well as their wealth, and their young daughter Anna is expected to take her place in society as a shining star. Then the tsar is assassinated and the now penniless family flees to England where Anna takes a job as a maid in the household of Rupert Frayne, the Earl of Westerholme. Rupert’s fiancé, Muriel Hardwicke, brings all manner of distress to the household with her philosophies regarding eugenics. Though Rupert finds himself drawn to Anna, he is bound by his word and financial destitution to the wealthy Muriel. In a strange post-revolutionary world where a maid may be a countess, the rich have no class, and the aristocracy has no money, the love of two virtual strangers strains to prevail against the odds.

Notes: In this story, all of the characters, principal and minor, are richly drawn, engaging the reader from beginning to end. This book is a worthy read for fans of historical romance.
Flags: 4

Declare Yourself

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers (2008)
ISBN: 978-0-06-147332-6
324 pgs

Classification: YA Nonfiction
Genre: Politics, government
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: More than 50 American celebrities encourage American youth to “speak, connect, act, vote” by sharing their stories of patriotism, first-time voting, and involvement in politics.

Summary: Declare Yourself is a collection of brief essays by prominent entertainers, writers, sports figures, and media personalities. Each contributor provides a reflection on his/her experience with voting and participating in a democratic society. The book also contains a timeline of voting rights in the United States, as well as an overview of American government. A list of service organizations and opportunities for activism provides readers with suggestions for involvement in their civic communities.

Notes: The premise of this book seems to be encouraging the youth vote in the 2008 presidential election, which may render the text irrelevant by the next big election year. Moreover, the celebrity contributors probably will not attract readers in four years. The book, then, may be best for younger teens not yet of voting age who are beginning to learn about American history. Organization Website: http://www.declareyourself.com/
Flags: 3

The Devil Wears Prada ~ Lauren Weisberger

Publisher: Broadway Books (2003)
ISBN: 0-7679-1476-7
360 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Chick lit
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: Fresh out of college, Andy Sachs hopes someday to contribute to The New Yorker but her entry-level job as assistant to a fashion diva just may put off Andy from magazine publishing for good.

Summary: Though couture clueless, aspiring journalist Andy Sachs lands the job “a million girls would die for”: personal assistant to the chicly neurotic editor of premier fashion magazine Runway. As she struggles learn Posen from Proenza and Dior from Dolce, Andy finds herself so consumed with her boss’s increasingly difficult demands that she starts to put fashion before family. Has Andy been so easily seduced by Lanvin and Louboutin? Or is she just unwilling to turn her back on the most powerful woman in publishing? Despite Andy’s whining, this book is an engrossing, hilarious look at the editorial side of fashion, and is a must read for stylistas of all ages.

Notes: This book is a standout in the chick lit genre, though the movie starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway eclipses the book with its eye-popping fashion from stylist Patricia Field.
Flags: 4

Does My Head Look Big in This? ~ Randa Abdel-Fattah

Publisher: Orchard Books (2007)
ISBN: 978-0439919470
368 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Realistic fiction
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: Australian-Palestinian teenager Amal decides to wear the hijab, or Muslim head scarf, full-time, a formidable challenge at her private school in a Melbourne suburb.

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Amal is intelligent, sarcastic, focused and loyal, and she needs to be all that and more when she decides to wear the hijab as a symbol of her commitment to her faith. With the support of her truest friends, Amal copes with the narrow-mindedness of classmates, the stress of preparing for exams, and the complexity of her relationship with crush-worthy Adam. Then Amal’s own convictions are tested when her best friend runs away from home and Amal must confront her own prejudices and ignorance.

Notes: Amal’s wit, insight and self-awareness make her a role model for all time. This novel offers an engaging glimpse into a world seemingly different from—yet surprisingly similar to—that of most middle-class families.
Flags: 5

Eragon (Movie)

Based on Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Studio: 20th Century Fox (2006)
Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Main Cast: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons

Viewer’s Annotation: Eragon is chosen to be a dragon rider but faces the wrath of King Galbatorix who has for generations suppressed all the riders in his kingdom.

Summary: Simple farm boy Eragon happens upon a strange blue stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. The egg promptly hatches into the majestic Saphria, for Saphira has chosen Eragon to be her rider. This relationship is complicated by the evil King Galbatorix who orders his sorcerer Durza to kill the fledgling dragon rider. With the help of wise former rider Brom, Eragon embarks on a journey to the Varden, a group of rebels who have long waited for the emergence of a new rider who can help them challenge Galbatorix’s reign. Durza, however, proves a formidable foe.

Notes: This movie feels like a poor imitation of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in every regard from the weak plot to the much less impressive sweeping landscape sequences, and when the token princess in distress calls Eragon “Farm boy” in a pitiful recall of The Princess Bride, the movie condemns itself.
Flags: 2

Eva Underground ~ Dandi Daley Mackall

Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books. (2006)
ISBN: 978-0152054625
256 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical fiction
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: In Communist Poland in the months leading up to Cardinal Carol Wojtyla’s ascent to the papacy, American teen Eva Lott learns just how privileged her life in the West has been.

Summary: Struggling to heal after losing her mother to cancer, Eva Lott finally feels she has something to look forward to—senior year on the varsity swim team and many memories to be made with her best friend Mel and her boyfriend Matt. Eva’s father has also been struggling to cope with his wife’s passing and he has an idea too: he and Eva will move to Poland where Professor Lott will participate in an underground movement promoting free press in the communist state. Livid, Eva spends her initial weeks in Poland contemplating her escape back to her suburban Chicago life. Then she meets Tomek, a university student working with the movement. As Eva learns the reasons for the sadness behind Tomek’s smile, she also comes to find incredible beauty in the people of Poland and their struggle to reclaim their own heritage in the wake of war.

Notes: The unusual setting of this book provides fresh insight into life in a communist state.
Flags: 4

Forever ~ Judy Blume

Publisher: Pocket Books (1975)
ISBN: 0-671-53225-1
220 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Romance, issues.
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: High school seniors Katherine and Michael experience all the thrilling uncertainties and joyful contentment of falling in love for the first time, including the turbulence of teen sexual intimacy.

Summary: Katherine and Michael meet at a party and experience an instant connection. As they date and get to know one another, their relationship also becomes more and more physically intimate. Then, as the school year draws to a close and Katherine and Michael must make decisions about their individual futures, the ultimate question looms: is their love the kind that will last forever?

Notes: This novel is a YA classic more for its subject matter than the characters. Katherine and Michael’s relationship is not memorable for its romantic value, and Michael (and Ralph), in particular, is laughable in a literary world that now includes Edward Cullen.
Flags: 3

A Girl Like Moi ~ Lisa Barham

Publisher: Simon Pulse (2006)
ISBN: 978-1-4169-1443-3
265 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: chick lit
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Book one of the trilogy titled The Fashion Forward Adventures of Imogene, A Girl Like Moi is an absorbing account of one sixteen year old’s quest to unleash the fashion diva within.

Summary: A self-described “should have,” Imogene knows she’s between worlds. Neither an “it” girl, nor a poseur, she simply wants the opportunity to showcase her talent for spotting trends and predicting next season’s must-haves. Imogene’s opportunity arrives in the form of a summer internship with the hottest fashion forecasting company in the Big Apple. But can Imogene concentrate enough on her job while she’s crushing on a certain Italian hottie? And is she smart enough to outmaneuver an unscrupulous rival intern? This story, with color illustrations by Sujean Rim, is a fashion feast not to be skipped!

Notes: Imogene is a dazzling, witty ingénue who could pass for the younger sister of Elle Woods (of Legally Blonde). Her story continues with Project Paris and Accidentally Fabulous.
Flags: 4

The Glass Castle ~ Jeannette Walls

Publisher: Scribner (2005)
ISBN: 0-7432-4754-X
288 pgs

Classification: Non-fiction
Genre: Memoir
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: Growing up, Jeannette Walls and her siblings survive malnutrition, beatings, and dilapidated shelters before they escape poverty and alcoholism to forge their own way in the world.

Summary: Rex and Rose Mary Walls are too intelligent for their own good since their philosophies and convictions lead them to live a life of poverty by choice. Raising four children in the deserts of California and Nevada, neither parent is capable of holding a steady job. Lori, Jeannette, Brian and Maureen learn to scavenge for food and protect each other from all manner of threats. Jeannette thinks they may finally have a home when her mother inherits a house in Phoenix, but before long Rex’s alcoholism and Rose Mary’s depression force the family to move to Welch, West Virginia where Rex was raised. In Welch, the Walls children grow into teenagers with a common goal—getting out. Working on the school newspaper, Jeannette discovers her talent for journalism and, together with her siblings, begins to dream of moving to New York City. But first they must all reconcile the need to sever ties with their parents.

Notes: Walls recounts her horrifying experiences without self-pity, revealing her own inner strength and the resilience of the human spirit. Her depiction of the rural poverty throughout the United States is eye-opening. Content to be aware of—strong language, sexual abuse.
Flags: 5

The Golden Compass (Movie)

Based on The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Studio: New Line Cinema (2007)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Chris Weitz
Main Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig

Viewer’s Annotation: When children begin mysteriously disappearing from her community, 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua promises her best friend Roger that if he goes missing she will find him…and she makes good on her word when Roger is abducted.

Summary: In an Oxford of a different world, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua runs wild at Jordan College, dodging the scholars who try to educate her to play on the rooftops and in the fields with her Gyptian and servant friends. But children are disappearing and rumors of Gobblers and child snatchers circulate. Eavesdropping on a meeting, Lyra hears her uncle, Lord Asriel, talk of Dust, Ice Bears, and the far North. When a glamorous woman called Mrs. Coulter invites Lyra to assist her on a journey North, Lyra happily leaves the only home she has ever known. At the same, Lyra is worried because she cannot find her friend Roger to say good-bye. While staying with Mrs. Coulter, Lyra discovers the woman’s connection to the Gobblers and flees with only her daemon Pan and a mysterious gift from the Master of Jordan. In her flight, Lyra encounters a band of Gyptians who vow to protect her as they all venture North to rescue Roger and the other children.

Notes: Though the acting and visual effects in this film are great, the movie as a whole is not. Because the story itself is the first part of a trilogy, many elements of the plot are fully resolved by the end of the film, which makes for a frustrating viewing experience. As an adaptation, the movie is a poor representation of a masterful work.
Flags: 3

The Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury (2003).
ISBN: 1-58234-843-X
383 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Fiction, fairy tale, fantasy
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: In this reimagining of the Grimm Brothers’ tale of the same name, Ani, a crown princess tricked out of her title, must find the strength within to reclaim her rightful place as queen.

Summary: Though first daughter to the Queen of Kildenree and thus Crown Princess, Anidori-Kiladra Tialanna Isilee is undeniably a disappointment to her formidable sovereign of a mother. Indeed, when Ani turns 16, she is crushed to learn that her mother has arranged for her marriage to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Ani, helpless to resist her mother’s will, must forfeit her birthright and her claim to the Kildenree crown and journey through forest and mountain to meet her new fate. Along the way, Ani’s lady-in-waiting proves traitorous, claiming Ani’s identity for her own and orchestrating a massacre of Ani’s guards to cover her deceit. Narrowly escaping death herself, Ani makes her way to the foreign city she is supposed to call home and takes a job tending the king’s geese. Among the other workers, Ani experiences friendship and loyalty for the first time, and discovers within the strength to reclaim all that has been taken from her.

Notes: Book 1 of a series (The Books of Bayern). Every character is vibrant and Ani is a timeless heroine, but Hale’s greatest achievement with this novel is the creation of Bayern, a land and a people so well imagined it seems a forgotten piece of our own history.
Flags: 5

Gossip Girl ~ Cecily von Ziegesar

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2002).
ISBN: 978-0-316-91033-0
201 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: chick lit
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: In a world where money just may grow on trees and parental supervision is scarce, the young jet-set of Manhattan dictates the trends in fashion, art, music and film, but someone’s always watching and in a high tech world no secret is sacred.

Summary: From Park Avenue penthouses to privileged prep schools and anywhere hip in between, the Manhattan elite shop, party and hook up. In this first book of the series, magnetic Serena van der Woodsen turns heads wherever she goes, Queen Bee Blair Waldorf really is vulnerable beneath the flawless image she projects, and awkward young Jenny Humphrey is ecstatic to have captured the attention of Nate Archibald, even if he is usually stoned. Narrated by the anonymous Upper East Side blogger, this is the novel that started it all—the book series and its spinoffs and the TV show that turned Blake and Leighton into style icons for the new millennium. So log on to find out who’s wearing what, who’s hanging where, who’s partying when, who’s kissing whom, and what Gossip Girl thinks of it all.

Notes: Book one of a series. Gossip Girl is Sweet Valley High for a new generation, with all the engaging characters and riveting plots twists of an engrossing series. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use, sexuality, language.
Flags: 4

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ J.K. Rowling

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. (2007)
ISBN: 0-545-010-22-5
759 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: The dark wizard Lord Voldemort has made several bold moves, placing himself in near total control of the wizarding community, and armed only with half-understood insight from their headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasly embark on a journey through the wizarding world that Harry knows must end with Voldemort’s death or his own.

Summary: Foregoing their final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry, Hermione and Ron set off on an uncharted course with only vague ideas as to what they will do next. Seeking answers to his questions about his parents’ life together and their deaths, Harry wants to visit Godric’s Hollow despite Hermione’s warnings about the dangers they may face there. Meanwhile, Ron, sick with worry over the well-being of his family, longs for a more comfortable existence back home or at Hogwarts. As their fears increase and the weight of responsibility bears down on them, the three friends race to uncover enough knowledge and inner strength to save the wizarding world, their loved ones, and themselves before Voldemort realizes all they have done to undermine his power.

Notes: Book 7 of 7. Truly transcendent, this final novel turns Rowling’s Potter books into a genuine literary achievement that ponders such deep philosophical questions as freedom of will, choice, and destiny.
Flags: 5

The Interns: Fashionistas ~ Chloe Walsh

Publisher: Harper Teen (2008)
ISBN: 978-0-06-137088-5
307 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Chick lit
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Four summer interns compete with one another to be noticed for their journalism and fashion sense at a New York fashion magazine.

Summary: The Interns: Ansley, Ava, Nadine and Callie. The magazine: Couture. For one summer, these four aspiring fashionistas must cope with the demands of various editors at the magazine as well as with each other. Echoing Gossip Girl with a blogger known only as “Fashionista,” this book focuses more on the girls’ relationships than fashion. Ansley is the wealthy New York socialite interning merely to appease her parents. Nadine is a party girl who cannot seem to take her work seriously. Callie tries to disguise her small-town upbringing but seems to be tangling herself in the web of her lies, and hard-working Ava embodies the old saying, “still waters run deep.”

Notes: Sequel—The Interns: Truth or Fashion. Content to be aware of—underage drinking. Neither as industry insightful as The Devil Wears Prada nor as witty as The Fashion Forward Adventures of Imogene, The Interns: Fashionistas is nonetheless a decent read for one who simply cannot get enough of stories about labels and love.
Flags: 3

Jumper (Movie)

Based on Jumper by Steven Gould
Studio: 20th Century Fox (2008)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Science-fiction
Director: Doug Liman
Main Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson

Viewer’s Annotation: As a Jumper, David Rice is capable of teleporting anywhere in the world, and he enjoys traveling on a whim until a scary encounter with a man out to kill him causes David to realize that his life is not as carefree as he thinks it is.

Summary: When he is 15, David Rice discovers that he is capable of teleporting, or “jumping.” He promptly leaves home to see the world, funding his new extravagant lifestyle by robbing banks. Living a frat boy’s dream, David picnics atop the Sphinx, surfs in Fiji, and club hops in London—all in the span of a day. Returning to his home town years later, David seeks out his long-time crush, Millie, with the intent of sweeping her off her feet with a trip to Rome. However, David’s lifestyle has come to the attention of the Paladins who are intent on killing all Jumpers. Clueless and desperate, David entreats another Jumper to help him. Griffin is hardly keen to team up, though, and David wastes valuable time before realizing that he can only rely on himself. When the Paladins capture Millie, David alone must figure out how to save her and himself.

Notes: Before he realizes he is a Jumper, David is pretty much a loser and unfortunately he does not get any cooler with his newfound ability. Griffin, the visual effects, and the intriguing plot make up for the weak protagonist.
Flags: 3

Just Listen ~ Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-14-241097-4
371 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Realistic fiction, Chick lit
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Annabel has a secret and her unwillingness to share it is costing her the trust of her most-needed friends.

Summary: Keeping her assault by her best friend’s boyfriend a secret, Annabel Green finds herself ostracized at school. Annabel is also losing interest in the modeling jobs her mother keeps pressuring her to book. Unfortunately, Annabel does not feel comfortable speaking up at home because her older sister’s eating disorder has already caused tension in the family. Annabel slowly becomes friends with Owen Armstrong, whose passion is music, but their relationship is threatened by Annabel’s inability to open up and confide in others. Annabel continues to hold her tongue and alienate those who would help her until a friend inspires her to share her story.

Notes: Just Listen is not quite as harrowing as Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, but compelling and just as honest.
Flags: 4

Life of Pi ~ Yann Martel

Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. (2001)
ISBN: 0-15-603020-9
401 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Adventure, survival
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: Pi Patel is stranded on the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Summary: Pi Patel has grown up in a zoo—literally. His father is the founding director and owner of the Pondicherry Zoo and his family lives on the premises. A solitary boy by nature, Pi’s inner life is as rich and colorful as his upbringing in 1960s India. As a young teenager, Pi encounters Christianity and Islam, and becomes dedicated to both in addition to loving his Hindu background. Baffled and frustrated by Pi’s devotions, his family attempts to dissuade him from his bizarre religious practices until the political and economic climate of their country prompts them to move to Canada…with the inhabitants of their zoo. When the family is shipwrecked, young Pi is stranded in a row boat with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger, and Pi suddenly needs an act of God—whether He be Christian, Muslim or Hindu—if he hopes to survive.

Notes: There is only one word for this novel: profound.
Flags: 5

The Lovely Bones ~ Anne Sebold

Publisher: Back Bay Books (2002)
ISBN: 0-316-16881-5
328 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fiction/literature
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: After her own murder, Susie Salmon observes her family from heaven as each person tries to cope with her disappearance.

Summary: In the opening chapter, Susie Salmon is brutally raped and murdered by her neighbor, George Harvey. She watches over her family from “her heaven” as each one copes with her disappearance in different ways. The underlying question that propels the reader forward through the grisly details is, how will each of the remaining characters make peace with the tragedy, particularly since there is no closure to the case? Can Susie’s family hold on to hope as the years pass? Can they ever truly confront reality: that Susie is dead and not coming back? And what will become of neighbor George and any other would-be victims?

Notes: Sebold brings a unique form of omniscience to the story through her narrator, Susie. Content to be aware of—graphic rape/murder of child, sexuality.
Flags: 4

Luna ~ Julie Anne Peters

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2004)
ISBN: 0-316-01127-4
248 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Issues fiction
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: Luna has been living as Liam for her entire life, and she realizes that she must cast off that role now or risk losing herself entirely.

Summary: Luna is a girl trapped in the body of a boy named Liam, but only Regan, Luna’s sister is in on the secret. Regan offers her bedroom so that, under the cover of the night, Luna can take off the mask of Liam and allow her true identity to emerge. This has gone on for years, but Luna senses the time is coming when she can no longer retreat into “total boy role.” With Regan’s help, Luna begins to transition from living as a boy to living as a girl, starting with short shopping trips in malls across town. But will the rest of the world, starting with their parents, be as supportive of Luna as Regan has been?

Notes: Narrated from Regan’s point of view, this story is deeply moving with vivid characters and fresh insight. This novel is a National Book Award Finalist
Flags: 5

The Luxe ~ Anna Godbersen

Publisher: Harper Teen (2007)
ISBN: 978-0-06-134566-1
433 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, romance
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: The events leading up to the funeral of 17-year-old Elizabeth Holland reveal that all that glitters is not gold, especially amid the upper class of Victorian New York.

Summary: The novel opens in 1899 with the funeral of Elizabeth Holland, a dearly loved daughter of New York’s high society. From Elizabeth’s funeral, which is attended by the extensive cast of characters including Diana Holland, the deceased’s sister, the story flashes back to the short weeks leading up to the tragedy. What really happened to seventeen-year-old Elizabeth that fateful morning by the river? At least two people wish her dead: her best friend/chief rival who covets her fiancé, and her ladies maid who covets her true love. Possibly Elizabeth’s life is in danger from the debtors who extracted payment from her father by killing him. But in a world where mothers lie to their daughters and best friends lie to each other, how will anyone uncover the truth?

Notes: Book one of series. An entertaining read with a predictable conclusion, this novel never gives the reader a good reason to love any of the numerous characters introduced. The plot rather than the characters engages the reader.
Flags: 4

Marked ~ P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (2007)
ISBN: 978-0-312-36026-9
306 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, vampires
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: Newly Marked vampire Zoey Redbird copes with friends and rivals in her new school, the House of Night.

Summary: Zoey,16, is Marked by a vampire Tracker and leaves her home and high school to attend the House of Night, a boarding school for fledgling vampires undergoing the Change from human to adult vampire. Once at the House of Night, Zoey finds both unfortunate similarities and startling differences between her new school and her old: a Queen Bee named Aphrodite and her sycophants, hot guys like drama buff Erik, classes in fencing and vampire sociology. With the help of new friends, Zoey discovers her powers—gifts from the vampire goddess Nyx—and struggles to follow her grandmother’s advice to balance her unique abilities with responsible behavior.

Notes: Book one of a series. This series is engaging even for those readers who are not especially interested in vampires. Content to be aware of—language, sexuality
Flags: 4

Model: A Memoir ~ Cheryl Diamond

Publisher: Simon Pulse (2008)
ISBN: 1-4169-5904-1
357 pgs

Classification: Non-fiction
Genre: Memoir
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Fashion model Cheryl Diamond is poised on the brink of supermodel status when a shocking incident derails her career.

Summary: This memoir offers unique insight into the glamorous and ruthless world of high fashion and the beautiful people who make us covet it all. At age sixteen uber-confident Cheryl Diamond, with her edgy look and gorgeous blonde hair, lands a contract with an exclusive NYC modeling agency. Diamond enjoys early success at photo shoots and on the runway until an unexpected trauma forces the young beauty to ask herself: is modeling really the career for her?
Notes: Diamond’s story makes for a good read that will be enjoyed by fans of America’s Next Top Model and any avid fashion magazine reader.
Flags: 4

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Movie)

Based on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Studio: Columbia Pictures (2008)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy
Director: Peter Sollett
Main Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings

Viewer’s Annotation: Nick and Norah meet by chance one night at a club, and over the course of the next several hours they discover all that they have in common.

Summary: Nick is having a hard time getting over ex-girlfriend Tris. Norah randomly kisses Nick at a club and the two spend a crazy night driving around New Jersey and New York looking, alternately, for Norah’s drunk best friend Caroline and their favorite band Where’s Fluffy? In the course of the night, Nick and Norah discover that they are “music soulmates” and have quite a lot of other things in common too. But will Tris come between them? Or will Norah’s boyfriend Tal? Will they find Caroline? Or Fluffy?

Notes: This witty film features great music and is similar to Go, another teen movie spanning one crazy night of music, cars and conversation.
Flags: 4

A Northern Light ~ Jennifer Donnelly

Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books (2003).
ISBN: 978-0152167059
400 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical, mystery
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: With the real-life mystery of Grace Brown’s death as a backdrop, this novel tells the fictional story of Mattie Gokey in Uttica, NY in 1906.

Summary: In upstate New York in 1906, Mattie Gokey is working hard to hold her family together after her mother’s death and her brother’s desertion. In a constant struggle against poverty, illness and hopelessness, Mattie cares for her three younger sisters, helps her father run their small farm, and studies to earn her high school diploma. Her greatest dream is to attend Barnard College where she has gained acceptance and a full scholarship, but only Mattie’s good friend Weaver and her teacher Miss Wilcox are excited for her. Mattie’s father says no, her sisters do not want her to leave, and her intended, Royal, simply does not understand Mattie’s desire for further education. Then a traveler, a young woman by the name of Grace Brown, dies mysteriously. As Mattie tries to piece together an understanding of Grace’s life and death, she realizes the importance of her own story.

Notes: Though Mattie narrates the novel, many women’s stories are presented, offering an unflinching account of the hardships faced by women at this point in history. These struggles resonate with women today as well, making this novel a thought-provoking read. The book is an ALA Prinz Honor Book.
Flags: 4

Persepolis (Movie)

Based on Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics (2007)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Animated film, autobiography
Director: Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Parannaud
Main Cast: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve

Viewer’s Annotation: Marjane struggles to reconcile her cultural identity as her country is torn apart by war and she is increasingly influenced by life in the West.

Summary: Marjane is a child in Tehran, Iran in 1978. In her close-knit family, there is discussion of the shah, the revolution, and communism, but young Marjane is unaffected by politics until her beloved Uncle Anoush is arrested at the start of the Iraq/Iran war. Around her Tehran becomes more and more conservative and when Marjane speaks out against her teacher in school, her parents decide it is best for Marjane to study abroad while life in Iran is so unstable. In Vienna, Marjane studies philosophy, matures into a young woman, and struggles to figure out her place as a foreigner in the Western world. To find herself, she returns to Tehran, but the land she finds upon her return is barely a shadow of the place she knew as a child.

Notes: The animation adds layers of insight, irony and humor that could not be achieved in another medium.
Flags: 5

Poseur ~ Rachel Maude

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2008)
ISBN: 978-0-316-06583-2
289 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Chick lit
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: Grouped together for a project, Janie, Charlotte, Melissa and Petra need to figure out how to play nice or they risk humiliation in front of their entire school.

Summary: Creative Janie is envious of her twin brother’s sudden popularity while haughty Charlotte is obsessed with all things French and Janie’s brother. Control-freak Melissa is passionate about everything to do with Melissa, and apathetic Petra is moved by very little. These four vastly different high school sophomores are thrust together by a well-meaning guidance counselor intent on fostering “the arts” at their elite Southern California prep school. The girls are expected to draw from their unique backgrounds and interest in fashion to collaborate on a label. Can they overcome their petty squabbles to create couture? Or will all four of them be exposed school-wide for the poseurs they really are?

Notes: Book one in a series. Sketches of original outfits enhance an otherwise bland story. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use.
Flags: 3

Pretty Little Liars ~ Sara Shepard

Publisher: Harper Tempest (2006)
ISBN: 978-06-088730-8
286 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Chick lit, mystery
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: Hanna, Aria, Emily and Spencer all thought they had moved beyond the dark period in their past when their friend Alison disappeared, but out of the blue someone called “A” enters their lives and refuses to let the girls forget.

Summary: Three years after Alison’s disappearance her four best friends, Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer, have grown apart yet are still haunted by their memories of the daring stunts and dark secrets they shared with their vibrant friend. Suddenly, as the girls begin their junior year of high school, they are each contacted by someone called “A.” Through text messages, notes and emails, the girls find that their secrets have not vanished. So just who is A? What does A want from Hanna, Aria, Emily and Spencer?

Notes: Book one of series. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use, sexuality. This book reads like a prequel or a pilot episode, laying the foundation for the rest of the series, so many plot developments are not resolved by the end of this book.
Flags: 3

The Seeker (Movie)

Based on The Dark is Rising by Susan Coper
Studio: 20th Century Fox (2007)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy
Director: David L. Cunningham
Main Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Alexander Ludwig

Viewer’s Annotation: When he turns 14, Will learns that he is the Seeker responsible for finding six signs in time to prevent Dark from vanquishing Light.

Summary: The Dark is on the rise, the Rider has been biding his time, and American teen Will learns of his true identity: as the seventh son of a seventh son, he is the Seeker who is compelled to search out five signs hidden throughout history. The Seeker must unite the five signs with a sixth in time to prevent the Rider from reaching the height of his powers and destroying Earth. Aided by the “old ones,” Will must embrace his identity and learn to harness his own powers for light to win out over dark.

Notes: While visually spectacular, the movie progresses through the thin plot without engaging characters to create an emotional viewing experience.
Flags: 3

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight ~ Brad Barkley and Heather Helper

Publisher: Speak (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-14-2408674
262 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Realistic fiction
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Cal and Eliot share an instant connection that soon blossoms into love, but their time together is limited by Cal’s impending cross-country move.

Summary: Cal is increasingly resentful of her mother’s constant moving. The two traverse the country so Delores can work as a serving wench and jewelry artisan at Renaissance Faires, taking fifteen-year-old Cal along. Meanwhile, Eliot longs for the normalcy of his family life, something they seem to have lost as his dad has become more and more engrossed in his business venture—helping overweight people lose weight and find God. Cal and Eliot meet by chance…or is it destiny that brings them together? What will happen to their newfound love when Delores is ready to move again? Or when Eliot’s dad discovers his son is associating with people he doesn’t approve of?

Notes: This book would make a great beach read for it is a lovely, sweet summer romance story with instantly likable characters.
Flags: 4

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens ~ Sean Covey

Publisher: Simon and Schuster (1998)
ISBN: 0-684-85609-3
266 pgs

Classification: YA non-fiction
Genre: self-help
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: Sean Covey adapts his father’s work for teenagers, presenting The 7 Habits in an accessible, illustrated format with exercises designed for reflection and self-discovery.

Summary: 1) Be proactive. 2) Begin with the end in mind. 3) Put first things first. 4) Think win-win. 5) Seek first to understand, then to be understood. 6) Synergize. 7) Sharpen the saw. These are the 7 Habits of the Franklin Covey system of time-management. In this version for teenagers, Sean Covey explains the differences between independence and interdependence, and emphasizes the importance of striving for interdependence—the ability to work cooperatively and lead by example. To motivate the reader, Covey adopts the tone of a coach encouraging victory.

Notes: This is a fun, interactive book with an inspiring message.
Flags: 4

Sexy Girls ~ Hayley DiMarco

Publisher: Hungry Planet (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3084-0
153 pgs

Classification: YA non-fiction
Genre: Self-help
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: DiMarco helps young women to analyze the messages they send to others when they wear sexy clothes.

Summary: DiMarco discusses the difference between accidental image and purposeful image. Though we may not like to admit it, we make judgments about others based on their appearance and attire. Thus, asserts DiMarco, a young woman must understand the importance of being her own PR specialist and taking control of the image she presents to others, especially males. If a girl wears revealing clothes, she suggests that her body is “on the menu,” perhaps without even realizing that she is sending this message. On the other hand, by dressing modestly, a girl sends a clear message about her values. DiMarco guides the reader to walk through her own closet and examine message she sends with the clothes she chooses.

Notes: DiMarco’s basic message—that, like it or not, clothes say something about the person wearing them—is a great one, but some readers may be turned off by the fact that her ideas are rooted in Christianity. Throughout the book are Old and New Testament scripture quotes. Initially, DiMarco’s tone is accessible and inoffensive, but by the final third of the book, she preaches more, in particular about the need to befriend other believers in order to remain true to one’s convictions.
Flags: 3

The Shadow in the North ~ Philip Pullman

Publisher: Dell Laurel Leaf (1986)
ISBN: 0-394-82599-3
361 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Sally Lockhart encounters unspeakable evil when she investigates the business ventures of Axel Bellmann.

Summary: In 1878 London, Sally Lockhart is undeniably unconventional. Self-employed as a financial consultant, Sally is devastated when a client loses her money after investing on Sally’s advice. Turning her devastation to recover her client’s money, Sally enlists the help of friends Jim Taylor and Frederick Garland to investigate the enterprises of the elusive businessman Axel Bellmann. As the friends dig deeper and deeper, encountering illusionists, spiritualists, fraud and murder, they uncover a sinister plan involving weapons technology and find themselves all in mortal danger.

Notes: This novel is the second book of the Sally Lockhart trilogy. Books one and three, respectively are The Ruby in the Smoke and The Tiger in the Well. Sally is 22 years old in this book, so not technically a teen heroine (though she is a teen in Book 1), but it is a very provocative book, treating themes still relevant more than a century after the book’s setting.
Flags: 5

The Silver Cup ~ Constance Leeds

Publisher: Viking Juvenile (2007)
ISBN: 978-0670061570
240 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Historical
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: In medieval Germany, superstition and prejudice abound, so when young Anna takes an orphaned Jewish girl into her home, she faces open hostility from her entire village.

Summary: The Silver Cup is set in 1095 in a small village of no more than 60 families. The village is half a day’s travel from the city of Worms, Germany. Anna is a hard-working 16-year-old, filled with compassion that shines through her lovely singing voice. Unfortunately Anna’s father Gunther, still grieving for the loss of his wife, is too often away from home to conduct trading to notice much about his daughter. Anna’s Aunt Agnes has nothing kind to say about her late sister’s daughter. To Agnes, Anna is a burden, neither a competent housekeeper nor a worthy match for any of the young men of the village. So there has been little joy in Anna’s life when a horrific massacre takes place in Worms. Anna, stunned by the slaughter, rescues Leah, a young Jewish girl, and takes her into her home. As a result, Anna is completely ostracized by her family and the rest of the village, yet discovers her first friend in Leah. Remarkably, as she heals from her ordeal, Leah brings laughter and hope to Anna and Gunther’s home, and they each find the strength to face an uncertain future.

Notes: This historical novel, with its engaging characters, is a great read that illuminates a kind of prejudice that persists in our modern world.
Flags: 4

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Movie)

Based on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Studio: Warner Brothers (2005)
Rating: PG

Genre: Drama
Director: Ken Kwapis
Main Cast: Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively

Viewer’s Annotation: Four friends find a pair of jeans that somehow fit their four different body types, and they agree to share the pants between them as they each embark on different adventures for the summer.

Summary: Because their mothers met while pregnant, Bridget, Lena, Carmen and Tibby have grown up together. Now 16, the girls are facing their first extended separation for the summer. Just before they part ways, they make a pact to share a pair of jeans and their stories. Having just lost her mother, saucy Bridget heads to Mexico for summer camp and tries to forget her grief by throwing herself at a good-looking coach. Shy Lena visits her grandparents in Greece and meets a guy who helps her realize her own beauty. Tibby gets a job at a local discount store and meets a spunky 12-year-old who ask to help Tibby with her documentary project. Excited to be spending the summer with her dad, Carmen is shocked and devastated to meet his new family. Through letters the girls stay connected and continue to love and support one another despite the physical distance between them.

Notes: A great chick flick, this movie is most endearing because of the love that the characters have for one another. Each girl is a distinct and admirable personality, and any girl would be happy be a part of this sisterhood.
Flags: 4

Sold ~ Patricia McCormick

Publisher: Hyperion Paperbacks (2006)
ISBN: 978-07865172-0
263 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Issues
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: A young village girl is sold into sexual slavery.

Summary: Lakshmi, 13, is sold by her step-father to a woman who runs a brothel. Innocent and naïve, Lakshmi believes she is going to be able to help her family afford a new roof for their hut in the Himalayan mountains. Instead, she is taken a world away from the mother she adores. From rural mountain poverty to city slums, Lakshmi does not dare to hope that she’ll find a way out, yet still she dreams of her mother and the love and laughter they once shared.

Notes: Told in vignettes, this story recalls The House on Mango Street. Lakshmi’s ordeal is horrifying, yet important to learn about. This book is a National Book Award Finalist.
Flags: 5

Someone Like You ~ Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak (1998).
ISBN: 978-0-14-240177-4
281 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Realistic, chick lit
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: In her first serious relationship and with her best friend pregnant, Halley needs to grow up quickly.

Summary: When Halley’s best friend Scarlett finds herself pregnant in the weeks following her boyfriend’s tragic death, Halley suddenly finds herself needing to be strong for the friend she used to lean on. And Halley needs to learn her own strength quickly, since her shady boyfriend Macon is pressuring her to have sex with him and encouraging Halley in behavior that strains the already tense relationship she has with her mother. Balancing family, school and her social life, Halley learns for the first time how tough it can be to reconcile who she is with who she wants to be.

Notes: The emotional depth of the characters is what makes this simple story shine. Halley is a very accessible and believable heroine. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use.
Flags: 4

Speak ~ Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: The Penguin Group (1999)
ISBN: 0-14-131088X
198 pgs
Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Issues
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: While her inner voice is clever, strong, and insightful, Melinda Sordino has no intention of speaking her thoughts aloud, even though her story needs to be told.

Summary: Melinda Sordino realizes what happened to her at a party over the summer, but she has told no one. Now, she is ostracized at school, she has grown apart from her best friend, and she knows she probably will not want to talk even if she had someone to listen to her. The tremendous weight on 14-year-old Melinda’s shoulders seems to have claimed her voice. As she drifts through her freshman year of high school saying as little as possible, it is clear that Melinda needs to find her voice before she drowns in her own silence.

Notes: A spot-on assessment of high school cliques, this is a gripping story how a young girl copes with assault. The novel is an ALA Printz Honor Book (2000), a 1999 National Book Award Finalist, and a Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist.
Flags: 5

Stardust (Movie)

Based on Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Studio: Paramount Pictures (2007)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Main Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox

Viewer’s Annotation: To win the heart of his long-time crush, Tristan Thorn ventures from his small town of Wall into the kingdom of Stormhold to retrieve a fallen star, but he is not the only one who seeks it.

Summary: Determined to win the affection of the beautiful Victoria, Tristan vows to bring her the star that has fallen some ways beyond the wall that borders their town. Tristan ventures into the magical world on the other side of the wall and is surprised to discover that the star is not at all the lump of meteorite he expected, but rather a lovely young woman named Yvaine. Still intent on fulfilling his promise to Victoria, Tristan insists that Yvanie accompany him back to the Wall before he will restore her to the sky. But an old witch called Lamia is pursuing Yvaine because eating the heart of a star provides immortality. Meanwhile, the king of Stromhold has passed away and his feuding sons vie to retrieve the royal ruby (which Yvaine now wears) and claim the throne. As Tristan rushes to bring Yvaine to Victoria as a birthday present, the two narrowly escape the trap Lamia has laid for them and encounter a ferocious sky pirate aboard his flying ship. Even with danger closing in from all sides, Tristan and Yvaine fall in love.

Notes: This movie is hilarious, with terrific performances from an all-star cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Rupert Everett.
Flags: 5

ttyl ~ Lauren Myracle

Publisher: Amulet Books (2004)
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8788-3
209 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Realistic, chick lit
Age Level: 13+

Reader’s Annotation: Tenth-graders Zoe, Madigan and Angela have been friends since childhood and hope to remain close as they grow up but the challenges of high school threaten their friendships as the girls cope with crushes, parents, rivals and teachers and begin to keep secrets from one another.

Summary: Zoe has a crush on her teacher, who in turn seems to be paying an unseemly amount of attention to Zoe. Madigan befriends a long-time rival and finds herself in over her head when her “friend’s” loyalty is tested. Angela struggles to see the best in herself after being treated badly by her boyfriend. And these three childhood friends have developed the bad habit of keeping secrets from one another, precisely at a time when true friends are the one thing they each need. The story unfolds entirely via instant messages, the girls’ primary means of communication outside of school.

Notes: This book reads like a hybrid of a diary and a play, and has the delicious, absorbing feeling of eavesdropping on a good conversation.
Flags: 3

Twisted ~ Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Speak (2007)
ISBN: 978-0-14-241184-1
250 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: Issues, realistic fiction
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: After years of being bullied, Tyler considers using violence to make himself heard.

Summary: For years, Tyler has been relentlessly terrorized by Chip Milbury, the son of his father’s boss and the twin brother of his secret crush. When Tyler gets caught vandalizing his high school, he is sentenced to community service which he fulfills by working for the summer with the school janitorial staff. Rage has been slowly building within Tyler as a result of Chip’s bullying and his father’s constant pressure. When Tyler is accused of circulating lewd pictures of his crush, he is tormented at school and threatened with military school by his father. How will Tyler cope? The reader goes inside the mind of a young man cornered as he contemplates a pistol and all his options. Is violence Tyler’s only way out? Who will be the victims?

Notes: Tyler is an outstanding male protagonist from the author of Speak, offering a fresh, relevant perspective in a post-Columbine world.
Flags: 5

Twilight (Movie)

Based on Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Studio: Summit Entertainment (2008)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Main Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson

Viewer’s Annotation: In this adaptation of the Stephanie Meyer novel, a human teenager falls in love with a vampire.

Summary: Upon transferring to Forks High School in her dad’s small Pacific Northwest town, Bella Swan meets enigmatic Edward Cullen and promptly falls in love. The budding romance is complicated by Edward’s inhuman nature, but Bella refuses to be put off by even an entire family of vampires. But just how long can a human endure amid vampires before someone is unable to resist the lure of red hot blood?

Notes: The movie magnifies all that is wrong with the novel, namely Bella’s obsession with the good-looking vampire she just met. Lush landscape and attractive teenagers make it a very pretty movie and a great adaptation of the novel.
Flags: 4

Violet on the Runway ~ Melissa Walker

Publisher: Berkley Jam (2007)
ISBN: 978-0-425-21704-7
228 pgs

Classification: YA fiction
Genre: chick lit
Age Level: 14+

Reader’s Annotation: A modeling agent discovers Violet Greenfield in her small North Carolina hometown, and Violet soon finds herself booking jobs all over New York City.

Summary: Perennial wallflower Violet Greenfield prefers not to be noticed, but her towering height makes her hard to miss, and the high school senior secretly longs for a good reason to stand out. Her big break breezes through town in the form of a fast-talking modeling agent who is convinced she’s found fashion’s newest it girl in Violet. Suddenly Violet is thrust onto the catwalk where, most shockingly to Violet herself, the spotlights and flashbulbs cause her not to wilt, but to bloom. What ensues is a whirlwind of go-sees and photo shoots, club scenes and fashion shows, but before long this flower begins to fade. Living on her own and confronting eating disorders and drug use, Violet seems to be losing herself and alienating her friends in the process.

Notes: This Cinderella model story provides what Cheryl Diamond’s memoir lacks: a heroine the reader truly roots for. While Diamond was never awkward nor gangly, Violet is the girl-next-door that every girl would like to call her best friend. The story continues with Violet by Design and Violet in Private. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use.
Flags: 4

A Walk to Remember (Movie)

Based on A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures (2002)
Rating: PG

Genre: Drama
Director: Adam Shankman
Main Cast: Shane West, Mandy Moore

Viewer’s Annotation: Jamie Sullivan, with her unfailing faith, inspires classmate Landon Carter to rethink his reckless, self-centered ways and the unlikely couple falls sweetly in love.

Summary: Landon Carter and his friends are the “in” crowd, and others are willing to go to great lengths to be a part of the group, but when a prank goes wrong and another teenager is hospitalized, Landon faces possible expulsion from school. Instead he is assigned to help the school janitorial staff, tutor after hours, and join the drama club. At each of these activities, Landon encounters Jamie Sullivan, daughter of Reverend Sullivan. Irked by Jamie’s independent spirit, Landon mocks Jamie even when she would try to help him. Relenting, Jamie agrees to practice lines with Landon for the school play, on the condition that Landon promise not to fall in love with her. But Landon does find himself captivated by Jamie and when Landon learns the real reason that Jamie has a to-do list for her life, he proves that miracles really do happen.

Notes: This is a tender, sweet story of faith, hope and love.
Flags: 4

Whale Rider (Movie)

Based on The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Studio: South Pacific Films (2002)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama
Director: Niki Caro
Main Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes

Viewer’s Annotation: A young Maori girl, Pai Apirana is committed to helping her community preserve the ways of their ancestors even though her grandfather, the tribe’s chief, refuses to teach Pai because she is a girl.

Summary: Koro Apirana’s visible and devastating disappointment that his grandchild is a girl causes 12-year-old Pai to struggle to hold her head up around the stern man. Though Koro has two sons, he will be the last chief of his tribe unless a new leader emerges. Determined to find such a leader, Koro trains all of the tribe’s boys in the ways of their people, the descendants of Paikea the Whale Rider. Banished from Koro’s school, Pai still learns the chants and skills, surpassing the boys in every area and winning a regional speech contest with an essay about her Maori culture. Unmoved, Koro continues to ignore Pai. When a pod of whales beach themselves, the whole community despairs, for the hopelessness of the whales seems to mirror the tribe’s situation. Only Pai is able to pull everyone, even the whales, through the tragedy.

Notes: With incredible acting from the entire cast, this film is incredibly moving, depicting the tension between tradition and change for a community whose very identity is threatened by modern culture.
Flags: 5