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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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