Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Year Published: 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN:0-7434-9673-6
Pages: 455
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 9+
Reading Level: 6
Personal Rating: 5 Stars
Subjects: Bullies, New Hampshire, School shootings, Lawyers, High School Students, Women Judge
Reader's Annotation: Years and years of humiliation and pain. Is it right to retaliate for all the pain that the popular crowd has done to Peter Houghton?

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Peter Houghton decides to retaliate from verbal and physical abuse in his school by opening fire, killing students and teachers. Peter survives and lives through the investigation and emotional court scenes. The truth is revealed about the Peter’s reason for the act of violence in his school through the characters' narratives and flashbacks.

Evaluation: This book is highly recommended for high students to teach them about the extreme effects of bullying. Some scenes maybe too violent and graphic to younger readers. The author used obscenity and vulgarity to describe events and paint a more authentic characters in her story.

"Every bit as gripping and moving as Picoult's previous novels, Nineteen Minutes will no doubt garner considerable attention for its controversial subject and twist ending." - Booklist

Reviews and Awards: Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Wilson's Fiction Catalog, Wilson's High School Catalog

Author Information: www.jodipicoult.com

Spider's Voice by Gloria Skurzynski

Year Published: 1999
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780689821493
Pages: 200
Price: $ 13.25 (Library Bound)
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Romance, Adventure
Interest Level: 8-12
Reading Level: 6
Subjects: Abelard, Peter, Heloise, France history Medieval period, Mute persons, People with disabilities

Reader's Annotation: What if you witnessed a forbidden love of Eloise and Abelard, France's most famous lovers but you are mute? What if for some miracle you can speak, will you tell about their story?

Summary: The twelfth-century love story of Abelard and Heloise (here called Eloise) is the centerpiece of this young adult novel. Virgin lovers Abelard, a teacher and philosopher, and Eloise, the most educated woman in France, fall madly in love. Eloise becomes pregnant, and her uncle, in a fit of fury, castrates Abelard.Spider, a young mute, who is saved by Abelard after being mutilated by a man who sells human grotesques. Spider witnesses the love affair and the couple's struggle. Details of Spider's adventures as he roams the French countryside serving Abelard and trying to quell his own demons.

Evaluation: This historical fiction takes you to a journey behind the Medieval French romance that you will never forget. This story helps me to understand the Abelard-Eloise love story that French people value so much. Graphic description about the Abelard's castration as well as Spider's tongue accident.


Reviews and Awards: Wilson's Senior High School (10/01/00), School Library Journal starred (3/1/99). Publishers Weekly starred (1/18/99), Wilson's Junior High School (9/1/01), Books for the Teens NYPL (4/1/01), Kirkus Review starred (1/15/99), Voice of Youth Advocates VOYA (4/1/99)

Author Information: Gloria Skurzynski was born in Duquesne, Pennsylvania on July 6, 1930. She has five grown children, Jan and Lauren are engineers, Joni is a fashion designer, Serena is a doctor and Alane is a writer. The author is also known as Gloria Joan Flister Skurzynski.
Skurzynski is known for nonfiction on science and nature topics and for fiction, particularly the Mysteries in Our National Parks series. "Robots," "Get the Message" and "Zero Gravity" were Outstanding Trade Science Books. "Goodbye, Billy Radish" and "Tempering" were SLJ Best Books. "Manwolf" was a Notable Social Studies Trade Book. "Bionic Parts for People" was a Golden Kite Honor Book in 1979. "Tempering" was a Golden Kite Winner in 1982.

Author website: www.gloriabooks.com

How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles

Year Published:2001
Publisher: Flux
ISBN: 0738710199
Pages: 281
Classification: Fiction
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Interest Level: 7-12
Subjects: School stories, Father-daughter relationship, Interpersonal relations, Chicago (Ill.), Jews. United States, Identity (Psychology), Israelis. United States. Fiction

Reader's Annotation: After Amy returns from Israel with her father, she has a lot of things to deal with in her life - a workaholic and dateless father, no communication with her "non-boyfriend" in the Israeli army, a pregnant and excited mother with her new stepfather, an annoying but cute next door neighbor and her horny dog mutt. How is she going to manage her own teenage life?

Summary: Amy has been enjoying a new religious education and exploration of her heritage, which got a running start during her trip to Israel, but the list of annoyances potentially ruining her life is almost too much for her. Dad needs a date and a life, so she signs him up for a Jewish online dating service using his credit card without mentioning it. Her mom and step dad are expecting a baby, which freaks Amy out. The biggest insult is from Nathan, a geeky-looking but intriguing new guy who completely rubs her the wrong way, but she kisses him anyway. A retaliation kiss from him in the cafeteria is hard to explain when Avi shows up for a surprise visit.

Evaluation: An entertaining book about adolescent angst however, the author uses profanity and vulgarity for her character's voice.

Reviews and Awards: School Library Journal, Voice of Youth Advocates

Author Website: www.simoneelkeles.net

Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard

Year Published: 2002
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
ISBN: 9780761315797
Pages: 142
Personal Rating:3
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 5
Rating: 3
Subjects: Teenage parents, Teenage fathers, Father-son relationship

Reader's Annotation: What if your girlfriend decides to give your baby away, will you raise the baby alone?

Summary: At 17, Sam Pettigrew has an unusual responsibility - his baby son, Max. Sam and Max live with Sam's father. Sam attends a high school with on-site childcare and watches Max in his school hours. Sam's father will support Sam and Max until Sam finishes high school. After that, Sam must work for a construction company owned by family friend. Although Sam is a good student, the idea of college angers his father, who sees it as an abrogation of Sam's responsibility. When Sam meets old friend, Claire, also a teen parent, he begins to emerge from the social exile he's felt since taking on Max, and he discovers a home situation more supportive than his own. Eventually, Sam makes some important decisions about the future, which angers Claire but allow others to move beyond the past.


Evaluation: This book is unusual because you will find a boy in the teen single-parent role. This story is both realistic and perceptive. The characters are well-thought out and speaks truthfully about what teens go through. There are explicit and graphic sex scenes that may not be suitable for some teenagers.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Author: Meyer, Stephenie
Year Published: 2005
Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 9780316160179
Pages: 498
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Action
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 5
Rating: 5
Subjects: Vampires, High schools, School stories, Washington (State), Fiction

Reader's Annotation: Will you befriend vampires knowing that your blood is a sweet-smelling aroma? Will you risk your life to love someone who might not be human?

Summary: Twilight has a Romeo and Juliet love-story plot. Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington and meets a handsome and smart guy, Edward Cullen. Bella finds out about Edward's real identity but still pursue their relationship. They struggle to keep their relationship as they face the challenges of being accepted by both sides - vampires and human and even the werewolves.


Reviews and Awards: Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal,Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


Author Information: Stephenie Meyer was born in Connecticut in 1973. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in English. Ms. Meyer cannot write without music. She writes young adult novels. She lives with her husband and three sons in Phoenix Arizona.

Website: stepheniemeyer.com

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Year Published: 2006
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316024961
Pages: 563
Classification: Fiction
Media Type: Book
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Action, Adventure
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 4
Personal Rating: 4 Stars

Subjects: Vampires, Werewolves, Interpersonal relationship, High school life

Reader's Annotation: October, November, December ... just three months but seems like eternity. These were short pages that filed three empty pages but painted the longing and sadness that Bella felt when Edward left Forks for good. Will she able to move on? Will Bella stop loving Edward?

Summary: Bella celebrates her birthday at the Cullen’s house with Edward and his family. Bella gets accidentally cut in the arm and Jasper gets tempted to drink her blood. Edward finds it dangerous for Bella to have their family around Forks. The family decides to leave for the safety of Bella.

Bella got depressed after Edward and his family left but she befriends Jacob from La Push. Jacob influences Bella to do daring activities such as riding motorcycle and jumping off the cliff. Bella discovers the real identity of Jacob.

Edward gets mistaken that Bella died after her cliff diving so he decided to end his life as well by heading to Italy to see the Volturi clan. Bella saves Edward with the help of Alice and they return to Forks, Washington.

Personal Evaluation: The main character's depression and suicidal acts maybe something that readers may idolize and maybe admire.

Awards: ALA Booklist, ALA/YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Author Information: www.stepheniemeyer.com