"The Only Alien On The Planet"

The Only Alien On The Planet

Written by Kristen Randle

Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in 2009

240 pages

Genre: Social Issues, Friendship

Summery: Ginny and her family move right before her senior year of highschool. When she starts at her new school, she notices Smitty on the first day. Although this already sounds incredibly cliche, she tries to find out more about him. He's known as the Alien because he never speaks or has any kind of social interaction. Ginny and her new friend, Caulder, try to make friends with the Alien. Eventually, many secrets come out and Ginny and Caulder become key parts of Smitty's psychological healing.

Response: I don't know what to say. This is a very influential novel. I couldn't put it down. It has a lot of psycho stuff in it that makes me want to be a psychology major just so I understand it. I do absolutely recommend it, but it definately needs to be read more than once. Preferably with a psychologist handy to answer questions.

Word of Caution: Abuse. Language. May spin your head.

"Love Is a Missing Person"

Love Is a Missing Person
Written by M. E. Kerr
Published by Trophy PR in 1990
141 pages

Genre: Family, Social Issues, Multicultural

Summery: Suzy Slade is 15, and she's not the favorite child. Her parents are divorced, and her father chose her sister, Chicago. Of course he did. Who wouldn't pick beautiful, charming Chicago? But Suzy's life takes some twists and turns when Chicago shows up and wants to trade parents. And then it takes some more twists when her father remarries. And then it takes some more twists when there's a robbery in town. The ending......well, I'll let you read it.

Response: This was one of those books. The kind that makes you think on the last page. Except you're thinking, "Now what was that all about?" The book is very short, but there's a lot to it. I just don't know what it is yet. I'm going to read it a few more times.

Word of Caution: Some bad language.

"Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress"

"Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress"
Written by Maria Padian
Published by Knopf Books For Young Readers in 2009
288 pages

Genre: Friends/Social Issues, Sports

Summery: Brett McCarthy is the star of the soccer team, an honor student, and has a BFF. Then she plays a prank. Bam! Her world flips. Brett McCarthy is redefined as a twice-suspended-social-outcast-nerd. She even gets kicked off her beloved soccer team. And on top of all this, something is wrong with her grandmother. But Brett comes out on top in the end, thanks to her true friends and a giant potato bazooka.

Response: Oh my heavens. If Brett was real, we'd be BFF's. Seriously. I loved this story. It's real and funny and full of marvelous new words. I can't count the times this book made me laugh. It reminded me of my own Junior High friend problems, except Brett's are way worse than mine were. I liked the themes of friendship, change, responsibility, and family. The only thing I didn't like: it said that Maine potatoes are better than Idaho's. False!!

Word of Caution: May bring back memories of Jr High. Contains a few mild swear words.

"The Adoration of Jenna Fox"

"The Adoration of Jenna Fox"

Written by Mary E. Pearson

Published by Walker Books Ltd in 2010

272 pages

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Ethics

Summery: Jenna Fox wakes up from a coma in a strange new home with a strangely unfamiliar body. She knows she was involved in an accident, but she can't remember anything about it. She can't remember much of anything period. Her father lives in another city and comes to visit. Her mother behaves oddly and is extremely protective of Jenna. Her grandmother hates her, in Jenna's opinion. Jenna goes through a fascinating journey of discovery of who she is and what the world thinks and does. The novel takes place in a futuristic world where cloning and genetic modification are commonly used.

Response: I liked it. The work examines the ethics of the medical world, the possibilities of science, the dangers of science, the political world, the education system, the value of life, weighing the odds, the value of friends, the power struggle between parents and teens, and the beauty and frailty of the human mind. Read this book if you liked "Fahrenheit 451". Read it if you didn't like "Fahrenheit 451".

Word of Caution: You might begin to look more closely at the health care system.

"Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac" - Gabrielle Zevin

"Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac"

Written by Gabrielle Zevin

Published in 2009 by Square Fish

304 pages

Genre: Friends/Social Issues, Romance

Summery:

Naomi is a junior in high school. She is on the yearbook staff with her best friend, Will. One day she loses a coin toss and ends up falling down the steps of the school. She suffers severe memory loss of everything since 6th grade. She doesn't understand her boyfriend, her best friend, her parents' divorce, or the new kid at school. She struggles trying to find out who she is. Which version of her is the true Naomi? The novel explores social pressures, teen romance, family, gay relationships, and identity.

Response: Not a bad book. Pretty well-written, although the whole amnesia thing had some gaps (no pun intended). It was interesting enough that I read it all in one sitting. The characters behave realistically and are well rounded. It's not a book I would buy to read again, but I think it was worth my time.

Word of Caution: Teenage drinking, sex, homosexuality

"Impossible" - Nancy Werlin

"Impossible"

Written by Nancy Werlin

Published in 2010 by Puffin Books

288 pages

Genre: Supernatural, Romance

Summery:

This novel is based on an old folk song called "Scarborough Fair". Lucy Scarborough is 17, and her mother is insane. Stark raving mad. Lucy lives with her foster parents and has a pretty normal life - until she goes to the prom. She is raped by her date, who then immediately runs out and kills himself. Lucy becomes pregnant. She also finds out that her family is cursed to be raped when 17, have a daughter when 18, and then go mad after the child is born. She can only break the curse by doing three impossible tasks. Along the way, she falls in love and gets married. It's full of weird magic, teenage love, and that persistent Simon and Garfunkle song you're humming already.

Response: Eh. Didn't like it. I have a problem with fantasy and magic. I have a bigger problem with teenage lovers. The writing was so-so. I finished it just because I'm obsessive like that. Only read it if you really like this kind of thing.

Word of Caution: Rape. Creepy elfin knight dude.

" The Wednesday Wars" - Gary D. Schmidt

"The Wednesday Wars"

Written by Gary D. Schmidt

Published in 2007 by Sandpiper

264 pages

Genre: History, Friends/Social Issues

Summery:

The main character is Holling Hoodhood, a 7th grade boy in the 60's. He is the only Protestant kid in his class; everyone else is Jewish or Catholic. So on Wednesday afternoons, he's left with his teacher while all the other kids leave for their religious classes. His teacher, Mrs. Baker, has him read Shakespeare. As the Vietnam War drags on, his sister runs away to join other flower children, his father loses a business deal, he has a crush on a girl, and the pet rats escape, Holling finds truth and strength in the words of Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker.

Response:

Loved this book. La la loved it. Holling is a delightful and well-written character. The story made me laugh out loud many, many times. It helps readers understand the world of 1967 and the Vietnam war in a new way. While it's very funny, there is a underlying current of the fear and grief that the war brought. It's an easy and engaging read; I sat down and read it cover to cover in a few hours. It's a delightful book. Read it.

Word of Caution: Several of your responsibilities may be neglected due to this book.

"The Moves Make The Man" - Bruce Brooks

Hello, and welcome to the first real post!

The Moves Make The Man was published in 1984. It tells the story of Jerome Foxworthy, a black kid. Set in the 60's, the work explores multiculturalism through the eyes of a Junior High student. Jerome's hometown is required to desegregate, so they expand the school district by one block. And guess who is the only black kid on that block? Yep. Jerome.

The work is full of sports: mostly basketball. Jerome lives and breathes basketball; he hates the summer when all the kids play baseball. But his opinion changes a little when he meets Bix. Bix is a shortstop, and the way he plays fascinates Jerome.


I could not take my eyes off that shortstop. He was the only kid I had ever seen who seemed to know with every part of himself just what to do on every single play. His feet were always placed just right to go along with his throwing motion or his gloving, his head was always turned the right way, his steps never left him on the wrong foot when he needed a jump or spin. (pg 21)

The boys eventually become best friends.

The book also examines family relationships. Jerome's father died when he was very young; he looks to his two older brothers as his examples. His mother plays a key role in the story as well. She is the wise, loving force of the family. The Foxworthys are a very close-knit happy family. Bix's family is a stark contrast to the Foxworthys. Bix is an only child. His mother is insane and lives in an asylum. Bix lives with his stepfather, who doesn't like him. All family scenes and conversations are full of tension and distrust. Both of the families learn and change throughout the book.

Themes of honesty, friendship, loyalty, and character are woven into this entertaining sports story.

Personally, I loved this book. It kept me hooked from the first chapter, and I stayed up until a ridiculous hour to finish it. It is remarkably well-written and funny. I absolutely recommend it.

Word of Caution: One instance of attempted suicide by a minor character.

Read it if you love sports, boys, humor, and real life stories.

Young Adult Literature?

Well, if you are going to read this blog, you might as well know why it came to exist. I registered for English 356. I have to read 30 young adult novels in one semester. I have to blog about them. The End.



That's the story of this blog; my story is a little different. I love to read. Love. To. Read. I was homeschooled my whole life. My mother used a method that was founded on literature. More specifically, classic literature. She read to me everyday, and taught me to love the power of words. I explored the world through the pages of books. I devour books like candy. But.....modern young adult novels are pretty foreign to me. But......I'm excited to jump into a new world and taste something a little different.

Welcome aboard. We're going to have quite the adventure.

Welcome

Hello? Anybody here? Hi. I'm Kate. I'm a girl in love. With books. Welcome.