Goddess of YA

Here is a chronicle of sorts that lets you know what I read in the past year or so.  Not all of the titles are award-winners.  Some of them are just good books to share with kids.   Note that  I indicate the approximate emotional level (not reading level) of each book.  INT indicates a book suitable for intermediate readers (4-6th grade);  MS indicates readers in middle school (6-8th grade) and HS indicates readers of high school age (grades 9-12).  Of course, you must be the ultimate arbiter of audience for each book, and I urge you to read the books before you share them with kids.

Alphin, Elaine.  PERFECT SHOT.  Brian’s girlfriend Amanda and her brother and mother are shot to death by an assailant.  The police arrest Amanda’s father but Brian is not certain he is the true killer.  (HS)

 

Amateau, Gigi.  CLAIMING GEORGIA TATE.  The only parents Georgia has known are her grandparents.  But now it appears that she will have to go and live with her mostly absent father, someone never meant to become a father.  (MS)

 

Anderson, Laurie Halse.  PROM.  What happens when the faculty sponsor for the prom makes off with all the funds?  Who can save prom night?  (HS)

 

Anderson, M.T.  WHALES ON STILTS.  Lily discovers that her father’s boss is a hybrid, part human and part whale, who has designs intended to defeat the human race.  (INT/MS)

 

Auseon, Andrew.  FUNNY LITTLE MONKEY.  Arty and his twin brother Kurt could not be more different, especially in stature.  Arty seeks the assistance of a secret organization at his high school in order to exact revenge on his once beloved brother.  (HS)

 

Baldacci, David.  FREDDY AND THE FRENCH FRIES.  In an effort to help his father’s sagging business, Freddie creates some animatronic fries that mistakenly come to life.  (INT)

 

Bauer, Joan.  BEST FOOT FORWARD.  Sequel to RULES OF THE ROAD.  (HS)

 

Blackwood, Gary.  SECOND SIGHT.  Joseph and his father have a vaudeville show in which he pretends to be clairvoyant.  (MS)

 

Brashares, Anne.  GIRLS IN PANTS.  Third and final installment in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series finds the 4 friends the summer before college.  (HS)

 

Canales, Viola.  THE TEQUILA WORM.  This book traces the life of Sofia as she grows into her rightful place in a family of storytellers.  (MS/HS)

 

Castellucci, Cecil.  BOY PROOF.  She calls herself EGG after the heroine in her favorite sci-fi movie.  She has taken great steps to make herself invulnerable to boys until Max Carter arrives in her life.  (HS)

 

Cirrone,  Dorian.  DANCING IN RED SHOES WILL KILL YOU.  Kayla is a gifted ballet dancer with two obstacles in her way if she wants to pursue a career in dancing.  (HS)

 

Cooney, Caroline.  CODE ORANGE.  When  Mitty finds some dried up scabs from a smallpox outbreak in an old medical book, he becomes convinced he will get the disease.  (MS/HS)

  

Couloumbis, Audrey.   MISADVENTURES OF MAUD MARCH OR TROUBLE RIDES A FAST HORSE.   Sallie and her older sister are once again orphaned.  They are determined to leave the home of the town preacher and set off on their own to find a new place to live.  Little do they know that they are being hunted as fugitives.  (MS)

 

Coy, John.  CRACKBACK.  Miles has always been a starter on the football team until a new coach changes everything.  (HS)

 

Creech, Sharon.  REPLAY.  Leo, aka “Fog Boy” has big dreams.  When he finds his dad’s diary, Leo discovers some family secrets.  (INT/MS)

 

Crutcher, Chris.  THE SLEDDING HILL.  Eddie, suffering from the loss of his father and his best friend Billy, becomes mute until book censorship in his school threatens a caring teacher, a friendly custodian, and Eddie’s fragile sanity.  (MS/HS)

 

De la Pena, Matt.  BALL DON’T LIE.  Sticky lives for basketball and his girlfriend Anh.  As a foster kid who has been bounced from too many places, these are the only stable tings in his life.  (HS)

 

Fforde, Jasper.  THE BIG OVER EASY.  Detective Jack Sprat of the Nursery Crimes Division of the police must track down the person responsible for the death of Humpty Dumpty. (HS)

 

Flake, Sharon.  BANG.  Mann has seen too many murders in his neighborhood for someone so young.  (MS/HS)

 

Fleschman, Paul.  ZAP.  Seven plays from contemporary to classic vie for the audience’s attention in this challenging story.  (MS/HS)

 

Flinn, Alex.  FADE TO BLACK.  Alex Crusan is HIV positive, a fact that makes Clinton Cole, his classmate uncomfortable.  When Alex is brutally attacked, Daria, a developmentally disabled student, points to Clinton as the perpetrator.  Story is told from multiple narrators.  (HS)

 

Garfinkle, D.  STORKY:  HOW I LOST MY NICKNAME AND WON THE GIRL.  Mike, aka Storky, battles bullies, an absent father,  a new man in his mother’s life,  and his own hormones to win the attention of his friend Gina.  (HS)

 

Going, K. L. LIBERATION OF GABRIEL KING.  Gabe and his best friend Frita spend the summer confronting their fears.  Little do they know that their biggest act of courage is still in front of them.  (INT/MS)

 

Goldschmidt, July.  SECRET BLOG OF RAISIN RODRIGUEZ.  Raisin’s transition from her father’s house to the home of her mother and new stepfather is not an easy one.  (MS)

 

Green, John.   LOOKING FOR ALASKA.  Miles Halter, fascinated with last words, never suspects all that awaits him when he heads off to boarding school.  (HS)

 

Griffiths, Andy.  JUST DISGUSTING.  Stories and trivia about totally disgusting things.  (INT/MS)

 

Hartinger, Brent.  ORDER OF THE POISON OAK.  Summer camp means finding true love and having your heart broken for a young man determined to get away from his classmates after he has come out.  (HS)

 

Hautman, Pete.  INVISIBLE.  Doug is invisible to all around him except his best friend, Andy, who is invisible to all save Doug.  (HS)

 

Hiaasen, Carl.  FLUSH.  Noah Underwood’s dad is in jail for sinking one of the gambling boats polluting the ocean.  Noah has a plan to clear his dad’s name.  It will take the efforts of Noah, his younger sister Abbey, a cocktail waitress, and a strange pirate who seems to know when Noah needs help.  (MS)

 

Hess, Jared and Jerusha.  NAPOLEON DYNAMITE:  THE COMPLETE QUOTE BOOK.  Gotta love this one, Pedro.  (MS/HS)

 

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm.  BABYMOUSE:  QUEEN OF THE WORLD. This graphic novel for young readers is all about BabyMouse and her life.  (INT)

 

Howe, James.  TOTALLY JOE.  Joe (from THE MISFITS) is back with his alphabiography in which he confides all of his fears and triumphs.  (MS/HS)

 

Hughes, Pat.  OPEN ICE.   Nicky Tag is a gifted hockey player who has taken one too many shots to the head.  He is told he cannot return as a player without risking permanent damage.  (HS)

 

Korman, Gordon.   BORN TO ROCK.   When he discovers that his biological Dad is the former lead singer for the punk band, PURGE, Leo’s life changes forever.  (HS)

 

Krovatin, Chris.  HEAVY METAL AND YOU.  Can a girl change a guy?  (HS)

 

Leitich Smith, Greg.  TOFU AND T. REX.  Two teens, one vegan, one carnivore, find themselves unusual allies.  (MS)

 

Lester, Julius.  DAY OF TEARS.  This novel in monologue and dialog recounts an historical event in which more than 400 slaves were auctioned over the course of two days.  (MS/HS)

 

Lion, Melissa.  UPSTREAM.  Marty is certain that when school begins again, the rumor mill will still be churning about what happened over the summer when her boyfriend Steven died.  (HS)

 

Littman, Sarah Darer.  CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC.  Justine decides to give up being Jewish for Lent.  (MS)

 

Lockhart, E.  FLY ON THE WALL. Be careful what you wish for…(HS)

 

Lockhart, E.  THE BOYFRIEND LIST.  Subtitled 15 guys, 11 shrink appointments, 4 ceramic frogs, and me, ruby oliver, this book is a funny and warm look at relationships.  (HS)

 

Lubar, David.  INVASION OF THE ROAD WEENIES.  This collection of funny and SHORT stories will delight anyone with a terrific sense of humor and little time to read.  (INT/MS)

 

Lubar, David.  SLEEPING FRESHMEN NEVER LIE.  Scott is having a typical year as a freshman except for a new baby brother on the way, a crush on a girl and a place on Student Council.  (HS)

 

Madison, Bennett.  LULU DARK CAN SEE THROUGH WALLS.  Move over Nancy Drew, there is a new girl detective in Halo City.  (HS)

 

McCormick, Patricia.  MY BROTHER’S KEEPER.  Toby is the middle child, caught between older brother Jake’s drug use and younger brother’s Eli’s propensity to be a pain in the butt.  (MS/HS)

 

Meyer, Stephenie.  TWILIGHT.  This lovely and unusual romance focuses on a young girl’s love for the elusive and mysterious Edward, a vampire.  (HS)

 

Mosely, Walter.  47.  Slave 47’s life is changed when Tall John appears on his plantation.  (MS/HS)

 

Moser, Laura.  RISE AND FALL OF A 10^TH GRADE SOCIAL CLIMBER.  Mimi returns to her native NY after her parents divorce.  Living with her Dad and being back in the Big Apple is terrific.  However, finding a way to fit into her new school is a tad more difficult.  (HS)

 

Moses, Sheila P.  LEGEND OF BUDDY BUSH.  Finalist for the National Book Award recounts the story of a young black man accused  of raping a white woman in NC in 1947.    (MS/HS)

 

Myers, Walter Dean.  AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MY DEAD BROTHER.  Jesse has already lost a friend to the violence of the streets.  Can he keep Rise from making the same mistakes?  (HS)

 

Myracle, Lauren.  RHYMES WITH WITCHES. When freshman Jane is asked to join the elite ranks of The Bitches (one member from each grade level), is she willing to do anything to be popular?  (HS)

 

Nelson, Marilyn.   A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL.  This heroic crown of sonnets commemorates the brief but important life of Emmett Till to the Civil Rights Movement.  (MS/HS)

 

Nelson, R.A.  TEACH ME.  Nine (Carolina) falls in love with the new English teacher.  When he betrays her love, she is determined to exact her revenge.  (HS)

 

Newman, Leslea.  JAILBAIT.  Andi knows she should not get into the car, but she needs someone to notice she is alive.  (HS)

 

Nye, Naomi Shihab.  GOING GOING.  Florrie fights to save the local businesses in downtown San Antonio.  (MS/HS)

 

Oates, Joyce Carol.  SEXY.  A disturbing story about a young man whose life changes forever when he accepts a ride home from swim practice from one of his teachers.  (HS)

 

Patterson, James.  MAXIMUM RIDE:  THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT.  Max nad her “family” all have the ability to spread their wings and fly.  A group of government scientists are after them so they can be made subjects of more experimentation.  (MS/HS)

 

Paulsen, Gary. TIME HACKERS.  Slim sci-fi novel examines what happens when some hackers break into time and transport people and things to a different historical epoch.  (MS/HS)

 

Peters, Julie Ann.  FAR FROM XANADU.  Mike (born Mary-Elizabeth) is a talented athlete who falls for the new girl in school.  (HS)

 

Resnick, Michael.  LADY WITH AN ALIEN.  Leonardo daVinci is visited by Mario, a boy from the distant future.  (INT/MS)

 

Riley, Andy.  THE RETURN OF THE BUNNY SUICIDES.  They’re baaaaack!  (MS/HS)

 

Riordan, Ric.  THE LIGHTNING THIEF.  Percy (short for Perseus) defeats a minotaur and other dangerous mythical beings on his way to fulfill his destiny among the immortals.  (MS)

 

Rose, Malcolm.   FRAMED.  Futurists beware:  Forensic Investigator Luke Harding is on the case.  (MS/HS)

 

Ruditis, Paul.  RAINBOW PARTY.  The book no store would carry………(HS)

 

Rylant, Cynthia.  BORIS.  Novel in poems about the new cat in the house.  (INT/MS/HS)

 

Salisbury, Graham.  EYES OF THE EMPEROR.  Eddy lies about his age and enlists in the Army weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Because he is of Japanese descent, Eddy and his friends are subjected to a scientific experiment the Army conducts to defeat the enemy.  Based on actual historic events, this novel is a good companion to UNDER THE BLOOD RED SUN.  (MS/HS)

 

Scott, Kieran.  I WAS A NON BLONDE CHEERLEADER.  Can Annisa, a brunette from New Jersey, find happiness among the peroxided cheerleaders at her new school in Florida?  (HS)

 

Shaw, Susan.  BOY FROM THE BASEMENT.  When he is accidentally locked out of his basement prison, Charlie does not know what to do.  (MS)

                  

Shusterman, Neal. DREADLOCKS.  Parker Baer is enamored of the new girl in school.  She has fabulous twining curls and an unusual collection of statues.  (HS)

 

Shusterman, Neal.  RED RIDER’S HOOD.  Werewolves, cycling grannies, and vampire bats join in this romp that includes references to fairy tales, folklore, and much more.  (HS)

 

Sleator, William.  THE LAST UNIVERSE.  Susan resents having to care for her ailing brother Gary.  A visit to the mysterious pond at the center of their acreage might change both their lives.  (HS)

 

Smith, Jeff.  BONE:  OUT OF BONEVILLE.  Four color graphic novel version of the cult classic of the 90s.  (MS)

 

Standiford, Natalie.  THE DATING GAME.  This book is chick-lit of the first order as three high school girls design a web site to learn who is more obsessed with sex:  boys or girls?  (HS)

 

Stein, Tammar.  LIGHT YEARS.  Maya comes to Virginia for college following her military service in Israel.  Not only is she older than the typical freshman, she has seen things few college students ever will. (HS)

 

Stine, Catherine.  REFUGEES.  Alternate narrators, one in NY and one in Afghanistan tell of the changes in their lives post 9-11.  (HS)

 

Vande Velde, Vivian.  THREE GOOD DEEDS.  When he is turned into a goose for misbehaving, Howard has to perform three selfless deeds to return to his normal form.  (INT)

 

Volponi, Paul.  BLACK AND WHITE.  Marcus and Eddie have been best friends and teammates for years.  When the two decide to make some quick money by robbing people, they cannot foresee the grave consequences.  (HS)

 

Weaver, Will.  FULL SERVICE.  The summer of 1965 is one that teaches Paul a great deal about life outside of his family commune.  (HS)

 

Westerfeld, Scott.  PRETTIES.  In the future, all teens can be beautiful.  What happens when being pretty is not enough?  (HS)

 

Westerfeld, Scott.  PEEPS.  Peeps are parasite-positive humans who carry the virus for vampirism.  Cal searches for the girls he has inadvertently transformed into vampires like himself.  (HS)

 

Yancey, Rick.  THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP.  When Alfred unwittingly steals Excalibur, he sets off a chain of events that could lead to death.  (MS/HS)

 

Zeises, Lara M.  ANYONE BUT YOU.  Seattle and Critter have always been as close as brothers and sisters.  This summer, though, is one that strains their bond.  (HS)

 

Zevin, Gabrielle.  ELSEWHERE.  The last conscious memory Liz has is of a taxi bearing down on her as she rode her bike to the mall.  When she awakens on a ship bound for Elsewhere, her adventure is just beginning.  (MS/HS)

 

 

The Bully in the Book and in the Classroom by C. J. Bott (Scarecrow Press) is a must have for anyone wanting to have more resources for dealing with bullying.  Bott opens the book by talking frankly about bullies and bullying.  More than two thirds of the book is an annotated listing of hundreds of books, K-12, that also deal with bullying.