The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

CITATION: Walls, J. (2005). The glass castle: A memoir. New York: Scribner

IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0743247531

CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION

GENRE: BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

CALL # 921 WALLS

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT

RATING: 5

Annotation: Jeannette Walls remembers growing up with idealistic-to a fault-parents, being homeless much of the time.

Summary: Rex and Rose, Jeannette's parents, are dreamers. Rex is a genius and an inventor, charming and fun to be with, when sober, and Rose, trained as a teacher, is an artist who believes in letting children basically raise themselves and learn from harsh, natural consequences. In fact, when 3 year-old Jeanette is boiling hot dogs by herself, she is severely burned and spends weeks in the hospital getting skin grafts. Rose doesn't believe in the drudgery of holding a steady job--her paintings are much more important, and Rex can't keep a job because of his drinking hobby. Despite all their troubles, Jeannette's parents are free-spirited, and instill in their children a sense of adventure. In fact, every time something bad happens, Rex talks about how being on the run, or the next new place is going to be a great adventure. The greatest adventure Rex promises though, is the one they will have when he builds the glass castle he promises they will all live in. As Jeannette gets older, she comes to realize that Rex's promises are as transparent as the glass house he'll never build.

Notes: This book is not yet in our library, but it is on order. A friend loaned it to me, and it's one of the best books I've recently read. I was stuck halfway between admiration and horror for these shocking parents who loved their children, and yet seemed to have a dangerous lack of common sense and concern for their safety. The idea that two people like this existed, and actually found each other amazed me, and Jeannette's ability to survive their reckless upbringing and to become a successful writer, was inspiring.

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn

CITATION: Flinn, A. (2002). Breathing underwater. New York: Harper Tempest.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0064472574
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC FLINN
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 5

Annotation: Bitter about his forced membership in an Anger Management group--he only slapped his girlfriend--a slap, not a hit, 16 year-old Nick chronicles the events that led to the restraining order against him, his Anger Management counseling, and a court-assigned journal.

Summary: High school sophomore, Nick Andreas, had it all-money, popularity, and Caitlin, the hot girlfriend who worshipped him--and he wasn't going to let any of it get away. But it did. Nick knows he may have lost control once--or twice--but that was only when people were way out of line with him. That doesn't make him a criminal. That doesn't mean he deserved to lose his girlfriend. It doesn't mean he deserved to lose his best friend. And it doesn't mean he needs "Anger Management", or needs to write a stupid journal. After all, everyone gets angry and "loses it" once in a while, right? And it's not as if he would ever really hurt Caitlin. All he's ever wanted to do is protect her and be everything to her, like she is for him. If he can just make her understand that, Nick knows everything will be okay again.

Notes: This insightful story will appeal to teen boys and girls alike. The characters are realistic and multi-layered and the story helps us understand the cycle of violence. All of the abusers have good and likable qualities, and almost everyone in the story struggles with seeing the truth about themselves. The novel makes no excuses for abusers, but does help us understand some of the thinking behind violent behavior. Also, if you've ever known a victim of dating/domestic violence and thought, "Oh, why doesn't she/he just leave the situation", this novel shows how hard that very necessary decision can be.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

CITATION: Dessen, Sarah. (2000). Keeping the moon. New York: Puffin Books.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0670885495

CLASSIFICATION: FICTION

GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION

CALL#: FIC DESSEN
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 4

Annotation: With her "fat girl" title recently replaced by "slut", 15 and friendless, Nicole "Colie" Sparks, sets off for a dreaded summer with a kooky aunt she barely knows, finding unexpected friendships, self-knowledge--and maybe even love-- in a small, North Carolina beach town.

Summary: Thanks to her fitness guru mother, Colie has lost 45 pounds. Although her exterior "fat girl" image has been transformed, Colie's self-image has yet to catch up, and people who knew her as she was won't let her forget that she will never truly "belong". When Colie's formerly obese, and now wildly successful fit "it" girl mother gets a chance to promote her program in a worldwide tour, Colie is shipped off to her oddball Aunt Mira's for the summer. When Aunt Mira sends Colie to the Last Chance Bar and Grill on a run for her favorite Chicken Caesar Salad, the errand leads Colie to a summer job and her first friend, Morgan, an overly dramatic waitress. Morgan takes to Colie right away, but Morgan's roomate, longtime best friend, and fellow waitress, the beautiful Isabel, is rude and critical, and openly hostile to Colie. What Colie doesn't know is that she and Isabel have something in common, and that Isabel has something to teach her.

Notes: Teen girls will relate to the "mean girl" syndrome, rumors, gossip,"reputations" and issues with self-acceptance, and self-confidence.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

CITATION: Johnson, A. (2005). The first part last. New York: Simon Pulse. IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 13 9780689849220

CLASSIFICATION: FICTION

GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION

CALL #: FIC JOHNSON
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 4

Annotation: 16 year-old Bobby struggles to be a good man and the best father he can be to the infant daughter he loves with all his heart.

Summary: Bobby is a normal, happy-go-lucky teenager living in New York. He has two parents who love him. He knows all about safe sex, and his mom stores a basket of condoms underneath the bathroom sink for him. His parents never expected something like this, and neither did Nia's. This never should have happened, but it did. Nia got pregnant, and now Bobby's a father. Through a series of flashbacks, Bobby describes his love for Nia, and how they struggled to make the right decision. But there came a time when Bobby had to decide what to do on his own. Bobby wants to be a good man, and a good father, but he's still a kid himself. Although he has support, in many ways, Bobby is all alone, and he finds that sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing you'll ever do.

Notes: Not your typical "teen parent" story. Bobby's memories open our eyes to the issues surrounding teen pregnancy beyond "the decision" and breaking the news to one's parents. Although it is an easy read (short, and quick), it's not an easy story, and one particularly shocking revelation is quite emotional. Teens will probably enjoy the uncommon perspective of the father's (Bobby's) point of view on a topic normally dealt with from the mother to be's view.

Tupac Shakur: Legacy by Joseph Jamal

CITATION: Jamal, J. (2006). Tupac Shakur: Legacy. New York: Atria Books
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 9780743292603
CLASSIFICATION: NON-FICTION
GENRE: BIOGRAPHY
CALL #: 921 SHAKUR
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING: 5

Annotation: Slain rapper/poet/actor, Tupac Shakur's life and art are chronicled in this book containing photos and reproductions of his personal mementos and handwritten work.

Summary: This is a great pictorial biography of Tupac. You get the sense you are reading through a personal scrapbook of his life. There are photos from all stages of his life, and removable reproductions of his poems, journal writing, and songs that enable us to see what the originals looked like. Some look like he just handed it to you out of his back pocket! We see pictures of him attending a prom, and clowning around with Jada Pinkett Smith at Performing Arts school. I loved how interactive this book was, and how personal it felt!

Notes: If you're a Tupac fan, this is a must-read! I'm always having to track students down to get this book back! Don't lose it! It's expensive!

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

CITATION: Souljah, S. (1999). The coldest winter ever. New York: Pocket Books.
IDENTIFYING #: 0671025368
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: URBAN FICTION/REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC SOULJAH
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: Adult
RATING:

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

CITATION: Golden, A. ( 1999). Memoirs of a geisha: A novel. New York: Vintage Books
IDENTIFYING #: 0375400117
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION
CALL #: FIC GOLDEN
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING: 5

Annotation: Sold by her father to an okiya, Chiyo prepares to become a geisha, hoping to one day gain the attention of the man she's loved since childhood.

Summary: The story of Chiyo is told through her own eyes. As a young child, her poor father, whose wife is dying,l sells her and her sister. Chiyo is taken into an okiya where she is prepared to become a geisha. Her life is not easy, and the most popular and successful geisha of the okiya hates her and tries to ruin Chiyo's chances of becoming a geisha. Hatsumomo's rival, another geisha, Mameha takes an interest in Chiyo's future in order to spite Hatsumomo, and adopts Chiyo as a younger sister. Under Mameha's guidance, Chiyo's name is changed to Sayuri. Mameha introduces Sayuri to the men and activities of Gion and Kyoto. All the while, Sayuri waits and hopes for the chance to meet the handsome man whose kindness to her as a child captivated her.

Notes: Although this book is written for adults, teen girls who enjoy historical fiction will be fascinated by this beautiful and intriguing story.

True to the Game by Terri Woods

CITATION: Woods, T. (2004). True to the game. New York: Warner Books
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 9780446581608
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: URBAN FICTION/REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC WOODS
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING:3

Annotation: Gina, the girlfriend of a Philadelphia drug boss, tries to keep it all together when tragedy strikes.

Summary: Gina and Quadir are livin' large with Cocaine money paying the bills. Quadir gets caught up in a dangerous side of the game though, and Gina stands to lose everything. Set on the streets of Philadelphia, Teri Woods, tells a story similar to From a Hard Rock to a Gem about people in tough urban areas, playing the game and trying to survive. Johnson's message, though, in From a Hard Rock to a Gem, is ultimately more hopeful, but both authors deal with similar circumstances.

Notes: Students aren't going to agree with my rating of a 3 for this book, but it was only okay for me. I felt like it glorified the dangers of this lifestyle and took a more fatalistic approach. This is a favorite book among Jefferson students, so go ahead and read it, you know you want to, and tell me why you think it's better than a 3!

Shame on it All by Zane

CITATION: Zane. (2001). Shame on it all. Brooklyn: Strebor Books International.
IDENTIFYING #: 0743480953

CLASSIFICATION: FICTION

GENRE: URBAN FICTION/REALISTIC FICTION

CALL #: FIC ZANE

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING: 3.5

Annotation: Zane, a popular writer of “urban fiction” tells a humorous, realistic, and gritty tale of 3 sisters, their family life, their relationships with each other, and their raunchy escapades.

Summary: Harmony, Bryce, and Lucy Whitfield fight, confide, and comfort each other in that way sisters do. The three girls all find themselves entangled in over-the-top sexual adventures, but through it all they support each other and confide in each other, becoming closer in the knowledge that when one of them falls apart, the others will always be there to pick up the pieces, and help them laugh even when they want to cry.

Notes: This is no Nobel Peace Prize winner, but it's a popular hit with teens who like urban fiction and those who aren’t shocked by the graphic language and sexual content will love the hilarious interactions between family members and the uproar of their family arguments.

Push by Sapphire

CITATION: Sapphire. (1996). Push. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
IDENTIFYING #: 0679446265

CLASSIFICATION: FICTION

GENRE: URBAN FICTION

CALL #: FIC SAPPHIRE
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING:4

Annotation: Horribly abused by both of her parents, 16 year-old Precious begins a journey of learning and self-discovery, when she experiences kindness for the first time.

Summary: Sapphire’s urban fiction novel opens with a young girl who is pregnant, for the second time, with her father’s child. Not for the faint of heart, this book deals with controversial subjects such as, incest, rape, illiteracy, and lesbianism. The author mentions The Color Purple as an inspiration, and the parallel themes are noticeable. The main character finally learns to read when a caring principal and an activist teacher take an interest in her.

Notes: Although disturbingly graphic for some, teens who like books such as, A Child Called It, or They Cage the Animals at Night, will connect with this. Reluctant readers who want a short, but compelling read will gravitate towards this, as will teen readers who prefer more “realistic” stories.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyers

CITATION: Meyers, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 9781904233657
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: ROMANCE; HORROR
CALL #: FIC MEYER
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING:5

Annotation: Bella moves out-of-state to live with her father and encounters a strange environment, and a fascination with Edward Cullen that she is unable to resist.

Summary: When teenage Bella moves from Florida, "The Sunshine State" to gloomy and rainy, Forks, Washington to live with her father, she’s inexplicably drawn to Edward. She eventually makes friends with Jacob, who helps her realize Edward’s true nature, but even then, Bella is unable to deny her feelings. Edward knows he's dangerous for Bella, but

Notes: Teen girls, especially those who enjoy fantasy, horror, and love stories love the Twilight series, and this is the book where it all begins. More and more though, teen guys are discovering the appeal of this series, which has not only a love story, but humor, mystery, and action as well. The theme of forbidden love is a familiar one, and if you've ever felt inexplicably drawn to someone under what seem to be impossible circumstances, you will relate to Bella and Edward.

Guyaholic: A Story of Finding, Flirting, Forgetting--and the Boy Who Changes Everything by Carolyn Mackler

CITATION: Mackler, C. (2005). Guyaholic : a story of finding, flirting, forgetting-- and the boy who changes everything. Cambridge: Candlewick.
IDENTIFYING #: 9780763625375

CLASSIFICATION: FICTION

GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION

CALL #: FIC MACKLER

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT

RATING:5

Annotation: In her sequel to Vegan Virgin Valentine, Carolyn Mackler follows the adventures of man-hopping V who panics and flees the scene when the guy she's been seeing falls in love with her.

Summary: Mackler strikes a winning chord again in this book about boy-crazy, somewhat “slutty” V, who after a period of reform, returns to her wayward ways, and loses Sam, the guy who loves her, when she's busted making out in the bathroom with another guy at a party. Unable to face Sam after sabotaging their relationship, V sets off on a road-trip to find her flighty mother, but ends up finding herself.

Notes: Teen girls will appreciate the complexity of this character who is looking for love, but at the same time, has been taught by experience, to be afraid of it.

Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

CITATION: Mackler, C. (2004). Vegan virgin valentine. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.
IDENTIFYING #: 0763626139
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE:REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC MACKLER
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING:4.5

Annotation: When straight-laced high school senior Mara Valentine's 16 year-old scandalous niece moves into her room and moves in on Mara's ex-boyfriend, Mara's carefully ordered world begins to unravel--and maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Summary: Mara Valentine had a plan--for everything, and those plans certainly did not include having her room, and her carefully-controlled life, invaded by her "look at me", slutty, stoner, only one year younger, rebel niece, V. Mara's flaky and much older sister Aimee, has dragged V across the map chasing and inevitably running away from love, as she dates, moves in with, and dumps one man after another. When Mara's parents (V's grandparents), offer V a stable home, she shows up with profanity written on her fingers and a definite attitude. It's all too much for Valedictorian candidate and Yale-bound Mara, who has absolutely nothing in common with her trouble-making niece. From the moment V arrives, the relationship is off to a rocky start, and things only get worse when V makes out with Mara's ex-boyfriend, and closest competitor, in a bathroom stall on her first day at Mara's high school. When Mara finally confronts V, V takes off on Mara, letting her know that maybe Little Ms. Perfect ISN'T so perfect. Conflict and tension mount as the months pass, and the more Mara gets to know V, the more she learns about herself.

Notes: Teens who enjoyed The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, will appreciate Mackler's humor and realism in dealing with family, relationship, and identity issues. Mackler doesn't underestimate the reader's intelligence by tying everything up into a nice, neat package where all issues are nicely resolved. Her characters portray growth and developing maturity in realistic and yet, surprising ways, resulting in an authentic story with experiences most young adults will relate to.

Forever: A Novel by Judy Blume

CITATION: Blume, J. (1975). Forever: A novel. Scarsdale, NY: Bradbury Press.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN-13: 9781416934004
CLASSIFICATION: Fiction
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
CALL #: FIC BLUME
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING:4

Annotation: Young and in love high school students, Katherine and Michael, make the decision to take their relationship to the next level and imagine their love will last forever...

Summary: In Forever, Judy Blume, a favorite young adult novelist offers a candid approach to first love, and the expectation that it will last forever. Two “in love” high school seniors make the big decision to “go all the way”. The encounter is planned and they make all the responsible decisions about birth control. Although it was written in 1975, Blume’s book is a timeless classic that deals with the aftermath of this very adult decision, the realistic emotions and complications that can follow physical intimacy, and the ambiguous truth about "forever".

Notes: The absence of modern technology will instantly alert teens to the fact that this book was written some time ago. However, they will appreciate Blume’s frank yet non-moralistic approach to the subject of physical love and the emotional bond of a young, intimate relationship, and probably gain an awareness of how universal and normal these issues and emotions really are.

It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Breakup Buddy by Greg Behrendt

CITATION: Behrendt, G. & Ruotola-Behrendt, A. (2005). It’s called a breakup because it’s broken: The smart girl’s breakup buddy. New York: Broadway Books.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN-13: 9780739321843
CLASSIFICATION: Nonfiction
GENRE: Self-help
CALL #: 306.7 BEH
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL:
RATING: 5

Annotation: Greg Behrendt and wife, Amiira Ruotolla-Behrendt give some brutal, but spot-on advice about how to survive getting your heart stomped on and emerge stronger and wiser with your "inner superfox" intact.

Summary: Behrendt hits another home run and “keeps it real” with this self-help book (co-authored by his wife) about how to get through a breakup and realize that you deserve a more fulfilling relationship. The main point is that if a guy broke up with you, or “forced you to break up with him”, sitting around and mourning the loss is not the best use of your time. Greg gives readers practical but humorous advice about how to get through the breakup and avoid common breakup pitfalls. He also lets readers know what guys are thinking when you continue to call, text, and interact with them after it’s supposedly, “over”, and encourages women to get into acceptance mode so they can stop trying to force broken relationships to work and instead, find a man who will recognize them for the "superfoxes" they are! Behrendt has a unique ability to be simultaneously ruthless and hilarious, telling you what would normally make you cry in a way that makes you laugh aloud. Even if you're not going through a break-up, it's a worthwhile read that may put past break-ups into perspective, or teach you how to help a broken-hearted friend cope.


Notes: Infused with humor and no-nonsense insight, this book shows women that they are worthy of a guy who will treat them right. The intended audience is adult women, but teen women , and even teen guys and grown men struggling through a breakup, can benefit from this book. It’s helpful for anyone in this situation to know that the end of a relationship does not signify the end of the world, and that there is hope for a better day and a better partner.

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys by Greg Behrendt

CITATION: Behrendt, G.& Tuccillo, L. (2006). He's just not that into you: The no-excuses truth to understanding guys. New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 9781416947400

CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION

GENRE: ADVICE/SELF-HELP

CALL #: 306.7 BEH
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT/OLDER TEENS
RATING: 5

Annotation: Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo team up to tell women the cold, hard, truth about men who aren't really "into them", in an effort to help them dump that loser and to find someone more deserving of their love--starting with someone who actually WANTS it!

Summary: Come on, ladies (And even fellas, because you know, sometimes, she's just not that into you)! The truth hurts, and sometimes the person you're involved with, or even your very best friends, don't want to tell it to you, no matter how much you need to hear it. Greg and Liz on the other hand, can't wait for you to hear it, and more importantly, understand it. See, what these two relationship warriors know, is that when someone is "just not that into you", you need to figure it out so that you can quit wasting your time, and find someone who is! How many times have we made excuses for our unbalanced relationships, continuing to invest ourselves in someone who does not appreciate our worth, while ignoring the law of diminishing returns? Probably, too many!

Greg and Liz explain in a blunt but hilarious style how to spot the signs and cut your losses. They are not without compassion though; their premise is that we all deserve to be with someone who will treat us with the love, respect, and dignity we deserve--someone who is just as excited about us as we are about them. If "he's just not that into you", he's probably just not that special--even though you wish he was. So, recognize your own worth, and stop making excuses for him. Don't settle for less and rob yourself of moments spent with someone who will recognize and appreciate your inner and outer beauty. Kick him to the curb and find the love you deserve! This book will help you do it.

Notes: Although this is written for adult women, teen women, and even men of all ages, would do themselves a favor by reading this book and learning to take a hint. It's never too early to learn to develop healthy relationship attitudes by setting some standards for the people who get to be with you. A few profanities do pepper the text, but it's nothing teens haven't heard, and while there is some discussion of sexuality, the overall message of self-respect places this issue in an educational and valuable context.

My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King by Reymundo Sanchez

CITATION: Sanchez, R. (2000). My bloody life: The making of a latin king. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.

IDENTIFYING #: 1556524013
CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION
GENRE: BIOGRAPHY
CALL #:921 SANCHEZ

RECOMMENDED AGE/GRADE: Adult

RATING:4

Annotation: A true story of gang indoctrination, gang life, propaganda, corruption, and escape.

Summary: The author writes under the pseudonym of Reymundo Sanchez for his own protection. Sanchez details his transformation into a hardened member of one of the most notorious and dangerous gangs, the Latin Kings. Abused horribly by both his mother and stepfather, The Kings seemed to offer the acceptance, respect, protection, and power Sanchez longed for, so at the age of 13, he joins. When he realizes the "family" the Kings offer is an illusion, and that he and all of the lower-ranking members are exploited for the benefit of a few higher-ups, he gets "jumped out". My Bloody Life is a graphic account of gang violence that shows the paradox of "loyal brothers" who will kill for you, or kill you on command from their leader. The book has a sequel, Once a King, Always a King, about how Sanchez' ongoing struggle to escape gang life, and how he had to leave Chicago to get out alive.

Notes: This book is of interest to teens, or even adults, who relate to the false sense of security gangs seem to offer, or who want to know more about this phenomenon.

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

CITATION: Beah, I. (2007). A long way gone: Memoirs of a boy soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

IDENTIFYING #: 9780374105235
CLASSIFICATION: Nonfiction
GENRE: Biography
CALL #: 921 BEAH

RECOMMENDED AGE/GRADE: Adult

RATING: 5

Annotation: A powerful story of loss and redemption in which Ishmael Beah tells how war turned a normal, happy village boy into a killing machine, and how the humanity of others helped him fight his way back to himself and find peace.

Summary: A brutal, but inspiring autobiography, in which Beah details how he lost his family and became a child soldier in the civil war that wracked his homeland, Sierra Leone. Forced to flee his village and wander with a band of parentless and homeless children, Beah is eventually kidnapped, drugged, brainwashed, and taken captive by government soldiers.

The soldiers introduce the children to warfare by cold-bloodedly murdering rebel soldiers in front of them. They tell them, “(if you pity them), just remember they probably killed your family worse.” Beah’s tale is about innocence lost and redemption. Most people would think that becoming a soldier at such a critical age in one’s development would be a point of no return, but Beah shows us that it’s never too late to regain your humanity.

Notes: Some adults would argue that this book is too graphic and violent for teens, but in a society gripped by violence, Beah shows us that there is a way out. Teens will be informed about world events mostly unfamiliar to them, but many will relate to it on a personal level as the violence of civil war bears a close resemblance to gang violence. While many books about war seem far-removed, or grim and hopeless, A Long Way Gone establishes a personal connection through humor, relatable characters and values. It inspires, because we already know (because he survives to write this book) that Beah makes it out, and if a child, trained as a killer, can regain his humanity, there is hope for us all.

Multimedia Presentations from Ishmael Beah's Website

See him talk about his book, war, his life in Somalia, and hip hop!

http://www.alongwaygone.com/media.html

Forged by Fire

CITATION: Draper, S.M. (1998). Forged by fire. New York: Aladdin Books.
IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0689818513
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC DRAPER
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 4.5
Annotation: Gerald tries to protect his sister from their abusive stepfather.

Summary: This is a powerfully written book with an uplifting message for young people about overcoming adversity in their lives. When he was 3 years old, Gerald lit his house on fire while his drug-addicted mother left him home alone. After that, he was sent to live with his loving aunt until his mother, her husband, and a sister reappeared into his life. Gerald's stepfather abuses his sister, and he tries to protect her, getting strength from a friend's father, who helps him overcome the problems at home. This is a story about survival, and standing up for the people you love.

Notes: This book details sexual and physical abuse of children, that some people will find too disturbing to read. If you like books like A Child Called It, though, this book is a quick read with an important message. In the back of the book, numbers for the National Child Abuse Hotline and the Domestic Violence Hotline are included along with a number of discussion topics.

Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self by Sara Shandler

CITATION: Shandler, S. (1999) Ophelia speaks: Adolescent girls write about their sense for self. New York: Harper Collins

IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0060952970

CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION

GENRE: PSYCHOLOGY

CALL #: 305.23 SHA

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT

RATING: 5

Annotation: A collection of writings from teenage girls across the United States discussing politics, parents, boys, sex, and societal pressures.

Summary: As the title indicates, Ophelia Speaks is about young women and their search for identity. The author read Reviving Ophelia as a 16 year-old girl. This led her to want to write her own story and to provide a forum for other young women to express themselves as well. The collection of writings here come from all over the U.S. and are organized into chapters that cover such issues as: The Body Under Assault, Family Matters, Best and Worst of Friends, Touched by Desire, Overcoming Obstacles and Coming into Our Own. There is much voice in the writing included in the book, and there are many instances showing other women that they are not alone in their problems.

Notes: This is a great book for teen girls. If you've ever felt all alone in your thoughts, worries, fears, and problems, this book will reassure that these are all a normal part of growing up.

Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African-American Achievement by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

CITATION: Abdul-Jabbar, K. (1996). Black profiles in courage: A legacy of African-American acheivement. New York: William Morrow and Company.

IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0380813416

CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION

GENRE: BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY

CALL #: 973.04 ABD

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT

RATING: 5

Annotation: Kareem Abdul-Jabar celebrates African-American heroes.

Summary: Abdul-Jabar gives tribute to African-American heroes and role models who throughout history, courageously battled against injustice at great personal risk. Photos and biographies highlight 30 of these extraordinary people who have furthered the causes of freedom, justice, and civil rights.

Notes: Anyone who's ever wanted to know more about African-American history, culture, and individual contributions to social causes and to our society will enjoy this book. It's an easy read, and you will come away feeling you've learned a lot in a short time.

The Black Chord by David Corio and Vivien Goldman

CITATION: Goldman, V. (1999). The black chord: Visions of the groove connections between Afrobeats, rhythms & blues, hip hop and more. New York: Universe Publishing.

IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0789303572

CLASSIFICATION: Nonfiction

GENRE: Music/History

CALL #: 781.64 GOL

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: Adult

RATING:4

Annotation: This book traces African contributions to modern world music.

Summary: The photographs of David Corio and the words of Vivien Goldman, as well as an introduction by soul legend, Isaac Hayes, harmonize to tell the story of how music around the globe was influenced, and continues to be influenced, by African and Caribbean roots. When the slave trade scattered Africans far from their native land and customs, many of them held onto the oral tradition and music of their culture as a way of keeping home with them. Many of these songs were about pain, faith, love, and the pain of enslavement.

These songs, many of them spirituals, provided hope and strength, as well as an outlet for an oppressed people's self-expression, but they also were a subversive tool of resistance to that oppression. Slave overseers and owners would often choose to misread the meaning of this singing, preferring to point it out as a sign of contentment. Many overseers saw the singing as merely a way of making time pass more quickly, and felt that it increased fieldhands' productivity. What they didn't know was that many of these songs were an active form of resistance, speaking out against the wrongs of captivity, and that slaves even used the songs to communicate secret messages to one another.

Without intending to, the slave trade sparked a process of cultural diffusion, and musicians in the various lands of captivity began to borrow from African traditions, and "put their own spin" on them, and future generations of African-Americans preserved these traditions and over the years, gave them modern interpretations and forms. The Black Chord details specific musical traditions from various regions of Africa and describes their unique reverberation on the development of modern music. Particular artists, such as Sade, Prince, Brandy, and Monica, are highlighted and the roots of their musical styles are traced back to their lands of origin.

Notes: If you have a real love of music, this is the book for you. My only complaint about this book, is that I think the formatting of the actual text makes it seem less appealing. The font is fine and spread across the pages in such a way that it makes the book seem like a lot to wade through. It's really not! The chapters provide an excellent browsing guide, and several pages, of photos alone, are a work of art. The Black Chord is a great way to learn not only about music, but also about culture and society, and the imprint we human beings make on one another.

Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers

CITATION: Myers, W.D. (2001). Bad boy: A memoir. New York: HarperTempest.

IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 0064472884

CLASSIFICATION: NONFICTION

GENRE: BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

CALL #: 921 MYERS

RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL:

RATING:

Annotation: Young adult author, Walter Dean Myers writes about growing up in Harlem, NY, the trouble he got into in school, and how he became a writer.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

CITATION: Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Co.
IDENTIFYING #: 9780316013680
CLASSIFICATION: Fiction
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
CALL #: FIC ALEXIE
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL:
RATING: 5

Annotation: After throwing a book at his teacher, Arnold Spirit transfers and attends high school off the reservation for the first time in his life, caught between two worlds, with both denying him acceptance.

Summary: Arnold Spirit is only a part-time Indian, because half of his life is on the rez, while the other half (after the book-throwing incident) is spent at the local public high school, where "the only other Indian is the school mascot". Belonging to two worlds but accepted by neither, Arnold escapes his loneliness and expresses himself in annotated drawings. He sees all the things his parents "could have been" if anyone had ever believed in them, and decides he will need to believe in himself in order to realize his dreams.

Notes: This is an excellent read, where you will laugh aloud and want to cry within minutes of each other. Sherman Alexie writes with a style that makes the readers feel they are almost living Arnold's experiences.