Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Arn is a young teen who loves life in Cambodia with his sisters and brother until one day, the Khmer Rouge march into their village and change his life forever. In Arn's broken language, McCormick bases this work of fiction on the four and a half years Arn suffered as he witnesses the murder of friends and family. Toiling all day long in rice fields with young boys, boys were starved, murdered, and when marched to the mango field "everyone knew they would die" and everyone meant babies, men, women and children. Arn survives by learning how to play a musical instruments and sing songs glorifying the Khmer Rouge. Arn did what he had to do in order to survive---by never falling down. Arn is a survivor but he suffers deeply as he witnesses the horrors and then becomes a child soldier. McCormick's book is sooo difficult to read, but you can't put it down. The killing fields of Cambodia run with blood but Arn survives to tell his story to the world and he becomes a humanitarian who continues to spend most of his time helping Cambodia rebuild through music and other community outlets.
I loved this book and hope it will be read by all teens just as The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray tell the world

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by J. Achreiber

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Perry Stormaire is a nice guy in his senior year who wants to go to Columbia University, works part time for his father's law firm, and is in a band. For the past nine months his family has hosted a Lithuanian foreign exchange student, named Gobi. Perry would have enjoyed a hot European chick, but Gobi was anything but with her greasy hair, baggy clothes and silence. Even though she was invisible in school, Perry was always nice to her, but imagine his chagrin when his parents make him go to the prom with Gobi; especially since that particular night they are playing a gig in NYC.
With his father's jag as a consolation prize, Perry in his tuxedo takes Gobi to the prom. When other senior's mock Perry and Gobi, they both decide to leave the prom and that is when the crazy night unfolds because Gobi begins to take Perry on a wild ride that consists of Gobi really looking hot in a short tight black dress, flowing hair and lipstick, oh and did I forget to mention guns and ammunition. Get ready for a wild ride as Perry is dragged along as Gobi seeks revenge.

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Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Geoff Herbach's Felton Reinstein is one incredible character. His voice is funny, sweet, confused and just plain nice but life has not been easy for Felton and his family. At the age of five, Felton finds his father's body after he hung himself. Felton grows up insecure with some bad advice from his mother, doctors, and not having a father figure. The summer that his best friend unexpectedly leaves to take care of his grandmother; everything goes crazy- Felton's mom agrees that he will take over his best friend's paper route; he shoots up inch by inch, eats everything in sight, starts lifting weights for football, and running. Felton meets Aleah Jennings when he drops a newspaper off at his best friend's house. Aleah is a superb piano player and likes Felton. Felton begins seeing Aleah daily and they definitely have a romantic, sweet connection. But then his mother starts acting strange, cursing, drinking, and as a final threat she stops being a mother to Felton and his little brother, Andrew. Felton doesn't want to burden anyone with his family problems and his father's suicide is always a specter that keeps chipping away at his mother, brother, and Felton. I laughed at Felton's thoughts and actions but I really felt for Felton when his family was falling apart; he didn't know what to do, how to act and he withdrew by missing lifting, practices,not seeing his friends or Aleah. What will happen to Felton is worth all the drama and laughs. Herbach's book is a recommended read, I can't wait to see what my students think, since this is a Reading Olympic book selection.

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Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Susane Colasanti books! Told by three different friends' perspectives; Rhiannon has been dummped by Steve and he hasn't really given her a reason why. Rhee's best friend Nicole has just broken up with Danny, she is not sure why; but Danny definitely still cares about Nicole. James is Rhiannon's friend and hates his life and just wants to get away to college so he can make lots of money after he graduates. There is drama, suspense and a whole lot of teen angst going on in this book. I truly enjoyed all the characters, even mean girl, Gloria. Colasanti did a great job of showing how supportive these friends were; yet they still kept secrets and heartache from their friends. It was nice to see the progression of Rhee's friendship with James. Even Mrs. Schaffer knew James cared for Rhee, but it took Rhee (after she really realized Steve was over her and dating a new girl) trusting herself and feeling comfortable and whole around James to realize he would make her life better. Nicole has issues that resolve when she realizes she truly cares about Danny and that she must tell her friends the truth in order to be free. I love the way Colasanti paints New York, her characters' thoughts, and their language. I would have given this book 5 stars if there was only one narrator; with the 3 narrators, there was sometimes overlap and going back and forward in time, that might take away from the story, not add to it.

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Leap of Faith by Anne Schraff

Leap of Faith by Anne Schraff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the Urban Underground series. For reluctant readers, this book revolves around Ernesto who is a junior at Cesar Chavez High School and wants to run for Senior Class President. Ernesto is a good kid who goes out of his way to help others. He has been shown this example by his father who goes into the barrio and talks dropouts into returning to school. One day there is a robbery and Ernesto sees a hooded, tatooed guy he knows as Cruz Lopez who hangs around Paul Gonzales. He mentions to Paul his suspicions and Paul makes Ernesto promise to keep it to himself about what he saw because Paul is convinced Cruz would never do something like this. While Ernesto is trying to run his campaign, he still worries Cruz could have been involved in the robbery, as well as stopping rumors that Clay started to hurt his election. Ernesto has a great girlfriend in Naomi, and good friends and a supportive family. Students will enjoy the characters in this slim novel and Ernesto's quest to represent his class.

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rebecca Skloot has done a superb job of crafting a nonfiction book that reads like a fiction book! The story of Henrietta Lacks, her life, her cells, and her children are painstakingly researched by Rebecca over many years and what she uncovers is the "immortal life" of her cells and how the doctors from Hopkins took them, used them without anyone's permission, and continue to use them today. Even as Henrietta's family is poor, uneducated, and can't even afford health care, insurance and an education; still Henrietta's cells have helped find many cures in the world of medicine. Henrietta's children, especially her daughter, Deborah was one when her mother died an excruciatingly painful cervical cancer death. No one knew she was sick in her family, and as she continued to go to Hopkins for treatment, she also took care of her family. It was not until she went in for radiation, that she even told her sisters she was sick. After her death, her surviving children would suffer abuse at the hands of relatives, deprived of their loving mother. I read this to see if it would be a good title for faculty book club and I highly recommend it!!! But with the common core standards, I think students would benefit from reading this nonfiction title because it has so many points for students to discuss and learn about such as medicine, cancer, race relations, family dynamics and religious faith.

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The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved LaCour's Hold Still and boy did I love this one too! Colby is such a great narrator. He loves Bev, she has been his best friend since forever and he can't wait to go on tour with her all girl band, The Disenchantments, before he and Bev tour Europe. They have decided not to go to college like everyone else. The other band members are Alexa(younger sister to Meg and still in high school) and Meg (will be dropped off to college at the end of the band's tour )while Colby is the driver of his uncle's prized Melinda, set-up guy and go to guy for everyone. He is an awesome artist, so is Bev, which makes it even more difficult when Bev acts very strange at the start of the tour and tells Colby she applied to RISD and will attend in the fall!!! Colby is stunned because Bev gives him no explanation, but Meg and Alexa make him feel great. They go to some interesting stops on their tour, get involved in trying to solve a tattoo mystery, and meet some "different" people, places, etc. There were so many great quotes, Colby SEES things and his comments are insightful, thoughtful, yet you know he is clamoring to find some meaning in this tour and what should he do now that they are not going to Europe. The more I found out about Colby's friends and what made them unique, LaCour's writing, setting, characters were all so memorable. I am not into tattoes, still am not after reading this book, but I do like the murals and graffitti artistry. Recommended!

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