Alphabetical List

After
Anna Dress in Blood
Beauty Queens
Boy on Cinnamon Street, The
Bring It On
Chocolate War, The
Cinder
Clockwise
Clueless
Deadly Cool
Envy
First Part Last, The
Forever
Girl Who Chased the Moon, The
Girl's Guide to Witchcraft
Graveyard Book, The
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The
Hitler Youth
Hunger Games, The
I Am the Cheese
I Heart You, You Haunt Me
Jump
LEGO Harry Potter
Make Lemonade
Monster
Paper Covers Rock
PC Gamer
Perks of Being a Wallflower, The
Persepolis
Princess of the Midnight Ball
Right Behind You
Rosebush
Run Like Hell
Secret Hour, The
Seventeen Magazine
She's the Man
Skateboarder Magazine
Speak
Speak Now
Sugar Queen, The
Teen Vogue
Thirteenth Tale, The
Time Machine, The
Trapped
Tron 2.0
Twilight
Twilight: The Graphic Novel
Vincent Boys, The
Warbreaker

Tron 2.0

Buena Vista Games. Tron 2.0. Monolith Productions (2003). ASIN B00007JZB3.

Plot Summary

Tron 2.0 is a video game based on the movie Tron Legacy.  The video games starts off with a rather lengthy introduction to the story line.  Jet hears his father being abducted but when he gets to his lab, he is immediately digitized and put into the Tron world.  The user can then begin to explore the game.  While practicing moving, the user can walk up to other players and get information about how the game works.  If a user already knows how to play the game, however, they can bypass this step and go right into the battling mode.  There are four difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard and Insane.  Tron 2.0 fairly well done graphics that resemble what the movie looked like enough that fans of the new movie, and the original, will enjoy this game.

Critical Evaluation

I felt like this game was hard.  Maybe it's my lack of video game skills, but it was hard to understand all the aspects of the game.  There are a million things that the user has to remember and items that need to be collected or used in different ways.  Moving the character isn't too difficult but trying to line up exactly with whatever being interacted with was a bit more challenging - and this was all on the easy setting.

That being said, the world created is as unnerving as the world in the movies.  The graphics look similar, if not very life-like.  If someone is very into video games, this seems like a good game for them to get into.  If someone doesn't have that much experience, they may want to try something with a little less going on before tackling this game.

Reader’s Annotation

Become part of Tron and fight to win battles and prestige and eventually try to figure out what happened to Jet's father.

Author’s Information

Buena Vista Games was a subset of Disney and along with Disney Interactive, produced video games on any and all Disney associated products.  In 2007, Disney merged these two subsets and it is now called Disney Interactive Studios.  

Genre

Video Game

Book Talking Ideas

Many teens were intrigued by the new Tron movie.  This is a way for them to become part of the Tron world by interacting with all of the crazy computer programs hidden inside.  It is a difficult video game, so that is also something that might draw in players looking for a challenge.  

Reading Level/Interest

15/15

Challenge Issues

There is some violence in this video game, and it is rated T for teen.  That also means that it has been deemed appropriate for younger players.  No real challenges are expected. 

Why Include This Title?

This is the type of video game that has a very specific market.  Those who like the Tron movies will love this game.  This is true for many video games out there.  Teens need to figure out what they like and then go from there and if they aren't sure, why not try Tron 2.0 and see how it goes?

Girl's Guide to Witchcraft

Klasky, Minday. Girl's Guide to Witchcraft. Red Dress Ink (2006). ISBN 0373896077

Plot Summary

The main character, Jane Madison, is a librarian at the Peabridge Free Library.  The library is struggling with budget cuts; they already they have a coffee bar to attract more people to the library and now dress in period costume.  Instead of getting the raise that she deserves, Jane’s boss informs her that she can live for free in an ancient cottage on the library grounds, instead of having to pay rent for an apartment.  It is inside this cottage that Jane finds a secret basement full of old spell books.  Without thinking, she performs a spell and awakens a smart aleck feline familiar, Neko (who presents in the form of a very fashionable, witty gay man.  His first line in the book is “girlfriend, we have got to get you some better shoes”).   Her use of magic attracts the attention of David Montrose, a warder who is in charge of watching out for Jane.

But finding out she is a witch and can do magic is the least of Jane’s problems.  She is in love with her Imaginary Boyfriend, Jason, who comes into the library to study several times a week.  Suddenly Jason seems to be taking an interest in her and begins to talk to her more and eventually asks her out.  She ends up being intimate with him only to find out that he is married.  After this, Jane goes into a depression spiral and spends all of her time down in the basement with the magical books, which are in disarray.  After several days down there, Jane decides she needs to catalog and organize the books.  She devises her own system and records everything on her laptop.  Jane eventually gets over Jason, with the help of her best friend, familiar, and grandmother, near the end of the book. 

Critical Evaluation


Jane is the type of person who blindly does things without thinking them through.  She knows something is off about her relationship with Jason but she doesn’t second guess it or take time to really think about why she is having those feelings.  She is too practical to think magic is real, at first, but once she accidentally does a spell, she finds out the consequences of rushing into things she doesn’t know a lot about. 


The characters are relatable, if somewhat taken from stock characters.  Jane is a stereotypical librarian in most respects, and she even goes through a transformation - geek to chic.  The magic is fun and Jane doesn't take it too seriously.  The heartbreak of finding out about Jason is one that readers feel too.  But, the fact that things end badly with him probably isn't too shocking either.  This book, overall, takes a fun look at magic with an awesome librarian as the protagonist.  It presents the idea that if a fact loving librarian can believe in magic, maybe the readers can too.


Reader's Annotation


What would you do if you suddenly found out that you can do magic, your imaginary boyfriend becomes real and you still have to worry about the fate of the library on top of it all?


Author's Information


Mindy Klasky has written fifteen novels under many genres.  Mindy went from being a lawyer, to being a librarian and now she currently is a full time writer.  Discover more of her magic by visiting her website: http://www.mindyklasky.com/.

Genre


Fantasy / Adult Crossover

Book talking ideas


There are so many fun things about this novel that would entice young adults.  Jane has an amazing best friend who always sticks by her, she somehow summons a fashion forward familiar, in human form, who helps her with all things magical.  And she is a librarian.  Librarians are awesome, as we all know, and she is no exception.

Reading Level/Interest Age


16/16

Challenge Issues


There is some sexual content in this book.  As it is written for adults, some of the content, such as drinking, may not be suited to some people's tastes but the people involved are all of legal drinking age.  Nothing is graphic or explicit.  Everything done in the book is between consenting adults so even if there were challenges, it would be hard for them to gain any footing.

Why Include This Title?


Jane goes through things that many women go through.  This is a fun fantasy novel, chick lit basically, that will appeal to the younger readers who are looking for something a little more in depth than what is available in many YA books.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Schroeder, Lisa. I Heart You, You Haunt Me. Simone Pulse (2008). ISBN 978-1-416-95520-7 

Plot Summary

Lisa Schroeder’s I Heart You, You Haunt Me is written in verse and tells the story of Ava, a girl mourning over the death of her boyfriend Jackson.  Not long after his dead, Ava starts to feel Jackson's presence in many aspects of her life and can even smell his after shave.  This makes it even harder for Ava to accept the loss of her boyfriend and best friend.  

Critical Evaluation

In this beautifully written book, Ava comes to terms with the pain of Jackson's loss and comes to some much needed realizations concerning the circumstances of his death.  The entire book is one long verse, which makes it very quick to read, but also lends the idea that the reader is experiencing all of Ava's thoughts and feelings at the same time as she is.  

It was difficult to get to know Ava very well.  While she is a sympathetic character just based on the fact that she lost someone she loved, it is hard to really connect with her.  This may be ok, though, as the feelings that Ava has towards everything are feelings that many have when they lose someone.  Making the narrator someone who the reader doesn't know too many specifics about makes this book more easily relateable.  

Reader's Annotation

Coming to terms with the death of a loved one can be difficult, which Ava experiences first hand when her boyfriend dies suddenly.

Author's Information

Lisa lives in Oregon and has written many books for young adults.  She spent her summers growing up reading and playing outside.  Much more information about her and her excellent YA novels can be found here: http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Book talking Ideas

This book is written in free verse, which makes it a very fast read and one that has a very nice flow to it.  The book is all about loss and how one young girl copes with it.  This book can be used to help those who are suffering from a similar situation or have in the past.  Reading passages from books, short ones, always seems like a great way to get people interested.  

Reading Level / Interest Age

14/14

Challenge Issues


Despite the utter despair that Ava suffers through, this book doesn't feature any graphic scenes that would make parents uncomfortable.

Why Include This Title?

This covers the topic of loss in a very unique, lovely way. Ava could represent any reader making this the perfect book for teenagers.

Rosebush

Jaffe, Michele. Rosebush. Razorbill (2011). ISBN 9781595143839

Plot Summary

                 Jane wakes up in the hospital with no recollection of how she got there.  Soon, as family and friends start to visit her, the night’s events start to come back to her.  She starts to realize that it is no accident that she is there and that someone close to her wants her dead.  With threatening messages on her mirror showing up and creepy phone calls, Jane tries desperately to figure out who wants her dead before it’s too late.

Critical Evaluation

This book is probably one of the most intense, mystery steeped books I've ever read. I could not have enjoyed it more. The plot is so twisty-turny that I couldn't stop reading - even when I was getting carsick on the way home from vacation.  Everyone Jane knows seems to have a secret and could possibly have ill intent towards her.  In the end, it is the person least expected who is the attempted murderer.

Jane is a very believable character.  Her relationship with her mother is less than perfect but much of that is Jane’s doing.  She has a hard time figuring out where she belongs and who she is.  The story is wrapped up well and the journey to get to the ending is a wild ride readers will love.

Reader’s Annotation

Jane can’t remember anything from the night that ended with her in the hospital.  This is the story of her piecing events together and realizing that being in the hospital was no accident. 

Author’s Information

Michele graduated with a PhD from Harvard in Comparative Literature, after which she left academia to write.  She writes both YA and adult books, fiction and thrillers.  Her website is here: http://www.michelejaffe.com/.

Genre

Thriller/Suspense

Book Talking Ideas

I’d being by asking them what they would do if they all of a sudden couldn’t remember what happened the night before.  Then I’d ask what if you were in the hospital, beat up extremely badly, and couldn’t remember what happened?  Jane assumes it was some sort of accident but a sinister plot lurks just underneath the surface.

Reading Level/Interest

12/12

Challenge Issues

There is some teen drinking in this book, but it isn’t the main focus by any means.  Jane has a harder time than necessary remembering what happened because of all the pain killers she’s on at the hospital but, because there is a medical reason, challengers shouldn’t have too big a problem with that.

Why Include This Title?

This is a very well written YA thriller.  The form of going from the present, where the character can’t remember anything, to the past where clues are pieced together, is a sure fire way to get readers hooked.  This is a quality that YA books need to have in order to be successful and Rosebush has it.

Clockwise

Strauss, Elle. Clockwise. Create Space (2012). ISBN 9781466440968

Plot Summary

                Casey is a time traveler.  She goes back in time without any notice, and it can happen anytime, any day.  Luckily, no time passes in the present while she is gone, but she can be stuck in the past for weeks or even months before she goes back.  When she returns to the present, the only sign that she has gone are the dark circles under her eyes.  Time does continue on, however, when she is in her present, so when she goes back, people often ask her hard questions about what happened to her and where she has been.  When Casey goes back, she must try to fit in with the current culture.  She picks strategic spots to bury items that she can retrieve once she travels back in time. 

                Casey’s time travelling becomes even more of a problem when a very aggressive (and abusive) man in the past starts showing interest in her and wants to marry her.  It is all Casey can do to avoid him and try to survive until she is returned to her own time. 

Critical Evaluation

I've never read a time travelling novel quite like this one. The way Casey has to have actual skills to survive in the 1860s was a realistic aspect to the story that many lack. She uses her instincts and creates ways for her to be better prepared when she goes back in time. She is smart, not just bookish but street smart in her own way. While she has that boy obsession that every heroine in YA novels has, it's very real. Being married now for years, at first I was thinking "Man, Casey, what is so great about this one guy?" But then I started to think back to how I was in high school and the boys I crushed on. I was the exact same way!

When Casey goes to the 1960s, I wasn't really sure why that was necessary - but Strauss had a good reason for that. I also found it kind of coincidental that Nate goes on so many "trips" with her. But I can see why it was needed to forge a good bond between Casey and Nate and make their relationship be based on something other than "love at first sight." Everything wraps up very neat and tidy, maybe a little too tidy, but who doesn't love surprise coincidences and connections between seemingly random parts of a story? This was a relatively quick read and I'd recommend it!

Reader’s Annotation

Come discover how time travel is a lot harder than one might originally think and explore a world before only read about.

Author’s Information

Elle writes YA and children’s novels.  Her first book, a women’s novel, was published when she was living in Germany.  The only problem is that it was in German and she, and no one she knows, speaks German.  More about her and her books can be found here: http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.com/.

Genre

Adventure / Historical Fiction

Book Talking Ideas

This is a story about what is would really be like to time travel.  Casey doesn’t magically become dressed in 19^th century clothes when she arrives, so she has to make her own way.   There is a love interest, for all those romantics, yet a lot of adventure and near-misses of danger. 

Reading Level/Interest

14/14

Challenge Issues

I don’t see really any reasons why this book would be challenged. 

Why Include This Title?

This is an interesting take on the time travel genre.  I liked that it combined both adventure and historical fiction.  It can probably be considered historical fiction as Casey does spend a lot of time in the past.  

The Thirteenth Tale

 Setterfield, Diane. The Thirteenth Tale.  Washington Square Press (2007). ISBN 9780743298032

Plot Summary

                Margaret Lea lives with her father above their bookshop.  She loves everything about reading and books.  She loves biographies and has even written a few herself.  An elusive and ailing writer, Vida Winter, who never talks to any reporters, writes to Margaret and asks her to come write her biography before she dies.  Margaret has never heard of Vida Winter so she readers her book Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation.  The book ends up only having twelve tales and Margaret decides to go find out more about Vida.

                As Margaret listens to stories from Vida’s life, she is forced to confront her own past.  The events at Angelfield, Vida’s childhood home, are startling and disturbing with an ending that defies expectations.   The story of her life becomes the final, thirteenth tale. 

Critical Evaluation

                The Thirteenth Tale is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read.  This is an adult book but one that teenagers can benefit from.  Setterfield’s writing is so enthralling that, while the book is not terribly fast passed, readers enjoy every moment of it.  The secrets about Vida’s life are quite shocking.  The ending is one that not many, if any, will see coming.  The format of the writing is also interesting.  There are scenes of Margaret in the present and her interactions with Vida and then there are the flashbacks.  Margaret is not allowed to ask any questions, just sit, listen and record making this a very cohesive tale without many interruptions. 

                The way Vida chooses to tell her story is logical – the events line up and she usually begins where she left off, or soon thereafter at the beginning of the next important milestone in her life.  While YA novels are wonderful, a lot of times they strive to be entertaining and are a little less substantial.  This book is one that can appeal to everyone, adults and teens alike, and it written extremely well.

Reader’s Annotation

Terrible secrets lurk just underneath the surface of Vida Winter’s life and with the help of biographer Margaret Lea, light is creeping into those mysterious places.

Author’s Information

                Diane has taught at various universities in England and France where she published various academic works on her specialty, French literature.  The Thirteenth Tale is her debut novel.  A more in depth biography can be found here: http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/1376/diane-setterfield

Genre

Adult Crossover

Book Talking Ideas

This is the story about coming to terms with events in one’s past.  The book features twins that couldn’t be more different along with a setting that will take the reader’s breath away.  This is half a historical fiction novel and half in the present.  This format makes for very intriguing writing.

Reading Level/Interest

16/16

Challenge Issues

This book features themes such as self-discovery, death, loss and other serious topics.  They are handled in a very well manner, however, so challenges will most likely be scarce. 

Why Include This Title?

This book may one day be considered a classic.  The writing is beautiful, as I’ve said, and the story is one that readers will remember and associate with great storytelling.  It is another adult book that is suitable for teens to read.