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LMS Book Reviews: High

Hitler's Last Days

Name Heather Waters
Title Hitler's Last Days
Author Bill O'Reilly
ISBN 9781627793964
Publisher Henry Holt
Classification Nonfiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary This book tells of the last days that Adolf Hitler was alive. The story tells how he had survived an assassin's bomb only to see the end of his dreams of world domination and the end of the Jewish people. It shows how he sank into a deep black depression and how he and his new wife took their own lives.

 
Would you recommend?  Why or why not? Yes.  

This book show us important historical facts about a world leader.

 

World War I Aftermath

Name April Haupt
Title World War I Aftermath
Author Tom Streissguth
ISBN 9781624039263
Publisher ABDO
Classification Non Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 3
Summary The aftermath of World War I would seem to be a very specific topic but is actually quite complex. The beginning of the book does a good job of explaining the end of the war and the impacts of the armistice on the German people. The author then attempts to show how the end of the war brought an end to most major dynasties, the impact of the economy of the countries involved in the war, and events that eventually led to World War II. However, this is done in a disjointed manner that is hard to follow.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? No.  This organization of this book is not chronological or even in order of significance. Very difficult to understand the big picture it is trying to communicate.

 

Words on bathroom walls

Name Debbie Martin
Title Words on bathroom walls
Author Julia Walton
ISBN 9780399550881
Publisher Random House
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 4
Summary Adam is a likeable, funny teenager who is dealing with hallucinations. After a schizophrenia diagnosis and some trouble at school, he is trying out a new drug to help him separate his fantasy characters from reality. He starts over at a new school and meets a girl – he is determined to hide his condition until the drug begins to fail. The book is a diary to his Adam’s therapist in which he discusses how the drug is affecting him, his hallucinations, and what he is experiencing in life. Readers will view people with mental illness with empathy and will understand that those who suffer want to be treated just like others. The book offers a message of hope along with a strong dose of reality.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Teens will relate to the character and will develop empathy for those who have mental health challenges.

 

I believe in a thing called love

Name Debbie Martin
Title I believe in a thing called love
Author Maurene Goo
ISBN 9780374304041
Publisher Farrar Straus Giroux
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 4
Summary A funny, endearing romance sprinkled with Korean-American family life and many high school antics. Desi Lee is an overachieving high school senior who is successful in everything aspect of her life except romance. When a new guy, Luca, transfers to her school, she devises a plan to finally land a boyfriend. Her approach is typically academic; she creates a step-by-step approach to woo Luca based on the Korean dramas that she watches with her dad. Will she finally find success at romance, or is she destined to fail once again? With the help of her friends and her plan in-hand, she is determined to give it her best effort.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.   This is a fun romance and should be very appealing - especially to those high-achieving, type-A teens who will relate to Desi.

 

These shallow graves

Name Gwen Wethington
Title These shallow graves
Author Jennifer Donnelly
ISBN 9780385737661
Publisher Ember
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary A young woman in nineteenth-century New York City must struggle against gender and class boundaries when her father is found dead of a supposed suicide, and she believes there is more than meets the eye, so in order to uncover the truth she will have to decide how much she is willing to risk and lose.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  I wasn't in LOVE with the book, but over all it's not that bad. One thing I really love about it is how the more the main character, Jo, discovers about her dad's death, the more secrets get revealed and the more information she finds out about the town she lives in.

 

Die for you

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Die for you
Author Amy Feller Dominy
ISBN 9781101936191
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary Eighteen-year-old Emma Lorde thought her gorgeous, good guy boyfriend, Dillon, had saved her life, but senior year has brought about many changes and challenges to their picture perfect future.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  I fell in love with this book. I really loved Dillon's love and compassion towards Emma. It starts off like any other love story but I really love how it takes a turn when Emma tells Dillion about how she is leaving. I love how he does everything he can to make her stay. Overall it is a great book.

 

Somebody's baby

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Somebody's baby
Author Lurlene McDaniel
ISBN 9780385744232
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary A young woman who has skyrocketed to fame is guarded but hopeful when she receives an email from a stranger who claims not only to have information about the father she never knew but also to be her half sister
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes. 

 

Serendipity's footsteps

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Serendipity's Footsteps
Author Suzanne Nelson
ISBN 9780385392136
Publisher Knopf Books for Young Readers
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary From Nazi Germany to a modern-day orphanage in the American South, three girls separated by decades and thousands of miles are about to give up when a single pair of shoes binds them all together.

Dalya is the daughter of a cobbler in 1930s Berlin, and though she is only fifteen, she knows she will follow in her father's footsteps. When she is forced into a concentration camp one violent November night, she must leave behind everything she knew and loved.

Ray is a modern-day orphan, jagged around the edges in every possible way. She sees an impulsive escape to New York as her only chance at happiness; there, she knows she'll be able to convert her sorrows into songs.

Pinny is an unwavering optimist and Ray's unintended travel companion on her passage to a new life. She inherited from her eccentric mother a fascination with shoes as a means of transformation and expression.

A single pair of shoes entwines these lives. How these women connect across different times and places is an unforgettable story of strength, love, bravery, memory, and the serendipity that binds us all together.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Wonderful story about three girls in three very different time periods, that are intertwined together by a single pair of shoes. Through these three girls, the reader can see what is happening in that time period, what hardships each girl must face and how even through adversity, these young girls can overcome and find their place in the world.

 

A week of Mondays

Name Gwen Wethington
Title A week of Mondays
Author Jessica Brody
ISBN 9780374382704
Publisher Farrar, Struas, Giroux
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary Sixteen-year-old Ellison Sparks keeps reliving the terrible Monday on which her boyfriend, Tristan, breaks up with her and no matter how hard she tries, she cannot seem to set things right.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.   Funny, fast paced read that students would enjoy.

 

Aim

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Aim
Author Joyce Moyer Hostetter
ISBN 9781629796734
Publisher Calkins Creek
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary Set in WW II, this story tells of a young boy adjusting to a world filled with war and the death of his father. Many life changing decisions and unlikely friendships help to shape the young boy into a man as the novel progresses.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.

 

Lucky strikes

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Lucky strikes
Author Louis Baynard
ISBN 9781627793902
Publisher Henry Holt and Company
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary A young girl, without a mother or a father, is in charge of raising her siblings and running the family gas station. With the threat of child services coming to remove them all and place them in foster care, the young girl must find a "parent" and fast! She finally decided to ask the local hobo if he will help her out. Not only can he help keep social services from taking them all away but he can help her fight the rich oil tycoon that is threatening to buy her gas station.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.

 

Concentr8

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Concentr8
Author William Sutcliffe
ISBN 9781619639195
Publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary A young boy comes of age in a time period of military rule and social unrest. Very thought provoking about what could/would happen in our society if our government was replaced with strict military power
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.

 

Shattered warrior

Name Gwen Wethington
Title Shattered warrior
Author Molly Know Ostertag
ISBN 9781626720893
Publisher First Second
Classification Graphic Novel
Recommended level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary It is eight years after Colleen Cavanaugh's home world was invaded by the Derichets, a tyrannical alien race bent on exploiting the planet's mineral resources. Most of her family died in the war, and she now lives alone in the city. Aside from her acquaintances at the factory where she toils for the Derichets, Colleen makes a single friend in Jann, a member of the violent group of rebels known as the Chromatti. One day Colleen receives shocking news: her niece Lucy is alive and in need of her help. Together, Colleen, Jann, and Lucy create their own tenuous family. But Colleen must decide if it's worth risking all of their survival to join a growing underground revolution against the Derichets
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This was a great graphic novel with not only excellent graphics but a very heart warming story as well. The main character, Colleen, proved to be a very brave and courageous young lady who fought for her family and to protect those around her. I enjoyed this book very much!!

 

Drowning is inevitable

Name Debbie Martin
Title Drowning is inevitable
Author Shalanda Stanley
ISBN 9780553508284
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary Seventeen-year-old Olivia is tied to her surroundings: the town, river, friends and the memory of her mother. Olivia’s lives in the shadow of her mother whose death, occurring when Olivia was 3 days old, shook the entire town. Olivia can feel invisible as her grandmother calls her by her mother’s name and her father looks at her with pain because she is a constant reminder. Olivia looks like her mother, sleeps in her mother’s childhood room surrounded by her mother’s pictures, and wears her mother’s clothes. Olivia loves two boys: Jamie is her best friend and the two have an unbreakable connection; Max is her boyfriend who loves her deeply and does his best to understand Olivia’s connection to Jamie. She and her friends are navigating life in their small, southern town when something goes terribly wrong and they find themselves on the run, landing in New Orleans. As the title suggests, events are inevitable, and Olivia finds herself in the position of having to move on after tragedy.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This is a moving, beautifully written book with a strong sense of place. This is a really good coming of age book.

 

This raging light

Name Rebecca Ansari
Title This raging light
Author Estelle Laure
ISBN 9780544534292
Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5 wth 5 being the highest) 4
Summary Following the lives that many children/students have to live, especially in low-income communities, you have babies raising babies. A young woman, 17-years-old in this case, finding herself having to be the parent of her younger, 10-year-old, sister while still having the feelings of a typical 17-year-old, that first crush. Lucille has found herself having to be an adult when she very much still needs and wants to be a teenager. The story is one that will keep you cheering for Lucille as she makes it through the hard life she was handed by the people that should care for her the most, her parents.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Relates to a lot of challenges my students have to face.

 

The girl I used to be

Name Susan Gasaway
Title The girl I used to be
Author April Henry
ISBN 9781627793322
Publisher Henry Holt and Company
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 5
Summary Olivia's parents were killed 14 years ago. New evidence has surfaced and Olivia finds herself in the middle of the new investigation.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This is a fast-paced mystery that grabs you from the beginning. It has a likable main character you will want to root for. Many surprising twists and turns with a very unexpected ending.

 

Nine Months: Jasmine

Name Susan Gasaway
Title Nine Months: Jasmine
Author Maggie Wells
ISBN 9781680761924
Publisher EPIC Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5 with 5 being the highest) 3
Summary Nine Months is a 6 book series where each book focuses on on young female facing an unwanted pregnancy. The book Jasmine followings the story of a college freshman in Las Vegas who becomes a professional dancer on the Strip. When she becomes pregnant, she has to face some tough decisions about how to juggle school, dancing, and motherhood.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This is a hi-lo reading selection that will appeal to high school students. Many students will appreciate its "edgy" content.

 

Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book

Name  
Title Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book
Author Diane Muldrow
ISBN 9780553508758
Publisher Random House
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary This book includes witty observations about love and relationships paired with images from classic Little Golden Books.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? This is a quick read that will engage readers with its humorous take on a variety of relationships. The pictures are fun and compliment the observations in the text.

 

Macbeth #killingit

Name Susan Gasaway
Title Macbeth #killingit
Author William Shakespeare/Courtney Carbone
ISBN 9780553538809
Publisher Penguin Random House
Classification Graphic Novel
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary Macbeth #killingit is the retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth using texts, emojis, tweets, and status posts.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This book speaks to students in their own language and they will enjoy the humor of this interpretation. I could also see this book used by teachers while teaching Shakespeare to bring the text into the 21st century. It is a relatively easy read so it would appeal to struggling readers as well.

 

The divine

Name Susan Gasaway
Title The divine
Author Asaf Hanuka
ISBN 9781596436749
Publisher Roaring Brook Press
Classification Graphic Novel
Recommended Level High School
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Mark, an explosives expert in need of money takes a job with an old army buddy in the fictional Southeast Asian country of Quanlom. In Quanlom, Mark is lured by a group of child-soldiers, led by a set of twins known as "The Divine", to help them fight ancient forces with the modern technology Mark knows well.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  The beautiful artwork, along with the unique adventure story makes The Divine a good selection for a high school library. Students who enjoy the dystopian genre will love this graphic novel. The action will keep them engaged and the graphic nature of the artwork will capture their interest.

 

Stay in the game

Name Susan Gasaway
Title Stay in the game
Author Megan Atwood
ISBN 9781467775069
Publisher Lerner
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Stay in the Game is book 1 of The Contest Series, a Hi-Lo book series. James enters "The Contest" to win $10 million in order to pay for his grandfather's experimental medical treatment that will save his life. In "The Contest", he has to be the first to complete assigned tasks, with no questions asked. James completes tasks 1-8 in the first volume of this series.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This is a high-interest adventure/mystery with a Lexile of 520. It will appeal to students who enjoy a quick read as well as those who are struggling readers. It is a fast-paced adventure with a likable protagonist that students will root for and want to see succeed in subsequent volumes.

 

The love interest

Name Debbie Martin
Title The love interest
Author Cale Dietrich
ISBN 9781250107138
Publisher Feiwel and Friends
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1 to 5 ) 4
Summary Caden and Dylan are in a high-stakes competition to win the girl – the winner spends the rest of his life with her and the loser dies. This is a dystopian world where kids are divided into “Nice” and “Bad” categories, are surgically altered, given identities and are trained to pursue mates with special gifts. “Nice” Caden is full of uncertainty about his place and his role. His mission is to win the love of Juliet over his rival “Bad” Dylan. Breaking the rules, these rivals become friends as they pursue the same girl. Along the way, something else emerges between the two of them. But what will happen after Juliet has made her choice? Will one boy live while the other dies, or is there another way out? Coming of age story, dystopian, romance with an LGBT twist.
Would you recommend this title?  Why or why not? Yes.  This book has compelling teen elements along with dystopian concepts that make the reader question what it means to be truthful to others and oneself.

 

The Librarian of Auschwitz

Name Rebecca Ansari
Title The Librarian of Auschwitz
Author Antonio Iturbe
ISBN 9781627796187
Publisher Godwin Books
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1 to 5) 5
Summary
Based on the survival of a holocaust camp prisoner of Auschwitz who is still living today, one can find hope through torment and sadness. Dita Kraus' s experiences are brought to life by Antonio Iturbe in the book The Librarian of Auschwitz. A young, fourteen-year-old woman, is bestowed on her the responsibility of keeping a hidden treasure in a camp of torture and disease, the treasure of books. As you learn to love and lose characters brought to life on the pages, you also learn how valuable words on a page can be for those who have lost all hope.
   
Would you recommended this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Helps those see how much they have to be thankful for though they may believe they have nothing in their lives to be thankful for.

 

You're welcome, universe

Name Rebecca Ansari
Title You're welcome, universe
Author Whitney Gardner
ISBN 9780399551413
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1 to 5) 3
Summary A nice break from teen romance or a teen with a supernatural or superpower, one kind find oneself relating to a girl, Julia, who has a disability, being deaf. Despite her differences, Julia finds a way to express herself through her art, though many may call her art vandalism, graffiti. This is a story about finding oneself through expression while finding a friend that builds you up and challenges you instead of bringing you
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Students can relate for longing to want to fit in despite their differences.

 

The lost and the found

Name Rebecca Ansari
TItle The lost and the found
Author Cat Clarke
ISBN 9781101932049
Publisher Crown
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level
Rating (1 to 5) 4
Summary
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  A book that is sure to entertain and keep a student wanting to read more.

 

The girl in the picture

Name Rebecca Ansari
Title The girl in the picture
Author Alexandra Monir
ISBN 9780385743907
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1 to 5) 3
Summary
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  For those searching for a modern mystery, this book will fulfill their need to read.

 

Reawakened

Name Debbie Martin
Title Reawakened
Author Colleen Houck
ISBN 9780385376563
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1 to 5)` 3
Summary Lily is an affluent Manhatttan teen living a safe and scripted existence. She heads to the Egyptian exhibit at the museum where she encounters a man who turns out to be the risen mummy of Amon, an Egyptian demi-god. He is on a quest to find his brothers so they can defeat an evil power, but he needs Lily’s help; he casts a spell binding them together and Lily finds herself strangely drawn to him. After some adventures navigating New York, they head to Egypt and things become much more dangerous. As the adventures ensue the attraction between the two grows, but a relationship is forbidden. Will Amon and his brothers succeed in their goal to quash the rising evil force? WIll Lily and Amon fall in love? Will either of them survive the danger they encounter?
Would you recommended this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  For readers who enjoy adventure and mythology splashed with romance.

 

Teens Take it to Court: Young People Who Challenged the Law and Changed Your Life

Name Heather Waters
Title Teens Take it to Court: Young People Who Challenged the Law and Changed Your Life
Author Judge Tom Jacobs
ISBN 9781575421995
Publisher Free Spirit Publishing
Classification Non Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary Understanding the Law. How the Supreme Court works, facts you should know about the Constitution. How to do legal research and 21 cases that explored legal issues teens are facing today. Do school officials have the right to discipline you? Do your parents? Can you school newspaper be censored?

 
Would you recommend this title?  Why or why not?  Yes.  

These are legal issues that face our students today. They have rights and need to know them

 

Mike's Place: A True Story of Love, Blues and Terror in Tel Aviv

Name  Heather Waters
Title Mike's Place: A True Story of Love, Blues and Terror in Tel Aviv
Author (s) Jack Baxter, Joshua Faudem, Koren Shadmi
ISBN 9781596438576
Publisher First Second
Classification Graphic Novel
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Based on the true story of the bombing of a bar called Mike's Place in Tel Aviv. The author Jack Baxter and Joshua Faudem were present at the bombing while filming a documentary. Great graphics, great story.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  It is important that history not repeat itself.

 

A Song for Ella Grey

Name Heather Waters
Title A Song for Ella Grey
 
Author David Almond
 
ISBN 9780553533590
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Based on the sad story of Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology, A Song for Ella Grey tells the story of modern day young lover Orpheus and Ella. Their love is magical and as ill-fated as that of Orpheus and Eurydice, told through the eyes of Ella's friend Claire, David Almond brings the story to life with the use of beauty and love.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not?

Yes.  This book is so beautifully written, the words paint pictures of young love and heartache.

 

Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

Name Heather Waters
Title Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky
Author (s) Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella schmitzer
ISBN 0060291354
Publsiher HarperCollins Children's Books
Classification Non Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary In the 1930's with the Great Depression settled on the nation leaving many without resourses and no way to find help, Roosevelt found a way to help those who were hardest hit. Women heading up households and living on government assisstance. He created the WPA Work Projects Asministration to create jobs for these woman and one of those jobs was to help the poorest in the eastern half of Kentucky, coal mining families who'se men were no longer working. The Pack Horse Librarians were able to reach these people and offer them the opportunity to learn to read and get written resources into their hands.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not?

Yes.  Kentucky history is rich with these stories and they should be know by all.

 

Hana's Suitcase: The quest to Solve a Holocaust mystery

Name Heather Waters
Title Hana's Suitcase: The quest to Solve a Holocaust mystery
Author Karen Levine
ISBN 9781101933497
Publisher Random House Children's Books
Classification Biography
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary Children in Tokyo Japan are sent a battered suitcase with the name of a girl from Czechoslovakia, the suitcase was sent from Auschwitz Museum for the Holocause Center in Japan. It was empty, but the students wanted to Know who Hana Brady was and so their teacher Fumiko Ishioka set out to find Hana and her story.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This book brings together students in Japan with a young girl from the Holocaust and her elder brother in Canada. Important insight into how the Holocaust is being remembered and athose who died should never be forgotten.

 

The Sun is also a star

Name Angie Moore
Title The sun is also a star
Author Nicola Yoon
ISBN 9780553496680
Publisher Delacorte Press
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating 5
Summary The Sun is also a Star interweaves the story of two characters, Natasha and Daniel, whose worlds collide in one day that changes them both forever. Both children of immigrant parents, Natasha and Daniel face unique challenges due to their family situation. Natasha struggles to resist deportation at the end of the day while Daniel struggles to resist the pressure his parents place on him to ignore his dream and be who they want him to be.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not?  Yes.  Nicola Yoon creates two characters that readers want to cheer for and want to find happiness. The chapters dance back and forth between the perspective of each character. The novel spotlights how one person and one day, both seemingly small things, can change someone’s life forever. They find each other at exactly the right moment and create a powerful story that leaves the reader moved in the end.

 

They broke the law--you be the judge

Name Angie Moore
Title  They broke the law---you be the judge
Author Judge Tom Jacobs
ISBN 9781575421346
Publisher Free Spirit Publishing
Classification Non Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary Examining 21 cases of teens and crimes, this book puts teen readers in the role of judge. Each true story of a teen’s experience with the legal system contains information about the teen’s background, the crime that was committed, your concerns as a judge, sentencing options, questions to consider, what actually happened, and what the teen is doing today.
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  The cases presented are engaging and the factual information provided by the author is presented in graphic format to appeal to a variety of readers. They Broke the Law -- You Be the Judge uses an engaging, highly-visual format to appeal to teens who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal system.

 

Are social networking sites harmful?

Name Angie Moore
Title  Are social networking sites harmful?
Author Stefan Kiesbye
ISBN 9780737751321
Publisher Greenhaven Press
Classification Non Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Are Social Networking Sites Harmful? contains 15 articles written by experts in social media exploring topics including cyberbullying, cyberpredators, addiction to social media, and social spam. The articles cover a range of opinions on social media, some advocating for its usefulness, and others that stand strongly against it and argue it has negative effects on youth.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Although the book is not visually engaging for teens, it does contain well-written research that could be beneficial for students who are studying the effects of social media on teens. Likewise, the editor has curated a collection of articles that present opposing viewpoints that might prove helpful in constructing an argument for a presentation, speech, or project for class.

 

Last seen leaving

Name Angie Moore
Title  Last seen leaving
Author Caleb Roehrig
ISBN 9781250085634
Publisher Feiwel and Friends
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 3
Summary Flynn’s girlfriend, January, is missing. Her mysterious disappearance forces Flynn to confront terrifying circumstances, including coming out as gay to his family and friends.

 
Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  This book would be a strong addition to a school library’s culturally-responsive collection. Young adults who are struggling with their own sexual identity might find Flynn’s strength and bravery an inspiration.

 

The story of seeds

Name  Kay-o Wicks
Title The story of seeds
Author Nancy Castaldo
ISBN 9780544320239
Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Classification Non-Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 5
Summary Covers the history of the study of seed, from Mendel to the present. The author believes there is a crisis in the loss of seed species and habitats. In this book she provides evidence to support her theory.

 
Would you recommend this title?  Why or why not? Yes.

 

Notes from the blender

Name Sarah M. Robinson
Title Notes from the blender
Author Trish Cook and Brandon Halpin
ISBN 9781606841402
Publisher Egmont USA
Classification Fiction
Recommended Level High
Rating (1-5) 3
Summary Declan, an outsider with a love of heavy metal music and violent video games, has never come to terms with the loss of his mother who died in a car accident when he was nine. Neilly, the popular, pretty girl who seems to have it all, has just been dumped by her boyfriend. The two become unexpected friends when they learn their parents are getting married.

 
Would you recommend this title?  Why or why not? Yes.  Students will enjoy the sarcastic humor often expressed by both characters and the social drama throughout the story.

 

The franchise

Name Kayo Wicks
Title The franchise
Author Patrick Jones
ISBN 9781467713757
Publisher Darbycreek
Classification FIction
Suggested Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary When a billionaire with roots in his high school offers Latrell Baker an internship with the LA Stars football team, Latrell finds that he will have to find a way to deal with secrecy and politics if he wants to make the most of his opportunity.
Would you suggest this title?  Why or why not? No.  Hi/Lo book are very important in my school.  It is a little disturbing to see a dedication quote from Bill Cosby considering his recent history.  Because of that, I cannot recommend this book.

 

Give it up

Name Kayo Wicks
Title  Give it up (The Swoop List)
Author Stephanie Perry Moore
ISBN 9781467758048
Publisher Darby Creek
Classification Fiction
Suggested Level High
Rating (1-5) 4
Summary Five diverse girls at a Jackson, Georgia, high school come together to give each other support after learning that their names have been placed on a mysterious list of girls with bad reputations, some for legitimate reasons and others through no fault of their own. Contains mature material.
Would you suggest this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  Hi/lo book are very important at my school.  In high school, students' reputations are important.  A timely topic.

 

The fixer

Name Angie Moore
Title The fixer
Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes
ISBN 9781619635944
Publisher Bloomsbury
Classification Fiction
Suggested Level High
Rating (1-5) 3
Summary Tess, a sixteen-year old, lost her parents and live with her beloved grandfather.  As her family discovers her grandfather's dementia that Tess had tried to hide, her older sister moves her to Washington, D.C., and introduces her into a life of political intrigue and mystery.
Would you suggest this book?  Why or why not? Yes.  An engaging young adult read, this book will appeal to students who like books that take teenagers away from their traditional life and puts them into adventurous and dangerous situations.  The family relationships are emotional and realistic, and most young readers will connect with Tess and her struggle to create her own identity in the shadow of her older sibling.