It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris

Harris, R. H. (1999). It's so amazing. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

This is an informational book about sex, changing bodies, and growing up. At the beginning it discusses sexual reproduction and how to make babies by having sex. It also discusses what it means to be heterosexual and homosexual. As we grow up our body change physically in different ways, through puberty, depending on if you’re a girl or boy. Pictures help compare the different organs in males and females.  This book helps children understand what happens when normal hormonal changes occur and how to deal with them. Having babies is also normal and part four discusses how families are made up of different sorts of families. The path of the egg and sperm to create a baby is described in a way for students to understand. Sometimes people can’t have babies naturally, and the topic of adoption and IVF is explained. If babies are not in the future, prevention can take place by using birth control. There are many types and one would need to choose the best for them. If an accidental pregnancy happens, methods can be taken to abort it through abortions. However, certain laws need to be followed for this to occur. This nonfiction text provides a visual interpretation of the book’s message and is enhanced through the use of multiple humorous cartoon images the reader can relate to. A comical and appealing bird and bee have a dialogue about the various topics that are discussed. The book expresses a mature subject matter through friendly and easy to read descriptions on sexual health. It responds to younger readers who can relate to comical narrators and descriptive pictures rather than long drawn out scripts that the targeted audience might not comprehend or understand the language being presented. Having the reader see multiple ways the body is configured as it grows and develops during different ages, makes the reader more intrigued. The book makes them interested in how their body and feelings might be different in size, shape, color, sexual orientation than from those of their friends. I would recommend It’s So Amazing by Robie H. Harris.

Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block

Block, F. L. (2014). Teen spirit. New York: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Julie was very close to her grandma who passed away suddenly. After her grandma's passing, her mom lost her job and they moved to a lesser-end apartment, and adjusted to their new way of living. Julie met Clark at school, and they became fast friends. Julie discovered a Ouija board and decided to use it to reach her grandma's spirit, with Clark's help. Little did they know they unleashed, Grant, Clark's twin brother's spirit who died in a car accident. Grant and Clark had a competitive relationship. Grant would come through Clark's body to see Julie and stop at nothing to make sure his spirit stayed forever, including hurting Clark or Julie. Finally, after reaching out to people who knew about the spiritual world, Julie realized she didn't need a Oujia board to contact her grandma; she was with her all the time. At the anniversary of Grant’s death, his spirit never came back. Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block is broken up by parts and chapters. After each part, the reader is left with foreshadowing and wondering what is next to come. The foreshadowing hooks the reader in so they will continue to read further and see what is going to happen next. This soft science fiction text "unleashes" paranormal activity in a thrilling and on-the-edge-of-your-seat approach. Death-inevitable or tragedy, good verses evil, lost love, and quest for discovery are all themes that play a constant role in this book. I recommend Pieces by Me by Amber Kizer. It also includes paranormal activity and a tragic death.

Batman Science: The Real-World Science by Agnieszka Biskup and Tammy Enz

 Biskup, A., & Enz, T. (2014). Batman science: the real-world science behind Batman's gear. North Mankato, MN: Capstone Young Readers.

Batman Science is about Batman’s clothing, equipment, and comparison to real-life science and technology. Fictional character, Batman, was created in 1939. Other than intelligence and his daringness, he was a human with no superhuman abilities. His powers in combating evil came from the advanced technology of clothing and equipment. In 1939, Batman’s clothing, car, and other equipment were only fantasy. In today’s world these items are now a reality. This book takes Batman’s clothing and equipment and shows how it exists in real-life technology available today. The book provides examples that show the science and technology behind his body armor, utility belt, vehicles, and his wings. What was fiction in 1939 is a now reality today, due to adventures in science, technology, and engineering. Batman Science: The Real-World Science Behind Batman’s Gear, by Agnieszka Biskup and Tammy Enz, is a nonfiction text written for readers in the middle school grades, 6-8 grade. The book takes the mystery of Batman and shows how his equipment and other aspects of Batman are now used in today’s world. Many of the tools and equipment used by Batman have practical uses by police and military personnel today. The book incorporates illustrations and real pictures that demonstrate the connections between fiction and reality. Interesting facts are presented throughout the book that help explain the science behind Batman’s equipment. The book also includes a table of contents and index. Batman Science: The Real-World Science Behind Batman’s Gear was a 2015 top ten winner for Quick Picks for the Reluctant Reader. I would recommend the entire Batman Science series as a sequel to this book.

Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Angleberger, T. (2011). The strange case of Origami Yoda. London: Amulet Books.

Dwight, an awkward junior high student, carries around a paper Origami Yoda on his finger. He tells people Yoda gives helpful advice. Seeing that Yoda has helped people, Tommy becomes curious about Yoda and decides to open a case file. He asks classmates to tell their stories of their encounter with Yoda. Some students tell Tommy about their experience where Yoda helped them get through difficult situations or decisions. However, some weren't sure about Yoda and his advice because his advice wasn’t helpful. Harvey is a student that thinks Yoda is ludicrous and the other kids are ridiculous for believing his advice has helped them. Harvey creates his own Yoda just to prove Dwight's Yoda cannot predict the future. Dwight's Yoda tells Tommy that Sara likes him and Harvey's Yoda tells Tommy she doesn't. At the school dance, Tommy realizes Dwight's Yoda is right and he and Sara like each other and start dancing. Tom Angleberger brings humor in a delightful way to this soft science fiction book. The language of the characters makes the book best suited for tween and middle school students. The way each character's personality is portrayed, the reader can reflect back and envision themselves as one of the characters when they were in junior high. Each chapter in the book is organized as Tommy's "case files" to help play up the "investigation" theme. To help enhance this theme, the text is made to look like old-fashion case files by using typewriter text and student's handwriting. The text is broken up by pictures, illustrations of objects discussed in the text, and doodling. I would recommend the rest of the Origami Yoda series by Angleberger as follow up books.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Penguin Group.

Melinda Scardino, a high school freshman, starts school with much anxiety because she recently called the police to raid a summer high school party. Throughout her freshman year she is shunned, ridiculed, and isolated by the many “clans” in the school. Melinda was sexually assaulted at the party and the incident causes Melinda to isolate herself, earn poor grades, and refuse to communicate with those at school and her parents at home. Melinda kept silent about the assault because she was having extreme difficulty dealing with it emotionally and psychologically. Finally, she empowered herself to “fight back” and end her silence by telling her story and thus becoming stronger than others around her. This realistic fiction text illustrates contemporary issues, such as sexual assault, teens face and how tough it can be for a teenager to fit in to the social scene in high school. Toss in the fact that the teenager had been sexually assaulted at a summer party made the situation worse. Finding strength within is a theme depicted in the book. Melinda’s journey through the school year was tough for her, but finally she became strong enough to speak out for herself. The book is organized into school marking periods and different events in each marking period. The main character, Melinda, tells the story from her point of view. Her silence is shown by blank spaces when conversations are written. Here is a book trailer: https://youtu.be/fv3FelRmk3Y

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

Magoon, K. (2014). How it went down. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

The community of Underhill is in turmoil after Tariq, a young black male, was shot by Jack, a young white male. Jack and others in the community believed Tariq was stealing from a store. Jack saw what he thought was Tariq arguing with the store owner brandishing a gun. Jack went to intervene, an argument ensued and Jack shot Tariq dead. Police interviewed community members that knew Jack and Tariq, and those that saw the shooting. They concluded that Jack was standing his ground and would not be charged. Many of the witnesses had conflicting stories as to whether Tariq was in a gang called, Kings, and if he was carrying a weapon. This stirred up controversy because Jack was white, and Tariq was a supposed unarmed black man. Many people who were upset with the police’s decision set out to march in the street hoping for justice for Tariq and his family. How It Went Down is a realistic fiction novel by Kekla Magoon who tackles the contemporary topic of racism which is very controversial in America today. Magoon skillfully portrayed a balanced dialogue of varying viewpoints between characters. Escaping from family and friend pressures and social constraints is a recurring theme throughout the book. An example is Jennica trying to escape Noddle’s abuse or Jennica, Kimberley, and Tyrell trying to escape their poverty-stricken town of Underhill.  How It Went Down was selected as one of the 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults book. I would recommend this book to students who are concerned about racial injustice, the effects gangs have on societies, and consequences that come along with being involved in gangs.

Graphic Novels-Textbook Reflection

It is important to remember graphic novels are not a genre, but a format. They are where both art and text collide. Graphic novels can be composed of fantasy, history, nonfiction, and other sub genres. Graphic novels’ look and format are similar to those of comic books. They have a variety of elements such as panels, gutters, dialog and thought bubbles, captions, sound effects, frames, white spaces, and lines. Colors in graphic novels play an important role. They may symbolize something, help set the mood or tone, or help convey a message to the readers. There are four types of graphic novels. The first on is manga, which is a Japanese style comic book. These books are read from right to left. The second is super-hero, which is the most popular form. The third is personal narrative, which are autobiographical stories. The last is nonfiction, which are written from the author’s personal experience. These books not only promote literacy by motivating reluctant readers and benefiting students with special needs, but they are also great for all readers. Graphic novels also usually cover topics that are already familiar to students or are spin-offs from another book. Graphic novels are a fairly new format to me. I really only became aware of it recently when my students started checking them out. Honestly, I never jumped in and looked at one closely or even read one until I started taking library courses. After reading a few, I can see why kids love them. They are written in a different format than they typically see, they do not have an extensive amount of text, and pictures help tell the story. When evaluating graphic novels, I would like to make sure I have graphic novels that cover a wide variety of sub genres in my library. I can be sure my collection is diverse and meets the needs and interests of all students. As I evaluate graphic novels, I’ll be sure to refer back to the different types of graphic novels. This information will help me better organize my collection and help students find books faster. I am reflecting back to the graphic novels I’ve read and deciding which type of graphic novel they would fall under, and I will be sure to include this in my future annotated bibliographies. 

Fantasy/ Science Fiction-Textbook Reflection

These books can be described as books that violate the laws of physical reality. Science fiction is considered a category of fantasy. Fantasy is considered a subgenre under fiction. Hard and soft science fiction are categories under science fiction. Hard science fiction has more science and soft science fiction has more of a story and plot. If someone implies they do not like science fiction, it is a good idea to help broaden their mindset by informing them that science fiction has the same kind of themes, subjects, problems and conflicts as other genres. Two other categories that fit under science fiction are apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic. Even though the book is science fiction/fantasy, the characters must be consistent and believable. These books also follow rules and assist in the “willing suspicion” of disbelief. The themes should also be universal. If any part of the book encompasses unrealistic or unreal plots, settings, or characters, then it can be described under the subgenre, fantasy, and further be categorized as science fiction. With science fiction, there is something for everyone because it covers many topics. I thought it was interesting that there are two types of science fiction, hard and soft. This is something to be aware of when evaluating young adult literature. I may use this information to decide on what I suggest to students, where I shelve them in the library, or if I use it as a book in my collection. Although a fantasy or science fiction story has unreal aspects to it, it must be believable. Students should be able to imagine themselves in the book as though they are right there watching the story play out first hand. If it’s not believable then students might have a hard time following the book and it may not be a good reflection of what fantasy and science fiction books should look like. When evaluating fantasy and science fiction, I will pay close attention to all pieces of the book. The book may seem like a realistic fiction book, but may have a character that talks, then it would need to be categorized as fantasy. Also, I will be aware of whether the author was able to convince the reader to believe the unbelievable, as I would want to keep the integrity of the library and have the fantasy and science fiction books on the shelves. 

Nonfiction-Textbook Reflection

Nonfiction can be defined by what it is not and consumes a wide array of books. Nonfiction completes roughly half of the library. Nonfiction has certain qualifications, one of them being the author. Librarians should do their homework and look into nonfiction authors and their background. Some authors are known to be the “go-tos” who have done their research. Nonfiction can be broken into sub genres and formats, such as narrative and picture books. Checking to see if the facts are accurate is an important part of evaluating nonfiction. When checking facts, take a specific topic and compare the facts. Even students can help in researching the facts. Librarians should rely on professional lists, quality series and authors to know they are getting quality books. Knowing the purpose of a nonfiction book may better suit the needs of various patrons. Nonfiction text should be organized in a way where students can efficiently find information without wasting time. Visuals help break up the text but also help convey the purpose of the book. As librarians, it is important to put aside personal viewpoints and be sure to provide nonfiction books that may not align with your beliefs. Fact checking is imperative to having an authentic nonfiction section of the library. When I evaluate criteria, I want to be sure to look at the credibility of not just the books, but the authors as well. I think as librarians get experience under their belt, this might be an easier task. I will pay close attention to the organization of the book because having glossaries, indexes, table of contents help even me when I am researching a topic. I recently read a book about the Titanic and in the back, it had notes, pictures, and quotes from survivors along with the time line and information about key players during the sinking of the Titanic. These sections helped me piece the story together a little better in my mind. 

Realistic Fiction-Textbook Reflection

Realistic fiction is also known for contemporary realistic fiction and are set in modern times and consistent with real time. Realistic fiction is separate from historical and science fiction because in realistic fiction the characters are real and set in contemporary times. Many topics that were once not talked about have become major topics in books, such as race and sexual orientation. Identifying whether a book discusses contemporary topics will be key to the collection, as times and topics people encounter are significantly different than those their parents or grandparents may have faced. Making sure there is consistency with the real world is key. Every element, including the speech and behaviors of characters must be believable. A good piece of realistic fiction should embody more than one theme. Also, a quality piece of realistic literature gradually reveals the theme instead of coming right out and specifically saying it. I think the word “real” in realistic fiction helps librarians and especially patrons decipher between realistic, science, and historical fiction. Being in tune with contemporary issues will help in determining if the book is a suitable realistic fiction book for the library. When evaluating and suggesting realistic fiction books, I will pay attention to genders when suggesting realistic fiction to ensure I am not stereotyping. I will also be aware of where or when these books are shelved and whether they cover contemporary topics kids may encounter in their life.

Historical Fiction-Textbook Reflection

Historical fiction is any story that is set in the past. Librarians should be aware of what “history” means to each age group. The younger readers may consider history as something that happened to them within the past day or so. Middle-aged readers may consider history as something that took place during their lifetime. Older readers may view history as something that took place before they were born. This is important information to remember when labeling books within a genre. When evaluating historical fiction, librarians should pay attention to whether the story blends historical fiction within the book. Facts in a story should be checked to ensure the book is using factual historical information in it. Relying on reviews is one way to check this. How values of historical time periods are presented in a book is a question to consider when evaluating historical fiction. Historical fiction books should be consistent with the time period it is talking about. Make sure language, clothes, setting, technology, etc. matches the time period. The theme in historical fiction should be universal and relate to contemporary readers. This video brought to my attention how different age groups may view “history” and what is means to them. Elementary librarians especially should be aware of this when not only labeling books in a library, but also when suggesting books to patrons. Students may ask about a certain historical fiction book with a certain time period and the librarian should be in tune with what “history” may mean to that specific patron. I’ll be sure, when I evaluate young adult literature, to be aware of the importance to check that the book provides accurate historical information. There should not be a book on the shelf that would be considered historical fiction set in the 19^th century that mentions cell phones. This may be somewhat of a daunting task, but it is imperative to ensure my library is one of credible sources and books. I will be cognizant of the age group and what book titles or resources I offer as I evaluate literature.

Poetry-Textbook Reflection

The most important thing to remember is that poetry is not a genre, but rather a format. Poetry is considered the most neglected format because kids have to pick them apart and dreading read them. Kids shouldn’t be afraid to write poetry because there are no rules. Poetry can be anything they want it to be. There are endless amounts of different types of poetry. According to research, kids love narrative poetry because they are used to reading stories so it will be more natural for them. Kids dislike free verse and Haiku because it bothers them that free verse poems do not rhyme and Haikus are short and hard to read. Rhyme, rhythm and sound devices are important to children when reading poetry. Poems that were funny, familiar, and about animals were popular among children. Contemporary poems are also preferred by readers because of the familiarity. Poems don’t have to be brought down to a child’s supposed level. Children love interactive poems and poems should be reread to kids. Unfortunately, there are not many awards for poetry, but more awards are starting to be handed out. It is important to know the poetry awards that are handed out, such as the NCTE award.  Choral reading is something that should be done more often. Young readers tend to be more engaged when there is rhyming and sound devices. When evaluating poetry, make sure children are familiar with the topic. Children shouldn’t be reading poems about something they wouldn’t understand because they don’t know what the topic is about. Children are fonder of poems with imagery. Rhyming in poems should be the building block when introducing poems to young readers. Also, librarians and teachers should be cognizant of sound devices in poems when evaluating poems. Knowing the purpose of the poem will help guide the librarian or teacher to related activities. I am a huge fan of poetry, so I was surprised to learn that poetry is the most neglected format in literature. This is unfortunate because I believe poetry is one of the most powerful and expressive formats in literature. Poems give students the opportunity to be creative and express their thoughts and feelings in so many ways. I think educators need to attempt to incorporate poetry in their classrooms and libraries more often. Since I love poetry so much, I can’t wait as a librarian to continue to show and teach students the endless possibilities poetry has to offer. Poetry can even be incorporated in other subjects besides language arts, and provides many ways to teach various topics, such as nouns, and pronouns.

Awards-Textbook Reflection

There are many awards in literature that books/ authors can win depending on the criteria needed to be met to even be nominated. Some awards give out two, one being the winner of that award and the other being either an honor or a finalist of the award. These awards are given out based on various criteria. The criteria for many of these awards is based on excellence in literature for teens, excellence in nonfiction literature, and excellence in a type of format and illustrations. The awards also recognize books for teens and their roles in society and relationships. The ALEX award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards award and is awarded to books that have special appeal to young adults. The Odyssey award is given to producers of audiobooks. Awards are also handed out to new authors, books geared more towards kids expanding their education past high school, books that encourage young adults to read for pleasure, and those reluctant to read. Other criteria for awards are popular titles by teens in a particular year, teens voting on their favorite books, and audiobooks that are amazing. There are also lists of books compiled by Texas librarians of books teens should explore and books Texas librarians should have in their collection. Awards in specific sub genres and formats, such as mystery, historical fiction are also given out. Authors in a specific format such as poets and books translated to English are also awards. Awards are also given to Latino authors and illustrations, books that embody the artistic expression of the disabled, and information books. I think it is great to have a list of awards given out to books, authors, and illustrators. One award that stuck out to me was the award for audiobooks. This is something I never even thought about and use as a suggestion as I evaluate young adult literature. I think this is a great idea to showcase the hard work put into creating audiobooks. It is great to have a lists of amazing audiobooks because I believe audiobooks are great tools for readers who may struggle with reading a book or can better meet the needs of special needs students. This is a list I will keep with me on my librarian journey.  As I learn about these awards, I can’t help but think about the many times I passed by the library seeing signs for these awards and wondering what they were. As I thought this, it made me realize I want to create lessons on the different awards so students can become more familiar with the awards and start to choose books that are on a list that interests them. For example, I love poetry and nonfiction, so those awards would be something I might be more interested in. As I evaluate books, I will be aware of why a book won a particular award and be able to express that information as I offer suggestions for book titles.

Literary Elements-Textbook Reflection

To complete a critical evaluation of young adult literature, it is important that literary elements and devices are used to enhance and convey a story’s message. Some literary elements that might be included in the evaluation are antagonist and protagonist, character, conflicts, mood and tone, plot, setting, and themes. Literary devices that could be included in critical evaluation include, allegory, allusion, archetype, Dues ex machine, hyperbole, imagery, metaphor, point of view, simile, and symbolism. Themes play a big part in books. The theme is not the main idea or a single word, however, it is a message stated in complete sentences by the author. The theme is an idea a writer repeats throughout the book. Themes need to apply to the world outside the novel, and you should be able to find text evidence. Themes do not have to be singular, there can be more than one theme in the novel. After reading a book one person may come up with a theme and have text evidence to prove it, while another person may come up with a different theme altogether. As long as there is text evidence, any theme is possible. Two questions that will be useful guides when fining theme are: What message is the author trying to convey to the reader, and is this message universal; does it apply outside of the story to the world at large? After not only reading the chapter, but also watching the video on theme, it got me to start thinking about how I have analyzed books in the past and got theme confused with motifs. I thought it was a great idea when it was stated in the video to start out teaching theme and understanding theme by using a picture book. This is useful information I didn’t think about and can take with me as I start creating library lessons. This is also something I can share with teachers that they can take to their classrooms. When I evaluate young adult literature, I will be more vigilant of themes portrayed in the book as opposed to motifs. After looking up the definition of some of the literature devices and elements, I can better pick out and understand these literary devices and elements as I am reading young adult literature.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Forman, G. (2015). I was here. NY, NY: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).

Meg and Cody knew everything about each other, or so Cody thought. Meg commits suicide and per Meg’s parents’ request, Cody travels to Seattle to collect Meg’s things only to uncover secrets Meg never shared with Cody. After digging in Meg’s bedroom she uncovers emails between Meg and a boy named Ben. Cody tracks Ben down and they strike up an unlikely relationship and is by her side throughout her journey. Cody discovers messages to a group called The Final Solution that encourages people to kill themselves. Cody and Ben begin a difficult journey of finding out who these people are and tracking a specific person down, Bradford, who did most of the encouraging. After Cody confronts him, she travels home and tells Meg’s parents who aren’t surprised since Meg suffered from depression. They don’t blame Bradford because it was still Meg who made the decision. I Was Here is a realistic fictional book by Gayle Forman. The inner struggle with two friend comes full circle. With one friend committing suicide and another getting so entangled in her friend’s mysterious life where she begins to wonder if she wants to die because she is so sad. Gayle Forman was able to create a suspenseful book that kept the reader wondering what Meg will uncover next, while gracefully displaying a raw side of a common contemporary issue in society, teen suicide and depression. I Was Here elegantly demonstrates what the true meaning on friendship is. This book was on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2015. I would recommend this book to junior high or high school counselors, so they can get a better understanding of what suicide does to loved ones. It could better guide their approach to this situation if it were to come when dealing with students.

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York: Delacorte Press.

Lily, born Timothy, is trying to figure out his way in middle school as he transitions into a girl. He meets a boy named Norbert, now Dunkin. Dunkin and Lily start to build a friendship until Dunkin blindsides Lily and sits with the school bullies. Lily hates them because they call him “fag” and pull his hair. Lily struggles with his changing body. Once his dad accepts his son, the family agrees to buy him hormone blockers. Lily and Dunkin mend their relationship in a tree called, Bob. Lily tells Dunkin he’s transgender and Dunkin reveals he doesn’t have a dad and he has bi-polar disorder. When Dunkin makes the basketball team, he stops taking his meds. Dunkin has a meltdown and is taken to a mental hospital. Lily starts to be comfortable in who she is. Lily goes to the dance dressed like a girl and is happy to see Dunkin there. To solidify their friendship they dance together. This book helps brings the crucial awareness of what being transgender is and towards mental illness. These are two controversial contemporary topics thrown in the media daily. The author respectfully blends these two misunderstood “labels” in a book that will pull on the heart strings of all readers. Young adults can relate to this book even if they aren’t transitioning or have a mental illness because at one point in their life everyone understands what it’s like to be bullied and can relate to Lily and Dunkin. This book was tastefully written to make readers mindful of the way they treat people and have empathy for all people who are making tough decision and are in difficult situations. The tree that Lily and Dunkin sit in is a symbol of hope and trust. I would recommend Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt as it deal with similar topics.

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal‎

Blumenthal, K. (2012). Steve Jobs: the man who thought different. New York: Square Fish/Feiwel and Friends.

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different starts with Jobs speaking to the Stanford graduates in 2005. He began telling how he was adopted and became interested in putting parts together in machines and technology from early on. Jobs describes the various companies he founded such as Apple and NeXT. Jobs was a technology genius. Over the years as Apple was struggling, Jobs finally figured out a way to put a computer, calendar, address book, calculator, and music library all in a phone, the iPhone. Jobs was a family man, but had a bad temper at times. Unfortunately, Jobs only got to see a few years of the iPhone and newly release iPad’s success because he died in 2011 of pancreatic cancer. At the end of his speech to the graduates, he told them to live each day like it would be the last because one day it would be. This biographical text by Karen Blumenthal gives an overview of Jobs’ journey on how he changed technology forever. Not only does the book talk about his professional endeavors, but also his personal ones. The colorful word “Different” in the title has a symbolic meaning. “Think Different” was an ad campaign, and the colors were the ones used on the Apple logo. Pictures are also incorporated throughout the text, which helps the reader put themselves in that time period in Jobs’ life. I not only recommend this book to young adults, but also “new adults”. Many young adults own iPhones and will understand how the phone they use daily is a fairly new product. For new adults this book might bring back memories of their experience with computers as they grew up and how much of an impact Steve Jobs inadvertently had on their life. Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different was a 2013 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist. . Here is a book trailer I recommend: https://youtu.be/wKIr50byW2c

The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley

Foley, J. A. (2014). The carnival at Bray: a novel. Ashford, CT: Elephant Rock Books.
Maggie is a sixteen year old from Chicago whose dad walked out on Maggie, her mom, Laura, and sister, Ronnie. After this happened, Laura met and married, Colm. Laura moved the family to Bray, Ireland, where Colm is from. Maggie had to leave behind her uncle and Godfather, Kevin. Maggie idolized Kevin and all his rock star ways. Maggie wasn’t fitting into her new life or making many friends and felt alone. Life became more difficult when she found out Kevin committed suicide back home. Luckily, Maggie had a new love interest, Eoin, to lean on, and Dan Sean who she can count on for advice. Colm and Laura ended up divorcing, and Laura wanted to move both girls back to Chicago to be with their grandmother, Nanny Ei. However, during her time in Bray, Maggie found her confident self and made a grown up decision to stay with Eoin in Bray. The coming of age motif embodies Maggie who goes through trials and tribulations in order to flourish during this maturation process. This is also revealed when she decides to leave her family and stay in Bray with Eoin. A few characters are symbolic male figures throughout the book. One of them being Dan Sean, an elderly 99 year who is like a grandfatherly figure to Maggie who she becomes very close to, and is constantly seeking his advice on life. Another is Kevin, being a fatherly figure, Maggie seeks his guidance and he is always there for her through good and bad times. The author, Jessie Ann Foley, keeps the reader engaged wondering what decision Maggie will make next. The Carnival at Bray was a 2015 Printz Honor award winner. Here is a movie trailer I recommend: https://youtu.be/NQYtQcwiOCY

Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

Hopkinson, D. (2012). Titanic: voices from the disaster. New York: Scholastic.
This book relives the events, timeline, and the lives that were saved and lost during the fateful voyage of the Titanic. It follows various passengers that were aboard the ship. Some of those passengers perished, while some survived. The beginning explains the structural components and blueprint of the great titanic, while also introducing who some of the passengers where. The book continues to tell the reader the stories of passengers and what they had to live through and how they felt through each passing moment of the sinking Titanic. The end of the book describes the horror and disappointment families felt when they realized their loved ones were not on the Carpathia, the ship that brought survivors to New York, but rather passed on the doomed ship. This historical nonfiction text brings back the memories passengers experienced during the fateful voyage. A range of emotions floods the reader with happiness as the passengers express how they felt while boarding Titanic, to the despair they experienced while the ship was sinking. By the author using actual quotes, timelines, charts, diagrams, and real photographs of the ship and its passengers, the reader is drawn into the storyline and feels as if he or she is on the ship too. Not only does the author, Deborah Hopkinson, provide the story of what happened to the Titanic and the passengers, but it also provides letters and actual quotes from passengers. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster is a 2013 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist. I would recommend this book to Middle school US History teachers, for students to read to understand not only what happened to the Titanic but how different the way of life was only 100 years ago. 

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Vanderpool, C. (2013). Navigating Early. New York: Delacorte Press.

Jack’s mom died of a brain aneurysm, and he hasn’t seen his dad in years, due to the military. To be closer, Jack’s dad, who has a distant relationship with Jack, moves him to a boarding school. Jack isn’t fitting in until he meets a peculiar boy named Early Auden. Early keeps to himself and doesn’t have friends. Early asks Jack to go on a quest with him to find his brother Fisher, who the military believes was killed in combat. However, Early doesn’t accept this. Early believes that pi, 3.14, is never ending, and that Pi is on a quest to become Polaris, just like Early is on a quest to find his brother. Jack agrees, and they take the Sweetie Pie rowboat to travel in. After many adventures, Early and Jack find Early’s brother alive, but he refuses to come home. Solider to solider Jack’s dad talks to Fisher, who agrees to come home. The format of the book switches from the narration of the story of Early and Jack’s adventures, to the story of Polaris and his travels. This book conveys the idea that everyone is on an internal journey in their life, trying to physically navigate, while wondering how they will reach the end. Early and Jack have many things in common, such as they’re both outsiders, both mom’s died, and each has a family member in the military. Sense of remorse is an ever-present theme, whether it’s Fisher feeling guilty about being the only survivor, Jack not being able to save his mom, or his dad not being there for Fisher. The navigator ring is a symbol displayed in the book. It symbolizes the need for Jack to press on and never lose his direction. Navigating Early won the 2014 Printz Honor award.  I recommend this book for English teachers who teach lessons over symbolism and themes.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. NY, NY: Graphix.

Raina, the main character, tries to navigate the tough world of being a middle school student. In sixth grade, Raina falls and breaks her two front teeth. Throughout her middle school years, she deals with having to wear braces, fake teeth, a mouth guard, and even headgear. As she tackles her embarrassment of her teeth complications, Raina also braves the typical middle school struggles and drama. She encounters losing friends because of their bullying, the ups and downs of being interested in boys, and not making the basketball team, all while finding out her true self. Raina discovers she is a great friend and a talented artist. When she enters high school, her teeth are perfect again, she has made friends with people that truly care about her, and she loves to smile once more. Middle school adolescents can relate to this comical, yet endearing, graphic novel by relating to the struggles Raina deals with. Raina faces several themes throughout the book including the loss and gain of friendships. While Raina grapples with the situation with her teeth, her friends make fun of everything about her. However, she finds new friends at the end of the story. The author, Raina Telgemeier, displays the truth about what many tweens encounter in middle school by incorporating the loss of innocence as the theme. This book is an autobiography of Raina Telgemeier and her experience with receiving braces in sixth grade. Another book by Raina Telgemeier, is Sisters that follows the same characters. 

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

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.

Arnold (Junior), is a young boy living on an Indian reservation with his very poor family. He was born with water on the brain, and because of this he has abnormalities. Arnold decides to leave the “rez” if he ever has hope of becoming anything, which makes his best friend, Rowdy, very upset. Arnold decides to attend Reardan, which is a small high school twenty-two miles from the “rez”, and consists of rich white kids. At first, Arnold is made fun of because he’s an Indian, and has to tolerate bullying because of his skin color. Eventually, he earns his peer’s respect. Arnold not only has a love interest, Penelope, but also joins the basketball team. Arnold has to endure many deaths that occur, including his grandma, sister, and dad’s best friend. At the end, Arnold and Rowdy patch up their friendship, and Arnold isn’t as lonely anymore. A major theme that comes into play in this realistic fiction book is the loss of loved ones. Arnold loses his grandmother to a drunk driver, his dad’s best friend to a shooting, and his sister to a house fire. Two key motifs portrayed are racism and alcohol. Since Arnold is an Indian who attends a “white” school, he is bullied not only at school, but by the people on the “rez”. Most of the people in Arnold’s life are alcoholics, which plays a factor in him leaving the “rez” to attend Reardan. Sherman Alexie adds cartoon drawings to help the reader understand Arnold’s emotions and the struggles he endures. The book is also told through the perspective of Arnold in a diary format. I would recommend this book to middle school students, and social studies teachers teaching about social issues such as racism. Here is a book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy7BLTcRKgo

The Boy in the Black Suit Book by Jason Reynolds

Reynolds, J. (2015). The boy in the black suit. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Matt’s mom died of cancer, and his dad’s an alcoholic. Matt becomes interested in a girl, Lovey, at Cluck Bucket. While there, a family friend, Mr. Ray, offers Matt a job at his funeral home. Matt accepts, and realizes he enjoyed watching the emotions of people close to the dead person. It made him feel connected to them and validated his feelings about his mom dying. Mr. Ray and Matt’s best friend, Chris, were positive influences in his life, since his dad became an alcoholic. Matt and Lovey reconnect at Loveys’ grandma’s funeral. Their bond builds when Lovey reveals her mom, Renee, was murdered by a boyfriend. Matt realizes he and Chris had witnessed her mom’s murder. Matt’s dad gets hit by a car after a night of drinking, but survives. Matt knows he is grateful to have Lovey, Mr. Ray, and Chris to support him, and he’s able to smile once more. The Boy in the Black Suit will pull on the heart strings of the reader. The raw emotions Matt feels and conveys about his mom dying and his dad being an alcoholic can make the reader feel sympathetic; it is as if the reader knows Matt and wants to be there for him. An adolescent who has lost a parent might read this book for autobiographical reasons. Many times throughout the book the author, Jason Reynolds, makes references to current reality shows, singers, a NFL team, and a civil rights activists, which draws the reader in and connects to real life experiences and connections. This book is currently on the top ten 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults list. I would recommend Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go, by Laura Rose Wagner. It too deals with death and tragedy of a loved one.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. NY, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Miranda lives with her mom and step-dad, Richard. Miranda’s relationship with her best friend, Sal, becomes strained after Sal is punched. She begins receiving strange letters from a person, known as “you”, who knows much about her and events that haven’t taken place. Throughout the book “you” asks her to write letters from the past months. Miranda responds and begins to realize she may be forced to save a friend’s life. When Miranda walks home from school she encounters a homeless man known as “The Laughing Man”. Everything comes together when, Marcus, the kid who punched Sal, tries to apologize. Sal gets spooked and runs into the street. “The Laughing Man” saves both Marcus’s life and Sal’s. Miranda finds the final note in the laughing man’s shoe and discovers “The Laughing Man” was really Marcus as his older self, coming back to save him and Sal through the help of Miranda’s letters. Ultimately, Miranda and Sal become friends again. When You Reach Me has a very complex story line filled with suspense. It switches between Miranda’s mom preparing for the game show, and Miranda finding the letters and writing back to the mysterious person. Time travel is an evident theme when Miranda discovers Marcus is “The Laughing Man” who had time travel from the future. This science fiction book shows the true test of friendship and no matter the obstacle true friends are always there for each other. The author, Rebecca Stead, keeps the reader engaged and intrigued, wondering who is sending the letters and what they means. This book will make the reader use their imagination and think creatively. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle would be another book to follow with since it is referenced in the book. 

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books.

Persepolis, The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi is the author’s memoir of her childhood growing up in Iran during the time of the Islamic Revolution. It begins when Marjane is six years old and ends when she is fourteen. She describes events that took place in her hometown, Tehran, the capital of Iran, as she lived them. Events experienced by every day common people in Iran are described through Strapi’s narrations and direct conversations. She tells stories of how events happening in Iran during the chaotic and dangerous Islamic Revolution affected her, her family, and the people she knew. She described her feelings of wearing a veil, her relatives being imprisoned, tortured, and executed by the governments, protesters being murdered, and other horrifying events. The book ends with the author’s parents sending her to Austria to live with relatives to protect her from the dangers of war and revolt. This book is written in a graphic novel format and is a memoir of the author’s childhood. Each chapter tells a different story about events in her life. The pictures show the faces of the characters' many emotions they are experiencing such as fear, sadness, anxiety and anger. The book is written for young adults, but adults can enjoy the book as well. The author shines a light on the common people of Iran, recognizing they did not always agree with the government. The book makes the reader realize the Iranian people suffered under their government. Persepolis, The Story of a Childhood is presented in a different perspective of life in Iran than we normally picture. I would recommend Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return as the next book in the collection of Marjane Satrapi’s titles. 

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Steve Harmon, the main character and narrator, is on trial for murder, however he claims he is innocent. To keep his sanity, as the trial plays out, Steve chronicles the events as if they were a screen-play. He decides to call it Monster since that’s what the prosecutor called him in trial. The prosecutor, Ms. Petrocelli claims two of Steve’s friends, Richard “Bobo” Evans and James King, intended to rob a store owner, Alguinaldo Nesbitt, and Steve was the lookout. Things went array when Mr. Nesbitt pulled a gun out to protect himself. A struggle occurs between Mr. Nesbitt and the two boys, the gun went off and Mr. Nesbitt was killed. After a barrage of experts, witnesses and accomplices were put on the stand against Steve, the jury found Steve “Not Guilty”. Throughout the trial Steve leans on the support and trust of his family. Steve Harmon is internally conflicted with himself throughout the book. He can’t believe where his life has ended up and what he has done to his family. The format of the book switches from a screen-play to journals entries, both of which are narrated by Steve Harmon. The main characters are laid out at the beginning of the book as if there were credits rolling on a screen. The use of bold, large words help the reader feel the emotions of Steve as the trial plays out. It is evident family plays an important role in Steve’s life. He needs them and depends on their strength to get through this tough time. Monster has murder, lies and deceit, family bond, and betrayal all bundled into a suspenseful, thrilling murder mystery book. I would recommend this book to an English teacher that teaches different artistic styles of writing. 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Todd lives in Prentisstown with his guardians Ben and Cillian. “Noise” is a germ where men and animals can “hear” thoughts. No females live in Prentisstown. Todd hears a hole in the noise near the swamp and realizes it’s a girl, Viola. Todd’s forced to leave Prentisstown by Ben and Cillian because they fear for his safety. The mayor of Prentisstown organizes an army of men who pursue them. The army follows the three, conquers towns, and kills many people. The three escape close encounters with the army from Prentisstown. To stay alive and reach Haven, Todd and Viola meet many people. Some help them while others try to harm them. Todd realizes everything he’s been told throughout his life was a lie. They reach Haven only to find it deserted and Mayor Prentiss in charge. Viola gets shot and readers don’t know if she lives. The Knife of Never Letting Go is the first book of a fictional fantasy trilogy, Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness. It targets young adults readers with an adventure of a young boy filled with suspend and anxiety. The author creates suspense by beginning the book with difficult to understand actions of what is happening. As the book progresses, the reader begins to understand why things are what they are. After beginning to understand what is going on, the reader become engrossed in the adventures of Todd and Viola. The constant “Noise” that is present represents the information that is everywhere today in all forms of media, like email, texts, messaging, etc. The book is enthralled with emotions including fear, hatefulness, anger, anxiety, and relief. Todd, many times, has a man vs. self-conflict, trying to decide if he should kill people. I would recommend this book to students who love reading trilogies. Here is a book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj4fowWo7xM

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, Tejas: Cinco Puntos Press.
Gabi, a senior, is trying to navigate her last high school year, while tackling various hurdles thrown her way. At the beginning, she not only learns that her best friend, Sebastian is gay, but her other best friend, Cindy, is pregnant. Gabi attempts to cope with these revelations and is a supportive friend. Not only does Gabi have to worry about her friend’s adversities, but her home life is in pieces as well. Her dad’s a meth addict, her brother was arrested for graffiti, and her mom becomes pregnant. Gabi stands by her friends even when bullies try to tear them down, all while attempting to get into her dream college, Berkeley. Gabi recognizes she loves her family even through the hardships. As her senior year closes, Gabi has learned that no matter the circumstances, the love of close friends and family is all she needs to succeed in life. Gabi chronicles her thoughts in a diary style format. Since Gabi is part Hispanic, she writes in Spanish at times in her diary. Ms. Abernard, her teacher, and Rosemary, her neighbor, are symbolic figures throughout the book. They are motherly figures and Gabi trusts them because they give motherly advice to her since her mother isn’t emotionally supportive. The author incorporates, in a light hearted but authentic way, tribulations and contemporary issues many high school students understand and can relate to in some fashion such as high school pregnancy, body image, addiction, sexual orientation, contested parental relationships, death, and simply trying to fit in. I would recommend This Side of Home, by Renée Watson as a follow-up story that is similar to this book.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

King, A. S. (2011). Everybody sees the ants: a novel. New York: Little, Brown.

Lucky’s having a tough time at school and home. His dad is busy being a chef, and his mom swims laps. Lucky gets tormented by the school bully, Nader. Lucky’s mom is tired of their situation and decides she and Lucky will go live for the summer in Arizona with her brother and sister-in-law. To escape from all the torment, Lucky dreams he is saving his grandfather, Harry, who is a POW in Vietnam.  During his dreams Harry gives Lucky advice and encouragement about what to do in his life. Lucky also meets, Ginny, who is also having trouble with her parents, who want her to continue to be a hair model. As their bond grows, they lean on each other for advice and support. Eventually, Lucky and his mom move back, and their family starts becoming close again, and he learns to stand up to Nadar. Throughout Everybody Sees the Ants, by A. S. King, Lucky envisions ants following him, giving him comical and sarcastic comments and advice about the various situations he is in. Conflict between two people and the importance of family bonds are two influential themes portrayed all through the book, and help the reader see how both can impact a young kid. This book merges realism and fantasy because not only is Lucky narrating about his current life circumstances, but he dreams about saving his grandfather in the war. I would recommend this book to junior high readers who enjoy reading about war. Here is a book trailer for Everybody Sees the Ants: https://youtu.be/5juiTIH2qTI

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Ben starts his senior year with a devastating diagnosis of a blood disease. He forgoes treatment, keeps the diagnoses a secret, and lives his last year to the fullest. Ben decides to join the football team with his brother, Cody. Throughout the year, he has a contested relationship with his teacher, dates a volleyball player named Dallas, and begins an unlikely friendship with the town drunk, Rudy. Ben’s health quickly deteriorates, and realizes he has to tell everyone the truth of his diagnosis. During Ben’s dreams, an imaginary character named “Hey-Soos” brings insight to Ben and leads him into choosing his own path. After learning of Ben’s diagnoses, Ben’s family and Dallas are there for him. After Ben’s passing, Cody reads Ben’s speech at graduation about living everyday like it’s your last. Dallas and Cody both keep Ben’s memory alive in their hearts as they both attend Boise State. This realistic fiction book, by Chris Crutcher, is both emotional and heartwarming and will pull on the heart strings of the reader. The themes of loss of life and the blessing of loving family are evident in the book throughout Ben’s experiences and relationships. Readers can make connections to these positive and negative social issues since many students face them every day. Deadline would be beneficial in a writing class, where students who have to answer what they would do and how would they live their life if they were given a deadly diagnosis. Another book that can be followed up with by Chris Crutcher is Period 8.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Black, H. (2015). The darkest part of the forest. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

This story is about young adults living in Fairfold and the fairy world around them. Usually the humans of Fairfold and the fairies, or Folk, live without conflict. Hazel and Ben, brother and sister, imagined since their early youth that they were knights and battled with the monsters of the Folk world. When the Folk prince, Severin, is released from his crystal coffin in the forest, real conflict between the humans of Fairfold and the Folk breaks out. The humans are in danger of being destroyed. Hazel, Ben, and Severin, and Jack (a fairy living as a human) fight against the dangerous creatures of the Folk world out to destroy Fairfold. Adventures confront these four and eventually the monsters are destroyed and Fairfold is saved. The humans and Folk resume their peaceful co-existence which is better than ever. The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black, is a supernatural fantasy. The books were organized into chapters that followed a logical timeline. The main characters are young adult which makes it an interesting read for this age group. The book is filled with suspense, danger, and emotion. Readers are drawn into a fantasy world that exists around a real human world. The author effectively creates interaction between the Folk and human worlds. After much conflict, the two worlds become peaceful again. Human emotions are displayed by the fairies (Folk) and the Folk monsters. I believe young adults (13-18 years) would enjoy this full of action book. I would recommend, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, by Holly Black as another one of her fantasy books.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Liza Winthrop lives in an area of New York City where affluent families live. Lisa attends a small private school and wants to be an architect. Annie Kenyon lives in a much poorer area of New York City, and attends a very rough public school. Annie wants to study vocal music after high school. They meet in a large museum and grow to be close friends. Their friendship stirs strong emotional feelings towards each other, and eventually both admit that they love each other. Their love for each other becomes public and causes problems for those around them. After going off to college their love for each other still grows even though they have little contact. The story ends with the girls reaffirming their love for each other. This book has strong feelings of love develop, and was told from the memories of Lisa Winthrop, of how feelings grow from friendship to deep love. The book shows feelings of anxiety, fear, joy, and sadness that both girls experience. This book may help young adults who are confused about their feelings for the same sex. Young adults may read this book in an attempt to understand their possible feelings. The author deals with this in a positive and caring way. At the end, there’s an interview with the author. She tells of her realization that she was gay and how that affected her. She talks about the lack of gay literature for young people, which is why she wrote the book. During the development of adolescents, they are adapting to their bodies and defining their sex roles, and this book helps bring this to light. Here’s a book trailer: https://youtu.be/ppRtHPFXzzk

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Green, J. (2012). An abundance of Katherines. New York: Speak.

Colin, a child prodigy, doesn’t understand why his relationships with Katherines end. To get his mind off his 19th Katherine, Colin and his friend, Hassan, take a road trip and end up in Gutshot. They meet Lindsey Lee Wells and Colin is instantly smitten. However, she’s dating a guy named Colin “the other Colin” (TOC). Colin’s obsessed with figuring out a mathematical theory to understand whether a relationship will last. The boys stay in Gutshot through summer, eventually learning “TOC” is cheating on Lindsey. This opens a door for Colin to pursue Lindsey. However, Colin plugs all of his past Katherine relationships into his “Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability” and realizes it doesn’t work. Lindsey helps him understand no chart can predict what happens in the future. The two date, and Hassan ultimately decides to start taking classes in college. This comical book shows a care-free friendship between two boys, one which is Muslim. There are many references to the Muslim culture and language, which this book helps prove two people can get along no matter what their beliefs or culture are. The author, John Green, also includes many footnotes at the end of the pages. The footnotes consist of humor, graphs/charts, translations, and definitions. Like most young adult books, the main character shows a gradual change throughout the book. Coming-of-age is displayed as Colin and Hassan mature and grow-up through the story. I’d recommend The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, also by John Green, because they both incorporate young love and friendship. Both books have been made into movies.

100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith

Smith, A. (2014). 100 sideways miles. NY, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

At seven, a dead horse fell on Finn injuring him and killing his mom. Finn says the horse fell 100 sideways miles because he theorizes the earth travels 20 miles per second. Because of the accident, Finn has epilepsy and a quirky scar on his back, which his best friend, Cade, teases him for. When a new girl, Julia, enrolls, Finn is smitten. She reveals she has read Finn’s father’s book, “The Lazarus Door”, which Finn hates because he feels the character resembles him. Finn has seizures, which Cade and Julia have to help him get through. Julia returns to her hometown, and Cade and Finn embark on their college visit road trip. However, a massive rainstorm makes it difficult to drive. They realize the car in front of them drove into a river. They jump in and save two people. Cade and Finn decide to detour to Chicago to surprise Julia. The literary device, foreshadowing, is evident when Finn has seizures and sees two “ghost-like” girls, Marjorie and Mazie Curtis. These girls died when the dam flooded the town. Finn and Cade end up saving two lives from drowning. In the book, there’s a reoccurring symbol that represents what Finn’s scar looks likes. The importance of friendship and loss of innocence are two themes portrayed. Cade, who’s the sarcastic class clown, and Finn are always there for each other. Coming of age is revealed when Finn starts out as a shy and embarrassed because he think he bears a resemblances to a character in his dad’s book. By the conclusion, Finn realizes he has confidence and can write the end to his own story. The author, Andrew Smith, makes the tone not only serious, but comical, too. I would recommend this book to a young adult (13-18 years) student who wants to pick up an enjoyable book during leisure time.