Books for Young Adults "YA"

Robert Cormier. The Chocolate War. Random House, 1974. 263 pages. ISBN -0440944597

“The destruction of Room Nineteen took exactly thirty-seven seconds. Archie timed it from the doorway. A sweetness gathered in his breast as he saw the room being turned into a shambles, a sweet moment of triumph that compensated for all the other lousy things, his terrible marks, the black box.” Powerful, political, and moral, this YA book is set at Trinity School, a boys Catholic Prep High school steeped in tradition and includes a secret society that is alive and well. Until Jerry Renault arrives as a 9^th grade student and dares to disturb the universe. Cormier’s ability to paint an accurate picture of the inner workings of the life of teens is masterful. He captures the masks and emotions that are relevant to this age group. The Chocolate War was high on the list of Banned Books. Objected to because of language, sexual inference, and violence. This reviewer recommends this book for students in 9^th grade and above. The story will appeal primarily to boys but would recommend it to the female counterparts to gain perspective on bullying in the lives of boys. The reviewer also highly recommends the audio version.

Banned Book Week September 26 - October 3, 2009

Kate DeCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, winner of a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; The Tale of Despereaux, winner of the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor winner; The Tiger Rising, a National Book Award Finalist; and four books starring Mercy Watson, including a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book. She lives in Minneapolis. Visit her webpage below.

http://www.katedicamillo.com/speak.html

I love this author's books. The characters have depth and character and each has an important message for all.

Picture Books Easy Reader

And coming this fall The Magician’s Elephant

Tiger Rising.

“I know you. You ain’t got to introduce yourself to me. You angry. You got all the anger in the world inside you. I know anger when I meet it. Been angry most of my life.” The Tiger Rising is a powerful story of loss, hurt and, anger; imprisoning the lives of young Rob Horton and Sistine Bailey. Set primarily at the Kentucky Star Motel in a rural Florida community where Rob Horton and his father have recently moved after the death of Rob’s mother. The deep quiet despair that exists in Rob Horton does not subside even at school, where the school bullies target him both on the bus and at school. Rob has packed his feelings tight into his metaphorical suitcase that he does not dare open an inch. Until…Sistine Bailey arrives at school, an explosive time bomb that is easily ignited. This unlikely pair embark on a journey to free a caged tiger they have found in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel. This story would not be complete with out Willie Mae, the tall African American housekeeper at the Motel who calls life as she sees it, and who always has a lit cigarette and Eight Ball Licorice Gum. A National Book Award Finalist, Junior Library Guild Selection and Book Sense 76 Selection, The Tiger Rising is recommended by the publisher for ages 10 and up. The emotional content is complex and heavy, however, the issues and feelings in this book are quiet relevant to all children. It is a book about healing and could be easily used for more in depth processing by a guidance department or anyone who has experienced a loss. Highly recommended by the reviewer for students in grades 6 and up.

Lost on an Island...two different stories of survival and friendship

The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Read by Michael Boatman

The Cay is not only a phenomenal story of friendship and survival, but also lends itself to many cross-curricular activities. Set in the Caribbean just prior to WW2, the book is rich in opportunities to stimulate character-building discussions such as racism, blindness, and respect. I highly recommend this CD for students in grades 5-8.

I listened to this book on CD, at first I was not thrilled with the narrator’s voice, but I soon came to look forward to the wonderful calypso accent of the character Timothy. A 3-hour award-winning novel could easily be listened to in a week.

Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

Kensuke’s Kingdom is also a story of friendship and survival, but set in the South Pacific 43 years after the bombing of Nagasaki. I read this book after reading The Cay, and wondered how it could stand up to the rich detail of The Cay. The heart of the story is in the second half of the book when Michael comes to understand his fellow castaway, Kensuke. I recommend this book for students in the 4^th through 7^th grade. A wonderful story, but not as complex for the reader as The Cay.

Summer Reading for Rising 6th

Dragon Keeper, Garden of the Purple Dragon, and Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson

Excellent trilogy that could serve well in collaboration between Language Arts and ancient China unit of studies for 5th grade students.

"In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, the last remaining dragon is in danger of being killed by the cruel Emperor. A nameless orphan with no past and an uncertain future becomes his unlikely ally. The young orphan soon discovers that it is her destiny to protect the aging dragon and his mysterious purple stone. Chased by an evil dragon hunter and a powerful sorcerer, their adventure is not easy. Each must learn to help and understand the other if they are to survive. To succeed in her task, the young orphan must reach deep within herself to find courage she never knew existed. No longer can she be the timid, shy orphan she once was. She is now the one, true Dragon Keeper."-author