Britannica for Teens

Bibliographic Information
Title: Britannica for Teens
Type of Media: Database
Curriculum Ties: History, Science, etc.
Interest Age: 12+

Critical Evaluation
The Britannica for teens, which can be accessed through many library catalogs, is an encyclopedia made for teens. You will find all of the traditional encyclopedia articles as well as images, videos, biographies, and a tool to compare countries. One of the best features of this online encyclopedia is the ability to create your own user account in which you can add items to your favorites as well as organize and rate objects. The fact that this database was made specifically for teens makes their searching experience a positive one through providing more information that people in the age group would be searching for as well as writing it in language they understand. This is a database that all students should have within their arsenal.

Ideas for Use

• Science Projects
• History Reports
• Social Studies and Current Issues

Reason for Inclusion
One of the best databases put together exclusively for teens making for a great learning tool for middle-high school students.

Learning Express Library

Bibliographic Information
Title: Learning Express Library
Type of Media: Database
Curriculum Ties: Testing, College Prep
Interest Age: 16+

Critical Evaluation
This database is by far the best for any type of test preparation and is a must know about source for all college bound students and can even help those who need to take the GED. Within this database you have the ability of creating an account which will track your progress through your online learning experience. The school center within the database also has help with mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, logic and reasoning skills, and computer programs. All areas or well organized and easy to navigate. The sheer volume of topics and depth of support are impressive.

Ideas for Use

• GED prep
• SAT and ACT prep
• AP Exam prep
• College placement exams prep
• Graduate School Exams: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MAT, MCAT, PCAT prep
• Mathematic Skills
• English Language Art Skills
• Science Skills
• Social Studies Skills
• Logic and Reasoning Skills
• Learning Computer and Internet Basics
• Learning the Microsoft Suite Products
• Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Reason for Inclusion
I decided to include this database in my collection because this can be a powerful tool for those who hear about it and choose to use it.

Forgive Me Leonard Peacock

Bibliographic Information
Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Author: Matthew Quick
Type of Media: Audio File
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Copyright Date: August 13, 2013
ASIN: B00E3TH2EG
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: Lexile 980
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Leonard Peacock has come to the conclusion that life is no longer worth living and plans out the murder of his ex-best friend (Asher) and his own suicide. As Leonard internally works through all of this he discusses the four people who did mean something to him and the gifts he wants to leave behind for them. Through this dialogue we come to realize that Leonard's father is MIA and his mother hardly ever remembers she has a son. We also learn about the relationship he shared with Asher and where it went wrong six years ago which led to the isolation that Leonard now finds himself in. Quick drags us through the inner thoughts of a 16-year old boy struggling with many inner demons.

Critical Evaluation
The inner dialogue really makes this book, without it we would not get all of the details and understanding of Leonard's deep emotional hurt. Quick also does a great job with the use of Flashbacks to slowly let us in on all of the occurrences that have led Leonard to the place of planning murder and suicide. This book deals with a lot of difficult topics that are important to be covered within the YA realm. Mental illness is something that is running rampant in our teens today and books like this can help readers find people to help.

Reader's Annotation
Quick does a great job portraying a deeply disturbed young man who is screaming for help in a realistic way that will bring readers to their knees.

Author Biography

Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook, which was made into an Oscar-winning film; The Good Luck of Right Now; Lover May Fail; and three young adult novels: Sorta Like a Rock Star; Boy21; and Forgive Me, Leonard  Peacock. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, a #1 bestseller in Brazil, and selected by Nancy Pearl as one of Summer’s Best Books for NPR. EVERY EXQUISITE THING will be published in 2016. All of his books have been optioned for film.
Matthew spent the first few years of his life in Philadelphia before being raised just across the Delaware River in Oaklyn, New Jersey. He graduated from Collingswood High School (class of 1992) and La Salle University (class of 1996), where he double-majored in English and secondary education. He taught high school literature and film in southern New Jersey for several years, during which he coached soccer and basketball, chaperoned trips to Peru and Ecuador, initiated a pen-pal exchange with students in Namibia, and counseled troubled teens.
In 2004 Matthew made the difficult decision to leave teaching and write full time. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Goddard College in 2007 and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from La Salle University in 2013. He lives with his wife, novelist/pianist Alicia Bessette, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.\

Bio. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://matthewquickwriter.com/bio/

Book Talk Ideas

• Suicide Prevention
• Abuse
• Adults you can trust

Possible Challenges

• Abuse
• Gun Violence
• Mental Illness

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for InclusionThis is a powerful book focused on mental illness in a young man which is rare to find in books. With the amount of teenagers who deal with depression and suicidal thoughts I believe books like this should be included in every collection.

Vanishing Girls

Bibliographic Information
Title: Vanishing Girls
Author: Lauren Oliver
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright Date: March 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-0062224101
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Mental Illness
Reading Level: Lexile 890
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Dara and Nick were once the best of friends who did everything together, but when these two sisters got into a terrible car accident, Nick was left scarred and the two stopped talking. When Dara suddenly disappears on her birthday Nick starts an elaborate search to find her and another missing girl. As she digs into her sisters whereabouts and happenings the story slowly becomes more dark and disturbing until you are suddenly blind sided by the ending.

Critical Evaluation
Oliver writes a compelling dark thriller focused on two sisters who are trying to find themselves and each other after an accident changes everything. The plotline of this novel is not what it may seem but in the end it is all tied together with a bow. You will be utterly surprised and will find yourself wondering how you missed the signs. The plotline alone makes this book worth reading but it has more than that with a main character who will melt your heart. You will struggle along with her through all of the tough times, it is impossible to not get completely consumed in this thriller.

Reader's Annotation
With a story twist like no other this book will leave you breathless.

Author Biography

I was born in Queens and raised in Westchester, New York, in a small town very similar to the one depicted in Before I Fall. My parents are both literature professors, and from a very early age, my sister and I were encouraged to make up stories, draw, paint, dance around in costumes, and essentially spend much of our time living imaginatively. Our house was old and full of art and towers and towers of books, and that’s still the kind of house I like best.

I started writing as a way of extending my love of reading; when I read a book I loved, I would continue to write sequels for it (I was inadvertently a fan fic writer, before “fan fiction” was even a term!). Later on, I began working on my own stories, and keeping company with a lot of imaginary friends.

I pursued literature and philosophy at the University of Chicago, and then moved back to New York to attend NYU’s MFA program in creative writing. I simultaneously began working at Penguin Books, in a young adult division called Razorbill, and while there, I started work on Before I Fall. I left in 2009 to pursue writing full-time, and now I happily work in my pajamas every day.

I have a variety of interests apart from writing, including reading, cooking, traveling, dancing, running, and making up weird songs. Some of my favorite things are: being cozy; fires; autumn; fuzzy slippers; very high heels; great wine; dark chocolate; ketchup; pasta. Things I hate: practical shoes, liars, and bananas. I divide my time between Brooklyn, upstate New York, and various hotel rooms.

 

Oliver, L. (n.d.) Biography. Retrieved from http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com./biography.php

Book Talk Ideas

• Plot twists
• Sibling relationships

Possible Challenges

• Alcohol and drug use
• Language
• Sexual content

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for InclusionI have never before read a story with a plot twist quite like this one. I applaud Oliver in this beautifully written story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Boxers & Saints

Bibliographic Information
Title: Boxers, Saints
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Type of Media: graphic novel
Publisher: First Second
Copyright Date: September 10, 2013
ISBN: 978-1596439245
Genre: Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Chinese history and culture
Interest Age: 12-18


Plot Summary
This story is split into two volumes through parallel viewpoints. In Boxers you follow the life of a Chinese peasant named Bao who lives within a village which is plundered and destroyed by outside people who claim to be missionaries. Then an uprising starts to form to fight back against the intruders so Bao chooses to join them.
Within Saints we meet, Vibiana, a Chinese girl who never had a place within society, that is until the missionaries took her in under their wing. They gave her a place to call home and people who cared for her. As the rebellion is starting to grow she is faced with the choice of fully changing to the Christian faith or abandoning the only people who have ever cared for her.

Critical Evaluation
This graphic novel is a piece of work which Yang masterfully wove together. It not only covers a difficult topic but in a way that so strongly depicts two conflicting sides of the same story. It is so rare to find a plotline which truly encompasses an entire issue because it is impossible to see all of that from one character. Yang chose to separate out the stories instead of writing them side by side because it makes the flow of the graphic novel much more friendly. Boxers and Saints are well done graphic novels with a lot of depth to them.

Reader's Annotation
Ever wondered how people who live through the exact same event can describe it so differently? Yang does a marvelous job of depicted the opposing views of two young Chinese people in this award winning graphic novel.

Author Biography
Gene Luen Yang began making comic books in the fifth grade. He has since written and drawn a number of titles. His 2006 book American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album - New. His 2013 two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints was nominated for the National Book Award and won the LA Times Book Prize. Gene currently writes Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender series and DC Comics' Superman. The first volume of Secret Coders, his middle-grade graphic novel series about computer coding, illustrated by Mike Holmes, will be available September 2015.

Gene Luen Yang. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Gene-Luen-Yang/e/B001JP26JI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Talk Ideas

• Chinese History
• Self Identity vs Communal
• Different viewpoints of single event

Possible Challenges

•  Violence

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
Unique graphic novel written from two opposing viewpoints but both with characters you will love. How can both sides seem so right? This is why this story by Yang was a must include for me.

The Book Thief

Bibliographic Information
Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Narrator: Allan Corduner
Type of Media: Audio CD
Publisher: Listening Library
Copyright Date: October 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0804168434
Genre: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: World War II
Reading Level: Lexile 730
Interest Age: 12+



Plot Summary
Death tells this story set within Nazi Germany during the heat of World War II. He introduces us to Leisel, at age nine she becomes a foster child and moves in with a German family. On the way there she steals her first item, a book. She makes friends with a young boy and together they steal small amounts of food to keep themselves fed during this difficult time. As she learns to read her desire for more books turns her stealing back in that direction and plays a large part of her story as her foster father teaches her to read and write. When her family then takes in a runaway Jew she befriends him and is changed for life. Death goes on to tell a compelling story of Leisel's life.

Critical Evaluation
The unique aspect of Death being the narrator adds an emotional touch. It reminds readers of the amount of death that was occurring at the time that this story takes place. Death had a lot of working to do and he is telling his story in a different way. The fact that he takes such an interest in a little girl and follows her through her life is an interesting spin on what we think of when we think of death, it portrays it as a friend who is waiting to hug you and help you on instead of a scary being in black robes with a scythe. This is one of the most memorable aspects of the book.
Zusak also does a great job telling the story of WWII through the perspective not usually witnessed, that of a Geman child. You are shown the innocence and struggles of those who were not even persecuted. When Leisel then meets Max, the Jewish man they shelter, you see how tender her heart is and how children view others as simply people.

Reader's Annotation
Don't miss this compelling story about WWII from the perspective of a young child living in Nazi Germany. You will fall in love with her generosity, innocence, and heart full of love.

Author Biography
Markus Zusak was born in 1975 in Sydney, Australia, the youngest of four children of immigrant German and Austrian parents. Neither parent could read or write English when they first arrived in Australia, but they wanted their children to master the language and strongly encouraged them to read and communicate in English from an early age. Zusak began writing fiction at age 16 and pursued a degree in teaching at the University of Sydney. Before becoming a professional author, Zusak worked briefly as a house painter, a janitor and a high school English teacher.

Chicago Public Library. (n.d.) Markus Zusak biography. Retrieved from http://www.chipublib.org/markus-zusak-biography/

Book Talk Ideas

• World War II
• Innocence of children
• Unique narrators

Possible Challenges

• Violence
• Graphic Imagery

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
This is a top historical fiction book with many awards attached to it, making it an obvious choice for inclusion within my collection. The reader of the audiobook adds an additional flair to the already fantastic story which is why I chose that edition.

Etiquette & Espionage

Bibliographic Information
Title: Etiquette & Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Type of Media: Audio CD
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Copyright Date: October 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0316190107
Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Reading Level: Lexile 780
Interest Age: 12-18







Plot Summary
Sophronia is a trouble maker who is always embarrassing her mother. In order to set her straight and turn her into a proper young lady Mrs. Temminnick enrolls her in a finishing school. Not just any finishing school but Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. Sophronia goes with the expectation of being miserable but before long she begins to get a feeling that things are not quite what you would expect from a finishing school. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's the girls are learning how to finish not themselves but others, it is a school built to train assassin's and spies. So when Sophronia gets tangled up in a web she will need to learn quickly who she can trust and how to be great at what she is training to do. Welcome to the first year of finishing school.

Critical Evaluation
This is another great book about female assassins but this one focuses more on the art of espionage than on killing making it a more tame read for those who want to stay away from  romance and violence. The plotline of this story is well planned out from beginning to end. Taking a page from J.K. Rowling, Carriger sets this series up to follow Sophronia's years at the finishing school following her through the challenges and adventures that seem to find her. A great theme in this book is that of friendship. Realizing that friendships can be made with people who are quite different from yourself and that what makes a friend true goes much deeper.

Reader's Annotation
A finishing school with vampire and werewolf teachers which teaches girls how to become "proper" assassins, does it get any better?

Author Biography
Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in higher learning, a fondness for cephalopods, and a chronic tea habit.
Her bestselling novels are urbane fantasies mixed with steampunk comedies of manners. They have been published in eighteen different languages, made the USA Today list multiple times, and the New York Times list thirteen times (on seven different lists). Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second in her critically acclaimed Finishing School series for young adults, debuted at #5 and Soulless Vol. III the manga at #1. She has received the Prix Julia Verlanger from French readers. Her debut novel, Soulless, won the ALA's Alex Award and was nominated for Compton Crook, Campbell, and Locus Awards. The first book in the Finishing School series, Etiquette & Espionage, won the French Elbakin Award for best YA novel in translation. And the third, Waistcoats & Weaponry won the Steampunk Chronicle's Reader's Choice Award for YA. She also recieved a 2012 Starburner award.
Her other hats (neither pith helmet nor fedora) have included tromping the globe excavating ancient cultures, torturing undergraduates with science, and writing cryptic reviews of non-fiction children's books for the Horn Book Guide.

Gail Carriger longer bio. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.gailcarriger.com/about/gails-bio

Book Talk Ideas

• Espionage
• Technology in Future

Possible Challenges
 I do not see any challenges arising for this novel

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for InclusionThis is a great novel for anyone looking for a fun school based adventure series. With both girl and boy characters and really cool gadgets it can appeal to everyone.

Grave Mercy

Bibliographic Information
Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Type of Media: text
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Copyright Date: April 3, 2012
ISBN: 978-0547628349
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Reading Level: Lexile 850
Interest Age: 14+







Plot Summary
We meet Ismae as she is forced into an abusive marriage when all of a sudden she finds a way out. She joins the convent of St. Mortain -the God of Death - where she is trained in the art of killing to be a handmaiden of death. Ismae embraces her role and for her first assignment she is sent into the very heart of Brittany. There she is tasked with protecting the Duchess so she begins to learn all about the happenings of the court and realizes things may not be as clear cut as the sisters from the convent made it seem. As Ismae's target becomes more clear her heart is telling her it is wrong. Follow along on this journey of love and murder.

Critical Evaluation
There are very few books that span different genres and this is one of the best. LaFevers takes historically accurate information to build a setting and the beginnings of a plot then throws in fantasy elements to make it much more interesting. I applaud her for how incredible this mashup turns out. The plot within this book is full of layers built upon each other and with much suspense holding it all together. With a strong setting and a plot that is new and exciting this book is a great choice for all readers.

Reader's Annotation
Any book with assassins is good in my book, throw in them all being female and working for the god of death and that makes it great!

Author Biography
Robin LaFevers was raised on a steady diet of fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and 19th century poetry. It is not surprising she grew up to be a hopeless romantic.

Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.While many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series

About the author. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.robinlafevers.com/about-the-author/ 

Book Talk Ideas

• Historical Fact vs. Fiction
• Assassins

Possible Challenges

• Violence
• Romance

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
An Amazon book of the month choice and a starred review by Booklist put this on my radar. The characters and unusual plotline put it on my recommendation go to list.

Alanna the First Adventure

Bibliographic Information
Title: Alana, the First Adventure
Author: Tamora Pierce
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Atheneum
Copyright Date: September 1, 1983
ISBN: 978-0689309946
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Lexile 690
Interest Age: 11-18






 
Plot Summary
Alanna lives during a time when woman could not be fighters but she desperately wants to become a knight. She concocts a plan to steal the identity of her brother in order to enroll as castle page to begin her adventure of following her dreams. She quickly discovers that even though she may be able to keep up with the boys in matters of weaponry she must control her temper and her heart to truly make it as a knight. Will she be able to stay undercover for good? Follow along as Alanna learns what it really means to be a knight and a lady.

Critical Evaluation
Pierce is an author known for writing within the fantasy world of Tortall about strong young women who have big dreams that are usually outside of what society would like them to do. Her characters struggle with very real emotional and physical desires of being a women while trying to live a life not designed for them. This struggle of wanting it all is a huge struggle for many young ladies today which makes this book a valuable part of any young adult fiction collection even though the book was written in the early 80's. The plotline of this book is somewhat predictable but that does not take away from the excitement of reading this book. It is also noteworthy that this book is written at a lower Lexile level which can make this a great choice for struggling or reluctant readers.

Reader's Annotation
Are you struggling with what your future holds or did you at one point find yourself staring at a fork in the road? That is exactly where Alanna finds herself, you will love being along for her journey.

Author Biography
Tamora Pierce was drawn to books from a young age. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, the child of a "long, proud line of hillbillies," her family never had much. "We were poor, but I didn't know it then. We had a garden where my folks grew fruit and vegetables and our water came from a well," she explains. But one thing they did have was plenty of books. So Tamora read. A self-proclaimed "geek," she devoured fantasy and science fiction novels, and by the age of 12 was mimicking her literary idols and writing her own action-packed stories. It was thanks to her father that Tamora began writing. "He heard me telling myself stories as I did dishes, and he suggested that I try to write some of them down," Pierce says. But Tamora's novels had one major difference: unlike the books she was reading, her stories featured teenaged girl warriors. "I couldn't understand this lapse of attention on the part of the writers I loved, so until I could talk them into correcting this small problem, I wrote about those girls, the fearless, bold, athletic creatures that I was not, but wanted so badly to be."
Seventeen years later, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, a brief career in teen social work and some time spent writing for radio, Tamora Pierce held true to her childhood crusade, and published Alanna: The First Adventure, the first in a quartet about a valiant, young, female warrior. Pierce's heroine struck a chord with readers across the country and quickly earned her a loyal following. 
Pierce is now a #1 New York Times bestselling author and has written twenty-six books, including her newest, BEKA COOPER #3: Mastiff. "It's a pretty good life, if I do say so myself. Struggling along as a kid and even through my twenties, it's the kind of life I dreamed of but never believed I would get. Yet here I am, after a lot of work, a lot of worry, a lot of care for details, and a massive chunk of luck, the kind that brought me such strong friends and readers. Pretty good for a hillbilly, yes? And I never take it for granted," she says.Pierce lives in upstate New York with her husband Tim and their three cats and two birds.

Tamora Pierce (n.d.) retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Tamora%20Pierce/e/B000APBE82/ref=la_B000APBE82_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB000APBE82&page=2&sort=date-desc-rank&ie=UTF8&qid=1449170509

Book Talk Ideas

• Gender roles
• Following dreams
• Conflicts of desires

Possible Challenges

• Implied sexual content
• Mentions  menstruation cycle

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
This is one of the first books within the Fantasy YA genre that focuses specifically on strong girl characters. Tamora Pierce is a must-read for all teen girls. This book also won the Margaret A. Edwards Award.

The Selection

Bibliographic Information
Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Harper Teen
Copyright Date: April 24, 2012
ISBN: 978-0062059932
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Reading Level: Lexile 680
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Every time the prince comes of age the kingdom of Illea holds a competition for the future queen. Welcome to the selection when girls from all levels of society can enter their name into a drawing where 35 girls will be randomly chosen to move into the castle in order to compete for the heart of Prince Maxon. America Singer is a five and she is in the midst of a forbidden love with a six when she gets chosen to be a participant in the selection. She very reluctant goes to the castle with the intention of making some money for her family before eventually dropping out the competition. Yet, as she starts to see more of who Prince Maxon is and learns more about the kingdom in which she lives, she becomes confused about what she wants.

Critical Evaluation
The book is written at a lower level than the intended age audience with the hope to appeal to some more reluctant or struggling readers. With high action, lots of drama, and a love story that is completely addictive this novel is a sure win for anyone who loves a good romance mixed with adventure. Cass does an amazing job with a plot line that keeps moving with twist and turns you never see coming. Her depiction of a 17 year old girl is spot on with emotions flying America tries to find out what she wants in life and who can be trusted as a true friend even during the heat of competition. All girls will relate to aspects of this story making it a perfect book for teenage girls.

Reader's Annotation
Heart throb Maxon will warm your heart as he tries to win over America, the least likely of the Selection participants.

Author Biography

"I am a graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in History. I grew up in South Carolina and currently live in Christiansburg, Virginia with my electrical engineer hubby, car-obsessed son, and princess-loving daughter. I'm a #1 New York Times bestseller, woohoo! I'm also a valued customer at my local cupcake shop.
Things I hate: When people fail to use turn signals, flying, salads.
Things I love: Office supplies, boy bands, desserts."

Cass, K. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from http://www.kieracass.com/about/
 

Book Talk Ideas

• Forbidden love
• Competition

Possible Challenges

• Violence
• Romantic Scenes

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
One of my personal favorite books to get lost in. America is a strong girl dealing with the same things every teenage girl deals with just on an emphasized scale. I love the aspect of relatability it lends to readers and it seems others agree as this book has a 4.5 star rating from over 3,400 reviews on Amazon. You can feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone who loves a good romance.

Code Name Verity

Bibliographic Information
Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Type of Media: Audio CD
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Copyright Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1486213931
Genre: Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties: World War II, Holocaust, Spies
Reading Level: Lexile 1020
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Verity is being transported by her best friend into occupied Germany when their plane crashes. She is arrested by the Gestapo who learn that she is an enemy spy. They then spend months trying to get all of the information possible extracted from her. She is starved and beaten, so close to death but determined to survive she begins to write this story giving you all of the information on who she is and about her relationship with the pilot. Will Verity survive this ordeal or after he full confession will she be executed anyway?

Critical Evaluation
This novel is a great telling of what it meant for someone to be a prisoner of war during the Nazi's reign. The narrator of this audiobook does a fantastic job with infliction and voices which adds to the realness of this historical fiction piece of work. With a Lexile score of 1020, the language in this novel is more difficult than some will be able to read and I found that the audiobook was not only fun but also helped with this limitation.
Wein does a great job masterminding the journey of two best friends who find themselves in an unbelievable situation, she paints a vision of strong women who lent their services to the Allied Forces during the war. With a secretive plot in mind you will enjoy the weaving of characters that Wein created.

Reader's Annotation
Get lost in a world of darkness as you read Verity's words of who she is and how she got to be a POW in WWII. Don't miss out on the narrator either, give the audio a try!

Author Biography
I was born in New York City in 1964, and moved to England when I was 3. I started school there. We lived practically in the shadow of Alderley Edge, the setting for several of Alan Garner's books and for my own first book The Winter Prince; that landscape, and Garner's books, have been a lifelong influence on me.My father, who worked for the New York City Board of Education for most of his life, was sent to England to do teacher training at what is now Manchester Metropolitan University. He helped organize the Headstart program there. When I was six he was sent to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica for three years to do the same thing in Kingston. I loved Jamaica and became fluent in Jamaican patois (I can't really speak it any more, but I can still understand it); but in 1973 my parents separated, and we ended up back in the USA living with my mother in Harrisburg, PA, where her parents were. When she died in a car accident in 1978, her wonderful parents took us in and raised us.
I went to Yale University, spent a work-study year back in England, and then spent seven years getting a PhD in Folklore at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. While I was there I learned to ring church bells in the English style known as "change ringing", and in 1991 I met my future husband there at a bell ringers' dinner-dance. He is English, and in 1995 I moved to England with him, and then to Scotland in 2000.We share another unusual interest--flying in small planes. My husband got his private pilot's license in 1993 and I got mine ten years later. Together we have flown in the States from Kalamazoo to New Hampshire; in Kenya we've flown from Nairobi to Malindi, on the coast, and also all over southern England. Alone, most of my flying has been in eastern Scotland.

Wein, E. (n.d.). Elizabeth E. Wein. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-E.-Wein/e/B000APFEQ0/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Talk Ideas

• Espionage
• Prisoner of War Treatment

Possible Challenges

•  Violence

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
This is  historical fiction book that should be required reading for all high school students as it beings WWII to life from a women spy's prospective. It is a Printz Award Honor book, Amazon Best Teen Book of the month, and was Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Delirium

Bibliographic Information
Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright Date: February 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0061726828
Genre: Sci-Fi Dystopian
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Reading Level: Lexile 920
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Love is a disease which must be eradicated, it makes people do and say stupid things and gives someone else too much control over your life. In order to eradicate the disease everyone is given the cure when they turn 18. Lena, saw her mom succumb to the disease so she is looking forward to the day she gets the cure and is assigned a husband and role within society, at that point she will know that she is safe. That is until she meets Alex, a young man who is from a rebel community who lives within the wild. What will Lena do when she starts to have feelings for him that she cannot explain. Is she falling victim to love or is the government behind a much bigger scheme?

Critical Evaluation
Delirium is a well written nail bitter of a love story that you will instantly fall in love with. The characters are so well written and believable that you cannot help but feel their pain, joy, and everything in between. You find yourself connecting to Lena and Alex and rooting for them throughout the story. This is evidence that Oliver is superb at character development, they are deep and relatable.
The plot is always beautifully written as it is fast paced and intriguing with new information behind every corner. Lauren knows how to keep the story running smoothly through the peaks and valleys of the plot all the way to the climax which will leave you wanting so much more. This book is a definite read for anyone who likes a good Romeo and Juliet type romance with a SciFi twist.

Reader's Annotation
You will find yourself wanting to scream through the pages at the characters as you become immersed in their world. This is a book not to be missed.

Author Biography

I was born in Queens and raised in Westchester, New York, in a small town very similar to the one depicted in Before I Fall. My parents are both literature professors, and from a very early age, my sister and I were encouraged to make up stories, draw, paint, dance around in costumes, and essentially spend much of our time living imaginatively. Our house was old and full of art and towers and towers of books, and that’s still the kind of house I like best.

I started writing as a way of extending my love of reading; when I read a book I loved, I would continue to write sequels for it (I was inadvertently a fan fic writer, before “fan fiction” was even a term!). Later on, I began working on my own stories, and keeping company with a lot of imaginary friends.

I pursued literature and philosophy at the University of Chicago, and then moved back to New York to attend NYU’s MFA program in creative writing. I simultaneously began working at Penguin Books, in a young adult division called Razorbill, and while there, I started work on Before I Fall. I left in 2009 to pursue writing full-time, and now I happily work in my pajamas every day.

I have a variety of interests apart from writing, including reading, cooking, traveling, dancing, running, and making up weird songs. Some of my favorite things are: being cozy; fires; autumn; fuzzy slippers; very high heels; great wine; dark chocolate; ketchup; pasta. Things I hate: practical shoes, liars, and bananas. I divide my time between Brooklyn, upstate New York, and various hotel rooms.

 

Oliver, L. (n.d.) Biography. Retrieved from http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com./biography.php

Book Talk Ideas

• What makes something a disease?
• Would you want to live without love if it meant no drama?

Possible Challenges

• Teen sexual content
• Violence

Defense File

• Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out
• Access to honest reviews from trusted sources
• Know the awards, if any, the book has earned
• Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues
• A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen
• If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
This book by Lauren Oliver is as exciting as they come with love, drama, and growing up. Delirium received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and was named a Best Book of the year by USA Today, Kirkus, Amazon, YALSA, and the Chicago Public Library and was selected as one of NPR's Top 100 Best Ever Teen Novels.

Raven Boys

Bibliographic Information
Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrator: Will Patton
Type of Media: Audio CD
Publisher: Scholastic Audio Books
Copyright Date: September 18, 2012
ISBN: 978-0545465939
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Reading Level: Lexile 760
Interest Age: 12-18





Plot Summary
Blue is a non-psychic in a family full of them, but she has powers of her own, in particular she can enhance the strengths of others visions. Once a year she accompanies her mother to a special occasion where her mother watches the spirit of people who will die soon walk through on a ley line. Blue's presence allows Moira to see more but Blue never does, until a young man appears and she recognizes him as one of the students from Aglionby, otherwise known as a Raven boy. Blue knows that there is only two reasons which could have aloud her to see this boy's spirit, either she killed him or he is her true love. Considering that Blue has been told her whole life that she will cause the death of her true love it seems that it could be both reasons.
When Blue meets the Raven boy and his three friends she is drawn to them in ways she does not understand despite the fact that her standard if to stay away from privileged boys like them. As she starts to get to know each boy - Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah - she discovers a quest that they are on to find a mystical King from long ago and all of us a sudden she is completely wrapped up in the game.

Critical Evaluation
The audio recording for this is superb. The narrator,Will Patton, does a fantastic job with the different voices for different characters which really helped me view and feel who the characters were. This added to the development of the characters throughout the story because you get to hear the characters and how people talk shows a piece of who they are. This is one of the reasons that I love finding good audiobooks.
When it comes to the writing of the novel I think Stiefvater has done a good job connecting with teens through the young relationships we witness, the language of the book, and the way the characters all act to different situations. Stiefvater presents a story that is new and full of adventure, love, and growing up.

Reader's Annotation
Never before have I enjoyed a book about a long dead king and five teens who find themselves searching for him, but this story is a must read for all who love adventure of the supernatural sort.

Author Biography
Hello. After a tumultuous past as a history major, calligraphy instructor, wedding musician, technical editor, and equestrian artist, I'm now a full-time writer living in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with my charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, four neurotic dogs who fart recreationally, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

I'm also an award-winning colored pencil artist, play several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes), and recently acquired a race car.

Stiefvater, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Stiefvater/e/B001JSBZZ6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Talk Ideas

• ley lines/ancient energy
• psychics

Possible Challenges

•  magic
• violence

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for InclusionThis book is a sure hit for even the most reluctant readers as it is fast-paced and intriguing with characters that you can't help but like.

2015 Grammy Nominees

Bibliographic Information
Title: 2015 Grammy Nominees
Artist: Various
Type of Media: Audio CD
Label: RCA
Copyright Date: January 20, 2015
ASIN: B00PT9HSFC
Genre: Pop, Hip Hop, Country
Curriculum Ties: Music
Interest Age: All Ages







Summary
This CD contains the following 21 songs:
  1. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift                                                 3:39
  2. Fancy - Iggy Azalea                                                            3:18
  3. Sing - Ed Sheeran                                                               3:59
  4. Problem - Ariana Grande                                                    3:13
  5. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor                              3:08
  6. Dark Horse - Katy Perry                                                      3:35
  7. A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay                                            3:56
  8. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus                                              3:43
  9. Chandelier - Sia                                                                   3:36
10. All of Me (Live) - John Legend                                           4:59
11. Take Me to Church - Hozier                                                4:01
12. Drunk in Love - Beyonce                                                     5:23
13. Come Get it Bae - Pharrell Williams                                   3:22
14. Stay With Me - Sam Smith                                                  2:52
15. Blue Moon - Beck                                                                4:00
16. Raise 'Em Up - Keith Urban                                                3:03
17. Gentle On My Mind - The Band Perry                                3:09
18. Meanwhile Back at Mama's - Tim McGraw                        3:47
19. Somethin' Bad - Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood       2:49
20. Day Drinking - Little Big Town                                          2:58
21. Happy (Live) - Pharrell Williams                                        3:22

Critical Evaluation
This CD is the newest compilation of various artists who were all nominated for 2015 Grammys. The CD is well put together with top hits by the most well known artists that everyone has heard on the radio. This makes for a fun CD to pop in and not worry about having to skip songs.

Reader's Annotation
Listen to all of the top hits from 2014 on one CD. There is no need to put together another playlist, it has been done for you.

Possible Challenges

• Sexual Content
• Alcohol/ Drug References
• Violence

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

Reason for Inclusion
I have included this CD within my collection because of the popularity of Taylor Swift with teenagers today and this CD has some of her most beloved songs on it along with a whole lot of other good ones