 The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer ISBN: 0-689-85222-3 Farmer, N. (2002). The house of the scorpion. New York: Atheneum Books. Plot Summary Matt is a six-year-old boy who lives in a small house with a woman named Celia. He is isolated and not allowed to go outside. One day some children come to visit him, and Matt is immediately attracted to Maria. When they go to leave, Matt is afraid a monster will eat Maria, so he jumps out the window to save her. The broken glass hurts him, so the children take him to El Patron’s house. El Patron owns an opium-producing estate employed by eejits, humans with computer chips implanted who are essentially zombies. Matt is protected and pampered until the others discover he is a clone. El Patron is 148-years-old, and has stayed alive for so long because he has clones made, and uses their organs when his own fail. Matt is then put into a dirty room and hardly fed because of the stigma of being a clone. Finally, El Patron finds out, and commands respect for Matt. The next seven years pass as Matt is tutored and pampered, until the day he finds out he is a clone, and El Patron will eventually need his organs. Critical Evaluation The House of the Scorpion is a thrilling, well-written novel about a fallen world in the perhaps not-so distant future. In a time where animal cloning is possible, Farmer takes this one step further into the realm of human cloning. Is it acceptable to clone humans? Do human clones have rights, or are they simply a copy of the original? The novel ultimately goes into the idea of the haves and have-nots. Those who have money are allowed to do as they wish, oftentimes to the detriment of those beneath them without anything. As a clone, Matt faces an interesting problem. Just as he is coming of age and beginning to learn about his self-identity, he finds out he may not be anyone. How does a boy who is a copy of another person learn to become his own person? Or will be just become an evil man determined to have his way? The setting adds to the notion that this situation may be possible. Situated between the Mexican and United States border, the fields of poppies filled with eejits, humans with computer chips implanted, does not sound like an impossibility. Could drug lords today find ways to do this? The implications are frightening. The ending feels rushed, especially after the descriptions of life at Opium and in the orphanage, but readers will be happy to know a sequel is to be released later in 2013. Reader’s Annotation Matt finds out he is a clone, created for his organs. When it becomes time for Matt to be used, he will do all he can to prevent his death. About the Author Nancy Farmer began to write when she was 40, after the birth of her son. She was accustomed to working and keeping busy, but as a parent, no longer worked. As she was reading to her son, Farmer realized she could write her own stories. She then began reading and rereading Edgar Rice Burroughs and Stephen King for plot, pace, and characterization. It was easy to get her work published in Africa, but she wanted to become an author in the United States too. She won an award from the Writers of the Future and with the award money moved back to California. Farmer worked at Standford in the genetics department, but when she was awarded $20,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts for her first children’s book, Farmer knew she was going to be an author. She has been named a Newbery Honor for three of her books, and House of the Scorpion was a National Book Award Winner. Nancy Farmer was born in Arizona to parents who did not have much time for a younger daughter. Farmer’s brother and sister were several years older, and already in college by the time she started middle school. Her sister Mary doted on her, and Farmer developed a strong sense of self because of this. Though Farmer was an excellent reader, she could not write properly which teachers believed was due to her stubbornness. Now she realizes she has dyslexia. Farmer’s parents ran a hotel, and often had a young Farmer work the front desk. Again, she realizes now that it probably was not a good idea. She attended Reed College, and then went to India in the Peace Corps. Then she attended UC Berkeley, and lived in Zimbabwe after graduation. She met her husband in Zimbabwe and they have a son in the military. Farmer and her husband live in Menlo Park, California. Genre Science Fiction/Dystopian Curriculum Ties Cloning/Ethics Booktalking If you were wealthy, would you want to live to 150? Debate the merits and evils of cloning from the viewpoints of El Patron and El Viejo. Reading Level/Interest Level RL: 5th grade IL: 8th grade and up Challenge Issues Possible challenge issues include cloning, the downfall of the United States, and the various ethical issues presented. In my defense file, I would include the following: 1) Library Mission Statement 2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor. 3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights 4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist 5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled 6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards 7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead 8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why. Why Included I enjoyed the book as a child, and it is my mother’s second favorite young adult novel. I felt it was time to reread the book as an adult. Additionally, with the sequel coming out, I wanted to reread and remember what had happened. Others in the Series The Lord of Opium (Book #2 Released September 2013) References Farmer, N. (2013). Bio. Retrieved from http://www.nancyfarmerwebsite.com/bio.html.
 The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3703-3
Wolf, A. (2011). The watch that ends the night: Voices from the titanic. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Plot Summary
Told in verse, the lives of 24 passengers onboard the Titanic and the iceberg they hit, are traced during the week they were traveling on “The Greatest Ship Ever Built.” Passengers include some of the famous and infamous. Margaret Brown, later to be known as “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” John Jacob Astor, and Thomas Andrews are among the famous, while Bruce Ismay is an infamous. Then there are the children, Lolo and Frankie Goldsmith, who form a kind of club on the ship. The rat scurries along, concerned only with finding food and avoiding capture. The iceberg is the most ominous, as it beckons the ship every closer. Love stories blossom between Jamila and another passenger. The background stories of passengers and why they are on the fated ocean liner are mentioned, as the characters themselves speak about their experiences. Interspersed between the days leading up to the disaster are newspaper reports and the undertaker’s notes. There are few surprises as to what happens at the end, some die and some are saved.
Critical Evaluation
Written in a free-verse narrative structure, The Watch That Ends the Night provides a lyrical note to the Titanic tragedy, but is no less dramatic or tragic. Through the poetry, one senses a sort of romantic feel to the characters, their lives, and reasons for traveling, which makes it all the more difficult to know some will die by the end of the book. It is a novel, but Wolf uses real people who sailed on the Titanic, some famous, others forgotten by time, but all were affected by the sinking. The voice of the rat can be irritating at times “food/food/scurry/scurry,” but his single-mindedness realizes the will of living beings to survive. The most ominous of the characters is undoubtedly the iceberg, as it waits for a ship to cross its path. In the end, it is reduced to nothing as it melts, much like the lives lost over 100 years ago. The sheer number of characters makes remembering who is who a bit difficult in the beginning. A list of characters helps with the confusion, and their unique voices eventually lead to remembering individual storylines. The inclusion of summary biographies, references, and factual material in the appendices will leave readers both satisfied and questioning. Satisfied that there is an ending to the story, and questioning how the disaster could have been prevented.
Reader’s Annotation
The story of the Titanic told by 24 different characters in verse. Who lives and who dies?
About the Author
Allan Wolf was born in 1963 in Storrs, Connecticut. His family moved to Virginia, and he attended all his education, from elementary to graduate school in Blacksburg, Virginia. Wolf attended Virginia Tech University and earned a bachelors and Master’s in English. Although a poet at a young age, Wolf holds his life as a writer began when he was twelve, and started writing on his bedroom walls as a sort of diary. After earning his Master’s, he taught college composition at his alma mater, but left to join Poetry Alive!, a traveling poet troupe. His experiences with Poetry Alive! and schools led Wolf to begin writing books for children. He usually writes longhand, and quickly and inaccurately types it later.
Wolf has written seven books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults and children. He has earned several honors including a School Library Journal Best Book and ALA Best Books for Young Adults. His interest to poetry is not solely in writing; Wolf has memorized hundreds of poems. Wolf is married, has three children, and lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Genre
Historical Fiction/Action & Adventure
Curriculum Ties
Titanic
Booktalking
In the point of view of one of the characters, pretend it is 50 years after the sinking, and what your life is like now.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues may include the point of view of the rat and iceberg.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
The 100th anniversary of the Titanic was last year, and there is still immense interest in the disaster.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Wolf, A. (n.d.). Biography. Retrieved from http://allanwolf.com/bio.htm
 The Last Shot by Darcy Frey
ISBN: 0-684-81509-5
Frey, D. (1994). The Last Shot. New York: TOUCHSTONE.
Plot Summary
Abraham Lincoln high school in Coney Island, New York is home to one of strongest high school basketball teams. The boys who are chosen to play on the team are given one last shot to make something of themselves. If they play well, and keep their grades up, they might just earn college scholarships to Division I colleges. If their grades fall, or their SAT scores are not high enough, or their game is not good enough, they will end up living the same fate as their parents. The students come from housing projects, living off food stamps and welfare. Family members are unemployed, in jail, or dead. The Last Shot looks at the 1991 basketball season and follows four members of the team. Russell Thomas (pseudonym for Darryl Flickering), Corey Johnson, and Tchaka Shipp are seniors, while Stephon Marbury is a freshman. The year covers their triumphs on and off the court as they struggle to earn good grades and are recruited by college coaches. Their losses are also recorded, their failure to reach the minimum 700 SAT scores required to play college basketball, and arguments with each other and families. An epilogue explains where the players ended up once the book finished.
Critical Evaluation
A poignant, valuable, and sometimes depressing look into the lives of star high school basketball players. These are real students attending school in a run-down, crime-infested area of New York City. Their dreams to play college basketball and find a way out of the ghetto are a universal dream, but the reality is much bleaker. Though not the primary goal, Frey demonstrates how schools are failing their students. Poor teachers, lack of proper supplies, and overcrowding lend to an atmosphere where the students do not care, the teachers do not care, and the parents do not care. There is a sense of desperation running through the book, as the players know what is at stake. The four boys chronicled have different strengths and reasons for wanting college scholarships, but are representative of the people who play sports to find a way out. Sometimes cocky, sometimes unsure, sometimes vulnerable, sometimes egotistical, these boys becoming men reach out to readers. Their failures are your failures, and their successes are your successes. The mistakes made, the careless attitudes they may exhibit only serve to emphasize how young high school students are, and the lack of opportunity they have already experienced. Even when future dreams become seemingly impossible, Frey makes you want the impossible for these four students, and for all other students facing the same issues and decisions.
Reader’s Annotation
Offers an interesting look into the lives of four outstanding high school basketball stars in the 1991 season, and their prospects of playing for college.
About the Author
“Darcy Frey is the author of The Last Shot (Houghton-Mifflin, 1994), which was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and George Divoky's Planet (forthcoming from Pantheon). He has also been a Contributing Editor for Harper's Magazine and a longtime Contributing Writer for The New York Times Magazine, for which he has written about science, medicine, technology, music, art and the environment. His essays and journalism have been anthologized in Best American Essays and Best American Science Writing. His honors include a National Magazine Award, the Livingston Award for Young Journalists and an award for public service from the Society for Professional Journalists.”
Genre
Nonfiction/Sports
Curriculum Ties
How has high school prepared/or not prepared you for what comes next
Booktalking
How has high school prepared/or not prepared you for what comes next?
Are sports a way out of poverty?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 9th grade
IL: 9th grade
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include the pessimistic reality of life in the ghetto and the failure of the American education system.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I felt it was important to include a non-fiction book, as well as more sports.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
President and Fellows of Harvard College. (2013). Creative writing faculty. Retrieved from http://english.fas.harvard.edu/programs/undergraduate/creative-writing/creative-writing-faculty.
 Fun Home by Alison BechdelISBN: 0-618-47794-2
Bechdel, A. (2006). Fun home: A family tragicomedy. New York: Houghton Mifflin Plot Summary Alison Bechdel chronicles her childhood and youth growing up in rural Pennsylvania. It also focuses on Bechdel’s relationship with her father. The book starts with Bruce Bechdel’s obsession with renovating the family’s Victorian home. Alison notes that his manic obsessive behavior also reflected itself in the way he treated his family. As Alison grows older, she realizes her father is not like other fathers. He is very concerned with her acting obviously female, to the point where he berates her for not wearing hairclips. She describes her relationship with Bruce as being so completely opposite that they almost complemented each other. While she thrilled in simple, clean, and mannish, Bruce was ornate, decadent, and almost frilly. The Victorian house was all Bruce wanted. They were constantly at odds with one another while Alison was growing up, and never agreed on anything. A large focus is on Alison’s growing awareness of her sexuality and development. Before Bruce commits suicide, Alison and he have a conversation where he explains some of his sexuality and past experiences. Though not fully explored, tensions between the two dissipate somewhat. However, Bruce’s apparent suicide a few weeks later causes Alison to question whether or not admitting she was a lesbian triggered her father’s actions. Critical Evaluation The story does not follow a chronological path, and events are retold as Bechdel grows older and learns more information that sheds light on previous events. Bechdel holds nothing back, is direct, and unapologetic. This is her life, as she has lived it, including the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly, but all of it the truth. A unique form for a memoir, the graphic novel aspect adds something extra to what is already some serious subject matter. As with picture books, Bechdel’s graphics show, rather than tell, many of the nuances of human interaction and life. There are moments of comedy and humor, but there are plenty of grim realizations as well. Many famous literary works or plays are also mentioned, and similarities drawn to various family members, especially Bechdel’s parents. These serve to illustrate a point, or make a reference others can identify with. The artwork is also deeply inspired. For each illustration, Bechdel first photographed herself dressed as her family, then drew each picture, and used Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator at various stages. She also used Google Images to find period photographs of places, and hand-copied letters and journal excerpts. The result is a carefully planned and meticulously executed story told in pictures. Reader’s AnnotationA memoir in graphic novel format, Fun Home is direct, unapologetic, and holds nothing back. About the Author “Since its inception in 1983, Alison Bechdel’s comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For has become a countercultural institution. The strip is syndicated in dozens of newspapers, translated into several languages and collected in a series of award-winning books. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as “one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century.” And Comics Journal says, “Bechdel’s art distills the pleasures of Friends and The Nation; we recognize our world in it, with its sorrows and ironies.” In addition to her comic strip, Bechdel has also done exclusive work for a slew of publications, including Ms., Slate, the Advocate, and many other newspapers, websites, comic books, and ‘zines. In 2006, Houghton Mifflin published her graphic memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. The bestselling coming-of-age tale has been called a “mesmerizing feat of familial resurrection” and a “rare, prime example of why graphic novels have taken over the conversation about American literature. Bechdel lives near Burlington, Vermont.” Genre Memoir/Graphic novel/Adult crossover Curriculum Ties Literature and Writing Styles Photography and Art Composition BooktalkingCompare and contrast Alison's understanding of her sexuality with that of her father's. What are some unique experiences growing up in a funeral home? Reading Level/Interest Level RL: N/A IL: 10th grade and up Challenge Issues Possible challenge issues include homosexuality, homosexual relationships, graphic language, sexual situations, and suicide. In my defense file, I would include the following: 1) Library Mission Statement 2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor. 3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights 4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist 5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled 6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards 7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead 8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why. Why Included This book hit a number of categories- graphic novel, memoir, LGBT, and crossover. It is a controversial choice for teens, but I think it is worthwhile. Others in the Series N/A References Bechdel, A. (2013). Alison bechdel. Retrieved from http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/alison-bechdel.
 Suzanne’s Diary to Nicholas by James Patterson
ISBN: 978-0-7595-2521-4
Patterson, J. (2001). Suzanne's diary to nicholas. New York: Hachette Book Group
Plot Summary
Katie Wilkinson has found the man of her dreams. He is kind, handsome, and can support a family. When Katie feels their relationship is going somewhere, Matt suddenly leaves, with only a diary to show Katie he was once there. Katie distraught, the man she loved left her, and she soon realizes she is pregnant. The diary is called Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas. As Katie reads, she realizes that Suzanne was married to Matt. She is immediately horrified, thinking Matt is married and was having an affair. Katie continues to read about Suzanne, her pregnancy, and subsequent birth of her son Nicholas. The novel switches back-and-forth between Katie’s day-to-day life to the diary. Katie reads about Matt through another woman’s eyes, their joy with their son Nicholas, and excitement over Suzanne’s second pregnancy. The feeling is bittersweet, as Katie wants all that Suzanne and Matt had for herself and her unborn child. As Katie nears the end of Suzanne’s diary, she will reach a tragedy that has affected Matt, and their future happiness as a family.
Critical Evaluation
One of Patterson’s first forays outside the thriller crime novels he is best known for, brings Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas. Typical Patterson elements include short chapters, surprising twists, and a fast-moving good story. Told in both first- and third-person, the diary and narrative formats are surprisingly suited for one another. Katie, the protagonist, reads the diary written by Suzanne in first person. The diary entries read like a story unto themselves, which serves to juxtapose Matt’s two lives with two different women. A love story at its heart, the novel teeters between sentimentality and overly saccharine. Sensitive readers will need to keep some tissues nearby, while hardier readers may roll their eyes at the tragic circumstances. Though the ending somewhat explains Matt’s leaving, one also gets the feeling of wanting to smack him. There is sympathy, but also annoyance that he could not discuss his warring thoughts with a woman he was intimately involved with, and suddenly left instead. In the end, love is portrayed as beautiful, yet imperfect, with pitfalls and heartbreaks along the way.
Reader’s Annotation
Katie found the perfect man, until he left, leaving only a diary about his wife and son behind. Why did he leave, and why is the diary so important?
About the Author
James Patterson is one of the most successful adult authors. Patterson’s books have sold 260 million copies worldwide, has had five new hardcover novels debut at #1 every year since 2005, has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the Guinness World Record for most Hardcover Fiction titles by a single author with 76 books. Some of Patterson’s novels have been turned into Hollywood movies, including the Alex Cross novels with the title character portrayed by Morgan Freeman. Patterson’s first young adult series, Maximum Ride is currently being filmed.
James Patterson was born in New York in 1947. He attended Manhattan College and Vanderbilt University earning both a bachelor and master degree in English. Patterson first worked in advertising, but retired in 1996 and turned to writing fulltime. Patterson is a prolific writer, and signed a deal in 2009 to write 11 adult books and 6 young adult books by the end of 2012. He has founded four programs that encourage reading and literacy, including the James Patterson PageTurner Awards that donated $100,000 to companies and people with creative ways to spread books and reading. Patterson currently lives in Palm Beach, Florida with his wife and son.
Genre
Romance/Chick List
Curriculum Ties
Writing diary entries
Booktalking
Matt had a reason for leaving, but was it a good enough reason?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues may include sexual relationships between adults before marriage.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
James Patterson is such a well-known author of both adult and young adult novels; I felt it important to include one of each. Additionally, Patterson is most known for his crime novels about Alex Cross and the Lady Detectives, so I decided on one of his other works.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Hachette Book Group. (2013). About james: Biography. Retrieved from http://www.jamespatterson.com/about_biography.php#.UVHwCxlAus0
James Patterson. (2013, April 14). Retrieved March 20, 2013 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Patterson
 Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
ISBN: 978-1417627547
Korman, G. (2002). Son of the Mob. New York: Hyperion Book.
Plot Summary
Vince Luca has it made. His family is wealthy, his parents are great, he’s a new star in football, and might just have a new girlfriend name Kendra. But, his family’s money is from illegal doings, his father is a mob boss, he’s scoring touchdowns because the opposing teams are scared of him, and his new girlfriend’s father is an FBI agent. Of course, Kendra’s father is not just any FBI agent, but the agent who is specifically tasked with solving a murder he suspects Vince’s father committed. Vince wants out of the family business and has tried his hardest to keep out and get good grades to attend college out of state. Now he has to be even more careful, as visits to Kendra’s house result in parent interviews and Kendra’s visits are closely monitored for any bugs or wiretaps. Vince is just a teenager who wants a normal date for once.
Critical Evaluation
Described as The Sopranos for teens meets star-crossed lovers, Son of the Mob is a brilliantly funny novel. It takes a talented writer to take the Mob, a decidedly dangerous group of individuals, and make them likeable and almost normal, but Korman succeeds. One is almost able to forget the illegal activities surrounding the Luca family because of the humor infused throughout. Even a date cut short by a body in the trunk (still alive thankfully) lends itself to a moment of laughs at the absurdity of the situation. Main character Vince also shows a realistic portrayal of a young man who loves his family, but not what they do. He recognizes the wealth and power his name affords him, but also the bad things that created the wealth and power. Korman expertly combines situational humor and organized crime into a winning novel. Witty dialog and the portrayal of high school dating complicated by your family (albeit Vince’s contribute more than the usual complications) are experiences any teenager can relate to. Even reluctant readers will enjoy the hilarious story, and eagerly latch on to the sequel.
Reader’s Annotation
Vince’s family belongs to the mob. When he begins dating an FBI agent’s daughter, things get complicated really fast.
About the Author
“Gordon Korman was born October 23, 1963 in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. He wrote his first book, This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall when he was 12 years old for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English … he later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in the Sixth Grade Nickname Game, where Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.
His first book found a home with Scholastic, who also published his next 20 or so books, including six more Bruno and Boots titles, and several award winning young adult titles, among them my personal favorite, Son of Interflux. Scholastic still publishes many of Gordon's titles, though Hyperion Press is also now printing some of Gordon's stories. Gordon eventually made one of his homes in New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he also met his future wife, and they eventually married -- they now have three children. He now lives on Long Island, outside of New York City, has approximately 70 books to his credit, and is currently contracted for several more.”
Genre
Humor
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking
What are some of the conversations possibly overheard in the Luca household?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues may include the humorous portrayal of a mob family and their illegal activities.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I first read Son of the Mob as a young teenager and loved it! I remember actually laughing out loud at several parts, and recommended it to several of my friends. Several years later, it’s still incredibly humorous and well written.
Others in the Series
Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle (Book #2)
References
Korman, G. (n.d.). Gordon korman- biography. Retrieved from http://www.gordonkorman.com/.
 Jump Ball by Mel GlennISBN: 0-525-67554-XGlenn, M. (1997). Jump Ball. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. Plot Summary The Tower High School Tigers are a basketball team to be proud of. Garrett James is the star player, destined for a future in the NBA, and the rest of the team is playing well. In the four quarters (chapters) of the basketball season, players are introduced, their friends and family, and other fans and interested persons. Teachers offer different perspectives on some of the star players. Players discuss their playing tactics as well as their thoughts on school and teammates. They are proud, boastful, respectful, hardworking, and arrogant. Parents speak of their children, how proud they are that their sons will be winning championships and heading off to college. Siblings either admire their brothers on the team, or are jealous of the fame and their own invisibility. As the season comes to a close, the players, coaches, and fans all board the team bus heading towards their next game during a winter storm. Critical Evaluation This unusual book combines poetry with sports. The division of poems using basketball language, such as First Quarter, is especially effective. There is the sense of beginning the game, all the playing that comes in the middle, and then, ultimately, the end. Each poem, written in first person, relays the emotions of its author. The verse form allows readers to connect more intimately with the characters despite the short length. Verse structures have a more private feel, and the different narrators provide access to a much larger range of emotions and thoughts than a regular novel. Through verse, readers understand some are playing basketball as an escape from a hard life with hopes of college, while others play for the status and admiration it brings to them. The large cast of characters is followed throughout the season and although the cast is large, the characters’ voices are unique. In the final quarter the team and others are traveling by bus to a championship game. Careful readers will note and remember the report of a tragic and fatal auto accident in the prologue, which has foreshadowed the fate of the bus the team is traveling in. The hospital report on the final page updates the status of each patient – “dead on arrival”, “treated and released,” etc. is especially effective after the reader has empathized with each. No specific information is provided, and readers are left wondering about the aftermath. Reader’s Annotation A story told in poems about a basketball team’s playing season, and their successes and trials. About the Author Mel Glenn started writing professionally in 1980 partly on a dare. A fellow teacher showed Glenn a manuscript he was working on. Glenn’s wife thought he could do better and said so, and so he tried writing a book of poems. His first book of poetry won the Society of Children’s Book Writers Golden Kite Award, and was named an ALA Best Book for 1970-1982. Since his first book was such a success, Glenn decided to keep writing, and he has. Mel Glenn was born in 1943 in Zurich, Switzerland, but moved to the United States when he was three. He attended New York University and graduated in 1964 with an English degree. After graduation Glenn joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Africa for two years to teach English and history. Glenn returned to the United States and earned a Masters degree from Yeshiva University and then took more classes at New York University. He then decided to teach junior high for a few years, and then spent 31 years teaching English at Abraham Lincoln High School. Glenn married his wife in 1970 and they have two grown sons. Genre Poetry/Sports Curriculum Ties School Sports Booktalking Are basketball stars deserving of their popularity? Reading Level/Interest Level RL: 5th grade IL: 9th grade and up Challenge Issues Possible challenge issues may include the homeless player and the death toll at the end of the novel. In my defense file, I would include the following: 1) Library Mission Statement 2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor. 3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights 4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist 5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled 6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards 7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead 8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why. Why Included My mother recommended this book as an interesting one that combines both poetry and sports, not usually a combination I would think about. Others in the Series N/A References Glenn, M. (n.d. ). About Me. Retrieved from http://www.melglenn.com/
 Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
ISBN: 978-0-644-72883
Myers, W. D. (2001). Bad boy: A memoir. New York: Amistad.
Plot Summary
Walter Dean Myers, award-winning author, did not start out award winning. Born to African American parents in the 1930s, Dean Myers did not have an advantage in life. After his mother’s death, he was informally adopted by his father’s first wife and her second husband. Dean Myers was raised alongside his much older half-sisters as the treasured baby. An abundance of energy led Dean Myers to find himself constantly in trouble at school. He enjoyed books and literature, but was quick to anger and find himself in fights. Tall for his age, and strong, Dean Myers was not one to let a slight go, or walk away from an argument. A few teachers noticed his intelligence and reading ability, but his behavior often stood in his way. He also had a speech impediment that made him reluctant to speak or read in class. A sixth grade teacher encouraged Dean Myers and recommended him for an accelerated class the next year. The next couple years were good ones, as Dean Myers did well in his accelerated program with other students. He was accepted into a good high school, but began to fall through the cracks. His uncle’s death left a hole in Dean Myers’ father, and his mother began to obsess over the numbers, similar to today’s lottery. Dean Myers eventually stopped attending high school, and ends his formal education as a teenager unsure of where life will lead.
Critical Evaluation
A moving, true story about the life of acclaimed young adult author Walter Dean Myers. Written by Myers himself, he describes his poor, but loving family and his descent into a bad boy attitude. It is not entirely clear why Myers, an honors student, shifted his life from potential college student to high school dropout. His path illustrates how many other students find themselves floundering and falling through the cracks in the public school system. The realities of mid-20th century Harlem are an interesting combination of culture and disrepair. Though writing about himself, Myers never affects a preachy or self-important tone of voice. Rather, he is fair in his descriptions of both himself and the people he knew. Rather short for a memoir (although an appropriate length for the age group), many background questions linger. The epilogue does little to adequately answer the questions. Bad Boy covers Myers’ life through high school, with only a short explanation of his early adult life. It would have been interesting to see how Myers was able to change his life around and become the writer he is today. However, the purpose of the memoir serves to examine Myers early life, and how these experiences have shaped his adulthood, and his writing for young adults.
Reader’s Annotation
Follows the youth and young adulthood of author Walter Dean Myers as he struggles to survive in Harlem, New York.
About the Author
Walter Dean Myers published his first book in 1969, and has not stopped. Since his debut, Dean Myers has written over 90 books, and is a prolific writer. Most of his books are fiction novels for young adults, but he has written some non-fiction as well. He aims to write for teens and the troubles they may encounter during life. Dean Myers has won numerous awards including the Printz Award, Coretta Schott King Award, and Margaret A. Edwards Award. He has also been a Newbery Honor twice, and was a two-time National Book Award Finalist.
Walter Dean Myers was born Walter Milton Myers in West Virginia. For reasons he did not quite understand, Dean Myers was informally adopted by Florence, his father’s first wife, and her second husband Herbert. Though he later met his biological father and his other siblings, Dean Myers considered Florence and Herbert as his parents. He was raised in Harlem, New York with a close relationship to church and the neighborhood. Dean Myers skipped a grade in school, but ended up dropping out of high school. He joined the army at 17, and did not turn to writing until much later in life. He credits a high school English teacher for inspiring him to always keep on reading and writing. Dean Myers chooses to write about the teen years because those were the most difficult of his life.
Genre
Memoir
Curriculum Ties
African American History
Booktalking
How does a self-titled ‘Bad Boy’ turned into an acclaimed young adult writer? Written by Myers himself, he describes his poor, but loving family and his descent into a bad boy attitude. It is not entirely clear why Myers, an honors student, shifted his life from potential college student to high school dropout. His path illustrates how many other students find themselves floundering and falling through the cracks in the public school system. The realities of mid-20th century Harlem are an interesting combination of culture and disrepair. Though writing about himself, Myers never affects a preachy or self-important tone of voice. Rather, he is fair in his descriptions of both himself and the people he knew. Rather short for a memoir (although an appropriate length for the age group), many background questions linger. The epilogue does little to adequately answer the questions. Bad Boy covers Myers’ life through high school, with only a short explanation of his early adult life. It would have been interesting to see how Myers was able to change his life around and become the writer he is today. However, the purpose of the memoir serves to examine Myers early life, and how these experiences have shaped his adulthood, and his writing for young adults.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 7th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Some challenge issues may include the author’s descent into not caring about school, and defying adults.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
Walter Dean Myers is a well-known and acclaimed author of young adult literature. I have never read any of his novels, but felt he would be a good individual to read about.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Myers, W. D. (2009). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/bio.html
 The Outsiders by S. E. HintonISBN: 0-670-53257-6 Hinton, S. E. (2007). The Outsiders. New York: Viking Press. Plot Summary Ponyboy lives with his older brothers Darrel and Sodapop after the death of their parents. He is part of the Greasers, the poor students who find themselves up against the Socs, the popular students. While at a movie theater, Ponyboy meets Cherry and Marcia, two Socs, and walks them home. Their Socs boyfriends are upset and begin a fight with Ponyboy and his friends. The girls calm down the boys and the Greasers are able to get away. Ponyboy’s oldest brother Darrel is upset Ponyboy is home late and hits him, so Ponyboy runs away. While walking around town he meets up with Johnny, a friend. They wander around, but some Socs find them and nearly drown Ponyboy. Johnny gets scared and ends up stabbing and killing one of the Socs. They run to another Greaser who gives them money and hides them in an abandoned building. Johnny decides to turn himself in to the police after he hears a turf war has started. As they begin to leave, the building catches on fire with children inside. Ponyboy and Johnny run inside to save them, and timber falls on Johnny. Critical Evaluation What more can be written about a 46-year-old book that still resonates with contemporary teen readers? Written by a teen in the 1960’s, The Outsiders delves into universal themes that adolescents’ experience – loss, isolation, bullying, and other physical and emotional challenges. It is not only the themes but the characters that readers have responded to and identified with for generations. Though a short book, the characters are instantly real and create a sense of familiarity. No happy ending is possible with the turn of events, but the wish and hope remains. The teenage years are tough, and Hinton make sure everyone remembers. The orphaned family of three males are almost stereotypical – Darry, the oldest, responsible one; Soda, the middle easy-going, irresponsible one; and Ponyboy, the youngest who holds the most promise to break from the neighborhood. The tight-knit family and their friends that barely survive are damaged by an unfair world. Entering their world and their lives will break your heart. That is why The Outsiders, one of the first realistic novels written for young adults, is a modern classic that unifies teens and anyone that was once a teen. Reader’s Annotation The classic story of the haves and have-nots, their altercations with each other, and the consequences for all. Written when the author was a teenager herself. About the Author After writing The Outsiders as a teenager, S.E. Hinton experienced sudden fame and publicity. Her second novel is considered to be more thought-out, and Hinton has said she was careful to write each sentence. Four years later she published Rumble Fish, which had grown from an earlier short story. It was received with mixed reviews, some praising, some saying Hinton would never write again. Several years later she proved critics wrong and published again. In 1995, after seven years of no books, Hinton released a book for young children in kindergarten. A couple years later Hinton wrote The Puppy Sister, a fantasy written for elementary children. S.E. Hinton born Susan Eloise Hinton in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She enjoyed reading, but disliked the lack of young adult novels available. This inspired her to write The Outsiders, her first novel. After writing The Outsiders, Hinton was quickly famous, which led to three years of writer’s block. Hinton enjoys horseback riding, reading, and auditing classes at the university nearby. She still writes longhand and then types her work onto a computer. Hinton lives with her husband and they have a grown son. Genre Realistic Fiction/Classic Curriculum Ties Social Issues/Bullying Booktalking The Haves and the Have-Nots, has anything changed in 40 years? Reading Level/Interest Level RL: 5th grade IL: 7th grade and up Challenge Issues Possible challenge issues include teenagers engaging in illegal activities, such as gangs and murder. In my defense file, I would include the following: 1) Library Mission Statement 2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor. 3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights 4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist 5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled 6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards 7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead 8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why. Why Included Even though it has a lower reading level, The Outsiders has become a modern classic of young adult literature, and speaks to readers of all ages. Others in the Series That Was Then, This Was Now (companion novel) References Hinton, S. E. (n.d.). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com/bio.html
 A Soldier’s Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds, Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss
ISBN: 978-1-41970-4277
Moss, M. (2012). A soldier’s secret: The incredible true story of sarah edmonds, civil war hero. New York: Amulet Books.
Plot Summary
Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in Canada to a farmer and his wife. She had a sickly brother who was unable to work in the fields, so Sarah took over the responsibility of working with her father. Mr. Edmonds was abusive to his wife and son, but never mistreated his daughter. When Sarah was fourteen, her father sold her favorite horse to a neighboring farmer. Sarah was devastated and slept in the barn. Two years later Sarah’s father told her he had arranged a marriage between Sarah and the man who purchased her horse, an old man. This strengthened Sarah’s resolve and she ran away, disguising herself as a boy and named herself Frank Thompson. Sarah’s travels took her to the United States where she convinced a storekeeper to hire her as a travelling salesman. She was happy with this job until the Civil War began and Sarah knew she had to join the Union cause. Much of the continuing novel is about Sarah’s time in the army. While a soldier, she served as a battlefield nurse, regular soldier, mail carrier, personal secretary, and spy. Sarah was captured by the Confederates, and had a few close calls about her gender, but always managed to keep her secret. As Frank, she made close friends for the first time in her life, and found it increasingly difficult to keep Sarah to herself. As the war drags on, and she falls in love with a fellow soldier, will Sarah make it to the end and see the Union victory?
Critical Evaluation
A moving novel based on the real-life experiences of Sarah Emma Edmonds. Moss used Edmonds’ autobiography and other first-person documents to create a convincing first-person narrative of a woman living as a man and fighting in the Civil War. The first-person point-of-view serves to make Edmonds a relatable individual despite her living over 150 years ago. Her daily worries of being discovered as a woman and her friendships with fellow soldiers are all the more meaningful in first-person. As Edmonds learns about war, friendships, and enemies, the reader is right beside her. Realistic in the portrayal of wartime atrocities, Moss never goes so far as to be gratuitous. Amputations, illness, pain, and death were a daily experience of Civil War soldiers, and are presented as realities in a way appropriate for a young adult novel. Appendices include letters, timelines, and photographs to illustrate the historical nature of the novel. Readers will also appreciate character biographies that explain who the real person was, and what really happened to them after the war. Some battle descriptions were a bit long, but in a novel about war, were a necessary aspect. A woman born before her time, Edmonds was a brave and loyal individual, dedicated to her adoptive country and people.
Reader’s Annotation
Sarah Emma Edmonds decides to dress as a man, call herself Frank Thompson, and join the Union Army during the Civil War. Acting as a soldier, nurse, mail carrier, and spy will she be able to keep her secret?
About the Author
Marissa Moss sent her first book to publishers when she was nine, but it was rejected. She tried again as an adult and had to wait five years before one of her stories was accepted. Moss has now written over 40 books, and continues to writes. She is most well known for her Amelia’s Notebook series in which a grade school student chronicles her life in black-and-white composition notebooks. Amelia was not planned as a series, but it was so popular Moss decided to write more. Moss typically writes for elementary-aged students, and A Soldier’s Secret is her first novel for young adults.
Marissa Moss has loved writing and drawing since she was a young child. She was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to southern California when she was two. Moss attended San Jose State University and studied art, but disagreed with the teachers and their philosophies. She transferred to the University of California, Berkeley and changed her major to history. She credits these classes as teaching her how to research, very helpful for her historical books. After graduating, Moss took classes at the California College of Arts and Crafts, but it was too expensive and time-consuming to complete another degree. Moss waited tables for a while until her first book was accepted, and considers herself fortunate to have made a career out of writing.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Civil War/Women’s History
Booktalking
Frank Thompson has a secret, a big one. He is a soldier, mail carrier, and spy for the Union Army. Frank Thompson is also female.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include a female disguising herself as a man.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I felt I needed more historical fiction books, and I enjoyed Marissa Moss’ Amelia series when I was younger.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Moss, M. (n.d.). Marissa moss: Author-illustrator. Retrieved from http://www.marissamoss.com/abouttheauthor.php
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