Dreamland

Title: Dreamland
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published: Oct 2000
ISBN: 9780142401750
Page number: 250
Price: 17.99
Reading Level: 7th grade 
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade
Awards: Booklist Editor's Choice, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre: fiction, realistic fiction
Plot Summary: Caitlin has always lived in her older sister's perfect shadow. Then Caitlin's sister runs away and instead of Caitlin's parents finally focusing on her they instead fret and stress over Caitlin's sister. Caitlin fights for her parents attention and finally gets some why she makes the cheerleading squad. The Caitlin meets Rogerson, an older high school with a bad reputation and access to drugs. Caitlin is more than willing to venture down this road of bad boy boyfriend and drugs because she is finally feeling like she is living outside her sister's shadow. But when Rogerson becomes abusive Caitlin can't seem to escape the dreamland she has fallen into. She makes excuses for Rogerson's abuse and starts to feel that she brings it upon herself. Can Caitlin ever come back from Dreamland or will she live in this new reality forever.
Review: Sarah Dessen writes emotionally charged and heartbreaking stories. Dreamland explores the downward spiral of one teen as she embraces drugs and falls victim to abuse. The story really shows Caitlin's inability to get out of the abusive relationship. Dessen is able to show how one can become a victim of abuse and then blame themselves or make excuses for their abuser. This topic is one that many girls fall victim to and Dessen tells an intriguing and heartfelt story that will keep a reader interested till the end.
Reader's Annotation: In attempt to escape her sister's shadow Caitlin dives into drugs and an abusive relationship. But Caitlin might never be able to escape her new reality.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Many victims of abuse blame themselves or make excuses for their abuse like Caitlin does in the story. It also shows the effects that drugs have on Caitlin and how they leave her unable to stay in reality. Teens may also connect to Caitlin and her sister's dynamics. Caitlin feels inadequate when compared to her sister and believes that her parents don't care for her. Teens with similar feelings will connect with Caitlin.
Issues: Caitlin engages in drug use and an abusive relationship. 
Book Talk Ideas: The story themes of abusive relationships and drug use should be focused on for the book talk. 
Main Themes: identity, abuse, drugs
Read-alikes: Nothing to Lose by Alex Finn
Author Website: http://sarahdessen.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: Sarah Dessen's books are always touching, heartfelt and compelling. This story deals with tough issues of drug abuse and relationship abuse.

The Golden Compass

Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Published: April 1996
ISBN: 9780679879244
Price: 20.00
Genre: fiction, fantasy
Reading Level: 8th grade
Interest Level:  8th-12th grade
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, Booklist Editor's Choice, Carnegie Medal, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
Plot Summary: Lyra is an orphan who lives among the scholars at Jordan college. But when Lyra's uncle, Lord Asriel , visits the college it sets everyone at ease. Lyra sneaks into the closet and is able to not only see some one attempt to poison her uncle but she also gets to hear about his discovery up north of dust and a city beyond the clouds. Lyra is then taken by Mrs. Coulter and while things start out okay Lyra soon starts too feel that Mrs. Coulter is not as kind as she appears on the outside. Then there is the issues of children going missing. Even her playmate Roger is a victim of this mysterious disappearance. Lyra soon sets off on a quest up north to save Roger. Her quest leads her to amazing adventures and terrifying discoveries.
Review: Philip Pullman has created an amazing and magical world. I really enjoy the creation of the animal daemons in the story. Pullman is able to create a complex story with many twists and turns and mysteries without overwhelming the reader. The story is an epic magical quest lead by a smart, witty and at times stubborn Lyra. She is far wiser than her years and acts very bravely for a girl of only 11 years old. The story also weaves in scientific and religious elements that are embattled in an epic battle for power and access to the world in the sky. It's often times difficult to know who you can trust in the story since both sides seem out for their own well being. Meanwhile Lyra is caught in the middle trying to do what she feels is best.
Reader's Annotation: Lyra is an orphan living a carefree life at Jordan College. But when Lyra learns about the dust and world in the sky up north Lyra sets on an epic quest.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Lyra's epic quest challenges her innocence as she learns that not everyone is trustworthy. Lyra must use her own smarts and gut feelings to decide who she can trust. She also learns that she must take chances and battle against evil. 
Issues: The story has offended many in the religious community for being ant-religious, anti-god and sacrilegious. Philip Pullman has been very outspoken about his atheist views and some feel he is trying to force them on his young readers.
Book Talk Ideas: There is many intriguing aspects to this story like the daemons that everyone poses, or the idea of dust that lives in all living things. These can be used to hook readers into the story.
Main Themes: Quests, friendship, heroes, religion, science
Read-alikes: Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
Author Website:  http://www.philip-pullman.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: This particular book was formally challenged at my library by a religious group who wanted the book removed. The story is very popular with teens despite its controversy. The book has also gained popularity due to the movie based on the book.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Published: Feb. 1999
ISBN: 0-671-02734-4
Price: 14.00
Pages: 213
Genre: realistic fiction, LGBTQ
Plot Summary: Charlie narrates the story through letters addressed to Dear Friend. Charlie is an introvert about to enter his freshman year of high school. He feels very much alone since his best friend committed suicide only a few months earlier. Charlie soon makes friends with Sam and her step-brother Patrick. They introduce Charlie to sex, drugs and the Rocky Horror Picture Show and bring Charlie into their circle of friends. Charlie starts to fall for Sam but Charlie is afraid to take a chance. Charlie is also struggling with his own personal demons. His mental health is slipping and Charlie seems to be struggling even more with the death of his aunt. The book deals with Charlie struggling to find happiness and deal with the demons of his past. Charlie can't seem to step off the sidelines and really live his life.
Critical Review: Since the book is told in letters from Charlie is feels very personal, as if Charlie is expressing his hidden feelings and thoughts. Charlie deals with a lot of heavy issues in his letters, from depression, anxiety, sexuality, drugs, sexual abuse and his struggle to find out who he is. But the story never feels dragged down by these issues due to the characters in Charlie's life. Sam and Patrick are wonderful characters who despite their own faults and struggles support Charlie and help pull him out of his shell. While Charlie is not gay, Patrick is and his struggle with dating a football player who is still in the closet is a well told story. Charlie watches Patrick as he deals with rejection and the fallout from Brad's dad finding out. The scene in which Charlie stands up for Patrick is one of my favorites because I think it really shows that Charlie is no longer a passive observer but rather he is an active participant. This is very much a coming of age story with complex characters and an engaging plot line.
Reader Annotation: Charlie has always been a wallflower, living life on the outskirts. But Charlie can't escape reality forever.
Main Themes: suicide, sexual abuse, LGBTQ, coming of age, love, friendships
Book Talking Ideas: The book talk should be done in letter form, perhaps a letter from Charlie like in the book. There is something very personal about a letter that reader's will gravitate towards.
Issues: The book deals with lots of hot button topics: sex, drugs, homosexuality, sexual abuse and it contains swearing. Patrick is involved in a gay relationship with a closeted teen football player. Charlie was sexually abused by his aunt when he was very young. He feels that he is responsible some how for her death because she was died in a car accident while trying to get his birthday present.
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Charlie is a loner who was sexual abused and struggles with his mental health. The story brings up some difficult issues that teens may face. The story also shows Patrick's struggle with being in a gay relationship with a closet teen. Teens will connect with Charlie as he grows and tries to deal with his issues.
Read Alikes: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Author Website: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Stephen-Chbosky/1843916
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why choose this book? This book handles difficult issues of suicide, sexual assault, mental illness and friendship. The story has become very popular due to the recent release of the movie based of the book.

Endgame

Title: Endgame
Author: Nancy Garden
Published: April 2006
ISBN: 9780152054168
Price: 17.00
Pages: 304
Genre: fiction, realistic fiction
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 8th-12th grade
Summary: Gray Wilton has a history of violence. His family moved to Greenfield High School after Gray got in trouble for bringing a knife to school. But Gray is convinced that things will be different at his new school, but they aren't. Gray soon becomes the victim of merciless bullying by the jocks at school. The bullying brings out Gray's violent streak and he start to imagine killing his bullies and even jokes about it to his friend. Gray become even  more incensed when his dog is killed and Gray reaches his breaking point. Armed with his dad's gun he shows up to school and fires at his classmates. Now Gray is on trial for murder.
Review: Nancy Garden's school shooting story is told from the point of view of the shooter an unstable 15 year old boy with a history of violence. Gray's unstable mental state is no match for they bullying he endures at school. While Garden does not excuse Gray's behavior she does show how the bullying contributed to Gray's mental breakdown. The teachers at the school also failed to act at all. They instead turned a blind and eye and just thought it was normal high school boy behavior. The story is disturbing in that Gray is obviously unstable and there many signs that could have prevented the shooting had someone intervened or perhaps got Gray some mental health care.
Reader's Annotation: Gray is trying to have a fresh start at his new school but when he gets bullied Gray's violent side returns and Gray brings his dad's gun to school.
Main themes: violence, school shootings, bullying
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: The story shows how when you look at some one's behaviors collectively it can point to an unstable individual who might then commit a senseless act of violence. It might help people understand why sometimes school shootings happen. The story doesn't condone Gray's actions or not put the blame on him but it does show that an unstable individual who is not receiving proper care can be very dangerous and deadly.
Issues: The story contains come very upsetting violence, bullying and scene in which bullies try to get Gray and his friend to perform oral sex on each other. All the bullying is overlooked by teachers who don't seem to care or take much issues with Gray being bullied.
Book Talk Ideas: The story could very easily be a real life situation. You could perhaps read off some of the things that Gray went through to show while horrible most people would not think this is reason to kill people. That Gray had far bigger issues than just being bullied.
Author Website: http://www.nancygarden.com/
Read Alikes: Shooter by Walter Dean Meyers
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why chose this book? Nancy's book touches on some very current and tough issues like mental health, violence, school shootings, and bullying.

Across the Universe

Title: Across the Universe 
Author: Beth Revis
Other books in the series: A Millions Suns, Shades of Earth
ISBN: 9781595143976
Publication info: Jan 2011
Price: 17.99
Pages: 398
Genre: fiction, sci-fi
Plot Summary: Amy and her parents are being frozen and stored on a spaceship called Godspeed. The ship will travel 300 years to another planet and when they reach their destination her family will be unfrozen to help start a new civilization. Though somehow Amy is woken up 50 years to soon to find that things are not how they should be on Godspeed. What she finds is a disturbing society controlled by an all powerful Eldest. She also learns that her accidental unfreezing may not have been an accident. It seems that someone is unfreezing the frozens and allowing them to die and she fears that her parents may be next. She is weary about trusting, Elder, the next in the line of power, but what choice does she have? Everyone on the ship thinks she is some sort of freak because of her pale skin and bright red hair. Everyone on the ship is the same tan color with dark brown hair. Amy is stuck on a ship lightyears away from everything she knows. Can she save her parents or will they die without ever reaching the new planet?
Critical Review: Amy Revis has written a sci-fi with a bit of dystopian twist. The book has many twists and turns that leave you wondering and it ends with more questions than answers. The plot is complex and at times it can be a bit confusing. But the dynamics between Elder and Amy makes for an interesting story. They grow from completely distrusting each other to relying on each other for survival. Their romance builds up slowly doesn't feel forced. iI enjoyed the fact that the story is told from both the perspective of Amy and Elder, it gives the reader a better idea of how both the characters feel and deal with certain situations.
Reader's Annotation: Amy is being frozen for a 300 year journey through space to another planet. But then Amy is woken 50 years to soon and she can't believe what she finds when she awakes.
Main Themes: space travel, romance, murder, mystery
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Amy faces many challenges from thinking she will die before her parents will wake, to almost being raped by one of the space borns. She is also trying to track down who is out to kill all the frozens, including her parents. Teens can use these themes to deal with their own challenges.
Book Talk Ideas: The book talk can focus on Amy's choice to leave Earth in hopes of a new world.
How does one deal with leaving everything they know behind for something unknown? What will Amy find and what if it isn't what she expected, can she live with her choices. Would you make the same choice?
Issues: The ship borns use chemicals in the water to control the population and keep them docile. The ship also decides when people will mate in order to control the population. This means that during mating season there is almost an animal like quest for people to have sex. There are some graphic scenes of Amy witnessing ship borns having sex. Amy is also almost raped by one of the ship borns.
Author Website: http://www.bethrevis.com/
Read Alikes: Matched by Allyson Condie
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Publisher's Weekly
Why Chose this Book? Amy Revis's trilogy has become very popular with the release of the 3rd book in the trilogy. It is an interesting book on spacel travel that explores human nature.

Tricks

Title: Tricks
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Published: Aug 2009
ISBN: 9781416950073
Price: 10.99
Genre: realistic fiction, novels in verse
Reading Level: 5th grade
Interest Level:  10th-12th grade
Awards: Rainbow Lists
Plot Summary: The story is about 5 troubled teens who fall into teenage prostitution. Each teens situation and background is different. Seth is teen who lives with his conservative father on their farm but Seth is gay and has been hiding it from his father. He has been secretly dating a man but when he tells Seth that his moving away Seth falls into depression. Then Seth is forced to leave when his father finds love letters from his boyfriend. With no money and no options Seth becomes the lover to an older wealthy man who in exchange for sex takes care of Seth. There is Eden, who is the daughter of a conservative preacher. Eden falls in love with a guy despite her parents strict rules on dating. When they discover Eden's hidden relationship they send her off to camp Zion to be cleansed of the devil. Soon Eden realizes her only escape is to trade sexual favors for what she needs. Whitney is dating a guy who she thinks loves her but when he takes her virginity and then dumps her she is completely lost. She then falls for an older guy who seems to care about her feeling and is nothing like her ex boyfriend. But when they run away together things change for the worse. Soon he is getting her high and using her for sex and then he starts to force strange men on her. Ginger always swore she would never become her mother who sells herself for sex, especially after she was raped by some of the strange men Ginger brings around. But when Ginger finds out that her mother allowed these rapes in exchange for money Ginger runs off with her girlfriend to Las Vegas. but soon Ginger finds that she is forced into her mother's profession. Lastly there is Cory who has a hot new girlfriend and a good life that is until his step father dies and leaves his family broke. Cory tries to gamble his way out of poverty but when that doesn't work he turn to prostitution. But how can Cory have sex with men if he isn't gay, or maybe he is, Cory doesn't know anymore.
Review: Ellen Hopkin's books are dark, gritty, and extremely graphic. Tricks presents some very challenging and graphic content that at times is disturbing. But there is something in the way that Hopkins writes that doesn't allow you to put the book down, even when the content is disturbing. You can't help but feel that these stories are real. The 5 stories all seem to flow together as each character falls into prostitution. I like how Hopkin's shows that different teens from different backgrounds can all fall victim to teenage prostitution. She does't just stick to stereotypes of drugged out teens but instead shows the spiral of desperation that lead these teens to their position. The story doesn't end happily but Hopkin's at least gives readers a glimmer of hope with a few of the characters stories.
Reader's Annotation: Five different teens from across the country all find themselves involved in teenage prostitution. This is not what they thought love was about.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story deals with drug addiction, rape, prostitution, love, acceptance, LGBT issues, poverty and family issues. Teens can experience these tragic and often disturbing issues through the safety of a book. The book also act as almost a warning on how some teens fall prey to teenage prostitution.
Issues: There is a lot in Hopkins books that people will take offense with. The book contains very graphic sex sense involving men and woman, woman and woman and also men with men. There is a lot drug and alcohol use by teens and other characters. There is scenes of violence, abuse and rape. The story is extremely graphic in nature and deals with a controversial issue.
Book Talk Ideas: This books would be difficult to book talk due to it's very graphic and disturbing content. I think the best way to book talk a book like this is to be very upfront about the stories content but to also focus on the personal struggles of the characters. That is what teens will connect with.
Main Themes: rape, prostitution, drug abuse, families, love, abuse, identity
Read-alikes: Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Author Website: http://ellenhopkins.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Why this book was chosen: Ellen Hopkins books are known for their graphic and realistic nature. It is because of this that her books are often banned or censored. The books have huge appeal to teens, especially reluctant readers.

The House of the Scorpion

Title: The House of the Scorpion
Author: Nancy Farmer
Published: Sep 2002
ISBN: 9780689852237
Page number: 380
Price: 19.99
Reading Level: 4th grade
Interest Level: 7th-10th grade
Genre: fiction, sci-fi, dystopia
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, National Book Award, Booklist Editor's Choice, YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, Printz Honor Book
Plot Summary: Matt is the clone of 142 year old drug lord  El Patron. El Patron runs the country of Opium, the land that now runs between Mexico and the United States. El Patron has sustained his life by harvesting the organs of his clones. Clones are treated like animals and hated by society. Matt is kept in a hut and treated like an animal until he smashes the window and breaks out. It is then that El Patron demands that Matt is treated with respect and care. After all El Patron views Matt as himself since he is his clone. But Matt struggles with his role as El Patron's clone because he knows his role is to provide El Patron with a new heart. Matt's days are numbered as El Patron falls sick and Matt knows that his only hope is to escape. Matt fears that he will never be accepted by society because his not seen as human, but rather a worthless animal with no soul.
Reader's Annotation: El Patron plans to live forever with the help of the organs he gets from his clones. Matt, El Patrons clone has dreams of escaping and having a chance at his own life.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story poses many ethical question on the what makes us human, identity and the idea of a soul. Teens can explore these ethical questions through a thought provoking sci-fi noel
Issues: Matt is treated like less than human and is told that he does not have a soul. El Patron has humans on his property that are called "eejits" they are basically humans who are controlled by brain implants. They do whatever they are told and don't do anything without being told to do so. This means that some die because someone forgets to tell them to stop working or to get a drink. The "eejits" are seen as disposable.
Book Talk Ideas: Clones are very real issues ever since the cloning of a sheep. The book talk could start by asking what people's opinions about clones are. This book may questions people's assumptions and ideas about what makes us human. 
Main Themes: human cloning, ethics, survival, souls, humanity
Read-alikes: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Author Website: http://www.nancyfarmerwebsite.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: Nancy Farmer is a well known author whose books are very popular. This story deals with many ethical issues that not many books address or deal with.

Unwind

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Published: Nov 2007
ISBN: 9781416912040
Price: 17.99
Other books in the series: Unstrung, UnWholly
Genre: dystopian, horror
Reading Level: 5th grade
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade
Awards: YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Plot Summary: In a futuristic America the issue of abortion was battled over in a bloody civil war. The sides finally agreed on a compromise. Babies can no longer be aborted but instead parents have the option to retroactively abort their child when they are between the ages of 13 and 18. This retroactively abortion is known as unwinding. Teens that are sent to be unwind are harvest for their body parts and their parts go to other people in need. The idea is that the person lives on through someone else.  No one seems to mind this, except for those being unwind. Connor, Lev and Risa are three teens who are all being sent to be unwound but through a set of coincidences the three teens end up on the run together in an attempt to avoid being cut into pieces. But with the police determined to find them the chances of them surviving are low.
Review: The story is an interesting with the idea of UnWinding. How would society be different if organ donation was no longer and issue because unwanted teens supplied all the transplants you could ever need. The story also focuses on issues of the soul and what makes us human. While the story was suspenseful with elements of creepy horror I found the overall plot to be a bit unbelievable. I had a hard time seeing how Unwinding would somehow be a compromise for the two sides on the abortion issue. I also couldn't imagine a parent who loves their child all of a sudden sending them to be unwound because they were suddenly difficult. I can see how the story can be gripping and interesting to some but for me it just seemed to far outside of reality to be believable.
Reader's Annotation: In future America teens can be unwound, a process that harvest their body parts. Three teens being sent for unwinding are determined not to be harvest but can they survive.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story explores issues of what happens when we die and the soul. Teens can explore these issues through a fictional story. Teens can also relate to Connors, Isa and Lev's struggle to survive and battle against a society gone wrong. 
Issues: Lev is sent to be unwound as a religious tithe, basically his family is sending him to his death because of their religious beliefs. This may offend some religious people. There is also the issue of teens being sent to be harvest for their organs by their parents. The story may offend some parents who feel that it places parents in a negative light. There is also a very gruesome scene in which the author describes a teen being taken apart bit by bit as part of the unwinding process.
Book Talk Ideas: The book talk could focus on the idea of harvesting someone for their organs, does that person's soul still live on? 
Main Themes: survival, souls, organ harvesting, abortion,
Read-alikes: Eve and Adam by Michael Grant
Author Website: http://www.storyman.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: This book was a part of the Oregon Battle of the Books for 2013. The book has received rave reviews and presents some interesting issues of death, souls, and abortion.

American Born Chinese

Title: American Born Chinese

Author: Gene Luen Yank

Published: Sep 2006

ISBN: 9781596431522

Pages: 233

Price: 9.99

Reading Level: 3rd grade

Interest Level: 7th-12th grade

Genre: graphic novel, fiction

Awards: Printz Award, National Book Award Nominee, ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. 

Plot Summary: The comic has 3 story lines, one of a monkey king who wants to take work his way up to the gods, Jin Wang who moves to a new neighborhood and is the only Chinese-American student and Chin-kee who is the embodiment of Chinese stereotypes and is ruining his cousins life by embarrassing him at school. The stories go back and forth with no real connection other than they all deal with some part of Chinese culture. While the stories seem unrelated they are far more related then believed at the beginning.

Critical Review: Often times graphic novels don't have a serious meaning but American Born Chinese focuses on issues of identity and culture. It explores how complex being different can be, especially when it comes to race and ethnicity. It really explores issues of stereotypes and how our culture and race influence how we see ourselves and others in society. I enjoyed how the three separate story lines came together in the end and create one cohesive story built upon the three story lines. The artwork is also wonderful with bright bold drawings. Also each story line has a different feel. The monkey king is a myth while Jin Wang is a straight forward realistic story line and then Chin-kee is presented as a tv comedy with the audience laughing at his stereotypical behavior. It was a short read with some complex themes.

Reading Annotation: An action filled modern Fable the story includes three separate story lines that culminate to create a unique twist ending.

Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: This story will have big appeal to teens who deal with racism or stereotypes. It focuses on culture identity and many teens can relate to that struggle. It also shows how stereotypes can be hurtful and wrong. 

Main Themes: racism, identity, culture

Book Talking Ideas: The story centers around trying to fit in and stereotypes, those would be good themes to focus on for the book talk.

Issues: The story contains racial stereotypes about the Chinese community which some may find offensive. 

Author Website: http://geneyang.com/

Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly

Why include this book? This book is a perfect example on how graphic novels can tackle complex issues. 

The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
ISBN: 978-0-547-42477-4
Published: 2011, originally 1993
Price: 19.99
Pages: 208
Genre: fiction, dystopia
Other books in the series: Gathering Blue, Messenger, Sons
Awards: Newbery Award
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 6-9th grade
Plot Summary: Jonas lives in a society with very strict rules of conduct and behavior. At a certain age they are allowed certain privileges. Jonas has reached the age that he will be given his assignment. Each child when they reach a certain age are give their job assignments after careful observation. Jonas has been assigned a job that few are given, one with great stature and pride. Jonas is to be a recorder. The last recorder, who now no one is to speak of was released. People are released, or so they are told into another world. What Jonas doesn't know is that being released is not what he told, instead is something quite horrific. Jonas is to be trained by a very old man, the current recorder. Jonas doesn't really know what a recorder does, he just knows he is responsible for holding memories and information. But what Jonas learns may change the way he sees his society and their way of life. Will Jonas be able to live in this world after he learns all the secrets?
Review: This classic is a great dystopian novel for younger readers. There are some disturbing scenes in the story, especially the scene in which Jonas' father kills the newborn baby. But that scene really shows just how disturbing the society in which Jonas lives has become. The story poses a lot of questions on human nature, suffering, emotions and choice. You also see Jonas grow from an innocent child to an adolescent that sees the faults and horrors of his society. He is forced to make very difficult choices and leave his family behind in order to save baby Gabriel. The story examines what it is that makes us human and how important emotions, even the hard ones, are important. The society in the story live without emotions and color and really have no choice. They do this to protect people from pain but as Jonas learns pain is a part of life.
Reader's Annotation: Jonas lives without hunger, without pain and without fear. When he is assigned the job of recorder Jonas doesn't know what to expect. What he finds is the dark secrets his society tries to hide.
Main Themes: emotions, dystopian, death, family
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: The story shows how a society without emotions and things that can cause pain is not a full life. Jonas deals with learning of what his society has kept from him and how their quest to have a perfect society is not right or okay. Jonas struggles to go against what he was grown up believing. Readers will connect with Jonas as he fights against his oppressive society.
Issues: The society in which Jonas lives is very controlling and oppressive. They send people off to be released but actually they are being killed. There is a scene in which Jonas witnesses his father killing a newborn baby because the society only takes the stronger of a set of twins.
Book Talk Ideas: The story focuses on memories so the book talk could start by having teens focus on their favorite memory, then their least favorite memory. Then you could ask teens if they would be willing to erase their least favorite memory in exchange for never experiencing their favorite memory. This will give insight into what is going on with Jonas and his society.

Read-alikes: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Author Website: www.loislowry.com
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: The Giver is a classic and has created controversy for it's content. Many people think the material is too mature for the age group. But the story has some important thoughts and ideas on memories, emotions and what makes us human.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Published: March 2009
ISBN: 9780575090859
Price: 16.99
Pages: 310
Genre: fiction, zombie apocalypse, dystopian
Other books in the series: The Dead Tossed Waves, The Dark and Hallow Places
Reading Level: 7th grade
Interest Level: 9-12th grade
Awards: Junior Library Guild Selection
Plot Summary: Mary lives in a village that is fenced in from the surrounding woods to protect the people from the Unconsencrated. The Unconsencrated are the living dead that seek human flesh and Mary is pretty sure her father is one of them, out there wandering the woods. Her village is run by the religious Sisterhood. They protect the village from the death that awaits them outside the fences. For women in Mary's village they have two choices, they may either get married and have children or they will join the Sisterhood. But things go wrong for Mary when her mother wanders too close to the fence and is bitten and will soon change to one of the Unconsencrated. Mary is forced into the Sisterhood and is not happy with restrictions that are now placed on her life. Then one night Mary discovers that the Sisterhood is hiding a strange visitor to their village. Does this mean that there is life outside the village? Mary must find out what is beyond the fences and she is willing to risk her life for it.
Review: I was interested in Carrie Ryan's interpretation of the zombie genre. She approaches it in a different way with referring to the zombies as Unconsecratred. Ryan also has religion overtaking society in order to protect people from the zombies. Society seems to have gone backwards in the sense that modern technology is gone and the manner in which people live is reflective of a simpler time. But the story seems to never get going. There is only spurts of action and the lulls in the story make it hard to get through some parts. Mary is an extremely selfish and angsty character who seems to only be concerned with her well being. The story has lots of potential but it just seems to fall short. 
Reader's Annotation: Mary's mother said there was once an ocean so vast and blue. But now all that exists outside the fence are the Unconsencrated, wanting the flesh of the living.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Mary wants to see the world outside of her fenced in village. She refuses to live under the strict rules of the Sisterhood. Readers will connect with her struggle to be independent and be free.  She is also in love with Travis who is engaged to her best friend. Teens can relate to Mary's unrequited love. Mary also deals with the death of her mother, the loss of her father and the betrayal of her brother. It allows teens to understand the feelings of losing a family member or having a family member disown you.
Issues: The Sisterhood, which is a religious group, are portrayed as manipulative and controlling. Some religious people may find that it is trying to portray religion in a bad light. There is also zombies in the story, including Mary's own mother. There is even a zombie baby that they drop outside a window to kill. Mary's brother also has to kill his own wife and there is many other grotesque zombie killings throughout the story.
Book Talk Ideas: Zombies are huge right now but this book focuses much more on the struggles of Mary as she lives in a world over run by zombies. This book can attract some readers that may not be huge zombie fans. I think for the book talk it should focus more on Mary's struggle and the need for her to see what it outside her village.
Main Themes: romance, freedom, survival, independence
Read-alikes: Ashes by Ilsa Bick
Author Website: http://carrieryan.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Why this book was chosen: I have never been a huge zombie fan but this one seemed like one that I could be interested in. The story is more character focused, rather than being focused on the zombies.