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.

Going Bovine

Title: Going Bovine

Author: Libba Bray

Published: Sep 2009

Pages: 480

Price: $17.99

Reading Level: 5th grade

Interest Level: 9th-12th grade

Awards: Michael L. Printz Award, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, Booklist Editor's Choice

Genre: fantasy, humor

Plot Summary:16 year old Cameron is a self declared slacker who is happy just skating by in life and school. But it turns out his life is going to much shorter than he expect. It turns out that he has contracted mad cow disease and is going to die, which he isn't too thrilled to find out. I mean who dies of mad cow disease? The doctor tells him the disease will slowly attack his brain and he will go crazy and then die, not the best outlook. But then a combat wearing punk angel Dulcie shows up at the hospital and tells Cameron that he can save himself and the world by finding Dr. X. So Cameron and his video game loving dwarf friend Bonzo set off on an adventure across the country to save the world. During their travels they pick up a talking yard gnome and hilarity ensues. This is like no road trip, quest you've ever seen. But one begins to wonder if Cameron's crazy journey is just hallucination induced by his illness or if he really is on a road trip to save the world.

Critical Review: The plot is absurd and filled with strange and quirky characters and absolutely insane scenarios, but Libba Bray has a way of making it work. It's an epic road trip/quest story with sarcasm, wit and a bit of magical fantasy thrown in. Though the book is also slightly dark as Cameron faces his death. The reader starts to realize that his hilarious adventure might not be more than just Cameron's very sick brain hallucinating as the mad cow disease takes over. Cameron goes through a sort of coming of age growth as he nears his death. It really adds to the complexity of the book that without would just make the story too silly, too out of control. The reality of Cameron dying allows for the story to have more impact on the reader. Only Libba Bray could write something so tragic that seem lighthearted and fun till the end.

Reader's Annotation: Cameron just found out he is dying of mad cow disease. Which he didn't even think was possible. But then a crazy angel shows up and convinces him to save the world and possibly himself.

Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Cameron goes through a great deal of growth through the book. He starts his quest as a complete slacker who never does anything to someone who is out to save the world. While teens won't have such epic adventures it does show that you can change your life and that you don't need to sit on the sidelines of life. Teens will also be able to contemplate death and what it means when you are very young and facing your own death.

Book Talk Ideas: A book talk can't go wrong with a talking yard gnome, which would make for a great hook in the book talk. Maybe even see about bringing a yard gnome as prop. Ask what does a yard gnome, video games and mad cow disease all have to do with saving the world? Ask Cameron.

Issues: There some foul language in the story including a lot of the word fuck and shit. There is also the issue of Cameron dying which might be seen as too mature. Cameron also has sex, with an angel who wears combat boots and has pink hair. Not exactly what most people think of when it comes to angels.

Main themes: death, coming of age, friendship, love, quests, road trips

Read Alikes: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

Author Website: http://libbabray.com/

Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly

Why include this book? This book is a unique take on the road trip novel. Libba Bray has an amazing wit and humour in her writing. It's also a book that will have great appeal to male readers because of it's male protagonist, sarcasm and video game loving character.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-TIme Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
Published: Sept., 2007
ISBN: 0316013692
Page number: 230
Price: $16.99
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 7th grade and up
Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2007), American Indian Library Association Award (2007)
Plot Summary: Junior lives on an Indian reservation in Washington with his parents and sister. Like much of the reservation his parents are alcoholics living in poverty. His sister, who had great promise, now hides away in the basement. Junior is an awkward but intelligent teen who stutters and has health issues due to being born with water on the brain. He is often picked on by the other kids on the reservation but his best friend Rowdy always comes to his defense. But when Junior decides that his only hope for his future is to go to school off the reservation his best friend turns on him, along with the rest of the reservation. Things are too great at his new school either since Junior is the only Indian in a see of white faces. As he tries his best to fit in he starts to feel that he is betraying his Indian heritage.
Review: This has been a book I've wanted to read for a while. It's had its fair share of controversy and it delivers with course language, talk of masturbation, alcoholism, racism and abuse. But the story is wonderfully told with humor, sadness and honesty. Junior is struggling with his choice to attend school off the reservation at a nearby school where everyone is white. He is treated as an outcast at his new school and a traitor back home. But Junior is resilient, he doesn't give up, even against all odds and great tragedy.   It is Junior's wit and humour that keeps the book moving and from becoming too depressing. Alexie manages to deliver a lot of heavy subject matters with a healthy dose of humor. The story itself gives a glimpse of how life hopeless life on the reservation can be for young Native Americans. This feeling could easily be translated to poor areas across the country. While many will criticize the story, saying it is a negative portrayal of Native Americans, I feel that Sherman Alexie has told a story that has frank honesty but manages to touch the reader in an emotional way.
Reader's Annotation: Junior lives on a reservation in Washington with his parents and sister. He may be the smartest person on the reservation but in a place that lacks opportunity and hope there isn't much of a future for Junior. So when Junior decides to leave his reservation to go to a white school a town over his decision is not well received by the kids at his new school or the people on his reservation. Can Junior still be an Indian even if he's turn his back on his reservation and will his new school ever accept him?
Book Talk Ideas: Junior loves to draw, so it would be interesting to use sketches or drawings to introduce the story.
Issues: The book has foul language, discussion of masturbation, alcoholism, racism and abuse.
Main Themes: racism, alcoholism, abuse, friendship, family, identity, poverty
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story is very relatable for those dealing with poverty, alcoholism, abuse or racism. For many minorities who live in poverty the struggles that Junior faces when he decides to try and get out of the reservation are very relatable and real life issues. It can help others realize the many problems that plague the Native American population and others living in extreme poverty like Junior.
Read-alikes: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S King, Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury
Author Website: http://www.fallsapart.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why this book was chosen: The book not only features a Native American as the main character but the author is Native American. So often YA lit does not represent diversity so this story is not only great because the author is Native American but because the story is unique in it's honest telling of Native American struggles. It is also a book that has received great praise from critics and readers.

Boy Meets Boy

Title: Boy Meets Boy 
Author: David Levithan
Published: Sept., 2003
ISBN: 9780375832994
Pages: 185
Price: $8.95
Reading Level: 7th grade
Reading Interest: 8th grade and up
Genre: Romance, Fiction, LGBTQ
Awards: Lambda Literary Foundation Award (2003), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2004)
Plot Summary: Paul is a gay high school sophomore who attends a high school like no other. For one thing Paul's high school has a transvestite quarterback named Infinite Darlene. And when the Boy Scouts wouldn't accepting gay members his town formed the Joy Scouts instead. Then enters Noah who is new to the school and Paul falls for him but high school is complicated and relationships aren't easy. Paul struggles to balance his new relationship as well as heal an old one with his ex-boyfriend, Kyle who had spread rumors about Paul after their breakup. To make matters worse, Paul's best friend Joni is barely speaking to him and spends all her time with her jerk boyfriend Chuck. Then there is Paul's gay friend Tony who is struggling to deal with his ultraconservative parents who don't approve oh his gay lifestyle. Can Paul balance all his relationships and still keep Noah?
Review: Boy Meets Boy is a very sweet love story that just happens to feature two teenage boys. The fact that they are gay is just a detail of the story rather than the focus. Instead the book really focuses on relationships like the one between Paul and Noah as well as the other relationships that Paul has with his friends and family. It explores the ups and downs of relationships with all their complications. The book really highlights that no matter what kind of relationship whether romantic, gay or straight they all have problems and all people go through similar problems in their own life. Levithan really makes Paul's issues very relatable and shows that gay teens struggle through many of the same problems as straight teens, it in a way helps normalizes the gay lifestyle. It's refreshing to see a book not focus so much on the issues of being gay but rather just the issues of being a teenager and managing relationships with people. This could really help teens who are may be gay realize that they aren't that different from their straight friends, that they are in deed normal.
Reader's Annotation: Paul is your typical high schooler well if you don't include his transvestite quarterback friend Infinite Darlene, but at Paul's high school Infinite Darlene is pretty typical. Paul falls for Noah, a new student but seems aren't always as easy as it seems. When Paul's ex boyfriend tries to get him back Noah isn't too thrilled. Will Paul loose Noah or can he some how balance his relationships and still get through high school?
Book Talk Ideas: For the book talk I think focusing more on the relationships is important. Some teens might get hung up on that it's two boys rather than it's a love story between two people. So I think it's important to put the focus on the relationship end. Like Paul's relationship with his ex, with his best friend who is drifting away and his new relationship with Paul. Teens will relate to that whether they are gay or straight.
Issues Present: Any book that features a gay relationship is sure to upset some people who find objections the the gay lifestyle. They may feel the story normalizes the gay lifestyle and that it is some how part of a "gay agenda".
Main Themes: sexuality, LGBTQ, relationships, romance, friendship
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: The book provides gay teens with a very pleasant and fun romance that doesn't get bogged down with negative reactions over the characters sexuality. Paul is very confident and comfortable with himself and he may help teens who are struggling with their sexuality feel more comfortable with who they are. Overall the story is helpful because it depicts gay relationships in a positive light and both straight and gay teen teens can relate to the relationship ups and downs that Paul goes through throughout the story.
Read alikes: Tale of Two Summers by Brian Sloan, The Straight Road to Kylie by Medina Nico
Author Website: http://www.davidlevithan.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why Choose this book? The book represents a gay high school relationship and shows that it is much like a straight relationship. It can help teens who are gay feel more accepted and normal with their relationships because they are being represented in a positive light in literature. Also, David Levithan wrote a great book that is enjoyable to read and teens looking for a romance will enjoy the love story he has created.

Looking For Alaska

Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Publication info: March, 2006

ISBN: 0142402516

Pages: 221

Price: $15.99

Reading Level: 10th grade

Reading Interest: 9th grade and up

Genre: realistic fiction

Awards: Printz Honor, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, ALA's Top Ten Books for Young Adults, Booklist Editor's Choice, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Plot Summary: The story exists in two parts: before and after. The before is the story of Miles, who lacks friends and anything very exciting except for his obsession with people's last words. He enrolls in a boarding school in Alabama where he meets Alaska Young. Alaska is beautiful, quirky and unbalanced and Miles falls for her. The before story focuses on how Miles who has never had an exciting life is sudden drawn into the crazy and always exciting world of Alaska. Though Alaska's self-destructive is bound to catch up with her and when it does Miles is left to deal with the after.

Critical Review: Looking For Alaska counts downs to an event that you aren't aware of while reading and this countdown stirs interest, what could possible be the after, what is the before? The reader finally discovers that the book is based on the before and after of Alaska's death. The tragedy that rocks Miles world also rocks the reader. Despite Alaska's faults and her destructive behavior she is an enjoyable character. Her quirky behavior adds to her charm. John Green has the ability to write teen characters that are intelligent and full of depth. He also presents real life teen issues in a way that teens find relatable and believable.

Reader's Annotation: When Miles meets Alaska he finds himself attracted to her despite her obvious unstable mental state and destructive pattern. Alaska is the type of girl who drags you into her crazy world and you find yourself not wanting to leave, or at least that's how Miles felt. But when Alaska's destructive behavior reaches it's tipping point will Miles be dragged down with her?

Book talk ideas: Miles is obsessed with people's last words so I think it would be great to introduce the book by quoting some of the famous people's last words mentioned in the book.

Issues Present: The book as many controversial teen activities such as sex, smoking, drinking and foul language.

Main Themes: friendship, romance, loss, death

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Many teens can find Miles and his so called boring and loner life relatable. He falls in love with a girl who is involved with someone else and whose self-destructive behavior leaves Miles heartbroken. The book is a great coming of age book, in which Miles deals with first loves and loss and experimenting with drinking and smoking and other risk taking.

Read alikes: Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard, A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Author Website: http://johngreenbooks.com/

Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews

Publisher's Weekly

Why include this book? The book has received critical praise and John Green is known for not speaking down to teens and writing smart, witty and honest books centered around the lives of teens.

Ship Breaker

Title: Ship Breaker

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Published: May 2010

Pages: 326

Price: $16.99

ISBN: 0316056219

Other books in the series: Drowned Cities

Reading Level: 6th grade

Interest Level: 8th grade and up

Awards: National Book Award Finalist, Printz Award, Locus Award

Plot Summary: Nailer is a young boy who lives in the gulf coast which has been flooded by the rising waters. To make money Nailer scavenges tanker ships for copper wiring and other raw goods. It's a long, tireless and dangerous job but it's how Nailer survives. Everyone in Nailer's village is looking for a "lucky strike" that find that will set them up for life and get them out of their job working on tanker crews. Then one day after a storm Nailer's "lucky strike" happens. An expensive and beautiful Clipper ship is shipwrecked on shore and Nailer is the first to find it. The bought could be scavenged for more wealth than he could possible ever make in a year of tanker scavenge. But it turns out there is something far more valuable on the ship, a young rich girl. He know has two choices save the girl and risk his life or pillage the ship for all it's wealth and the the girl to her fate.

Critical Review: Ship Breaker is a gritty, faced paced dystopia novel filled with violence, bleak surrounding but colorful well developed characters. Nailer's grueling life of stripping tanker ships is nothing compared to the struggles he goes through to save himself and Nita, the rich girl from the boat from her tribes who want her dad and Nailer's drug addicted violent father who wants to exploit the girl for her wealth. At times the violence was almost too much, but it really helps tell the story of the how people lived and survived in the story. Without all the grit the story would seem to clean, too happy and the story line wouldn't feel the same, it wouldn't have that grim and desperate feeling.

Reader's Annotation: Nailer is forced to scavenge tankers and risk his life everyday in small dark holes while dreaming of a better life. Then one day his dream comes to him in the form of a crashed clipper ship, but the treasures on the ship go beyond gold, oh no the treasure Nailer finds is something far more valuable.

Issues Present: The story contains some very graphic violent scenes. There is also drugs and alcohol abuse in the story which some find offensive.

Main Themes: poverty, survival, greed, abuse, addiction, friendship

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Nailer lives a life of poverty, abuse and bleak surroundings. A teen living in similar situations can relate to Nailer's struggles and those who are more fortunate can develop empathy for those who have to struggle to survive.

Read alikes: Ashfall by Mike Mullin, The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd, Trash by Andy Mulligan

Author Website: http://windupstories.com/

Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews

Publisher's Weekly

Why Chose this Book? While the book is set in the future it deals with some very current issues of poverty and survival. The bleak environment shows how rough life is for the children who are forced to salvage inorder to live. The book is an award winner and has an action packed plot that pulls the reader in.

13 Reasons Why

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why 
Author: Jay Asher
Published: 
ISBN: 9781595141712
Pages: 288
Price: $16.99
Genre: realistic fiction
Awards: New York Times Bestseller, YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults
Reading Level: 6th grade
Reading Interest: 9th grade and up
Plot Summary: Clay Jensen is left with a series of audio cassette tapes by a fellow classmate, Hannah Baker. Hannah Baker recently committed suicide and left behind tapes that contain the 13 reasons why she killed herself. The 13 reasons are connected to 13 people and each person is suppose to listen to the tapes and pass them along to the next person on the list. Clay isn't really sure why he is on the list, since he doesn't know Hannah very well. They had worked together one summer at a movie theater and he even kissed Hannah once but things never went anywhere. Clay never got the chance to tell Hannah that he liked her and now he struggles with the fact that he is part of the reason Hannah killed herself. With the tapes is also a map that Hannah has placed stars on to mark different places where things took place. She instructors the listener to go to the places as she discusses her reasons why. As the tapes go along each person on the list is brought up, along with what they did to put them on the tapes. Clay listens to the tapes on a walkman as he travels around town reliving Hannahs life as she talks on the tapes.
Critical Review: The story is told from a unique perspective, in that Hannah, who is dead, tells most the story from the tapes she left behind. The reader also gets to see how Clay reacts to Hannah's story with his thoughts breaking up the tapes. The plot draws the reader in as Clay goes through tape after tape, trying to find out how he plays into Hannah's suicide. Jay Asher does a great job at giving a bit of incite into the mind of Hannah and of Clay. As a reader I wondered, why would a teenager want to kill themselves? While it seems that nothing truly horrible happens to Hannah the story shows how multiple issues combined lead to Hannah feeling depressed and hopeless. I think that the story provides the reader with some great talking points. A teen might not think their one act can impact a person but in the story the one act of many people lead to Hannah's suicide. This idea may prompt teens to think about their interactions with others and how their actions can impact another. I feel this story stands out from other stories on suicides because it feels real. Jay Asher does a great job of not coming across as an after school special or too preachy. The story seems very believable and natural. Also, the uniqueness of a dead character playing such a large role in the story through the tapes is something new and it adds to the realism factor. The reader is able to hear Hannah's voice and thoughts despite her being dead. However, there was times when I found myself frustrated with Hannah. I kept thinking that her suicide could have been prevented and that it was unneccesary, which I think was part of Jay Asher's messsage. All the things that happened to Hannah were things that I think she could have dealt with and moved on. As an adult it was frustrating to read, but I feel that a teen might relate to Hannah's feelings of hopelessness. Often times, teens can't always see that there is more to life than what happens in high school.
Reader's Annotation: Clay Jensen has a crush on his fellow freshman student Hannah Baker, problem is Hannah killed herself and soon after left Clay tapes which contain the 13 reasons why Hannah committed suicide. Why did Hannah send the tapes to Clay? And what secrets are hidden in these tapes?
Book Talking Ideas: A great book talk idea would be to give "13 reasons why you should read this book". The reasons would focus on the great story line, the mystery surrounding why Hannah killed herself and the great characters made by Jay Asher.
Issues: The book deals with a teen suicide, drinking and sex which some may find to be too mature for teens.
Main themes: suicide, friendships, death
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Suicide is a very real thing for many teens and it is one of the leading causes of death for teenagers. Because of this many teens may have thought about suicide or know someone who has committed suicide. This story can shed some light on why teens commit suicide and how it can be prevented.
Read alikes: Stay with Me by Garret Freymann-Weyr, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Author Website: http://jayasher.blogspot.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why Include this book? For me personally I have dealt with 2 teen suicides since I started working at my library 3 years ago. The book deals with teen suicide, which is the second leading cause of teens death in the U.S. In Oregon, where I live, teenage suicide is much higher than the national average. Many teens can relate to Hannah's feelings and her issues with school and her thoughts of suicide. 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Title: Will Grayson Will Grayson 
Authors: John Green and David Levithan
Published: 2010
ISBN: 0525421580
Pages: 310
Price: $17.99
Genre: Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ
Reading Level: 10th grade
Reading Interest: 10th grade and up
Awards: YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2011)
Plot Summary: The story focuses on two high school boys named Will Grayson. One Will Grayson is a straight wallflower who tries to get through life by talking as little as possible. Will Grayson believes the more you can blend in the better. Though having your best friend be a giant, loud, flamboyant gay guy name Tiny who often breaks out in song isn't helping Will Grayson keep a low profile. Then there is the other Will Grayson. Will Grayson is also a bit of loner, who spends most of his days struggling with his depression. The only things he looks forward to is talk to a guy namedIsaac online. Will Grayson is gay but has never told anyone. Then one night the two Will Grayson's cross paths outside a porn store in downtown Chicago and their lives are never the same. Can both of them learn to stop out from the shadows and live life or will they both be content to watch things from the sidelines.
Critical Review: The story is told in alternating chapters, going between the two Will Grayson's. John Green is the voice of straight Will Grayson, while David Levithan is the voice of gay Will Grayson. Both characters have a distinct voice and Levithan write's his Will Grayson with no capitalization. This I think helps convey the idea his Will Grayson lives life in a constant feeling of just trying to get by. He is on a number of medicines to battle his depression and the side effect is that he almost seems to never have any emotion, good or bad.The other Will Grayson, told by John Green, is a character who would rather just stay on the sidelines. But this isn't always possible due to his friendship with Tiny, who is always the center of attention. Tiny is one of my favorite characters in the story. He's honest, hilarious and larger than life and when presented next to wallflower Will Grayson he is even more outrageous. His character could have easily been cartoonish or a stereotypically flamboyant gay man but John Green and David Levithan manage to make Tiny believable and very likable. The story moves quickly and the characters deliver humor and honest in a fun and easy read.
Reader's Annotation: The last thing high schooler Will Grayson expected to find in a porn store in downtown Chicago is another high schooler named Will Grayson. But that is exactly what happens. Now their lives seems to be overlapping due to the one Will Grayson's openly gay and flamboyant friend Tiny who is everything but tiny and his musical. But when both Will Grayson's are trying to stay out of the limelight how will they deal with Tiny suddenly thrusting them both into it?
Book Talk Ideas: For this book talk it would be great to represent both voices of Will Grayson with either two people doing the book talk or at least two separate view points. The focus should be on how these two lives intercept and seem to keep meeting up through out the story.
Issues Present: The book has quite a few things that some may take issues with. There is a lot foul language, talk of sex, teens with fake IDs, and there is a big focus on gay teens.
Main Themes: relationships, friendship, homosexuality, sexuality, depression
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: First the book presents gay teens in a way that allows them to be more than just a stereotype. It also shows the complexity of friendship and romantic relationships, whether those be gay or straight. Both Will Grayson's struggle with issues, one with depression and the other with living life on the sidelines. Teens can relate to their struggles and maybe find comfort in their ability to overcome some of the issues they struggle with.
Read alikes: Freak Show by James St. James, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
Author Website: http://johngreenbooks.com/
http://www.davidlevithan.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why Chose this Book? Both David Levithan and John Green are popular and critically acclaimed teen authors in their own right. They tend to focus on realistic teen issues and present teens in a way that shows them as emotional, intelligent and complex. This book does a great job of showing how teens interact with both friends and romantic relationships.

Before I Die

Title: Before I Die
Author: Jenny Downham
Publishing Info:  Sept. 2007
ISBN: 0385613466
Pages: 326
Price: $18.99
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 10th grade and up
Awards: AlA's Teen's Top Ten (2008), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults(2008)
Plot Summary:Tessa is dying from leukemia and is given only months to live. So Tessa decides to make a "Before I Die" list with the help of her friend Zoey. The list includes some risky behavior and the number one thing on Tessa's list is to have sex. Tessa's parents are not too thrilled with Tessa's new quest to engage is what they see has negative and risky behavior. Tessa starts a new romance with her neighbor Adam and seems to be living life before it ends. But as Tessa's health starts to deteriorate her list becomes harder to fulfill and the importance of it comes into question as other things become more important.
Critical Review: Jenny Downham gives an honest look at a teenager dying. Because Tessa knows she is going to die she is able to show the emotions that come with facing your death at a young age. Tessa's anger comes across as a real emotion and the book doesn't seem contrived or overly sappy. The idea of Tessa creating a bucket list really helps drive the story and reflects what is important to Tessa. Risk taking and many of the things on Tessa's list are considered rights of passage for many teens and the story shows how much Tessa wants to experience all these things despite the consequences. As Tessa's health really starts to fail you start to struggle with the idea that you will loose Tessa. Even though the book doesn't hid the fact that the main character is facing death it is still emotional when the time comes. It is an ending that has you crying and leaves you emotional after it is over.
Reader's Annotation: Tessa's battle with cancer is ending with the news that she only has months to live. Tessa decides that she must live life in the short amount of time she has left and she compiles a "Before I Die' list. Though, her list is full of risky behaviors and as her health fails will Tessa be able to finish her list or will somethings be left undone.
Book Talk Ideas: The book talk could center around Tessa's obsession with marking things off her bucket list despite some of those things not being the best thing for Tessa.
Issues: The book deals with Tessa engaging in risk taking behaviors including drinking, drugs and sex.
Main themes: Cancer, death, sexuality, friendship, family
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: The story will help teens deal with death and loss. It gives a very honesty look at a dying teen and her emotions. The idea of death at such a young age can be very difficult and many books may not have the honesty that Downham delivers in her story.
Read alikes: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Author Website: http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/authors/jenny-downham
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why Include this book? The book deals with themes of death, family relationships, sickness and dealing with loss.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz 
Author: A.S. King
Published: Oct 2010
ISBN: 0307942104
Pages: 336
Price: $16.99
Reading Level: 8th grade
Interest Level: 9th grade and up
Genre: realistic fiction
Plot Summary: Vera has always been in love her neighbor Charlie but now Charlie is dead and Vera is forced to deal with all her mixed feelings the surround Charlie and his death. Charlie and Vera had a falling out and were no longer on speaking terms before Charlie died. In fact Vera hates Charlie almost as much as she loves him due to something Charlie did to betray and hurt Vera. Vera lives with her father who despite his best efforts still struggles with being left by his wife and being left to raise Vera on his own. He knows part of Charlie's secrets but chooses to ignore it like Vera. But as Charlie's secrets start to eat away at Vera she realizes she can't ignore it any longer.
Critical Review: The story is mainly told from Vera's point of view but a few chapters are told by Vera's dad, the Pagoda that looks over the town and even from dead charlie himself. The changes in view points provides the reader with a better understanding of the characters and the story. In the case of Vera's dad it provides teen readers with a better understanding of how the parent feels. Vera's dad is obviously struggling with raising Vera and his viewpoint better explains why his relationship is the way it is with Vera. Vera herself is a teen who is forced to grow up to fast. The story is heartbreaking and very raw and you find yourself wrapped up in the lives of Vera and Charlie and the secret that Vera is hiding. This unknown keeps the story moving and the reader interested.
Reader's Annotation: Vera is in love with her friend but Charlie died and Vera holds all his secrets. Vera has her own secrets, but will she come to terms with all her secrets and Charlie's secrets? Or will Vera just continue to ignore her problems and Charlie's secrets.
Awards: Printz Honor  (2011), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011)
Book Talking Ideas: I would perhaps do a book talk from the Pagoda's point of view, with it talking about all the things it sees.
Issues: The book deals with abuse and a older male that is most likely a sex offender. Vera also drinks and engages in reckless behavior that some parents could find inappropriate.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Vera is dealing not only with the death of her best friend Charlie but also with feelings of guilt, rejection, and depression. Teens who have had a friend isolate them or bully them will relate to Vera and her tumultuous relationship with Charlie. The book also shows how people are afraid to be involved in others problems, like in the case of Charlie and his mom being abused by his father. This could maybe help teens who are afraid to speak up and see that ignore problems does not make things better and could, like in the case of Vera, make things worse.
Main Themes: death, depression, friendship, secrecy, abuse
Read alikes: Paper Towns by John Green, Where Things Come Back by John Whaley
Author Website: http://www.as-king.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why Choose this Book? The book is not only an award winner but it is one that deals with many heavy topics such as betrayal, abuse, death and depression. The story is not sugarcoated and will appeal to teens who want an emotional realistic fiction story.