THE FAULT IN OUR STARS New York Times Bestseller

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Penguin Group.

Hazel is diagnosed with terminal cancer. After her doctor tells her mother she is suffering from depression and needs to go to a support group.  While at support group she meets a boy, Augustus, who also has cancer.  Augustus uses his wish to take Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author of the book that started their friendship.  They discover a remarkable bond and fall in love. Hazel seems to have found lasting happiness, but is devastated when Augustus surrenders to his cancer. Hazel stays with him until the end.  At the end Hazel gets the eulogy Augustus wrote and sent to Peter Van Houten, which showed up at Gus’ funeral.  Although Hazel has lost Augustus, she knows at the end of the story that she has experienced a once in a lifetime true love.

A realistic romantic love story is intended for middle school and older. It provides a view of life as a young lady with cancer. Readers will empathize with Hazel and Augustus as teens who spend more time with doctors than with friends from school. More great reads like The Fault In Our Stars, Eleanor & Park by R. Rowell or The Perks of Being a Wallflower by S. Chbosky.

Image of  The fault in our stars.(n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/

If I Stay NYT Best Seller

Forman, G. (2009). If I stay: A novel. New York: Dutton Books.

A seventeen year old girl named Mia is a very talented cellist. She has everything she could ever want, a loving family, an adoring boyfriend, an amazing best friend, and an amazing career ahead of her in music. All of that changes suddenly as she goes on a day trip with her family. As they are driving a truck hits the families’ car killing both parents and seriously injuring her and her brother, Teddy. Mia believes she is dead as she has an outer body experience observing the crash and everything around her. At the hospital Mia comes out of surgery and placed in the ICU where her grandparents, friends, and boyfriend Adam visit. As she watched everything around her she tried to determine whether she will stay in this world and suffer the pain of not having her family or go with her family who has died. Ultimately she realizes what could be ahead and decides to live. At the end of the story she decides to stay and it leads to the next story.

A fantastic follow up book to If I Stay would be Where She Went.  If you want to know what happens after Mia stays read Where She Went that is told from Mia's old boyfriend, Adam's, point of view on where they are now. Also another good book would be The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder a fiction about the collapse of a bridge in Peru. This book should be for high school students.
Image of  If I Stay.(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/ 

Looking For Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Sixteen year old Miles Halter leaves home in Florida to attend Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama. He is determined to find his Great Perhaps away from his parents. He meets Chip, the Colonel, which gives him the nickname Pudge.  His life at Culver Creek is completely different from what he was used to back home. Miles meets a group of friends, Colonel, Alaska Young, Takumi and Lara, (a foreign exchange student) that help him discover what he was looking for. He experiences many new things one of which is falling in love with Alaska, a beautiful and carefree girl.  The group of friends pull a prank, which leads to a game they play best day/worse day.  They find out some personal things about each other.  The story starts one hundred thirty-six days before, and ends one hundred thirty six days after the death of Alaska Young. Miles and his friends are determined to uncover what really caused Alaska’s terrible accident. At the end of the story Miles is doing his finally exam for his religion class and realizes his Great Perhaps in this world. 

The friends’ journey is a great example of the emotional and social development of young adult friends. The characters are frequently pushing the boundaries between what is "right" by other people standards and what is right for them.  Due to some mature content such as drinking, smoking, drug use, and sexual content this book should only be included in a high school level. Looking for Alaska is in the New York Best Seller list. Recommend reading Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Glass Sword by Victoria Averyard

Image of Looking for Alaska.(n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/ 

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Angleberger, T. (2010). The strange case of Origami Yoda. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
Dwight is a strange middle school boy, who has a way with origami. Yoda is a paper puppet made by Dwight but soon his friends and classmates begin to realize Yoda may possess special abilities after all.  Yoda is suddenly able to predict pop quizzes and help people avoid embarrassing water spots. Yoda and Dwight might actually be using "The Force".   In a series of short stories from kids at school, Tommy investigates cases where origami Yoda was involved.  At the end of the story it was the monthly PTA dance, Outer Space Fun Night, Tommy was worried should he ask Sara to dance or not. Well when the song the twist comes on he didn’t even have to ask, only a handful knew how to dance the twist and Tommy was one of the handful along with Sara.

This story is for 3-8^th grades.  Fans of Origami Yoda will probably enjoy Darth Paper Strikes Back, also by Angleberger.

Image of The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda..(n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/ 

Liar & Spy

Stead, R. (2012). Liar & spy. New York: Wendy Lamb Books

Georges moves into a new apartment in a new place he doesn't really likes, mostly because he has no friends.  His dad lost his job and they had to sell the house.  Georges is somewhat of a nerdy kid and it is hard for him to meet new people, so when Safer and his sister Candy, two kids in his building invites him to be a part of his Spy Club he accepts. Throughout the story Georges and his mom communicates by using Scrabble-tiles. Georges’ first assignment as a spy is to spy on a man in their building. Georges begins to question the motives of those around him.  After discovering that Safer has lied about Mr. X, George is determined to confront him and the other kids who have been bullying him at school. Georges’ mom gets an infection and Georges and his dad goes to see mom in the hospital.  After dealing with their differences, Georges helps Safer deal with his own fears in life by making a list.

Liar & Spy is a great read for students in grades 4-7. The book has a theme of friendship, lies and truth that will help students doing a book study by making predictions based on clues in the text.  This story deals with issues that young adults might deal with in school, such as bullying, and standing up for themselves.

Recommend follow up reading Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja by Marcus Emerson and Spy Factory #1: My School is a Spy Factory by Steven Stickler

Image of Liar & Spy..(n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/ 

Winger

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Ryan Dean West is a fourteen year old starting his junior year off on the wrong foot At Pine Mountain.  He's living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for trouble makers, his roommate is one of the biggest bully on campus, Chase Becker. Ryan was place at this dorm because he hacked into a teacher's cell phone account. He does have good friends who eventually help his life get on good footing.  One thing Ryan always looked forward to was spending time with his best friend Annie, whom he had fallen in love with.  Annie finally starts thinking of him as more than just a kid, rugby is in full swing. That's when the bottom falls out and his friend Joey is beaten to death for being gay.  At the end of the story Ryan talks to the police about the death of Joey and about the two boys that killed him.  Ryan is shocked by the lost but finds solace with his friends around him. 
 

Winger is recommended to readers in grades 9 & up because of the mature language and violence.  Readers are sure to relate to the characters with issues of friendship, loss, and love.

Recommend read: Boy 21 by Matthew Quick and We Were Here by Matt De La Pena

Image of Winger..(n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/ 

Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux35quSH4lk

Reality Boy

King, A.S. (2013).  Reality boy.  NY:  Little Brown. 
Gerald "the Crapper" became a reality star at the young age of 5 by defecating everywhere in his house while being filmed on Network Nanny reality show.  Gerald tries desperately to shake the childhood memories and control his anger which is often sparked by his psychopathic older sister, Tasha. He did not have any friends and did not like his life.  While working at PEC he met Hannah who also worked there.  Their friendship turned into boyfriend/girlfriend.  Hannah helps him realize how great their lives could be together.  At the end of the story Gerald and his dad move to a new place to live and they start a “freeing” relationship. 

A interesting realistic fiction that I would recommend to high school teens because of the mature language and sexual content.  I think teachers could use this book for a lesson on bullying.  Gerald was being bullied by his sister and kids at school.  It shows how someone who is being bullied thinks about themselves.  Also how positive relationships can change their outlook on their selves.  Reality boy is a strong story of self-healing and reflection.  

Recommend reads Everybody Sees the Ants and Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Image of Reality boy.(n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/