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Painter Charles
Weston, a loner and a rebel, hopes that Graeme, a senior who
published a novel as a sophomore, can help him survive without
conforming to others’ expectations, but disaster looms
on the horizon. Alten, Steve.
DOMAIN. Forge,
2001. (AD/YA) Science Fiction As the predicted
end of the world date approaches, Michael, the only person who
can unlock the mystery of the puzzle found in the Mayan calendar
and save the world, must convince the psychiatric intern assigned
to him that he isn’t insane. Can
he do it in time? From his
birth Ansary is a part of two worlds--Islamic Afghanistan through
his father and the secular west through his American mother.
His life embodies both cultures. Real issues
of high school life are addressed in these poems that could
have been written about any high school.
Also included are ideas about writing original poetry. Fifteen-year-old
Armenian Vahan brutally and honestly describes what happens
to him and his family when they suddenly lose their home and
their privileges in Bitlis, Turkey.
A FBI Hostage
Rescue Team member is caught up in a psychological thriller
involving inner-city drug lords, a horse farm, and a small boy
that he is compelled to rescue from his captors. Seventeen-year-old
Sam decides to raise his infant son Max after his girlfriend
chooses to give the baby up for adoption. Bekoff, Marc,
Ed. THE SMILE OF A DOLPHIN, Discovery Books,
2000. (AD/YA) Nonfiction In this beautiful
book, fifty scientists feel positively that animals (including
apes, birds, reptiles, fish, elephants, dogs and others) feel such emotions as love, fear, anger, joy, grief, pride,
and shame. Bragg, Rick.
AVA'S MAN. Knopf, 2001. (AD/YA) Biography In vivid
prose, Rick Bragg writes the story of his grandfather, Charlie
Bundrum. The memoir, though filled with bootleggers, violence
and extreme poverty, illuminates a man who was a product of
the Appalachian foothills and the Depression Era environment. Brooks, Bruce.
DOLORES: SEVEN STORIES ABOUT HER HarperCollins, 2002. (YA)
Collection From being
a popular seven-year-old who is kidnapped by two women in Wal-Mart
to a cool sixteen-year-old who foils a rapist in New York, Dolores
handles first kisses to cheerleading like no one else. Coben, Harlan.
TELL NO ONE. Delacorte, 2001. (AD/YA)
Mystery An e-mail
from his dead wife catapults David Beck into a world where he
must work alone to discover what really happened on his anniversary
night eight years ago. Cohn, Rachel.
Gingerbread. Simon & Schuster, 2002. (FR)
Fiction After falling
in love with a surfer her mother does not approve of, getting
kicked out of school, and making her family miserable because
of her punishment, Cyd is sent to visit her biological father
and his new family in New York City. Cross, Gillian.
PHONING A DEAD MAN. Holiday House, 2002. (YA)
Mystery Seeking the truth about her brother’s “accidental”death, Haley Cox travels to Russia with his finance. A cell phone may hold the key to the answer. Dean, Carolee.
COMFORT. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
(YA) Fiction Life in the
small town of Comfort, Texas, is unbearable for fifteen-year-old
Kenny Dessen, Sarah.
THIS LULLABY: A NOVEL. Viking, 2002. (YA)
Fiction When Remy
meets Dexter, a rock band musician, she must reconsider her
belief in short-term, no commitment relationships, which forces
her to deal with her mother’s five husbands and her father’s
abandonment. Ehrenreich,
Barbara. NICKEL AND DIMED: ON (NOT) GETTING BY IN
AMERICA. Metropolitan, 2001. (AD/YA) Nonfiction Can a single
woman live on the wages paid by Wal-Mart or earned by waiting
tables in a diner or cleaning hotel rooms? The author
tests the theory that is reality for millions by spending a
year with minimum wage shelter, food, bosses, and friends. Elliott,
L. M. UNDER A WAR TORN-SKY. Hyperion, 2001.
(YA) Historical Fiction During World
War II, an idealistic 19 year-old B-24 pilot finds himself shot
down behind enemy lines. Aided in his harrowing escape by the
French maquis, he learns about the courage and self-sacrifice
of the French. Fama, Elizabeth.
OVERBOARD. Cricket Books, May 2002. (FR)
Fiction Inspired
by an actual incident, this gripping story shows how fourteen-year-old
Emily Farmer, Nancy.
THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION. Atheneum, 2002. (YA)
Science Fiction In a futuristic
setting, Matt gradually realizes that he is the clone of a powerful,
corrupt ruler of Opium, a country between the U.S. and Mexico.
Despised by society, Matt fights for clone’s rights, raising
sociopolitical, ethical and scientific issues that are timely
for today. Ferris, Jean.
EIGHT SECONDS. Harcourt, 2000. (YA) Fiction Eighteen-year-old
John Ritchie thinks just staying on a bull for eight seconds
is a pretty big challenge until he discovers a fellow bull rider
is gay and also begins to confront his own sexual identity and
the issues of coming out. Fisher, Antwone Quenton. FINDING
FISH: A MEMOIR. Morrow, 2001. (AD/YA)
Biography Antwone Fisher—falling through the cracks of CPS to be left in the “care” of foster parents—redefines the meaning of survival and human dignity. Flinn, Alex.
BREAKING POINT. HarperTempest, 2002.
(YA) Fiction Alienated
in an exclusive school, Paul meets Charlie, who exercises a
powerful influence over him. Friendship and loyalty quickly
escalate to a breaking point. Frank, E.
R. AMERICA. Simon & Schuster, 2002.
(YA) Fiction After years
of being placed in foster homes and institutions for antisocial
behavior, America, a multiracial teen boy, does his best to
overcome the pain of his past with the help of psychologist
Dr. B. and new friends he makes in group therapy. Gantos, Jack.
HOLE IN MY LIFE. Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
2002. (YA) Biography In the summer
of 1971 the young Jack Gantos agreed to smuggle drugs on a yacht,
was busted, and sentenced to serve six years in prison.
In this honest and compelling story, the creator of Joey Pigza
and Rotten Ralph recounts how he endured this experience and
began to develop his writing abilities in prison. Giles, Gail.
SHATTERING GLASS. Roaring Brook Press,
2002. (YA) Fiction Violence
and death are just around the corner when the school nerd is
turned into Prince Charming by Rob, the popular senior class
leader. Grimes, Nikki.
BRONX MASQUERADE. Dial, 2002.
(FR) Fiction An open mike
poetry assignment begins as just an experiment in a high school
English class. However, in this book alternating between
poetry and prose, the students discover that it becomes the
way to express their deepest personal feelings Halam, Ann.
DR. FRANKLIN'S ISLAND. Wendy Lamb Books, 2002.
(YA) Science Fiction/Fantasy Three teens
survive a plane crash and are imprisoned by a mad doctor experimenting
with human/animal genetic transfer. Hearn, Lian. ACROSS
THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR. Riverhead Books, 2002. (AD/YA)
Historical Fiction. Lord Otori,
descendant of an assassin and a peace loving tribe, rescues
Takeo, a sixteen-year-old orphan in medieval Japan in a fantasy
full of clans, Ninja powers, and romantic adventure. Hobbs, Valerie.
TENDER. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001. (YA)
Fiction. After her
grandmother’s death, fifteen year old Liv must adjust
to life with her sea-loving, fisherman father who abandoned
her when her mother died during childbirth. A gripping,
harsh story about World War II features two teens, one American
and one German, who join the war and cross paths at the Battle
of the Bulge. Ingold,
Jeanette. THE BIG BURN. Harcourt,
2002. (YA) Historical Fiction Wildfires
across Idaho threaten and forever change the lives of teens
struggling to survive the raging flames. Jenkins, A.M. DAMAGE. HarperCollins,
2001. (YA) Fiction Football player, Austin Reid, struggles with severe depression that even a mature, complicated sexual relationship cannot solve. Kerr, M.E.
SLAP YOUR SIDES. HarperCollins, 2001.
(YA) Historical Fiction Jubal Shoemaker,
a Quaker teen whose religion opposes World War II accidentally
kills a person while he is protecting another. King, Daniel.
CHESS: FROM FIRST MOVES TO CHECKMATE. Kingfisher,
2001. (FR) Nonfiction With text
and stunning graphics, this ancient and most respected of games
becomes even more irresistible and engaging. Koja, Kathe.
STRAYDOG. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002.
(FR) Fiction Attracted
to the anger and the loneliness of Grrl, a stray feral dog in
the animal shelter, Rachel, a volunteer at the shelter, attempts
to get Grrl to trust her and finds that she must also learn
to trust. Korman, Gordon.
SON OF THE MOB. Disney Press, 2002. (FR)
Fiction When teenage
Vince Luca, son of a mob boss, falls in love with the daughter
of the FBI agent assigned to take down the Lucas family, his
“Soprano” life becomes unusually complicated Lackey, Mercedes.
THE SERPENT'S SHADOW. Daw, 2001. (AD/YA) Science Fiction/Fantasy Imagine that
Snow White is a gorgeous, dark-skinned Indian doctor who must
fight the dual prejudices against her sex and her race.
Her sorceress mother died before she could teach her all the
skills she would need, but not before warning her of the serpent’s
shadow Latifa.
MY FORBIDDEN FACE. Hyperion Press, 2002.
(AD/YA) Nonfiction This autobiography
of 16 year old Latifa weaves the brutality and repression of
Afghan life under the Taliban rule with the resiliency of a
teenage girl. Lawrence,
Iain. THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTER. Delacorte
Press, 2002. (YA) Fiction Returning
to her childhood home on a remote lighthouse island with her
young daughter after a four-year absence, Squid does her best
to reestablish a loving relationship with her parents. Martel, Yann.
LIFE OF PI. Harcourt, 2001. (AD/YA) Fiction After his
ship capsizes in the ocean, sixteen year old Pi, a teenager
from India, to his horror, finds he is alone on a lifeboat with
a 450-pound tiger. Mastoon,
Adam. THE SHARED HEART: PORTRAITS AND STORIES
CELEBRATING LESBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL YOUNG PEOPLE. HarperCollins,
2001. (YA) Nonfiction The humanity
of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered young people is
eloquently McCormick,
Patrick. CUT. Front Street, 2000.
(FR) Fiction When fifteen
year-old Callie quits speaking and cuts her arms, she is placed
in a treatment center called Sea Pines but better known by the
patients as Sick Minds. Nam, Vickie,
ed. YELL-OH GIRLS!: EMERGING VOICES EXPLORE
CULTURE, IDENTITY AND GROWING UP ASIAN. HarperCollins,
2001. (AD/YA) Nonfiction This anthology
of stories and poetry from Asian-American high school and college
students show the challenge of growing up in two cultures. Nolan, Han.
BORN BLUE. Harcourt, 2001. (YA) Fiction Drug addiction,
child neglect, death, depression, pregnancy, and hate are realities
of her life, but Janie wills herself to be Leshaya, a singer
of the blues, and it is Leshaya who must prevail. Nye, Naomi
Shihab. 19 VARIETIES OF GAZELLE. Greenwillow
Books, 2002. (YA) Poetry Nye’s
collection of poems, using family members as well as strangers
and published post 9-11, shows the human side of life in the
Middle East. Oates, Joyce
Carol. BIG MOUTH & UGLY GIRL. HarperTempest,
2002. (YA) Fiction Ursula, aka
“Ugly Girl,” is the only person with the guts to
tell the Feds the truth about Matt’s joke about blowing
up the school, but does Big Mouth even want Ugly Girl coming
to his defense? O’Keefe,
Susan Heyboer. MY LIFE AND DEATH BY ALEXANDRA
CANARSIE. Peachtree, 2002. (YA) Fiction After moving
to her mother’s childhood home, fifteen-year-old Allie
begins attending the funerals of strangers, makes a new friend,
and stumbles onto a mystery that only she can solve. Palmer, Michael.
FATAL. Bantam Books, 2002. (AD/YA) Fiction Medical doctor
Matt Rutledge, pathologist Nikki Solari, and civilian Ellen
Kroft work together to expose the connection behind the gross
skin abnormalities, toxic chemical dumping, and a new supervaccine
soon to be approved for the public. Parsons,
Harry. THE NATURE OF FROGS: AMPHIBIANS WITH
ATTITUDE. Greyston, 2000. (YA) Nonfiction Fascinating
facts virtually leap off the page in this witty look at the
often misunderstood frog. Powell, Randy.
THREE CLAMS AND AN OYSTER. Farrar, Straus
and Giroux, 2002. (YA) Fiction When three
eleventh-grade males accept a female replacement to their four-man
flag-football team, they begin a challenging journey of self-discovery
about individual values, gender perceptions, and friendship.
Lively dialogue and substantial character development.
Sanchez,
Alex. RAINBOW BOYS . Simon & Schuster,
2001. (YA) Fiction Nelson, Kyle and Jason are three gay high school seniors struggling with self-acceptance, coming out issues, homophobia, harassment, and the humor and heartbreak of first love. A skillful and honest depiction of gay coming of age. For mature readers. Sebold, Alice.
LOVELY BONES. Little Brown, 2002.
(AD/YA) Fiction From her view in heaven, fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon narrates the story of her brutal death, keeps track of her family, the police investigation and even her killer. Managing to combine the horrid with the light, Sebold even creates a fourteen-year-old’s unique heaven. Vecchione,
Patrice. TRUTH AND LIES AN ANTHOLOGY OF POEMS.
Holt, 2001. (FR) Poetry This anthology
of seventy thought-provoking poems explores the concept of telling
truths and telling lies relating to subjects such as romantic
love, family life, and friendship. Readers will experience
humor, sorrow, sadness, and anguish Wilhelm,
Kate. DESPERATE MEASURES . St. Martin’s
Minotaur, 2001. (AD/YA) Mystery A female
principal and a brilliant but disfigured teen are suspects in
the murder of a stern religious neighbor. Williams,
Lori Aurelia. SHAYLA'S DOUBLE BROWN BABY BLUES.
Simon & Schuster, 2001. (YA) Fiction In this sequel
to When Kambia Elaine Flew In From Neptune, Shayla
must deal with a baby sister from her father and his new wife;
a classmate named Lemm, who has an alcohol problem; and Kambia,
who is still trying to survive her previous abusive past. Wittlinger,
Ellen. THE LONG NIGHT OF LEO AND BREE
Simon & Schuster, 2002. (FR) Fiction When the
wealthy Bree is kidnapped by the tormented, grief-stricken Leo,
they comfort one another and form a bond that helps them both
face their futures. Wittlinger,
Ellen. RAZZLE. Simon & Schuster,
2001. (YA) Fiction When fifteen-year-old
Kenyon Baker is forced to move with his parents to a group of
tourist cabins they purchased, his days are filled with work
on the cabins until he makes friends with an eccentric girl
who becomes the subject of a series of photographs he enters
in a contest. Young, Cathy,
Ed. ONE HOT SECOND. Alfred A. Knopf,
2002. (YA) Collection This anthology of short stories by young adult authors explores the various aspects of teen desires from kissing to dating relationships AD/YA = Mature Books for Young Adult YA = Books for Young Adult Readers Readers The Texas Library Association
sponsors reading lists solely to encourage free voluntary reading.
Questions
or corrections? Please send email to
michelle.johnson@cityofhouston.net
Last update: January 15, 2005 All contents copyright (C) 2000. All rights reserved. |
