Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden was published in 1982 and is one of the first books written that deals with two young girls who fall in love and despite what their families say about their relationship, they try to stay together.  Liza who is the narrator of the story meets and befriends Annie as they discover many things they have in common.  Arts, music and beautiful gardens, as they become closer their relationship is found out and reported to the private school that Liza attends.  The "outting" by another teacher at Liza's school only creates more problems that she has to deal with when students treat her as an outcast. How Liza and Annie work through it all is a sign of how well done the story is and the reason it is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

As I read this book, I found myself thinking of the song "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian and it gave me more appreciation of how hard young people who meet someone and fall in love.  Though this story was wrtten 25 years ago, it is still relevant to want teens go through when they live outside what is considered "normal."

Flirt Club

Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly is the story of two very shy friends, Cisco and Bean.  They are both into drama and would love to be in love with a boy, especially a very cool boy or a very handsome boy.  The story is told through notes that they each send each other and when they create the Flirt Club to learn how to flirt with boys and overcome the awkwardness of meeting boys they learn that what is really important.  Friendship, honesty and being yourself is really what is the best about the Flirt Club.  Funny, and laugh out loud episodes gives this book a lot of charm for younger teen readers or those who want to have fun without the drama of a serious novel. 

This is a "light" read and would appeal to girls who are shy or maybe a little unnerved when it comes to talking to boys.  I would recommend this to middle and high school kids who are looking for a fun read and not something that is overly dramatic.

Dark Song

Dark Song by Gail Giles is part of the "Gritty and Edgy" YA Realistic fiction that covers issues that affect teens.  Ames Ford is a young teen whose family had a great life in Colorado until they lost it all and end up living in Texas in a very poor area.  Ames is lost and doesn't know how to get her world back when she meets Miles who is into drugs, guns and anger.  Ames life is in total upheaval and now must figure out how to break the bond with Miles when he suggests that they kill her parents and runaway to Mexico. 

I found this subject matter to be upsetting and I'm not sure that I would recommend this book to just any YA reader.  This story is a pychological thriller and fast paced that it would not be boring read.  A YA reader who is into mysteries and crime novels may find this book to be appealing.

The First Part Last

Printz Award winner The First Part Last was written by Angela Johnson and tells the story of a teenage father who is caring for his newborn daughter while still trying to go to high school.  The story tells the story of a New York city teen who has his good life going to school, hangin out with his friends and his girl, Nia.  Everything is great until Nia tells him she is pregnant and now his life is no longer about him, but about the baby that is coming and the changes that he must face as a single father with a newborn to care for.  The story jumps back and forth from the past to the current time, but is a short read that has a powerful impact on what happens when teen pregnancy happens.

I love the way this Printz Award winner deals with what it is like to have to leave your teen years behind in order to become an adult with a family.  Teens who are facing or know someone who is facing this situation will find the story to be heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Set in the South during the depression, this story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch a young girl who along with her brother Jem and best friend Dill Harris watch the goings on of Maycomb, Alabama as their lawyer father, Atticus, defends a black man who is accused of raping a white woman.  What follows is a story that will have teens reliving every word with Scout, Jem and Dill as they come to see the world through the reclusive eyes of Boo Radley.  This book is a great read for the month of October as the changes of the weather adds to the story and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last page.

This book is considered a classic and must have been quite the "hot item" when it was published in 1960.  The story covers rape, discrimination and incest in a small southern town where things like this may happen but were rarely discussed.  Even though the story is set in the 1930's the subject matter is still relevant today and still relatable to teens.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian



A wonderful book that is sad, funny and human in how a young Native American boy named Junior who decides to leave the rez to attend an all-white school.  The way that he deals with his life on the rez and the school he now attends gives an insight into what it takes to live in two worlds.

This story is about growing up and learning not to be ashamed of who you are and where you come from.  It was a National Book Award winner and gives a wonderful example of being trapped in two worlds and not knowing where one belongs.  Readers who must live in both the American world and the world of their heritage will find this book to be a good reflection of surviving both worlds.

Fall 2012 YA Literature Blog

Books that I have read this semester that may interest some young adult readers!