SO I'M FIFTY: Teen Read Week

Showing posts with label Teen Read Week. Show all posts

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Celebrating Teen Read Week: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day.

Challenge yourself!

Published: February 12, 2013
ISBN: 039925692X
Genre: YA, historical fiction
Publisher: Philomel Books
Themes: adversity, achieving goals, character, race, class
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.
She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

What Others Are Saying: "Josie's narrative features a Dickensian array of characters; the mystique, ambience, and language of the French Quarter; a suspenseful, action-packed story; and a coming-of-age realization that personal decisions ultimately shape one's future. With dramatic and contextual flair, Sepetys introduces teens to another memorable heroine." —School Library Journal

"Josie wants more for herself. She is smart, but her intelligence does not automatically free her from social confines. Like every young woman, Josie must negotiate a world where her body is valued over her mind. Her awareness of this difficult position may be what helps her get out of the Easy and into life." —New York Times

What I Thought: Sepetys has a rich lyrical style that carefully weaves a plot full of deeply complicated characters. Set in New Orleans the southern flavor comes through and made this tale enjoyable. Josie is a strong heroine. Her journey to rise above shows how how strength combined with the help of others can help you accomplish anything.

About The Author: Ruta Sepetys

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Who: "In addition to music and writing, I enjoy serving on the Board at the University, collecting eccentric art, and pondering life's mysteries over long meals with my friends and family. I have a passionate love for paper and vintage ephemera. I'm quite good at crying, dancing like a strumpet, laughing too loud, and traveling. In my travels, I have visited 42 countries on six continents. My adventures have inspired dozens of stories and seeing that I am fond of both sitting and being melodramatic, my husband suggested I write a novel.
So I did." — Ruta Sepetys

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Celebrating TEEN Read Week: Listening For Lucca by Suzanne Lafleur

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day. Happy reading!

Published: August 16, 2013
ISBN: 0385742991
Genre: Middle grade
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Themes: family, mystery, friendship, history, time travel
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: "I'm obsessed with abandoned things." Siena's obsession began a year and a half ago, around the time her two-year-old brother Lucca stopped talking. Now Mom and Dad are moving the family from Brooklyn to Maine hoping that it will mean a whole new start for Lucca and Siena. She soon realizes that their wonderful old house on the beach holds secrets. When Siena writes in her diary with an old pen she found in her closet, the pen writes its own story, of Sarah and Joshua, a brother and sister who lived in the same house during World War II. As the two stories unfold, amazing parallels begin to appear, and Siena senses that Sarah and Joshua's story might contain the key to unlocking Lucca's voice.

What Others Are Saying: Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, June 17, 2013: “LaFleur (Eight Keys) offers an enticing blend of history, mystery, and family, perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2013:
"Tender and brave, Siena is a heroine to be admired... All is well in this lovely and magical tale."

What I Thought: What I loved most about this book were the characters. Sienna is wonderful and I found myself relating to her. Even better, her family members all had their own kind of quirk. There wasn't a character that sat flat on the page. Even going into the past the characters were substantial. A wonderful story with heartwarming connections that stay with you after the book has ended.

About The Author: Suzanne LaFleur

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Who: I grew up outside Boston in Newton, and later Natick, MA. During the school year I went to Catholic school, did a lot of homework, and read a couple books a week. During the summer I read a couple books a day and spent hours swimming and playing outside at our local pool or beach. I was very much a planner, dreamer, and writer, creating plays and shows for my siblings and the neighborhood kids to be in and filling up entire notebooks with novels. I always read late into the night and slept with a book under my pillow.
I went to college in Lexington, VA at Washington and Lee, where I studied English and European History; I went to grad school in New York City at The New School, where I studied Writing for Children.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Celebrating Teen Read Week: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day! Enjoy!

Published: October 10, 2013
ISBN: 0307976815
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Themes: family, mystery, friendship, independence
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: Max Starling's theatrical father likes to say that at twelve a boy is independent. He also likes to boast (about his acting skills, his wife's acting skills, a fortune only his family knows is metaphorical), but more than anything he likes to have adventures. Max Starling's equally theatrical mother is not a boaster but she enjoys a good adventure as much as her husband. When these two disappear, what can sort-of-theatrical Max and his not-at-all theatrical grandmother do? They have to wait to find out something, anything, and to worry, and, in Max's case, to figure out how to earn a living at the same time as he maintains his independence. This is the first of three books, all featuring the mysterious Mister Max.

What Others Are Saying: "The charm, the quirkiness, the quiet originality of “The Book of Lost Things” are immensely appealing to those of us who love the classic possibilities and styles of children’s literature. Yet the big question is whether this is what an 11-year-old I know calls, witheringly but honestly, “a grown-up’s idea of a children’s book” or a book that will actually appeal to children." —NY Times

What I Thought: Intrigued by the cover and the premise of a young boy being abandoned by his parents would have been enough to entice me to read. After the first 100 pages I felt carried away in Voigts descriptions and Max's world, but the pace was reminiscent of classic children's literature of the past. Possibly, too slow for younger middle graders. Those willing to stick with it will be rewarded by watching Max solve other peoples problems, becoming a solutioner.

About The Author:

Cynthia Voigt

Who: "I can pretty much pinpoint the time when I decided I wanted to write. Previously, in chronological order, I had wanted to be a cowgirl, a fire-person, a horsewoman, a veterinarian, a detective. But in the spring of my 9th grade year, I made up my mind. Here is the story:

Our English class had read The Idylls of the King, Tennyson's epic poem about King Arthur and his knights, and the final assignment, Miss Moody (who was not at all moody) assigned was to add a chapter to the book. I remember clearly that at rather the last minute, as was my style, I sat down at the leather-topped desk from which my parents conducted their financial and social affairs, took out one of the lined pads my father brought home from the office, and started to write. This was when I thought smart people didn't need outlines (maybe they don't need them but they do better work with their help) and didn't revise (wrong!). I sat and wrote, wrote my story, wrote it in blank verse. Then I handed it in and forgot about it.

Imagine my pleasure when Miss Moody gave it an A and praised it highly. Imagine now how pleased I was to have it chosen to be published in the graduation edition of the school newspaper. After all, I was a 9th grader and this was the high school paper. Things only got better after that: my parents were visibly proud of me and my sisters were jealous; people – grownups included – read it and came up to praise me; a boy I had my eye on asked a very intelligent question about my poem . . . .

Of course I decided I wanted to be a writer. It was easy, it was fun to do, you got lots of attention and praise for doing it, and boys admired you for it. Who could resist?" —Cynthia Voigt, Author

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Celebrating Teen Read Week: Dive by Hannah Safren

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day! Don't miss one!

Published: April 12th 2013
ISBN: 1938912284
Genre: YA
Publisher: Write Bloody Publishing
Themes: baseball, friends, family, coping, change
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: The empowering story of one female athlete's incredible discovery of what it means to truly feel alive. Based on Reba Tutt's heart-wrenching life and fight, Dive details the painful, yet empowering process of healing. The murder of Reba's older sister, Ari, fuels painful flashbacks and unstitches eight years of Reba's healing. With just two months to go before graduation, Reba is consumed by the past, lost in the present and hesitant for the future. With the support of her boyfriend, Pittsburgh basketball player Ronald Ramon, the guidance of her father, and the need to keep her final promise to her mother, Reba learns what it means to accept and persevere through life's many challenges.

First Line: That winter I didn't know if I'd make it.

Quotable Quote: "Surviving is simple. It's nothing more than breathing, moving, eating, and sleeping. Living, however, requires far more than just being alive; it requires feeling alive. It requires a sense of fearlessness and an urge to grow- not just because the days pass, but for a reason, for a purpose." (Chapter 13)

What Other's Are Saying: "I couldn't see the main problem here. Well, yes I know Reba Tutt was trying to move one, but that was just it. I remember couple days ago my lecture said that the main character can't build the story by itself, supporting characters are important. But in this story, the supporting characters had nothing to do with the main topic. So the story is just all about Reba Tutt. In each chapter, Reba brought out a piece of her journals. This is what I liked the most, the journal! There are so many inspiring words on them." —Awesome Nerd

Plays for the Pittsburg Panthers

What I Thought: This was a wonderful non-fiction about overcoming obstacles. I loved how Reba used her sports to relieve her stress and give her something to focus on. It would have been easy for her to just give-up and succumb to her sadness. Even though the story is a bit thin on character and plot development, the journal entries are enough to propel this to a great read for teens. Especially, anyone facing adversity. The message: Life is more than just surviving.