Teen Scene
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14-year-old Manjiro is stranded with four other Japanese fishermen on an island following a storm. They are rescued by members of a passing American whaling boat, where Manjiro is eager to learn as much as he can from the “barbarians”. The captain offers Manjiro the chance to return to his home in Massachusetts where they might become a sort of family, since the captain has lost his wife and Manjiro has no father. He cannot return home to the country that, in 1841, kills its countrymen who have been infected by demons outside their boundary, and therefore accepts the offer. Besides, Manjiro likes the life of a sailor and wants to see more of the world of which his countrymen have no knowledge. Over the next ten years, Manjiro is schooled at sea navigation, apprenticed as a cooper, and finds a family with the captain and his new wife, all while facing obstacles of discrimination and the desire to one day find a way to safely return home in Japan. This is a wonderful adventure and historical novel for readers in grades 6 and up. It is based on the true life of a young Japanese boy and won the Printz Honor Award in 2011. Also read the biography Shipwrecked! The True Adventues of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg for more background information surrounding this story.
16-year-old Alex is sent to live with her grandmother Lee in Savannah, Georgia following the death of her mother. Her previous life on a communal farm doesn’t prepare her for the lifestyle of the Magnolia League, of which she appears to be a part. Fellow Magnolias Hayes and Madison are supposed to whip her into shape for her debut this Christmas, but Alex’s dreadlocks and lack of grooming, along with her reluctance in general, make that a tall order. Mystical elements are quickly introduced which help explain why her grandmother appears so young and why her friends are so beautiful. After some bitter disappointment during a quick trip back to California in the hopes of “camping out” with boyfriend Reggie, she returns to Savannah ready to accept her new life and possibly her fate. This book will be appealing to girls in grades 8 and above who enjoy magical stories, along with a little romance. The text is full of "southernisms" which place it unmistakably in the south, and the characters feel genuine. It's easy to get caught up in this title, and a sequel is sure to follow. 
Lamar's brother Xavier is the basketball superstar in town and has lots of trophies to prove it. His weak spot, though, is algebra, and even if the scouts who are coming to watch him play like him, he can't graduate without passing his final exam. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Lamar gets caught up in a bowling hustling scam with a known juvenile delinquent because of his desire to buy a Bubba Sanders bowling ball for the sport in which he excels. The empty spot on the mantel for his own trophy, left by his recently deceased mother, looms over him, especially when his brother keeps teasing him. How can he get a trophy in a sport that gets no respect in his Indiana town of Coffin? As the brother’s rivalry and jealously come to a head, Lamar decides to pull a prank to embarrass his brother. The outcome, however, is so devastating that Lamar is not sure he will ever be able to make it right again.
Many know the story of the Holocaust, and many have heard of the concentration camps and persecution of the Jews. But what led up to this horrible occurrence? What series of events allowed Hitler to come into power? These questions are answered in “Ashes” as we follow the story of thirteen-year-old “Gaby” Schramm, her family, and her friend Ruth through their lives in 1932 Berlin, Germany. Through their experiences with “Jewish physics,” books, teachers, and swastikas we see another side of the Holocaust- the side of pyres being built for burning literature, of teachers taking charge and forming Hitler Youth programs within the school, of speeches made by Hitler and other Nazi leaders across the radio condemning Jews. On top of all of these challenges, Gaby must also stand by her older sister Ulla as she watches Ulla’s relationship with Kurt turn into something much larger than she ever expected. In this book, Kathryn successfully shows us the other side of the Holocaust through an intriguing tale of a young girl. Those interested in the Holocaust, Germany, and those who enjoy unique twists will enjoy this book. Recommended for those in grades 9 and up.
What do teen boys really think? Natalie, who writes the “Dr. Aphrodite” column for the school newspaper, realizes she doesn’t have a clue about guys. However, she has seven burning questions she wants answered. A few of the questions are: 1.) When you say you’re going to call and you don’t, what happened? 2.) Why are you so different when your friends are around? Which one is the real you? 3.) What do you really look for in a girl? Natalie hatches a scheme to get the answers to these questions, and hopefully turn it into an award-winning journalism piece. She cuts her hair short and disguises herself as a boy, then spends five days living at an all-boy boarding school, getting close to the guys as a guy, instead of a girl. While this book comes across as improbable at times, it’s a fun read with plenty of humor and some solid answers to Natalie’s seven questions. Some underage alcohol use and sexual innuendo. For grades 8 and up.
Chloe’s sister, Ruby, is a force to be reckoned with. She’s powerful in their small town— the boys want her and the girls want to be like her. She can run red lights and show up to her job when it suits her, and no one complains. Her special color of lipstick is kept behind the counter so no one else can wear it. She never pays full price at the any of the shops in town. The sisters are fiercely devoted to each other, and life with Ruby is fun and unpredictable for Chloe—popsicles for breakfast, buying lots of sunglasses, and reigning over big parties at the reservoir. The reservoir is like a character in this novel, and holds a mystique for Ruby and Chloe. Created in 1914, it flooded several small towns, including Olive. Ruby tells stories about the inhabitants of Olive who refused to leave, who grew gills and are living in their flooded town among the muck and mud. Chloe’s exciting life with Ruby changes when things go terribly wrong at a reservoir party—a classmate of Chloe’s, London, is found dead in a rowboat. Chloe is forced to move out of town—away from Ruby and their alcoholic mother—and live with her father. Two years later, Ruby comes for her. When Chloe returns to live with Ruby, things are oddly different. The most peculiar thing is that London isn’t dead anymore. This book is an eerie, mystical ride, surprisingly character-driven, with a setting so real you can get lost in it. References to sex, and teen alcohol and drug use. Grades 9 and up.
Written by the same author of the Newberry Award winning “A Wrinkle in Time”, “The Joys of Love” really is about “the joys of love.” Twenty-year-old Elizabeth Jerrold is attending a summer theater camp at the beach, an experience which changes her life as she grows in realization of the truths of life and love. At this camp, Elizabeth not only expands upon her love of acting, but finds another kind of love—the love of another human. Through various experiences with her new friends—Ben the assistant stage manager, Jane the apprentice actress, and especially Kurt, the dashing director of the company who Elizabeth has decided she has fallen in love with—Elizabeth has the summer of her life…that is, until the day Elizabeth’s aunt calls. The realities of life fall upon Elizabeth, and after the call everything begins to go downhill. At risk of having to leave the camp, and facing new difficulties with her relationship with Kurt, Elizabeth begins to realize not everything is perfect, and that despite how joyful love can be, there are tough realities that come with it. In this novel, Madeleine L’Engle again sets the stage for a wonderful story, a story that also gives us a hint at what some of Madeleine’s life was like. Those interested in the inside workings of theater life, who enjoy books set in the 1940s, along with a dash of romance, will enjoy this story. Recommended for grades 7 and up.
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