OCTOBER 29, 2009
Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen
Breast cancer awareness seems an unusual theme for a book aimed at middle school young people, but presented with compassion and clarity by Gary Paulsen, it works well. Fourteen year old introvert, Finn, has his summer planned - enjoy companionship of his dog, Dylan, read, keep to himself and have as little interaction with others (not counting his friend Matthew) as possible. The summer changes for both guys when Johanna, a young woman battling breast cancer, moves in next door. Her friendliness, quirkiness, and positive attitude change the self-image of both boys. She hires Finn to produce the landscaped garden of her dreams and he and Matthew also become involved in fund-raising for the triathalon she intends to participate in after some additional chemo. Paulsen weaves in his trade-marked humor to lighten but not obscure what cancer means to both the victim and her friends and family. This is a brief, realistic, surprisingly enjoyable tale for eleven to fifteen-year-olds.
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OCTOBER 22, 2009
Jack Tumor by Anthony McGowan
Hector is a 14-year-old nerd who regularly gets punched and humiliated at his rough school in England. His mom is a flaky hippy who sends him to school with lentil loaf sandwiches, and his friends are even bigger geeks than he is. To top it all off, Hector has a brain tumor—a “dirty-minded brain tumor that chatted away to me like he was some kind of friend or brother, or even sometimes in a kind of warped-dad way.” In the days from Hector’s first doctor visit until his confirmed diagnosis, his brain tumor, who he named Jack, leads Hector through adventure and calamity, with plenty of humor along the way. This novel doesn’t shy away from sexual and dark humor, but underlying it all is Hector’s strong and surprisingly wise conscience. Hector and all the characters in the novel are real and interesting characters, and I enjoyed spending my reading time with them. Ages 14 and up, due to sexual content.
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OCTOBER 22, 2009
Orange by Benjamin
“Orange” is a manhua, or graphic novel from China. In the story, Orange is a teenage girl living in a large Chinese city. She stays out late, has meaningless relationships with boys, gets in trouble with her parents, and has other experiences that are common to teens living anywhere. Orange contemplates suicide, but rather than killing herself, she gives her suicide note to an older guy, and it is his decision that gives a bit of plot to the story. The full-color paintings in the story are bright, beautiful, and stylistically interesting, though the story itself is unrelentingly dark, dull, and hard to follow. The final pages contain personal writings and a collection of artwork by the author/artist. This is one of the few manhua that is readily available in the US. Ages 15 and up, due to sexual content and language.
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OCTOBER 19, 2009
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
There are thirteen reasons why Hannah Baker decided to kill herself and she has recorded each of them on cassette tapes that will be delivered to the people who play a role in her decision. The reader hears the story through her voice, as well as through Clay Jensen, a classmate who is currently person #8 listening to the tapes. A rumor, started when she was a new girl in town and entering the 9th grade, begins a series of events that spiral out of her control leading to her final desperate cries for help several years later. Clay, who has had a crush on Hannah since she first arrives in town, has no idea how he contributed to her decision. But after listening to the tapes and following a marked map included with them, he begins to understand the pain Hannah couldn't deal with and his part in letting her down. This book is highly recommended for high school students. It is gripping from the beginning and the reader will want to know what has happened to Hannah, as well as feel Clay's anguish. This is excellent on CD as well.
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