Survey+of+Books

2004 Michael L. Printz Award for

Caitlin Pollock
(Publisher, Publication Date) || Author || Review Starred Y/N || Story || Setting || Theme || Voice || Characters || Comments ||
 * Book Title
 * //Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case// (2003) || Chris Crowe || 2004 Best Books for Teens

Starred Review in School Library Journal, v49(5) p.169. || The story of the Emmett Till is horrific and needs to be handled carefully and sensitivity. Crowe makes good use of footnotes and primary documents in his telling of the account. A comprehensive bibliography and timeline further authenticates the book. I felt as thought Crowe tried to hard to cram the historical background of racism/Jim Crowe/lynching in one short chapter. Although the list of further reading he includes could help increase the knowledge of the subject. || Crowe does well to trying place the Emmett Till Case in the historical setting of early days of the Civil Rights Movement, although it comes off clunky in the first chapter. || The main themes of the book are : bravery in the face of adversary, for example when Mose Wright testifies in court against Emmett's murderers, the second theme is turning something awful into something good, like Emmett's mother who turned her grief and anguish into a poweful tool for the Civil Rights Movement. || Crowe tries to present the facts of the case simply and sometimes he attempts to get in the heads of the different people. He takes on the voice of an omniscient court reporter. || Crowe aptly makes historical characters three dimensional for the readers. Emmett Till becomes a relatable 14 year old boy which successfully makes history intriguing and exciting. || I was worried that Chris Crowe was not going to include the infamous photograph of Emmett Till in his but I was glad that he did. For a sensitive, it was handled well with no cloying sugar coating. || v100(2), p. 239,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, || //The She// tells the story of Evan Barrett, a 17 year old teenage who was orphaned as child after his parents were lost at sea. Evan sets out to prove that his parents were taken by a sea monster living off the coast of New Jersey called The She and they were drug runners attempting to escape imprisonment. The ending is ambiguous. Is it a sea monster, a mysterious natural phenomenon. || A small town off the Jersey shore. The setting made the story of a sea monster feel clunky. The setting did not fit the story; it is not exotic enough. || There is a theme putting away childish thing ad becoming an adult. Evan is a prankster and a little bit of (for lack of a better term) a "manwhore." So his childish things are tricks and...girls? Grey learns to stop being mean and petty and passive aggressive. The themes are pretty thin which hurts the literary merit of the book. || Carol Plum-Ucci's description of the The She's shrieking and the final showdown between Evan and the sea monster, is well-paced and creepy and scary. But the voice suffers from ill written plot twists and plot holes. || Evan is a prankster/bad boy with a good heart who works with Grey Shailey, the school's resident mean girl (who never becomes likeable no matter how hard Plum-Ucci tries.) Emmett, Evan's brother, struggles to care for his brother while burying his own grief and sadness. || I liked //The She.// It was interesting discussion of death, grief, drugs, and mental disease. This discussion would have been better if the book was better written. ||
 * //Keesha's House// (2003) || Helen Frost || 2004 Michael Printz Honor Book || Frost attempts to tell the stories of a diverse array of teenagers, from different cultures, races, and economical genders through interweaving poems. As they try to all survive make it through adolescence they see a safe haven at Keesha's house. || The setting is nondescript but more like a nameless smally city in the United States, where suburban and urban life blur. || Frost employs themes that many teens face as they grow up such as: learning from their mistakes, learning how to trust others, taking responsibility for their actions. As they learn these lessons they stop by Keesha's House, which becomes a stepping stone. Keesha's House becomes a metaphor for adolescence. || Frost develops a gritty and raw voice, although at times I found it forced. Sometimes it came off as an adult's idea of what teenagers find "gritty." || While I certainly appreciated that Frost's characters represented the diversity of the teenagers, I found the characters too perfect. All the main teenage characters felt too good and wholesome. I craved a unsympathetic main character to make it feel less like an after-school TV special. || I really like verse novels. I think they are a good way to introduce poetry to nonpoetry readers but compared to other verse novels I found Frost's Keesha's House lacking. ||
 * //The First Part Last// (2003) || Angela Johnson || 2004 Michael Printz Award || Bobby is a teenage single father struggling to raise his infant daughter after his girlfriend suffers brain damage due to a complication from the pregnancy. The story is told by weaving 2 storylines together: Bobby's life before the birth of his daughter and his new reality as a parent. || The setting is New York City, specifically the Upper West Side, Chelsea, and Brooklyn || The major theme of the novel is that one must take responsibility for the consequences of actions. Bobby takes responsibility when he chooses to leave his carefree childhood/adolescence behind and take care of his daughter and become a man. New York represents his "teenagehood" while Heaven represents his adulthood. For his daughter he leaves his childish ways behind for his new life as Feather;'s father. || Johnson's writing is lyrical and Bobby's slang is poetic and melodic. Although at times her writing feels cold and mechanical. || Johnson's character disprove so many stereotypes such as African Americans in New York City and also of teenage parents. She does this adroitly where the characters do not seem self-righteous or unnatural; instead they feel flushed out and well rounded. || I feel as though the emotion impact of the novel could have been better if the novel had been longer. More of Bobby and Nia's relationship could be fleshed out as well as several characters, most notably Nia's parents. ||
 * //Boy Meets Boy// (2003) || David Levithan || Starred Review, School Library Journal v49(9) pg. 216 || The quirky story of two teenagers who fall in love. Oh and they are gay. Levithan uses the literary archetype of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back. He updates it though making the two main characters two gay teenagers. He also inlcudes elements of fairy tales, like the fairy godmother, in the form of Infinite Darlene, the transgendered quarterback/homecoming queen. || New Jersey...somewhere. Levithan never tells exactly where they are but it's somewhere in New Jersey close enough that they can take commuter trains to New York City. || This novel embraces many themes. The themes include being true to oneself, refusing to take no for an answer, and sometimes in order to be a good child one must stand up to their parents. || Levithan uses a certain fantastical element, an ideal high school for LBGTQIA teens to create backdrop where interestingly these fantasies expose the homophobia in our society. || The main character Paul is a very simple character without a lot of personality. Really, it the cast of secondary characters make this book wonderful. Infinite Darlene: the transgendered quarterback/fairy godmother, Joni: Paul's best friend the impulsive and fiery, Tony: Paul's other best friend who lives in our "world" and struggles with being gay and out while being a good son to his parents. || I am very surprised that this book was not even nominated for as 2004 Honor Book and I think it was a gross oversight by the Printz Committee. I think this one of the first books written about gay teens that wasn't dark and depressing. I think many gay teens will see themselves in Paul and Tony. ||
 * //The She (2003)// || Carol Plum-Ucci || Starred Review, Booklist,

Jessica Fink
(Publisher, Publication Date) || Author || Review Starred Y/N || Story || Setting || Voice || Theme || Characters || Age/Interest Group || Like/Dislike || New York, N.Y. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2003 || Johnson, Angela || 2004 Michael Printz Award Winner || • Plot - unplanned pregnancy • Consequences for his actions are shown through “then” to “now” chapters • Bobby & Nia have unprotected sex and she becomes pregnant • Exposes real life circumstances for teenage parents • Steers away from preconceptions of teenage pregnancy • Bobby’s life changes drastically; the reader can sense that through the “then” and “now” • Told through the eyes of a teenage father • The ending seems predictable that Bobby keeps the baby, but the twist comes from the reason Nia isn’t present in the “now” sections • Sad || • Realistic • Urban environment • New York City || • Story is narrated by Bobby in first person, past and present • No explicit descriptions about Bobby • Get to know Bobby through his thoughts and actions • Bobby matures through the time span of the book, can be seen in the “then” and “now” || Life changes for teenagers after having a baby; Bobby goes from being a boy straight into being a man at age sixteen || • No explicit details told • Reader infers physical characteristics of each character through imagery • // Bobby // – primary character, sixteen years old, physical features aren’t explicitly stated but it is implied that Bobby is black • He is sympathetic, caring, a teenager trying to take responsibility for his actions, matures throughout the book, learning how to be a father • // Nia // – compared to a sculpture, similar to an angel, pregnant, struggled with decision to keep the baby • // K-Boy // – Bobby’s friend, sensitive to Bobby’s situation, shows concern for Nia • // J.L. // – Bobby’s friend, not as mature as Bobby or K-Boy • // Fred & Mary // – Bobby’s parents, different from one another; Mary is stern, Fred is relaxed, both are supportive, physical features aren’t described • // Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins // – Changed throughout the book, started off angry and became sympathetic as tragedy struck, very flat affect • // Comparison of Nia’s home to Bobby’s home growing up - Pg. 18-19 // • Other characters: Bobby’s brother, babysitter, neighbor || • 14 to 18 • Boys and girls can relate to the main character as well as the situation • Young adults in urban environment can relate • Debunks myths about teen pregnancy as well as urban environment • “Then” and “Now” chapters might be hard for a struggling reader || • Loved • Not a typical story – a teenage father raising the baby • Even though it was obvious that Bobby would have the baby in the end, the reason for Nia’s departure is a total surprise • It felt sincere to go through the different hours and days with Bobby, who exposed his vulnerability to the reader • It was an extremely emotional topic || New York, N.Y. Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2003 || Frost, Helen || 2004 Michael Printz Honor Book || • Seven teenagers try to find a safe place to stay as they escape their own homes, each for a different reason – some reasons are their own choice and some reasons are forced upon them • With all of the negative issues these teenagers are facing, they never stop dreaming and hoping for life to get better • All of the teenagers seek refuge outside of their home for different reasons; as they find a place to be in the meantime, the issues that had them running become less severe as time goes by || • Beautiful imagery to describe the harsh realities these characters are facing in an urban inner-city environment • All of the teenagers start at a different home and wind up passing through Keesha’s House (really Joe’s house) • Each of the teenagers’ original homes seem harsh and hard, while Keesha’s house is an easy escape that gives each teenager what he or she needs: a safe place to get shelter! || • Two types of poetry defined in the notes on pgs. 113-114 *Sestinas – followed closely, but modified *Sonnets – hybrid sonnets • Modified original poetic form to allow the poems to tell their stories • Seven teenagers each tell his/her story in first person • The seven teenagers’ lives are connected through the poems that make up the book • Through each character’s voice the reader can hear love, anger, dreams, and fear; the emotions and feelings of each of the seven teenagers explain why they left home or why they are in their current situation • In section III and VI adults connected to each of the seven teenagers tell stories also in the form of a poem • Each poem can stand alone with a question and a resolution within it (even if it isn’t a resolution to the bigger problem that each of the teenagers faces) • The adults’ poems help the reader understand the home dynamics of each of the seven teenagers – it also helps the reader connect to the primary characters better as well as empathize with the situation they left at home || When the world seems scary and their homes aren’t theirs anymore, teenagers need a safe place where they can find shelter and foster their hopes and dreams || • // Keesha //, //Stephie Jason//, //Dontay//, //Carmen// , //Harris// , //Katie// - the seven teenagers aren’t identified by their physical features; their descriptions are taken from their personal hardships. Each teenager is known for his or her dilemma rather than his/her appearance. • Stephie is pregnant, so Frost does describe the growing nature of Stephie’s belly, but parallels that growth to that of the actual dilemma she faces as a result of the pregnancy. Taken from page 2: “Love and terror both grow bigger every day inside me.” • // Joe // - The owner of Keesha’s house. Although he doesn’t actually give advice to the teenagers, he offers them the only thing they really need for the time being…shelter! • A few adults from the seven teenager’s lives each tell a short story about their own perspective. This is only to help the reader gain insight into the seven teenagers. || • 12 to 16 • Teenagers who enjoy poetry • Young adults who like short stories, but won’t be distracted by the format • Both boys and girls || I found the book to be confusing. I needed to read it twice to grasp the information and really see the poetry. The first time I read it, I was focusing on how each of the teenagers’ lives were connected and how each poem led into the next. I flipped the pages a lot to try to see which character did what and how they were connected. I also think the poetic format should have been introduced in the opening rather than in the “notes” section in the back of the book. I think it would have been valuable to have read the paragraphs on the formatting before I read the book, since I am not familiar with different types of poetry. Also I don’t think Helen Frost should have changed her poems to ensure that they tell a story. I think telling a story is more valuable than the poetry, but I also think that changing the rules can lead a reader to question the author’s authority and accuracy. Does Helen Frost know the rules of a sestina or a sonnet? Yes, that question is answered in the “Notes” section, but a reader must finish the entire book before getting to that section. And some readers might not stick around for the credits. I liked the actual story, but I wasn’t crazy about the formatting and therefore would not nominate this book. || Cambridge, Mass. Candlewick Press 2003 || Rapp, Adam || 2004 ALA Best Books for Young Adults - Top 10 List || Three homeless teenagers and a baby are on the run from the cops. The three teenagers are comprised of a pyromaniac, a drug addicted prostitute, and a moderately educated racist, who might have been sexually abused. || • The story starts off in Illinois and the three teenagers head to Wisconsin • The winter brings harsh snow that creates a dark, cold environment • The teenagers are homeless and live out of a deserted bus in the woods; without glass windows to keep the snow out, they are freezing cold || • First person told by Custis, who is extremely ignorant, and the reader can infer more details even though Custis doesn’t get them • Curl tells a little bit of her story throughout the text • There are a few illustrations to represent Boobie’s thoughts || • Survival, three homeless teenagers trying to survive on an aimless journey to nowhere • With no real plan, the group deteriorates in the cold winter, and the reader sees how hopeless their future is, even if Custis isn’t intelligent enough to notice || • // Custis // was held captive by an abusive pedophile, until he hears that he will soon be filmed. He steals one of the many guns his captive owns and escapes. Custis had been educated by a nun before he was taken in by the racist pedophile and is slightly literate. • // Curl // is addicted to drugs and works as a prostitute in order to get money to feed her habit. • // Boobie // is a pyromaniac who killed his parents, stole their car, and kidnapped his baby brother. Boobie doesn’t talk much and his story is never told in the book; there are a few pictures to represent his thoughts, but nothing concrete to really know him as a character. • // Seldom // is black man who Custis met while trying to steal his chicken. Seldom has a kind heart and lets Custis and the baby live with him when they have nowhere else to go. Seldom lost his wife while she was giving birth to their baby (who didn’t survive either). He is filled with tender compassion and tries to help Custis live a life without the hatred, racism, violence and abuse he is sadly used to. || • 14 to 18 • Young adults interested in realistic fiction • The main character isn’t likable or someone the reader can relate to, but a reader who enjoys dark books might enjoy it anyway • Readers who can handle the subject of abuse || • Dislike!!! If I were a young adult, I don’t know if I would have been able to finish the book. I didn’t get hooked and I didn’t relate to any of the characters. I felt frustrated by the actions of the characters and I was hopeful that something positive would happen. • The ending was OK, but the book was too troubling for a mediocre ending. The main character is extremely ignorant and Adam Rapp does an excellent job of telling a realistic story. I just think it was too flat and depressing. Without any real action, the sophisticated writing of Adam Rapp is lost and the reader is left bored and disgusted! Had the book had a main character to whom the reader could relate on some level, I as a reader would have had a stronger interest in the story. || // New York, N.Y. // Alfred A. Knopf 2003 || Levithan, David || • ALA Best Books for YA - Top 10 List - 2004
 * Book Title
 * // The First Part Last //
 * // Keesha’s House //
 * // 33 Snowfish //
 * // Boy Meets Boy //

• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers - 2004

• Booklist Starred Review

• School Library Journal Starred Review || •Boy meets boy, falls for him, loses him, and gets him back. It’s not that simple! Paul narrates the story, telling it in first person and calling it as he sees it in a community where being gay bears no scarlet letter. Shortly after Paul meets Noah, his personal life begins to rollercoaster. When his ex-boyfriend, Kyle, who teetered with his own homosexuality, finally decides that he truly is gay and wants to date Paul once again, Paul finds it hard to let Kyle down. Instead he puts himself in an inappropriate situation with Kyle, especially if he is to be exclusively dating Noah, and in a moment of sympathy and compassion, decides to share a kiss with his former lover.

•The reader also sees how Paul’s two best friends, the two people he speaks to most and leans on for support, are becoming more distant as the novel progresses. Joni begins to date Chuck, who appears either borderline homophobic, or gay and still in the closet. Chuck’s intentions are not totally clear, but the reader is aware that Chuck is totally selfish and is the cause of Joni’s detachment from Paul. Meanwhile, Tony, Paul’s other best friend, lives one town over from Paul’s, a community that isn’t as tolerant as Paul’s town is. Tony’s parents are also not accepting of the fact that Tony is gay. Although they find proof for the second time that Tony is not heterosexual, they hope to fix the apparent error in his ways. They want their son to be spending his free time at church retreats and changing his mind about girls.

•With all of the drama surrounding Paul, he has a hard time holding on to Noah. In his heart he might want to date Noah, but he gets caught in the middle of some sticky situations that show Noah the opposite. || •All of the obstacles that a gay teenager might face in our world are nonexistent for Paul. His parents were OK with his decision, the town supported his rights, and his classmates represent all walks along the spectrum of sexuality: some are gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. I found this setting to be wonderful, but unrealistic. Though it would be great if all of the prejudice, fears, and misrepresentations of being gay disappeared and everyone could accept each other’s differences, I don’t think our society is ready for one like Paul’s. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go. I found the setting more like a fantasy setting than a realistic one sadly.

•The relationships in //Boy Meets Boy// felt real. No matter what gender or sexuality the characters were, the interest, curiosity, and feelings throughout the various relationships felt sincere. Each relationship was unique and special, and Levithan does a beautiful job exposing the real joys and hardships of a relationship. It didn’t matter whether the relationship was a friendship, a romance, a sibling or parental relationship, the manner in which the characters related to one another felt genuine, even if the world they lived in did not. || •First Person •Whimsical •Funny •Satirical •Romantic •Sincere || •Tolerance and acceptance

•Adolescents struggle to come to terms with who they are

•Romantic relationships can be challenging at all ages

•Can a friendship stand the test of time? || (Description in story section)

// Paul // •The narrator •Gay •Romantic •Funny • Empathetic

// Tony // •Struggling for acceptance •Finding himself •Kind

// Joni // •Defined by relationships •Stubborn •Caring •Insecure

// Noah // •Previously heartbroken and now cautious •New in town • Sympathetic (especially to his sister’s needs) • Artsy

// Ted // • Macho •Hurting • Loyal

// Chuck // •Conceited •Homophobic or bisexual (not positive)

// Infinite Darlene // •Daryl Heisenberg •Transgender •Homecoming Queen •Quarterback

// Jay // •Paul’s brother •Accepting •Helpful || •14 to 18

•Young adults struggling with sexuality

•Young adults who like to stand up for their beliefs or equal rights

•Romantics

•Tolerance || I really enjoyed //Boy Meets Boy//. It was a great read and it touched on many of my emotions: I was captivated by the story; I laughed; I became sad at times; I felt frustrated when Paul felt frustrated; and at the end, I walked away feeling happy. I especially loved getting to know the characters inside and out, as if I knew each of them personally.

I thought that Levithan does a remarkable job describing a romance between two teenaged boys, an age very much saturated in awkwardness and confusion when it comes to homosexuality. There are not enough books on this topic for teenagers, especially good ones! I love the creativity in the setting and I wish it were real. The only criticism I have is that the book is a little too “picture perfect.” Yes, I wish that it could be true that a town like Paul’s existed, but we aren’t there yet and I think that more teenagers would relate to Tony’s life than to Paul’s experiences. Still, Tony can be a great role model for teenagers faced with oppression. He stands up for himself, though slowly, and he waits patiently to become the person he wants to be. All of the characters were written well and I enjoyed getting to know them all! ||

Andrea Mullen Simon & Schuster 2003 || Johnson, Angela || -Michael L. Printz Award (2004) -ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2004) -Coretta Scott King Award (Author, 2004) -Starred Review in Booklist and School Library Journal || Bobby and Nia are a 16 year old couple who have unprotected sex. When Nia becomes pregnant, the couple have to determine if it’s right to keep the baby, or give it up for adoption. || New York City, New York; present day || Story is told from Bobby’s point of view, making it a first person narrative. The chapters alternate between “Then”, before the baby was born, and “Now”, after the baby was born. || Bobby has to deal with increased responsibility and grow up fast, which he sometimes struggles with, to become a father. || __Bobby__- main character who is a sixteen year old black male; sensitive and caring towards his girlfriend, Nia, and Feather, his daughter. __Nia-__ 16 year old girlfriend of Bobby’s, struggles with whether she should keep her daughter or give her up || I really enjoyed this story. It showed such a different perspective on the subject on teen pregnancy, which I appreciated. I think my favorite aspect were the characters. I was very empathetic towards them. || Putnam Juvenile 2003 || Going, K.L. || -Michael L. Printz Printz Honor (2004) -ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2004) -School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2003) -Booklist Editors Choice:Books for Youth || One the subway one night, Troy Billings wonders what would happen if he jumped in front of the F train. A bystander, Curt MacCrae, "stops" him and they strike up a friendship. This friendship leads to Troy becoming a drummer, even though he doesn't play, in Curt's band. || New York City, New York: present day || Told from Troy's point of view- first person narrative so the reader only understands the characters through Troy's eyes. || Troy feels out place and misunderstoof among his family and classmates because of his size. The main theme of this novel is self-acceptance, i.e. because the author is a big Nirvana fan to "come as you are." || __Troy__-seventeen years old, 296 lbs., and is 6'1". Because of his size, Troy often feels lonely, in the way, and that people are always looking at him. __Curt MacCrae__- skinny punk who "rescues" Troy and sees all the attributes in Troy that no one else can see. He believes that Troy can be a drummer and inspires him to be. However, Curt is a junkie who needs help. || I did not like this book and had a hard time finishing it. I found it slow. I wished I had been more inspired by the story, but I found it rather uncompelling. This story might be better suited to teenaged boys, I'm not sure. || Penguin 2003 || Kaplow, Robert || -ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound (2004) -Starred Review in School Library Journal -Reviewed in Booklist -Starred Review in Kirkus || Richard Samuels is a seventeen year old teenager living in New Jersey in 1937. Richard goes from being a simple high school student with an average life to landing a small role in Orson Welles’ Broadway production of //Julius Caesar//. "This is the story of one week in my life. I was seventeen. It was the week I slept in Orson Welles' pajamas. It was the week I fell in love. It was the week I fell out of love." || New York City,New York and Hoboken, New Jersey; 1937 || Told from Richard’s first person point of view; Chapters are numbered, sometimes with the date (which spans seven days) || Through one week, Richard discovers how simple his teenaged life in New Jersey is compared to the experience he has in Orson Welles’ company. He also discovers that genius and talent don’t often correlate to kindness or simple human courtesy. || __Richard__- main character, high school teenager who receives a once in a lifetime opportunity by being a part of Orson Welles’ Julius Caesar, falls in and out of love, and discovers his life’s passion, writing. __Sonja__- highly ambitious 20 year old college student involved with the //Julius Caesar// production, the object of Richard’s affection; they spend one night together, but she hurts Richard by also having an affair with Orson Welles, claiming that that is the way to advance her career __Orson Welles__- fictional account of the real legend; he is an extremely talented genius who creates the production of Julius Caesar on Broadway. However, he treats most people in the cast like garbage, is constantly cheating on his wife, and lacks any sort of human sensitivity. || This was my favorite of the 2003 books that I read because I have a personal interest in theatre and Orson Welles. I have heard that Orson Welles was an arrogant genius, which this story showed. || Knopf Books for Young Readers 2003 || Levithan, David || -Booklist, School Library Journal Starred Review -ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults || Paul is a fifteen year old gay teenager, in a high school which accepts him wholeheartedly. He has an eclectic group of friends- some gay, some straight, and one transgendered. Paul then falls for the new kid, Noah, but struggles to keep him. || Small town in New Jersey, which is accepting of everyone. There is definitely a fantasy element to the town and the high school. || Like the other 2004 books I read, this was told in first person, from Paul's point of view. The chapter names explain what happens in the chapter with titles like 'Paul is Gay' or 'A Very Late Night Conversation with Ted.' || Growing up and being happy with who you are, recognizing that your friends are subject to change which could mean you grow apart, and fighting for what and who you want. || __Paul-__ gay fifteen year old who has never had a problem, or adversity, with being gay __Noah__- the boy Paul falls for, an artist __Joni-__ Paul's best friend since elementary school until she starts dating Chuck, which almost destroys their friendship __Tony__- Paul's gay friend who lives in the next town over. Tony's parents are not accepting of his being gay __Kyle__- Paul's ex who broke his heart yet wants him back, Paul ruins his relationship with Noah by kissing Kyle || All in all, I enjoyed this book because there is not much gay literature about a romance that is sweet and ends happily. Naturally, the author was trying to make statements with the setting which I mostly just rolled my eyes at. In this "fantasy" where the Boy Scouts are replaced by the Joy Scouts and anything having to do with religion is homophobic. I found it a little preachy, but in the opposite way. However, in terms of the story, it's very strong, romantic, and sweet. ||
 * ** Book Title **
 * (Publisher, Publication Date) ** || **Author** || ** Review **
 * Starred Y/N ** || **Story** || **Setting** || **Voice** || **Theme** || **Characters** || **Like/Dislike** ||
 * //The First Part Last//
 * //Fat Kid Rules the World//
 * //Me & Orson Welles//
 * //Boy Meets Boy//

Whitney Owen
(Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003) || Angela Johnson || - 2004 Prtintz Award Winner - Starred Reviews in //School Library Journal//, //Booklist//, and //Publishers Weekly// || (Harcourt, Inc., 2003) || Jennifer Donnelly || - 2004 Printz Honor Book - Starred Reviews in //School Library Journal// and //Booklist// //-// LA Times Book Prize Winner - Carnegie Medal Winner (UK) || **Story**: There’s a lot going in on this novel, but the subplots are interwoven smoothly throughout. Mattie details the everyday struggles of a being a 16-year-old farmer’s daughter obligated to her family while entertaining ideas of going to New York City to pursue her own education. She also deals with a complicated romantic situation and a mysterious death at the hotel where she works. While based on a true story, the real power of the novel lies in Mattie’s quest to pursue her dreams.  **Setting**: The story takes place in upstate New York in 1906. The setting plays a very important role, as the characters and situations at the hotel determine many of the events that take place. The descriptions of the physical surroundings and Mattie’s observations are rich and draw the reader into a world where life is tough and filled with hardship and injustice.  **Theme**: The issues of race, feminism, and the inherent search for one’s identity/life path are all here, along with achingly realistic lessons about family and friendship.  **Characterization**: The characters are well-developed through their words and actions, and Mattie, while struggling to fulfill her family obligations while maintaining some sense of herself and holding onto a dream that is just for her, cannot help but elicit sympathy from the reader. Many of the other characters – Mattie’s father, sister, friends, and neighbors – are all given unique sets of traits that allow them to rise above the simple archetypes on which they are based.  **Language/Style**: The language is really beautiful, and the author’s way of incorporating Mattie’s dictionary words into the story is interestingly and artfully done. The dialogue seems natural, and the rich descriptions made me want to reread some passages again and again. I think the language, and the message about the importance of language, are some of the strongest parts of the book.  **Overall**: I enjoyed this book, and felt particularly connected to the way Mattie valued language and wanted to represent with words the way of life as she knew it. It’s interesting to see that //A Northern Light// received so many prizes around the world; I did feel like I was trudging through the story at times, and would not say it is better in terms of literary value than //The First Part Last.// || (Candlewick Press, 2003) || Carolyn Mackler || - 2004 Printz Honor Book || **Story**: Although I can totally understand the argument that the story is not super original, I think it does resonate with a specific population of young adults who have weight issues, and accurately portrays the way a young girl struggling with being overweight might think and act. The inclusion of the date rape situation and Virginia’s intense interest and eventual confrontation with the victim is an interesting subplot, but one that should be addressed in YA literature. I think this twist in the story is what sets the book apart from others about weight and self-esteem.  **Setting**: This book isn’t really about being overweight in New York City, so the descriptions aren’t really noteworthy. Virginia’s environment seems believable, but rather general.  **Theme**: It’s always refreshing to see a character learn the lesson of self-acceptance, but it doesn’t come as a surprise in a book like this. I think the themes of family (struggling to fit in with your family, struggling to accept family members for who they are, etc.), friendship, and finding one’s own voice in adolescence are woven throughout, but the main push seems to be for the reader to get that it’s about loving thyself  **Characterization**: I like that Virginia is portrayed realistically, and that her quirkiness and darkness come through (the purple hair and eyebrow ring, and the tendencies toward self-harm). The other characters can seem a bit one-dimensional, as this is really Virginia’s story, so I think the strength in characterization is all because of how well-developed she is, and how satisfying her growth throughout the book is.  **Language**/**Style**: The language is more accessible, straightforward, and directed at the “mainstream,” I would say, than that in The //First Part Last//, which makes me feel like the book is not in the same category in terms of literary quality. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Overall**: This is a fine book; reading it was emotional for me at times, simply because of how similarly aspects of Virginia’s life mirror my own when I was her age. There is nothing wrong with it, per se, but I wouldn’t name it as the top award winner for the year, as I don’t think any of the literary elements are particularly outstanding. || (Random House/Alfred A. Knopf, 2003) || David Levithan || - 2004 ALA Best Books for Young Adults - Starred Reviews in //School Library Journal//, //Booklist//, and //The Bulletin// || <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">**Story**: The title pretty much sums it up: boy meets boy, boy flirts with and begins a sweet romance with boy, boy gets caught up in a web of drama when an ex comes back into the picture, boy loses boy for a bit, then gets boy back. Although not super original in the grand scheme of YA lit, it’s cool to see that a homosexual pair is considered commonplace. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Setting**: Paul lives and goes to high school in a sort of gay paradise; all of the elements of reality are there, but alternative lifestyles are not considered any cause for prejudice or oppression. This is something that, while awesome, I couldn’t really get past. The unrealistic reality of the setting confused me, as the sheer rule of acceptance and tolerance of everyone, coupled with the poetic, dreamy language, made me think that the whole thing was one big farce. Sure, Tony’s town next door is conservative and filled with Bible-thumpers, but the inclusion of a high school where the star football player is a drag queen and everyone’s ok with that makes it seem like this story is taking place in another world. A better world, to be sure, but one that demands that I suspend belief for an otherwise all-too-believable tale. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Characterization**: I thought that most of the characters were well-developed, genuine, and easy to believe in and root for. The one wild card is the school quarterback/drag queen, “Infinite Darlyne.” While hysterical yet lovingly caricatured, this character’s over the top nature sort of ruined the story for me. Her presence sort of shifted the whole story into a weird realm of impossibility, which I think sort of defeats the purpose of trying to convey the message that gay teens are totally normal, and important parts of our society and culture. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Language**/**Style**: I thought the language was beautiful. The writing is soulful, so pretty it almost hurt to read at times, with lyrical qualities throughout. I think the language and the message of tolerance are the best things about this book. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Overall**: I really enjoyed the book, but my issues with the fantastical element of it prevent me from seeing it as a true contender for the top prize. I’d love to see more awesome gay characters succeeding in life and love in a believable setting. || (Random House/Doubleday, 2003) || Mark Haddon || - 2004 ALA Best Books for Young Adults || <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">**Story**: When Christopher, a 15 year old British boy with autism, finds that his neighbor’s dog has been murdered (and he is initially blamed), he takes it upon himself to go on a search for the real killer. One of the more interesting points of the story is that it is told from Christopher’s point of view, as he is writing it for school. There is a bit of a plot twist around the death of his mother, and the tension between Christopher and his father in the final parts of the book make this story, overall, seem like a bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions, which is odd given that the narrator has difficulty expressing/understanding emotions. I think the story is quite original, particularly because of the unique way the narrator sees the world. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Theme**: Christopher talks and wants very much to be brave, and overcoming one’s fears, discomfort, and obstacles to achieve a goal is highlighted throughout. The themes of independence and the nature of what makes us who we are, and lessons on the imperfections of our parents are also clear. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Characterization**: Having worked with teens with autism, I have to say that the portrayal of Christopher was spot-on. It was interesting to get “inside his head,” so to speak, and I thought he was rather endearing while still realistically frustrating in some situations (like when his mom took him shopping and he threw a fit because of the crowd). The other characters had their own personalities as well, and I thought that Christopher’s dad’s genuine hurt and anguish at having to admit his guilt and face the reality of his son’s fear of him were clear. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Language**/**Style**: Because the story is told from Christopher’s point-of-view, the style is very straightforward, and, for the most part, the sentence structure fairly simple. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Overall**: I enjoyed this book, and am pleased that there are such well-written works with honest and humanizing depictions of teens with autism out there. || (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003) || Polly Horvath || - 2004 ALA Best Books for Young Adults - Starred Reviews in //School Library Journal//, //Kirkus//, //Publishers Weekly// - National Book Award Winner || <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">**Story**: Ratchet, a shy teen whose mother is obsessed with getting into a sort of country club, is sent to spend the summer with two elderly relatives in Maine. The old ladies are hilarious, and Ratchet discovers that life in an isolated, bear-infested estate on a cliff suits her just fine. I loved the story very much, as, although set in Maine, it has a bit of a southern gothic feel to it, like works by Flannery O’Connor or Bobbi Ann Mason. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Setting**: PenPen and Tilly live in an old house on a cliff, where bears run around and terrify or maul people. The setting is well-crafted and very important, as it provides just as comical a background for the funny musings and actions of the characters. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Theme**: I think there’s a strong message of self-reliance and self-determination here, as Ratchet’s eventual takeover of the estate and her move into the same type of comfortably quiet and modest lifestyle as the old ladies is clearly her choice, and in contrast to everything her mother even wanted. Also, the bold and blunt character of Harper acts as a reminder that there will always be forces around that make us name and face our fears and embarrassments. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Characterization**: The best part about the story is the characters. They are all a bit grotesque in their own ways, and PenPen and Tilly are ridiculously funny. Ratchet elicits sympathy and compassion, and even the often-rude Harper becomes endearing as we get to know her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"> **Overall**: I liked this book because I kept changing the setting to the South, and giving the characters southern accents in my head. The characters were fun and funny, but I don’t think the overall quality of the literature was nearly as great as the works it reminded me of conceptually. ||
 * ** Book Title **
 * (Publisher, Publication Date) ** || **Author** || ** Review **
 * Starred Y/N ** || **Literary Quality/Other Comments** ||
 * //The First Part Last//
 * //A Northern Light//
 * //The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things//
 * //Boy Meets Boy//
 * //The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time//
 * //The Canning Season//

Eileen Makoff
(Published in the U.S. by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux in 2003; originally published in 2002 in Canada) || //School Library Journal Best of 2003://
 * **Book Title**
 * (Publisher, Publication Date)** || **Reviews** || **Literary Quality/Other Comments** ||
 * //True Confessions of a Heartless Girl// by Martha Brooks
 * [|Electronic version]
 * Hard copy: [|SLJ Best of 2003.pdf]

//School Library Journal// Review
 * [|Electronic version]
 * Click below for hard copy

//Kirkus Reviews, //Starred

//[|SLJ True Confessions Review.pdf],// Starred

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004] || **Story:** Compelling, believable story of a troubled young girl whose arrival shakes up a small Canadian town, ultimately for the good of its residents. I enjoyed the story, but I feel like I’ve read something like it before—maybe in an Alice Munro story. Best of 2003 List
 * Setting:** Brooks does a nice job of describing Pembina Lake, which is in the middle of nowhere, Canada. Her evocative descriptions of the landscape enhance the mood of the story.
 * Voice:** This book is told in the third-person, which is a refreshing change from all the first-person YA lit out there. Also, each chapter follows a different character, which allows the reader to get to know them all intimately. This approach works, because this book isn’t just about Noreen; it’s also about how she changes the lives of those around her.
 * Theme:** There is a powerful feminist thread throughout this book, which at times becomes a little too preachy. Brooks’ message on the importance of passion is more subtly managed, however, and is quite intriguing, as it’s not a theme often presented in YA lit.
 * Characters:** Characterization may be this book’s strongest suit. Noreen is a heartbreaking character—a seventeen-year-old girl who is convinced she can’t love or be loved, and who causes trouble for herself and for all those around her. Yet, she’s also an interesting character. The reader wants to get to know her, and finds him/herself rooting for her. It’s a pleasure to watch her growth over the course of the book, even though her ultimate development is somewhat predictable—it’s apparent from the get-go that she will eventually learn the importance of love. Watching her shake up Pembina Lake’s residents is also a pleasure. Achieving catharsis for an ensemble is tricky, yet Brooks pulls it off.
 * Language:** Nice imagery, although a trifle overdone at times. I’m convinced the book was heavily workshopped. A little less tweaking and a few less cooks might have done wonders.
 * Overall:** I loved this book and would heartily recommend it to older teen girls with a taste for literary fiction. However, while I came close to nominating it, I was ultimately put off by the feeling that it had been polished just a little too much. ||
 * //Mortal Engines// (Book 1 of the //The Hungry City Chronicles)// by Philip Reeve (Published in the U.S. by HarperTeen in 2003; originally published in 2001 in the U.K. || //School Library Journal//
 * [|Electronic version]
 * Hard copy: [|SLJ Best of 2003.pdf]

//[|Booklist Mortal Engines Review.pdf]//

//[|SLJ Mortal Engines Review_a.pdf],// Starred

//Kirkus Reviews//

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004] || **Story:** //Mortal Engines// has a compelling story. I had to find out what happened, even if it meant staying up all night. Set in a future in which cities have gone mobile and survive by eating each other, this book tells the story of Tom and Hester, who are seeking revenge, and Katherine, who is trying to save the world from her father’s evil schemes. There are many twists and turns that will keep the reader turning pages.
 * Setting:** Setting may be //Mortal Engines’// strongest point. On the face of it, the setting is completely unbelievable. The book is set in a world in which massive cities move around on tractor treads. Come on! Yet as Reeve describes London and the world outside it, you find yourself totally suspending disbelief and immersing yourself in this bizarre place. Through his evocative use of language, Reeve makes this unbelievable world come alive.
 * Voice:** This book is told in the omniscient third-person, which allows Reeve to present the two threads of the story at the same time and still maintain credibility.
 * Theme:** A subtle warning that if humanity doesn’t learn from its mistakes, it will keep trying to destroy itself. The book also serves as a reminder that war is all-consuming (note the clever symbolism of the cities that actually eat each other). Reeve does a nice job with the theme, putting it out there, but not bashing his reader over the head with it.
 * Characters:** For the most part, the characters in this book are well drawn and believable. However, Katherine, the daughter of the villain, is slightly cardboard and a little too good to be true. We’ve seen the stereotypical good girl who is disillusioned by Daddy one too many times. Ditto with Hester Shaw: The reader has met disfigured girls seeking revenge for the cruel murder of their parents. However, Reeve handles even these stock characters nicely. All three main characters, Tom, Katherine, and Hester learn a lot over the course of the book, and this growth is interesting to follow.
 * Language:** Well-written, but not a standout.
 * Overall:** I really enjoyed this book and will probably pick up the remaining volumes in the series at some point. I would definitely recommend it to older sci-fi fans (excessive violence renders it unsuitable for middle school). It was a fun read, and Reeve’s skill with the setting is admirable. However, the writing isn’t quite strong enough to merit a Printz nomination. ||
 * //Fat Kid Rules the World// by K.L. Going (Puffin Books, 2003) || //School Library Journal,// Best of 2003 List
 * [|Electronic version]
 * Click below for hard copy

[|SLJ Fat Kid Review.pdf], Starred

Kirkus Reviews

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004]

[|YALSA Printz Honor] || **Story:** Homeless, skinny, guitar hero, Curt MacCrae strikes up an unlikely friendship with overweight Troy Billings when Curt saves Troy from suicide by the F train. Strangely enough, Curt wants Troy to be the drummer in the band he is forming, even though Troy doesn’t know how to play the drums and is the epitome of uncool. I thought the story dragged quite a lot in the middle. Although the various twists and turns allowed for comedy (yes, despite the suicidal beginnings, the book is funny), they just weren’t that interesting. Also, I didn’t think the book was believable. You don’t just pick up the drums in a few weeks and get good enough to play in hip New York clubs. Furthermore, what father in his right mind would allow his son to bring home an apparent junky?
 * Setting:** Although K.L. Going lived in New York City for a while, she’s not a native, and it shows. She makes geographical mistakes, and at one point has Troy, who lives in the East Village, call a taxi. While a New Yorker might call a car service, they would never call a taxi. Aside from mistakes like these, the setting is largely forgettable.
 * Voice:** The book is told in the first person, which allows Troy to express his angst all the more effectively. It also keeps Curt at a distance, however. We see him only through Troy’s perspective. Since the book is about both characters’ growth, I’m not sure if this is an ideal use of voice. Still, Troy is an endearing narrator, and he kept me laughing, so I can’t discount the book too much on these grounds.
 * Theme:** The book is about conquering demons. Troy learns to harness his inner coolness and let it all hang out, despite his obesity. And Curt learns to open up and let other people in. Essentially, the theme is to not let fear dominate your life. Going delivers this message nicely—she doesn’t drive it home with a sledgehammer, but the reader isn’t going to miss it, either.
 * Characters:** This aspect of the book bothers me no end. The author is apparently a huge Nirvana fan, and has “borrowed” the band’s guitarist, Kurt Corbain, to build the character of Curt. I found this hugely annoying on two counts. First, as an author, you should have enough originality to invent your own characters. Second, once I figured out what Going was doing, the book came across as self-indulgent hero worship. I also wonder if current young-adult readers have any idea who Kurt Corbain was. In terms of other characters, the book is somewhat spotty. Troy is very well done, really believable, and incredibly funny. His father and brother and Curt’s band friends are all pretty much stock characters, however.
 * Language:** Troy’s wry observations are funny and snappy, but overall, the writing isn’t anything special.
 * Overall:** I’m amazed that this book received a Printz Honor. Almost all the books I read from the year were stronger candidates than this piece of groupie fiction. Despite my complaints, however, I would probably still buy it for a collection, because it would be a good choice for older boys, particularly those who might otherwise be disinclined to read. The high volume of profanities and the presence of drugs would rule it out for the younger end of the YA spectrum. ||
 * //The First Part Last// by Angela Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 2003) || //Kirkus Reviews//

Note: //Kirkus// did not star this book

//[|SLJ First Part Review.pdf]//

//[|Booklist First Part Review.pdf],// starred review

Note //SLJ// did not give this book a star or include it on the Best of 2003 list.

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004]

[|YALSA Printz Award] || See Discussion page || (Alfred A. Knopf, 2003) || //Kirkus Reviews,// starred
 * //Milkweed// by Jerry Spinelli

//School Library Journal// Review

//[|Booklist Milkweed Review.pdf]//

//[|SLJ Milkweed Review.pdf]//

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004] || See Nominations page ||
 * //Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case// by Chris Crowe (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2003) || //Kirkus Reviews//

//School Library Journal,// Best of 2003
 * [|Electronic version]
 * Hard copy: [|SLJ Best of 2003.pdf]

[|SLJ Murder Review.pdf]

//[|Booklist Murder Review.pdf]//

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004] || **Organization:** The structure of this book is unfortunately confusing. At first, it seems like it will have a thematic organization, but after a chapter or two, it moves into a chronological structure. As a result of this mixed-up narrative, the book is occasionally repetitive, which leaves the reader even more confused, in a, “Wait, haven’t I heard this before?” sort of a way.
 * Accuracy:** Chris Crowe is an English professor, who has written a novel about Emmett Till. Presumably, he has done lots of research on the topic, but I would be happier if this book had been written by a history professor. Also, the opening chapter starts with a novelistic re-creation of the events leading up to Emmett Till’s murder. I find this treatment incredibly suspect in a book that is meant to be non-fiction. The lack of adequate sourcing (see below) raises still more questions about the book’s accuracy.
 * Documentation of Sources:** Although this book has a bibliography and an additional resources page, it does not have notes. In a work of history about an incident where so many details are unknown, this lack is particularly egregious.
 * Author Authority:** See accuracy.
 * Bias:** It would be hard not to reveal some bias in this description of one of the ugliest incidents in American history, so I don’t think Crowe’s evident bias in this instance is a negative. Furthermore, he doesn’t get particularly preachy; he lets the gruesome facts speak for themselves. //Kirkus// accuses Crowe of occasionally becoming histrionic, but again, I feel his attitude is warranted by the topic.
 * Design and Illustration:** I’m not sure who the designer was on this book, but he/she really should consider another career. Honestly, //orange// captions, headings, and even page numbers? It took a real effort to keep my eyes focused on the text, and after I was done reading, I needed an Advil. The black and white photographs are useful additions and supplement the content. However, there could be more photos. There are far too many pages that are just large blocks of text.
 * Content:** There are other books about Emmett Till, including a handful aimed at young adults, so this book doesn’t have the advantage of unique content. Still, it tells a story that bears repeating.
 * Overall:** When I first picked up this book, my hopes were high. There are so many great, unrecognized works of YA non-fiction on the market, and I was hoping to nominate one. However, in this instance, I was disappointed. The book doesn’t truly excel on any grounds. And, given its inadequate sourcing, I’m not even convinced I would buy it for a collection. If I did, it would be with middle-school students in mind. The lack of notes would preclude it from use by high-school students, whose research needs are more intensive. ||
 * //The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things// by Carolyn Mackler (Candlewick Press, 2003) || //Kirkus Reviews//

[|SLJ Round Objects Review.pdf]

//[|Booklist Round Objects Review.pdf]//

[|YALSA Printz Honor]

[|YALSA Best Books for YA 2004] || **Story:** I found the plot to be highly formulaic. I’m certain I’ve read more than once the story of an overweight girl with a seemingly perfect family who discovers a) that her family is not as flawless as it seems and b) that it’s possible to be cool without being skinny. While the date-rate twist is most likely unique—the protagonist’s brother is found to be guilty of date rate and suspended from Columbia for a term—the idea of a catastrophe in the family causing an under-confident teen to learn to accept herself is not.
 * Setting:** Nothing special. Like many YA books, this story is set in New York City, but the City doesn’t assume any special role and isn’t vividly described. The protagonist, Virginia, attends a generic private school and lives in a generic upper middle-class New York apartment.
 * Voice:** The first-person narrative here is very effective. Virginia, the protagonist, narrates the story in a way that reads very much like a journal, and even includes snippets from her own journal. This approach makes sense since the book is very much about her personal journey from an insecure couch potato to an assertive, independent girl with an eyebrow ring. Giving the other characters a voice would make no sense, since they are all pretty much props in the drama that is Virginia’s teen years.
 * Theme:** It’s okay to accept yourself for who you are: Seems like an after-school special to me. Seeming perfection frequently hides deep imperfections: Cliché.
 * Characters:** The book is really about Virginia’s growth as a person. She truly comes into her own over the course of this novel, and this is where the book excels. She is well drawn, believable, and interesting. Sadly, her supporting cast isn’t as fully developed. Her parents are stereotypical, particularly the mother who is an expert at lowering her daughter’s self-esteem. I’m certain I’ve seen the mother/daughter shopping trip from hell scene more than once. And then there’s the wise, understanding teacher, the mean popular kid with the eating disorder, the widely admired big brother, etc.
 * Language:** Nothing special.
 * Overall:** Yet again, I’m amazed at the Printz Committee’s choice of Honor Books for 2004. Although not badly written, this book isn’t anything special. It’s unoriginal and unexciting, and I wouldn’t nominate it. Nonetheless, I probably would include it in a library aimed at older students who could handle the mature descriptions of date rape and making out. Although I found the theme somewhat clichéd, there are kids out there who still haven’t gotten the message that it’s OK to be different; it would be nice to be able to give them this book. ||

Christina Mattessich
(Publisher, Publication Date) || Author || Review Starred Y/N || Story || Setting || Voice || Theme || Characters || Like/Dislike || (Simon & Schusterm 2003) || Angela Johnson || * 2004 Michael L. Printz Award Winner
 * Book Title
 * //The First Part Last//
 * Book List Editor's Choice
 * Starred Reviewed in BookList
 * Starred Reviewed in SLJ
 * Starred Reviewed in Publishers Weekly
 * Reviewed by Kirkus || A story about, Bobby a 16 your old single father. || Takes place in the urban setting of New York City, however at the end the reader finds out that Bobby and his daughter Feather will be moving to Heaven, Ohio. || The story is told from Bobby's point of view. The chapters alternate between Bobby's thoughts, actions, and conversations of "then" and "now" (during the pregnancy and now as a father).

There is one chapter told in Nia's voice right before she is hospitalized. || The theme of this story is responsibility and accepting the consequences of one's actions. Bobby is trying to do the right thing and be a good father at the same time he is making many sacrifices in trying to be a responsible person. || __Bobby__: main character, father of Feather, boyfriend of Nia, 16 year old boy. __Feather__: daughter of Bobby and Nia. __Nia__: mother of Feather and boyfriend of Bobby. She becomes pregnant at 16 and comes from an upper-class family. Nia has irreversible coma after giving birth. __Mary__: Bobby's mother. __Fred__: Bobby's father. __K-Boy and J.L.__: Bobby's friends. __Cocco__: Bobby brings Feather to her house to watch her while he is at school. || I enjoyed this realistic story. It deals with a difficult matter in a delicate manner. The lyrical writing style is beautiful and emotional. || (Candlewick Press, 2003) || Jennifer Donnelly || * 2004 Michael L. Printz Honor Book __Froggy Welsh the Fourth__: 15 year old boy that goes to Brewster with Virgina, they have a physical relationship in the beginning of the novel, it stops after Virgina finds out that her brother committed date rape, they become friends at the novels end. __Shannon__: Virgina's best friend who moves to Walla Walla, Washington. Virgina visits her during Thanksgiving break, buying her own plane tickets against her mother's permission. __Byron Shreves__: Virginia's brother who commits date rape while attending Columbia University. __Dr. Phyllis Shreves:__ the mother of Virginia, Byron, and Anais. She is a successful adolescent psychologist who is not successful in parenting her own teenagers. She is obsessed with Virginia's obesity. __Anais Shreves__: Virgina's older sister who is the Peace Corps. || I enjoyed this realistic novel with it's humor, romance, and shocking twist. The journal entries and e-mails added another layer of appeal to the book. The book deals with serious issues, however the ending is very hopeful. Virginia's transformation into someone who speaks her own mind and becomes her own unique self is a great message. || __Alan__: The older of the teenage brothers who attempt to rob the café. He is a fairly decent boy only trying to support his mother’s cancer treatment. He makes sure that their weapons are unarmed and are just used as a scare tactic. As the story progresses re learns about Zach’s illness and takes pity on him realizing Zach’s situation is much worse then his own unfortunate life, because Zach is stuck with his illness forever. __Joey__: Alan’s younger brother who thinks Zach is mentally “retarded” and does not understand Zach like his brother does. He is afraid and looks to Allan for guidance. __Dr. Curtis__: Zach’s doctor. Alan and Joey trust him; because Zach trusts him (Alan believes Zach is not capable of lying). He acts as the messenger between Alan and Joey and the cops during the hostage situation. || I have mixed feelings about this realistic fiction book. This book was suspenseful, fast-paced, character driven, and intricately plotted - all keeping the interest of the reader. However, my lack of knowledge about schizophrenia makes me wonder how true are the symptoms portrayed in the book. || (Hyperion, 2003) || Gordon Korman || * 2004 Best Book for Young Adults __Rick__: He is the narrator of the novel. A teh novel progresses he see the injustice of the high school class system and changes his loyalty and companionship from Todd to Jake. __Todd__: The quarterback and most popular guy in school - whatever he says goes. His girlfriend is Didi, although he cheats on her with Melissa. He is suspicious of Jake and wants to bring him "down," because he knows Didi cheating on him with Jake. __Didi__: She attends an all girls high school in the nearing neighborhood. Todd's girlfriend, not because she likes, but because of status. Although she likes Jake, she will not go out with him even after he becomes popular, because Todd's social ranking is more stable. She comes to Jake's rescue when Nelson tries to beat him up. She takes a champagne bottle and cracks it over his head causing serious injuries. However, when the police come to the scene she does not admit to her crime, letting Jake take the blame. __Nelson__: the biggest, toughest defense man on the football team. He finds out Todd was cheating with his girlfriend Melissa and seeks revenge. Todd twists the story and makes Nelson believe it was Jake. Nelson therefore seeks revenge on Jake. __Melissa__: Nelson's girlfriend, however she cheats on him with Todd. || This retelling of __The Great Gatsby__ in high school setting, instead of high society is engaging. Although it does not compare to the great American novel it still contains high drama for its high school characters and audience. This realistic fiction novel is character driven and engaging with many romantic triangles. ||
 * //The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things//
 * Reviewed in BookList
 * Reviewed in SLJ
 * Reviewed in Publishers Weekly
 * Reviewed in Kirkus
 * found in __500 Great Books for Teens__ by Anita Silvey (2006) || 15 year old Virginia is trying to cope with her self image with a family that is think a good-looking. She also experiences her first physical relationship with Froggy Welsh the Fourth. She also has to come to terms with her disillusionment of her brother Byron, who is not the super star and great brother she thinks he is after he commits date rape. || The setting of this story is various place in New York City including the Shreves Manhattan apartment, Columbia University, a small private school Brewster. The story also takes place in Walla Walla Washington. || The story is told in the first person narrative from Virginia's perspective - through her thoughts, actions, conversations, and e-mails. || There are many themes in this book. Most important is liking your self image inside and out. Other themes woven into the novel are weight issues, teen sex, acceptance, and teen rebellion. || __Virgina Shreves__: main character, 15 year old over weight girl, best friend moved away, has a seemingly "perfect" family except for her.
 * //Inside Out// (Harpertempest, 2003) || Terry Trueman || * 2004 Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
 * 2004 Best Book for Young Adults
 * Reviewed in SLJ
 * Reviewed in Publishers Weekly
 * Reviewed in Kirkus
 * found in __Teen Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests__ Second Edition by Diana Tixier Herald (2003) || Zach is a 16 year old boy with schizophrenia caught up in an attempted robbery by two teen brothers in a cafe who hold him hostage. || The story takes place in a Spokane coffee shop after school and continues into the night. || The story is told from Zach's view point. Each chapter however, begins with either a selection from Dr. Curtis's reports or letters to Zach's mother or letter from Zach's mother to Dr. Curtis. The last chapter is a newspaper article about the outcome of the event three months later. There is also a running of nonsensical string or words at the bottom of every few pages to show what Zach is continually hearing in his head. || This book deals with the issues of mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. There is also this underling idea about teenagers’ responses to difficulties in their family life. This is seen through Alan and Joe and the reasoning behind their attempted robbery is to provide money for cancer treatment of their unemployed single mother. || __Zach__: A 16 year old boy with schizophrenia who offers to be held hostage during an attempted robbery, allowing the other hostages their freedom. He hears two voices inside his head (as a result of his schizophrenia), “Dirtbag” and “Rat,” that persistently urge him to commit suicide. Three months after the attempted robbery he commits suicide.
 * //Jake, Reinvented//
 * Reviewed in BookList
 * Reviewed in SLJ
 * Reviewed in Publishers Weekly || Senior high school student, Rick becomes friends with new senior Jake Garrett, who hosts outstanding parties. Later on the reader learns about his nerdy past and the reason he transforms himself is to win over Didi. Unfortunately his plan backfires. || The setting of this story is at Fitzgerald high school, Jake's house, a mall, and a court house. || The narrator of this novel is Rick, although the story is mainly about Jake. We see everything from Rick's perspective and learn about Jake through Rick's eyes. || The themes that run through this novel are loyalty, deception, jealousy, suspicion, dependability, companionship, vanity, and hierarchy. Rick is loyal to Todd making sure he does not get caught cheating. Todd becomes jealous of Jake's popularity and Todd does not want to share that status of most popular. Todd deceives his girlfriend when he cheats and Didi deceives Todd when she cheats with Jake. The football teammates depend on each other during games and in social situations. Rick and Jake become friends, forming a companionship. Todd is suspicious of Jake's previous life before he moved into town. Most of the high school students are vain - concerned about their appearance and what it means in their social status. The teammates and high school students have a strict hierarchy or class system. || __Jake__: He fell in love with Didi two years prior when he was her math tutor, however she wouldn't be seen in public with him, because of his nerd status and her popularity status. He planned to win her over by reinventing himself in a new school as a popular football player that hosts incredible parties. He willingly takes the blame of seriously injuring Nelson, resulting in a court decision of suspension and moving with his mother to another part of the country.