Catcher Caught

Name of Book:   Catcher Caught Author:   Sarah Collins Honenberger Illustrator:   None Publisher:   Amazon Encore Audience:   High School and adult (age 15+) Summary:   Daniel, a high school student, has been diagnosed with a virulent form of leukemia.  Even with chemotherapy, his doctors estimate he has only one year to live.  But his overprotective parents don’t trust [...]

A Gathering of Angels

Name of Book:  A Gathering of Angels Author:  Peter Eyvindson Illustrator:  Walnes Cangas, Julner Remy, Lucson Petit-Homme Publisher:  Broken Wings Missions, Inc. Audience:  Ages 8 and up Summary:  A Gathering of Angels is a collection of prayers written by the boys who call the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Port au Prince, Haiti home. [...]

Catching Fire

Name of Book:  Catching Fire Author:  Suzanne Collins Book Design:  Elizabeth Parisi Publisher:  Scholastic Press Audience:  Ages 12 and up Summary:  The second in a trilogy of science fiction stories, Catching Fire is written for adolescent youth and older due to graphic and violent content. Katniss and Peeta were victors of the 74th Hunger Games. [...]

The Hunger Games

Name of Book:  The Hunger Games Author:  Suzanne Collins Book Design:  Phil Falco Publisher:  Scholastic Press Audience:  Ages 12 and up Summary:  The first in a trilogy of science fiction stories, The Hunger Games is written for adolescent youth and older due to graphic and violent content. Katniss Everdeen is a 16 year old girl [...]

How to (un)Cage a Girl

Name of Book:   How to (Un)Cage a Girl Author:  Francesca Lia Block Publisher:  Joanna Cotler Books/HarperTeen (2008) Audience:  16 – adult females.  Personally, I would have placed this book in the adult poetry section rather than YA, since it pushes beyond the personal experiences of YA readers.  That being said, it would be useful with [...]

Ysabel

Name of Book: Ysabel Author:  Guy Gavriel Kay Illustrator :  Larry Rostant (cover art) Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Audience:   Adolescents – Adults Summary:     Fifteen year old Canadian, Ned Marriner, “blunders into a corner of a very old story” of Celtic and Roman histories and mythologies.  In an ancient place, where the borders between the [...]

The River and the Rain – The Lord’s Prayer

Name of Book:   The River and the Rain – The Lord’s Prayer Author:  Bijou Le Tord Illustrator:  Bijou Le Tord Publisher:  Doubleday Audience:  Although this book is published for “all ages” and is one of Doubleday’s Books for Young Readers, I actually would not use this book with young children.  I would give it a [...]

Mama’s Girl

Name of Book:  Mama’s Girl Author:   Veronica Chambers Publisher:  The Berkley Publishing Group Audience:  Girls 12-19. Summary: This is a non-fiction book of an African American female, Veronica Chambers. It traces her stormy life from childhood to adulthood. The book vividly details the distant relationship of her mother, the abusive, neglectful relationship of her father, [...]

What Keeps Me Standing

Name of Book: What Keeps Me Standing Author: Dennis Kimbro Publisher: Harlem Moon Audience: Girls ages 10-19 Summary: Actual letters written from African American grandmothers on Survival, Love, Prayer, Hope, etc. It is book which reaps the richness and wisdom of a generation whose shoulders we stand on.  Many of the letters share a brief [...]

Making the Run

Name of Book:   Making the Run Author:   Heather Henson Publisher:   Joanna Cotler Books (a division of HarperCollins) Audience:   Young adults ages 16 – 21 (this books deals with mature themes of habitual drug use, sexual activity, and death). I would also lean toward using this novel primarily with females.  I would not use this book [...]