November 9

Hoover, C. (2015). November 9. New York: Atria Paperback.
Meeting one another was not planned. Their relationship was not planned. Their love for one another was not planned, but their attraction to one another keeps them together. With Fallon moving across country, she and Ben keep a long distance relationship that is not typical. No phone calls or emails. Only meet once a year back in the same place they first met. Ben is working on writing a novel, but it was not until Fallon that his novel took off. His history is his connection to Fallon, but her finding out is the breaking point for her. Although he is the reason for her physical scars, can Fallon move on to love Ben when she finds out he caused her pain and suffering, lost of a career, and isolation when she finds his novel hidden?

Oh my goodness ... Once again, I am in awe. Once again, I paced anxiously through the house becoming wrapped up within the story. Reading the events of the story and how they all connected, how Ben and Fallon were connected, I questioned myself if I were in Fallon's position, love the person who caused so much hurt physically and emotionally, even if it were not intended?

I thought it was crazy how Ben and Fallon held onto their promise of meeting in the same place, on the same day once a year, at the same time to be a bit unrealistic. Maybe because I have never had to make or deal with this scenario? As I read the book, I was able to see true emotions, internal chaos in loving someone you could not have. Ben and Fallon learn to fight for themselves and one another in their awkward relationship.

Invisible

Hautman, P. (2006). Invisible. New York: Simon Pulse.

Something about Dougie is just not matching up. His friendship with Andy and their conversations about fire, makes the reader question what exactly is wrong with Dougie. Taunted at school, Dougie becomes isolated from his peers and obsesses about finishing the 22,400 matches in the basement. It isn’t until the end that the reader realizes that Dougie is talking to his deceased friend, Andy, who died in one of the fires he and Dougie set. When Dougie’a parents enroll him in a school where he will be monitored, Dougie lashes out by setting his last fire, the 22,400 matches in the basement.

The protagonist of the story tragically crumbles beneath his mental state and coming to terms with his involvement in the death of his best friend. Adolescents of age 12 and up can see what can happen when playing with fire and the consequences that come along with carelessness. This dark realistic fiction deals with death, denial, bullying, and coming to terms with ones consequences. This book provides teachers an opportunity to use as an example of what happens when individuals are careless with their behavior and actions.

We Were Liars

Lockhart, E. (2013). We were liars. New York, NY: Random House Children's Books. Summers at the family’s private island were something to look forward to. Candace spent time with extended family and her crush Gat. It’s summer fifteen that Candace has to figure out what happened to her and why her summer came to a halt.  

This book is intended for young adults, intermediate school and above, as readers will encounter Candace's emotional ordeal of coming to terms with the deaths of those close to her. It meets the criteria of a young adult book because the protagonist of the story is a teenager and the narrator of the story. Teachers could this book to discuss foreshadowing and flashbacks of events. They could use this to teach inferencing and making conclusions as well. 

Skulduggery Pleasant

Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. New York, New York: Harper Collins. Stephanie’s Uncle Gordon has passed away and she is awarded his home with other items, while her aunt and uncle are not pleased with a broach and a car. Stephanie meets one of Uncle Gordon’s friends, Skulduggery Pleasant, a detective with a od appearance. Series of events happen throughout the book to lead Stephanie and Skulduggery Pleasant to believe her Uncle Gordon was murdered by a Sorcerer Nefarine Serphine, Skulduggery Pleasant’s rival, in search for something so valuable to humanity, that Uncle Gordon hide it knowing it’s power. Landy presents a murder mystery involving magic and sorcery. Students will not be able to not involve themselves in the world of magic, trickery, murder, and secrets. Teachers can use this book to discuss inferencing and identifying character traits and qualities withholder readers. Attached is an ideal lesson teacher’s can use to provide writing prompts. http://static.squarespace.com/static/533e5b23e4b089b274abbdc9/t/53f6c9a9e4b009642c5abff2/1408682409092/2010_2011_6Middleschool.pdf