Period 8

Crutcher, C. (2013). Period 8. New York: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.  With two plots intertwining between one another, high school student athlete, Paul, faces events that he least expected, all that have to deal with telling the truth, from cheating on his girl friend to the disappearance of a classmate. While spending their lunch in Period 8 with Mr. Logs, students discuss anything and everything with the understanding that no one gets hurt and topics stay in the room. When Mary Wells disappears from Period 8, classmates, including Paul, search for her and come across events that lead to chaos and the truth is discovered.

Intended for young adults of 7^th grade and up, Period 8 draws the reader to understand the importance of truth, either way there is a consequence whether good or bad. Content of this realistic fiction include violence, sex, language, and a protagonist who deals with inner struggle of telling the truth. 

Shiver

Stiefvater, M., & Stengel, C. (2009). Shiver. New York: Scholastic Press.

The yellow eyes make her wonder if he was the one who saved her from being eaten alive by the wolf pack. Every winter those yellow eyes return to watch her and he has become her wolf. When tragedy hits her town, Grace rushes home to find a boy on her porch shaking from the cold and his wound. Grace recognizes his yellow eyes and discovers the boy, Sam, is he wolf.  Learning he was the one who saved her and what is happening with the pack, Sam tries to stay human as long as he can and Grace begins to wonder what it was like to be a wolf, while falling in love with one another.

Intended for ages 12 and up, this animal fantasy involves a love story of humans and werewolves. Two different worlds are colliding and Sam and Grace are in the middle of it trying to figure things out while falling hard for one another. Elements of violence, death, and werewolves are present throughout the story. This series could be used to compare and contrast to other fantasy series identifying man versus man, nature, and society conflicts.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why: A novel. New York: Razorbill. When Clay Jenson received a box full of cassette tapes, he was confused as to why, but the note informed him if he didn’t listen to them, there would be consequences.  The voice of on the tapes is Hannah Barker, a dead classmate. As he listened to the tapes, he heard her explain about each and every person, all 13, contributed to her death, how each individual taunted, emotionally and physically, enough to where she eventually killed herself.  With each person, Hannah gives direction to add to her stories. After a night of traveling the town late at night, heartache, and wave after wave of emotion, Clay’s life will never be the same.

This book is meant for ages 12 years-old and up. This dark realistic fiction touches on a range of topics including suicide and death, physical violence and bullying, such as rape. The protagonist, Clay, deals with the grief of losing a classmate while listening to her elaborate as to why she committed suicide. Teachers could use this book to discuss the importance of seeking help when questioning or visiting the thought of suicide. They could also use it to help adolescents see how their actions and comments can affect others and their lives. One never know what is going on is someone else's mind or what they are thinking. 

Thirteen reasons why: A novel is on the NYT Bestseller list for Young Adults.

Looking for Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Miles Halter leaves his home in Florida and begins boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama. He has not left behind very much at all as that he has no friends, just his parents. At 16 years-old, he receives a new nickname, Pudge. He meets his roommate, Chip, who in turn will introduce him to Alaska, Chip’s best friend. Alaska is the girl that all the boys fall in love with, even Pudge.  Through his new friendships, Pudge experiences drinking, smoking, pranks, and his first sexual encounter with his first girlfriend, Laura. As their stories come to life and they learn about each others life, Alaska reveals her unhappiness, but it is how she dealt with it, that caused her life to end. Was it an accident or suicide? Pudge and Chip look for clues, for answers, anything to help them cope with the loss of their friend, Alaska.

This book is meant to be read by young adults 16 years and up. The content of the book contains alcohol, drugs, reference to sex, and death. Green presents a realistic fiction piece that encounter today’s teens. The protagonist, Pudge, discovers who he is, makes friends, and deals with grief as he lost the girl he loved, but never got to really tell. The story is full of action as pranks are pulled on the students within the boarding school as well as trying to stay under the Eagle’s radar.

Looking for Alaska is the 2005 Printz Winner.

Stolen

Christopher, L., Wells, S., & Stengel, C. (2010). Stolen. New York, NY: Chicken House/Scholastic. Traveling with her parents from England to Australia, Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok Airport. Waking up in the Australian Outback, she comes face to face with her kidnapper, Ty. After realizing that escaping is impossible, Gemma begins to adapt to Ty, learns he had watched her for years all the way back home in England, and begins to care for him due to his kindness eventually thinks she is in love with him, like he had hoped. After a life threatening injury, Ty has to return to civilization in order for Gemma to survive. It is then they both realize this was the end. Gemma chronicles her story through journal like entries depicting her event.

The reader cannot help but become involved with Gemma’s emotions with her tragic event. As realistic fiction, Christopher tells a story that is not impossible in today’s society, being stolen from a life that was once ideal, but yours. This book is appropriate for 15 and up as it does deal with a 16 year-old protagonist. Gemma experiences survival in the Outback and returns home is a deathly state, but overcomes her kidnapping. Gemma does endure mental abuse as she struggles with her escape, being told it was best for her, and begins to care for and even begin to love her captor.

Stolen was one of the 2011 Honor Books for the Printz Award.