SUMMARY:

American Street

Ibi Zoboi Balzer + Bray, 2017
336 pages

Fabiola Toussaint and her mother leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti in search of the American dream in Detroit, Michigan with relatives. Setbacks with U.S. immigration leave Fabiola all alone in America to find her way. Differences in American and Haitian cultures leave Fabiola confused and homesick. Will Fabiola be reunited with her mother and find the “une belle vie”- a good life in America?

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
2. Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera
3. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
4. I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez
5. Lu by Jason Reynolds
6. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

WEBSITES:

Ibi Zoboi’s Official Website: http://ibizoboi.net/books/american-street -about the author

Resources for Teaching about Haiti: https://www.teachingforchange.org/teaching-about-haiti-3, Teaching for Change, Building Social Justice Starting in the Classroom

Here’s How Bad Boys Inspired American Street: https://www.epicreads.com/blog/american- street-bad-boys/, Ibi Zoboi’s inspiration to write American Street

BOOKTALK:

Imagine arriving in America in pursuit of the American Dream only to be ripped apart from the only family you have. Fabiola Toussaint and her mother left Haiti for the “une belle vie” (a good life) in America. When her mother is detained by US Immigrations, Fabiola is left alone in America to navigate the American way of life. Fabiola must find her place in America with conflicting American and Haitian values. Is the price of freedom really worth it?

Prepared by: Laura Ward, Greeleyville Elementary School,

Chasing King's Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin

James L. Swanson Scholastic Press, 2018
384 pages

SUMMARY:

In Chasing King's Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin, author James L. Swanson focuses on the events of the last year of Martin’s life, his lasting legacy, and the path taken by James Earl Ray the man who ultimately ended the Dr. King’s life outside of a Memphis motel in 1986. The book opens with an overview of Dr. King’s life and his historic achievements, including snippets of his famous speeches and a previous assassination attempt made against Dr. King by Izola Curry. The next section introduces us to James Earl Ray’s early life and criminal history as a con-man, including the details of his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967. In the third section, Swanson documents the activities of Dr. King as he made his way to Memphis Tennessee. These final days are contrasted with James Earl Ray’s simultaneous surveillance of King, as he laid his sinister plans to assassinate Dr. King and escape. The final section in the book recounts the efforts the FBI and other law enforcement agencies undertook as they worked to apprehend Dr. King’s killer, including how close James Earl Ray actually came to fleeing justice. Swanson also discusses the conspiracy theories that abounded after Dr. King's murder, debunking the myth that others were involved in the plot to assassinate Dr. King. Included at the end of the book are additional resources for readers, these include a timeline of James Earl Ray’s arrest records, a chronology of bills introduced to designate a federal holiday honoring Dr. King, and source notes in timeline format detailing the life and legacy of Dr. King.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
2. “The President Has Been Shot!” by James L. Swanson
3. Martin Lither King, Jr: The Last Interview and other Conversations by Martin Luther King, Jr.
4. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr by Martin Luther King, Jr.

WEBSITES:

Freedom’s Ring, http://freedomsring.stanford.edu/?view=Speech -Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, animated.

The King Center, http://www.thekingcenter.org/about-dr-king , -information about Martin Luther King

Virtual tour of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s childhood home: https://www.nps.gov/features/malu/feat0001/BirthHomeTour/ -tour of home

Stanford University: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/ -general information on Martin Luther King

BOOKTALK:

In Memphis, Tennessee April 1968, a man with a dream steps out on to a balcony at the Lorraine Motel. He was leaving his room for the evening headed to dinner with friends. As he stopped to talk with them, he leaned against the balcony, and unbeknownst to him, the next series of events would change the course of history forever.

The man on the balcony was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who is respected worldwide as a champion and leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The event that changed history was Dr.
King’s assignation at the hands of James Earl Ray, a lifelong con-man and criminal. That single shot, fired from a rifle propped against a bathroom window, set off a multi-national man hunt by the FBI and countless other law enforcement agencies as they raced to uncover and bring to justice Dr. King’s killer.

Who was James Earl Ray and why did he want to kill Dr. King? Read Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin to discover this and more……

Prepared by: Lori Willis-Richards, Union County High School,

Deacon Locke Went to Prom

Brian Katcher
Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017 389 pages

SUMMARY:

Promposals at Deacon Locke's high school are in full swing, but when Deacon decides he'd like to take his grandmother to prom, despite the social fallout, he fears he's squandered his chances when he unexpectedly meets Soraya.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely
2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
3. Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
5. Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
6. Winger by Andrew Smith
7. Things You Either Hate or Love by Brigid Lowry
8. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn
9. Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton

WEBSITES:

Brian Katcher website http://briankatcher.com -books, photos, contact information, events, and Biography

Brian Katcher, Deacon Lock Went to Prom, On Being in Decon’s Shoes Himself, http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2017/05/brian-katcher-deacon-locke-went-to- prom.html# -discussion of the book by the author

YA Books Central,
http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/featured-review-deacon-locke-went-to-prom-brian- katcher -review of Deacon Locke Went to Prom

BOOKTALK:

As promposals take over his school, Deacon realizes there is only one person he feels comfortable taking to prom. This person is his best friend Jean. So he sets up the biggest Promposal he can think of to ask her. There’s one catch. Jean is not a student at Deacon’s school. She’s his grandmother! What happens when he meets Saroya, a girl his own age? Will he turn his back on his grandmother and take Saroya instead? Did he make a mistake when he asked Jean? Read the book to find out what happens.

Prepared by: Caitlin Creagan, Andrew Jackson High School,

SUMMARY:

Dear Martin

Nic Stone
Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017 210 pages

In Dear Martin, high school senior Justyce McAllister attends an exclusive private school. He is on the debate team, makes good grades, and is applying to Yale. Then one night changes his life and puts him on a path that has him questioning the world and his place in it. His Dear Martin project, in which he tries to live like Martin Luther King Jr., is put in jeopardy from the moment he's put in handcuffs. Confronted by racist classmates, skeptical friends from his former neighborhood, and unforeseen violence, Justyce finds himself at the center of controversy regarding police brutality and race. This novel tackles issues that are all too familiar today and shows Justyce, a young African-American teen-ager, struggling to make sense of events that are quickly spiraling out of control.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
2. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
3. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

WEBSITES:

Encyclopedia Britannica- Martin Luther King, Jr. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr This is an encyclopedia entry about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are numerous external links for additional information about his life, the Civil Rights Movement, and other important figures of that time.
Civil Rights Movement- HISTORY
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement Although this site has outside advertisement, it is filled with valuable information. It has informative videos and many outside links which provide rich information about events and important figures from the Movement.
The History of the Ivy League https://www.bestcollegereviews.org/history-ivy-league/ This site provides information about the Ivy League colleges, their history, famous alumni, and the colleges’ impact on society.

BOOKTALK:

You all know me. I am the “geek” with swag. I’m the student who gets along with everybody. I’m the guy who studies hard, get good grades, and am obsessed with getting into Yale. So why did that police officer shove me onto the ground and handcuff me? Did my hoodie make him think I was a threat? My best friend lives on the good side of town with his two parents. He is funny and loyal and believes in the American Dream. Why does something even worse happen to him? Was his rap music really that loud? What did we do wrong? Dr. King, you always

talked about nonviolence and love and unity, but I don’t see any of that right now. So what should I do? All I have are questions….and I need some answers.
Prepared by: Kathy Carroll, Westwood High School,

Dreamland Burning

Jennifer Latham Little, Brown and Co., 2017
371 pages

SUMMARY:

About 100 years separate two stories that are destined to become intertwined. Rowen finds a body underneath a floor at her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She begins her journey to find out who was buried at her home and perhaps why he is there. William is determined to be a good salesman like his step-father. With racial tensions rising in the past and the present, events transpire to connect the two.

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. A Daffodil for Angie by Connie Lacy
2. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
3. Riot by Walter Dean Myers
4. The Amateurs by Sara Shephard
5. City of Angels by Kristi Belcamino
6. Tulsa Burning by Anna Myers

WEBSITES:

Tulsa Historical Society and Museum,
https://tulsahistory.org/learn/online-exhibits/the-tulsa-race-riot/, A look at the history of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.

Jennifer Latham, author of Dreamland Burning, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAu200AUDQ4, Author Jennifer Latham talks about her book Dreamland Burning.

Meet the Last Surviving Witness of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/05/31/615546965/meet-the-last-surviving- witness-to-the-tulsa-race-riot-of-1921, An NPR article detailing one of the last remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921.

BOOKTALK:

2017 - When Rowen finds a body under the floor in her family’s shed, she is determined to find out who the body belongs to and their connection to the house she now lives in. And so begins her foray into the history of her family and her city. When confronted with racism in the past and the present, she must find a way to give a voice to those who are discriminated against and to fight for a future where racism doesn’t exist.

1921 – William lives with an abusive stepfather who owns a Victrola store in Tulsa. While segregation is legal, William begins to question how and why African Americans are treated differently. With racial tensions rising in the city, events escalate to a harrowing night of riots and violence in the city.

Told in alternating narration, Dreamland Burning is a fast-paced suspense thriller that connects past racism to current racial tensions.

Prepared by: Mike LeRoy, Indian Land High School,

SUMMARY:

Everything All At Once

Katrina Leno Harper Teen, 2017
360 pages

Lottie’s aunt, who is a famous bestselling author, dies and leaves Lottie a writing project. The various steps in these writing assignments are designed to get Lottie to live with less caution and to have more fun. At the end of her writing journey, Lottie is faced with a dilemma about her aunt’s famous writings.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOKS, TRY:

1. Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
2. 13 Little Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
3. Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
4. Hawksong by Amedia Atwater-Rhodes
5. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

WEBSITES:

Katrina Leno, http://katrinaleno.com/ , -personal website for Katrina Leno showcasing her books and her photography

Anxiety Disorders, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/anxiety.html , -informative site about anxiety disorders in teenagers

BOOKTALK:

Lottie’s life is full of anxiety. She worries about everything. After her most beloved and famous aunt dies from cancer, Lottie now worries about life and death. Her aunt was famous for writing a series of books called Alvin Hatter which was about kids who found a way to get immortality. In her will, Lottie’s aunt leaves a writing project for Lottie. The apparent objective of these assignments is to get Lottie to be less anxious and to have more fun. Only, Lottie discovers her aunt’s secret to creating the plot of her famous “non-fiction” series. What should Lottie do with her aunt’s biggest secret? Read to find out what the secret is and what Lottie decides to do with it.

Prepared by: Donna Roberts, Rock Hill High School,

Far From the Tree Robin Benway Harperteen, 2017
374 pgs

SUMMARY:

When 16 year old Grace gives her newborn daughter up for adoption, she decides that she wants to know more about her birth family. She discovers that she not only has a younger sister but also an older brother. Maya is known to talk a lot and has a dark sense of humor that has always stood out in her adopted family. When her family's dark secrets start to come to light she struggles to understand her place in it all. Joaquin was the only one of the three who was never adopted and spent is life jumping from foster home to foster home. He has never felt like he was worth loving. Will the genes that bind them help or hurt as they struggle to deal with their personal struggles.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg
2. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz
3. Find A Stranger, Say Goodbye by Lois Lowry
4. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5. My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

WEBSITES:

Adoption.org, https://adoption.org/ , Learn about how adoption works as well as the steps someone can take to find their birth family.

Robin Benway, https://www.robinbenway.com/ , Visit the author’s website.

Human Services, https://www.humanservicesedu.org/adoption-foster-care.html , Explore career options in adoption services and requirements.

BOOKTALK:

Grace is an AP student and has never been in trouble until she becomes pregnant at 16. She feels that giving the baby up for adoption is the right thing to do but struggles with worrying whether she has chosen the right family for her little girl or not. Grace decides that she needs to do something she never thought she would do: find her birth family. She discovers that she has not only one but two siblings. A younger sister and an older brother. Maya was adopted at birth. A short spunky brunette, she has never felt like she completely fits in with her tall red headed family. When her parents tell her that her older sister wants to contact her she isn’t sure how to feel about it. She doesn’t even know this girl but when her mother’s dark secret comes to light having older siblings might be helpful. Joaquin was taken from his mother when he was a year old. Even though he came close a couple times, he has never been adopted. He spent his childhood jumping from foster family to foster family. He is happy with the couple he lives with now, but how long is that going to last? When his birth sisters contact him, he can’t help but be

interested in having family. But what if he ruins their lives with his dark past? Three teens with very different lives come together because of their shared genetic history. How will discovering that you are not alone change your life? Will it be for the better or just make everything harder?

Prepared by: Jessica Nuckolls, Orangeburg County Library,

Glow

Megan E. Bryant
Albert Whitman and Company, 2017 272 pages

SUMMARY:

After discovering hidden glowing images in her thrift store paintings, Julie unravels their dangerous secret to a mystery dating back a century ago.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Paper Towns by John Green
2. Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach
3. Last Shot by John Feinstein
4. Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

WEBSITES:

Mae Keane, One of the Last ‘Radium Girls’, Dies at 107, https://www.npr.org/2014/12/28/373510029/saved-by-a-bad-taste-one-of-the-last-radium-girls-di
es-at-107, NPR article containing background information and firsthand account of working with radium as a dial painter

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, https://www.osha.gov/workers/, learn about your rights under OSHA law

Press Kit for Glow, http://meganebryant.com/glow-press.php, author’s bio, book synopsis, media downloads, and fact sheet

BOOKTALK:

Imagine it is 1917 and you’re helping the war effort as a dial painter, painting numbers that glow-in-the-dark on watches for soldiers. It’s a detailed job; painting tiny numbers is difficult, unless you’ve learned the trick of lip-pointing - using your lips to create the perfect paint brush tip. Now, jump to present day. While thrift store shopping you purchase antique paintings that reveal hidden glowing scenes when in the dark. Gruesome glowing scenes. Who painted these scenes and why? You become obsessed to find the answers. Yet, searching for the answers may unknowingly kill you and everyone you come into contact with in the process.

Prepared by: Adina Wilson, White Knoll High School,

SUMMARY:

Grit

Gillian French
Harper Collins Publishers, 2017 320 pages

Seventeen year old Darcy has a history of being the town bad girl. Darcy likes hanging out with her friends and being a rebellious teenager and has her mind set on getting out of town, but she cannot outrun the rumors about her. Darcy’s friend Rhiannon has been missing for nearly a year, and police officer Edgecombe believes Darcy knows more than she is telling. As the anniversary of Rhiannon’s disappearance approaches, Darcy starts to wonder what really happened.
Meanwhile, an anonymous admirer nominates Darcy to participate in the town’s Bay Festival pageant alongside her intellectually challenged cousin Nell. Practicing for the pageant, keeping a secret for Nell, competing against adversary Shea in the blueberry fields raking contest, and trying to learn what happened to Rhiannon all test Darcy’s grit to keep everything under control.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
2. After the Woods by Kim Savage
3. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
4. The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
5. Pointe by Brandy Colbert
6. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
7. This Is How It Happened by Paula Stokes

WEBSITES:

Gillian French, https://gillianfrench.com/, visit the author’s website.
The Invisible Harvest, https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/15/the-invisible-harvest/, learn about the plight of migrant workers along the east coast.
Maine’s Blueberries,
https://www.wildblueberries.com/blog/fresh-maine-blueberries-a-summer-tradition/, learn about the Maine blueberry season.

BOOKTALK:

What do you do when your reputation has been compromised? Darcy seems to be okay with her reputation, but she hides many secrets. Gillian French weaves an emotional tale that has Darcy regretting her past with Shea, hoping for something with Jesse, and trying to protect Nell from a past mistake. Even though her reputation has been compromised, Darcy has been nominated by an anonymous person to participate in the Bay Festival pageant against her cousin Nell. How can she participate in the pageant when she feels she’s not worthy? In the middle of all the drama, Darcy begins begins to wonder what happened to her once best friend Rhiannon on the one-year anniversary of her disappearance. Where did she go? Why did she go? Is she dead?
French’s answers may surprise you.

Prepared by: Michelle Greene, Lamar High School,

SUMMARY:

I Believe in a Thing Called Love

Maurene Goo
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2018 336 pages

High school senior Desi Lee is able to make a plan for everything. It’s how she’s manages to stay at the top of her class, become a star soccer player, lead many organizations, keep her friends close, and help her and her dad heal from the passing of her mother. Yes, she has a plan for everything—including love, which she starts forming after meeting Luca, a new student.
Following steps gleaned from watching Korean Dramas with her dad, Desi sets out to get her first boyfriend. Will her plan work, or will she learn that somethings just can’t be planned?

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
2. It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm
3. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
4. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
5. The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions) by Amy Spalding
6. The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You by Lily Anderson

WEBSITES:

Common K-Drama elements, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOVKJEdwEl8
-a video with descriptions of the elements of a Korean television drama

Discovering Korean Drama, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZegbSbzCAg -a video explaining why Korean Dramas are so addictive:

Expert Explains Why Korean Dramas Are So Addictive,
https://nextshark.com/why-korean-dramas-are-so-addicting/ -an article that explains addictions to these dramas

I Believe in a Thing Called Love, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmShDaSqrJA
- a book trailer video

Meet the author, Maurene Goo, https://maurenegoo.com/ -information about the author

BOOKTALK:

High school senior Desi Lee is successful: she is top of her class, a star soccer player, president of several organizations, and looking to get into her choice school, Stanford. The one area of life that the organized and detail-oriented Desi has not been able to succeed in is love. Each time she has a crush, she has an embarrassing knack for turning any encounter into an awkward situation… something her friends affectionately refer to as a “flailure,” or a flirting failure. But when new student Luca comes to school, she’s determined to make him fall in love with her.

After spending a weekend watching Korean dramas with her father, Desi is armed with a 24-step plan to make Luca love her. What follows is a hilarious adherence to the rules, no matter the risk, that will have you rooting for Desi, her widowed father, her friends, and the elusive Luca, to all believe in a thing called love.

Prepared by: Allison Hall, Newberry High School,

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

Leigh Bardugo Imprint (MPS), 2017
242 pages

SUMMARY:

This is a collection of fairy tales, but not your grandmother’s fairy tales! Each has a twist that you’ll never see coming. Skip the audio and ebook versions so that you can enjoy the gorgeous illustrations, which build with each turn of the page.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
2. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
3. Girls Made of Snow & Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
4. Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire

WEBSITES:

Leigh Bardugo’s webiste: https://www.leighbardugo.com/
This is the author’s official website, which has information about the author, her bio, upcoming events, her books, the Grishaverse universe she created, quizzes, and more!

Teacher Vision:
https://tinyurl.com/ya3qazuq This is a link to a teacher’s guide for the book.

BOOKTALK:

How many of you have read the original Little Mermaid story? The one by Hans Christian Andersen? So you know that things didn’t end too well for the mermaid, right? What about Hansel & Gretel? Did you ever wonder about the dad and why he would put up with a wife who was happy to leave his children to die in the forest? Is there anyone else here who felt traumatized by the ending of The Velveteen Rabbit? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then The Language of Thorns is the book for you! It’s full of dark, twisted fairy tales with endings that you wish had been in the classics that we grew up with - mermaids that don’t give their life for a love interest who doesn’t know they exist, children who have a real happy ending rather than ending up with a weak neglectful parent, and princesses who are prized for their brains and resourcefulness, not their beauty. Make sure you pick up a print copy of this book so that you can enjoy the gorgeous illustrations that grow as you turn each page.

Prepared by: Marti Brown, Westwood High School

A List of Cages Robin Roe Hyperion, 2017
310 pages

SUMMARY:

Five years ago, Julian lived with Adam and his mother. He was in foster care after the tragic death of his parents until he only living relative, an uncle, was located and he went to live with him. The uncle refused to allow any contact between Julian and Adam. Eventually, Adam’s memories of Julian faded until a fateful day in high school when Adam, a senior, was assisting the school psychologist and reconnected with Julian, a freshman, who was having some issues adjusting. Told from the alternating perspectives of the two boys, A List of Cages is an “uncomfortable” book that will make you think.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
2. The Last Exit to Normal by Michael B. Harmon
3. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
4. Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco
5. The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork
6. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
7. When We Collided by Emery Lord

WEBSITE:

Robin Roe, http://www.robinroewriter.com, official website of Robin Roe.

BOOKTALK:

It’s been five years since Adam last saw Julian. Julian was his foster brother for a few months after the death of his parents until he went to live with his uncle. Adam, now a senior in high school was lucky enough to schedule one of his class periods as an aide to the school psychologist. During one of those periods, Adam is sent to escort Julian to the school psychologist’s office. Adam has always liked the younger boy and takes him under his wing. As their friendship grows, Adam realizes that Julian is hiding something. Determined to help Julian, Adam puts both their lives in danger. Robin Roe’s, debut novel, is an emotional roller coaster with a powerful punch.

Prepared by: Kim Hudson, parent

Long Way Down

Jason Reynolds Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2017
306 pages

SUMMARY:

This a story written in verse about a teenage boy who's just lost his brother to gun violence and sets out to exact revenge. However, as he's taking the elevator down, he is visited by other victims of gun violence that make him rethink his actions. A Long Way Down is A Christmas Carol for this generation.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Solo by Kwame Alexander
2. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
3. Bull by David Elliott
4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

WEBSITES:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgX-Duwm5Bo
This video is one minute of audio of the author reading from the book.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXNsJvNaFs
This is a 12 minute video of Jason Reynolds talking about his early life and inspiration for the book.

Jason Reynolds’ official website: https://www.jasonwritesbooks.com/
This is the author’s website containing information about all of his books, about him, contact information, blog, etc.

BOOKTALK:

Imagine that your brother was just murdered. Imagine that you knew who his killer was. Imagine that you had a gun and you knew just what to do with it, to make things right, because those are the rules of the neighborhood. But is it that simple? In the sixty seconds that it takes Will’s elevator to make it to the bottom floor, he has a lot to think about. Because everyone he has ever known who was killed by gun violence, gets on the elevator with him. And they want to know what he’s going to do. Is he going to seek revenge or is he going to choose a new path?

Prepared by: Marti Brown, Westwood High School,

One of Us Is Lying Karen M. McManus Delacorte Press, 2017
368 pages

SUMMARY:

Intellectual Bronwyn, athlete Cooper, straight and narrow Addy, trouble-maker Nate, and gossip king Simon all have one thing in common. They all have something to hide. While serving detention together after school, Simon dies in front of them. When it is determined that his death is no accident, Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy, and Nate all become suspects. Told in each of their voices, how far will each of them go to protect their secrets?

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. People Like Us by Dana Mele
2. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
3. Seconds Away by Harlan Coban
4. Secrets, Lies, and Scandals by Amanda Morgan
5. Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau
6. Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts
7. Wanted by Sara Shepard

WEBSITES:

One of Us Is Lying, https://youtu.be/KKUIKbkmarw, - book trailer

Karen M. McManus, https://www.karenmcmanus.com/, official author website

25 Questions with Karen M. McManus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-oGtPECV_Y ,
-author interview

BOOKTALK:

What happens when five classmates walk into detention after school, but only four get out alive? What happens when each of them becomes a suspect in a murder investigation? Nate was already on probation, Bronwyn was getting ready to go to Yale, Cooper was being recruited as a pitcher, and Addy was preparing to be homecoming princess. Simon was getting ready to publish all of their secrets, but never made it out of the classroom. Who killed Simon, and which one of them is lying?

Prepared by: Colette Schmidt, Ridge View High School,

Soldier Boy Keely Hutton Square Fish, 2018
336 pages

SUMMARY:

Soldier Boy is the parallel story of the fictitious Samuel and biographical Ricky (Ricky Richard Anywar.) The story begins in 2006 with Samuel who has recently been rescued by the Friends of Orphans and deals with his time as a boy soldier. Ricky helps Samuel in his recovery. Ricky Richard Anywar’s story is developed through the use of flashbacks. He was abducted in 1989 at the age of fourteen to fight for Joseph Kony’s rebel army in Uganda, where he was trained, armed, and forced to fight government soldiers alongside his brutal kidnappers. During his time as a rebel soldier, Ricky never stops dreaming of escape. Although this story deals with difficult and saddening subject matter, it is a profoundly uplifting story of one boy’s ability to overcome the horrors of civil war and to help a multitude of others rehabilitate after their common heart wrenching experiences.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
2. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
3. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
4. My Name Is Not Friday by Jon Walter

WEBSITES:

Public Radio International,
https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-03-20/author-ishmael-beah-recounts-his-childhood-boy- soldier --Ishmael Beah tells of his life as a boy soldier in Sierra Leone. This biographical account is recorded in his book “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.”

Unicef, https://www.unicef.org/media/media_pr_childsoldiers.html -This website links to press releases of child soldiers from around the world.

Invisible Children, https://invisiblechildren.com/challenge/kony/ -This website gives information about Joseph Kony, his Lord’s Resistance Army, and the 30,000 children his kidnapped to fight in his army.

Answers Africa https://answersafrica.com/child-soldiers-uganda.html -This website gives history, facts, and statics about children soldiers in Uganda.

BOOKTALK:

This is a life-changing book for students to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in a peaceful country. There are two stories running together in this book. The first story is a fictious one about a teenage boy, Samuel, who has been rescued by Friends of Orphans from his life as a boy soldier. He is helped in his recovery by Ricky, who we discover was, himself, a boy soldier.

Ricky’s story is based on Ricky Richard Anywar’s real-life story as a boy soldier for Joseph Kony’s brutal rebel army fighting against Uganda’s government army in the decades-long civil war. Although this story deals with difficult subject matter, it is essentially the story of how Ricky escapes the rebel army and uses his experience as a boy soldier to help countless others with similar backgrounds recover from their horrific experience. One person can make a difference.

Prepared by: Marie Claire Mottet, Byrnes Freshman Academy,

SUMMARY:

Spliced

Jon McGoran Holiday House, 2017
362 pages

In a near future society, genetically altered humans become illegal beings. Sixteen-year-old Jimi, afraid of her best friend Del’s possible decision to become a chimera, seeks to locate him despite the risks to her own life. What defines what it means to be human, and will Jimi be able to find her best friend?

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, TRY…

1. Winter, Marissa Meyer
2. The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
3. Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
4. Dangerous by Shannon Hale
5. The Gardener by S. A. (Stephanie A.) Bodeen
6. Star Split by Kathryn Lasky
7. Phoenix Island by John Dixon
8. The Equals by Daniel Sweren-Becker
9. Subject Seven by James A. Moore

WEBSITES:

John McGoran, https://www.spliced.world, official website of John McGoran with information
on Spliced and his other books. Check out the “Splice Yourself” page!

The Big Thrill, http://www.thebigthrill.org/2017/09/spliced-by-jon-mcgoran/, an interview with
Jon McGoran on his book Spliced in the magazine of International thriller writers.

BOOKTALK:

In a near-future society, sixteen-year-old Jimi knows people are changing, but she is unprepared when she finds out her best friend Del is thinking of becoming a chimera, done with an illegal action of splicing animal genes into one’s own. She fears for her best friend’s life since lawmakers have drafted legislation declaring chimeras as nonpersons. As she tries to locate him, Jimi meets other chimeras, confronts devious individuals, and risks her own life. What will happen to the chimeras she befriends? Will she find Del before he turns into a chimera? Will their friendship survive all the turmoil?

Prepared by: Donna Taylor, Blackville-Hilda High School,

SUMMARY:

Strange the Dreamer

Laini Taylor
Little, Brown and Company, 2017 532 pages

Dreams are supposed to choose the dreamer. Yet, Lazlo Strange believes his dream chose him by mistake. He is obsessed with a lost city called Weep, but his occupation is taking care of a library. His dreams and obsessions eventually lead him to find the solution to a two hundred year old mystery.

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
2. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
3. Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
4. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
5. The Reader by Traci Chee
6. Furyborn by Claire Legrand
7. The Naming by Alison Croggon
8. Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
9. Dream-Maker’s Magic by Sharon Shinn
10. Dreamfire by Kit Alloway

WEBSITES:

34 Lost Cities Forgotten by Time, https://www.touropia.com/lost-cities/ -a description of cities lost and forgotten

The Lost City of Atlantis and Five Other Lost Worlds,
https://theportalist.com/the-lost-city-of-atlantis-and-5-other-lost-worlds -a description of Atlantas and other fictional lost worlds

Lanini Taylor’s blog, http://www.lainitaylor.com/ -information posted by the author about her current and past work

Fantastic Fiction, https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/laini-taylor/strange-the-dreamer.htm
-information about all of Laini Taylor’s fantasy fiction books

BOOKTALK:

In this fantasy world, a former lost orphan who was raised by monks and is now a librarian has big dreams. Lazlo Strange, the librarian, has always been obsessed with stories about a mythic lost city called Weep. One day a band of soldiers, on their way to find Weep, rode through Lazlo’s city. Lazlo realized that this was his chance to perhaps find this lost city. As he joins their quest, Lazlo wins the hearts of these warriors and gains their trust in their mission. With

his dreams of and knowledge about Weep, Lazlo helps decipher what happened to this lost city over two hundred years ago. But with his answers, come more mysteries and questions. Who is the blue-skinned goddess in Lazlo’s dreams? How did he dream about her before even meeting her? Why does he feel so at home in this lost city of Weep? Read Strange the Dreamer to learn how Lazlo solves these mysteries and maybe even finds a place where he really belongs.

Prepared by: Donna Roberts, Rock Hill High School,

Things I Should Have Known Claire LaZebnik McMillian, 2018
320 pages

SUMMARY:

Chloe has a rather complicated life. She also has an older sister , Ivy, who has autism. She is very protective of her sister especially since her mother has remarried and the step dad is less than enamored with Ivy and thinks he knows best for for everyone. Chloe hates his interference. Ivy attends a day program so she has interactions with other autistic people and functions pretty well. Chole is a very popular girls and has lots of friend and a boyfriend and a pretty great life. She likes to take Ivy with her on every opportunity but she draws the line when Ivy wants to go on dates with Chole. Ivy starts to question Chole about dating, what it is like, and what they do. Chole decides it might be time for Ivy to have a date. Ivy often talks about a boy named Ethan from her school so Chloe goes about setting up a double date for Ivy, Ethan , and Ethan’s older brother and herself. As fate would have it Ethan’s brother, Dave, is none other but a classmate of Chole who she thinks is a real jerk and will have nothing to do with in or out of class. It is heartbreaking for Ethan as Ivy discovers she is not attracted to Ethan, but she attracted to Diane, another girl in her class who does not return the affection. Meanwhile something is changing about the way Chole is feeling about David. The author does a great job of presenting a realistic view of life in a family with an autistic child including the hard parts like love, dating and sex. This is a great book with truths about the special aspects of autism and the rewards and challenges of their family life.

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X
2. Rules by Cynthia Lord
3. Al capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
4. Same But Different by RJ Peete
5. Autism and my Life by Joanna Keating Velasco

WEBSITES:

Autism Facts and Information, https://geekclubbooks.com/autism-edu/ , Autism EDU is a collection of innovative educational tools to introduce autism in the classroom and to help you create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. These tools were developed to capture and engage students’ attention, ignite their curiosities and inspire discussions. The focus is on ‘abilities’ instead of ‘disabilities’ and ‘similarities’ over ‘differences’ for better understanding and connection

Autism Speaks, https://www.autismspeaks.org/ , Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.* We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges.

A Child’s Story with Autism, https://hellohope.com/ , -one family's journey through Autism with their adopted child.

BOOK TALK:

Growing up in a house with an older sister with autism can be challenging, but Chloe only has pure love and affection for Ivy. She includes Ivy in most things she does. But when Chloe starts dating seriously, Ivy begins to question Chloe's dating and what she is doing on dates.
Meanwhile at high school, Chloe has her own issues with a boy named David. He is a first class jerk and know it all, but he is really hot. Chloe decides it would be great to set Ivy up with an autistic boy, Ethan, in her day class. Chloe sets up a double date. Chloe, Ivy, Ethan and his older brother go out together. As fate would have it, Ethan’s brother is none other than the jerk from school, David. This story is a realist view of what it is like to have a sibling with autism, including the joys and the challenges which occur daily. It deals with the subject honestly. There are twists and turns, romance, and other situations that make this book a must read, especially for Jane Austen lovers.

Prepared by: Candi Vaughn, Byrnes Freshman Academy,

Warcross

Marie Lu
Putnum’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2017 353 pages

SUMMARY:

Emika lives in New York and is a bounty hunter. Her bounties are those disreputable characters in Warcross, a virtual reality. When her bounty is taken from her, and she gets an eviction notice, Emika becomes desperate. In her desperation, she hacks into the Warcross championship and is glitched into the game for millions to see. Even though she logs off immediately, it is too late. Everyone has seen her. The next day, she is contacted by the creator of Warcross, Hideo Tanaka, and is asked to come to Tokyo and meet with him.
During the meeting, Hideo offers Emika a job. The job is to find the hacker, Zero, who has been messing with Warcross. If she finds the hacker, he will give her 10 million dollars.
However, Hideo has offered this to others, and Emika finds herself in a competition to find Zero.
To find Zero, Emika must enter the game through a wild card pick. She is picked up by the Phoenix Riders and begins hacking them to gather intel. Emika becomes suspicious of DJ Ren because his information is covered with firewalls. She reports this information during secret meetings with Hideo. During this meeting, Hideo and Emika grow close and eventually fall in love with one another. Hideo gives her a code that will breakthrough DJ Ren’s firewalls, and she discovers that an assassination attempt on Hideo is planned.
Hideo survives the assassination attempt, but asked Emika to continue investigating DJ Ren to gather more intel. During her investigation, Ren meets with a strange man in the Darkcross (the underground of Warcross). She soon discovers that the stranger is Zero. DJ Ren and Zero talk in code while Emika records it. Later, in her room, she discovers that the code is actually coordinates and that Zero has something big planned for the Warcross finale.
As Emika investigates Zero, she discovers that there is more to Hideo then she knew.
Now she must decide who to believe and whether or not to save Warcross.

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, TRY:

1. Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
2. Unearthed by Amie Kaufman
3. Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis
4. Dream Fall by Amy Plum
5. Renegades by Marissa Meyer
6. Now I Rise by Kiersten White

WEBSITES:

Marie Lu, http://www.onetrueportal.com/marielu/ -learn about the author