Image Credit:http://us.macmillan.com

Buckhanon, Kalisha. Upstate: A Novel. New York, St. Martin's Press, c 2005. Print.

Awards: ALA Alex Awards-2006
               Best Books for Young Adults-2006

Annotation:  Antonio is sent to prison and his girlfriend says she will love and support him while he is in prison.





Book Talk: One action can set in motion many things. Antonio, 17 years old, turns himself in for murdering his father. He receives a 10 year sentence for the crime. His girlfriend Natasha supports him by writing letters to him. She claims she loves him and will wait for him when he gets out. Through their correspondence with each other, the story unfolds, their hopes, dreams and growth as individuals is revealed every year. Does Natasha stay with Antonio or does she move on to a better life?


Theme: Street Literature, Urban Literature

Image Credit:http://www.randomhouse.com

Marchetta, Melina. Saving Francesca. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, c2004 Australia, Penguin Books Australia, c2003.  Print.

Awards:  ALA Best Books for Young Adults--2005
               Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading
               List--2005
               Kentucky Bluegrass Master List--2006

Annotation: Francesca's life is turned upside down when she goes to a former all-boys school that is now co-ed and her mother becomes sick.

Book Talk: My life sucks! I used to go to St. Stella's All-Girl Catholic school 5th-10th grade, now I have to go to St. Sebastian's an All-Guy Catholic school that decided to go co-ed. Some co-ed, 30 girls to 700 guys who are obnoxious, rude, loud and they look upon us girls as stupid or easy. I hang out with girls I would never do at my old school, one of them plays piano-accordian-augh! I have a younger brother and a father who sees life as fun. My mother, right now I can't fully describe my mother. She used to have an opinion on everything, including me, she usually found causes to support and she loved to sing. Now, I don't know her, she is either sleeping all day and when she is awake she is silent. I hate the silence.

Theme: Chick Literature

Image Credit:http://www.randomhouse.com

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, c 1993. Print.

Awards:
John Newberry Medal-1994
ALA Notable Children's Books
ALA Best Reads for Young Adults
Margaret A. Edwards Award (Author)--2007
The Regina Medal--1994
Horn Book Fanfare Best Book--1994
 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award-1996
                :                                           Garden State Book Award for Teen Fiction (1996)
                                                            Mythopoeic Fantasy Award-1993

Annotation: Jonas is told at the age of 12 that he will have to retain his community's memories. The Giver will guide him into this unusual task.

Book Talk: What would you do if you were told you had to retain generations of memories? Memories of love, hate, anger and pain. Jonas is told this when he is 12 years old when he receives his assignment as the Receiver of Memories. Jonas lives in an Utopian community where "Sameness" is maintained. Everything looks alike and people are assigned their jobs, and emotions are repressed. Jonas meets the Giver who gives him the memories of times past and emotions. As the year progresses, Jonas realizes he cannot be the Receiver, it is too difficult. Jonas and the Giver devise a plot for Jonas to runaway and if he does what will happen to the community and to Jonas?


Theme: Fantasy

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Klause Curtis, Annette. The Silver Kiss. New York, Delacorte Press, c1990. Print.


Awards: Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award--1992
              Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult
              Award--1992
              Oklahoma Sequeyah Young Adult
              Award--1993
              South Carolina Children's Book Award--1993
              California Young Reader Medal--1993
              Young Hoosier Book Award-1993-1994
                                                              Michigan Library's Association Thumbs
                                                              Up Award--1991
                                                             
             
Annotation: Zoe's mother is dying of cancer and she meets an unsual boy.

Book Talk: Zoe writes in her personal journal "Spells Against Death" hoping it will save her mother who is dying of cancer. Zoe's life is upside down, her best friend Lorraine is moving away, her mother is always in the hospital and she met an unusal boy named Simon. Simon is not an ordinary boy, he is a vampire and he is out to get revenge on his maker. Zoe helps Simon confront his maker and she wonders if she and Simon will get out alive?


Theme: Horror, Supernatural romance, vampires