Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver

Konigsburg, E.L. (1973). A proud taste for scarlet and miniver.  New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.  201 pgs.

Summary:  Eleanor of Aquitaine waits impatiently in Heaven for the judgment of her husband, King Henry II.  While she waits with Henry’s mother, their knight, and the spiritual guide of Eleanor’s first husband, King Louis VII, they each recount parts of Eleanor’s life, including her participation in the Crusades, her divorce from Louis, and her role in inspiring her sons to rebel against their father.  

Additional Comments:  The personalities of the historical figures come to life through vivid characterization and description that paint a clear picture of the royal struggles of the 12^th century, particularly the English and French claims for land.  Eleanor’s negative attributes, such as frivolity, stubbornness, and intemperance, are recognized as much as her positive traits, including strength, intelligence, passion, and sophistication.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon

Haddon, Mark (2003). The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time. New York: Vintage Contemporaries.

ISBN: 1400032717

Summary:  A murder mystery told by Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old autistic boy. When Christopher discovers his neighbor's dog dead in her yard with a pitchfork sticking out of him, he decides to track clues and solve the mystery, in direct defiance of his father's objections.  While uncovering the mystery, Christopher learns much more than just the incidences surrounding the dog's death as he unravels family secrets. 

Additional comments:  Haddon's insightful first-person narration gets the reader inside the mind of someone who is highly intelligent, obsessive, compulsive, irrational, devoid of emotions, and resistant to being touched.  After adjusting to Christopher's point of view, readers adjust to his abnormal behavior and logic, such as counting cars of each color to determine whether it is a Black Day (when he doesn't eat or speak with anyone) or a Super Good Day.  Despite the heavy and sad content of the novel, there is light humor in Christopher's efforts to process idiomatic expressions and solving problems.  Readers will be drawn in by the intriguing character and the unusual turn of events. 

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Salinger, J. D. (1951).  The Catcher in the rye.  Toronto: Bantam Books.

ISBN: 0553250256   

Summary:  The story begins with Holden Caulfield explaining in first person narration about his final days as a Junior at Pencey Prep after getting kicked out for failing four of his five classes.  He leaves Pencey a few days earlier than planned after he gets in a fight with his room-mate about a girl. Holden takes a train in the middle of the night from Pennsylvania to New York City but chooses to not go to his apartment before the date his parents are expecting his return and to instead check into a hotel and bar hop in the city.  Everywhere he goes, Holden is quite miserable and depressed.  He meets a few characters over a few days in the city, all of whom annoy him for being "phony" and further depress him.

Additional Comments:  The Catcher in the Rye is a classic and timeless in its appeal to young adults, particularly privileged young adults who have a gripe with superficial social norms found among the upper echelons of society and who can relate to the prep school setting against which Holden Caulfield rebels.  Though nearly 60 years after its original publication, Holden remains an icon for teenage emotional turbulence and angst because of  his extreme depression, suicidal comments and daydreams, irrational ideas, impulsive behavior and remarks, utter sense of loneliness and isolation, confusion about his future, and resentment for and harsh criticism of others. 

Cuba 15, by Nancy Osa

Osa, Nancy (2003). Cuba 15. New York: Delacorte Press.

ISBN: 9780385732338 / 0-385-73233-3

Summary:  First time novelist Nancy Osa relates a light-hearted and entertaining coming-of-age novel about 15-year-old Violet Paz, whose Cuban grandmother insists on throwing a quinceanero—a traditional celebration to mark a girl’s transition to womanhood. Violet, whose father is Cuban and whose mother is Polish, initially opposes the festivity, feeling out of touch with her Cuban roots and reproachful of having to wear a fancy dress. But, she concedes to appease her abuela. 

Additional Comments:  Osa draws partially from her own experiences connecting with her Cuban heritage to create Violet, a spunky, comical American adolescent who is introduced to family customs and history and is developing a stronger sense of cultural identity. Female readers will particularly relate with Violet’s feelings towards friendships and family relationships while learning about Cuban culture and history.

The Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger

Hartinger, Brent (2003).  Geography Club.  New York: HarperTempest.

ISBN: 0060012234 /978-0-06-001223-6

Summary: In a high school where the jocks torment one outcast with relentless bullying, Russel views his survival at high school as dependent on hiding that he's gay.  Keeping his self-knowledge from all of his friends, he turns to gay chat rooms on the Internet at night. When he encounters another student at his high school and meets him in the park at night, his life at high school changes drastically as they form "the Geography Club", which is secretly a support group for gay students.  

Additional Comments:  A moving portrayal of the lengths teens take to fit in and feel "normal".  Normally nice, good people can cave in to extreme peer pressure.  Russel joins in the mocking of Brian Bund because he is afraid to take a stand and risk ostracism.  Russel's friend, Gunnar, lies to his best friend because of his pressure to find a girlfriend and to have sex.  What's right and what's wrong can get complicated and confused.  This is a moving book about how difficult life can be for a queer or questioning youth in a close-minded and volatile place like a school.  

Chinese Handcuffs, by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, Chris (1989). Chinese handcuffs. New York: HarperTempest. 

ISBN 0060598395 / 9780060598396

Summary:  Dillon struggles with the memory of his older brother's gory suicide and the guilt that he was a cause, a feeling that is shared by his brother's girlfriend, Stacy.  An underachiever at school, he often stands up to the principal's pressure to "give back to the school" by putting his athletic prowess into school sports. Meanwhile, he befriends a star-basketball player, Jennifer, who confides in him that her step-father is sexually abusing her.

Additional comments:  This story is filled with complicated emotions and issues presented quite graphically.  Dillon has difficult decisions to make regarding keeping his friend safe while also respecting her trust that he'll maintain confidentiality.  Hits on a number of issues with which some teens will relate and feel less lonely.  The nice basketball coach serves as a great role model; however, her intimate conversations with her male student seem a bit unrealistic as does her response to information that she is legally bound to report. But, perhaps teen readers won't pick up on this.   

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman (2007).  The Absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian.  New York: Little Brown and Company.

ISBN 0316013684 / 9780316013680

Summary:  Tired of being made fun of and beat up for his physical differences and tired of the poor education, resources, and opportunities around him, Junior makes the difficult decision to leave the school on the  Spokane Reservation to attend all-white high school.  Considered a traitor by the rez and ignored by his new wealthy, white class-mates, Junior persists to make the 20+ mile commute to school, often hitchhiking because there's not enough gas money without much hope that his situation will improve.

Additional comments:  Despite the humorous narration, the story is quite depressing.  The reservation is rife with alcoholism that is so severe to cause multiple deaths, and opportunities for employment are so few on the rez that the best bet for Junior is to leave. Junior's poverty becomes very clear to him when he switches to the privileged school where he tries to hide his difficulties in an attempt to fit in.  Readers will get a reality check about the dismal living conditions on Native American reservations and the deep sadness of losing one's heritage. 

Trino's Choice, by Diane Gonzales Bertrand

Bertrand, Diane Gonzales (1999). Trino's choice.  Houston: Pinata Books.  ISBN: 1558852689
/ 978-1-55885-268-6

Summary: When Trino witnesses a crime and ducks into a bookstore to hide from the perpetrator, Rosca, a tough eighth grader, Trino meets Lisana and her "school-type" friends, which introduces him to different activities and ways of interacting.  Trino is pretty miserable, living in a small trailer with his hard-working mother, three brothers, lazy cousin and never with enough food to eat.  When his mother loses her cleaning job and his baby brother gets ill, Trino has to make a difficult decision about how to get money to help the family.

Additional comments: Trino's Choice is a quick read that is fast-paced and moving.  The story provides a glimpse into a very difficult home-life without any father figure, supervision, and without consistent nutritious meals.  Trino's Choice is a great book to show life in a poor barrio and the hard life of low-waged jobs.  However, the characters are not very well developed, and although tragedy strikes at the end, the book doesn't have the emotional impact it could have if more connection were created with the characters. But, reluctant readers will be drawn into Trino's world and challenges.

Habibi, by Naomi Shihab Nye

Nye, Naomi Shihab (1997, 1999). Habibi. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Summary:  14-year-old Liyana is just going into high school—and just experienced her first kiss—when her parents break the news that the family, consisting of her younger brother, Rafik, and her American-born mother, Barbara, and her Palestinian “poppy”, Dr. Abboud, will be moving from their home in Missouri to her father’s homeland, Palestine. Liyana must let go of her American home and adopt a place where she has never been. When she arrives in Israel / Palestine, she is confused by the religious and political tensions, and she is torn between her American ways and the Palestinian values that are being thrust on her. Liyana is introduced to an enormous family in Palestine with whom she cannot communicate at all, and she enrolls in the Armenian school in the Old City of Jerusalem where she is the only “outsider” (non-Armenian). Liyana and Rafik become friends with two children who live in the Palestinian refugee camp down the road from their new home. During weekly visits to her grandmother’s village in the West Bank, they learn about the mistreatment and oppression that Palestinians face under Israeli occupation.  But, when Liyana sparks a romance with a Jewish boy, her family has the opportunity to take a personal step towards peace.

Additional comments:  Habibi takes a very controversial and heated topic and breaks it down into a way that creates optimism and hope.  The Palestinian perspective is more heavily conveyed through the events of the story, such as the Israeli destruction of Liyana's grandmother's house, the unprovoked shooting of their young Palestinian friend, and the infuriating arrest of her father.  However, the negative depiction is balanced a bit by Ome, who represents Jews who strive for peace, reconciliation, and cross-cultural understanding.

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

Kerouac, Jack (1955, 1957).  On the road.  New York: Signet.  

Summary: The adventures of Sal Paradise as he travels across the country four times catching up with friends in various cities and always meeting interesting characters along the way.  

Additional comments:  Considered to be slightly autobiographical, On the Road-- a seminal novel for the Beat Generation--is a mix of philosophy, bohemianism, dionysian partying, and counter-culture separation from societal norms and expectations.  Set in the 1950's, On the Road provides a glimpse into a pivotal period of American history, a time of revolutions that will change American values and lifestyles, including the Civil Rights movement, the peace movement, the sexual revolution, and sexual liberation. Sal's experiences put the reader in touch with alternative lifestyles that rejected mainstream norms. The carefree spontaneity exhibited by Sal is sure to touch 21st-century rebellious teens as it has since its publication in 1955.

The Circuit, by Francisco Jimenez

Jimenez, Francisco (1997). The circuit. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

ISBN:9780826317971

Summary:  Jimenez's childhood memories as a child migrant farm-workers inspired The Circuit, a heart-wrenching tale of a Mexican family who crossed the border illegally to increase their opportunities in the U.S. only to attain a life of seasonal migrations.  Just as a new camp begins to feel like home and just as he makes friends at school where he can't speak the language, his hard-working parents load up the jalopy to move along "the circuit" for the next harvest.  Living in extreme privation and poverty, his parents and older brother, who often sacrifices school to help pick crops, break their backs to work in the fields all day while living in constant fear of "la migra". 

Additional comments:  Recounted with deep love and tenderness, The Circuit is a must-read to develop compassion for and an understanding of the harsh realities faced by undocumented agricultural laborers.

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros

Cisneros, Sandra (1991). The house on mango street. New York: Vintage Contemporaries.

ISBN: 0679734775

Summary:  Cisneros’ beloved, classic novel is a collection of lyrical vignettes about Esperanza Cordero, a Mexican American girl in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Each section is brief yet emotionally poignant, such as Esperanza’s embarrassment about her rundown home, her loneliness and desperation for a friend, her empathy for Sally, whose father is abusive, and her sense of victimization after a sexual assault. Cisneros draws from her own experiences growing up Latina in Chicago to create a glimpse into the Latino American experience.

Additional Comments:  The House on Mango Street is a poetic reflection from an adolescent girl's viewpoint, providing insight into the sensitivity of a lonely, self-conscious girl.  

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

Brashares, Ann (2001). The Sisterhood of the traveling pants. New York: Delacorte Press. 

Summary: Four best girlfriends spend their first summer apart from each other. On the eve of their separation, they ceremoniously designate a pair of "magical" jeans that fit all four of them perfectly as a way to connect them despite the distance.  They agree to take turns wearing the jeans and to mail the jeans along with a letter.  The story follows different plot lines to follow each girl's adventures:  Bridget falls for a soccer coach at her camp in Mexico, Lena tries to avoid a handsome young Greek man while staying with her grandparents in Greece, Tibby stays home in Washington, D.C. to work at a drugstore and surprises herself by befriending a young girl who is dying of leukemia, and Carmen's greatly anticipated summer alone with her bachelor father in Charleston is destroyed when she learns upon her arrival that her father is engaged and is living with his new fiancee and her two children.  

Additional comments:  Don't be turned off by the silly and melodramatic list of rules for the jeans at the beginning.  This "chick lit" gets better as it goes until you're flipping through the pages without pause and with tears streaming down your cheeks.  The well-developed characters show raw emotions and unpredictable behaviors as they are put into sad, challenging situations. Readers can continue on the characters' journeys by reading the three sequels in this series and catching the recent movie versions on DVD.

Sloppy Firsts, by Megan McCafferty

McCafferty, Megan (2001). Sloppy firsts. New York: Three Rivers Press. 

Summary: Jessica Darling is devastated that her best friend, Hope, moved away from Pineville, New Jersey shortly after her brother's drug overdose.  Jessica struggles with intense emotions and depression as her relationship with her family is strained, as she secretly loathes her friends at high school and chooses to sit with them in high school only to avoid being alone, and as she harbors a strong crush on an upperclassman on her track team. Her life takes a bizarre upswing when she begins a secret friendship with a "Dreg", who was friends with Hope's older brother.

Additional comments:  Jessica is an intelligent girl who wallows in her misery that her best friend is no longer in her everyday life, and she feels misunderstood and excluded by everyone else, particularly her family.  Jessica must come to terms with the way others--and herself--can be fake to others and can, thereby, be hurtful.  You might as well find a copy of the sequel, Second Helpings, because their is no real resolution at the end, only another dissatisfying problem. 

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

Alvarez, Julia (1992).  How the Garcia girls lost their accents.  New York: Plume. 

Summary:  How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents tells the story of four Dominican sisters whose family moves to New York City when their father is suspected as being part of the underground opposition to the dictatorship, Trujillo.  The young women find themselves navigating an ambiguous path of cultural assimilation, caught between Dominican traditions enforced by their father and a new American lifestyle introduced to them at school. 

Additional comments:  How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is told in sentimental vignettes that reveal the hardships and mistreatment they faced as immigrants learning to speak English and struggling financial. Their relationship with their home country also evolves.  Female readers will enjoy the dynamic relationships between the contrasting personalities of the sisters.

Suckerpunch by David Hernandez

Hernandez, David (2008). Suckerpunch. New York: Harperteen. 

Summary: 17-year-old Marcus harbors deep hatred for his father who used to beat up his younger brother, Enrique, before eventually leaving the family.  Upon hearing that their father intends to return to the family, Marcus and Enrique, accompanied by friends, drive from Southern California to Monterey with a gun, planning to scare their father.  

Additional comments: Suckerpunch, the first novel by poet David Hernandez of Long Beach, California, strikes the reader with realistically harsh dialogue, detailed drug and alcohol experiences, explicit sexual fantasies, and violent physical abuse.  A few of the main characters are Latino, but Suckerpunch will appeal to any teen who enjoys a fast-moving plot with a lot of dialogue, who has wrestled with the morality of retribution, and who has suffered from depression, boredom, and anger.

Go ask Alice

Anonymous (1971).  Go ask Alice. New York: Simon Pulse. 

Summary: Based on the diary of a 15-year-old girl who becomes increasingly dependent on marijuana and LSD, runs away from home, tries to break her addiction, suffers a nervous breakdown, and eventually dies from an overdose.  Originally published in 1971 and briefly set in San Francisco, Go Ask Alice provides insight into the 1960's counter-culture movement as well as showing one person's emotional struggle with drug addiction.

Additional comments:  Go Ask Alice is written in a diary format form the point of view of a melodramatic and depressed teen-aged girl. The reader is taken on a psychological journey through the girl's internal conflicts between what she wants to do versus what she ultimately can't resist doing. Though seemingly realistic in the beginning, the book takes on a didantic tone midway through as lack of self-control brings on ill consequences and eventually her self-destruction.   

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2003). Boy meets boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.  

Summary: Paul, a sophomore in high school, falls for Noah when they meet in a book store.  Paul's budding romance with Noah gets strained when his ex-boyfriend, Kyle, re-enters his world and results in confusing, conflicting emotions.  

Additional comments:  Paul's high school and community are optimistic examples of how things could be. . .Places where LGBT youth are normalized, and all sexual orientations are accepted without question or harassment.  Kyle, who has grown up in the community, has always been comfortable with his sexuality, but his best friend, Tony, needs his help to come out to his religious parents.  Boy Meets Boy is funny and light at times, but is also emotionally-charged by hurtful relationships.  

Buried Onions by Gary Soto

Soto, Gary (1997, 2006).  Buried Onions. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.

Summary:  After dropping out of the community college, Eddie has a hard time making ends meet on his own.  Though he tries hard to keep out of violence and crime that surrounds him in Fresno and to live honestly and earnestly , his aunt pressures him to avenge the murder of his cousin and he gets tangled in a mess that makes him look like a criminal.   

Additional comments:  This is a heart-breaking and suspenseful story about a young man with pure intentions and strong integrity who is trapped in poverty and where there are limited options available.  Events show how extremely difficult it is to rise above hardships due to lack of legal job opportunities and discrimination.   

Babylon Boyz by Jess Mowry

Mowry, Jess (1997, 1999). Babylon Boyz. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. 

Summary:  The Babylon Boyz are three best friends in Oakland, California, who are outcasts at high school:  Pook for being gay, Dante for a weak heart in need of an operation, and Wyatt for his obesity.  The boys, who mostly get back without adults, befriend Radji, a homeless kid, and Jinx, who is in rehab for crack.  When they stumble upon a suitcase full of cocaine near the docks, they are divided about what to do.  On one hand, if they sell it, the large sum of money would provide them with choices and opportunities, such as Dante's greatly needed and expensive heart surgery, medical school for Pook, and ultimately a way out of "Babylon" where they feel trapped.  On the other hand, they could flush the coke down the toilet and spare the community from the drug that is destroying them.

Additional comments: A vivid and emotionally gripping portrayal of life for young, intelligent men of color who are marginalized and limited by poverty and racism.  Without parents, they lean on each other for support and love.  The male characters are at times hard-edged and others vulnerable and sensitive and despite arguments, always loyal to each other in the end.