Transcript 2009 Young Adult Book Award Nominees

2009 Young Adult
Book Award
Nominees
Wake by Lisa Mann
•
Not all dreams are sweet. For
seventeen-year-old Janie, getting
sucked into other people's dreams is
getting old. Especially the falling
dreams, the naked-but-nobodynotices dreams, and the sex-crazed
dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy
booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what
she does -- they'd never believe her,
or worse, they'd think she's a freak.
So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed
with an ability she doesn't want and
can't control.
Then she falls into a gruesome
nightmare, one that chills her to the
bone. For the first time, Janie is more
than a witness to someone else's
twisted psyche. She is a
participant....
Evolution, Me and Other
Freaks of Nature by Robin
Brande
•
Your best friend hates you. The guy
you liked hates you. Your entire group
of friends hates you.
All because you did the right thing.
Welcome to life for Mena, whose year
is starting off in the worst way
possible. She's been kicked out of her
church group and no one will talk to
her—not even her own parents. No
one except for Casey, her supersmart
lab partner in science class, who's
pretty funny for the most brilliant guy
on earth.
And when Ms. Shepherd begins the
unit on evolution, school becomes
more dramatic than Mena could ever
imagine . . . and her own life is about
to evolve in some amazing and
unexpected ways.
City of Bones by
Cassandra Clare
•
When Clary Fray witnesses three
tattoo-covered teenagers murder
another teen, she is unable to prove
the crime because the victim
disappears right in front of her eyes,
and no one else can see the killers.
She learns that the teens are
Shadowhunters, and Clary, a mundie
(mundane human), should not be able
to see them either. Shortly after this
discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, an
erstwhile Shadowhunter, is
kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person
who knows the whereabouts of The
Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical
item that turns humans into
Shadowhunters. Clary must find the
cup and keep it from a renegade
sector of Shadowhunters bent on
eliminating all nonhumans.
Thirteen Reasons Why by
Jay Asher
•
When Clay Jenson plays the cassette
tapes he received in a mysterious
package, he's surprised to hear the
voice of dead classmate Hannah
Baker. He's one of 13 people who
receive Hannah's story, which details
the circumstances that led to her
suicide. Clay spends the rest of the
day and long into the night listening
to Hannah's voice and going to the
locations she wants him to visit. The
text alternates between Hannah's
voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts
as he listens to her words, which
illuminate betrayals and secrets that
demonstrate the consequences of
even small actions. Hannah, herself,
is not free from guilt. The message
about how we treat one another,
although sometimes heavy, makes
for compelling reading.
Gym Candy by Carl
Deuker
•
Having grown up in the shadow of his
father's failed NFL career, high-school
football player Mick Johnson is
determined not to make the same
mistakes. But when he's tackled just
short of the goal in a pivotal game, he
decides that vitamin supplements
aren't enough and begins purchasing
"gym candy," or steroids, from the
trainer at his local gym. His
performance breaks records and his
father couldn't be more proud, but
along with gains in muscle, he suffers
"'roid rage," depression, and unsightly
acne. Even after therapy, Mick is
wondering if he'll continue to be
tempted by steroids. Deuker
complements a message with plenty of
action and drama, while depicting
Mick's emotional struggles as
sensitively as his physical ones.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
by Mary E. Pearson
•
Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old
Jenna has been told that is her name.
She has just awoken from a coma, they
tell her, and she is still recovering from a
terrible accident in which she was
involved a year ago. But what happened
before that? Jenna doesn't remember
her life. Or does she? And are the
memories really hers?
This fascinating novel represents a
stunning new direction for acclaimed
author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future
America, it takes readers on an
unforgettable journey through questions
of bio-medical ethics and the nature of
humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn
characters and masterful writing soar to
a new level of sophistication.
•
The Silenced by James
Devita
In the aftermath of the Millenium
War, the new Zero Tolerance
government focuses on the safety
inherent in homogeneity of political
thinking, ethnic origin, and
appearance. A wall has been
constructed around the southern part
of the country and suspected families
relocated into a "re-dap" community
in which the young people can be
educated into right-thinking. But
within her Youth Training Facility,
Marina has found some kindred souls:
an art teacher who encourages her, a
boyfriend with whom she sneaks out
at night, and a rebellious newcomer.
As she gradually retrieves her
memories of her mother's death,
Marina determines to honor her,
starting her own resistance
movement, the White Rose.
•
Mad Kestrel by Misty
Massey
This rollicking debut combines
swashbuckling sea adventure, fantasy , and
romance with great success. Kestrel was
born a Promise, a child with magical
talents, and as such sought by the
Danisoban mages who control all use of
magic. After the Danisoban Brethren kill
her parents, Kestrel survives as a street
urchin and tavern maid before running
away to sea. The sea cancels Danisoban
magic, but Kestrel soon learns she retains
her untrained ability to command the
weather. She signs on with Capt. Artemus
Binns, only to see him arrested for piracy
and hauled away. Kestrel promptly sets sail
in pursuit and finds herself in the middle of
a civil war between the Ageless King of the
Danisobans and his son, Prince Jeremie.
There's enough spirit of adventure to carry
Kestrel (and the reader) with plenty left
over for sequels.
The Circle of Blood: A
Forensic Mystery by Alane
Ferguson
•
Cameryn Mahoney works as
the assistant to her father,
the county coroner of
Silverton, Colorado. But if
that’s not hard enough, her
long-lost mother has made a
surprise return to Cameryn’s
life. When her mother picks
up a mysterious young
hitchhiker, Cameryn senses
that the girl is running from
something. But before she
can find out more, the girl is
found dead—with a gun in
her hand. Is it suicide? Or
something even more
sinister?
Beanball by Gene Fehler
•
It's the last inning of a high school
baseball game between arch-rivals Oak
Grove and Compton. Center fielder Luke
"Wizard" Wallace steps up to the plate--and
is hit by a beanball, a wild pitch that
shatters his skull, destroys the vision in
his left eye, and changes his life forever. In
this riveting novel, the events surrounding
this pivotal moment are recounted through
free-verse monologues by 28 different
voices, including those of Luke and his
Oak Grove teammates; the pitcher, Kyle
Dawkins, and other players; the two
coaches; Luke's family members and
teachers; and Sarah Edgerton, a new
classmate who seems more affected by
Luke's injury than his girlfriend is. With its
unusual format, gripping subject matter,
and economy of language, Beanball is a
thought-provoking, fast-paced read.
Twisted by Laurie Halse
Anderson
•
Tyler Miller was a socially invisible nerd
("Your average piece of drywall who
spent too much time playing computer
games") before he sprayed some
attention-getting graffiti and became a
legend. Sentenced to a summer of
physical labor, he enters his senior year
with new muscles that attract popular
Bethany Millbury, whose father is
Tyler's dad's boss. On probation for his
graffiti stunt, Tyler struggles to balance
his consuming crush with pressure that
comes from schoolwork and his
explosive father, and after Tyler is
implicated in a drunken crime, his
balancing act falls apart. What works
well here is the frank, on-target humor ,
the taut pacing, and the small moments,
recounted in Tyler's first-person voice,
that illuminate his emotional anguish
Yellow Flag by Robert
Lipsyte
•
Kyle Hildebrand comes from a family of
legendary NASCAR drivers. His older
brother, Kris, is the heir apparent to the
family business and shows great promise.
Kyle, meanwhile, is seemingly content to
play trumpet in a brass quintet. After Kris
is injured, Kyle takes his place behind the
wheel and proves himself to be a skilled
driver, and questions if he should pursue
his interest in music or turn to racing.
Lipsyte taps into the ever-growing
popularity of NASCAR with this effort. As
usual, he is at his best when conveying
the sports details, filling readers in on
what it is like to be in the middle of a
race, as well as the other elements of the
NASCAR life, from the sponsors that need
to be schmoozed to the ever-available
groupies. Fans of the sport will love this
and hope for more installments of Kyle's
story.
Silent Echoes by Carla
Jablonski
•
It's 1882, and the Spiritualist movement
is at its height. Sixteen-year-old Lucy and
her father are doing very well summoning
spirits, even gaining entree into the
highest levels of New York society. Then,
to Lucy's shock, she calls up what seems
to be a real spirit-- though as readers will
know (since the story is told in
alternating chapters), it's Lindsay, a
present-day teen. While Lindsay, whose
family situation is unsettled, worries that
the voice she hears means that she is
schizophrenic, Lucy is concerned with
her romances and the direction she
wants for her life. Readers will
appreciate both the characters and the
connections they make as Jablonski
cleverly twines the girls' lives and makes
plausible not only how they have come
into contact but also why.
Game by Walter Dean
Myers
•
Drew Lawson knows
basketball is taking him
places. It has to, because his
grades certainly aren't. But
lately his plan has run
squarely into a pick. Coach's
new offense has made
another player a star, and
Drew won't let anyone
disrespect his game. Just as
his team makes the playoffs,
Drew must come up with
something big to save his
fading college prospects. It's
all up to Drew to find out just
how deep his game really is.
•
Memoirs of a Teenage
Amnesiac
by Gabrielle Zevin
After high-school junior Naomi conks her
head, she can't remember anything that
happened since sixth grade. She turns
mystified and startled by evidence of her
present life, from the birth-control pills in her
bedside table to her parents' astonishing,
rancorous split. Eventually, the memories
return, leaving Naomi questioning the basis
of a new romance, and wondering which of
her two lives, present or former, represents
her most authentic self. Zevin writes
revealingly about emotions and relationships.
Especially vivid is the Hepburn-Tracy bond
Naomi shares with yearbook co-chief Will,
whom she wounds with her self-reinvention
even as she discovers deeper feelings. Pulled
by the heart-bruising love story, readers will
pause to contemplate irresistible questions:
If the past were a blank slate, what would
you become?
•
In the Name of God by
Paula Jolin
They talked about doing things, of course,
these macho cousins and uncles of mine. But
nothing happens. God did not reward the
Muslims for waiting in patience while the
Unbelievers picked them off one by one, did
He? God helps she who helps herself, she who
helps the Muslims. Someone has to take
control, right? I’ve already decided that
someone will be me.
Nadia is an excellent student, daughter, and
sister, living in Damascus, Syria. Above all, she
strives to walk the straight path and follow the
laws of Islam. But she’s confused by the world
around her and how she fits into it. She’s
conflicted about her Westernized cousins, the
internal struggles of her country, and the war
raging in Iraq. When her cousin is arrested by
Syrian authorities for speaking out—betrayed
by someone in the family—Nadia finds herself
drawn into the dark world of Islamic
fundamentalism. And she’s about to face the
Blood Brothers by S. A.
Harazin
•
Without his job at the hospital, Clay would be
lost. The hard work, the struggles of the
patients and gives focus to his dream of
someday becoming a doctor. Clay can't afford
to go away to college like the rest of his
graduating senior class, but what other 17year-old has delivered a baby or helped save a
life? Still, Clay wishes his life could be more
like his best friend Joey's. Joey has it all—a
great family, a good college waiting for him at
the end of the summer, money, a car. Clay has
to bike everywhere, and the miles are starting
to wear him down. But Joey's future shatters
one day when he overdoses at a party. Now
he's clinging to life at the hospital where Clay
works. Tension and emotion rise as those who
love Joey gather and wait. Clay will do
whatever he can to find out what happened at
the party, and to help Joey recover. But to
survive this ordeal Clay must draw on a
strength he never knew he had.
Enter Three Witches: A Story
of Macbeth by Caroline
Cooney
•
Lady Mary is a ward of Lord and
Lady Macbeth whose life is forever
changed when her father, Lord
Cawdor, betrays the Scottish king - and is hanged as a traitor. In an
instant, Mary has lost both her
father and future. Now she's
trapped in a castle with a powerhungry couple who will do anything
to get what they want -- and are
willing to crush anyone in their
way. Including Mary. As the
murderous events of Shakespeare's
play unfold around her, Mary must
struggle to survive -- and do what
she can to prevent more deaths.
But can a lone girl save lives when
a legion of Scottish lords cannot?
The Absolutely True Story
of a Part-Time Indian by
Sherman Alexie
•
In his first book for young adults,
bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells
the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist
growing up on the Spokane Indian
Reservation. Determined to take his
future into his own hands, Junior leaves
his troubled school on the rez to attend
an all-white farm town high school
where the only other Indian is the school
mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and
beautifully written, The Absolutely True
Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is
based on the author's own experiences,
coupled with poignant drawings by
acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that
reflect the character's art, chronicles
the contemporary adolescence of one
Native American boy as he attempts to
break away from the life he was
destined to live.
Big Fat Manifesto by
Susan Vaught
•
Jamie is a senior in high school and, like
so many kids in that year, doing too
much—including trying to change the
world—and fighting for her rights as a
very fat girl. And not quietly: she's writing
a column every week in the paper with
her thoughts and fears and gripes. As her
column raises all kinds of questions, so
too, must she find her own private way in
her world, with love popping up in an
unexpected place, and satisfaction in her
size losing ground to real frustration.
Tapping into her own experience losing
weight, her training as a psychotherapist,
and the current fascination in the media
for teens who are trying drastic weightloss measures including surgery, Susan
Vaught's searing and hilarious prose will
grip readers of all sizes, leaving them
eager to hear more.
•
Good Enough by Paula
Yoo
How to make your Korean parents happy:
1. Get a perfect score on the SATs.
2. Get into HarvardYalePrinceton.
3. Don't talk to boys.*
Patti's parents expect nothing less than the
best from their Korean-American daughter.
Everything she does affects her chances of
getting into an Ivy League school. So
winning assistant concertmaster in her AllState violin competition and earning less
than 2300 on her SATs is simply not good
enough. But Patti's discovering that there's
more to life than the Ivy League. To start
with, there's Cute Trumpet Guy. He's funny,
he's talented, and he looks exactly like the
lead singer of Patti's favorite band. Then, of
course, there's her love of the violin. Not to
mention cool rock concerts. And anyway,
what if Patti doesn't want to go to
HarvardYalePrinceton after all?
RHHS Library Information
•
•
Open mornings 7:45 – 8:30 and after school 3:40 – 4:30, Friday closes at 3:45
The media center is a quiet place for reading, browsing, and studying whether
individually or with a class. It houses books for assigned and pleasure reading,
reference materials, back issues of periodicals, current newspapers and
magazines, and all audio-visual materials and equipment. It also offers
access to the Internet, Online Periodical Indexes, and other software
programs.
Students have access to the media center for quiet study and reading without
permits 45 minutes before and after school, and at lunch. Students must have
a teacher pass to come to the media center from regular classes and from
study hall. Permits are not required before school, during lunch, between
classes and after school. If students leave the library before 8:30, they must
go outside and stay in front of A, B, or C buildings. No one should be behind A
Building nor in or near D and E building.
Books may be checked out for two weeks and may be renewed. A fine of 10
cents for each day school is in session will be charged for overdue books, up to
the price of the book. Overnight books will cost 15 cents for each day overdue.
The fine stops when the book is returned, whether the fine is paid at that time
or not. However, all overdue books must be returned or paid for and all fines
paid by the end of the semester, or students will be placed on the delinquent
list and lose privileges.
Sources
• Pictures taken from:
www.barnesandnoble.com
• Summaries taken from:
www.amazon.com
• Dwayne “Chris” Brown Jr., Creator