Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Author: Laini Taylor

Author's Website:

ISBN: 978-0-316-13402

Publisher: Little Brown

Copyright Date: 2011

Genre:  Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18

Awards: Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2012),  Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2011)

Plot Summary: A talented art student living in Czechoslovakia who has always felt different from her peers, accidentally discovers how unusual she really is.  By traveling through a magical door which opens onto any street in the world, Karou has spent her young life running strange errands to purchase teeth for her adopted family, a family of creatures who resemble monsters but who treat her kindly and rear her with love.  Her life changes on one such trip to Morocco when a beautiful Angel tries to slay her.  Her search to understand why leads her to question what is good and evil, beauty and ugliness, angelic and demonic, but mostly, where she fits in.
Critical Evaluation: This is a rich, satisfying fairy tale of a book where "good" and "bad" are not what they first seem;  Beautiful angelic conquerors can be demonic in their actions and the monstrous creatures pressed into slavery can be as pure-of-heart as angels, but only if the world is seen with eyes truly open.

Reader's Annotation: Can Karou find out the truth about who she is, where she came from, what and who are truly good in her world and what is worth fighting the save.

Booktalking Ideas: The nature of good and evil, seeing beyond the surface, worlds at war

Challenge issues: A few references to religion that might be offensive to some and a few religious terms used like demon and angel, though they aren't used in a religious context.  Discreet sexual scene that is still appropriate for older teen readers.
Why did you include this book: The writing is so lyrical, rich and atmospheric, but still accessible to readers of this age, that this is a must-read.  Unusual locations in Czechoslovakia and Morocco.
Quote: "Once upon a time, a little girl was raised by monsters. But angels burned the doorways to their world, and she was all alone."

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Title: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Author: Peter Sis
Author's Website: www.petersis.com

ISBN: 978-0-374-34701-7

Publisher: Frances Foster Books

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre:  Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18

Awards: Horn Book, 2008. Caldecott, 2008. Booklist, 2007. School Library Journal, 2007. ALA Notable Books, 2008

Plot Summary: This book is narrated by very simple one text sentences. However, the illustrations themselves each have (what can almost be described as) a caption. This is where the real information lies – information about the influence of Western Culture, and important dates in the soviet union’s history. The story is broken up by informational timelines from Sis’s personal journal. Also breaking up the story are colorful double page spreads. This simply told story is powerful in its impact, and teenagers are sure to identify with the themes of rebellion, fear and art.
Critical Evaluation: Most of the panels are created in black and white with only one or two colored accents which help to draw in the reader’s eye. The double page spreads however, are bursting in color, one in particular illustrates two members of the Beatles playing guitar on sunny green hills with other bits and pieces of Western Culture scattered throughout: Allen Ginsberg, Harlem Globetrotters etc. Sis easily highlights the contrast between Czechoslovakia and the West just by use of color (or lack thereof).

Reader's Annotation: The true story of what life was like growing up in a communist Czechoslovakia and how America influenced Peter's life.Booktalking Ideas: Telling stories through illustration, communism, activism

Why did you include this book: This book shares some brief communist history in a unique and interesting way through text and illustrations.

Quote: "A group of guys with long hair meet in front of the National Museum and get chased by the police. When they are caught, the police pull out scissors and give them haircuts."

Fahrenheit 451

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Rad Bradbury
Author's Website: http://www.raybradbury.com/

ISBN: 978-0-329-93351-7

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks
Copyright Date: 1951

Genre: Classic

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18

Awards: Booklist, 1997.

Plot Summary: Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which books burn. Guy Montag is a fireman in a world where books are outlawed and burned by himself and other "firemen". Television rules this society and Guy never questions this existence, until he meets Clarisse who shares with him how big of a part literature played in that past. Eventually, Guy is stealing books from homes instead of burning them, and comes to realize how shallow his friends and wife are. He longs for intellectual conversation, and befriends an old college professor whol ultimately helps him when the fire department comes to burn Guy's house down.
Critical Evaluation: Ray Bradbury does an excellent job of sharing a glimpse into a world without literature. He successfully infuses his novel with themes such as knowledge vs. ignorance, and provokes the reader to examine important values in our society.
Reader's Annotation: Guy Montag is a fireman in a world where books are outlawed and burned by himself and other "firemen". Will Guy come to realize the importance of literature, and will it be too late?

Booktalking Ideas: Censorship

Why did you include this book: Bradbury explores the danger and effects of too much television and emphasizes an importance in literature and learning.
Quote: A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind. Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man? Me? I won't stomach them for a minute.

The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Author's Website: www.loislowry.com

ISBN: 978-0-329-69131-8

Publisher: Dell-laurel Leaf

Copyright Date: 1993

Genre: Dystopic 

Reading Level/Interest Age: 12-18

Awards: Horn Book, 1993. Newbery Medal, 1994

Plot Summary: In the year 2065, in a world of sameness Jonas is turning 12 years old which means he will get his life assignment. He is chosen to be the Receiver of Memories and works closely with The Giver, who gives him one memory of the past at a time, including color. Jonas is the only person allowed to carry these memories for the rest of the society and will be called upon if he ever needs to make decisions based on the past. Once Jonas realizes how much his society is missing out on he feels torn between staying and running away.

Critical Evaluation: Lois Lowry successfully creates a chilling world that at first appears to be a utopia in which there is an order, structure and happiness to society. They are void of heartbreak, war and poverty. It isn't until the reader learns alongside Jonas how much their society is missing out on, and how much joy is kept from each individual. 

Reader's Annotation: Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory in a world of sameness. However, after receiving memories of the past world will Jonas be satisfied to stay living in a world with no color or music?

Booktalking Ideas: Individuality
Challenge issues if any: This story has been challenged because some feel that the message or warning behind the content is too old for children. However, I believe this book is perfect for young adults who are at an age where analytical skills must be developed.

Why did you include this book: This novel will have young adults questioning important concepts such as the right to individuality.
Quote: "You will be faced, now, with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience. The Receiver himself was not able to describe it, only to remind us that you would be faced with it, that you would need immense courage."

The Host

Title: The Host
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Author's Website:

ISBN: 978-0-316-06804-8

Publisher: Little Brown

Copyright Date: 2008

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15 to adult

Awards: Book list, 2008. School Library Journal, 2008. Teacher Librarian, 2010.

Plot Summary: Melanie lives in a world that has been invaded by souls that use human bodies as hosts. When she is captured, she refuses to relinquish control of her mind to the soul placed inside of her. Instead the soul feels all of Melanie's emotions and soon starts falling in love with Jared, the man Melanie can't stop thinking about.

Critical Evaluation: Stephanie Meyer brilliantly nails a science fiction novel that will captivate both teenagers and adults. This suspenseful novel equally contains action, and emotion.

Reader's Annotation: In a world where humans have been invaded and their bodies used as hosts, Melanie refuses to relinquish control of her body to the "soul" placed inside of her. 

Booktalking Ideas: Good vs. Evil, humanity

Why did you include this book: This is a science fiction novel that can be enjoyed by readers who do not typically enjoy science fiction because it contains so many other elements.
Quote: "Eight full lives. Eight full lives and I've never found anyone I would stay in a planet for, anyone I would follow when they left. I never found a partner. Why now? Why you? You're not of my species. How can you be my partner? It's not fair. I love you."

1984

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Author's Website:

ISBN: 978-0-451-52493-5

Publisher: Signet Classic

Copyright Date: 1949

Genre:  Classics

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Awards: Booklist 08/01/97, ALA Notable Children's Books 1995

Plot Summary: Winston Smith lives in Oceania, a future state ruled by Big Brother who is constantly monitoring and controlling the actions of the people. Winston begins carrying on an affair with a woman named Julia, something they could both be vaporized for. Ultimately, the Thought Police come for him, torture him and are able to successfully brain wash him and send him back into society.

Critical Evaluation: Orwell's brilliant novel shares his fear of a government that has grown out of control. The entire story reads as almost a warning of a possible future if we don't take an active stance to avoid relinquishing our civil liberties. 

Reader's Annotation:  Winston Smith lives in a world where Big Brother watches your every move and the Thought Police dictate what you’re allowed to think about. Will he risk his life by secretly rebelling against the government?

Booktalking Ideas: Censorship, Privacy

Why did you include this book: This classic novel is a literature staple that will have young adults considering the concepts of censorship, privacy and control. 
Quote: "People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word."

Trapped

Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Author's Website: http://michaelnorthrop.net/

ISBN: 978-0-545-21012-6

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2011

Copyright Date: 2011

Genre: Adventure

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18

Awards: Booklist, 2011. Publisher's Weekly, 2011.

Plot Summary: After early dismissal from school due to the snowy weather, Scotty and his two best friends decide to stay after and work in the shop, not realizing that they will be stranded for the next week in the worst blizzard the country has ever seen. There are seven students in total that have to band together to find food, and warmth when the pipes freeze and the power goes out.
Critical Evaluation: Northrup successfully creates a page-turning novel that leaves readers fascinated, and anxious to see what happens next. Most teens will be able to appreciate that the story is told from the perspective of Scotty, a 15 year old high school student who is still worried about his bad breath, and zits even though their lives are potentially at risk. Northrup builds anxiety in the reader, while still providing a realistic teenage dialogue, and inner monologue.

Reader's Annotation: Seven High School students are trapped in their highschool during the country's worst storm, and forced to survive the cold with no power or heat.

Booktalking Ideas: Survival,

Why did you include this book: I chose this book because it is a fast-paced adventure read.
Quote: "It would've seemed impossible, even just a few days ago, but the snow was maybe three feet below the second-floor window-sill. I looked out. How long would it take to reach the windows?" It was already drifting up against some of them. Could it keep going long enough to cover them, like it'd covered the ones downstairs? There was no higher ground, no place left for us to go."