I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser (Harper Teen, 2009)

GENRE: Memoir

HONORS: none

REVIEW: In this book, the memoir has taken a new form with teens expressing their inner most secrets and memories of their young lives. The memoirs range from the grim, "HIV: We could have saved her.", to the empowering, "Lost my virginity. It was fantastic.", and literary, "Holden caught me in the Rye." A book that is similar and along the lines of Postsecret and Other People's Love Letters, young people will appreciate flipping through the pages and quickly revering in the creatively sporadic expressions of emotion. In this book, teens will be able to relate to the flashed tales, and draw inspiration for themselves.

OPINION: One can't help but try to think about how they would summarize their life in six words, especially after reading this book. The beauty is that the memoirs are not categorized, the writers remain somewhat anonymous, and the pages are bold with each memoir having a different font face and size to show character. The memoirs include some famous young people, which are an added bonus to spot.

IDEAS: A great exercise for a creative writing workshop!

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar and Christina Ricci (Hachette Audio; Abridged edition, 2003)

GENRE: Chick - Lit

HONORS: None

REVIEW: The Gossip Girls are the epitome of high society. A promiscuous, tight knit social circle of teen girls from the New York City's Upper East Side, who have everything at their finger tips. Unlimited shopping sprees, trips to Europe, scenesters to the best parties, where of course no one dares ID them. They are even a cultured bunch, as being invited to art openings and having been accepted into Ivy League colleges. Serena is back from boarding school, and her friendship with Blair is in jeopardy. They were once close, even close enough to make out with each other, but ever since Serena returned, she is taking over Blair's spotlight and the attention of the Nate, who was once her heart throb and now Blair's.

OPINION: Christina Ricci makes the abridged audiobook version an entertaining, laugh out loud guilty pleasure. The gossip girls never have a care in the world, except for the drama that they conjure up themselves. The plot is unrealistic, but the promiscuity, heavy drinking, and glamorous lifestyle can be a thrilling escape for teen girls who would like to dream what it would be like to be rich, beautiful, and popular in New York City.

IDEAS: n/a

Double Duce by Aaron Cometbus (Last Gasp, 2003)

GENRE: Fanzine

HONORS: none

REVIEW: In Double Duce , Aaron Cometbus documents the experience living in a deserted Berkeley warehouse with his friends Sluggo, Little G, and Willey. The book documents the gutter punk culture in the '90's that often consisted of going to shows, running from the cops, and experimenting with hard drugs. Throughout the book, there are many interesting and eccentric characters that come to live in the house, but the story exudes a sense of community and tolerance. The underlining philosophy is not anarchy, but a group of young people who have created their own system to live off the grid and discover their own identities.

OPINION: Cometbus' books are an underground staple. His fanzines documents not only the subculture, but the history that floats in the Bay Area music scene. The publisher, Last Gasp, has kept true to the presentation of the fanzine, with the text appearing to be handwritten and the covers hand drawn. Aaron Cometbus is a great writer from the Bay Area that may be as significant to young people, as Joan Didion and Lawrence Ferlinghetti are to the old.

IDEAS: A notable book for a Zine workshop or display of local history (if in the Bay Area).

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (Alfred A. Knopf, 2006)

GENRE: Fiction - Detective Themes

HONORS:2006 Michael L. Printz Award Honor book
2005 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year-Children
2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book (among others)

REVIEW: Ed Kennedy is a young taxi driver, who is his opinion, hasn't made any notable achievements in his life. He is in love with his best friend Audrey and spends his time playing cards or sharing coffee with the "Doorman", his dog. His character is set up to be the downtrodden young adult, which conveys a typical scenario with a unique set of quirks, especially when his destiny changes in a heroic move to stop a bank robbery. The mystery lies in the unidentified and dangerous 'good Samaritan' that constantly threats Ed into solving a card suit full of puzzles that will change others lives for the better.

OPINION: The strength of the story is in the cryptic messages that Ed anonymously receives that leaves the reader to wonder where the clues will lead. Ed's determination and intelligence changes the lives of a diverse set of unsuspecting citizens whose troubles range from domestic abuse to poverty. Some of the scenarios are too anti-climatic where a reader wonders what kind of positive change Ed deployed, but the puzzles and glances into the varied scenes of city life make the story arousing.

IDEAS: A good anti-hero book recommendation, and alternative for those who can't get a hold of Zusak's Book Thief right away.

Def Jam Rapstar Bundle by Konami - Xbox 360

GENRE: Video Games

HONORS: none

REVIEW: Rapstar is a step into the mainstream of a controversial genre. This game will attract all types of teens for its wide array of legendary classics and artists that are staples in the industry. The object of the game is the precisely rap and sing lyrics from popular songs, while the game scores one on their timing and accuracy of lyrics. The game most appealing feature is the option of rapping simultaneously with second player, as well watching the actual music videos play in the background. Players are judged by their skills (the best is being "Off the Chain!'), which unlock other songs. Heavy hitters, such as Lil' Wayne, Tupac, Nortorious B.I.G, and Ludacris give the game a lasting playing power.

OPINION: Parents may appreciate this game for its censored lyrics, but teens will most likely be bitter about this irksome detail. Old fans of hip hop and rap will grab a sense of nostalgia from the videos and the thoughtfully chosen playlist. The option for players to buy additional songs for the game is a nice addition. This is a quality game that has thoroughly reflected the history and appeal of the genre.

IDEAS: Recommended for urban libraries, who need an alternative to Rock Band.

You Remind Me Of You (Push Poetry) by Eireann Corrigan (Push, 2002)

GENRE: Poetry Memoir

HONORS: none

REVIEW: This book is a first person account about the daily struggle of Eirean Corrigan, who was wrestling with acute anorexia and bulimia. Throughout the book, she alternates between time frames and the different memories ranging from her personal horrors of feeling overweight to recollections of Daniel her high school love, then being in the hospital with Daniel by her bedside and his attempts to shoot himself in the head. Corrigan presents a memoir full of innocent poems mixed with the grim details of only having a diet soda and a sardine in a day to yellow skin and hair falling to a comatose boyfriend. Her passion for writing and her diligence of wanting to return to the brighter past conveys a perseverance that gleams subtly throughout the book.

OPINION: The grim reality of striving to be thin will appeal to teens because of its heartrending nature and intimate perspective. The narrative poetry captures a drastic period of the writer's disorientating illness, as well as her feelings of having and losing her one true love. Her poetry is well rendered and her attitude progressively loses its anger and gains spirit, which provides the needed resolution to a heavy situation.

IDEAS: A must for a YA collection!!!!!

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1) by Scott Westerfeld and Rodrigo Corral (Simon Pulse, 2005)

GENRE: Science Fiction

HONORS: none I could find

REVIEW: At first the story sounds like a dystopian initiation, but like many future of the world novels, Westerfeld has outlined his ideas about our possible unstable future. Tally Youngblood is on the verge of turning sixteen, which is the age where she has to undergo an operation to make her a 'Pretty'. As a young 'Ugly', all she was born to dream about is being one of the beautiful. Her best friend, Shay, has different ideas about this and runs away with a cryptic note only Tally can discipher. The 'Special Circumstance', intercept the note and they threaten Tally to infiltrate Shay's counter society or risk giving up her operation. She hover boards over the Rusty's ruins (Rusty is our society hundreds of centuries in the future) where she learns about truth of being a Pretty, which has mind controlling repercussions.

OPINION: Young people who defy high school cliques and are the anti-Gossip Girl chick-lit types will be attracted to this series' themes of strong ethics and seeing the beauty inside of people. Class systems and the integrity of the government are deep seeded issues that readers are driven to contemplate. Westerfeld has creatively written an allegory for things that happen in our society in a package that appeals to a high school audience.

IDEAS: Suggested title for a book discussion.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (Candlewick, 2005)

GENRE: Fiction

HONORS: Michael L. Printz Award for Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top Forty Title

REVIEW: Body image and self-confidence are the main themes in this story, which features Virgina AKA "Ginny" who is wide and round in every place. Unfortunately, she is raised in a family that bears no resemblance to here in appearance, ambition, and social status. Unfortunately, her parents are shallow and even though they want the 'best' for Ginny, they are not in her best interests. The book is thoughtfully written where her parents are not the superior voice in her self-image, even though they try hard to be. An English teacher, her out of town best friend, and talented make-out buddy named "Froggy" do see her potential, and are her outlets of fulfillment outside of her household. The side plot of her once idolized older brother's "date rape" also shows how ignorant her family is, even though they appear 'perfect'. Teens will like this book for obvious reasons of self- empowerment and a varying perspective from other books where the skinny girls reign supreme.

OPINION: This book was an engrossing read, and the author was successful in conveying the feeling of being overweight and self conscious. She did not have to result to portraying attitudes that were condescending to achieve this. Virgina was able to cope through writing and the book highlights that with some confidence, she would be able to overcome her feelings of guilt without downing a bag of Dorritos.

IDEAS: High school themes. Recommended for freshman ed! (maybe)

Seed Folks by Paul Fleischman (Harper, 1997)

GENRE: Fiction - Multicultural themes

HONORS:ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
School Library Journal Best Book
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age (amongst many others)

REVIEW: Seedfolks is a slim novel that encompasses the personalities and diversity of a poor, urban neighborhood. The story focuses on an abandoned lot that expanded into a lively, vegetable bearing garden that started by one small act, which was the planting of lima beans by a young girl. Other neighbors didn't think her plant would grow, but when they watched from a far the care that she put into the plant, others began to join in. The story speaks about community and the tolerance that occurs when there is a common ground where differences can be understood. Fleischman uses short profiles of different demographics that dive into each individual's background and experiences with the garden. The story is symbolic and reflective of the differences in urban communities today.

OPINION: The profiles seemed to be difficult at times to grasp because of the overbearing of cultural characteristics, which may make a reader wonder of Fleischman has taken these profiles from real people or if they are over exaggerated prejudices. The themes are nonetheless promote multiculturalism and community, which is a value that young people can pick up quickly through this book and something that they will remember.

IDEAS: A book to promote multi-culturalism; library gardening program perhaps.

Thematic Bibliography: Environmental Ethics and Sustainability

Fiction

Earthgirl by Jennifer Cowan (Groundwood Books, 2009)

The theme of a teen girl facing animosity from her family and peers for her choices is nothing new, but 16-year old Sabine is standing up for her individuality and her planet. After a smack in the face with a “McFatty Meal”, Sabine’s newfound persona and desire to ask eco-conscious questions encompasses a new awareness for the environment through self- education and picking the brain of her teenage heartthrob. A light, fun novel that incorporates music and a plethora of eco- friendly facts and resources, Jennifer Cowan provides a unique and relevant perspective in the YA realm.



Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson (Scholastic Press, 2009)

Destroy All Cars is written as a journal full of American consumer angst with a laid in love story by 17-year old James Hoff. His passion is not entirely irrational, and his perspective has an idealistic wittiness that focuses on the kind of attitude it takes to really change the world. Blake Nelson is known to write humorous YA lit that falls against the grain, and his poking fun at consumerist culture through an autonomous teen conveys some subtle insight to the consequences that we have to face from the gas guzzling SUVs and mall addicts that roam our part of the world.

Non-Fiction

The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices by Michael Brower and Warren Leon (Three Rivers Press, 1999)

For those disheartened about the current state of the environment, The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) compiled an informative guide that ranges from topics of the history of trash to everyday choices one can make to reduce their carbon footprint. Whether its choosing to eat organically, riding a bicycle, or deciding to rid the use of disposable containers, the proven research and statistics supplied with describable solutions provide realistic and digestible advice that allow teens to consider their everyday choices.


Weird Weather: Everything You Didn't Want to Know About Climate Change But Probably Should Find Out by Kate Evans (Groundwood Books, 2007)

Written as a graphic novel featuring the perspectives of a discontented teenager, a kooky mad scientist, and overweight suit-clad man with a corporate agenda, Weird Weather is a fact driven, visually appealing way to get young people turned onto the issues of climate change. Every page of the slim graphic novel is packed corner to corner with expressive dialogue, solid statistics, sporadic caricatures, and extensive endnotes that provide readers with resources for further exploration. The book elaborates on complicated topics of global warming and reconciles one’s feeling of insignificance. Like other books about climate change, the solutions are repetitive, but conveyed in a distinctive YA format.

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming by Al Gore (Viking Juvenile, 2007)

As the most iconic advocate for global warming, Al Gore’s young reader’s version simply covers all the major points of his arguments presented in the 2006 adult book and documentary with the addition of visually captivating charts and photos. Although attractively presented, the book fails to provide technical data or scientific research to defend the claims. Nonetheless, the book provides a simple overview with an interesting enough fact basis where teens can conjure up a thesis or starting point of reference to conduct further research.

The Penguin Atlas of Food: Who Eats What, Where, and Why by Eric Millstone and Tim Lang (Penguin, 2003)

This atlas is a visually detailed reference guide to the planet’s consumption, farming, trade, and future challenges that deal with every country’s relationship with food. Each page contains charts and maps that emphasize different food related issues from animal transportation to under nutrition to money spent on advertising. Each country is labeled by a shade of color depicting the percentages that are representative of their impact. Penguin Books is known for their attractive graphics and format, and they succeed at publishing a scholarly reference guide for teens to learn the socioeconomic role and challenges of food.

Film

Manufactured Landscapes (Zeitgeist Films, 2007) - DVD format

This award-winning documentary is presented more as an artfully induced film rather than a culture criticizing commentary. The scenes documented by Edward Burtynsky, a renowned photographer, are not only stunning, but provide a glimpse into the different landscapes of various countries that have been transformed by industrialization. The views into the factories where trinkets are meticulously built to the toxic landfills where e-waste is disposed provides a relentless perspective that would be otherwise unseen to a consumer driven population.

No Impact Man (Oscilloscope Laboratories, 2010) - DVD format

No Impact Man is poignant and at-times humorous film that documents what happens when an environmental liberal becomes tired of complaining and decides to live out his ideals. The film features his New York City family and their gradual struggle to live off the grid and reduce their carbon footprints to nil. The film gives an interesting prospective to the effort and resilience involved in such an idealistic endeavor, as well as highlights the habits that have been instilled in our culture. The website* also provides a free educational supplement that aims to connect students to their environment.

* http://noimpactproject.org/educators-middle-high-school-environment-curriculum-html/

Websites

http://www.eco-company.tv/

One way for eco- aware teens to flex their creativity, while becoming advocates amongst their peers is through Eco Company. As an online video streaming site, as well as a national TV show, it is an interactive way for teens to learn about all aspects of making a positive impact on the environment through submitting their own videos about what they do to conserve and live sustainably. The website features videos on topics ranging from renewable energy to organics and transportation made for teens by teens.


http://www.dosomething.org/

When young people feel the need to make a change, “Do something” is a site that shows how every little bit of action helps. The site promotes a number of humane and eco-friendly activities ranging from interactive games, videos, news, as well as a menu for users to “Act Now!” and customize the cause, the number of people or type of organization involved, the place, and the time duration that they wish to volunteer for. Here teens can learn about the issues they are passionate about, find ways to act on them, and learn about or join the organizations of their cause. The site also provides grant money for teens that know how to put their ideas to use.

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg (City Lights, 2001)

GENRE: Poetry

HONORS: none that are official

REVIEW: Teen readers who were enthralled of Kerouac's On the Road are most likely to discover Ginsberg's HOWL in the niche of Beatnik lit. The cultural references to this book are also difficult to avoid, such as in The Wimpy Kid Movie where the a female character appears from under the bleachers holding the distinctive booklet. So curiosity will lead one to read a subversive classic that had a major impact in the poetry scene in the U.S. HOWL is broken up into four parts, where each part expresses a unique theme. The first glorifies his friends and their suffering, the second talks about oppression by the government, war, pollution, etc, and the third expresses his empathy for his friend in the insane asylum, Carl Solomon. The fourth is a footnote that glorifies Buddhism and the beauty of things.

OPINION: HOWL is not only musical in nature, but an autobiographical account of an icon who was in the center of this era in American history. Even though the poem is written disjointedly, it fits his subject matter and captures the energy and madness of his experiences. This is definitely a book that will often end up missing on the shelves.

IDEAS: A iconic piece that would be a good example about the impact of words in a poetry or spoken word workshop.

Whip It (20th Century Fox, 2009) DVD format

GENRE: Film - Girls in Sports

HONORS: none

REVIEW: Drew Barrymore takes this true story from print to film, which is a story of, Bliss, a Texas teen who is raised to fulfill the dreams of her mother by winning in beauty pageants, but finds herself enthralled with the subversiveness and empowerment of competitive women's roller derby. This is a coming of age film, where Bliss travels the distance, as well as buries herself deep in secrets just to fulfill her love of the sport. She has finally found something that she thrives in and just needs the recognition from her conservative small town parents. The film also touches on issues like drunk driving and the dilemma of choosing one's own interests over a boyfriend's. The best thing about this is that the happy ending isn't atypical. She learns to love herself and ditch the boyfriend.

OPINION: The cameos of strong female leads makes this film adaptation appealing, while preserving its integrity. Ellen Page fits the role with her 'indie' film stardom (i.e. Juno), but her twiggy figure is a bit awkward for the sport. A truly unique subject done in a very cool way.

IDEAS: Recommended for girls who are looking for media with strong female leads and not a love struck happy ending.

The City and the Pillar: A Novel by Gore Vidal ( E. P. Dutton, 1948)

GENRE: Fiction - GLBT themes

HONORS: none

REVIEW: As one of the first novels about homosexuality, the story is contemporary and interestingly relevant to the exploration of one's sexuality. Jim and Bob are attractive high school athletes who are popular with the women. One night Jim's fantasies come true when Bob and Jim spend their last night of summer in a cabin retreat, which leads to much aggressive affection. Jim is the character who never comes out as being 'gay', although he can never sleep with a woman and his passion only shows for his best friend Bob. The story is about Jim's travels and experiences in an undercover gay community, and his endearing love for his best friend. This book is notable because these scenes were hidden from public view during that time, and the book was widely banned across America.

OPINION: Although GLBT literature has evolved dramatically, the subtle portrayal of emotions and indifference towards a different sex is one that would appeal to teens that are questioning their sexuality or are just in the frame of experimenting with the feelings of it. Jim is a character who never admits to being gay, but this may be repressed because it was a reflection of the period.

IDEAS: Used for banned books week and notable classic GLBT themed literature, which can be noted in categorization.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers (Audiobook; Listening Library, 2007)

Genre: Screenplay, Crime Fiction

Honors: 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
2000 Michael L. Printz Award
2000 Coretta Scott King Award Honor

Review: Monster is written as a part diary, part screenplay about the trial of young Steve Harmon and his associate James King for the robbery and murder of a drugstore clerk in Harlem, New York. Much of the story takes place in dialogue between Harmon and his defense lawyer, as well as in the courtroom where he is tried for being an accomplice of the murder. Even though one learns about the case through Harmon's perspective, the listener/ reader is kept on edge and never learns about the verdict until the very end. The story emphasizes the extraneous fight that young urban youth face to survive amongst their peers, as well in the justice system where odds are usually stacked against them.

Opinon: The screenplay format of the trial provides a humanistic perspective to those whom society considers "Monsters" for drugs, robbery, and murder. The experience that is conveyed through Harmon is existential where intentions, murder of the clerk, and characters involved are blurred by the process of the justice system. The full-cast dramatization of characters and accusations thrown back and forth from witnesses to lawyers is a stimulating and mind perplexing story that confronts social pressures, identity, and urban crime.

Ideas: Good book for a critical thinking class or sociological debate.

Lessons in Taxidermy: A Compendium of Safety and Danger by Bee Lavender (Punk Planet, 2005)

GENRE: Memoir

HONORS: None, so far

REVIEW: Lessons in Taxidermy is the book that author Bee Lavender did not have when her and her mother scoured bookstores for stories about children with cancer. In her memoir, Bee Lavender details her childhood illnesses and flashes back and forth between the minute to minute diagnosis she has in the emergency room as an adult. Most of the memoir is childhood to young adulthood timeline of surgeries, pain meds, 'freak show' identity, car crash, unplanned pregnancy, and social exclusion. As a child who grew up with every reason to die in the most unforgiving environment, Bee was destined to live even without the full will to put up a fight.

OPINION: Bee Lavender packs her memoir with squeamish, pain inducing details of her ailments and hospital visits, while harboring the tone of a monotonous attitude that is more realistic than the derived inspirational survivor's tale. Even though her perspective becomes too self-serving at times (which she admits) and the people in her life just seem to disappear without a trace of significance, her alternative edge and enthrallment with freak shows, vintage clothes, and counter culture is enough to interest women young and old who are in search for a story of true strength.

IDEAS: Bibliography about illness.

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon, 2005)

GENRE: Graphic Novel - Memoir

HONORS: 2002 Angoulême Prize for Scenario

REVIEW: Volume 2 picks up where the first left off, which is when Marjane has separated from her parents to seek safety and study French in Austria. She is a young woman now, and the second volume reads more as a coming of age story than the first. Marjane has to find new friends and fit in, has become a bit promiscuous (compared to Iranian standards), and has sunk into deep depression. She even experiments with drugs and ends up homeless for a period of time. The second volume is what young adults will relate to the most because of Marjane's alienation and difficulty fitting into the world. After a series of dark events, she then returns to Iran to reunite with her family and to come to terms with her identity.

OPINION: The second volume does not focus so much on Iranian history, but it is where Marjane deals with her even darker past. Even though her parents felt that sending her away was protected her from the grim realities of warfare, she still could not escape her own pain of depression. On a side note, although graphic novels are a still a new and evolving, Persepolis will be deemed a classic. That is how GREAT it was.


IDEAS: see post for Volume 1.