Stiefvater, M. (2011). Scorpio Races. New York: Scholastic
Every year the island of Thisby fills with tourists to watch the famous Scorpio Races. But this is not a normal horse race; these horses are capaill uisce - blood thirsty horses from the sea. This is a violent, dangerous animal and to ride one is to risk one's life. But each year, men ride hoping to win the purse. But this year is different. This year Puck, a young woman, is riding her mare in the race. Puck's parents were killed by the capaill uisce in a fishing accident and the family is about to lose everything. So she enters the race with the hopes of winning and saving her family home. Sean Kendrick is also in the race but his goal is different. He rides for the stable he works at where he trains and breeds the capaill uisce. He has a bond with a horse named Corr and hopes that with a win he will be allowed to by Corr and leave this job.
Sean and Puck start to train together and a relationship begins to form. Another relationship takes a turn for the worse. Mutt Malvern, the son of the stable owner, has it out for Sean. He is jealous of his skill and talents with horses and capaill uisce. During the race, he attacks Sean. Puck wins the race, saves her home, and gets Malvern to sell Corr to Sean. Sean tries to release Corr back to the sea but Corr chooses to stay with Sean.
Not only is this book on the list of Outstanding Books for the College Bound, but it also was a Printz Honor book. The fantasy story switches from Puck and Sean's point of view. I enjoy knowing what both main characters are thinking and feeling when I read, so that alternating first person point of view works for me. Upon some research I learned that the story is based on Irish legend of the capaill uisce. These fierce animals come to shore during storms. They eat flesh and will often drown their victims. The author writes this element of fantasy in a way that almost seems realistic, which is the mark of a good fantasy writer. I never doubted the existence of these animals as I read. Another strength is that Puck is not a wimpy girl character. She knows what she wants and fights for it, going against centuries of tradition to do so.
Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojCn2Y41ig - I selected this trailer because it is the one Maggie made!
Teacher Links - https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=27338&s=n
Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl. New York: St. Martins.
Cath and Wren are twins who are obsessed with Simon Snow, a Harry Potter like character. They live with their father, who suffers from depression. But entering college changes everything. Wren decides not to room with Cath. Cath's anxiety about new situations and places causes her to try to isolate herself from everyone, including her roommate Reagan and Reagan's ex-boyfriend Levi. But Reagan and Levi start drawing her out of her shell and into college life. Her sister Wren has jumped into the college social scene, so much so that she ends up with alcohol poisoning in the hospital. Cath continues to struggle with life and anxiety. The mother who abandoned the family in 2001 wants to be back in her life. She has feelings for Levi, but doesn't want to hurt Reagan. She writes a fan-fiction page about Simon Snow and is trying to figure out how to end it. She is also struggling in her creative writing class because her teacher doesn't approve of fan fiction. A classmate named Nick has taken credit for a piece of her writing and turned it in as his project. In the end, Wren learns that she needs Cath, Nick gets what he deserves, and Cath and Levi fall in love.
This realistic fiction book is on the Outstanding Books for the College Bound. It is a great example of the difficulties of adjusting to college life. Cath is lost on her big campus; in fact she doesn't even know where the dining hall is. Her anxiety keeps her from truly experiencing life. She isolates herself in her fan-fiction. But all of her issues are real and are faced by many teens as they leave home and try to be independent at college. Cath as a character is going through some major changes. Her issues are contemporary and are presented in a way is consistent with the real world.
I read this book when it first came out. As I read I realized that I am raising Cath. My 16 year old daughter Kat used to write fan-fiction, has anxiety issues, and keeps looking at large colleges with the hopes that she will "get lost" in the crowd. I gave her the book and she loved it. She felt that Cath was a great character but never mentioned the similarities to herself.
Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBlTYGvSuVA
Teacher Links - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBlTYGvSuVA
Tahir, S. (2015). An Ember in the Ashes. New York: RazorBill
Laia's grandparents have been killed and her brother taken prisoner. In a desperate attempt to save him, she agrees to become a slave and spy for the Resistance on the Commandant of Blackcliff Military Academy, a high ranking government official know for her cruelty. Elias is at Blackcliff Military Academy training to become a Mask, an elite part of the military in the Empire. But he's not sure this is what he wants from his life. He is named an aspirant and must participate in the trials to name a new Emperor. The trials force him to face his past and battle his friends. He also has to face his mother, the Commandant, who abandoned him as a child and now tries to control his life. After a chance meeting, Laia and Elias form a tentative relationship. When Marcus is declared Emperor, Elias is slated to be executed. Elias and Laia manage to escape Blackcliff and head out to save Laia's brother.
This was my choice from the Best Fiction for YA list. This fantasy world is beautifully created. Loosly based on ancient Rome, the characters are well rounded and the plot intruiging. It is easy to believe that the Empire is real. The universal truths of the importance of family, doing what is right even if it is hard, love and betrayal, and power is corrupting are all presented in this book. Another strength of this book is that, like Scorpio Races, we have dual narrators. We read and see both Laia's and Elias's sides of the story. It forces the author to write two strong characters, which makes the book better. In fact, I so enjoyed this book, I've read the sequel!
Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbvyCrkVT7M
Teacher Links - https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=42018&s=n
Aveyard, V. (2015). Red Queen. New York: HarperCollins.
Norta is divided by blood, red and silver. Those with silver blood have supernatural powers of strength, the ability to control fire, water, the weather, metal, electricity, and the ability to read minds to name some. The rest of society has red blood, no powers and serves the Silvers. That is until Mare, while working at the palace discovers that she is a Red with the power to summon lightning. Rather than allowing the Reds to know that she is one of them, a cover story that she is a Silver thought to be lost. To control her, she is to be married to Prince Maven, the second son of the king. As part of palace life she it taught to control and use her powers, as well as etiquette and protcol. She also continues to find a way to help the Reds. She seeks out the Scarlet Guard, the Resistance to the Silvers in Norta. Maven claims to share her concerns with about the Reds and together they agree to help the Scarlet Guard. Maven's older brother, Cal, attempts to make friends with during her time at the palace but she's not sure how to handle him. He is facing his Queenstrial, a battle among the Silver family daughters to determine who will be queen. But his attraction to Mare is strong.
Maven is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has tricked Mare into exposing the Scarlet Guard. Queen Elara uses her powers of mind control to force Cal to kill his father. With Maven as king, Mare and Cal are sentenced to death in the Bowl of Bones. They fight for their lives and barely escape with them.
This is a fantasy book with dystopian themes. Norta's world has a strong society structure. The rule of the Silvers is absolute, and the abuse suffered by the Reds is dreadful. This society runs on the idea that might is right. As a fantasy world, it is believable. We have seen places ruled by an elite few and the masses used and tortured. The addition of supernatural powers makes it even more dangerous.
The characters in this book are its strength. Normally in YA only a few characters are developed. Aveyard does a wonderful job of writing characters that are well rounded and interesting. Her evil queen does tend to be a bit stereotypical, but she still has depth as she mainpulates everything. Cal's struggles with his responsibilities to the crown and his feelings for Mare. Mare, herself, is just discovering her power and knowing that she is different and may shift the balance of power in Norta is terrifying and thrilling at the same time. And Maven is so broken and twisted in his allegiance to his mother. These characters drive this novel.
Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UbsNfwkZwk
Teacher Links: https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?a=1&tid=43060
Dessen, S. (2015). Saint Anything. New York: Viking.
Everything in Sydney's family revolves around her brother Peyton. The once golden boy turned to drugs and alcohol and ending up paralyzing a boy in a drunk driving accident. Now he's in jail but still the center of life in her home. Her mom is relying on one of Peyton's friends from NA, Ames, for support. Ames supports her mom but makes Sydney very uncomfortable. Her father has thrown himself into his work. To escape the whispers and rumors at her day school, Sydney transfers to public school. After school, in a local pizza joint, she meets Layla and Mac. A friendship forms and Sydney becomes part of their group at school. As the fall progresses, Sydney continues to struggle with her family's treatment of Peyton as the victim, rather than David, the boy he paralyzed and the changing relationship with her friends from day school. She also finds herself falling for Mac. Mac has a band and when Sydney lets them use the recording studio in the basement against her parents' wishes and Layla boyfriend shows up with alcohol, Ames calls her mom and she is punished. She misses the band's performance. But when Mac and Layla's mom is rushed to the hospital, despite being grounded, she know she has to be there. She leaves a note and tries to leave, but is assaulted by Ames. Fortunately, her father hears her screams and rescues her ( and does some damage to Ames). She rushes to the hospital to be with Mac and Layla. Her mother follows her, but instead of dragging her out as she had planned, she finally sees Sydney for who she is. This opens the door for conversation about Peyton, Ames, David, and the night in the recording studio.
Saint Anything is a romantic piece of realistic fiction with a few serious topics from the Best Fiction for YA list. This is mostly about relationships and facing the truth of difficult situations. Sydney's relationship with her mother is rocky because her mother is in a situation with Peyton that she cannot control, so she exerts her control on Sydney. Her fear of losing Peyton, makes her hold on harder to Sydney. Sydney's changing friendships with her old friends and making new friends is a hard thing adolescents to do. Adding a romantic component with Mac can also be confusing, especially when Layla doesn't want him to date one of her friends. In terms of realistic fiction, its topic is believable and relatable to readers.
Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq51yhnCFI8
Teacher Links - https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=44623&s=n
Yoon, N. (2016). The Sun is Also a Star. New York: Delacorte
Daniel is a 1st generation Korean American on his way to his Yale interview. His parents' dream is for Daniel to become a doctor. He prefers writing poetry. Natasha is an undocumented alien from Jamaica who is on her way to try and stop her family's deportation. When they meet, they realize that their attractions is overwhelming and they may be "the one" for each other. Natasha tries to deny the attraction, as she has less than 24 hours left in New York; why should he let him into her life? But through a series of personal questions from a scientific study, Natasha and Daniel open up about their families, their difficult relationships with their fathers, and living up to expectations. As the two draw closer, a bizarre chain of events is set off around them. Natasha's lawyer is Daniel's Yale interviewer. Daniel saves Natasha from being hit by a drunk driver, who later hits the lawyer. And Natasha thanks a woman who feels invisible and unknowingly prevents her suicide. At the end of this day, the two say good bye as Natasha is deported to Jamaica. They try to stay in touch, but long distance relationships never work. Years later on a plane, they find each other again.
This book is a Printz Honor book. It's genre is realistic fiction as it deals with illegal immigration, the immigrant experience in America, and relationships with parents. For teens, this would appeal to girls who enjoy romance and the idea of love at first sight. The secondary story of the immigrant and their idea of the American dream would be relatable for many 1st generation Americans. Having the protagonists be teens of color, also would be something that teens would relate to. Daniel and Natasha fight against their parents' dreams. Daniel's family expects him to be a doctor. Natasha's father had a dream of being a Broadway actor but he gave up and resented the family for ending his dream. But by the end of the book, they both learn that their dreams don't have to be yours and you can have your own dreams. For many that is a powerful message.
The book is well written and the interlinking of the characters throughout the story is wonderful. Again, I appreciate an author who can show two complete points of view in a story. But perhaps I'm old and jaded... true love just isn't real to me. I struggled to believe that two teens could fall so deeply for each other in such a short time. My daughter told me book like this have "insta-love". I wonder if it gives teen girls an unhealthy view of what love really is?
Trailer -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Teacher Links-http://www.natioyXS4a4FbRv0nalbook.org/nba2016finalist_ypl_yoon_sun_is_also_a_star.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/camryn-garrett/nicola-yoon-talks-the-sun_b_12741688.html
Wallach, T. (2015). We All Looked Up. New York: Simon & Schuster.
As an asteroid name Ardor heads toward Earth, four teens reevaluate their lives. They have known their roles in high school as assigned by their peers or their parents. With 66% of the Earth's population about to die, each teen must decide how they will live what is possibly the last weeks of their lives. Eliza, who was labeled a slut, choses to photograph all that is going on and creates a blog of her photos. Peter, the golden boy athlete, decides to give his time for others. Anita, who was the overachiever pushed by her parents, choses to leave home and organize a party for the end of the world where she will finally sing, which is her true passion. Andy, the slacker, has no idea how to end his days. His only true goal is to not die a virgin so he goes after Eliza. When martial law finally gives up and lawlessness prevails, Peter is killed trying to save his little sister from her loser boyfriend. The concert, the party at the end of the world, goes on as planned. As Anita and Andy perform, Eliza thinks about what has been and what might have been if the world wasn't ending in a few hours.
This was my selection from the New York Times Best Seller List. I struggle with identifying genre. Is it realistic fiction since this could really happen? Or is it really soft science fiction because of the asteroid heading to Earth and the impending apocalypse? Quality YA is supposed to have characters that are not stereotypes, but this book focuses on those stereotypes as the foundations for their decisions. Facing mortality is a difficult subject for teens, as so many teens think they are "bullet proof". I think the conversations of what would you do would make this book an interesting teaching piece.
On a personal note, I did not enjoy this book. I feel horrible but I was rooting for the asteroid because I just couldn't get into these characters or the plot. I was ready for the Earth to be destroyed half way though!
Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx76rax-fwo
Teacher Links - https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=43845&s=n
