Thirteen Reason's Why

Author: Jay Asher

Clay Jenson, just a teenager. He has, no, had a crush on Hannah Baker. Right up until she kills herself. When a mysterious package arrives full of tapes, Clay is horrified when its Hannah's voice coming out of the speakers, and she is telling him its his fault. Clay's and 12 others, they are to blame that she is dead. "You have to listen," she tells them all, so Clay does. Hannah sends him on a wild tour of the town and Clay spends the night finding out just what Hannah Baker went through, the real Hannah Baker. There isn't much for Clay to do, except listen, and wait, to find out how he contributed to the death of Hannah, the most perfect girl he had ever known.
Personal Opinion:
I found this book compelling. When I was done, I found myself looking over the last few days and wondering if there was something that I could have done to trigger someone. I felt like this was a wonderful book but like many things we have to be careful of ideas. There are many aspect of this book to take into account while reading, what message is being sent and how can this be interpreted. There is a sense of blame that Hannah places on many of her classmates that she herself should have taken account for. But this also makes us all wonder how our actions affect others.


Warnings: There is language and there is lots of sexual content.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp

Author: Richard Yancy

Summary:
Ordinary, nothing special, un-extraordinary, those are the words that Alfred would use to describe himself, his life. When his mother dies, Alfred is sent to live with his security guard, money obsessed uncle. Then when an get rich quick scheme lands in his uncle's lap he needs Alfred's help. So going along with his uncles plan, Alfred plots to steal Excalibur, King Aurthur's legendary sword. When things go awry Alfred is suddenly tosses into a world full of fast cars, sword fighting monks, and legendary societies. Alfred Kropp no longer has the time to think about how boring a life he has, he is too busy finding out how extraordinary he really is.
Personal Opinion:
I really loved this book, Richard Yance did a wonderful job to keeping you turning pages. I had to know what mess was going to find Alfred next. I really enjoyed Alfred's character as well, such an innocent and purely good person, shouldn't have to become a sword fighter. I found Alfred drive to make things that he thought were his fault entertaining but sad. He always felt like things were his fault and living with that guilt would be terrible, but I do like how Alfred really comes into his own and knows that he can finish the mission.

Godless

Author: Pete Hautman

Who said God was in Heaven? Jason Bock doesn't know the answer to that question, so he decides that God could be anywhere, be anything. Maybe the water tower right there in his own town. After Jason poses his theory to his best friend, Shin, the religion grows. Soon Jason and Shin have 4 members and things are getting out of control. Keeping the religion on the right track is harder that Jason predicted. When their first meeting is on top of their God, the water tower, and things go terrible wrong, Jason realizes that he is no longer in charge of how his group is going to worship his creation.
Personal opinion:
Jason Bock is brilliant, stupid, but brilliant, He doesn't realize the influence that he has over his friends. By the time he realizes that things have gone to far, its too late. Jason learns that sometimes, even if its innocent and ridiculous for you, others may take it to the next level. Shin for example needed something to hold to and Jason provided an outlet. Its always difficult to judge how people will react to an idea, but that is why we all have to be careful with them.

Touching Spirit Bear

Author: Ben Mikaelsen

Summary:
Cole Matthews is trouble, plain and simple. After a particularly cruel beating to a class mate, Cole is given a choice a Native American experiment call the the justice circle or jail. He chooses the justice circle, for all the wrong reasons, to run away, to prove he can do what ever he wants. Once he is left alone on the island and he fails to escape is mauled by and gigantic white bear, the infamous Spirit Bear. After months in the hospital, Cole is given a second chance to change, really change. Cole decides to try, and with the spirit bear's help Cole can change for the better.
Personal Opinion:
I was shocked by this book, I didn't know what to think when I started it. Turns out a strange idea on how to change delinquents and a mythical bear can make for an amazing book. I was extremely interested in the actual Justice Circle that is practiced, I have always wondered if sending young adults off the be punished in harsh environment is really the best thing or if we are just perpetuating the cycle. I do not know if this is the answer for every young person but I did find my self thinking about how a system like this could really turn a person's life around.

Maus

Author: Art Spiegelman

Summary:
Maus, a graphic novel takes the holocaust hell in to a different dimension. The Jews are Mice, the Nazis are Cats and the Polish are pigs. Even with the changes that are made this doesn't make Maus any less horrifying. Reading the Account of the Artie's father's experience during World War II is still shocking and terrifyingly sad. Valdek( Artie's father) tells of the labor camps, being a war prisoner, and the Ghettos. Using the wealth that he had before the war Valdek takes all his jewelry and uses it to sustain his family as they are chased, beaten, and ran out of anything that they could have called home. Moving from one bad situation to something worse, Artie collects the stories for a future book and is shocked along with the rest of the readers at the almost unbelievable tales.
Personal Opinion:
I was horrified with the stories, but i will admit that seeing the characters as mice did help to stomach them better. I have always had a terrible time reading holocaust stories, they make me physically ill. This was still hard to take but I loved the Valdek character, he is just how a Jewish person is portrayed. I love that even with all the terrible things that happen to him he still keeps his personality and doesn't just break down. I totally enjoyed this book and think it would be great for young adults to read, it would help to put things into perspective.

North of Beautiful

Author: Justina Chen Headley

Summary:
Terra has the perfect body, amazing long blond hair, and an incredible eye for art but just one look at the right side of her face and no one would envy her. A port-wine stain takes up more than just half her face, Terra feels like it is the epitome of her life. Having this stain has always defined Terra's worth, in her eyes and her fathers. When yet another failed attempt to fix her face brings her and her ever hopeful mother to Seattle Terra has a close encounter with a goth boy,jacob, that changes her out look life. When circumstances bring the Terra and her mother to China with Jacob and his mother Nora, there is no boundaries for the discoveries that Terra makes while not just looking at her self in the mirror.
Personal Opinion:
North of Beautiful teaches everyone that we can't control everything that we're given in life, but we all have to deal with each trial alone. Terra's experience helped me realize that we have to look beyond ourselves to really see our own self worth. Having someone like Jacob in Terra's life helped to open her eyes to other peoples' trials but really Terra took her journey into her own hands and learned more than she ever knew she was missing.

Warnings:
There is some language in the is book. Nothing graphic but sex is mentioned.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

E. Lockhart
Summary
Frankie is a girl who just realized that she has power and brains. Finding her in a position where she can either good or bad Frankie decides to just take power and see where it goes from there. Being the girlfriend of the enticing Matthew Livingston, Frankie finds out about a secret and exclusive, all-male club in her prep school, a club that Matthew is part of; and is keeping her out of. With some brilliance Frankie turns the table on the boys of the Basset Hounds club.

Personal Review
Who doesn't love a girl that takes control of the situation? Frankie used her un-intimidating personality to pull a fast one on the over confident guys. I loved how she just took over what was going to happen at her school, she knew that if she didn't then she would always have to be on the outside. I also think that this book is a great reminder that women have been underestimated for years, and that not many of us are just rolling over and taking it anymore. This book has great journey theme under the radar. Frankie was not only trying to show that it was unfair that she was not allowed into the club but it was more than that. She needed to prove to herself that she is growing into someone worthwhile.