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| Fields, Terri |
Holdup
This story is initially told in multiple first person points-of-view then shifts, rather jarringly to a script format and concludes one year after the holdup of the title. I found it engaging but not earth-shattering although it came highly recommended. |
| Flinn, Alex |
Fade to Black
An HIV-positive high school student who has recently moved to Pinedale from Miami is brutally attacked while sitting in his car. Although Alex Cruzan's reception at Pinedale High School was anything but warm and fuzzy thanks to an illegal assembly informing students of his HIV status, but Clinton Cole, a jerk-jock seems to have it in for him in particular. There was a witness to this crime who puts Clint at the scene of the attack but she is a special ed student with Down Syndrome. Clint claims he had nothing to do with the attack, but can't or won't provide an alibi.
The story is told from the points-of-view of the victim, the suspect and the witness and shows how uncertain "eye-witness" accounts can be and how justice is not served on occasion.
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| Giles, Gail |
What Happened to Cass McBride?
All I can say is "OMG!" This book grabs you by the throat on page one, the same way Shattering Glass did and just doesn't let go! High school can be an unforgiving place and if you are at the bottom of the "food chain" it can be pure torture.
When David Kirby commits suicide after being rejected by the popular queen bee, Cass McBride, his brother, Kyle decides to kidnap her and bury her alive as punishment for her cruel treatment of David. But is Cass truly to blame for David's suicide? Sure, she's a cold and calculating witch, but does Kyle share any blame?
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| Glenn,
Mel |
The Taking of Room 114
This book is subtitled A Hostage
Drama in Poems. Mr. Wiedermeyer's senior history class has been
taken hostage, not by an angry student but by an angry teacher
near the last day of school and graduation. The series of poems
reflect the thoughts of various players in this drama, the principal,
police chief, various bystanders, the teacher and the students
themselves as they reflect on their four years at the school
and wonder if this will be the last day of their life. |
| Koertge,
Ron |
The Brimstone Journals
This is a slim book of free
verse told from the point of view of 15 high school seniors.
Reading this book is like putting a puzzle together and it becomes
quite suspenseful as we learn that an angry, racist student is
stockpiling weapons and putting together a "hit list"
of students and teachers. |
| Lester,
Julius |
When Dad
Killed Mom
The title says it all in this
jarring book. The story is told in alternating chapters by a
brother and sister whose mother was gunned down on Main Street
by their father. Not only do the children need to come to grips
with the death of their mother, but they have to face the fact
that their father killed her. He is trying to discredit their
mother, claiming abuse by her and is attempting to manipulate
his children into testifying that this was true. It is a difficult
but gripping read for young adults. |
| Mikalson,
Ben |
Touching
Spirit Bear
The jacket of this book recommends
it for ages 10 and up, but I would recommend this book for ages
12 and up due to some potentially upsetting scenes in the book.
Cole Matthews is an angry boy who blames everyone else for his
problems except himself, including the boy he beat unconscious
and caused disabling brain trauma. He is given an alternative
to jail in the form of Circle Justice. He thinks he has beaten
the system again, until he meets up with Spirit Bear. |
| Myers,
Walter Dean |
Monster
I tried to read this book three
times before I finally got through it. I don't know why, because
I really liked the book. It is the story of Steve who is on trial
as an accomplice in a robbery in which the owner of a drug store
is killed. Steve was (or was not) the look out. He's not a bad
kid, has no record, but is being portrayed by the prosecutor
as a monster. |
| Myers,
Walter Dean |
Shooter
Told in transcripts, this chilling story of a school shooting illuminates how personal prejudices inform interrogation. Six months after a school shooting, the reports of an FBI agent, a psychologist and a sheriff's officer reveal that many small incidents lead up to a deadly school shooting, including bullying, parental and school administration disinterest and bystander apathy. What is most telling to me, is the stark contrast of the reports commenting on the same event.
This is a thought-provoking, powerful novel that should be read by all middle school students and their teachers.
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| Strasser,
Todd |
Give a Boy a Gun
From the beginning of the book,
we know that two boys have written suicide notes and decided
to take their fellow high school students hostage. The story
is told documentary-style, in snippets as parents, teachers,
friends and tormenters look back over the years to try and make
sense out of why these two "outcasts" decided, dramatically,
that they can't take it any longer and have to fight back. Powerful
book. |
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