Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

    

Title:  Unbelievable: A Pretty Little Liars Book    Author:  Sara Shepard
ISBN:  9780060887414    Pages:  335
Publisher:  HarperTeen, New York, 2008

Readers Annotation:
Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer still miss their murdered best friend, Ali. In this fourth book of the Pretty Little Liars series, their lives seem to spiral into chaos when they try to figure out who killed Ali, once and for all.

Author Information:

Sara Shepard is a graduate of New York University, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. Sara got her idea for the young adult bestselling Pretty Little Liars series from her own experiences in Philadelphia's Main Line. Shepard's newest novel The Visibles/All the Things We Didn't Say is her first book for adults.

Sara has been writing since she was a little girl, although she never thought she would grow up to be an author. Sara and her sister had been collaborating on joint artistic and written projects for years, without ever being published. Sara presently lives outside Philadelphia, PA, with her husband and dogs.

http://sarashepardbooks.com/bio.php

Plot Summary: 
Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer were best friends with Ali back in the seventh grade. That summer Ali disappeared, and her body was discovered when the girls were in tenth grade. To add to their grief over their friends' disappearance and murder, the four friends have been haunted by threatening text messages signed by "A". This mysterious sender seems to know a lot about their lives, even their unknown and dark secrets. Due to "A's" manipulation, the girls become afraid of telling the police about the texts, or about any information relevant to Ali's murder.

Now Hanna is in a coma, because 'she knew too much' and was run over. Emily's secret lesbianism was announced to the world without her permission, and her parents send her off to live with her unloving Aunt and Uncle. Aria is still unwelcome in her mother's home, after her mother found out that Aria knew of her own father's infidelity and kept it a secret for three years. Spencer starts having flashbacks of the night of Ali's disappearance, and doubts her own sanity. Although the four girls have gone their separate ways, they band together to nab "A", and search for Ali's killer.

Critical Evaluation:
This novel weaves a juicy and thrilling plot of intrigue and deception in a wealthy suburb. Unbelievable: A Pretty Little Liars Book seemed reminiscent of popular teen television shows such as 90210 and Gossip Girl.  The narrative oscillates between the four main characters in order to get an idea of what each girl is going through in relation to the murder of Ali. The reader will be thrilled by the suspense, doubt, and mystery surrounding the death of Ali permeates the narrative. The reader also gets a glimpse into the pampered life of a high school girl in a wealthy suburb, and the "mean girl" attitude that can often be present. The plot twists keep the reader in suspense, and the unresolved ending creates a perfect hook for the next book in the series.  

Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Thriller

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Emily has been sent away by her parents who are embarrassed of her lesbianism. Do you know anyone who's been through a similar predicament?
     2.  Popular and beautiful Hanna has a crush on the more nerdy Lucas, despite their differences. Have you ever dated anyone that, although different than you, still seems perfect?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+

Challenge Issue:  Lesbianism, Infidelity
- These are real life issues that teens are dealing with on a daily basis and therefore should not warrant removal from a library
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item:  I also wanted to include a book that is based on the scandalous and mysterious side of teen life. This book particularly encapsulates many of the thematic elements found throughout the popular Pretty Little Liars series. In fact, the book has inspired a hit ABC Family original series.

Further Reading:  Pretty Little Liars, Flawless, Perfect, Wicked, Killer, Heartless, Wanted, Twisted, Ruthless  

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

            

Title:  Head in the Clouds   Author:  Karen Witemeyer
ISBN:  9780764207563     Pages:  366
Publisher:  Bethany House, Minnesota, 2010

Readers Annotation:  Adelaide Proctor signs up as a governess for a five year old girl who has stopped speaking. Adelaide is surprised to find that life at Westcott Cottage is much more than she bargained for, as she develops feelings for the Englishman and sheepherder, Gideon.

Author Information:
Karen Witemeyer has a bachelor's and master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University. She is also a member of American Christian Female Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the Texas Coalition of Authors. Some of her fiction pieces have been published in Focus on the Family children's magazine, and other articles for online publications and anthologies. Head in the Clouds is Karen's second novel.

Karen originally grew up in California, but moved to Texas after college when she met her husband, a deacon. Her new Texas life became the inspiration for her books. Presently, Witemeyer lives in Abilene, with her husband and three children.

http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/about_karen.html

Plot Summary:
After leaving her post as a school teacher, Adelaide decides to follow her heart to the big city to meet Henry, the traveling book salesman. But, her heart is quickly broken when she realizes he is married with a son, and that his romantic pretenses were false. An orphan, and unsure where to go next, Adelaide turns to her Christian faith and prays to G-d for divine assistance. He points her to a governess job in another Texas town, where she proves her worth and lands the job.

Isabelle, the ward of the Englishman and sheepherder Gideon Westcott, is her charge. Adelaide's priority is to help the five year old girl recover from the tragic deaths of both her parents, as Isabelle has not spoken a word since the tragedy. Immediately, using her sunny disposition and warm personality, Adelaide helps Isabelle come out of her shell. Gideon has tears in his eyes when he hears the two girls laughing together, something he hasn't heard in a long time. Gideon marvels at Adelaide's abilities, and progressively realizes that he is very much attracted to her. Adelaide feels that attraction as well, but worries that her romantic notions are obscuring the truth of the situation. Despite the dangers of living on a Texas Ranch, and the threat of Isabelle's murderous Uncle Reginald, Adelaide and Gideon learn a lot about each other and their true feelings.

Critical Evaluation:
The author accurately uses the vernacular of the time, even writing the prose in older English. These aspects lend a sense of realism to this historical fiction piece. While reading, one can 'hear' the main character speaking to G-d throughout book, accented by the italics. The book follows Adelaide's story for the most part, interspersed with some of Gideon's thoughts, so the reader gains complete insight into their relationship. Characterization clearly depicts a stubborn and strong-willed female protagonist, who is also warm and compassionate. The male protagonist is portrayed as brave and resolute, while simultaneously understanding and impassioned. Readers can feel the playfulness and chemistry between the main characters, as well as their devotion and faith to their religion. However, the author doesn't try to convert the reader, rather offers insight into how the character's faith plays a crucial role in their lives. 

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Crossover

Curriculum Ties:  American History - Late 1800's, Texas History - End of the 19th century

Booktalking Ideas:
     1.  Adelaide left her old life to be with someone she thought loved her. Have you ever left something important behind for a dream that didn't pan out?
     2.  Isabelle saw both her parents die in front of her by the time she was five years old, and as a result stopped talking. Do you know anyone who has been traumatized to such a large extent that it has affected the way they behave?   

Reading Level/Interest Age:  16+

Challenge Issue:  none

Why I chose this item:  When developing a comprehensive collection, I decided that it was important to include a book on faith and religion. 

Daughtry

       

Title:  Daughtry   Format:  CD
Artists:  Chris Daughtry (lead singer), Josh Steely, Josh Paul, Joey Barnes, and Jeremy Brady

ASIN:  B000IYO4RC  Publisher:  RCA   Release Date:  November 21, 2006

Artist Information:
Christopher Adam Daughtry was born December 26, 1979 in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. It wasn't until Chris was 16 years old that he took singing seriously. At that time he took guitar lessons as well, and would perform with rock bands at local venues. He continued on his path as a musician, and in high school started his own rock band named Cadence. After graduating high school, Chris became the lead singer for another band named Absent Element.

Daughtry auditioned for American Idol in 2005, and made it all the way to the final four. Subsequently, he signed a contract with RCA, and formed a rock band to debut his first album Daughtry. Chris is currently married to his wife of ten years, Deanna, and they have twin boys, Adalynn and Noah. He also has a son, Griffin, from his first marriage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_daughtry

Contents:  It's Not Over, Used To, Home, Over You, Crashed, Feels Like Tonight, What I Want (featuring Slash), Breakdown, Gone, There and Back Again, All These Lives, What About Now.

Music Summary:
Daughtry is the debut album for Chris Daughtry and his band. It quickly became very popular, topping the Billboard 200 chart, and becoming number one on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart for fourteen weeks. His lead single "It's Not Over" reached number four, and has presently sold almost two million copies. His second single "Home" was equally successful, reaching number five, and selling almost as many copies. His album was certified triple platinum within seven months, which makes it one of the fastest selling debut rock albums.

http://www.amazon.com/Daughtry/e/B0017PCN70/ref=ac_dpt_sa_bio 

Critical Evaluation:
The rock elements in Daughtry portray an up tempo genre, usually containing 110 beats per minute or more, lending an excited feel to the music. The songs are often rhythmic, driven by the heavy use of electric guitars, making them appealing for rock audiences. Most of the music contains aspects of classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.  Additionally, much of the music has been influenced by the Seattle Grunge scene of the early 1990's, personified by the bands Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The distortion effects and catchy melodies also represent elements of  pop culture, which is appealing to adolescents. Daughtry has a large fan base among teenage girls, likely the result of its attractive and strong male lead, Chris Daughtry. A musician himself, Chris Daughtry is also respected in the musical community for his songwriting talents and proficiency at playing the guitar.

Genre:  Hard Rock, Pop Rock

Curriculum Ties: Music Appreciation

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14 +

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item: My teenage sister suggested this CD as something that her and her friends love to listen to. Additionally, when I took out the CD from the library, it had a yellow YA sticker, bringing me to the conclusion that it was a good choice.

Daughtry's It's Not Over

The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin

       

Title:  The Killer's Cousin   Author:  Nancy Werlin
ISBN:  0385325606   Pages:  229
Publisher:  Delacorte Press, New York, 1998

Readers Annotation:
David is still reeling from the pain of his girlfriend's death when he is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Cambridge. Through the help of his disturbed cousin Lilly, and the ghost of his cousin Kathy, David learns how to confront his own demons from the past.

Author Information:
Nancy Werlin is a National Book Award finalist. Nancy earned her bachelor's degree at Yale University, and has worked as a technical writer in computer software. She was named the Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for her first novel Are You Alone on Purpose? Werlin also received the 1999 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery, and the ALA Best Book for Young Adults for her novel The Killer's Cousin. 

Nancy has written eight novels, all critically acclaimed. Her newest book Extraordinary was just named a Teens Top 10 Book for 2010 by Amazon.com. She was born and raised in Massachusetts, and presently lives in South Boston.

http://www.nancywerlin.com/aboutnw.htm

Plot Summary:
David Bernard Yaffe has recently been acquitted of murder for the accidental death of his girlfriend, Emily. David's parents send him to Cambridge, Massachusetts to live with his aunt and uncle. Although this is supposed to be a new beginning for David, he stills shoulders the guilt of Emily's death. He loved Emily and her absence haunts him every day.

His life at his cousin's house is not as simple as he assumed it would be. His aunt does not want him around, and his eleven year old cousin Lilly is an odd and disturbing child. Additionally, his older cousin Kathy's suicide seems to have had an awful effect on everyone there. From the beginning of David's stay, he hears mysterious sounds in his room which once belonged to Kathy. It doesn't take long for him to discover that Lilly's problems were created by deep emotional wounds. David learns how to cope despite his pain, and endeavors to find a way to help his cousin Lilly as well.

Critical Evaluation:
This book eloquently portrays the tension and pain in David's life. The reader identifies with his difficulties in coping with loss and estrangement from everyone and everything around him. When David hits a new low, he turns to religion, a further connecting point many readers. The author utilizes the ghost of Kathy, along with its accompanying 'humming' sound, as a tool to create a suspenseful and supernatural undertone throughout the story line. The reader can also appreciate the conflict David has relating to his troubled cousin Lilly. The book is skillfully written, incorporating suspense and realism. Additionally, the reader can see growth in the main character. The telepathic connection between David and Lilly adds another level of interest and intrigue.

Genre:  Psychological Thriller/ Ghost

Curriculum Ties: Psychology

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  David accidentally killed someone he loved, and has to learn to live with that guilt for the rest of his life. Is there anything you've done that has affected you in such a profound and life changing way?
     2.  David's Aunt Julia and Uncle Vic have reached a point in their marriage where they can only talk to each other through their child Lilly. How do you feel about parents talking through their children and not directly to each other?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  16+

Challenge Issue:  Teenage killing, Inappropriate language
- Book won the 1999 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery, and the ALA Best Book for Young Adult's. The author is a National Book Award finalist
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item: The strong male lead was one reason I chose this book for my collection. Another reason is because of the awards both the book and the author have won.

Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic

         

Title:  Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo    Author:  Zlata Filipovic
ISBN: 0670857246  Pages:  200
Publisher:  Viking, New York, 1994

Readers Annotation:
Zlata Filipovic is an eleven year old child who lives in Sarajevo during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She relates her life story amidst bombings, gunfire, and death. 

Author Information:
Zlata Filipovic was born December 3, 1980 in Bosnia. From the years 1991 until 1993, Zlata wrote in a diary she named 'Mimmy', about the horrors she experienced during the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Zlata and her parents survived the war, escaping to Paris, France for a year in 1993. They later moved to Dublin, Ireland where she attended St. Andrew's College senior school. She graduated in 2001 from the University of Oxford, with a BA in human sciences.

Presently, Zlata lives in Dublin, Ireland. She has since written the Foreword to The Freedom Writers Diary, and co-edited Stolen Voices: Young People's War Diaries, From World War I to Iraq. In 2011, she produced a short film to campaign against homophobic bullying in schools, called Stand Up!

Plot Summary: 
Zlata is the only child of Muslim parents, living in Sarajevo during the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Zlata starts her diary describing a happy and carefree life. She vacations with her family in the countryside on the weekends, and goes skiing in the mountains in the wintertime. Life is normal for an eleven year old, complete with friends, parties, and television. After a bombing in a nearby city, Zlata expresses her fears about the war coming to her hometown. Suddenly, it does. 

Over the next year and a half, Zlata records the events and the effects of her war torn city. She has no friends, no school, and no freedom. Zlata describes her life without running water, electricity, or gas. She writes about the bombshells, gunfire, small rations of food, running out of clothes that fit, and what it's like to constantly hide in the neighbor's basement during bombings. In short, Zlata depicts a childhood stolen from her by the horrors of war.

Critical Evaluation:
Although the diary has been translated from Zlata's native language, there is nothing that seems to have been lost in translation. The difficult life Zlata had to endure during the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina is apparent in her daily entries. Zlata expresses her emotions without holding back, giving the reader a sobering glimpse into her hard life. Sometimes, Zlata has so much pent up emotion, she expresses her thoughts utilizing all capital letters. The reality of the war is manifested through her use of basic language and raw emotion expressions. The book includes copies of Zlata's actual entries and drawings, adding another layer of poignancy and realism.

Genre:  Non-Fiction

Curriculum Ties:  Political Science - War in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  When Zlata passes by a local park, she remembers playing with her good friend who was killed there by a bomb. Do you know any children who have passed on?
     2.  Zlata lives for months without electricity, gas, or running water. How do you think you would manage without these basic utilities?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  12+

Challenge Issue:  none

Why I chose this item:  I wanted to add a non-fiction item with a serious theme, yet from an adolescent's point of view. This diary was also recommended in one of our class readings.

The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowery Nixon

       

Title:  The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore   Author:  Joan Lowery Nixon
ISBN:  6152050310  Pages:  305
Publisher:  Harcourt, Inc, Orlando, 2004

Readers Annotation:
When Christina Lattimore is kidnapped, all she can think about is escaping to be with her family and friends again. Once Chrisiina is free, and she realizes that her family and friends believe she orchestrated her own kidnapping, Christina focuses her energy on finding her kidnappers and proving her innocence. 

Author Information:
Joan Lowery Nixon obtained a Journalism degree from the University of Southern California. She has written more than one hundred forty books for young readers, specializing in mysteries for young adults.  Some of her publications include the Orphan Train series, winner of two Golden Spur awards, and The Making of a Writer, her memoir, . Nixon is the only four-time winner of The Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award and a two-time winner of the California Young Reader Medal.

Nixon was born in 1927 in Los Angeles. She recently passed away at the age of 76, in Houston, Texas. She is survived by her four children and several grandchildren.

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-nixon-joan-lowery.asp

Plot Summary:

Christina Lattimore goes to high school at the Madame DeJon School for Girls. She comes from a very wealthy family, the money having been earned by her grandmother, the business mogul Cristabel. Christina's father is a pastor, choosing a different path than his mother. Yet, Christina's family is still supported by her grandmother. This puts Cristabel in charge of major decisions, such as if Christina should go on her class trip overseas.

Christina meets her best friend at a local diner, and they discuss how they can convince Cristabel to allow her to go on the class trip. However, while at the diner, the menacing cashier approaches Christina and begins communicating incomprehensibly. Christina would have normally shrugged off the strange incident, but when she arrives home she finds the front door unlocked. Christina's increasing concerns are reinforced when later that evening she is kidnapped and held for ransom. Although the ransom is paid, and she is freed only a few days later, no one believes her frightening experience. She is accused of orchestrating the whole thing to get money for her trip. Christina is determined to find her kidnappers, and prove her innocence to her family and friends.

Critical Evaluation: 

This fast paced and suspenseful psychological thriller is exciting all the way to the last page. Readers can feel the suspense from the very beginning of  the book, almost as if something is lurking behind the corner. The prose is written with hints of mystery, similar to scary background music in a horror film. The first person narrative gives readers a glimpse into the thought process and struggles of the main protagonist. While there is the element of a genuine mystery that's being solved, there is also the element of the main character progressively figuring out the solution to the puzzle within herself.  Additionally,  readers are able to follow Christina's growth through her harrowing ordeal,  feeling a sense of pride when witnessing who she decides to become at the conclusion of the book.

Genre:  Mystery - Puzzling

Curriculum Ties:  Economics - Trust funds

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  After Christina is kidnapped and found, no one believes her story. Has something significant ever happened to you where you then find trouble convincing people that it actually happened?
     2.  Christina's life is essentially run by her uber-wealthy grandmother, whom she hates. If you had the choice, would you choose money or freedom?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13+

Challenge Issue:  none

Why I chose this item:  I felt it was important to include a puzzling mystery, a popular genre suggested by the YA librarian's guide textbook. Additionally, Joan Lowery Nixon was an award winning author.

Teen Vogue Magazine

Title:   Teen Vogue    Format:  Magazine
ASIN:  B001U5SPN8   Distribution:  Monthly
Publisher:  Conde Nast Publications, New York

Content/Audience:

Teen Vogue markets primarily to a female adolescent audience. Most of the articles focus on fashion and beauty, as do the advertisements, following in the footsteps of its parent magazine, Vogue.  Photography plays a huge role in the content of the magazine, as it is filled with ads and pictures focused on the beauty of a woman and her stylish clothing. The articles includes "talking fashion" - which are an assemblage of pictures of teen models and idols, "Beauty Blogger" - a front-line blog on the fashion industry, "View" - news regarding topics such as the season's newest accessories, "PATA" (People Are Talking About) - entertainment industry related pieces; and "Features" - cover stories on a teen star or idol. The contributors are 'fashionistas' themselves, and are experts on spotting new stylish trends.

Critical Evaluation:

Teen Vogue is a very visual magazine, with few articles. The photographs seem to come alive because they are taken by some of the best photographers in the world. They vary in style and background, which lends some variety to the magazine. Beautiful models in designer wear make up a large part of the advertisements, making the magazine alluring and stylish. Additionally, for those adolescents looking to go into fashion as a career, Teen Vogue is a great resource. Not only can adolescents learn about new fashions, they can also get a sense of the business of marketing and advertising.

Genre:   Fashion, Periodicals

Reading Level/Interest Age:   15 +

Challenge Issue:  Revealing photographs
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item:   Since this magazine is written specifically for the female teen audience, I decided to include it in my collection.