And Tango Makes Three

Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Cost:$18.06
Other Bibliographic info:
ISBN: 0-0689-87845-1
Dimensions: 22 x 28 cm
Word count: 815
Reading Level: 3.5
Interest Level: P-2

Plot summary:
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell is based upon a the true story of 2 male penguins, Roy and Silo, at the New York Zoo who raised a baby penguin – named Tango. For six years they formed a couple and were given an egg to raise. The book follows part of this time in the penguins' lives. The authors make parallels between the parental roles of the same-gender family and that of mixed-gender families. The final message is that Tango’s family life is rich and full of love and that having two daddies is a unique trait that is worth celebrating.

Issues for Being Challenged: Anti-ethnic, sexism, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group. (according to ALA Banned Books Week 2009)

Evaluation:

The wonderful illustrations and straight-forward approach to this story make this book an excellent choice for story-time at home or in school. However, I can see why this book had been challenged by many parents for its portrayal of homosexuality. I had to constantly fight my own biases and moral beliefs towards homosexuality. As a reader, you have to remember that this is based on a true story.

Reader’s annotation:
Two penguins raising a baby penguin -- TWO MALE PENGUINS falling in love raising a young penguin.

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book

Two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo court, build a nest, and raise their (adopted) daughter Tango. Highly anthropomorphized to maximize the sentimental but noteworthy lesson on family diversity, the story gains depth from the biological reality of same-sex penguin partnering. Gentle illustrations of the smiling penguin family add appeal, if not scientific accuracy, to this book based on a true story.

ALA Booklist

*Starred Review* Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the other male penguins: instead of noticing females, they noticed each other. Thus penguin chick Tango, hatched from a fertilized egg given to the pining, bewildered pair, came to be the only penguin in the Central Park Zoo with two daddies. As told by Richardson and Parnell (a psychiatrist and playwright), this true story remains firmly within the bounds of the zoo's polar environment, as do Cole's expressive but still realistic watercolors (a far cry from his effete caricatures in Harvey Fierstein's The Sissy Duckling , 2002). Emphasizing the penguins' naturally ridiculous physiques while gently acknowledging their situation, Cole's pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text--showing, for example, the bewildered pair craning their necks toward a nest that was nice, but a little empty. Indeed, intrusions from the zookeeper, who remarks that the nuzzling males must be in love, strike the narrative's only false note. Further facts about the episode conclude, but it's naive to expect this will be read only as a zoo anecdote. However, those who share this with children will find themselves returning to it again and again--not for the entree it might offer to matters of human sexuality, but for the two irresistible birds at its center and for the celebration of patient, loving fathers who knew just what to do.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-This tale based on a true story about a charming penguin family living in New York City's Central Park Zoo will capture the hearts of penguin lovers everywhere. Roy and Silo, two male penguins, are "a little bit different." They cuddle and share a nest like the other penguin couples, and when all the others start hatching eggs, they want to be parents, too. Determined and hopeful, they bring an egg-shaped rock back to their nest and proceed to start caring for it. They have little luck, until a watchful zookeeper decides they deserve a chance at having their own family and gives them an egg in need of nurturing. The dedicated and enthusiastic fathers do a great job of hatching their funny and adorable daughter, and the three can still be seen at the zoo today. Done in soft watercolors, the illustrations set the tone for this uplifting story, and readers will find it hard to resist the penguins' comical expressions. The well-designed pages perfectly marry words and pictures, allowing readers to savor each illustration. An author's note provides more information about Roy, Silo, Tango, and other chinstrap penguins. This joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library.-Julie Roach, Watertown Free Public Library, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Doing It

Author: Melvin Burgess
Year Published:2004
Publisher:Henry Holt and Co.
Cost:$13.56
Other Bibliographic Info.:

ISBN: 0805075658
ISBN13:0805075658
Word Count: 83,474
Reading Level: 4.4
Interest Level: 9-12

Plot Summary:
Doing It by Melvin Burgess introduces us to Dino, Jon, and Ben, three teenage best friends who can't stop thinking about, and talking about (and hoping to experience), sex. At first, all the mention of sex are overwhelming (oral sex, masturbation, etc.), but the author gradually moves from this to the characters feelings and more mature thoughts about sexuality. The seemingly callous male characters become more sympathetic as their personalities, feelings, and problems are unveiled. Readers will find a well-developed story that will spark reflection on the meaning and strength of real romantic relationships.

Issues for Being Challenged:
Book cover of a couple having sex, explicit talk of sex throughout the book, masturbation, oral sex, casual sex, homosexuality, and use of profanity.

Evaluation:
This book reminded me of my own teenage years where boys constantly think about and talk about sex. It is a hilarious book that looks at teenagers with raging hormones. This book is written from the characters’ points of view, which is what makes this book interesting. It illustrates how guys think about sex and how girls think about sex as well. I found this story very easy to read which is a great book for reluctant readers.

Reader's Annotation:
SEX! How much do you think about it?

Author Website:http://www.melvinburgess.net/

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book

Each of three high school protagonists has a different kind of love trouble. While shifting perspectives make for a rather static novel, Burgess's understanding of male sexuality, emergent and otherwise, is completely authentic, often touching, and ruefully hilarious. Didacticism occasionally rears its ugly head, but no one will mistake this raunchy tale for a lesson in sensitivity.

ALA Booklist

Burgess' third novel follows three best mates as they shag, attempt to shag, try to get out of shagging, masturbate while contemplating shagging, and then shag some more. Ben is sleeping with his obsessive drama teacher; Jon finds himself irresistibly attracted to Deborah, who would be perfect if her pudginess didn't make him subject to ridicule; and Dino, as handsome as he is horny, just wants to shag the gorgeous Jackie--or, failing that, anyone else. From snogging to shagging to buggering, Doing It discusses it in a dizzying array of contexts, and it is relentlessly and refreshingly honest: this is certainly the first YA novel to feature two boys who lose their erections while trying to lose their virginity. Scenes like that make Doing It less erotic than comforting: boys will be pleased to learn they are not alone in their sexual anxieties; and girls will learn that boys want sex, but are also confused and fearful about it. But while the content will raise eyebrows, it's the writing that's problematic. Though periodically very funny and excellently plotted, the alternating-voices narration falls flat because the characters sound nearly identical, and the writing is surprisingly undescriptive, a disappointing departure from Burgess' previous novels (Smack and Lady, e.g.). Still, there's a lot to like here, and to say that Doing It will generate interest among readers would be to understate the matter dramatically.

School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up-Three teenaged boys enjoy talking about, thinking about, and joking about sex. Dino finally establishes a relationship with Jackie, the prettiest girl in school, who will allow all sorts of sexual liberties, but draws the line at intercourse. He finds another girl whom he mistakenly thinks he can use for sex while keeping his relationship with Jackie viable. In the meantime, he witnesses his mother passionately involved with a man who is not his father, and must deal with the results of his own treacherous behavior as he watches his parents' marriage fall apart. Ben finds himself steeped in a dilemma of a different sort. His 20-something drama teacher chooses him to be her secret sexual playmate, which he first enjoys but then desperately tries to escape. Jonathon's predicament involves his budding romance with Deborah, an overweight girl whom everyone likes as a friend, but not a girlfriend. He has to decide whether to follow his heart, despite taunting from his peers. Burgess's novel, which retains its original British terminology and sexual slang, is crude, irreverent, and explicit, yet honest and frequently funny. At first, the sexual elements are uncomfortably overwhelming, but Burgess gradually twists the story so that the characters' personal situations become prominent, with casual sex secondary. The seemingly callous male characters become more sympathetic as their personalities, feelings, and problems are unveiled. The female characters are not afforded the same sensitivity. Readers may be drawn in by the intense sexual tone, and find a well-developed story that will spark reflection on the meaning and strength of peer and romantic relationships.-Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


Excerpt from the book:

“Okay,” said Jonathan. “The choice is this. You either have to shag Jenny Gibson—or else that homeless woman who begs spare change outside Cramner’s bakers.”

Dino and Ben recoiled in disgust. Jenny was known as the ugliest girl in the school but the beggar woman was filthy. Her teeth!

“You are so gross,” said Ben disgustedly.

Jonathan acknowledged the compliment smugly and nodded. He was the King of this...”At least they’re both female,” said Dino.

“And you have to do oral sex on her, too.”

“ You never said anything abut oral sex,” said Ben.

“Oral sex until she comes.

Luna

Author: Julie Ann Peters
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Year Published:2004
Cost:$12.09
Other Bibliographic Info:
ISBN: 0-316-01127-4
ISBN 13: 978-0-316-01127-3
Word Count: 67,914
Reading Level:3.5
Interest Level:9-12

Plot summary:

Regan’s brother, Liam, lives a double life and Regan is the only one who knows about it. Liam assumes the role of “boy” by day and only reveals his/her true self at night. During those moments of peace when she is trying on new outfits, experimenting with different wigs, and trying various makeup techniques she calls herself Luna. Regan witnesses these moments because they always take place in Regan’s room. Regan’s own life suffers because of the time and effort it takes to keep Luna’s secret. Not only do we get to see Liam transform into Luna; we also get to see Regan transform into a confident young woman. While the ending of the book is hopeful, getting there is sometimes heartbreaking.

Issues for Being Challenge: Dysfunctional family (family problems), Sexuality (Transexuality/Transgender), and use of Profanity


Evaluation:
I did not know how I was going to react at first when I started reading this book, but I ended up loving it. This book by Julie Ann Peters is such an eye-opener for me since I was not familiar about the term "transgender". This book is very unique


Reader’s annotation:

Liam transforms himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change-Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives?

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book

Regan is the only one who can see her brother Liam's true self--a girl born in the wrong body. Night after night, Liam has slipped into her room to secretly transform into a girl with makeup and wigs; now he's taken a new name, Luna, signaling the greater change about to come. While this book is determined to educate, Peters succeeds in creating whole, complex characters confronting transgender issues.

ALA Booklist

Peters tells two stories in this groundbreaking novel--one about Regan, and the other about Liam, Regan's transgender brother, who is the son his father expects by day but a young woman, Luna, by night. Fiercely protective of Liam/Luna, Regan has put her life on hold; she worries about her brother's female self being discovered and the family's reaction, and she fears that her brother may someday give in to despair. While Regan wonders if she will ever be able to have a life separate from the needs of her sibling, Liam seriously begins to consider a permanent change. Peters isn't putting forward a political agenda here. Rather, she's bringing the circumstances surrounding a difficult situation to light, and her sensitively drawn characters realistically encompass a wide range of reactions--from tentative acceptance by a best friend to Mom's feigned ignorance and Dad's total disbelief. The subject matter and occasional rough language will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows, but this book belongs in most YA collections.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-"Yeah, I loved her. I couldn't help it. She was my brother." Regan has always been there for her transgender brother, Liam, sacrificing her needs for his, but when he announces that he is ready to "transition" into Luna permanently, Regan is not sure she can handle the consequences. She has been his confidant all her life, letting Luna dress in her room, buying underwear for her when Liam couldn't, and giving support. However, when the attractive new guy in chemistry class shows an interest in Regan, she wishes her sibling would just go away and give her a chance to live her own life. Liam realizes that in order for his sister to be free, he, too, must free himself to become the woman who lives inside him. Told from Regan's point of view in the present and in flashback, this novel breaks new ground in YA literature with a sensitive and poignant portrayal of a young man's determination to live his true identity and his family's struggle to accept Luna for who she really is.-Betty S. Evans, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Author's website: http://www.julieannepeters.com/

The Outsiders

Author: S.E. Hinton
Publisher:Viking Penguin
Year Published:1967
Cost:$12.23 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Info.:
ISBN:0-14-038572-4
ISBN 13: 978-0-14-038572-4
Word Count: 48,523
Reading Level: 4.7
Interest Level: 7-12

Plot summary:
Ponyboy Curtis belongs to a lower-class group of Oklahoma youths who call themselves greasers because of their greasy long hair. Walking home from a movie, Ponyboy is attacked by a group of Socs, the greasers' rivals, who are upper-class youths from the West Side of town. The Socs, short for Socials, gang up on Ponyboy and threaten to slit his throat. A group of greasers comes and chases the bullies away, saving Ponyboy. There are a lot of violent scenes from all the fights between the groups. In the end of the book, Ponyboy wakes up in bed at home. He has suffered a concussion from a kick to the head at the rumble and has been delirious in bed for several days. When he is well, he attends his hearing, where the judge treats him kindly and acquits him of responsibility for Bob's death. The court rules that Ponyboy will be allowed to remain at home with Darry. For a time, Ponyboy feels listless and empty. His grades slip, he feels hostile to Darry, and he loses his appetite. At last, Sodapop tells Ponyboy that he (Sodapop) is angry and frustrated because of the tension at home. He tearfully asks that Ponyboy and Darry stop fighting. Finally understanding the value of his family, Ponyboy agrees not to fight with Darry anymore. He finds that for the first time he can remember Dally's and Johnny's deaths without pain or denial. He decides to tell their story and begins writing a term paper for his English class, which turns out to be the novel itself.

Issues for Being Challenged: This book have been challenged due to issues of drug use, alcohol and cigarette abuse, violence, and the use of profanity by the characters in the book.


Evaluation:
This book by S.E. Hinton featured characters coming from broken families. The author brings to the reader such as myself real life issues that faced teenagers then and now. The book talked about drugs, both alcohol and cigarette abuse as well as violence. This book is a classic in my opinion because it helped me to see that the world can be a violent place to live in for some teens who grew up in broken families.

Reader’s annotation:
According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back.

Author's Website: http://www.sehinton.com/

Awards Won:
New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967
Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967
Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975
Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979


Clip of movie adaptation from YouTube:

Matilda

Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Viking Kestrel
Year Published:1988
Cost:$12.49 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Info. :
ISBN: 0-14-241037-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-14-241037-0
Word Count: 40,009
Reading Level:5.0
Interest Level:4-7

Plot summary:
Matilda by by Dahl. It is about an extremely intelligant 5 year old girl who is ignored by her parents. When she goes to kindergarten, her teacher, Miss Honey nurtures her and care a lot for her. However, the princepal, Ms. Truchbull, is extremely irrational and violent, punishing students by locking them in a cupboard with nails hammered through the door and broken glass along the walls. The abuse served to illistrate how unreasonable Ms. Truchbull is and to make the reader hate her. In the end, Matilda ends up with her favorite teacher, Miss Honey who gives her the love the she needs.


Issues for Being Challenge: The issues that may arise for this book to be challenged are: Child Neglect by the parents, tricks played by Matilda, abuse given by Miss Trunchbull.

Evaluation:
Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood are the parents of their genius daughter Matilda. But they don’t act like she is a genius, they think she is nothing but a blister. When Matilda goes to school, she finds out it is almost worse than being at home. Matilda has to save her teacher and the whole school from Miss Trunchbull, the school’s headmistress! I liked the ending and the characters. I like Matilda because she likes to read.

Reader’s annotation:
Matilda is a super-gifted child unfortunately stuck in a horrible life – with horrible parents and a horrible school. The only good thing is her teacher, Ms. Honey. If you one to start reading Roald Dahl's works, why not start reading -Matilda.


Clip of the movie adaptation:

Annie On My Mind

Author: Garden, Nancy
Publisher:Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Year Published:1982
Cost:$17.00 (Library Binding)
Other Bibliographic Info.:
ISBN: 0-374-40011-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-374-40011-8
Word Count:60,151
Reading Level:6
Interest Level:9+

Plot summary:
Liza comes from an affluent New York home, attends a private school, and has aspirations of becoming an architect. Annie attends public school and is a talented singer. The two seventeen year old girls meet one day in an art museum and become fast friends. Meanwhile, at Liza’s school, she is student body president, but gets suspended for not reporting her friends for setting up an ear piercing business in the school’s restroom. As Liza and Annie spend more time together, they begin to realize that their feelings for each other are of more than just friendship. While Liza is house sitting for her teacher, the two girls’ relationship is discovered, placing them at the center of an ugly scandal. The consequences of their actions are far reaching and affect much more than the two girls’ lives.

Issues for Being Challenge: The issues likely to be challenged are: Homosexuality, Sexual situations, and Language

Evaluation:
This book by Nancy Garden is told through a series of Liza’s letters to Annie and memories of the two girls’ relationship. It tells of a budding love between two girls at a time when they had no real support or role models to help them find their way. The two girls set out to make their own way in secret. The social rules of the time place Liza and Annie at the center of a scandal at Liza’s conservative private school. Liza and Annie’s friendship and love for each other, remains honest and timeless. Teens going through similar experiences today may relate to the girls and their relationship, but will hopefully find more supportive and understanding adults in their lives than Liza and Annie had. It is a story that most young adults will find very interesting

Reader’s annotation:
Liza and Annie meet at a New York art museum and become fast friends. As the friendship grows, the two girls fall in love. When Liza and Annie get caught making love in the house of two lesbian teachers, not just their lives but others’ are irrevocably changed. They find themselves at the center of an ugly scandal.

Keeping You a Secret

Author: Julie Anne Peters

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Cost:$12.21 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Info.:
ISBN:0-1316-00985-7
ISBN 13:978-0-316-00985-0
Word Count: 60,892
Reading Level:3.5
Interest Level: 7-12

Plot Summary:
This book by Julie Ann Peters is about a young teenager by the name of Holland in her last semester of high school when a new girl comes to her school named Cece. Holland is intrigued. She finds herself attracted to CeCe, but none of her friends understand, especially her boyfriend.

After Holland falls for CeCe, she gets outed to the entire school and her mother kicks her out of the house. We're supposed to believe that her love for CeCe makes it all worth it, but it sure doesnt' feel that way.

Holland's mom has high hopes and expectations for Holland and when she comes out, all that changes. Holland's Mom had her own struggles with her family and you would think she would come around in the end, but she does not.

Issues for Being Challenged:Issues that might get this book challenged are issues of homosexuality,

Evaluation:

This is another great work by Julie Ann Peters. I personally thought that the book gave a realistic portrayal of what high school is like for most teens especially teens faced with the issue of homosexuality. The author does a great job in making the characters especially Holland come to life in her writing. Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peterson is one young woman's coming out and what that means in her life.


Reader's Annotation:

Holland Jaeger’s mother has Holland’s life all planned out. She wants Holland to go to the perfect college, marry a perfect boy and have a perfect life. Holland has gone along with her mother’s plan all her life, student body president, wonderful boyfriend, until the day she meets Cece. Cece baffles Holland. She finds herself thinking about Cece all the time and going out of her way to see her. Cece is an out and proud lesbian and the way she makes Holland feel causes her to question everything she ever thought she was. Eventually, Holland can’t deny her feeling for Cece anymore, but when the girls decide to keep their relationship a secret, it could destroy them both.



Excerpt from the Book:

First time I saw her was in the mirror on my locker door. I'd kicked my swim gear onto the bottom shelf and was reaching to the top for my calc book when she opened her locker across the hall. She had a streaked blond ponytail dangling out the back of her baseball cap.

Great. Now I was obligated to rag on her for violating the new dress code. Forget it, I decided. My vote—the only dissenting one in the whole student council—still counted. With me, anyway. People could come to school buck naked for all I cared. It wasn't about clothes.

We slammed our lockers in unison and turned. Her eyes met mine. "Hi," she said, smiling.

My stomach fluttered. "Hi," I answered automatically. She was new. Had to be. I would've noticed her.

She sauntered away, but not before I caught a glimpse of her T-shirt. It said: IMRU?
Am I what?

She glanced back over her shoulder, the way you do when you know someone's watching. That's when it registered—the rainbow triangle below the message. My eyes dropped. Kept her in sight, though, as she disappeared around the corner.

Whale Talk

Author: Chris Crutcher
Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf
Year Published: 2001
Cost:$12.45 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-440-22938-3
ISBN13:978-0-440-22938-4
Word Count:63,247
Reading Level:6.1
Interest Level:7-12

Plot summary:

T. J. Jones, the book's main character, has always refused to support the organized sports at his school, he sees an opportunity to get back at coaches and athletes at his school by supporting a new swim team. He recruits some of the school's most unpopular misfits: a fat boy, a one legged boy with a bad attitude, and a boy usually ridiculed for being retarded. T. J. Jones is determined to make sure that each of the boys earns a varsity letter jacket. There are many other subplots and bigger issues that the author tackles throughout the book. Under the influence of friendship and a feeling of being wanted the boys come to realize that their own worth does not depend on their popularity with the other students.

Issues for Being Challenge:

The issues that are likely to be challenged are: The use of profanity, issue of racism, spousal and child abuse, sexuality, and violence.


Evaluation:

I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover. Mr. Crutcher continues to inspire his readers with real-life situations depicted in his books. In reading Whale Talk, I felt that Chris Crutcher was trying to cover every issue available, from racism, to school corruption, to child abuse. The language is pretty harsh, but it does add to the "realistic feel" of the book. Whale Talk is a book that is worth reading over and over again.


Reader’s annotation:

T. J. gathers a group of misfits into a team consisting of what he calls "one swimmer of color, a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a one-legged psychopath." T. J. himself is part-black, part-Japanese and adopted. His ultimate goal is that every member of the team will earn a Cutter High School varsity letter.

Reviews Excerpts:

"This being Crutcher, the action is fast and furious, the language foul, the victims' stories heart-rending, the climax violent and the themes thought-provoking."
~Chicago Tribune

"In the hands of a lesser storyteller, the tale would fall apart under its own weight. But Crutcher (Ironman, 1995, etc) juggles the disparate elements of his plot with characteristic energy, crafting a compulsively readable story that rings true with genuine feeling and is propelled by exhilarating swimming action to an end that is both cataclysmic and triumphant."
~Kirkus

"[Crutcher] uses well-constructed characters and quick pacing to examine how the sometimes cruel and abusive circumstances of life affect every link in the human chain. A heartwrenching series of plot twists leads to an end in which goodness at least partially prevails."
~Booklist

"Crutcher uses a broad brush in an undeniably robust and energetic story....T. J. himself is witty, self-assured, fearless, intelligent, and wise beyond his years."
~School Library Journal

"Crutcher offers an unusual yet resonant mixture of black comedy and tragedy that lays bare the superficiality of the high school scene. The book's shocking climax will force readers to re-examine their own values and may cause them to alter their perception of individuals pegged as 'losers.'"
~Publisher's Weekly

"Crutcher's superior gifts as a storyteller and his background as a working therapist combine to make magic in Whale Talk. The thread of truth in his fiction reminds us that heroes can come in any shape, color, ability or size, and friendship can bridge nearly any divide. A truly exceptional book."
~Washington Post

"Crutcher knows his stuff, and he pumps adrenaline through the sports scenes while honestly acknowledging the personal struggles of his adolescent readers."
~Horn Book

"Whale Talk is a heartwarming story that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end of the book. Crutcher's skill at making each character come to life is nothing short of amazing. From love to lust, from life to death, from right to wrong, this book deals with real situations and posits real solutions. I strongly recommend this book to teens and adults because the lessons it teaches will stay with you."
~ Philadelphia Inquirer

" Crutcher is at his darkest but also his funniest here, and the book conveys his most timely message—forgiveness, not revenge."
~VOYA

"Whale Talk provides an opportunity for young readers, as well as parents and teachers, to learn some profoundly important lessons about life. Much like a whale out on the ocean who sings because it needs to, whether its song is heard by other whales or not, everyone needs to sing their own song -- of trauma and of triumph"
~Recess, PBS

"Kids read Chris Crutcher (Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Ironman, Athletic Shorts) because his works speak for them; he advocates in a manner that adults should pay attention to, as well."
~ ALAN Review

"Librarians say Crutcher, who's written a string of acclaimed books, is one of the few writers who really "gets" teenage boys. His elaborate plotlines and offbeat characters remind us of novelist John Irving."
~ Contra Costa Times

"This is a remarkable book. It deals with the hardest of issues and yet it leaves you inspired, even hopeful, that kids can heal. I highly recommend WHALE TALK. It's a novel you or your children will never forget."
~ Chinaberry

"Chris Crutcher, therapist and author of seven prize-winning young adult books, here gives his many fans another wise and compassionate story full of the intensity of athletic competition and hair-raising incidents of child abuse. "
~Amazon.com

"Crutcher's wry wisecracking is in full force in WHALE TALK's hero, T. J. Jones, whose good heart and flair for the sarcastic make him one of my favorite teen book characters ever."
~Teenreads.com




Awards Won:
* ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
* Book Sense Pick
* Washington State Book Award
* ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
* ALA Best Book for Young Adults
* Texas Library Association Tayshas High School Reading List
* New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Author Website:http://www.chriscrutcher.com/

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Author: Chris Crutcher
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Year Published: 1993
Cost:$12.99 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-06-009489-3
ISBN13:978-0-06-009489-8
Word Count:62,066
Reading Level:5.2
Interest Level:7-12


Plot summary:

In Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Chris Crutcher focues on two of his main characters, Eric Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes. These two identified with each other and became friends for one simple reason: their teenage peers consider both physically reprehensible. Eric is obese, and Sarah's face and hands are extremely disfigured from severe childhood burns. Eric Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes have found solace and support with one another as best friends. Sarah Byrnes suddenly gone catatonic in a Spokane mental ward. The book uncovers this mystery by uncovering Sarah Byrnes's past.


Issues for Being Challenge: Some of the issues why this book have been banned or challenged in the past are issue of abortion, religion, references to masturbation, physical and emotional abuse, mild profanity, and an attempted suicide.


Evaluation:

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a book that confronts bullies and presents heroes who fight continuing battles. The characters are well rounded. The author, Chris Crutcher does an incredible job extracting the best of each character. I enjoyed seeing how each of the character interact with one another. I noticed that there themes of pain and retribution, love and abandonment, and the struggle to understand one's self. These themes are something that young and older readers will be able to relate with their own experiences. This book is so captivating because of the author's ability to show both the pain and the humor of being an outsider.

Reader’s annotation:

Crutcher has created not only a topnotch thriller, but a tender story of friendship and loyalty that transcends the "young adult" genre. He has written a book that defies the limits of age. It is a book that covers all the bases and speaks to strength of the human spirit, the heroics of the human heart.

Review Excerpts:

"[A] transcendent story of love, loyalty and courage...Superb plotting, extraordinary characters and crackling narrative make this novel one to be devoured in a single unforgettable sitting."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred

"...strong on relationships, long on plot, and has enough humor and suspense to make it an easy booktalk with appeal across gender lines."
~Booklist

"...A story about a friendship with staying power, written with pathos and pointed humor."
~School Library Journal

"Against a swimming backdrop Crutcher places the issues of shame, narrow-mindedness, and abuse. Once the story takes hold you move along at such a rapid clip that by the end you're holding on for dear life."
~Children's Literature

"Crutcher's teen-appealing style...keeps the colorfulness quotient high, and kids will appreciate the triumph of the underdog protagonists."
~Bulletin/Center for the Children's Book

"Once again, Chris Crutcher plunges his readers into life's tough issues within a compelling story filled with human compassion...handles difficult topics such as abuse, abortion, and religious rigidity with his characteristic intelligence, humor, and empathy."
~ALAN Review


Awards and Honors:

ALA Best Book for YA
SLJ Best Book for YA
American Booksellers Pick of the List
California Young Reader Medalist
1995 Joan Fassler Memorial Book Award
ALA Best of the Best Books for YA
Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
1994 South Dakota YARP Best Books
Nominee 1995-1996 Iowa Teen Award
Nominee 1995-1996 SC YA Book Award
Nominee 1996 Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 1996-1997 ILF Rosie


Author Website:http://www.chriscrutcher.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Book Trailer Clip from YouTube:

Chinese Handcuffs

Author: Chris Crutcher
Publisher:Greenwillow Books
Year Published:1989
Cost:$12.99 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0688083455
ISBN13: 978-0688083458
Reading Level:5.2
Interest Level:9+


Plot summary:
A young adult novel by Chris Crutcher. This is about Dillon Hemingway and Jen Lawless, both are amazing athletes and are well-known by their fellow classmates. However, both have haunting family lives. They both find comfort in each other. Dillon runs to lose himself, to forget about his family falling apart; to sort out his feelings for Stacy, Preston’s girlfriend; and to stop thinking about the secret that his friend Jennifer has just entrusted to him - a secret about herself and her step-father, T.B. Dillon can’t keep running from these problems and he knows it. With the help of Jennifer’s basketball coach and his father, Dillon learns to accept his problems and take responsibility for the only thing he can control - himself.

Issues for Being Challenge:

The issues in the book that are likely to be challenged are: Issues of Rape, Incest,unplanned pregnancy, teen suicide, gangs, drugs, and child molestation are covered in this book.


Evaluation:
I believe that this novel would be an excellent novel to teach to a group of struggling readers. Though the problems that the characters face are extremely complex and many students would not have “life” experience in them, I feel that all the student would be able to relate to the confusion that the characters feels. This would help to increase their social confidences as well as text confidence. Relationships change and people put an end to the grief they have suffered. I guarantee that this book will keep you reading until the very end when you see how all the problems are resolved.


Reader’s annotation:

The characters have suffered through many hardships, which become revealed in this book. So if you want to find out what happens to Jennifer, Dillon, or Stacy, you’ll have to read this book.

Review Excerpts:

"Crutcher, author of the well-received The Crazy Horse Electric Game , Running Loose and Stotan! , has written a weighty, introspective novel. Because of the book's complex structure, and because the issues are so gritty and realistic, parts of the resolution become melodramatic in contrast."
~ Publishers Weekly

"...an emotional look at the helplessness of isolation and the redemption that comes from reaching out. Crutcher offers no easy answers --- no happily ever afters. But he does offer hope. He celebrates heroics, one brave step at a time...a riveting read --- for teens, and adults who love them."
~Teenreads.com

"There are enough plots here to fuel a soap opera for a year... Characters keep asking, 'can we talk' and then prattle on... Dillon is too much in control of himself and the other characters to be believable. The ending...is contrived. There's a place in fiction for teenage problems, but surely not all in one novel." Robert E. Unsworth, Scarsdale Junior High School, N.Y.
~School Library Journal

"Dillon Hemingway faces a lot of problems. . . . Given this plethora of woe...it's surprising that the story is as effective as it is. While all the problems don't really add up to a plot, the characterization is sound and consistent, and Crutcher's writing has both insight and fluency.
~Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Awards/Honors Recieved:
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
1991 South Dakota YARP Best Books List


Author's Website:
http://www.chriscrutcher.com/content/blogcategory/68/57/

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Author: Mark Haddon
Publisher: Random House Adult
Year Published: 2003
Cost: $16.78
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:1-400-03271-7
ISBN13:978-1-400-03271-6
Word Count:62,005
Reading Level:5.4
Interest Level:9+

Plot Summary:

The 15-year-old narrator is an autistic boy named Christopher Boone who is obsessed with (among other things) Sherlock Holmes. When a neighbor's dog is killed, he decides to track down the real dog-killer. The events that goes on in the book are filtered through the mind of an autistic and are often very hilarious as you read through the book. Eventually, by Christopher's own eccentric methods, Christopher uncovers truths that are profoundly disturbing, and in the process is forced to extend himself well beyond his usual boundaries.


Evaluation:
I found this book by Mark Haddon as a hilarious book to read as well as educational. Haddon's main character, Christopher,is the autistic 15-year-old narrator of the book. Christopher, like many children with autism, is socially awkward but very gifted in other areas, and in Christopher’s case his strength is math and numbers. He can calculate any problem he takes on and nearly waxes philosophical on many old math problems as he narrates his story. The mystery of the death of the neigbor's poodle leads him to the secrets of his parents' broken marriage and then into a journey in which he find his place in the world.


Reader's Annotation:
Though Christopher insists, "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them," this novel by Mark Haddon is filled with touching, ironic humor. The result is an eye-opening work in a unique and compelling literary voice that every reader will enjoy.

Awards Won:A New York Times Notable Book for 2003
Author Website: http://www.markhaddon.com/home_alternative.html

Blankets

Author: Craig Thompson
Year Published:2003
Publisher:Top Shelf Productions
Cost: $29.23
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:1-89183-043-0
ISBN13:978-1-89183-043-3
Word Count:16,215
Reading Level:3.8
Interest Level:9+

Plot Summary:

This graphic novel by Craig Thompson chronicles the episodes between author's adolescence and young adulthood. Thompson introduces us to the harsh Wisconsin winter that sets the stage for his childhood, growing up alongside his younger brother Phil. Thompson's childhood is rife with struggle and turmoil that takes shape in the form of a sexually abusive babysitter, a strained relationship with both of his parents, and a constant questioning of his own spirituality. At Bible Camp, Thompson meets Raina, another teen outcast. They find companionship in each other and develop a relationship. Thompson discovers his own sexuality and falls in love with Raina. The autobiography ends with Thompson's decision to follow his own path in life.

Issues for Being Challenged: Explicit graphic illustration of sex.

Evaluation
This was one of the first graphic novel I’ve ever read, and I enjoyed it, for the most part. Some parts were more “graphic” than I’d expected, but overall, the book was still good. I enjoyed the story and the graphics were great. The religious storyline was pretty interesting as well as it pertains to everyone deep need of connecting to something greater than themselves.


Reader's Annotation:
Have you ever thought about your first love? Or questioned your faith? See it all intertwine in this well- written and illustrated graphic novel.

Author Website: http://lambiek.net/artists/t/thompson_c.htm

Reviews Excerpts:

ALA Booklist

Thompson's graphic novel debut, Goodbye Chunky Rice (1999), was a delicate parable of loss that garnered deserved acclaim. The eagerly awaited, autobiographical follow-up to it is more ambitious, more accomplished, and more accessible. Thompson recalls growing up in a religious family in rural Wisconsin, particularly his affectionate tussles with his younger brother, with whom he shared a bed and the titular blankets. A few years later, he experiences the painful intensity of first love with Raina, a girl from Michigan he meets at a regional church camp. When the pair are separated, his loss of faith in his love for Raina presages his later loss of religious faith. The blanket motif reappears throughout the work, forthrightly as the handmade quilt Raina gives him, and more subtly as the blank sheets of paper he confronts as a budding artist. Eschewing the usual alt-comics cynicism, Thompson's evocation of high-school romance manages to be both romanticized and clear-eyed. His visual mastery shows in fluid line work, assured compositions, and powerful use of solid black areas and negative space. Weighing in at nearly 600 pages, this is a genuine graphic novel, with a universal appeal that suits it for any collection.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Thompson's Good-bye, Chunkie Rice (Top Shelf, 1999) offered readers well-realized but fantastic characters in a tale that nicely combined sentiment with adventure. This second, much longer work shares the acuity for character development and dynamic sensitivity that makes the author so compulsively readable. In Blankets, however, realism reigns supreme in both the story arc and in the humanity of its characters. Thompson himself is the protagonist, and this is his tale of growing up, falling in love (and realizing the physical and moral complications that can imply), discovering the texture and limits of his faith, and arriving at a point from which he can look back at those experiences. The snowy Midwest, peopled by overweight parents, hairy youths, and lovingly depicted younger siblings-including a respectfully and realistically treated minor character with Down syndrome-is energetically realized in Thompson's expressive lines and inking. Much of the story occurs when Craig and his brother Phil are young boys and includes images of such boyish pranks as peeing on one another. Older high school students who have reached an age when nostalgia is possible will warm to Thompson's own wistfulness. This is a big graphic novel, in concept and successful execution.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Twilight

Author:Stephanie Meyer
Publisher:Little, Brown, & Co.
Year Published:2005
Cost:$14.43
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-316-01584-9
ISBN13:13-978-0-316-01584-4
Word Count:118,975
Reading Level:4.9
Interest Level:9-12

Plot Summary:
When seventeen-year-old Bella Swan moves in with her dad in the small town of Forks, Washington, she’s immediately fascinated by one of her new classmates, the distant but exquisitely handsome Edward Cullen. Though Edward is obviously drawn towards Bella as well, he is clearly conflicted, warning her away from him, and she eventually guesses why: he’s a vampire. There is a definite romantic connection between Bella and Edward. It is this romatic connection that readers will find very compelling. Bella and Edward attend their school prom and Bella expresses her desire to become a vampire, which Edward refuses. The plot thickens when another group of vampires arrives at Forks.

Issues for being Challenged: Book deals with the occult (vampires, werewolf). Others may challenge the book for the violence in the end with Edward and James.

Evaluation:
This is the first book of the Twilight series. Even before the Twilight movie hit the theaters, I was hooked in reading the Twilight series. This is a must-read book for not only teens or young adults, but to adults (such as myself). The vampire-romance story is something that most readers will enjoy, not to mention the the various characters in the book. I especially loved the author's description of the Cullen family. After reading this book, I could not wait until I read the other books in the series.

Reader's Annotation:
Find out why so many teens are in love with this book. Where love story meets the suspense that most teens and young adults are yearning for. Find out more about this unique love story between Bella and Edward. It will make you read the rest of the Stephanie Meyers's Twilight sequels.

Book Excerpt:
How old are you?"
"Seventeen" he answered promptly.
"And how long have you been seventeen?"
His lips twitched as he stared at the road, "Awhile", he admitted at last.
"Okay", I smiled, pleased that he was still being honest with me. He stared down at me with watchful eyes, much as he had before when he'd been worried that I would go into shock. I smiled wider in encouragment, and he frowned.
"Don't laugh but how can you come out during the daytime?"
He laughed anyway, "Myth"
"Burned by the sun?"
"Myth"
"Sleeping in coffins"
"Myth", he hesitated for a moment, and a peculiar tone entered his voice. "I can't sleep"
It took me a moment to absorb that, "At all?"
"Never", he said, his voice nearly inaudible. He turned to look at me with a wistful expression. His golden eyes held mine and I lost my train of thought. I stared at him until he looked away.
"You haven't asked me the most important question yet." His voice was hard now and when he looked at me his eyes were cold.
"I blinked, still dazed, "Which one is that?"
"You aren't concerned about my diet?", he asked sarcastically.
"Oh", I murmered, "that"
"Yes that", His voice was bleak, "Don't you want to know if I drink blood?"

Awards Won:
• A New York Times Editor's Choice
• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
• An American Library Association "Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults" and "Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers
• A New York Times Best Seller

Author Website (if any): stepheniemeyer.com

Trailer from the Movie Adaptation from YouTube:

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author: C.S. Lewis
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year Published: 1950
Cost: $11.30
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-06-447104-7
ISBN13:978-0-06-447104-6
Word Count:36,363
Reading Level:5.7
Interest Level:4-7

Plot Summary:
This is the volume 2 for the 7 volume novel by C.S. Lewis. The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe tells the ultimate story of good versus evil as the children fight an evil witch with the help of a unique lion, Aslan, to save the creatures of Narnia from perpetual winter. Narnia is the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. This is the place where adventure begins. It is a story that continues to draw in new readers with its simplicity, pure heroism, and Christian values.


Issues for possible Challenges: Religious viewpoint, witchcraft, magic, and violence

Evaluation:
I am an avid reader of C.S. Lewis's literary works. C.S. Lewis the author of Mere Christianity wrote a 7 volume book called The Chronicles of Narnia. I recommend this book to all the young readers out there. It will not only help reluctant readers, but will also teach them important morale and Christian values. The illustrations were fabulous; they were very detailed sketches and flowed perfectly with the part of the story they were meant to go with so that the story was clearer to understand.

Reader's Annotation:
A wardrobe that sends you to a magical place called Narnia. Discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion... open this book and your lives will be changed forever.


Author Website:http://cslewis.drzeus.net/

Where Did I Come From

Author: Peter Mayle
Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Year Published: 1990
Cost:$11.21
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN 10:0818402539
ISBN13:978-0818402531
Reading Interest: 4-8 year old


Plot Summary:

This picture book by Peter Mayle is a book that explains basic reproduction with colorful images and language aimed fro children ages 4 to 9. Each of the 48 pages illustrates what each young child may ask themselves. Such questions would include, " How was I made?" and "Where did I really come from?" This book will assist parents in explaining sexual reproduction using innocent cartoons.

Issue for Being Challenged:
Because this is a book about explaining sex to children there is nudity. This book might be challenged for its sexual content alone.

Evaluation:

The information presented in the book is very straight forward and completely factual. However, the illustrations might be a little too much to conservative individuals and parents. The illustration with the sperm with top hats is hilarious, but can confuse kids more. Some parents may appreciate the humorous, gentle and truthful manner adopted by Peter Mayle. The illustrations are perfect for the book. This book is for parents who want a child to grow up happy, healthy and well-educated in all things

Reader's Annotation:
How will you explain sexual intercourse to your children? This is the book for you.

Author Website:http://www.petermayle.com/

The Chronicles of Narnia:The Magician's Nephew

Author: C.S. Lewis
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 1955
Cost: $11.30
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-06-447110-1
ISBN13:978--0-06-447110-7
Word Count:41,317
Reading Level:5.4
Interest Level:4-7

Plot Summary:
The key action begins when the two children by the name of Polly and Digory decide to explore the attic space in the row houses in which the two live. Digory and Polly ended up in in Digory's Uncle's room where all the trouble starts (by touching the rings on the table). The story then goes through a lot of sequence of events as Digory and Polly got Jadis the Witch back to the Woods and into an unknown world where they meet the Lion -Aslan for the first time. As the Lion sings, various plants begin to grow, starting first with grass, then trees. The Lion's song continues to produce more plants and flowers. From the trees and waters, various living creatures emerge and hail the Lion, Aslan, able to speak. As time passed, things continued to improve for Digory. After the death of a wealthy family member, his father returned from India and the family moved to a large house in the country. Digory and Polly always remained friends. In Narnia, all lived in peace. Digory, now a grown man and a learned professor and owner of the Ketterly's old house, could not bear to see the tree cut into firewood so he had the tree cut into timbers which he had fashioned into a wardrobe to be put in his old house in the country.

Issues for possible Challenges: Religious Viewpoint, Violence, Fairy Tale, Witches, Witchcraft

Evaluation:

The Magician's Nephew is the first volume of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The Magician's Nephew gives the reader an enchanting introduction to the magical land of Narnia. In this unforgettable story, British schoolchildren Polly and Digory inadvertently tumble into the Wood Between the Worlds, where they meet the evil Queen Jadis and, ultimately, the great, mysterious King Aslan. The reader will witness the birth of Narnia and discover the legendary source of all the adventures that are to follow in the seven books that comprise the series.

Reader's Annotation:
The story of how Aslan created Narnia and gave the gift of speech to its animals. See how it all began...


Author Website:http://cslewis.drzeus.net/

Dark Knight Returns

Author: Frank Miller
Publisher: DC Comics
Year Published: 1996
Cost: $11.69
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:1-563-89342-8
ISBN13:978-1-563-89342-1
Reading Level:6
Interest Level:9+

Plot Summary:
It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now as his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive. Batman and Superman engage in a powerful battle, and, when Queen shoots Superman using an arrowhead loaded with Batman's synthetic Kryptonite, Batman emerges the winner. However, Batman dies of a heart attack shortly after. Bruce Wayne’s secret identity as Batman quickly becomes public knowledge. At the funeral, Superman hears a heart beat inside the coffin and, after looking at Carrie, winks at her and leaves. Carrie later digs up Bruce’s body; it is revealed that he faked his death with the pill. Bruce Wayne now begins a new life, leading Robin, Green Arrow, and his new army through unexplored tunnels beyond the Batcave.

Issues for Challenges: Violence, Death, Ex-Catwoman tied up and beaten up by Joker (while dressed up in a Wonderwoman outfit for her Escort service business)

Evaluation:
Even if you are not a graphic novel reader or a graphic novel collector, you will love this graphic novel by Frank Miller. For me this is one of the "graphic novels" that redefined the superhero genre, and made these works worth reading. The Dark Knight Returns has excellent storywriting by Frank Miller as well as excellent artwork that readers will enjoy. The story and its illustrations may be a bit violent for younger readers.

Reader's Annotation:
Batman returns to crime fighting after a 10-year retirement. The Joker also returns to the scene later on. There’s even a new Robin, as well as a legendary battle between Batman and Superman. Who will win? Find out?

Lord of the Flies

Author: William Golding
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Company
Year Published: 1954
Cost:$13.51
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-399-50148-7
ISBN13:978-0-399-50148-7
Word Count:59,900
Reading Level:5.0
Interest Level:9+

Plot Summary:
The story takes place on an isolated island. A plane has crashed and there are no adult survivors.
The survivors rapidly side with one of two dominant boys: Ralph, and another older boy named Jack. Jack then becomes a rebellious threat to Ralph's leadership, obviously envious of Ralph and empowers himself instead by becoming the unanimous leader of the hunters. The plot thickens as Jack and the hunters finally takes over. Jack lead their tribe on a manhunt for Ralph, intending to kill him. Jack, now nearly complete in his demonic role as the ultimate savage, sets the entire island ablaze. However, the fire started by Jack is so large that it has attracted the attention of a nearby warship. In the final scene, although now certain that he will be rescued after all, Ralph cries, in mourning for his friend Piggy, as well as his own loss of innocence.

Issues to Be Challenged: Violence exhibited by Jack and the rest of the hunters. Murder of Simon and Piggy. Mild use of profanity.

Evaluation:

This story about a group of very ordinary small boys marooned on a coral island has become a modern classic. I first read this book in high school as part of my English Honors class. I enjoyed reading it then and I enjoyed reading it now. It is exciting to see how the plot goes from a group of kids having fun and into a nightmare of panic and death. This books makes for a great study of human behavior.

Reader's Annotation:
What will kids be like without adults supervision or rules on an island> Read and see how even the innocent children become savages.

Author's website (if any): http://www.william-golding.co.uk/

Movie adaptation trailer from YouTube: