Authors of Young Adult Literature

Bibliographic Citation

Alexander, K., & Hess, M. R. (2018). Swing. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Blink.

Summary

Noah, Sam, and Swing are inseparable. Except when Sam is hanging out with her jock boyfriend, who Noah does not always approve of. He's had a crush on her since they were young, and he's getting closer and closer to letting her know how he feels. Swing, aka Walt, takes matters into his own hands when he discovers a poem that Noah wrote and slipped it into Sam’s possession. On top of the Sam and Noah situation, Swing falls into a relationship of his own while American flags keep showing up around the community. The story comes together, the flag mystery is solved, and this novel in verse ends in an all too familiar way.

Discussion/Reflection

It did take me a little while to get into this story, and for a while, it was a little too much of a cat and mouse chase for me. Even still, I highly recommend this title to students who are fans of Kwame Alexander!

Connection

There are so many amazing opportunities to teach standards with this novel! I am attaching the educator's guide, but after recently learning about PearDeck, I couldn't help but think that pulling some vocabulary from this novel would go great with this tech tool. Per the educator's guide, students can work on their dictionary skills by defining a set of words. They can work in pairs for this portion of the assignment. Once submitted to the teacher, they can upload the words and definitions to Pear Deck and play flashcard factory!

Bibliographic Citation

Crutcher, C. (2018). Losers bracket. Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Summary

In and out of a bad situation all her life, Annie can't get enough of her biological family, even if it means getting wrapped up in the drama of their lives. She is a star basketball player, living with a (mostly) wonderful foster family. Still, she opts out of playing her best sport over the summer because traveling with the team will keep her from the Boots (her bio family), and as much as she resents them, she still can't be away from them for too long. Instead, she takes up swimming so that she can still hang around town for "chance" encounters. At one of her swim meets, her two worlds collide, and an epic fight breaks out between Annie's mother, most likely high, and her friends. In an instant, Annies nephew disappears. After a sickening feeling of never seeing Frankie again, she gets a tip that he is alive and well. Annie now makes it her priority to keep him that way, kicking down any barriers that may be in her way but also picking up more support than she ever thought she could.

Discussion/Reflection

I love the deep connection to family that is scattered throughout this book. I've never been in a situation like this, and I can't imagine why Annie would keep going back to the very thing that she resents. Love and connection and the want to make it better...those would be the reasons I would keep going back. I hit so many emotions while reading this novel and laughed at the retelling of the incident when Annie was in 3rd grade...as horrible and humiliating as it was. I was also in deep shock when Annie had the "Susan" connection and realized where Shelia was taking Frankie. Oh my goodness!!!

Connection

When I get to this part of the review, I try to think outside the box. I'm really looking for ways that I can get this book into the hands of students. This is my first Chris Crutcher novel that I have read, and it won't be my last. He is a funny guy and writes of real-world topics that students can connect with. I thought about posting discussion questions here or other read-alike novels, but I found this interview on his website (www.chriscrutcher.com) in my attempt to learn more about the author, and I felt like it would be something that would resonate with students and teachers. Bonus - after the discussion of Losers Bracket, Crutcher goes into his thoughts on banned books! It's a great interview but if you want to skip to the part about Loser Bracket, start at 8:05 and then hold tight for the transition into banned books!

Bibliographic Citation

Cormier, R. (2003).The rag and bone shop A novel. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf.

Summary

Jason is quiet, reserved, and keeps to himself. He likes true crime and has lost his anger a time or two after being picked on by the school bully. When school is out for the summer, Jason is looking forward to long summer days like most kids. However, after his 7-year-old friend is murdered, his summer vacation takes a quick turn for the worse. He was the last person to see Alicia, so the small town detectives hire a professional interrogator, Trent, to make Jason confess to killing her. Jason is compliant throughout the cut-throat interrogation, and Trent successfully gets a confession out of him. At the very moment Jason confesses, the detectives also get a confession from the real killer. After the grueling interrogation, the damage is done. Jason is mentally disturbed by this experience and is wondering if he is actually capable of murder...

Discussion/Reflection

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this novel. I often felt like I was in the interrogation room with Trent and Jason...I might've even broken a sweat myself. I was sad for Jason, and it kills me to think of his mental state after having gone through that.

Connection

As soon as I returned this book to the library, I had a student come in asking for a murder mystery/true crime story. I was glad that I could recommend this book to him, and it inspired me to create a flyer in Canva with some read-alike titles.

Bibliographic Citation

King, A. S. (2017). Still life with tornado. New York: Speak.

Summary

Sarah witnesses something that is not right, her artwork is stolen and sabotaged, and her art teacher is partially responsible for a mental breakdown. She takes a hiatus from school and begins exploring her city and herself by disregarding anything unoriginal. She meets a few versions of herself at ages 10, 23, and 40, and they can provide insight or memories from her past and future. Ten-year-old Sarah seems to make the most impact as she helps her remember and learn about her father's abusiveness. There is healing in this novel and a realization that sometimes, you have to let go.

Discussion/Reflection

The title very much speaks to how I personally felt while reading this novel. It felt like the whirlwind of a tornado with Sarah's family's dysfunction and her own mindset of rediscovering what is important to her.

Connection

I discovered this interview with A.S. King and found her inspiration for Still Life with Tornado very inciteful. She mentioned that she attended a graduate lecture, and attendees were asked to write a scene at a bus stop where they met their future selves. I love that this was part of her inspiration and can easily see the same prompt used with students after reading this novel!

Bibliographic Citation

Smith, A. (2014). 100 sideways miles. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR.

Summary

Finn Easton is a junior in high school, has epilepsy, and goes through life with his crude best friend, Cade Hernandez. Finn has a rough start in life when a dead horse kills his mother as it slid off a truck and an overpass. Finn and his mother were walking under the overpass when the horse stuck them. Finn survived after spending some time in a hospital but now has a pretty distinct scar on his back that inspires Cade to make constant, inappropriate jokes about Finn. When Julia walks into his life, she walks out almost as quickly as she came in. Before she could leave again, she and Finn had already fallen in love. On a trip to visit Julia, Finn and Cade are in a terrible rainstorm that causes quick thinking on their part to save a boy, an older man, and their dog.

Discussion/Reflection

There was so much going on in this story that it was difficult to write a cohesive summary. That's just it, though; it was a story about high school friendships, love, and coming of age. My summary would've made more sense if I wrote it in bullets!

Connection

I absolutely want to read more of Andrew Smiths' work. I love that he can bring out the true depiction of young teenage boys, and if his other novels are similar, a reluctant reader may enjoy him as an author.

Bibliographic Citation

Summary

After being diagnosed with stage IV cancer, Hazel has received the news that her tumor has shrunk. Still feeling distant from all things but her TV, she is encouraged to join a Cancer Kid Support Group by her mother. It doesn't take long before she meets and falls in love with Gus, who is in remission. Hazel learns to live and love after ultimately giving up on herself.

Discussion/Reflection

This was a very sweet "cancer book" I love how well the characters were developed and how deep the relationships went.

Connection

Books to read next - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews, She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Bibliographic Citation

Acevedo, E. (2019). With the fire on high. New York, NY: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Summary

Emoni is a high school senior, a mom, and an inspiring chef. She struggles during her last year in school as she weighs her options and tries to determine what is best for herself and her daughter. Emoni is a very talented cook and is not only excited to take culinary arts as an elective, but she also will have an opportunity to take a trip to Spain and immerse herself in the food and culture. Emoni is fortunate to have support from her 'Buela and, although it doesn't always feel like it, her father.

Discussion/Reflection

It's hard to say anything other than that this was such a great book. I was rooting for Emoni from the very beginning and was so proud of her and how much thought she put into her life decisions. I can't wait to read Clap When You Land, coming out on May 5th!

Connection

I created a reflection lesson on Cultural Representation from www.teachingbooks.net.

This particular lesson is differentiated but still encourages students to reflect on the cultural representation of the characters, setting, and events noted in this novel.