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Serafina understands she's different, not only by her physical features, but her circumstances. She hides in the Vanderbilt's basement under father 's direction. As an electrician, he does odds and ends for the family. As Serafina moises down the woods one evening, she witnesses a man with a black cloak seizing a girl with a yellow dress. She barely escapes, but the townspeople as more children disappear. The most vulnerable child is Braendon Vanderbilt, the nephew of the town's most important patriarch. He and Serafina join forces to uncover the mystery and strike a friendship in the process. All is not what it seems in their search for answers. Danger lurks closer than they think and in an unexpected place. Will Serafina and Braendon save the other children or die trying?
Image located at www.goodreads.com/book/photo/23507745-serafina-and-the-black-cloak In the dramatic conclusion of the Wrath and the dawn, Shahrzad seeks a dangerous path. Shazi, trapped in the desert by Reza and Tariq, men who seek vengeance against Khalid for the deaths of Shiva and the other murdered brides, seeks a way to escape to the man she loves. She must rely on her sister Irsa who has divided loyalties to her sister and the rebel cause. Shazi sadly realizes she can't rely on her father Jahandar not only because of his illness, but his quest for power and revenge supersedes the love for his daughters. Shazi enlists the help of Musa, Khalid's old mentor and another querulous magician Artan to break the tragic spell befallen on her love.
In the meantime, Khalid fights to preserve the remains of his kingdom, severely damaged in the previous rebel attack. He can no longer rely on his cousin and closest friend Jahal nor his bodyguard Vikram who lost his arm during the raid to assist him. Shazi and Khalid's journey towards peace and each other face tremendous obstacles against enemies who use the other as pawns for their own sadistic purposes. Image located at www.goodreads.com/book/photo/23308084-the-rose-the-dagger In her debut YA novel, Michelle Levy focuses on the devastating impact of suicide, alcoholism, and abuse through Tyler's story. Tyler masks the pain of his mother's suicide and alcoholic father's abuse to keep his future intact. Unfortunately, Tyler's closing off from friends and school begins jeopardizing this plan. Jordan, a former friend once dismissed, becomes an important force for Tyler to exercise his demons and start over.
Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18520658-not-after-everything Through free verse, Crowder intimately chronicles Clara Lemlich's journey as a Russian Jewish girl to a feminist union leader from 1904-09. Clara is forced to work in sweatshop to provide for the family after they flee from Russia to New York after pogrom (Jewish massacre). Clara remains steadfast in her quest for a better life despite long grueling hours and unbearable working conditions. When Clara eventually becomes a union leader, she faces backlash in her quest of improving working conditions for women from her family, men, and society at large. Clara's early twentieth century "audacity" still touches on gender roles & worker's rights today.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/22521938-audacity I created a Symbaloo page filled with Top YA author websites for your perusal.
Symbaloo Page http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/yaauthordepository Ms. Geltch's YA Literature section http://gelyalit.weebly.com/ya.html Jacob and Ruth Gruener collaborate with Alan Gratz to tell their horrific Holocaust experiences through this powerful historical fiction piece. As a nine year old boy in 1939 Krakow Poland, Yanek takes his childhood for granted. However, that soon is taken away from him when the Nazis take over his country. Yanek must hide from deportation, celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in secret, and eventually survive 10 concentration camps, with all his family members long gone. This must fast paced spell bounding account constitutes as a must read on the horrors of the Holocaust.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/15756277-prisoner-b-3087 Elizabeth Wein crafts a historical narrative of innocence lost. On a normal air patrol on the French region shortly after D-Day, Rose, an inexperienced American pilot is diverted & captured by the Germans. As a new inmate at the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Rose must find an intestinal fortitude to survive. Fortunately, Rose befriends a Polish, French, and even a German prisoner who endured unimaginable suffering beyond her comprehension.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262236-rose-under-fire I already mentioned this on the main page on the website, yet I will add the URL and padlet here since it pertains to books. http://padlet.com/wall/am03u48lt4
Rowell writes a coming of age story through a transitional period of Cath's life. As college freshmen, Cath immediately confronts the changing nature of her relationship with her twin sister Wren, who she shared her entire life prior. Cath navigates through the social labyrinth of college life without her sister's guidance. She must also find her voice as a fiction writer despite the pressing demands writing Simon Snow fan fiction. Cath lives the experiences of many before her from dorm life, studies, new relationships, and more. Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/16068905-fangirl Hailey Kincain and her father Andy have driven cross country over the past five years to escape painful memories from his Iraq/Afghanistan war years . Now, Andy decides to settle in his childhood hometown so Hailey can finish high school. While Hailey attempts to adjust to a normal life & make plans for her future, Andy's post traumatic stress plagues them.
In too many situations, the child becomes the parent. Laurie Halse Anderson clearly depicts through her new female protagonist. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18079527-the-impossible-knife-of-memory Voorhoeve tells a harrowing historical fictional narrative of the Mangold family in Hitler's Germany. The Mangolds manage to send their daughter Franziska (Ziska) on a Kindertransport to England after Mr. Mangold's arrest. They hope to reunite with their daughter as soon as legal papers are in order. Unfortunately, World War II separates the family.
As the war drags on for years, Ziska, now known as Frances, grows up with a more Orthodox Jewish family and forms new relationships. Even with an eventual English victory over the Nazis, Frances' connections with her birth family & former friends dim from the horrors of the Holocaust. Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/11367737-my-family-for-the-war On the surface and trailer, Pushing the Limits appears as a good girl falls for the bad boy story line. However, McGarry delves much deeper into important issues such as death, drug abuse foster care, mental illness, and popularity through her main characters. Many teens may or have found themselves in similar situations to Echo and Noah.
Book Cover image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits A face from Schindler's list emerges in this traumatic tale. Leon (American name) is the youngest son of a Jewish family residing in Polish country side. His idyllic childhood is shattered after the Nazis occupy Poland in WWII. The rules of human decency change as Leon and his family must find ways to survive the horrors of the Holocaust. Leon's family fortunately gains employment from a man who will save their lives-Oscar Schindler. While Leyson's account concentrates mostly on their day-to-day struggles for survival, he finds normalcy after the war. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/17415480-the-boy-on-the-wooden-box High school junior Jessica must overcome enormous odds to run again after losing her right leg from a tragic car accident. Van Draanen includes the viewpoints of all who were affected by Jessica's circumstances: her family's emotional & financial struggles, coach's determination, doctor's encouragement, best friend & teammates, support, etc. Rosa, a classmate who suffers from cerebral palsy, surprisingly makes the most resounding difference towards Jessica's recovery. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/13207578-the-running-dream
On the surface, Parker's life is filled with possibilities at the end of her senior year of high school. However, she must answer the question posed in Robert Frost's "Road Less Traveled" after stumbling upon a Julianna's journal, a girl who tragically lost her life ten years earlier. Parker realizes she must make life changing decisions she uncovers intimate details of Julianna's final day. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/12578313-golden I read a few books over this past summer. I gained new perspectives on the human condition by through these multicultural works. Images from Good Reads.com Even though Karl Stern didn't look nor consider himself a Jew, it made no difference in Hitler's Nazi Germany. Karl meets a boxing champion through his father's connections. At the Berlin Boxing Club, Karl gains self confidence and physical strength. However, the only way he can continue training and competing is by keeping his Jewish heritage a secret. Karl's abilities become even more critical as anti-Semitic measures puts his and his family's lives in danger. In his acclaimed non-fiction work Always running, Luis Rodriguez chronicled his experiences in San Gabriel Valley/LA County gangs. The story continues with Rodriguez's being released from jail. Rodriguez vows to change his life for the better. However, inner demons plague him through his romantic & family relationships and community work. Rodriguez will sadly discover history repeating itself in his son Ramiro's battles. Ruta Supetys, who beautifully told a harrowing fictional account of the Lithuanian WWII internment crafts another suspenseful tale of intrigue & betrayal in her new novel Out of the easy The following trailer tells the story. To whet your YA book appetite, peruse the CHS TA Multimedia Book Presentations on social issues, Black & Women's History month. Matthew Quick tells a heart warming tale of a Pat Peoples, a 35 year old man
who returns home after a few years in a mental hospital He attempts to overcome his psychological demons in hopes of winning back his estranged wife Nikki. While Pat's mother nurtures him during this transitional period, his father rarely returns the kindness. Along the way, Pat reconnects his brother, and closest high school friend Ronnie. Through Ronnie, Pat meets Tiffany who has mental scars of her own. As Tiffany becomes romantically interested in Pat, she resorts to manipulative methods to get him to let go of the past. Silver linings playbook parallels with Perks of being a wallflower in its focus on mental illness & overcoming painful traumatic events Ron Suskind chronicles Cedric Jennings' journey in urban Washington D.C. neighborhood through his sophomore year at Brown University. As a young African American man, Cedric overcame incredible odds to earn a college degree from an Ivy League College. Suskind opens up discussions on the ways poverty, incarceration, violent neighborhoods, and dysfunctional schools hinder the possibilities for many African Americans. Take a look at my indepth Capzle trailer on this thought provoking non fiction work. http://www.capzles.com/5340a471-7199-4e71-b26a-4ee33f3c2689
Image located at http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/69559.A_Hope_in_the_Unseen Global I controls the bulk of the wealth & power in 2015 U.S.A. A law is passed where every individual by age 17 must get a bar code tattoo for security and solidarity. Fiscal transactions, college acceptances, and many other daily activities eventually depend on having it. However, Kayla feels anxious... Her father commits suicide allegedly over the tattoo. Best friend Amber's are experiencing extreme financial hardships given "the glitches" coming from the bar code. Kayla faces unimaginable trials and tribulations after refusing the procedure. She longs for comfort and love, but who can she trust? How will she the vision regularly haunting her? While on the run from the authorities, Kayla must depend on a small group of resisters who many get caught, killed, or turn to the other side to remain free & alive.
Those who enjoy reading works from the Hunger Games, Divergent, Legend, & Matched series will quickly become in engaged in this easy-to read survival story. Image located at http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/592089.The_Bar_Code_Tattoo At the end of what's supposedly dream high school graduation European vacation with her best friend Melanie, Allyson meets Wilhem, a performer at an outdoor rendition of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Allyson blows caution to the wind by spending one awe inspiring day with him in Paris. However, Allyson feels humiliated when she finds Wilhem long gone the next day. With a gaping void in her soul, Allyson struggles to let go of the past & transition into the first year of college life.
Forman moves readers by forging a one year account of Allyson's right of passage from unexpected heartbreak. Image located at http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/12842115-just-one-day This " Twilightesque" dramatic tale tells a story of forbidden love. Ethan endures sleepiness nights from eerie nightmares of a beautiful & mysterious girl in mortal danger. He eventually uncovers her identity as Lena Douchanes, niece of Gaitlin recluse Macon Ravenwood. As Ethan quickly falls for Lena, odd events occur in the small southern town. More importantly, time starts slipping away for the two lovers as Lena's sixteenth birthday draws near.
Image located at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6304335-beautiful-creatures The waves on the bay beckon to Gemma. The water gives Gemma strength and confidence, yet it becomes deadly when three mythical girls become transfixed with her.
Image located at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10586539-wake |
AuthorI am Ms. April Geltch, CJUSD Librarian & advisor of the Yellowjacket Literate Book Club. YA Book Sites 50 Young Adult Book Blogs 100 Awesome Social Sites for Bookworms Ms. Geltch's 2009-12 Books of the Year: The Early Years Ms. Geltch's 2013 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2014 Top Ten Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2015 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2016 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's Favorite Books 2017 Ms. Geltch's Reading Possibilities 2018 Ms. Geltch's YA Literature Recreational Reading Guide Nearby Libraries
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