Ghosting by Edith Pattou

Release Date:  August 2014

Genre: Contemporary, Free Verse

Protagonist:  A ensemble cast of characters

The Story:  Told from the perspectives of an ensemble cast of characters, Ghosting is the tale of a group of high school students and their experiences when joyriding and a prank go terribly awry.  Each character is an archetypical character - the jock, the good girl, the popular girl, the stoner, the brainiac, the follower, the kid sister, etc., and each character's perspective reveals facets of a story no one ever wants to truly experience. 

Reaction:  Powerfully told through free verse, Ghosting is a cautionary, yet hopeful novel that promotes independent thinking and developing self-confidence, even in the face of overwhelming tragedy and adversity.  The novel is easy to relate to, and readers will recognize pieces of themselves or people they know within the well-developed plot.  This is a novel that sticks with you long after you've read the final sentence.

If You Liked...  Crank or Before I Fall, then Ghosting will be a great addition to your collection.

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes:  Touching on a variety of sensitive issues, such as drugs, alcohol, and violence, Ghosting is most definitely intended for a high school audience.  

Disclaimer:  This novel was given free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sempre by J.M. Darhower

Release Date: November 2013

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

When and Where:  Modern times, California

Protagonist:  Haven Antonelli, 17 years old

The Story: Born into slavery, Haven has no idea what life is like outside of the isolated ranch compound, but when an act of desperation ends up causing Haven to be relocated to the DeMarco household, an entire world of opportunity is presented.  Dr. DeMarco is deceptively kind, when in fact is an integral member of a Mafia family, serving as both confidant and enforcer to the Don.  Functioning more as a maid and less like a slave, Haven is desperately afraid of her new masters, Dr. DeMarco and his two sons.  Somehow, Haven develops an unlikely relationship with the younger son, Carmine DeMarco, and as romance blossoms between the pair, the mystery of Haven's paternity haunts Dr. DeMarco.  Dr. DeMarco is determined to prevent his son from repeating past mistakes and negatively impacting the future, but it may be too late.

Reaction:  This book was absolutely gripping, though I really don't know who is primary audience should be.  While the characters are 17, the subject matter is far beyond the scope of most high school students, in both background knowledge and maturity.  I was fascinated by Haven's adjustment to a "normal" lifestyle, though the lifestyle the DeMarcos live is far from normal, and  Carmine's self-destructive, impulsive tendencies a desperate cry for help that no one seemed to hear.  I just couldn't stop reading this book, and when the novel came to its conclusion, I was happily surprised to see that the second book is already available.

If You Liked...  movies and stories similar to The Godfather and Goodfellas, then Sempre may be right for you.

Rating: 4

Teacher Notes: Great book, but perhaps one to keep on the upper bookshelf for specific students, rather than full-class access.

The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson

Release Date:  February 2014

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction


Protagonist:  Laila

The Story:  As the daughter of a Middle Eastern King, Laila has lived a life of luxury.  When violence erupts in her country and her father is killed, she and the surviving members of her immediate family are whisked away to the United States and immersed in an American lifestyle.  Upon arriving in the U.S., Laila realizes that nothing is as it seems - the media has labeled her deceased father a dictator, her mother is working closely with a covert organization and carefully guards her secrets, and life in the U.S. is so profoundly different from her homeland that Laila struggles to acclimate.  Even something as simple as education and friendships are distinctly different, and Laila feels desperately alone.

Reaction:  I loved, loved, loved this beautifully written book.  Laila's observations of American people are equally fascinating and thought-provoking, and her understanding of the politics of her homeland made me wonder if there are many people in similar situations who just don't know nearly as much about how things works as they think they do.  I think most people have felt like an outsider at some point, which is how many readers will related to Laila, but I also believe that readers will end up reflecting upon their own beliefs and behaviors as a result of reading The Tyrant's Daughter; this is a book that sticks with you, so be prepared to be thinking about the novel long after you have put the book away.

If You Liked...  Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind, then The Tyrant's Daughter  will be a good addition to your TBR stack.

Rating:  5

Teacher Notes:  The Tyrant's Daughter would be a great book to use help teach point of view; it also highlights a culture that is not highly represented in good YA literature.

Providence by Lisa Colozza Cocca

Release Date:  March 2014

Genre: Realistic Fiction

When and Where:  Small town Georgia in modern times

Protagonist:  Becky, age 16

The Story:  Hoping to avoid her abusive father until he becomes less enraged, Becky runs away at the advice of her mother and seeks shelter in an empty train car.  Becky is stunned to find a tiny baby, perhaps only hours old.  Relying on the experience of having cared for several younger siblings, Becky claims the tiny baby as her own and begins an unexpected journey towards a life she could never have expected.  In tiny Watson's Grove, Becky becomes both friend and family to Rosie, owner of the Second Hand Rose consignment store.  Struggling to provide the best of care to baby Georgia and to take care of herself, Becky hides Georgia's story of abandonment and lives as a teen parent.  Despite the town's initially close-minded response to Becky, the townspeople gradually open their hearts to both young mother and child, and soon Becky learns the value of putting trust and faith in humanity. 

Reaction:  Sweetly and beautifully written, Providence is crafted in the manner of small towns and the people who live in them.  The pacing of the tale moves in a similar manner, at times moving quickly, while at other times rambling slowly about, taking the reader on an unexpected journey of a character's growth over a period of time.  Author Lisa Colozza Cocca weaves a plot that is reflects the goodness of humanity, and she successfully keeps the reader uncertain of Becky and Georgia's fate up to the final pages; Providence is truly a unique read.

If You Liked...  Where the Heart Is, Taking Care of Max, and books that study and reveal human frailties and reality, then Providence is for you.

Rating: 4

Teacher Notes:  Providence is for thoughtful readers who enjoy stories involving character development.  This would also be an excellent book to use for teaching internal dialogue.

4 to 16 Characters by Kelly Hourihan

Release Date:  November 2013

Genre:  Contemporary

Protagonist:  Jane Shilling, aged 15

The Story:  Jane Shilling's life is not what it is supposed to be; her mother passed away last year, her alcoholic father lives in a bottle, and Jane attends an alternative school where it is better to blend in than to be noticed.  Jane's one pleasure in life is social media, where she has created a series of alter-egos that live in a manner in which she aspires.  As Jane's online identities blossom, Jane's "real" life spirals further and further downward.

Reaction:  Told through instant messages, blog entries, and other social media, 4 to 16 Characters is hard to adequately characterize; just as Jane is hidden within the multiple personalities she displays online, the depth of this novel is also deeply buried.  Jane is surprisingly unlikeable, and I'm not entirely sure why - is it because she fails to reveal enough of her true self or because this book is written for digital natives, as opposed to digital immigrants?  If you love Facebook, Tumblr, etc., then 4 to 16 is book you may want to check out.

Rating:  3 stars 


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