All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin. Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011.

New York. 2083. Crime. Food rationing. Banned foods. Power grid problems.

Anya is trying to keep her family together. Her grandmother is very ill, so Anya takes care of her. Her mother and father were killed in mob hits (making Anya the unwilling future mob boss) and her older brother suffered brain damage. He thinks he can help Anya but he doesn’t understand the ramifications of his actions and becomes involved in violent situations. She doesn’t want to be involved with the family but keeps getting pulled back into the business.

Her family has several business ventures- all illegal. Mainly, they produce, import and sell contraband- chocolate and caffeine. Her ex-boyfriend eats some of the family black market chocolate and almost dies. Anya doesn’t know if it was an accident or deliberate but she suspects a setup.

The last thing she needs or wants is romance. Anya meets the son of the district attorney and they start flirting. A crime family involved with a law and order family? Anya is determined not to fall in love. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Now, Anya and her family are being investigated by the district attorney (yes, her boyfriend’s father). She must prove her innocence and clear her family name. She also has to keep herself and her family out of trouble. Who has the time for romance? She does!

This dystopian fiction is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Visit Gabrielle Zevin's website

 

Desert Angel

Desert Angel by Charlie Price. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Angel’s drug addict mother and her newest boyfriend Scotty get in a screaming fight one night, so Angel decides to sleep outside. In the morning, there is blood everywhere and Angel’s mother and Scotty are missing. Within a short time, Angel finds a shallow grave with her mother body and she knows she must get away before Scotty returns. He’s a vicious, evil man and she is a loose end.

Escaping from Scotty is going to be difficult. He knows a lot about hunting, tracking and survival from his illegal poaching trips. Angel returns to the trailer to get some water and look for weapons. She is shocked by the sudden appearance of Scotty behind her. She is able to trick him into believing she is dead and then she runs for her life.

Angel has no family, no neighbors, no friends, nothing. She has nowhere to go and past experience has taught her she can only rely on herself. Unexpected help gives Angel some hope, but Scotty brutally eliminates everyone. Angel will never be safe as long as Scotty is chasing her. So she decides to become the hunter. 

This action-filled book is a combination of realistic, adventure and survival fiction.  It is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Something Like Hope

Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman. Published by Delacorte Press, 2011.

Shavonne wants to believe things can get better. She wants to believe she can get her baby back from foster care. She wants to get help.

For now, none of this seems attainable. She is locked up in a juvenile detention facility. She stole a sandwich and assaulted one of the few guards who have shown her any kindness and a transfer to an adult prison seems imminent. She blames her social worker for many problems but most of all, Shavonne blames herself.

A new guard named Cyrus sparks a little curiosity about geese, nature, and life. Mr. Delpopolo is a new counselor and he seems pretty genuine in his willingness to help Shavonne. Something about him gets through to her. He seems good at his job, doesn’t play any games but is also kind of sad and discouraged.

A disaster on a routine medical visit results in the emergence of Shavonne as an unexpected hero, but not everyone is happy about that. She has made some serious and powerful enemies. Shavonne wants to turn her life around but she doesn’t know how. Can Mr. Delpopolo and Cyrus help her?

This realistic fiction about a young woman trying to turn her life around is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Visit author Shawn Goodman's website

The Space Between

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Daphne lives in Hell- literally. The daughter of a demon and a fallen angel, she is unsure of her place in the world. She is lonely and bored, doesn’t have much of a relationship with her mother or sisters, but can’t really leave. Her brother Obie is someone she can count on, so she doesn’t know what to do when he says he’s leaving. Daphne knows it’s dangerous, so asks Beelzebub for help but Obie is gone.

Daphne is drawn to Truman, a young man who has been suicidal since the death of his mother. Obie helped him after a hospitalization the previous year. Daphne hopes that Truman can provide some clues as to Obie’s whereabouts. Daphne is warned about new dangers and her sister is murdered. Daphne has special powers but she doesn’t know what they are or even how to use them.

Truman and Daphne find Obie’s baby Raymie (not a typical baby by any means) and they know she is the reason Obie left. Can they save Obie, protect Raymie and still have a chance at love?



Visit author Brenna Yovanoff's website

Brooklyn Burning

Brooklyn Burning by Steven Brezenoff. Published by Learner Publishing Group, 2011

Kid’s life is complicated. He is not getting along with his father at all. He questions many things in his life and is making unsafe choices for himself. When he becomes friendly with a bar owner named Fish, she tries to help him. This is where he meets Felix, a musician Kid likes a lot. Unfortunately, Felix is an addict and not a good influence.

After Kid and his father get into another huge argument, Kid is homeless so Felix takes him to an abandoned warehouse . When Felix dies, Kid sinks into a deep depression and he doesn’t deny the accusations that he started a fire in the warehouse. This has profound ramifications for Kid.

One day, he meets a young woman named Scout and discovers someone who loves music as much as he does. She has am amazing voice and Kid loves going to the basement of Fish’s bar to practice with her. She is mysterious and evasive, which only serves to increase Kid’s longing.

But the police are still coming after Kid, Fish can't help him anymore and he is worried about Scout.

This realistic fiction is recommended for students who like edgier stories.  

Visit author Steven Brezenoff's website

Payback Time

Payback Time by Carl Deuker. Published by Houghton Mifflin Books, 2011.

Daniel True dreams of a college major in journalism. Being a reporter for the school newspaper is going to help him get there. He is disappointed when the new editor changes his assignment from news to sports (he’s nicknamed Mitch after the Michelin Man due to his short, round stature). A major downside for Mitch is that he is going to be hanging out at sporting events and with athletes. He knows he will appear even shorter and fatter in comparison to all the jocks, so he decides to lose weight and start exercising.

Mitch finds himself enjoying the sports writing. He gets to work with Kimi, a talented and driven photographer. He and Kimi are even able to receive a little money and byline credit as stringers for the local newspaper. Football season is kicking off and Mitch notices a new player on the field. His name is Angel and he is very good. Mitch is puzzled that the coach doesn’t use Angel very much. In fact, Angel seems to hate publicity.

After stealing a look at Angel’s student records, the mysteries pile up- attendance, grades and other records have been removed. They can’t find any pictures of him from his previous schools. Soon, Mitch’s continuing investigation is becoming dangerous for everyone.

This realistic fiction is recommended for teens who like mysteries, sports or writing. 


Visit author Carl Deuker's website