New Books!

Since students are unable to checkout books this close to the end of the year, I got to read the newest books first. (Just one of many benefits to being the media coordinator!) This month's selections were very different from last month, and I'd like to talk a bit about them. First, all of them are realistic fiction (although one has some paranormal activity) with characters who do not fit in with their peers. That sounds like typical teen fiction, but these are not typical plots. In fact, not all the main characters are likable, but all generate sympathy from the reader over some of the things they have to handle in their young lives.

Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T.S. Easton

Ben Fletcher is not a "normal" teen, thanks to a bizarre set of circumstances and his semi-delinquent friends, Ben must keep a journal (even though he already has a diary in order to stay sane with his slightly dysfunctional family), "give back" to the "victim" of his crime (even though she pelts him with various household items, including hemorrhoid creme tubes), and take a class at the local community center (of which his choices are limited to his dad's auto mechanics class, how-to use Microsoft office, pottery, or knitting). Through the same bad luck that follows him everywhere, he ends up in the knitting class where he discovers a talent to read the patterns and envision the mechanics of getting there. Naturally, however, he must hide this from his father, friends, bullies, and the girl he likes. It's a fun read that is actually targeted to guys.

Still Waters by Ash Parsons

Jason has very little positives in his life, with the exception of his little sister and a fearsome reputation as the guy you DON'T want to mess with. Having spent time in juvie for hitting a teacher and being thought of as "crazy" when he laughed after another student punched him, Jason cultivates this fear from his classmates as the only power he has in life. He takes a job being the "friend" of an incredibly spoiled, wealthy classmate in order to save enough money to escape his abusive father and care for his sister. There is too much that goes on to mention without spoiling the plot as it unfolds. Definitely well-written and worth the read. 

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

This book is told through the point of view of Amber, a teenager convicted of sabotaging her abusive step-father's truck and causing his horrific death, and Violet, a ballet dancer whose best friend, Ori, was convicted of murdering two of the other dancers in their studio. Through the eyes of Amber, we see the events leading to tragedy at the Aurora Hills juvenile girls' dentention center, including Ori's time there. Violet's viewpoint shows there's more to a person than how wealthy and talented she might be. When we learn what really happened the night of the dance recital and what occurred at the Aurora Hills tragedy, we also see the paranormal come into play. Sometimes, all is not what it seems and sometimes it is EXACTLY what it first appeared to be.

Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert

What would you do if your father is looking at the death penalty and it is your testimony that will secure his freedom or put him on death row? And what if you blame yourself for the events leading to that situation in the first place? Then, on top of that, you want to reconnect with the older brother you haven't seen in 10 years who is now your guardian, you are trying to make a bargain with God to keep your life together, and the high school baseball state championship rests upon your shoulder (literally since you're the pitcher). Could you hold it together? Will you tell the truth on the stand? Could you choose between God and your father? Braden faces all of those problems, and has to redefine the way he looks at himself, his family, and his faith.