WEEK 10: SCIENCE FICTION VS. FANTASY AND FANDOM

WEEK 10: SCIENCE FICTION VS. FANTASY AND FANDOM

For class this week I read, Scytheby Neal Shusterman.  Below are 3 other books were the genre of fandom and fantasy 

Book Title: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness  

Grade Interest: 9 and up

Publication Date: September 27, 2016

Keywords: Sci-Fi, fantasy, satire, humor, family, friends, anxiety, OCD, alcoholism, High School, graduation

Summary: Narrated by Mike and centers around him and his regulargroup of friends who are dealing with myriad of issues from anxiety to OCD to alcoholism however they are not living in ordinary times, there are the indie kids.  The indie kids fall in love with vampires and fight off zombies.

Why I chose it: I heard it is going to be made into a movie and it won so many awards: ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * Cooperative Children’s Book Center CCBC Choice * Michael Printz Award shortlist * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * VOYA Perfect Ten * NYPL Top Ten Best Books of the Year for Teens * Chicago Public Library Best Teen Books of the Year * Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books * ABC Best Books for Children * Bank Street Best Books List

Where I found it: Boston Public library shelf

 

Book Title: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde  

Grade Interest: 9 Up

Publication Date: March 14, 2017

Keywords: SupaCon, LGBT, depression, contemporary, mental illness, Australia, YouTube, autism, romance

Summary: Two best friends with very different personalities attend SupaCon and find out that their lives are about to change forever. 

Why I chose it: It’s about fierce friendships and diverse group female characters who are not defined by their mental health or sexuality (Bustle); not to mention the publication date is on my birthday.

Where I found it: socialjusticebooks.com

Book Title: The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey  

Grade Interest: 9 and up

Publication Date: June 10, 2014

Keywords:zombies, London,postapocalyptic dystopian

Summary: Set in the future, people have been changed into flesh eating monsters due to a strange fungus, however, one girl is discovered to be immune.

Why I chose it: Loved the title, was Booklist Editors' Choice for for Young Adults in 2014 it was turned into a movie in 2016. 

Where I found it: Goodreads.com

Week 9: Horror and Bibliotherapy

Week 9: Horror and Bibliotherapy

For class this week I read, Dear Martin by Nic Stone.  Below are 4 other books that deal with tough teen topics 😟

Book Title: Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Grade Interest: 9 and up

Publication Date: May 22, 2018

Keywords: suspense, mystery, bullies, school, friends, Washington DC, gentrification, coming of age, poverty, addiction, abuse, alcoholism

Summary: an 8^thgrade girl doesn’t show up for school one day and only her best friend seems interested in why and where she has gone

Why I chose it: Seems somewhat scary and mysterious without being terrifying while covering a wide range of topics.  

Where I found it: An article from Bustle entitled, “Monday's Not Coming' Is Inspired by The Very Real Problem Of Media & Police Ignoring Missing Black Girls

Book Title: This Song will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Grade Interest: 10-12

Publication Date: 2013

Keywords: music, DJ’ing, friendship, acceptance, depression

Summary: Depressed and alone, Elsie has always had trouble making friends and no problem attracting bullies.  She unexpectedly stumbles across a group who finally accept her, and she learns a love for music along the way.

Why I chose it: The intriguing title

Where I found it: On the site Read Brightly under the heading: 8 Enlightening and Empathetic YA Novels About Mental Illness

Book Title: Lush by Natasha Friend

Grade Interest: 7 and up

Publication Date: 2007

Keywords: alcoholism, abuse, neglect, body image, mystery

Summary: A 13-year-old girl is worried about her father’s drinking and starts swapping notes with an anonymous stranger she finds in the library.

Why I chose it: It was on the top ten most frequently challenged book list of 2010 and one of the settings was a library.

Where I found it: on the shelf at Boston Public Library

Book Title: Becoming Me: A Work in Progress by Andrea Pippins

by Andrea Pippins

Grade Interest: 7 - 9

Publication Date: 2016

Keywords: journal, creative, self-help,

Summary: A full color journal and activity book filled with quotes from inspirational females, and positive affirmations.  Includes writing prompts and creative and artistic exercises. Click here to see each page displayed.

Why I chose it: a change from fiction, a fun and creative way to relieve stress and get you thinking.

Where I found it: Teenreads.com

WEEK 8: Teen Romance

WEEK 8: Teen Romance❤️

"I told myself it didn’t matter if I wasn’t with you. It was enough just to love you."-A Thousand Pieces of You,Claudia Gray

For class this week, I read Pride by Ibi Zoboi. Below are 3 other YA books that fall under the romance category.

Book Title: One True Way By:  Shannon Hitchcock

Grade Interest Level:  5 to 8

Publication Date:  2018

Keywords:  Friendship, LGBTQIA+, North Carolina, Divorce, Grief, Death, Gay Rights, Family, Religion, Christianity, 1970’s.

Summary:Set in the 1970’s, two middle school girls realize their feeling for each other are growing into something beyond friendship. 

Why I chose it:I read this book last year and added it to my library collection.  I wanted to broaden my experience with LGBTQIA+ books written for teens.  This one also has two parents with different views: one is accepting while the other is not which I think is a realistic scenario and makes for different and interesting points of view and leaves you with something to think about.

Where I found it: purchased it from Follett after reading an article about it in School Library Journal (SLJ)

Book Title: When Dimple Met Rishiby Sandhya Menon.

Grade Interest Level:  7-12

Publication Date:  2017

Keywords:  Arranged marriage, Romance, Dating, Family

Summary: Dimple has graduated and needs some space from her family who are pushing for an arranged marriage between her and the perfect Indian husband.

Why I chose it:Because it was rated the New York Times and National Indie bestseller.  I also haven’t read a lot of Indie books and was interested. 

Where I found it: Heard about this book from watching one of the BookTubers that was mentioned in our readings this week (Jensen, Kelly. "Eight Great YA Booktubers.”) I checked it out of my local library hoping to read it and the sequel: There’s Something about Sweetie 

Book Title: PS I like youby Kasie West

Grade Interest Level:7-10

Publication Date:2017

Keywords:  Music, Love, High School, Romance, Friendship, Mystery

Summary: High School student Lily starts a romantic pen pal relationship with a mystery boy

Why I chose it:Many of my students check out this book and ask for more Kasie West books.  I hope to read it so I can understand why they seem obsessed! 

Where I found it: At my local library