What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel

 What Kind of Girl is a book that arrived at my house last week.  I must have preordered it, but it was a nice surprise to see in my mailbox!  

What Kind of Girl is a very interesting story that deals with domestic violence and the impact that has on the victim / romantic partner, friends and family.  There are some mature parts to this story, but the message is a very important one, I think it would be appropriate for  mature grade 8 students and secondary students.  

The story begins when the most popular student and track star - Mike Parker's girlfriend tells the Principal that Mike has hit her and she has the bruise to prove it.    But the rest of the school is confused.  Why would she stay with him if he was hitting her?  Why didn't she go to the police?  Will this have an impact on Mike's scholarship potential?  How could such a great guy do something like this.  As a result of this, the school becomes divided.  Some of the girls want him expelled from school, his friends are defending him and accusing his girlfriend of lying.  And his girlfriend?  She is conflicted as well, why did she stay?  What will she do without him?  How will she move forward from this?  What kind of girl does this make her? 

I really enjoyed reading this story.  Sheinmel has a really interesting way of writing these different characters and I like how complex the story was.  The characters seemed so real and interesting, and they are not perfect.  They are all dealing with flaws and the stress of being a teenager.    

Just as a warning, this story does deal with mental health issues such as: bulimia, self-harm (cutting) drug use.  I think it is a great book, I would just be aware of the audience who is reading it.  

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

 I'm not sure where I heard about this book, probably on Twitter - it arrived at home a few weeks ago which means I preordered it at some point (I have a small obsession with buying books :) I'm really glad I ordered it though, it was a great read.  

Not So Pure and Simple is a story about Del who is in grade 11 and has had a crush on Keira since they were in Kindergarten.  But Keira has been in a relationship with someone since then and Del has had to just admire her from afar.  But, when Del accompanies his mom to her new church, and sees Keira volunteering for a new program, he jumps at the chance to spend time with her.  Much to Del's surprise, Keira (and now him) have joined the Purity Pledge, vowing to not have sex until marriage.  Del's participation in this program is met with various reactions from his father and his friends.  But all Del wants is to have a chance to be with Keira.  As Del gets to know Keira, he also gets to know others in the group, the difference between what happens at church and what is happening at school, in the classroom and in the halls forces Del to confront preconceived notions he has about relationships, gender stereotypes and religion.  

I thought this book was amazing- it was funny, engaging and had really good messages.  I don't think I would give this to students in grade 7 & 8 though, I am shipping it off to my friend who teaches at the high school.  I would love to sit in on a conversation with students as they discussed some of these topics.  

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

 This book has been getting lots of buzz on twitter this summer.  I decided it would be the last official book I would be able to start and finish this summer sitting by the pool. 

Tyler Johnson Was Here is the story of Marvin Johnson and his twin brother Tyler.  Marvin is a boy in grade 12 who has a bright future.  He is passionate about science and hopes to study at MIT after high school.  However, he is worried about his brother.  Tyler is starting to spend more time with the local gang and when Marvin witnesses his brother passing a small baggie to the head of this gang, he is very worried.  Then, when Marvin follows his brother to a party in order to keep an eye on him, things go bad when the police break up the party and gun shots are heard.  Now Marvin has to confront his mother and explain what Tyler was getting involved with and just hope that he is ok as they have not heard from him since the party.  

This was an interesting read.  Much too mature for Intermediate students, I will be sending this book off to my friend who teaches high school.  Watching Marvin and his mother deal with the affects of police brutality and his brother trying to survive with limited choices was hard to read.   It was an interesting book that puts the reader into situations that we only see on TV.  

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

This book was highly recommended by several people on twitter.  I ordered it last week and yesterday when I was looking for my next book, this was the one that caught my eye.  

Clap When You Land is the story of two girls- Camino living in the Dominican Republic waits all year for the summer when her father comes to visit and Yahaira, who lives in New York City, but whose father goes home every summer and never brings her with him.  When Camino is waiting at the airport for her father, she gets the terrible news that his plane went down over the ocean.  On the same day, Yahaira is called to the principal's office to hear the news that her father's plane went down and they are assuming there are no survivors.  Both girls struggle to deal with the aftermath of their favourite persons death, they also learn that their father had a secret he kept from both of them, but when they learn this secret, the loss of their father brings new family and new relationships into play.  

This story was phenomenal.  I love stories told in verse, and the way this story alternates perspectives gave insight into how the girls were dealing with such a big loss.  I loved learning about life in the Dominican Republic, outside of the very narrow view vistors to local resorts get there.  Camino had so many talents and dreams and the fear that she might not achieve her goals is very hard to imagine.  Yahaira also has an interesting life in New York City and reading about how she navigates her life there was also fascinating.  Yahaira's mother also was quite an interesting character, she clearly knew of her husbands secret, and held a great deal of anger towards him and where does that anger go when the person dies is a question that was addressed through this story.   I know that these two girls are going to live with me for a while after finishing this story.  

Clap When You Land does deal with mature sexual content, but it wouldn't stop me from giving it to grade 8 students.  

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake

This book has been sitting on my 'to-be-read' shelf for about a year.  Yesterday I wanted a different book to read from what I've been reading this summer and so this was the one I picked.  I've not read any books by Ashley Herring Blake before, but I am adding a few of hers to my cart.  

Girl Made of Stars is a story about Mara and Owen- twins who have always been close.  One Monday morning, Mara's best friend/ ex-girlfriend Charlie tells Mara that their other friend Hannah is accusing Owen of raping her.  This event confuses Mara to no end.  How could her brother who she loves and respects be accused of such an awful thing?  Mara doesn't know how to handle this, she has been brought up to understand that you always believe the female, but her mother is taking Owen's side.  Mara believes Owen is telling the truth, but she also knows that Hannah wouldn't make up a lie like this, and so she is torn between these stories.   As Mara navigates her family dealing with this aftermath, she is also forced to remember a past trauma of her own that she has never shared with anyone.  While dealing with this, she is also confronted with Charlie's new relationship and trying to navigate how to be a best friend to an ex.  

Watching Mara deal with all of these issues is really difficult.  She has so much thrown at her and struggles to cope with all of these issues.  I thought this story was really well told.  All of the characters are so believable and real.  The relationship between Mara and Owen is interesting to watch how it changes.  Watching how Mara's mother deals with the accusation is also very heart wrenching.  All in all, this was a fabulous book.  It does deal with a mature topic, but I can see giving this book to grade 8 students without question.  

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

This book arrived a bit unexpected (this seems to happen a lot!), but then I realized I finished Every Last Word a few weeks ago and this is by the same author.    I loved this book as much as I loved Every Last Word. 

Hannah and Emory have been best friends for their whole life, they are both very different girls.  Hannah is the daughter of a pastor, and she is committed to her church and the preaching of her father. Hannah has been waiting to go to Boston for University for ever, but dreading leaving her best friend.   Emory is the daughter of a single mother who has recently found love and is currently planning her wedding. Emory is an actress and is in love with her boyfriend Luke, but preparing for their inevitable parting when they head off to different schools. 

Three months ago, Hannah and Emory got into a terrible fight, both of them saying things they didn't mean and they haven't spoken since.  Both miss each other, but can't quite find the way back to their friendship.  One night Hannah finds Luke slumped over the wheel in his car barely alive.  This draws the three of them together as they struggle to come to terms with what happened and how to move forward after the accident. 

I loved the way this story was told from both Hannah and Emory's perspective.  Luke, is the perfect boyfriend- funny, sweet, kind, but also realistic.  I was worried that Hannah's commitment to her religion would be hard to read, but I loved how she was grappling with her faith, and how she wanted to handle religion and faith outside of how her parents handled it.  I loved the glimpses of friendship between Hannah and Emory before the fight and how the girls supported each other even though they were totally different. 

This story does have a bit of mature content, Emory and Luke are a serious dating couple, but it is done in a really sensitive, vague way that leaves me knowing that it would be ok in an Intermediate library.  It reminded me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars - teenagers in love, but committed to each other.   

I'm going to go and order the rest of the books that Tamara Ireland Stone has written, even though I have a shelf full of books to be read! 

All Eyes on Us by Kit Frick

One look at Amanda and Carter and you know they are the golden couple.  They have all the right clothes, cars and friends. Their future is set- they will be the golden couple for years to come.   But if you look a little deeper, things aren't quite as they seem. 

Amanda is having doubts about Carter, but she knows her parents expect her to marry him so that her family will be financially stable.  Carter is dating Rosalie behind Amanda's back. 

Then there is Rosalie.  Her family are fundamental Christians who believe in conversion therapy and have used it to ensure that Rosalie follows the traditional path and finds a man to marry.  However, Rosalie is gay, and wants nothing more than to spend her life with her girlfriend Pauline, but Carter helps her convince her parents she is 'cured'.

When Amanda and Rosalie start receiving strange texts from someone, it seems that all of their secrets are about to be spilled.  It seems that there is someone who wants to see Carter go from the American boy to having his heart broken.  Amanda and Rosalie, unlikely allies, come together to solve this mystery and try to keep all of their secrets safe. 

I enjoyed reading this book. Rosalie is a great character who I felt a great deal of sympathy for.  On the surface, Amanda seems like a typical rich girl who gets everything she wants, however she is also struggling to live a life that she wants, not what her parents want. 

This book does have some mature content, but it would be fine to be in a grade 7 & 8 classroom /library. 

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

The Nowhere Girls is a book I read about on Twitter (I'd love to know how often I actually find my books on twitter!), it sounded a lot like the book Moxie, which I loved. 

The Nowhere Girls is a book about three misfits in a high school where misogyny runs deep.  The three main characters are Grace, who has just moved to this school, Rosina, an angry young women who has a lot on her plate, and Erin who is autistic and knows she doesn't fit in.  These girls find themselves together discussing another student Lucy who was run out of town the year before after accusing some football players of rape.  Grace, Rosina and Lucy decide they need to do something about these boys and the attitude of the community around how men treat women.  They call this group The Nowhere Girls, and through it, they discover the power they have together to not only support each other, but also to stand up against many of the males they are at school with. 

I enjoyed reading this book - I loved how strong these three girls are together.  However, the book was also very mature for grade 7 & 8 students.  I would not give it to anyone in that grade, the topic is an important one, but there are parts that are just too mature for Intermediate students.  This one will be sent off to one of my friends who teaches secondary. 

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

If you knew you were going to die in the next 24 hours...how would you live your life?  This idea is what Silvera explores in the book They Both Die at the End.  

Just after midnight, Mateo and Rufus, total strangers, receive a call from Death-Cast informing them that this is their last day to live.  Mateo, who has spent his last several years avoiding really living, is determined to change how he lives his last 24 hours.  Rufus is still dealing with the loss of his family a few months ago and is determined to spend the last of his time with his new family.  However, both boys decide to use an app called Last Friend that hooks people up for their final day together.  Mateo and Rufus end up creating a life time of memories in their last day on earth.  

I thought this book was amazing!  I loved the story of both boys.  Silvera creates a world much like our own, but with the only difference that people are informed when they are going to die.  It explores the different ways people choose to live out their last days.  I really cared for these two characters, both boys showed courage and vulnerability as they got to know each other and spend time wrapping things up in their life.  

I would totally recommend this book.  There is a bit of swearing and mature content, but nothing that would stop me from sharing it with students in grade 7 and 8.    I would suggest reading it yourself to make sure you are comfortable with the content.  

Someone I Used to Know by Patty Blount

Last week, I read a tweet by Patty Blount talking about her new release- and I pre-ordered it right that minute.  Last night, I went to my mailbox, and there it was...I started it immediately, and finished it this morning (I sure do love my summers!).  Back in 2014, I read her first novel- Some Boys Are, and loved it, and this book was just the same.

Someone I Used to Know isn't your typical sexual assault story.  Typically those books deal with the immediate year after a sexual assault and how the victim deals with the fallout.  This book is actually two years after the assault and shows not only what the victim has to deal with, but also how family and friends are affected.

In grade 9, Ashley is raped by one of her brother's football teammates to score points for a game.  The result of the trial is a lighter sentence of sexual assault because the judge believed that he just got carried away and his life shouldn't be ruined for one mistake.  For Ashley however, her life has changed in so many ways through his actions.   Even though she is the victim, the school community blame her for getting the football program cancelled, her brother blames her for joining the dance team for the school and her parents blame her for drinking with her rapist.  Ashely suffers from anxiety, loneliness and struggles to get through her days at school.  However she isn't the only one who is suffering.  Her brother Derek is also struggling.  He is angry at his former teammate for not respecting his sister, but is more angry with himself for not protecting Ashely.  As he slowly learns that rape is not just an issue for women, he starts to recognize that he also plays a role in the way society view women, use sex to sell products and the way athletes and other powerful men are protected.  As Ashely learns to cope with her new normal, Derek also needs to learn how to cope with all of his feelings and emotions and learn to forgive and be there for each other.

This book, like Some Boys Are was amazing!  I could not put it down.  It is so interesting, painful and insightful to read how rape affects the family as well.  It makes me realize that there are some conversations I need to have with my own boys still in order for them to understand the role they play in ensuring all people are safe, respected and treated with dignity.

I also really appreciate the fact that Blount calls it like it is- I have trouble with the term sexual assault rather than rape.  As Ashley describes in this story, the word rape is hard to hear, and hard to say.  The phrase sexual assault seems to lessen the severity of action- the word rape is as ugly as the act itself.

Because of the subject of this story, I would hesitate to give this to elementary students.  However, at the secondary level- I think everyone should read it.

The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

At the beginning of summer, my friend Becky told me about this website:  Book Outlet which is a great place to buy books- I love that you can search for just YA books.  I ordered about 8 YA books for just under $50 and the shipping was free.  The Way I Used To Be was one of those books. 

I really loved this book - although it was quite painful to read.  In the first chapter (well really, the first page) 13 year old Eden is raped by her brother's best friend in her own room.  What follows is how Eden learns to deal with this incident.  After telling nobody, she has to suffer on her own and figure out how to survive.  It was so difficult to read about all the choices Eden made in an effort to deal with the shame, embarrassment and horror of that night.  Like Speak, The Mockingbirds, and Some Girls Are- it is so raw reading about the effects of sexual assault, but so important to bring to light.  What makes this book stand out is how it is told.  Eden's story is not wrapped-up in a single year of high school.  Instead, we live with Eden as she navigates 4 years of high school while trying to deal with one harmful act. 

I am not sure I would put this in my elementary classroom- again, it is a mature book, dealing with mature themes.  I would be very careful about who I gave this book too- maybe closer to the end of the year in grade 8.  But it was a powerful read.

The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young

The Fragile Ordinary caught my eye a few weeks ago at Chapters.  Samantha Young is a new author for me- you can check out her website here.  I know I'm planning on ordering more of her books, although it looks like you have to be careful if you are buying these for teen readers.  Samantha Young reminds me of a cross between Sarah Dessen and John Green.

In The Fragile Ordinary, we meet Comet- yes her name is Comet- although as she says early on, her name really doesn't fit her.  Comet is a shy young women living in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Comet is really just putting in time at her high school, waiting until she can leave her town and leave her family behind for school in the States.  Comet is not your average teenager, she avoids social media and parties, preferring instead to spend her time with her books.  But then in walks Tobias to her classes- he is a brash, athletic American and is unlike anyone Comet has met.  As Tobias and Comet's friendship starts to grow, so too does her feelings for Comet.  But she doesn't like the way Tobias's life is heading- he is hanging out with trouble makers and Comet tries to stop her feelings for Tobias.  As Comet and Tobias find their way towards one another, they are faced with issues at their school that seem determined to keep them apart. 

I loved this story.  I loved Comet- she is such a unique character.  Quiet, bookish, but an outlandish dresser.  She has no support from home, but is determined to succeed in her life and has strong morals and a sense of right and wrong.  Tobias is also a complex character who is struggling with his own demons.  There is a bit of mature content in this book, much like The Fault in Our Stars, these two young people are experiencing first love, but it is beautiful and respectful.  I can see this being very popular with high school students, but I would also not hesitate to give this to grade 8 students as well. 

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Tell Me Three Things is another one of those books that I picked up from Chapters a few weeks ago. 
It is a lovely romantic story about fifteen year old Jessie.  We first meet Jessie during her second week of starting a new high school.  Her mother passed away almost two years ago, her father has remarried and relocated the two of them  from Chicago to L.A.  Jessie doesn't feel comfortable anywhere- not at home (which she refers to as Rachel's house- her stepmother), and certainly not at school.  This private school is home to many stereotypical teenagers, the girl drama is high and Jessie is trying to learn the background of kids who have been together since Kindergarten.  Jessie is determined to survive long enough to get through high school and move back home. 

However, Jessie is sent an email by "Somebody/ Nobody" welcoming her to the school and giving her advice on how to fit in.  As the relationship between Jessie and her anonymous friend starts to grow, and Jessie starts meeting other friends, she is still working to navigate the dangerous world that is high school while learning how to live in this new world she finds herself in.

I really enjoyed this story.  I liked the mystery of who is "Somebody/ Nobody" and watching Jessie learn to stand on her own after her world is torn apart by her mother's death.  There are some mature bits in this book, I would be hesitate to give it to a grade 7 student, but certainly at the high school level it would be fine. 

I also am planning on ordering her next book "What to Say Next" because I really liked the easy read of Julie Buxbaum's style. 

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

Full disclosure, I picked this book up while I was in the middle of binge watching Friday Night Lights and was caught up in the whole high school football team story.  However, this book isn't much like Friday Night Lights (other than the football story), but the book is also so so good.

The main character in this story is Maggie who has just moved in with her aunt and uncle after watching her father murder her mother.  Maddie is the one who told the police what happened and the guilt she felt caused her to stop speaking to anyone.  She goes through life silently witnessing what is happening around her, but playing no role in her life.  When she moves in to her new family, her aunt and uncle ask her cousin Brady to show her around and make her feel part of the high school life.  Brady is part of the Lawton High football squad and he has told all of his friends that his cousin is off limits.   But, West Ashby, Brady's best friend is also hiding something from his friends.  The fact that his father is dying of cancer.  West hasn't let anyone in on this secret because he doesn't want to admit anything is wrong.  When Maddie and West are thrown together, West finds comfort in Maddie's silences. The fact that he can speak what is in his heart, and he knows his secrets are safe with her.  But as these two start sharing their secrets, they find what kept them apart from everyone else is what pulls them closer together.

I loved this story- so much so that I have preordered the next book in the series for my Kindle for later this month.  Both West and Maggie's pain is hard to read, but the way the support each other is beautiful.

This book has some mature bits in in, there is some talk about sex, but nothing graphic or over the top.  I would feel comfortable having this in my grade 7 classroom, but you may want to read it first.

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

Last week I was doing some Christmas shopping at found myself at Chapters.  Of course I had to see what was new in YA books, because even though I'm not in the classroom right now, I like to keep on top of new books.

What We Saw is an incredible book.  In some ways it reminds me of Some Girls Are, Speak, and The Mocking Birds, however this story looks at the situation from a different perspective.
The main character is Katie, the book opens up with her waking up the morning after a big party.  She doesn't remember much, only that she had been drinking and something happened between her and a boy she has liked for a long time.  When kids at school start receiving texts, Instagram and Reddit posts from the party, Katie starts putting things together.  The kids at school are divided into different camps based on their perception of the events of this night.  Katie has to figure out not only what happened, but what she will do with the information once she discovers the truth.

It is hard to do justice to this book since I don't want to give anything away.  I found this book to be incredibly interesting.  Katie is a great female character who finds herself questioning many things.  Her friend Ben is also struggling with that night, all he wants to do is forget it and not get involved. All of the characters in the story are believable as they are dealing with a party that got out of hand.

Anyone who has read any of the books I mentioned above would love this story.  I wouldn't hesitate to give it to mature readers in grade 8, but I would strongly suggest reading the story first.  

The Lost Marble Notebook of Forgotten Girl and Random Boy by Marie Jaskulka

Another book from my very large TBR pile!  I was looking for a quick read on Sunday night, and I grabbed this one off my shelf.  That is my new strategy, just grab a book and start reading it.  If it is in my TBR pile, it must be there for a reason.  

This story grabbed me right away, I mean, I read it straight through because I was so caught up in the story.  I am pretty sure I won't be able to do the book justice here, all I can say is that I LOVED this story, it took my breath away in many places.  

Forgotten Girl writes poetry, and tells her story through poems.  At one point in the story she writes "If only I didn't have to write it all down, but I do, I do.  I don't know why.  It just makes me feel better, less alone with my thoughts; less liable to forget all the truth.   When she meets Random Boy, she feels an immediate connection and discovers he is a writer too.  She shares her writing with him, and he with her.  The only problem is, as they grow closer, Random Boy wants to know everything about her.  He doesn't allow her any secrets from him.  The secrets she keeps from him cost her greatly and she needs to learn how to be in love without losing herself.  

This book was so incredibly written, there were so many times that I stopped reading to just reflect on a stanza from the story.  Even though this was written for young adults, there were many important messages for adults.  This book is much too mature for Elementary classrooms, but high school students would love this book!

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

My TBR (to be read) pile is huge- I mean there must be at least 30 books on my shelf that I've purchased because they sounds good, and then I start reading another book.  Not being in the classroom this year means that I also read more adult books.  However last week, my friend Karen mentioned this book and was talking about how great it was.  It sounded familiar (this is how bad the TBR pile is- I don't even know what is on there), but sure enough, when I got home I looked through the stacks (and stacks) of books and found this one just waiting to be read.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read it,but it was just what I needed.  I've read another Teresa Toten book before- The Game and I quite liked it.  I love the fact that Toten writes about issues of mental health.  It is so important that young adults see themselves reflected in the books they read, and any of us working with kids recognizes the upswing in the issues youth are dealing with.  That is why I love Toten's book, she writes about real characters who are dealing with real issues.

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B, is about a boy named Adam who is in group therapy to help him deal with his OCD, his mother's issues, his parents divorce and his step-brothers anxiety issues.  He has a lot of his plate, more than any 15 year old should have to deal with.  When a new girl joins the group, Adam is completely taken by her.  But he struggles over how someone with all the issues he is dealing with could have a normal relationship.  Adam is an incredibly sweet young man, who does indeed step up to be the hero to many people he meets, all while dealing with his own issues.  I was completely in love with Adam myself.

There are so many reasons to love this book, but the characters and the topic are what sold it to me.  I am not really sure if I would have this in my grade 7 classroom, it would have to be for the right student.  Grade 8 and older for sure. Intermediate teachers, I would suggest you read this first to determine if it is right for your students.  There are parts of Adam's story, like when he is describing how his OCD manifests itself that may confuse some readers, but it is so worth the read.

Teresa Toten is an author I will continue to buy everything she writes!  Check out her website here. 

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Knowing I was going in for knee surgery and that I would have a lot of time to read, I ordered several books from Chapters a few weeks ago. Side Effects May Vary is one of those books. One of the blogs I follow had a list of best YA books and this one caught my eye. Side Effects May Vary is about sixteen year old Alice who is diagnosed with leukaemia and is given a very short time to live. Alice decides to use the time she has left to right some wrongs that she feels are necessary. In order to accomplish this, she asks her childhood friend, and the boy she knows is in love with her to help her with her tasks. Harvey is reluctant to go along with Alice, but he is has never been able to say no to her, and he ends up going along with her. Once Alice has set things straight and is prepared to die, she is given the good news that she is in remission and is expected to live. This ends up confusing Alice- she knew how to die, but she had no idea how to live. One of the things I loved about this story was that it was told not only through two voices: Harvey and Alice, but also in two different times. The story flipped between the present and the past and so the reader has to be very aware of not only who is talking, but when it is happening. I really enjoyed the challenge of reading this book. To be honest, I felt very sorry for Harvey and found Alice to be quite cruel at times to the people who loved her. As much as I loved this story, it is too mature for my grade 7's. I might give it to some mature grade 8's, but I would suggest reading it first if you are concerned about the content.

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Several years ago I read The Mockingbirds and The Rivals by Daisy Whitney and really loved them, so I was excited when I read about her newest book When You Were Here. When You Were Here is about a young man who has just lost his mother to cancer. Danny's mother has always promised that she was hanging on for his high school graduation, but when she dies just two months before this important date, Danny spins out of control. He feels that his life is without purpose and direction. When his high school sweetheart (who is also his mother's best friends daughter) comes home from college, Danny is drawn to her, but at the same time is very afraid she too will leave him again. Danny has some big decisions to be made- about the homes his mother owns, what to do with his time and his future. When Danny decides to return to Tokyo- a city that brings back wonderful memories of his mother, he finds clues to his mothers last days, and clues to how he can start carrying on after his loss. This book was difficult to read at times. I can't imagine how Danny must feel after the death of his mother. Many of his reactions seem completely normal and understandable, yet they are also very dangerous. As Danny learns more about how his mother chose to live out her last days, he also starts to find a strength to carry on. But reading this journey was very difficult as well. There were also some mature parts in here that means I won't have this in my grade 7 classroom- but for high school students, I would strongly suggest reading this book.

Some Boys by Patty Blount

I cannot believe how long it has taken me to blog about this book. I read it last weekend and absolutely loved it. I mean really loved it. I have been talking it up all week and have about 4 kids dying to read it, but I wanted to keep it to blog about first. I am a bit hesitant to have this in my grade 7 classroom because it deals with a very mature topic (sexual assault). But it was so beautifully written that I cannot keep it out of my classroom. I will however make sure that I notify parents if their child picks it up. Some Boys is a story about Grace. Grace is in grade 12 and has always had a great group of friends. Grace is a confident young woman who dresses as she wants and doesn't make excuses for who she is. But, when she is raped by Zac- the most popular boy in the school- she is the one who is shunned and blamed. Grace doesn't understand why people don't believe her, but also why they insist it was her fault. On the exterior, Grace is tough as nails, but this event has led to panic attacks and depression. When Grace is forced to spend time with Ian- one of Zac's best friends, she is afraid to be alone with him and afraid he too will shun her. But through their week together, Ian starts to see Grace in a new light, and Zac as well. He realizes that he may have misinterpreted many different events. This story needs to be read by not only girls, but boys as well. The events that take place in this book are events that I can see easily happening at any high school. Patty Blount brings up many issues that make this book the perfect book for literature circles. I can't wait for people to read it so I can discuss it. For my high school friends- you've got to go out and buy this book right now!