Teen Comments on Books Eligible for 2007 & 2008 Awards

Alexander, E. M. Death at Deacon Pond Lobster Press

I really liked this book because of how different the story was from other stories along these lines. It was original and well thought out. It kept you guessing at what would happen next. When it ended, there were no loose ends an all you questions were answered. It had a great twist to it. It was very well written, but a little short. I would recommend this book to people who like the paranormal and enjoy having a heroine as the main character.Nominate? yes. 4Q. 3P. Joshua W., 16

Alexie, Sherman The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown and Company

 

I enjoyed this page turner because it kept me interested, so yeah I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful books. Nominate? Yes. 5Q Hard to imagine a better book. 5P Everyone wants to read it. --Joseph 16
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I liked this book, it kept me interested. I would recommend this book to any teen. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 5P Everyone wants to read it. --Jessie, 16
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I didn’t like it at first, but it got better at the end. I recommend it to people who like funny books. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 2P Only for special interest. --Chance, 16
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The title of this book did not grab me. On the behest of my friends and confidants, I picked it up. The book itself sucked me in like a black hole. Sherman Alexie blends personal experience and biting wit to create a charming novel about racial identity and loss. The basic concept is that the main character lives on the Indian Reservation ("rez") near Spokane. After an epiphany, he decides to go to high school in nearby Reardan, where people are white and people don't like Indians. His friends on the rez hate him and he has no friends in Reardan, so he is basically an apple-red on the outside, white on the inside. The premise seems depressing, but the story is laced with hysterical antics and comments that make bleak situations surprisingly funny. This is highlighted by the excellent sketch-style drawings. The characters are lively and true to life. Most importantly, this book highlights a sect of life that many teens today are unaware of. This book cen help a new generation realize the terrible poverty in which many native peoples live today. Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Robbie 18
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I really liked this book. I felt like as a reader I could really relate to the main character. The only bad thing is that at first the main character seems alittle whinny, but you would be too if you were picked on by people of all ages. Nominate? yes 5Q. 5P Deseray, 17
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Arnold was born with water on the brain. Technically, he had too much cerebral spinal fluid on his brain, but it's just easier to say water on the brain. He looks very strange, and has seizures quite often. Consequently, he has been picked on frequently his whole life. The story starts with Arnold throwing his geometry book at his teacher. He lives on a Indian reservation, where everyone has a drinking problem, and are dirt poor. On the day he was starting geometry, which he was really looking forward to, he opens the book and finds his mother's name. He gets so mad that the school can't even afford to buy new books, that he throws it. And accidently hits his teacher. It goes on from there pretty fast. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. I would like to own a copy of this book. Andrea F., 14
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Arnold is a boy who lives on a Indian reservation. He is poor, like everyone else who lives there. Arnold was born with too much fluid in his brain, and even though he lived through surgery, his body is unproportional and not right. He is just going into high school when, a teacher suggests he goes to the all-white high school in another town. Arnold takes this advice and the whole reservation turns against him, including his only friend, Rowdy. Even at the other high school he is outcasted. It is hard to continue going to that school every day, when sometimes he doesn't have a ride to school and has to walk 22 miles.
This book is humorous and smart, along with melancholy. There were several deaths in this book that were each mournful and surprising. The cartoons added into the book are funny and plain awesome. (If you wrote this review please drop me a note at dherald @ sff.net (minus the spaces) with your name and age. Sorry I lost the information.)

 

Fullerton, Alma

In the Garage

First Second When I first started this book, I thought I might like it. Then in the middle it started to get weird; like when the girl freaks out and ends up in the psych ward. I didn t like that it talked about emo and punk music. I m not really into that.

Nominate? no. 2Q 3P Matt S., 16

Garden, Nancy

Hear Us Out!Farrar Straus Giroux

The lure of many YA anthologies is the number of different/favorite authors in it. Sadly, all of the stories in HEAR US OUT! are by nancy Garden. While she is an accomplished writer and a prestigious member of the GLBT community, there just doesn't seem to be a point in an anthology with only one person writing all the stories around the same theme.

A bright spot is that there are mini-essays describing each decade in GLBT history, and these . 2Q. 2P. Robbie, 18

Hershey, Mary

The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to his Death and Lands in California

 

Razorbill Books I really liked the title of this book, because people are always asking me what I'm reading in like the doctor's office. Then when I try to explain the plot to them, they look at me like I'm crazy. So the title pretty much sums up the book. Genuinely funny in places, it had nice little subplots like real families do. yes
4Q 3P Andrea F. 14

Keaney, Brian

The Hollow People

Knopf

 

I finished the book The Hollow People and loved it. It has such a interesting tale. The add of the almost force like power is a nice touch. I am intrigued by the characters emotions. You can almost always predict a persons reactions. Plus the book leave just enough for imagination. I do wish the ending could have been a touch less abrupt. But I would very highly recommend this book to anyone who like a good read. yes
5Q 4P Susan 13

Plummer, Louise

Finding Daddy

Delacorte

Excelent, full of excitment and mystery. Mira Kent attempts to find her father. But will she like the man she finds? . Nominate? yes. 4Q 4P Allyson, 16

I would most definitely nominate this book because of the emotion it stirred in me. Teenagers and up would enjoy this book. Some of the content is not appropriate for young children. This book made me laugh, cry, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading the book. The most compelling aspect of this book to me is that it has a lot of mystery in it that people can relate to. Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Linda K., 16
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This is a great book about a girl named Mira. She wants to know about her father she never new. She goes to great lengths to find out who he is. It s a must read for teenagers. The continual search keeps you reading and wondering. yes
5Q 5P Shelbi F 16

Salisbury, Graham. Night of the Howling Dogs Wendy Lamb Books

Night of the Howling Dogs, Salisbury
Would nominate
I liked this book because it was based on a true story. It was set on the big island of Hawaii. A Boy Scout troop gets caught camping during a huge volcano. There is lots of action and adventure that makes this book good reading for young adults. Nominate? Yes.
Victor V., 17
4Q
5P

Wizner, Jake

Spanking Shakespeare

Random House SPANKING SHAKESPEARE was sick and wrong and I loved every minute of it.

The story is that of Shakespeare Shapiro, whose parents named him after the famous bard because they are crazy (Shakespeare's brother is named Ghandi and his cat is Onomotopoeia). His school requires every senior to write a memoir. Thus, the book alternates between Shakespeare's current life and his reminisciences that are his memoir, 17 Down.

This book is uproariously funny in a sick, twisted way that young adults will love. There are also numerous references to famous literature and art that make the book funnier for those knowledgeable in that field. The chapter titles are also humorous, such as "The time I went to a pornographic movie with my mentally unstable grandmother."

Shakespeare is in the beginning a flawed character in that he feels victimized all the time. This leaves lots of room for improvement, which comes along towards the end of the book. The development of other characters is nonexistant, since they are viewed as statics through Shakespeares eyes, but it is really okay in this case.

There is a plot and conflict in the book, but it is secondary to development of the character. It is a good plot and the book is better for it, but it is minor.

SPANKING SHAKESPEARE is a funny read that will have reluctant readers leaping at the chance to spank the bard.
Would you nominate this book for an award: yes
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Robbie, 18


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The book started out good then collapsed into something weird. Nominate? no. 2Q. 2P. Kelly, 17