Elixir

Bunn, Davis. Elixir. Wesbrow Press: 2004




Annotation
Taylor Knox is called into the office by his dominating boss. She wants him to help fix a company problem that he is speculated of causing. The solution is not that simple, and the factors involved are not that predictable.


Nomination for Recommendation

Elixir is defined as: A preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life. Once Taylor is put on the mission to find his bosses sister, whom he broke the heart of, the quest for prolonging life begins. Amanda, the boss, has a scripted agenda planned. Taylor is a substantial character in her blueprint. Taylor fluctuates from place to place trying to locate his former lover, Kirra, due to Amanda's request. Taylor does not realize the impetus behind his expedition. He also does not realize the supporting cast he left behind. Amanda wants to locate her sister for her own reasons. Intertwined through this, Taylor realizes the mistakes he has made. A lot of this realization came through a developing relationship with a co-worker he seemingly neglected. Eventually, Amanda's true desire is revealed, and it becomes her own malediction. Taylor faces issues with himself, but uses the people in his journey to help solve them. He soon realizes that at the core of his inner self their is a an elixir which exist. His therapy is not in the past nor the future. His therapy lies in a day to day recognition of where he is and where he would like to go, who he has hurt, and how he can redeem himself.

Genre: Fiction

Monster

Myers, D. Walter. Monster. Harper Collins Publishing: 1999.

Annotation

A teenage boy is put on trial for a crime he may not have commited. It is through the patience of thoughs beside him to see the truth come out.

Nomination for Recommendation

As a youth, I always stayed up an extra hour past my bedtime watching Law and Order, hoping my mom would not find out. The unwinding twists were so thought provoking for me. Not to compare the two, but Walter Dean Myers' Monster is a suspenseful and question thinking book. It's a quick read, not because it is easy, but because until the end you never know the answer. Adolescents today are put on the spot for mistakes they have made. Steve Harmon has possibly been put in a position where his mistake is questioned. Did he or did he not commit the crime? Steve's situation can be related to in many degrees. This is what makes this novel so profound. Without a doubt, this is a book that appeals to a teenage audience, but it shows no age discrimination. Read this book, and you will want to tell others to do the same. Ironic as it is: In this book, Steve Harmon's position is a dreadful one. This makes it so much more enjoyable to read, hoping for a positive outcome.

Genre: National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Michael L. Printz Award.

Mississippi Trial, 1955

Crowe, Chris. Mississippi Trial, 1955. Penguin Group, Inc: 2003.

Annotation
An African American boy is murdered by a group of white men. An adolescent white friend of his, deals with the pressures of his trial and knowing information that may help his case.



Nomination for Recommendation
"You can't believe everything you hear. Nothing is as simple as you may think," (Crowe, pg. 225). Reading a historical fiction book like this one can take a lot out of you. Even though the trial of Emmett Till took place 55 years ago, the tragedy that it depicts is one that happens daily. Growing up in Delta, Mississippi and then moving to Arizona, Hiram became unaware of the racial barriers being played out in America. As soon as he went back home though, he quickly got a taste of reality. The reality back then is a reality that has not gone away. Like it or not, this book will help you question yourself and those around you. Hiram learned first hand that the one's you love can be the one's that disappoint you the most. If you have never thought that you should stand up for what you believe in, read this book and you will know why you should.

Genre: Historical Fiction

How I Changed My Life

Strasser, Todd. How I Changed My Life. Simon and Schuster Books, New York: 1995

Annotation
Two high school students from two different outlooks come across the same dilemmas in order to challenge themselves in ways they have not done before.

Justification for Rejection
Regardless of a genre, do you read books hoping to find a new piece of mind? This book will not do that for you. Kyle is a star football player, and Bo is a so called nobody at her school. The two of them run into each other for a particular reason. The plot could be told in a sentence or two. It is not like the book does not appeal, but there is no push for an extra mile. A chapter is no longer then four pages. The author does give it a creative twist by letting the book be delivered in a two first person narrative. Overall though,the novel does not hold a barrier that can make teens want to ask questions, and build off of them. The story line is good, but that is where it ends. This book matches the equivalent of watching a thirty minute sitcom on an afternoon break at work.

Genre: Humor

The Year of Ice

Malloy, Brian. The Year of Ice. St. Martin's Press, New York: 2003.

Annotation

A year is spent learning about a young man grow into his own adulthood as he battles with sexuality, family issues, and bringing new life into the world.

Nomination for Recommendation
For being Brian Malloy's first Novel, this novel does an exceptional job explaining Kevin's life as an eighteen year old. There is no one distinct climax that conquers the book. The novel's serendipity exposes issues after issue, but delivers continuous solutions until the very last page. Malloy does an excellent job explaining the scenery that Kevin grows up in, from mentioning key landmarks too correlating characters emotions with the current setting that the book is taking place in. The issues of sexuality and friendship that Kevin deals with are monumental for a person his age. It is happy, sad, and relieving to see how he pushes through it all. This book goes to show that even though you may think you have another person figured out: "People can still surprise you."

Genre: American Library Association Alex Award

Beloved

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc: 1987.

Annotation
This book observes and tells a traumatic tale about a family that deals with slavery and the barriers needed to step up and away from it.


Nomination for Recommendation
Sethe is a mother who carries many burdens. Even though she did what she thought was best, her past continues to come back and reveal itself. Being a woman who was embedded into a family of slavery, she wishes to make her way out. Morrison paints very detailed pictures in the reader's head to help see the pain Sethe went through as her family was left behind. The books starts with Sethe in a house with a new life and new growth. It's just her and daughter, and she couldn't ask for more. But more comes. As the cycle of life continues so does the truth. Two more characters show up, Paul D and Beloved, and it takes time to see what each character represents. Morrison gives momentarily flashbacks as the plot thickens, and then ends with a compelling resolution that softens the tough blow for the reader. No matter what you have seen or where you have been, this book takes you to a place where you continually look for an escape. Sometimes the quickest route isn't the best.

Genre: Postmodernism/ Contemporary Literature

Love and Other Four-Letter Words

Mackler, Carolyn. Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Random House Publishing,

New York: 2006.

Annotation

Sammie handles her typical teenage life with it's twist and turns. For every bad side there is always a good one.

Justification for Nomination

Sammie's life surely is stressful. Her dad aborts the family, her mother is going through employment issues, and her best friend doesn't seem to be playing the role she used too. This book outlines the average life of a teenage girl. Sammie handles these obstacles with sincerity. Carolyn Mackler takes Sammie's tribulations and uses them as a way to harmonize the pace of the novel. Of course there is a bright side to every situation, which shows in this romance. For every friend that leaves a new one comes. For every boy that doesn't like you another does, especially when she least expects it. This is an uplifting, laugh now cry later novel that helps you appreciate the simple things in life.

Genre: Romance