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