Code Name Verity

 

Wein, E. (2012). Code name Verity. NY: Hyperion.

When Julie, or code name “Verity” is caught in France by the Gestapo, she must try to do anything to stay alive, even if it means revealing secrets. She is a spy and must give up all her secrets by writing them down.  She begins to weave a tale the seems to be true, but she is really changing the story so almost nothing is true and making up codes to throw them off.  She also manages to leave code for any of her supporters who may read the papers. All of this is not revealed until the very end when we hear the other side of the story from Verity’s best friend, Maddie, or code name “Kittyhawk”. Maddie last saw Julie right before she jumped from their plane that was about to crash.  They each believe the other is dead, until messages and events start to fall into place.  While trying to rescue Julie, Maddie ends up shooting her to save her from anymore torture.  Julie gives her the signal and Maddie does what her best friend asks.  When I read this part I was thinking, NOOOO!  I was so hoping for a happy ending.  This was a great story with a lot of intrigue.  A historical novel has to create a time and place and transport readers there.  This book certainly did this.  I imagine the author had to do a large amount of research to create such an amazing setting and plot with the different languages, scenes, and historical events that took place during World War II.
This book could be used with grades 11-12.
To download a great study guide for this book, click HERE!

The Iron Trial

Black, H., Clare, Cassandra. (2014). Iron trial. NY: Scholastic.

Callum Hunt has always been told by his father that magic is dangerous. He has been taught to stay away from it and not be a part of the Iron Trial.  He was taught to fail the Iron Trial so he won’t get into the Magisterium, a school for mages. But at the Iron Trial things don’t go as planned and Callum is chosen to go to the Magisterium for training. While there, he learns how to control his magic along with his other new friends. He also learns that he hasn’t been told the whole truth about who he really is.  As the story unfolds, we learn that Callum is really the Enemy of Death that has inhabited his body.  The other enemies have been waiting for him to come and help them start a war against the other mages. Callum is trying to be true to his father, his friends, and the mages.  Now that he knows who he is, he has to decide what to do about it.  This story ended with a big cliffhanger!  I already have my copy of book 2 on the way!  According to Norton, an important ingredient for good fantasy for young adults is that the theme be a universal one. It needs to apply in the real world. The Iron Trial’s main character is one who is weak and damaged with many questions and must struggle through life trying to keep up with his peers.  This is definitely a universal theme for young adults today.
This book could be used with grades 5-8.

To download a study guide for this book, click HERE!

Unbroken

Hillenbrand, L. (2014). Unbroken. NY: Random House.

Unbroken is the biographical account of the life Louis Zamperini. It tells the tale of Louis growing up in California as a poor Italian immigrant that turns into a delinquent that is frequently in trouble.  When his brother takes him under his wing and shows him how to be a competitive runner, Louis soon finds himself heading to the Berlin Olympics.  But when World War II begins, Louis becomes an airman.  His bomber crashes in the ocean and Louis, his best friend, and another airman are the only survivors. Louis and his best friend survive the perils of the ocean, only to be picked up by the Japanese soldiers and sent to a prison camp.  This book details the brutality of a prisoner of war.  It describes Louis’ strength and determination. Louis was eventually released at the end of the war and began the long road to overcoming what he went through.  This was a book that I couldn’t put down.  At every turn of the page I was amazed at the strength and positive attitude of Louis Zamperini. He is someone that we can all learn something from. This is a great example of a biography. Norton states, “Good biography and autobiography should first and foremost use many of the techniques of fiction to draw the reader into the life story of the subject.”  This book is a prime example of that.  It was extremely engaging.  Students will be amazed by the strength and character of Louis Zamperini.

This book could be used with grades 9-12.

To download a study guide for this book, click HERE!

And We Stay

Hubbard, J. (2014). And we stay. NY: Delcorte Press.

Emily is a young, average high school girl. She goes to school. She has a boyfriend.  Life is normal. Then she finds out she’s pregnant.  She tells her boyfriend and her parents so they can help her decide what’s best.  Her parents push her to have an abortion.  When she tells her boyfriend Paul of her plans, he doesn’t accept things the way Emily has accepted her new life.  Emily feels she must break up with Paul because things will be too hard.  After breaking up with him, he is so distraught that he comes to school with a gun and threatens Emily. After a confrontation with a teacher, he ends up shooting himself.  After her abortion and the traumatic events at school, Emily is sent to a boarding school.  With the help of her new roommate, and a kind teacher, Emily eventually learns to heal.  This book was written in a very unique way with flashbacks and bits and pieces of information given at a time.  It kept me reading so I could figure out the full details of the traumatic events in Emily’s life. This book could be considered contemporary realistic fiction.  The plot, characters, and setting are very possible and in fact could have been “ripped from the headlines” of today’s paper. 
This book could be used with grades 9-12.

Check out this great book trailer!

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Crutcher, C. (1993). Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. NY: Greenwillow Books.

Eric Calhoune is a young man that is overweight and bullied and made fun of at school.  His best friend has a more serious problem though.  Sarah Byrnes was burned in a mysterious accident when she was three years old.  She has had to develop a very serious and cold demeanor to deal with life. As the two unlikely friends go through middle school and high school, they stick together.  When Eric joins the swim team and begins to drop the weight, he is worried that Sarah Byrnes will not need him as a friend anymore. He tries to overeat to stay fat for his friend. In their senior year of high school, things start to change.  Sarah Byrnes suddenly stops talking and is put in the hospital in a coma-like state.  As Eric sticks by her side and tries to talk to her to keep things normal, he soon realizes that Sarah Byrnes is really faking her state to stay away from her dad who is actually the one who burned her in the first place.  Eric tries to come up with a plan to save Sarah Byrnes from her father and keep her as a friend.  In the end, Eric protects Sarah Byrnes and with the help of a beloved teacher, his family, and friends, they get Sarah away from her father and into a safe home.  This book was funny and dark. I loved the wit and sarcasm of the characters.  It had more suspense and excitement than I was expecting. I thought this book was a great example of an author creating memorable characters.  Sarah Byrnes had an amazing presence and attitude that really showcased her strength as a person. The author also created an authority figure (a teacher), that was a positive influence on the other characters. This is something that young adults should be able to easily identify with.
This book could be used with grades 9-12.

To see a great discussion guide and lesson ideas, click HERE!

The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett: An Origami Yoda Book

Angleberger, T. (2013). The surprise attack of Jabba the puppet: an origami Yoda book. NY: Amulet Books.


With this installment from the Origami Yoda series, Dwight, Tommy and Sara are on a mission against a new enemy. They are taking on the Fun Time Education System. This system wants to raise standardized test scores. The gang does not enjoy the new videos or mascots, and drama, art, and band have been cancelled. The group turns to Origami Yoda for help. He tells them that they must come up with their own group and a plan to defeat their enemy.  The students all come together with their own origami puppets to help battle. Dwight and the gang eventually find out that the school board dumped Fun Time Education System on them to comply with state regulations and then again to comply with the regulations from Washington, DC.  The fight is big and must go on. As an educator, I could really identify with this book.  It was silly, but spot on when I think about all the new regulations that educators and students struggle with today.  I imagine this book could lead a student to that unconscious delight stage. The real world slips away, and the student gets lost in the silliness of this book. The graphics are fun, and the origami directions at the end are an added bonus.
This book could be used with grades 4-6.
To see folding instructions for Origami Yoda and Darth Paper, click HERE!

Stick

Smith, A. (2011). Stick. NY: Feiwel and Friends.

Stick (Stark McClellan) is a young boy that was born with only one ear.  All his life he has been bullied and made fun of by kids at school, and his own parents.  Stick's parents are very strict with him and his older brother Bosten. When the rules aren’t strictly followed, the boys are beaten and locked in a room for days. After Bosten beats up a boy that is bullying Stick, things start to change.  Stick discovers that his brother is gay and in love with his best friend.  Stick also discovers that he is really in love with his best friend Emily too. When the truth comes out about Bosten’s relationship, his dad beats him and he runs away. Stick then begins the journey to find Bosten and save him if he can. With the help of his older brother, Bosten and his best friend Emily, Stick learns to step up and defend himself and be the person he really wants to be.  I could not put this book down.  It was heartbreaking and beautiful. Ted Hipple has noted some great criteria for finding good young adult books. One item on the list that applies to this book is that it reflects real life and has artistry in detail. This book was uniquely written to show the way a young boy with one ear would hear and speak.  Sadly, this book truly could reflect real life.

This book could be used with grades 9-12. You should definitely preview this book first, due to some graphic content.

Check out this great book trailer!