Random Reads
Teen Book Reviews by Anne Keller
Depressing
Chasing Tailights by Patrick Jones
Christy is forever "chasing tail lights," an expression her dead father used. He said to follow the tail lights of the truck in front of you because it will lead you to a safe place. To Christy, anyplace would be better than living in a dead end city like Flint, Michigan. Her family life is even worse. Her oldest brother is serving a life sentence in prison, her other brother is a drug dealer thug, and her mother is too busy working two dead end jobs to offer any type of parental guidance or love. In addition, Christy harbors a very dark secret that's horrible and unimaginable in every way. Her only sanity comes from her best friend Anne, her 10 year old niece Bree, and her library job where she meets an interesting boy. The reader experiences Christy's hopelessness as she searches for a small glimmer of hope. I can't remember the last time I became so invested in someone that wasn't even real. I wanted to rescue her, offer her a safe place to crash, and help her into college. I wanted to be a mentor/friend/adoptive parent to guide her to a successful and productive life. Jones writes with an insider's viewpoint because he's from Flint which only adds to the overall authenticity of the novel. He creates a tragic and depressing world for Christy yet offers some hint of salvation. The ending is absolutely stunning and not easily forgettable. Patrick's third novel further cements his future as a talented and unique author who brings a refreshing voice to young adult literature.
The Year of my Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Cynthia is thirteen years old and has the whole world on her shoulders. She lives with her alcoholic mother and takes care of her little brother who has Down's Syndrome. Her mother has a string of different boyfriends and has pretty much checked out from being a mother. Cynthia's world is shattered when her grandparents retain custody of her brother but leave her behind. She begins drinking like her mother and gets into a driving accident while drinking and running away from home. Her brother is also injured. She is put on probation and ordered to attend AA meetings. She meets a caring sponsor and her life begins to turn around. This is a fast paced novel that was very moving and endearing.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Oprah picked this book for her club. This novel even won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It got rave reviews. People who've read it said it was profoundly moving. I really wanted to love this book based on all the positive attention and buzz it's received. I even love depressing books but this novel takes bleak and hopeless to a whole new level. Overall, I didn't enjoy the book. I think it would be an excellent choice for a book discussion group because there are so many debatable topics. Basically the setting occurs years after some sort of apocalyptic event on earth that has completely decimated the planet of most living things. The earth is covered in a grey ash and survivors are few and far between. An unamed man and his young son are traveling the road in search of warmer weather along the coast. They are hungry, starving, and unhealthy yet they struggle to survive at all costs. The novel never reveals how the earth was destroyed. Although I didn't enjoy the book, the author does an excellent job of portraying destruction, both sides human nature to the extreme, and the quest for survival. The images depicted are often intensely graphic and utterly unforgettable. Whatever your opinion of the novel, it will haunt you for a long time.
Maybe by Brent Runyon
Brian, 16, is trying to cope with his older brother's death. He feels alienated at his new school and at home with his parents. He has typical feelings and spends a lot of time obsessing about losing his virginity. He eventually hangs with the theatre crowd, dates a variety of girls, and continues to obsess about sex. Brian struggles to cope with his brother's accident and the reader learns that he never properly grieved. This is Runyon's first attempt at fiction and this reader thinks he should stick with it.
Blind Faith by Ellen Wittlinger
The novel opens with the death of 15 year old Liz's grandmother nicknamed Bunny. Liz's mother is taking the death of her mother especially hard because they shared a close relationship and she sinks into a deep depression. Her mother seeks comfort by attending a Spiritualist Church in which parishoners believe they can communicate with the dead. Liz's father, an atheist, is angered over his wife's actions. Meanwhile, a new boy, Nathan, moves in across the street to live with his crochety grandmother because his own mother is dying of cancer. Liz befriends the troubled boy and his younger sister. They spend time together as Nathan's mother's condition deteriorates. This emotionally driven novel deals with overcoming death and forgiveness. Although quite depressing, readers will be hooked after the first page.
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
This novel is beautifully written in the form of a letter from Matt to his younger sister Emmy. Matt is the protector of the family who watches out for his younger sisters Callie and Emmy. Callie is only two years younger than Matt and together they protect Emmy from their horribly abusive mother Nikki. Her behavior is highly unpredictable, erratic, and abusive. One day at the grocery store, the children witness a father severely punishing his son. A man named Murdoch steps in and difuses the situation. Matt views Murdoch as a sort of hero, a savior. He is determined to meet him and is surprised when his mother actually begins dating him. As Nikki's behavior spirals out of control, Matt asks for help from his father, Murdoch, and his Aunt Bobbie. Will the adults step up to the plate to help this family in crisis? Readers will become absorbed in this harrowing tale of abuse and neglect. I found this novel to be unique, greatly written, inspiring, suspenseful, hopeful, and easily one of the best books I have had the extreme pleasure of reading in a very long time. Thank you Nancy Werlin!
After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates
This novel begins with a horrible, tragic, ripped from the headlines accident that deals with a young girl overcoming loss. Jenna is just fifteen years old when she is in a car accident with her mother. Her mother dies and Jenna goes to live with her Aunt Caroline's family in New Hampshire. Jenna wonders if she is to blame for the accident. Why did her mother die and she live? As Jenna struggles to deal with her sorrow while her memories haunt her, she begins to isolate herself, hang out with a rough crowd, and uses drugs. A chance meeting with a boy named Crow changes her life in ways she never imagined. Fans of other Joyce Carol Oates books won't be disappointed with her latest teen novel.
Upstream by Melissa Lion
This simple novel deals with overcoming the pain of losing a loved one. Marty begins her senior year of high school in Alaska without her boyfriend Steven. He died in a tragic accident over the summer that left Marty completely devestated. She tries to rebuild her life with the help of her mother and two sisters. She works at a movie theatre that was recenlty sold to a young woman from California. Marty and the new owner strike up a friendship that eventually leads to Marty facing the truth about Steven's death. The scenery alone in this novel is awesome and breathtaking. Upon graduating, Marty must decide which college to attend by staying in Alaska or moving stateside. Although readers will finish this novel in a couple of days, Marty's story will linger in their minds.
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boyby Gary Schmidt
This Newberry Honor book by author Gary D. Schmidt is a historical fiction account of the destruction of an island community in 1912. Turner Buckminster moves to Phippsburg, ME, with his minister father and mother. Tucker is thirteen years old and hates his new surroundings until he meets Lizzie Bright, an African American from the Malaga Island. The island community is inhabited by escaped and freed slaves that have settled the land. The townspeople disapprove of the friendship and the village wants to destroy the island so it can be turned into a lucrative vacation destination. Turner defies the townpeople's racism and vows to help Lizzie and her community. Although the ending is very depressing, it is a fast and compelling read. The cover of the book is quite unappealing and when I first saw the book, I determined that I would not read it based on its unattractiveness. Please, don't judge this book by its cover!
Burned Alive: A Victim of the Law of Menby Souad in collaboration with Marie-Therese Cuny
This horrific novel explores a culture that is hard to digest. Souad is 17 while living in a remote Palestinian village in Jordan. She explains that being born a female is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. The farm animals are treated better than her sisters. She describes a brutal lifestyle that involves slave like conditions and severe physical abuse. She falls in love and becomes pregnant which calls for her to be killed for the shame she will bring upon her family. The novel explores the harshness and cruelty that many women face as they become victims of honor killings. Her brother-in-law is the chosen murderer whereby he pours gasoline on her and lights her afire. She sustains burns over 90% of her body and is taken to a hospital where she is left to die. The doctors and nurses await death so they withold basic treatment. Souad describes the horrific pain she feels when left untreated. She is eventually saved when an aid worker discovers her and arranges for her departure to a Switzerland hospital. Souad bravely shares her horrific tale and describes her abilty to overcome her past and face her future. Warning, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Long Night of Leo and Breeby Ellen Wittlinger
It is the four year anniversary of 17 year old Leo's sister's murder. His family has suffered from her tragic death. His mother is an alcoholic and his father has left them. He quarrels with his mother on this anniversary night. Leo is angry and goes for a drive. While out driving, he spots a girl walking whom he believes is a prostitute. He thinks that his sister should have lived and decides to kidnap the prostitute, Bree. Bree is actually not a prostitute but out walking her own problems off. The minute after Leo kidnaps Bree, he realizes it is a mistake. He takes her to the basement beneath his house. Bree is frightened and thinks her only chance of survival is to talk to her kidnapper so she seems like an actual person to him. She believes that if she can accomplish this, Leo will not be able to kill her. They begin a dialog that explores their problems and their pasts. Although the ending is a little hard to believe, the shortness of the novel makes for a fascinating and quick read. Tree Girlby Ben Mikaelson
Ben Mikaelson, author of the popular novel Touching Spirit Bear, tells an extremely depressing and disturbing story about a girl named Gabriela. She is also called Tree Girl for her obsession with climbing trees. One day she climbs a tree and is forced to stay in the tree for days while she witnesses the destruction of her Guatemalan village during the Civil War. The atrocities she observes are quite horrific and descriptive in nature. She recalls the brutal murders of her family, teachers, and villagers who are also raped and tortured. Later, Gabrielle flees and travels to a refugee camp where she meets two elderly women that she cares for. Gabrielle begins to recover from her guilt of surviving by caring for other refugees. A simple ray of hope arrives when she learns that her sole surviving sister has arrived at camp. The novel explores the atrocities of war and the culture of the Guatemalan people. The novel is extremely graphic in the scenes describing the genocide like conditions. The most depressing fact is that the novel is based on a true story. A Child Called Itby Dave Pelzer
A Child Called "It" details one of the worst child abuse cases in California history. Dave Pelzer is isolated from the rest of his family and severely abused by his alcoholic mother. He describes torture such as being starved, poisoned, and even stabbed. He is made to live in the basement and wear clothes that are old and dirty. His mother does not consider him a boy and is reduced to being an "it." Don't be fooled by the brevity of the book for it tells a powerful tale. His own father ignores the abuse and Pelzer is left to survive on his own. There are two additional sequels to the novel which tell a far more uplifting tale about how David was eventually rescued and put in foster care. The fact that he was able to overcome his abuse and live a relatively normal life is quite amazing in itself. This book will surely make you cry, be horrified, and become angry at a mother who could treat her son with such cruelty. Although the book is quite disturbing, it portrays the spirit of a young boy who has the will to survive at all costs.