New Kid by Jerry Craft

Jordan Banks is a gifted artist and now that he's entering 7th grade, wants to go to a school of the arts. His mother and father have a different idea. Jordan is smart, very smart and they want him to attend one of the best, and most expensive prep schools in NYC. A far cry from his Washington Heights neighborhood. Jordan relents, but now must learn how to fit in to a foreign environment. Jordan is only one of two people of color at rich and white Riverdale Prep. He now must learn to navigate the rich, elitist culture at his school, while balancing it with his friends from his working class neighborhood.  How does he fit in with both worlds and stay true to himself? Jordan deals with the hidden racism and social pitfalls in a sweet poignant way. He navigates insensitive bullies, problematic girls, and a foreign school culture. His parents are supportive and loving, but oft times embarrassing, as most parents are for middle schoolers. Readers will laugh, but be endeared to Jordan, and cheer for him throughout.

Jerry Craft's artwork is graphic and creative. I also liked how each chapter title is a parody of a movie title. I highly recommend this to all readers, but in particular to those teachers how find graphic novels unacceptable literature. Graphic novels are an excellent bridge for reluctant readers, and contain all aspects of literature, allowing them to be easily adapted into a literature curriculum.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 2.9 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 2 • Lexile Level: 320 • Publisher: HarperCollins • Pages: 249 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-0-06-269119-4 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Skin and Bones by Sherry Shahan

Jack Plumb and David Kowlesky are an odd couple. They are roommates and opposites, but rather than living in an apartment or dorm together, they share a hospital room. Both boys, sixteen and seventeen respectively,  have serious eating disorders and have been checked into an Eating Disorder Unit. Jack is seriously anorexic, weighing only 103 lbs at 5'11". David is a compulsive over-eater with type one diabetes, and returning to the EDU after spending 3 months and losing 100 lbs the previous summer. David has given himself the nickname of Lard, and the first act of male bonding is helping Jack choose his nickname, Bones. Alice, a budding ballerina whose serious anorexia keeps her from dancing, captivates Bones at their first meeting and holds a spell on him as his first love. As other patients and hospital staff are introduced, we learn about the inner workings of an EDU, and the torment caused by eating disorders.  While there are gaps in the storyline, the book read well for me because I was curious and concerned about the characters. You will laugh, you will cringe, you will feel the pain of first love, but more importantly you will have a better understanding of the tormented lives these kids live with every. single. day.
Note: This book will not be released until March of 2014. The book is appropriate for high school with strong language, drug use, and mild sex. Middle school readers need parental permission.
Reed Reads Score: 4

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya is a Russian immigrant teen who is trying desperately to leave her culture behind to be accepted as a typical American high school girl. She's rather unsuccessful as, she has only one friend (who is rather abusive to her), is not doing well in school, and lusts for a jock who already has the beautiful blonde babe girlfriend. She skips the bus to school and side-tracks through a wooded park where she falls into a deep well. Lighting a match (yes, she's a smoker to be cool...all apart of the effort to fit in) she discovers a skeleton, from which the ghost of Emily Reilly appears. Emily is delighted to see Anya, as she has been in the well for 90 years. Anya wants little to do with her, and when found leaves her behind...so she thinks. One of Emily' bones is swept up in her bag as she leaves, and Emily reappears at school. Emily helps Anya with a test, helps her get invited to a party, and soon Anya sees value in a friendship with this ghost, and decides to let Emily stay. Emily seals her friendship when she explains to Anya, that her fiancee was sent off to World War I and killed. Her family was murdered and in her escape from the same fate, she fell into the hole and was never found. Anya promises to investigate and solve her murder so she can rest in peace.
      This is a graphic novel whose story is humorous and horrifying centering around a character that is full of teen angst, and very believable in her actions and reactions to the social pressures of an immigrant trying to fit in. While I found some curious inconsistencies in the story, this is a great, quick read for grades seven and up.
Reed Reads Score: 3.5

Underdogs by Markus Zusak

Underdogs is a trilogy of Zusak's first three novels; The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. I read Fighting Ruben Wolfe first, whose review is below. The three books have so successfully been blended in my mind that I can't differentiate them, so this review covers all three. This is a story about seventeen-year-old Cameron Wolfe, an insecure, seemingly lost soul that beautifully emerges and finds himself. He lives in the shadow of his oldest brother Steve and older brother Ruben. Steve is a perfectionist that seems to have it all together; looks, athleticism, and a great job. Ruben is a fighter, both literally and figuratively, with strapping good looks that always gets the girls. Cameron has a deep affection for his brothers as well as for his sister Sarah, and his parents, for whom he also has tremendous respect. Living in a blue collar, working neighborhood, Cameron and Ruben are looked upon as slackers. Their reality is one of fighting for respect, and finding their way. Told in the first person by Cameron, Zusak's writing style emerges. While not as quite developed as his later novels, the poetic, short sentences that bring out the deep emotions and angst of a seventeen year old boy, bring depth to the novels. The book is for more mature readers who will appreciate these character driven stories.
Reed Reads Score: 4

King of the Screwups by K.L. Going

Liam Geller has screwed up for the last time. A popular, fantastic looking, athletic, perfectly dressed guy, Liam is kicked out of his house by his successful CEO father to live with his grandparents. Knowing his grandparents will be no different than his father, Liam has his supermodel mother arrange for him to live with his father's brother Pete. Pete and his father haven't spoken in years because Aunt Pete (what Liam calls him) is a gay, cross-dressing Glam rocker, living in a trailer in small town Pineville. Liam decides that to make his father proud, he is going to use this opportunity in a new school to reinvent himself as a nerdy, academic, unpopular guy. Everything he does backfires and no matter what he tries to do to be unpopular, it makes him more so. Aunt Pete's band members and best friends become important to Liam; Orlando, Liam's English teacher, Dino, the cop, and Eddie, the owner of a clothing store. Liam is a screwup. And you will love him. You will love him because you understand his potential, and that the pain inflicted by his father is controlling his life. Aunt Pete becomes the central figure he needs in his life. While the root of this story is not light, Going does a fantastic job of keeping the humor in between tense, heart wrenching  and tender moments. For mature readers (eighth  grade) based on content.
Reed Reads Score: 4.5

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Ally Ryan, an athletically gifted 15 year old, has moved back to her hometown after a year's absence. Originally part of the rich elite, called the "Cresties", she is now a "Norm" and hated by her former friends. Her father, an investment banker, who lost his own as well as the fortunes of Ally's friends, moved Ally and her mother out of their mansion and then abandon them. Ally and her mom move back, now living in a condo. Allie visits her old house where she discovers a gorgeous jock, Jake, living in her old room. The chemistry between them is immediate, but strained, because his group of friends are those that hate Ally. Told in alternating voices between Ally and Jake, the story and romance between them is one of the difficulties of being a teen and standing up to or succumbing to peer pressure. While not my favorite genre, the book is readable, and some of the pranks Ally's friends pull are downright cruel. The ending is a cliffhanger, ensuring a sequel. For mature readers because of strong language that is part of typical teen dialogue.
Reed Reads Score: 3.5

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge

Kevin Boland is a star high school baseball player. He has been diagnosed with Mono, and must remain in bed for several weeks. His father, a professional writer, gives him a book that teaches the form and structure of poetry. Kevin decides to keep a journal to pass time, and does so experimenting with different forms of poetry. His writing becomes sensitive and introspective where topics range from baseball, to girls, and eventually to his sorrow over the death of his mother. A good quick read. Most of the novels (at least the ones I've read) that use the free verse format are written in a female voice. This book is a rare one, not only because it is written in a male voice, but because it explores different forms of poetry.  An English teacher could use this novel as a spring board for a poetry unit.
Reed Reads Score: 4
A sequel has been released; Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Green is a quiet 16 year-old girl who witnesses the destruction of her family, when they are killed in a 9/11 like tragedy. Her loss is too much for her to deal with; her demeanor and attitude becoming darker as the despair, grief, and lonliness sets in. She expresses herself through the tatoos she carves into her skin and the thorned clothes she wears. While depressed by the anarchy and emptiness around her, she eventually sees hope and renewal. This book has been extremely popular with students, both boys and girls.
Reed Reads Score: 4
Added note, read the new sequel; Green Witch

Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw

Cyril is a high school senior, an outstanding chef, overweight, and madly in love with Rose. Rose sees Cyril as a good friend. Cyril's best friend Nick meets and falls for Rose. Nick asks Cyril to prepare a romantic meal for Rose. Here the Cyrano de Bergerac like charade begins as Rose falls head over heels for Nick, believing he is a sensitive guy that can cook and be romantic. Can you tell where this is going? The most interesting part of the book are the recipes at the end of each chapter. I have to try the Kitchen-Sink cookies, and the roasted vegetable sandwich!
Reed Reads Score: 4

ChaseR: A Novel in Emails by Michael J. Rosen

Chase Riley's parents have decided to leave urban Columbus, Ohio and move to a rural farm. Disconnected from his friends, he communicates with them by email. The story is told through his emails, which communicate a world shockingly different than the one he came from. The insects, the mice, the deer, and the hunting season all present a different reality for Chase. A reality he is learning to live with, until an accident happens.... The story was interesting but not compelling. The novelty of the email format was not enough to hold my interest. Just an o.k. read.
Reed Reads Score: 3

The Long Night of Leo and Bree by Ellen Wittlinger

Leo's life changed 4 years ago when his younger sister was brutally murdered. His family is destroyed and his mother becomes psychotic. Leo's mother blames him and beats him. In a sudden loss of sanity, Leo drives around, sees a girl and decides to abduct and murder her. The evening they spend together changes both of their lives. At once, horrifying and touching.
Reed Reads Score: 4

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff

LaVaughn is 15 and learning what a teacher meant by "we will rise to the occasion that is life." A bright girl trying to understand life in the ghetto with all its inherent hardships and road blocks...trying to maintain old and new relationships that are divergent in nature...staying focused on a course to a college education...dealing with her mother and her relationships...all happening around her first love, a love that is a hard love.
Reed Reads Score: 5

Freewill by Chris Lynch

An unusual, eerie, almost uncomfortable to read book, which seems to be written in the second person. The "you" is actually the character Will thinking to himself. Will is a deeply troubled high schooler who has lost both his parents and now believes he is responsible for several teen suicides that have occurred in his small town. I first rated this book at 3.5, but it has stayed with me and my strong feelings for the book made me re-rate it to a 4. Printz Honor Book. Some strong language makes this for mature readers.
Reed Reads Score: 4