Last Shot

Last Shot written by John Feinstein published by Random House in 2005. A funny and mysterious story about four college basketball teams competing in the NCAA basketball tournement. Two junior high students Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson who won a contest that would enable them to write stories about the teams during the games. While at the teams practice Stevie and Susan Carol overhear a conversation about a fixed game from a basketball player and a professor Whiting. Now they're trying to figure out why the basketball player has to fix the game and what they can do to help him out.

In My Hands

In My Hands written by Irene Gut Opdyke and Jennifer Armstrong, published by Anchor Books in 1999. Its a fantastic story about Irene Gut and the courage she had to rescue and help Jews escape being sent to concentration camps. When Irene was sixteen years old she was harmed by soldiers from Russia. Afterward she was left for deadand fled to German soil and worked as a nurse fro the German military against her will. She later worked as a maid in the home of a military officer. While there Irene sent food and information to the Ghettos where the Jews were held. By working in the officer's home she was able to hid many Jews to help them escape.

Prairie Rose

Prairie Rose written by Catherine Palmer published by Tyndale House Publishers inc in 1997. Its a great story about a young woman by the name of Rosie Mills and a man named Seth Hunter and his son Chipper. Rosie Mills is a nineteen year old orphan who saves the life of Seth Hunter from getting killed by his late wife's brother Jack Cornwall who wants Christopher "Chipper" Hunter. Throughout the story Chipper finally learns to not only start calling Seth papa but also comes to love him, Seth learns to love again and trust God, and Rosie comes to realize that yes we need to rely on the Lord but sometimes we have to make our decisions on our own. Set in old west Kansas post Civil War readers get an insight into the difficulties and hardships farmers and families had to face.

The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars written by Gary D. Schmidt published by Clarion Books in 2007. This a cute story about a seventh grader named Holling Hoodhood who has a teacher he thinks hates his guts. Throughout the story he claims his teacher hates him, when in all reality what she's really doing is trying to make him believe in himself and teach him that he has more potential for something more in life than what his father wants him to do.

Let It Snow

Let It Snow written by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle published by Speak in 2008. This book is filled with three stories about three different people and their lives during the Christmas Holiday. Its humorous, romantic, and a real good book about the spirit of the Season and how it doesn't turn out the way they want it to.

First Kiss (Then Tell)

First Kiss (Then Tell) written by Cylin Busby published by Bloomsbury in 2008. A book of short stories about young adult authors experience with first kisses and how to make them better. Filled with commentary from actors and actresses such as Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz. Romantic and humorous and book that young adults should read about first kisses.

Jump Ball

Jump Ball written by Mel Glenn published by Lodestar Books in 1997. This book is a collection of free verse poems about a high school basketball team trying to go to the championships and the terrible accident they went through where some of the players were killed. Voiced by players, the coach, parents, teachers, and other members of the community. Its a great story about the struggles the players went through on and off the court, at school and a home. If you like basketball I would really recommend it to anyone.

Here in Harlem

Here in Harlem written by Walter Dean Myers published by Holiday House in 2004. This book is a collection of free verse poems told in different people's perpesctive about how life was for African Americans living in Harlem a town in New York during the 1950s. Its a great way to show how people lived before the Civil Rights Movement.

Shades of Gray

Shades of Gray written by Carolyn Reeder published by MacMillan Publing Company in 1989. This is a story about Will Page a 12 year old boy who loses his father, mother, brother, and two little sisters during the Civil War. Now he must live with his mother's sister and her family. While living with his family he must overcome his pride about his uncle Jed not fighting in the war and his hatered for the Union soldiers who deystored everything. Set in Virigina during 1865 its an awesome story about loss, courage, friendship, and overcoming pride.

Beast

Beast written by Donna Jo Napoli published by Simon Pulse in 2002. This is a story about Orasymn a prince from the acient Middle East who is turned into a beast. Orasymn now decides travel around the Middle East looking for a young maiden who can break the curse put upon him simply loving the beast he was turned into. When he meets Belle a young woman who befriends him, he finally learns to love. After Belle is freed, she realizes she loves the beast. A different twist on the fairytale classic Beauty and the Beast. Its a cute story.

The Witch's Boy

The Witch's Boy written by Michael Gruber published by Harper Tempest in 2005. A story about Lump a young man that was left in the woods as a baby because he didn't look human. Raised by a witch he lacked a mother's loving nature at times, but she made sure he was cared for. As Lump grows older he becomes very bitter towards people and his mother. Soon after he meets Naurana a young woman he falls in love with, he finally changes and begins to realize that his appearance isn't horrible and he learns to let people into his heart. Gruber puts twists to several fairytales throughout the book.

Stuck in Neutral

Stuck in Neutral written by Terry Trueman published by Harper Tempest in 2000. This novel tells the story of one family's difficulties trying to raise a child who has Cerbal Palsy. Shawn is a fourteen year old boy who has Cerbal Palsy. Shawn's dad now struggles with the idea of killing his son out of love 'mercy killing' because he doesn't want to see Shawn suffer anymore, or letting him live. Shawn's older siblings and mom however would do anything to keep him alive. Now Shawn must face the reality that his father loves him and may want to kill him. Contains mild lanuage.

Inexcusable

Inexcusable written by Chris Lynch published Simon Pulse in 2005. Keir Sarafian is a high school senior getting ready to go off to college. Gigi Boudakin is Keir's girlfriend. She claims that he raped her and he claims he's innocent. Throughout the entire novel he's trying to make the reader believe he didn't rape her, that he couldn't have because he loves Gigi with all his heart. Gigi however won't stop claiming he raped her. So now Keir must fight to prove his inncence while Gigi tries to destroy his good boy reputation. This book is real twisted and confusing it also contains harsh language.

Speak

Speak written by Laurie Halse Anderson published by Speak in 1999. This is a story of Melinda a freshman who was raped at a high school party during the summer. Now she must face what really happened and the hateful stares, whishperings, and scorn she receives from people in high school for calling the cops and breaking up the party. Melinda has a hard time telling people what happened to her, her parents don't even know. Speak is a compelling heartfelt story of one young woman's fight to overcome the rape and to finally be able to talk about it.

Mississippi Trial 1955

Mississippi Trial 1955 written by Chris Crowe published by Speak in 2002. Hiram is a sixteen year old boy who goes to Mississippi to visit his grandfather. While there Hiram befriends Emmett Till a fourteen year old African American from Chicago also visiting family. After Emmett goes missing, Hiram realzies that the South isn't the way he remembers it, everything even the people have changed and not for the better. Now he struggles to do what he knows to be right and what soceity would have him do. A story filled mystery, brutal reality of how blacks were treated in the years prior to the Civil Rights Movement.

Impossible

Impossible written by Nancy Werlin published by Dial Books in 2008. Lucy a seventeen year old girl must fight along with her adopted parents and her childhood friend Zach to break an old family curse that effects the women in her family to become pregnant with baby girls as a cause of rape and then later become insane. Lucy discovers after a time that she has found true love in her best friend Zach who is willing to sacrafice anything to be with and protect Lucy and her daughter. Lucy and Zach both discover that miracles can happen if you have faith, courage, determination, help, support, and love.

Evernight

Evernight written by Claudia Gray published by HarperTeen in 2008. A dramatic tale of first love and fighting to the death for the one you love. Bianca is a first year student at Evernight Academy who follows the rules. Lucas is a transfer student with the bad boy image going on. Bianca and Lucas soon find themselves immersed in a realtionship. The twist? Lucas is a vampire hunter while Bianca and her family and most of the school's population are vampires. Now Bianca and Lucas must fight to stay alive and together as they try to escape those to mean to kill Lucas. Contains mild language and some sensual material.

Belle

Belle written by Cameron Dokey published by Simon Pulse in 2008. A fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a twist. Belle is a beautiful young woman who feels she doesn't quite fit her name like her older sisters do. Its not until she must travel deep inside the enchanted forest that surrounds her family's cottage home to save her father's life and meets Gasper a physically and emotionally cursed young man, that she discovers the gift of seeing with her heart in order to see the beauty within. A novel filled with enchantment, adventure, and love a must read for everyone!

Forever

Forever written by Judy Blume published by Pocket Books in 1975. This is a cute story abouth the difficulties and touching moments of first love. Kathyrn and Michael are seniors in high school, both preparing to off to college, and trying to figure out what they want out of life. Their relationship rapidly bloomed and now their forced to confront their parents who think they're too young to be thinking about forever. Although the storyline was great and deals with the ideas and feelings most young adults face in high school; it contains crude humor, harsh language, and graphic sexual content. Not recommended for people younger than nineteen.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes written by Maureen Johnson was published by HarperTeen in 2005. A humorous and heartfelt story about Virginia (Ginny) a young woman who is sent on a crazy journey around Europe by her deceased aunt Peg. While on her journey Ginny meets Keith a young film producer who helps her find her way in Europe. During her travels Ginny comes to realize that she had the ability to make her life interesting. She also finds love in the strangest way. This book contains mild language and sensual content.

Roswell High

Roswell High written by Melinda Metz published by Pocket Pulse in 2001. Its an awesome SciFi novel about 3 teenager aliens Max, Isabelle, and their friend Michael who come to this planet after their planet was destroyed. Now they have to fight keep their secret a secret from others except their friends Liz, Maria, and Alex. The six of them have to struggle to keep each other and their families out of harms way from those who want to hurt Max, Isabelle, and Michael. The book contains mild language.

A Pearl Among Princes

A Pearl Among Princes, was written by Coleen Murtagh Dial and published Dial Books in 2009. Is a cute coming of age novel. It takes place during the Kings and Queens era. It deals with with finding your place in the world, loss, love, friendship. Sixteen year old Gracepearl longs for adventure and a life away from Miramore and being a coal digger or a cook like her father. With the help of her friends Lu, Nuff, Sir Richard a prince who travels to the island of Miramore, and the love of her life Mackree she will finally realize her destiny and it will change her life forever.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox was written by Mary E. Pearson and published by Square Fish in 2008. This novel was somewhat confusing at the beginning but as the story progresses it gets better and more intense. Jenna Fox is a seventeen year old girl who losses her memory after a terrible and life threatening accident that left her in a coma for a year. After she wakes up, she struggles to remember who she was and in the midst of confusion and secrets she finds love through her friendship with Ethan troubled teen who helps keep a secret of her own. The story has some language, mystery, and suspense.

The Moves Make the Man

The Moves Make the Man was written by Gary D. Schmidt and published by Harper Trophy in 2007. This was a good story about friendship, desegregation, and mental illness. Jerome is a kid who loves playing basketball. He meets a boy Braxton "Bix" who likes playing ball too just a different kind of ball than Jerome's used to. Bix has some really horrible issues that kids his age shouldn't have to deal with. It does have some language but other than that its a good story about how Jerome helps Bix through small and simple things.

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt is the wonderful telling of Jesse Tuck and Winnie Foster who find friendship and love admist secrets and arrival of a stranger who's after answers to the Tuck's past. The Tuck family must fight this stranger who threatens to reveal the secrets that huant them. Its a great novel filled with mystery, laughs, tears, friendship, and young everlasting love. A great read for people of all ages. This novel was published by Scholastic Inc. in 1975.

Waltzing with the Light

Waltzing with the Light, a novel written by Marnie Pehrson is a story about love, family, friendship, persectution, and finding faith through life's trails and joys. Its 1938 in Daisy, Tennesse and Jake Elliot is a hired laborer in the Ford household. While working for Mrs Laurana Ford Jake meets Mikalah, Laurana's eldest daughter. Jake and Mikalah soon find themselves fighting to stay together despite Mikalah's father's disapproval and others who mean the young couple harm. Its a wonderful story about Church History and the lives of Latter-day Saints in the 1930s. This novel was published by CES Business Consultants in 2005.

Hourglass Door

The Hourglass Door, is an amazing novel by Lisa Mangum. Its filled with mystery, time travel, friendship, and love. Dante is a young teenager who must go face to face with Zo, Tony, and V criminals from his past in order to save the ones he loves. With the help of his friends Abby and Leo, Dante fights to keep Zo from going back in time and destroying history. Its a must read for any one who enjoys suspense. Check out The Hourglass Door the first novel to a three part series by Lisa Mangum. This novel was published by Deseret Book in 2009.