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.