Readicide by Kelly Gallagher

An interesting and thought provoking read that asks the question:  What are we doing to get our students to read?

Kelly Gallagher discusses the way that reading is dying in ours school and that educators are familiar with many of the factors that are contributing to the decline.  Gallagher suggests that we must recognize how we are killing reading in our schools and what methods we can take to prevent this loss.

You Hear Me? Poems and writings by teenage boys.

Do you hear me?  Is a book about the life of teenage boys.  These are poems and writings from young men ages 12 to 20.  These writings are incredible and real life stories that come from the heart.  Incredibly sad, heartwarming and emotional writings that describe issues that young boys deal with everyday whether they are from the suburbs or inner city.I truly enjoyed this book and will pass it on to my 21 year old son and my 17 year old daughter.  I personally think that this is a true account of the lives of teenage boys, their trials and tribulations while living their lives whether its football or being fatherless.  Incredibly amazing true to life stories that I thoroughly enjoyed.   I had to read some writings twice because they were so touching and others I quickly read through them because they were a bit uncomfortable but believable.  I truly believe these are written from experiences and from the heart.  I will most definitely recommend this book to others.

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Did not enjoy this book too much.  The stories are a bit fairy tallish and I could not get into the stories.  Maybe the graphics or the change in font style.  Not sure, I could not put my finger on it.

Twilight Volume I and II by Stephanie Meyer and illustrated by Young Kim

I truly enjoyed these two stories.  I was not a fan of graphic novels/anime but these books were very interesting.  I loved the pictures and the expressions on the characters faces.  I could see where Bella was truly in love with Edward and the tension surrounding there relationship.   The only thing that confused me was that I thought I was supposed to read the story from back to front.  On these specific books it worked well from front to back.  Great stories and I will think twice before I put graphic novels back on the shelf. 

American Born Chinese-Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese a comic/graphic novel .  Gene Luen Yang weaves three stories into one and shows us a look at the life of a Chinese American teenager and his trials and tribulations of being different.  Jin is a new kid in the neighborhood who discovers that he is the only Chinese-American student at his school. This story is for every kid who felt out of place or different.   This story includes some  specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Mockingbird is a touching and hopeful story about a child, Caitlin with Asperger’s syndrome.  Caitlin Smith is a fifth grader that has lost her brother in a school shooting who was Caitlin biggest cheerleader.  The loss of her brother causes her father further pain and adds to the loss of his wife and Caitlin’s mother.  When Devon dies he leaves a eagles scout project undone.  Caitlin and her father work together to complete the project in Devon’s name and bring them closer together along with some closure.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Great Story of a 17 year old boy who is charged with a felony.  Steve Harmon tells his story from being in jail awaiting trial and scared to death to the trial and the jury verdict.  I truly enjoyed this story the change in font did not bother me at all.  I could not put the book down and was truly  thrilled for Steve when the verdict was read.