Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

Shawn McDaniel has cerebral palsy.  This story is told by Shawn.  What he sees, feels, dreams and wishes.  No one else can hear him or believe that he can hear or feel anything.  To them he is a vegetable with no understanding of anything around him. 

A riveting story of a young boy with cerebral palsy.  When I began to read the story I was hooked what an amazing story from the viewpoint of a sick child.  Never expected it but when I began reading it I thought wow I wondered what it would be like if a child who was sick with this disease could talk or communicate and what exactly they would say or how they felt.  I loved this book and think it would be an awesome book to recommend to my students.

The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian

Junior is an awesome teenager that finds humor in situations that would otherwise cause other teenagers to run and hide.  Junior chooses to attend all white public school as the only Native American student.  He feels uncomfortable in school and at home.  He is feeling out of place due to his choice but is determined to succeed and he believes his choice to attend public school will get him there.  Ultimately his uncomfortable feelings can be understood by many teenagers, whether their fat, skinny, white, poor and so on teenagers fear being an outsider.  I enjoyed this very interesting and personal account of a very difficult situation.  Loved Juniors strength and his choice to succeed beyond all obstacles.

Fallen Angel by Walter Dan Myers

Great story told by a young black soldier, Richie Perry.  Perry's account of what happened in the Vietnam war is both sad and fascinating.  Violent war stories are not my cup of tea but I truly enjoyed this book and am glad to see a story not only about the never ending war in Vietnam but also about a young African American boy who finds himself in a war that involves "kill or be killed", survival, and death.

Chains by Laurie Anderson

 Isabel and her younger sister Ruth find themselves slaves of the evil and unrelenting Locktons.  Still hoping that someday they will be free Isabel offers her services as an informant to the Rebels.  Isabel believes that she will be set free if she continues to offer information.  She is desperately disappointed and saddened when Ms. Lockton sells her baby sister Ruth and the Commander does not pay up on his promises.  Isabel is badly beaten but still finds hope in words said by her dead mother.  She even goes out on Christmas and gives to those in need.  One night she decides to excape and sneaks Curzon out of the prison. She eventually finds herself on an island with Curzon after rowing all night in the freezing, icy river.

Leviathan

I enjoyed reading this story.  I think the part of Deryn Sharp a commoner, and a girl that disguises herself as a boy in the British Air Service has me rooting for her success. She's a brilliant airman, but is in constant fear that someone will find out her true identity.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Todd Hewitt is a child by Prentisstown Standards.  Everyone is able to hear the thoughts of every person who lives in this town.  It becomes so jumbled that it is just constant noise.  This town also has no women. They were all killed by a disease.  One day he happens to run across silence near the swamp and knows something is very wrong.  He returns home and is told he must leave immediately with no explanation.  He sets out to find a place his mom once wrote about and unexpectedly runs into a girl.  He is shocked and speechless.  They begin to run from the hunters and along the way they endanger the lives of others.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Mary yearns to see what is beyond the forest. She lives in a small town surrounded by a fence so the evil unconsecrated stay out. When her mother gets attacked by one and is sent to the other side she is sad and heartbroken. She begins to plan on ways to see the ocean beyond the forest. The stories her mother told her about the ocean inspires her even more. With her questions and outward emotions she begins to catch the attention of the head mistress, a very strict and controlling sister (religious). Once it becomes apparent that she will not be “called” to marry she is sent to the sister’s compound unwillingly. While there she begins to search for answers and the truth behind the town and falls in love with Travis who is in fact betrothed to another. The town becomes infested with unconsecrated and they must flee to safety. Ultimately she finds herself by the ocean in a very bizarre situation.