Paul Richmond is the new resident loser at the exclusive Gate-Brickell Christian prep school. Forced to go there by his freshly divorced mom, who is also the school secretary, Paul is miserable among his richer-than-God classmates who refuse to even acknowledge his existence. Then the mysterious and incredibly popular Charlie Good inexplicitly befriends him. Like anyone who finds himself on the bottom rung of the high school caste system, Paul doesn’t question his fabulous fortune–he’s just grateful for Charlie’s attention. But nothing is for free–especially popularity. Pretty soon, Charlie’s going to expect to be paid, and Paul has no idea how high the price is going be. After all, how can you calculate the cost of a human life? Utterly soul-less Charlie will give you chills in this nail biter that is reminiscent of Jawbreaker and Heathers.
Shattering Glass by Gail Giles
The first three lines from Shattering Glass: “Simon Glass was easy to hate. I never knew exactly why, there was too much to pick from. I guess, really, we each hated him for a different reason, but we didn’t realize it until the day we killed him.” ‘Nuff said. If you don’t break the door off it’s hinges on the way to the library to check out this outstanding chiller thriller after reading that, then nothing else I say will be able to convince you!
What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci
New kid Lani Garver is a freak. First of all, no one can figure out if he is a she or a he. And he’s about to bring bodily harm upon himself for refusing to follow the unwritten rules of small town Hackett Island High’s ruling elite, the muscle-bound boys of the local fisherman known as the “fish frat.” But the weirdest thing about Lani is that he doesn’t even seem to care. His peaceful manner draws popular, yet introspective Claire to him, and soon they are both marked as untouchables by the fish frat. But how far will these guys go to break Lani’s spirit and punish Claire for associating with him? It’s not like they could kill him…could they? Nothing is as it seems in this strange and foggy nail biter by the author of the equally mysterious and creepy Body of Christopher Creed.
Dr. Franklin’s Island by Ann Halam
While on their way to a science camp for teen geniuses, Semi, Miranda and Arnie’s plane crashes. The only ones left alive, they struggle to survive via Tom Hanks Castaway style on a small deserted island. But they’re not exactly alone. Hidden at the island’s center is the compound of mad scientist Dr. Franklin. And let’s just say that nowhere in his plans for our three heroes does the word “rescue” appear. Dr. Franklin is obsessed with gene therapy, especially the kind where he splices together human and animal DNA. While this may sound like a Dr. Moreau rip-off (for those late on the lit. scene, The Island of Dr. Moreau is a classic novel NOT just a TERRIBLE movie starring Val Kilmer and a bloated, pasty Marlon Brando) it’s not at all. Semi and Miranda’s incredibly rendered friendship, stretched to it’s breaking point while they try not to allow themselves the comfort of insanity as Franklin decides what animals they will become, is what carries this book over from simply science fiction to probing, deep psychological thriller.
Shadow People by Joyce McDonald
They all have a reason to be angry. Gabriel lost his beloved brother when a gang of kids murdered him for his leather jacket on the subway. Lydia’s father never lets her do a single solitary thing without his consent–and that means dates, friends, trips, ANYTHING. Alec bitterly blames everyone in authority at his former high school for turning him into a dropout drug addict. Hollis is short, fat and brilliant, not to mention pissed at all the people who discount his intelligence based on his appearance. And he knows a way to channel all of their rage into a single act that will not only make an explosive statement, but get back at all those people who hurt them once and for all. Gabe, Lydia, and Alec are resolved to follow Hollis’s plan to the end. But then innocent Gem accidentally gets involved in the group when she and Gabe fall for each other. Suddenly, Gabe is having a change of heart. But Hollis won’t let anyone leave the group until their plan is complete. And he will use any means necessary to protect the plan…even murder.
The Long Night of Leo and Bree by Ellen Wittlinger
Leo is letting off steam on the anniversary of his sister’s murder by driving around and trying to forget. But the more he tries to forget, the more he is haunted by the gruesome images of his sister’s last moments. So in a moment of sheer anger and pain, he does something incredibly stupid–he kidnaps a girl on the street who has the gall to be alive while his sister is dead. Once his fury passes, he can’t believe what he’s done. And what’s worse, he has no idea how to fix it… Bree is terrified. Looking for a little excitement, she took a stroll on the wrong side of the tracks and suddenly finds herself blindfolded in the basement of this crazy guy who forced her into his car. But if she can get him talking, maybe she’ll get out of this thing alive. Listen in on the long night of Leo and Bree and decide for yourself if Bree is in danger of losing her life–or just her heart.
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
There was this teacher, see, who everyone hated because he actually, like, made you earn your grades. So like, these four kids decided to pull this prank on this teacher to get back at him for all the crap he put them through. It was a great idea, see, they were going to blindfold him and tie him up so that he would think he was being kidnapped, but like, they would just scare him, then let him go. Only they didn’t know Mr. Griffin had a weak heart. And that he took medication for it. So like, they were really screwed when Mr. Griffin kind of, well, died. Now four friends have a terrible secret and a body to hide. Ever tried to keep a secret in high school? It’s pretty much impossible, and pretty soon, somebody’s going to find out about Mr. Griffin. This nail biter was written before most of you reading this were born. But it still has the power to make your heart pound and bring your most hated teacher a bright, shiny apple.
Black Juice by Margo Lanagan
My teenage compadres, I have finally read something that has left me…speechless. These 10 short stories by Margo Lanagan are breathtakingly indescribable. Using elements of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, Lanagan drops the unprepared reader into 10 wholly original worlds, where first you flounder and flap…and then you swim. Into places and people you couldn’t even begin to imagine—like a tar pit where justice is sung as you sink to your death, a lonely rural ridge where carnivorous red dragon angels grant wishes, and a tribal village where a broken accordion speaks to gods. And that’s just a sampling of the amazing dimensions you will experience when you crack open this brilliant, disturbing, too wonderful for words short story collection.
Past perfect, Present tense: new and collected stories edited by Richard Peck
This series of stories by YA literature godfather Richard Peck highlight the very best of his short story career. Arranged into simply named sections called “The First,†“The Past,†“The Supernatural,†and finally “The Present†Peck gives teen readers a look at what goes into crafting the heart and soul of a short story. Besides providing examples of his work, each section starts with a short explanation by Peck about who or what inspired the story or how it came to be written. But best of all is the writerly advice contained in the last two sections: How to Write a Short Story, and Five Helpful Hints, which include my two favorite adages, NOBODY BUT A READER EVER BECAME A WRITER, and THE ONLY WRITING IS REWRITING. Using a very few perfectly chosen words, Peck boils down the very essence of how to write a story. Teen writers will welcome his stripped down advice, as it will keep them from becoming overwhelmed by the empty monitor screen. All of his selected stories are such gems of the genre that it will certainly inspire young authors to follow his sage advice.
One Hot Second edited by Cathy Young
If I said, “Sarah Dessen,” could I make you pause? What about “Jacqueline Woodson, Rich Wallace, and Ellen Wittlinger?” Would you stop to see what all these fabulous YA authors (and many more too numerous to mention in this short space) were doing in one collection? What if I said all of these cool shorts were about DESIRE in all its forms: sexual, identity, wanting to belong, wanting to connect, just WANTING? Would you stop for one hot second and see what all the heavy breathing was about? I’m thinking you might for a collection full of funny, smart, serious and true short stories about all the different people, privileges, feelings and connections that we long for as teenagers. There, made ya look!
Tomorrowland compiled by Michael Cart
Who hasn’t wanted to see into the future, even if it was just a little peek? Editor Michael Cart asked 10 well known YA writers to pen their versions of the future and they came up with some pretty funky results. Katherine Paterson created a future where humans have made their homes in sealed domes and no longer know the meanings of words like “hot” or “loneliness” except through virtual reality lessons. Jacqueline Woodson writes about how one girl, born out of a sperm donor deposit, is searching for both her father and her future. And Rodman Philbrick gives us a taste of his longer futuristic novel, The Last Book in the Universe, by describing a future where violence and brutality rule, and hope comes in the form of the written word. And those are just a few of the space age stories from this eclectic volume. Cool tattooed cover, too. Make sure you bring this one along on your latest mission to Mars.
The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block
Before diving into the dark and delicious mix of Francesca Lia Block’s collection, be warned that these fractured fairy tales are not for the faint of heart. Block imagines the fabled Wolf as a predatory live-in boyfriend who won’t leave you or your mother alone, and Bluebeard as a club-land, hipster serial killer of drugged-out, runaway girls. But there’s always a touch of Block’s signature whimsy–like when Beauty kinda wishes that her Beast had stayed a cute and cuddly lion instead of turning into an argumentative b-friend, and Thumbelina cures adolescent depression by making her crush-boy into a happy flower-prince who is as tiny as she. Another fabulous book by the amazing Block. Oh, stop making me gush and just go read it, already!
Life is Funny by E.R. Frank
Life is Funny is a book of inter-connected stories about this group of teens who are growing up in Brooklyn. Their individual first person voices are at once innocent and jaded, funny and incredibly heartbreaking. First-timer author Frank is also a social worker, and does she ever prove how well she knows her stuff. Gingerbread is in love with Keisha, who doesn’t mind that her hilarious and loving boyfriend has to control his manic personality with Ritalin. Eric is determined to keep a hold of his little brother Mickey, no matter how many foster homes they are moved to. Grace and Ebony, though worlds and skin colors apart, manage to have an awesome friendship in spite of Grace’s racist and alcoholic mom. And those guys are just a sample of the teens you’ll meet in these pages. Frank tackles almost every contemporary teen issue and put a new face and a fresh talking mouth on it. Which is a struggle for established YA authors, let alone a newbie. A guaranteed perfect read.
Doing Time: Notes from the Undergrad by Rob Thomas
Like all of Rob’s books (with perhaps the exception of Green Thumb, in my humble opinion), Doing Time is fabulous. The stories all share the same premise: every student in them has to perform some sort of community service work to graduate. There’s Laura, a total wannabe, who does her community service in the local hospital in the head trauma unit because she has a crush on last year’s Prom King, a permanent resident since his motorcycle accident. In “Loss of Pet,” Fiona hears a very unusual story from the most popular girl at school as she’s serving her time as a library assistant. And Teesha learns that charity can hit a little too close to home when she signs on to help with a local food drive. All of these stories contain powerful hooks that will reel you all the way in and keep you on the line until the very last page. Short, but completely satisfying.
What’s in a Name by Ellen Wittlinger
There are two kinds of people who live in Scrub Harbor–the people who like it just the way it is and those who would change the city’s name to the classier “Folly Bay.” Not surprisingly, the working class folk are sticking with Scrub, while the upper crusty set are wrangling for the name change. The class division has trickled down into the high school, where the students are also arguing over the name issue. Readers discover that labels and stereotypes really have nothing to do with the actual person. (But you go to high school– you know that already!) There’s O’Neill, who seems like a typical anti-social loner, but who’s really a complex person with a pretty complex secret. Popular, run-everything Gretchen decides that maybe it’s NOT all about wearing the right clothes and dating the star football player. Middle class Nelson thinks that just because he’s black, he has something in common with Shaquanda, but he couldn’t be more wrong. What’s in a Name is a frosted mini-wheat of a book–a sweet, easy read with some real substance inside.