June 2008
GET REAL
Contemporary Fiction Grades 9-12
Alexie, Sherman Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007)
Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Anderson, Laurie Twisted (2007)
After finally getting noticed by someone other than school bullies and his ever-angry father, seventeen-year-old Tyler enjoys his tough new reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but when life starts to go bad again, he must choose between transforming himself or giving in to his destructive thoughts.
Anderson, Laurie Speak (1999)
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.
Asher, Jay Thirteen Reasons Why: a novel (2007)
Clay returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush, who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
Castellucci, Cecil Boy Proof (2005)
Feeling alienated from everyone around her, high school senior Victoria hides behind the identity of a favorite movie character until an interesting new boy arrives at school and helps her realize that there is more to life than just the movies.
Cohn, Rachel Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2006)
High school student Nick, member of a rock band, meets college-bound Norah and asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes in order to avoid his ex-sweetheart.
Crutcher, Chris Deadline (2007)
Given the medical diagnosis of one year to live, high school senior Ben Wolf decides to fulfill his greatest fantasies, and ponders his life's purpose and legacy.
Dessen, Sarah Just Listen: a novel (2006)
Isolated from friends who believe the worst because she has not been truthful with them, Annabel finds an ally in classmate Owen, whose honesty and passion for music help her to face and share what really happened at the end-of-the-year party that changed her life.
Ehrenhaft, Daniel Drawing a Blank (2006)
Carlton, an outcast boarding school student with a secret identity as a graphic novelist, teams up with a beautiful Scottish girl who yearns to be an American police officer, to resolve an ancient feud and rescue Carlton's kidnapped father.
Giles, Gail Shattering Glass (2002)
When high school senior Rob turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.
Green, John Looking For Alaska (2005)
Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.
Hite, Sid I’m Exploding Now (2007)
The summer he turns seventeen, Max is feeling off his game with no job and nothing to do, but after spending a lot of time hanging out, thinking about life, and visiting his aunt in Woodstock, he develops a personal philosophy called "coolism" which seems to help turn things around.
Kantor, Melissa Confessions of a Not It Girl (2004)
High schooler Jan Miller, hoping for a senior year romance, just cannot seem to do anything right, especially when compared to her best friend Rebecca who has just been named a New York "It Girl," but things start looking up when an old crush moves back to town.
Koja, Kathe Kissing the Bee (2007)
The stress of finishing high school and preparing for college is compounded for Dana as she comes to realize that her best friend, Avra, is not the 'queen bee' she has always seemed to be, and that Avra's boyfriend Emil might actually prefer a humble 'worker bee' like herself.
Lynch, Chris Inexcusable (2005)
High school senior and football player Keir sets out to enjoy himself on graduation night, but when he attempts to comfort a friend whose date has left her stranded, things go terribly wrong.
Martino, Alfred Pinned (2005)
Dealing with family problems, girls, and their own competitive natures, high school seniors Ivan and Bobby face each other in the final match of the New Jersey State Wrestling Championship.
McNamee, Graham Acceleration (2003)
Stuck working in the lost and found department of the Toronto Transit Authority for the summer, seventeen-year-old Duncan finds the diary of a serial killer and sets out to stop him.
Westerfeld, Scott So Yesterday (2004)
Hunter Braque, who is paid by corporations to spot what is "cool," combines his skills with his girlfriend’s creative talents to find a missing person and thwart a conspiracy directed at the heart of consumer culture.
Zevin, Gabrielle Elsewhere (2005)
After fifteen-year-old Liz is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live."
Zusak, Markus I Am the Messenger (2005)
After capturing a bank robber, nineteen-year-old cab driver Ed begins receiving mysterious messages that direct him to addresses where people need help, and he begins getting over his lifelong feeling of worthlessness.
Young Adult Booklists
June 2008