Nick and Norah’s Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Last weekend, I read Nick and Norah Playlist and I was not thrilled by it. The story starts when Nick who only recently broken up with his girlfriend asks Norah to be his “pretend” girlfriend for five minutes. They share a kiss in front of his ex-girlfriend and so begins their one night adventure in New York City. Because I heard so many good reviews, I was expecting more. The story was too contrived…too many chance meetings. Although I did not enjoy it, I am sure others will. 

Slam by Nick Hornsby

Publisher’s Summary: At the age of fifteen, Sam Jones’s girlfriend gets pregnant and Sam’s life of skateboarding and daydreaming about Tony Hawk changes drastically.  So far, this book is great.  Sam, the progantist is quite lovable…I’ll let you know more soon. Well, I finished it a while ago, it was okay but nothing to write home about. 

 

 

 

Head Case by Sarah Aronson

The story begins with seventeen-year-old Frank Marder lying in a bed, undergoing a physical exam at a rehabilitation center after a car accident. This accident has left him paralyzed from the neck down. He cannot do anything by himself and it is his fault. While drunk driving he killed two people, including his girlfriend. Now, he has to live with the repercussions of that tragic night. What is most impressive about Aronson’s writing is the way she shows Frank’s personality and frustrations as he learns how to cope with his disability and the people around him. Head case focuses on an important topic without being overly preachy. If you like this book then you will like Susan Vaught’s Trigger and Terry Trueman’s Stuck in Neutral.

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi

Rucker Park Setup by Paul VolponiBest friends, Mackey and J.R. love playing basketball and their goal is to play in the NBA but first they have to get into a good college. They play for a local basketball team at Rucker Park, a famous basketball court in Harlem, NYC. While playing in an important basketball game, J.R. is murdered and Mackey seen it all but refuses to tell anyone about what happened on that fateful day on the court. Generally, I am not into sports fiction however, I really enjoyed this one. The play-by-play made me feel like I was actually there during the basketball games. Although some violence is included, it is not descriptive or graphic and should be appropriate for students in grades 8 and above.  If you like this, then you will Walter Dean Myer’s Slam.

 

Shooter by Walter Dean Myers

Shooter is a tragic and compelling story about a shooting at a suburban high school that occurs because of bullying. The perpetrator’s best friend, Cameron, an affluent African-American teen, tells the story. As the story begins, Cameron is center in the police investigation but as the story progresses, the shocking truth is revealed through a variety of documents: first-person accounts, police reports, doctor notes, and a handwritten diary. This story challenges its readers to think about how they handle and react to difficult situations. Because of its subject matter and structure, Shooter will definitely find an audience among reluctant readers and mental health professionals. Because this book contains some elements of violence, self-afflicted and towards animals, this book is most suitable for mature readers. If you like this book, then check out Todd Strasser’s Give a boy a gun and Frances Prose’s After.