DEADVILLE by Ron Koertge

Ryan has been spending his life getting baked with his friend Andy and listening to music ever since his sister Molly died. But than Charlotte Silano falls off her horse and lands herself into a coma. Ryan begins to drift away from Andy and feels himself drawn to Charlotte's hospital bed. He spends his days now visiting Charlotte in the hospital talking to her asking her to get up. One of the times there he meets a girl named Betty who was Charlotte's volleyball teammate. Something sparks and a relationship grows between them. They go to the hospital now on a very regular basis and as he goes to the hospital he begins to face memories of Molly (who died from cancer) which he struggles to cope with throughout the book. At the hospital Ryan meets a little boy named Thad who tells him about a place named Deadville. Thad describes Deadville as a place where people who have been in horrible accidents or operations can somewhat float outside there bodies and look down on them, almost like an out of body experience. Ryan struggles to believe him until one day Ryan has a dream were Charlotte comes to his bed and says "I'm on my way back, Ryan come to the hospital. I want you there." Then he rushes to the hospital to Charlotte's room were Charlotte begins coughing and wakes up! As days go by her body still needs rehab but her personality still goes back to the same old Charlotte. Ryan has finally coped with Molly's death and begins moving on through his life.

I learned that dealing with tough things in life might take awhile but you can do it.

Excellent book, has you wondering will Charlotte wake up? Will Ryan ever cope with Molly's death? Will Ryan and Charlotte become a couple? Keeps you guessing till the very end.

Recommended for grades 9-12.

KH in Greenville

WHERE I WANT TO BE by Adele Griffin

Jane and Lily were sisters. Jane was the big sister and Lily was the littler sister. Jane taught Lily how to play make believe. Jane, who had an extraordinary imagination, would create games her sister Lily would love. But than Lily wanted to stop playing make believe and grow up, she began making friends and even got her 1st boyfriend. But Jane got stuck and wanted to hold on in her make believe world forever. But than their family realizes that Jane is actually mentally ill and is put on anti-psychotic medicine. Jane realizes she'll never be normal like her younger sister Lily. But than an accident happens killing Jane, and the story continues. But now it's being told from Jane's prospective who is now dead, and also Lily's prospective who is still alive. After Jane dies she decides to return to her favorite place, which is her grandparent's home and makes it so she seems still alive. Lily, now coming to terms with her sister's death and mental illness, also must face the fact that her boyfriend has graduated high school and she must return without him.

I gained that you should just live your life to the fullest and live in the present.

Great book although at first it was confusing switching back and for between alive Lily and dead Jane, but than finally I got it.

Recommended for all teens.

KH in Greenville

BEFORE I DIE by Jenny Downham

Before I Die is about a girl named Tessa and she has leukemia. Tessa makes a list of the things she wants to do the most in the world before she dies, things such as, doing something criminal, travel to another country, etc. As she gets closer to her death she falls in love with a boy who loves her just as much back. Days and weeks go by and Tessa just wants to spend time with her family and her boyfriend before she dies. When she finally nears her end she realizes that she has had a good life and she has to accept that she's going to die. Of course Tessa doesn't want to die, she wants to live life and be with her one true love after going back to the right path, but she has to accept her fate. So, Tessa accepts her fate and wants everyone to get along with life without her but to keep her in their memories.

Death is a part of life, it's a constant cycle that no one can stop but that one has to accept. If people lived constantly in fear of death they wouldn't be able to enjoy what life has to offer. If a loved one of yours was about to die wouldn't you want to give him or her the best time of his or hers life before they died? Never let your loved one die with regrets and say what you can before they leave, or else you will regret it.

Before I Die teaches about people with leukemia and how they have to accept death. The book shows that people have to become happy before they can truly move on, to live life with no regrets before they leave. It just goes to show that everyone should do what they have always wanted to do in life before they leave.

Recommended for grades 9-12.


JN in Howland

OSTRICH BOYS by Keith Gray

This book is about 3 boys (Sim, Blake and Kenny) who go and decide they want to give their best friend, Ross, the funeral he deserves. They steal his ashes, catch a train, and are now on their way to Ross, in Scotland. On their way they lose the bus tickets and money, go race motor bikes and go bungee jumping. As the book progresses they begin to cope with the loss of their friend and the emotions they've been hiding.

I didn't really gain much from the book. The plot did bother me, I just couldn't get into the book. The information that could be helpful to other teens is that they can get through the loss of a loved one and you can't run and hide from your feelings.

I felt it was a difficult book to get into, and the British language through me off a bit.

Recommended for grades 11-12.


KH in Greenville

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman

"If I Stay" is a truly inspiring novel that captures the interest of its reader through its suspenseful chapters, and its page turning experience.

This book has inspired me to appreciate life to its fullest and to not take anything for granted.

In this book I learned a series of medical terms and surgeries and also the importance of life and death, and how they affect others. I think it is a novel that teens should definitely read.

Recommended for grades 9-12.


CS in Town of Esopus

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman

Mia's family is killed in a car accident that leaves her in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit. She realizes she has the choice to stay (live) or go (die). Will she join her parents or her boyfriend and pursue her love of music?

Although the end of the book is predictable, you can't help but get caught up in Mia's heartbreaking story. It sends the message that keeping hope and staying strong is always important -- and to stay true to yourself. This book is a great read and hard to put down.

Recommended.
Meghan in Esopus

For Mia, a 17-year-old girl, one single moment has changed everything. An accident has changed her whole life. She must now decide whether to fight for her life or surrender to death after she is badly injured in a car accident. Mia is able to watch her body being rushed to the hospital, and her observations of this process are interspersed with memories of her friends or family. Her thoughts wander from her love of classical music to her family to her relationship with her boyfriend.

This is a great book that teaches you the value of life. It shows that memories are incredible things, and once they are permanently gone they never come back.

Outstanding.
Musfera in Esopus

DEADLINE by Chris Crutcher

Ben begins to become more involved with friends and school after finding out that he is terminally ill. Now, he just has to tell everyone.

This book shows how stressful high school can be and it puts a different face on illness and death. It shows that it's easier to tell the truth than lie.

Recommended.
Meghan in Esopus

Ben Wolf, a senior in high school, has been diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Against his doctor's advice, he chooses to forego treatment and instead decides to live his life as normally as possible, instead of undergoing the treatment that would leave him sick and bald and prolong his life for only a couple more months. Ben is determined to leave his mark on life and he's willing to take some risks in the little time he has left.

This book makes you think about life, how to value it while you have it.

Recommended.
Musfera in Esopus

LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green

A boy, Miles, decides to go to a private school where he meets a group of kids who open his eyes to new experiences. A girl, Alaska, makes Miles realize many new things about life and love.

I thought this book was good, and would recommend it to a friend who has lost a close family member or friend. I learned that the only things you regret in life are the risks you don't take.
Good.
Joe in Esopus

Miles Halter has gone to boarding school in Alabama to seek the "Great Perhaps." He meets a few friends and quickly learns the ropes of the school - pranking is everything. Miles learns to love Alaska who is killed in a car accident. Then he solves the mystery of her death.

The most valuable message of the book? Do not drink and drive. Value friendship. Life is too short to waste

I think this book was great. It was creative, kept my attention, and I enjoyed the way it was formatted.

Outstanding.
Erica in Esopus

Miles is accepted by a brainy group of pranksters led by his roommate and Alaska Young, a smart and sexy feminist. The teen becomes captivated by his new friends and forgets who he really is and falls for Alaska Young.

This was an unforgettable book that reminds us to not forget who we are, and not to change.

Recommended.
Musfera in Esopus

Friends are the most important thing in life; without friends, life would suck.
This book is full of fun characters and funny subplots.

Outstanding.
Meghan in Esopus