BAIT by Alex Sanchez

Bait was about a boy named Diego who was suffering with a horrible secret. The secret was he was raped and abused when he was younger by his stepfather. This caused him to worry he'd be gay or even turn gay. Than one day a boy at school who was gay was staring at Diego, Diego told him to stop and he wouldn't so Diego punched him in the face. This is when he met his PO (Parole Officer) Mr. Vidas. As he began to open up with Mr. Vidas we found out that Diego had tried to tell his mom that this was happening but when he brought it up she slapped him across the face, she wouldn't listen to him. Diego started to feel more and more comfortable with Mr. Vidas but once this happened he felt like he was being taken away because Mr. Vidas decided against having him be on Parole. Diego felt betrayed and worried Mr. Vidas was the only male figure Diego had in his life and he wasn't about to lose that. So Diego requested to have probation so he could talk more to Mr. Vidas. Mr. Vidas had no idea Diego was cutting him self and soon found out. After this, all Diego's secrets began spilling out eventually leading to Mr. Vidas' secret also being found out. Mr. Vidas is gay. Diego immediately felt betrayed and decided he was going into the ocean to fight the shark that appeared in his dreams so often. After almost drowning Diego made it back to shore and decided to talk to Mr. Vidas about what he had learned. Mr. Vidas confirmed to him that he was in fact gay and told Diego that he'd never hurt him, and Diego soon trusted him again. Eventually Mr. Vidas sent up a meeting with Diego's mom & himself and Diego told her about the abuse. Soon after opening up their relationship got better, and Mr. V tried an activity asking Diego to imagine that he could say what he always wanted to say to his stepfather (Mac). After this activity Diego began to feel like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, everything from then on out got much better.

I learned a lot about the struggle people go through when their abused and how it can really effect their lives if they don't talk about it. Also i learned how much impact not having a father figure in someones life can be.

An excellent book really draws you in and you can feel the pain Diego is suffering. And how desperate he is for a male figure in his life.

Recommended for grades 9-12 and adults


KH in Greenville

RESPONSE by Paul Volponi

This Book is about a young African American male named Noah who is 17 yrs old and lives in the time when things were a bit hectic about racism. He was a teen father of a daughter named Destiny and loved her severely. One night him and his friends decided they needed money so they decided to go into the white town to steal a car and instead got caught up in and beaten. His friends ran off and he tripped and got severely jumped by the white gang and got a bat struck on the side of his head which went to his skull. This accident changed his life. He had the trouble of going through the court because they considered it a hate crime because the boys just jumped him because he was black. He realized then that if anything worse could have happened his daughter would not have a dad anymore and it made him feel even worse. In the end he figured out what he had to do to change his life and become a man and he did it successfully.

This book was probably one of the books I loved. Reading this book just was such an inspiration because it's all true facts on how the world really is. It shows hatred amongst others and social impact on racism. It hits you a lot when reading this book. What I gained from it is that even though you might hate someone so badly with your heart and mind that in the end you shouldn't react on your anger because it will get you nowhere. Instead take the time to relax, let your mind wonder and do the right thing by forgiving the one who did wrong, because in the end the person who did you wrong is the one who wants the anger back at them. That's what makes them keep going. Show them that you are stronger than you think and you can rise above and be a better person.

Just read it because honestly it will change you. It will show you how much brighter your future will be without being so angry.

Recommended for grades 11-12.


AH in Howland

SHATTERING GLASS by Gail Giles

Shattering Glass was about a boy named Simon Glass. Everyone thought of him as the "text book" geek. Constantly people picked on him especially Lance Ansley. Until Rob (the kid who transferred and is now the new popular kid), decided to take on the challenge of turning Glass (AKA Simon) into a popular kid. As these changes began to happen to Simon: new hair, clothes, friends, something else changed... his attitude. As Simon, Rob, Young, Bobster and Coop began to become closer something happened. Simon began to be not as controlled by Robert and this made him angry. After all this time Robert spent on trying to turn Simon into Senior Class favorite, turning Young against his own girlfriend and rallying up voters. Simon lost Senior Class favorite to Rob and Rob knew Simon had something to do with it. Robert lost it, making Simon spill all of Rob's secrets. Rob had been molested for 5 years and Simon knew where Rob's dad was. Rob then lost it and took a bat, beating Simon dead.

I gained a whole new perspective on the impact of how you treat people.

Highly recommend, the little paragraphs at each chapter starting to reveal hints to the end makes you want to keep reading and to keep puzzling everything together.

Recommended for grades 9-12.


KH in Greenville

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Elizabeth Eulberg

This book is about a girl named Penny Lane (named after a Beatles' song) that has had some pretty disastrous experiences on the dating market and she decides no more! She starts the Lonely Hearts Club (also named after a Beatles' song), which is a group of girls who vow not to date, not to let their sole focus in life be getting a boyfriend, and to just have fun with each other. Of course, then they have to admit that not all the boys in high school are jerks and everything just gets more and more complicated when Penny tries not to fall in love with one of those non-jerk boys.

What I gained from this book is that you don't need boys to get through life or high school. All you need is yourself and your TRUE friends. When you finally realize that you need to do for yourself and not for others then you can actually realize who matters and who doesn't.

I would recommend this book to teens who are interested in love and really wondering how guys can act. It just shows you there is more to life than dating.

Recommended for grades 11-12.


AH in Beacon

A FIELD GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL by Marissa Walsh

This book is about a girl named Andie who is going into her freshman year of high school at a private school, named Plumstead, without her best friend. Her sister Claire, who is going into her freshmen year of college, decides to write her a guide all about high school and the school she is going to. Some of the suggestions in the guide are, don't come to your first day of school in your back to school outfit, don't ask for help from an upperclassman, join at least one of Plumstead's activities, and also don't follow this guide, there is no real guide to high school.

You can't just follow a guide, you have to experience it for yourself.

Good read, recommended.

Recommended for grades 9-10.


KH in Greenville

RATS SAW GOD by Rob Thomas

This was a book about a boy named Steve York who cruises through his high school career smoking pot until his guidance counselor tells him the only way he'll graduate is if he writes a 100 page paper about anything he wants. This book takes you through his high school years. Steve writes about his life, his astronaut dad, the girl he loved (Dub), his sister Sarah, and his mom. Steve talks about his life when he was living in Houston with his astronaut dad, when he meets his best friend Doug and creating a group called GOD (Grace Order of Dadaists), and falling in love with Dub. Then he talks about what happens and how he lost Dub, and how he ended up in San Diego with his mom.

I gained a lot about how pot can affect your life. Steve wasted his years lighting up forcing him to do this assignment for school so he can graduate.

I would recommended this book, although it was confusing because he was writing about his life during both junior and senior year, and I got confused because this book would keep flipping in between both.

Recommended for grades 11-12.


KH in Greenville

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT: DISCOVERING YOUR INNER POWER by Bianca Guerra

This book explores how some girls get into big problems and then they feel that they are in that relationship or position because it's their own fault and they can't do anything about it -- but you learn that if you talk to people you can find a solution to your problem.

I would recommend this book -- it is very empowering. It shows you that sometimes you are your own answer.

Recommended.
Musfera in Esopus