BREATHING UNDERWATER by Alexandra Flinn

Nick is popular and wealthy and claims to be in love with Caitlin. The relationship they share is fine in the first few months, but then Nick begins to display his true colors. He becomes controlling and jealous and tries to run Caitlin's life, such as telling her to not sing in the talent show because she is a terrible singer. He treats his girlfriend inappropriately and when things get out of hand, Caitlin gets a restraining order and Nick is forced by the court to attend anger management. For the first time he sees that he has become his father, and he eventually realizes the seriousness of his actions and how much he hurt Caitlin.

Breathing Underwater teaches that not all relationships are healthy and how serious abuse really is. A person's home life could determine the potential they have to be an abuser, just as Nick's home life. Also, that there are consequences for all your actions.

I would recommend this book because of the valuable lessons it contains about teenage dating and abuse.

Recommended for all teens.


VG in Howland

YOU DON'T KNOW ME by David Klass

John goes through his life thinking noone truly knows him. He calls everyone he knows by different names because he thinks that truly they don't know him. John never met his real father (which he calls the man who named him after a toilet) but the man his mother brought into his house, (the man who is not my father) beats him. John doesn't have many friends but when hanging out with Billy Breezer he gets the idea to ask out a girl he calls Glory Hallelujia to the basketball game. Glory says yes and they go to the game, then back to her house. She invites him in the basement and practically makes him take off his shoes and shirt once this happens her father tries to get into the basement which is locked. Her father starts freaking out and screaming, telling Glory she better be alone she yells at him to bust down the door you. He does just that he busts down the door forcing John to find an escape route, and quick. He eventually leaves but now he is hated by anyone he ever knew. Once John gets home he gets beaten, and when he goes back to school he gets suspended for calling his teacher Mrs. Moonface. One of the days John was suspended, a girl from school called Violent Hayes shows up at John's door she eventually asks him to the Semiformal and he ends up going. But when John gets home he gets beaten worse than he's ever been beaten before. He tries to fight back, and he stabs his father in the cheek but this doesn't faze him. His stepfather then punches him in the mouth breaking teeth and cutting his lip. Then they both collide causing them to land outside where his not father punches him in the nose breaking it but just when John thinks he's going to die, Mr. Steenwilly appears and breaks it up. John is now safe and this is were John's mother finds out what's really going on and John realizes his mother really knows him after all.

I learned that there's always help when your getting abused, Mr. Steenwilly suspected something was wrong from day one and he stuck with it, saving John's life. Abuse is a very serious issue and you can help keeping it from happening or help someone who is being abused get help.

I found this book to be very interesting and I liked the character Violent Hayes.

Recommended for grades 9-12.

KH in Greenville

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

BEYOND BRUISES: THE TRUTH ABOUT TEENS AND ABUSE by Sherri Mabry Gordon

This book explains all about abuse. It lists the many different kinds of abuse and what to look for if you think you're being abused, or if you think someone is being abused. It explains the many kinds of abuse (Physically, Sexually, Verbally, and Emotionally). This book also features a story about 15 year old Melanie who was being abused which leads into an explanation about what abuse is and what to do to help.

I gained a lot of knowledge from this book including what abuse is, how you cope with it, how you can tell someone is being abused, the effects of abuse and your options to help stop someone who is abusing you or someone you know.

This book is helpful to anyone including someone who is being abused, and someone who knows someone who is an abuser. It gives information on what to do and how to help, and can be a great resource for anyone.

Recommended for grades 9-12 and adults.


KDH in Greenville

FREEZE FRAME by Heidi Ayarbe

Kyle and Jason were the best of friends. You could call them brothers, but one day it all changed. It was an accident, wasn't it? Murderer...murderer..murderer.. Scene 3 kept replaying in Kyles head but he just couldn't get the right ending.

I gained a lot from reading this book--everything can change in a split second.
This book really had you wondering what happens next. It's a real page turner.

Recommended for Grades 9 - 12.


KDH in Greenville.

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino begins her freshman year at high school ostracized by her fellow classmates and literally alone. She is tormented by memories of her rape that took place over the summer, cannot talk about it, and rather expresses herself by creating trees in art class. With the help of her art teacher and Maya Angelo, Melinda must learn to speak out.

A requirement in most ninth grade English classes, this novel is helpful in understanding the mind of a sexually abused teenage girl.

I have many friends who have enjoyed Speak, but I personally did not find Melinda's head an enjoyable place to be, mainly due to the writing style.

Recommended for Grades 9 - 12


RVK in Esopus

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

DIRTY WORK by Julia Bell

Hope thinks she leads a very boring life. But then she meets Olesana, a Russian girl who has been sold as a sex slave. They both get kidnapped and must work together to escape the brothel they are trapped in.

Dirty Work is riveting and very captivating. The pages go very fast as it covers serious issues -- how easy it is for onlookers to become victims in something as dreadful as human trafficking. It will definitely make you think twice about talking to a stranger. If you're looking for something serious, this is the book for you!

Good.
Erica in Esopus

Dirty Work is about a young woman, Oksana, caught in the world of sex trafficking (where she uses the name Natasha). She once had a family, but is now known as a whore in her hometown because she has been bought and sold across Europe for sexual gratification. Hope doesn't have a mother. Her brother and father are in Russia. Hope, like Natasha, is desperate to get away. The two young women have to work together to get out.

This gives a glimpse into another world, and how young women live in other countries. It teaches the reader that you can have all the money in the world and still not be happy.

Outstanding.
Musfera in Esopus

BUT I LOVE HIM: PROTECTING YOUR DAUGHTER FROM CONTROLLING, ABUSIVE, DATING RELATIONSHIPS by Jill Murray

Good advice for anyone who is in a bad relationship and looking to get out -- and even helps identify what a bad relationship is. It also helps parents learn the signs of an abusive relationship before it gets too bad, and helps teens identify people with problem behavior before getting involved with them.

This book will help someone learn about things to stay away from -- including someone who demeans you, hits you and then apologizes and promises to never do it again.

Recommended.
Musfera in Esopus

SAFE by Susan Shaw

A girl got raped on June 15, and it changed her life. She didn't want to leave the house and was scared to be alone if her father wasn't with her. Ultimately, music saved her life.

Sometimes the road to recovery is done using your own creativity. I would recommend this book to a friend who plays or writes music.

Marginal.
Joe G. in Esopus