Category Archives: Read 180

“Wonder”

   Wonder by R. J. Palacio Augustine—Auggie—Pullman has been homeschooled all his life, but for fifth grade, he is going to go to a private middle school. He’s smart enough, but he’s anxious. This will be the first time he’s … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Reaction”

Reaction by Lesley Choyce    Ashley drops the bomb on Zach—she’s pregnant and doesn’t know what to do. At first they try to figure things out together, but their fear and anger cause them to pull apart. Ashley is so … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Bang”

Bang by Norah McClintock   “Act normal? The guy died, and JD wants me to act normal?” Quentin—‘Q’—thinks he’s going to have the usual day with his friend JD. Q thinks about asking JD’s sister Leah out. He thinks about hanging … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Picture This”

    Picture This by Norah McClintock Ethan is living in his second foster home when he is enrolled in Picture This is a program for troubled teens. He’s learning photography skills and he’s good at it—creative and serious. So when … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sports: “Game”

Game by Walter Dean Myers     “In a way it was like a bunch of guys in a game. They were falling behind every minute that passed, but they had lost interest in the score. It was as if … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tough Teen Topics: “Such a Pretty Girl”

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess    Fifteen-year-old Meredith (“Chirp”) is coming undone because her father, who sexually molested and raped her when she was twelve, is coming home from prison. It’s clear from the outset of Such a Pretty … Continue reading

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “The Beckoners”

The Beckoners by Carrie Mac  Everyone calls April “Dog.”  She’s been bullied all through high school. From being forced to eat a whole box of dog biscuits and retching in the hallway to being beaten within an inch of her … Continue reading

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “Shooter”

  Shooter by Walter Dean Myers Myers does his usual good job with a tough topic. The book opens as an investigation of a school shooting ‘last April.’ Various adults (psychologist, police personnel) interview the two best friends of the … Continue reading

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Death Sentence: Escape from Furnace, Book Three

Just a quick note on Death Sentence: Book Three of Escape from Furnace. I read it. It still has the appeal of the first two books, but it does have that middle of the series lag, at least at the … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Summer Reading: Bullying Books

Summer Reading One of my reading goals this summer is to read and select some books about bullying—both the cyber sort and the in-person attacks. I hope to recommend two bully-themed books per month in the 2013-14 school year. This … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment