Tag Archives: YA fiction

Gender Fluidity: Symptoms of Being Human

Posted on September 18, 2018 by

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin  Gender fluid teenager Riley Cavanaugh starts an anonymous blog at the suggestion of their therapist. Even this anonymous version of coming out takes Riley some time—as well as a major crisis and a … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Orca Limelights: “The Frail Days”

Posted on November 25, 2017 by

 Stella Wing (because it sounds more ‘new-punk’ than Wang) with her nose piercing and fire-engine-red hair is no Disney princess. She’s a drummer in a nameless band that needs a singer. Jacob is her guitarist and Miles plays the bass. … Continue reading →

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

“My Kind of Crazy”

Posted on September 13, 2016 by

My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul    Hank Kirby comes up with a great idea for asking popular Amanda Carlisle to the prom. How then does he manage, with just a box of sparklers, to light up Amanda Carlisle’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Humor, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“All the Bright Places”

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven   We meet Violet Markey and Theodore Finch out on the ledge of their school’s clock tower. They haven’t gone there together, but rather accidentally run into one another as they as both … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sports Books: “The Final Four”

Posted on July 8, 2016 by

The Final Four by Paul Volponi    The hoop action between the Michigan State Spartans and the (underdog) Trojans of Troy University is nonstop, heart-pounding excitement. While the semifinal NCAA championship game is played, the novel focuses on four players: … Continue reading →

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

“Bone Gap”

Posted on June 27, 2016 by

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby   Finn, the teen oddball in the tiny country town of Bone Gap, is both loved for his quirky personality by most of the town and bullied by the family of Rudes–a common scenario in … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Drug Abuse “In Ecstasy”

Posted on June 5, 2016 by

  In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey Fifteen-year-old Sophie and Mia are longtime best friends, who, as the novel opens, are getting ready for a big party. Sophie is more outgoing. Mia is socially awkward and just hopes to get through … Continue reading →

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