Robin Brande: Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature

Interesting. Different. I wish the author would have explained the specifics sooner of the protagonist's ostracization...but, quite entertaining and satisfying nonetheless...except the protagonist's parents SUCK in this book.

Sarah N. Harvey: The Lit Report

Not too disappointing, but not that thrilling. Girl gets pregnant, girl's plan-it-all friend tries to plan out her friend's pregnancy--nothing goes as planned...learning ensues.

Elizabeth Scott: Living Dead Girl

This is marketed as a "YA" book, but I am not sure in any capacity what teen I could recommend this to. I am SUPER liberal, but this text's entire plot is sickening. "Alice" is basically a sex slave who realizes she is just a shell after the abuse she endures from Ray, her captor. While the text is a new topic as a focus, thinking about the five years Alice suffered with no one to help her, no means of escape, and the horrific damage it did to her soul and body (now that Ray is starving her to keep her 15 year old body child-like) makes me ill. While the reader is left with a miniscule amount of hope, and "Alice" is a survivor, overall I am still questioning who I could envision enjoying this text. And I work with some super-rough students. I applaud Scott for not being too graphic with the details to warrant immunity from the horrors, but enough is left to the imagination to sicken most readers.

Ann Dee Ellis: This is What I Did

Logan experiences and endures constant torment. The reader's heart aches as the torment increases and the trauma Logan witnessed is slowly revealed. It is written in an interesting format with little wingdings that divide the very short sections. This is a very quick read, but also a very sad read.

Julius Lester: Guardian

Lynching from the perspective of a white boy who sees the truth but is powerless to stand up for it. VERY sad, but really well-written. Informational material and the author's note are really awesome too.

Shelia Solomon Klass

Not bad, but not super. Too many superfluous additions to the text when Sampson's story in itself is amazingly captivating. Whatever.

F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby

Meh.
Why does Fitzgerald write women so unflatteringly? While some of the language was amazing to read, the story could have been so easily told in about 150 less pages...Still, interesting and frustrating all at once--a good thing.

Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire

I hate Stanley, but I think I hate Stella more. Her weakness is sickening...

Margaret Peterson Haddix : Palace of Mirrors

STUPID cover. AND the 1st inside panel should note that Ella (from Just Ella) returns in this text--not on the back panel that I read when I was 3/4 of the way through trying to sort out if the Ella was MY Ella.
Really interesting read, the book had an unpredictable ending (I was guessing until the last few pages), but the heroine is not as strong as I saw Ella. She seems to whine a great deal about her "rightful" place as the queen, but it is essential to her character's predicament. I still appreciate this book. I just miss Ella...she and Jed still are not married! :)

K.L. Denman: Spiral (orca soundings)

These Orca Soundings (Currents/sports, etc.) books are awesome for ELL students, and those readers who are less motivated. They are quick reads with interesting plot lines. This was about a girl who was paralyzed from an accident at work, who then became addicted to cocaine. She is admitted to an exclusive horse rehabilitation facility (like a ranch), where she finds herself and becomes adept in her "new" body. Not anything worth cannonizing, but an interesting read nonetheless.