Tuesday, July 5, 2011

2011-2012 Iowa Teen Award Titles

Along for the Ride
      Sarah Dessen
Auden has missed out on alot of things while growing up. She's always been more of an adult than a kid. She decides to spend the summer before going off to college with her father and new sister at the beach. While there Auden gets an opportunity to try all those things she missed out on. Will she take the chance?

Operation Yes
      Sara Lewis Holmes
Bo has always had trouble behaving in school, but has promised his Air Force father that this year will be better. A new teacher gets the year off to a good start, but when his cousin comes to live with their family, Bo starts to have some problems. When his teacher's brother goes missing in combat, things get even worse. The students come up with Operation Yes to help their teacher and her brother.

Unwind
     Neal Shusterman
Neal Shusterman takes the reader into another world where life is completely different from what we know. Teens can be sent to be unwound--all of their body parts are harvested to use for others. While this is seen as murder, the teen exists only on other people. Connor has been sent to be an Unwind but is determined to run away and survive. Along the way, he helps another runaway and a "tithe" who may turn them all in.
After Ever After
     Jordan Sonnenblick
Author of another ITA book-Notes from the Midnight Driver-Sonnebrick again create some quirky characters that face real life problems. Jeffrey is a cancer survivor but that doesn't mean he still isn't affected by the disease. He has some real learning problems because of the drugs used to treat his cancer. Now the school is saying all students must pass a test before going on to high school. Jeffrey and his friend come up with a plan, but Jeffrey still fails the practice tests. Can they boys help each other meet their goals?

Pop
     Gordon Korman
One of my favorite teen authors has written another great book this time focusing on football. As a new kid in town, Marcus hopes to make the football team which was undefeated the previous year. The returning quarterback makes it tough on Marcus but with the help of a middle aged man, Marcus improves his skills and makes the team. The man still loves the "pop" of a good tackle and soon Marcus learns to love it as well. When Marcus gets in trouble for some pranks that Charlie was in on, Marcus is unable to tell the police who was in on it. Keeping Charlie's secret could be big trouble for Marcus.
Anything but Typical
      Nora Raleigh Baskin
Jason is an autistic student who loves to write. Posting his stories online, Jason has a chance to feel normal. When he has a chance to attend a conference and meet his online friend, Jason is terrified how she will react to his problems.
Sunrise Over Falluhjah
      Walter Dean Myers
Birdy wants to do his part after 9/11 and so he joins the army and is headed off to Operation Iraqi Freedom. As part of a Civilian Affairs Battalion, Birdy's job is to try to show the people of Iraq that the Americans are there to help them. However, that doesn't keep him from being in danger.
Purple Heart
     Patricia McCormick
Author of Sold, McCormick takes a look at the war in Iraq. Matt is in the hospital and is suffering from a brain injury that has affected his memory. He's afraid he was involved in the death of an Iraqi boy, but can't remember everything. When he joins his squad, the memories continue to haunt him and he's afraid he won't be able to do his job properly.
The Last Thing I Remember
      Andrew Klavan
Book 1 of the Homelanders series. I will definetely need to buy the next books in this series. Full of action and suspense, this book keeps the reader turning the pages to see what happens next. Charlie wakes up to discover he is going to be killed. He escapes from the compound only to discover that he had been in prison for killing his best friend. He remember none of this and only wants to return to life as he remembers it.
Woods Runner
     Gary Paulson
As master of the survival novel, Paulson takes us to the Revolutionary Era. Sam is out hunting and returns home to find his home burned and his parents kidnapped. He sets off to find his parents but doesn't know who he can trust. Along the way, he is helped by another frontier family who are murdered by Indians helping the British. Now he must help their young daughter as he tries to survive the perils around him.
Boost
     Kathy Mackel
Savy's family has moved and she and her sister are trying to fit into their new school. As a thirteen-year old, Savy tries out and makes the 18u team despite the resentment of some of the girls. When steroids are found in her bag, Savy must prove that they are not hers.
Red Glass
     Laura Resau
Sophie's family becomes involved with a young boy that was found in the desert crossing into the US from Mexico. When her aunt and her boyfriend, decide to take Pablo back to his village, Sophia goes along. The trip becomes a journey of self-discovery for Sophia as she faces challenges and dangers she never thought she could face.
All the Broken Pieces
      Ann E. Burg
A story written in verse, this book reads really quickly. Matt is a refugee from the Vietnam War that has found a home in the US. Matt is a great baseball player, but there are people who are prejudiced against him because of his heritage. Can his family and coach help him to find his place?
The Batboy
     Mike Lupica
Lupica fans will enjoy this book. Brian loves baseball and gets the chance to be the batboy for Detroit. His all time favorite player returns to play for the Tigers but has to prove himself after being involved with the steroid scandal. Brian soon discovers that his hero is not all that friendly even when Brian thinks he knows what is wrong with his swing.
Beastly
     Alex Flinn
A great book using the story of Beauty and the Beast. A popular and good looking high school boy, Kyle makes the wrong girl angry and she puts a spell on him that turns him into a beast. The only way to break the spell is for someone to fall in love with him. Even if you think you know the story, Flinn does a great job of telling it and you'll enjoy reading it.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Go Big or Go Home

Will Hobbs
Go Big or Go Home
Action/adventure

Having gotten out of bed to watch the Perseid meteor showers, Brady narrowly escapes death as a meteor crashes through his bedroom roof and through his bed. Fascinated by the rock from outer space, he and his cousin take it to a professor who discovers that it is filled with a dormant bacteria. As the boys bike, play basketball, and hang out together, they begin to notice that Brady has gained some extraordianary powers. Is the meteor responsible? Set in the Black Hills, this story is full of adventure. You'll want to keep reading to see what happens next.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Life As We Knew It

Susan Beth Pfeffer
Life As We Knew It
2008-08 Iowa Teen Award Nominee

Miranda records moments of her life as her family faces difficult times. An asteroid hit the moon causing tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes. With no electricity and limited food will her family survive the winter?

Miranda and her family are realistic characters that you will like. This story will make you think about how you might face difficult situations.

Heat

Mike Lupica
Heat
2008-08 Iowa Teen Award Nominee

Michael dreams of playing in the Little League World Series, and his team might be good enough. When another coach accuses Michael of being too old, he has to sit out until a birth certificate can be found. To add to his worries, Michael is afraid that child services will find out he and his brother are living alone.

A great sport stories.

Blood Red Horse

K. M. Grant
Blood Red Horse
2008-08 Iowa Teen Award Nominee

Anxious to pick his first war horse, Will de Granville picks a red horse called Hosanna. Though not a big horse, it is fast and graceful. When Will, his father, and his brother go off to the Crusades, Hosanna proves his worth as the men fight for the Holy Land.

Filled with action, this book will give you a great look into a what the crusades may have been like.

Crossing the Wire

Will Hobbs
Crossing the Wire
2008-08 Iowa Teen Award Nominee

Victor is determined to help his family in Mexico so he undertakes a dangerous journey to cross the border into the United States.

Will Hobbs does a great job of making you feel you are right there living through the journey with Victor.

Red Kayak

Priscilla Cummings
Red Kayak
2008-08 Iowa Teen Award Nominee

Brady and his friends see a rich neighbor out in a kayak on their way to school. Brady is later part of a search team when the mother and child are missing. Brady finds the child but the little boy dies. Brady's sadness turns to guilt as he finds out he may have contributed to Ben's death.

You'll feel Brady's pride and guilt as you follow him through the events surrounding the accident and its aftermath.