YA Reading Post 2
Fall 2019



Quintero, Isabel. 2014. GABI A GIRL IN PIECES. El Paso, Tx. Cinco Punto Press. ISBN: 978-1-935955-94-8

Gabi Hernandez is experiencing many challenges on her last year of high school. From having a father who is a meth addict and suddenly overdosing in the family home, to her best friend Cindy who gets pregnant in high school but later confesses to her friend that she was raped, and to her gay friend Sebastian who was kicked out of his home after his parents find out that he is gay, Gabi always found ways to support those she loved.  She also had issues of her own. For example, her love of food, being overweight, boys and her mother constantly reminding her that girls must never be too loose.  Gabi finds a way to cope with all these issues through her love of poetry thanks to her teacher mentor and supporter Ms. Abernard. She encouraged Gabi to write. In her journals and poetry,  Gabi writes the most intimate things. Her love for food, body weight, boys, sex and the people in her life. Gabi  doesn't feel that having sex is nothing to be ashamed of even after her mother implies that she should not be having sex at her age.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found Gabi to be a phenomenal character not only because she was able to help others but she is able to deal with her own issues in a positive way despite always being criticized that girls should act a certain way.

Other books on Isabel Quintero: My Papi has a Motorcycle

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Satrapi, Marjane. 2004. PERSEPOLIS. Paris France: Pantheon Books. ISBN:0-37-42230-7

Persepolis is a remarkable graphic autobiography book about a young girl who at the age of six years old experienced the overthrown of the Shah in 1979 to the control of the Islamic Revolution. After the Islamic Revolution took over, and the war with Iraq, Maryjane experiences many difficult times as the war affects her country and laws being imposed by a Islamic government. Marjane can no longer enjoy dancing to Michael Jackson music or wearing anything she wants. She is forced to wear a veil everywhere she goes. Her parents opposed the the Islamic Revolution and would take part in the protest. Seeing her parents take part in the countries protest against the government gives Maryjane the courage for her passion for social activism. Because of her intelligence and outspoken ways, Maryjane's family decide to send her to Paris to avoid being persecuted by the government. It pains Maryjane to leave her parents but she must obey their wishes and find a new life in a country she knows so little of.
I love the feisty character in Maryjane. She fights for what she feels is the right thing to do. She was blunt and outspoken when she saw things not handle the right way. She just had so much courage to do what was always right in spite of any repercussions she might endure.

Other books by Maryjane Satrapi:

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Thomas, Angie. 2017. THE HATE YOU GIVE. New York: Harper Collins Publisher. ISBN: 9780062498533

Caught between two different worlds, a poor black neighborhood and wealthy prominently white school prep, Starr is forced to balanced her two lives. After leaving a evening party, Starr witnesses the killing of her childhood friend Khalil who was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop. This leaves Starr traumatize and unable to deal with the devastation of the death of her childhood friend. Starr must decide whether or not to speak up for her childhood friend despite endangering her life and being ostracized by her own community and her prep school friends. Only she has the answers to what happened that night and she must decide to do what is right.
This book is so uplifting in the way Starr has to deal with the wake of the shooting and her courage to stand up for what is right. Although her family lives in a poor neighborhood in town, they kept their family tight-nit and Starr's parents always kept her grounded and real. Her mother always had a positive attitude towards life and her dad was a wise man who loved and cared for his family.

Other books by Angie Thomas:

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Alexander, Kwame. 2014. CROSSOVER. New York: Hougthon Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 

Josh Bell, aka Filthy McNasty, is known for his basketball skills. He and his twin brother are phenomenal basketball stars known for there crossover skills on the court. They live and breath basketball and hope someday to play basketball professionally. Both their parents are very supportive of the boys especially their father who shares a few basketball rules about the game.  Although they have the support of both parents, mom claims that dad gets over worked with watching the boys play which can affect his hypertension. Mom wants everyone to be eating healthy but dad refuses to eat healthy nor  does he want to visit the doctor.  One day the boys discover a box full of memorabilia in their parents closet. It's there that they discover that their father couldn't play basketball when he was young because of his patella tendinitis. As the story progresses, Josh's twin brother falls hard for a girl and Josh feels that his twin brother is not taking his game serious. During a basketball game Josh throws the ball hard on his twin brother's face almost breaking his nose. Josh is suspended and his brother wants nothing to do with him. Soon their father has a set back. One day during a basketball game, the boys fathers is rushed to the hospital after feeling sick. He goes into a coma and later dies.  After the funeral, they boys finally reconcile after shooting some free throws at home.
I found this books to be so much fun to read. I can understand the reality of pain and challenges most teens go through and how life can be very difficult at times. But what makes it a finer read is how Kwame Alexander used poetry to tell a wonderful and touching story. I was excited to share it with my students. They loved it and were ready to read it themselves.

Other books by Kwame Alexander:

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Telgemeir, Raina. 2014. SISTERS. NewYork: Scholastic Graphix. ISBN 978-0-54060-5

Raina has longed for a little sister but when her sister finally arrives, it is nothing like she had expected.  Furthermore, living in a small apartment does not help the relationship between Raina and Amara.  Amara is cranky, likes to play alone and is difficult to get along with.  Their relationship does not improve over the years but when a baby brother enters the picture and something does not seem right between their parents, the sisters realize they must figure out how to get along.

Telgemeier's graphic novel, Sisters, is full of humor and everyday charm and draws readers with her characteristic colorful pictures that are easy to absorb and understand. In this narrative, Telgemeier uses humor in perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her younger sister, Amara, which becomes difficult when both take a long road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado. Additionally, the author is able to illustrate the characters' emotions in a fun and playful way that is relate able about siblings, family life and growing up. 

Other books by the author:

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Green, John. 2014. THE FAULTS IN OUR STARS. United Kingdom: Penguin. ISBN:9780141345659

Sixteen year old Hazel Lancaster has been battling cancer for the past three years.  In order to make her daughter deal with the disease and meet others just like her, her mother forces Hazel to look for a support group. It is there where she meets Gus Waters. Gus is a seventeen year old boy who is now in remission after having a tumor in his leg.  He is charismatic, full of life and has such a positive attitude that Hazel truly admires him. Gus is falling for Hazel  and she has the same feelings for Gus but knows that their lives are going to be heartbreaking. One day they travel to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author. On their trip they realized that with or without cancer, their lives would still challenging so might as well make the best of it.
I admired Hazle's character for having a strong willed personality. She choose to live life just like she wanted to despite knowing that one day she was going to die of cancer. She experiences more in life after falling in love with Augustus and she did not regret it one bit.

Other book by John Green:

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Smith, Andrew. 2011. STICK. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN: 978-0-312-61341-9

Stark McClellan also know as Stick is sixteen years old and was born with a deformity. Because he is was born with one ear, he is always so conscious about what others think of him. He is bullied at school frequently and he has a hard time standing up for himself. He just found it so ridiculous to fight over things like that but not his older brother Bolten. Bolten took matters in to his hands when others picked on his younger brother. Life was very difficult for Stick. He not only experienced rejection and  mockery at school but his life at home was not much better. He had to face a life of uncertainty at home with two abusive parents.  One day he discovers that his brother and brother's best friends like each other.  Stick is afraid that if his parents find out that his brother is gay they will beat and chastise him which will prompt his brother Bosten to run away. His fathers soon finds out about his son Bolten being gay.  After an altercation with his father, Bolten runs away.  Stick can't go on living at his home with his father and steals his fathers car in search for his brother. During his journey, Stick comes across bad people who want to take advantage of him and is stuck in a home where two men have been murdered. He flees that home plans to travel to California with his Aunt Dehlia. As he travels, he encounters a pleasant man who helps him get to his aunt's house.  His only hope is to find love again and his brother.
My heart ached as I read this book. I can't imagine these two characters going through the most traumatic life experiences with two parents who were supposed to love and protect their children. Stick was a sweet, caring, and kind character. No matter how much pain he endured from the bullies at school and his parents, he stayed strong and positive. His love for his brother was the most important thing in his life.

Other books by Andrew Smith.












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Crutcher, Chris. 2018. LOSERS BRACKET. New York: GreenWillow Books. ISBN978-0-06-222006-6

Annie Boots life experiences with her biological family have been incredibly painful for the last seventeen years. Bouncing from foster care multiple times until her biological mother's rights were brought to an untimely end.  Annie just cant seem to stay away from her biological family. Everywhere they meet, it ends up in misfortune but it is still her family. Her foster parents want Annie to stay away from her biological family once and for all but Annie finds it hard to let go. She keeps disappointing her Pop no matter what he says because she thinks family is family. During a swimming meet, Annie's family are there to support her, including her biological family. An argument
 erupts between the family and Annie's nephew Frankie is nowhere to be seen. She must do whatever it takes to find him even if she has to take part in supporting her biological family.
I found Annie to be such a loving and strong character even after going through so much agony and pain throughout her life.  She always wanted to make things right and better for her biological family but no matter what she did, it always end it up in disenchantment. Annie never stopped making things better for everyone and that is what I admired about her character. I enjoyed reading this book and hope to read others books from this author.

Other Books from Chris Crutcher: