The 5th Wave, by Rick Yancey

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The 5^th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

ISBN:  978-1101996515

Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Copyright: 2013

Reader’s Annotation:

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

Plot Summary:

Cassie is trying to survive; there has been an alien invasion of Earth and she is on her own.  The 1^st wave involved the power grid failing, and all mechanical devices stopping (including transportation vehicles).  The 2^nd wave involved tidal waves wiping out wide swaths of land.  The 3^rd wave was a sickness that killed billions of people.  Now, the 4^th wave involves a militarization of the remaining population.  Ben, one of Cassie’s schoolmates, is being trained as a soldier to fight.  Cassie encounters a boy named Evan, who helps her regain her health enough to go find her brother, Sammy, who is also in the military camp with Ben.  Sammy is the only other member of Cassie’s family who has survived. Ben begins to realize that the soldiers are being deceived.  Evan accompanies Cassie as she journeys to the base to rescue Sammy.

Critical Evaluation:

The post-apocalyptic setting of the book is very well developed.  Yancey does a thorough job of setting up the alien invasion, slowly revealing the past three waves and the destruction that has resulted.  This results in a storyworld that feels frantic, desolate, and frightening.  The reader knows right away that this book will be intense and dark.

The plot of the book moves at a pace that keeps the reader engaged, without overwhelming them.  While parts of the plot may have been a tiny bit predictable, such as the relationship between Cassie and Evan, as well as Cassie’s crush, Ben being one of the few people who survives the previous 3 waves, these plot points serve to engage teen readers in a way that feels familiar.  I felt that the plot twist, revealing what the soldiers were really being trained to do, was well timed; as a reader not overly familiar with this genre, I was caught off guard by this revelation.

One of the weaker aspects of the writing involved the character development.  The only character I felt at all connected to was Cassie, which makes sense, since she is the focus of the book.  I felt that Sammy could have been better developed, as he is the force that really drives all of Cassie’s actions.  Some of the secondary characters were somewhat bland, particularly the soldiers. With their code names, I frequently got some of those characters mixed up.

All in all, this book is an action packed dystopian book.  The book is clearly plot driven, which is a strength in Yancey’s writing.  The writing places plot higher in importance than character development, which results in some characters being flat or unnecessary. While some readers may feel certain plot points are predictable, I think they serve to connect teen readers to things in their own lives.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Rick Yancey (www.rickyancey.com) is the author of the New York Times bestseller The 5th Wave, The Infinite Sea, several adult novels, and the memoir Confessions of a Tax Collector. His first young-adult novel, The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, was a finalist for the Carnegie Medal. In 2010, his novel, The Monstrumologist, received a Michael L. Printz Honor, and the sequel, The Curse of the Wendigo, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. When he isn't writing or thinking about writing or traveling the country talking about writing, Rick is hanging out with his family.

Genre(s): 
Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on conspiracy theories, as a construct, and what types of things may be kept secret from the public

A discussion about aliens, and what might happen should they invade Earth

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 690

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on adult language, mild teen sexuality, and scenes of intense violence.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

Personally, I am not a fan of dystopia, and I am even less of a fan of alien dystopia.  However, this genre continues to be very popular with teen readers, and this series is a current favorite, so I would be remiss to not include it in my mini collection.  With a recent film tie in, I do not see the popularity of this book lagging any time soon.  It is important that we, as librarians, stretch ourselves beyond our reading comfort zone, in order to develop collections that meet the needs of our patrons.  I do not have to like every book I encounter, but I do need to understand them in order to help connect them to the right readers.

Pretty Little Liars Season 1, created by I. Marlene King

Cover:

  

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Pretty Little Liars, Season 1

Creator: I. Marlene King

ASIN: B003R4ZMJU

Studio: Warner Home Video

Copyright: 2011

Reader’s Annotation:

This is what happens when you keep too many secrets.

Summary:

The first season follows teen girls Emily, Aria, Spencer, and Hanna in the aftermath of a tragedy where the leader of their little group, Alison, goes missing.  The friends begin receiving messages from a mysterious person named only “A”.  Often these messages contain hints of the secrets the girls are harboring, and threats to make those secrets public.  Alison’s body is discovered, and the town now begins to become entangled in a murder investigation, where nearly everyone is a suspect.  Each girl deals with personal dilemmas, with “A” pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Critical Evaluation:

This first season of the series introduces a wide variety of characters, including the late Alison, who shows up in frequent flashbacks.  The main storyline is obviously the mystery of who killed Alison, as well as who is the mysterious “A”, but each character has multiple substories.  At times, these substories become increasingly unbelievable and melodramatic.  The substory that I find particularly problematic is Aria secretly dating her English teacher.  Most of the stories, however, deal with fairly typical teen situations, such as questions of sexuality, parental divorce, and pressures to perform well in school.  I do, however,  have some mild concerns that none of the teens seem to suffer many consequences for their bad behavior.

The production values on the series are quite good; it looks amazing.  The actors and actresses portraying teens do so very convincingly.  Because the series is set in a fictional suburb of Philadelphia in a very wealthy area, they styling of the show is fairly lush, with the girls wearing expensive designer clothes, and having fairly comfortable lives.  While this may seem unrealistic or inaccessible to many teens, this fantasy of wealth is part of why the show appeals to teens.

Author Biography:

Not applicable

Genre(s): 
Series, Drama

Curriculum Ties:

Not applicable

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on why some secrets should not be kept, and what to do when entrusted with such a secret.

A discussion about what makes for a healthy friendship, versus a toxic friendship.

Reading Level:

Not applicable

Interest Age: 

13 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on adult language, teen sexual situations, teen substance use, mild language, scenes where teens break the law, and characters lacking respect for authority.

  If this series were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this series selected:

I chose to include this series in my collection, because it remains incredibly popular among teens.  This evaluation just covers the first season of the series, with the 7^th season airing on television currently.  The show is based on a book series by the same name, thought there are substantial differences between the books and the show.  This means that fans of the book series can still enjoy the show without knowing all the plot points.  I strongly believe that some items in a teen collection should be purely for enjoyment, and this series is certainly enjoyed by many teens.  

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Author: Barry Lyga

ISBN: 978-0618916528

Publisher: Graphia

Copyright: 2007

Reader’s Annotation: 

In a world where jocks rule the school, how will a comic loving boy and a neo goth girl survive?  Do they even want to survive?

Plot Summary:

Donnie is a sophomore in high school, obsessed with the senior goddess,and  absorbed in comic books.  He keeps his calm by carrying a bullet in his pocket, and making a mental list of every person who wronged him, mostly the jock jerks.  Donnie’s only friend is Cal, one of only 10 black kids in the school who is a comic book loving jock. Donnie is working on his own graphic novel, and he homes to take it to a comic convention to show is idol, Brian Michael Bendis.  Donnie is constantly bullied by Mitchell Frampton, who hits him frequently.  Donnie sees a flash of a person dressed in black, sitting in the bleachers of the gym.  One night, he gets a strange instant message from someone he does not know, asking why he let Mitchell hit him.  He ends up meeting up with the person, Kira, a very pale girl who wears all black.  She starts calling him Fanboy, and they start talking about comics.  They begin hanging out, and he tells her about his graphic novel.  Kira and Donnie get into a fight, so he goes to the comic show alone, and is disappointed.  Donnie begins to have concerns about Kira's well being.

Critical Evaluation:

Taking into account that this was Lyga’s first YA novel, I would say that this book would be moderately appealing to teens. It features a lot of characters who feel like outsiders in their respective situations, and accurately portrays a lot of the angst that comes with being a teen.  However, there are some pretty significant flaws in the book as well.

I found the character development to be very weak; it is difficult to really like or care about any of the characters in the book.  I felt that the character of Cal was really under developed, and wondered if he really played much of a role in the story at all.  Yes, he was Donnie’s only friend, but the way their friendship is portrayed feels shallow and disingenuous.  The only thing the boys seem to have in common is comic books, and that does not seem to be a real basis for a friendship as important as this one is made out to be.  Donnie, as a character, is self-absorbed; while many think this is an accurate portrayal of a teen, I think it sells teens short.  To me, this book feels like what an adult thinks it is like to be a teenager in today’s world, without actually talking to any teens, particularly teens on the fringes who feel like outsiders the way these characters do.  For example, Donnie refers to his step father as the “step fascist” but there is no real exploration about why that is, what really happened to create such animosity.  Again, this seems like what an adult would expect a teen to act like.  Similarly, the dialogue seems a little contrived; the characters lack an authenticity in the words they say.  There are large swaths of the book that add very little, and could stand to be edited out.  For example, there is a scene where Donnie describes an elaborate lie he made a teacher believe about what really started the Great Depression, which seemed to have no real purpose.  This results is a very slow book, with lagging action.  Not all books need to be action packed, but this book took quite a while to get to where Donnie has a real meaningful, life altering moment, when he meets his idol Brian Michael Bendis.

Lyga presents a book with a heavy emphasis on comic books, which may appeal to a great deal of teen readers.  However, the book seems to really miss the mark in terms of capturing authentic teen characters and delivering a story that the reader actually will care about.  With some revision and editing, in terms of creating more robust characters and trimming some meaningless scenes, this book could be a strong story to appeal to reluctant teen readers.  The book does capture the essence of feeling like an outsider, which almost every teen experiences at some point. 

Author Biography:

From author’s Amazon page

Called a "YA rebel-author" by Kirkus Reviews, Barry Lyga has published twelve novels in various genres in his seven-year career, including the New York Times bestselling I Hunt Killers and his newest, Unsoul'd (for adults). His books have been or are slated to be published in nine different languages in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

After graduating from Yale with a degree in English, Lyga worked in the comic book industry before quitting to pursue his lifelong love of writing. In 2006, his first young adult novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, was published to rave reviews, including starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Publisher's Weekly named Lyga a "Flying Start" in December 2006 on the strength of the debut.

His second young adult novel, Boy Toy, received starred reviews in SLJ, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus. VOYA gave it its highest critical rating, and the Chicago Tribune called it "...an astounding portrayal of what it is like to be the young male victim." His third novel, Hero-Type, according to VOYA "proves that there are still fresh ideas and new, interesting story lines to be explored in young adult literature."

Since then, he has also written Goth Girl Rising (the sequel to his first novel), as well as the Archvillain series for middle-grade readers and the graphic novel Mangaman (with art by Colleen Doran).

His latest series is I Hunt Killers, called by the LA Times "one of the more daring concepts in recent years by a young-adult author" and an "extreme and utterly alluring narrative about nature versus nurture." The first book landed on both the New York Times and USAToday bestsellers lists, and the series has been optioned for television by Warner Bros./Silver Pictures.

Lyga lives and writes in New York City. His comic book collection is a lot smaller than it used to be, but is still way too big.

Genre(s):

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion of different comic book styles, and how they may appeal to different types of readers.

A discussion on mental health resources in the community.

          

Reading Level:

Lexile Measure 710

Interest Age:

12 and up

Challenge Issues:

Discussions of teen sexuality, some swearing, teen smoking, violent fantasies

If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I selected this book hoping to find a material that might appeal to reluctant readers.  I wanted something that might encourage readers who traditionally stuck to comics and graphic novels to move to a more traditional novel.  I also wanted a book that will help teen readers relate to the feeling of being an outsider.

Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty, by Christine Heppermann

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty

Author: Christine Heppermann

ISBN:  978-0062289575

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Copyright: 2014

Reader’s Annotation:

Real life does not always have a happy ending

Summary:

Using imagery common to fairy tales, this collection of poetry discusses issues of body image, consent, self harm, and gender norms, among other issues teens face.  Each of the 50 poems is a stand alone work, but the fairy tale theme runs throughout the collection, alluding to stories such as Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, and Hansel and Gretel.  

 Critical Evaluation:

Because the poems draw on familiar themes from fairy tales, the writing is engaging to teen readers.  For example, in the poem "The Runaway", Heppermann tackles issues of self identity through the eyes of Goldilocks, discussing how being famous for breaking and stealing things colored the way she sees herself, and her place in society.  By using imagery that is familiar from childhood to explore issues that are common to teens, Heppermann deftly meets teens where they are.

The book has a series of photographs that accompany the poetry, often containing subtle clues to fairy tales and relating to the poem they accompany.  This imagery helps solidify the themes from the poetry.  For example, the poem "Thumbelina's Get-Tiny Cleanse-Tested" tackles issues of societal pressure for teens to have the perfect body, and how this effects they way teens see themselves.  The corresponding image is a giant hand grasping a tiny female, both playing on the Thumbelina theme and the concept of society guiding the actions of young females.

The writing tackles issues not always addressed in teen non-fiction.  Specifically, there are several poems addressing feminism and the rejection of gender norms, and even talking about menstruation.  It is valuable that teens, regardless of gender, see these themes represented in the books they read.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Christine Heppermann writes fiction, poetry, and criticism. Her books include Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty (2014), City Chickens (2012), and Backyard Witch (with Ron Koertge, 2015). She currently reviews young adult books for the Chicago Tribune.

Christine grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where she attended an all-girls Catholic high school. As an undergraduate she studied philosophy and literature at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She has a masters degree in children's literature from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Christine lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her two daughters, two cats, and one husband.

Genre(s): 

Non-fiction, Poetry

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard - CC.1.2.11-12.L

Read and comprehend literary non-fiction and informational text on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

Discussing sexism in traditional fairy tales.

A discussion about re-writing traditional fairy tale princesses.

          

Reading Level:

Not available

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on adult language, teen sexuality, discussion of eating disorders and self harm.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

Often, teens find poetry, as a reading material, to be boring, and too tied to academics (in other words, they only read poetry when it is assigned in English class).  However, teens are often drawn to writing poetry as a means of exploring their emotions, and dealing with traumas.  By providing teens with collections of poetry that address situations that teens encounter, particularly when written in a theme or style that feels familiar to them (such as fairy tales), libraries can present teens with an opportunity to appreciate poetry and a non-academic manner, and to explore it as an art form.  I have always been fond of writing that sets fairy tales on their heads, since so many fairly tales have been given a slightly misogynistic bias, so this collection really spoke to my inner teenager.  

All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiley

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title:  All American Boys

Author: Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiley

ISBN: 978-1481463331

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2015

Reader’s Annotation:

When a teenager and a cop are involved in a racially motivated incident, everyone tries to figure out the shades of grey in a black and white situation.

Plot Summary:

It is Friday, and Rashad had to wear his ROTC uniform to school.  He takes clothes to school to change into afterwards, then prepares for a party later that evening.  He decides to stop at a convenience store to buy some chips, and in the store, woman trips over his bag containing his uniform.  A policeman who sees this thinks Rashad has either hurt the woman, attempted to shoplift, or both.  Instead of letting Rashad explain, the cop beats him up.  Rashad, a black teenager, is brutalized by an adult white cop.  Quinn, a white boy from Rashad’s school, prepares to go to the same party Rashad was planning to attend, with his friend Guzzo; they stumble upon the scene at the store.  The cop beating up Rashad is Guzzo’s older brother, Paul.

Rashad is in the hospital, where he is also in custody.  His family is upset, and his father, a former cop, feels certain that Rashad must have done something to bring this upon himself, such as stealing, as the police are suggesting.  Rashad’s older brother Spoony feels this was racially motivated police brutality.  Quinn is conflicted about his feelings, because Paul had been the one to help him heal when his father died, and Guzzo is Quinn’s friend and basketball teammate.

Video footage of the incident recorded on a cell phone is leaked to the media, as are Rashad and Paul’s names.  Quinn goes to a barbeque at Guzzo’s house, where the situation is tense.  In school, everyone is talking about the incident with Rashad and Paul, and the video.  Teachers are refusing to comment or say Rashad’s name, which leads to students making a concerted effort to say Rashad’s name, so that people understand this was a real person this happened to.  Tensions spill onto the basketball court during the team’s practice.  The next day, someone has spray painted “Rashad is absent again today” on the school’s stairs, and this becomes the protest cry of the students.  Quinn watches the video, and can no deny this was a racist act.  The #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday hashtag is flooding social media, and a protest is planned.

Rashad’s father recounts a story from when he was a cop, about passing judgement on a young black boy.  Quinn makes the choice to commit to marching in the protest, and wears a shirt declaring it.  Guzzo cuts off his friendship with Quinn.  Rashad gets discharged from the hospital, and looks up the hashtag on social media.  On Friday, one week after the incident, both Rashad and Quinn go to the protest, during which a list of names of black people who have been killed are read aloud.

Critical Evaluation:

This book was written by two authors, and features two different narrators.  The narrators are both teens, one black and one white, so their narrative voices have important similarities and differences.  Both narrators, Rashad and Quinn, feel authentic; they talk the way real teens talk, the think and worry about typical teen issues, like sports and potential romantic relationships.  Most of Rashad's narrative focuses on his experience and the aftermath.  His perspective is one of the victim, as well as one of a minority group.  He accurately portrays the frustration of having done nothing wrong, and being attacked for the color of his skin.  Quinn, on the other hand, approaches his narrative from the place of privileged as a member of the racial majority.  His narrative focuses on trying to figure out how he should feel about the complex situation.  While I personally would like to have seen Quinn be a stronger character earlier in the book, the struggle to accept the racial injustice is what makes Quinn's story authentic, and it is the part that white readers will relate to.  The narrative neatly switches between the two different perspectives of Rashad and Quinn, neither getting ahead of the other, neither revealing the other's story.  Rashad's narrative was written by Jason Reynolds, while Quinn's was written by Brendan Kiley.  Each author lends their personal experience to their character, creating an authentic voice, while combining for one cohesive, powerful story.

There were a lot of less important characters, at times a bit too many.  Some of the secondary characters, like Jill, Spoony, and Guzzo, are absolutely vital to the story.  However, many other characters are merely mentioned, and not really developed.  It seems that these characters are mentioned to lend to that authentic feeling of teen dialogue and thought processes, such as the other members of the basketball team or the girl Rashad is interested in, but it did seem to clutter the landscape of the story a little.  I would like to have seen a bit more of Jill in the story, since she is most visible female character.  

The story's action begins within the first few pages, when Rashad encounters Paul in the store.  There is a lot of time tracing the tension in Quinn's story, such as the barbeque at Guzzo's house, and the interactions with the basketball team.  Some of Quinn's story could have been tightened up a little, but that slow build helps convey the struggle Quinn faces, accepting something bad about someone he previously saw as a good person.

This book is a strong story written by two different authors, presenting two different perspectives of the same situation.  In general, Jason Reynold's writing is a bit stronger, with the character of Rashad having a more robust narrative voice.  Brendan Kiley presents the story of Quinn in a slower, subtler way.  Despite the differences in authors and narrative characters, both points of view meld together well, for a powerful story.

Author Biography:

Jason Reynolds

(From Amazon Author Page)

The first name bits:
What Jason knows is that there are a lot — A LOT — of people, young, old, and in-between, who hate reading. He knows that many of these book haters are boys. He knows that many of these book-hating boys, don't actually hate books, they hate boredom. If you are reading this, and you happen to be one of these boys, first of all, you're reading this Jason's master plan is already working (muahahahahahaha) and second of all, know that Jason totally feels you. He REALLY does. Because even though he's a writer, he hates reading boring books too. 

So here's what he plans to do: NOT WRITE BORING BOOKS. 

That's it, and that's all. 

Now, for the last name bits:
Reynolds is a graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park. He has been reviewed and profiled in The Washington Post, NPR books, Kirkus, Hornbook, School Library Journal, WNYC, Publisher’s Weekly, Poets & Writers, Gawker, mentioned as a standout in the Wall Street Journal, AM New York, Ebony Magazine, was awarded as a top book of the year by the New York Public Library system, and was the recipient of 2015 Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent. 

Reynolds is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing For Young People MFA Program, and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Brendan Kiley

(From Amazon Author Page)

Brendan Kiely's debut novel, The Gospel of Winter, has been published in eight languages, was selected as one of the American Library Association's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults 2015, and was a Kirkus Reviews selection for the Best of 2014. He is also the co-author, with Jason Reynolds, of the novel All American Boys. Originally from the Boston area, he now lives with his wife in Greenwich Village.

Find out more at www.brendankiely.com.

Genre(s):
Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

 Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

Discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, citing recent news articles

Discuss how the narrators each told the same story from their point of view, and how the narrator’s race impacted that point of view.

          

Reading Level:

Lexile Measure HL770L

Interest Age:

12-17

Challenge Issues:

Race issues, violence, language

If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

This story is one that is unfolding all around us.  Each week, we are faced with headlines and videos of racially motivated situations, particularly involving black males and police.  This book is a way to discuss these heartbreaking incidents, and the value of the lives being lost.  It is also important to for young adult patrons to see characters reflecting their peer group, and struggling with the same issues with which they are struggling.