at spurred such tragic consequences. A sensitive first-person reflection written in free verse.
VAUGHT , Susan. Trigger. Bloomsbury. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781582349206; pap. $8.95. ISBN 9781599902302; ebk. $6.99. ISBN 9781599907925.
Gr 8 Up–Seventeen-year-old Jersey is struggling with brain damage as the result of a gunshot wound to the head, though he can’t remember how or why he was injured. As Jersey pieces together what happened to him from the clues provided by his friends, he begins to understand the impact of his suicide attempt.
BECHARD, Margaret. Hanging On to Max. S & S/Pulse. 2003. ISBN 9780689862687.
Gr 8-10 –Seventeen-year-old Sam didn’t have much of a relationship with Brittany, and by the time she learns she’s pregnant, she wants nothing more from him but his signature on the adoption paperwork. Instead, Sam decides to raise Max himself with thought-provoking results. Sam’s voice is honest and poignant.
GRIMES, Nikki. A Girl Named Mister. Zondervan. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978 0310720782; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978 0310723134; ebk. $4.99. ISBN 9780 310399612.
Gr 8-10–In this free-verse narrative, 14-year-old Mary, nicknamed Mister, was brought up to attend church and do well in school. But Mister’s boyfriend’s attentions burn hot, and though they’re intimate only once, she becomes pregnant. Poems about the Virgin Mary reflect Mister’s situation and give her courage to absorb the shock of long-held family secrets.
KNOWLES, Jo. Jumping Off Swings. Candlewick. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763639 495; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780763652968; ebk. $7.99. ISBN 9780763651725.
Gr 8 Up–Everyone at school knows that Ellie’s easy, and faithful friend Corinne tries to find other ways for Ellie to feel better about herself. The girls, and friends Caleb and Josh, who may be the father of Ellie’s baby, narrate their responses to her pregnancy. Living with Jackie Chan (2013) finds Josh a year later living with his uncle in a new town.
NOLAN , Han. Pregnant Pause. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780 152065706; pap $8.99. ISBN 978054 7854144; ebk. $7.99. ISBN 978 0547677477.
Gr 8 Up–Pregnant by her feckless boyfriend, Lam, the ever-rebellious and irreverent 16-year-old Elly insists on marrying him while her parents take off to work with AIDS orphans in Africa. Without options, the newlyweds begin their married life in separate cabins as counselors at Lam’s parents’ weight loss camp. Elly’s youthfully determined voice rings true.
RODRIGUEZ , Gaby with Jenna Glatzer. The Pregnancy Project. S & S. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442446229; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781442446236; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442446243.
Gr 7 Up–Latina teen Gaby made national news in 2011 with her senior project, an investigation of the stereotypes revealed when she faked a pregnancy and documented the response of her teachers, family, and classmates in her rural community. Daughter of a teen mom but also a student with college aspirations, Gaby wanted to demonstrate that determination can trump circumstances.
National Eating Disorders Association. NEDA. New York, NY. (Accessed 12/18/13).
Gr 7 Up –A clearinghouse for information on all types of eating disorders, along with links for those who need help and support, this site provides free toolkits for parents, teachers, and coaches as well as short informational videos.
National Gang Center. Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Washington, DC. (Accessed 12/18/13).
Gr 7 Up –It’s always good to start with the basics, and the FAQ page of this site provides answers to questions from “What is a gang?” to “What can be done about youth gangs?” Includes an extensive bibliography.
NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (Accessed 12/18/13).
Gr 7 Up —This comprehensive resource for teens, teachers, and parents provides straightforward information about drugs, questions real teens ask about drugs and drug use, and the Sara Bellum Blog, written by “a team of NIDA scientists, science writers, educators, and teens” to update readers on current ne