ers and a hopeful message.
ANONYMOUS. Lucy in the Sky. S & S/Pulse. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442451872; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781442451858; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442451889.
Gr 8 Up –The 16-year-old unnamed journal writer has a supportive family but feels insecure around boys; she’s ripe for the attentions of her tutor, Nathan, and cute surfer boy, Ross. When drawn into their circle, alcohol and marijuana make her feel confident and attractive, and the narrator shrugs off the cost and consequences with devastating results.
KORMAN, Susan J. Bad Deal. (Surviving Southside Series). Lerner. 2011. lib. ed. $27.93. ISBN 9780761361527; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9780761361664.
Gr 6-8–Fish knows his ADHD medication helps him, but he hates the side effects. When he skips his meds and offers some tablets to a friend who wants to concentrate on his studies, word gets out. From a series modeled after “Bluford High,” which examines diverse teens tackling tough life issues.
NELSON, Blake. Recovery Road. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545107297.
Gr 8-10–Maddie’s addiction to alcohol has landed her in the dreary world of residential rehab where she meets Stuart, and they begin a brief, confused romance. Nothing is glamorized here, and the difficulty of figuring out how to live while sober truly challenges Maddie and has a tragic outcome for Stuart.
PATTERSON, James & Hal Friedman. Med Head: My Knock-Down, Drag-Out, Drugged-Up Battle with My Brain. Little, Brown. 2010. lib. ed. $19.65. ISBN 9780606145381; pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780316076173.
Gr 7 Up–A bright kid, Friedman’s son Cory was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at age five. Unable to manage Cory’s behavior, his desperate parents consulted a variety of professionals, but incorrect medication and dosage nearly destroyed Cory. Written as a first-person account from Cory’s point of view, the short chapters keep this intriguing and horrifying story moving briskly. Originally published in 2008 as Against Medical Advice.
REED, Amy. Clean. S & S/Pulse. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442413443; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781442413450; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442413467.
Gr 8 Up–Five teens meet in rehab, and as they interact with one another and with their counselor, readers piece together the addictions and choices that have brought them together. Blunt language and sexual situations are appropriate for the topic and the voices of the characters.
Gangs and Street Life
BOOTH, Coe. Tyrell. Scholastic/Push. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780439838795; pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780439838801.
Gr 8 Up –The adults in Tyrell’s life disappoint and fail him; now his family is struggling in a homeless shelter. Dad’s unavailable and Tyrell tries to soften the loss for his younger brother, Trey, while balancing the need for money, the lure of gang culture, and two interested girls. The teen’s story continues in Bronxwood (2011).
GRIFFIN, Claire J. Nowhere to Run. Namelos. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781608981441; pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781608981458; ebk. $8.95. ISBN 9781608981465.
Gr 7-10–Project life in Washington, DC is tough, but with encouragement from his friend Deej, Calvin is in contention for the city sprinting title. When Deej’s gangster uncle demands protection money from Calvin’s mother’s salon, Deej saves Calvin from a beat down–but at an excruciating price–Calvin must agree to throw the sprint finals.
KOWALSKI, William. The Barrio Kings. (Rapid Reads Series). Orca. 2010. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781554692446.
Gr 7 Up–At 23, Rosario has an entry-level job and a commitment to his pregnant girlfriend to leave his pre-prison life behind. When gang friend Juan is released from prison and tries to pull Rosario back into the life, Rosario must find the strength to choose between competing loyalties.
NERI , G. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. illus. by Randy DuBurke. Lee & Low. 2010. pap. $16.95. ISBN 9781584302674.
Gr 6 Up–Yummy is only 11 years old when his desire to impress Chicago neighborhood gang members leads him to commit a murder. The subsequent police attention motivates the gang to brutally eliminate Yummy. A devastating, true story to