The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

Pages: 241
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Fictional Biography
Notes for Parents: Coarse language, sexuality, drug use, drinking, smoking, illegal behavior.

The Inside Cover

“From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive art made her someone to watch. And her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison’s life. I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.” –Adele Griffin

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

It’s written as a series of quotes from Addison’s friends, family and colleagues, with additional information in author’s notes, and including many photographs and reproductions of the artist’s work.

What’s good?

Learning about the life of the enigmatic Addison Stone became addicting after just a few pages. Witnessing the rise and fall of the young talent is a guilty pleasure, and knowing more about how and why she died grows into a perverse need. This is a realistic portrayal of a celebrity with both genius and severe mental illness. It reveals the ups and downs of her personal and professional relationships, a roller coaster ride that eventually leads to her untimely death. The plot is steady, the main characters are interesting and well-drawn, and the format is unique.
Best Part: The visuals.

What isn’t good?

Do teenagers really become famous portrait artists in this day and age? Enough to be pursued by paparazzi and featured on TMZ? I wasn’t convinced. I would have had an easier time buying into it if Addison was a singer, actress, or even author. Maybe even an activist poet, but an artist known for simple portrait sketches seemed far-fetched. Regardless, Addison is completely unlikeable. She’s self-centered, immature, aloof (yet craves ridiculous amounts of attention), and is a terrible friend, daughter, and sister. Also, though I love that pictures of her work are included, I found most of the artwork didn’t really strike me as awe-inspiring.
Worst part: On page 218, Addison’s friend Lucy talks about wanting to go to Nova Scotia because they both love Anne of Green Gables…Anne of Green Gables is based on Prince Edward Island! (Okay, that is mostly just a personal pet peeve, but still…)

Recommendation þþþoo

My feelings are mixed. I feel like I both loved and hated the format. I liked all the photographs and artwork, but the number of people “interviewed” was dizzying, as was the amount of information they provided. However, the premise was good. Watching—with hindsight—as a talented young woman is consumed by her mental illness despite having caring people all around her, was fascinating. Ultimately, recommended.

Griffin, Adele. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone. New York: Soho Press, 2014. (Hardcover)

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Pages: 373
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Mystery
Notes for Parents: There’s tension, ghost stories, and some thievery.

The Inside Cover

It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smugglers’ inn is always quiet during this season, and Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each on bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The cover sums it up nicely.

What’s good?

This is a classic but quirky mystery full of eccentric characters, cryptic local folklore, thievery, secrets, and an attic full of treasures. The storytelling (famous smugglers and secret stashes!) is entertaining and the young main character is endearing (I love the wonderful relationship he has with his parents). The pace is steady, there’s plenty of tension, and the end is delightful.
Best Part: Meddy’s secret.

What isn’t good?

The story moves slowly, mostly because the author is very wordy. What could have been said in a paragraph takes a page, and unnecessary details make the story feel sluggish at times. While I loved Milo, Meddy, The Pines, Mrs. Hereward, and Fenster, the rest of the supporting cast fell a little flat. I constantly confused Georgie with Clem, and Mr. Vinge with Dr. Gwervine. Mrs. Caraway, Lizzie, and Brandon served absolutely no purpose.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþoo

I liked it, but I was also happy when it was over. I liked the quirkiness of it all, and the smuggler lore was entertaining, but it was slow-moving. I would have liked to know more about the underground train (Fenster was a hoot!). I also think the story would make a great movie. Overall, recommended.

Milford, Kate. Greenglass House. Boston: Clarion Books, 2014. (Hardcover)

A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzger

Pages: 189
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Real life / Eating Disorders
Notes for Parents: Contains some mature scenes

The Back Cover

Mike Welles had everything under control.
But there’s a voice in his head. A friend, trying to help him. If only Mike will listen.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The cover doesn’t say much! This is the story of a young man who develops anorexia.

What’s good?

With just under 200 pages, this is a quick and intense read. The plot is emotional but straightforward. The main character, Mike, is well-drawn and likeable. The unusual and mesmerizing narrator is Mike’s inner voice, perhaps it’s anorexia itself, calling him to go astray. Amber is the chilling accomplice who has perfected the art of not eating. The dialogue is written like a script which effectively makes Mike and those around him seem controlled. This is the rare and disturbing journey of a young man struggling with the disease.
Best Part: The narrator.

What isn’t good?

It’s a quick story so there’s not a lot of depth to the characters or to the situation. We don’t know a great deal about Mike and don’t really know a lot about what leads up to his struggle to take control. However, part of the appeal of this book is that it’s so short so the lack of information works.
Worst part: Amber was totally creepy, and not in a good way. Mike could have just got his info from the internet and Amber would have been unnecessary.

Recommendation þþþþo

The tale of a boy struggling with anorexia rarely gets told. With only 10-15% of those suffering from an eating disorder being male, anorexia is often considered a girl’s disease. This story captured the essence of the struggle and was both captivating and unsettling. Recommended.

Metzger, Lois. A Trick of the Light. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2013.

One Death Nine Stories edited by Marc Aronson & Charles R. Smith

Pages: 143
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Real life / Grief
Notes for Parents: There is coarse language, sex, drinking, and many mature themes. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

The Inside Cover

Kev’s the first kid their age to die. And now, even though he’s dead, he’s not really gone. Even now his choices are touching the people he left behind. Here, in nine stories, we meet people who knew Kevin intimately, and those who never met him, friends from his childhood, his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, all trying to figure out who Kevin really was, and dealing with the fallout of his death.
Being a teenager is a time for all kinds of firsts—first jobs, first loves, first good-byes, firsts that break your heart and awaken your soul. It’s an initiation, of sorts, and it can be brutal, but on the other side of it is the rest of your life.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is a collection of interconnected short stories written by a variety of authors.

What’s good?

There is no other way to describe most of these short stories but to say they are raw with emotion and teeming with what is a disturbing reality for some teens. The stories are cohesive, complementing each other well, with each subsequent story giving us a better picture of the deceased and his family and friends. The writing is good, the characters are strong, and the pace is even.
Best Part: The first story and the last story.

What isn’t good?

Kevin isn’t easy to like. In fact, although he’s described as having a cult leader kind of charisma, I didn’t see any of that charm. He didn’t treat his friends well, or his family. This is not a fun book. The subject matter is unsettling and the overall mood is heavy and dark. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it did make me happy to finish the book.
Worst part: Kevin.

Recommendation þþþoo

The premise was interesting, and the stories were surprisingly cohesive considering they were written by different authors. I just didn’t like the subject matter and couldn’t relate to most of the characters. Recommended, but only to those who will appreciate the stark reality of some teenage minds.

Aronson, Marc, and Charles R. Smith, Jr., eds. One Death Nine Stories. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2014. (Hardcover)

Coaltown Jesus by Ron Koertge

Pages: 122
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Real life / Novel in verse / Grief
Notes for Parents: Themes include death and grief.

The Inside Cover

Walker shouldn’t be so surprised to find Jesus standing in the middle of his bedroom. After all, he prayed for whoever was up there to help his mom, who hasn’t stopped crying since Noah died, two months ago. But since when have prayers actually been answered? And since when has Jesus been so…irreverent?
As astounding as Jesus’ sudden appearance is, it’s going to take more than divine intervention for Walker to come to terms with his brother’s death. Why would God take seventeen-year-old Noah when half of the residents in his mom’s nursing home are waiting to die? And why would he send Jesus to Coaltown, Illinois, to pick up the pieces? If he really wanted to help, why couldn’t he have kept Noah from dying?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This novel is written in verse.

What’s good?

Jesus is awesome. In fact, characterization in general is well done. This story is super-quick and very easy to read (I finished it in about 40 minutes – and I’m a slow reader!). The plot is uncomplicated, but deals with very serious issues of grief and guilt. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, with moments that are deeply moving, this story offers a creative construction of how Jesus (or any higher power for that matter) can bring comfort and understanding to those who are suffering.
Best Part: Almond Joy.

What isn’t good?

It left me wanting more. I wanted to know more about Walker and his mom, and about Noah. I wanted to know more about Jesus and to hear more of what he had to say. I wanted to know more about the elderly residents, and I even wanted to know more about the dog. I feel bad for wishing this was more than just a short novel in verse. I wanted more of everything.
Worst part: I wanted more.

Recommendation þþþþþ

I loved it. As you know, I wanted more. I don’t know what else to say but read it. It’s well-constructed, engaging, and entertaining. I hope you like it as much as I did. Definitely recommended.

Koertge, Ron. Coaltown Jesus. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2013. (Hardcover)