Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelly Hall & Carrie Jones

Pages: 339
Intended Audience: Teens and Tweens
Genre: non-fiction anthology
Notes for Parents: Contains stories about bullying.

The Back Cover

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.
Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The book includes a list of resources for educators and parents, and all proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to Stomp Out Bullying, an American anti-bullying and anti-cyber bullying program for kids and teens (part of the Love Our Children USA program).

What’s good?

With contributions by such authors as Ellen Hopkins (Crank), Heather Brewer (The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd), Lisa McMann (the Wake series), and Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), this is a poignant collection of stories by some of the genre’s top writers. Each story is short and easy to read, and offers a personal glimpse into the common childhood affliction called bullying. Sometimes the author is the bully, or a bystander, or just the sad victim of a failed friendship, but each story is affecting in its own way.
Best Part: So many to choose from, but…Finding Light in the Darkness by Lisa Schroeder, written in verse, was probably the one that moved me the most.

What isn’t good?

I have to wonder if all the stories are true examples of bullying. While it sucks when a friend stops being your friend, or when someone doesn’t want to sit with you at lunch, I don’t think it can always be considered bullying. But I think the real point to these stories is that tough times are common and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Worst part: n/a

Recommendation þþþþo
I found it really interesting to see how the childhood experiences of these writers contributed to the person they would become. While some of the stories were a little benign, most offered some important food for thought. Definitely recommended.

Hall, Megan Kelley & Carrie Jones, eds. Dear Bully. New York: HarperTeen, 2011.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Pages: 361
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Mystery-Thriller
Notes for Parents: Contains mild coarse language, graphic descriptions of murder scenes, and disturbing descriptions of psychotic behavior.

The Back Cover
Jazz is the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, “Take Your Son to Work Day” was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops only wish they could—from the criminal’s point of view.
Now, with bodies piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo’s Nod, Jazz must work with the police to prove that murder doesn’t run in the family.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a trilogy (#2 Game; #3 Blood of my Blood) which also includes a prequel called Lucky Day that will be available online April 1^st, 2014.

What’s good?

This mystery-thriller is both disturbing and compelling. Characterization is excellent. The main character, Jazz, is easy to like despite his occasional psychotic moments brought on by his much damaged childhood. The supporting characters are fantastic – especially friend Howie, who has the courage to be friends with the town freak, and Jazz’s grandmother, who is delightfully bizarre and horrifyingly enabling at the same time. The plot is wrought with twists and turns, eerily described crime scenes, and moments of pure adrenalin.
Best Part: The scene with the dog was freakishly unnerving. I had to close the book and walk away for a while. I guess this means it was well written but…see Worst Part.

What isn’t good?

Describing the phrase “bros before hos” as a “cute motto” nearly made me close the book for good. There are a dozen better ways to express that friendship comes before girlfriends. The casual use of the phrase was very off-putting. Speaking of girlfriends, Jazz’s girlfriend Connie was not well developed and remained vague through most of the story. Perhaps she figures more prominently in later books, but here her existence seemed kind of pointless. Also, I found it oddly convenient that the killer found girls with the right age, initials and occupation in what’s suppose to be a small town.
Worst part: …The scene with the dog made me wonder if I was somehow enabling the author’s psychotic thoughts by reading it.

Recommendation þþþþo

While brilliant in its portrayal of psychotic behavior, it’s a ridiculously disturbing mix of Criminal Minds and Dexter. I learned way more about the psychology of serial killers than I’ve ever wanted to know. This is not the kind of book I can finish and say I enjoyed. It’s a very specific genre that will only appeal to a select group. Highly recommended, but only for those who like that kind of thing.

 

Lyga, Barry. I Hunt Killers. New York: Little, Brown& Co., 2012.

 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Pages: 310
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Real life / LGBT
Notes for Parents: Contains coarse and vulgar language, sexual references, under-aged drinking, and homosexual relationships.

The Back Cover
Will Grayson, meet Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers cross paths. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, culminating in heroic turns-of-heart and the most epic musical ever to grace the high school stage.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This story is less about Will Grayson and Will Grayson and more about Tiny Cooper and the way he influences the Will Graysons as well as the other people around him.

What’s good?

Unapologetically vulgar and fiendishly witty, this is a moving portrayal of the male condition. Gay boys and straight guys alike, as well as all the girls, struggle with identity, emotions, and societal expectations in what is an inexplicably charming and courageously original story. When the first Will Grayson compared himself to his stuffed prairie dog, I almost cried because I knew exactly how he felt. The second Will Grayson’s “and here’s the sick, twisted thing” monologue was amazingly poignant; and when he comes out to his mom, I laughed out loud. Filled with thought-provoking revelations, this teenage romp is clever, rude, funny, romantic, wise, and very honest.
Best Part: The musical, of course!

What isn’t good?

The use of coarse language and derogatory terms seems excessive at times and the way several characters go on ad nauseum about how big Tiny is was unnecessary, making me dislike many characters that I probably would have otherwise enjoyed.
Worst part: The lack of capitalization in the second Will Grayson’s narration.

Recommendation þþþþo

The only reason I didn’t give this book five checkmarks was because the coarse language and vulgarity was a bit excessive for me. Otherwise, this book was brilliant and I highly recommend it. 

 

Green, John & David Levithan. Will Grayson, Will Grayson. New York: Speak, 2011.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Pages: 354
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Dystopian; crime drama; romance
Notes for Parents: Contains mild language, references to violence and criminal behavior.

The Back Cover

I am Anya Balanchine.
I will be accused.
I will defend my honor.
I will be pursued.
I will be loved.
I will apologize.
I will be betrayed.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The vague cover description alludes to the story of Anya Balanchine, of the Balanchine crime family. With her parents both dead, she and her siblings are out of the family business of smuggling chocolate into the country (where caffeine and chocolate, among many things, are illegal). But can she really walk away that easily? Family obligations beckon, further complicated by her relationship with the son of the city’s new assistant district attorney. This is book one in the Birthright series.

What’s good?

Set in New York, in the year 2083, this is an interesting future where water is scarce, paper is rationed, and things like caffeine and chocolate are banned. Anya and her siblings are well-drawn, likeable characters and are surrounded by a multitude of interesting people, including Anya’s dying grandmother, her mafia kin, her school friends and teachers, the new ADA, and the evil head of Liberty’s Children’s Facility.
Best Part: Coffee speakeasies!

What isn’t good?

The story had some great moments where I felt things started to pick up, but ultimately, nothing was sustained. It got interesting when there was a near-death by chocolate, but that quickly fizzled and Anya’s incarceration had promise, but that too led nowhere. Even Anya’s romance with Win warms up only to die down before anything really exciting happens.
Worst part: Catholicism was a sad ploy to establish Anya’s character. Like everything else, its part in the story was, in the end, pointless.

Recommendation þþooo

This was a dystopian novel that lacked world building, a crime drama that lacked suspense, and a romance that lacked, well, romance. I really enjoyed the characters and felt the potential for a good story was just around the corner, but ultimately, I remained unrewarded. Perhaps the author (whose book Elsewhere is among my top ten of all time) saved the good stuff for subsequent books in the series. Sadly, this was just a disappointment for me. I gave it two checkmarks in hopes that the overall series is better than book one.

Zevin, Gabrielle. All These Things I’ve Done. New York: Square Fish, 2011.

The Girl who was Supposed to Die by April Henry

Pages: 213
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Psychological thriller
Notes for Parents: Contains scenes with guns, references to violence, some scary scenes

The Inside Cover

She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that two men are arguing over whether or not to kill her. And that she must run.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The cover blurb is a great teaser. There’s nothing more you need to know.

What’s good?

Short chapters and a first person / present tense point of view fuels the non-stop action in this high intensity, mystery-thriller. The main character, Cady, is strong and resourceful; her accomplice Ty is brave (and very trusting!); and the supporting bad guys are devious and desperate. While the plot is fairly simplistic, the constant thrill of the chase keep things entertaining.
Best Part: James. I wish there was more of him.

What isn’t good?

I consistently saw things coming before the character did which took away from a lot of the drama. Also, there wasn’t a lot of depth to the characters, although Cady and Ty were still very likeable. The courage in their actions alone made me care about them. Finally, there seemed to be a few consistency issues. No other reviews that I read pointed them out, so maybe I got some of it wrong so I don’t want to ruin the story by revealing them here.
Worst part: “You saved us. You saved us all.”

Recommendation þþþoo

Despite a few strange contradictions and an oversimplified plot, the story was still riveting. The action-filled short chapters and fluid writing made this easy to read and very entertaining. Recommended.

Henry, April. The Girl who was Supposed to Die. New York: Henry Holt, 2013.