Adult Books for High School Students

Adult/High School–Vim Sweeney takes his place in the long list of fictional characters is search of themselves. His journey centers on Kalamazoo, MI, in the summer of 1992, after his high school graduation. He works as a dishwasher, plays in a band, lusts after his best friend's girl, and tries to figure out his relationships with those around him, including his father and stepfather. The novel was written shortly after 9/11, although the existential questions it asks are more those of teen lit than of apocalyptic fiction. Told in Vim's voice, the chapters are short and choppy, although first-time author Charles is very good at capturing the way teenagers speak to one another. The dialogue is filled with bravado and expletives, which the characters use to mask their insecurities and uncertainty about their future, and even, perhaps more so, their present.–Nancy Brown, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, NY

Adult/High School–Six-year-old Lizzy is present when her doctor father secretly delivers the baby of her nurse, Salamina, in a white suburb of South Africa in 1963. It becomes Lizzy's special responsibility to keep the infant hidden from the police as well as from the Afrikaner neighbors. As the irrepressible child grows, it becomes more and more difficult to keep Moliseng hidden, and she is sent to the slums of Soweto to live with her grandmother. At the age of 14, she is killed by police as she leads other children in a final defiant and heartrending gesture, proclaiming her freedom. The narrative is told from the point of view of Lizzy, who grapples with the conflicting social, political, and religious values of the times and with her mother's depression. She finds comfort, if not answers, in the distracted attention of her father, the unconditional love of her nurse, and her own Syringa tree with its sweet-smelling blossoms. Readers will be carried away by lyrical descriptions of the sensual beauty of the veld and will experience the heartache of the characters as their lives are torn apart by the violence of the period. The story is as compelling and enlightening as Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country (S & S, 1977), and the writing is evocative of that classic work.–Jackie Gropman, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–Yoda introduced the world to the Rule of Two–“Always two there are…no more…no less. A master and an apprentice”–but it was left to Karpyshyn to refine it, flesh it out, and explain it. He takes Darth Bane from his former life as Dessel, a cortosis miner on Apatros, through a circuitous route to fulfill his destiny as a Sith'ari, the Sith version of the Jedi's chosen one. Taking his father's derogatory term for him proudly as his reborn name, Bane makes the code of the Sith his own. He gravitates to the library and learns as much or more from the scrolls and manuals than from his lessons. He develops the belief that he can find a key to the ancient powers of the Rakata, the first servants of the dark side. When he finds what he is looking for, all of the knowledge of the dark side becomes his. It is there that he develops the Rule of the Two–then all he has to do is bring down all the existing Sith and find the perfect disciple. If he were less, it would be impossible and there would be no story. This is an entertaining read, well written and consistent in its history. Readers new to the “Star Wars” series will like it, and fans won't be disappointed.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–The mores of 1920s San Francisco are juxtaposed with those of today as detective Kate Martinelli investigates a murder in this straightforward police procedural. At the victim's home, she discovers a typewritten manuscript that may be an undiscovered story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which becomes the centerpiece of a mystery that includes a Sherlock Holmes dinner group, a dead man found in an unlikely place, and a plethora of suspects. Newcomers to the series may have a difficult time keeping all the players and the complexities of their connections straight, but the uniqueness of Martinelli's family and friends is engaging. The setting of San Francisco and the Marin headlands, both present and past, adds another layer of depth to the realities of everyday life in a police inspector's work. King's prose is somewhat dry and rather pithy in places and the plot stretches a bit thin at times, but the sheer fascination of following Occam's razor will draw readers in. Teens who enjoy whodunits and Sherlock Holmes will enjoy The Art of Detection.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School–In First Warning (Eos, 2005), a plague spread through the universe. Here, when unicorn girl Acorna (the protagonist of her own seven-book series) and her lifemate, Aari, are infected, Khorii, their Linyaari-unicorn daughter, steps up. She and her android “brother,” Elviiz, continue to cleanse the Universe, looking for the reason for the mysterious plague. With their parents in quarantine, the already-fatigued siblings become the first and last line of defense when their old nemesis, Marl Fidd, breaks out of prison. If things weren't bad enough, it looks as though the plague dead are coming back as zombies. Fans of all Acorna books will be thrilled by the surprise addition of a new sibling for Khorii, a twin named Narhii, who was stolen out of the womb by the Creators and who Acorna didn't know existed. The next title is set up in the last chapters. Teens who like science fiction and fantasy will enjoy reading about the challenges and adventures of this heroine and how she balances her everyday problems of growing up with the responsibility of saving worlds.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–This is the second volume of a serial novel that the author has been publishing in The Scotsman about a group of loosely connected people living in present-day Edinburgh. The most interesting character for teen readers is Bertie Pollock, a precocious six-year-old who is being forced by his mother to study Italian, play the saxophone, take yoga, and endure psychoanalysis because of his understandable rebellion against her efforts to prevent him from being an ordinary boy. Bertie and his father grow closer and eventually assert their independence. Mrs. Pollock, meanwhile, has her own moments of revelation as she discovers that the analyst is not as perfect as she thought. The other stories revolve around a coffee-shop owner and some of her patrons and the residents of 44 Scotland Street, who were the subjects of the first book. Many of the characters are strikingly flawed, but McCall Smith eventually finds some redeeming, human side to them. He examines Scottish culture, from would-be art and wine dealers to raincoat-wearing nudists and members of the Scottish mafia. The relationships among the characters grow in unexpected and touching ways. The author has a critical yet forgiving eye for human failings. This novel is a prose poem about the small things in life that are being threatened by globalization and mass entertainment.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–This period mystery grabs readers from the first sentence and doesn't let go until the last word. Though the book includes vernacular terms, the language and syntax are clear. This allows readers to join the company of players, led by book holder Nicholas Bracewell, and to follow them from the burned-out inn in London where they were actors to the castle in Elsinore where their patron's betrothed waits. Nicholas solves one murder, avoids another, and saves his patron from marriage to a mysterious princess. A coded message in a chess piece adds to the suspense. The classic plot of murder, heroism, love, and deception has a dash of 16th-century Danish court life thrown in. A “Dramatis Personae” preceding chapter one sets the stage. Students who have read Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar will gain insight into theater and life in Shakespeare's time.–Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School–This novel opens with Dhurgham, 12, waiting for his family at the Great Mosque in Damascus. They had escaped from Iraq together, and his parents told him that if they became separated, they should meet up at the mosque. When they fail to show up, the boy begins a harrowing journey as he tries to build a new life for himself. He spends several years in a relentlessly bleak refugee detention camp in the Australian desert. When he finally manages to escape to New Zealand, he finds a home with a family who showers him with good intentions. Dhurgham allows himself to hope and to forgive. As he approaches adulthood, however, his New Zealand hosts become fearful that any Middle Eastern male could become a danger to them. The young man now believes his past may be inescapable. The author explores themes of exile and belonging accessibly and artistically. Her writing is not sentimental, yet is deeply felt and relevant. Readers will gain insight into the plight of modern-day asylum seekers, an important contemporary issue.–Susanne Bardelson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–Texas in the mid-19th century is the background for this novel. Aurelia Ruiz, daughter of a Mexican man and his Anglo wife, earns money for her family by “curing” people during a cholera epidemic. Once the outbreak is over (and the money is gambled away), her father sells her to a Texas Ranger. Mistreated by him, Aurelia wishes he would disappear, and soon enough he is killed fighting the Comanches. She then takes refuge in a Comanche camp. Meanwhile, Joseph Kimmel, a Polish Jew and former mountain man, fur trapper, and schoolteacher, sets out for San Antonio. He stops to help a runaway slave, who takes his supplies and money. Fortunately, Kimmel encounters Henry Castro, who is leading a wagon train with Alsatian immigrants to form a new settlement. Castro recruits him as treasurer. Kimmel ultimately becomes an independent rancher and obsessed with Aurelia, who has fled the camp. The exciting plot is rich and complex, and the author successfully enables readers to see events from the viewpoint of the many well-drawn characters.–Sandy Freund, Richard Byrd Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–Despite its title, this volume covers mainly historical and sociopolitical aspects of culture in only 16 Muslim countries, in one chapter each: Bosnia, Albania, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and a broad swath between Egypt and India. Many sub-Saharan and PMiddle Eastern countries are omitted, as are Muslim minorities elsewhere. Readers are sometimes told what percentage of a country's population is Muslim, but not what percentage of the world's Muslims live in that country. Styles vary, but overall the writing is undistinguished and sometimes confusing (“In Bosnia, women have total access to the mosques….Women are not allowed to attend the important Friday evening prayers”). Each signed chapter has a historical overview of Muslims in that country, “Culture, Society, and Politics,” “Women and the Family,” “Special Issues in the News,” brief biographies of notable people, and country-specific resource lists. Redundancy, lack of clarity, awkward expression, and minor factual errors and omissions are found throughout. The index has limitations. The few poor-quality, black-and-white photos provide little leaven. The absence of any work by Bernard Lewis in the resource list is striking. Despite its flaws, this is a useful compilation on a limited segment of contemporary Islam, reflecting wide variations in practice, power, and politics. Although it lacks the geopolitical focus of this volume, Tanya Gulevich's Understanding Islam and Muslim Traditions (Omnigraphics, 2004) is a richer introduction to Islamic culture; neither volume, however, offers much help in understanding violent Islamism.–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Adult/High School–Explaining that ideas are often not as important as their execution, David states, “all stories can be boiled down to three fundamental conflicts: Man vs. Man; Man vs. Himself; and Man vs. Environment.” He handles each aspect of the topic in a separate chapter that includes exercises. For example, “Where Do They Get Those Crazy Ideas?” has an exercise called “What If?” in which the author challenges budding writers to observe people in a public place and make up stories about them based on those observations. The exercise for “Dialogue” is “Character Exploration,” in which readers are invited to write diaries or correspondence in their characters' voices. The lessons are easy to digest and can be applied to any kind of writing. The book may not turn all readers into successful comic-book writers, but it will help them improve their work. Illustrations drawn from a variety of familiar comics maintain the mood and, for many readers, are the impetus for taking up the craft.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–Forbes joined the Black Panther Party as a 16-year-old in 1968. Within eight years, he had become a member of the inner circle that gave him access to cofounder Huey Newton. During the following 10 years, Forbes made a tactical error that killed a close friend and turned him into a fugitive before returning to California to face sentencing. During the past 20 years, he has completed college and graduate school, and has worked as an urban planner and small-business developer. Less scholarly than David Hilliard and Lewis Cole's This Side of Glory (Chicago Review, 2001), but no less authentic and insightful, this book intertwines the author's life story with aspects of the Black Panthers' development and denouement, using street talk that both befits Forbes's youth and makes his story a compelling nonfiction read for teens with a taste for urban fiction. The author portrays himself as analytical and thirsty for ideas even at a time when he spent his days drinking and smoking pot, and his nights protecting Oakland and Berkeley neighborhoods against incursion by non-BPP gangs. Two dozen photos are included, and a chronology provides a larger historical context for the time period. Rough language will keep this title from some school library shelves, but students will find it a valuable research tool and, for some, welcome leisure reading.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–In an accessible and even affectionate work of art history, Gayford tells of the two artists who lived and worked in the South of France in the fall of 1888. Their story is told in short episodes, reconstructed through the formal analysis and comparison of the paintings they created during this period, and through letters and newspapers that place the work in the context of the contemporary art world, popular literature, and current events. Their time together culminated in Van Gogh's famous ear-cutting incident (which is revealed on the jacket copy), teens with an interest in the artist's colorful yet short life may take to Gayford's somewhat breathless approach leading up to the big event. The author delights in the quotidian details of his story: the joint visits to local brothels, how the weather may have affected work habits, Gauguin's cooking skills. The biggest drawback is the use of small black-and-white photos of paintings. Suggest that teens read this alongside larger monographs with color reproductions to appreciate the art fully.–Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–An exciting, fast-paced read, Demon opens with a grisly scene at Tripler General Hospital in Hawaii as ambulances, trucks, and private cars drop off the injured from Pearl Harbor. Men who were wounded, dismembered, and literally roasted in the harbor oil fires from exploding ships were tended to on the lawns outside the hospital and in three operating rooms that ran continuously for 11 hours. Not a single patient died due to infection, in dramatic contrast to World War I, when it was estimated that more soldiers died of infection than in combat. What was the difference? Sulfa drugs–antibiotics. The story of their discovery reads much like a suspense novel, set against the backdrop of World War I trench warfare and political intrigue in Europe leading up to World War II. The scientific leaders in medical research, Gerhard Domagk at Bayer, Sir Almroth Wright's group “The Lords,” and Ernest Fourneau at the Pasteur Institute, conducted meticulous work and experienced accidental discoveries that advanced medical procedures and determined the protocols for drug testing. Great reading both for curriculum support and general interest.–Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA

Adult/High School–Hoose was eight years old and trying to make it in a new town when he discovered the importance of baseball. Unfortunately, he was such a poor ballplayer that he despaired of ever succeeding at either the game of baseball or the game of school. Then one day his mother told him he should ask for help from his cousin, a pitcher for the New York Yankees. Hoose wrote to him and began a long-distance relationship with Don Larsen, a man on the verge of greatness. He could have found no better fan than his young relative. Teens will appreciate this story of an ordinary boy and his brush with real superheroes. Hoose met Larsen and such Yankee greats as Yogi Berra and Casey Stengel; he saw the loner Mickey Mantle from across the room. In a satisfying close to this story, the author visits with his now 80-year-old cousin. Period photos help readers to visualize the times.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Much like the '80s breakup song with the same title, this book chronicles how bad weather has affected mankind, most notably in times of war. Starting with prehistoric man, each chapter chronicles a different event, from Noah's flood to missile launches during the Cold War, including the Wright brothers' first flight and the D-Day Invasion. Chapters may be read individually or collectively. Students will enjoy Lee's concise, conversational style and the quirky relationship she identifies between humans and the forces of nature.–Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA

Adult/High School–Levitin's fascination with the mystery of music and the study of why it affects us so deeply is at the heart of this book. In a real sense, the author is a “rock 'n' roll doctor,” and in that guise dissects our relationship with music. He points out that bone flutes are among the oldest of human artifacts to have been found and takes readers on a tour of our bio-history. In this textbook for those who don't like textbooks, he discusses neurobiology, neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, empirical philosophy, Gestalt psychology, memory theory, categorization theory, neurochemistry, and exemplar theory in relation to music theory and history in a manner that will draw in teens. A wonderful introduction to the science of one of the arts that make us human.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–This collection of lists takes on advertisements, unicorns, grocery items, German tourism advice, and much more in a witty and irreverent satire on our obsession with popular culture. The many lists include “Rides Found at a Psychiatry-themed Amusement Park” (guilt-a-whirl), “Signs Your Unicorn Is Cheating on You,” and “Anecdotal Leads for News Stories Reporting the End of the World.” Droll, ironic, and often laugh-out-loud funny, McSweeney's offers a hilarious odyssey-by-lists through books, movies, TV, politics, celebrities, and other aspects of modern life. Teens will appreciate the wide-ranging social satire and find the lists entertaining and often quotable.–Susanne Bardelson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–Born in India, the author was adopted in 1974 at age six by a Catalan couple. She grew up to become a professional musician like them, but longed to know more about India and her past. Part One describes her return there 20 years later, to a “work camp” assisting the Bombay poor. Miró experienced a new culture and struggled to reconcile her Indian and European selves while she searched for facts about her first six years. Forming a counterpoint to this often-troubled quest are excerpts from a diary, lovingly written by her adoptive mother, about the girl's life in Spain. At the orphanage, Miró found a nun who remembered her, but of her birth parents she would only say that she was a “Daughter of the Ganges.” Though a spiritually gratifying concept (the sacred waters gave birth to India), the author pressed on in Western fashion, locating official records of her birth but finally reaching a dead end. After this first essay had become famous, she returned with a documentary film crew to retrace her steps. Part Two describes her second trip and how she delved deeper and located her extended birth family. This complex, nuanced, and thought-provoking personal journey is related in deceptively simple prose. Some readers might wish for a map, but the black-and-white photos are well chosen and revealing. A unique memoir with wide appeal.–Christine C. Menefee, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School–Chavez, a pro with more than 40 wins and fewer than 5 losses, may not be well known to any but the most avid boxing fans, but his story is compelling. After arriving illegally in the United States at age seven, he lived in Chicago and eventually fell prey to a gang. When he was 17, he began a prison term for robbing a store with friends. Upon release, he moved to Austin, TX, but was later deported to Mexico. Once he was able to return to America, further tragedy was yet to come. While Pitluk knows boxing and his subject, the narrative is never weighed down with lengthy fight descriptions or analysis. The book ends somewhat abruptly after a bout in September 2005. Though boxing fans will enjoy it most, this book will appeal to anyone interested in triumph over adversity.–Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Adult/High School–This book is Safina's personal journal of the migration of the leatherback, loggerhead, and green turtles. These aquatic creatures of reptilian descent wander throughout the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Eventually they die in captivity because they don't understand boundaries. This limitless ocean life is in jeopardy due to long-line fishing, poaching, and commercial development along the beaches of Trinidad and Mexico, where they nest. The author is passionate about conservation efforts, describing the eco-tourist work of Nature Seekers and the legal efforts of Oceana in protecting the now “critically endangered” leatherback turtles. More than a chronicle of attempts to save the species, Turtle captures the physical magnitude of these ancient creatures and the repetitive calm of their endless travels. Safina's simple and deeply personal style captures both the mystery of the leatherbacks' life cycle and the need to develop a global understanding of their plight to survive. This title will quickly become a part of the classroom libraries of those teaching life science and ecology.–Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA

Adult/High School–This is a terrific book for all artists, not just those interested in comics. Professional artists demonstrate how to use photo references in drawing, what materials to use, and techniques needed to do studies and finish the work professionally. The photos show models in various action poses, alone and in pairs, with and without props, in capes and street clothes, and expressing several emotions. The only difference between this and a professional artist's photo reference book–and what makes it a perfect addition to a library or art classroom–is that the models are all clothed. The CD-ROM has the images from the book and can be used by groups working together.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–A fascinating compilation. The range of writers of these 33 selections is amazingly wide, and the whole reads as an overview of professional critics and the evolution of the genre. Among the who's who are Andrew Sarris, Alistair Cooke, Robert E. Sherwood, Alexander Woollcott, Winston Churchill, Graham Greene, and James Agee; several others, such as Sigmund Freud, are quoted. Chaplin made 82 films, and his work is broken up into six categories in this book. For good or bad, every idea in his productions was his own, and he insisted on creating every aspect of his films himself. Most of the criticism that he received in his lifetime, and that he receives here, is that he should have expanded into areas beyond comedy and into more “literary” and “serious” films. This pressure caused critics' dissatisfaction with Chaplin's later work, leaving him embittered. For fans, this book is a must; it is also valuable as a study of expository and critical writing.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–Ghosts at the roadside, UFOs in the attic, beasts in the backyard, soccer moms who murder, cul-de-sacs of carnage–what are the suburbs coming to? Stall's quirky book tells tales that range from eerie events and well-known ghost stories to murder and attempted murder to the more whimsical disappearing lake and the low constant hum that plagues many residents of Kokomo, IN. Some of the stories of phantom apparitions and unexplained phenomena fit the definition of “urban legend.” They are a mix of humor and horror. The retellings of murder cases, famous and not so well known, are grim and dark in theme, though the author ends his stories with twists and warnings and title puns lighten the tone. This collection of more than 60 tales, some with photographs, will give readers laughs, shivers, and grounds to reflect that things are not always what they seem to be in quaint, peaceful suburbia.–Susanne Bardelson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–These 20 essays examine the Man of Steel from various perspectives, including his relationships with women and with Batman, the actors who have portrayed him, and what he stands for. The entries are articulate, thought-provoking, and often funny. Lawrence Watt-Evans points out that Superman's suit is made from his baby blanket–the ultimate security object. Adam-Troy Castro explains “Six Things That Plain Don't Make Any Sense about Superman.” Other contributors take a more scholarly approach, examining Superman's connections to Nietzsche or to Gilgamesh. Some give attention to his alter ego, Clark Kent. Most of the material is recent, except for Larry Niven's classic “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.” This collection is well-rounded, well-chosen, and interesting. Any fan of Superman–or anyone with an interest in popular culture–will find it fascinating.–Susan Salpini, formerly at TASIS–The American School in England