Adult Books for High School Students

Chaired by Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—In Republican-era Paris, Aristide Ravel is a police investigator currently assisting in a case that involves the death of the elderly but healthy head of a bourgeois household. Although a young scullery maid has been charged with poisoning him, Ravel quickly discerns the greater likelihood that another household member would be a more probable culprit—and there are several suspects from whom to choose. The man's second wife, who is younger than his son, and his son also live in the house. He is an actor (a dubious profession even after the Revolution) and father to a teenage boy and a precocious 12-year-old girl. His sisters make their home there as well, including one who was a nun, before the convents were closed. Finally, there is the victim's daughter-in-law, who first called police attention to the scullery maid's unlikely role as murderer. Alleyn brings the period to life through nomenclature (the Republican 10-day week, for example) and a tidy subplot involving a deceased friend from Ravel's past. This is an excellent choice for mystery fans and for supplemental reading that supports both history and French culture curricula.—Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—What do an agoraphobe, a teenager determined to be as geekily unfashionable as possible, a little girl who acts like a dog, and a disheveled real-estate agent have in common? The answer is a crumbling town house, formerly owned by a rock star who was killed by a turtle. Like a hyperactive child jacked up on sugar, the novel introduces characters, wanders off on tangents, and still manages to be genuinely amusing. Jack Madigan, Baz's son, now owns the building, which has gone into foreclosure due to lack of funds. His next-door neighbors' daughter, Lucinda, is an intelligent and neglected child who latches on to Jack, despite his inability to step outside his door without "Nervy Durvies," as Harlan, his teenage son, calls his meds. Dorrie, the realtor, is determined to make her first sale on the historic Boston property despite Jack's refusal to repair the holes in the walls left by his father. Cohen pulls off her first novel for adults with style and verve. Even the secondary characters shine in their peripheral roles. Teens will love this book or hate it—there's really no middle ground. Advise those with the right ear to read while listening to the 117 Battersea Road Playlist, included in the end materials, and rock on.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School—Henry has flunked out of college and is living at home with no real plans for the future, so a summer in New York seems to be the perfect solution. Pitiable, annoying, endearing, and infuriating, the young man has plenty of conflicts in his life, but seems disengaged from most of them. While his father's heart attack scares him, he is more obsessed and upset by the unrequited love he feels for Margaret, the girl downstairs (to be fair, her ambivalence is confusing). He never seems to connect with anyone other than her, and with the Nubian goat in the petting zoo where he works. This disconnect is captured perfectly by Dolnick, but it leaves readers disconnected as well. In the midst of Henry's biggest crisis, it is difficult to empathize with him, and his actions during that crisis increase that difficulty. But that is part of the fine characterization, and it is the ability of the author to draw readers into the protagonist's world that will keep them turning pages.—Mary Ann Harlan, Arcata High School, CA

Adult/High School—The events and characters in this story only loosely follow those set down in the epic Greek poems and legends. To begin with, Gemmell dispatches the likes of Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo as active participants and the Achilles here does not have a sea nymph for a mother. All of the actors are human, and they live, love, and die with great passion. The relationships are deep and complicated. Relatives kill one another, and the fates of cities are often in the hands of traitors. Gemmell brings his Troy to life with confidence and creates rich new players and plotlines that complement the classics even as he rewrites them. Hektor, for example, has been emasculated from a battle wound but he gets the chance to beat up Achilles anyway. The battles are chaotic and exciting, and the author does a good job of keeping the myriad opponents and allies straight. This second book in the series is a perfect follow-up for teens who have enjoyed Homer or Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's 300 (Dark Horse, 2007).—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—This compelling story of a school shooting unfolds in time-stamped chapters, each providing readers with more information and insight into the characters' secrets, lives, and connections to the violence. Readers learn in the introduction that when Ravenhill High was first built, no expense was spared. It was the apple of the community's eye, its hub. By 1997, things have changed: the building is showing its age and is no longer the premier high school of the area. Test scores are dropping, families are sending their children to private schools, and the student body is changing. This powerful tale makes readers question who is responsible for the growing threat of violence and how it influences students, their schools, and their communities. The characters are real, their lives diverse, and their actions, although unsettling, become understandable and heartbreaking. Teens who enjoyed Francine Prose's After (HarperCollins, 2003) will find Ravenhill a more serious story, less concerned with mind control and with no twilight-zone feel.—Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—The stories in this book are all spare, less than 1000 words in length. Hinton takes her typical teen protagonists just a few years down the line into their mid-20s. They are a bit bitter and lacking in hope, but still retain a spark. The themes—prison rape, alcoholism, and adult despair—require maturity in a reader. Even so, there is humor and humanity, and Hinton's voice is both lucid and familiar. The book has a complicated premise involving the mysterious Tim, who is never mentioned anywhere except in the title. It's the significance this "barely there" character holds for Hinton that is intriguing and about which readers learn in the engaging interviews that make up the second half of the volume. She says, "You'd be surprised at how much you don't need in a story." Her paring down of words has resulted in tales that are immediate and gripping; they engage readers and push them to fill in the empty spaces, which are as thoughtfully crafted as the narratives. The plain-spoken language of this book makes it an excellent choice for struggling readers.—Emma Coleman, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—This third installment in a fantasy series set in sixth-century Scotland continues the saga of King Bridei and his battle to maintain his kingdom and religion against the rising tide of Christianity. The monarch and his mystical wife enjoy the birth of a baby and the education of their young son, who is showing signs of possessing Tuala's magical abilities. Despite these happy circumstances, Bridei learns of some dark and hidden forces plotting to twist apart the kingdom he's worked so hard to build. He sends Faolon, a skilled assassin and his most trusted friend, out across Scotland and Ireland to learn who the hidden enemies really are. The journey dredges up moments from his past, forcing him to deal with the painful memories of his dead brother and leading into a surprising and well-written love story. Of course, his new love and the strength of the kingdom are both tested through various adventures, acts of treachery, and dark plans fabricated by manipulative villains. Fans of the series will delight in the focus on Faolon, while new readers will find it an easy entry point into Marillier's world. The author makes grand use of the historical and mythological stories of Scotland to create a gripping page-turner that readers of character-driven fantasy will love.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School— Hick is 13-year-old Luli McMullen's heartbreaking tale of growing up in an alcoholic household in rural Nebraska. The teen narrates her picaresque coming-of-age story in an authentic voice, liberally sprinkled with grammatical errors, Western accents, and creative profanity. The short chapters, well-drawn characters, and natural-sounding dialogue give the book a cinematic atmosphere. The somewhat nonlinear narrative alternates between Luli's action-packed adventures hitchhiking toward Las Vegas and introspective flashbacks that provide details of her home and school life—awkward adolescence exacerbated by poverty. When readers meet her, Luli is an observer, describing her parents and their neglectful ways without a trace of self-pity. By the third chapter, she realizes that she has the power to make a man's eyes go "swirly," so she decides it's time to run away and find herself a sugar daddy. She packs her Smith & Wesson 45, steals her mother's stash of cash, and hits the road. Luli is real and likable; her honesty, insecurities, and coping mechanisms will have readers rooting for her throughout the story. Hick is filled with difficult themes: sexual exploitation, unsavory adults, drug use, and poverty, but Luli keeps her chin up and embodies the human will to survive. This is an ultimately hopeful story that will appeal to teens who like problem novels and contemporary realistic fiction.—Sondra VanderPloeg, Tracy Memorial Library, New London, NH

Adult/High School—Weir ventures into fiction with this story. In the prologue, Jane is stunned that her trial is over and that she has been convicted of treason, a capital offense. The novel then begins with her birth, a sore disappointment to her ambitious parents who desperately yearned for a son. Various narrators describe the events and fill in the historical background in alternating chapters. Jane is a bright and quick child, but does not enjoy some of the robust activities, such as hunting, associated with her station in society (her mother is the niece of King Henry VIII). For teens, Jane's will be the most compelling voice as she recounts the callousness of her mother, especially compared to the love and support from her nurse, Mrs. Ellen; the idyllic time she spends with the widowed Queen Katherine Parr while plans are made for Jane to marry the young King Edward; then her unsatisfying marriage to Guildford and its brutal consummation. Jane, who has adopted the Protestant faith, is pushed into the line of succession (since Henry VIII was her great-uncle) by those who fear England's return to Catholicism. Readers who enjoyed Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl (2002) or The Constant Princess (2005, both Touchstone) will be drawn to Jane's quiet strength of character as she is used by her parents for their advancement and is condemned to pay the ultimate price.—Teri Titus, San Mateo County Library, CA

Adult/High School—This collection of vernacular poetry, short stories, novels, and essays poignantly addresses complex issues of language and power. Most of the selections were created in the late 20th or early 21st century, but Ahmad includes pieces that clearly demonstrate the sociopolitical contexts that give birth to, and resulting thematic cohesiveness of, vernacular writing, which has sprouted all over the world. As she describes in her concise introduction, the key characteristic of vernacular writing is its anti-institutional stance. By confronting complex linguistic histories arising from colonialism and peeling through layers specific to mainstream culture (slavery, nationalism, immigration), the authors represented here are able to at once name their own oppressors and reclaim personal authenticity and power. Chicana writer Gloria Anzaldúa illustrates this beautifully when she says that "I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent's tongue—my woman's voice, my sexual voice, my poet's voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence." Perhaps the most powerful point that this collection effectively emphasizes is the fluidity of vernacular writing and its inherent ability to empower both author and readers. By validating "alternative" voices, languages, and experiences, the authors create a space for new perspectives, fresh dialogue, and countless new communities. This, coupled with the approachability of the works presented here, makes the book a natural fit for teens.—Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School—Angel has staked out his realm in magic, creating a mixture of Houdini, David Blaine, and Goth performance art. This book brings together his biography, philosophy, discussions of his TV performances, and a section of magic instruction. It is blatant self-promotion but there is a refreshing innocence in the way he tells readers how good he is. Houdini had his side act of being able to be punched in the stomach (which may have killed him); David Blaine has produced demonstrations that include being sealed in a block of ice; Angel continues their tradition with acts like being suspended for hours by hooks through his back and legs. This is less the magic end and more the entertainer amazing the audience. He admits that there are more talented magicians out there, but it is presentation and promotion at which Angel excels, and this is a useful trick to learn. His book is a print-bound equivalent of a myspace page, with bloglike commentary, personal photos, and testimonials from his loving family and fans.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Felting is the process of making a dense fabric from raw wool or knitting yarn. This book contains creative methods that work for novice crafters as well as for experienced knitters. Readers are shown how to make purses, scarves, hats, and felted flowers with which to adorn hats or lapels. Some of the projects require starting with a hand-knit item. Filled with colorful and instructional photographs, the book tells how to choose materials and explains techniques. A swatch bar shows what different fibers will look like once felted. Basic knitting directions are included.—Meg Canada, Hennepin County Library, MN

Adult/High School—This is a hefty and fascinating sample of the more than 14,000 rocketry and space-travel artifacts held by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The book is divided into five time periods. A several-page essay introduces each one, followed by a chronological presentation of the artifacts, ranging from a Nazi-era V-2 ballistic missile and John Glenn's space suit to a cosmonaut's tube of cabbage soup and SpaceShipOne. Each item is clearly photographed and accompanied by an insightful single-page essay describing how it contributed either to the exploration of space or to popular interest in space travel and extraterrestrial worlds. The text assumes some knowledge of the history of space travel, but no more than might easily be learned from a general encyclopedia or a chapter in a textbook. Students with an interest in space exploration or 20th-century history will browse for hours through this colorful and intriguing feast of information.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—The editors of A Woman Alone (Seal, 2001) have again collected women's travel narratives. Most of the essays involve specific trips: Susan Richardson in Iceland, following the steps of a 10th-century Viking woman; Alexia Brue spending a post-college summer in Provence working in a hotel laundry; Alison Culliford's pre-wedding trip to Labrador on an "icebreaker"; Gail Hudson taking her 13-year-old daughter to Greece and recalling her own trip there as a teen. One of the best pieces, by Julianne Balmain, is simply about the pleasures of traveling alone. She talks about places as companions and about the importance of anchoring solo days with "small, well-spaced obligations." It's great advice for any solo traveler, male or female. Many of the essays deal specifically with the issues women face: cultural expectations in different countries, safety, the empowerment of travel. This book will appeal to armchair travelers, and to fans of novels like Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes (HarperCollins, 2005).—Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—Crystal, a British linguist, may be a stranger to American teens, but many will delight in making his acquaintance through this book of short, punchy essays. Inspired by the popularity of fellow radio-personality Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots, and Leaves [Penguin, 2004]), he makes his own argument for English as flexible, rather than needing careful preservation. Where Truss has "zero tolerance" for those who would trespass on the language's rules of order, Crystal delights in showing how purists and pundits, to say nothing of simply unconscious communicators, have shaped and reshaped English across more than a thousand years. The language as it is spoken nearest London gained favor in the eyes of snobs and academia alike. However, as the author cogently points out, there is nothing intrinsically more valuable about how one speaker communicates thoughts, feelings, and ideas over how his neighbor to the north or across the ocean designs her pronunciation or phrasing. Teens will especially enjoy the discussions of spelling (which include texting's orthographic changes) and the childish rancor with which historical personages presumed airs when speaking ill of the way Shakespeare used the language. This compendium is a treasure trove for students of political and social history, and for those who simply enjoy language's quirks. The brevity of the essays—coupled with their high quality—provides excellent and accessible models for those in need of inspiration to write their own nonfiction.—Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Goodstein offers a thoughtful and practical guide to the rich variety of popular tools currently available online. From blogs to instant messaging to social-networking sites and cell phones, she discusses this broad topic in a straightforward yet comprehensive style. Each section opens with basic definitions of the technologies and then quickly demonstrates through interviews how teens make use of them. Later sections address more conceptual issues like bullying online, parental control, and tips for teachers. While the book is geared primarily to parents with little or no knowledge of online tools, Goodstein covers many key issues for teens as well: illegal downloading of music and video, plagiarism, what to do when strangers approach in an online environment, and more. Her conversational writing is accessible and non-condescending. Fortunately, this is not just a gloom-and-doom text highlighting the fears and dangers of online life. Goodstein includes great detail about how tools like blogs, social-networking sites, and podcasts have many positive uses that can enhance a teen's education, creativity, and social life. Her tips and strategies will allow readers to make the most of these technologies in ways that are useful, fun, and, most importantly, safe.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—Four hundred years ago, three settlements were established in North America: by the English at Jamestown in 1607, the French at Quebec in 1608, and the Spanish at Santa Fe in 1609. Each one, though small and extremely fragile at first, survived, expanded, and served a central role in the spread of European culture and influence. This volume serves two purposes well: as a partial catalog of a major traveling exhibit created jointly by the Virginia Historical Society and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and as a brief history of the three communities from the planning stages to about 1700. Written in consistently accessible prose and beautifully illustrated in full color with reproductions of maps, paintings, illustrations, documents, and photographs of museum artifacts, the book will appeal to readers who have any curiosity about our nation's past. The authors do an excellent job of identifying the similarities and differences in the establishment of the settlements. They pay special attention to how the Europeans interacted with Native peoples, and how their respective political, economic, social, and religious systems and beliefs influenced the development of the intercultural harmony and disharmony that has shaped our society ever since. The book is thoroughly footnoted, includes an exhibition checklist, and is well indexed. It offers a stunning glimpse into the origins of these settlements.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—The violin maker who this book examines became interested in making instruments as a young teen. The musician for whom he is currently making a violin began playing when he was eight and a half. Sam Zygmuntowicz is the maker, and the violinist is Eugene Drucker. Drucker's other fiddle is a Stradivarius. Many of the top players in the world have turned to Zygmuntowicz to make replicas of the finest old violins, or magical boxes, as they are also called. He worked in a famous repair shop where he got to study, take apart, and eventually re-create the most exquisite examples. He also designs his own instruments. This is a field where changing the length by one quarter inch, as Stradivari did for eight years, constitutes a revolution. The author spends a good deal of time recounting what is known of the Italian master. He adds his own perspective by visiting the town of Cremona, made famous by Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari, and which now has a school of violin making where many acolytes try to recapture the magic in the box. Teens, especially those who dream of being the next Zygmuntowicz and Drucker, will find this study entertaining and inspiring.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—O'Shea fell in love with the Mekong River at the age of 20 and ever since has dreamed of becoming the first person to explore its entire length. This book describes his dream and its fulfillment, as it records his ambitious, dangerous, and exhilarating ride down the river known as Kong, "Mother of Water." This wet and wild tale of adventure is sure to satisfy armchair explorers. But the book is much more than a simple narrative of man against killer rapids, monster whirlpools, freezing temperatures, and unexploded land mines. All of that is central to the author's story, but so is an environmental and political disaster about to descend upon the millions of people who inhabit the valleys of the Mekong. The Chinese are in the process of constructing eight immense dams in Yunnan Province, two of which have been completed, with another four currently under construction. This "Mekong Cascade of Dams" is one of the largest engineering feats ever undertaken. O'Shea points out that Yunnan is prone to more devastating earthquakes than almost any other region of the world. The Chinese are building the dams to provide electricity for urban and suburban areas in China. They have made no mention of compensation or any benefit to the peoples of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam. The author admirably accomplishes his two main goals: to relate the harrowing story of his kayak trip and to direct attention to the man-made threats to this stunningly beautiful and wild corner of the world.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Pregracke loves the Mississippi. He grew up on its shores, spending an idyllic childhood fishing, boating, and playing on the river. At age 15, he began diving for mussels, a tough-going but fairly lucrative occupation for residents of his rural Illinois town. While diving, he first became aware of the incredible amount of filth and garbage dumped into the river. Cleaning it up became his mission. Starting out with a leaky boat and a wheelbarrow, he tirelessly began on the garbage. Naturally exuberant, relentless, inexhaustible, and fearless, Pregracke soon attracted a steady crew of workers, corporate sponsors, and local and national media to his quest. He professed no political agenda and refused to pigeonhole himself as an environmentalist; his motivation was clear and simple: "I just want to clean up the river." His grassroots efforts snowballed, picking up a dedicated paid crew, houseboats as living quarters, barges to transport garbage, and a barge on which to conduct educational outreach to young students. He eventually found himself in Washington, DC, receiving the prestigious Jefferson Award. This is an adventure tale complete with sinking boats, attacking catfish, and finding a human skull. Educational and inspiring for budding environmentalists, it will also hold appeal for nature lovers, river rats, and the Huck Finn inside all of us. This book proves that one young man can make a difference.—Jodi Mitchell, Durham County Library, NC

Adult/High School—Sachs is a therapist and the father of three teenage daughters. Drawing on both his personal and professional experiences, he gently guides teens toward a broader sense of their world. As a framework, he uses his letters to a patient to address the turmoil of adolescence. Overall, the nonconfrontational format will appeal to teens, but this one-sided conversation makes the work a slightly less effective aid than if readers could have the benefit of the teen's responses. Still, Sachs's paraphrasing of his patient's troubles is adequate enough to attract readers searching for advice on drugs, sex, depression, jealousy, and the changing relationship with their parents.—Joy Murphy, Oakland Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—When it comes to the topic of bias in the media, both liberals and conservatives agree on one thing—that the media is biased against their viewpoints. In this important book, journalism scholars have written essays on such controversial topics as abortion, homosexuality, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and television news. Each piece tries to cut through the existing rhetoric and present both sides of the argument in a fair way. The authors then try to reconcile opposing viewpoints and arrive at a more balanced understanding of the underlying issues. Each essay ends with a Notes section that students of the subject will find invaluable. This book reiterates that journalists have a responsibility to commit to balanced reporting and to avoid catering to their own or others' partisan ideologies. Teens considering majoring in journalism or communications and those who participate on debate teams may be especially interested in this book.—Catherine Gilbride, Farifax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—From the contemplative experiences of open-water distance swimmer Lynne Cox to the gritty life of 20-year horse-racing veteran Julie Krone, Taggart captures the dedication, determination, and sheer will of 10 inspiring athletes. An introduction provides a historical review of women in sports, emphasizing the value of sports in character development and changes in American attitudes toward girls' and women's participation in them since the 1972 passage of Title IX. Each stand-alone mini-biography begins with a photo of the athlete and a listing of her achievements. The narrative details each woman's life, from childhood dreams to challenging setbacks and eventual athletic triumphs. Taggart covers life beyond sports as well, describing the voices these women have found within themselves and the leadership roles they play in their fields. The author also provides background information on the various sports and a detailed history of women's participation and competition in them. Their personal journeys all involve overcoming obstacles, from physical injuries to racial and gender discrimination, illnesses, family troubles, and sheer bad luck. These engaging stories belong in the hands of any teens interested in sports—as competitors or fans.—Sondra VanderPloeg, Tracy Memorial Library, New London, NH