Adult Books for High School Students

Adult/High School–Buckhanon’s second novel firmly establishes her as a timeless voice for a new generation. The point of view alternates between 15-year-old Shivana Montgomery and that of her unborn baby. The two are tied together by the idea of young black women who are used and then forsaken by men. Shivana plans to abort the baby, whose father is a married drug dealer now in jail, but then she meets a man who makes her want to try to live a happy life, one that includes the child. The narrative of the unborn takes readers back in time through several generations of black women during the periods of slavery, Reconstruction, and Harlem in the 1940s. An authenticity of language and action permeates the novel. The realities of poor Chicago life and Shivana’s desperation to escape lead to a sad, seemingly predestined conclusion, yet do not detract from the underlying foundations of love and hope. Teens who like Toni Morrison’s work, Buckhanon’s Upstate (St. Martin’s, 2005), and other realistic novels will enjoy this one.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School–This collection features primarily short stories, with about 15 percent of the space devoted to manga. Highlights in the manga section include VOFAN’s breathtaking illustrations in the wordless story “Nikko Dance Party” and NISIOISIN’s clever story “After School: 7th Class.” Many of the stories are by authors who are best known for manga, so their fans would definitely appreciate this book. The most notable selections include Otsuichi’s “F-sensei’s Pocket,” Kouhei Kadono’s “Outlandos d’Amour,” and Otaro Maijo’s “Drill Hole in My Brain,” which is both astonishingly erotic and just plain astonishing. While the quality of the collection as a whole is somewhat uneven, there are enough gems here to make this a worthwhile read for lovers of Japanese pop culture.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Adult/High School–JP Kinkaid, a member of the legendary British rock band Blacklight, is unnerved when he learns that Perry Dillon, a tabloid biographer, is writing an exposé of the group. Kinkaid has a lot of secrets he would like to remain hidden: heroin addiction, deportation, and his struggle with multiple sclerosis. His fear only escalates when Dillon turns up dead in his dressing room and his life partner, Bree Godwin, is identified as the prime suspect in the investigation. As the mystery unravels, the novel provides a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional rock and roll, revealing the close bonds that are formed within it. As the story progresses, secrets are revealed as JP revisits his early days with Blacklight and Bree. The more that is revealed, the less trustworthy the characters are as their seemingly normal existence becomes shrouded in mystery and suspicion. The novel is reminiscent of Meg Cabot’s Size 12 Is Not Fat (HarperCollins, 2006). Grabien’s novel is likely to appeal to casual readers as well as those with an affinity for rock and roll.–Kelliann Bogan, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

Adult/High School–Damion Madrid is a 22-year-old college basketball player freshly graduated from Colorado State University, and the last summer vacation before he becomes a medical student is no bed of roses. His best friend and teammate, Shandell Bird, aka Blackbird, a first-round NBA draft pick by the Denver Nuggets, is found dead on a neighborhood court beside a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper reporter. The son of a defense attorney, Damion decides to take up the case himself and begins investigating parts of Blackbird’s life he never knew existed. Although this is a murder mystery, it is also a coming-of-age story, as Damion realizes that he can never possibly know everything about the people in his life. He discovers that people he trusted, including the college basketball team’s trainer and Connie Eastland, Blackbird’s girlfriend, may have more knowledge about the murder than Damion would like to admit. While teens looking for pure sports stories may prefer Tim Tharp’s Knights of the Hill Country (Knopf, 2006) or John Foley’s Hoops of Steel (Flux, 2007), those transitioning into more complex novels would respond well to this title’s sports references and the discussion of what it means to be another man’s friend. Readers who are enthusiastic about this book may be interested in the novels in Greer’s “C J Floyd” series (Frog), although Damion plays a much smaller role in them.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Adult/High School–A dark tale of teen angst and despair in suburban Tokyo. Through alternating first-person narratives, four girls and one boy tell a story of murder and deception. Descriptions of the hot, humid summer enhance the oppressive feeling of the novel. Characters are well drawn and real, though not always sympathetic–they make life-altering mistakes, don’t trust or confide in adults, and are absorbed in their individual worlds. Kirino offers insight into the teens through chapters that read like diary entries as they divulge the deepest secrets, fears, and longings of Toshi, Terauchi, Yuzan, Kirarin, and the boy they call “Worm.” Readers glimpse at the cliques, social pressures, and academic expectations endured by adolescents in contemporary Japan. Alternating narration sets a fast pace but can be jarring. With five different voices, readers sometimes have to backtrack to figure out who is telling the story. Nevertheless, the technique is effective for evoking an unsettled atmosphere and reinforcing the chaos of life in the Real World. Prominent themes in this psychological thriller include alienation from parents, secret identities, matricide, and complicated relationships even among friends–which is your real self? Two dark surprises at the end of the novel are shocking but not unrealistic. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy teenage problem novels, as well as manga fans interested in Japanese culture.–Sondra VanderPloeg, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

Adult/High School–Nineteen-year-old Brenda Morris lives a comfortable life bounded by a loving family, good friends, and her college studies. One summer night, though, after a young man dressed like a Chinese warrior attacks her father and uses magic to alter his memories, Brenda learns that she is descended from one of 13 nobles who fled another world to seek refuge on Earth. Now, after almost a century, the heirs of those exiles are under attack. Brenda joins with a handful of other descendants in a desperate attempt to save their heritage. Yet she also finds herself drawn to the attacker. Who is friend, and who is foe? Lindskold has created a convincing tale of a young woman entering adulthood, assuming responsibility for herself and for others, and making sometimes-wrenching decisions. Action is brisk in the first and last thirds of the book, while the middle concentrates on developing relationships between the characters and providing background information. The story is nevertheless an attention-grabber throughout. It ends with questions and conflicts still unresolved, while the unexpected arrival of a new character sets up the next book in what promises to be an engrossing series. Recommend this one to teens who enjoy urban fantasies by authors such as Charles de Lint, Jim Butcher, or Lilith Saintcrow.–Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Meltzer builds suspenseful fiction on a previously little-explored historical nugget: Jerry Siegel, the teenage creator of Superman, lost his father in an unsolved murder in 1932. The author offers a compelling theoretical solution by way of an adult protagonist who is dealing with his conflicted feelings about his own father. Cal works for a rescue mission, picking up vagrants in need of shelter, when he stumbles across a man who turns out to be the father who abandoned him in childhood. The two men join forces in pursuit of what they believe is the lost Book of Cain, the weapon used in the Bible’s original murder scene. Meltzer invokes multiple viewpoints as Cal, his father, a mysterious young woman who seems to have befriended the father, a rogue ex-cop, and a hot Federal agent converge on Cleveland in search of the biblical treasure. Teens with a taste for international conspiracies, religion-spouting bad guys, and identity-switching will enjoy this fast ride that leaves some solid and intriguing questions in the wake of its driving plot. Suggest this one to kids who enjoy the likes of Dan Brown, as well as superhero comics.–Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School–Skillfully braiding generations of an Indian family–their personal, cultural, and national struggles–into a fluid first novel, Vachani perfectly reflects the handwoven cotton tapestries praised by Gandhi. HomeSpun’s fluidity extends to time, character, and perspective, with details and information needed to comprehend the whole scattered like the delicious crumbs of Indian pakoras throughout the interwoven plots. The cast here includes a future powerhouse of Bollywood cinema, a metropolitan and educated woman in love, and a beautiful and tractable future mother. The plotlines trace the tragedy of a failed marriage, the Indian Revolution, personal obsessions, the public life of Malcolm X, India’s war with Pakistan, propaganda and the media, and the mid-20th century Indian films of Fearless Nadia and Ashok Kumar. The result is zesty and enticing. Teens will find HomeSpun an engaging introduction to modern India (a thorough historical appendix is included) as well as a highlight of contemporary Indian fiction.–Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–African-American twins Joshua and Christophe graduate from high school and try to find jobs. While Joshua has success becoming a dockworker, Christophe is less fortunate and desperation eventually finds him turning to drug dealing. The teens are loyal to their grandmother, who raised them after their mother moved to Atlanta to start a new life and their addict father disappeared. While this plot (and the book’s cover) may be reminiscent of an urban fiction title, the setting is unique–rural Mississippi–and the writing is distinctive. Ward’s beautiful language allows the location and characters to come alive, while her dialogue, written in a Southern vernacular, adds further texture. The plot is as leisurely as a hot Mississippi summer day, and although not much happens until the somewhat violent and surprising ending, this fully realized character study will appeal to teens who can see themselves here or who are interested in discovering realities far from their own lives.–Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Adult/High School–This reference and idea book for serious jewelry makers or beaders is beautifully laid out and gorgeously photographed. The individual projects come with instructions, but not step-by-step pictures, and the assumption is that readers have some basic skills. In the end matter, “Beading and Wireworking 101” includes descriptions of bead types, findings, stringing materials, and tools, and a short how-to section. There is a list by project of materials needed and another of sources (online and brick-and-mortar stores). Some projects require non-jewelry tools, such as an embossing heat gun. There are several interesting recycling ideas, such as using old candy or spice tins, pocket watches, lockets, or antique playing cards as the basis for new pieces. A few items use gemstones and silver, which may put them out of the price range of most teens. However, for crafters who want to create one-of-a-kind jewelry that reflects their own interests and sense of style, this is a great source of inspiration.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School–Carlsen explores our reliance on wood from numerous angles. A carpenter, woodworker, and author of dozens of books and articles on home improvement, he knows his subject well, and his love and respect for trees and all things made from them are evident on each page. The author includes just enough of the science of trees and wood, and of the technology of wood products and woodworking, to inform but not burden lay readers. Numerous stories add immeasurably to the book’s appeal. Readers are told how a Steinway piano is built, why a Stradivarius violin is so special, about the role of the long bow in military history, and how pens and pencils evolved. In addition, there are discussions of the offbeat, including a full-scale (and functional) Ferrari carved of wood, the 36-year remodeling project known as the Winchester House, a staircase with no visible means of support, and the use of wood forensics in the Lindbergh kidnapping case. Carlsen explores the extraordinary variety of woods on our planet, the profession and hobby of fine woodworking, the tools used to work wood, and the many uses of it in our lives–in music, sports, shelter, furniture, weapons, and transportation. The volume ends with a word on the highly complex issues surrounding human use of the world’s forests and the consequent effects on the global environment. Black-and-white photos are included. Thoroughly researched, thoughtful, and entertaining.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–A well-paced, well-written account of a successful battle. It was fought by numerous civilian firefighting companies from the Washington, DC, area, especially those from Arlington County, where the Pentagon sits. The response by firefighters from the Virginia and Maryland suburbs, the District, and also from nearby Reagan National Airport was admirably rapid and the dangers to them were immense; the relatively small loss of life in the Pentagon is a tribute to their courage and skills. Hundreds of workers–civilian and military–risked their lives and certainly harmed themselves by breathing toxic fumes laced with petroleum and building dust to save coworkers, and readers will learn of the many people deserving recognition. What many who are familiar with the 9/11 attacks do not know is that those gathered to save the Pentagon, normally occupied by 25,000 people, were warned that another commercial airliner was potentially inbound, perhaps to finish the job. This saga is much less well known than the story of the New York City Fire Department responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Teens will be enlightened and inspired by this valuable book.–Alan Gropman, National Defense University, Washington, DC

Adult/High School–Drawing on his own extensive research as well as recent work by numerous colleagues, Dolan offers an important contribution to American ethnic history. Tackling a large and complex story, he manages to retain readability amid solid scholarship. He clearly establishes the significance of the Church in the history of Irish Americans. In addition to its role, the author explores two other central themes: the enormous influence extreme poverty had on the lives of these people, and the gradual, often rocky, road to full assimilation and social acceptance. Dolan begins his story in Ireland, detailing how conditions went beyond harsh to intolerable. Driven out of their homeland by starvation; an antiquated system of land ownership; and cruel, misguided British politics, thousands of Irish immigrated to the United States in the latter half of the 19th century. For most, their lot improved, but only slightly. The next generation, however, fared better, and, by the mid-20th century, was not so much poor Irish as middle-class American. By the end of the century, it even became “chic to be Irish.” Many teens will find this book accessible and at times engrossing, and it will be valuable to those engaged in ethnic studies.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Sass and Wiegand do an admirable job of covering 60,000 years of human history in one volume. Along with the names of people and places, the dates and statistics, the wars, disasters, revelations, and accomplishments, there are fascinating stories, hilarious oddities, and plenty of fun. Nearly every page has a sidebar entry or two that fit well with the general narrative and also provide a chuckle or a “Wow, I didn’t know that!” reaction. In 12 chapters with titles such as “Athens, Alexander, and All That” and “The Not-Really-That-Dark (Unless You Lived in Europe) Ages,” the authors cover our collective story from the earliest Homo sapiens on the grasslands of Africa to the current debate on global warming. Each chapter begins with a helpful “In a Nutshell” summary and a chronology of major events and ends with a well-selected list of comparative statistics. While some may bemoan the lack of bibliographic references and other academic fixtures, others will cheer this clever packaging of a wealth of information.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–The history of the animal protection movement is not for the squeamish. Ironically, those who care most about animals must confront difficult-to-read passages filled with vivid accounts of atrocities and torture. Rare are the uplifting stories of rescues and the cessation of blood sports. Shevelow records the great strides society has made in the treatment of animals, but also notes how little some things have changed. Despite the book’s sometimes dark tone, she tries to remain optimistic, and she highlights some important heroes. This title is especially relevant as readers witness a modern culture of cruelty exemplified by Michael Vick’s dog-fighting hobby and inhumane puppy farms. The subject also dovetails nicely with other best-selling books about food and animals such as Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma (Penguin, 2007) and Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson’s Animals in Translation (Harcourt, 2006). Change in attitudes toward animals has come painfully slowly and the fight for further protection is far from finished. With this book, teens may be galvanized for a new cause.–Joy Murphy, Oakland Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–This collection of 11 essays and interviews examines the craft and themes within the works of a variety of Latina authors. The selections offer various perspectives and range from J. Zeff’s 2002 essay “What Doesn’t Kill You, Makes You Fat: The Language of Food in Latina Literature” to a 2005 interview with Judith Ortiz Cofer. The authors discussed include Rosario Morales, Cherríe Moraga, Ana Castillo, and Ortiz Cofer. While the majority of the pieces are available elsewhere, the book will prove handy for students looking for information on writers such as Julia Alvarez and Gloria Anzaldúa, who are mentioned in multiple selections. In addition to scholarly vocabulary and the jargon of literary criticism, readers must also have a sound background in the works being discussed. Of particular interest is a somewhat scathing commentary on Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street in Ilan Stavans’s “Sandra Cisneros: Form over Content.” This volume will best serve serious students of Latina literature from the past 20 years.–Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD

Adult/High School–Vartan has pulled together a highly readable, useful guide to greening one’s life while still maintaining a sense of fashion. Topics range from what ingredients to be on guard for in makeup to how to buy friendlier jeans (those that do not require the harsh chemical dyes that can ruin human health, as well as the environment). While promoting vintage clothing and furniture, the author remains realistic that her readers will have the urge to splurge and offers a wide array of Web sites and retail stores for purchasing organic, or otherwise Earth-friendly, products. One would hope, however, that in a section on skin care in a book about living green, the author would not condone tanning beds. Vartan offers specific tips and recommendations not only for ingredients, but also for products and stores, and peppers the book with biographies of real-life Eco Chicks, including fashion designers and veterinarians, all working toward a greener, cleaner planet. High school girls, and even some motivated middle school readers, would find the Eco Chick Guide a book they can use now and maintain as a future reference.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Adult/High School–This is a rich collection of essays not only by those who have been diagnosed with conditions along the autism spectrum, but also by their parents, siblings, teachers, caregivers, and doctors as well. In “An Aspie’s Guide to Everyone Else,” a teen who has Asperger’s syndrome attempts to explain the differences between him and those he calls “neurotypicals” or “NTs.” Another boy opens “The Price of Talk” with these words: “My name is Michael. I am 14, and I have autism. Some say that I am nonverbal, but I can communicate…. Not being able to talk is very frustrating. My mind knows what I want to say but my lips, tongue, and breath can’t make it happen.” In “My Special Brothers,” a 13-year-old girl writes, “I think it is the coolest thing to have brothers with autism. Anyone can learn a lot from them; I have.” In “The Reward,” a parent with autistic twins says, “…I learned that until you are confronted with severely life-changing situations, you can never know the extent of your capacity to love.” For teens whose lives have been touched by this baffling condition, and even for those who just want to better understand it, this book is an invaluable resource.–Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA