Adult Books for High School Students

Adult/High School–When his parents and uncle leave nine-year-old Aldous Bohm and his two siblings alone in the woods, he panics. Instead of staying within the warm security of their cabin, he drags his siblings into the cold, rainy woods to search for the adults. The children pass out from exposure, and while Aldous and his brother survive, their sister dies. What follows is the heart-wrenching aftermath of responsibility and recovery. The parents, who live in a marijuana-induced fog, take no responsibility for their daughter’s death. Aldous takes the blame and searches for answers everywhere: at school, in the Boy Scouts, at church. Telling the story through the eyes of a child is ambitious, but Briggs handles it delicately by displaying a unique balance between naïveté and wisdom. When Aldous reaches his 18th birthday, he commits the ultimate rejection of his parents’ lifestyle: he enlists in the army. During training in Texas, he enters into his first relationship with a woman and begins to deal with his past. The chapters flip back and forth between Aldous the boy and Aldous the young man, with his childhood echoing his later life in complex and moving ways. The novel functions partly as a reflective critique of the counterculture lifestyle, but also as a hopeful coming-of-age story. Teens will relate to the protagonist as he takes those first steps into adulthood. Beautifully told and filled with characters of real depth and struggle, the story shouldn’t be missed.–Matthew L. Moffett, Ford’s Theatre Society, Washington, DC

Adult/High School–A bright and shining gem of a book for fans of horror and dark fantasy. Each tale dances quite nimbly through familiar tropes of the genre. But it’s Decker’s delivery, with its depth of character and chilling imagery, that lifts these stories well above the normal. “Hook House,” for example, is a typical haunted-house tale, but it’s uniquely driven by the strength of the central character. A family curse threatens to snare Sara, trapping her for the rest of her life in the family house just like her mother and grandmother before her. Ultimately, she fights against it to prevent her son from being trapped as well. In “Tarissa,” a period piece set in colonial America, the title character’s sister is burned to death for practicing witchcraft. While the core of the story focuses on Tarissa avenging her sister’s death, it ends on a note that is surprisingly heartfelt and even hopeful. Decker dips lightly into humor with “The Clan.” When a vampire moves into the house across the street from a powerful witch, a brutal yet comic feud develops. What makes the tale work so well is that while they have fantastic supernatural weapons to toss at each other, their personalities and complaints about one another are completely realistic and believable. Filled with plenty of spookiness and terror, the stories have just enough depth to appeal to readers who normally shy away from fantasy and horror.–Matthew L. Moffett, Ford’s Theatre Society, Washington, DC

Adult/High School–Donn brings a little-known historical figure to life in her first work of fiction. Growing up in post-revolutionary France, Sophie Armant marries Jean-Pierre Blanchard, one of the pioneers of manned hot-air balloons. Afraid and awkward on the ground, Sophie finds she is in her natural element when in the air, and she is the first known woman to have flown on her own. After her husband’s death, she becomes Napoleon Bonaparte’s official balloonist. The author uses the basic facts of Blanchard’s life to weave a captivating story of a courageous woman who wins the love of two men–one, her childhood sweetheart, and the other, Napoleon himself–as well as the appreciation of a country crying out for hope in turbulent political times. The novel provides glimpses into Napoleon and Josephine’s stormy marriage and into the lives of various personalities of the day, including Goethe and Daguerre. The story flows gracefully, but Donn chooses every word of dialogue and description deliberately. The spare language, combined with an abundance of French names and locations, may confuse readers who are not familiar with France’s history during the early 19th century. A handful of etchings, reproduced primarily with permission from the Smithsonian, nicely complements the history of ballooning at the turn of the century, and Donn’s note at the end allows readers to distinguish fact from fiction within the book.–Kim Dare, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–An ordinary crime novel is made extraordinary through Eriksson’s exquisite character descriptions and circuitous plot. Former small-time crook Little John Jonsson is found brutally murdered, with clear evidence of torture. The Uppsala police force investigates and eventually identifies the killer. The author skillfully constructs the personality of each character, revealing, for example, the weaknesses inherent in policeman Ola Haver and Ann Liddell versus the hidden strengths of the victim’s brother, Lennart Jonsson, and son, Justus. Haver leads the investigation while managing a strained relationship with his wife and an attraction to his former boss, Liddell. Lennart Jonsson’s guilt and grief over his brother’s death eventually destroys him, but not before he exacts his revenge (albeit unrecognized) and becomes a hero. Justus had a secret pact with his father that may have saved Little John’s life had he shared it with his mother or the police. The likely suspect is a demented, pathetic person who knew his victim as one of his tormentors in school–a period that haunts him in his adult life. The entangled relationships among the police, the victim, and the victim’s family are compelling. Teens will be drawn to deconstruct the intelligent puzzle created by Eriksson, right down to the book’s title.–Claudia C. Holland, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–Kate and Frankie are American girls growing up in Hong Kong during the summer of 1967. Their father, a war photographer for Time magazine, can visit from Vietnam only sporadically. In the political turbulence of Mao’s China and the United States’s involvement in Vietnam, Hong Kong is hardly a safe haven, and their mother, overwhelmed by reality, retreats into the isolation of her painting. The sisters are supervised primarily by their amah, and when they decide to escape Ah Bing’s watchful eye and explore the marketplace on their own, the consequences are devastating and far-reaching. As the summer progresses, Frankie becomes more and more reckless, and Kate must confront her ambivalence about her role as keeper of secrets and protector for her older sister. The author does a lovely job of exploring their relationship. Her sensuous prose evokes lush landscapes and languid afternoons. She masterfully interweaves peaceful physical beauty with the savage turmoil of war and paints an enthralling picture of the different ways that each family member responds to encroaching chaos. Despite the relatively short length of the novel, it is not a choice for reluctant readers, but teens who are interested in a different perspective on the Vietnam War era and enjoy being immersed in Eastern culture will find much to appreciate in Greenway’s first novel.–Kim Dare, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–Having delivered his first critically acclaimed novel, Twelve (Grove/Atlantic, 2002), when he was still a teenager, McDonell shows that his talent is substantial as he turns to a different scene and character type. Mike, demonstrably sensitive and insightful, is a college student who grew up wealthy and is vaguely haunted by the mythologies of his parents’ generation. He spends the first half of the book working as a journalism intern in Thailand, self-conscious of his role in the Bangkok of student tourists and expatriates, some of whom may once have known his parents in their own youth. He tries to live up to his ambition to investigate, not perpetuate, the Western fantasies of the Far East any more than is necessary to get both the story about backpackers and some personal info about his parents’ college days. Back in the United States, the story takes an unexpected turn: Mike’s parents have died in a house fire and his older brother has been released only recently from a psychiatric facility. The story begins again, in Manhattan, on September 11, 2001. While Mike disintegrates psychologically as these plotlines cross, McDonell offers a realistic bit of hope for his hero in the form of a faith assertion that older adolescents frequently find in the face of crisis. Teens who like the independence of Holden Caulfield will appreciate Mike.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–A colony ship full of genetically enhanced posthumans reaches its destination only to discover that the planet is populated by batlike people at a primitive stage of technology just short of an electronic age. After millennia of expansion throughout the galaxy without having encountered another intelligent race, humans had come to think it impossible; for their part, the bat people have always thought that space aliens could exist only in “engineering tales.” The novel unfolds over several years through the alternating stories of two young people: Alternate Discourse Gale, a feisty posthuman on the ship as she leaves home to join her teen cohort of colonizers (“Learning the World” is the title of her blog); and Darvin, a graduate bat-student in the “Impractical Science” of astronomy, who discovers the colony ship while mapping the heavens from a mountaintop on his planet. The story moves rapidly, with many twists and surprises. Through action and character, the author masterfully creates an authentic sense of both alien worlds in all their complexity. Of the far-future humans and the bat people, the latter are closer to humans as we are now, and the interplay of the two worlds, each with its numerous cultural and political rivalries, is engaging, rich in social commentary, and often moving, yet also playful and often humorous. Thought-provoking and entertaining, this highly original first-contact story should please any science fiction reader.–Christine C. Menefee, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School–This fictionalized biography begins with the suicide attempt of Mary Wollstonecraft, early feminist and mother of the famed author of Frankenstein. The other women who are the center of the work include Mary Shelley née Godwin (Percy Shelley’s lover, then wife), Lady Caroline Lamb (Lord Byron’s lover), Fanny Brawne (John Keats’s lover), Claire Clairemont (Mary Shelley’s half-sister and Byron’s lover), and Augusta Leigh (Byron’s half-sister and lover). The poets are accompanied by many assorted celebrities and famous hangers-on. The interactions include incest, infidelity, children born out of wedlock, and any and all kinds of tragedy and scandal. This may sound like a rather high-toned soap opera, but the language and the situations that Morgan imagines transform and transcend the characters’ actions. The portrayals are vivid, fascinating, and utterly realistic. Events move seamlessly by way of tightly packed prose and insightful detail about these interwoven lives. Teens will be intrigued by what intelligent and strong women were doing in the early 19th century–in fact, Passion may inspire a quest to learn more about the Romantic poets and the short but uniquely creative span of English literature in which they lived.–Jane Halsall, McHenry Public Library District, IL

Adult/High School–Robotham’s second mystery features some of the cast from Suspect (Doubleday, 2005), including Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz and clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin. The fast-paced action opens with a half-dead Ruiz being fished out of the Thames. When he awakens from his coma, he has no memory of why he was in the river, almost dead from a bullet wound to his leg, nor can he remember anything from the week leading up to his injury. With the help of O’Loughlin, Ruiz begins piecing together details that show he was following up on the disappearance of eight-year-old Mickey Carlyle. The only problem? Mickey disappeared three years earlier, and a sexual predator has been convicted of her murder. As Ruiz retraces his steps, he relives several incidents from his past that are linked to his need to investigate a closed case. This is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of adventure; Ruiz’s hunt for answers takes him deep into the sewers below London and into the cold waters of the Thames. The characters are complex; Ruiz, the son of a Gypsy woman raped by German soldiers in World War II, is haunted by the childhood drowning of his half-brother, even though he’s estranged from his own children. Robotham understands that some quests are worth any sacrifice no matter how long the odds of success might be. This is a subtle and taut thriller with convincing characters and strong psychological components.–Erin Dennington, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–A fictionalized account of the events from A.D. 57 to 60 in the life of the warrior queen Breaca, also called Boudica, Bringer of Victory. On the isle of Mona with her family and other warriors, Breaca hunts Romans, grieves for her lover Caradoc (betrayed and exiled), and worries about the fate of her children. Returning to the mainland to rally the remaining Eceni, she runs the risk of being recognized and executed. The Eceni now have a king who accepts Roman rule and will require convincing if they are to revolt. Boudica’s brother, Ban, had taken the name Valerius and fought against his own people. Exiled in Hibernia, considered a traitor by both sides, he must reconcile his Celtic and Roman sides and decide whether to join Boudica. The characters are fully developed with their own motives, strengths, and weaknesses. Introspection (particularly the Druid concept of dreaming) alternates with action. Violent in parts, the book culminates in a disturbing but historically accurate incident: the flogging of Breaca and the rape of her daughters (one age nine) prior to an attempted crucifixion. The third in a series, the novel stands on its own. An introductory passage by the elder of Mona briefly explains previous events. Fans of historical fiction and adventure will enjoy the book, while the dream-quest elements and Celtic lore will appeal to fans of fantasy.–Sandy Freund, Richard Byrd Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–McCay has been aptly described by Maurice Sendak as “one of America’s rare, great fantasists.” Few artists have been as influential in the field of comic strips and animation as he has. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his surreal, groundbreaking fantasy strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland, Abrams has released a newly revised and expanded edition of the original 1987 biography. Canemaker’s lucid account of the artist’s life provides a comprehensive overview of his contribution to American popular culture and his achievements in comics, animation, theater, and advertising. The superb layout and design of this oversize edition are complemented by the copious illustrations (230 black-and-white and 40 full-color). The use of high-quality paper results in crisp, clear reproductions that are faithfully and accurately rendered. Overall, this is one of the most beautifully designed and well-written biographies of a cartoonist ever published. A pleasure to look at and read.–Philip Charles Crawford, Essex High School, Essex Junction, VT

Adult/High School–Snack-loving teens may be well disposed toward this entertaining book before opening it, since its subject is the inventor of the first popular and inexpensive milk chocolate bar in the United States. The story of the man’s success is one of determination, innovation, and perseverance despite repeated failures, all encompassed in a personality unique among the tycoons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A curious mix of capitalist ruthlessness and utopian idealism, Hershey pursued riches but believed deeply in social responsibility. His devotion to the latter created a legacy that exists to this day in his school for at-risk children and, in Hershey, PA, the charming company town that was one of the few American communities virtually unaffected by the Great Depression. Fascinating details about candy production and Hershey’s personal life abound, and the balanced viewpoint, smooth writing, and succinct treatment make this biography a good choice for assignments related to leadership, business, or U.S. social history.–Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School–Seeking to understand why Latina single mothers leave their children to come to the U.S., and why many children undertake the hazardous journey to reunite with them, Nazario traced one family’s story. Enrique was determined to find his mother, who left him in Honduras when he was five. At 16, after seven attempts to make it to Texas, robbed by bandits or police, beaten, jailed, and deported again and again, he finally reached the Rio Grande and earned enough to call her. She sent him money to pay a “coyote” to smuggle him across the border and the two were reunited, but they are strangers now, their relationship strained. Meanwhile, Enrique’s girlfriend in Honduras bore his child. Ultimately, she joined him, leaving their three-year-old daughter behind. Mothers leave their children to send back money for better food, clothing, and schooling, yet years of separation strain family ties. The author retraced Enrique’s journey by traveling on top of trains, hitchhiking, taking buses, facing the dangers the teen faced. Photographs and interviews with him, family members, other children, and those who provide aid along the way document the hazards of migration. Descriptions of rapes, beatings, and jailing of immigrant children and accounts of those who suffered loss of limbs falling from freight trains are graphic and disturbing. But no one can doubt the authenticity of this reporting.–Molly Connally, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School–This illustrated history is a best buy. The black-and-white photographs and color reproductions are of excellent quality and the narrative is clear as well. The book is organized topically rather than chronologically, which takes getting used to. The topics include: “Irrepressible Conflict” (the causes of the war), “Gathering Momentum” (opening battles), “War in the East” (Bull Run to Appomattox), “Wartime Politics” (North, South, and foreign), “War on the Water,” “Fighting for Freedom” (the story of African Americans), “Turning Points,” and so on. Daily occurrences that run consecutively on each page are never cued to the illustrations on those pages, and the events jump from year to year within the main topics. The pages are not numbered. The chapter titles are the months of the year, but chapter events are never related to the month of the chapter title. The index, however, is cued to the date–e.g., Dred Scott is mentioned in the index on 1/12, 1/13, and 1/15, meaning readers will find him mentioned on pages January 12, January 13, and January 15. Idiosyncrasies aside, this is a uniquely high-quality visual history.–Alan Gropman, National Defense University, Washington, DC

Adult/High School–Through research and interviews with friends of McDaniel, Watts explores the actress’s life and career. Though she worked in a variety of venues, including television and radio, she was arguably best known for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. When McDaniel signed the contract, in 1939, to play the part, she said, “This is a chance to glorify Negro womanhood….” The first black actress to win an Academy Award, she said in her acceptance speech, “I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race and the motion picture industry.” For a time, she hoped that the award would mean more opportunities for her and a wider range of roles for black performers in general. That did not happen. Forced into continuing to play the role of the faithful servant, she was criticized by many members of the black community, including the press, for perpetuating negative stereotypes. The choice, as she saw it, often came down to accepting the parts she was offered and trying to give them worth or leaving the entertainment industry. Watts presents a fascinating and well-written study of a complex woman who strived for recognition as an actress and yet too many times was denied the opportunity to use her talents.–Peggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA