Getting It by Alex Sanchez (2006)

Intended Audience: This book is intended to be read by students whose ages range from 12 years and up. I enjoyed this book because it teaches students to stand up for their cause.

Lesson: Students could work in groups and decorate a stick and then use it as a talking stick. The purpose for the stick would be for students to practice taking turns listening and communicating with each other. The person holding the stick does the talking and when done passes it on for someone else to communicate on a topic being used for discussion.

Annotation: Carlos Amoroso is fifteen years old and still a virgin. He wants to hook up with Roxy, the most popular girl in school. Carlos has a plan and decides to ask Sal, a senior at the same high school. Sal is gay and agrees to give Carlos a makeover but under one condition that Carlos will help him start a Gay-Straight Alliance. Sal does help to improve Carlos room, clothes and hair. He also teaches him to stand up for himself and what he deems is right.

Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss (2006)

Intended Audience: This book is intended to be read by students whose ages range from 14 years and up. It is a book that portrays bullying in a very realistic way as seen in court. Surprisingly, in the end it demonstrates that our judicial system is not always fair. I really felt for Ivy, the main character especially after knowing that she had been experiencing this type of humiliation for years.

Lesson: This book could be used as a skit. Students could start by defining the term bullying. Then they can explain what motivates someone to bully and the consequences of being bullied. Each person participating would write a 1-2 minute monologue about bullying from the perspective of either the person being bullied or the one doing the bullying.

Annotation: Ivy is the victim in the story, who is being bullied by Ann and her two friends. Ivy writes a poem that is found by her government teacher Ms. Gold. This is how she learns that Ivy has been the victim of bullying for several years by the "Evil Three." It is then that she decides to do a mock trial in order to educate students about the legal system. She assigns roles for the students to act out in the trial. Throughout the trial you hear the different stories told by the different characters. This book shows the cruelty of adolescents. One juror tells it all "popularity is the wrong word, popularity means everyone likes you. But no one likes sour popular girsl; it's more about fear." The ending is unsettling "Beauty wins and the truth is irrelevant."

Good Girls by Laura Ruby (2006)

Intended Audience: This book would be suitable for high school students who have experienced some type of humiliation and whose ages range from 14 years and up.

Lesson: In this lesson students will review the meaning of stereotype. They will work in groups and come up with stereotype statements. Then discuss if statements are fair and finally write what was learned. Another way to present this lesson is by using a bulletin board. Write statements on sentence strips and staple a blown up balloon next to the statement. If students agree that the stereotype statements are not fair then use a pin to blow out the balloon.

Annotation: Audrey is an honor student, who has "friends-with-benefit arrangement" with Luke De Salvio, the hottest guy at school. Audrey's life is about to change when someone takes a picture of her performing oral sex on Luke. The picture is e-mailed to classmates and her father. As a result, Audrey is now dealing with insults from classmates, lectures from her school principal and discussions with her parents. She is determined to regain her self-esteem and at the same time realizes that she is just human. This book teaches teens that life goes on, even when one experiences humiliation.

Huge by Sasha Paley (2007)

Intended Audience: This title would work great with students, whose ages range from 11 through 13 years old. It is a book about friendship, acceptance and being healthy. I would read this book to middle school students who are having a difficult time being accepted by their peers. Teens at this age worry so much about their looks and fitting into the right clique.

Lesson: The teacher could draw a silhouette outline of a person and gather the students in a group. The silhouette would have a pretend name and then be introduced to students. Teacher and students can discuss how someone new might feel in a new school. Then have students make negative or mean comments to the new member. The teacher will then tear off a piece of the silhouette every time someone says a mean comment and then hands it over to the person who made the comment. The teacher together with the students who said something mean will try and tape the silhouette back together. In the end the students will realize that even though the silhouette was put back together it will not look the same. A discussion about how hurtful words can be and that the scars don't completely heal in the end would work great with this lesson and book.

Annotation: April has saved her babysitting money to attend Wellness Canyon, an exclusive weight loss spa. Another character Wil is being forced to attend camp by her rich famous parents in order for her to lose weight. The two girls end up as roommates and insult each other, become friends, kiss the same boy and lose weight. Together they plan their revenge against Colin. In the end they fight and make-up. This is a book about learning to accept yourself-no matter your size.

Endgame by Nancy Garden (2006)

Intended Audience: This book takes a serious look at the issues of bullying and school violence. Readers will get to experience the consequences of Gray's actions. It is appropriate for readers ranging from ages 14 years and up.

Lesson: Students can create their own dictionary pages, which can include vocabulary words defining the term bullying. They can include drawn illustrations and present as a project to classmates.

Annotation: Fifteen year old Gray Wilton believes that things will get better. He has moved to a new town, new school and a new start. However, it doesn't take long for Gray to realize that nothing is going to change because their are bullies in every school. Gray and his friends that ride the bus together are bullied in different ways. They are told brutal words, physically abused and emotionally tormented. Gray feels trapped until the day he walks into Greenfield High School with his father's semiautomatic and begins shooting at classmates. His life will change forever because of his actions.

Quaking by Kathryn Erskine (2007)

Intended Audience: This book would be of benefit for students in 9th grade and up, who are interested in reading about being accepted and standing your ground on your beliefs. I liked this book because Matt, the main character showed her maturity and at the same time stood her ground and defended her family.

Lesson: Students could create a poster describing each character and present to classmates.

Annotation: The main character Matt, is a young teen who has been moved from home to home. She finally ends up with Sam and Jessica Fox, who are Quakers and have also adopted a disabled boy Rory. They are an over protective couple who finally make Matt feel safe at home. However, Matt feels she should stand up for them, when they are bullied and challenged because of their peaceful principle believes of war.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci (2007)

Intended Audience: This is a good read for students interested on issues dealing with friends, community and survival. The target age group would be 12years and up. It teaches students that being in the in group is not always a positive thing. You must allow yourself to socialize with others and not judge people by their looks.

Lesson: Students could create a venn-diagram outlining the differences and similarities of all the four Janes.

Annotation: A good to read graphic novel about a girl named Jane, who is forced to move from the Metro City to the Suburbs with her parents. Jane was injured in a bomb attack and befriended a comatose man at the hospital. She attends a new school where she refuses to join the cool kids and instead chooses to sit at the reject table. There she sits with three other girls who are also named Jane. The girls together form a secret art gang and decide to carry out "art attacks" around their community based on issues that involve their area of living. They are known as the P. L. A. I. N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods). The group becomes popular even with the coolest kids in school. However, this group has created havoc among their community, which leads to the girls letting go off P.L.A.I.N. and in the end they continue to bring art into the city.

Chat Room by Kristin Butcher (2006)

Intended Audience: This book contains short chapters and is easy to read for those students who find the topic of chat rooms interesting and feel the need to be accepted by others. It applies well to middle school or younger readers between the ages of 11 to 15 years old.

Lesson: A small group activity in which students brainstorm the story events through the use of a timeline. The timeline could include pictures and students could present activity to classmates.

Annotation: This story is about teen characters that gather at a high school assembly. Linda is the shy girl, Janet is called "beastly" because of her appearance, Marc is the popular kid and Chad is the quiet kid. Chad has set up an online school website for Wellington students. Linda joins the chat under a different name and is soon known as the queen of one-liners. She then begins receiving gifts from a secret admirer who signs with the letter "C". Linda is confident about her life until " C" reveals his identity.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2007)

Intended Audience: I felt that this particular book would be a good choice for high school students of both genders, whose ages range from 14years and up. It will help students see how our words and actions can affect another person's life.

Lesson: This title could be used to have a group discussion on the topic of suicide and would work great as a booktalk.

Annotation: Clay the main narrator returns home from school to find a package that contains several cassette tapes. These tapes were recorded by Hannah Baker, a girl who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains the thirteen reasons and the thirteen people connected to her suicide. During the time that Clay listens to the tapes, he finds out more ways that people let Hannah down.

Theme: Bullying

Does My Head Look Big in This? By Randa Fattah Abdel (2007)

Intended Audience: This particular book would be appreciated by students, who don't fit in, feel like outsiders and are trying to find their identity. It would be appropriate for students whose ages range from 12years and up.

Lesson: Can be used to introduce a lesson on cultural diversity by creating a family tree or interviewing family members about their heritage.

Annotation: This book is about 16 year old Amal, a Muslim girl who decides during winter break to wear the hijah. The hijah is the Muslim head scarf that is worn to show a person's faith. Amal, is a typical teenager who wants to fit in with her peers. She has a crush on a cute boy and tries to figure out her clothing outfits just like any other teen. However, because of her decision to wear the hijah she must deal with cliques and bullies that call her "towel head". She also has a group of friends that just like her must struggle with their own adolescent issues.

2008 Notable Children's Book

There Is a Bird on Your Head! - This book is about a pessimistic elephant named Gerald and his optimistic best friend Piggie. All the trouble begins when a bird lands on Gerald's head. He is not happy about the news. The bird is then joined by his mate and they build a nest. Then, they lay their eggs which later hatch. Gerald becomes hysterical until Piggie tells him to ask the birds to move. He does and they comply but to Piggie's amazement they move to her head. This book has simple words and colored pictures. The message to this book is that it's important to speak up and let others know what you want.

I would recommend this book for younger readers it was a joy to read. It will allow the readers to role play the parts of Gerald and Piggie. The struggling reader will enjoy because of it's simple and expressive text that contains repetition.

2008 Notable Children's Book

First the Egg- This is a book that illustrates how living things can grow and then change. It first includes an egg-shaped cut out that hatches into a baby chick, a tadpole turns into a frog, seed becomes part of a flower and then a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The simple die cuts use in this book portray the transformation of living things.

This book would really provide younger readers with an interesting view on how living things can grow. It is a colorful book that would be appreciated by readers who are reluctant to learn about science.

2008 Notable Children's Book

Fred Stays with Me - This story is about a girl, whose parents are divorced and share custody of her. She goes back and forth to her parents but always with her faithful companion Fred, the dog. The conflict begins when the girl stays at her moms, Fred barks at the neighbor's dog. He steals socks at her dad's place. Both her parents are upset because of the mess and problems that Fred does while at their homes and want to get rid of him. The girl tells both of them very determined " Fred Stays with Me!" In the end both parents find ways to help Fred stay out of trouble.

I liked this book because it provides the younger reader with issues dealing with divorce. It allows the reader a positive view on how parents can find ways to make the seperation easier on a child and most importantly how they can work together.

2008 Notable Children's Book

A Good Day- A picture book about four animal characters that are having a bad day. They include a yellow bird, white dog, orange fox and a little brown squirrel. Eventually things turn around for each one in a postive way. The book also includes a young girl who finds a bird's feather and tucks it behind her ear. She calls out to her mom and says It's a Good Day! It is a book that has simple ink illustrations with beautiful watercolors.

This book teaches readers that from something negative great things can also happen. We are surrounded by so much negativity that finding a book that promotes being positive is a great resource.

2008 Notable Children's Book

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale-

This is a funny, humourous tale of Martina the cockroach. Martina has reached the age to find a husband. Her Cuban grandmother gives her advice on how to find the right husband. She is to spill coffee on her suitor's feet and see their reactions. Martina puts her grandmother's advice to the test with a rooster, pig and lizard. The first three suitors show their true temperments and she is not pleased with the results. Finally she meets mouse, a humble gardener who she feels might be her perfect match. Martina doesn't want to spill coffee on the mouse, but instead he spills it on her. In the end he reminds Martina that he also has a Cuban grandmother and they both laugh.

This book could be used to introduce common traditions found in other cultures.