She is Subway Girl. Cool. Unattainable. From the moment he sees her on a Hong Kong subway, Simon is intrigued by Amy, but he doesn't have the nerve to talk to her. When he finally works up the courage, he realizes he can't. Because Amy doesn't speak Chinese, and Simon is failing English. But somehow, Amy and Simon connect, and they find that they understand each other. Enough for Simon to admit that he is dropping out of school. Enough for Amy to confess that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend's baby. Amy and Simon feel lost in a world so much bigger than they are, and yet they still have each other. In this brilliant debut by P. J. Converse, two unlikely teenagers discover that love has a language all its own. Review: Simon grew up in Hong Kong in a traditional Chinese speaking family. Owners of a small shop, his parents do not understand his need for education or the need to speak English. Now Simon is failing English in school and will soon have to leave school for a job that does not require a higher education. Amy grew up in San Francisco. When her parents separate her mother brings her to Hong Kong where she was raised. Amy is "the Subway Girl" a beautiful, mysterious girl who rides the subway back and forth to school without speaking to anyone. One day Simon decides to speak to her and finds out that she does not speak very much Chinese. Suddenly Simon has a reason to speak English, as he pursues Amy. But Amy is dealing with serious problems: an abusive boyfriend and an unplanned pregnancy. The novel follows two teens from very different backgrounds as they discover each other and work through their problems. The story is told by Simon and Amy, each alternating chapters. Their voices are realistic and ring true for teens who have poor adult role models and lack the understanding of their peers. Their characters were well developed but I really wanted to understand the emotional impact of Amy's pregnancy more, instead it was treated as another event in her life, like a school event or movie that she had to attend. Their relationship developed slowly, as one would expect with a language barrier. The difference in language was used help Simon improve his English, and maybe his life if he can pass the exam and stay in school. They come to rely on each other as Amy helps to tutor Simon so he can try to pass the test. Simon helps Amy as she deals with her pregnancy and the complications that come with it. I do have to applaud Converse for tackling important topics like pregnancy, dating violence and abortion. The book left me wanting to know how life turned out for Amy and Simon and the ending was not perfect, but neither is real life and I think this is the message that Converse was trying to relay. Rating: A good book that deals with important teen issues
Author: P. J. Converse
Published: March 15, 2011
Pages: 224
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Description from Goodreads:
He is shy. Unassuming. Inexperienced. 
Author: Marty Martins
Published: September 16, 2010
Pages: 188
Rating: 3/5 stars
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In Marty Martins's novel, The Blizzard, readers are taken on a journey that touches on questions of morals and ethics, and the need for parents to learn to communicate with their children...
What ensues is an emotional and very important story about parental expectations, the decisions teenagers and young adults must make that impact their self-respect, their confidence, and their relationships with parents and community. This is a novel about coming of age, romantic love, and the importance of trust.
My Review:
Chet Bucek is the new guy in school and Melanie Hondel soon catches his eye. Chet is self assured and reliable, things that are not often seen as ideal qualities to young girls. But when Melanie meets with violence at the hands of another classmate, she becomes lost in a blizzard and in danger of losing her life. Chet is able to rescue her and in doing so finds he is accused of assault and kidnapping.
This book deals with the timely topic of dating violence. Sure we warn our kids of stranger danger but how many girls are warned about violence at the hands of her high school sweetheart? In addition the way to handle problems that arise as the result of misunderstandings is also addressed. The characters were believable and the story was well told. I found the book to have a fast pace and important message that will appeal to an audience of young adults and beyond.
My Rating:
An good read with several important messages
note: I received this book from the author for review, but did not get any compensation for my review
Each year the CYBILS (Children and Young Adult Blogger's Literary Awards) are awarded to books that combine literary merit with kid appeal, resulting in great books that kids can't wait to read. Winners for 2010 were announced on February 14 and they are:
Young Adult Non-Fiction:
The Secret of th
e Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing
Author: Suzanne Jurmain
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Red oozes from the patient's gums. He has a rushing headache and the whites of his eyes look like lemons. He will likely die within days.
Here is the true story of how four Americans and one Cuban tracked down a killer, one of the word's most vicious plagues: yellow fever. Set in fever-stricken Cuba, the reader feels the heavy air, smell the stench of disease, hear the whine of mosquitoes biting human volunteers during the surreal experiments. Exploring themes of courage, cooperation, and the ethics of human experimentation, this gripping account is ultimately a story of the triumph of science.
Young Adult Graphic Novels:
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty
Author: G. Neri
Illustrator: Randy DuBurke
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In August of 1994, 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer — nicknamed for his love of sweets — fired a gun at a group of rival gangmembers, accidentally killing a neighborhood girl, Shavon Dean. Police searched Chicago’s southside for three days before finding Yummy dead in a railway tunnel, killed by members of the drug gang he’d sought to impress. The story made such an impact that Yummy appeared on the cover of TIME magazine, drawing national attention to the problems of inner city youth in America.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty relives the confusion of these traumatic days from the point of view of Roger, a neighborhood boy who struggles to understand the senseless violence swirling through the streets around him. Awakened by the tragedy, Roger seeks out answers to difficult questions — was Yummy a killer or a victim? Was he responsible for his actions or are others to blame?
Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction:
Rot & Ruin
Author: Jonathan Mayberry
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.
Young Adult Fiction:
Split
Author: Swati Avashti
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.
He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.
At least so far.
Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split—how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.
If you are looking for a good read, check these out. I will be posting reviews in the coming weeks.
