Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

Title: Being Henry David
Author: Cal Armistead
Pages: 320
Publisher: Albert Whitman Teen
ISBN: 9780807506158
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
AR Levels: TBD
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16042447-being-henry-david

In a nutshell: When a boy wakes up in Penn Station in New York City with the clothes on his back, $10 in his pocket, a copy of Henry David Thoreau's Walden and no memory of who he is, he names himself "Henry David" or "Hank" for short and sets out to find out where he came from, but there a darkness in him that's telling him he may not like what he finds out when his memories begin to return. This thriller takes you through the underbelly of life on the street in New York and then to the idyllic woods of Walden Pond in Massachusetts, where "Hank" hopes the words of Walden and its setting might give him clues as to who he is and why he is on the run.

I'd recommend it for grades: 10 and up

I'd recommend it to: adrenaline junkies, thriller lovers, and fans of mysteries

What I liked most about this book: It grabs you from the first sentence and never lets you go. I read it in two sittings only because I had things to do. I was a bit skeptical because I thought this book was in danger of being a complete bore since it was based around Thoreau's Walden (which I hated), but I was wrong! It's a fast-paced thriller that also has a deep psychological and self-introspective narrative too. Best of both worlds!

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): This book features a motorcycle-riding, tattoo-sporting research librarian who acts as a Good Samaritan toward "Hank." There are all sorts of awesome in that character, and he's very believable.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 3 stars

Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

Title: Because It Is My Blood
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Pages: 350
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
ISBN: 9780374380748
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
AR Levels: Interest Levels: 9th-12th grades; Book Level: 4.5; Points: 13.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13163011-because-it-is-my-blood

In a Nutshell: Anya Ballanchine, heiress to an illegal chocolate business, has just been released from a short stay in juvie, and her troubles are only beginning. Her ex-boyfriend and son of the district attorney, Win, is already dating another girl, her father's legacy as the chocolate mob boss is in danger as Ballanchine Chocolate is in disarray, and not one single school in the city will accept her for her senior year. Anya must decide if she will accept her fate as the future face of the Manhattan chocolate black market or try to run while she can. This is a tale of love, finding oneself, loyalty, and crime, and it will grip you every step of the way.

I'd recommend it for grades: 8 to 12. There's some bloodshed. Mob story, remember?

I'd recommend it to: guys who like mob stories (This is like The Godfather with a hot chick.), girls who like star-crossed love stories, teens who still want lots more dystopias, and anyone who likes chocolate or New York City

What I liked most about this book: I adored the first book, All These Things I've Done, and I couldn't wait to read this one. It didn't wow me like the first one, but all the characters I love are still loveable, and all the page-turning suspense is still there too...maybe even amped up a bit from book one. The dialogue is a bit cheesier than the first though, so that made me not like it quite as much. I still wait anxiously for book three though!

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): At the very end, the New York Public Library at Bryant Park (one of my favorite buildings in the world) plays an important role in the set-up for book 3. See if you recognize it. Anya and Win also attend a classic movie in the park in the summer, which was something I enjoyed the summer I spent in New York too. It's nice to see that even amid the chaos of future Manhattan, they still show classic movies in the park. :)

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 3 stars (Book 1: All These Things I've Done is easily 5 stars. Read it first. It will rock your world.)

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

When I first started reading Where Things Come Back and noticed that it is set in Arkansas, I researched the author, John Corey Whaley, to find that he is a fellow educator AND a fellow Louisianian.  This book had me hooked by page 4, and it read much like a John Green novel but with its own flair.  Part heart wrenching, part humorous, and part philosophical, Where Things Come Back makes you ask whether things happen for a reason or if life is a series of coincidences.  

Title:  Where Things Come Back

Author:  John Corey Whaley

Pages: 256

Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers

ISBN:  9781442413337

Publication Date:  May 3, 2011

AR Levels:  Interest Level: 9th-12th; Book Level: 5.7; Points:  9.0 

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12162432-where-things-come-back

In a nutshell:  Cullen Witter is a rising high school senior in small town Lily, Arkansas.  Over the summer, he loses his cousin to a drug overdose and his beloved and revered brother Gabriel disappears; at the same time, his town is in a frenzy over an extinct woodpecker that has suddenly reemerged.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in Africa, a missionary struggles to find true meaning in his life.  Their stories collide in a way that leaves you wondering and questioning til the very last page.

I'd recommend it for grades:  8th-12th+.  The book does contain some cursing and the philosophical/religious elements might be too much for younger middle grades.

I'd recommend it to:  Anyone who's dealt with loss or who enjoys a good, well-crafted story.

What I liked most about this book:  I liked that the book allowed us into the mind of all different kinds of people who are experiencing the main events.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  Cullen's brother, Gabriel, keeps a journal of random thoughts, musings, song lyrics, etc.  I was very excited to see shout outs to one of my favorite musicians--Sufjan Stevens.  

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 3 stars is atrocious):  4 Stars

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Since we’re just getting started, I thought it might be a good idea to review several books fairly quickly so the other reviews don’t get sad and lonely.  As I was going through the shelf of books that I’ve read recently, I came across Chris Crutcher’s Deadline and knew instantly that I had to write about it.  I’ve read other books by Chris Crutcher and really enjoyed them, but this one went well beyond that.  This book made me want to know more about the author, and I was surprised to learn that he is also a counselor, which made perfect sense due to the content of the book.  The main character in Deadline is Ben Wolf, a sarcastic high school senior who learns that he has one year to live because of a rare blood disease.  While his doctor tries to save his life and his counselor tries to help him get in touch with his feelings, Ben tries to make the best of his senior year by checking a few things off his to-do list.  The book is a high-school version of the movie 50/50, and it packs quite the emotional punch.

Title:  Deadline

Author:  Chris Crutcher

Pages:  320

Publisher:  Greenwillow Books

ISBN:  9780060850890

Publication Date:  September 18, 2007
AR Levels:  Interest Level--9th to 12th; Book Level--5.1; Points--10.0

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/275844.Deadline 

In a nutshell:  Ben Wolf, a high school senior, has only been 18 for two weeks when he learns that a rare blood disease will probably end his life in about a year.  Against the advice of his doctor, Ben decides to keep his diagnosis a secret from everyone, including his family, and have the best possible senior year.  But now, instead of just having a bucket list of things he wants to accomplish before graduation, he has to add a few things he wants to accomplish before he dies—making the football team, getting the girl, leaving a legacy in his small town, etc.  The only people who know his secret are his doctor and his counselor, and one is trying to save him from his diagnosis while the other tries to save him from himself.  From beginning to end, Crutcher takes you on a poignant, funny, gripping, sarcastic, and gritty journey to the intersection of living and dying.

I’d Recommend It for Grades:  9^th-12^th+ (If this was a movie, it could possibly get an R rating because of pretty strong language and some sexual content.  Parents and teachers may want to preview the book first before recommending it.)

I’d Recommend It To:  Anyone who likes reading about people with real problems, anyone who’s ever been affected by loss or illness, and anyone who just wants to read a great book!

What I Liked Most About This Book:  Deadline gives a realistic view of what it’s like for a teenager to deal with a terminal illness without sugar coating the details.  Crutcher really takes you into the mind of Ben Wolf.

Single Favorite Moment:  In an attempt to make waves and buck the system, Ben tells his very conservative American History teacher that for his class project he wants to convince his small town city council to name a street after Malcolm X.  Chaos ensues.

Star Rating:  Definitely 5 stars!  I thought this one was incredible.