Double Helix

Werlin, Nancy.  2004.  Double Helix.  New York: Sleuth.  ISBN 5148800599

In Nancy Werlin’s Double Helix, Eli Samuels’ mother has Huntington’s Disease, which is fatal and genetically programmed to be passed on to offspring fifty percent of the time. When Eli finds out that his father was also at risk for the disease, he distances himself with anger and defiance in an attempt to keep his world from shattering. The extremely intelligent guy who has, admittedly, never felt inferior to anyone, stumbles across a portion of his parents past he can’t quite explain, and he starts to wonder about his parents, how the enigmatic Dr. Wyatt is connected and what the circumstances leading to his own existence were.

This genetic mystery leads the reader on an emotional and physical chase through the lab. Eli is fraught with unknown and doesn’t seem to be able to express himself without elevating his own annoyance. Though the timeliness of a mystery about genetic testing is excellent, the lacking character development keeps the reader from becoming invested in the outcome.

Not until the last quarter of the book is a real reason to uncover the truth apparent, and many readers will likely have abandoned the sulky and irritable Eli before this point. While this book may appeal to some readers, particularly those interested in bioethics, the story and voice missed its mark for me.

"A solidly crafted, thoughtful novel featuring a clever, obsessed kid who finds truths, small and large, about life, family, and, of course, himself."(Booklist/February 2004)

"This story about bioethics will appeal to the intellectually curious reader.” (KLIATT/March 2004)

Possible Activities:
1. Initiate conversation about genetic-engineering and bioethics.
2. Can be easily tied to science and political curriculum.
3. May also allow conversations about grief and the impact of terminal illness on families.

Bloody Jack [Sound Recording]

Meyer, L.A.  2007.  Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy.  Read by Katherine Kellgren. New Jersey: Listen and Live Audio, Inc..  ISBN 9781593160944

In a plague-ravaged London, Mary Faber finds herself without home or family. Adopted by a gang of street urchins, she finds camaraderie, though no comfort, until a villain destroys that comfort, as well. Striking out on her own, she disguises herself as a boy and is lucky to find a sea-faring home on the HMS Dolphin. Jack Faber, as she has renamed herself, finds adventure, terror and pleasure in her new role.

L.A. Meyer allows the potentially weak Mary to come of age under questionable influences, but is able to believably maintain the moral beliefs, naiveté and exuberance of a young girl. The narration and dialogue are believable and authentic for the time-period, which only adds to the sense of thrilling escape.

In this unabridged recording of Bloody Jack, Katherine Kellgren introduces a voice that matches the mood, context, pace and genre without fault. Read with all the inflections of a vivid imagination, the reader is transported onto the streets of London, Her Majesty’s Ship Dolphin and a sea-faring adventure. Readers of all ages and genders will easily identify with and applaud Mary as she comes to terms with her independence, station and love of life.

This is truly an engaging, well-written work of historical fiction, and the subsequent adventures are on my must read list.

“...Bloody Jack is the perfect audiobook to make those long family car trips fly by.” (Publishers Weekly/May 2007)

"...this rousing historical tale is an appealing choice for fans of adventures, sea stories, and gutsy girls." (Booklist/2007)

Possible Activities:
1. Use book as a dialogue starter for English history and the treatment of women in past societies.
2. Open discussion to include agreements and disagreements for decisions made by Jacky throughout the story.

I'd Tell You I Love you, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Carter, Ally.  2006.  I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.  New York: Hyperion.  ISBN 9781423100034

At Gallagher Academy, the students are expected to study diligently, act with grace and decorum and be capable of hand-to-hand combat in an evening dress and four inch heels. Gallagher Academy isn’t an ordinary private school; it’s a training ground for the world’s elite, teenaged, spies. Placed in a small town in Virginia, contact with the school, and its reportedly affluent students, is avoided along with a serious breach in National Security…until Josh meets Cammie.

When this seemingly ordinary boy stumbles into the middle of a covert operations lesson, the school’s true identity is compromised. To ensure the safety of themselves and everyone they know, the girls must discover Josh’s motives…and what type of girls he likes. These super-sleuthy teenagers can sneak into the Kremlin, but can they decipher what goes on in boys’ heads?

This fast-paced and entertaining first-installment of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series is well-written, offering a cast of funny, intelligent, and even vulnerable, individuals. More than a love story, the reader is taken into the complex relationships teenagers can share with their friends, parents and teachers. Carter effectively captures both the highly-trained voice of the spy and the naïve voice of the teenager in her writing.

Following Cammie as she journeys through adolescence, tear gas and grief, the reader is transported into a high school adventure with more repercussions than a failing grade. This book will be easy to recommend for many ages.

"This is escapist fiction for those who like unusual school stories."(KLIATT/May 2006)

"The promise of a second Gallagher Girl book is the promise of good times to come."(VOYA/October 2006)

Possible Activities:
1. Teen/Tween Book Club in which career options are discussed.
2. Open discussion about choosing others over self and/or how to protect loved ones.

Before I Die

Downham, Jenny.  2007.  Before I Die.  Westminster: A David Fickler Book.  ISBN 9780385751551

Before I Die is a powerful and heart-wrenching novel in which Tessa has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Struggling with the torrent that is adolescence while coping with the inevitability of death, Tessa finds strength in attempting to cross as many things off of her life’s list as possible. Beside her on her journey is her strong-willed and confident friend, Zoey, who is offset by the careful and fearful presence of her father.

Tessa’s struggle is eased slightly by the introduction of Adam, her soon-to-be boyfriend and the only love of her life. Their sweet and doomed relationship makes reading this novel both happy and heartbreaking. From Tessa’s first-person limited narration, the reader finds the clarity of the voice drifting as Tessa begins to wane. This style only intensifies the feeling of loss.

Downham has written an intensely powerful story that will not be easily forgotten. The story of Tessa and her struggles with every day life will be relatable to teens and older audiences. The themes of death, yearning and love are familiar but presented in an entirely new and difficult light. While the completion of the list propels the story forward, it is not intrusive to the story.

The characterization is very well-done, and the various characters within the story deal with Tessa’s situation, and their own, both believably and differently. This novel will be highly, though not lightly, recommended.

"…and the passionate present-tense narrative will draw readers deeply into story and make them wonder, “What if it was me?"(Booklist/November 2007)

"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable, beautiful and transcendent."(Kirkus Reviews/September 2007)

Possible Activities:
1. Open discussions about death and loss in a group or individually.
2. Possibly open a wiki or blog for teen contributions, as verbal discussions may be more difficult for teens.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things

Mackler, Carolyn.  2003.  The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things.  New York: Candlewick Press.  ISBN 9780763620912

Virginia Shreves is the daughter of a successful adolescent psychologist who talks about her patients more than to her own teenaged daughter. While Virginia is used to being alone most of the time in her parents’ New York penthouse, she has times when she questions the motives behind her parents’ continual absence. These feelings of inadequacy stem from Virginia’s weight problems, as she sees her entire family as perfectly thin. Add to the familial trouble the fact that her best friend, Shannon, has moved away for the year and her sometimes make-out partner, probably doesn’t want to be seen in with her in public, and real mental anguish begins.

In this coming-of-age story, Virginia is unpopular, and only mentioned as a fleeting connection to her perfect, older brother, who is now in college, and is traumatized first by a conversation overheard and then by a seemingly impossible occurrence that truly rattles her entire world. Feelings of absolute inadequacy and humiliation nest to make bad situations worse and nearly impossible for Virginia to deal with.

Through her struggles, Virginia begins to hurt herself, attempts to lose weight on a crash diet, and cuts herself off from most of those who care for her. This is an extremely powerful book that can introduce teens to the idea that no one is perfect, no matter how they seem. Mackler has provided a truthful, sometimes frightening, and, yet, hopeful novel, in which the characters are able to shed their insecurities in a healthy way. A little rebellion can go a long way.

Mackler’s easy use of common language tied in with her knowledge of emerging technologies makes this story relevant for the teens of today.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things is a Printz Honor Book.

"…Virginia's story will interest readers who are looking for one more book with teen angst, a bit of romance, and a kid who is a bit like them or their friends."(School Library Journal/September 2003)

"The heroine's transformation into someone who finds her own style and speaks her own mind is believable—and worthy of applause.” (Publishers Weekly/July 2003)

"...eminently accessible journey from self-hatred to confidence." (Kirkus Reviews/June 2003)

Possible Activities:
1. Initiate gender specific book clubs to dicuss body image and dealing with stress.
2. Get teens to brainstorm how they would have reacted to some of the things Virginia faced in the novel.

Along for the Ride

Dessen, Sarah.  2009.  Along for the Ride.  New York: Viking.  ISBN 9780670011940

The brilliant daughter of a writer and a professor of English, Auden West, has had a superior education; however, she has also become an emotionally and socially stunted insomniac as a result of her parents’ divorce. Without realizing what she’s been missing, Auden has always strived to please her selfish father and her demanding and superior mother. In the summer after graduation, realizing that she hasn’t experienced much in life other than academics, Auden decides she wants a change of scenery and goes to visit her father, step-mother and new baby step-sister in Colby, a small beach town.

The relaxing beach holiday Auden has in mind goes awry almost instantly, as the new baby keeps quiet from the house at all hours. Auden quickly finds herself the subject of local gossip after ‘hooking-up” with the wrong guy, but manages to find friends, have fun and obtain a sense of peace, and love, like she’s never had before.

Along for the Ride offers a fantastic portrayal of a sheltered girl finally discovering what it’s like to live her own life and have a childhood. The progression of Auden is tied not to mature actions, but to those more immature in this mostly innocent story. The first-person narrative offers insight into Auden’s thoughts, but her actions and discomfort say much more than even she knows about the way she feels. The balance of male and female characters and emotions will appeal to readers of any gender, and I recommend it.

"Rounding out her latest offering with richly depicted female friendships, Dessen offers up a summertime tale of self-discovery."(The Horn Book/May/June 2009)

Readers will be most absorbed by Auden and Eli's romantic friendship, the type soul mates are born of, played out in the bike shop, Colby's all-night Laundromat, and coffee shops. This summer vacation-themed story will be savored.” (School Library Journal/June 2009)

Possible Activities:
1. Include in a summer book club.
2. Ask if teens relate to any particular relationship in the book.
3. Ask and discuss relation of any teens to the events that affect the characters in the book: death, divorce, drinking, prom.