Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Asher, Jay. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. NY: Razorbill.
ISBN: 978-1595141712
Awards: Florida Teens Read (2008-2009)
WinnerALA Best Books for Young Adults (2008)
Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards (Young Adult, Silver, 2007)
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee (2009-2010)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2008)
Sequoyah Children's Book Award (High School, 2010)
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Rape, Depression, Bullying, Suicide, Grief, Regret, Friends
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: Shortly after the suicide of classmate, and crush, Hannah Baker, Clay receives a box of tapes created by her. The tapes are the 13 reasons why she killed herself, to be sent to the 13 people responsible for her decision. But why Clay?
Summary: Clay Jensen doesn't know why he got Hannah Baker's tapes. He didn't do anything wrong. Readers, along with Clay, listen to the voice of Hannah as she tells the story of the events leading up to her suicide. Hannah created the tapes to explain her choice and to let the thirteen people who contributed to her death know what they did. Clay, we learn, had a crush on Hannah, but was too afraid to make a move. Other people on the tapes started rumors about her and didn't see her for who she was, but also there were people who did bad things without remorse. While only a few of the things that happened were truly awful, they all added up to more than Hannah could bear.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed Hannah's story and can relate to her disgust of people who are able to take advantage of others and those who do not take responsibility for their own actions. I also enjoyed Clay as he traveled around the city listening, crying, and being angry at what he heard.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Hopkins, Ellen. (2004). Crank. NY: Margaret K. McElderry.
ISBN: 978-0689865190
Awards: ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2005.04|Read ‘Em & Weep, 2005)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2005)
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee (2009)
Abraham Lincoln Award Winner (2009)
Gateway Readers Award
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: Good girl Kristina takes a turn for the worse during a visit to her druggie father. Addicted, raped, and pregnant Kristina faces a difficult road ahead.
Summary: Kristina lives with her mother, step-father, and brother; is well-behaved, and a good student. When an opportunity comes up for her to visit her father, whom she hasn't seen in years, Kristina jumps at it. It turns out that her father works "under-the-table" at a local bowling alley, drinks too much, and is a druggie. During this visit Kristina has a transformation, embracing her wild side. She begins calling herself Bree, and herself becomes addicted to crank, thanks to attractive drug dealer, Adam. When Bree returns to her mother's, she brings her new addiction with her. She is later raped and becomes pregnant with the rapist's child. She keeps the child, and also the addiction.
Evaluation: I did not like this book. Kristina's transformation happens too fast to be believable; her choices all of the sudden incredibly bad. Also unbelievable is the fact that her middle-class, conservative mom let her stay with a man as vile as her father. If you can get by the questionable premise, Kristina's (Bree's) story and de-evolution is interesting and scary.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin (Dial, 2008)

Werlin, Nancy. (2008). Impossible. NY: Dial
ISBN: 0142414913
Awards:ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2009)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008)
National Book Award Finalist
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Teen Pregnancy, Rape, Mental Illness, Family, Love
Genre: Fantasy
Annotation: Lucy Scarborough is seventeen, pregnant, and living with foster parents because her mother is mentally ill. Lucy lives in the modern day, but a dark and magical force is wreaking havoc on her family. Can she break free of it's grasp?
Summary:Circling around a magical rendition of the song, Scarborough Fair, the story Impossible follows foster child Lucy Scarborough as she learns of a family curse that is generations old. Lucy’s story is set in conventional modern day, but we learn that there is a magical presence able to influence and wreak havoc on humanity. The Elfin Knight has done just that with his curse on the Scarborough women. Seventeen, pregnant, and facing impending madness, Lucy must accomplish three impossible tasks for the curse to be broken. With the love and support of her foster parents and friend Zach, Lucy is determined to bring the madness to an end.
Evaluation: While I would not describe this book as a page turner, there is a soft and easy tone that mirrors the unconditional love between Zach, Lucy, and her foster parents. Impossible deals with such heavy topics as rape, teen pregnancy, and mental illness, but does so with genuine emotion, and avoids melodrama.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse. (1999) Speak. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 978-0141310886
Awards: New York Times bestseller (Children's Paperback, 2001)
ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound (2004)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (1999)
Golden Kite Award (1999)
National Book Award finalist (Young People's Literature, 1999)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (1999)
ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2000)
Edgar Award Nominee (Young Adult, 2000)
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2000)
Printz Honor (2000)
Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2001-2002)
TASL Volunteer State Book Children's Choice Award (2001-2002)
Garden State Book Award (Teen Fiction Grades 9-12, 2002)
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2003)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2000)
Sequoyah Children's Book Award (2002)
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee (2005)
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Rape, Depression
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: Melinda falls deeper and deeper into herself as she tries to avoid talking about the one thing she must speak about.
Summary: Melinda is a teen girl starting her year at high school, only this year is different because of one fateful summer party. At first, we are not sure what happened at this party that made Melinda call the police, but we soon learn that she had been raped by a senior boy. No one else knows what really happened, and she is afraid to tell, even though they all hate her for ruining the party. The story evolves as Melinda's grades drop, she isolates herself, and becomes silent.
Evaluation: I thought this was done very respectfully and without unnecessary graphic language. I also really liked the metaphors about growth, the evolution of her tree art project, and the school assignment on the suffragette's speaking up.