Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
While not for every reader, Marcelo’s story is one that transcends boundaries: geography, race, mental and physical ability, gender, and age all become meaningless as his character relates to each and every individual.
Marcelo is a high-functioning seventeen-year-old on the autistic spectrum. When asked, he tells people, “From a medical perspective, the closest description of my condition is Asperger’s syndrome.” But he doesn’t have all of the characteristics usually associated with Asperger’s syndrome and autism; he functions very well in most situations, but he lacks the ability to interpret many of the social cues that the rest of the world absorbs mindlessly. In an effort to help Marcelo become more self-sufficient and capable, his father, Arturo, insists that he take a job in the mail room of the offices where he works as a lawyer. It is in this very “real world” situation that Marcelo begins to learn more about others, himself, and the way the world around him truly functions. Not all choices are black and white, not all decisions are right or wrong, but Marcelo must figure out how to live life the best way he can, which sometimes means working hard, making mistakes, and learning to trust.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
When Auden receives a picture from in the mail from her brother (who is spending some international time away from home… for the past two years) that says “Time of your life,” she decides to take a chance and head down to the beach to stay with her father and stepmother for the summer months. Heidi just gave birth to Auden’s sister, Thisbe, and they’ve been inviting Auden to their home for months. She decides that it will allow her some time to bond with Dad, get an advance on some of her school reading in preparation for her freshman year of college, and maybe relax a little bit. What she ends up with is the realization that her father isn’t the greatest dad, school maybe isn’t everything, and she still can’t sleep at night. But what she also finds is that through Eli, she’s been given a chance to reclaim her childhood, take some chances, and experience new things — like riding a bike, taking care of a baby, and PROM! Life isn’t always as it seems at first glance, and sometimes all you need is a second chance, or a third, or as many as it takes to get it right. Recommended to girls of all ages, especially those with a (hidden) romantic side.
This Book Isn’t Fat, It’s Fabulous by Nina Beck
Riley Swain is fabulous. “Fabulous, in Riley-speak, is more than just what you wear, or who does your hair. Those things are obviously important, but fabulous is the way you hold yourself, the way you inspire others to treat you.” So, that’s better than being rich or beautiful, although she’s also both of those things. Riley thinks that her only real problem in life is that she’s in love with her best friend, and he’s the only boy just not that into her (and he’s not even gay). Her father thinks that her only real problem is that she’s overweight. So despite her boy troubles, she’s sent off to New Horizons Program for Young Ladies . . . also known as Fat Camp. Riley didn’t think she could be any more fabulous, but things can always get better.
The story is predictable, but the characters are fabulous. From the start, Riley is happy with who she is, despite what others think of her, but she also finds out how to be a better friend, and better to herself. This is a quick fun read, with a bit of a turn away from the typical girls-who-have-it-all. Recommended for high school girls.
Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks
Peter is having sort of a lazy summer. Better yet, he’s in the midst of a lazy teenage boy life. When Nicole calls saying that she wants to get the group together one last time before she and her twin brother move with the family to Paris , how can he say no? Even when a little voice in his head is telling him not to go.
The night that Peter, Nicole, Eric, Pauly, and Raymond meet up at “for old time’s sake” changes everything for everyone. Stella Ross, a childhood friend turned famous model/actress/star, goes missing from the carnival and it seems that everyone who saw her that night is being considered a suspect, especially Raymond, who has also gone missing. Peter’s dad, the cop, gets kicked off the case because Peter was one of last people to be seen talking to Stella and Raymond. But all Peter wants to do is find his friend and prove his innocence, so he can’t seem to keep away from the wrong people at the wrong times.
This is a full-fledged mystery, complete with distrust, last-minute twists, and a touch of gore. Brooks doesn’t hold back for the sake of his readers, so this book is only recommended for older mystery readers who have a taste for the bizarre. At times predictable, and at other times just too weird to completely grasp, this mystery manages to pull the reader along, whether he likes it or not.
Katherine Vasilik, Teen Librarian
Franklin Lakes (NJ) Public Library
tel: 201-891-2224 x105
fax: 201-891-5102
email: vasilik@bccls.org or kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com
blog: http://katethelibrarian.blogspot.com