Sharks and Boys
Kristen Tracy
Enid THINKS she has problems. Her parents are in counseling because her father is a cheater, and Enid is having a lot of trouble forgiving him his indiscretions. She and her brother don’t have nearly the kind of close connection as the others in their Twin Study Group. And her handsome, smart, and funny boyfriend wants a “break” from her. She feels like her world is spinning out of control and she’s trying desperately to reel it back in to a place of calm and comfort.
But when she follows her brother, her boyfriend, and their friends to another state to spy on a party to find out if her boyfriend is cheating on her, she finds anything but calm. She finds herself on a sinking boat as a stowaway in the middle of a storm . . . in the middle of the ocean. This story is full of turmoil, and the group of friends must figure out a way to survive. They won’t all be able to make it. And for those of them who do make it to the next day, what comes next?
Recommended to all middle grade and high school ages, though the fluffy title and cover might not prepare readers for the worst.
Beyond Bullets : A Photo Journal of Afghanistan
Rafal Gerszak
Many could not understand why Rafal Gerszak would actually want to volunteer to tag along with the American military in war-torn Afghanistan, let alone insist on returning to the country to live among its citizens, unprotected by any official organization. But, the author’s photographs display pretty clearly the connections that kept (and continue to keep) bringing his mind and heart back to the Afghan people.
The first part of this photo-journal offer an inside look at the life of an American soldier in Afghanistan, with notes from the author and his comrades about life on the front lines, as well as the downtime filled with laughter, frivolity, and — always — fear. The second half of the book represents the time that the author spent living in Afghanistan as a civilian, showing both the side of war and destruction, as well as the beauty of the land, the culture, and the people of the country.
This cross-section of war and hope in an almost completely devastated country is a heartbreak and an inspiration, and is certainly recommended to all readers.
Rotters
Daniel Kraus
Grave robbing. Secrecy. Torture. Sickness. Pain. Hope. Family.
When Joey’s mom dies and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with a father about whom he knows nothing, Joey is not hoping for the best. But when he finds “Dad,” also known around town as The Garbage Man, who disappears for days at a time in the middle of the night, has little food and too many books, and couldn’t care less about caring for Joey, he resolves to just take care of himself. But the extreme bullying he encounters at high school breaks him more than he thought possible, and his father ultimately can’t ignore the kid in his life.
So Ken Harnett and Joey Crouch begin a journey that neither thought they’d take together. Harnett is one of a small group of successful grave robbers that exist in the country. They are rivals and family alike, each working alone to score the treasures that exist in graves and to strive to, in their own ways, restore dignity to the dead. But Joey gets caught up in too much emotion that he can’t handle, a lifestyle that he struggles to understand, and a family dynamic that both doesn’t – and does – include his beloved mother.
This is an intense and dark read, with a smattering of hope – enough to ensure that there will be an equal amount pain. Recommended for high school readers and older, especially those with a liking for books with an edge, stories that are slightly creepy, or simply for an out-of-the-box exploration of family and loyalty. (Those who like this title might also like The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos.)
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Katherine Vasilik
Librarian, Head of User Services
J. F. Kennedy Library
Piscataway, NJ
telephone: 732-463-1633 x18
email: kvasilik@piscatawaylibrary.org or kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com
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