A Room on Lorelei Street
Mary E. Pearson
Zoe feels pretty alone in the world. She has some good friends, but she doesn’t get to spend much time with them. She and school don’t seem to get along all that well. She spends most of her time waitressing at Murray’s, taking care of her alcoholic mother, and making sure that the bills get paid. Everything revolves around Mama.
One day, Zoe has had enough and chance leads her down Lorelei Street, which is where Opal Keats has an open room for rent. Knowing that this might be her last chance at surviving her life (emotionally more than physically), Zoe allows Opal to convince her to take the room. No one – not her friends, not Grandma – think that Zoe will be able to support herself on her own. With only enough money to pay rent, buy a pack of cigarettes, and keep the gas level in her car just above empty, the odds are against Zoe, and her guilt at leaving Mama threatens to tear down her resolve to build her own life, as the true struggle to survive threatens to destroy her.
This is a pretty powerful story of hard choices, desperation, and inner strength. Recommended to all high school readers.
Tales of the Madman Underground
John Barnes
Karl Shoemaker is pretty messed up. He’s part of a school-determined therapy group that has nicknamed themselves “Madman Underground” because they’re all so messed up. Each member has his or her own story and therapy usually consists of retelling those stories to a handful of new therapists every couple of years. Most of them have been in therapy together for too long to remember, so it’s all recycled material as far as they’re concerned. No one expects to “get better.” But this book isn’t about their problems – of which there are too many. This book is really about their strength as a friends, about looking out for each other, and about trying to make it one-day-at-a-time in order to survive.
Karl’s dad sobered up just in time to die of cancer a few years back, and ever since then his mom has been a raging alcoholic. Karl works as many odd jobs and side jobs as he can (his therapists and his AA sponsor say that’s his method of defense), but has to hide all of his money in stashes around the property so that his mom can’t steal it and go on a bender with her loser boyfriends. All he really wants in life is to be NORMAL. But . . . he’s the kind of guy who would do anything for a friend, even if that means staying a Madman Underground (definitely NOT normal).
This book has showed up on many librarians’ radars and a fair share of recommended reading lists. Tales of the Madman Underground is raw and true and a fascinating read. Not for young readers, and not for many adults, this story is for every teen and young adult looking for an escape from life for a while.
Small as an Elephant
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Eleven-year-old Jack Martel loves elephants. He can tell you all sorts of facts about them, and he finds comfort in their company (even the ones that are only plastic). Jack and his mom have traveled up to Maine from Boston for an impromptu vacation, and Jack is dying to see Lydia, Maine’s own real live elephant, but Mom says that they can’t. Then Mom leaves. Jack wakes up the first morning at the Arcadia National Park campsite and his mother is gone, leaving only the tent that Jack was sleeping under. Over the next few days the story follows Jack as he tries to figure out not only how to survive without any money, shelter, or guidance, but also what happened to his mom — why she left, where she is now, and if he’ll ever see her again. Jack meets a number of characters along his journey — some helpful, and some kind of creepy — but it’s the toy elephant in his pocket that remains his most loyal companion. But an elephant won’t necessarily be able to feed him or save him — or bring Mom back.
Recommended most for middle grade readers, especially boys with a taste for adventure that isn’t too frightening… nor too predictable.
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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