Category: Realistic Fiction - MY SITE

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

11/10/2022

Living in a small California town, Pakistani-American teens Salahudin and Noor are best friends – until The Fight tears them apart.
As they each navigate through a series of difficult situations during their senior year, they need each other more than ever.
With a terminally ill mom and an alcoholic father, Salahudin struggles to run his family’s motel on his own and takes desperate measures to keep it going while Noor works at her angry uncle’s liquor store and secretly applies for college.
Both seem to be on collision course with disaster. Will they reconcile with each other before it's too late?

Grades 9-12

This quote from Noor kind of sums it up: “I think about the s$%t we've read in school. Those books all about one problem. A kid who's bullied. A kid who's beaten. A kid who's poor. And I think of us and how we've won the s$%t-luck lottery. We have all the problems.” Noor and Salahudin do have all the problems (and then some), which makes this a brutal read – but it’s also such an incredibly good book that you just keep rooting for them no matter how bleak and bad things get. Amazing!

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

12/30/2020

Budding detective and criminologist Stevie Bell is overjoyed when she gets accepted to the prestigious and isolated Ellingham Academy, an exclusive boarding school tucked away in the remote mountains of Vermont.
The school just happens to be the site of a notorious and unsolved crime from the 1930s, and Stevie is determined to crack this decades old cold case -- if she can push past her anxiety, panic attacks, and self-doubt.
When one of Stevie’s classmates dies under suspicious circumstances, Stevie must put her sleuthing skills to the test while trying to stay out of danger.

Grades 8-12
Book 1 of the Truly Devious Series

I just finished reading the third and final book in this trilogy, The Hand on the Wall, and the whole series is so much fun! I love Stevie as well as all her new friends and classmates at Ellingham (especially all of Stevie’s housemates: reclusive writer Nate; quirky builder Janelle; mysterious, moody David). Johnson’s use of the flashbacks from the 1930s add so much to the story, and I enjoyed how the mysteries of the past and present come together in the final book.

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian

5/13/2019

Seventeen-year-old Evan has changed schools six times in the last four years. He’s not very good at making friends, but he’s very good at identifying and hooking up with Girls Who Would Say Yes (to having sex with him). He’s not interested in long-term relationships or much of anything besides swimming and running track. Evan is not a very likable guy.
When Evan gets involved with the wrong girl, he is beaten within an inch of his life by two of his classmates. After the attack, Evan’s father moves them to his childhood lakeside cabin in Minnesota where he can heal physically and mentally, and where Evan meets a group of teenage neighbors who try to draw Evan out of his shell.
Meanwhile, Evan sees a therapist for, among other things, coping with PTSD from his attack, and he has plenty of time to take a long hard look at the part of himself that he calls “Dirtbag Evan” and to reconsider his attitude toward girls and sex.

Grades 10-12
Ebook in Overdrive

Wow, did this book suck me in, and wow, did I hate Evan at the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, I don't think Evan is all that unusual in his callous treatment of girls (although I wish he were) -- and it's a topic we should be talking about more. Evan's story is a tough, honest, and thought-provoking one that's totally worth reading.

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

4/25/2019

Suzette ("Little") and her step-brother Lionel ("Lion") have always had a close relationship, but this changes when Suzette is sent away to boarding school after Lionel is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Now home for summer, Suzette hopes to get past the awkwardness and rekindle their closeness, but this proves difficult when her brother starts to spiral out of control and asks Suzette to keep a dangerous secret.
To further complicate matters, Suzette and Lionel appear to be falling for the same girl -- and wait! -- Suzette also has feelings for her long-time friend, Emil (which is a little confusing for her).
Suzette wants to be a loyal sister and regain Lionel's trust, but she has to decide if doing what's best for him is worth the possibility of damaging their relationship forever.

Grades 9-12

I liked the diversity of characters in this story, the blended family, and the LA setting. I especially appreciated the way in which this books deals honestly and realistically with the topics of mental health, sexuality, and family.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McMaus

1/29/2019

This book starts off a lot like the Breakfast Club -- five students enter detention: the baseball phenom, the academic all-star, the criminal, the homecoming princess, and the outcast -- but only four of them leave alive. While at first the death appears to be an accident, it soon becomes clear that it was murder.

The four survivors all have a motive for killing Simon, and all of them are in the hot seat.

As the secrets that they all tried so hard to keep buried are revealed, Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate try to figure out who the murderer is and if anyone can be trusted.

This book was so much fun to read that I could not put it down! I enjoyed the alternating chapters from the four main characters' points of view, and each character was relatable and went beyond the high school stereotypes. If you like mysteries, this one is for you.

Grades 8-12

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

10/29/2018

Sophomore Darius Kellner is not doing great or even okay. He's overweight, lives with clinical depression, gets bullied at his Portland, OR high school, and he has a complicated relationship with his dad who he feels is always disappointed in him.
When Darius's grandfather falls ill, his family takes an extended trip to Iran where Darius struggles with getting to know family he's never met (besides on Skype), the language (his little sister is fluent in Farsi, but he is not), and fitting in (his mother is Persian, but his father is American; Darius refers to himself as a "Fractional Persian").
Things start looking up when Darius meets Sohrab, the son of one of his Grandfather's neighbors. For someone who's never really had a best friend before, this is a big deal. Darius notes, "I liked that I could be silent with Sohrab. That's how I knew we really were going to be friends."

I really liked Darius (he loves tea; he makes a lot of references to Lord of the Rings and Star Trek; and he's a great big brother to his little sister Laleh). His problems are real, but he faces them with a lot of humor. I also really enjoyed the peak into Persian culture (the food, traditions, and history).

Grades 8-12

Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner

10/19/2018

Brynn Harper's life could not get much worse: her older brother died; she has a stepdad she refers to as the "Fart Weasel" (and he fully deserves that nickname); her girlfriend broke up with her; and she's been put in remedial classes in the Blue room in the basement of her school.
When a school assignment requires Brynn to write to a "celebrity hero," she drafts emails to TV political commentator Rachel Maddow. She creates a journal of her life one email at a time beginning with the words "Dear Rachel Maddow."
When it looks like her nemesis rich bully Adam is going to take over the school, Brynn decides to do something and get involved in school politics (with a little inspiration from her hero Rachel Maddow).

I loved the epistolary format (the story is all told in emails), and Brynn's voice is so funny and sharp. Brynn struggles in school and at home, but her friends, her comrades in the Blue room, and even her brother's friend all provide a support system that help Brynn to keep fighting the good fight.

Grades 8-12

Sadie by Courtney Summers

10/2/2018

Nineteen-year-old Sadie Hunter's life has not been easy. She's spent most of it caring for her younger sister, Mattie, without a father and with no help from her drunk and drug-addled mother (who eventually abandons her daughters when Sadie is sixteen).
When Mattie is found dead in a field, Sadie goes on a road trip in search of her sister's killer, upon whom she intends to take the ultimate revenge.
Sadie's gripping first person perspective as she follows one clue after another in search of Keith is interspersed with episodes of a true-crime podcast called The Girls which chronicles Sadie's and Mattie's story.

I was biting my nails all the way through this excellent mystery/thriller, hoping against hope that Sadie and Mattie would get justice and that Sadie wouldn't end up just "another dead girl."

Grades 9-12

There's Someone Inside Your House by S. Perkins

3/21/2018

Makani Young grew up in Hawaii but has moved in with her grandmother in small-town Nebraska in order to escape her past.
She's made some friends and has a crush on cute loner Ollie that is just starting to develop into something more when a serial killer begins targeting her classmates.
As the grisly murders pile up, Makani starts to wonder if she'll be the next victim -- and also if she just might know the killer's identity.

Romance + mystery + slasher plot = a fun, gory read.

Grades 9-12

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

12/6/2017

Vivian Carter lives in a small Texas town where football is the only thing that matters -- so much so that the high school football players can get away with just about anything, including wearing offensive t-shirts to school, making rude comments in class, and groping girls in the halls.
Vivian's mom was a punk rock rebel in the 90's and after looking through some of her old things, Vivian gets inspired to speak up against what's going on at her school by creating and distributing an anonymous newsletter.
Will her female classmates stand up with her? Will she be able to confess to her friends that she made the newsletter? Will she get expelled? And what about that cute new boy, Seth Acosta?

This book really speaks to what's going on in our society today about how men treat woman (and boys treat girls) and what is and isn't acceptable. It's an uplifting read that will have you cheering on the girls of East Rockport High School.

Grades 8-12

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

10/6/2017

Seventeen-year-old Molly has had twenty-six crushes but has never had a boyfriend or even been kissed, while her twin sister, Cassie, has had more girlfriends than Molly can count.
When Cassie starts dating a new girl, she wants to set Molly up with her girlfriend's best friend, Will, a funny, flirtatious, red-haired hipster.
Although, Molly feels that Will is way out of her league, she's prepared to go for it to make her sister happy -- until she starts to realize there might be a better guy for her right under her nose.

This story is more than just a sweet romance: it has diverse and interesting characters, deals with the changing relationship of two sisters, and has a very relateable and hilarious main character. Loved it!

Grades 9-12

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

9/1/2017

Starr Carter struggles to be two different people every day: the Starr who goes to Williamson prep school, who doesn't use slang, who doesn't want to look "ghetto," who is the only African-American girl in her grade, and the Starr who tries to stay true to the community of Garden Heights, a neighborhood riddled with drugs and gangs, but the place that she calls home nonetheless.
When she witnesses her friend Kahlil die after he's shot by the police during a routine traffic stop, Starr must decide if she can can continue living two very different lives -- and also if she can find the strength to find her voice and stand up for Khalil and her neighborhood.

Not only is The Hate U Give an excellent book, but it's also an important and timely one. A must read!

Grades 8-12

Bang by Barry Lyga

5/23/2017

When he was four years old, Sebastian accidentally shot and killed his baby sister.
Ten years later, the guilt, shame, and notoriety weigh so heavily upon him that Sebastian plans to commit suicide in the near future.
With his best friend gone for the summer and nothing to distract him, Sebastian thinks the time is coming -- until Aneesa moves into his neighborhood, a girl with a story of her own and no knowledge of Sebastian's past.
Will Sebastian's budding friendship with Aneesa be enough to steer him off the dangerous path he's put himself on or will he give in to the voice in his head that says "It's time."?

This is a gripping quick read that looks unflinchingly at how a family deals with loss and grief and pain -- and also, surprisingly, at race in America. Raw and real.

Grades 9-12

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

5/18/2017

When Griffin's ex-boyfriend and first love, Theo, dies unexpectedly, Griffin is overtaken by a tsunami of grief. Even though Theo had moved across the country for college and had a new boyfriend, Griffin always believed that they'd get back together some day.
When Griffin meets Theo's new boyfriend Jackson at the funeral, he wants to hate him -- but he knows Jackson is the only person who could understand what he's going through.
The story moves back a forth between the past (detailing Griffin and Theo's history together) and the present, until the two timelines meet up near the end of the book.

This is a heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful book that explores not only the depths of grief, but also the joys and pains of first love and the possibility of healing and starting over. Silvera's first novel, More Happy Than Not, was an excellent book that has stayed with me; this one is equally good.

Grades 9-12

All American Boys by J. Reynolds & B. Kiely

4/25/2017

All Rashad Butler wanted was a bag of chips when he stops in the corner store on Friday night. Instead, he found cop Paul Galluzzo who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter and beats him to a pulp.
Varsity basketball player Quinn Collins witnesses the altercation and can't reconcile the Paul who's been like a surrogate-father to him after his dad died in Afghanistan with the brutal Officer Galluzzo who he sees beating his classmate.
In the aftermath of the incident as students and the community take sides, the basketball team is divided, and Rashad and Quinn both struggle with how to move forward, having to decide what kind of men they want to become.

This is a topical book that examines what's going on in our society today in terms of race and police brutality -- but more importantly, it's a well-written story told from the perspectives of an African-American teen and a white teen, and the authors explore both sides with finesse.

Grades 8-12

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

3/15/2017

Months ago Romy Grey was raped by the town sheriff's son -- but no one believed her. Since then, she's been branded a liar, ostracized, and bullied by her former friends.
She takes refuge in working in a diner in a nearby town where no one knows about her past, and she strikes up a tentative relationship with one of her co-workers.
When after the senior party she wakes up by the side of the road with no memory of the night before and discovers a popular classmate has gone missing from the same party, Romy has to decide if she wants to fight back or live with the knowledge that other girls could continue to be hurt if she doesn't speak up.

This book is a hard and emotional read but well worth it since it shines light on a society that often blames the victim. It also examines how corruption and power in a small town can keep justice from being served. Compared to other excellent books dealing with sexual assault such as Exit, Pursued by a Bear and Speak, All the Rage holds up well and has it's own point of view.

Grades 9-12

When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

3/10/2017

Ali lives in a tough neighborhood in New York but stays out of trouble by spending his time boxing, helping out at home, and hanging with his best friend Noodles, who unlike Ali, is a guy who seems to look for trouble.
Then there's Noodles' brother Needles who has Tourette's Syndrome which causes him to twitch and blurt out crazy things -- but everyone in the neighborhood knows Needles is cool and looks out for him.
Everything is cool until one night Ali, Noodles, and Needles end up somewhere they shouldn't be, where people don't know Needles -- then things stop being cool.

"A lot of stuff that gives my neighborhood a bad name, I don't really mess with. The guns and drugs and all that, not really my thing." Ali's voice is so real that you'll think you're sitting with him and Noodles on the stoop in their Bed Stuy neighborhood as his tale unfolds. A great look into the life of an urban teen on the cusp of manhood as he deals with everything life throws his way.

Grades 7-12

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

3/3/2017

Seventeen year old Natasha Kingsley is a realist who loves science and music. Although she's lived in the U.S. since she was eight, she and her family are due to be deported back to Jamaica later on the same day that the book takes place.
Daniel Bae is a Korean-American high school senior who enjoys writing poetry about love and heartbreak -- even though he has never had his heart broken.
One morning when Daniel is on his way to an interview with a Yale alumnus, he sees Natasha on the streets of New York city, is drawn to her, and spends the day trying to convince her that they are meant to be. Natasha is not so easily persuaded -- her only concern is trying to find a way keep her family from being deported later that day.

I enjoyed Yoon's first novel, Everything, Everything, and loved this one also. The characters are unique (and refreshingly diverse), and immigration is a topic we don't see much in YA literature. If you liked Eleanor & Park, give this one a shot.

Grades 8-12

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

2/10/2017

Rose Justice is an American living in England during World War II. She works as a pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary, a civilian group helping with the war effort.
One day when Rose is ferrying a fighter plane from London to Paris, she gets captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbruck, a "work camp" that is really a concentration camp for women.
While at Ravensbruck, Rose meets an unforgettable group of women, including several who have been cruelly experimented upon by Nazi doctors. To keep up her spirits and those of the women around her, Rose writes poetry and devises ways to fight back and escape death, which lurks around every corner.

This is a sequel or companion to Code Name Verity, which I thought was an amazing book; this one is also very, very good. If you like historical fiction or books about the Holocaust and WWII, then this one is for you.

Grades 8-12
Companion to Code Name Verity

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

1/19/2017

Violet Markey and Theodore Finch meet on the ledge of their school's bell tower where they are both thinking about committing suicide.
Although Finch helps Violet down, he lets the school think she's the one who saved him -- it's the more believable story since Finch is goofy, unpredictable, and occasionally violent while Violet, until recently, was a popular cheerleader.
Finch and Violet partner up for a "Wander the State" school project, and as they travel around, not only do they discover the hidden corners of Indiana, but they also uncover the demons and memories that haunt each of them (and they try to help each other move past them).

Violet and Finch are characters who will stay with you long after you finish the book. If you like realistic stories that don't shy away from the dark and hard parts of life (such as Eleanor & Park or The Fault in Our Stars), then you should check this one out.

Grades 9-12

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

11/7/2016

Seventeen-year-old Greg Gaines likes making movies with his sort-of-friend Earl and tries to get through high school by having access to all the social groups but by not belonging to any one clique, which in his own words means he keeps "an insanely low profile."
Keeping a low profile becomes tricky when Greg's mom asks him to befriend a girl, Rachel, who he has some embarrassing history with and who now has cancer.
What ensues is Greg (and sometimes Earl) doing their best to cheer up Rachel without punching themselves in the face too many times.

Imagine The Fault in Our Stars with a lot less romance and way more boy humor, movie-making, and inter-racial friendship. The narrator, Greg, says this book "contains precisely zero Important Life Lessons, or Little-Known Facts About Love, or sappy tear-jerking Moments When We Knew We Had Left Our Childhood Behind for Good, or whatever," but it will make you laugh a lot more than it will make you cry (and I do mean a lot).

Grades 9-12

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

10/24/2016

Quinn Roberts used to spend all his free time writing scripts for movies that his sister would film, but since she died six months ago, he doesn't do anything anymore. He doesn't go to school. He doesn't go out with friends. He doesn't even leave his house.
When Quinn's best friend Geoff decides enough is enough, he drags Quinn to his first college party where he meets a very hot guy, Amir, who Quinn falls head over heals for.
The only problem is that Quinn's not out yet -- and he's also not sure if he's ready to stop hibernating and get back to real life.

Full of humor and references to great movies, this book will speak to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and smart, funny, honest characters.

Grades 9-12

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

10/3/2016

To win a scholarship for art school, Beatrix Adams needs to get permission to draw cadavers at the local medical school -- without her mom finding out.
Jack Vincent is a handsome, notorious graffiti artist harboring a whole lot of secrets.
When these two meet on a late-night San Francisco bus, sparks fly.

With winning characters, particularly the delicious love interest, Jack, a focus on art, and San Francisco in the background, this is my favorite YA romance read of 2016 (so far).

Grades 9-12

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston

9/30/2016

Hermione Winters is co-captain of her cheerleading team and is planning to lead her team to victory at regional and national competitions during her senior year.
At a summer cheer camp, Hermione's drink is spiked, and she is raped.
When she returns home, her senior year is marred by rumors, the awkward reactions of her classmates and boyfriend, and her consuming need to remember exactly what happened to her.

Another of my top ten favorite books so far this year. In an unflinching and honest book, Hermione shows us the meaning of the word "survivor."

Grades 9-12

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

9/30/2016

Sixteen-year-old Solomon Reed suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, so much so that he hasn't set foot outside his house in over three years.
Seventeen-year-old Lisa Praytor wants to study psychology at an exclusive college, and when she remembers seeing Solomon in junior high having a panic attack (on the last day he was out in public), she thinks he might be her ticket to winning a scholarship.
Things get complicated when Lisa and her boyfriend get to know Simon and their friendship and Lisa's project conflict.

This book has a lot of humor and is an interesting look into the life of an agoraphobe.

Grades 9-12