Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted

Summary: Cody has lived a life that many kids would think is really cool; travelling the world as his dad’s partner in undercover CIA operations. He speaks multiple languages, can defend himself whether armed or unarmed, and knows how to handle himself under pressure. Then everything changes….


The danger surrounding Cody & his dad gets to be too much and Cody is sent to stay with his Aunt Jenny, who he hardly knows,  in a small town in Connecticut. Cody may know how to blend in and survive in many situations, but Junior High isn’t one of them. He’s never had a normal friendship with anyone his age, never had a crush on a girl, never had to follow a class schedule. In short, he’s never been prepared to lead a “normal life.”

After some missteps, Cody starts to make friends and even becomes a sort of mentor within his school, his love of and talent for martial arts serving as a tool to help him overcome the "new kid" stigma.

Just as he starts to feel like he is getting the hang of being a suburban teen, he begins to fear that his father’s problems have followed him – he is sure he is being watched. With the help of a disabled vet, Cody has to face this challenge to save the life he has come to enjoy and to protect the people he has come to love.

Alibi Junior High is a 2011-2012 Sunshine State Book. I really wish I had read it sooner. I truly enjoyed it. It was sometimes funny and sometimes tense, striking the balance between the two in a way that made me want to keep reading about Cody even after the story was over.

Themes:
Courage
Responsibility
Family
What is normal?

Age Appropriateness:
11 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman is one of my favorite YA authors, and I have recommended his books to many of my students, from reluctant readers (who devour his Dark Fusion series) to my gifted readers (for whom his novel Unwind is a mind-bending read). Bruiser has been sitting in my pile of books to be read for a while, & I wish I had read it sooner. Wow! I loved it! I will be adding this to my recommendations for students, from the reluctant readers to those who need a challenge, as it is a great story that any student will become engrossed in, and it has Neal’s trademark twists and unexpected turns which will leave the reader thinking long after they have finished the story.


Summary: Tennyson and Bronte are twins living a comfortable, if not exactly happy, life with their parents, college professors whose marriage is in a dull and quiet stasis caused by unforgiven past wrongs and continuing mistakes. When Bronte starts dating the school outcast, a boy named Brewster (called Bruiser by most), Tennyson is determined to split them up. He is convinced that Bruiser is bad news, and he goes to great lengths to try and scare Bruiser away...until he gets to know both Brewster and himself better.

Bronte has always had a soft spot for the abandoned, orphaned, unloved creatures she comes across. Brewster is no exception. She is determined to get past Brewster’s protective shell and truly get to know the boy hiding beneath that untouchable exterior. Tennyson’s initial bullying and interference only increases her determination. There is more to Brewster than anyone else at school realizes…but she is determined to help him make friends and be accepted.

As the twins weave themselves more into Brewster’s life, they discover the reason he stays removed from the world and avoids making friends. When Brewster’s whole world falls apart, how far will Bronte and Tennyson go to help their new friend? Is their help only causing Brewster more pain? And what do you do when you realize that you’ve allowed someone else to take on your burdens – do you keep living the easy life or do you step up and take responsibility?

Told from the perspectives of Tennyson, Bronte and Brewster himself, Bruiser kept me riveted. I couldn’t wait to see how it would end, but also dreaded reaching the end because it would be over. This is a book I will definitely be re-reading!

Themes:
Bullying
Friendship
Love
Selflessness
Responsibility


Age Appropriateness:
12 and up


Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: mild

Bystander by James Preller

Summary: Bystander by James Preller is a Sunshine State Book for grades 6-8 this year. I understand why it was chosen for the list – bullying is a hot topic and this book looks at it in a gritty and realistic way. This is a book that would be great for book club discussions about bullying or for bibliotherapy.


Eric is the new kid in town, just starting seventh grade. His first friend in his new town, Griffin, is the popular guy who seems to get away with everything. Everyone wants to be Griffin’s friend, and many will do whatever it takes to reach that goal. But Eric quickly sees Griffin for what he is – a bully and a trouble-maker. Can Eric stand against Griffin without becoming his next target? Or will he just be another bystander, watching Griffin’s cruelty?

Bystander would be a great book to tie in with a unit on the Holocaust and the many people who looked the other way during the atrocities committed, as well as a great book for spurring a discussion about bullying and taking a stand against it. There is some language in the novel, but nothing extreme. The ending was, to me, anticlimactic but plausible. I understand why Preller ended the book as he did, but it still felt a little unfinished to me.

There really are no truly good guys or bad guys in this book – just good and bad decisions made by average people. Eric could be anyone, facing down one of a thousand Griffins by another name. Both boys have problems that spur their choices, and are great character studies in the different ways that people deal with the stresses of an unstable life.

Themes:
Bullying
Friendship
Standing up for what is right



Age Appropriateness:
12 and up



Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: moderate (less than five instances)
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate

The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss

Summary: The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss is an insightful look at the inner workings of a clique in middle school. Where most books on this topic focus on the thoughts and feelings of the victims of these groups, The Girls explores this territory from the perspectives of the group members themselves, showing the insecurities of tween girls, even those who claim the title of “most popular.”


Maya awakens one sleepy Saturday morning to a wonderful surprise – am unexpected outing with her dad to Six Flags. Even better is the fact that she can take a friend along. But when she calls one member of her group of friends after another, she discovers that they all have other plans. All but her have been invited to a sleepover. She wonders what she did wrong to get kicked out of the group.

The other members of the group have their own issues and insecurities that keep them from standing up for Maya. Renee’s parents are going through a divorce and she lives in the shadow of her model-beautiful mother. Darcy simply follows whatever Candace, the group leader, dictates. Candace is her key to popularity. Brianna often finds herself at the receiving end of Candace’s cruel comments, but enjoys the spotlight that being Candace’s friend places her in. Candace wants nothing more than to be exactly the opposite of her mother, who she feels gave up her own life to have children.

The slow implosion of this group of girls, beginning with the exclusion of Maya, makes an interesting story that middle grades girls will understand and feel a connection to. And, unlike many less realistic stories aimed at this age group, not everyone learns her lesson at the end. The ending is satisfying and heartening, though. I will definitely recommend this story to my students.

Themes:
Friendship
Insecurity
Bullying


Age Appropriateness:
Grades 4& up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: none

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

Mike Lupica is a favorite among my students who are sports fans, so I try to pick up as many of his books as I can. Summer Ball, his follow up to Travel Team is sure to be another winner with these students, and will surely capture the attention of others who haven’t “met” this author yet.


Summary: Danny Walker & his friends from Travel Team are back, fresh from their national championship win. It’s summertime, and Danny, Will, & Ty are headed off to one of the top-ranked basketball camps. Danny is nervous – he knows that his notoriety will make him a target at a camp that will host many of the country’s best ball players. Despite his love of the game, he would almost rather stay home, where things seem perfect now that his parents are back together and his Dad has landed a job coaching at a local school.

When Danny gets to camp, all his worst fears seem to be coming true – his old rival, Rasheem, is there with an even more odious wingman, his coach seems to be holding a grudge against Danny’s dad that he is making Danny suffer for, and Danny finds himself standing up for another little guy with big talent.

Danny’s challenges, as in Travel Team, are faced head on with the help of his friends (old & new), the advice of his Dad, and the support of his Mom. The action is big, and the reader can truly visualize the games being played out within the story. New characters Zach, Lamar, and Coach Ed add new dimensions to this story and keep it from simply being a rehash of Travel Team.

Themes:
Friendship
Determination
Sportsmanship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 4 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: very mild