13. Deadline

Crutcher, Chris. Deadline. New York: HarperCollins, 2007. Print.

ANNOTATION: Ben Wolf has a year to live. Diagnosed with a rare blood disease, he only has Senior year to make his mark on the world--so he’s going to try out for football, call out his teachers, and go for the crush of his life--but this can only happen if no one knows about his condition. Living with a secret isn’t as easy as he thinks it will be, and he isn’t the only person who has something to hide.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: I nearly put Deadline down. I didn’t think the main protagonist was acting rationally or realistically, and was about to quit--that’s when the story took a tremendous turn. And it did again. And again. What I originally perceived to be a flat, single layer cake turned out to be an elaborately tiered dessert that I couldn’t stop eating. I was absolutely blown away by Crutcher’s ability to throw in so many issues that teens deal with all the time, while staying true to his central message of honesty.

The characters in this novel are not what they seem. As in real life, the more you know about a person, the more interesting they become--we all are capable of good and evil, and this book allows the reader to explore human potential, as well as the human condition, in a safe and thought-provoking space. Although some are more developed than others, they act and react in realistic ways. Ben changes tremendously, and in more than one way; facing death makes him bolder, more willing to stand up for what is right, but his true metamorphosis comes in facing truth as something to give, as well as receive.

I was struck by the honesty of this book--Crutcher’s willingness to speak honestly about the issues of racism, bad teachers, family, religion and death, as well as the issue of truth, which was incredibly refreshing. Living honestly goes far beyond telling the truth--it requires a large degree of front-end philosophical work that Ben, dying, forces himself to do, and to share, with the rest of the world.

This book is great for teens as well as adults. The setting and style is set up for young adult readers, with a nice usage of imagery, symbolism and personification. I highly recommend this powerful read.

GENRE: Coming of Age

12. I am the Messenger

Zusak, Markus. I am the Messenger. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.

ANNOTATION: After nineteen year old Ed Kennedy captures a bank robber, he begins to receive weird messages that lead him to people who need his help. Ed succeeds on each mission, but still wants two questions answered: who is the mysterious person behind the messages, and why have they chosen him?

JUSTIFICATION FOR REJECTION: I am the Messenger is an interesting and entertaining read, but one that lacks too many essential elements to be worthy of a Printz Award.

The pacing is slow, with lots of space devoted to Ed’s internal dialogue and questions about his situation. The progressive action led the reader to an unsatisfying climax and an ending that left more questions than answers--and unfortunately, these questions led me to criticize Zusak’s organization, planning, and dedication to the work.

The characters are complex and unique, but distant to an unsympathetic reader. Many grew through the story, but their strengths and weaknesses were not well displayed.

Instead of focusing on the traditional question of young adults, this novel asks one more appropriate for college students or high school graduates: “where am I going?”. It’s beyond the average teen experience--the characters are still young adults, but older, out of school, and working full time. It focuses more on the bridge to becoming an adult, rather than the question of identity, and that’s one that some, but certainly not a majority of students, will identify with.

In it’s defense, Zusak’s writing is done incredibly well. He has a talent for dialogue, and every conversation is believable. Ed’s transformation is also inspiring--he learns to believe in himself, and in other people too. It’s a book about self-worth and taking part in something important. Through the novel, Ed learns to see that everyone--strangers and family and friends alike--has something hidden deep inside themselves that needs to be held to the light, because they are beautiful.

GENRE: Mystery

11. Speak

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Penguin, 2009. Print.

ANNOTATION: Last summer, Melinda did the unthinkable--she busted a party and called the cops. Now her first year of high school is a nightmare; her friends have all abandoned her, and everyone else hates her from a distance. But they don’t know what happened at that party--a nightmare she’d give anything to forget.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: Speak is the novel you find once in a lifetime. It rises above the standard in all areas of young adult literature, and is honored because it’s so much more than YA lit--it’s amazing lit. And still, Anderson is able to pull off an essential component that few writers are able to do--she accurately, realistically and honorably portrays a young adult voice.

No book is going to be universal, but this book is not limited to victims of sexual assault. It’s deeper than that. This book is for anyone who has been silenced; who has fought to overcome overwhelming obstacles; who has been completely misunderstood by authority; who has longed to be accepted by their peers; who has lost their innocence; who has been broken, and wants to come back to life.

Speak moves seamlessly between internal and external struggles, between the past and present, and pulls the reader into the depths of another human being. Melinda is one of the most authentic characters I have ever known; she embodies the paradox of us all--we’re so simple, yet so complex, right down to our anatomy--we’re one piece, made of a billion pieces, connected to others and the world in ways we can never understand. Parents, teachers, administrators peers and social pressures influence Melinda’s life, but they do not define who she is as a person. A few friends and teachers play constructive roles in her development, but ultimately Melinda is the hero, the one who gains enough strength and encouragement to stand up for herself.

Speak is breathtakingly honest. It’s real. It’s authentic. The story takes place in familiar teenage realities--school campus, the mall, parties, home. These settings take on new meaning with a first-person narrator--we get to see these worlds through Melinda’s eyes, and how quickly they can change for the better, or the worse, within a second. All it takes is a flashback for the world to grow dark. Speak is full of subtle symbols and metaphors that show, rather than tell, and is incredibly poetic; every word Anderson writes is essential, and nothing is superfluous. It’s cathartic. Get to the last page, and exhale. Smile, because you know it’s not the end for Melinda--it’s just the beginning.

GENRE: Printz/Coming of Age/Realistic-Edgy

10. Holes

Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Scholastic, 1998. Print.

ANNOTATION: Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. Unjustly sent to a boy’s detention center, Stanley and his fellow inmates are forced to dig huge holes in a dried-up lake... every day. The warden is looking for something, and she’ll do anything to get it--will Stanley be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late?

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: This story is really, really good. The plot is remarkably creative, and the interplay of characters throughout a number of generations links the past to the present in ways that will make the reader laugh a big “NO WAY!” at the closing chapter. It’s both heart-wrenching and laugh-out loud funny--it gets to you, with the perfect combination of seriousness and comic relief.

Holes covers a variety of genres--part mystery, part humor, part coming of age-all tied together in a well-paced exploration of rules and redemption. Stanley, the young protagonist, tests the boundaries of authority by trying to save a friend who has run away--he risks death to do what is right for one person, but ends up the hero for all. Stanley uses his intelligence to overcome extreme obstacles, but has a little luck in the process. He is authentic and unique, portraying the hopefulness and fear of a realistic character.

The story is told from a dramatic point of view, and feeds the reader bits of information as Stanley puts the pieces together. Much of the narrative is dialogue between various characters, and everyone has a distinct voice. Sachar’s writing style is humorous and very ironic; his imagery from the perspective of a young boy, fitting perfectly within the story. Although layered, the story is fairly simple and everything ties together perfectly at the end. It requires attention, but is so engaging that students of all ages will return this book with applause. Three cheers for Holes!

GENRE: Coming of Age/Humor/Mystery