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

9. The Book of Lost Things

Connolly, John. The Book of Lost Things. New York: Atria, 2006. Print.

ANNOTATION: Twelve-year old David has started to hear voices. Awake one night, haunted by the whispers of his departed mother, he is led into a fairytale world of gruesome monsters and courageous heroes. Terrified David wants nothing more than to return home, but in order to do so, he must face his darkest fears and find The Book of Lost Things.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: The Book of Lost Things is a brilliant, mesmerizing and disturbing masterpiece. Connolley writes with a simple and poetic elegance, raising the bar for fairytales. In the class of the Brothers Grimm and Pan’s Labyrinth, children and adults alike will be spellbound by the craftsmanship of his layered tales and terrified at their contents.

The twelve-year old protagonist is an unlikely hero, a boy who faces hardship and overcomes overwhelming obstacles. This story follows his shift from innocence to disillusionment--the metamorphosis from child to adult. Although his trials are fantasy, they represent deep and realistic themes: betrayal, fear, jealousy, courage, love and forgiveness.

Like many quests and fairytales, this story is filled with allegory and moral questions that teens must be prepared answer as they enter adulthood. They require the reader to question the who they truly are--what they believe about good and evil--and what they would do someone they loved. A pleasure to read and highly recommended.

GENRE: Coming of Age/ALEX Award Winner

8. My Sister's Keeper

Picoult, Jodi. My Sister’s Keeper. New York: Washington Square Press, 2004. Print.

ANNOTATION: As a perfect donor match, Anna the only one who can give her sister Kate what she needs to survive cancer. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she is--but choosing to become her own person may tear her family apart and have dire consequences for the sister she loves.

JUSTIFICATION FOR REJECTION: My Sister’s Keeper is a compelling and thought-provoking book that keeps readers turning the pages. Issues of family, sibling rivalry, death and independence are all themes that young adults can identify with, but most of the story is from the adult and parent perspective; this is an important lens for young readers, but one that some--not most--will be able to resonate with. The setting is mainly at home or the hospital, places that teens may not be that excited about.

Picoult delivers an elegant writing style that is full of imagery and easy to follow, however the voice of thirteen year-old Anna sounds more like a thirty year-old Anna; in her speech she sounds like a teen, but not in narration. She is complex and interesting, but the story is so full of other voices that it is difficult to imagine the book as a young adult novel; it seems a much better fit for parents of teenagers. The central issues are love, choice and freedom, but the context is family--how decisions get made and who gets to make them. The multiple perspectives is a strength, as it allows for diversity of thought around the complex and debated topics such as of stem-cell research and parenting; it makes the reader think deeply about his or her own morals and what they believe is right.

The plot is dynamic with a few ending twists, but not all characters are believable--some are less developed than others, almost prescribed to be liked. They are not shallow, but almost too good to be true--not quite real enough.

I enjoyed reading My Sister’s Keeper, but am unable to recommend this book for a young adult award.

GENRE: Challenged/Coming of Age

7. Paper Towns

Green, John. Paper Towns. New York: Penguin, 2004. Print.

ANNOTATION: Quinton has been in love with the awesome Margo Spiegelman since he was five. Now they’re about is about to graduate from high school, but everything changes when Margo suddenly disappears. No one knows if she is dead or alive, and he is the only one with the clues to find her--but in order to do so, he must find himself first.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: Paper Towns is a quirky and passionate novel that captures the heart of teenage guys and girls alike. A romance at heat, the story explores themes of love, friendship, and the quest for identity. The protagonist, young Quinton, as well as his crush Margo, are much more than their friends assume, and their roles and expectations of each other and the world change as each character explores themes of independence, identity and authority.

John Green displays a casual and authentic teenage voice in his storytelling--his characters are thoughtful and realistic, the bond of friendship believable and active. He develops characters in a slow shedding of fears and expectations, each new discovery a turning point in the plot. The dialogue, mainly friendly banter between nerdy teenage males, is profound, ironic, intellectual and extremely funny all at once; the reader grows to appreciate each character for who they are and what they have to offer the world around them.

Paper Towns is not fast-pased adventure, but a consistent journey of self-discovery. I greatly appreciated Green’s theme of humanity and seeing people for who they are, rather than who we want or believe them to be. Everyone is unique and full of potential, and this novel gives teenagers the insight to see and accept themselves, as well as others, for who they truly are--and to challenge ourselves to become more than we believe we can be.

This readable novel will capture the imaginations of teens and adults alike, giving readers deep and unexpected dive into their fears and shadows.

GENRE: Coming of Age/Romance/Mystery

6. The Seance

Nixon, Joan Lowery. The Seance. Orlando: Harcourt, 2004. Print.

ANNOTATION: Lauren was scared to go to the seance; something wasn’t right. And when her friend is found dead the next morning, her reality turns into a nightmare--and Lauren may be next on the killer’s list.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION: One of Nixon’s four Edgar Award Winners,
The Seance is a fast-paced thriller that keeps the teen reader--or adult, for that matter--on their toes from start to finish. Suspenseful and intriguing, each plot twist drives the reader to continue without stopping.

Young readers will find characters believable, flawed and complex, and may resonate with the feelings of insecurity and jealousy embodied by the lead female protagonist, who struggles to find her identity amidst turmoil. The heroine uses her wit to overcome terrifying obstacles--unable to trust the adults in her life, Lauren has to solve the mystery on her own. Themes of love, acceptance, family, romance, fear and finding one’s voice abound in this novel, our lead character forced to test her limits and overcome terrifying circumstances.

Nixon’s writing is poetic and active, her use of metaphor beautiful. The surprise ending leaves the reader satisfied and begging for more.

GENRE: Mystery/Problem/Coming of Age