Sami has been fitting in with his friends just fine ever since fourth grade. But it is a slightly tenuous relationship because Sami is Muslim and his father just got arrested for being associated with a known terrorist. Now his life is turned upside down as he tries to figure out how his father is associated with this other man. He not only has to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but determine who he is in the process.
Sami’s friends are a couple of regular teenaged kids with their own life dilemmas, but I like that they stick by Sami through thick and thin. Just when the reader thinks that they are going to take off and leave him to sort it out on his own, they become stand up friends. This was a remarkable book, one every teenage boy should read if they are struggling with trying to figure out just where they stand in the world, no matter their ethnicity.
Check out Stratton’s website at: http://www.allanstratton.com/
Ben Campbell is mad when he and his two dads move from the gritty city streets where temptation to act out is abundant to Rough Butte, Montana where life is as slow as molasses. Ben is even more stymied when they move in and he meets his next door neighbor, Billy.
Billy’s dad is not treating Billy right and Ben is determined to find out what is behind all of the angry words and actions. In the midst of all of the turmoil next door, Ben makes friends, and enemies, in the small town as he lets his hair spikes and guard down and opens himself up to new experiences.
It was difficult to say what I liked most about this book. Ben is a very like-able character who is obviously trying to figure out where he belongs. His dad is struggling with his own identity in this small town. His new Grandma is also one tough old bat, but she is just watching out for Ben. Or if I liked Billy the most. Sweet, misunderstood, obedient Billy who just wants someone to love him. For a first novel, Harmon has done a spectacular job of creating a believable story line with endearing characters. I picked it up and didn’t set it down until I was done! Spectacular!
Check out Michael Harmon on his website at: http://www.booksbyharmon.com
Lifted is Wendy Toliver’s third young adult novel and I must say, edgiest! Main character, Poppy, has just moved to a small town in Texas after having lived in Boulder, Colorado. She is enrolled in a Baptist School and she is not really sure exactly where she is going to fit in. While she is not exactly a bad girl, she isn’t exactly a model citizen either and she makes friends with two of the most popular girls at school. But she finds out that they have a bad habit. One that she takes to like a fish takes to water. She learns the exhilaration and rush that shoplifting gives her. The question is…will she be able to stop and still keep her friends?
I loved this book. Poppy is a believeable character with dynamic personality. I really wanted her to be successful in her attempts to stop lifting. But more, I really wanted her to get with the preacher’s son, David. But more, I wanted to see her and her mom have a real conversation without fighting. Toliver has woven a plot that kept me turning pages til the very end! I didn’t predict how all of it would come to a close, because the ending was so surprising. I want to see more of Poppy and her friends or more edgy characters like her! Great novel.
Look for it on the bookshelves at PVMS and at local booksellers!
Pic from: http://www.wendytoliver.com/lifted.htm
Sami has been fitting in with his friends just fine ever since fourth grade. But it is a slightly tenuous relationship because Sami is Muslim and his father just got arrested for being associated with a known terrorist. Now his life is turned upside down as he tries to figure out how his father is associated with this other man. He not only has to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but determine who he is in the process.
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