Unwind by Neal ShustermanBook Description: In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs--and, perhaps, save their own lives.
My two cents: This book is fantastic and would be an excellent selection for a book club. I had goose-bumps the entire time I read it. There is so much to discuss! The story takes place in the not too distant future. There has been another huge civil war and new laws have been made. The most chilling is the law that states teenagers from the years 13-18 are at risk of being unwound i.e. retroactively aborted and their body parts are distributed to others. This law has been made by both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" teams. The characters are interesting and so is the premise. Questions such as the meaning of life, betrayal, religion, independence, and trust are discussed in the book.
Interested? Check it out!
Chains by Laurie Halse AndersonBook Description: After being sold to a cruel couple in New York City, a slave named Isabel has to decide whether or not she is willing to spy for the rebels during the Revolutionary War. Is Isabel willing to do anything in order to set herself and her sister, Ruth, free?
My two cents: I love how Anderson combined the notion of the US struggling for independence from Britain and parallels it to Isabel's personal struggle. It's very ironic to say the least. Anderson is nominated for the National Book Award for YA and she righly deserves the nomination. There will be a sequel to the book called "Forge" and I will definitely be reading it
Interested? Request it for our library!
Spanking Shakespeare by Paul Wizner
Book Description: Shakespeare Shapiro navigates a senior year fraught with feelings of insecurity while writing the memoir of his embarrassing life, worrying about his younger brother being cooler than he is, and having no prospects of ever getting a girlfriend.
My two cents: Fans of the movie "Superbad" will love this book! Shakespeare is the name of a 17 yr old senior in high school. He's trying to survive his last year of school with minimal embarassment and hopefully with a girlfriend. The story is composed of Shakespeare's writing assignment (to write a memoir) and his current musings. It's hiliarious, raunchy at times, and heart warming. A cute, quick read.
Interested? Check it out!
