Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Year Published: 2002
Publisher:
ISBN: 0061139378
Pages: 162
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy
Interest Level:5-9
Reading Level: 5
Subjects: Family, ghost

Reader's Annotation: Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Summary: Coraline moves with her family to rainy Portland. She kept herself busy by having an adventure in her new house. She discovers a "mirror" life as she walks through a secret door. She finds similar mom and dad and enjoyed the change for a little bit. When she tried to leave, her "new" mom gets really possessive and threatens Coraline and the people that she loves. Coraline saves her family by playing a dangerous game with her "new mom" and eventually sets everyone free, including herself and her family.

Reviews and Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, ALA Booklist, ALA Notable Book For Children, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, IRA Children's Choice Award, School Library Journal Starred Review, Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review for Publishers Weekly, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Children's Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Author Information: www.neilgaiman.com

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Year Published:1999
Publisher:Viking Penguin
ISBN: 0142407321
Pages: 197
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 7-12
Reading Level: 5
Subjects: High school, School stories, Rape

Reader's Annotation: Melinda Sordino gets raped during a summer party. She reported the party to the police and gets rejected by her friends. She finds her voice in the arts with the help of her art teacher and friend.

Summary: Melinda Sordino becomes a selective mute as she enters high school. She has been ostracized by her friends for calling the police on one of the summer parties. She finds support and comfort in her art teacher and friend, David Petrakis. Melinda finds her voice to speak about her traumatic summer experience. She learns to cope after being raped.

Reviews and Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, ALA Booklist, ALA/YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Michael Printz Honor, Publishers Weekly, Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Wilson's High School Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Author Information: www.laurieanderson.com

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Year Published: 2003
Publisher: Bantam Book
ISBN:0553213105
Pages: 337
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 9+
Reading Level: 12
Subjects: Courtship, Marriage, Sisters
Reader's Annotation: Mrs. Bennet wants her five daughters to be married to save their house and property.

Summary: The story is about the Bennet family and the 5 daughters' luck on finding good husbands for their future. A rich gentleman Mr. Bingley visits their town accompanied by Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth falls in-love with Mr. Bingley and makes a promise to marry her but later breaks the promise. An interesting twist happens in the lives of the 5 sisters as they go through challenges about love, gossip, scandals and class.

Almost Home by Nora Baskin

Year Published: 2003
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316093130
Pages: 176
Classification: Fiction
Subject: Family problems, Friendship, Stepmother, Self-acceptance
Genre: Drama
Reading Level: 4
Interest Level: 5-9

Reader's Annotation: Twelve-year-old Leah learns to adjust in her new family, new home, new school and new friends.

Summary: Twelve-year-old Leah is shaken after her mother leaves her. She moves in with her father and stepmother, Gail. Leah struggles in her environment – new family, new school, new friends. Things start to change after she meets Will, a new boy in school whom she secretly meets in the school auditorium during lunch. They become good friends. Leah finds the strength to face the challenges in her life through the encouragement of Will.

She learns to have a deeper understanding of herself and the people around her.

Author Information: www.norabaskin.com

Giver by Lois Lowry

Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Dell Yearling
ISBN:0440237688
Pages: 179
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Reading Level: 5
Interest Level: 5-9

Reader's Annotation: Jonas is chosen to receive and keep all the memories of the past. He discovers that having all the knowledge is a huge responsibility and even becomes a curse.

Summary: Twelve-year old Jonas receives his assignment as the next Giver. Jonas lives in a perfect society where there is no war, poverty, or family turmoil. In their perfect society, there is no and fear, no hardship, no everyday discontent, no long-term terror. It is protected from all the possible harm and everything is in order.

As Jonas trains from the Giver, he learns of many things that do not exist in their society. The Giver gives him all the memories, both good and bad, and Jonas feels the weight and responsibility of holding all the information and the truth. Jonas also learns about Elsewhere and the Release of the baby in his family. Jonas and the baby escape the perfect society in search for Elsewhere. They face many struggles and difficulties in their journey – starvation, hypothermia and near death experiences. The story ends without really telling whether they survived but they have reached Elsewhere.

Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, ALA Notable Book For Children, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, IRA Teacher's Choice Award, National Council For Social Studies Notable Children's Trade, Newbery Medal, NCTE Adventuring With Books, NCTE High Interest-Easy Reading, NCTE Your Reading, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Children's Catalog, Wilson's High School Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Author website: www.loislowry.com