Dugard, J. (2011). A Stolen Life. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. 279p. ISBN 978-1-4516-2919-4.

Summary: At eleven years old, Jaycee Dugard is kidnapped by a complete stranger and his wife and taken to their home. Her innocence is shattered as her entire existence is dictated by Phillip Garrido. In her autobiography, she recounts her horrifying 18-year imprisonment through the eyes and mind of a child. At the end of some chapters, she adds a reflection further explaining certain events with the understanding of an adult. This is an emotionally difficult book as it is hard to imagine the things Garrido did to Jaycee for almost 2 decades of her young life. It is a book of heartbreak and healing as Jaycee and her two daughters born to her during her life of captivity experience freedom once she is found. 


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​McInnes, N. (2016). 100 Days. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux. 387p. ISBN 978-0-374-30284.

Summary: Moira and Agnes are the best of friends.  Moira, who is physically larger feels the need to protect Agnes who suffers from Progeria.  Boone completes the triangle of friends, and the reader is quickly caught up in the crazy whirlwind that is their friendship during their 9th grade year in high school. What none of them know, however, is that Agnes has only 100 more days to live. As the book counts down these final 100 days, the three friends discover what friendship truly means and what some people are willing to do for those they love.


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Oliver, L. (2010). Before I Fall. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing. 470p. ISBN 978-0-06-172681-1.

Summary: Sam and her friends are seniors and in the popular crowd, but they have taken the term “mean girls” to a whole new level.  All is going well until February 12, which becomes the last day of Sam’s life.  Or does it?  Sam relives that fateful final day six more times.  What does she learn about her death, and more importantly, her life?  What changes will she make? Will she see people differently? Will she treat others differently? Was popularity really worth it?



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McNeil, G.  (2012).  Ten.  New York, NY:  Balzer & Bray.  294p.  ISBN:  978-0-06-211878-3.

Summary:  Meg and her best friend Minnie are invited to a mysterious house party on a remote island.  When they arrive, they find that several others have been invited, and all is looking great until the guests realize the host is not showing up and they are being murdered one by one.  With no way off the island for two days, survival is the key as they try to figure out which one of them is the murderer.  No one can be trusted, and no one is safe.

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Nelson, J.  (2010).  The Sky is Everywhere.  New York, NY:  Dial Press.  275p.  ISBN 978-0-8037-3495-1.

Summary:  17-year-old Lennie is not only dealing with her sister's untimely death, but she is also trying to navigate through the confusing emotions of a love triangle with two great guys.  First there is Joe who understands her deep love of music and is the perfect boyfriend.  Second is Toby, her sister's fiance and the only person who understands the deep loss she feels since her sister's death.  How will Lennie navigate through these conflicting emotions and still remain faithful to who she wants to be?


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Mathieu, J.  (2014).  The Truth About Alice.  New York, NY:  Roaring Book Press.  199p.  ISBN 978-1-59643-909-2.

Summary:  What happens when rumors spiral out of control?  Just ask Alice and the other students of Healy High.  Overnight, Alice becomes the girl who not only slept with two guys at a party, but is also the reason the star quarterback is dead.  The Truth About Alice gives the reader an honest glimpse into what four students of Healy High really know about the vicious rumors and their devastating effects on Alice. 


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Sones, S.  (2001).  What My Mother Doesn’t Know.  New York, NY:  Simon & Schuster.  259p.  ISBN 10:  1-40467-157-9

Summary:  Sophie is a boy-crazy high school girl who is bent on finding that perfect guy, has two of the best friends in the world, does not get along with her mother, and experiences all the ups and downs of the typical teen-ager who is trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs.  She shares all of her feelings and thoughts through her free-verse poems taking the reader through the confusion of crushes, heartbreak, rejection, lust, love, disappointment, and friendship.

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Shipp, J.  (2010).  The Teen's Guide to World Domination:  Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness.  New York, NY:  St. Martin's Griffin.  285p.  ISBN 10: 0-312-64154-0.

Summary:  In this self-help book, author Josh Shipp gives advice to teens on how to dominate their own world instead of allowing others to negatively influence their decision-making and self perception.  Using personal experiences, real-life issues, and the attitude of a big brother, Shipp delivers sound advice that gives the teen reader purpose instead of having to blindly navigate through his/her life as it happens around him/her.   He identifies “villains” that might hinder any success and joy, and he offers suggestions on how one can avoid these “villains” and be the “hero” of his/her own world.

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