Three titles for young adults

The outstanding books on the Michigan Reading Association’s Great Lakes Great Books list are chosen by a committee of teachers and librarians from throughout the state, and that committee meets right here at the Peter White Public Library. This year in particular, the Young Adult (YA) books on the GLGB list are wonderful choices for high school students as well as adults far beyond their teen years. Here are three of the books nominated for students in Grades 9 to 12 to read and evaluate before voting for their favorites. All the Truth That’s In Me by Julie Berry is a book full of mystery.
 
Though it feels like historical fiction, Berry cleverly left her story’s time and place undefined. Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town. Two years later only Judith returned, mutilated, shunned by everyone in her puritanical town and unable to speak. Luckily for the reader Judith’s narrative voice remains strong, clear and full of passion as she silently tells her story to the young man she has secretly loved since childhood. Touching on the power of language, the right to education and the horrors of war, Berry delivers a powerful and disturbing book.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick was my hands-down favorite YA book published in 2013. Its multi-layered story of redemption through basketball and friendships deep and true is beautifully told by Finley, a self-described “minimal talker.” Finley’s life is colored by past tragedy and the grim reality of life in his hardscrabble town where the Irish mob, drugs and racial violence rule; basketball is his escape. His position on the team is threatened when a very troubled but extremely talented basketball player who calls himself Boy21 arrives in town just before their senior year. At their coach’s request, the eternally loyal and goodhearted Finley applies himself to helping Boy21 overcome his intergalactic obsession and return to the basketball court.

 If you enjoy a fun story with plenty of food for thought, check out Every Day by David Levithan. Everymorning “A” wakes up in a different person’s body, living that person’s life, with no warning or control over which body and life he’ll assume. Even under the circumstances, “A” has developed a strong sense of self and a good moral compass. He has figured out the rules and has come to accept this existence, until the day he assumes Justin’s body and falls head over heels in love with Justin’s girlfriend Rhiannon. Can Rhiannon love him back? Is it possible to truly love someone no matter what they look like on the outside?

~Mary