Summer Recommendations for Reluctant Readers

Wake

By Lisa McMann

From the age of eight, Janie has had the ability to experience the dreams of those around her, often against her will. This makes sleepovers and study hall uncomfortable at best and terrifying at worst. Through their dreams, Janie is able to see under the surface of her classmates and friends, learning who they fantasize about and what they fear. Her discoveries give Janie more information than she often wants, but they lend dimension to the novel’s side characters. After Janie enters the dream of another “dream catcher,” she learns that she doesn’t have to be at the mercy of the dreamer; she can change the course of the dream for the better. In a clever twist, Janie learns to use her skills for crime-solving. A fast pace, a great mix of teen angst and supernatural experiences, and an eerie, attention-grabbing cover will make this a hit. — Heather Booth

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

By Susan Kuklin

In previous books for youth, Kuklin has explored harrowing topics such as AIDS (Fighting Back: What Some People Are Doing about AIDS, 1988) and child slavery (Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders against Child Slavery, 1998). Her latest title, about individuals who received death-row sentences while they were teenagers, is another direct, compassionate, and eye-opening inquiry. The prisoners’ words, drawn from Kuklin’s interview transcripts, form the bulk of the narratives, but Kuklin’s voice frequently cuts in with details about the events leading up to the alleged crime, legal issues, and the prisoners’ backgrounds. Some chapters also include commentary from the prisoners’ lawyers and the prisoners’ own writing (one, Nanon Williams, is a published author). The mix of voices makes for a somewhat chaotic but riveting whole that combines powerfully with the occasional photos and hand-drawn portraits of the subjects. Kuklin presents, with signature frankness, the men’s memories of their young lives; the murders, for which some claim innocence; and the brutal realities (including rape and other acts of extreme violence) of incarcerated life, first on death row and then in maximum-security prison, where most of the prisoners are now held. In unforgettable later chapters, families of prisoners and victims both speak about their grief and loss, and the closing section focuses on a world-renowned anti–death penalty attorney. This isn’t a balanced overview of capital punishment. Instead, it is a searing and provocative account that will touch teens’ most fundamental beliefs and questions about violence, punishment, our legal and prison systems, and human rights. An author’s note and extensive resources conclude. See the adjacent “Story behind the Story” feature, “Life on Death Row,” for Kuklin’s comments about the project.— Gillian Engberg

Life Sucks

By Jessica Abel and Gabriel Soria. Illustrated by Warren Pleece.

Dave’s life is full of the typical twentysomething frustrations. His job as night manager at the local Last Stop convenience store is retail hell. Rosa, the cute goth girl he has a crush on, doesn’t even know he exists. And oh, yeah, his boss, Vlad, turned him into a vampire to make him a better employee. When Wes, his bully-of-a-vampire-older-brother, steps in as rival for Rosa’s affections, his sucky life gets suckier. Dave, the vampire equivalent of a vegetarian (he only eats plasma from the blood-bank), has to find some way to outsmart Wes’ evil plans. This hilarious tale strikes perilously close to the reality of the slacker twentysomething life. Abel and Gabe Soria hit their mark with plenty of attitude and just enough snark to let their characters come to life. Warren Pleece’s art marvelously captures the humor of the mundane that lends the book’s crew of late-night wage-slave vamps believability and energy. A really fun read! — Tina Coleman

Also of Interest

Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

By Nancy Amanda Redd. Illustrated by Kelly Kline.

Custom Kicks

By Kim Smits and Matthijs Maat

Ghosts Caught on Film: Photographs of the Paranormal

By Melvyn Willin

One Hundred Young Americans

By Michael Franzini

Permanence

By Kip Fulbeck

Skulls

By Noah Scalin

Retaliation

By Yasmin Shiraz

These recommendations were part of Booklist’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2009. For more recommendations and reviews check out Booklist at your local library.