Hate List by Jennifer Brown

3.75/5

Brown's debut novel contains many layers because Valerie Leftman, the narrator, is many things. She is the daughter of parents who fight constantly, a teenager who loved the color pink as a little girl but now only wears black, a high school victim who deals daily with an onslaught of insults from the popular group, an above average student with her eye on college, and much more. All of that changes one May morning when her long time boyfriend walks into school and opens fire killing six people and injuring several more including Valerie. Nick ends his massacre by taking his own life leaving Valerie to deal with the aftermath of his crime and answer for the Hate List - a written inventory of all the people and things they had wished to destroy. Throughout the story, Valerie maintains that she never knew Nick took the list seriously but she is still overcome with guilt about the shootings.

In many respects, I really liked this book. Nick and Valerie's history is told beautifully. The bullying descriptions are authentic. Valerie's psychological struggles after the shooting are told in an unflinching manner. As far as school-shooting books go, this one is top-notch. Still some things seemed a bit unrealistic. The school does nothing to remodel the cafeteria where the shooting take place, physical security precautions such as locked classroom doors and bullet proof glass are not installed until well into the following year, the principal and guidance counselor are stereotypical characters not at all fleshed out. Still the book shines in its ability to reveal all of the relationships in Valerie's life and how they change after the incident. I'd definitely recommend for grades 8 and up.

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

3.5/5
Tangled begins with four teenagers at a Caribbean resort. At first only tangentially interconnected, this novel reveals how actions we consider inconsequential can impact others. Told from four different viewpoints and taking place in four consecutive months, YA readers will enjoy the varying characters and how each one grows.

It can be argued that the four main characters are simply stereotypical shells of common YA literature personalities. Jena is the shy girl who would do anything for a boyfriend; Skye is the poor little rich girl whose beautiful looks, endless bank account and acting talent are not enough to make her happy; Dakota is the jock with no regard for the people around him; and Owen is the nerd who is more comfortable in virtual reality than actual reality. Mackler, however, does a very good job exploring these personalities and explaining how each character came to be the way they are. The events, dialog and interactions are descriptive and believable. This book tackels depression, suicide, self esteem, divorce, parenting, sibling rivalry, grief and more. Yet, it never comes off as misdirected, heavy-handed, or confusing.

With each main character getting one fourth of the book to tell their story, I initially thought things were ending rather abruptly as we moved on to a new narrator. This problem resolves itself through the minor interactions the characters have with each other. I think it’s telling that I cannot pick a favorite among the four. Each one’s problems are different, but I ended up rooting for all of them.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

4/5

The Giver is the story of Jonas, a 12 year old boy who lives in the perfect world. Disease, disagreement and dissent have been eradicated – along with colors, individualism and love. The community elders decide who will marry who, what career each person will have, and even what word choice is appropriate.

When Jonas is named the community’s memory keeper, he is quickly exposed to a past that existed before all of the elders' rules. He absorbs emotions, triumphs and tragedies. He learns exactly how control is maintained and must decide what perfection truly means - is the joy of love worth the heartbreak of war?

Lowry excels in providing a vivid contrast between the perfect world and the memories passed on to Jonas. YA readers will enjoy the subtle suspense that builds throughout the story. Euptopia vs. dystopia is a common theme in the YA genre and it is nice to read a book in which the author does not feel compelled to blatantly reveal why one should fight for individuality. By creating a society that can actually be seen as appealing, Lowry lets readers decide for themselves between the safety of the elders's world and the freedom of the real world. The ending is open to interpretation, but personally, I think Jonas made all the right choices.

On a completely side note, the cover picture of an old man (The Memory Keeper training Jonas) seems to turn a lot of kids off. The cover alone often gets the books labeled as boring. I often have to convince them to give the book a try and I have not yet had one tell me they dislike it.