Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Dessen, Sarah. Just Listen.
Speak. 2006.
ISBN 9780142410973
$8.99. Paperback. 400 pages

Readers Annotation
Annabel Greene seems to have a perfect life. She models and is popular at school, until her friendship with the vindictive Sophie ends bitterly.

Plot Summary
Annabel Greene, the youngest of three sisters seems to have it all – a wonderful family life, and a career as a local model. Yet, she has secrets that she can’t tell anyone. Her middle sister suffers from anorexia, her mother has had bouts of depression, and she doesn’t want to model anymore. Caught in a toxic relationship, her best friend, Sophie blames Annabel for attempting to sleep with her philandering boyfriend. What Sophie doesn’t know is that her boyfriend, Will tried to rape Annabel at a party. Now ostracized by nearly everyone on campus, Annabel accepts that she will never be able to tell the truth about what happened that night. Although ostracized by many of her classmates, Annabel develops a budding relationship with the tall loner Owen. Owen, a local DJ, draws closer to Annabel through music and discussions about his issues with anger management. Through her relationship with Owen, Annabel learns to listen to herself, and to speak her truth.

Critical Evaluation
Beautifully realized with honest characters this book is a classic young adult novel. Dessen’s portrayal of Annabel, a fragile frightened teen, is so realistic that many young women will believe she exists. It is rare to find a literary character that is so realistic. Young women will think (as I did), that if this can happen to Annabel – it can happen to anyone. Annabel’s vindictive best friend Sophie is over-the-top. From the first meeting with Annabel and Clarke, she oozes a troublesome meaness that never changes. Sophie never grows up or changes until the very end. Annabel’s friendship with Owen is disconcerting at times. Although Owen is the same age as Annabel he seems much older and wiser. Their budding relationship is sweet and it is the only time Owen seems equal to Annabel.

The parallel story about Annabel’s family is also very honest. Annabel’s family is fragile. Her episodically depressed mother, and a severely anorexic sister contribute to her self-imposed silence. How can Annabel tell her family about her own experience when they are so entwined with metal illness? When Annabel finally does tell her family, she finds that they will listen and help her. This book is definitely a two-hankie read, but well worth it.

Information about the author
Sarah Dessen was born in 1970. She has lived most of her life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She currently has nine novels in print. She has a wonderful biography that you can read at http://www.sarahdessen.com/bio-press. This novel has won many accolades, including:

• A Booksense Top Ten Pic
• An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• A New York Times Best Seller
  

Genre
Contemporary Fiction.

Curriculum ties
This book could be use for discussion about mental health issues like: depression and anorexia. It could also be instrumental in discussions about rape, or attempted rape.

Challenge Issues
None.

Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book.  You can find some reviews on amazon.com hhttp://www.amazon.com/Just-Listen-Sarah-Dessen/dp/0142410977/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258220278&sr=1-1

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss Annabel's is ostracized for something she didn’t do.
2.  Talk about how Owen helps Annabel overcome her inability to tell what happened to her.
3.  Talk about how Annabel copes with her sister Whitney's struggle with anorexia. 

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. 14+.

Why I included this title
This book is included on the 2007 ALA Best Books Young Adults.

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Jade Green.
Scholastic. 1999.
ISBN-13: 9780439934183
$6.99. Paperback. 170 pages.

Readers Annotation
Judith has been told by her uncle to never bring the color green into his house. Has she awoken some evil presence by her disobedience?

Plot Summary
Orphaned 15-year-old Judith Sparrow has been accepted into her Uncle Geoffrey’s home in South Carolina with only one restriction – never bring anything green into the house. However, Judith cannot bear to part with her mother’s picture set in a green silk frame. Judith does not know if her disobedience causes the sudden surge in unexplained activity, but she is frightened. Judith has heard the stories about Jade Green, a young lady that lived in the house before her. The townspeople she has become friends with tell her that Jade Green committed suicide in the home, and this is the reason her Uncle will not allow the color in the house. Judith’s middle-aged Cousin Charles refuses to find work. His presence makes Judith uncomfortable. When Judith meets a young man, Zeke, he begins to court her. Then, Judith sees a dismembered hand crawling around her room, and her fears escalate. She feels she must find out more about Jade Green, to discover the reason for her suicide. Judith discovers that it was her lecherous Cousin Charles who caused the death of Jade Green. When a drunken Charles attempts to assault Judith, it is the dismembered hand of Jade that takes her final revenge.

Critical Evaluation
The eye-catching cover of this novel shows an out of focus image of a young woman with her mouth opened in a scream.  The woman on the cover appears to be Asian, which is odd considering that this novel takes place in South Carolina.  Additionally, this novel is reminiscent of earlier period pieces. Naylor pulls from gothic romance novels to create a spine-tingling novel of betrayal, murder, and a vengeful ghost. Her character, Judith is spunky, and a little like Nancy Drew. Naylor’s literary prop, the severed hand of the dead Jade, is a somewhat trite. Readers of the genre may find its use tedious. I would not recommend this book as the best example of the genre. However, this book is a quick read, and may encourage some readers to look for other novels by the author.

Information about the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (b. 1/4/33 - ), has written over 135 books for children and young adults. She won the Newbury Award for her novel Shiloh. You can find out more about her at http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/naylor.html.

Genre
Fiction, Paranormal, Unexplained Phenomenon

Curriculum ties
None.

Challenge Issues
Paranormal events.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Jade-Green-Phyllis-Reynolds-Naylor/dp/068982002X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258089257&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Judith is instructed to never bring anything green into the house by her Uncle Geoffrey.
2.  Talk about how Judith's disobedience may have triggered the paranormal events that occur in the house.
3.  Mention how the disembodied hand make itself known to Judith.

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult. 12 and over.

Why I included this title
This book is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd edition (2003), as an example of “Paranormal: Unexplained Phenomenon" (p. 133).

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Lyga, Barry. Boy Toy.
Houghton Mifflin. 2007.
ISBN-13: 9780547076348.
$8.99. Paperback. 409 pages.

Readers Annotation 
18-year-old Josh remembers his first sexual experience with Eve. The problem is that he was 12 and she was his teacher.

Plot
When Josh Mendel was 12 years old his life changed radically. Sexually abused by is history teacher, Evelyn (Eve) Sherman, Josh has spent the last five years avoiding contact with everyone except his best friend, Zik. Faced with the impending release of Eve from prison, Josh experiences post-traumatic flash backs of his time with his abuser. Now a high school senior, Josh is preparing for college, the biggest baseball game of the season, and the prom. Yet he can’t help recalling his first sexual encounters as he begins a tentative relationship with Rachel, who was once a good friend. Rachel won’t take no for an answer in her pursuit a reconciliation with Josh. However, Josh’s fear of reprisals and loss of control cause him to reconsider his past and present. There is much that Josh doesn’t understand about his time with Eve. Josh’s parents try to be supportive, but with their own relationship crumbling they cannot see that he needs their help. Josh feels that the entire town knows what happened to him, and they judge him for his actions. It is through his relationships with Zik and Rachel that Josh gains the courage to find Eve and confront her about her actions.

Critical Evaluation
The author, Barry Lyga, portraits the characters in this book honestly. Josh’s life changed forever after his encounters with Eve. His anger issues, and his PTSD symptoms are true for a young person who has been sexually abused. The moments of sexual pleasure are honest and straightforward, but not erotic. Lyga doesn’t pull punches in dealing with such controversial material. However, I found it difficult to believe that a young man who has been in continuing therapy for five years would not have attempted to make amends to his friend Rachel earlier. I thought that his paranoia was overplayed until Josh reveals what his baseball coach said to him. Even five years later, Josh is a powder keg waiting to explode when confronted with this part of his past. Josh’s need to escape the town he has lived in for years is exemplified in his desire to go to a college far away where he won’t be known by anyone. All of the situations Josh’s find’s himself in – choosing a college, quitting baseball, developing a healthy relationship all seem to depend on escaping home. The final chapters regarding his final confrontation with Eve are difficult to believe. Most abuse victims do not seek out their abusers, nor do they believe that they were the instigator of the crime after 5 years of therapy. I found it difficult to believe that no one ever told Josh (especially his therapist) that he was not at fault. This novel deals with heavy issues and is controversial because of it. This book won “The Cybils Award” in 2007.

Information about the author
There is little biographic data about Lyga. Wikipedia notes that he was born on September 11, 1971, and currently lives in the Southwest. You can find a little more information about him on his website at http://barrylyga.com/new/about.html. He also has a blog at http://barrylyga.com/new/671.html. You can also follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/barrylyga.

Genre
Narrative fiction, contemporary issues

Curriculum ties 
None

Challenge Issues
Sexuality, sexual abuse, violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0064471764/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Josh is really good at math and baseball, but has trouble with relationships.
2.  Talk about how Josh blames himself for what happened with Eve and Rachel.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. 16+.

Why I included this title
I heard many good things about this book and felt that I should read it.