The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales

14-year-old Sofia lifes in McAllen Texas with her family. Sofia has worked hard to achieve good greats and wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school. When she finally convinces her family to allow her to go, she brings along her cultural heritage and traditions. Sofia struggles to find her place at school while maintaining her culture and values. This book is full of wonderful, rich, cultural heritage. Sofia's voice is strong as she narrates her story, told in short segments. She explains her culture and heritage well for readers outside the culture, but it does not feel forced or take away from the story. I did find myself wishing for a glossary at times though.

2006 Pura Belpre Medal for narrative

Mary Jane: Homecoming by Sean McKeever

Mary Jane's life is getting more and more complicated. She's still dreaming of Spider-Man, her boyfriend Harry won't be able to take her to Homecoming unless his grades improve, so he asks MJ to help him cheat, her best friend Liz is mad at her because she believes there is something going on between her boyfriend Flash and MJ, and Flash makes his feelings for MJ obvious. The typical high school drama is captured well. This short quick story is an easy one-sitting read. The color illustrations illustrate the story well.

Envy (Seven Deadly Sins #2) by Robin Wasserman

Harper and Kane plot to break up Grace High's golden couple Beth and Adam with a little help from Kaia. Miranda is determined to win over Kane, not knowing about her best friend Harper's plot with him. Kaia is still pursuing the hot French teacher, Mr. Powell. The soap opera drama in Grace, California continues. Fans of the first installment won't be disappointed. The angst and drama are high. The seventh teen, Reed, is introduced though plays a minimal role.

The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher

Eddie Proffit has lost his father and his best friend in two horrific accidents within a short time frame. Eddie is considered a problem kid because of his hyperactivity and tendency to speak before thinking. When Eddie sees his dead best friend Billy, he freaks out and becomes mute. Eddie finds comfort in a book he is required to read for class and then becomes involved in a censorship battle at his school when the local minister challenges the book. Narrated from the perspective of Eddie's deceased best friend Billy, Crutcher takes aim at censorship going so far as to write himself into the story. The book becomes rather political with a lot of speech-making, which I think takes away from the book and the books overall message, which is important.

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan

She is only thirteen years old when her parents inform her that they have found a husband for her. Koly is apprehensive about leaving home, but knows that it is her duty as a daughter to marry and live with her husband's family. Koly's husband, however, is gravely ill and dies shortly after their marriage leaving Koly a widow. Koly's mother-in-law makes no attempt to hide her dislike of Koly and later abandons her in the holy city of Vrindavan. After spending several nights on the street, Koly finds a shelter where she is given a place to live and a job. Koly works hard to make a life for herself. An interesting story about life in another culture. Whelan's writing contains great detail so you can see the scenery in your mind while you're reading. Koly is a strong determined young woman who refuses to accept her traditional fate.

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever by James Patterson

Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, Angel, and Maximum are 98% human and 2% bird. After rescuing Angel from the School, the group takes off on a mission to find their parents. The Erasers, half-men half-wolves, are hot on their tales, led by Ari who is bent on revenge. After Fang is injured, the group is taken in by an FBI Agent and forced to live a normal life and attend school. Max is far from a normal teen however, in addition to taking care of her flock, keeping an eye open for Erasers, and dealing with the voice inside her head telling her she is supposed to save the world, Max now must deal with another Max, Max II a clone trying to kill her. The short chapters, lots of action and adventure, suspense elements, and scary bad guys will keep the readers interesting.

*Sequel to Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

Mischief (The Hollow #3) by Christopher Golden and Ford Lytle Gilmore

Life in the Hollow isn't getting any easier for Shane, Aimee, Stasia and their friends. New tensions and secret love boils over and causes problems amongst the friends as the try to figure out who or what is causing the mischief in town. This third installment in Golden and Gilmore's The Hollow series (following Horseman and Drowned). While this installment still lacks the intensity of Horseman, it will still be enjoyed by horror fans. The mixture of suspense, horror, mystery, and even romance will attract a variety of different reading tastes.

Elle Woods: Blonde at Heart by Natalie Standiford

Sophomore Elle Woods is petite and pretty, even with her glasses, braces, and mousy brownish blonde hair. When Elle hears an impassionate speech by the basketball team's captain, Hunter Perry, calling for more school spirit, Elle rises to the occasion. She revives the cheerleaders, improving their performances to draw crowds to the game. She gets the basketball team playing more like a team and actually winning games. Her biggest changes, however, are to herself with blonde highlights and stylish new clothing. Will she catch the eye of her crush, Hunter? Cute, lightweight, quick read.

Endgame by Nancy Garden

Fourteen-year-old Gray Wilton desperately wants things to be different at his new school in Greenford, CT where no one knows him and he can start over with a clean slate. After an uneventful first day, Gray begins to believe that things will be different here. He makes a new friend, finds a place in the school band and a teacher who recognizes his musical talent. It's not long, however, before the school bullies in Greenford begin to target him, just as they did at his old school. What begins as verbal bullying soon escalates to physical abuse. Teachers do nothing, as the bullies are popular star athletes. His father blames Gray for the abuse, telling him that if he were tougher he would not be a target. Gray struggles on despite the black cloud that surrounds him until his only friend turns on him. Gray decides that if no on is going to help him, he'll have to end the tormenting and silence the bullies forever. Every parent, educator, coach, guidance counselor and teen should be required to read and discuss this book. This is a book that will make you uncomfortable, but it is so powerful that you can't stop reading it. Gray's despair is heartbreaking and as the abuse becomes more and more severe his desperation becomes understandable. It is impossible to view Gray as a bad kid, only a desperate and lost little boy who has been so beaten down that in his mind it has become kill or be killed. This novel gives voice to school shooter, shows how someone so young could commit such a horrible crime. It makes you feel sympathy for the shooter not just the victims. It does not glamorize the role of the shooter, but attempts to show how such a terrible thing could happen. The book raises a lot of questions and issues that still need to be addressed in schools systems, even in a post-Columbine society.

The Coven (Sweep #2) by Cate Tiernan

Morgan's journey of self-discovery continues as she learns that her powers are much stronger than she imagined. She learns that her parents are not her biological parents, her relationship with her best friend is destroyed over her relationship with Cal, and she begins to fight with her parents over her involvement in Wicca. Morgan's continues her struggle to self-awareness in an honest and realistic manner. Her story keeps readers involved and interested in the series.

Book of Shadows (Sweep #1) by Cate Tiernan

Morgan's life is dramatically changed when Cal, a handsome senior transfers to her school. Morgan likes him almost immediately, but her best friend Bree announces her intentions of winning him for herself. Cal is very open about his Wiccan beliefs and invites a few junior and senior classmates to celebrate a Wiccan holiday with him. The celebration moves Morgan and starts her on a journey of self discovery. Morgan is a great character- full of teen angst and insecurity with honest and realistic reactions to the situations. Book makes you want to keep reading in the series.

John Lennon: All I Want Is The Truth by Elizabeth Partridge

The story of John Lennon from his birth during a World War II air raid, through his childhood and teen years, including his life with the Beatles and their disolution and his relationship with Yoko Ono. An interesting look at a legend. This is a no holds barred book that presents a very human John Lennon with both genius and his complications including John's drug use and affair with Yoko. The book has beautiful black and white color photographs of John, Yoko, the other Beatles as well as other influences on John's life. Each chapter begins with John's own words.

Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw

Cyril is in love with his friend Rose, but believing that his overweight self does not stand a chance with the beautiful and popular Rose, he keeps his feelings a secret. That's not the only secret Cyril is keeping from her, however. Cyril is also an amazing chef who plans on attending the legendary American Institute of Culinary Arts after high school. When Rose meets Cyril's best friend Nick, their attraction is mutual. After Nick passes off Cyril's culinary masterpieces as his own, Cyril agrees to help Nick by playing along with the ruse. This modern day Cyrano de Bergerac is a light, good-hearted tale. The characters aside from Cyril are not fully developed, and the ending is predictable but the story is still enjoyable. The short quick read contains Cyril's recipes for those who are culinarily adventurous.