YARP 2018-2019

The Young Adult Reading Program books for the 2018-2019 year have arrived!

Every year, a large number of books geared toward the young adult community are read and reviewed by the Young Adult Reading Program committee. From this collection, approximately 10-12 of them are selected for middle school, and high school students that have received excellent reviews from numerous national periodicals for various reasons. These lists are then published, and the offer is extended to students across the state to read them, and vote on their favorite title, starting during Teen Read Week (Oct.7, for the 2018 year), and going until April 1st. At that time, the votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced.

Every year, our school orders these books our students near the beginning of the school year, and today, many of them have arrived! We're still waiting on a few, but in the meantime, here is a quick run down of the books we got in, and a brief description of each.

Middle School

Refugee by Alan Gratz (historical fiction 1930's, 1994, 2015)

3 children, all from different times and different backgrounds, have a unified goal: ESCAPE. This book jumps from one story to the other, intermingled by chapter, showing their harrowing journey in search of safety and security. Though they aren't all on the same journey at the same time, connections will be found that tie them all together in the end.

Restart by Gordon Korman (realistic fiction)

Chase has lost his memory. It's not that he doesn't remember falling off a roof, hitting his head, or anything that came after; Chase doesn't remember anything at all. Now, he must learn everything over again, from his very name, and beyond. When he returns to school, things are just as mystifying, with some kids welcoming him back as a hero, and some seemingly afraid of him. Chase is left wondering who he was, who he is, and who he will become.

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart (adventure/realistic fiction)

Jonathan Grisby has found himself at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. Jonathan has done something terrible, and he knows it. As far as he's concerned, he belongs in this damp, dark, and dismal place, isolated on it's own island in the middle of the ocean. When something happens though, and the students suddenly find themselves without adult supervision, the students are suddenly free, and the island is theirs. However, freedom doesn't always mean fun, and unexpected dangers are encountered. If Jonathan is going to survive, and help find safety, he'll need to confront his past, or every boy on the island is doomed.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (realistic fiction/mystery)

Aven Green was born without arms, but that's not the story she tells people when they give her 'looks'. Despite her handicap, by age 13, Aven hasn't let her lack of limbs stop her from doing almost anything she put her mind to. However, when her parents decide to up and move to Arizona to run a Western theme park, Aven finds she must start all over again, struggling to make friends in a school where no one can seem to see beyond her missing arms. When Aven meets Connor, a classmate who struggles with his own handicap, the two become friends, and together, the two discover and old shed at the park that holds a mystery far bigger than the two would have imagined. Now, Aven must learn how to help a friend, face her fears, and solve a mystery, and between the 3, she will find out what she's truly capable of.

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson (graphic novel/realistic fiction)

When your parents work at a Renaissance Faire, life can be quite different. Imogene has been homeschooled her whole life, and has always seen herself as the fearlessly brave and noble knight, able to take on any monster. It seems though, that nothing she's encountered thus far could prepare her for her most dangerous, and confusing adventure yet: Middle School.

Lone Stars by Mike Lupica (sports/realistic fiction)

When middle school star quarterback Clay Hollis begins noticing some odd behaviors from his coach, the conclusion is heartbreaking for all involved: Coach Cooper, former star player for the Dallas Cowboys, is showing side effects from his numerous concussions sustained during his playing days. As his mind and his body rapidly begin to break down, Clay, with the help of others, makes it his goal to help his coach as best he can, to get him to Thanksgiving so he can be remembered one last time with his 1995 team, at the AT&T Stadium.

Mars One by Jonathan Maberry (science fiction)

From the age of 12, Tristan knew his family would be among the first to colonize Mars. Since then, the reality of what all he would leave behind had never really set in. Now, at the age of 16, Tristan must face this truth, and leave behind the girl he loves. However, not everyone is excited about this mission, and those someones may very well be on board as well, doing whatever they can to end the mission before it even begins.

High School

Aftermath by Clara Kensie (realistic fiction)

Charolette has been a prisoner for four years, trapped in the attic of her kidnapper, with only the thoughts of her family keeping her going. When her chance at freedom comes, she takes it with a fight. Although she wins her freedom, what she returns to is hearbreak. Her parents have divorced; her father thriving on the media attention, her mother an alcoholic, and her twin sister a zoned-out druggie. As her father pushes her to write a book and go on a tour, her mother wants nothing more than to keep her locked in the house and safe. Charolette though, has her own agenda, to identify the girl who went missing for her. The girl no one believes existed. Until she can get justice for her, Charlotte will never truly be free.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (realistic fiction/romance/mental health)

Eliza is shy, awkward, weird, and friendless, in the real world at least. Online, she's known as LadyConstellation, the writer of the hugely popular webcomic, Monsterous Sea. Happy in her own private world, Eliza has little concern for the real, until the biggest fanfiction writer of her webcomic, Wallace Warland, transfers to her school. Thinking Eliza is just another fan, Wallace gradually manages to coax Eliza out of her shell. Just when she begins to believe that maybe the real world isn't as bad as she though, her secret is revealed, and everything Eliza has worked for begins to fall apart.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner (realistic fiction)

Carver Briggs had 3 best friends; Mars, Eli, and Blake. The next day, he had none at all, and all because of one stupid text. A text that he himself sent, just before his 3 friends were killed in a car accident, or at least, that's what he believes. Now, Carver must live with the guilt that he could very well have been responsible for the death of his friends. Along with his own guilt, comes the blame from others, and the pressure on his father, a powerful judge, to open up a criminal investigation against him by Mars fathers. Among the chaos though, Carver has found allies, some unexpected, including the grandmother of Blake, who invites Carver over to have a 'Goodbye Day'. A day to just sit and share the memories they share about Blake, and to say goodbye. Now, other families are asking the same of him, but Carver isn't sure of the motives. Are they truly looking for peace for their loss? Or will these meetings break Carver's own peace of mind?

Orange by Ichigo Takano (graphic novel/romance/realistic fiction)

Naho has just started 11th grade, and it begins with a mysterious prank. She has received a letter from herself, 10 years in the future. However, as the events described in the letter begin to come true, Naho begins to suspect that maybe this isn't a prank at all. If this isn't a prank then, why is she telling herself to watch over the new boy? Who is he, and what is their connection? And what terrible fate is she supposed to save him from?

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea by Melissa Fleming (biography)

Doaa Al Zamel is a Syrian refugee, escaping to Sweden with her fiancee on a rickety boat, overladen with others like herself, escaping Egypt for a new life. When disaster strikes in the form of another boat, full of angry people who hurl insults and ram their ship, Doaa finds herself adrift, alone, with 2 children, barely toddlers, in her arm. Now she must fight to survive, to stay awake and alert, to save not only herself, but the children she is now the guardian of.

One Of Us Is Lying by KAren M. McManus (mystery/thriller)

5 students at Bayview High walk into detention on Monday afternoon. 1 of them, a boy named Simaon, never makes it out. Investigators conclude that his death was not an accident. Simon was an outcast, but also the creator of a notorious gossip app about the school. On the following day, he had planned to release some juicy gossip on all 4 of the other students in detention with him, which makes them all suspect to his murder. Did one of them do it? Or are they all being set up by someone who has even more to gain?

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (romance)

Dimple Shah has graduated and is more than ready to take a break from her family, especially her mom, who has an obsession with finding her the perfect husband. A summer camp for web developers is just want she needs to get away for a bit. Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. When his parents tell him he will be attending a camp with his future wife, but he will need to woo her, he's more than willing to do so. Rishi believes very much in the power of tradition, stability and being a part of something bigger than himself. When opposites class though, will love win out?

Dallas (Texas Fridays book 0) by Sam Moussavi (sports)

Bobby Dupree is a backup quarterback. Not only is he backup on the field, but also with the girls. However, when the star quarterback goes down with a bad knee, and Bobby is pushed into the role, will he be able to manage the hopes and dreams of the entire school, resting on his shoulders?

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (fantasy/romance)

Scarlet lives with her sister Tella on a small island, ruled by her powerful but cruel father. When the announcement is made that Scarlet will be wed, her dreams of visiting an almost magical show, Caravel, are over. That is, until her long awaited invitation to see the show arrives, just in time. Scarlet and Tella escape away to see the show, only to have Tella kidnapped upon their arrival. Scarelet then finds that Tella is the key role in the performance this year, and that the search is on to find her within the next 5 days. Whoever does, is the winner of the show. Scarlet begins immediately, knowing that whatever happens in the show is only an elaborate performance, but nevertheless, she dives in head and heart first, desperate to find her sister first, knowing that if she doesn't, a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her sister will disappear forever.