The Cripples’ Club by William Bell
Summary: George has a mysterious past that tortures him through nightmares and visions but remains just beyond his conscious memory. When he meets Hook, a young man left a paraplegic after a motorcycle accident, Hook realises George is also dealing with circumstances that make him different and befriends him. New laws mean students dealing with disabilities are all eligible to receive the same education as ‘normal’ students, and Heather and Amie both end up at the same school as George and Hook as a result. Together they form a tight group of friends who call themselves...
Read MoreGreener Grass by Caroline Pignat
Summary: When the potato blight hits Ireland in the 1800s, Kit Byrne’s family loses their livelihood. As a result Kit’s Da is forced to go to England in search of work, and Kit’s family nearly starves as they try to survive. Living under an ambivalent land owner and a militant middle manager named Mr. Lynch, Kit’s anger toward them grows as the blight is used to evict several people and take advantage of them. After tragedy personally strikes her family, Kit takes matters into her own hands, seeking revenge for the wrongs committed against her family and community....
Read MoreYellow Mini by Lori Weber
Summary: A collection of free verse poems that make up stories about growing up told from various perspectives. Storylines include Mark and his grieving process over his father dying, Stacey and her need for attention, Annabelle focusing on changing the world, Christopher falling in love and getting his first girlfriend and Mary stepping out of her shell to play in the school’s talent show. These stories intertwine with each other, and insights are provided by everyone involved. Number of Pages: 240 Age Range: 13-15 Review: Yellow Mini by Lori Weber is a free-verse novel that contains...
Read MoreTin Star by Cecil Castellucci
Summary: Tula Bane is headed for a new home among the stars when she and her family board the Children of Earth colony space ship with leader Brother Blue guiding the way. Troubles with the ship cause them to stop at Yertina Ferary space station where Tula is left for dead after she figures out Brother Blue is not all he appears to be. Abandoned on the alien station watching her ride slingshot around the local star without her, Tula finds herself without a clue of how to survive. Fortunately, aliens Tournour and Heckleck show her kindness and help her carve a new life for herself. Driven by...
Read MoreSon of Interflux by Gordon Korman
Summary: Simon Irving is starting over in a new place again, thanks to his father’s job as Senior Vice-President at Interflux, the world’s largest corporation. He ends up getting into the local arts school with his talent for painting, and finally starts to make some friends who don’t hate him because of who his father is. When an opportunity comes up to stick it to Interflux due to an oversight, Simon jumps at it, sparking a school-wide teenage rebellion that launches his popularity and an epic battle between him and his father. Number of Pages: 282 Age Range: 13-15...
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