Eleanor & Park

Rowell, R. (2013). Elanor & Park.  NY: St. Martin's Griffin. 

Eleanor has been welcomed back "home" to where her mom, stepdad, and four younger siblings live.  Eleanor was previously kicked out after fighting with her stepdad.  She's a larger girl with a full head of red curly hair and a strange sense of style.  She meets Park, a half Korean, half-white, fellow sophomore, on the bus.  When none of the "hell children" on the bus will let Eleanor sit with them, Park relents.  Eventually a silent relationship begins to slowly form over comics and then music.  And then the bus relationship turns into a public relationship that Eleanor has to hide from her despicable stepfather.

This book had me sucked in before page 30.  It’s written in a way where background information is slowly exposed, which keeps the reader turning the pages.  I was dying laughing with the sarcasm and crying at the heartache, loss, and misfortune.  I found myself crying and then laughing in the same paragraph at times.  I loved the voice!  The book definitely has some strong language content and deep subject content as well.  I wouldn’t necessarily have this book shelved in a junior high library, but I couldn’t keep this away from high schoolers.  There’s so many windows into different worlds and ways that high schoolers could find to relate to the characters- either because they're living similar situations or they have no idea that's how life can be.  Rainbow Rowell took me back to parts of high school that I had forgotten- both a painful and grateful thing!  

The Fault In Our Stars

Green, J. (2015). The fault in our stars.  London: Penguin. 

Hazel meets Augustus, a former star basketball player, at the cancer support group meeting. After hanging out, they agree to rread each other’s favorite books.  Hazel’s favorite books is An Imperial Affliction  by Peter Van Houton, which maddingly leaves her asking questions.  They use their “cancer perks” to take a trip to track down Van Houton, who ends up a drunk and not helping them.  Augustus reveals that his cancer has spread everywhere and shortly after returning from the trip, Gus passes away.  Van Houton ends up attending Gus’ funeral and talking a bit more to Hazel.  She loses the love of her life, but she finally gets closure to her ultimate worry- that her parents will be okay, after she dies. 

Two teenagers struggle to find meaning in their short lives while dealing with the deadly cancer that dominates their thinking.  No topic is too sacred to explore.  Characters boldly expose their emotions, their view of life, death and the afterlife.  It seems they have no time to waste on their own mortality, that fate having been sealed. Poignant with wry humor and sarcasm, this book gives insight into adolescent compassion and anxiety.  The characters are believable and relatable.  Here is a book trailer for the novel.  

This is Where it Ends

Nijkamp, M. (2016). This is where it ends.  Illinois: Sourcebooks Fire.  

The story of a tragic high school shooting is told from the perspective of four students.  Claire, a senior and sergeant of the JROTC.  She’s not in the assembly because she and other members of the track team are practicing.  Her brother, Matt is inside the auditorium.  Thomas is skipping the assembly with Farheed- breaking into the principal’s office in search of a permanent record.  His sister Sylv is in the assembly and also adds perspective from inside the auditorium.  Sylv’s girlfriend, Autumn, is the final perspective.   Autumn’s brother, Tyler, is the terrorizing shooter.  He feels abandoned by everyone after the death of he and Autumn’s mom.  Thomas and Farheed end up getting the doors open and many students and staff to safety, but the ordeal doesn’t end until Thomas has sacrificed his life for his sister and Tyler has killed himself.  In the final scene recounted by Sylv, the surviving members of Opportunity High School meet to mourn their fallen classmates and coworkers.

A window into a world everyone prays they never experience!  The varying perspectives of the story add to the element of suspense.  The details of how everyone is connected are stretched out over the length of the book, which adds an interesting almost component that makes you want to go back and re-read parts.  Additionally, there are inserts of tweets and a blog, that help the reader to really feel the desperation and fear of the situation.  This is Where it Ends has found itself on the New York Times bestseller’s list for good reason.  It’s not a topic often read about in fiction writing- a delicate matter has been tackled, and the ugliness, terror, and tragedy is not glossed over.  Mareike Nijkamp’s next book, Before I let Go, will be out in January of 2018.  

The Book Theif

Zusak, M. (2005). The book thief.  NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

9 year old Liesel Meminger is living Nazi Germany.  After the death of her brother, her mom sends her off to live with an older couple- Hans Hubermann is gentle and kind and Rosa Hubermann is a short tempered woman not to be crossed.  Liesel begins learning to read, with the help of Hans.  Liesel’s best friend and neighbor, Rudy, is poster boy for German child and with Liesel when she first gets into the Mayor’s house to look at all the books.  One night, the town has a bonfire where they destroy books, but Liesel ends up stealing one.  She’s unkowingly seen by the mayor’s wife.  Liesel also befriends Max, a Jew that the Hubermanns hide in their basement.  When Hans gives a Jew a piece of bread, he puts everyone in danger.  Max has to leave and Hans gets drafted.  An air raid ends up killing Hans, Rosa, and Rudy, but somehow Liesel survives.  Max also ends up surviving the war.  Liesel eventually moves to Australia where Death comes to take her, as an old woman. 

Interestingly, this story is narrated by Death.  It’s really a uniquely written story with several literary elements.  Obviously Death is personified.  Underlying themes of the book are death and love.  The Book Thief is a Printz Honor Book- an award for quality literature for teens.  The masterful writing is really unique- definitely not a quick read.  It makes for a beautiful and exceptionally told story.  Readers will find themselves with their hearts racing, jaws dropped, and tears flowing.  Occasionally there’s even a laugh to be had.  Zusak also wrote I am the Messenger, which may be another book worth reading for those who enjoy The Book Thief.  

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Angleberger, T. (2010). The strange case of origami Yoda. NY: Amulet Books.

Tommy, a 6th grade student, is on a mission to figure out of the origami Yoda that a strange kid in his 6th grade class, Dwight, wears on his finger.  The strange thing is, Origami Yoda didn't just help Tommy out in some situations, but he helped out other classmates too, in some ways that seemed like he could tell the future.  It doesn’t seem like Dwight has the brain capacity to be the wise Yoda.  So Tommy starts creating a little case file collection of first-hand accounts.  The accounts relay events that happened and how Origami Yoda advised the person telling the story.  At the end of each account, Tommy makes a comment, and so does his friend, Harvey.  Tommy is convinced Origami Yoda is real, while Harvey is not.  Harvey ends up creating his own Origami Yoda and competing with Dwight’s.  In the end, it’s left to the reader to decide if Origami Yoda is Dwight or he’s Dwight filled with the force. 

A fun quick read for the younger end of the spectrum of Young Adult Literature.  This is a great book to exemplify voice in writing, since there’s different stories written from the points of view of different characters.  The plot is intriguing and pretty funny as well.  Similarly aged students will find themselves relating to the different characters (and older readers might find themselves flashing back to the awkwardness of 6^th grade!).  Tom Angleberger has written as series of Origami Yoda books that have become a New York Times Bestselling Series.  Interestingly, Angleberger has also written under the name “Sam Riddleburger.” Here’s a book trailer for Origami Yoda.  

Everybody Sees the Ants

King, A. (2011). Everybody sees the ants. NY: Little, Brown, and Company.

Lucky Linderman has been abused by a bully, Nader McMillan, since third grade.  Nader has also bullied and assaulted a classmate, Charlotte, on several occasions.   The bullying resolution and dreams about his grandfather are the core of the story line.  The haunting dilemmas are dreams of Lucky’s name sake and paternal grandfather, Harry “Lucky” Linderman, a Viet Nam MIA/POW and his dysfunctional parents.  Each chapter has the dream “visits” with his grandfather, where Lucky attempts to “save” his grandfather throughout many of the dreams.  The ants are throughout the book and seem to represent small, vulnerable characters conjured up to support Lucky, an only child who is small, immature and vulnerable (especially to the bully).  After an incident with Nadar at the pool, Lucky and his mom go to Arizona to visit family for a few weeks.  During his visit in Arizona, Lucky meets Ginna, a beautiful 17 year old girl.  They become friends and she helps improve his confidence.  After the trip, Lucky communicates more effectively with his parents and begins a more adult-like relationship with them.  Lucky decides to confront Nader and tell him he will report him to the police if he bullies him or others again.  Nader relents and Lucky feels a sense of relief and maturity after confronting him.  Lucky seems to be set free during his last dream, where his grandfather happily enters a prepared grave.

Everybody Sees the Ants is serious with quips of humor.  With the believable characters and dialogue, young adult readers will find themselves identifying with or feeling empathetic. Bullying is a theme throughout the book.  This is King's third young adult novel.  She is a Printz award winner for her second novel, Please Ignore Vera Dietz.  Here is a book trailer for Everbody Sees the Ants.   

Sisters

Telgameier, R. (2014) Sisters. NY: Graphix. 

A memoir like graphic novel written by Raina Telgameier.  Raina tells about a a road trip from California to Colorado, with her mom, younger sister, and younger brother.  On the way to visiting family in Colorado, Raina it is evident that the sisters have a hairy relationship- always getting on each other's nerves and annoyed with one another.  Through a series of flashbacks, the readers sees how Raina couldn't wait to have a baby sister and how the relationship wasn't what she thought it would be.  Eventually, the sisters discover that their mom and dad are having some marital issues and they figure out how to get along.

The graphics play a big role in the story because there is not a whole lot of writing.  An interesting technique is used for the flashbacks- current narration occurs with frames on white paper, while the flashbacks are frames on yellowed paper.  The illustrations tell as much of the story as the words, which would be great for readers who aren't too interested in wordy novels.  This graphic novel might be a great way to get the younger end of reluctant young adult readers.  In addition, readers who struggle with complicated plots, might really enjoy the simplicity and humor found in Telgameier's books.  Students who enjoy this book, would most likely enjoy Telgameier's precursor, Smile.  

March Book Three

Lewis, J. (2016). March book three. Marietta, Georgia: Top Shelf Productions.

In this comic book like non-fiction graphic novel, the third book of the March trilogy, John Lewis tells the story of fighting for African Americans to register to vote in the black belt south.  Through brilliant pictures, word bubbles and narrative filled frames, Lewis recounts stories from 1963-1965 when Alabama and Mississippi was making it near impossible for black Americans to register to vote.  Lewis talks about plans made and pursued while he was the chairmen of the SNCC and of those he worked with within that organization and other organizations fighting for the rights of African Americans across the nation.  Lewis tells stories (and so do the pictures) of many different people who were either beat or ended up being killed in the fight against oppression.  He recounts conversations and happenings with President Johnson, a trip to Africa to talk with those fighting Apartheid, and many different demonstrations and marches, as well as the Freedom Vote and Freedom Summer.  The book concludes with the Bloody Sunday March and the successful passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The black and white graphics of this novel are OUTSTANDING.  Very powerful!  This non-fiction book is an eye-opener to the injustices living in our country not so long ago, 100 years after slavery was abolished.  Students studying the civil rights era of our nation would have an enhanced learning experience in reading the  MARCH books.  It can get a little heavy and the politics can get a bit confusing, but it sure beats a text book or online database of facts.  March Book Three won several awards including the Printz award for exemplifying excellence in young adult literature.  It has also received the Coretta Scott King award, given to outstanding African American authors.  It also received YALSA's award for Excellence in Nonfiction.  Additionally it is a #1 New York Times Bestseller.  Here is a booktrailer for March Book Three.  

Bossy Pants

Fey, T. (2013). Bossypants. New York: Regan Arthur/Little Brown.

Tina Fey's humor saturated memoir tells anecdotes from various stages and years of her life.  She tells of her childhood and when she was introduced to acting.  She tells of moving to Chicago after college, where she joined Second City, and there she honed in on her comedy skills and also met her husband, Jeff.  The memoir also describes her time with Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.  Fey also tells about weight gain, wait loss, being a mom, and  responds to her critics. 

This book had me literally laughing out loud at times.  Fey's humor drenches this whole book.  This book is definitely geared toward the older years of the young adult spectrum, hence it being found on YALSA's Outsanding books for college bound (2014 Arts adn Humanities).  Themes found throughout the memoir include sexism and body image.  Other books reader's may find similarly entertaining might be Amy Poehler's Yes Please, Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), and Ellen DeGeneres' Seriously...I'm Kidding.  

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos

Written in diary entry form, sprinkled with poetry, Gabi Hernandez tells about her secrets, her cravings, her loves, family, friends, and all the happenings of senior year.  There's Gabi's mom who is always telling her she needs to lose weight and confiscating her sweet and salty treats; her dad who is a meth addict and ends up dying; her younger brother who has a knack for graffiti and reminds her of their dad; her best friend Cindy who gets pregnant after being forced to have sex; her other best friend Sebastian who is gay; the boys she crushes on and the one she ends up falling in love with; college acceptance letters (she gets accepted to Berkeley) and of course her lifechaning poetry class.

This realistic fiction book (and poetry) captures the reader by it's blunt truths and real openness.  Teen girls, especially Mexican-American teens, will relate on so many levels with Gabi.  One of the best parts of the book, in my opinion, are the Zines.  What an awesome form of poetry!  This book has terrific voice as well.  The characters are so real, without being stereotypical.  The consistency of the characters, as well as their believability, make this a book for anyone to relate to! Themes found in this book include staying true to yourself, pushing past adversity, and friendship.  Readers who enjoy this book would probably enjoy The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

The Crossover

Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover. NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Josh Bell writes in verse about the current basketball season and his family.  Josh feels deserted when his twin brother, Jordan (JB), who he's always with, gets a girlfriend and leaves him behind to eat lunch and shoot hoops alone.  Josh also writes about his dad's health and mom's concerns about his dad's health.  At one point, Josh gets so frustrated with his brother, he ends up throwing the ball at his face during a basketball game, which leads his mom (the school AP) to suspend him from the team until he can get himself together, and leads JB to quit talking to him all together.  In the "fourth quarter" Josh's dad dies from a heart attack, which leads JB to eventually come around to talk to Josh.

Such a fun way to write, which turns into a fun way to read!  This will SURELY catch the eye of all poetry naysayers (my old self included!)!  Such great word usage and loved the mini-vocabulary lessons sprinkled throughout the book.  The poems creatively vary in their format, which keeps the reader's attention and adds to the entertainment.  Since kids seem to be attracted to narrative poetry for its storytelling, I can see this book definitely being a hit.  Librarians and teachers could use this to introduce students to poetry or in poetry lessons.  This book has all the elements one would look for in poetry- familiar subjects, imagery, rhyme, rhythm, and sound.  The Crossover  is a Newbery Medal recipient for distinguished contribution to American Literature for children and is also among YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adult's list.  Readers who enjoyed this book will most likely also enjoy Alexander's The Playbook, and Booked. 

Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster.  NY: Harper 

The story is uniquely told via diary and a screenplay,  by 16 year old Steve Harmon, who is an aspiring videographer-writer.  He's in jail, accused of being involved in a heinous crime of robbery/murder in Harlem.  Steve, along with Richard Evans and James King are accused of botching a strong arm robbery, taking the victim's gun and killing him.  From the beginning to the end, the reader is left in suspense on the outcome of the trial and maybe a little unsure how innocent Steve is.  His lawyer, Kathy O'Brien, is definitely not sure he's actually innocent. Steve maintains his innocence, even though the others have confessed to the crime.  Steve is eventually found not guilty.

There is definitely the element of suspense in this novel.  Readers will wonder, and keep wondering.  Readers get a glimpse into innocence lost and most likely a life that they don't want.  The format the book is written in helps keep the reader's attention because it's fragmented- you cannot easily just browse through this book.  I would maybe suggest this book for reluctant readers for the suspense.  Themes that come up in this book are race, peer pressure, and identity- all themes that young adults wrestle with, so there is some identifying with characters, in that.  Monster won the 2000 Printz award.  (Printz awards are given to books that exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature.

Angry Management

Crutcher, C. (2009). Angry management. NY: HarperCollins 

The story starts off with Mr. Nak, a counselor, who goes on to introduce the main characters of the three novellas that make up Angry Management.  In the first novella, we meet Sarah Byrnes and Angus Bethune.  Sarah was severely burned on her face when she was very young, by her abusive father.  Her mother left shortly after, leaving Sarah behind to be raised by her father.  Angus, a very overweight senior in high school, comes from a very loving mom and dad, who are divorced.  His mom and dad are both gay and married to their significant others.  Angus ends up helping Sarah track down her mom for the second time, only to find that her mom actually had another daughter (she was pregnant with her when she left Sarah and Sarah's father).  Through the course of the story, they become a couple and end up going to work at a place for blind kids, where Sarah seems to grow in confidence and accept that she can still be "shiny" even with her burns.  The second novella introduces us to Montana West and Trey Chase.  Montana, a once popular cheerleader, has turned goth and is trying to get her well written op-ed peace in the school paper.  Her father, who she despises, won't let it happen.  Meanwhile, she meets Trey Chase, a football player who lives with his dying grandmother, when she has to do a peace on the football team.  The two end up becoming a couple, Montana moves in with Trey and his grandmother after a stellar fight with her father about giving up on a child they were fostering.  In the end, Montana and her father have a very public fight at a school board meeting and everyone gets to see her father's true colors.  The third novella introduces us  to Matt Miller and Marcus James.  Marcus James is the only black kid in his school.  He's also gay.  Matt Miller is a Christian state champion wrestler.  The two cross paths when the superintendent declares he will pay a reward for whoever gives up any information about a noose that was found on Marcus' locker.  Matt Miller is the one who tells the crowd he overheard three of the football players laughing about it- which puts a target on Marcus and Matt.  The three football players, one of whom comes from a line of racist and law breaking family members, get suspended from the football team and end up killing Marcus by running him over with a boat, while he was open-water swimming.  In the end, the boys aren't punished because supposedly there was not enough evidence to prove they intentionally ran Marcus over.  Matt quits the wrestling team, because he doesn't want to wrestle for a school that could let such a thing happen, but receives a wrestling scholarship anyways.

This is a tear jerker for sure!  All three stories have moments that make you suck the air.  There's tragedy and triumph and you can't help but keep turning the pages.  There's something to like and something to connect with, with every character, which makes this a great young adult read!  There is consistency with the characters, and stereotypes are blown out of the water as you get to know each character.  Modern readers can relate to every character, on some level, whether their lives look similar or they feel empathetic for the struggles.  Readers who enjoy Angry Management should check out Chris Crutcher's other books: Whale Talk, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Deadline, Period 8, and The Meat Grinder, to name just a few.   

Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin.  NY: Delacorte Press.

Told from interchanging perspectives of Lily Jo McGrother (A.K.A. Timothy McGrother) and Dunkin (A.K.A. Norbert Dorfman), this is a story of friendship and courage, and coming to accept oneself.  Lily was born with boy parts but has known all her life that she is a girl.  The summer before 8th grade, with the help and encouragement of her friend, Dare, shes decided to be brave and make some changes.  In addition, she begs her mom and dad to get her the expensive hormone blockers that will help keep her body from developing into a man.  Lily's got the support and love of her sister, Sarah, her mom, and her best friend Dare.  She gets picked on constantly by a group of boys she calls the "neanderthals".  Her dad and grandmom are also less than supportive of Tim being Lily.  Through the coarse of the book, Lily gets braver and braves- painting her nails, wearing Sarah's makeup, and finally starting the hormone blockers (that her dad has agreed to, after seeing a psychologist), and dressing up as a very feminine mermaid for Halloween- which leads to her biggest goal yet- to go dressed as a girl to the holiday dance.  Lily's path crosses with Norbert's right before the start of 8th grade.  Lily dubs him Dunkin, as he hates his name.  Dunkin has moved from New Jersey with his mom, to live with his grandmother in Florida.  Through the unfolding of the story, it is discovered that Dunkin suffers from Bipolar disorder, just as his father.  Because Dunkin wants to impress the boys on the basketball team, that he made simply because he was tall, he quits taking his medication which ultimately leads to him having to be hospitalized.  Before being hospitalized, Lily confides in Dunkin about how she feels like she is a girl in a boy's body and Dunkin is accepting of the shocking news.  During Dunkan's hospitalization, he finally comes to terms with his father's death and his own need for medication.  Dunkin shows up at the dance thinking he will need to protect Lily from the neanderthals and finds that she is fully dressed as Lily.  The two dance the final dance together and Lily's father shows up fully supporting her new look.

In true Donna Gephart style, the facts aren't told all at once, but come to be known to the reader bit by bit.  It's a technique that keeps the reader reading.  Covering two hard topics in one book was a big undertaking- especially considering the taboo topic of transgendered children.  Gephart's characters are believable and easily help the reader to connect in one way or another.  The characters of Lily and Dunkin help open the eyes of readers who may otherwise have zero experience with transgender people or those with Bipolar disorder.  It allows a window into the world of their struggles and triumphs.  Gephart does a great job of keeping everything real and avoiding any stereotypes.  The characters- both kids and adults, are believable and relatable.  Here is a book trailer for Lilly and Dunkin.   

The Nazi Hunters

Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi hunters. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. 

A nonfiction account of hunting down one of the Nazi regimes most notorious leaders in the genocide of 6 million Jews during World War II, Adolf Eichmann.  Tending to go back in forth between relaying the facts and story telling, the book recounts stories of Adolf Eichmann from Holocaust survivors and the crew of Mossad agents that took part in the hunting down, abduction, and return of Eichmann to stand trial in Israel.  The Nazi Hunters tells the story of Adolf Eichmann's leading role in the extermination of Jews starting with his plan of rounding up the Jews and cramming them into gettos and then sending them off to the concentration camps where they were either immediately executed or worked to death.  When a girl in Argentina discovers that the boy she had been in a previous relationship with was possibly the son of the Nazi, Adolf Eichmann, she tells her dad and the story of confirming Eichmann's identity and subsequent retrieval from Argentina so he can stand trial, unfolds.  The details of the Mossad team's actions to locate Eichmann, positively identify him, capture him and then transport him from Argentina to Israel are emotional and tense, as everyone involved in the mission lost loved ones in the Holocaust.  Once Eichmann is successfully brought to Israel for trial, he is found guilty (even after maintaining innocence and that he was simply following orders) and sentenced to death.  The trial served two purposes- justification as well as a means to share the atrocities of the Holocaust with the world.  Prior to the trial, many survivors did not share their experiences and this trial opened the eyes of the world to the tragedies and suffering of an innocent people.

Select by YASLA as a top nonficiton read for young adults, this book is both educational and emotional.  Although not necessarily an intensely suspenseful page turner, it definitely keeps the reader wanting to learn more in a way not extremely typical of nonfiction books.  Neal Bascomb spent time traveling four continents, interviewing Mossad spies, tracking down former Nazi's in Argentina, and looking through rarely seen German archives.  Bascomb admits in his author's note that he did the best job he could, to accurately tell a spy story that, because of the confidentiality, had some elements missing.  Additionally, Bascomb states that there were some inconsistencies and conflicts between the stories of the events told by those he interviewed.  He shares the discrepancies in his notes section.  From all the research and facts known to the public, this story is as factually accurate as one could ever hope for it to be.  Throughout the book, there are photographs of the people involved, as well as some of the artifacts actually used in the mission.  Here is a book trailer for Neal bascomb's The Nazi Hunters.  

Human Body Theater

Wicks, M. (2015). Human body theater. A nonfiction revue. New York: First Second

A non-fiction graphic novel all about the human body, humorously narrated by a skeleton that adds a layer at each act, to eventually become "a fully formed human being." Each act gives facts, and sometimes quick anecdotes, jokes, and random facts, about the different body systems.  The characters in each act are made up by the different components of that particular system.  The book also includes a glossary of terms in the back.  

What a great way to explain the functions and components of the human body systems!  It is clear why this book is on the list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens!  The characters are funny, the text is easy to read, the vocabulary is well defined and accompanied by pictures and facts to help one remember the components.  This would be such an excellent resource to use during a human body unit.  Students would definitely appreciate the vacation from boring text books, and this book has all the facts to ensure you wouldn't have to revert to a textbook.  The full-colored graphics are eye-catching as well as detailed and helpful in creating visuals for the reader.  Read from left to right and top to bottom (unless there is a full page diagram), the book is not made up entirely of the same kinds frames- in fact, frames vary throughout the book.  Many of the pages with lots of facts have typical frames.  Some pages have frames with a few frameless illustrations.  Space is excellently used throughout the entire book.  

Other books on the same topic, that readers may find useful, include: The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Human Body by David Macaulay; The Human Body: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders by Dr. Charles Clayman; Human Body by Steve Parker.  

Winger

Smith, A., &Bosma, S. (2013). Winger. New York: Simon &Schuster Children's Pub. 

Ryan Dean Smith (aka Winger) is a 14 year old Junior at Pine Mountain boarding school.  He hates being treated and viewed as just a kid, especially by his best friend, and love interest, Annie.  Told from Ryan Dean's perspective, he chronicles his Junior year- being on the rugby team, having to live in Opportunity Hall with the delinquents of the PM (and rooming with Chas Becker, the scariest and meanest kid on his rugby team), playing rugby, his hormonal tendencies to find just about every girl and woman he sees as hot (and rates them on different Ryan Dean West scales), and the friendships that he both ruins and discovers.  Throughout the story of his junior year, Ryan West speaks to the reader and also shares his funny cartoons.  The climax of the plot happens just before the end, when one of Ryan Dean's best friends, Joey, is found beaten to death.  Joey was gay and everyone knew it and most everyone was fine with it because Joey was a good guy.  The story quickly wraps up with finding out it was two football players who brutally and drunkenly murdered Joey (one of whom was secretly hitting on Joey).  Ryan Dean finds comfort from Annie, his now girlfriend, and mends broken friendships.  

This book, although heavy at the end, is quite hysterical.  Smith writes with the humor, sarcasm, and perversion of a teenage boy.  Between the laughable and embarrassing happenings of Ryan Dean, his sarcasm, and his cartoons, the reader can't help but like the kid.  There's just enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages, but Joey's death sneaks up on the reader at the end and keeps the reader wanting more to read.  The story wraps up pretty abruptly.  The characters are consistent with the real world that kids live in today- the way that Winger interacts and talks with his buddies, the thoughts he has about girls/women, the speech of the characters- it's all there.  This could be a great book to rope in reluctant readers.   

Speak

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Penguin

After calling the cops during a party at the end of the summer, Melinda Sordino starts off her freshman year of high school a pariah.  Nobody she's known for the last 9 years of her life will talk to her, except for Heather,  a new girl from Ohio.  But nobody knows the real truth and Melinda can't seem to find her voice.  She barely speaks to her parents, who seem to barely be holding on to their marriage.  She's doing horrible in school, when last year she was a solid B student.  Her only saving grace at school is an old abandoned janitor closet she has transformed into her personal sanctuary and art class.  Slowly the story unfolds and the reader learns the truth, as is probably suspected from subtle hints from the beginning- Malinda Sordino was raped at the party and that's why she called the cops.  But instead of speaking up to the cops, she ran and nobody ever knew the truth.  Eventually, the boy who raped her, Andy Evans, turns his attention to Malinda's ex-best friend, Rachel/Rachelle and that's what helps Malinda to find her voice- she wants to protect Rachel.  Slowly she starts to become human again and interact with the people around her.  In the end, Andy tries attacking Malinda again, since she spoke up and rumors are going around about what a terrible guy he is.  She saves herself just in the nick of time, and the rumors end up being publicly justified.

Malinda's character reflects a lot of young adults- too scared, embarrassed, or ashamed to speak up about bad things happening to them.  For someone who hasn't experienced sexual assault, it might be easy to assume it's weakness that keeps people from telling someone, but Malinda gives us a first hand view of what could be going through that person's mind.  The strong writing really helps the reader to feel what Malinda is feeling.  Young Adults can most likely relate to where she is coming from during many of the scenes.  This is an eye opening novel and one that will literally speak to every person who has been an a victim and even to those who thankfully have not. Anderson's writing sucks the reader in and keeps them turning the pages.  Readers will find themselves feeling the pain and triumph of this story.

Other novels by Laurie Halse Anderson include: The Impossible Knife of Memory, Wintergirls,
Forge, Chains, Twisted, Prom, Catalyst, and Fever 1973.