GREAT GIRL READS*
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games - In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of twelve districts against one another to the death, 16-year old Katniss’ skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place. First book in a trilogy: followed by Catching Fire and Mockinjay.
Dogar, Sharon. Annexed - Everyone knows about Anne Frank and her life hidden in the secret annex----but what about the boy who was also trapped there with her? In this powerful and gripping novel, Sharon Dogar explores what this might have been like from Peter's point of view. What was it like to be forced into hiding with Anne Frank, first to hate her and then to find yourself falling in love with her?
Gately, Roberta. Lipstick in Afghanistan -A volunteer for a French relief organization, Elsa Murphy, a young nurse has left
her tragic life behind in Boston in the hopes of finding a purpose by providing aid and medical care in Afghanistan. Living without running water and on rationed kerosene, the one comfort from home Elsa allows herself is lipstick, which helps her retain her identity behind the veil she wears. Elsa's work engenders two relationships that will change her life: a friendship with Parween, a young, strong-willed Afghani widow whose hatred of the Taliban is born out of unimaginable loss, and a romance with Mike, a handsome, brave U.S. soldier with flashing blue eyes. Though the Taliban have largely been driven out by the soldiers, Elsa learns they are still very much a presence.
Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines - Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in his life.
Han, Jenny. The Summer I Turned Pretty – Belly spends the summer she turns sixteen at the beach just like every other summer of her life, but this time things are very different.
Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group - Fifteen-year-old vampire Nina has been stuck for 51 years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting has ever happened to them – until one of them is murdered and the others must solve the crime.
Kate, Lauren. Fallen - Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her. Fans of Twilight will learn about those other supernatural beings, fallen angels. Followed by the sequel Torment.
Murdoch, Catherine Gilbert. Dairy Queen - After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school rival’s football team, 16 year-old D. J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her. First in a trilogy, followed by The Off Season and Front and Center.
Picoult, Jodi. – She has over 14 million copies of her books in print worldwide. All of them deal with controversial and newsworthy issues facing contemporary adolescents. Try Nineteen Minutes (school violence), The Pact (teen suicide), My Sister’s Keeper (cancer and genetics), House Rules (teen accused of murder), and others.
Rosnay, Tatiana de. Sarah’s Key - Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel d’Hiv roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours. Paris, May 2002: On the 60th anniversary of the roundup, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her toSarah.
Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver – In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who, in his turn, has been watching her with increasing intensity. Followed by the sequel Linger.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. Jumped - The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique’s plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.
*Summary descriptions are from “Look Inside” section of the ocln.org online catalog unless noted otherwise.
Prepared by Mrs. Pratt, NorwellHigh School Library/Media Center, January 2011