msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

A few pages into The Lovers I was reminded of two old favorites that I haven't thought of for a while: The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles and Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry. Both books take place in exotic locales and both have an impending sense of doom, not unlike The Lovers. After her husband's sudden death in a car crash, history teacher Yvonne heads for Datca in Turkey, where she honeymooned twenty five years ago. She befriends a young boy, a young woman, and reflects on her marriage and children. Click here for the full NY Times review and here for the threeguysonebook.com review.

15 year old Pearl falls in love with mute migrant worker Amiel in this sometimes predictable and somewhat unbelievable teen romance set in Southern California. Pearl and her mother are living on Uncle Hoyt's avocado ranch following Pearl's parents divorce. Her father has checked out completely; Pearl suspects that he might be gay and is severely wounded by his betrayal and abandonment. On the way to school one morning, Pearl spots Amiel at a four way stop where day laborers congregate, and is intrigued by his juggling (seriously). Inevitably, they make contact, and the results are disastrous. I had a hard time suspending my belief while reading this story. Grade 8 +

GEN X SMALL TOWN TWENTYSOMETHING MOVES TO BIG CITY GETS SILLY JOBS FALLS IN LOVE FALLS OUT OF IT VISITS HOME FEELS LONELY SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE SELLS SCRIPT. Sublime writing from the author of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers. Grade 9+

I'm easily grossed out by 'body talk.' I don't enjoy discussions about bodily functions/disfunctions, excretions/secretions, or odors/effluvia. So, I stepped lightly into Good Eggs, which came highly recommended to avid readers of graphic novels such as myself. Much to my surprise, Phoebe Potts has managed to not only discuss all of the above, but draw it as well, without ever offending my sensibilities. Her story is told so comfortably and naturally that I forgot what was happening and just enjoyed the voyage. Although the thread throughout the story is her quest to get pregnant, this is really a story about her love for her husband, Jeff, and her return to faith. Highly recommended for anyone trying to get pregnant and the people who love them. Click here for the author's interview with Smith magazine.

I love John Green's work! Really. I. Do. I read Looking for Alaska the night I landed my first young adult librarian job, so it holds a special place in my heart. I have been a permanent rider on the John Green train ever since, pushing him on young people like some exotic irresistible candy. will grayson, will grayson is especially special - David Levithan wrote the even-numbered chapters and John Green wrote the odd ones. Their two voices combine to create this sweet/sad story about two guys (and eventually a large community of people) named Will Grayson, both trying to figure out who they are. Click here to see John Green talk about the book. An absolute must for any library serving young people and an excellent choice for a GBQLT collection. Grade 8+

"Nothing matters. I have known that for a long time. So nothing is worth doing. I just realized that." And so begins this dark tale set in Denmark. Seventh grader Pierre Anthon's declaration has rendered life meaningless for his classmates, so they decide to build a heap of 'meaning' to prove him wrong. Each student adds something they love to the pile, chosen by the previous donor. As the heap of meaning builds, the additions get nastier: a girl's virginity, someone's pet hamster, a dog's head, and a multitude of equally grisly objects pile up as the kids desperately try to refute Pierre's claim. A sometimes shocking and unforgettable read; an excellent choice for a young adult book club looking for thought-provoking titles. Winner of Le Prix LibbyLit 2008 for best children's novel published in French, the Danish Cultural Ministry's Prize 2001 for best children's book of the year, and a host of other awards. Click here for a video of

The Windup Girl is one of those rare books that seemingly has it all: the setting is elaborate, foreign, and futuristic; the characters are eccentric, singular, and human; the plot is intricate, unpredictable, and incredibly engaging. Food is what counts in futuristic Bangkok. Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the rest of Asia have fallen victim to the Calorie Wars and a series of genetically-modified driven disease, but the Kingdom of Thailand prevails, mostly due to a hidden seedbank and the Environmental Ministry, who prevents tainted goods from coming into the City of Divine Beings (Bangkok). Emiko is a windup, a Japanese engineered creation, and works in a brothel after being abandoned by her master. Anderson is a 'calorie man,' who is on the hunt for new food sources for the US company he works for, and his secretary, Hock Seng, is a Chinese refugee looking to secure his future. Jaidee serves as a general for the Environment Ministry who destroyed her childhood villa