msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

Seven little gems that are linked together via one central character (who takes on many personas): girl seeking salvation. Not the religious kind. Click here for the full NY Times review , which includes a link to the book review podcast.

Suicide leaves survivors with many questions, most of which begin with why. Hannah Baker provides 13 answers, or reasons why, she killed herself via a set of seven cassette tapes delivered chain-letter style to each of the 'reasons.' When the tapes make their way to the doorstep of Clay Baker (who had a crush on Hannah), he spends an agonizing evening listening to Hannah's voice as she explains that "everything affects everything" and follows her on a journey through the past using a map that outlines Hannah's path to self destruction. A brutal and poignant account of teen bullying that will resonate with teens and adults who have experienced it first hand or doled it out themselves. A must read for teens, suicide survivors, educators, and especially school counselors. I listened to this title on audio when it was released, but it was particularly moving in print, and I recommend both. Don't miss all the extras on Asher's website, including discussion

The premise is exciting: 15 year-old John Smith (his most recent name in a series of created identities) is one of nine members of the Garde, a group of super-powered aliens from the planet Lorien, hiding out on earth from the dread Mogadorians, who are out to exterminate them. The plot is less thrilling: after number four Garde member John moves with Henri, his Cepan (essentially a father figure/mentor from Lorien), to a small rural town in Ohio to evade detection by the Mogadorians, he makes a friend, meets a girl, and stands up to the bullies at his new high school, all while honing his superpowers. The real problem I had with IANF is the author's willingness to throw just about anything into the story at anytime, with seemingly little thought for the reader's intelligence or critical thinking skills. Writing YA lit doesn't mean you can just make stuff up as you go along - which is what the second half of IANF felt like. Read Patrick Ness's Guardian review here . Gra

This grim yet delightful collection of short stories by the talented and handsome author of Mr. Peanut is a must read for anyone who likes dark, noirish, and otherwise gloriously entertaining tales. LAGS is an essential addition to any short story collection that will especially appeal to fans of both Raymonds: Carver and Chandler. Mr. Ross is touring his new book this summer, and if you have the chance, don't miss attending a reading (after listening to him at Elliott Bay in Seattle I immediately went home and read all seven stories in one sitting). Click here for the Kirkus review . Grade 11+

Another lyrical, impeccably-researched, unforgettable story by one of my favorite living authors, Peter Carey . Click here for the ny times review and here for the BBC interview .

When sixteen-year-old Virginia native Paige Turner moves to Brooklyn with her scholarly parents in the middle of December, she decides to make it her mission to follow her grandmother's set of rules on how to be an artist. Rule number one? No more excuses! Paige purchases a sketchbook and sets out to 'do a few pages a week.' Along the way, she discovers her new city, makes a new set of friends, pulls a variety of art pranks, gets her first kiss, and, most importantly, defines herself for herself. Art teacher Gulledge's black and white illustrations, in particular her representation of metaphors, are simple yet deep, and remind me of Craig Thompson's work. Each section of the book represents one of grandma's nine rules; this structure lends forward motion to a story that could otherwise drift. Give this one to students who want to be artists but say 'my parents won't let me...' Grade 7+

Life with Mr. Dangerous from Paul Hornschemeier on Vimeo . Even better than I expected! When Amy's friend Michael moves to San Francisco, she breaks up with her creep of a boyfriend Eric, celebrates her birthday with her yawn-inducing yet tragic mother, has a series of encounters with less than desirable men, encounters unhappy hostile customers at her retail job, and ultimately realizes where she wants to be. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are pages of 'Amy Breis Theatre,' in which snippets of Amy's past are tragically-yet-comically provided. Paul Hornschemeier's illustrations exquisitely capture just-turned-twenty-six Amy's ennui and his creative use of color adds to the action. A supporting cast made up of Amy's overweight cat and her favorite television show (Life with Mr. Dangerous) nicely flesh out the book. Pair this with Jason Shiga's Empire State for a study of 'just friendship' between men and women in their early twenties. A pe

When 56 year-old Chinese-American widower Henry Lee hears that the belongings of several Japanese-American families interred during WWII have been discovered in the basement of the Panama Hotel in Seattle's International District, he decides to confront his past and goes looking for a trunk that may contain links to Keiko, his first love and best childhood friend. Told in alternating chapters between 1986 and 1942-45, this story not only describes the injustice of the Japanese internment during WWII, it also takes on father-son relationships, family ties, first love, and grief. HOTCOBAS would complement a study of social justice and makes the perfect companion book for a trip to Seattle. Don't miss all of the extras, including a teacher's guide, on Jamie Ford's website. Grade 10+

Usually when I read a book specific people come to mind: that colleague looking for a title to add to their curriculum, a student who loves a particular brand of writing, maybe a friend that enjoys a certain type of character or story. This book is one of the rare tomes that makes my 'every human being must read this' list. Alex Haley tells Malcolm X's story from birth to death, including the murder of his father at the hands of Michigan racists, his life as a hustler, his conversion to Islam, and his break up with the Black Muslims. Haley's epilogue gives context to the creation of the book itself and adds a layer of depth and insight missing from many autobiographies. Ossie Davis's On Malcom X piece at the end of the book was profoundly moving. A new biography came out this year and would make an excellent companion book. Click here for Columbia University's Malcom X Project page and here for a video clip of his interview at UC Berkeley in 1963 . Thanks to