msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

14-year-old June Elbus has only had one love in her life: her city-dwelling, sweet, super-smart rather famous artist Uncle Finn. When he dies from complications of HIV, June is left behind clutching the string of a deflated balloon full of unspoken love and admiration, and the only person who might feel her pain, Uncle Finn's partner Toby, is strictly off-limits (her mother blames him for Finn's death). Lucky for June, Toby takes the initiative and sends her an invitation tucked into the special teapot Finn used during June's visits. An at once tense and close friendship develops between the two heartsick survivors, allowing both of them to hold on yet let go of Finn. Although this is at root a coming-of-age story, it is also about AIDS in the early days, regret, art, and family secrets. Highly recommended. Click here for the author's website and here for a full review. Grade 8+

Set in a small midwestern town in the 70s, IZ follows the escapades, angst, and ennui of the unnamed narrator and her best friend Felicia as they come of age amidst parental neglect, fluctuating social status, and budding romance. Click here for a full review . Grade 9+

Another sublime entry in the young adult coming-of-age-during-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it genre, TAOM stands out in part due to its original disaster scenario: the earth's rotation is slowing, resulting in erratic days and nights, changes in gravity, and a host of other unexpected changes. The Slowing is dramatic but not necessarily catastrophic. Julia and her parents learn to deal with two o'clock in the morning sunsets and fewer supplies, but the emotional strain takes its toll on their interpersonal relationships as their traditional family life breaks down. Julia is a likable heroine and teens will relate to both her romance with a neighborhood boy and the loss of her best childhood friend. Give this one to fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer's Last Survivor's series and Joelle Anthony's Restoring Harmony , and don't miss the extras (including a reading guide)Ms. Thompson Walker's website . Grade 8+

A riveting story of abuse and the redemptive power of kindness by the author of Breakfast With Buddha. Marjorie Richards, completely isolated from society by her parents until the age of nine (when social services forced them to allow her to attend school), lives in a rustic cabin in the woods, suffering physical and psychological abuse at her mentally ill parents' grim and sadistic hands. Followers of a twisted cult, they force seventeen-year-old Marjorie to find work to support them and their monthly alcohol-fueled escapes in their dirty pick-up. This isn't a light tale of abuse; one scene involves facing : a paper bag is placed over Marjorie's head and an entire congregation takes turns hitting, pummeling, and poking her, not lightly, in the face. The light at the end of the incredibly dark tunnel is lit when she is offered a job rebuilding a cathedral in town alongside a talented builder, a victim of abuse himself. As Marjorie develops her own set of skills, her self-e...

Unforgettable seventeen-year-old Luke has grown up in an essentially matriarchial society surrounded by an eclectic bunch of women, including his bohemian New Age mother, his New England puritan grandmother, and his two charming and lovely half sisters. In the midst of all this kind chaos, Luke manages to create his own belief system that revolves around his passion for brain science. According to Luke, "without evidence, you just have hope, which is nice, but not reliable." It is the end of his junior year and he is drowning in college applications when his unbeknownst-to-him-father writes him a letter inviting him to spend the summer with him in Los Angeles. Did I mention his father turns out to be a fairly well-known television star? Luke accepts his offer, and the pair get to know each other, set against the backdrop of Hollywood life. Secrets are revealed, innocence is lost, and when Luke returns to his mother in New England, he quickly realizes that that "we don...

On a hot summer night in a small country town, local teen pariah Jasper Jones raps on book nerd-sensitive Charlie Bucktin's window, and leads him to a discovery that will change both of their lives. Laura Wishart, daughter of the town shire, and friend to Charlie, is found hung from a tree where she and Jasper used to meet in secret. Knowing that Jasper will be suspected of the murder, the boys hide her body in the river, and that is where the trouble, and their relationship, truly begins. As the summer progresses and Laura's disappearance is investigated, Charlie is faced with a host of hard truths: his parents' marriage isn't what it seems to be, his best friend Jeffrey Lu suffers at the hands of racists, and the local tendency to turn the other way rather than stand up for what is right has tragic results. The bitterness is balanced by the sweetness of Charlie's relationship with Laura's little sister Eliza; Mr. Silvey masterfully depicts the magic of first ...

Jupiter Glazer is a loveable Russian Jewish immigrant with an accent that inspires bullies and parents who live in an abandoned factory in an uninspired industrial neighborhood outside Philadelphia. Jupiter's life takes on a new angle when he meets Margie, a hard-bitten but cute waitress, while dining with his parents for his annual birthday treat at low-class diner. Inspired by Margie, Jupiter ends up at a party that night and makes people laugh at the right time, resulting in a rise in his social status at school. At the same time, he meets up with a girl who helps him lose his accent and befriends the guy who regularly beats him up. This is a fun and quick read that misfits everywhere will enjoy. An ALA Best Book pick and a good match for reluctant readers. Grade 8+

GIT is full of unforgettable scenery: a tiny Chinese girl and her mother in a NYC apartment in winter without central heating, huddled in front of the oven as cockroaches and mice scurry around the subzero room; a pack of underage sweatshop workers slammed into a squat toilet, sweating all over each other while they hide in the small space as inspectors tour the factory; a girl in a locker room ensconced in a stall to prevent her fellow students from seeing her humiliatingly homemade underwear. When Kimberly Chang arrives in NYC at the age of 12 with her mother, they are taken advantage of by mom's sister Paula, who sets them up in illegal housing and forces them to work at her factory in order to pay back their immigration expenses. Kim quickly realizes the only way out is through education and slowly proves herself to be academically gifted. Although there are many other immigrant stories out there, Kim's authentic and strong voice makes GIT a standout choice. Perfect for boo...