High School Reads!

 by George Takei Genre:  Memoir, Graphic Novel They Called Us Enemy is the first hand retelling of George Takei's childhood in Japanese Internment Camps.  He and his family were living a comfortable life in Los Angeles until the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed.  They were giving only 10 minutes to pack up their things before they were transported to the first of 3 internment camps.  George retells the story of this "adventure" from the perspective of a child, but as an adult, he now understands the toll that this experience took on his parents and on the life they planned for their children.

 by Tyler Feder Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Tyler had just finished her first year of college when she found out that her mom had stage 4 ovarian cancer.  Her super cool, super invincible mom was now sick and becoming increasing dependent upon her family.  Tyler's 2 sisters and her dad have to adjust to the new reality that their lives are going to have to go on without Rhonda.  But Tyler's mom is such a huge part of her life...how can she even begin to imagine a life without her?

by Rainbow Rowell Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Deja and Josiah have been best friends every fall since they started working at the Pumpkin Patch together.  They pretty much hang out from Sept. 1- Halloween and then go their separate ways.  But now they are seniors in high school and this is their final Halloween.  Josiah has had a crush on the girl in the Fudge Shop forever, but has never spoken to her.  Deja decides that Josiah needs to seize the moment and make his move.  If he doesn't talk to Marcy tonight, he may never have the opportunity again!

by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel High school is over and Ari can't wait to move to Baltimore with his friends and explore whether or not their band can make it big on the music scene.  But Ari's father has other plans for him.  He needs him to help with the family bakery that is struggling to stay open.  Ari enjoyed working there as a kid, but he never planned on doing that for his life.  He decides to find a replacement - someone who wants to work in a bakery.  He finds and hires Hector who is everything that Ari is not.  Things start to change for both of them as they begin to work together.  First it's a friendship, but then is it possible it could be more than that?

by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel This book is Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy like you have never seen it!  If you are familiar with the Little Women story, there are elements of this story that you will recognize in this modern retelling.  However, there are also some twists and turns that readers familiar with the story won't be expecting...so be prepared!  The March girls are an exuberant bunch and are each trying to figure out who they are and where they belong in the world.

Adapted by Ari Folman Illustrated by David Polonsky Lexile:  GN800 Genre:  Memoir, Graphic Novel For those who have read The Diary of a Young Girl , this graphic novel adaptation will give the reader new insights into the two years that Anne Frank and her family spent hidden away from the world in the secret annex.  This book uses direct quotations from Anne's original diary which are paired with beautiful illustrations that only adds to this already incredible story.

by Jarrett Krosoczka Lexile:  GN510 Genre:  Memoir, Graphic Novel Through the illustrations in this graphic novel, Jarrett shares the story of his childhood that began when he lived with his mother who was a heroin addict.  Eventually, his grandfather petitioned for custody of him as his mother was in and out of jail and rehab for most of his young life.  Jarrett had his struggles living with his grandparents as well, but they were able to provide him a more stable life and were able to support him in his dream of becoming an artist.  Hey, Kiddo is the true story of how Jarrett lost his mother, found his father, and dealt with a lifetime of family addiction.

by Maggie Thrash Genre:  Fantasy, Graphic Novel Maggie doesn't know what has happened to her life...it feels as if everything is collapsing.  She's flunking the 11th grade and feels trapped in her depressing surroundings.  Her mother barely sees her and her father is at work all the time.  The only thing Maggie really cares about is her cat so when he disappears one day, Maggie feels like she has lost everything.  When she sets out to find her cat, Maggie is not prepared for what she does find.  Will Maggie be able to turn her life around?

By Thi Bui Lexile:  600 Genre:  Memoir, Graphic Novel Thi Bui has born in Vietnam and escaped with her family to being a new life in America.  This memoir chronicles her life as well as those of her parents and the decisions that they made that led to the family's escape.  Bui is forced to live in two worlds, the past and the present while coming to terms with the decisions that her parents made and how they have affected her throughout her childhood and on into her adulthood.

by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell Lexile:  850 Genre:  Memoir/Graphic Novel John Lewis continues his memoir about his role in the Civil Rights Movement in March, Book Two . The story picks up with John's involvement with the nonviolence movement through peaceful sit-ins and freedom bus rides.  John and his fellow protestors are repeatedly attacked, punished, and jailed, but they refuse to post bond and pay their fees.  They remain determined in their quest for equal rights.

by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell Lexile:  760 Genre:  Memoir/Graphic Novel Growing up, John Lewis loved chickens and wanted to become a pastor.  He lived in the South and grew up experiencing the injustices in society between whites and blacks.  His uncle took him on a trip to the North where is eyes were opened even further to the different ways in which people were treated. He met Martin Luther King, Jr. and started to learn about nonviolent methods.  He became involved with the Civl Rights Movement because he wanted his voice to be heard and he wanted to become part of the movement to bring about change.

by Derf Backderf Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Nonfiction/Graphic Novel Derf Backderf went to school with a boy named Jeffrey Dahmer.  In junior and senior high school, Jeff was the weird kid that no one really understood.  He had friends, at least for awhile, until his behavior began to get more and more bizarre.  After high school, he disappeared and Derf and his friends had no idea what had become of him until they heard on the news that he'd been arrested as the serial killer that had been haunting the city of Milwaukee for many years.  This is the story of Dahmer's childhood based on the recollections of Derf and his friends.

by Derf Beckderf Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Informational/Graphic Novel Lexile:  ??? Derf Backderf spent a year working as a garbage collector.  This book is based on the experiences he had when he was a member of the village sanitation crew.  He also includes startling statistics and facts on the history of trash collection and the current state of reality when it comes to how much waste humans create.  If you want to learn more about the what happens to trash after you throw it away, this is the book for you!

by Art Spiegelman Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Memoir (Graphic Novel) This graphic novel tells the story of Vladek Speigelman, a Polish Jew, who lived during WWII and survived numerous hardships including time at the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. The story is told in comic form by Vladek's son as his father recounts the years of struggle faced by he and his wife, Anja. Art learns about his younger brother whom he never met and gains insight into why his father has struggled to forget the horrors of the past.

by Gene Luen Yang Lexile:  530 Genre:  Fantasy/Graphic Novel Jin Wang is the only Chinese American in his school and he wants desperately to fit in.  He is picked on by the other students constantly and then he falls in love with an American girl.  While Jin Wang's story is playing out, the reader learns also about one of the oldest Chinese fables - the Monkey King. the two stories play out in parallel and then converge in a way that weaves the ancient fable into a modern day high school drama about peer pressure, popularity, relationships, and identity.