High School Reads!

 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 Kelly Yang Genre:  Realistic Fiction When wealthy Asian parents send their children to study in the US, they are know as "parachutes".  Claire Wang never thought she would be one, but unexpectedly her parents have decided to ship her off to LA so that she can go to high school there.  Claire is used to her privileged life...she has never cleaned up after herself or done the laundry.  So when she is parachuted in her host family's life, she is unprepared for the small room and the chores she is suddenly responsible for while living with Dani and her mom.  At first, Dani and Claire seem to have nothing in common, but as the school year progresses, they find their separate lives converging in several places.  Will these experiences bring them together or farther apart?

 by Elizabeth Acevedo Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse Camino Rios lives in the Dominican Republic.  Yahaira Rios lives in New York City.  Neither one knows of the others existence, but they both learn on the same day that their father has died in a plane crash.  Their lives have no changed forever and as they begin to learn more about their father, it becomes clear that the two will have to meet even if they aren't sure they want to.  Their father's wish was to be buried in the Dominican Republic and even though Yahaira's mother has said they will never go there, Yahaira decides that she has to see her father home and meet the sister she never knew she had.

by Kekla Magoon Genre:  Realistic Fiction Thirteen year old Shae is walking home at dusk.  She's wearing her winter coat and has her headphones on.  A police officer tells her to stop and when he doesn't, he pulls out his gun and shoots her, and Shae never makes it home that night.  The rest of the story is told from multiple perspectives...people who knew Shae, people who new the officer.  There are always two sides to every story, but some stories never get to be told.

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 Hannah Moskowitz Genre:  Realistic Fiction Isobel has one guiding principle:  no dating.  And she has been successful following that one rule until she happens to meet Sasha.  When she learns that she and Sasha both have chronic illnesses, she wonders if this might be a person that will require her to break her rule.  At first Isobel resists, but eventually she is won over by Sasha's persistence and agrees to give dating a try.  Will this be something she regrets or will this be something that will expand her world in ways she never thought possible?

by Sarah Miller Lexile:  1110 Genre:  Biography On May 28, 1934, 5 identical girls were born and their combined birth weight was 13 pounds, 6 ounces.  They were born in a farm house in Ontario, Canada where only primitive medical care was available.  Yet somehow, against all odds, the 5 girls survived and became known all around the world as The Quints.  Unfortunately, the worldwide attention wasn't always positive and forced their parents to make difficult decisions regarding their upbringing.  The Dionnes had limited money and resources and were convinced to surrender their parental rights to the government so that they could get the care they needed.  That was a decision that would ultimately tear their family apart.