Liar

Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books in 2009
384 pages
Warning: This novel contains sexual content, language, murder, and an unreliable narrator. Also, some scary images and narration which may scare younger readers (But I would not recommend this to students 14 and younger)
Genre: Friends and Society, Family, Mystery, Suspense

Micah is a compulsive liar; she openly declares her compulsion, and from the first page, we as readers do not know if we should trust her. Despite her continuous oath to tell the truth and not tell a lie, we find out she does. At school, her friend Zach has been murdered. The police are questioning Micah because of her habits, and believe (along with friends at school) she is a suspect. Fighting the accusations, Micah begins to reveal what we think is her true character.

This book will throw the reader for a spin! It is difficult to become engrossed in the novel when we are seeing things from the eyes of an unreliable narrator. Despite this, we become enthralled with the world that is Micah! Her lies press us to keep reading deeper into her world of deception. Form the first sentence to the last sentence, we don't know if we can believe anything Micah has told us. A definite, must read. I simply suggest allowing several hours to finish it in one sitting (and a good supply of CHEEZ-ITS); it's that good.

Looking for Red

Looking for Red by Angela Johnson
Published by Simon Pulse in 2003.
116 pages
Warning: smoking teens, language and death
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Magical Realism, Death

Looking for Red is the story of a young girl, Mike, whose brother has recently disappeared, and assumed to be dead. Not aware of how he died, the novel portrays the last moments Mike saw her brother and the healing process which takes place afterward. Mike truly "grows up" in the final two chapters of the novel, truly coming to grips with her brother's death.

Here is an excerpt from the novel:

"I stand on the beach sometimes and holler across the waves. And I don't think anyone even pays attention anymore. I've been doing it for so long that I can't remember when I didn't. So it came to me a while back that if I scream enough, he'll come back."

While Red, her brother, never returns as a mortal, be does visit Mike and other family members and friends as a spirit. His visits teach valuable lessons.

In the Middle of the Night

In the Middle of the Night by Robert Cormier
Published by Delacorte Press in 1995
182 pages
Warning: This book contains mild language, and mild scenes involving kidnapping and violence.
Genre: Mystery, Suspense

A suspenseful novel, this book opens with the story of two orphan siblings going to see a magician on a field trip with other school children. At the theater, a terrible accident happens. The balcony falls, killing 22 children. Haunted by the past, the Colbert family must deal with what happened that day because the father of the family may have contributed to the accident.

With twists at every corner, readers are left wondering and craving more information about mysterious phone calls-only mom or dad can answer-in the middle of the night. The end teaches readers a valuable lesson about becoming caught up in false vices, and sacrificing the good for these worthless fancies to pass time. I also love this novel because the family learns to face the truth of what happened, rather then composing a lie to tell themselves to lessen the grief of their involvement in the accident.

Overboard

Overboard, by Elizabeth Fama
Published by Dell Laurel-Leaf in 2002
158 pages
Warning: This book is mildly thematic and contains scenes which may be scary to some younger readers because of intense, survival situations.
Genre: Suspense, Adventure, Survival, Family

This book is about a family living in Sumatra with her parents, who work at a clinic in this country. Annoyed with her life and the stress of the hospital, she runs away from home, in Sumatra, without telling her parents. On the ferry to another island where she plans to meet her uncle, Emily meets another American couple. They talk and form a quick friendship. Unfortunately, the ferry capsizes. Emily, age 14, is suddenly placed in survival mode as she tries to survive the night in the ocean. Throughout the night, Emily encounters sharks, desperate people, and a young boy who needs her help to survive.

This book is wonderful. I love the following quote;

"Emily looked around in desperation. If only the rescue boats were here, if only someone could make them all calm, save them before they hurt themselves, make them do the right thing.

But what was the right thing? Emily didn't know.

She was crying now, heaving, hot sobs that made her choke on her own mucus" (39).

There is power, as Emily transforms from trying to protect herself, and think of her own survival, to the survival of others. This book is also empowering because at a young age of 14, Emily is able to help more then herself. For me, this book turned my eye away from myself and to others, and I know it can do the same thing for young adults. I also find that for young adults who are often obsessed with their own lives, this novel would also turn their eyes and focus towards others.