Category Archives: 2010

Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Thistle

Twice now, Sarah Dessen has surprised me. I don’t know why, but I keep thinking her books will be shallow and age-dated. Perhaps it’s the way her books are marketed, the covers on them and such. One way or another, … Continue reading →

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Love is the Higher Law, by David Levithan

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Thistle

Claire, Jasper, and Peter all experience the tragedy of 9/11 in different ways. They are all only barely connected – Claire goes to school with Peter, who meets Jasper at a party and makes a date with him not long … Continue reading →

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Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Thistle

Thirteen-year-old Esperanza has led a comfortable and sheltered life on her father’s ranch in Mexico. Her family has money and land. Esperanza has everything she could want, from servants to wait on her to her parents’ love. After tragedy strikes, … Continue reading →

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19 Varieties of Gazelle, by Naomi Shihab Nye

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Thistle

This small book of poetry is subtitled “Poems of the Middle East.” I first got interested in reading some of Nye’s poetry when I saw her at a poetry reading last year. I finally got this book around Christmas. Once … Continue reading →

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The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary Pearson

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Thistle

Jenna Fox is in a major accident and lives in a coma for 18 months. When she wakes up, she remembers nothing. Her family is very anxious for her to get better, but Jenna senses something is wrong. She struggles … Continue reading →

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Candide, by Voltaire

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Thistle

Candide is a satire from mid-1700s France. It’s one that’s always intimidated me. I thought it would be dense and difficult to read. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book was hysterical. Candide is a young student in … Continue reading →

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Sold, by Patricia McCormick

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Thistle

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives in poverty in a small village in Nepal. Her family sends her away to work as a maid in a rich family’s house, but in actuality Lakshmi is sold into prostitution in India. … Continue reading →

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Trance, by Linda Gerber

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Thistle

Ashlyn and her older sister, Kyra, see visions of the future. They go into trances and see random glimpses of images. While they see, they write number sequences that they can’t make sense of. They’ve never been able to stop … Continue reading →

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Bartleby the Scrivener, by Herman Melville

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Thistle

I know, I know. People hear “Herman Melville” and automatically want to run. I completely understand. I was forced to read Billy Budd in high school and I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I avoid Moby Dick like the plague. … Continue reading →

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Shine, Coconut Moon, by Neesha Meminger

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Thistle

Samar is Indian-American and has spent her life not knowing any of her family except her mother. When her uncle shows up a few days after the September 11th attacks, everything changes. Samar begins to question her past and wants … Continue reading →

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