A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

There were all kinds of stories told about the war that made it sound as if it was happening in a faraway and different land.

The memoir of a child turned soldier in Sierra Leone's civil war. Ishmael's description of his time as a soldier is disturbing, frightening and eye opening. After 3 years, he is rescued and rehabilitated and returned to live with family. When war reaches him again, he moves to the US.

An amazing account from such a young man. The book would be appropriate for mature younger adults because of the detailed account of a soldier's life. The rehabilitation and transformation of Ishmael would make this a valuable tool in demonstrating hope, belief and the strength of self. I think there was talk of the account being 'fictionalized' and maybe that is true but the story is too compelling not to read.

Over the last few months, I have found many books that are adult but appropriate for young adults and vice versa. This book is an example of this. It is found on the adult shelves but I have come across numerous accounts from young adult librarians that this book flies of the shelves.

Beah, I. (2007). A long way gone: Memoirs of a boy soldier. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 0374105235
240 pages

Wasteland by Francesca Lia Block

We keep burning in the brown smog pit.

Siblings Marina and Lex have an unusually close bond that results in a sexual encounter one night. Lex cannot live with the guilt and commits suicide. Marina suffers through her grief only to find out that Lex was adopted.

I felt uncomfortable reading the story once I understood the allusions to incest. I didn't see the ending coming which is a compliment to the author. I found the book hard to read at first because there were multiple narrators and journal excerpts.

Block, F.L. (2003). Wasteland. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
ISBN: 0064408396
150 pages

Sabriel by Garth Nix

It was little more than three miles from the Wall into the Old Kingdom, but that was enough.

Sabriel is sent a mysterious message from her father, a necromancer, while she is at school. She immediately sets off to rescue her father from Death and finds the Old Kingdom at war with the undead. Sabriel will use all of her knowledge and power to fight with the help of some unusual friends.

This novel started slow, very slow but did get better. Sabriel is a strong character but still has the vulnerability found in teenagers.

Nix, G. (1995). Sabriel. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 0060273224
292 pages

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.

Ponyboy's world is shaken when in the middle of a rumble his friend kills a rival gang member and he joins his friend in hiding. Ponyboy realizes that death, sadness are universal irregardless of the gang membership and this realization threatens his identity. Themes of violence, love, hate, tension, identity, friendship, solidarity and rivalry.

Whenever I think of The Outsiders, I see Ralph Macchio and hear his recitation of Robert Frost's poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay". Rereading the book did not change this - darn Hollywood!

Hinton, S.E. (1997). The outsiders. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
ISBN: 014038572X
180 pages

Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy by Louisa May Alcott

The unforgettable story of the four March sisters and their lives during the Civil War. We see these sisters mature and find love and heartbreak over the course of the book.

I have been rereading this book every few years since I was in fourth grade. The March sisters are like old friends. I read it this time in comparison t0 all the other books I have been reading in this "childrens" portion of my contract. I think the story would be difficult for some readers to sit through. It is slower paced and very descriptive. Depending on the mood a child was in, it might not be a hit.

Alcott, L.M. (no date). Little women. Garden City, NY: International Collectors Library.
No ISBN

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier

Tim is torn when the Revolutionary War comes to his home and his brother and father are on different sides. Tim isn't sure his brother is on the right side and sides with his father. The consequences of war are felt by the family on both sides.

Heart-breaking story. I do not enjoy reading history and especially not military history. However, this book captured my attention. I can imagine it would be a hit with boys especially reluctant readers.

Collier, J. L. and Collier, C. (2005). My brother sam is dead. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN: 0439783607

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Fifth grader Jess has been practicing all summer to win the school race. Newcomer Leslie beats Jess and afterwards the two become inseparable, best of friends, despite being a girl and boy. They create a make believe world of Terabithia reached by a rope swing where they reign as king and queen. One day, Leslie goes to Terabithia and a terrible accident happens. Jess suffers through guilt, grief and rage before reaching acceptance.

Themes of friendship, love and loss are found in the story.

This book has been challenged frequently because of the sudden death and religious references. I believe that the religious references are demonstrative of people found in this setting. The death took me by surprise when I read the book. I can understand the impulse to protect a child from learning of death. When the time comes, this would be a good book to begin the conversation of how to deal with it.

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to terabithia. New York, NY: Harper and Row, Publishers.
ISBN: 0064401847
Illustrated by Donna Diamond