Go Ask Alice By Beatrice Sparks

Isabel Figueroa

Plot Summary

Go Ask Alice is written in the form of diary entries from an unnamed 15-year-old girl. The book goes deep into a teenage drug and sex addict's life all the troubles and mistakes she has made in life. Go Ask Alice is a true story but rearranged into different dates and different names.

Critical Evaluation

This book enters a teen's life, giving you a look into the teenage world and what some teens might go through when they are peer-pressured. This book won't solve teen problems for parents, and this book does not mean that all teens are like this. I give this book a 8 out of 10.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Whisper by Phoebe Kitandis

The Big Time by Tim Green

Providence By Jamie McGuire

The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer

Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez

Euphona by Lily King

Who I'm Not by Ted Staunton

Denton Little's Death Date by Lance Rubin

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary

Denton Little has always known he was going to die young.  Everyone in the future does, thanks to the group of "doctors, scientists, statisticians, and astrologers...who pioneered the field of Astro-ThanatoGenetics." What Denton didn't expect to happen on his death date is a surprising hook up with his best friend's sister, an attempted murder by his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, or a strange purple rash to spread across his body.  As he comes to accept his imminent death, he learns some startling truths about his family and the government that may help him survive his last day on earth.

Critical Evaluation

I give this book an 8 out of 10.  Lance Rubin is a really funny writer and makes Denton's observations on his death date both hilarious and moving.  Like a John Green protagonist, Denton knows he's going to die, so he has a unique perspective on teen life and relationships.  The strange things happening to Denton make for an intriguing mystery and build a lot of suspense. When the novel became more about a government conspiracy, rather than Denton's personal story of coming to terms with death, it lost me a little. I was also a little disappointed that the book didn't end (there's a sequel coming in the spring of 2016).

He Forgot to Say Goodbye by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Natalie Moreno

Plot Summary:
Teenage boys Ramiro Lopez and Jake Upthegrove could not be more similar to each other. Ramiro Lopez is an Mexican-American boy who lives in El Paso, Mexico, a very poor side of the country. Ramiro encounters many conflicts throughout his life but nothing as harsh as the passing of his brother, Tito, due to substances abuse. He tries his best to comfort his mom so that neither of them have to go through it alone. 
On the other hand, Jake is a rich American boy who lives in a mansion, drives a nice car, and has perfectly nice ironed clothes. You may ask what it is that these two boys have in common? Well both of these boys have grown up without a father. Relatively soon they become really good friends and see that they have a lot in common. One thing both boys tend to do is blame everything on their no good useless fathers.

Critical Evaluation:

I would evaluate this book a 10 out of 10 because it is a thrilling book that just makes you want to turn the pages and it prevents you from wanting to let go. Once you even begin reading this AMAZING book, you will understand the struggles that teenagers go through throughout their lives. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into suspense and likes relating to teenagers in any way, shape, or form. It is truly an amazing book and probably one of the BEST books I’ve ever read!

Quarantine-The Saints by Lex Thomas

Jonathan Rutiaga

Plot Summary

Quarantine: The Saints is the second book of the Quarantine trilogy.  In this book, Will and the loners are struggling to survive without David there to guide them.  The rest of the loners have joined new gangs, including Will who joins the new gang in school: The Saints.  The Saints are the new kids in the school who come to save them but come up short when the parents block the exit with a school bus.  With all the kids trapped in again, they get more ferocious and start to kill each other.

Critical Evaluation
I rate this book a 9 out of 10 because it keeps you turning pages all throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book if you like The Hunger Games or just want to read! 

That was then, This is now by S.E. Hinton

Jelly Saldivar

Plot Summary
Mark and Bryon have been friends since they were little. Bryon's mom wanted the most kids she could have, but only has Bryon. Mark's parents both shot each other in a drunken argument, and he has lived with Bryon ever since he was ten, and Mark was nine. Bryon's mom feels bad for Mark and lets him live with them. Ever since then, Mark has gotten into a lot of fights to let out his anger. He eventually starts to bring a lot of money home and Mark doesn't ask how, because he knows that it just makes Mark mad.

One day Bryon gets home really late and sees that Mark isn't home yet. Feeling stressed, he looks for a pack of cigarettes under Mark's bed. There he finds a cylinder shape thing, and when he opens it, pills come rolling out. He knows that they can't be for Mark because there were so many. That's when he finds out that Mark is selling drugs, and how he brings so much money back home.

Critical Evaluation
That Was Then, This Is Now has to be a 10 out of 10 because its such a great good book. It's a book that has action, love, sadness and suspense. I really like how the author wrote the book. It has a lot of details that when you read the book, you can picture it in your head. It's one of those books where you can put yourself in either Bryon or Mark's position, and go through all the rough times they go through. It's such a pager turner that before you know it, you will be done with the book.

The Child Called It

Odalis Rojas

Plot Summary

Dave Pelzer is a boy who is brutally beaten by his emotionally unstable mother. At age 7 he isn't able to go play with his brothers or play with kids his own age. He is starved and punished for being a "bad boy". Although he is starved and beaten, everyday he dreams of having that perfect family again. He keeps dreaming that one day he is going to be loved and cared again. During the book you feel the pain he is feeling, his loneliness and his fight to survive. This story will awaken you to the truth about child abuse and the ability to make a difference and stop child abuse.

Critical Analysis

I rate this book at 10 out of 10 because although the beginning of the story tells you what this story will be about, you still feel the pain of the character. During the whole book I was hooked and couldn't stop reading until the very end. Child abuse is a very serious topic and this book will make you want to change as a person. If you want a sad, heartbreaking story and this book is for you.