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Module 15 - Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Summary: Georgia Nicolson keeps a diary of her life, including running around with her best friend Jas, the antics of her half-wild cat Angus, fashion, makeup, and, of course, boys. Georgia falls for Robbie (the sex god), and Jas falls for his older brother, Tom. Robbie starts dating a girl a year ahead of Georgia in school, but eventually, he comes around, and he and Georgia are able to engage in the "full-frontal snogging" of the title.


Rennison, L. (2003). Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging, confessions of georgia nicolson. New York, NY: HarperTeen.

My Impressions: This book is hilarious. I, admittedly, have an affinity for British humor, and many American girls would need to use the helpful glossary in the back, but the humor still shines through. The reviews compare Georgia to Bridget Jones, but I honestly think she is funnier. I laughed out loud several times in just the opening pages. Georgia is an imperfect person, which is relieving to read. So many books have these perfect, idealistic protagonists. There were times, as an adult, I disapproved whole-heartedly of what Georgia does, but overall, she is a typical teenager. She professes to hate school, except for the social aspect of it, she is obsessed with fashion and appearing "edgy" to impress the boy she likes. She and her friends make up lists to rank activity with the boys, she gossips, and she is embarrassed by her family. Typical teen. She ultimately hooks up with the "sex god" of her dreams, just before her mother announces a trip to New Zealand. The rest of Georgia's adventures are in a series - ten books in all.

Reviews:
"The 'confessions of Georgia Nicolson' include plenty of laughable situations involving disappearing eyebrows, a stuffed olive costume, and other catastrophes in the life of an unusual 14-year-old girl. But it's Georgia's frenetic, yet witty narration that elicits the best moments, as she ruminates on boys, death, parents, self-improvement, cats, yoga, and countless other topics. Her self-centered dramatics are fun because she describes them honestly and with fresh language peppered with slang and often unintended irony. Audio version available from Recorded Books." -- School Library Journal

Engelfried, S. (2005). Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. School Library Journal, 51(6), 57.  Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6387192.html.

"Sincerest flattery was surely Louise Rennison's intention with this unabashed imitation of Helen Fielding's adult bestseller, Bridget Jones's Diary. Fourteen-year-old Georgia Nicolson's journal is just like Bridget's: improbable but undeniably funny, with our comic British heroine forever finding herself in embarrassing predicaments....As in Fielding's novel, it's personality rather than plot that carries the book, and while Georgia isn't quite as hilarious as Bridget, she's a close second....One edge this American edition has over its adult counterpart is that the Brit talk has been left in, with an appended glossary provided by Georgia herself. This teenage Bridget Jones will appeal to young readers more interested in the concerns of their own age group, and Rennison's fans, like Helen Fielding's, will be glad to know there's a sequel forthcoming. It does seem less like writing and more like copying, but Bridget herself would probably applaud the author's audacity." -- Horn Book

Branbander, J. M. (2000). Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging; Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. Horn Book Magazine, 76(3), 320-321.  

Uses in the Library: Teen Read Week. Display encouraging kids to journal about their lives.

Module 14 - Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales

Summary: This book is a compilation of ten gothic(ish) stories, selected by editor Deborah Noyes. They range from the classically gothic ("Lungewater," by Joan Aiken) to the tongue-in-cheek ("Forgotten Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire," by Neil Gaiman). The topics range from lost love to ghostly hauntings to tyrannical fathers to vampires to animal transformations.




D. Noyes (Ed.), (2004). Gothic!: Ten original dark tales Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.


My Impressions: As with any compilation, some stories are better than others. The opening story, "Lungewater," is the most quintessentially gothic piece, with a brooding hero, miscommunication, the metonymy of mood (dark, foggy weather, anyone?), and a hard to reach estate. However, it is a bit confusing, and while I understand why Noyes opened with the story, I think there were probably stronger options. "The Prank," by Gregory Maguire, is a modern take on the genre, told from the perspective of a young girl sent to stay with her great-aunt after committing a hate crime. She finds that her aunt has a good reason for wanting the girl to stay out of the attic. The horror and disgust the reader feels at the revelation of the secret is powerful. "Stone Tower," by Janni Lee Simner, is the story that will appeal most to teenaged girls. The story involves a tyrannical father who disapproves of the protagonist's boyfriend and turns him into a bird. The girl becomes a "good girl," hearing her father's voice direct her in everything she does. True love wins out in the end, and the lovers are reunited. Overall, this book will appeal to those in high school who lean a bit to the dark side.




Reviews:


"The slightly generic cover design and forthrightly generic title of this collection may lead many readers to expect shrieking heroines, dreary castles, lurking vampires, and other tropes of the gothic tradition. They wouldn’t be wrong, but they wouldn’t be exactly right, either. Sure, many of these original tales, by the likes of Joan Aiken, Neil Gaiman, Gregory Maguire, and Vivian Vande Velde,
ape the vocabulary of the genre ('necromancer,' 'escritoire') and play with its abundant clichés (a house has as many 'curses as it has spiders and silverfish'). But the maidens in peril still have to do
their homework; twisted events are as likely to transpire in American suburbs as in dreary castles (in M. T. Anderson’s exceptional 'The Dead Watch,' shapeshifting witches eat Triscuits and use ATMs); vampires whine about the garlic in the spaghetti sauce and then attack their babysitters. Ideal for high-school literature classes studying Shelley or Stoker (Gaiman’s smirking contribution, which toys with genre definitions, would work particularly well in the classroom), this collection also provides an excellent opportunity to introduce fans of Koontz, Rice, and King to some of the most imaginative exponents of YA dark fantasy." -- Booklist

Mattson, J. (2004). Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales (Book). Booklist, 101(4), 404. 


"These ten terrific tales are guaranteed to raise the hairs on your neck — and just possibly a scream in your throat. The well-balanced collection ranges in tone from dark humor to eerie mystery to true terror....Gothic, by definition, 'insists on the burden of the past,' writes Noyes in her introduction, and many protagonists here must pay for their own crimes—or even the crimes of others—with often-tragic results. Intrepid readers will relish the delicious shivers—but may want to keep the lights on." -- Horn Book

Adams, L. (2004). Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales. Horn Book Magazine, 80(6), 714-715. 

Uses in the Library: A companion lesson to Gothic literature, such as Frankenstein, or in a Halloween book talk.

Module 13 - Knights of the Lunch Table

Summary: Artie King is the new kid in school, and he's an unusual character. He alone is able to open the locker of legend. He has a science teacher, Mr. Merlyn, who acts as his conscience, he has good friends named Wayne and Percy and Gwen. This modernization of the Arthurian legends tells of an epic battle between Artie and his friends and the Horde in a match of dodgeball. Artie, in an effort to fit in, has over-exaggerated his skills on the court. He goes on quests to find a way for his team, the Knights, to win, including taming a "beast" and fetching a Swiss Army Knife for a mysterious older boy who rules Arcadia, the arcade at Hadrian's Mall. Artie and his team, through their virtuous natures, defeat the evil horde in the epic dodgeball match.

Cammuso, F. (2008). Knights of the lunch table: The dodgeball chronicles. New York, NY: Scholastic.

My Impressions: As the teacher of students who read Arthurian legends every year, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The adventures of Artie King and his friends are colorful, fun, and simply told, with plenty of tongue-in-cheek lines and inside jokes for those well-versed in the Arthurian legends, including "Hadrian's Mall," Artie's sister Morgan, the science teacher Mr. Merlyn, Artie's enemy Joe Roman, and allusions to former students Terry White (i.e., T.H. White, of The Once and Future King fame) and Tommy Mallory (i.e., Sir Thomas Malory, the chronicler of Arthur and his knights in Le Morte d'Arthur). The story is so engaging and so fun that I had to get the sequel.

Reviews:

"The funny, fast-paced tale of young Arthur's quest to defeat the bullies stands well on its own. The appealing illustrations are full of color, action, and life. Point new fans to one of the many retellings of the deeds of the Round Table while they wait for the second volume in the series." -- School Library Journal

Gallego, B. (2008). Knights of the Lunch Table. School Library Journal, 54(7), 119. Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/859403-427/graphic_novels.html.csp.

"...this full-color, action-packed graphic novel is classic hi-jinks that any kid who has ever been picked on will relish, especially when the nerds best the bad boys in a game notorious for humiliating the weak." --  Library Media Connection

Gorman, M. (2008). Getting graphic: Comic adventure for tweens.Library Media Connection, 27(3), 44. 


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Uses in the Library:

This is a great way to introduce younger students to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. It can also be used as an example for older students to take an old story and update it to modern times. 

Module 12 - Martin's Big Words

Summary: This is the story of Martin Luther King, Jr., told through the lens of some of his more famous words. From his youth, when he faced "Whites Only" signs on public places through his death in Memphis in 1968, the book uses King's words to continue his message of love and tolerance.

Rappaport, D., & Collier, B. (2008). Martin's big words, the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. New York, NY: Jump At The Sun.

My Impressions: This book is a brief, episodic history of Dr. King and his influence on the Civil Rights Movement. His "big words" helped shape him as a person and helped define a movement for equality in the United States. Almost every page has a situation described, then, in larger text, King's words. The pages turn suitably dark when the author describes the last couple of days in Memphis, ending on a picture of a stained glass version of King and the simple words, "His big words are alive for us today." This book is beautiful, well-written, and a great way to introduce the life of one of the greatest Americans.

Reviews:

"Elegant and accessible, this powerful homage to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and beliefs is illustrated with glorious collage art made of cut paper, photographs, and watercolors. The narrative is interspersed with quotes from King himself and raises questions about oppression, prejudice, racism, and overcoming violence in nonviolent ways. An evocative introduction to the man who championed racial equality and who 'taught others to fight with words, not fists.'"  -- School Library Journal

Ralston, J. (2003). Martin's Big Words (Book). School Library Journal, 49(10), 98.



"This is one book you can judge by its cover The space on the front jacket is entirely filled with a large, inviting portrait of a smiling Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the usual publication data (title, author, illustrator) are printed on the back. Inside, the text is a mix of Rappaport's finely honed biographical narrative and appropriate quotes from King himself, emphasizing the concept that from his youth Martin had sought to inspire others with his words, as he had heard his father do. The essential and pivotal events of King's life, including the early days of the civil rights movement, the march on Washington, and King's assassination, are presented in a straightforward yet moving style. The facts are extended by Bryan Collier's breathtaking collage illustrations, which dazzle, challenge, and inspire with their repletion of motifs (such as stained-glass windows) and the mixture of symbols and realism (as in the depiction of black Americans carrying a flag as they march for freedom). This exemplary biography of one of the great leaders of the twentieth century will remind another generation of the grandeur of his legacy." -- Horn Book

Burns, M. M. (2002). Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Horn Book Magazine, 78(1), 105-106

Uses in the Library: The obvious use is Black History Month, but it can also be used in speech classes to discuss the power of rhetoric.

Module 11 - Poop Happened!

Summary: This book is an anecdotal history of how humans have dealt with the topic of waste elimination throughout history, from the ancients through how astronauts go in space. The book discusses the (lack of) hygiene, diseases, and fashions of various times throughout history, albeit mostly in the Western World.

Albee, S., & Leighton, R. (2010). Poop happened!, a history of the world from the bottom up. New York, NY: Walker Books for Young Readers.

My Impressions: This is a fun book to thumb through, full of trivia about the ways humans have dealt with a serious topic often seen as taboo. The pages are visually appealing, although the book would be even more stunning in full-color. The puns are funny, the information interesting, and the writing very conversational. The gross-out factor is pretty high, so this book isn't for the faint of heart. However, the topic is dealt with fairly well, without too many graphic details left in to scandalize.

Reviews:

"With candid humor, this book spotlights an important aspect of history, discussing human waste, from prehistoric times to the present. Featuring photographs, reproduced images, and cartoons, Albee's exposé explores the spread of diseases, the history of plumbing, and cultural attitudes toward excrement and hygiene, along with delightfully uncouth anecdotes (French courtiers used the "feathers attached to the neck of a dead goose" to wipe their behinds). Descriptions of stinky 18th-century London and the plight of the great unwashed throughout time should leave readers grateful for their porcelain thrones and glad to have taken the down and dirty--but informative--journey. Ages 8-12."-- Publisher's Weekly

Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(18), 51. Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8027-2077-1.

"With a focus on the Western world in general and England in particular, the author touches on an array of topics from diseases such as cholera and plague to the development of increased sanitation in large urban areas such as London. The exciting format is comprised of a two-color (pastel green and blue) layout with numerous illustrations and photos. Interesting sidebars describe occupations and "hygiene heroes" such as Edwin Chadwick and bathroom fashion. The fluid writing style that ensnares and holds readers' attention from beginning to end. By bringing history alive, this captivating work is without a doubt an essential purchase." -- School Library Journal

Odom, B. (2010). Poop Happened!: A History of the World from the Bottom Up. School Library Journal, 56(5), 126.  Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/884743-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp.

Uses in the Library: Support for history projects or a display of "Gross-Out" books that might bring in some of the more reluctant boy readers.
 

Module 10: A Big Cheese for the White House

Summary: The town of Cheshire, Massachusetts is known for its cheese, so when word comes that President Thomas Jefferson is using cheese from Norton, Connecticut, to serve his guests, John Leland comes up with a big plan to put Cheshire back on the map. Gathering milk from nearly 1000 cows, the townspeople work together to make a cheese wheel that weighs over 1200 pounds! John Leland and Phineas Dobbs travel together to take the cheese to Washington, D.C., where they present the giant wheel to President Jefferson at his residence.


Fleming, C., & Schindler, S. D. (2004). A big cheese for the white house, the true tale of a tremendous cheddar. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).

My Impressions: The author sets a disclaimer at the beginning that all of the characters, except President Jefferson and John Leland, are fictional. The events are fictionalized, but a 1235 lb. cheddar was delivered to President Jefferson, where it lasted for years. The history is told as it needs to be: through the lens of the people involved in creating this mammoth cheese wheel. The story of the townspeople is engaging, and Phineas Dobbs, serving as the pessimistic foil to John Leland's optimist, is no less an engaging character for his dour predictions about the town's pet project. The author herself admits a few historical inaccuracies for the sake of story-telling, including calling Thomas Jefferson's presidential mansion "The White House," even though the White House wasn't called that for several years after the events of this book. This is a fun book to introduce kids to cheese-making and travel in the early days of the country.

Reviews:

"As she did in The Hatmaker's Sign, Fleming once again parlays a little-known historical nugget into a diverting picture book....With his finely detailed, droll pen and watercolor pictures, Schindler, who collaborated with Fleming on Madame LaGrande and Her So High, to the Sky, Uproarious Pompadour, wryly captures both the period flavor and tall-tale tone of the story. A satisfying, well-aged slice of American lore." -- Publisher's Weekly

A Big Cheese for the White House (August 30, 1999). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7894-2573-7.

"Sometimes, as this lively picture bock proves, truth is stranger than fiction. At the time of Jefferson's presidency, the folks in Cheshire, Massachusetts, home of the best cheese in the United States, "heard news that threatened to sour their curds forever."... How they solved problems...is a triumph of Yankee ingenuity documented in a reportorial, tongue-in-cheek style, extended in droll, elegantly limned pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations. The book is handsome — as pleasing to look at as it is delightful to read."  -- Horn Book

[A big cheese for the White House] [book review]. (1999). The Horn Book, 75(5), 594. 


Uses in the Library: This book would be great for a "slice of early American life" story time that includes a taste of traditionally made cheddar cheese (not the mass-produced and overly-processed cheese in Kraft singles). 

Module 9: They Never Came Back

Summary: Cathy is a young girl taking an intensive Latin course in a neighboring, well-to-do town. One day, during lunch, she is spotted by a boy named Tommy, who identifies her as his long-lost cousin Murielle. Cathy denies the claim, but the reader soon learns that Cathy is indeed Murielle, who disappeared when her parents were accused of embezzlement, ruining the lives of many around them. Cathy's classmates at the summer school take an intensive interest in her history and the case of her parents. They become convinced that Cathy is, indeed, Murielle. Once her cover is blown, the FBI hot on her parents' trail, Cathy must choose between her adoptive family and the aunt and cousins she left five years prior.

Cooney, C. B. (2010). They never came back. New York, NY: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

My Impressions: I really did not like this book. It tries to be a mystery, but it reveals the truth by chapter five. It tries to make me feel sorry for Cathy/Murielle, which I did, for a while, but I came to realize that she is as manipulative as her parents were. I am supposed to root for Cathy to get back with her rich family, but I would have rather she stay with her foster family, who love her unconditionally. I was really bothered by the scene where Cathy's younger foster brother is taken from the family, which crushes them. Not two days later, Cathy forsakes these people who have given her a good home for her rich aunt. I feel that her primary motivation, like that of her parents, is money. The ending, wherein Cathy's classmates make a MySpace page for her and her parents answer, is far-fetched, and the ultimate resolution, when Cathy tells them to "RUN" is out of character for a girl who, not a chapter before, had talked about how much she hated her parents for putting her through all this. An unsatisfying read.

Reviews:

"Cooney’s (The Face on the Milk Carton ) tightly constructed thriller teems with suspense and has a touch of romance. The third-person narration initially switches between Cathy and 10-year-old Murielle, who is coping with her parents’ flight, but like the story itself, it evolves and grows in complexity. Through a large cast of convincing characters, Cooney expertly plumbs the lingering emotional aftereffects of the Lymans’ actions, raising difficult questions about family, loyalty, and self. Ages 12–up." -- Publisher's Weekly

They Never Came Back. (January 11, 2010). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-385-73808-8




"Cooney has crafted another thriller with a lot of appeal. With chapters alternating between Murielle's past and Cathy's present, readers will speed through the pages. The book couldn't be more relevant in light of the Bernie Madoff scandal; Cooney's adaptation of a complex fraud story for this age group is interesting if one can look beyond some weaknesses. For example, Cathy's classmates at times come across as unrealistically invested in the possibility of Cathy being Murielle. This book will appeal to the same crowd that's been reading Cooney's reluctant-reader-friendly titles for years."
                                                                                       -- School Library Journal


Barnes, J. (January 1, 2010). They never came back. School Library Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6712875.html.

Uses in the Library: The climax of this book is a great discussion starter for Teen Privacy Week and encouraging students to be safe with their information online. 

Module 8: The Grimm Legacy

Summary: Elizabeth has been forced to go to a new school because her stepmother has coerced her father into paying for her daughters' educations instead of Elizabeth's. After writing a paper on the historical aspects of the Brothers Grimm works, Elizabeth's history teacher sends her to the New York Circulating Material Repository to work as a page. The Repository houses items, not books, that people can check out. Elizabeth soon earns the right to access to the Grimm Collection, a room that holds actual magical items from fairy tales, such as Snow White's stepmother's mirror and the seven-league boots. Something strange is afoot, however. The items start disappearing and are being increasingly replaced with non-magical ones. Elizabeth and her fellow pages must discover who is behind the thefts and how to stop them. 

Shulman, P. (2011). The Grimm legacy. New York, NY: Puffin


My Impression: This is a fun book for those well-versed in fairy tale lore. There is typical teenage drama, including unrequited crushes, popularity issues, and the ubiquitous "evil stepmother" conflict. Since the book is told from Elizabeth's perspective, the reader is taken along her journey of trusting, then mistrusting, then trusting her friends. We feel her jealousy at the other pages' romance and her embarrassment at Snow White's mirror revealing hidden feelings between her and another page. The pages break rules, subvert authority, and sneak around, but it is all for the best of the repository. Their adventure in saving the artifacts, and two of their friends' lives, is a fun adventure reminiscent of some of the best of children's fantasy.

Reviews:

"This modern fantasy has intrigue, adventure, and romance, and the magical aspects of the tale are both clever and intricately woven, from rhyming charms to flying-carpet rides. The author brings the seemingly disparate elements together in the end, while still making certain that her protagonist's problems are not completely solved by the world of magic. Shulman's prose is fast paced, filled with humor, and peopled with characters who are either true to life or delightfully bizarre. Fans of fairy tales in general and Grimm stories in particular will delight in the author's frequent literary references, and fantasy lovers will feel very much at home in this tale that pulls out all the stops." - School Library Journal


Menaldi-Scanlan, N. (June 1, 2010). Grades 5 & up: The Grimm Legacy. School Library Journal. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/884612-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp.


"Shulman (Enthusiasm) intermingles classic fairy tale elements and modern-day conflicts in this clever novel set in New York City. The story begins when teenager Elizabeth Rew lands a plum part-time job, working as a page in the "New-York Circulating Material Repository," an institution housing rare objects to be lent to an exclusive circle of patrons. The most secret and by far most interesting section of the building is the basement, where magic objects mentioned in the Grimm Brothers' tales are stored. Much to the librarians' dismay, however, some of these valuable items go missing. With the help of her fellow pages, Elizabeth gets to the bottom of the mystery, but catching the thief poses enormous danger and necessitates the aid of some powerful equipment, including Snow White's mirror, a pair of winged sandals, and a magical golden key. Mixing tongue-in-cheek humor (like the magic mirror's blunt appraisal of Elizabeth's beauty: "Bitsy Rew is brave and true./ A pity she's not pretty too") with suspense, Shulman conjures an enticing slice of magic realism that fairy tale buffs should relish. Ages 10–up." - Publisher's Weekly.

The Grimm legacy (June 28, 2010). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-25096-5.

Uses in the Library: This could be used to support a unit on fairy tales, or to highlight an often overlooked genre, urban fantasy. 

Module 7: If I Stay

Summary: Mia, a 17 year old cellist, is involved in a horrific car accident that kills the rest of her family. While Mia's body lies comatose in the ICU, her spirit must reflect on her life and her future and decide whether she should stay or move on. She deals with her insecurities, including whether to travel to Julliard or stay with her boyfriend in Oregon, her quality of life without her family, and what her leaving will mean to her grandparents and friends.

Forman, G. (2010). If i stay. New York, NY: Puffin.

My Impressions: This book hooked me. I was an orchestral musician in high school, although not as talented as Mia, and I was able to identify with her passion for music. The car crash scene was perfectly surreal and hyper-real simultaneously, and the rest of the book kept me eager to find out Mia's decision. The book is well-written, the characters real, and the debate in Mia's mind excruciating. Should she continue her life of such promise and be with her boyfriend, her best friend, her grandparents? Or should she succumb, forfeiting all the grief she'd feel knowing she was the sole survivor of her family's tragic car crash? Forman keeps you guessing until the end, and she makes a good case for both sides.

Reviews:

"Forman creates a cast of captivating characters and pulls readers into a compelling story that will cause them to laugh, cry, and question the boundaries of family and love....Readers will find themselves engrossed in Mia's struggles and will race to the satisfying yet realistic conclusion. Teens will identify with Mia's honest discussion of her own insecurities and doubts. Both brutal and beautiful, this thought-provoking story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned." - School Library Journal


Rashid, L. (May 1, 2009). Grades 5 & up: If I stay. School Library Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/857319-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp.


"Intensely moving, the novel will force readers to take stock of their lives and the people and things that make them worth living. Ages 14–up." - Publisher's Weekly.

If I stay. (March 2, 2009). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-525-42103-0.

Uses in the Library: Teen read week. It also might be useful as a conversation starter before prom, homecoming, etc., to discourage drinking and driving. Even though Mia's dad isn't at fault, the agonizing decisions Mia must make as she hangs between life and death might make some kids stop and think twice about driving drunk.