Three teens embark upon a cross-country journey in order to escape from a society that salvages body parts from children ages thirteen to eighteen.

Liz says:

“To say this book is thought-provoking, entertaining and amazing is to put it mildly. This is a page turner. The characters are so real and their stories so gripping, you cannot put it down!”

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot.

Liz says:

“This is a must read for 8th grade boys and older – 9th grade may even be more appropriate. Adults should read this too. Junior’s humorous, irreverent voice and drawings give a hard, honest look at life on a Reservation. This story is semi-autobiographical.”

Seventeen-year-old Vince’s life is constantly complicated by the fact that he is the son of a powerful Mafia boss, a relationship that threatens to destroy his romance with the daughter of an FBI agent.

Liz says:

“This hilariously funny book is a modern day version of Romeo & Juliet without the tough language and the horrific tragedy! You will be laughing from the first scene.” (Sequel – Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle)

While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.

Liz says:

“Walter Dean Myers is one of the best authors for young adults. This is a masterpiece (note the 3 awards.) Myers used to be a journalist and interviewed a lot of criminals. In telling this story, Myers narrates the book in 2 totally distinct formats. We are shown Steve’s journal that he keeps in prison, allowing us to hear his voice and his inner thoughts. Then, we are shown a film transcript of the trial as recorded by Steve. Myers says that when he used to interview criminals they spoke of their crimes in the 3rd person and that is how he came up with the concept for this book. This, along with photographs by Myer’s son Christopher, makes for a poignant story of stereotypes and justice. This is a must read and I recommend it for 7th grade and up.”

Stuck working in the lost and found department of the Toronto Transit Authority for the summer, seventeen-year-old Duncan finds the diary of a serial killer and sets out to stop him.

Liz says:

“This is a great, edge of your seat suspense story. Prepare to be scared and to question whether there is justice in the end.”

Through interviews and letters, tells the fictional story of two boys who hold their classmates hostage at a high school dance, and offers facts about guns and school violence throughout the story.

Liz says:

“Readers are shown the planning, implementation and aftermath of a school shooting from the perspectives of the shooters, students, teachers and faculty. This harrowing story is told intelligently and provides notes at the bottom of pages that offer startling facts about guns and school violence in this country.”