A younger sister has a difficult time adjusting to life after her older sister has a mental breakdown.

Liz says:

“Through beautifully written free verse poems, Sones recounts the year that her sister was diagnosed as a manic depressive.”

When her sixteen-year-old sister is hospitalized for depression and her parents want to keep it a secret, fourteen-year-old Elena tries to cope with her own anxiety and feelings of guilt that she is determined to conceal from outsiders.

Liz says:

“Told with extraordinary directness, this is the story of the impact of Depression on an entire family. With a true economy of words, Schumacher deftly portrays each multi-dimensional character allowing for complicated emotions and relationships.”

When she is almost sixteen years old, Rosemary decides she is sick of being overweight, mocked at school and at Heavenly Hair–her mother’s beauty salon–and feeling out of control, and as she slowly loses weight, she realizes that she is able to cope with her mother’s cancer, having a boyfriend for the first time, and discovering that other people’s lives are not as perfect as they seem from the outside.

Liz says:

“This story has the magic of being able to make you laugh and cry from one page to the next. Tackling tough issues of self-image and self-esteem with unflinching reality and humor, Supplee has written a delightful book that is sure to be a winner with 7th and 8th grade girls.”

While traveling to each corner of the country to build a whirligig in memory of the girl whose death he caused, sixteen-year-old Brian finds forgiveness and atonement.

Liz says:

“This is an unforgettable book that will touch your heart and really make you think about the power of forgiveness and redemption even in the face of great tragedy.”

In 1990, thirteen-year-old John “Spud” Milton, a prepubescent choirboy, keeps a diary of his first year at an elite, boys-only boarding school in South Africa, as he deals with bizarre housemates, wild crushes, and embarrassing parents.

Liz says:

“This hilariously irreverent book offers an uproariously funny look at post-Apartheid South Africa through the eyes of one of the most lovable characters ever created.”

Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family’s struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

When sixteen-year-old Jason Bock and his friends create their own religion to worship the town’s water tower, what started out as a joke begins to take on a power of its own.

Liz says:

“This is a thought-provoking read for teens interested in the role of religion in their lives and others. This is an exceptionally well-written and intelligent book.”

The story of how Vahan Kenderian survived the Turkish massacre of the Armenians in 1915.

Liz says:

“This is a gripping, brutal look at the Armenian Genocide that is not for the feint of heart. Vahan, who is based on the author’s uncle, is an amazing character who endures the deepest levels of deprivation but survives both physically and mentally. Ultimately, this is a story of survival.”

A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda’s freshman year in high school.

Liz says:

“Melinda Sordino is one of the most memorable characters ever. She narrates her story through snapshots/scenes which are divided into the 4 quarters of her 9th grade year. The format and the story are compelling. This is a must read for girls.”