The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

 The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson-416 pages

This is a modern twist on Carrie by Stephen King. Maddy Washington lives in a small town in Georgia where the black kids and the white kids have separate proms. Maddy's papa is a religious zealot who doesn't want anyone to know his secret, which is that Maddy is mixed race. Her mother was black. Her mother is no longer around, however, so she's raised with an "iron fist" by her papa. One day the kids at her school find out that she's part black and make fun of her hair that has poofed out due to rain. Maddy has another secret, though. One that even her papa seemingly doesn't know about. She is telekinetic. She can move things with her mind. Jules, a senior cheerleader and a racist bully, comes to a rally in blackface to make fun of Maddy. Jules is then suspended for her last week of high school and no longer admitted to her dream college, Texas A&M. Jules blames Maddy and wants to get revenge. She plans a horrific prank for the integrated prom. Kenny, the black football star quarterback, invites Maddy to Prom at the prodding of his white girlfriend, Wendy. Kenny slowly fall in love with Maddy and her with him. Everything goes horribly wrong at the first ever Springville integrated prom after Jules's prank on Maddy succeeds. Death and other horrors abound and few escape alive. Is Maddy Washington one of them who escapes alive? Did she really kill all of those people with her mind? I really liked this modern retelling of Carrie with echoes of current events, especially involving ongoing racism/race relations.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green-221 pages; Michael L. Printz Award Winner, 2006

I liked reading both The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, so when I saw this won the Printz Award I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. I liked this novel a lot. One review compared Miles Halter (aka "Pudge") to Holden Caulfield, but I liked Miles way better (I did not enjoy reading Catcher in the Rye at all). Alaska is a fairly realistic story that teens can relate to and I liked how John Green dealt with death and how teens (and adults) cope with losing someone close. Additionally, the characters had depth and were relatable, if not likeable. I would recommend this book to anyone into Teen/Young Adult fiction.

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green - 311 pages

Quentin has been in love with next door neighbor Margo for most of his life.  Then one night she climbs in his bedroom window and takes him along on a night of pranks and revenge.  The next day she disappears.  Quentin follows a string of clues to find the real Margo.

I read this book as part of a book club with some friends.  I must admit that if I didn't have to finish the book for the book club I probably would not have finished reading it.  I found the story to be completely predictable.  Like in most John Green books the characters are very introspective and learn a lot of about themselves throughout the story.  Also like most John Green characters, they are very self-involved and egotistical.  I thought it interesting that the others in the book club were surprised and disappointed by the ending.  I thought it was typical of the way the author ends his books and they way that I wanted it to end.

Paper Towns won the 2009 Edgar Award for best Young Adult Mystery.