If I stay, by Gayle Forman

Don't start reading If I stay until you have time to finish it. If you are like me, you won't want to put it down. Several of you told me that I needed to read this one, and you were so right, I do love this story. The story concerns Mia, a 17-year-old girl and classical musician, who is the sole survivor of a car crash that takes the lives of her entire family. Badly wounded in the crash, the story takes place in the space of 2 days while Mia is hovering between life and death. In flashbacks we get to know her parents, little brother, her best friend, and her indie-rock boyfriend, among others. Yes, it's a sad story, but it is more than that. The relationships are real and interesting - her parents relationship, her friendship with Kim, and especially the romance between her and Adam - all are important to the story. The end is hard hitting. I won't give it away here though.

The movie rights have been sold for this book, and Catherine Hardwicke, the director of Twilight, will be directing this movie. Bring hankies.

Bait, By Alex Sanchez

Alex Sanchez dedicated this book "To the one in six boys and one in four girls". He is refering to current national statistics that say this is how many suffer childhood sexual abuse. Sanchez worked as a youth counselor and probation officer for years before becoming a writer, and his experiences are put to good use in Bait - writing a believable story of a high school boy who is struggling to move on to adulthood haunted by past abuse. Sanchez brings understanding and hope to a tough subject that is well worth thinking about. Read that dedication again.

Outlaw : the legend of Robin Hood, by Tony Lee

This is the backstory of Robin Hood, beginning with his childhood when he meets a friend of his father who is a famous outlaw. When that friend is arrested, his father is helpless to save him, and in front of a horrified young Robin his father does the best he can do - shooting his friend to death and thereby saving him from torture and humiliation. The child witness to this drama, young Robin, vows to grow up a master with a bow and sword - to never be as helpless as his father. And so he does grow up, setting the stage for his future as the rebel leader of a band of outlaws who defy the false King John and live by their own law.

The graphic novel illustrations add an emotional depth to the telling of this legendary tale of integrity versus law. For a more in depth telling, take a look at the Raven King Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead - also new to CHS library this year.

Gentlemen, by Michael Northrop

I liked the voices in this one - these 4 boys are from troubled families, failing in school, sometimes violent, distrustful of everyone except each other. Then one of the four disappears without a trace, and parents, then police, begin questioning the remaining three. The three have questions of their own, and their suspicions begin to fall on one suspect. Could their English teacher really have killed their friend? And if so, who can they tell - would ever believe their suspicions?

Pressures mount to unbearable levels, and soon even the bonds of friendship and loyalty begin to fray. The mystery is enough to keep the reader involved in this book, and the ending won't disappoint.