See Sparks Read

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green My rating: 4 of 5 stars "i don't know what freaks me out more- that i matter to him, or that he matters to me." -David Levithan Where to begin? I love this book. It is one of my absolute favorites. It's called Will Grayson, Will Grayson because it is about two different teenagers named Will Grayson. David Levithan authors the Naperville, IL Will Grayson. Naperville Will Grayson lives with his mother, is not affluent (he works to help pay the bills), does not have many friends, and was just betrayed by Maura, his closest friend. John Green authors North Shore Will Grayson, whose parents are doctors, who does what is expected of him, and who tries not to get noticed. He fails at trying not to get noticed simply by being best friends with Tiny Cooper. Tiny is best described in the words of North Shore Will Grayson: Tiny Cooper is not the world's gayest person, and he is not the world's largest person...

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen My rating: 4 of 5 stars At the start of this this enjoyable first-person narrative, Macy aims to be perfect. She doesn't want to rock the boat; her father's recent unexpected death has shaken her family enough. Told over the time period of a summer break, Macy is a clear example of a character that shows growth. Macy begins her summer with a perfect boyfriend, a college-application-worthy job, and dedication to her SAT studies. Though following a prescribed course, Macy isn't happy, though she doesn't realize this at first. When Macy meets Delia and her catering staff at one of her mother's events, Macy begins to crave change and joy in her life. Through her newfound friendships, Macy explores what she really wants in her life and she finds it's not always the expected. I struggle to put limits on the intended audiences of books. Sarah Dessen is an author of books for anyone who wishes to read them, not...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie My rating: 4 of 5 stars "If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing." -author Alexie as Arnold "Junior" Spirit Arnold "Junior" Spirit of the Spokane Reservation, or "rez", in Wellpinit, Washington, leaves his reservation to attend high school. He hitchhikes or walks to get there and back, as the opportunities he is afforded off the reservation are worth the 22 mile commute. Aside from academic opportunity, this may be Junior's ticket to leave the reservation and escape the fate of alcoholism that so plagues his community. This decision is not without consequences, of course, he sees himself as a "part-time" Indian and his relationship with his "rez" community is affected, especially with his best friend Rowdy. Through first-person narrative and the cartoons Junior draws, the reader both laughs at the humor and sinks ...

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven My rating: 5 of 5 stars "The thing I realize is that it's not what you take, it's what you leave." -Violet Violet meets Theodore Finch at the top of a bell tower. An unlikely pair, they become important to each other, Violet as she heals following the accidental death of her sister, Eleanor, Finch, as he attempts to stay "awake," as he puts it. Finch is struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. He has periods of darkness he cannot remember. During the course of the book, he appears manic, though I'm not sure a younger reader would pick up on the clues that he is suffering a mental health disorder, most likely manic depression. Told in first-person narrative, story is told through the viewpoints of both Violet and Finch. They become friends, then more than friends. Though Finch is hurting, he helps Violet emerge from her hurt. I really loved this book. I'd call it an Important Book. The themes of loss...