Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Writing her unconventional pen pal, a Texas Death Row inmate, Zoe is trying to absolve herself of her sins.  In detail, she writes and shares with him the events leading up to the night of the murder, hoping he knows how she feels.  Depressed and unable to express her isolation from everyone, Zoe slowly writes down her story in an effort to reach out to someone who has done something as terrible as she has.   Through her confession the reader learns of the romance, deceit, and love Zoe shows.  Zoe's voice describes the setting of England through her voice and use of dialogue. Humorous at times, but heartbreaking still, Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher is a surprisingly fulfilling romance novel.  It is labeled young adult for mature relationships and language.  Honestly, after reading this, I was asking why it was titled, Ketchup Clouds.  I should read it again because I remember only one reference to the clouds.

Flipped by Wendelin VanDraanen

Known for the Sammy Keyes mystery series, Van Draanen Brings us a romantic comedy in the novel Flipped.  Told in alternating voices, each chapter is told from the perspective of Julie or Bryce.  Acquaintances since the second grade, their relationship has been filled with ups and downs.  Julie fell hard for Bryce, while he just ran the other way.  Now in the eighth grade, Bryce is feeling as though Julie is the one, but Julie is seeing Bryce for who he truly is after avoiding her for six years.  Filled with miscommunication and missed opportunities, the novel is great for both boys and girls who have ever had to read social cues and totally missed them.  This book was also made into a movie.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Sarah Byrnes has issues.  Her friend Eric also has issues.  Sarah was burned when she was a little girl leaving her with horrible scars.  Eric has emotional scars from his childhood of being a "fat kid".  Thrown together because of their "issues", Eric and Sarah are truly the best of friends.  After her mother up and leaves, Sarah lives with her father.  The novel begins with Eric visiting Sarah in a hospital where she is refusing to speak to anyone.  A swim team member, Eric works out on a daily basis, losing his extra weight.  Sarah on the other hand cannot lose her scars.  Eric, a journalist of the high school's underground newspaper, must uncover the truth behind Sarah's refusal to speak, why her father doesn't want her to speak, and the true reasons behind her mother's disappearance.  Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher not only highlights the friendship between these two characters, but also keeps the reader in suspense not knowing the turn of events at the novel.  This novel is young adult due to mature content and violence.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

When Summer's Aunt May unexpectedly passes away, summer enlists the help of her Uncle Ob and her friend Cletus to work through her feelings of grief,  the three set off on an adventure to find a medium who will help them to connect with May.  Looking for a definitive answer in why May had to leave suddenly, Summer, Cletus, and Ob lear to deal with their grief on their journey to reconnect with May.  A Newberry Award winner, Missing May is a novel in which the characters are dynamic and tell a heartwarming story.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Peer pressure can make you do crazy things.  In Speak, the main character, Melinda, attends the 8th grade end of the year party where her friends are drinking.  Melinda calls the cops, says nothing, and they trace the call, breaking it up.  Oblivious to the reasons behind the call, her friends refuse to speak to her because they think she ratted them out.  But that's okay.  Melinda isn't talking at all--to anyone. She has built up her walls and walks around school, aching for her friends, unable to face the reality of what has happened.  Melinda's parents are concerned while her teachers are both concerned and frustrated.  In this realistic fiction novel, Laurie Halse Anderson delivers a reality of secrets, shame and coping strategies.  Not only should students read this book, but teachers, counselors, parents, EVERYONE should read this book.  We all know a Melinda.  Readers will be shocked at the ending.  Speak is classified as young adult for mature content and mild language.  Made for t.v. movie complete with Kristen Stewart, lead actress in Twilight and comedic actor, Steve Zahn.

Divergent By Veronica Roth

Normally I would not rate a movie with a book I have read.  Inevitably the book will always be better then the movie.  This particular book, Divergent by Veronica Roth, was identical to the movie.  Let me say first, I read the book years before I saw the movie.  I loved it. It took some goading by some 7th grade students before I read the book due to its science fiction label.  I thought of Spock and Luke Skywalker who immediately turned me away from science fiction.  However, Roth does something amazing with her female protagonist to surprise me.  By investing the reader in a character emotionally, she creates Beatrice, or Tris as she comes to be known, a girl who has mental and physical strength and is not afraid to go for what she wants.  Tris becomes a dystopian heroine.  Born into the Abnegation Faction, Tris and her brother must choose which faction they will live out their life serving.  By not choosing their parents' faction, they risk never speaking to their family again.  Once factions are chosen, they are expected to go through the initiation period of the faction.  If they fail during the initiation period, they will become factionless and live on the edge of the city, similar to the homeless people of our society.  The factions, Dauntless, Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, and Candor become the lives of the people.  However with governmental unrest and friction between the factions, the novel has complex plot and edgy action.  The book is the first in the trilogy followed by Insurgent (spoiler alert) and Allegiant.  Although I loved, loved, loved, the first book, I have no desire to read the second or third.  I feel that no book could reach the invested interest this one did.  Maybe before the next movie is released, I will read the book.  Maybe.

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Sam Kinnison, a high school academic prodigy obsessed with horror movies, is happy living in his geeky bubble at Bowen Lakes Secondary (BLS) in the suburbs of Australia.  His close knit circle of friends includes a karate expert, a self-proclaimed Tolkien expert, and a girl who is able to find the best in anyone.  When Camilla Carter, daughter of a famous musician/journalist, moves to town, the dynamic of this group is overturned.  Normally excluded by the A-listers, Camilla bridges the gap between the geeks and popular kids.  At first unwilling to accept Camilla, Sam reluctantly accepts her invitation to a study group and eventually some online gaming.  In Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil, friendships are tested, relationships grow, and love reigns.  This book tested my 10% Rule (The rule that says, "If I read 10% and don't like it, stop reading.")  It had one major romance plot, but also some mini plots that kept suspense building.  I like the fact it was the group of underdogs the new girl chose to befriend.  As a character, I liked Camilla more at the end, than at the beginning.  Young adult rating on this novel is due to language and relationship issues.

Water Street by Patricia Reilly Giff

Reading Counting on Grace as O.N.E. book sparked an interest in the late 1800s to early 1900s.  In this novel, Water Street Bird Mallon lives in an apartment in Brooklyn that overlooks the towers that will eventually become the Brooklyn Bridge.  Her mother, Nory, is a healer who helps the neighborhood in times of medical need.  Thomas and his father move in upstairs to the dismay of Bird who would much rather have a girl move into the apartment.  Keeping his secrets and writing about Bird in his journal, Thomas forges a friendship with Bird. After a scary and life threatening event, Bird doesn't know what she wants from life.  This coming of age novel is a tender story of a strong family who works together in surviving their circumstances.  Patricia Reilly Giff creates one story in her series of novels about Nory Mallon's family.

Weight of Water By Sarah Crossan

I hadn't read a novel written in poetry since Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff.  I loved the book because Wolff built the characters and setting so subtly.  When I picked up The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan, I was expecting a similar book.  This novel made sure I kept turning the pages.  Kasienka, a Polish girl who lives with her mother, has moved from Poland to England.  As her mother searches for her estranged husband, Kasienka's father, the relationship Kasienka has with her mother crumbles.  Not only does Kasienka struggle with her mother, but she also is troubled by the way she is treated at school.  Unable to fit in, she takes to the water of the pool, swimming to escape the cruel and harsh words of the kids at her new school.  This novel tells of a girl for whom all love was lost, but wakes up to find herself surrounded by the courage to keep going.