Stand Up for Something

Mena, the main character in Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande, is starting high school. Instead of anticipation, she is feeling dread. After a letter she writes leads to everyone she has ever known and cared about, including her church, being sued, she is left without friends or a church. Even her parents aren't very cordial to her. Things start to look up when she gets to her biology class where her assigned lab partner is someone she's never met before--a chance to start fresh. Plus the teacher makes biology fun and compelling. But when the members of her former church youth group decide to take a stand against the teaching of evolution, Mena has to decide whether or not to take sides publicly.

I really liked this young adult book and would recommend it for middle and high school. It would be a great discussion book about standing up for what you believe in, thinking for yourself and telling the truth no matter what the cost.

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature, by Robin Brande, 978-0-440-24030-3

Made me think of:
What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook

Special Kids

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork is about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome. An extremely high functioning boy with autism who goes to work at his father's law office over the summer. Marcelo had hoped to work with the ponies at his private school for kids with special needs but his father wants him to face the "real world" before his last year of high school so it's off to the mail room for Marcelo. Forced to leave the sheltered world of school and home, Marcelo finds himself confronted with more than just navigating the public transportation system and learning how the copy machine works. Instead he finds himself embroiled in moral dilemmas and personal relationships.

Marcelo is an extremely compelling character and his story is an unusual one in the world of teen literature. He may not be able to comfortably look people in the eye but his special interest in theology has given him a way to analyze situations that would be unusual for any teen but one that seems especially remarkable for a person who is unused to interacting with people. Recommended for mature middle school, high school and adults who work with children.

Made me think of:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time--another story about a boy on the autism spectrum

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, 978-0-545-05474-4

Mental Abuse, but Funny

Liam is Mr. Popularity. To his father, that is an insult. Because why be popular when you could be smart and successful? So even though Liam is good looking, friendly, a snappy dresser and a big help with his mother's retail business, he thinks of himself as a screwup. Hence the book's title: King of the Screwups by K. L. Going. After screwing up one too many times for his father, Liam is about to be shipped off to live with his repressive grandparents in Arizona. But then fate in the form of his cross-dressing, glam band rocker, radio dj uncle comes to the rescue. At first Liam doesn't feel very rescued. His uncle lives in an unkempt trailer in a small town. He doesn't like vegetables--a problem since Liam's a vegetarian. And he's not thrilled to have his nephew foisted on him. Even though this is a story about Liam gaining self-respect and understanding, it never feels formulaic. Liam has a unique voice and all the supporting characters are well drawn and interesting. As the reader, you know why Liam is Mr. Popularity and you never stop hoping he'll figure it out too.

King of the Screwups, a novel by K. L. Going, 978-0-15-206258-3