Category Archives: Realistic

The Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

How many times have we all encountered a Riley? Someone dressed in a way that masks their gender and we don’t know, upon first appearance, if they are a boy or a girl?  As someone who works in high school, … Continue reading →

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Peas and Carrots by Tanita S. Davis

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

This book appears to be happy and cute; simple title, simple cover, but there is so much more inside!  This is a story told from alternating perspectives. Dess narrates half of the chapters and comes from a family of criminals.  … Continue reading →

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Tattoo Atlas by Tim Floreen

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Can you ever recover from witnessing a classmate shoot another classmate in the face point blank?  Unfortunately, these are tragedies that happen almost every day and after experiencing our own shooting on campus almost three years ago, I can say … Continue reading →

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Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Charlie has been let down by all of the adults in her life starting with her father who kills himself to her mother who grieves so selfishly that she starts to abuse Charlie.  Forced to live on the streets and … Continue reading →

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Dessert First by Dean Gloster

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Deserts usually make me happy, but not this kind of Dessert First.  This book is all the reasons why we should throw caution to the wind and start every meal with dessert first.  Kat is the narrator of this story … Continue reading →

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Breakfast with Neruda by Laura Moe

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Spending your summer before starting your senior year, the second time, could be better for Michael, who got expelled after attempting to blow up his best friend’s car in revenge for stealing his girlfriend.  Typical teenage problems, right? Wrong! While … Continue reading →

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When We Collided by Emery Lord

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Vivi and Jonah come from two very different families.  She has never met her father and has an artist mom who parents in a more unconventional, hands-off way.  Jonah’s father has recently died of a sudden heart attack leaving he … Continue reading →

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The Bombs that Brought Us Together by Brian Conaghan

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

Charlie Law is a pretty likable young man.  He knows he is a nerd, but that doesn’t stop him from never being late for school, enjoying reading, and being a nice guy.  He lives in Little Town, a fictitious place … Continue reading →

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The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Jessica Lorentz Smith

“‘I’ve been here,’ Scarlett said to no one. The others came in, too. She stopped at a red horse on a springy coil, the kind you sit on . . . and rock. Sarah was all panic. ‘Why don’t we … Continue reading →

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