Nothing but the Truth (and a few White Lies)

Headley, Justina Chen. Nothing but the Truth (and a few White Lies). Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0316011310

Plot
Patty Ho is a hapa: half Taiwanese and half white. Her parents are divorced and her mother is always more than willing to explain why white men are no good. Her mother is also very, very strict and has signed up Patty for a Standford math camp for the summer. Now away from her mother's clutches Patty has a chance to be herself and figure out what she wants in life.

Critical Evaluation
Headley has a talent of creating characters with flaws and still have them liked by the reader. Patty comes into the story being very unsure of herself. Later she is able to grow more comfortable in her skin and stand up for herself and what she wants. This book had a bright and upbeat tone. The story is not exceptional, b,ut it is still an enjoyable book that teens, especially those with mixed backgrounds will appreciate.

Reader's Annotation
Patty Ho just found out that her mom signed her up for a Standford math camp for the summer. Begrudgingly Patty goes, but finds herself an opportunity to find out about herself and what she wants.

About the Author
Justina Chen Headley was born in Buffalo New York and later moved to California. She wrote her first fifty page novella when she was just eight years old. She attended Standford and worked for Microsoft for several years. After a while she realized she missed writing and took a novel-writing course.

She has written four books for children and teens. Her book North of Beautiful has received rave reviews. She is married and has two kids.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Chinese Americans
Generational Gap
Coming of Age

Book Talking Ideas
When did you sense Patty started getting more confident?
How do you think about the relationship between Patty and her mom?
Do you agree with the thinking of Patty's mom?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issues
Sexual reference, swears

Challenge Answer
The language is very sparse and mild. The sexual reference is just in one scene of the book and it is implied.

Why Included in Selection
It was interesting to read a book with a mixed heritage individual as the protagonist.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0316013697.

Plot
Arnold Spirit, otherwise known as Junior loves to draw cartoons. He also lives with his family on the Indian Reservation in Spokane Washington. At the rez, everyone takes care of each other, but that does not mean that they do not struggle. His parents mourn the lack an education and many friends and family fall victim to alcoholism. Hoping for a better chance he enrolls in a school outside of the rez. There he deals with his identity, difference in culture and finding himself and his roots in the process.

Critical Evaluation
This book is down right hilarious. The narrative is witty, fast and flows very well. Teens will love the silly illustrations that go along with the story. Even though Junior does talk about serious racial issues, personal losses and social problems the book is written with hope and the ability to literally laugh things off. There are also great messages about being able to go for your dreams without forgetting about your roots.

Reader's Annotation
Junior is born and raised in the rez. He deals with problems such as economic inequality, racism and alcoholism in his family and community. However he decides to make things better for himself by enrolling in a school outside of the rez. Suddenly Junior is learning a lot about himself, others and cultures in addition to his classes.

About the Author
Sherman Alexie Jr is a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian who grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He attended Gonzaga University and then transferred to Washington State University. At first he was studying to be a doctor , but decided to pursue writing instead.

Alexie has written several essays, books and poetry. He is the recipient of the Before Columbus Foundations' American Book Award as well as the Murray Morgan prize.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Native American
Social Issues
Economic Inequality

Book Talking Ideas
Why do you think Junior has the tendency to laugh so much and at everything?
What did you learn about life on the rez?
Why did the basketball game seem so important to Junior?

Reading Level/Interest Age
15+

Challenge Issues
Swearing, sexual references, racism

Challenge Answer
The questionable material is not included in the story for shock factor, it was to tell the story of a kid growing up and dealing with regular teenage issues.

Why Included in Collection
This is a funny and touching book that would open teen's eyes to other cultures and ideas in America.

Chinese Cinderella

Mah, Adeline Yen. Chinese Cinderella. Laurel Leaf, 2001. ISBN-13: 978-0440228653.

Plot
Adeline is the youngest of five children in a wealthy family in China during the 1940's. Her father has married again after Adeline's mother has just passed away. Since she is the youngest and a girl, Adeline is not considered worth much by society and her family. Her parents constantly neglect or forget about her while she endures being the victim of her older sibling's tricks. The readers follow Adeline as she strives to look for sources of comfort in this hostile environment.

Critical Evaluation
The narrative of this story is simple. Teens will appreciate the clarity of the writing and will be able to focus more on the story of the book. The story is depressing, however Adeline does show resolve in finding her own worth and rise above the trials she experiences.

Reader's Annotation
After Adeline's mother gave birth to her she passed away. Since then Adeline has been considered as bad luck and has been treated as such by her whole family. However, despite the bad treatment Adeline is determined to make something of herself and works hard to find a way out.

About the Author
Adeline Yen Mah was born in Tianjin China. At the age of fourteen she won a writing contest which helped convince her father to let her go to England to study. She later graduated from medical school as a physician and started her own successful practice in California.

She wrote her first book based after her experiences after her stepmother's death. This book, Falling Leaves became a hit and Mah quickly gave up medicine to pursue writing full time. She is married and has two children.

Genre
Nonfiction

Curriculum
Autobiography
Chinese culture
Coming of Age

Book Talking Ideas
Do you think a lot of our actions and perspectives are shaped by superstitions?
What helped Adeline find comfort and a sense of worth?
Why would you think Adeline's stepmother would segregate the family?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issues
Accounts of neglect and abuse are included in the text.

Challenge Answer
Mah writes what really happened in her life. Also, readers are able to see the negative impact of abuse and neglect of children.

Why Included in Selection
It is a well written autobiography that gives insight to another culture.

Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

Dumas, Firoozeh Jazayeri. Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing up Iranian in America. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004. ISBN-13: 978-0812968378.

Plot
Firoozeh was born in Iran and moved to Southern California with her family at the age of seven. Her extended family soon followed them to America and everyone has been here ever since. The reader follows Firzooeh as she grows up getting used to the cultural differences between her birthplace and her new home. Her quirky family also adjust in their own way, her father especially is filled to the brim with optimism and loves America no matter how much anti-Iranian and anti-Muslim sediment is thrown in his way.

Critical Evaluation
Dumas is an excellent writer with a clear and simple narrative. She knows how to have just the right amount of words to tell a story without getting bogged down with details. Her father is the comic relief of the story and his pure love of the American dream despite the troubles and sometimes racial tensions he faces is inspiring. This is a funny, heartwarming book that deals with racial issues. Dumas is a talented writer being able to get just the right balance of every emotion and theme in her autobiography.

Reader's Annotation
Firoozeh Dumas is a typical girl who was born in Iran and moved to America when she was seven. She and her family go on a funny as well as crazy cultural ride as they try to adjust living in America and deal with racial issues from both the U.S. and Iran.

About the Author
Firoozeh Dumas was born in Abadan Iran. Ever since she was young she wrote essays and later submitted them for scholarships in order to attend UC Berkeley. Her family continued to move between California and Iran until they finally settled in Newport Beach, California.

She has written two books including Funny in Farsi. She was also the first Middle Eastern woman to be nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor for her work. She is married with children and often tours the country to give book talks.

Genre
Nonfiction

Curriculum
Racism
Iranian American
The immigrant experience
Autobiography

Book Talking Ideas
Why do you think her father is able to have an unwavering love for America despite all the racism he experiences?
What do you think helped Firoozeh the most in adapting to America?
Does this book change the way you view Iranian Americans? Or Muslims?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Teens and Adults

Challenge Issues
The book deals with acts of racism

Challenge Answer
Unfortunately racism exists and Firoozeh does a good job in keeping an accurate and balanced perspective on racial issues.

Why Included in Selection
This was a great and funny book. Also, it deals with racial issues without being depressing.

Nobody's Princess

Friesner, Esther M. Nobody's Princess. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0375875298.

Plot
Helen of Sparta is known for her beauty, but there's more than meets the eye with her. Actually she does not like being dressed up and fretted over at parties. Her ideal way to spend the day is learn how to fight and ride along with her brothers. Together with her brothers they embark on several adventures including some very interesting people and foes.

Critical Evaluation
The premise of the book will be interesting to teens, especially teenage girls since Helen is very headstrong. However, there are some parts of the narrative where the story seemed to drag just a little. Overall, it is a fun read and readers will enjoy how Helen finds a way to outwit, outplay and outdo challenges so that she can learn how to fight and not miss any of the action.

Reader's Annotation
Helen of Troy is famous for her beauty. However this girl does not care for beauty at all. She rather fight and be on the hunting parties like her brothers which she always manages to sneak out and do.

About the Author
Esther Friesner received her degrees in Drama and Spanish from Vassar College. Afterward she studied at Yale University and got a M.A. and Ph.D in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for several years before she started writing full time.

She has written twenty-seven books so far and has received several literary awards for her work. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two children.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Historical
Fantasy
Greek Mythology

Book Talking Ideas
Did the skills of Helen's mother surprise you?
Do you think it was acceptable for women to learn how to fight and hunt?
Why is knowing how to win conversations just as important as winning a fight?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issue
None

Why Included in Selection
It is a good book with mythology incorporated in the story.

Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress

Ferraro, Tina. Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0385733687.

Plot
Nicolette Antonovich has it all, she as a dress for the junior prom as well as a date with the hottest guy in high school, Rod. Everything seems perfect until Rod's girlfriend comes back into town. This means that Nicolette is now officially dumped and just two days before prom. The worst part about this whole thing is, she still likes Rod! Now she must learn how to deal and figure out what to do with an unworn prom dress.

Critical Evaluation
This book is a light easy read that teens will enjoy if they are looking for a book just to enjoy. Teens can relate to Nicolette since she is just a down to earth typical teenager that is trying desperately to get her life on track even though high school life is crazy. The book is not exceptionally impressive or funny, but it does have some light humor and teens will appreciate how Nicolette isn't perfect, she does the best with what she has.

Reader's Annotation
Nicolette has just been dumped two days before junior prom. She does not know what is worse, being dumped or trying to figure out what to do with an unworn prom dress. Now it is up to her and her best friend to try to figure out this mess.

About the Author
Tina Ferraro has been writing since the age of six. While she was growing up in New York, she noted that she was an avid bookworm and was constantly daydreaming in school. She wrote her first short story after graduating from college. She went on to sell fifty stories while she worked at the university.

She has written three books including Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress. Currently she lives in Southern California with her husband and three kids.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Prom
Friendship
School

Book Talking Ideas
Why do you think it was hard for Nicolette to give up her feelings for Rod?
What do you think helped Nicolette finally be happy with herself?
What could you do with an unworn prom dress?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issue
None

Why Included in Selection
This is a book about prom and high school issues. Teenage girls will appreciate relating to tough situations in school.

Science Reference Center

Science Reference Center. EBSCO Industries, 2010. http://0-web.ebscohost.com.catalog.sjlibrary.org/ehost/search?vid=1&hid=106&sid=147bc904-ca57-42aa-bd07-38377898294a%40sessionmgr110

Plot
The Science Reference Center offers articles on various science-orientated articles. In addition to articles the database also has full texts for reference books, periodicals and science encyclopedias.

Critical Evaluation
This website has a straight forward science database. There is no fancy layouts or easy links to to articles or search tools. In order for teens to use this database to its fullest, teens should already have experience doing boolean and approximate searches. The website does have a lot of full text articles, encyclopedias and reference books.

Reader's Annotation
Science Reference Center has full text articles, periodicals and reference books for a large variety of fields of study within science.

About the Author
EBSCO produces A-to-Z solutions, reference databases, subscription management, online journals, books, and linking services. They have been providing services for libraries for over sixty years.

Genre
Website

Curriculum
Reference
Science
Research

Book Talking Ideas
None

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issues
None

Why Included in Selection
Teens can use this website as a reference for science oriented research.