IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES by Julia Alvarez

YA/PBK

by Julia Alvarez

This book embodies the wonder, horror and mystique of the era of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. It tells the heroically heart-breaking, perhaps mythic story of the Mirabel sisters, enemies to the Failed Cattle Thief, folk heroes to the pueblo. The story is told in flashback, beginning in the present day with an interview with the one surviving sister. The story then launches into a chronological build-up to the sisters’ acts of resistance toward the ruthless dictator. This is an engrossing tale that will appeal to fans of history and magical realism, or anyone who admires strong women’s defiance in the face of heavy oppression

WHEN COMES THE SPRING, by Janette Oke

FIC

OKE

(Book II in the Canadian West Series)

Elizabeth is an Easter schoolteacher who marries a Royal Canadian Mounted policeman. Wynn is assigned to a post in the far North. Their life; among the native peoples presents many challenges and hardships. Wynn's love for Elizabeth sustains her spirit when loneliness and extreme weather conditions make life too difficult.

Excellent for young adults and adults to read or to listen to as a book on tape.

HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff

FIC

ROSOFF

This novel depicts a futuristic wartime. When fifteen year-old Daisy's father sends her to England to live with cousins, she is more than happy to escape her nasty stepmother. While Daisy finds real family with her cousins, she bonds almost mystically with cousin Edmond, with whom she also begins a sexual relationship. Then, when enemy forces take over the country, the house is commandeered, and the boy and girl cousins are sent to different homes.

Survival is difficult, and the horror of war touches them all, but Edmond's experience is devastating. Reunited with him well after the conflict, and greatly changed in character and spirit, Daisy describes how she lives now.

Teens are this book's intended audience. Though Daisy and Edmond's relationship might be considered incestuous and some adults might be alarmed that a 15 yer-old is having sex at all, teen girls seem likely to devour Daisy's story.

NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult

FIC

PICOULT

19 minutes...that's all it took for an alienated teen to shoot 29 people at high school one day. 10 lost their lives. What could have caused this teen so much anguish?
Peter Houghton had been bullied by kids since his first day in kindergarten. In those early years little Josie Cormier had been his best friend, but as Josie grew older, she began to spend more time with the "popular" kids. In fact, these are the very same kids who continually victimize Peter.
Thus, Peter brings guns to school and begins the rampage. Josie is in the center of many who are shot, but remains unharmed. After the shooting, she can't remember anything about the incident. Complicating the situation, Josie's mom is the judge assigned the case. Can she render a just decision?
Picoult's characters and events reflect real life and her insight into teens is nothing less than awesome. A compelling read.