Chick Lit

Cabot, Meg. Airhead. New York: Point, 2009. Print. ISBN-13: 978-0545040549; Paperback; $9.99; 352 pages.

Book Awards

• A New York Times Children's Chapter Book Best Seller

• CosmoGIRL! Magazine's May Pick for its online book club

• A Teen Choice Book Award Finalist for the Children's Book Council

• A selection on the New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age, 2009

• A YALSA nominee for the 2010 Popular Paperback in the "Bodies" category

Annotation

Emerson Watts an average computer nerd has a plasma T.V. land on her while Nikki Howard a supermodel suffers from a brain aneurism as she walks into the electronic store; Nikki is left brain dead and the two receive a brain transplant and Emerson emerges as Nikki Howard, supermodel and face of Stark. Readers will be enthralled with the challenges Emerson faces as she tries to become Nikki Howard.

Book Talk

Can you imagine receiving a brain transplant with a supermodel? Emerson Watts an average girl gets badly injured at the same time Nikki Howard a beautiful and popular supermodel receives a brain aneurism. Stark, Nikki’s label, black mails Emerson into the surgery. She enters her school not as Emerson Watts, but as Nikki Howard. Will she be able to keep up the act, or better yet will she be able to finally tell her secret crush how she really feels in her new body? 

 

Book Trailer......

 

 Hear what another teen has to say about this book.....

J. Dickson Age 13  says, “ They have books about supermodels and brain transplants? Sounds Cool!”

 

 

Cabot, Meg. All-american Girl. New York: HarperTeen, 2008. Print. ISBN-13: 978-0061479892;Paperback;$8.99; 416 pages.

Book Awards

• A #1 New York Times Best Seller on its Children's Chapter Book List;6-week run on list

• A Publishers Weekly Best Seller

• 10-week run on the New York Times Children's Paperback Best Seller List

• A Publishers Weekly and a BookSense Best Seller (paperback)

• Selected for the Fall 2002 Children's BookSense 76 List

• Selected for the Texas Lone Star Reading List for the 2003-2004 schoolyear

• Chosen by the New York Public Library as a 2003 "Book for the Teen Age"

• Chosen by the ALA as a 2006 Popular Paperback for Young Adults: Books That Don't Make You Blush: No Dirty Laundry Here

• Won Washington State's 2005 Evergreen Young Adult Book Award

• Nominated for the 2007 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

• Nominated for the 2007 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award  

Annotation

Samantha Madison, a fifteen year old girl, makes one simple choice to skip art class and helps prevent an attack on the president; she becomes the all american girl.  Readers will be captivated as she deals with her new found fame and the normal problems of her everyday life.

 Book Talk

Samantha Madison is your average 15 year old. She enjoys art, has a crush on her older sister's boyfriend, and deals with being the middle child as her older sister is extremely popular and her younger sister is basically a genius in the making. She quickly becomes popular when one day she skips her art lesson and finds herself saving the president from being attacked. 

 

It turns out if you jump onto the back of a would-be assassin, and he isn't expecting you to or anything, you can really throw off his aim. So the bullet Mr. Uptown Girl had meant to send speeding into the President's head went speeding harmlessly off into the stratosphere instead.

 

 As she becomes friends with the president's son and deals with the new instant fame, she realizes what it means to be the- All American Girl.

Hear what other teens have to say....

S.Maynor  Age 15 says, “Samantha is  so freaking crazy and funny with the situations she gets herself into in All American Girl!"

Rennison, Louise. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. New York: HarperTempest, 2001. Print.ISBN-13:978-0064472272; Paperback; $8.99; 247 pages   

Awards:

Not Just for Children Anymore! (Children's Book Council) IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice Michael L. Printz Honor Book New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Book Sense 76 Pick ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Garden State Children’s Book Award (New Jersey) Virginia Young Readers Award ALA Best Book for Young Adults Garden State Teen Book Award (New Jersey) ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice Michael L. Printz Honor Book New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Book Sense 76 Pick ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Garden State Children’s Book Award (New Jersey) Virginia Young Readers Award ALA Best Book for Young Adults Garden State Teen Book Award (New Jersey) ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

Annotation

Georgia Nicholson is a 14 year old girl navigating through the life dealing with the crazy behavior of her cat Angus, prudish parents, annoying young siblings, and learns lessons and rules about snogging better known as kissing. This is recommended for teenage girls; they will be left laughing at every page turn.

Book Talk

Well: What is snogging? Georgia Nicholson is a 14 year old girl who is concerned with getting a boyfriend and learning how to snog, or kiss. Robbie, the Sex God, is dating Lindsay and she has to find out a way to get rid of her. Her friends Mabs, Sarah, Jools, Jas, and Ellen help her navigate through her daily life which include her annoying little sister, parents, and her crazy cat Angus who is always after the neighbor's poodle. Will Georgia ever learn how to snog, or better yet will she ever snag Robbie? 

Trailer from the 2008 Movie....  

Hear what other teens have to say about this book...... 

 

  

M. Russell Age 17says, “ OMG I love Chick Lit. It rocks! They are usually really good books, just like chick flicks. When I do read, I like to read books that challenge my mind and then books that just entertain. Chick Lit is very entertaining to read. I like Southern  Charm by Tinsely Mortimer”

Cabot, Meg. Being Nikki. New York: Point, 2010. Print. ISBN-13:978-0545040587; Paperback; $9.99; 352 pages.

Awards

• A New York Times Children's Chapter Book Best Seller

• A Publishers Weekly Best Seller

• Appeared on the Summer 2009 Kid’s Indie Next List as an "Inspired Recommendation for Kids From Indie Booksellers"

Annotation

Emerson Watts is an average girl who has had a brain transplant with a supermodel Nikki Howard;she faces challenges such as a missing mother, random ex-boyfriends, and runway shows. Readers will be entertained as Emerson tries to balance the life of Nikki Howard.

Book Talk

You would think switching brains with a supermodel would be the worst of Emerson’s problems, but she faces many more challenges such as ex-boyfriends she doesn’t remember, a missing mother she doesn’t even know, and a brother who suspects there’s something fishy going on.  Follow Emerson as she tries to balance school, runway shows, Stark Enterprises, the company she works for, and—Being Nikki . 

Follow Meg Cabot, the author, around New York City as she explains the places that inspired the book....

Russell, Rachel R. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Fabulous Life. New York: Aladdin, 2009. Print.ISBN-13:978-1416980063 Hardcover; $11.14; 282 pages.

Awards

• CBC Children's Choice Book Award Finalist,
• IRA/CBC Children's Choices

Annotation

Nikki Maxwell is the new kid at school who would rather have an iPhone like the rest of the kids in school, but her mom gives her a diary to sketch in and write about her daily life from deep friendships and her crushes to her rivals and daily problems. Readers especially girls in their midteens will relate to Nikki and her journey from being the new girl at school to finding her place.

Book Talk

What is worse than being a girl in middle school?- being the new girl in middle school?  Nikki Maxwell, a self proclaimed dork, arrives at her new private school Westchester Country Day and soon finds out she needs an iPhone to be in the in crowd like MacKenzie Hollister the “queen bee”. Nikki’s mom gives her a diary instead in which Nikki swears never to use. She begins to sketch and write about her struggles at the new school. She competes with MacKenzie, the most stuck up and snobbish girl in school, in an art contest to win $500. Friendships with Chloe and Zoey, competition with her rival MacKenzie, crushing on Brandon, annoying siblings, parents who don’t understand—all surround Nikki. Will she win the contest and finally get her iPhone, will she beat Mackenzie?  

Find out more about the book....

Here's another video displaying the book watch to find out more.......

Hear what other teens have to say.....

B. Fairview Age 12 says, “I like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. The pictures always make me laugh. I didn’t know there were books called The Dork Diaries for girls. I might like those!” 

T. Thetford Age 13  says, “Books written for girls are much better than most of the books I have to read at school. Those kinds of books are much funnier!" 

Russell, Rachel R. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Talented Pop Star. New York: Aladdin, 2011. Print. ISBN-13:978-1442411906; Hardcover; $13.99; 311 pages. 

Awards None                      

Annotation

Nikki attends Westchester Country Day, a private school, on scholarship because her father is the schools exterminator; Nikki trying to hide this secret from her friends, enters a talent competition to pay for her tuition and hide her secret. Reader’s, especially young girls, will be entertained as Nikki tries to protect her reputation.   

Book Talk     

Nikki Maxwell is a 14 year old girl attending private school, Westchester Country Day, on a scholarship because her father is the school’s exterminator.  She shares in her diary. [ open the book to show her journal pages ], how she wants to protect this secret from her friends and especially her crush—Brandon.  She enters a talent contest hoping to win money to pay for her tuition so she can keep her secret. She will do anything to prevent everyone from knowing her dad is the one who drives the crazy van with the roach on top! Follow Nikki as she chronicles her life as—The-Not-so-Talented-Popstar.   

 

 Hear what the author, Rachel Renee Russell, has to say about the series..

 

Hear her as she talks about the book at the 2011 National Book Festival.......

 

Cabot, Meg. Haunted. New York: Avon Books, 2005. Print. Cabot, M. Haunted.  ISBN-13: 978-0756978310; Hardcover; $17.25; 263 pages.  

Awards: None

Annotation 

Susannah Simon is a 16 year old mediator who happens to be in love with an eighteenth century ghost Jessie meanwhile Paul Slater another mediator ,who she hates to like, won’t leave her alone. Young adult readers will enjoy following Susannah as she tries to balance being a teen mediator.

Book Talk

•   Sixteen year old boy crazy mediator Susannah Simon

•  Fights against evil

• Protects the living

• Helps dead pass over

• Haunted by ghost Jessie a.ka. an eighteenth century hottie she’s in love with

• Evil shifter Paul tries to convince her she’s a shifter too

•  Physically drawn to the bad boy shifter  Paul but is in love with Jesse the ghost

•  Faced with a choice

•  Real person, but evil or the love of your life, but a ghost

Cabot, Meg. Ready or Not: An All-American Girl Novel. New York: HarperTeen, 2008. Print.ISBN-13:978-0061479960 Paperback; $8.99; 336 pages. 

Book Awards

• Debuted at #1 spot on the New York Times Children's Chapter Books BestSeller List on August 14, 2005; 4-weeks in the #1 spot and 8-weeks on the list

• A Publishers Weekly and a USA Today Best Seller

• Chosen by the New York Public Library as a 2006 "Book for the Teen Age"  

Annotation  

Samantha Madison is a 16 year old who is dating the President’s son David and faces many challenges as she infers that she has had sex with her boyfriend, who’s father the President has just made a Return to Family Policy, on national television. Readers will enjoy the challenges Samantha faces as she tries to get through all the drama. 

Book Talk

Samantha Madison is a junior in high school who is somewhat famous because she is dating the President’s son David.  She is faced with awkward situations when she takes a natural life drawing class with David which involves a naked male model and then when she infers that they may be having sex on national television. These incidents conflict with the President’s Return to Family Policy. Here comes Samantha Madison America—Ready or Not.

Learn about the interesting day in the life of Meg Cabot....

Barnholdt, Lauren. Two*way Street. New York: Simon Pulse, 2007. Print. ISBN-13:978-1416913184 Paperback; $9.99; 304 pages.

  Awards

• 2008 New York Public Library "Books for the Teen Age" 

• 2009 New York Public Library Popular Paperbacks for Yong Adults

Annotation

Courtney and Jordan are headed on a three day trip to Boston for their college orientation, only problem is Jordan broke up with Courtney two weeks prior to the road trip due to some girl on MySpace; there are always two sides to every story and apparently every break-up. Readers will be drawn in by the awkwardness of the situation but also the two characters in the story as they have to read between the lines. Recommended for upper teens.

Book Talk

•  Courtney and Jordan are recently broken up
•  Courtney is organized  and scheduled while Jordan is laid back and easy going
•  Three day road trip to Boston for College orientation
• Secrets revealed
• Friendship betrayed
• Why did Jordan break up with Courtney?
• Who was this girl on MySpace?
• There are always two versions to every story in a relationship
• Will their friendship survive the trip, the breakup?
• Will they get back together?      

What do other teens have to say about this book?   

Science Fiction

L’Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Square Fish, 2007. Print. 9780312367541; Paperback; $7.00; 245 pages.

Awards

• 1963 Newbery Medal

• 1965 Sequoyah Book Award

• 1965 Lewis Caroll Shelf Award 

Annotation

Meg Murray an awkward loving teenager, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O’Keefe set out to rescue Mr. Murray, the children’s father and a talented scientist, from another planet where he is being held captive. As the children fight the evil forces of the Dark Thing and the leader “ IT”, they learn more about themselves and the one thing that can overcome IT’s power—love.

Book Talk

Can you imagine your father being captured by a Dark Thing on another planet? Meg, Charles, and their friend Calvin set out to rescue Mr. Murray, a gifted scientist, from the Dark Thing and the evil leader called IT of the planet Camazotz.  Find out what happens to Meg, Charles, Calvin, and Mr. Murray in the ultimate battle of good versus evil as they step through-- A Wrinkle in time. 

Watch this book trailer to find out more...

MultiCultural

Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. New York: Vintage Books, 2004. Kindle edition. ISBN: 9781400032716. US $11.99. 226pgs.

Awards

2004- Alex Award

2004- Boeke Prize

Annotation

Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old autistic boy that tests his social inadequacies as he tries to clear his name by finding out how his neighbor’s dog died. Written from the perspective of an autistic boy, this book provides a window into “the autistic world” and has a touch of ironic humor that will pull readers in. Recommended.

Book Talk

Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old autistic boy who loves math and solving puzzles. When he is accused of killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out, just like his favorite detective Sherlock Holmes, to find out who committed the crime. The investigation will lead him to find out more about his social inadequacies and the secrets about his parents’ marriage. As he narrates the story, his ironic humor and at face interpretations open the reader’s eyes to his world:


This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them. Here is a joke, as an example. It is one of Father’s .His face was drawn but the curtains are real. I know why this is meant to be funny. I asked. It is because drawn has three meanings, and they are (1) drawn with a pencil, (2) exhausted, and (3) pulled across a window and meaning 1 refers to both the face and the curtains, meaning 2 refers only to the face, and meaning 3 refers only to the curtains.


Christopher Boone writes down his investigations creating an illustrated book entitled The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-time. Christopher’s journey through the investigation leads into the world of his logic and reasoning and his struggle to find his place in such a social world.

The author, Mark Haddon, talks about his source of inspiration for this creative novel...

Graphic Novel

Eisner, Will. A Contract with God. New York, DC Comics, 1978. Print. ISBN: 1-56389-674-5 Paperback, $12.95

Book Awards

• The Contract With God is credited with launching the popularity of graphic novels as a literary form.

Annotation

Four short stories set in the 1930’s in a tenement in the Bronx telling about the lives of people in the tenement entitled “A Contract with God”, “The Street Singer”, “The Super”, and “Cookalein”. Portrayed and written through graphic form, this graphic novel is the first of its kind and tells the honesty of the unique characters perfectly through the black ink drawings. Recommended.

Book Talk

Frimme Hersh is a very religious man who practices the Jewish faith. He lives in the Bronx of New York City. [ Open the book to display the first couple of pages displaying the descriptive pictures of the tenement] Frimme Hershe is faced with a tragic incident, the death of his daughter Rachele, that causes him to question his very own faith. [ Display page 7] Learn how Frimme Hersh made a contract with God and how it was broken, and of other distinctive characters in the tenement such as the Singer and the Super. A Contract with God contains intricately drawn black ink pictures that honestly portray the lives of the tenement and paint graphic images for the reader.

 A trailer for a short film based off of 'The Super"......

Street Lit

Buckhanon, K. Upstate.NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2005. ISBN-13: 978-0312332693; Paperback; 256 pages; $11.12 USD 

Awards

• 2006 American Library Association ALEX Award

• 2006 Audio Publishers Association Award in Literary Fiction (Audiobook)

• 2006 nominee for the Hurston/Wright Foundation's Debut Fiction Award

• 2006 Buckhanon received the inaugural Terry McMillan Young Author Award

• 2005 Essence Magazine named Buckhanon one of America's "Three Writers To Watch." 

Annotation

Natasha and Antonio fight to save their relationship when Antonio is sent to jail; their fight lasts for a period of ten years. Readers will be fighting for their relationship and to find out if it will truly last.

Book Talk

Antonio is seventeen year old teenager living in New York City and Natasha is his sixteen year old girlfriend.  Antonio, to his shock, finds himself in jail accused of killing his father. Natasha and Antonio want nothing but to be together, and both make a commitment to stay together even though Antonio is locked up. Antonio fights every day just to make it while Natasha is faced with life decisions of her own. The two write letters back and forth to one another over the course of a decade [ open the book to any page].  Their paths seem to go into two separate directions but their love and trust in one another seems to be the only constant in each other’s lives. Antonio and Natasha sacrifice so much to be together, but they keep writing one another. Life and prison throw their lives in different directions with different choices, but they keep writing one another. Natasha and Antonio’s desperate longing for one another is almost unbearable, but they keep writing one another. [Slowly keep turning pages to show the format as you pan it around the room emphasizing the years that go by]  Why? They can’t seem to let go of the love that started when they were sixteen and seventeen. Because first loves are hard to let go and even at every obstacle life and prison throw at them they are there for each other even if it is just through letters. After ten years, they still correspond with one another…… are they able to stay together? Is their love that strong?   

Listen to an audio excerpt from the book.....

Fantasy

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.ISBN-13: 978-0547424774; Hardcover;  $13.59; 240 pages. 

Awards

• The 1994 Newbery Medal 

• The 1996 William Allen White Award 

• American Library Association listings for Best Book for Young Adults

• ALA Notable Children's Book"

• 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000

Annotation

Jonas lives in a Utopian society and is assigned the role of the Giver;through his role, he learns the truth about his world. Follow Jonas in his journey for the truth.  

Book Talk

Jonas lives in a utopian society absent of emotion, pain, and suffering.  At the ceremony of twelve, he is assigned his role in the community.  He is assigned a highly honored role; as his training starts, he learns the shocking reality about his world and what it truly means to be The Giver. 

 

Listen to what the author, Lois Lowry, has to say about the book......

 

Horror

 

Stine, R.L. Dangerous Girls.NY:Harper Collins Publishers, 2003. Print.ISBN-13: 978-0060530822 ;Paperback ;320 pages ;$6.99 USD. 

Awards: None  

Annotation 

Destiny and Livvy are twins that are both bitten by vampires and they struggle to find a cure before they are changed forever. Readers will turn pages to find out what the twins will become.

Book Talk

Could you imagine being bit by a vampire? Destiny and Livvy realize when they return home from being camp counselors for the summer, they’ve been changed somehow. Loranzo the vampire who bit them is waiting to seal the deal while the girls attempt to find a cure. Their friends are dropping one by one and there is a group of vampire hunters in search of answers. Did the twins kill their friends? Will Destiny and Livvy ever find a cure? Will Loranzo make them immortal forever? 

Meet the author, R.L. Stine, and learn about

 how he became a writer....

Relationships

 

 

Sanchez, Alex. Boyfriends with Girlfriends. NY: Simon &Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2011. 

Book Awards 

• 2011 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers 

• 2011ALA Rainbow List

  2011Bankstreet College of Education Children's Book Committee 2012

• 2011 Best Children's Books of the Year;

•  2011Lambda Literary Award 2011 Finalist.

Annotation

Lance is gay and looking for a relationship, Sergio is bisexual and pursues Lance; their two friends Allie and Kimiko explore their relationship as well. Readers will be intrigued by the dynamic relationships in this novel.

Book Talk

Well: Can someone be bisexual? This book is the story about different friends all exploring their relationships. Lance is outwardly gay and is good friends with Allie who has a boyfriend. Sergio, a bisexual, is weary of a new relationship. He is best friends with Kimiko who is outwardly gay and currently single. The two groups of best friends meet up with the intention of a date for Lance and Sergio, but much more stems from this meeting. As the relationships form between Sergio and Lance and surprisingly Allie and Kimiko, they test the waters of their relationships. Allie wonders if she is bisexual and Lance wonders if one can truly be bisexual. As you read the  intertwined story of relationships , you will understand how complicated relationships can be and the importance of having good friends. Will Sergio and Lance form a lasting relationship ? Will Allie fall for Kimiko and realize she’s bisexual? 

Author Alex Sanchez talks about his experience as a teen in this short video entitled "It Gets Better".

Realistic Fiction

Clements, Andrew. Things Not Seen. NY: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 2002.  ISBN-13: 978-0142407318; Paperback;$6.99; 272 Pages.

Awards

• ALA Notable Book & The Schneider Family Book Award

Annotation 

Bobby Phillips is a normal high school kid, but one day he wakes up and he is invisible and he can no longer attend school, hang out with his friends, or lead a normal life. Phillips turns to his parents and new friend Alicia to help find out if he will ever be seen again.

Book Talk

Bobby was once a normal kid going to high school, hanging out with friends, leading a normal life. This is all shattered when he wakes up one morning to find himself invisible. His parents are baffled by this phenomenon. Alicia, a blind girl, is his only friend through this horrible ordeal.Bobby becomes lonely, scared, and worried. His family, Alicia, and even Alicia’s family all try to find the cause of this strange phenomenon.  Is Bobby ever visible again? Does he ever find out what  caused him to go invisible? Read this intriguing story and find out if they are ever able to see The Things Not Seen.  

Hear what another teen thinks about this book.................

Autobiography

Bechdel, Allison.  Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.  0780618871711; paperback; $13.95 USD.  

Awards  

• Time, 12/25/06, #1 Best Book of the Year
• New York Times, 12/3/06, 100 Notable Books of 2006
• Entertainment Weekly, 12/22/06, Best Books of the Year, #1 Nonfiction
• People, 12/25/06, Top 10 Books of the Year
• USA Today, 12/21/06, Best Graphic Title of 2006
• Los Angeles Times, 12/10/06, Favorite Books of 2006, Fiction and Poetry
• San Francisco Chronicle, 12/17/06, The Year’s Best Books
• New York Magazine, 12/18/06, Best Books of the Year, #7
• Time Out New York, 12/06, Favorite Books of the Year
• Minneapolis Star Tribune, 11/24/06, Best Books of 2006
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 12/3/06, Best Books of 2006
• The Plain Dealer, 12/10/06, Outstanding Books of 2006
• Salon, 12/12/06, Best Debuts of 2006, Nonfiction
• The Capital Times, 12/12/06, 2006 Favorites
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/15/06, Best of Year
• Out, 12/2006, 100 Most Intriguing People of 2006
• Amazon.com, Editor’s Choice, Top 50 Books of 2006, Top 10 Memoirs of 2006
• Oregonian, 12/31/06, Best Books of 2006, #2
• The Advocate, 1/07, Best Book of the Year
• The Guardian (UK), 11/26/06, Pick of 2006
• New York Blade, 12/29/06, Literary Stand Outs of 2006
• PW Comics Week, Critic’s Poll, Best Comic Book of 2006
• Publishers Weekly, Best Books of the Year 2006
• Times (UK), 12/16/06, Best Books of 2006, #10
• Newsday, 1/2/07, Favorite Books of 2006
• The Village Voice, 25 Favorite Books of 2006

Annotation

Alison Bechdel portrays her childhood in comic strip form. Her honoree relationship with her father and her homosexuality are covered in this intriguing darkly humorous autobiography.

Book Review

 Fun Home A Family Tragicomic is a deeply honest and darkly comical autobiography  of the cartoonist Alison Bechdel known for her comic strip Dykes to Watch out For. It chronicles her life from a young child to adulthood.  The book focuses on her tumultuous and somewhat honoree relationship with her father. A high school English teacher, elusive parent, closeted homosexual, funeral home director, and house preservationist are words used to describe Bechdel’s father.  His misdoings and flaws are cleverly told in addition to Bechdel’s self discovery of her own sexuality as a lesbian. Bechdel’s graphic novel is written with truth, dark humor, and riveting graphic depictions. The autobiography was written from her personal journal as a child but has the added depth and perception of her adult years and understanding of the truth about her father, family, and herself. Bechdel has married humor with her family’s sadness and truth.  Readers will be filled with sarcastic laughter and in the same moment a somber sadness. The controversial topics such as suicide and homosexuality in addition to graphic pictures would make this book more suitable for upper high school students and beyond. Recommended. 

The author, Alison Bechdel, reads excerpts from her book...