via GIPHY


I've been thinking a lot about what I want my posts to be about lately.  I am trying to find ways to connect with my readers in meaningful ways.  I thought today's post should be about books that I gave five stars to and were really surprised by.  I know that some people give YA novels a lot of grief.  Many people who don't read them write them off as trite and superficial.  But in my reading journey I have found such profound truths in YA stories that transcend age and experience and get at the heart of being human.  Here are three gems I read this year:

1.  OCD, The Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn:

I cannot stop singing the praises of this book!  I picked it up at the library based on the quirky title, but fell in love with this book.  I adored the format of letters, emails, and school papers used to tell this story.  It is about a high school senior trying to cope with the pressure of that last year of school.  She is dealing with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety, but working mightily to act like everything is fine.  With humor, this book shows real problems and the ways teens often cope when things get to be too much for them.  You will be rooting for Danielle as she navigates the complicated social scene at her school.  This book gave me (happy) tears at the end.  It is a very special book that I hope more people will read.

2.  It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini:

 I wanted to read this after I saw an advertisement for the movie. I am a "gotta read the book first" kind of girl, so I bought it at B & N soon after.  I just thought this might be a book with some quirky characters but was set in a mental hospital.  But it is so much more than that.  I really enjoyed this because it shows that there is more to life than getting perfect grades.  There is so much pressure to create the perfect high school experience that will have colleges fighting over you.  The protagonist, Craig, gets in to a great high school, only to bomb spectacular.  Craig learns to relax, and see the bigger picture.  I hope that people read this and learn to stop contributing to setting unrealistic standards for teens.  To be fair, Craig did this to himself, but when you are fed with a steady diet of sky-high standards from society, it's no wonder we have a generation of kids cracking under the pressure.

3.  Wonder by R.J. Palacio:

If you haven't had a chance to read this amazing book, drop whatever it is your doing right now and get it.  This is a story of a boy who has a severely disfigured face and how the world reacts to him.  Told mostly by the kid himself, the book shows what it is like to be perceived as very different.  While he may look unusual, August Pullman is a very average, normal kid and he wants to be treated that way.  As he goes from the safety of home-schooling to a brick and mortar school, August must deal with peoples reactions ranging from utter disgust to pity to friendship.  Who are making fun of him behind his back?  How can he get people to see him as any other student?  While his situation is extreme, his struggles to be accepted are what kids deal with every day.  I works in school inclusion, and see first-hand how challenging it can be to just be a normal kid in a body that is different from everyone else.  And it's not just the students who are difficult to deal with, but the parents as well.  This book touched me deeply and reminded me of the need for normalcy when faced with unusual circumstances.


What books surprised you in 2015?  Let me know in the comments section.

 I read books for the pleasure of being transported into someone else's world.  Whether it's fantasy, historical fiction, or YA books, I can begin to see someone else's experiences and appreciate how they handle moments I will never have.  Once in a while a book will come along that completely affects how I see the world.  It changes me.   It is obviously something that does not occur frequently, but when it does it is magical.  Please leave a comment below and share the books that have affected you.  Here are a three YA books that made my head spin:

1.  Monster by Walter Dean Myers




This YA book has an unusual format.  It is written and presented as a screenplay penned by an African-American teen who is on trail for murder.  It delves into complex issues of race, the judicial system, and the effects of living in a violent neighborhood.  As with life, the book does not offer easy answers to why some teens make poor choices.  But it does open one's eyes as to how it can happen.  Showing me this part of society is helping me better understand and humanize these issues.  



2.  OCD, the Dude and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn



Based on it's quirky title, I began reading this with the thought that this would be an entertaining little story.  It is so much more.  This is a story of teen who is desperately trying to cope with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).  Told through a series of emails, letters, and school essays (complete with grades and the teacher's comments), this story had me cheering for the main character.  It was an important book for me because the main character was not defined by her mental issues.

In real life (and often in books), the labels of OCD, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression are slapped on kids by adults.  It is a convenient way to look at a complex situation.  But it also oversimplifies.  This book is full of humor, heartbreak, and humanity.  It is a tear-jerker.  But when you have a good cry you can also feel refreshed and invigorated.  This book gives me such hope.


3.  Every Day by David Levithan



The premise of this book is pure YA Fantasy:  A person jumps from body to body, assuming a different teen's life each day.  Who is the original person?  Is it a boy or a girl?  Does it matter?  Each chapter shows the main character in a new body, a new situation.  It gives a voice to a multitude of teens and the experiences they have.  As the character jumps from boy body to girl body, there is no conflict or angst about gender or sexuality, only acceptance of who and where this person is at the time.  This book opened my mind to the concept of gender fluidity.  It also helped me understand more deeply about the differences between gender identity and sexual identity.  It is a mind-blower!