The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Dutton Books, 2012. Print. ISBN: 978-0525478812. $17.99. Ages 15+

Formats Available: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audio

Awards: none

Annotation: Hazel meets Augustus Waters and finds out that while life may not always be rewarding, there are some things that will forever seem as if they are a gift.

Review: Seventeen year old Hazel Lancaster is a cancer patient who is one day forced to attend a support group for teens dealing with cancer and terminal illnesses. She usually keeps to herself regardless of her parents encouragement to make new friends, but on the first day of the group, Hazel bumps into Augustus Waters creating a moment that will change both of their lives forever. Getting to know Augustus, Hazel is skeptical about opening up to someone even though her connection to Augustus is something magnetic. Hazel and Augustus, while both battling their own pain, have formed a relationship that is once in a lifetime.

As Hazel slowly opens up to Augustus, she shares with him her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction which she feels thoroughly connected to due of her imposing sickness. As a gift, Augustus uses his own Make a Wish to bring Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author. To their dismay, the author is not who Hazel thought he would be and so their trip seems a complete failure. Hazel and Augustus share a bond unlike any other pair in history. The maturity and understanding of their current situations brings to them a sense of adulthood, while battling many what ifs and hopes for their uncertain future. At such a young age, and little time to enjoy the beauty of what life can bring, Hazel and Augustus begin to understand the importance of sharing life with those you love, and being grateful for the magic in everything that surrounds them.

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Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel by Carol Rifka Brunt

Brunt, Carol Rifka. Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel. New York: Dial Press, 2013. Print. 9780812982855. Ages 16+

Formats Available: Hardcover, softcover, eBook, Audio

Annotation: June tries to uncover the illness that took her beloved Uncle's life and why her sister, Greta, blames his death on a mysterious man.

Booktalk: June Elbus is 14 years old and her best friend is her Uncle Finn who one day dies of a mysterious illness that no one seems to want to talk about. At Finn's funeral, June notices a thin man lurking around and later discovers that he was her Uncle's boyfriend, but none of her family will acknowledge his existence. June soon discovers the reasons behind this and it is because her Uncle passed away from AIDS and her family believes it is this strange man's fault. Before long this man gets in touch with June and she learns that his name is Toby. June's meetings with Toby become more frequent and he shares stories of Finn and passes some of Finn's possessions along to her. Over time June comes to adore Toby as she did Finn, but this relationship is taking a toll on her relationship with her older sister, Greta, who can't seem to come to terms with the idea that Toby didn't intentionally kill Uncle Finn. June's story of the aftermath of her Uncle's death is a touching one that will leave tears its readers eyes, but compassion in their hearts.


Awards: none

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Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hoover, Colleen. Hopeless. New York: Atria, 2013. Print. ISBN: 978-1476743554. $15.00. Ages 14+

Formats Available: eBook, paperback, audio, mp3 CD

Annotation: Sky's life is practically just like anyone's with exception of her being adopted and living with her mother who is a bit overprotective. Sky makes discoveries about herself and her past when she starts her senior year at a brand new school.

Awards: none

Booktalk: Sky is adopted. She lives with her mom and has done all of her schooling at home. Now that it is time for her senior year, Sky wants to bulk up her experiences to get into a good college so she convinces her mom to let her attend high school so she can participate in extracurricular activities. Sky and her best friend spend a lot of time messing around with boys, but out of all of them, she has never felt much of a connection, just a kind of numbness. It isn't until she meets Dean Holder that she starts to feel something. Dean finds familiarity in Sky and as they spend more and more time together, Sky feels compelled to open up to him. After learning of Dean's twin sister's suicide, Sky informs him that her biological mother died when she was young, so she was adopted by her mother Karen. What Sky doesn't realize is that Dean does in fact know her from somewhere. Through an epic love story unwinds the history of a girl who didn't think much about how her life has played out. Discover the secrets and twists of Sky's history and the fight she gives to know the truth, even when everything seems Hopeless.

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