the curious incident of the dog in the night-time

By Mark Haddon

This is the story told from the point of view of a teenager on the autism spectrum. Christopher talks about going to a special school and knowing that he is different. From the way he chooses the chapter numbers (primes) to the way the story makes tangents, he is writing about an incident that happens to the neighbor's dog. Through the story, you find out that he lives with his father in Swinton, England. His mother died from a heart attack years earlier. When he decides to investigate the incident he uncovers many other truths about himself. Good story with a realistic view of what it is like to be on the spectrum.

I Am an Artichoke

By Lucy Frank

The story takes place in New York City and is current in time. Sarah is a 15 year old girl who gets a job as a mother's helper for the Friedman's. They have a 12 year old daughter who is not handling the divorce well between her parents: she refuses to eat. Sarah must figure out what is going on and find the best way to help this family. While there, she does some growing and changing. She meets a nice guy and even realizes that she is like an artichoke with the prickles on the outside, but a heart full hope and love. 

I Hadn't Meant To tell You This

By Jacqueline Woods on

The story takes ace in the 90's in Chauncey, Ohio. Marie lives with her father, a college professor, in a mostly black community. One day at school a new girl arrives. Lena is white and poor and Marie was asked to escort her that day. It only took a few days for them to figure out they would be good friends, despite the rest of the world. They both had lost their mother's: one to cancer and the other to wandering. Their friendship was good for both of them. One day Lena tells her a terrible secret. The kind that no one wants to hear or believe. The story is a good one with the struggle of fitting in and being accepted. 

Ruby Lee and Me

Author: Shannon Hitchcock

Characters: Sarah Beth, Ruby Lee, Robin, the grandparents

The story starts off in 1969 at the beginning of the summer. There is a car accident where Sarah's younger sister gets hit by a car. Sarah goes to stay with her grandparents where she learns about patience through baking. She has spent time there before and has a friend named Ruby Lee, the granddaughter of the black woman that works with her own grandmother. This is occuring during the days of integration where Ruby Lee finds she will be attending a mostly white school with a new black teacher. With hospital bills piling up, Sarah's parents need to sell their house and move to the farm with the grandparents. Sarah finds she will also be attending the newly integrated school. The main idea behind this book is forgiveness and strength. Both of which Sarah must find from her family and her friend Ruby Lee. It is a heart-warming story about a twelve year old girl grappling with difficult topics and growing up.