Tag Archives: reluctant readers
The Border
Young Adult Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
September 1, 2017
368
One moment changed their lives forever. A band plays, glasses clink, and four teens sneak into the Mexican desert, the hum of celebration receding behind them. Crack. Crack. Crack. Not fireworks—gunshots. The music stops. And Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys are powerless as the lives they once knew are taken from them. Then they are seen by the gunmen. They run. Except they have nowhere to go. The narcosresponsible for their families' murders have put out a reward for the teens' capture. Staying in Mexico is certain death, but attempting to cross the border through an unforgiving desert may be as deadly as the secrets they are trying to escape...
Review:
Words cannot describe how important I think “The Border” is for everyone from middle grade up to read. The story really put a face on the plights of those crossing the US border from the south. The author did meticulous research and took great care to tell the story in an easy to understand manner. This would be perfect for classroom and child/parent discussions. It’s also a good choice for reluctant readers and those looking for diversity in their books. Highly recommended.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Brief Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Smoking
Don’t Get Caught
Juvenile Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
April 1, 2016
336
Get even. Get revenge. Just don't get caught. Max Cobb is sick of being "Just Max"—the kind of guy whose resume boasts a measly 2.5 GPA and a deep love of heist films. So when an invitation appears in his locker to join the anonymous, untraceable, epic prank-pulling Chaos Club, Max jumps at the opportunity. Except that the invite is really a setup, and Max, plus the four other misfits who received similar invitations, are apprehended by school security for defacing the water tower. Max has finally had enough. It's time for payback. Time to unmask Chaos. Let the prank war begin.
Review:
“Don’t Get Caught” is hands-down one of the best young adult books I have ever read. It’s a nice break from the tragedy filled contemporary, fantasy, and dystopian genres.
Max, the main character, is obsessed with heist films. He knows the list of heist movie rules with the same precision that Randy from “Scream” knows the rules of horror movies. When combined with an unlikely group of very different personalities all on a mission, he is able to put his skills to good use. All of the characters are well-developed and engaging, and all of them go beyond the normal teenage tropes. Think “The Breakfast Club” with a little less angst and a lot more humor.
The plot is based around a prank war. I don’t want to go into too much detail, because much like heist films the beauty is in the twists, but I can say that this book had me literally laughing out loud. In fact, it was more of an embarrassing belly laugh that turned into snorts, hiccups, and ultimately choking. It really was that funny. There is also only a hint of romance, so those who find that “not their thing” will get a break from love triangles and the like.
“Don’t Get Caught” is one of those rare books that will hold universal appeal. The target audience is high school and up, but almost every adult will also enjoy it, even if they are not necessarily fans of young adult books. If you like humor, you will probably like this. Also, if you have a reluctant reader in your life get this into their hands as soon as you possibly can. It’s the type of book that can help foster a lifetime love of reading.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Dialogue, Brief (Very Brief) Sexual Situations, Violence
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