A Giant Crush
by Gennifer  Choldenko

Summary: Too shy to approach the girl he likes, Jackson hides little gifts for her to discover before Valentine's Day.

This is a cute story, but the intended audience is unclear. The message in the story is that you should tell someone when you have a crush on them which may not be appropriate or appreciated by younger children. I cannot imagine that many children past third grade would enjoy this story because of its childish illustrations.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

Happy February!

February is Black History Month

February 2nd is Groundhog's Day

February 14th is Valentine's Day

February 20th is Presidents Day

February 29th is Leap Day

Check out the labels below for related books!



Learning to Swim 

 by Clare Chambers

Summary: Abigail’s safe, middle-class home life is thrown into dramatic relief as her friendship with Frances’s family gives her a new outlook.

I read this coming of age love story when I was a young teen. My friend returned from Germany with a stopover in the UK. She purchased this book and demanded that we all read her copy. The book is still a little hard to find in the US, but is well worth the effort of ordering online. Though told in decades past, this realistic story is relatable to today’s teens. The romance, drama, and self-reflection in this story are enjoyable and appropriate for young adults.

Interest Level: young adult

Reading Level: young adult

Horror Stories for Young Adults

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Vampire Reads for Young Adults

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Evermore
by Alyson Noel

Summary: Since the car accident that claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras and hear people's thoughts, and she goes out of her way to hide from other people until she meets Damen, another psychic teenager who is hiding even more mysteries.

I love this book! This book would be great for fans of Twilight, especially if they enjoyed the strange romance aspect of Twilight. Unlike the lead girl in Twilight, Ever has a supernatural aspect to her as well, and I feel is a better character.

What kind of ending without completely giving it away:

At times this book is sad. Ever is the narrator and tells what she is thinking about including her family’s death and life. I thought I knew exactly where the book was heading but I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. The story reminds me of my Romantic Era Music class and the operas we watched. It is very romantic, but not in the candle lit dinner type of way. However, the ending is neither depressing nor a Disney fairy tale “happily ever after” ending either. It’s the kind of ending I like to call “Life’s hard, but we are trying”.

Reading Level: YA
Interest Level: YA

Romantic Novels for Young Adults

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Chit Lit for Young Teens

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Am I Right or Am I Right?

Am I Right or Am I Right?
by Barry Jonsberg

Summary: Calma Harrison is in love. Not just with herself, but also with a handsome checkout guy at Crazi-Cheep. So stocking shelves at the store seems like a perfect job--until that annoying customer tries to hold up the store. . .

Though considered chick lit, this girl is not your average whiney school girl! She’s tough and arrogant, but also hilarious and entertaining. If you are looking for a comedy, that sense that someone else gets it besides you, or even a romantic comedy, try this book.

Reading Level: YA
Interest Level: YA

Happy February!

February is Black History Month!

February 14th is Valentine's Day!

Check out

recommended books from last year

on February themes

by clicking on the labels below.

The Nightwood

The Nightwood

by Robin Muller

Summary: Retells the Celtic folktale of Tamlynne, a young knight in the court of the Elfin Queen, and Elaine, who is enticed into a nearby wood and, once inside, meets and falls in love with the young knight.

This book has beautiful, though often eerie, llustrations. This dark romance is a lengthy picture book. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and recommend it to anyone in fourth grade or older who enjoys dark fairytales and love stories. I do not think this book is appropriate for younger children because of its length and because they may find it frightening. However, I found the love story component does not contain objectionable material.

Interest Level: grades 4-6, grades 7-8
Reading Level: grade 5

Librarianjk recommends Olive's Ocean

Olive's Ocean

by Kevin Henkes

Summary: On a summer visit to her grandmother's cottage by the ocean, twelve-year-old Martha gains perspective on the death of a classmate, on her relationship with her grandmother, on her feelings for an older boy, and on her plans to be a writer.

I recommend this book to students who enjoy realistic fiction and coming of age stories.

Interest Level: grades 4-6, grades 7-8
Reading Level: grade 6

Librarian recommends Sea Tale

Sea Tale

 by Gail E. Haley

Summary: A young sailor's love for a mermaid is preserved in the ring she fashions for him from a strand of her hair, but he finds himself in a dire dilemma when he remembers he has promised a lock of his sweetheart's hair to a mysterious old woman

This is a terrific story! I predicted that the ending would be tragic, but it was not. It is happy and dramatic but not extremely cheesy.

Interest level: grades k-3
Reading level: grade 4

Dark Romance for Young Adults

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