Teens

Intense Teen Fiction from Laurie Halse Anderson

by Jillian Bietz

Laurie Halse Anderson is no doubt one of the most influential authors in the Young Adult genre. Many of her books have been New York Times best sellers, have been adapted into movies, and become "must reads" for high school bibliophiles. It's hard to find an edgy young adult fiction non-clichéd, or sugarcoated; and the award-winning author, who has tackled some tough topics, writes unequivocally "teenager."

Speak

High School was supposed to be good for freshman Melinda Sordino. But because she called the cops when a tragic event occurred at the summer's hottest party, her friends ditch her, seeing her as only a killjoy. Melinda is faced with a terrible predicament everyone thinks is a lie. Soon, Melinda has become depressed and lonely. She barely speaks at all. Her schoolwork slips, and the only friend she had left her for the cool crowd. Her family doesn't understand. When she tries to come clean to her former best friend, things get worse. But with help from a caring art teacher and a passion and talent for creating, Melinda begins to find her voice.

Catalyst

High School senior Kate receives straight A's and is a long distance runner. But since her mother's death, Kate cares for her brother and preoccupied minister father. At night, Kate runs to flush out the emotions she keeps hidden during the day. Her only salvage is the notion of escaping her rigid life at her dream college, MIT, which is also her mother's alma matter. Though Kate has always kept her life controlled and rigidly organized, things fall apart. The minister invites her archenemy, Teri, and her family to move in after their house burns down. Kate is forced to share a room with Teri and her young Her mother brother. Then, she is rejected by MIT. As Kate's life starts spinning out of control, she becomes more and more detached, facing situations she cannot run away from.

Wintergirls

18-year-old Lia has hit rock bottom. She has been in and out of hospitals for anorexia, a disease she nearly died from. And when Lia's estranged best friend Cassie dies of complications from bulimia alone in a motel room, Lia is wracked with guilt because she didn't respond to the numerous messages Cassie had sent her the night she died, Lia cannot cope, dealing with the tragedy in the only way she knows how. Her recently divorced parents don't get it. Her mother is too busy being a heart surgeon, and her dad marries one of his mistresses. And when Cassie's ghost begins to haunt her, Lia escapes farther into the familiar darkness of self-destruction. Though her body, mind and soul are deteriorating, Lia must find a way to eschew her crushing self-hate before she has no choice but to reach the same miserable demise as Cassie.

Post this page to:

Comments

Name

E-mail (Will not appear online)

Homepage

Title

Comment

To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.