Burgan, Michael.(2008).Bram Stoker's Dracula.Mancato, Minnesota:Stone arch Books

Summary
 Ooh! I am sure you will thirst for more of this story when you read this graphic novel. Jonathan Harker, a lawyer from London, goes to Transylvania on a business trip.  He is invited to stay at the castle of Count Dracula, the man who Jonathan was hired to find  a place to live in England.  While at the counts home, Jonathan witness some very strange occurrences; Jonathan discovers the Count sleeping let's say, some unnatural quarters; a coffin.  When the count realizes Jonathan is on to him, he flees to London to go on a feeding frenzy?  Before the Count is stopped, a dear friend was succumbed to eternal doomed but unfortunately becomes a casualty as a result of Count quest to fulfill his liquid entree.
Critique Dracula's
I enjoyed the graphic novel.  The author was brilliant in telling the story in complete darkness for the exception of displaying the characters in the lights; a very though provoking contrast in displaying the two ideologies;  good versus evil.  This book has several informational features: Chapters settings, About the author, about the Retelling author, Glossary, More about Vampires, Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts.  I recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you enjoyed this graphic novel, I am sure you will enjoy these books as well: Sleepy Hollow, Gulliver's Travels, 20,000 Leagues Under the See and The Invisible Man.  All the books are published by Stone Arch Books,
If you are interested in knowing more about subjects related to this book you may visit www.facthound.com

Girlology

Summary
Holmes, Melisa and Hutchison, Trish.( 2007). Girlology:  A Girl's Guide to Stuff that Matters.HCI Teens. Tell me, are certain parts of your anatomy beginning to expand and you don't have a clue as to why? Or perhaps you get  tingling sensations whenever a certain somebody comes around and you; makes you scratch your head because you've never felt that way before towards that person.   He or she is giving you goose bumps all over.  Well, have I got the book for you !  It's entitled.,"Girlology: A Girl's guide to what Matters."  The girl friendly discusses ways a girl can empower herself..  This books helps girls to gail confidence and control over their physic al and emotional changes.  Some of the issues discussed in this book are:  values, sex, puberty, friendships and relationships.  This also answers questions that girls may be too embarrassed to ask their parents.

Critique
I really enjoyed this book.  I would recommend it to any you girl who is beginning to develop her uniqueness into womanhood.  The answers are very straightforward.  There are two tones that clearly resonate in this book the voice of the adolescent and the expressing how they feel in their vernacular and the voice of the professionals; the writers of the book.  I recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you enjoy this book, I am sure you will enjoy the following books as well:  Girlology:  Hang-Ups, Hook-Ups, and Hold Out and Girlology's:  There's Something new about You Both books are authored by the same authors of A Girl's Guide to Stuff that Matters.

Now, let's see what others are saying about this book.                                                                       1Holmes, Melisa and Hutchison,Trish (2007).                                                                  weread.com/reviews/Girlology and (Holmes, Melisa and Huchison, Trish.(September, 23, 2010). www.girlology.com/tags/book-review

Asher, Jay. (2007) Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: The Penguin Group.



Summary
Asher, Jay. (2007) Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: The Penguin Group.  This a very sad and traumatic story is about a young lady by the name of Hannah Baker.  Hannah narrates the 13 reasons contributing to her  deciding to commit suicide.  These reasons unfortunately,  involve several of her classmates and herself as well.  The story starts off by Hannah sending the box to her first contributor and classmate, Clay Jenson.  As Clay listens to the haunting tapes, he narrates how he played a part in Hannah's death considering he was an admirer of Hannah. 

Critique
The story was very cleverly written.  Her you have dual narrative, Hannnah Hannah articulating the reasons for unltimately ending her life and Jason her classmate trying to figure out why he is even on the list.  Although there are several cadences in this story, I found myself reading through the cadences because I like Clay, wanted to know who, were the other classmates on the list  and where did they played a part in Hannah's demise.  This was a very exciting reading.  I fealt as though I was in the town of the occurrences.  I recomend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you are interested in this book, you would probably like these books as well.
1.  "Before I Fall " by Lauren
2.  "The Future of Us" by Jay Asher
3.  "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
4.  "Why We Broke Up" by Daniel Handler

To furth investigate issues from the book, you can go to the websites listed below:  http://boysrockbr.blogspot.com/2011/08/13-reasons-being-pleasant-and-not.htmlo http://havenforthoughts.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/

My Young Adult Literature Reading List

To broaden and deepen our reading repertoire in YA Literature, students will read book-length works -published within the last five years- written for adolescents (12-18 year olds). Your reading list should span this age level, representing books that middle & high school students would read.  It is unacceptable to aim your list at upper elementary students.  Bring weekly YA selections to class.  Check YALSA’s lists of award-winning YA books to help you choose.  Note in particular the award winners (listed below in #7), Best Books for YAs, and Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers. 

#	GENRE	TITLE	AUTHOR	YEAR 2007 -present
1	Nonfiction	A.Girlology's There's Something New about you:  A Girl's guide to Growing up B.  Big Truths for Young Hearts	Melissa Holmes M. D. and Trish Hutchinson M. D. Melissa Holmes M.D and Trish Hutchinson M.D.	2008 2010
2	Realistic Fiction	13 Reasons Why	Jay Asher	2007
3	Graphic novel	A.Bessie Coleman Daring Stunt Pilot B.  Bram Stoker's Dracula	Trina Robbins Micheal Burgan	2007 2008
4	Non-Western setting	A. Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen B.  Growing up Filipino II	Vicky Alvear Shelter Cecilia Manguerra Brainard	2010 2010
5	e- book (Playaway, audio, Kindle, …)	A.  Black Boy  B.  I know why the Caged Bird Sings	Richard Wright Maya Angelou	2007 2009
6	Fantasy	A.  Ship Breaker B.  The Hunger Games	Paolo Bacigalupi Suzanne Collins	2010 2008
7	Short Story Collection	A.  There is no Long Distance Now (Very Short Stories)   B.  Bloody Horowitz	Naomi Shihab Nye  Anthony Horowitz	2011 2010
8	2011 or 2012 Award-Winner: Printz, Sibert, Morris, Alex, Edwards, Schneider, Batchelder, or Belpre	A.  Where Things Come Back B.  Breaking Night	John Corey Whaley Liz Murray	2011 2010
9	Film adapted from a work of young adult literature	A.  The Kite Runner B.  The House at Sugar Beach	William Horberg  Helene Cooper	2008 2008

young adult l iterature