Jennifer's Picks 2002

If you're looking for more books to read, then look at my recommendations from other years.
2002 |
2003
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Aimee by Mary Beth Miller
What happened to Aimee?  Why are her friends forbidden to see and talk to each other?

Alison, Who Went Away by Vivian Vande Velde
Where is Alison?  Why did she leave her family?  Her sister, Sibyl, doesn't want to know the truth.  She keeps telling people that Alison is away at college.   Will Sibyl's lies catch up with her?

Among the Imposters by Margaret Peterson Haddix
A sequel to Among the Hidden.   After almost being discovered, Luke must leave his family and assume another identity.  In his new school, he must learn a new set of rules in order to survive.

A Body of Evidence (a series) by Christopher Golden
Jenna Blake is a freshman at Somerset University.  Because she works at the medical examiner’s office as a pathology assistant, she sees some pretty strange stuff.  Even when she is on Spring Break, strange and unusual things happen around her.

Born in Sin by Evelyn Coleman
Keisha doesn't live in the best part of town but she doesn't let that stand in her way.  She wants to become a doctor.  However, when her principal changes her courses from "college prep" to "at risk", she has to figure out another way to reach her goal.  In turn, swimming becomes a major part of her life.

A Face First by Priscilla Cummings
What would you do if you had been in a terrible car accident and suffered third-degree burns on your face and body? Would you want your friends around?  Would you be able to live a "normal" life again?   Read Kelley's story and find out how she deals with it.

Falling From Fire by Teena Booth
Teri thinks that she is invisible at school.   No one talks to her except Wesley.  However, things change when her house burns down on her birthday.  She becomes a celebrity, at least that's what she thinks.

Gifted Touch (series: Fingerprints) by Melinda Metz
Rae keeps hearing thoughts in her head.  Are they her own thoughts or is she going crazy like her mother did years ago?

The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian
Ever want to tell people how you really feel about something but were afraid they would not like your opinions?  Well, Josh has.  He decides to create a website, "The Gospel According to Larry", to express his views to the world.   Somehow the website takes on a life of it's own.  He never in a million years would have guessed how one simple website would change his life forever.

Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard
Sam is not the typical teenager.  He is raising his infant son, Max, by himself while he lives with his father.  Between school and raising his son, he doesn't have much for anything else.  A great book about an unusual guy.

Her Daughter's Eyes by Jessica Barksdale Inclan
After their mother dies from breast cancer, Kate and her younger sister, Tyler, are forced to live on their own when their father leaves them home alone to live with his girlfriend.   If that weren't bad enough, Kate becomes pregnant.  Together the sisters deliver the baby on their own and keep the baby hidden. 

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
Hope has been living with her Aunt for as long as she can remember.  Since her Aunt is a cook who is always looking enhance another restaurant with her cooking, they travel from job to job.  Her next job takes them to Mulhoney, Wisconsin where they both work in the local diner.  Who knew that a simple diner job would change their lives forever.

Knocked out by My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison
The 3rd in the series about Georgia and her life.  Now that Georgia is the girlfriend of a sex god (2nd book),  she can't wait for people to know.  Through humorous episodes, Georgia tries to figure out what she really wants.

Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks
Besides having an interesting name, Matryn lives with his alcoholic father.  When his father dies accidentally, he decides not to call the authorities.  He and his friend figure out a way to dispose of the body.

One Hot Second: stories about desire edited by Cathy Young
Various authors contribute to this collection of stories.  One story is about a girl who doesn't have good self-esteem, another is about a first crush, and yet another is written in poems.  Each story gives the reader a different perspective on desire and it's various forms.

Princess in Love: The Princess Diaries, Volume III by Meg Cabot
Mia only has a few weeks left before she will be officially announced as Princess Amelia Mignonett Grimaldi Thermopolis Remaldo to her new country.  However, before that can happen she has to breakup with her boyfriend, pass her finals, study this princess stuff, and make the boy she loves realize it. 

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier
Who killed seven year old Alicia Bartlett?   The police have a prime suspect,  the last person to see her alive---12 year old Jason Dorrant.  Because they need a confession, the police call in an expert interrogator to get it.  Did Jason kill Alicia?  Will the interrogator discover the truth?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Lorna, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget have found the perfect jeans.   These pants fit each girl perfectly.  It extenuates the positive and decreases the negative.  They all want to wear the jeans this summer.  What happens when each girl puts on the pants will make you smile, laugh, and cry.

Someday by Jackie French Koller
Celie thought "someday" would never come.  After all, this had been going on for years.  But when the letter finally comes telling her grandmother that they must move, Celie doesn't know what to do.  How can they flood her beloved village to make a reservoir?  What right do they have disturbing people's lives?

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
When your father is the head of the mob, it's hard for people to treat you normally, let alone you having a love life.  Vince, 17, tries to live his life like a "normal" person but his father's "career" keeps getting in the way.

Tender by Valerie Hobbs
Liv and her grandmother have a good life in New York City.   They have been living together since Liv's mother died in childbirth.  When her beloved "Gran" dies unexpectedly, Liv must move to California to live with her father whom she hasn't met.  Together, they must figure out a way to live together peacefully.

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Remy doesn't want guys to get too close.  She knows love, if it exists, doesn't last.  If it did, then why has her mother been divorced 4 times and about to tie the knot again? 

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
No one in a million years would think that popular Landon Carter would fall for quiet Jamie Sullivan, the minister's daughter.  But he does and what happens will surprise everyone.

Witch Child by Celia Rees
In England, 1659, Mary Newbury witnesses her grandmother being hanged because the town believed that she was a witch.  Before she can truly understand what is happening, a mysterious woman takes her away from that town and sends her to America.  However, when strange things begin to happen, the villagers believe that there must be a witch among them.  Will Mary be able to escape her grandmother's fate?

 
*All annotations were written by Jennifer Beiermann.*

 


This page last updated on June 17, 2008
Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864