Flipped

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Flipped. New York : Knopf, 2001.

[Book cover credit: www.alibris.com]

Bryce Loski moved in across the street from Juli Baker the summer before second grade. Nothing would ever be the same for either of them. Read as Bryce and Juli tell their side of the story in alternating chapters.

Juli Baker flipped when Bryce Loski moved in the summer before second grade. His blue eyes mesmerized her. Bryce did not know what to do when this lunatic from across the street invaded his life on moving day. The Bakers and the Loski’s don’t have much in common. Slowly Juli and Bryce learn new things about their families and each other. See how Juli and Bryce both flip and see which side the land on.

Grade 6-9

2004 - California Young Reader Medal

2004 - Nevada Young Readers Award
2003 - Virginia Young Readers Program Award

2003 - South Carolina Children's Book Award

The Outsiders

Genre: Classic, Realistic Fiction

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York : Puffin Books, 1997.

[Book cover credit: www.alibris.com]

Fourteen year old Ponyboy Curtis lives in a tough world where he and his brothers are called Greasers and the rich kids on the other part of town are called Socs (short for Socials). His story demonstrates how the gang/class struggle of Greasers and Socs changes peoples lives.

Ponyboy Curtis could be like any other quiet 14 year old boy at school. He likes reading, writing, going to the movies, running track, playing football and getting good grades. But he is a long haired greaser with only his two older brother’s 20 year old Darry and 16 year old Sodapop for family. The Greasers are real and very emotional. The Socs are cool, impersonal and have fun jumping Greasers walking home alone. This kind of tension continues to build until all of their lives are changed forever. See how the Curtis brothers and their extended family of Steve, Johnny, Dally and Two-Bit deal with the challenges they face together. This book is credited as being the first Young Adult Novel and was written by S. E. Hinton when she was 16 years old.

Grade 5 and Up-

1979 Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

1975 Media and Methods Maxi Award

1975 ALA Best Young Adult Books