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Students Choice

Description: List created by a teacher for high school students to make independent reading choices,


Showing 1 through 25 of 77 results

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

With a forward by Markus Zusak, interviews with Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney, and four-color interior art throughout, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Naruto: Kakashi's Story

by Masashi Kishimoto and Jocelyne Allen and Akira Higashiyama

A year has passed since the Fourth Great Ninja War, and Kakashi’s appointment as Hokage looms. But first he heads to the Land of Waves for a dangerous mission rescuing hostages from a top-secret airship. There he confronts a ninja whose heart is frozen by tragedy. Having lost both his friend’s eye and his greatest abilities, can Kakashi protect anyone from his coldhearted foe? What is the true meaning of the Will of Fire gained in the distant heavens? Kakashi finds these answers and more as he enters a new ninja era. -- VIZ Media

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Bless Me, Ultima

by Rudolfo Anaya

Stories filled with wonder and the haunting beauty of his culture have helped make Rudolfo Anaya the father of Chicano literature in English, and his tales fairly shimmer with the lyric richness of his prose.

Acclaimed in both Spanish and English, Anaya is perhaps best loved for his classic bestseller ...

Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. She is a curandera, one who cures with herbs and magic.

Under her wise wing, Tony will test the bonds that tie him to his people, and discover himself in the pagan past, in his father's wisdom, and in his mother's Catholicism. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who delivered Tony into the world-and will nurture the birth of his soul.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication.

A timeless novel about consent and finding the courage to speak up for yourself, the twentieth anniversary edition of the classic novel that has spoken to so many young adults now includes a new introduction by acclaimed writer, host, speaker, and cultural commentator Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by New York Times-bestselling author of All American Boys and Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds. This edition will also feature an updated Q&A, resource list, and essay and poem from Laurie Halse Anderson.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


A Place to Stand

by Jimmy Santiago Baca

The Pushcart Prize–winning poet&’s memoir of his criminal youth and years in prison: a &“brave and heartbreaking&” tale of triumph over brutal adversity (The Nation).   Jimmy Santiago Baca&’s &“astonishing narrative&” of his life before, during, and immediately after the years he spent in the maximum-security prison garnered tremendous critical acclaim. An important chronicle that &“affirms the triumph of the human spirit,&” it went on to win the prestigious 2001 International Prize (Arizona Daily Star).   Long considered one of the best poets in America today, Baca was illiterate at the age of twenty-one when he was sentenced to five years in Florence State Prison for selling drugs in Arizona. This raw, unflinching memoir is the remarkable tale of how he emerged after his years in the penitentiary—much of it spent in isolation—with the ability to read and a passion for writing poetry.   &“Proof there is always hope in even the most desperate lives.&” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram   &“A hell of a book, quite literally. You won&’t soon forget it.&” —The San Diego U-T   &“This book will have a permanent place in American letters.&” —Jim Harrison, New York Times–bestselling author of A Good Day to Die

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Elfish Gene

by Mark Barrowcliffe

"[Barrowcliffe] writes how D&D twisted his teenage development -- and about how twisted teenage development is in general. It's easy to read in a weekend, and thanks to several hilarious, unbelievably well-remembered recountings of dialogue-heavy extreme nerdiness, begs a movie adaptation."--Seattle Times "Barrowcliffe's retrospective self-awareness is by turns poignant and amusing ... as fantasy movies dominate the box office; the author offers a timely, appropriate memoir of addiction recovery ... worth a few hours holed up in the basement." -Kirkus Reviews "I urge you to buy it yourself and make up your own mind. You'll love discussing it with your friends. There's not a whole lot written about gaming, especially from the inside, and The Elfish Gene belongs in every gamer's library." -Enter the Octopus Blog "This is a good, funny book, and I am enjoying the heck out of it so far. Barrowcliffe ... has an excellent writing style that is light and funny, and when he describes the game, you feel his excitement as he rolls the dice.... I hope [it] intrigues you as much as it intrigued me." -Geekscribe.com Summer, 1976. Twelve-year-old Mark Barrowcliffe had a chance to be normal. He blew it. While other teenagers were being coolly rebellious, Mark--and twenty million other boys in the 1970s and '80s--chose to spend his entire adolescence pretending to be a wizard, a warrior, or an evil priest. Armed only with pen, paper, and some funny-shaped dice, this lost generation gave themselves up to the craze of fantasy role-playing games. Spat at by bullies and laughed at by girls, they now rule the world. They were the geeks, the fantasy war gamers, and this is their story. Mark Barrowcliffe grew up in Coventry, England. He worked as a stand-up comedian before writing his first hit novel, Girlfriend 44. He has written two other acclaimed comic novels, Lucky Dog and Infidelity for First-Time Fathers. He lives in Brighton, England.From the Hardcover edition.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


The Halloween Tree

by Ray Bradbury and Gris Grimly

"A fast-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween. After witnessing a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, cavemen discovering fire, Druid rites, the persecution of witches in the Dark Ages, and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, they catch up with the elusive Pipkin in the catacombs of Mexico, where each boy gives one year from the end of his life to save Pipkin's. Enhanced by appropriately haunting black-and-white drawings."--Booklist

Date Added: 04/15/2023


The Taming of the Shrew

by Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller and William Shakespeare

The legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare's time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used. Updated by general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller, these easy-to-read editions incorporate over thirty years of Shakespeare scholarship undertaken since the original series, edited by Alfred Harbage, appeared between 1956 and 1967. With stunning new covers, definitive texts, and illuminating essays, the Pelican Shakespeare will remain a valued resource for students, teachers, and theater professionals for many years to come.This edition of The Taming of the Shrew is edited with an introduction and notes by series editor Stephen Orgel.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


After the Storm

by Lauren Brooke

Although Amy is helping out with the horses at Heartland again, she still feels guilty about her mother's death. To make matters worse, she is trying to care for Spartan, the horse she and her mother rescued before the accident. For Amy, Spartan is an everyday reminder of the wreck. And Amy is a reminder for Spartan as well. Finally, Amy realizes that Spartan will never forgive her until she forgives herself.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Always There

by Lauren Brooke

Even at graduation, Amy cannot concentrate on her accomplishments. She is distracted by her concern for a sick horse back at Heartland. College is weeks away, but she dreads having to leave her home and her work at the stable - the work she took over after her mother's death. It doesn't help that Lou, Joni, and Ty - her boyfriend - are already making decisions without her, anticipating life after she is away at school. When a new horse arrives for treatment, everyone seems wary of telling Amy his story. As she starts to treat him, his fear seems a mystery.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Beyond the Horizon

by Lauren Brooke

Being away from Heartland has been anything but easy for Amy Fleming. The work at the horse sanctuary was her life for years. Now she is in a pre-vet program, and she has new challenges and new friends. Amy refuses to believe anything has changed. But as soon as she's come home for spring break and been reunited with her boyfriend, Ty, she gets a call from another vet student. Will Savage is on a ranch in Colorado where there's a horse that needs Amy's help. Torn between her old life and her new one, Amy has to decide. But, in the end, she learns that she isn't the only one who is moving on.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Breaking free

by Lauren Brooke

Heartland is a horse farm nestled in the hills of Virginia, but it's much more than that. Heartland is like no other place - it's a place where scars of the past can be healed, where frightened and abused horses can learn to trust again. Pegasus is all Amy has left of her past, but he's steadily growing weaker. Amy's trying to care for him and hold Heartland together. She's trying to do just what her mother would have done, but everything is beginning to unravel. It will take all Amy's courage to let go of her mother's legacy, but it is the only way she will break free. Grades 3-6. Sequel to "After the storm", followed by "Taking chances". 2000.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Darkest Hour

by Lauren Brooke

When Heartland is quarantined due to an equine flu, Amy learns there are limits to what she can do.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Every New Day

by Lauren Brooke

When Amy has no cure for Mercury's jumping problem, she can't believe Ty thinks they should suspend treatment. But a Native American healer has some new methods that just may work.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Everything Changes

by Lauren Brooke

With Ty in the hospital, Amy is struggling to keep up with her Heartland chores and stay positive.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


From This Day On

by Lauren Brooke

As Amy helps a lost horse, she makes the difficult decision of whether to leave Heartland in order to go to college.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Love Is a Gift

by Lauren Brooke

When Amy journeys to Australia with her sister Lou to visit their father on his horse ranch, she doesn't feel like part of his new family. So Amy delves into the stable work, certain that the horses will at least welcome her.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Making Strides

by Lauren Brooke

The tryouts for the equestrian riding team are over, and Malory earned her spot as the second-ranked rider for Chestnut Hill. Still, she doubts whether she belongs at the elite school despite receiving a top scholarship. Then the pony she's training gets hurt, and Malory wants to ride Tybalt in the next show. But Tybalt is wary and defensive. Her instinct tells her they share a special bond, but she doesn't know how to reach him. Malory has always trusted her gut when it comes to horses, and she's willing to bet her future at Chestnut Hill that Tybalt has what it takes to win.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


New Beginnings

by Lauren Brooke

Amy visits her friend Carey and at first assumes that Carey needs help with her unruly horse Mustang. Later, Amy wonders why Carey is surprisingly cold towards both her and the horse.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Out of the Darkness

by Lauren Brooke

Since the first day Gallant Prince arrived at Heartland, Amy has had a difficult time reaching the horse. He stays in the back of his stall, pacing anxiously. Amy knows the fear of the stable fire blazes behind Prince's threats, his bared teeth and haunted eyes. When Amy learns Prince's groom was also injured in the fire, she believes he may be the key to Prince's recovery.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Sooner or Later

by Lauren Brooke

While working at Heartland, Amy finds herself faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


A Summer to Remember

by Lauren Brooke

Amy's summer is just underway when Alfredo Escobar, a member of a world-famous polo legacy, contacts her to help with a troubled horse at a luxurious estate in the Hamptons. If Alfredo and his pony, Impala, can't learn to work together, they'll both be in trouble.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Taking chances

by Lauren Brooke

Amy's life has drastically changed. She's found herself taking on the huge responsibility of running Heartland, the horse refuge that was her mother¹s life work. The one constant for Amy has been her friendship with Ty, Heartland¹s 17-year-old stable hand. But the arrival of a new hand, Ben, throws everything off balance. By the time Amy realizes she¹s taken Ty for granted, it could be too late. Sequel to "Breaking free", followed by "Come what may". Grades 3-6. 2001.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


Tomorrow's Promise

by Lauren Brooke

When Amy meets Daniel, she is stunned by his defensive nature. But she soon comes to realize it's because he doesn't care what others say about his horse, and Amy begins to like his attitude.

Date Added: 04/15/2023


The Dragons of Noor

by Janet Lee Carey

A dreamwalker who has lost her way. A shape shifter who fears his own dark power. A fire herd punished for his magic. Can these three teens keep the human world of Noor and the magical world of Oth from splitting apart? The ancient trees of Noor are dying. If the blight kills the last azure trees whose deep roots bind the worlds, the bridge between Noor and Oth will split apart forever. Already as Hanna, Miles, and Taunier sail to the source of the blight, the rent between the worlds is widening, and magic is going out of Noor. The quest deepens when a strange wind blows across Noor stealing young children, and Hanna is powerless to protect her younger brother from the stealing wind. The Three journey east to the azure forests of Jarrosh. East to the dragon lands. East to the place where the wind-stolen children were taken. In Jarrosh, among dragons, the Three will be challenged to discover their hidden powers. Each of them must break beyond the boundaries of self to discover the ancient magic joining all to all.

Date Added: 04/15/2023



Showing 1 through 25 of 77 results