Books for Teens

Hope has had a rough life, but she doesn’t let it get her down. Her mother left her when she was born. She has no idea who her father is. Her aunt, whom she lives with, is constantly moving from place to place. Hope knows she can’t count on her mother to ever come back for her, but she is making the best with the hand she has been dealt. When her aunt’s boss steals the money, Hope and her aunt are forced to move across the country to a small town to take over a restaurant for an owner who has been diagnosed with cancer. The owner of the Welcome Stairways restaurant (GT Stoop) is a kind, caring man who is full of hope. He has decided to run for mayor in hopes of overthrowing the current corrupt mayor. Hope gets involved in the campaign. Along with other students in the community, they form a petition to add GT’s name to the ballot. The previous mayor is pulling every dirty trick possible to win the election. GT maintains an honest campaign and Hope is impressed by his moral character. Working closely with the assistant chef, Braverman, Hope starts to fall in love with him. As the polls heat up, they finally go on a date. GT also asks out Addie, Hope’s aunt. Everything is just peachy until the results of the vote are posted. GT loses by about 150 votes. Hope feels crushed, but she admires the way GT handles defeat with dignity. A few days after the election, Hope discovers that the re-elected mayor has committed fraud and tampered with the votes. After an investigation, GT gets the mayorship. He celebrates by asking Addie to marry him. Hope longs for a father like GT and as if in answer to this dream he asks if he can adopt her. This book isn’t all happy endings however. A few years after GT and Addie’s wedding, his cancer returns. GT dies. Hope is left with all the important lessons he has taught her. The book finishes with Hope and Braverman parting ways as they each head off the college. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick fun read that made me feel better about the world when I was finished.

Steven Alpier is your average 8th grader. He wishes the most popular girl in school would notice him. His younger brother drives him crazy. One day he finds out that his baby brother has cancer and his world comes crashing down. Instead of telling anyone at school, he holds all his feelings inside. His grades plummet, his friends and teachers notice. His parents are totally focused on his brother Jeffrey. At first Steven is in denial, until he accompanies Jeffrey to hospital for treatment. When he sees how much Jeffrey needs him and how much his parents have to worry about, he starts to understand. When word gets around at school about his brother Steven becomes Mr. Popularity. Everyone wants to talk about it. Everyone wants to help. The question is…is Steven ready to open up about his problems? Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is laugh out loud funny. Despite the seriousness of his brother’s illness, Steven is someone all of us can relate to.