Young Adults Choices 2005

YAC Index - by Author

A - B - C - D E - F G - H I - J K - L - M - N - O P - Q R - S - T U - V W - X Y Z

Young Adults Choices: M

Mac, Carrie	Beckoners, The
	Zoe, unhappy to be moving once again, falls in with the Beckoners, a group of bullies at her new school, but soon finds herself trying to get free from the gang whose actions against their favorite target, a girl they call Dog, are escalating to violence.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	It was a very interesting story.
2	If you want to read a book on who to hand out with or who not to after moving to a new town and school, pick this book.
2	I thought it was really scary how some humans can treat each other. It really showed the true human nature at its worst. I t showed what life can be like for some teenagers. It was good to see the characters standing up for what everyone knew was right and doing what everyone else was afraid to do.

Mackler, Carolyn	Vegan Virgin Valentine
	Mara's niece, who is only one-year-younger, moves in bringing conflict between the two teenagers because of their opposite personalities.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	This book was really great to read. I usually don't read much but this book got me hooked. It's so easy to relate to. The characters seem like I've known them for a long time. I recommend this book.
2	I really liked it because it dealt with normal everyday situations. I felt like I knew the characters as if she were my best friend.
2	I really enjoyed this book.
2	It was very interesting. I like how it shows ahows a real high school kid's life. It is really cool.
2	A very real book. I'm sure many people can relate.
2	This book was a very good book and it showed all the drama of families and how some people need to have fun and not stress out too much.
2	It was funny and upbeat. Mostly for girls. I can totally relate to mara's life and sympathize witht he character.
2	I really, really enjoyed the book. Two thumbs up. I loved the book. It was so funny. I couldn't put it down. I just had to find out what would happen hext. The ending was a big surprise.


Macy, Sue	Swifter, Higher, Stronger
Student Rating:	Student Review:

Maguire, Gregory	Leaping Beauty
	Collection of eight animal tales. In the title story a cursed tadpole becomes, successively, Weeping Beauty, Sleeping Beauty, and finally, Leaping Beauty. Most tales involve slightly skewed but satisfying endings.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	It was a really funny book!
1	I didn't like the Cinderella story. Some were good - but most were corny.

Manning, Sarra	Guitar Girl
	Seventeen-year-old Molly Montgomery learns the cost of fame when her band, The Hormones, a group started with her friends just for fun, suddenly becomes all the rage.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
0	It was boring and had no point.
2	I really enjoyed this book because it is kinda like my life. I love having a book with music parts in it. I love the band name The Hormones and how everyone knows her because of her trademark flower in her hair.
2	I think this was a really good book. I would recommend it to others. This is probably more of a girl book.

Marchetta, Melina	Saving Francesca
	Sixteen-year-old Francesca could use her outspoken mother's help with the problems of being one of a handful of girls at a parochial school that has just turned co-ed, but her mother has suddenly become severely depressed.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	It was good, a little sad at times; it's not a book I would read over and over again.
1	I was a little slow at some points but good. Just not a book I would want to read over and over.
0	I couldn't get into it; not my type of book.
1	The book was exciting. It could have been better. The book had lots of drama.
2	Funny book; relates to what people go through in high school.
2	It was interesting. I liked that her mom was so powerful, but she still fell into a state of depression.

Marillier, Juliet	Foxmask
	"A Tom Doherty Associates book." Thorvald, having always felt apart from the community of Norse warriors and gentlefolk inhabiting the Orkney Isles, learns upon coming to manhood that he is really the son of Somerled, a war leader exiled for treachery, and sets out in a boat to find his parent, not realizing the beautiful Creidhe, who has loved him since birth, has stowed away, determined to be with him.
Student Rating:	Student Review:


Markle, Sandra	Owls
	Includes bibliographical references (p. 39) and index. Discusses the physical characteristics of owls that combine to make them such able predators.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	Really good, great pictures.
1	I didn't know owls had more bones in their necks than men.
2	Good for anyone who likes owls.
1	I learned some interesting facts about owls.
1	I learned a lot about owls and that there are different owls.
1	This book explained how the owlets grow and get their food. It also talks about all different kinds of owls and how they can survive in the wild.
2	It taught me things about owls I didn't know.
2	The book was so excellent. I read it more than once; I liked it when the female fed her babies.
2	I liked that it was educational & interesting. I loved the pictures.
1	It was just okay, but I liked the owls' big beady eyes and how they need lots of food as babies.
1	This book is mostly about how owls live and all about them.

Martin, Ann	Here Today
	In 1963, when her flamboyant mother abandons the family to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, eleven-year-old Ellie Dingman takes charge of her younger siblings, while also trying to deal with her outcast status in school and frightening acts of prejudice toward the "misfits" that live on her street.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	Didn't like the mom.

Martini, Clem	Mob, Feather and Bone, the Crow Chronicles
	The Gathering is at hand. It is that time of year when the crows of the Kinaar family come together. They socialize and pair off, but the Gathering is more than just a reunion. It is a time of tradition and rules; it is a time for honoring their ways and for reflecting on the family history. The flock's story is told by Kalum, a wise old crow.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	It was different, such as how crows live in families.
1	I like how they kind of told about stuff that is pretty much everyday stuff to us but told it from a crow's point of view.

Mass, Wendy	Leap Day
	On her fourth Leap birthday, when she turns sixteen, Josie has a number of momentous experiences, including taking her driver's test, auditioning for a school play, and celebrating with her family and friends.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	It was hard to keep interest. It wasn't very exciting. Some parts were okay, though.
2	The book was really easy to read, and it kept me interested the whole time. It's a relaxing read.
2	It showed that a Leap Day birthday is very special .
1	Easy fun read. Kind of drawn out.
2	I loved this book. Everyone should read it.
1	It was funny that the girl was actually only four. It was just okay.
2	This book really kept me interested. The characters reminded me of myself at times.
2	I liked reading about the girl's life and how she experienced her unusual birthday.
2	It really kept me guessing about Katy; it must be strange to have a birthday on leap day.
2	I loved how they went back and forth between people to get others' points of view. it kept me in suspense.
2	I really enjoyed it; I had a weird connection to the character. I felt what she felt and finished it in two days.
2	This book was really easy to relate to.

Mazer, Harry	A Boy No More
	After his father is killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adam, his mother, and sister are evacuated from Hawaii to California, where he must deal with his feelings about the war, Japanese internment camps, his father, and his own identity.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	I liked that it was about a boy trying to help his friend fit in and get along with mom.
1	I have read quite a bit about World War II but this wasn't so great. It had some down time in the story. Other than that it was okay.

McCaughrean, Geraldine	Odysseus
	Odysseus begins his long journey home after years of fighting during the Trojan War, but he and his men encounter monsters and ghastly creatures, are imprisoned, and face raging seas that threaten their safe return.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	I liked the adventure, but it got boring.
2	The book was fast and had lots of actions.

McDonald, Janet	Brotherhood
	"Frances Foster books." Sixteen-year-old Nate, an academically gifted student who attends an exclusive private boarding school, straddles two cultures as he returns home for occasional visits to see his family and "gangsta crew" in Harlem, New York.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	It seemed to me that Nate needed to be a bad kid in that story.
1	It was good, but I didn't understand some, not being Afr-American.

McGann, Oisin	Gods and their Machines
	Trainee fighter pilot Chamus Aranson makes an emergency landing in enemy territory and his survival depends on Riadni, a tomboy who wants to become a soldier despite her nation's oppression of women, as Benyan, one of her countrymen, prepares to become a martyr dedicated to killing Chamus's grandfather.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	Good story.
2	I liked how it followed three people's lives who eventually meet each other.
2	I especially liked the setting of the book.
1	This had some good scenes but other parts were really slow. - MNHS

McMullan, Margaret	How I Found the STRONG
	Frank Russell, known as Shanks, wishes he could have gone with his father and brother to fight for Mississippi and the Confederacy, but his experiences with the war and his changing relationship with the family slave, Buck, change his thinking.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	Pretty good, from a kid's point of view.
1	The workers had to work hard and it was sad.
1	The book had great detail about what was happening during the Civil War. But some of it was gruesome like when a guy's arm was bleeding and all these grubs were on it.
1	I don't care for war books; my fav character was Buck; there were misspelled words in the book.
2	Very descriptive; I liked how they supported the war.

McNaughton, Jane	An Earthly Knight
	In medieval Scotland, sixteen-year-old Jenny Avenel is chosen as a potential bride for the king's brother and must navigate the tides of tradition and the power of ancient magic to define her own destiny.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	I absolutely loved this book. I just couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure.
2	A really good book which also shows the traditions of thie time and what girls had to do at this time and how they had to suffer sometimes.
2	Interesting. One of the few books I have read that takes place in Ireland. How did the Fairy Queen turn Tam Lin inot the many things at the end?

McMullan, Kate	My Travels with Captains Lewis and Clark
	A fictional journal recounting the travels--from Pittsburgh to the Pacific Ocean--of sixteen-year-old George Shannon, the youngest member of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	I have read several "Journals" of Lewis and Clark's travels. This book is the best one I have read so far. I would recommend this book to all people interested in Lewis and Clark.

Mikaelsen, Ben	Tree Girl
	When, protected by the branches of one of the trees she loves to climb, Gabriela witnesses the destruction of her Mayan village and the murder of nearly all its inhabitants, she vows never to climb again until, after she and her traumatized sister find safety in a Mexican refugee camp, she realizes that only by climbing and facing their fears can she and her sister hope to have a future.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	it was an emotionally attaching story about a strong-willed girl who keeps fighting hard through her terrible life even when whe thinks she's worthless and has given up. It made me appreciate my life and circumstances.
1	It bashed on catholics and the United States. If that weren't in there, the story would be better.
2	Wow! It had vivid with descriptions. The characters interact well and the plot was great. I don't like war books but this was my favorite anyway.
2	This book shows what life is like without a home; I think that would be terrible.

Miller, Timothy and Steve Milton	NASCAR Now
	Presents a full-color illustrated survey of the NASCAR world including information on legendary drivers, top racing teams, and exclusive interviews.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	I liked reading about the racers & their pay and what it takes.
2	I liked how they taked about racing, practicing, and winning.

Morgenroth, Kate	Jude
	Still reeling from his drug-dealing father's murder, moving in with the wealthy mother he never knew, and transferring to a private school, fifteen-year-old Jude is tricked into pleading guilty to a crime he did not commit.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	I loved the book! There needs to be a sequel. The book was so cool. It was suspenseful with everything that happened.
2	There was never a dull spot in the book.
1	The pace was a little too slow and the plot was drawn out.
2	If you don't really enjoy reading and like jails, this book is for you.
2	It had many complications for the character Jude. He had to struggle through many things. I really enjoyed how I could put myself in his shoes age wise and I know how high school is.
2	Amazing book. I made me mom read it and she loved it as well. At point it seems slow and uninteresting but it all ties in at the end - and you see it was all relevant and perfect. Mind blowing and breath-taking.
2	This book was great. It kept me turning the pages
2	It was really interesting and well written.
2	This book was great! It kept me turning the pages. I read it in three days. Jude's struggles and problems seem to be ongoing, and you get attached to helping him solve them.
0	It was hard to get hooked into, so I could only go so far without getting bored.

Moriarty, Jaclyn	The Year of Secret Assignments
	Three female students from Ashbury High write to three male students from rival Brookfield High as part of a pen pal program, leading to romance, humiliation, revenge plots, and war between the schools.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	It's got a different format than I'm used to in books, which kept things interesting and entertaining.
2	I liked how all of the characters had their own personality and identity. This book had a lot of different events. It didn't focus on one problem. Made the book more exciting.
2	It was a fun read and things would happen that I thought wouldn't happen. It was really interesting. I really liked it.
2	I thought the plot was good, and I liked reading the lettere the pen pals sent to each other.
1	This book was a little slow to begin with, yet once you got to know the characters, it was a good book. I would not necessarily recommend this book to others because the plot was not intriguing.
2	This book is written in a collection of letters and notes. It is really fun to read from the point of view of all the characters.
2	This was a hilarious book and really cuts through a lot of today's stereotypes.

Morpurgo, Michael	Private Peaceful
	When Thomas Peaceful's older brother is forced to join the British Army, Thomas decides to sign up as well, although he is only fourteen years old, to prove himself to his country, his family, his childhood love, Molly, and himself.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
2	I really enjoyed the book because it had to do with World War I. I really felt as if I knew the character.
2	It gets off to a slow start, but if you like American History or the World War I era, you'll love this book. The book is not only about trench warfare but its also about a brotherly bond even in the worst of times, like the war. It's a really good book.
2	This book had a really good story line. It was a very well written book. It made me want to keep reading.
2	It was a really good book and has a great story line.

Moses, Sheila P.	The Legend of Buddy Bush
	In 1947, twelve-year-old Pattie Mae is sustained by her dreams of escaping Rich Square, North Carolina, and moving to Harlem when her Uncle Buddy is under arrest for attempted rape of a white woman and her grandfather is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	I found the story confusing and hard to stay interested in.
1	It wasn't a very good book, but still held my interest at moments. I didn't like the voice/writing style.

Myers, Walter Dean	Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole
	Presents a collection of black-and-white illustrated photographs and stories that examines the various expeditions to Antarctica including those led by James Cook in 1773, Roald Amundsen in 1911, and Admiral Byrd's successful undertaking to the South Pole after World War Two.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	It had action but it started out boring.
0	It was kind of boring; not real plot. It had a lot of information that doesn't interest me.
1	It was interesting andwell-written, though it got dull in some of the longer chapters.
1	There were a lot of people to remember which made it difficult on the quiz.

Myers, Walter Dean	Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices
	Presents fifty-four poems by Walter Dean Myers, written in the voices of people living and working in Harlem, the author's beloved hometown.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	I liked the feelings expressed, but I didn't understand it all.
1	I liked some of the poems but others I didn't. My favorite poem was on page 31.
1	This book talked about what people would want back in the day of Harlem. Some poems were annoying. Some talked about stupid things, too.
1	I thought this book was just okay because it didn't really get my interest. One thing I liked about this book is it expressed his individuality about poetry even though he was writing about different people.
1	I think it's sad how women black people wished they were white people to be rich or have power.

Myers, Walter Dean	Shooter
	Written in the form of interviews, reports, and journal entries, the story of three troubled teenagers ends in a tragic school shooting.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	I thought a lot of the information was repeated throughout the different interviews. Overall I thought there could have been an extra twist or something to the plot, something unexpected to keep you reading.
1	I've read better written books. It was very repetitive and kept coming back to the same things. Toward the end it got better, but it seems like some critical details were left out that would have made the book more captivating. It's a very easy read and doesn't seem like much effort was put into it.
2	The short story had really caught my interest and I think I know where he's coming from.
2	I absolutely loved this book. It was so well put together and seems so real. This book made you feel like the interviewer, the detective, the characters. You feel like you are part of the book.
2	This book is really exciting because it lets you take an in-depth look at the random mind of a killer from other people's perspectives.
1	The shooter in the book is really disturbed and demented.
1	I really liked the form of how the book was set up. The interview style was fun to read. Also the newspaper clipping gave the story a broader view to how the media changes stories.
1	It could have been better.
2	I really liked how the book was a interview situation the whole time. It was very different from any book I've ever read and it kept me interested as I was going on the whole book. I really enjoyed reading it.
1	It was too dark for me.
1	It is a good book. - MNHS


Myarcle, Lauren	TTYL
	Chronicles, in "instant message" format, the day-to-day experiences, feelings, and plans of three friends, Zoe, Maddie, and Angela, as they begin tenth grade.
Student Rating:	Student Review:
1	The book was okay. It didn't seem like it had a 'main plot' to it. Just a bunch of events in a teenager girl's life.
2	This book is hilarious. The four girls in this book come alive. It was a little odd with relationships but that's what kept the book going.
1	It was a good book about the struggles of hihg school and friendships. You might not be able to understand some of it if you don't know AIM 'lingo'.
2	This book was very good and is written in instant messages.
2	I liked this book because it was about kids my age.
1	I thought this book was very girly. It was very easy to read, though.
2	I can relate to this book.
1	The plot was okay, but the part I liked was how the book was written in IM.
1	The book's beginning and middle were good but toward the end it got boring.
1	It was too dark for me.