Sold by Patricia McCormick

I read Sold in one afternoon. What a moving, heart-wrenching story about a young girl in Nepal who is sold into slavery in India. The unspeakable plight of young adults in that part of the world is devastating.

I heard Patricia McCormick speak in New York this past November. She told of the research she did before writing this book. I was impressed with all she learned and the connections she made as she developed Lakshmi, the main character. I admire authors who use their gift to not only write books, but in telling the tales they bring to focus issues that might otherwise be overlooked.

The content of this book is disturbing in its subject, but it is a subject that must be known.

Deadline

While attending NCTE in New York City this past fall, some colleagues and I had the pleasure of visiting with Chris Crutcher. The topics of conversation ranged from politics to education to airport experiences.

I always enjoy the ALAN workshop. Meeting the authors of Young Adult Literature and receiving copies of their books is a real treat. In my box of books I found a copy of Deadline, Crutcher's latest novel.

This book grabbed me from the first page. Ben Walker is diagnosed with an incurable disease and makes the decision to not tell anyone; not his parents, not his brother, not his friends. And then this gutsy, small-of-stature cross country star decides to go out for football instead. The rest of the book gives us a peek at how he lives out the last year of his life. The book has mature language, but young adult readers will empathize with the challenges and obstacles Ben faces with humor and dignity.