young adult Archives - Page 87 of 102

Aim
by Joyce Moyer Hostetter (Author)

Booktalk: As World War II threatens the United States in 1941, fourteen-year-old Junior Bledsoe fights his own battles at home. Junior struggles with school and with anger–at his father, his insufferable granddaddy, his neighbors, and himself–as he desperately tries to understand himself and find his own aim in life.

Snippet: On the school bus I stared out the window so Ann Fay would know to leave me alone. What was wrong with the old man anyway? Sometimes it felt like war wasn’t across the ocean. It was right there in my own house. And inside me too. I didn’t know which way to think or feel, and I didn’t know who to be angry with. Pop for leaving or Granddaddy for staying. Or Momma for being bighearted and taking him in.

thehomecoming

The Homecoming
by Stacie Ramey (Author)

Booktalk: John’s mother kicked him out of the house when she couldn’t handle his anger, and John’s spent the last few years bouncing between relatives. But after his last scrape with the law, there’s nowhere for him to go but home.

Starting senior year at a new high school and fitting into the family that shut him out is a challenge. And it’s all that John can do to keep from turning back to bad habits. Lacrosse training helps him focus. As does Emily, the girl next door. She’s sweet and smart, and makes him think his heart may finally be healing. Maybe he’s ready to trust again. But tragedy has a way of finding John, and he must decide between saving his family or saving himself.

Snippet: “Stop it. Stop. You can’t hit Livy. You can’t hit my sister. Or my mother. You can’t.” I shake him once, hard.

Ryan’s eyes go wide.

I let go of his shoulders. Back away. I’m shaking. My mind is screaming at me to get out of there. To run.