Florida Teens Read

If you're not familiar with the Florida Teens Read program, I'd suggest dropping by any high school library media specialist or looking here for more info, http://www.floridamedia.org/teensread/teensread.html. This is a great program, only in its second year. It builds upon the Sunshine State Young Readers Award offered to grades 3 through 8. The format is very similar, students read a minimum of 3 books (out of up to 15 nominated titles) and then vote for their favorite in April.

So far I've read 8 of the 15 titles for this year, and have enjoyed every one. I'd have to say my favorite at the moment is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, a heart wrenching story about a 13 year old girl whose sister has a rare form of leukemia. Kate is going to die if she doesn't receive a kidney transplant, and Anna is a perfect match. Anna was actually conceived in order to be a donor for Kate, and now, after 13 years of giving up platelets and bone marrow, she has had enough, and sues her parents for medical emancipation of her own body. But if she wins, Kate will die.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer has been VERY popular here. I haven't read it yet because I never have a chance to grab it! As soon as it comes back, someone checks it out again. Alex Flinn has another book on the list, Fade to Black, and she is always a popular Florida author. The Printz honor book Fat Kid Rules the World surprised me, it was a touching story about two troubled kids who want to help the other by forming a punk rock band.

I'm off to grab another book from this list, talk to you later!