# 10 Audio Book

ANNOTATION:

"The dream took place in the courtroom. I was trying to ask questions and nobody could hear me. I was shouting and shouting but everyone went about their business as if I wasn't there. I hope I didn't shout out in my sleep. That would look weak to everybody. It's not good to be weak in here." Chapter 3, pp. 63-64

Recommendation:

The novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers’ was very interesting and effective. The story is about 16 year old Steve Harmon who was caught up in bad circumstances because he had the wrong friends who almost cost him his youth.  The story is told in first person narration by Steve Harmon who awaits thorny trial which possibly could have convicted him of felony thus put in prison for 20 or more years because he had involvement with murder of a man who own convenient store in the neighborhood that Steve lived in. Steve gives vivid images of his life through his writing of monologue conversations and screen play style which gives more detail about life in jail and the people in his everyday life.  

Nomination: YES

#9 Alex Award-Adult Book YA

ANNOTATION:

The book Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a story about love, guilt, truth, and redemption. The story is about two boys growing up together in pre-Soviet Afghanistan until one betrays the other, after which he journeys through youth and adulthood, and war and peace, with guilt and shame. The review addresses the summary, theme, world view, and symbolism in the story.

 Recommendation:

Khaled Hosseini has produced a beautifully written story about the life of one Afghani boy's struggle from riches to rags and finding the truth about people in general. The story is about two boys growing up in pre- Soviet and Taliban Afghanistan. Amir is a Sunni or the privileged class; Hassan is Shi'a, which is the lowest minority. Even still the two boys grow up together as brothers. Until one horrible incident changes everything. The Kite Runner is a story about love, guilt, truth, and redemption. Amir grows up as the only son of a wealthy man in Kabul where life is rich and full of possibilities prior to the Soviet invasion. This is a wonderful book that would bring tears to your eyes. It is a book you cannot put down and I think that it is a great read for teens as well as an adult.