Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

From the outside, they look like a perfectly normal family.  From the inside, they are anything but.

Anke's father is abusive to her siblings but he never even seems to notice her.  She is just the footstool in the corner, watching the horrific events unfold.  Usually she is grateful for her invisibility because it is the thing that keeps her from her father's violence, but even more horrifying are the times when she is jealous of her brother and sister.  After all, if her father doesn't notice her, it must mean that he doesn't love her.  Anke relates mostly to her mother who turns a blind eye to the abuse, who remembers when he was a different person.

When Anke decides to go out for volleyball, she begins to change.  She has to yell for the ball and it helps her find her voice.  Plus, she becomes a part of the team and she makes friends with a girl names Rona whose own family is troubled.  The more she plays, the less comfortable Anke is with the things around her.  She begins to notice more of the abuse and how her father interacts with other people and she also grows sick of not being seen and not being important.  Is it enough to make her raise her voice against him?  Will doing so destroy her family or save it?

I enjoyed this book in verse and it really made me think.  It took a while to warm up to it but before long I could feel that raw punch of emotion.  I couldn't help but cheer Anke on in her games and in life.  There is some difficult subject matter here but it is handled very well in the text.

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

He had his whole high school career planned out- it's pretty easy when you're a star athlete. Peter was going to finish up eighth grade and head into ninth as an all- star. As lead pitcher for your baseball team and a partner in crime as your catcher what could go wrong? During a baseball game Peter feels something happen in his elbow. Being the determined athlete he is, he ignores it and continues the game. He winds up, throws hard, and then with a snapping sound he blacks out. With that curveball, everything in Peter's life changes.

After needing surgery on his elbow Peter is out of commission and out of luck. He starts high school off with a gray cloud over his head and not a baseball in sight. Things seemingly get worse when his grandfather hands him thousands of dollars worth of photography equipment and seems to be "losing it". With the help of a new friend, Peter is able to make it through his first year of high school and some major changes in his life.

Curveball was a great quick and inspirational read. Sonnenblick did a fantastic job at mixing in real life situations, but still keeping his readers entertained. Along with the storyline, the characters are likeable and readers can easily relate to them. (I mean who doesn't have that friend that just doesn't take a hint?) Through both his own struggles and his family's readers learn to love Peter and on occasion commit a good ol' forehead slap on his behalf. After reading Curveball I was quick to pick up another book by Sonnenblick. I think this would be true of most readers. His realistic fiction books are great for readers moving from middle school into high school. If your a sports fan- there's enough action to keep you interested. If you're not (like me) there is not too much to scare you away.

-JAC

Teen Reviewer:

Teen reviewer Olivia, 14, read an advanced reader's copy of The Beginning of Everything, by Robyn Schneider and thought it was awesome, fantastic, and everything a good book should be (and more). She would absolutely recommend the book to someone else. Here is her review:

"Where do I start? This book is perfection! It was painstakingly true, and I found myself laughing as well as crying as Ezra and Cassidy's story progressed. Ezra was the "It" guy: Charming, athletic, intelligent. That is, until a gruesome car accident shatters both his legs and his reputation. Ezra then falls in love with new girl Cassidy Thorpe, who is a mystery all in itself. I cannot help but say this book made me find myself. Ezra is a male version of how I think: He cares too much what others think. The book ended and I cried, not only because it was over, but because Ezra Faulkner and Cassidy Thorpe helped me realize that pure, silly happiness is possible and that we ALL have our own personal tragedies. And yet, despite this, there are still perfect moments in life. I could not put this book down because it was so unlike anything I've ever read. Hilarious character development, excruciatingly true aspects of adolescent life, unpredictable plot twists, and a respectable ending. That's what makes this a perfect book. Thank you, Ms. Schneider. I feel blessed to have been able to read your book!" 

The Beginning of Everything will be published August 27, 2013. 

What We Saw At Night

Looking for an interesting read this weekend? Try Jacquelyn Mitchard's What We Saw At Night. This page-turning mystery stars Allie, Rob, and Juliet, three teens suffering from Xoderma Pigmentosum (XP), a fatal allergy to sunlight. As a result, the three must live their lives in darkness and be constantly vigilant to the dangers even dim light could bring. But danger finds them anyway. When Juliet, the most daring of the trio, takes up the xtreme acrobatic sport of Parkour, Allie and Rob have no choice but to follow suit. One night, Allie witness what appears to be a murder in progress. And, unfortunately, the supposed killer turns and sees her. What follows is a fast-paced mystery as the three try to find and expose the killer before he can strike again--or before he finds them first. 

What We Saw At Night is an interesting story with interesting characters that's sure to keep you glued to the pages to see what happens next. There's even a bit of romance, although this doesn't overpower the story as with some books. Perhaps the only downfall is (*spoiler alert*) the cliffhanger ending, which hints at a sequel. This is problematic because the very nature of this story seems to demand there be a definite conclusion. And by the time said sequel is released, the essential details of the story's beginning will likely be forgotten (or at least lose much of their initial impact), requiring a re-read of book 1. But if you want a good mystery and don't mind this sort of ending, this one's definitely worth checking out! --AJB

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have

Andrew never felt like he fit in: Not with his family, not with the popular clique, not into his size 48 pants. Andrew is used to being at the bottom of his school's food chain, and mostly he just rolls with it. But then a new girl joins his class and everything changes. April is just the sort of girl Andrew could date (not that he has dated). She's just the sort of girl he could fall in love with. But the awkward fat kid never gets the girl, right? When uber-popular jock Douglas saves Andrew from a bully's wrath, Andrew sees a way into April's heart: He tries out for the varsity football team--and makes the cut. Does Andrew get the girl? Maybe. You'll have to read the book to know for sure. Does Andrew's self-esteem get a huge boost? You bet!

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have is being featured on this week's Endangered Book display. It's a well-written coming of age story, and readers will relate to Andrew's quest for self-improvement as he learns to stop using his weight as an excuse and start shaping his life into what he wants it to be. Check it out today! --AJB