UGLY by Robert Hoge

UGLY by Robert Hoge is like a real-life version of WONDER by R. J. Palacio. In this poignant memoir Hoge relates his journey from infant through childhood.

Robert Hoge was born with a fist-sized tumor in the center of his face. It all but obliterated his tiny nose. His legs had also not developed properly. Both were shorter than normal and misshapen. His parents were both in shock, especially his mother who expected her fifth child to be just as perfect as her other four.

Surgeons were able to remove the tumor from little Robert's face, but this was just the beginning of multiple surgeries to reconstruct his face and amputate his legs below the knees.

Robert relates his story for readers detailing everything from his mother's gradual acceptance to his siblings who always treated him as a well loved brother. Once it was determined that Robert would live, his family made every effort to help him feel that he could accomplish anything he put his mind to.

Robert's can-do attitude won him acceptance with his friends and schoolmates as well. Through trial and error he found the things he was good at and dedicated himself to being as normal as possible. Of course, there were tough times and he experienced more than his fair share of bullying, but Robert's positive attitude and sense of humor served him well.

Now married and a father of two, he has worked in the field of writing, publishing articles, short stories, and interviews. UGLY is the perfect book to illustrate courage and determination.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT by Sarah Darer Littman

Fans of Sarah Darer Littman’s BACKLASH will want to find a copy of her newest book IN CASE YOU MISSED IT. The focus on the potential insecurities of the internet and its use in our personal lives are sure to make readers rethink how careless we have become about the material we post.

 

Sammy Wallach’s father comes home from his job as the CEO of an international banking company with the news that someone has hacked data from the bank. Not only has the bank’s data been breached, but also the personal files and postings of their entire family. What follows is chaos for Sammy and her family.

 

Mr. Wallach warns his family about reading the hacked emails and listening to the media’s interpretation of the emails that might reveal an unpleasant side of Mr. Wallach’s business practices. But avoiding these emails is harder than Sammy anticipated. All her friends at school are whispering about them and about her father. When she finally breaks down and takes a peek at the emails, she is shocked by the knowledge that her father may not be the man she has always known. According to what she reads, he is racist and has actually defended the practice of paying women employees less than their male counterparts.

 

If that isn’t bad enough, Sammy’s own online diary is now out there for the whole world to read. All the times she has used her private writing to vent about her parents and her friends is now public. After reading Sammy’s private thoughts recorded in this online journal, her friends abandon her. When her parents read about the concert Sammy attended without their permission, she is grounded indefinitely. Can life get any worse? Actually, yes it can!

 

Author Sarah Darer Littman’s IN CASE YOU MISSED IT is definitely a page-turner. Real life cyber threats and family drama make this a must read.

WHAT LIGHT by Jay Asher

For Sierra celebrating Christmas involves a very different tradition than most families. Owning and operating a Christmas tree farm in Oregon means she and her parents are thinking about Christmas year-round. It also means every Christmas Sierra can remember has been spent in California running a Christmas tree lot.

This season could be the last time Sierra's family opens the tree lot. They ship trees all over the country, but in recent years the profit margin has been decreasing at the California lot. Sierra has mixed feelings about the possibility. She is looking forward to staying in Oregon and being there to celebrate Christmas with her friends, but the family tradition has its attraction, too.

As she packs for the trip south, Sierra is excited about seeing the girl she considers her best friend in California. She marvels at the fact that she is lucky to have best friends in two different places. Little does she know that she is about to meet someone new who may change her life.

As Sierra works the tree lot's big tent where customers pay for their purchases and drink hot chocolate,  she notices an attractive guy her age picking out a tree. She learns his name is Caleb, and according to her friend, he has a secret that should have Sierra keeping her distance. But, as Sierra watches him return multiple times to purchase trees, she is determined to find out if the rumors about Caleb are true.

Author Jay Asher, known for the best selling 13 REASONS WHY, writes about young love and the true meaning of "giving is better than receiving." Sierra's faith in the goodness of human nature is refreshing, and her belief in love is sure to please Asher's many fans. WHAT LIGHT is the perfect Christmas book for that special YA reader in your life.

SAVING RED by Sonya Sones

Molly's life isn't perfect. Since the problems with her brother, her parents have basically stopped being parents. Her father is a workaholic and her mother's addiction to pot smoking is getting out of hand. If it wasn't for Pixel, Molly's helper dog, Molly wouldn't have any support.

When Molly meets a homeless girl named Red in the park one night, she vows to find the girl's parents and return her home for the holidays. Red accepts Molly's friendship but is reluctant to accept the material goods and money Molly offers.

It is obvious that Red suffers from mental illness, something that Molly understands all too well. As Molly spends time with Red, her own situation becomes more clear. Could meeting this troubled homeless girl actually help Molly understand her own guilty feelings about her brother and her parents' issues?

SAVING RED is the latest novel by author Sonya Sones. Written in her unique style of verse, Sones takes readers into the lives of two very different teens. Their stories illustrate the toll mental illness takes on families and individuals and how important it is to reach out and support others.