Shine

Shine by Lauren Myracle

When her best friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover the culprits in her small North Carolina town. She thinks her brother's posse is involved in the beating, and she is determined to find out the truth since the police don't seem to be working to solve the crime.  Cat doesn't fill us in until later in the novel why she is a loner in this small town, where "there aren't many people to choose from" to be friends with. 

Myracle's description of how meth begins to take over  the town Cat lives in reminds me of the presentation our school had during Red Ribbon Week about meth.  I don't understand why people would try a drug like this, but Jason explains: "'Whatever you don't have in here'--he thumped his chest--'meth give it to you.'"  I only see it making more holes in your body.  Why would someone be willing to destroy their looks, body and mind for this?    

Because Cat narrates this story, we are putting together the pieces of the puzzle along with her waiting for the light bulb to go off and shine the answer for us.  

Bitter End (dating violence)

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

I think every girl should read this book about dating violence.  Jennifer Brown likes to write about difficult subjects that teens will deal with.   She is the author of Hate List that several of my students recommended that I read.

Alex has not had a boyfriend before, so when Cole, a good looking new student at school, pays attention to her, she thinks she has found the perfect match for her.   Even when Cole begins to abuse her and apologizes after, she justifies that it was her fault, he didn't mean it, it will never happen again.   I have told my own daughter and students that I had to date several frogs before I found my prince charming, and I hope other girls will know that someone who is physically or mentally abusive is not worth spending time with.

When I was in high school, I saw some of my classmates deal with abusive boyfriends.  I dealt with a mentally abusive boyfriend, who would put me down and convince me that no one else would want me.    Alex and I experienced the same fear: "I will never find anyone else who loves us."  Boy, were we both wrong. 
 

I am looking forward to reading Brown's next novel about another difficult subject.