Boy's Lives

Avi. Nothing but the truth. 1991. Newbery Honor 1992.
What would happen if everyone told the truth but everyone’s version of the truth was different? What if you told the truth but not the whole truth? What if the media told the truth but only the truth that would entice viewers to watch? This is what happens in Nothing but the truth. Philip wants to join track but, he is failing English, therefore, he can’t join the track team. His anger at his English teacher manifests itself when Philip breaks a rule in class and is sent to the principal’s office. When he is punished, Philip’s version of the truth becomes an important topic for a lot of people and sentiment rises against his English teacher, who has her own version of the truth. Philip’s version of the truth takes on a life of its own and the outcome for all involved is up in the air. This story will make you question the truth of every sensational story you hear.

Carter, Alden. Between a rock and a hard place. 1995.
Mark and Randy are lost in the Minnesota wilderness where they are on a 10-day coming of age canoe trip that is a tradition in their family. Both boys, who are cousins, have had doubts about their ability to complete the journey. Mark’s older brother is perfect and Mark, as he sees himself, is woefully flawed in many ways. Randy’s parents are on the brink of divorce and seem to be staying together because he has diabetes. But they start their canoe trip and after a while they begin to enjoy themselves, savoring both the scenery and the camaraderie. Their enjoyment is short-lived, though, when a bear comes into their camp and sets into motion events that put the lives of both boys in jeopardy. Read how they cope with their situation and each other.

Paulsen, Gary. Harris and me. 1993.
Harris is the nine-year-old cousin of the narrator of this fun frolic on the farm. Harris and “Me” (the narrator, an eleven-year-old boy, who is never named) have good times while playing and working hard during the summer the narrator stays with Harris’ family. The narrator’s family consists of two drunken parents, so the loving family life of the Larson’s is something that he has never experienced. The playing and the escapades and the narrow escapes that the two survive during the course of the summer bonds them like brothers. Gary Paulsen writes his descriptions so vividly that you laugh with the turn of every page. The friendship and love that develops between the narrator and the Larson family seems like a perfect resolution to the narrator’s lack of a family. But the summer does come to end and what will happen to the family life that the narrator has experienced for the first time.

Sonnenblick, Jason. Notes from the midnight driver. 2006.
There is a garden gnome under the wheels of the car Alex was driving. This is not a terrible thing in and of itself; but the fact that Alex got drunk, stole his mom’s car; and was trying to get to his father’s house to see if he was there with his girlfriend, all combines together to get Alex 100 hours of community service. To be served visiting with Solomon Lewis at the old folk’s home. Was it worth it? Yes, because Solomon while acerbic and cantankerous is also warm, funny and caring. Alex and Solomon each bring something to the relationship. Alex realizes that he might actually have to take responsibility for his actions instead of blaming others and Solomon shows Alex that forgiveness and love go together. See how each of them grows because of their friendship.

Sonnenblick, Jason. Drums, girls and dangerous pie. 2004.
Steven’s life is normal for an eighth-grader. School’s okay, he enjoys playing the drums, he’s starting to think about girls and his parents and little brother are okay considering they are his parents and little brother. All that changes when tests show that Jeffrey, Steven’s five-year-old brother has leukemia. Life as Steven knew it is gone. His mom spends most of her time with Jeffrey and dealing with his illness, his dad is in his own world and Steven is left to try and figure out how to navigate through the eighth grade by himself. But things happen during that awful year including good things that show Steven and his family that love and hope can happen even in the midst of leukemia.