Parched.

Clark, Georgia.  Parched.  Holiday House  2014  312p  $17.95  ISBN 978-0-8234-2949-3  jr/sr  Science fiction  VG-BN    

Tess was born to a life of privilege in a world where most must fight for basic resources, but after spending time beyond the safe walls of her home, she uncovers a government plot involving artificial intelligence in this fantastic futuristic story.  There is a lot more to this book than meets the eye, even though its cover is, frankly, awful, and at first the message about climate change and global warming seems a little heavy-handed.  But the setting is too intriguing to dismiss, because author Georgia Clark seriously considers how life would go on after the sort of drastic climate change described in her novel.  Even Tess is not very interesting as a main character initially, until more is revealed about her past and the circumstances surrounding her mother's death.  Her interactions with her uncle's assistant, Hunter, are cute and awkward and feel very real. It is wonderfully refreshing that Tess is not instantly an amazing guerrilla warrior when she eventually takes up with the anti-government group Kudzu. The science-fiction elements actually feel like science fiction, rather than bits of science thrown into a dystopic romance, and this is also a delightful surprise for the young-adult reader who isn't necessarily ready to jump into hardcore science fiction just yet.  Parched is a classic example of why we shouldn't judge books by their covers, so do pick it up.       

Summary: In this fantastic, futuristic story, Tess was born to a life of privilege in a world where most must fight for basic resources, but after spending time beyond the safe walls of her home, she uncovers a government plot involving artificial intelligence.

Climate change-Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Novels --Bethany Geleskie

Clark, Kristin Elizabeth. Freak Boy.

Clark, Kristin Elizabeth.  Freak Boy.  Macmillan/Farrar Strauss  2013  432p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-374-32472-8  jr/sr      Conflict  E-BN   

Brendan is dating Vanessa, who is puzzled when he becomes distant, since they have always clicked on all levels, including sexually.  Brendan is afraid to tell Vanessa about his sexually conflicted thoughts.  He rejects the term “gay” since he likes sex with Vanessa, and he wonders if he may be transsexual.  As his mind grapples with who he really is, by chance he encounters Angel, a transgender, who works at the local LGBTQ center.  Alternating chapters detail the backgrounds of Angel, Vanessa, and Brendan, written in free-flowing verse that explores the depths of their inner feelings of insecurity and abuse.  This book will remind readers of Ellen Hopkins’s novels.  The free-flowing verse includes short verses hidden within longer verses, verse arranged to become pictures on the page, and succinct writing that will remain with the reader long after the novel is finished.  Words like “gay”, “transgender”, “transsexual”, “genderqueer” and “genderfluid” reveal the vast number of words applied to people who do not fit the “norm” as defined by society.  This is a book that will reassure sexually conflicted teens that they are not alone in their questioning.  And for other teens exploring their sexual selves for the first time, this book demonstrates that insecurities and conflicts exist in all types of sexual relationships.  A list of online and print LGBTQ resources is appended at the end of the novel.

Summary: Brendan is an outstanding wrestler, and his long-running relationship with his girlfriend, Vanessa, is reaching a crossroads.  This is a compelling novel in verse that explores the thoughts of a boy wondering if he is a transsexual.  No graphic sex scenes. Gr 7-12. 

Transgender teens-Fiction, Gender identity-Fiction                --Lois McNicol

The Edumacation of Jay Baker

Clark, Jay  The Edumacation of Jay Baker        

 Macmillan/ Henry Holt   2011  273p   $16.99     978-0-8050-9256-1       ms/hs       Realistic fiction

Being a 9th grader is not easy, especially for Jay, who has irritable bowel syndrome and who does not share the same interests as his childhood mates.  There are constant verbal skirmishes between them as the guys call him gay, while Jay’s quick wit always finds a way to wound the beefy sport jocks.  Jay confides his personal troubles to his female childhood friend and possible love interest (until a new girl arrives in school and catches his attention).  As Jay helps the new girl hone her tennis skills, he falls in love with her, and a love triangle ensues.  All the characters have parental issues.  There is a lot of snarky dialogue between characters, with teachers adding their own jabs.  Verbal intimidation and homophobia are the norm for the young characters, and potty humor and sexual innuendo abound.  Those readers that are not offended will be laughing hysterically.  The use of pop culture references litter the text, with some based upon contemporary culture and some stretching back to the TV show Alf.  Each chapter has a title that is related to a song referenced in the playlist at the back of the book.  While it is not for every library, many readers will find this humorous reflection of the angst and problems of maturing a welcome relief from the books that offer a more somber mood.   For grade 8 and higher.

McNicol,Lois   High school stories, Bullying