YA Novels

As the mom of three sons, this Broads knows a little about stories for young adults that are compelling and worthy of their time.  This part of the blog is for them and all the young adults who may want a good book but feel the task of wading through the piles of books published for this age group is daunting.  Perhaps I'll even be able to convince the guys to write a review or two of their favorite books in this genre.

To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a book about Atticus Finch, a lawyer, and his two kids, Jem and Jean Louise, or Scout. Atticus must defend a colored man, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Throughout the book Atticus take jibes for defending a colored man, and Jem and Scout, along with their friend Dill, try to figure out the mystery of Boo Radley, who lives across the street from them. It is said he never leaves the house except at night to look through windows, and some people say he is mad, and once stabbed his father with a pair of scissors. Everyone is afraid of him, but they tried to make him come out to no avail. Towards the ending of the book, Tom Robinson's trial finally takes place. Jem, Scout and Dill sneak in and sit in the colored section to watch the trial.

I like this book because it shows the truth about racism and how unfairly people were treated due to skin color. I also liked it because it wasn't just about this trial, it was from Scout's point of view, about her life growing up, and all her adventures and thoughts about things. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read. The naming of the book comes from something Atticus said, “Shoot all the blue jays you want if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

~Willow    Willow and Zach are cousins. She is Mina's oldest, and an avid reader, and the Broads asked her to guest review on our Young Adult page.  Thanks Willow!

Got Fight?
Whether you are a mixed martial artist or just a person looking for mental toughness, this book is for you.  Forrest Griffin tells how life is, and he doesn’t sugar coat it.

Got Fight?, is broken up into six sections, called books.  Book 1: The Physical, Book 2: The Mental, Book 3: Smart Advice, Book 4: Handling Your Business, Book 5: Fighting Tips, and lastly, Book 6: The Vault of Super-Secret Techniques.  Before you start this book, you have to take the “Manly-Test”.  This series of questions is hilarious, but very vulgar, as is the whole book, so if you don’t allow your kid to curse or read a book with a lot of cursing, or think he doesn’t curse and laugh at locker room talk, this book may not be for you or yours.

Forrest then goes into a series of subjects about fighting, how to treat women, and what true men are made of in The Physical.  In the next part, The Mental, Forrest explains what to say, and more importantly what not to say when talking smack, along with thoughts on agression, consistancy, handling defeat, and humility.  Book 3: Smart Advice includes Forrest humoursly discussing clubbing and the life of a wanna-be super-star.  He also lets us know his favorite things.  The next book, Handling Your Business, is about two main points, women and fighting.  In fighting, he tells how to train and manage yourself the right way.  With women, he explains the wrong kinds of women and the right kinds.  Book 5, entitled The Forty-Two Fighting Tips is self-explanitory as well as Book 6: The Vault of Super-Secret Techniques.

Overall I thought the book was fantastic, and even though I have read it many times, I still burst out laughing.  If you can appreciate his raunchy humor and blunt talk on topics young men face every day, you will enjoy Got Fight?.

Recommendation:  * * * * *  (5 stars)  -Zach
Zach is Moira’s son.  This is his first review for the Young Adult Literature Page.