Young Adult Book Review: Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives. By Sharon G. Flake

Who Am I Without Him?: Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their Lives
Sharon G. Flake
Published: 2004
Hyperion Book CH
ISBN 13- 978-1423103837
Rating: 4 stars

Are you a guy that always wondering what a female is thinking about you? Well this book gives you incite on the mind of a young teenage girl in her years were one minute a guy can be your man or your worst enemy. Sharon Flake compiles a group of short stories that test the relationships between teenage boys and girls.  It’s stories about girls who couldn't go out with boys, boys who liked girls but hid it from others, teachers who did realistic things such as, having a fiancé', girls who weren't treated right and wanted better, and many more.


Even though this book was written many years ago, the issues that are discussed in this book are still relevant to teen girls today. Many have walked in the shoes of these featured ladies. In 2005, this novel was an honoree of the Coretta Scott King Award,

Reviewed by Patrice Smith

If you enjoyed this book….

Here are some others that you would like to read

1. First Part Last by Angela Johnson 
2. Tears of the Tiger by Sharon Draper 
3. Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper & Adam Lowenbein

YA Book Review- Raising Kane: Denim Diaries #5 by Darrien Lee

Raising Kane: Denim Diaries #5
Darrien Lee
Paperback
Published: November 30, 2010
Kensington Publishing Corporation
ISBN13# 9781601622334 
Rating: 5 stars
Grades 6-8







Everyone deserves a second chance.


Denim is back and she has crossed the path of someone else that needs her help. Denim meets her new neighbor in the weirdest way. Kane is a sixteen year old student at a private school. She has a father cares who for her deeply and a mother that is addicted to drugs. The paths of Denim and Kane cross as Kane decides that she is going to run away from home. Drama at McDonald’s between Kane’s mother (Yolanda) and her gets so out of hand that the police are called and her father has to place a restraining order to protect his family. Kane is frustrated with having to be a second mother to her two younger brothers. She tells her father that she wants a normal teenage life but that is impossible with all the responsibilities that she has. This is where Denim comes in. Denim starts to spend time with Kane and her brothers. At this time Kane’s father notices that she is growing up and that she needs to be around others her own age. Yolanda sees the damage that she has caused her family and really wants to overcome her addiction. Devin sees all the pain and beatings that Yolanda is taking from the hands of Leon and decides it is time to help her overcome her demon. With the help of Devin, Yolanda overcome the drugs but also falls in love with him.


Will the relationship between Kane and her mother be mended? Does overcoming an addiction means a happy family? Will Kane be able to have a teenage social life or will she always be a second mother?


With this novel Darrin Lee deals with the subject of addiction and the dynamics of the family. She nailed it on the head with making sure he includes the feelings of the whole family. The handling of the subject matter was very much at a level that many teens can understand. Lee places words in a way that the teenage reader is not feeling like a young child but as an adult that they are growing into.



Raising Kane by Darrien Lee receives 5 stars.

Reviewed by Patrice Smith

Adult Programming

First Coffee Book Club (adults)

Friday, August 1 at 10:30 a.m.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable young woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past

Online Application and Resume Lab 

Monday, August 4 & 20 at 1 p.m.

Receive one-on-one help with your job application and resume.

Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation

Friday, August 8 at 3 p.m.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the state and management of heir’s property in South Carolina.

Book Signing with author Sherrill Burns 

Saturday, August 9 at 2 p.m.

Ms. Burns will sign her intriguing new fantasy novel Duties of the Heart.

Truck Quilt Show

Tuesday, August 12 at 6 p.m.

View beautiful quilts made by Catherine Lamkin, whose work has been displayed in Charleston Magazine and the book, President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts.

Black and White Theatre

Friday, August 15 at 11 a.m.

Citizen Kane. Rated PG; 119 minutes.

Adult Scrabble

Monday, August 18 at 1 p.m.

Enjoy a friendly afternoon playing a classic board game.

Adult Sweetgrass Craft 

Saturday, August 23 at 1 p.m.

Ms. Mae Scott Hall will help you make Sweetgrass coasters. Class is limited to 12, and registration is required. Call 766-2546 to register.

Zumba: Get moving with Mary

Monday, August 25 at 10 a.m.

Enjoy upbeat music and a fun fitness event.

Movie Marathon: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock (adults)

Friday, August 29 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

10 a.m. - Pyscho. Rated TV-14; 109 minutes.

12:30 p.m. - The Birds. Rated PG; 119 minutes.

3 p.m. - Vertigo. 128 minutes.

If you have any question about any of the above programs, feel free is call us at 843-766-2546.

St. Andrews Regional Library

1735 North Woodmere Blvd

(Behind the Village Square Shopping Center)

Charleston, SC 29407

843-766-2546

www.ccpl.org

HOT, NEW AND REVIEWED!!!!

Check out one of the new novels from the

Surviving Southside Series.



Plan B by Charnan Simon

Lucy and Luke are a typical teenage couple. Lucy comes from a single parent house but is very close to her mother. In addition, Lucy is a dancer who pays for her classes by assisting in dance classes for younger students. Luke is a star athlete from a two parent home and has a chance to receive a full scholarship to Austin. However a decision one night to take their "love" to the next level leaves all plans in the future up in the air because Lucy finds out she is pregnant. Will Lucy and Luke grow up quickly and be able to deal with the issue and what will the reaction of the parents be?


Reading this novel as an adult I was partial happy. I loved the realism of the book but I would have liked to have found out how the young couple turned out. I think teenagers, especially reluctant readers, will really like the book. It has plenty of dialogue, the chapters are short and fast moving and the cover art is great. Overall, the author has done a great job making Plan B an attention grabber.

For more information about this and other great novels, stop by

St. Andrews Regional Library

Charleston County Public Library

1735 North Woodmere Blvd

Charleston SC 29407

843-766-2546 www.ccpl.org