The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder -- ADVISABLE

Wunder, Wendy The Probability of Miracles, 357 pgs. Razerbill, December 2011. Language-PG-13 (about 30 swears); Sexual Content - Pg-13; Violence-PG.

After struggling with cancer for five years, doctors tell 17-year-old Cambell that there's nothing more they can do. What she needs is a miracle. So her mother packs Cam and her younger sister up and they make their way to Promise, Maine, a town known for it's miracles.

It took me 100 pages to really get into the book, and about as long to like Cam. Probably because I knew that she was going to die, since she had terminal cancer, and I didn't want to get attached. But I did. Cam is very sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor. She grows a lot over her summer in Maine. Overall, it was a good book. One I think teens would enjoy. Definitely one for high school.

HS -- ADVISABLE. Rebekah, youth services librarian

Jumping off Swings by Jo Knowles - PUBLIC

Knowles, Jo Jumping off Swings, 230 p. Candlewick, 2009, 2011.  Content: R.  One of my favorite books ever is now available in paperback.  Here is what I wrote about it in my original post:

For all of its harsh language, there is something very beautiful about this book. Knowles shows so many sides of complicated teen thoughts on sex and love and blends them skillfully. We see the girl who thinks that sex will bring her love, the callous boys who see girls as trophies, but we also see the sensitive boy who realizes that he shouldn’t have treated a girl that way. There is nothing idyllic about the outcome of this book, no fairy tale ending. But it is a very honest look at the intricate dance of human emotions. I wish I could say yes, but I will have to leave this to public libraries or for brave parents. I had my daughter read it right away, but there is no way I could keep this in my school library without know that I would get challenged right away. PUBLIC. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

I still love this book - I share it with lots of young people; my middle school is just too young for the presentation of the material.

--Cindy