Top 16 2002

Black & White - inter-racial friendship 161p.
by Paul Volponi
Hot shot basketball players, Marcus and Eddie commit a serious crime but only one of them is arrested. The bonds of friendship are tested and the dynamics of a championship basketball team crumble during a dramatic police investigation and trial.

Boy Kills Man - realistic fiction 160p.
by Matt Whyman
What makes a man? Is it money, respect, or a gun? Enter the horrific world of the Columbian drug trade where children make this decision at 12 and 13 years old.

Bucking the Sarge– realistic fiction 272p.
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Luther T. Farrell, a 15 year-old philosopher wannabe spends his time running the Happy Neighbor Group Home for senior citizens while plotting to free himself from the grips of his cold-hearted mother a.k.a the Sarge’s money-making scams.

Contents Under Pressure - realistic fiction 256p.
by Lisa Zeises
High school freshman Lucy finds herself sharing her bedroom with the college girlfriend her brother brings home unexpectedly for an extended stay.

Double Helix science fiction 252 p.
by Nancy Werlin
Eli discovers a shocking secret about himself and his ailing mother while working for a famous genetic scientist whom his father hates.

Girls for Breakfast – realistic fiction 294p.
by David Yoo
On the eve of high school graduation, down and out Nick Park blames his Korean heritage for all his bad luck as he hilariously reminisces about the mistakes he’s made in an effort to be one of the “cool kids” .

Godless – realistic fiction 208p.
by Pete Hautman
When, long-time friends Jason and Shin hook up with “crazy” Henry to establish their own religion, worshipping the town’s water tower, things get a little out of control.

Jude - mystery 288p
by Kate Morgenroth
After witnessing the murder of his drug-dealing father, 15 year-old Jude moves in with the career-driven mother he never knew and finds himself sent to jail after being tricked into confessing a crime he did not commit .

Keeper of the Night – multicultural 180p.
by Kimberly Willis Holt
On the island of Guam, 13 year-old Isabel must deal with the negligence of her father, her sister’s nightmares and the destructive behavior of her younger brother in order to keep the family together after the suicide of her mother.

A Northern Light - historical/mystery 400p.
by Jennifer Donnelly
In 1906, aspiring writer Mattie takes a job at a summer inn where she unravels the truth about the death of a guest.

Now You See It – fantasy 288p.
by Vivian Van Velde
When Wendy begins wearing the glasses she finds and discovers they have magical powers, she is transported to a land inhabited by witches and elves who will do anything to get the glasses back.

Prom - realistic fiction 215p.
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ashley doesn’t care about classes or the prom, but best friend, Natalie, head of the prom committee does. When Nat needs help, Ashley is forced to get involved and in the process discovers that her life, just like the prom, has great potential.

Rob & Sara.com - teen romance 224p.
by P.J. Peterson and Ivy Ruckman
When Rob comments on a poem Sara posted in a poetry chat room they begin to get to know each other through email and an online romance develops. Eventually they make plans to meet in person – but do they really know each other?

Runners - sports fiction 224 p.
by Carl Deuker
While his classmates are thinking about college and sports, Chance is concerned about his alcoholic father and his inability to pay the bills. In an effort to help his family Chance accepts a job delivering packages. Easy money turns into dangerous business for Chance.

Scorpia — action/thriller 312p
by Anthony Horowitz
British teen spy, Alex Rider, finds himself involved with a modern day terrorist organization and their deadly plot to attack London school children. Scorpia, concludes the Alex Rider series with action, intrigue and a shocking ending.

The Key to the Golden Firebird - realistic fiction 304p. by Maureen Johnson
Teenage sisters, May, Brooks and Palmer all deal with the sudden death of their father in different ways and it is his prized 1967 Firebird that brings them all together.