I give this book a quality rating of four but a popularity rating of five on the VOYA scale. This is the first Library Thing book that I have assigned a higher popularity than quality rating to. This is because, while Blume is a wonderful author, certainly deserving of a four in quality, this book's appeal has more to do with its content than its delivery. This has been a popular novel since the seventies when it first stirred up controversy and it's been met by eager teens and reproving parents ever since. Katherine's sexual awakening and first experiences of love and intimacy are important and reassuring to teens. And they should be encouraged to keep reading this novel because it is rife with sexual education. Blume discusses birth control, STDs and sexual pleasure frankly and informatively. She also stresses that trusted adults other than parents can provide support and information during puberty and sexual awakening, as is the case with Kath's grandma in the novel. I wish that I had read it as a teen, and maybe if I had known how widely banned it is I would have!

This book was a brilliant coming of age story and look into the rich deaf culture that many people are unaware of. It merits a five in both popularity and quality on the VOYA scale. Teens will love the protagonist Piper for her tough as nails interior and the sometimes terrifying challenges that she rises to and conquers. Her shifting family dynamics as she comes into her own and also grapples with a new sibling will be relate able to a wide audience of teens facing all sorts of adversity. This book is especially a must-read for teens interested or living in Seattle and teens who appreciate music history. John has managed to write an extremely compelling, lovable character. He also writes some heart wrenching material with a brutal honesty reflected in his protagonist. The evolution of her father and her's relationship is poignant and eventually heartwarming. Teens will learn a lot from this novel. I highly recommend it.

This book deserves a five on the VOYA scale for quality. It is superbly written in a first person narrative that captivated my attention and put me in the shoes of the protagonist, George Gillies. George's perspectives of life in late 1800s Washington Territory is illuminating, sometimes repulsive but in a necessary way. Stewarts' ability to capture the intolerance and secret corruption of white settlers to the West Coast was vividly expressed through the eyes of her protagonist. I found myself sighing with relief as George made breakthroughs in his understanding of humanity and morality towards ALL human beings. Stewarts' retelling of this true incident also inspired me by reminding me that although our society has come a long way towards enforcing liberty and justice for all, we still have a long ways to go. I think this novel will inspire most teens similarly, and give them an engaging lens through which to evaluate the institutionalized racism that lingers in this country today. I therefor assigned the novel a VOYA popularity rating of four.

I assigned this novel a VOYA quality rating of four because while it was well-written and compelling, I felt that something was lost in translation. In a novel with such heavy reliance on philosophical content, subtle nuances of the language would have to have been diminished when translated to English. The writing was obviously strong however and I enjoyed the buildup to the surprising climax of the novel. The VOYA popularity rating I assigned this novel was three. While many teens might relate to existential questions and a budding preoccupation with the nature of reality, I think the metaphorical and philosophical content may bore some younger readers. I also feel that some teen readers will find it difficult to follow the story for long enough to get hooked into the very exciting middle and conclusion of this fairly short novel. The audiobook was well done and I appreciated the voice of the narrator.

5Q, 4P
As she did with Zel, and many other neoclassics, Napoli has crafted an exquisite retelling of the biblical story of Noah's Ark. The descriptive writing she uses is masterful in bringing sometimes repulsive and sometimes beautiful events to life. Reading Storm is a survivalist tale that makes the reader feel like they are guzzling hot deer blood along with Sebah and fighting for their life. Sometimes the descriptions of meals were so vivid that I became nauseous but it was well worth it to be in the shoes of a girl conquering insurmountable odds with unlikely companionship. Sebah's enduring spirit is an inspiration and I had to admit to myself that maybe surviving finals is not such a big deal in comparison. I highly recommend this novel for anyone, as its story will appeal to all but religious fundamentalists, and especially to fans of Madeline L'engle's Many Waters, another re imagining of the Ark story.

I assigned this book a Voya quality rating of four because it is well written and its originality makes it sparkle. Haddon's writing style is impressive in how well it both captures the unique differences of the asbergers mindset while at the same time writing a character who is easy to relate to. I think that this rare opportunity to enjoy an autistic protagonist as the narrator will appeal to many teens. At an age when they are feeling different, isolated and insecure, teens can relate to the ostracized feeling that Christopher experiences. Most teens will appreciate the honest narration and fascinating writing style. For this reason I gave it a popularity rating of four. This book can do a lot to answer questions teens may have about autistic school mates and also gives them an interesting mirror to reflect on their own changing mental space.

I gave this book a 5Q because its quality was striking. The character of the writing was so personal and descriptive that I connected with the narrative of Crank better than I ever have any book of verse. I have never read a collection of poems that became a page turner for me but Crank changed that. I gave the popularity a slightly lower score of four because I think that the book may be over the heads of some younger teens, and also because teens are more resistant to read novels in verse as a general rue. Crank was a stunning portrait of the descent of a girl into a quick and dirty addiction, but what makes it so gripping is the authorship by Hopkins. As a woman who lost her daughter to meth, the parental neglect of Kristina represents a palpable guilt that Hopkins must feel for not getting her daughter the help she needed in a timely fashion. Each page is riddled with what might have been if she had not neglected her baby and I found myself consistently angry with her throughout the novel. Crank is a gripping, tangible horror-story that reverses the traditional coming of age plot line into the story of an un-coming of identity.

4Q, 4P
This is a harrowing look at capitalism evolved to a complete invasion of the privacy of consumers. In the world of Feed, people are happy about the feeds in their heads that tailor product suggestions just for the. But for the few that subvert the formation of a consumer identity, consequences are dire. Because of the big business take over of the medical establishment, care is only offered to those who fit into a clear consumer profile. This book casts a light on the grim reality that our society is more and more catered to the consumer to the extent that we actually are grateful for the options that capitalism offers us. Feed is a relevant and enlightening read that should appeal to almost every teen who has any stake in their future. I would encourage librarians to use this in a book club and combine with a discussion on the future of consumerism with their teens.

4Q, 4P
This is an excellent read done in an accessible graphic-novel format. This graphic novel covers a wide variety of the science myths prevalent in our culture, with a particular focus on medicine and environmental issues. I gave the book a four in both popularity and quality. It should appeal to a wide variety of audiences based on two factors. First, its graphic-novel style gives the scientific content an easy to approach, non-daunting access point. Secondly, The scientific method is defended in the novel using current hot-button issues that most readers will connect to because of a high relevance to their daily lives. The arguments that Darryl makes in debunking many popular scientific myths are compelling and well-reasoned. I particularly enjoyed the detail in which Darryl explains the reasoning behind some of the pseudo-science he dispels, so that it is possible to understand why people buy into the false theories. The one flaw in his presentation is that he uses dramatic examples to prove his points, which could be argued to be unscientific as they sway readers' opinions. However, without this personal interest the book would be dry and so Darryl's choice is not so much unethical as it is an intentional way to garner interest in a possibly dull subject.

5Q, 3P
This autobiographical work is a stunningly well-done piece of literature. The quality of writing is superb especially in combination with endearing and easy-to-follow illustrations that enhance the understanding of the text and contribute to its entertaining quality. The quality extends to a heavy use of references to great works of literature and advanced vocabulary heavily peppered throughout the novel. The headiness of the work combined with mature themes of sexuality is the only reason that I gave this work a 3P rather than a 4P. I feel some teens would struggle with the language and dense literary allusions and metaphors. This is a graphic novel that I would recommend to just about any teen up to the challenge. Blechdel's narrative voice is compelling and I couldn't put the novel down until I was done. Her treatment of sexual identity, family dynamics, homosexuality and obsessive-compulsive disorder, is honest and enlightening. This book would be a good counter-argument to any critic who claims that graphic novels are not works of serious literary merit. Fun Home is highly academic and socially provocative and deserves a place alongside the most respected of autobiographical works.

This book merits a 4P in my opinion. The erotic sexual scenes are enticing enough to interest most young adults, especially when coupled with a dramatic plot and plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged. The quality of the writing I gave a 3P. Burgess' style is interesting and fluid though not outstanding by any means. The real value of this novel is the way in which what seems to be purely erotic literature develops into a cautionary tale of the consequences that can be a fallout of unequal sexual relationships. From statutory rape to dramatic self-harm, Doing It is a serious book that deals with serious issues. It preaches a look before you leap attitude about sex and warns teens not to participate in a risky situation just because it feels good. I really like that it combines this with the lesson that honesty is a requirement for healthy sex and hiding your feelings from yourself or others can be harmful. Burgess strikes a great balance between warning teens to use caution before intercourse and also encouraging them to pursue sex with someone they trust and are close to already (like Deborah).

The VOYA popularity rating I assigned this book is 2P, or 'for the YA reader with a special interest in the subject.' I believe its quality is 3Q, 'readable, without serious defects. I found the novel to be fairly enjoyable and it was certainly an easy, brief read. I do not believe that it would have a mass appeal with youth audiences however, even if they were pushed into reading it. For teens who enjoy magical realism or quirky female protagonists this could be a great read. However, the magical realism may be a drawback for some teens. I found myself having a hard time connecting with the protagonist Weetzie because of the surreal quality of the novel. At an age where they are searching for concrete answers about life, the abstract, overly simplified style of the narrative may be dissatisfying. I felt the treatment of teen pregnancy in the novel was also overly casual and idealized.