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Featured Staff Review: By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead

By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Daelyn has suffered taunts and physical violence from bullies for as long as she can remember. Classmates, camp counselors, supposed friends—everyone is out to make her hurt, and the adults in her life don’t do a thing to stop it. A series of suicide attempts have failed to release her from the world that she hates so much.

The worst is waking up in the hospital. Your parents are there, crying. Or your mother is yelling at the doctors and nurses. You come back wrecked. You ruin everyone’s day.

It won’t happen again.

I promise.

Daelyn’s latest suicide attempt robbed her of her ability to speak, but it only strengthened her will to succeed next time. By a “lucky” accident she stumbles across www.through-the-light.com, a website for people who help each other along the path to suicide. Daelyn has set her “Date of Determination” for 23 days from now, and she is using that time to completely sever all the connections she has to the world that abused and ignored her. She throws away her belongings, starts referring to her parents by their first names, and refuses to engage her senses.

But even as she draws the shroud of isolation closer in preparation for her death, an exuberant, nerdy  boy named Santana is trying to reach out to her.

Is it too late for Daelyn to change her mind? What will happen when her date of determination arrives?

Review by Eva Mays, CLP – Allegheny

Read All Featured Teen Reviews
Featured Teen Review: My Sister’s Keeper

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult tells us of the struggle one family must go through for the life of a daughter, Kate. Kate was diagnosed with cancer when she was very young and her parents, especially her mother, try so hard everyday just for her daughter’s life. Then the possibility of having a new child was discussed amongst the parents because they needed a perfect match to help donate certain things to Kate. So none-the-less, Anna was a “designer baby” with the soul purpose of saving Kate. But at some point she becomes fed up and sues her parents for medical emancipation of her own body. This goes with out saying, but her parents are furious. Can Anna win her own case? What will happen to Kate?

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that loves a good heart felt novel. I found it quite easy to read this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next, and I am not a person who loves to read. Every chapter is told from a different character’s point of view, which helps to create a lot of variety and diversity in the feelings that are shown. Another thing, if you think that just by seeing the movie you know what’s coming, you are wrong. The book features a different ending that some wouldn’t see coming.

Review by Liana, age 17

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Book Reviews

Click here to see all reviews.
Book Name Date Rating
Beautiful Creatures Hanna 3/17/2010
The Catcher in the Rye Kayla 3/17/2010
Flush Zachary 3/2/2010
Hatchet Zachary 3/2/2010
My Sister's Keeper Lianna F. Deck 3/2/2010
A Great and Terrible Beauty Kaba 3/2/2010
Kristy's Big Idea Karen 2/12/2010
Locomotion Rozlynn 12/16/2009
Maid for Me Jean Louisa 12/16/2009
Hunter Brown Alexis 11/5/2009
Eragon J. D. F. P. 10/23/2009
The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College Charmaine 8/19/2009
Wild Magic Florica 8/19/2009
Sardine in Outer Space 2 Dustin 8/19/2009
Sardine in Outer Space Dustin 8/19/2009
Take the mummy and run Dustin 8/19/2009
On the Fringe Hunter 8/19/2009
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Hunter 8/19/2009
Freakonomics Mark 8/19/2009
surface tension Anna 8/19/2009
guitar highway rose Anna 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol3 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol4 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol5 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol6 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol6 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol7 Felicia 8/19/2009
DGray Man vol9 Felicia 8/19/2009
Unbeleivable Marianne 8/19/2009
How I Survived Middle School #2 - Madame President Marianne 8/19/2009
Secret Keeper Sarah 8/19/2009
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Sarah 8/19/2009
Brian's winter Dustin 8/19/2009
The mighty avengers Vol. 1 The ultron initiative Dustin 8/19/2009
The Clique Summer Collection Massie alicia 8/17/2009
The Clique Summer Collection Dylan alicia 8/17/2009
Notes from a liar and her dog alicia 8/17/2009
Sweet Valley High Double Love alicia 8/17/2009
Lily B. on the Brink of Cool alicia 8/17/2009
A Smart Kid Like You alicia 8/17/2009
Mary Jane alicia 8/17/2009
The Summer of Sassy Jo alicia 8/17/2009
Disney's Pirates of the Carribbean Dead Man's Chest alicia 8/17/2009
I was a teenage fairy alicia 8/17/2009
The shared room alicia 8/17/2009
The Devil's Right Hand Pearly 8/17/2009
To Hell and Back Pearly 8/17/2009
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sarah 8/14/2009
Speak Florica 8/14/2009
Catalyst Florica 8/14/2009
Twisted Florica 8/14/2009
Prom Florica 8/14/2009
girls from da hood Gloria 8/13/2009
life in prison Gloria 8/13/2009
Night World:1 Pat 8/13/2009
Night World:2 Pat 8/13/2009
Night World:3 Pat 8/13/2009
Money Hungry Breanna 8/13/2009
Drama High: The Fight Breanna 8/13/2009
The gecko and sticky Dustin 8/13/2009
Where I live Dustin 8/13/2009
yellow raft blue water raychelle 8/13/2009
Mouse Guard Dustin 8/13/2009
the big, bratty book of bart simpson Dustin 8/13/2009
Chasing lincoln's killer Dustin 8/13/2009
Death jr. Dustin 8/13/2009
The Testament Jacob 8/13/2009
Sealed with a Diss Miranda 8/13/2009
Bratfest at Tiffany's Miranda 8/13/2009
Of Sound Mind Miranda 8/13/2009
Butterflies in May Miranda 8/13/2009
The Clique summer Collection: Kristen Miranda 8/13/2009
Where the Sidewalk Ends Nakeeya 8/13/2009
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging Miranda 8/13/2009
The Clique summer Collection: Dylan Miranda 8/13/2009
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Miranda 8/13/2009
The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Miranda 8/13/2009
The Clique summer Collection: Claire Miranda 8/13/2009
Katie Kazoo Switcheroo #7 Drat You Copycat Kristen 8/11/2009
The Frog Princess Kristen 8/11/2009
Hush Alexis 8/11/2009
The Mrs.Piggle-Wiggle Treasury Kayla 8/10/2009
Otherwise Known As Sheila The Great Kayla 8/10/2009
Absolutely Normal Chaos Kayla 8/10/2009
Eleven Kayla 8/10/2009
Rhymes with witches Josie 8/10/2009
Rolling Stone : Green day maggie 8/10/2009
Yes We Can! maggie 8/10/2009
Voices of Autism maggie 8/10/2009
Yoga for young people maggie 8/10/2009
A hat full of sky maggie 8/10/2009
Letters to a young artist maggie 8/10/2009
chicken soup for the teenage soul : the real deal maggie 8/10/2009
My Åntonia Olivia 8/10/2009
Cecile Olivia 8/10/2009
A House of Tailors Olivia 8/10/2009
Haveli Alison 8/10/2009
Wacky Packages Sarah 8/10/2009
Specials sarah 8/10/2009
Extras sarah 8/10/2009
Awards
Books
Writing
Magazines
Comics

Every year, teens, librarians and other experts select the best books and other media in various categories. This section will help you locate the best of the best.

  • Alex Awards
    Each year ten books that are published for adults but are great for teens are honored.
  • Coretta Scott King Awards
    These awards honor the best works by African-American authors and illustrators.
  • Eisner Awards
    Get graphic! These annual awards honor comic books and graphic novels.
  • Odyssey Award
    Do you like to listen? The Odyssey Award honors the best audio books each year.
  • Printz Award
    The Michael L. Printz Award is given each year to the best work of literature published for young adults.
  • William C. Morris Award
    A new award that honors the best book by a first-time author for teens.
  • YALSA Selected Booklists
    These booklists, selected annually, recognize great works for teens in a variety of categories, including paperbacks; graphic novels; and best books.

Looking for more great books? Try one of these resources.

  • Novelist Plus
    Can't remember a book but can describe the plot? Looking for something to read that's similar to your favorite book? Novelist can help! Library card barcode number required to access Novelist outside the library.
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools: Books for Relaxing Reading... Summer Reading Lists
    Check here for some classic entertainment!
    Grades 6 to 8
    Young Adult (9-12)
  • Reading Rants: Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists
    Reviews and booklists developed by teens and teen librarians!
  • TeenLink
    New York Public Library's teen page, including their annual "Stuff for the Teen Age" booklists.
  • TeenReads
    Reviews, interviews and more.
  • YALSA Selected Booklists
    These booklists, selected annually, recognize great works for teens in a variety of categories, including paperbacks; graphic novels; and best books.

Do you express yourself through writing? These resources will help you improve your writing, get published or even win prizes for your work.

  • Ralph Munn Creative Writing Award
    Express yourself by entering the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's own writing contest. Win cash and be published!
  • AdLit Writing Contests
    Although this is written as if it were for your parents or teachers, don't let that stop you from entering these contests.
  • Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
    You can't get any more prestigious than this. Writers like Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath and Joyce Carol Oates had their beginnings in this contest. Acclaim, scholarships and more for students in grades 7 to 12.
  • CyberTeens Creativity
    Publishes poetry, fiction and non-fiction by teens.
  • A Girl's World
    Opportunities to send articles and creative writing and to find a pen pal for girls 7-17.
  • Gurl
    Show off with comics, poetry, stories and personal essays on this site for girls with a bit of an edge
  • HSJ.org: High School Journalism
    Check out high school newspapers from around the nation and see if yours is among them.
  • National Gallery of Writing
    Share your writing in this online gallery by the National Council of Teachers of English.
  • Pomegranate Words
    Writing tips plus a chance to publish poetry, fiction, literary essays and drama for anyone under 19.
  • Push Novel Writing Contest
    If you're in 7th to 12th grade and have written a novel or are in the process, submit it to PUSH, edited by none other than David Levithan.
  • TeenInk
    With both print and online versions, TeenInk has a wide readership and is a great place to submit your own writing.
  • TeenSpace
    From the Internet Public Library: booklists, tips, zines and other sources to read or to consider for submitting work .
  • TeenVoices
    Like the print magazine version, this site is written by, for and about teen girls and young adult women. Includes articles, creative writing and an activist of the month.

Online or in print, magazines are a great way to learn about new things or entertain yourself.

  • The Book of Zines
    Help with publishing your own zine - History, directory and purchasing information for online magazines.
  • TeenVoices
    Like the print magazine version, this site is written by, for and about teen girls and young adult women. Includes articles, creative writing and an activist of the month.
  • Teen Vogue
    Fashion starts here.
  • J-14
    A magazine "Just for Teens."
  • Shojo Beat
    Manga from the heart.
  • Shonen Jump
    The world's most popular manga magazine!
  • LàTeen
    El mundo es tuyo - The world is yours.
  • XY
    The only national magazine written for gay teens!
  • Sports Illustrated for Kids
    The name says it all!

Comics, graphic novels and more!