The Hunter: A Graphic Novel written by Richard Stark adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke MYS STARK

Parker was betrayed, shot, and left for dead by the woman he loved and his partners in crime. Now he’s back for revenge and doesn’t care how many dead bodies he leaves in his wake. He’ll get even with the woman, kill the man who betrayed him, and get the money owed to him even if it means taking on the whole Syndicate.

The Parker novels are some of the best crime fiction ever written and Darwyn Cooke is one of the comic industry’s most unique and exciting artist and writer, so this book is a marriage made in heaven. The art is black and white with subtle grey tones which is perfect for the criminal world Parker resides in and his black and white view of the world. The story is gritty and fast paced and Parker is one of the coolest anti heroes there is. This is a great gritty read for older teens, especially fans of Sin City or crime books. If you enjoy the comic make sure and check out some Parker novels in MYS STARK.

Riding in Cars With Boys / by Beverly D'Onofrio

Adversity is the trial of principle. -- Henry Fielding

So it goes with Beverly Donofrio, a bad girl who makes good in this memoir of an early-life crisis. Pregnant at 16, she rode the downward spiral for some time before things finally improved. Here she shamelessly chronicles her life as a high school dropout, parental reject, early bride, wife of a junkie, divorced teenage mom, hippie chick, liberated woman, drug user/dealer, and welfare recipient. Only after a nervous breakdown (of sorts) does she acclimate herself to a better life; growing and learning life's lessons even as her son, Jason, matures with her.

You can't spell memoir without "me" (or moi), an all-too-ironic nuance of this book which practically begins each sentence with "I" or "My" and ends in an angry expletive. With no shortage of attitude Donofrio entertains even as she self-evaluates going so far as to infuriate her own (real life) parents at the time of publication. Drew Barrymore stars in the 2001 film adaptation that won several independent film awards.