She Thief by Daniel Finn YP FIC FINN

Baz (Girl) and Demi (Boy) are master pickpockets in the Barrio. They take their loot to Fay, the woman that watches over all the childhood thieves in the Barrio. It’s almost like a family. Almost. But almost doesn’t nearly cut it when Demi steals the find of a lifetime, a gigantic blue ring. Now the cops and the underworld are all looking for Demi and it seems like Fay is going to sell him out. Now Baz is on her own for the first time and has to get to Demi and make it out of the Barrio before they’re both killed.

This is an interesting novel. The dialogue is original and unique. The thieves talk in a sort of slang that can be hard to follow at first, but works in instantly making the reader a part of their world. This isn’t a thrill a second read and is mainly about the characters interactions and betrayal, but if you stick with it the story builds steam and pays off really well in the end. And even when the book isn’t fast paced, Finn does such a great job describing the city and its corruption that you don’t really mind. A great read for fans of gritty life on the streets type fiction.

I will say that I am disappointed in the cover. Both the main characters of the book are dark skinned, so I have NO IDEA why the main faces of the cover are so light skinned.

Punkzilla by Adam Rapp

Punkzilla is considered an epistolary novel, which is a story told through documents. In this case, Punkzilla’s (Jamie is his real name.) story is told through letters. He is conversing with his brother, Peter (referred to as “P”), who is dying of cancer. Jamie is writing to him on a bus on his way from Portland, Oregon to Memphis, Tennessee to see his brother before he dies. Jamie writes his brother of the adventures and experiences he has while on this cross-country journey. Travelling by bus is pretty sketchy, which is made abundantly clear based on the things Jamie sees while staying at seedy motels, stopped at eerie bus stations, and with the bevy of oddballs who accompany him on his journey. Jamie’s language is blunt, lucid, at times raw, but still poetic as he describes his current adventure and his memories. This is also an emotional journey for Jamie as he tries to reach his brother in time. The reader is fully in-tunes with his roller coaster of emotions as he travels across the country.

This book is dark, edgy, and contains some graphic content, which is typical of Adam Rapp’s work. I would recommend Punkzilla for older teens (Grades 10 & up).

Author Adam Rapp is a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Other books written by Rapp available in the Moore Young Adult collection are: Under the wolf, Under the Dog; 33 Snowfish; Little Chicago, The Buffalo Tree; and Missing the Piano.

Rumble Fish / by S.E. Hinton

The problem with a reputation is that it's owned by others. Something Rusty-James can't seem to figure out about the rough and tumble world of gangland politics. Younger brother to street-legend and current top dog "Motorcycle Boy", his own ambitions aspire likewise even if his fists lead him into more trouble than they can get him out of. An absence of discernment and poise is fine while your brother's around to bail you out, but not all battles can be fought halfway. Nothing betrays a lie like the truth. It's not long before Rusty-James jams himself into circumstances too comprimising to escape from as, left to his own devices, his authority and the shaky influence with others begins to falter.

Post-Holden Caufield but pre-Drugstore Cowboy, there was S.E. Hinton. A teenager, and girl no less, this anomaly of Faulknerian proportions defied mainstream stereotypes to become a touchstone of YA fiction, penning her first novel--The Outsiders(1967)--at 18 while still attending her Tulsa high school. Still the second best-selling YA book ever, 'Outsiders' was a stark representation of personal alliegances within rival street gangs and the violent consequences enmeshed therein. Its publication made Hinton a household name nearly overnight and is still required reading in many secondary schools. Her other books, all involving teenage boys at life's crossroads, have served to cement her among the pillars of the genre.