Teen Choice Awards
books for teens, chosen by teens
In February, YALSA will award the Award for Excellence in Nonfiction to the best nonfiction book written for young adults. Laughing at my Nightmare is one of five finalists for this year's award. The other finalists can be found at: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/nonfiction-award
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Carley Conners is being placed in a foster home after an accident involving her mother's boyfriend sends both of them to the hospital. Carley has never known stability and the Murphy's home seems too good to be true. The love shown to her is met with resistance and anger from the wall she has built up around herself. As her walls crumble and she begins to accept the Murphy's she begins to make friends at her new school. She also starts to remember what really happened the night of her accident. What really happened to her mother? What really happened to Carley? And what will Carley do when her mother wants her back? "'You deserve what we have to offer and more.' Mrs. Murphy's voice cracks again.'And do much more.' I stiffen. 'How can you say those things?' I yell. 'You don't know those things!' I step away. The pain in my throat and the wetness in my eyes scares me. I don't know why bad things make me stronger and nice things make me weak.”
The Raft by S. A. Bodeen
Robie lives with her parents in Midway Atoll, a group of islands off of Hawaii. While visiting her aunt in Hawaii Robie escapes an attack from a stranger and wants nothing more than to get back to her parents. She gets on a cargo flight heading back to Midway with two pilots. On the way they run into a storm and the plane goes down killing one pilot and leaving Robie with alone in a life raft with the other pilot, Max. Oh, and the life raft has a leak... and there is no water... or food... but there are sharks... "I leaned over to heck on Max. He was gone. 'Max!' Shading my eyes, I scanned the ocean around the raft. 'Max!' Oh my God, what have I done?"
Laughing at my Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
His book is a memoir that tells that tale of his life living with SMA. Despite the disease he lives his life with humor and a positive attitude. With so much negativity in the world this is a refreshing and optimistic book about looking on the bright side and living your life to the fullest. "I went back to my seat, face reddening, and quickly apologized to Becca for putting her through that. She couldn't stop laughing, and suddenly, neither could I. Sure, I was embarrassed to the point where my face felt like it was melting, but at the same time, I didn't care! Everything that had just unfolded was so completely awkward that is was hilarious. It would have been very easy for me to let that day break me down, but what good would have come from that?"