Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature

" Your best friend hates you. The guy you liked hates you. Your entire group of friends hates you.

All because you did the right thing.

Welcome to life for Mena, whose year is starting off in the worst way possible. She's been kicked out of her church group and no one will talk to her, not even her own parents. No one except for Casey, her supersmart lab partner in science class, who's pretty funny for the most brilliant guy on earth.

And when Ms. Shepherd begins the unit on evolution, school becomes more dramatic than Mena could ever imagine . . . and her own life is about to evolve in some amazing and unexpected ways." (from Goodreads)

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature manages to address faith, bullying, ostracism, and the beauty of science all at once. Oh, and there is romance and puppies, too.

If you like books about making tough decisions, you might also enjoy Blackwater by Eve Bunting, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, or Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney.

Brande, Robin. Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature. 2007. 272 pages.

Looking for Alaska

Miles is looking for the Great Perhaps--and an Alabama boarding school offers the possibility of finding it, especially after he meets the charming, unpredictable, and utterly alive Alaska. Miles is captivated by Alaska's beauty and her intelligence. In a year that unfolds with pranks and surprises, Miles must ultimately come to terms with some of life's biggest questions: why are we here? After a tragedy, how can we possibly keep faith that life is worth living?

Appeals: Funny, smart, and deals with romance and friendship. Looking for Alaska also manages to get the reader thinking about deep questions about life and our existence... without being pedantic! Simple and thought provoking.


Want more about John Green? Be sure to check out his website, sparksflyup.com.

Green, John. Looking for Alaska. 2005. 256 pages.