Biography/NonFiction: Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different

Watch Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement address at Stanford

Blumenthal, Karen. Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different. New York: Square Fish, 2013. Print. ISBN 978-1-250-01445-0; paperback; $10.99

Annotation: A biography on the visionary Steve Jobs framed by his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford. Learn about his life from his adoption to become the most innovate thinkers and creators in the 20th and 21st century.

Book Awards

• 2013 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

Book Review: Connecting the dots, love and loss, and death. These were the three stories that Steve Jobs told in his 2005 speech to the Stanford graduating class and these three themes are woven into the biography of Steve Jobs. Blumenthal uses these themes to tell the story of one of the most brilliant minds that shaped the 20th and 21th century from his adoption at birth to his premature death from cancer. Throughout the narrative, Jobs is shown as an innovator that was not afraid to take incredible risks in pursuing his passion. While Jobs could be malicious and demanding at times, he was never driven by fame, greed or power. Blumenthal makes it apparent that Jobs' accomplishments meant little compared to the journey Jobs took in getting there.

It is impossible not to be captivated by the story of one of the most brilliant minds of a generation. Blumenthal does an outstanding job of presenting a full unbiased view of Jobs' life and personality while maintaining focus on Jobs' career journey. It is a fast paced read that from time to time delivers important lessons relevant to young aspiring minds. Remaining true to what you love, not settling, and understanding that the "journey is the reward" not just the accomplishments define the drive behind Steve Jobs. Blumenthal's narrative is divided chronologically and thematically by the three stories told by Jobs at the 2005 Stanford graduation speech and also includes an informative appendix with a time line of Jobs' career and accomplishments as well as a glossary and other useful content. I highly recommend this book to all young adults, specifically anyone with an interest in Jobs or technology. All readers of Blumenthal's biography will be fascinated by Jobs' story and accomplishments. 

Historical Fiction: The Book Thief

Check out the trailer to the 2013 movie.

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print. ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7; paperback; $12.99

Annotation: Nine year old Liesel Meminger lives with adopted parents during World War II in Nazi Germany. Liesel and her parents come across a Jew named Max who hides in their basement while Max and Liesel bond over their circumstances and the books they steal.

Book Awards

2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award

2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book 2007: Michael L. Printz Award

Book Review:  In Nazi Germany during the beginning stages of WWII, nine-year-old Liesel Meminger is forced to live with foster parents in the city of Molching. The beginning of Liesel's journey is where the narrator of the story, Death, first en

counters Liesel as her brother dies before making it to Molching. It is during her brother's burial when Liesel accidentally recover's her first book. Although she cannot read, she is fascinated by the book. As Liesel adapts to life with her foster parents and friends in Molching, Max Vandenburg, a Jew, stumbles into the lives of Liesel and her foster parents. Because of his past, Liesel's foster parents hide Max in their basement as the war continues to decimate the country. Max and Liesel bond over their love and fascination with books as Liesel begins stealing them, taking them to get back all that she has already lost.

Zusak writes The Book Thief in little vignette's, dividing the story in brief episodes. Liesel's youth and innocence shines throughout the story during such a frightening period in history. The tone of the story is set in the beginning when the narrator, Death, shows himself to be sympathetic and disturbed by the violence and despair caused by the Nazi's and WWII. The pace of the story is quick and beautifully told as the reader gets a glimpse of the full spectrum of Germans living in a small town during the Nazi Regime and WWII.  Zusak writing and storytelling can be funny and tragic on the same page in this unsettling story that shines in the most unexpected moments.  I would highly recommend The Book Thief to young adults in high school and college or any young adult who is captivated by the history of such a powerful and tumultuous time in history.

Classics: The Outsiders

Check out the first scene from the book in the 1983 movie

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Speak Platinum Edition, 2012. Print. ISBN 978-0-14-240733-2; paperback; $10.99.

Annotation: Ponyboy and his group of Greasers grow up in a class struggle between them and the rich Socs. With his brothers Darry and Sodapop, Ponyboy learns hard lessons and faces challenges that explore class diversity in this coming of age story.

Nicky B. "I really liked this book because it was different than much of our school reading.  The characters are great since they are diverse and from diverse backgrounds.  The author was able to show us that the Greasers and Socs were different only because of the labels that were placed upon them, from the stereotypes of where they were from, rather than the actual people they were.  I think the story teaches a lesson in seeing people for their character, for who they are, rather than where they are from.  It made me realize that books are like people, you can never judge one by its cover."

Book Awards

• New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967
• Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967
• Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
• ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975
• Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979

Book Review: Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis is the youngest member in his gang, known as Greasers. Unlike his older brothers Darry and Sodapop and their group of friends, Ponyboy is an outstanding student at school who loves to read. After being attacked by the Greaser's rival gang, the Socs, Ponyboy struggles with violence, class divisions and his relationship with his oldest brother Darry throughout the novel. Over the course of the story, Ponyboy learns the importance of the relationships with his family and his strength to overcome the challenges of social class prejudice and violence.

The power of the story comes from its teenage narrator, Ponyboy. Telling the story in his point of view and how he comes to terms with the challenges he faces makes The Outsiders a must read for all young adults. Ponyboy is a person that many readers will connect to and the problems he faces seem all the more real when told from his perspective. The Outsiders is a classic coming of age novel that demonstrates the realities and hardships that many young adults face. A reality that includes violence, drug use and relationships with the opposite sex is revealed in its most natural and pure form. Hinton's writing, specifically her ability to make everything imaginable and visible to the reader, makes the story and characters so memorable. The Outsiders should be read by all young adults, especially teenagers that sometimes feel overwhelmed or scared by the struggles of something in their lives. The story's message of showing strength through adversity is an important life lesson that all readers should experience and understand.