Imagine you are the much loved, only child of an überwealthy, couple in the not too distant future.A terrible car accident nearly kills you, but a miracle intervenes and you instead end up in a coma for over a year.When you finally wake up, nothing feels quite right.You can’t remember your personal history, but you know more about world events and literature than anyone should.You feel like a stranger in your own body—your legs don’t walk right and your hands don’t seem to fit.What is going on?
Jenna Fox awoke to just such an experience.For reasons she doesn’t understand, she and her mother are living in California with her Nana while her father continues his medical work in Boston.What makes it even weirder is that her mother panics every time she leaves the house and actually hesitates when Jenna asks to attend school!Finally, through a series of accidents and some good, old-fashioned, teenage rebellion, Jenna discovers the truth.Not only does it shake her to her very core, but the secret she discovers could have repercussions for all humanity.
Do you want to know the big secret she discovers about herself?Read The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson.
Ambergate—Patricia Elliott (pg 7 of book)
I am the girl with no name.I have a number branded on my left arm, but no name.I have a secret.A secret I must never tell.Once, when I lived in the Capital, I committed a crime.I did something so wicked I must never speak of it.If I did, they would come after me: the Lord Protector and his men.I think I did this wicked thing because of the ravens.I remember them, those great black birds, their jarring cries as they shifted the air above my head.I think they mad me do it those Birds of Night, those Birds of Death.
Beast—Ally Kennen
In the depths of a reservoir lives a monstrous creature.Its existence was unknown to anyone except to Stephen, the teenage boy who feeds it.Six years ago it was a vicious little baby.Now it has grown huge, and its rusting cage can’t hold it for much longer.Stephen is a guy with many secrets, but the beast is the biggest.His foster parents are horrible, and he is in trouble with the police.Will he ever be able to free himself from the beast?Odds are against him but this unlikely hero will have to make a horrible choice that people should never have to choose.
Dogboy—Victor Kelleher
Has anyone ever said to you that you act like you were raised by a pack of wild dogs?This book is about a boy with no name, so the villagers call him Dogboy.He was raised by dogs after his mother abandoned him at birth.Dogboy cannot speak, and he does not understand what life is like as a human, because he has always lived with dogs.But one day Dogboy realized he has special powers, and his supernatural gifts lead him to believe he is actually a shaman.
Dragon’s Keep-- Janet Lee Carey
Princess Rosalind of Wilde Island has worn golden gloves since the day she was born.And it’s not a fashion statement.She has a horrible secret, a dragon’s claw in place of her fourth finger, and it must not be allowed to interfere with her destiny.She is, after all, the 21st queen and, according to Merlin, the 21st queen of Evaine’s lineage will redeem the name Pendragon and bring an end to war.In order to become queen, she’ll need a husband, and Rosalind falls in love when a young knight arrives on the island after killing the female dragon that has been attacking her people.Of course, life intervenes.The knight sees her claw and goes off to war, breaking her heart, just in time for her to be captured by the male dragon and made to nursemaid his young.So much time passes that Rosalind resigns herself to her fate, but her destiny is still waiting.How will she fulfill Merlin’s prophecy after all that has happened?
(Taking on the role of several different characters… either bring props or use voices to differentiate between them)
I am Rose.I am the youngest of seven daughters, and I was born to replace the daughter before me who died at birth.I have always been a stray, a wanderer, a dreamer.What is my life’s purpose?What is my reason for existing?
I am White Bear.Watching the child.The girl with purple eyes.Purple eyes.The girl.Taller.Unafraid.Purple eyes, trusting.Cannot.Not Safe for her.Hunger.Hunger.Hunger.Must go now, quickly.Then return.
I am Troll Queen.My skin is hard and full of scales.I was a beautiful princess once, and I had skin as soft as silk and pure as milk.It was the curse, the horrible curse that made me this way.But I have a potion-maker now, and a soft-skinned boy.I have always been able to make people bend to my will.
Epic-- Conor Kostick
Imagine living in a society where violence was banned generations ago and the penalty is banishment.The only way to succeed in life is to succeed in Epic, the fantasy computer game that is used to govern the society.Eric finds himself in just such a society.He’s been practicing in the game for years and knows if he can find wealth or fame in the game, his future is secure.Unfortunately, the game becomes all too real when his father is banished for a long-ago crime, and Eric must convince his friends to risk everything and help him slay a dragon in order to win some influence with the leaders.Instead of solving all his problems, this merely creates more, and before he’s done, Eric ends up taking on the game itself.Will he prevail, or will he end up exiled or dead, like his parents?
Kat, aka, Yoga Girl, is tall and athletic, but doesn’t do team sports.Instead, she likes to do solo sports, create art, and help out her mother, Abra, at the Midwifery.She has dreams of one day dating Manny Cruz, but she’s so far outside his social circle that he doesn’t even see her…until one day he asks her a question in Spanish class.Is this the opening she’s been hoping for?Only time will tell.
In the mean time, Kat has an amazing and mortifying experience while assisting Abra with her first birth.She is so embarrassed that she decides to quit the Midwifery so she won’t have to deal with the waves of mistrust coming off of Abra whenever they’re in the same room.Before she can be replaced, though, a popular classmate walks through the door, and she gets drawn into the drama of teen pregnancy.Could the wonderful Manny be the father?Kat is afraid her dreams may be over in the massive explosion.Read “Fact of Life #31” to see if she survives the fallout.
(Ask a teen if you can look at their hand for a moment… reach over and pretend to read palm, muttering things about lifelines and love etc)
My name is Annie.My momma is the famous Madame Caterina, maybe you have heard of her?She is a clairvoyant… what don’t you know what that means?It means that she can see into the future and talk to spirits.People line up for miles just to consult her expertise.What you don’t believe me?How can you argue when you have seen the proof, Madame Caterina has helped so many people find peace and let go of the spirits that linger to haunt them.I can see that you still don’t believe me… fine (pause and sigh)Can I tell you a secret?My momma’s name isn’t really Madame Caterina, it’s just plain Catherine.And she really can’t see into the future.But nobody else knows that, just you… and you can learn how it all happened in Peach Hill, as long as you promise not to tell.
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation—Simone Elkeles
Amy Nelson has the perfect summer vacation planned.She is going away to tennis camp for a month to improve her already fabulous backhand stroke.When she gets back, she and her best friend plan to hit all the most fashionable stores in Chicago, see a few plays, and of course hang out with their boyfriends.All of those plans come to a halt when her birth father shows up and whisks her away to Israel to meet the family she never even knew existed.Going to Israel with her birth dad is the last thing Amy wants to do… she has a serious grudge against that guy for never bothering to show up in her life until the day he takes her away to a war-zone.But when Amy meets her Israeli family- and a really cute boy- her feelings starts to change…
Napoleon & Josephine—Gerald and Loretta Hausman
Napoleon is one of the most famous military men in history.Josephine is the daughter of a rancher on the tropical island of Martinique.Napoleon has conquered lands and kings.Josephine had her fortune read by a gypsy who predicted that she will one day be “more than a queen.”Napoleon has power-obsessed women and men throwing themselves at his feet.Josephine moves to Paris to follow her destiny and makes her debut with excitement on the French social circuit.
And one day, Napoleon spies Josephine across the room at a party.The earth stops spinning on its axis, the stars collide, and time stands still.Josephine is drawn to him, walks across the room and places her hand in his.And the rest, as some like to say, is history.
Playing with Matches--Brian Katcher
Leon is a junior in high school and can't seem to get any girls--especially his dream girl, Amy.He's pining away at his locker when he suddenly finds himself sharing locker space as well as project time with Melody, a scarred, childhood burn victim who is even more of an outcast than he is.Strange and wonderful things start to happen.He develops friendly--maybe even more than friendly--feelings for Melody, and (miracle of miracles) Amy suddenly takes a keen interest in him.What's a guy to do?Why he starts "playing with matches" of course.Will he get burned?Read and find out.
Sebastian Darke, Prince of Fools--Philip Caveney
Hi, my name is Max.I bet you’ve never seen anything like me before.I am a talking buffalope.I used to work for a great court jester, but then he died and I got stuck with his son, Sebastian.Let me tell you, that boy’s completely hopeless when it comes to telling jokes.Thankfully, we’ve been rather busy with other things, so I haven’t had to listen to him practice as much.
What’s kept us busy you ask?Well, it all started back when we were making our way to Keladon so Sebastian could seek his fortune as court jester to King Septimus.First, we met up with this tiny little warrior called Cornelius, and then we happened upon a royal caravan under attack.Thanks in large part to my bravery, we managed to fend off the brigands and rescue Princess Kerin.You’d think we would have been rewarded handsomely for our actions, but no such luck.Instead, Sebastian just managed to get us further and further into trouble until I had to step in and save the day again.
What, you don’t believe me?Fine!Don’t just take my word it.Read Philip Caveney’s book “Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools” and you’ll see just what we’ve been up to.
Secrets of My Hollywood Life—Jen Calonita
How many of you would love to trade places with a famous TV star for a day?What would you do?Would you go shopping for designer clothes?Hang out at the Ivy with other stars?Would you drive a Mercedes?Would you go to a movie premiere and walk down the red carpet?
Kaitlin Burke is the star of the hit TV show “A Family Affair.”Her picture is taped inside lockers around the country and wherever she goes, she is recognized.One day, Kaitlin can’t take it anymore… she just wants to see what High School is like if you are a NORMAL teen, something she has never experienced in her entire life.To find out what life is really like, Kaitlin disguises herself and takes classes at the local Los AngelesHigh School for a semester.Will she be discovered?
Suck it Up—Brian Meehl
Hi, I’m Morning McCobb and I am destined to be a nerdy teenager for eternity.No.I’m not exaggerating.You see, some vampire behaving badly glutted himself on my blood, but didn’t manage to kill me.Instead, he turned me.Now, after completing my education, I’m a full-fledged member of the International Vampire League.In fact, I’ve been tapped to come out to the world and pave the way for vampires and humans to live together in harmony.It sounds like an honor, but it’s really a big hassle.I just wanted to grow up and be a fireman.Was that too much to ask?I don’t even like blood!I know, you think I’m a big whiner, but you can’t possibly understand.You’ll have to read my story to see if I can just “Suck it Up” and get on with it.
Twisted—Laurie Halse Anderson
Trying to break free from his nerdy reputation, Tyler commits a crime that he refers to as the “Foul Deed.”He spray paints misspelled cusswords all over the school.As a punishment he has to do community service all summer.The bright side is that it makes him really buff and when he goes back to school in the fall the hottest, most popular girl, Brittney, wants to be with him.But at a party, someone does something unthinkably bad to Brittney, and everyone blames it on Tyler.Tyler is innocent, but he needs to think of a way to prove to everyone that he isn’t as twisted as everyone thinks he is.
Zanna, a teenager in London, has been having some truly odd experiences lately.Animals are staring at her. Strangers are approaching her and calling her “Schwazzy.”Even the clouds have started to resemble her!After a narrow escape from an auto accident, she and her friend Deeba decide to investigate this oddness and wind up in UnLondon, the mirror-image abcity of London, where ghosts walk the streets, trash cans are ninjas, and giraffes are fearsome beasts.Zanna, it seems, is the chosen one, or Schwazzy, who is destined to save UnLondon from the evil Smog.All goes remarkably according to plan until Zanna loses her first battle.Deeba is left wondering what happens next.Could it be that the prophecies are mistaken?Will the abcity denizens manage to defeat their foe?
The White Darkness—Geraldine McGaughrean
Sym is not your typical teenaged girl.She knows everything there is to know about Antarctica and is obsessed with the explorers who went missing looking for the south pole earlier in the century.When Sym’s strange and obsessive Uncle Victor kidnaps her and takes her to the land of her dreams, Antarctica, she thinks her dreams really have come true.Even though Uncle Victor has his quirks and flaws, she still love him and wants to make him proud by acting as his tour guide in the vast, frozen wilderness.But when everything goes dreadfully wrong, it is up to Sym to stand up for what is right and survive the horrors of the freezing, icy landscape of Antarctica all on her own.Can a teenaged girl survive in the Antarctic wilderness all on her own?
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