Posts Tagged 'cross country'

The Only Girl In Town by Ally Condie

Genre: Realistic Fiction

When July waked up to find she is the only remaining person left in her town she immediately begins to look for people anywhere she can think of including her school, her friend’s houses, and even local businesses. When she fails to find another living person she tries to get in her car and flee the town only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. As she starts to get used to being the only girl in town she notices objects left around the town that each represent a person she deeply misses including her best friend and her parents. She gets the idea that maybe she is supposed to solve a puzzle with the objects in order to bring everyone back, but the harder she tries to connect the objects the more she is reminded of several painful memories that have happened over the last year. Can July face her difficult past in order to move forward? What is going on in this town and where did everyone disappear to?

This story uses past memories to help the reader feel why July is struggling so much in addition to the fact she is now totally alone in her town. The objects she finds help her to start facing all the things she misses about those around her so that she can better focus on a plan to bring all of those people back into her life. The relationships around her start to become very clear with each memory she revisits and it’s easy to want to know what happened that made her feel like she had to change all of her priorities in life. Recommended for those who enjoy realistic fiction with surprise endings.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury


Genre:  Realistic Fiction

# of Pages:  25

RAC Book:  Yes

Chris and his best friend, Win, decide to go on a cross country bike ride the summer after graduation.  In the fall, only Chris returns to begin college.  Win’s parents enlist the FBI to find out what happened to their son.  Chris claims he has no idea, but worries he may have to face the events of that summer one way or another once the FBI starts threatening his family.  Can Chris face the events that led up to their separation?

This book delves into best friend relationships, parental relationships, growing up, and even choosing future goals.  The story is told in alternating chapters between Chris in the present getting harassed by the FBI and Chris and Win’s adventures on that summer trip.  Readers will become engaged in the story from the beginning and will want to know where Win is.  The story is fast paced and the characters are well-written.  Highly recommended.


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