Right Behind You by Gail Giles - 

Great book featuring a teenager who set a boy on fire causing his death. The teenager has just been released from a detention facility to the care of his father. Coming to grips with the past and hope for a brighter future are the focal points of this fine story.

Bog Child by Siobhan Down was a page turner, although a few of the Irish expressions slowed me down a bit. I knew next to nothing about the politics of Ireland especially in 1981 when this story is set. I got more of a grasp of the ordinariness of people involved in political conflicts by reading this book. I could easily imagine the characters involved. 16 year-old Fergus McCann is an athlete and a student. He finds the body of a girl in a peat bog – she’s met a violent end. Fergus dreams about her. Themes involving the final days of the AD 80 bog child Mel become intertwined with those of Fergus who becomes involved with the resistance. From the fly leaf, the story involves, “sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit.”

Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas. Antonia Lucia Labella is a 15 year-old Italian-American student at a Catholic high school. Two things occupy much of Antonia’s thoughts – boys and sainthood. I especially liked Antonia’s choice-making as her expectations mature.

Her father’s death at age seven coupled with his words,” you are the saint of my heart’ has prompted Antonia to routinely write the Vatican; not only making suggestions for new patron saints but to be considered for sainthood herself. Antonia’s aspirations make for a genuinely funny story. Her first kiss is really special – loads of warmth and authenticity throughout. I listened to the audio version. The library also has the print version -