Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Author: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Date of Publication: 2006

Format: Softcover

Page Count: 183 Pages

Cost: $8.99

ISBN: 978-0-375-83533-9

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up

Plot Summary: When Nick’s ex-girlfriend walks into a bar with her latest fling, he asks the nearest stranger to pretend to be his girlfriend for five minutes. Norah agrees, and suddenly the two are off barhopping through New York City, in search of friendship and the newest hot punk rock band. The fast-paced story is told in chapters alternating between each character’s point of view, and both Nick and Norah have very authentic teenage voices. The end of their first date, which has spanned an entire night into the next morning, finds them getting physical inside the ice room of a hotel until they are discovered by two of the hotel’s guests. Though that incident puts a damper on their excitement, the reader knows that Nick and Norah have found something real that will last awhile.

Evaluation: The bad language in this book flies fast and furious, but is more likely to offend conservative adults than teenagers, who will instant recognize and appreciate the authenticity of Nick and Norah’s voices. Nick and Norah are in these nightclubs because of their passion for the music, and neither drinks nor does drugs. Cohn and Levithan have managed to construct a very believable story in which two seemingly opposite people connect on a very deep and emotional level during the course of one incredible night. The fast paced, real-time adventures of Nick and Nora make this book a great choice for reluctant readers.

Annotation: A wild adventure through New York City nightlife leads Nick and Norah to find something they both madly desired but didn’t believe possible- new love.

Links:

Interview with Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

David Levithan on Censorship

Related Reads:

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Paper Towns by John Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

Publisher: Pocket Books

Date of Publication: 1999

Format: Softcover

Page Count: 213 Pages

Cost: $14.00

ISBN: 0-671-02734-4

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up

Plot Summary: This novel is written in the form of letters addressed to an anonymous outsider by Charlie, a quiet, introspective, and incredibly intelligent freshman. Charlie is very much a wallflower, viewing the social scene at his high school from the outside. He has had to deal with a lot of tough stuff in his life, including the relatively recent suicide of his old best friend. Unable to reach out to classmates his own age, Charlie eventually finds himself in the company of a group of seniors, who introduce him to cigarettes, drugs, and sex. Towards the end of the novel, Charlie realizes the root of his problems stem back to being sexually abused by his great aunt.

Evaluation: The engaging format of this book ensures the fact that it is a captivating page-turner. The reader is quickly drawn into Charlie’s unique perspective on life in high school. Charlie’s naïveté is incredibly endearing to his new friends Patrick and Sam as well as to the reader. The smoking, drugs, and sex might be offensive to some, but high school students will recognize the truth in the author’s handling of these topics. The matter of sexual abuse, which is introduced and resolved within the last few pages of the book, seems a little contrived but does explain some of Charlie’s more noticeable quirks.

Annotation: Charlie paid attention when Patrick urged him to start participating in life, but he never imagined that participating in high school could be so difficult and rewarding at the same time.

Links:

An Interview with Stephen Chbosky

Related Reads:

Brave by Louisa Luna

The Torn Skirt: A Novel by Rebecca Godfrey

This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers

Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl by D.L. Garfinkle