The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

     Marcy Lewis hates everything in her life.  She is shy, scared, and embarrassed about her weight.  Ms. Finney changes all that.  Ms. Finney is an amazing English teacher who teaches Marcy to trust herself, her voice, and the other people in her life.  When Ms. Finney is fired for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Marcy is devastated.  She risks everything to try and get Ms. Finney back.  
     The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danzinger is an awesome book for struggling teenage readers.  It is easy to read, but deals with teenage issues, so struggling readers don't feel they are reading a kid's book.  It is funny and poignant at the same time.  Most teens can relate to some part of the book - being embarrassed about changing for gym, weight, fighting with their parents, dealing with younger siblings, struggling to fit in with other teens, or standing up for what they believe in when it goes against the values of other people.  My students love this book.

Neverwhere

    While on the way to a restaurant, Richard sees a young girl lying injured on the street.  His fiancee leaves him because he helps the girl.  Richard takes the girl home and nurses her back to health.  By helping her, Richard disappears from the real world.  He tries to live his normal life, but no one sees him or hears him.  He goes into the underworld of London to find the strange girl and get his life back.  
     It is definitely one of the weirdest books I have ever read.  It is based on a T.V. show that Neil Gaiman produced in London.  I did not know that when I started reading it, so a lot of it did not make sense. 
     The London Underworld is very strange with lots of blood, gore, death, betrayals, angels, demons, assassins, and other strange characters.