Push by Sapphire

"Sometimes I wish I was not alive. But I don't know how to die. Ain' no plug to pull out. 'N no matter how bad I feel my heart don't stop beating and my eyes open in the morning." These are the words spoken by Clareece Precious Jones, a 16 year old teen about her life. This story is told from the point of view of an illiterate, brutalized teenager who is obese, and dark-skinned. The story begins with Precious, as she prefers to be called, talking about the second baby she is having.
It is bad enough she is pregnant for the second time by age 16 but what is more gasoline on this fire is the baby is by her father. Precious is hated by her father, mother, and classmates. Precious deals with her situation by envisioning she is watching TV to help overcome.
After being kicked out of I.S. 146 things began to take a change for Precious. She is encouraged to attend an alternative school named Each One Teach One. Here she meets a black teacher, Ms. Blue Rain, who pushes her to change with encouragement and inspiration. Ms. Rain challenges Precious to learn to read and write and improve her way of life. In Miss Rain literacy class, all students are instructed to maintain a journal and this is how readers will experience Precious' transformation. Her development and growth are astonishing in the short period of time we share her writings. Push is an intense work, both heartbreaking and frightening.

I’m your girl by J.J. Murray

I am a hopeless romantic that is why I selected this book and the book was based on a librarian another interest of mine. Diane Anderson is a lonely library clerk working in a public library in Roanoke, VA. She is described as a young lady with curves in all the right places who should be able to attract men but so far that has not happen. She spends most of her time at the library working the reference or circulation desk helping patrons.
Jack Browning is a widower who recently lost his wife and son. Due to his recent lost he has taken a leave of absent from his job as a teacher, does not shave, eat, or clean his home. He has become reclusive and only talk to people that are interested in purchasing his late wife’s yellow mustang car.
During the winter months in Roanoke, VA a chance meeting becomes the start of something wonderful for two lost souls. This story is told through the first-person of Jack Browning. This is a slow moving story that has humor and will leave you wanting more.