The Alliance (Surviving Southside) Paperback – January 1, 2013

As an 8th grade teacher with most of my students reading well below grade level, I am always on the hunt for high school stories written at the elementary school level in order to get my reluctant readers to READ. This series wins half the battle with cool cover art. The topics are engaging, the story lines aren't too complicated, and my low readers can feel proud to carry a cool looking book to class.

This series is a great choice for struggling high school readers. My READ180 9th Graders love all of the books. The topics are appropriate and high interest for high school readers. It is similar to the Blucked High series, but at lower Lexiles and they don't need to be read in any particular order. I hope there are additions to this 12-book series soon!

This book was one the best!!!! I definitely recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't say all age groups should read this, because it has some parts with things that younger kids wouldn't understand, but just my opinion!!

Pain rippled through Scott Joshua King as he attended Jamie Ballard's memorial. It was heartbreaking to see Jamie's mother sit limply, "sobbing without making a sound." They had been best friends since they began school and the hypocrites who had once given him all those "nasty looks" were smiling and relaying stories. Yeah, "but the one thing nobody in the room mentioned: Jamie was also gay." Scott wondered if he'd been giving off signs, but it was too late to bring him back. If he had anything to do it, it was never, ever going to happen to anyone at Southside High again. Had he missed something? Would Jamie still be alive if he'd recognized them in time?Carmen was her own person, out and proud. She was a fashionista of her own making and her Ma exclaimed, "People are going to think we don't buy you real clothes." Baggy pants, combat books, a sleeveless shirt, topped off by henna tattoos and a lip ring spelled Carmen. She'd broken up with Sara, her "first serious girlfriend," but didn't tell her parents. She had a few other things on her mind and one of them was Jamie. Carmen, when she glanced at her Papa's iPad saw words like "death threats" and "intimidation." Seriously, was she safe? Carmen would really begin to wonder when she found Jamie's obit in her locker. Someone had scrawled across it, "One down ... you're next." Was she going to let them get to her too?Scott wanted to form a GSA, Gay-Straight Alliance at Southside, but getting those thirty signatures would be problematic. He'd get criticized by fellow students and even from unexpected quarters. "Oooh, look boys. Mary's upset." Scott was a good student, and would have no trouble getting support from teachers. Carmen too, dreamed about how she could empower herself and others with a GSA. Mr. Wilson as good as dissed her when she broached the subject. Scott didn't know Carmen, but when he checked Jamie's twitter stream he saw VictorEE and checked out his tweets. There was an attack and this time it was aimed at Carmen. Would he be able to save her? Would a GSA at Southside High stop this hating?This is an extremely powerful and poignant tale of an unusual alliance between students. The tale alternates between both Scott's and Carmen's viewpoints, two very different viewpoints yet one with a singular purpose ... to create a GSA at Southside. Young people are very aware of bullying, many having experienced it themselves. The GLBTQ population, one oftentimes more heavily targeted by haters, needs the support that a Gay-Straight Alliance can provide. Conversely, straight students need a context in which they can openly support fellow students. The unexpected twist at the end will provided a stepping stone for classroom discussion. This is a short story, but one that packs an emotional punch. A free downloadable discussion guide can be accessed from the publisher's website. The Alliance Bad Deal Beaten Benito Runs Dance Team Deadly Drive The Fight Full Impact Overexposed Plan B This book courtesy of the publisher.