Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende

Amazon: Maya’s Notebook is a startling novel of suspense from New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende.

This contemporary coming-of-age story centers upon Maya Vidal, a remarkable teenager abandoned by her parents. Maya grew up in a rambling old house in Berkeley with her grandmother Nini, whose formidable strength helped her build a new life after emigrating from Chile in 1973 with a young son, and her grandfather Popo, a gentle African-American astronomer.

G: I loved this story. It had some very tender moments across generations and a descriptive narration of the dark and seedy side of drug abuse and addiction. There are some adult situations that this teen encounters so I would recommend it for mature teens. I do recommend it for teens who think they can control their drug use and label it as “no big deal, I can quite any time I want”. Isabel Allende is one of my favorite writers.

Isabel Allende - Bio

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Amazon: When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. 
Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.
I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

G: How can I add to this? She spends time in the book sharing the history of her country.

Jon Stewart - Serious interview

Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir by Amanda Knox (only CD)

Amazon: Amanda Knox spent four years in a foreign prison for a crime she did not commit.

In the fall of 2007, the 20-year-old college coed left Seattle to study abroad in Italy, but her life was shattered when her roommate was murdered in their apartment.

After a controversial trial, Amanda was convicted and imprisoned. But in 2011, an appeals court overturned the decision and vacated the murder charge. Free at last, she returned home to the U.S., where she has remained silent, until now.

G: This is a story about a girl and the Italian judicial system. I was prepared to hear a very biased telling of her story, yet it was still very interesting. My belief was reinforced that one must be very careful in another country because there is no guarantee of protection from your home country. With one daughter who is almost never stateside, I think of this often. I am not sure what I believe as to her innocence, but one must not be naive to what is going on around you. Time will tell for Amanda Knox's future with the recent turn of events in her case.

Recent update from CNN