Books with author Kristen D. Randle

When Casey Willardson is assigned to tutor Thomas Fairbarin -- also known as Baby -- she approaches her task with great trepidation. Baby is a member of the Clan, a mysterious group of young men who do not talk to outsiders or participate in school. Baby and Casey's relationship is awkward at first, but soon they turn to each other. As the Clan drifts from it's mooring, Baby grows distant from his brother and the rest of the group that he considers family. As as Casey takes a step away from her own secure world, everything she counted on is turned upside down. Kristen D. Randle has written a story that is absorbing and unusal, insightful and outspoken, about two teenagers whose lives become intertwined -- and a collision that forces them to make difficult choices. 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading ListBooks for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)

Winner of multiple awards, praised by librarians and teachers as one of the best books ever written for teens—NOW BACK IN PRINT! New town, new school, new friends. It was difficult for Ginny at first, but her senior year is finally starting to feel kind of normal. That is, until she sees him—the beautiful mystery in her English class. He has never spoken a word to anyone. He moves through each day at school without making eye contact. His name is Smitty Tibbs, but everyone calls him the Alien. Ginny is convinced there's more to the Alien than his muted exterior. But as she attempts to break into his safe and emotionless world, she realizes her efforts might be causing more harm than good. Has she gone too far, or not far enough? "Utterly compelling totally satisfying. A fast-moving, unusual contemporary romance that should have great appeal." School Library Journal "The thick wall an abused teenager builds between himself and the world is penetrated at last by an extraordinary pair of friends A strong book with healing at the end, memorable for its spirited friendships and unpreachy soul-searching." Kirkus Reviews "Ginny's deft and engaging narration reveals a delightful and totally believable teen. [T]he overall impact of this psychological novel is so powerful." Booklist

Winner of multiple awards, praised by librarians and teachers as one of the best books ever written for teens--NOW BACK IN PRINT! New town, new school, new friends. It was difficult for Ginny at first, but her senior year is finally starting to feel kind of normal. That is, until she sees him--the beautiful mystery in her English class. He has never spoken a word to anyone. He moves through each day at school without making eye contact. His name is Smitty Tibbs, but everyone calls him the Alien. Ginny is convinced there's more to the Alien than his muted exterior. But as she attempts to break into his safe and emotionless world, she realizes her efforts might be causing more harm than good. Has she gone too far, or not far enough? "Utterly compelling...totally satisfying. A fast-moving, unusual contemporary romance that should have great appeal." School Library Journal "The thick wall an abused teenager builds between himself and the world is penetrated at last by an extraordinary pair of friends... A strong book with healing at the end, memorable for its spirited friendships and unpreachy soul-searching." Kirkus Reviews "Ginny's deft and engaging narration reveals a delightful and totally believable teen. [T]he overall impact of this psychological novel is so powerful." Booklist

To Baby, the outside world is a cold and lonely place. He has lived most of his life as a member of the silent, enigmatic group that calls itself the Clan—scorned and feared by classmates and neighbors. It's up to Casey to see to it that Baby isn't alone when he's the only Clan member of his mysterious group to be placed in their high school's honors classes. She's his guide into the mainstream—a pretty, well-liked girl who wants to do the right thing. Like the rest of the Clan, Baby has never before participated in school. She helps him find a path; she makes it possible for him to see the Clan with a sharp outside light. But what Baby is doing threatens both Clan and the Cribs, and it isn't long before Baby's and Casey's familiar worlds are shattered. Kristen D. Randle has written a story that is absorbing and unusual, insightful and outspoken, about two teenagers whose lives become intertwined—and a collision that forces them to make difficult choices.From Publishers WeeklyThis novel challenges stereotypes and stigmas when an unprecedented friendship develops between two teens of rival high school groups. "Randle is adept at conveying ingrained prejudices as well as the frustration and alienation that leads some youths to forsake the `straight' world for a more friendly and accepting one of their own making," said PW. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.From School Library Journal:Both teens become renegades in the eyes of their peers; group conflict erupts as their friendship grows beyond books. Unfortunately, females are only seen as sex objects in the all-male Clan and Thomas's failure to consummate his relationship with Casey leads in part to his expulsion from the group. Casey's own beliefs are strained as Thomas challenges society and learns the costs of conformity. Reminiscent of The Outsiders and West Side Story, Randle's novel is compelling reading. Romance, gang in-fighting, and high school classroom and social scenes are realistically detailed . . .powerful writing and a suspenseful, action-driven story will grab teen readers.Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Booklist:When 17-year-old Casey Willardson agrees to tutor Thomas Fairbairn, family and friends think she's crazy--and in danger. But as Casey and Thomas get to know each other, labels and preconceptions fall away, resulting in a deep understanding of shared human experiences and emotions, and ultimately a rewarding love that challenges both teens' long-held beliefs. This modern, insightful Romeo and Juliet story is a rare and notable contribution to the teen fiction genre. The alternating points of view and Randle's taut, poetic prose provide remarkable character depth and complexity. Thomas, in particular, is a fascinating character, whose conversations embody the joy of learning and incorporate the works of classic philosophers and writers in ways that may show readers the relevance and rewards of learning the masters. Gritty, smart, and realistic, the novel perceptively explores issues of religion, sex and sexual abstinence, peer pressure, and integrity with grace and compassion. Despite some religious overtones, there is no preaching here, only a well-communicated respect for making comfortable personal life choices, and allowing others the opportunity to do the same. A story of morality without judgment, this will encourage teens to look beyond appearances and deep within their own hearts. Shelle Rosenfeld -

Everybody has two eyes and a nose and a mouth. What makes some people beautiful and some people not?Nikki never imagined that this offhand thought would change the course of her senior year forever. But when she poses the question to her best friends, Alicia and Sam, Alicia is suddenly inspired, and the three unexpectedly find themselves launching a "human experiment." It seems like the perfect way to make a difference in their last few weeks of high school: they will each pick a student who needs a little improving and take that person to the prom.Harmless, right?When Nikki, Alicia, and Sam quickly become entrenched in their projects, each has to face difficult realizations about the people they have chosen -- and themselves. Before long their own close friendship feels fragile. Will they make it to graduation without hurting one another -- or anybody else?Acclaimed author Kristen D. Randle has woven an intriguing, insightful, and suspenseful story about three friends who set out to transform others, with unforeseen consequences.

The Clan, as the clique is called, is a highly nontraditional gang. While they disavow participation in school, these enigmatic boys don't believe in drugs or violence, and are advocates of self-education--older members tutor younger apprentices in everything from car mechanics to Latin. But the comfort and acceptance of the Clan is no longer enough for Thomas, or "Baby," as he is known by his family. Baby wants to be more than just a mechanic like his domineering older brother, so he breaks rank from his peers and takes an aptitude test at school. Once the administrators are aware of Baby's intelligence, the principal pairs him with honor student Casey Willardson to help him catch up in the gifted program. As the two work together--dark, handsome rebel and beautiful, popular schoolgirl--the preconceptions and misunderstandings they have about each other are slowly stripped away. They quickly become close and learn to trust and even love each other. But Baby and Casey discover that even though they don't care about superficial differences, their friends do. Their relationship provokes a showdown between the Clan and the varsity football team that promises to end in disaster. In a tale reminiscent in many ways of The Outsiders, West Side Story, and, most obviously, Romeo and Juliet, Kristen D. Randle nevertheless gives new life to an old story line with her detailed description of the Clan's structure and how the group comes into conflict with the regimented social hierarchy of high school. Readers will appreciate the realism and intelligence of this novel, and may also learn a lesson in peer pressure and independent thinking. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Okay, this is about me, Brandon, the kid who owned the whole entire world for at least two and a half hours. So listen—if anybody ever tries to tell you that you're just average? Do NOT listen to them. They have no idea whatsoever. I will tell you that you're probably going to want to get some really long kind of paper—like a roll of toilet paper or something—so you can take notes on the dumb junk that happens in here, so you won't do the same dumb junk if this ever happens to you. And don't think it won't. Just don't mess with magic, is all. Super big mistake.All this stuff was really scary when it happened to me. But when I read the way she told it in this book? It was pretty funny. What? You thought I was going to write down all this stuff myself?Note from grownup: Nationally acclaimed author, Kristen D. Randle, whose work has been included in the list of ALA best books for reluctant readers, now brings us a hilarious, scary middle grade book about a less-than-perfect boy running a not-so-normal world.

Thus does the Clan speakTo Baby, the outside world is a cold and lonely place. The silent, enigmatic group that calls itself the Clan is his home, and he has been scorned and feared by classmates and neighbors. Like the rest of the Clan, he has never before participated in school. It's up to Casey to see to it that Baby isn't alone when he's the only Clan member to be placed in honors classes. But what Baby is doing threatens Clan and non-Clan alike, and it isn't long before Baby's and Casey's familiar worlds are shattered.