Buddha Boy / Kathe Koja

Budda Boy by Kathe Koja is story about a persecuted new boy is school who does not fit into any of the established clichés. Martin has saved his head and goes around begging for lunch money and is mercilessly picked on by everyone and especially the cool kids. Justin gets partnered with Martin on an economics project and becomes the only one in school to befriend him. Justin finds out the Martin’s spiritual name is Jinsen and that he is also an incredible artist. Justin has a soft spot for artists, because his father is also an artist and he is very close to his father.

Budda Boy is a powerful novel about bullying, tolerance, self-discipline, religion, and friendship. Narrated from Justin’s point of view the listener gets a vivid sense of strong emotions that teenagers have regarding their friends, fairness and how much pressure they undergo to fit in to the established norms. Jinsen shows great self control in his determination to follow his Buddhist teachings and undergoes humiliation and physical abuse for it, but he also ends up influencing almost everyone in school for the better because of his attitude and his great artistic talent.

Koja, Kathe (Author), & Murphy, Spencer (Narrator). (2003). Buddha Boy [Sound recording]. [Syracuse, NY]: Full Cast Audio.

Graceling / Kristin Cashore

Katsa is an 18 year old Graceling who has a killing Grace…or does she? Katsa’s uncle, “ King Randa” manipulates her to threaten or hurt people who do not deal honestly with him or to those who do not bend to his will. Katsa is not a willing participant in her uncle’s schemes as she continuously tries to find ways not to hurt people and she has formed a “counsel” that goes around righting wrongs in the 7 kingdoms. There are many other Gracelings in Katsa’s world with differing Graces that range from swimming to mind reading. Katsa meets Po another Graceling from a different kingdom who seems have a fighting Grace and a powerful allure for Katsa. Katsa and Po spend the bulk of this story searching for the reason why Po’s grandfather was kidnapped in possibly the only place where their graces wouldn’t matter.

In this fantasy / romance audio book titled Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Katsa spends much time questioning her own Grace and the apparent fact that she is a brute killer. Katsa has to learn to trust those around her and more importantly she has to learn to trust herself. Katsa spends this novel learning that she is a kind person and that her grace may not actually be a killing grace.

Cashore, Kristin (Author) & Baker, David (Narrator), (2009). Graceling [Sound Recording]. [Syracuse, N.Y.]: Full Cast Audio.