Gsarahthelibrarian's Book Blog

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

2012-02-01T21:22:00.003-06:00

I was on the Alex Award committee that gave this author's Mudbound an award because it was amazing historical fiction. I remember comparing it to To Kill a Mockingbird. So Jordan's second novel is quite a switch!

Hannah Payne was raised a traditionalist--obey the men in your life, follow God and His Church, and don't stir up trouble. But now she is a Chrome--dyed red by her government because she had an abortion. Not only did she sin (and murder), she refused to name the father of her baby or the abortionist.

Jordan plays homage to Hawthorne with a quote at the beginning and The Scarlett Letter theme continues throughout the book. This adult novel could easily be used as a companion novel to the classic, but it also raises some interesting questions about government intervention, morality, herd mentality, and public discrimination of criminals.

I did have an issue with Hannah's sexual awakening in the second half of the book. I don't want to give away any details, but I just think her actions didn't quite fit with the way she was raised. Yes, I know it was her "awakening" (Thanks, Kate Chopin!), but it still seemed a bit forced in the narration.

All in all, I liked Mudbound much better. But I'll still read her next book! Bring it on, Hillary Jordan!

Room by Emma Donoghue

2012-01-29T16:49:00.000-06:00

I couldn't stand the audio edition of this title--so please give the hardcover a chance if you're like me!

This book was on the 2011 Alex Award list, so it's supposed to be good for teenagers, even though it was published adult. And I can definitely see the teen appeal!

Jack is 5 years old and lives in Room with his mother. And that's his whole world. His mother was kidnapped seven years ago, and she has tried to raise Jack the best that she can by sheltering him from Old Nick, the man who comes in the night. The two escape, but Jack isn't sure that Outside is better than Room. Told from Jack's point-of-view, the story is sweet and poignant in the right places. Recommend this to Lurlene McDaniel or Jodi Picoult fans.

The Alex Award Winners!

2012-01-25T10:14:00.001-06:00

Yay--the Alex Awards were announced Monday morning! The Alex Awards are given to ten adult books that have teen appeal. Most of you know that I served on the committee for three years, so I have a soft spot for the list now. Many of my librarian friends are still on the committee. This year I'm happy to see that I've read and liked a few of the books on the list--Robocalypse and Ready Player One.

The 10 Winners can be viewed at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex#current

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon, Performed by Dion Graham

2012-01-25T08:51:00.003-06:00

Whoa...Dion Graham has quite the voice for audiobooks--he's a name I plan on searching for in the next few months!

Roland Childs has grown up in the civil rights movement--his dad is a Chicago leader who is friends with Martin Luther King, Jr. Roland and his older brother Stick were raised as pacifists, but that's all about to change. It's 1968 and things are crazy in Chicago. Roland and Stick's friend is accosted by the cops, beaten, and arrested for no reason. The boys are angry and the Black Panthers seem to be more of an answer than the pacifists. The Panthers want free health clinics, good housing and food for African-Americans and aren't afraid to use intimidation to get it.

I could see this novel being used in the American history curriculum very easily--it's about family, ethics, history, and choosing to make the right decision.

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

2012-01-24T18:40:00.001-06:00

I guess I'm on a kick reading books about wrong relationships between teachers and students--ewwww. This book was a 2012 Morris Award Honor book so I started it before my Dallas conference and then accidentally left it at home when I left! Oh, the horrors!

First, you can tell it was written by an English teacher--tons of literary references. Secondly, it's one more book to add to your Boarding School list. Third, it's the main character, Alex, who has a crush on his English teacher. Miss Dovecott is just trying to help him with his writing, but Alex doesn't have anything else to obsess on, so she's the winner. Alex is a messed up kid--he witnessed the death of one of his fellow students at the river. (A Separate Peace, anyone?)

I'll recommend this to my more literary readers at school...you know who you are!

Various Positions by Martha Schabas

2012-01-24T15:55:00.001-06:00

So I thought the cover was cute and I love me a good ballet book so I grabbed this Advance Reader's Edition to read on the plane ride home yesterday. Whoa....did I misjudge it. Honestly, I felt physically ill as I read this book.

Georgia is only fourteen, immature, and immersed in the world of ballet. She jumps at the chance to join a Canadian ballet school and escape her house, where her mom is slowly going crazy and her dad is constantly absent. She's innocent, but her actions in the book just don't match her innocence. She basically gives a friend the instructions on how to be anorexic and she's obsessed with sex. And anything about sex. She watches it on the internet and wants to figure out why men want younger girls. I mean, she was basically looking up child porn on her computer! I know teens are obsessed with sex, but Georgia's fascination with her ballet teacher is just plain disgusting. This is one of those cases where the teen is the manipulator, but it seems to be okay! Okay, I could go on and on. After reading this, I think....Georgia had to have been molested as a child, because her attitude toward sex and men is just messed up!

Book Lists Galore!

2012-01-24T15:36:00.001-06:00

Over the next few days I'll be trying to post some of my favorite book lists of the year. First up will be the Great Graphic Novels List published by YALSA. My librarian peeps and kids know that I'm not a huge graphic novel fan, so I love looking at these lists so I know what to purchase for my library and what to recommend.

Some of my book club girls just read Zahra's Paradise and loved it, so I'm glad to see that it made the Top Ten. I've read Anya's Ghost, Americus, and Bad Island, so at least I've read three on the list! PCHS students--let me know what ones look good and I'll add them to my next book order!

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/ggnt/2012

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

2012-01-24T13:18:00.001-06:00

Andrew is fat. Really, like over 300 lbs fat as an underclassman. So he's used to trying to not stand out and sticking with his smart kid status in high school. But then he falls in love with a new girl who instantly shoots to the top of the social scale and Andrew feels like he has to compete. She tries out for cheerleading, so Andrew decides to try football instead of the Model UN team. He's massive, and his asthma causes some problems, but he's determined to make April notice him. Andrew likes the positive attention of the football team, too.

This book is a great example of guy lit--a YA Nick Hornby. It also won the 2010 Sid Fleischman Humor Award, so I'm not just making things up!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, inspired from an idea by Siobhan Dowd, Illustrations by Jim Kay

2012-01-20T22:35:00.001-06:00

This little book is getting lots of Printz buzz so I wanted to read it before the award committee announces the winners on Monday. It's different in that a YA author, Siobhan Dowd, had the idea but died before completing the work. Ness completed it and made her idea his own. The illustrations are jarring, and a young boy dealing with a mother dying of cancer is always going to be a heartbreaker. I read the Advance Reading Copy, so I'm not sure how it differs from the final version. But, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a Printz honor book. It's different, graphic, and allegorical, all at the same time.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

2012-01-18T08:28:00.003-06:00

Most of you know I'm a huge John Green fan. I've got quite the literary crush on the happily married man. I loved his Will Grayson, Will Grayson that he co-wrote with David Levithan. He started his literary greatness with Looking for Alaska, and continued it with An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns. But what I love about his newest book is that I'm proud because it seems like John Green is all grown up. :) Paper Towns was very similar to Looking for Alaska and I was afraid his books were starting to all be very similar. The Fault in our Stars proves that John Green is one heck of a writer and has mastered the tearjerker better than Lurlene McDaniel.

Mr. Green handles a female narrator with grace, although I felt it struggled at the beginning of the novel. He continues his streak of quirky characters with Hazel and Gus, two teenagers suffering from cancer. There's philosophy, religion, death, bliss, love, tears, laughter, great dialogue, and a trip to Amsterdam to see a drunk author. I'm glad Green's doubters will have to eat their words now. And I can't wait to eat lunch with him in Dallas Sunday!

The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt, Read by Shannon McManus

2012-01-17T09:21:00.001-06:00

This sweet little audiobook was only 4 CDs and it didn't take long to finish. It's for tweens--Drew is a young teenager who falls in love with a boy who haunts the back alley behind her mother's cheese shop. Drew is just learning how to be a teenager in the summer before 8th grade--starting to smart off to her mom, learning how to keep secrets, and falling in love. It's a quiet read.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

2012-01-10T08:47:00.001-06:00

There's a lot of buzz in the blogosphere about this title as a Newbery contender and I understand why. It's beautifully written--poetic and pretty. But who is the intended reader? I could see a social studies teacher using this verse novel to teach about immigration or Vietnam, but I'm not sure many students would pick this up for fun.

Ha (with an accent over the a) lives in a war-torn Saigon and it's getting scarier. There isn't much food, her dad hasn't returned from the war, and her family is frightened. Their uncle gives the family a chance to escape on a boat to America, but is starting over the right thing to do? Ha doesn't know English, she doesn't know America--she just knows Vietnam. Taken in (sort of) by a family in Alabama, the young girl must learn to adapt.

It's a quick, powerful read.

"Chant, my daughter;
your whispers will bloom
and shelter you
from words
you need not hear (198)."

Beautiful, isn't it?

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

2012-01-09T09:34:00.000-06:00

Like many high school librarians, I'm always on the hunt for good "guy books" and this one won't disappoint girls either. First, great cover and great name. And I love that they put double zero on the jersey instead of 34. Felton Reinstein is a goofball that no one likes except for his best friend until everyone discovers that he is stupid fast. But mentally Felton may not be ready for sports. He false starts at a track meet regional and he doesn't want to lift weights with all the guys who tease him. His younger brother is crazy and his mom is the same. His life is falling apart, and the only bright spot is Aleah, the beautiful awesome pianist who moves next door.

This book is dramatic, in a good way. Sure, it's about sports, but it's really about how to survive a dysfunctional life. Felton makes it.

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

2012-01-04T09:08:00.002-06:00

I knew I was going to like this book. Why? Because I used to change after a scholastic bowl meet into a cheerleading uniform. My school was small enough that the clique barriers were easier to break. Sure, I was still a straight-A geek who always had a book with her in class, but I also cheered. And we thought we were different and loved making fun of the cheer squads at camp and their darn spirit fingers.

Bethany and Moni are proud geek girls and end up daring themselves to try out for cheerleading. They end up making the JV squad, and really are kind of hoping they become popular. As much as they deny it, they want to be part of the "in" crowd and date the popular athletes. But cheerleading takes a lot of time, and the two girls end up shirking the friendships of their fellow geeks. Does the best basketball player really like Bethany? or is he just trying to win a bet with his best friend?

Best paragraph (page 222): (taken from an online chat between Bethany and Todd, her geeky friend who needs her help to run for class president)

Prez_Emerson: So, about tonight. We always have room for the prodigal daughter at Geek Night. We can watch Firefly *and* Serenity. If you want, I'll let you beat me at Scrabble. You can even play with my light saber.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

2012-01-03T09:09:00.002-06:00

Oh, this is a good one! Jill is dealing with grief--her dad was killed in a car accident. She isn't the best griever--she's lost her friends and her boyfriend is on-again/off-again. Her mother decides that a baby is just what their family needs and proceeds with an open adoption with Mandy, a pregnant teen. Mandy has her own problems--her mom is loopy and has raised with her a skewed sense of self. She isn't sure who the father of her baby is--her one-night stand at the fair? Or her mom's boyfriend? Either way, she knows that Jill's mom would be a better mother to the baby, so adoption is the only solution. Right?

This is the kind of chick lit book that's serious and gut-wrenching. The title is soooo appropriate--everyone in the book needs saving.

My Top Reads of 2011

2012-01-03T08:49:00.001-06:00

I only gave 12 books five stars in 2011, so it makes my Top Reads list easy to compile. These are in no particular order.

YA Books

Adult Books

Children's Books

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

2012-01-02T18:42:00.001-06:00

I picked up this Advance Reading Copy at ALA Annual last summer and am just now getting around to reading it! I always pick up "rural reads," mainly to see if the author/publisher/editor got it right. I've lived in rural areas all my life, so it's a pleasure to see some YA novel that isn't set in a large city!

Ricki Jo is trying to re-make herself as she enters high school. She wants to be called Ericka, tries out for cheerleading, doesn't go out for band, and falls in love with the cutest boy in her school. She went to grade school at the local Catholic school and is determined to be popular. This story has been told many, many times before...I kept thinking of Miley Cyrus. However, I think all schools and libraries in rural areas should stock this cute novel. It's a perfect fluffy read for tweens.

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

2012-01-02T18:13:00.004-06:00

Wow. I loved this book! Why? The main character, Cullen Winter, has the kind of voice I like in a YA novel. It's the Holden Caulfield/Will Grayson kind of personality. Cullen is the kind of boy who imagines zombies in his world and keeps coming up with interesting book titles that maybe someday he'll write. His world falls apart when his brother Gabriel disappears. It's a story of coping, family, friendship, and love.

In another tale told in the same book, Cabot Searcy is brought together with the woman of his dreams. But his obsession with the Book of Enoch leads him to become mentally unstable.

The two stories eventually collide, of course, with quite a twist at the end. I've read 3/5 of the Morris Award contenders, and I'm rooting for this one! (even though the hardback cover is horrendous)

Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford

2011-12-27T20:53:00.002-06:00

When I was in junior high, I went through a phase where I read any fiction book I could find that was set in China or Japan--especially Laurence Yep books. So I'm always willing to pick up another young adult or juvenile title like this one.

Jack Fletcher is a sailor like his father, and they are attempting to be the first English sailors to reach the Japans. They make it, but Jack is the only one who survives. He's adopted into a samurai's family and is taught the ancient art of being in that historic caste. He is foiled by the samurai's other son, of course, and there is a beautiful young female samurai warrior who catches his eye. Jack grows up quickly and I couldn't help but think of Karate Kid as I was reading! It's all there--bonzai, philosophy, focusing on simple moves, and the complicated kick that takes out the bad guy in the end. :)

Recommended for those who like action, historical fiction or books that take place in other lands.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Read by Tara Sands

2011-12-25T12:04:00.000-06:00

This was a difficult audiobook to listen to because of how the main character dealt with her newborn child. I actually had to stop listening a few times because it was so painful.

Victoria has been in and out of foster and group homes and is finally emancipated at age 18. She's homeless, but finds solace with a flower shop owner on the weekends. Victoria knows the language of flowers and has a gift of flower arranging. One of her foster moms taught her what flowers mean and Victoria truly believes that her flowers can make people "feel" something. While Victoria can help others, she has a very difficult time helping herself. She doesn't know how to love others and this is a HUGE problem when she becomes pregnant. Honestly, I don't want to give away the plot, but the book takes a pretty big serious turn. This isn't a fluffy flower book, which is what I thought I was getting into....

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

2011-12-25T11:42:00.001-06:00

I see what all the fuss is about for this Morris contender. Sure, it's another YA fantasy, but it's unique, exciting, and a darn good book for a first-time author.

Elisa is a princess who is married off to a stranger on her sixteenth birthday. She's fat, useless, but smart. When she's kidnapped be strange desert people, she must learn how to survive and to trust her kidnappers. They need her help because she is a bearer of the godstone. In her naval. (I have to admit that this is the part that makes me giggle--especially the spinning godstones around her belly at the end...) Elisa fulfills the prophecy and becomes a great leader, although she suffers along the way.

Recommended for all fantasy readers.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2011-12-14T09:12:00.000-06:00

As soon as YALSA announced the Morris Award finalists, I rushed to my bookshelves to check out the ones I hadn't read. And, um, that's all of them! I've been busy reading PPYA books all year and am behind in my current reading. So this month I'm focusing on Morris finalists and possible Printz contenders.

I don't believe this good book will win the Morris Award. First of all, it's the kind of book that you hug to your chest and say, "This is such a good book." It's not different or unique though, although the topic is. I was a history minor in college and I never knew about the Lithuanians who were deported during WWII and sent to Siberia. Twelve years of living horribly? Completely lost to friends and family back home? Told to keep silent about their plight? Horrible!

Lina is a typical upper class Lithuanian girl when her family is taken from their house, shoved into a cattle car and driven for months across Russia. She starves, steals, and mostly tries to survive with as much of her family as she can. In the meantime, she finds love and learns how to live in the most desperate of times.

Inside Out by Maria Snyder

2011-12-12T08:36:00.000-06:00

The world is Inside and no one knows what's Outside. Is it Earth? Sky? It has to be something better, right? Trella hopes so. She's a scrub, forced to live to work in the ducts to clean the Inside for the Uppers. The Uppers live a better life than the Scrubs, don't they? (I kept thinking of Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches as I read this book) (And some other book that I couldn't remember the name of--was it Incarcenon?)

I enjoyed this read--it's dystopian and other worldly, yet intriguing. Trella/Sadie/Ella is resourceful and knows her way around a tool belt.

Super Human by Michael Carroll

2011-12-09T19:51:00.001-06:00

Can you tell I'm a reading fool trying to get through the books on the PPYA lists before ALA Midwinter in January? I'm anxious to read books that AREN'T on the PPYA list--mainly the Morris award short list and some Printz contender titles that are being thrown around on blogs lately.

I've been putting this book off because of the cover--it looks like some slasher R.L. Stine novel, doesn't it? But I was actually impressed. It's like an action videogame and I didn't get bored at all. A horrible plague of something like the flu is affecting all the adults in the world and some kids have to save it. Some of the kids are super-human--one has telekinesis, one is super-strong, one can set things on fire, and one is just a normal kid thug. They must stop the super-villains who are trying to awaken the Fifth King, who is an ancient god/king of Assyria. The kids, of course, save the world. Give this to kids (middle grades to high school) who like action, adventure, comics, hero stories or gaming.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

2011-12-07T19:56:00.001-06:00

This memoir confirmed that I love Tina Fey and made me add 30 Rock to my netflix queue. I laughed aloud a lot while listening to this audiobook and it actually brought back some feminist thoughts for me. I always considered myself one in college--taking feminism courses, always arguing with men in my history classes, etc., but somehow I've gotten off that boat lately. Tina Fey reminded me of a lot of ideas that I need to remember. She's a powerful leader who has had to succeed in the world of comedy. And I'm wondering....did she write her memoir at 40 because she knows she's going to go crazy soon? lol (Read it!) Also, I totally agree with Tina about cruises....

Americus by MK Reed and Jonathan Hill

2011-12-07T19:29:00.001-06:00

Okay, folks, I'm sick of library-related books receiving too much press. Yes, I know librarians read the reviews, buy a lot of books, and blog a lot. But this graphic novel wasn't anything special, yet it received rave reviews and was a Junior Library Guild choice. Why? Because it's about book banning at a public library. I felt like I was reading a librarian's graphic novel version of an after school special about censorship. So, um, I didn't like it.

Beowulf by Gareth Hinds

2011-12-05T12:22:00.001-06:00

I'm a huge fan of the old Beowulf tale--I used to teach it in World Lit years ago. So if this graphic novel gets the tale out to more kids, that's great! The translation of the tale would still be a difficult read for reluctant readers, but there are pages of fight scenes with no words at all. Those violent scenes weren't my cup of tea, but artwork was very impressive.

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

2011-12-05T09:02:00.001-06:00

I was looking forward to reading this shiny YA book--the cover is great! Although I think they added her short shorts--the skin color of her legs doesn't match the rest of her body!

Lily wants to go to Princeton and visits the campus with her alum grandpa and her mentally ill mother. Once there, she finds that she can choose to complete a legacy test--passing it means that she gets into Princeton. And then the fantasy comes in! Turns out that there is a parallel Princeton through the gate and Lily is someone who can enter it. I loved the idea of the gargoyles being able to come to life and the idea that she is part-other-worldly creature (read to find out what kind). I think this is a fresh addition to fantasy chick lit.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen, Read by Karen White

2011-12-05T08:41:00.001-06:00

Years ago, I read this author's Garden Spells and Sugar Queen and knew I wanted to listen to her latest. Her books are usually whimsical chick lit, and that is just what I was in the mood for. I was a tad bit disappointed because this adult novel fell into the kinda cheesy chick lit category. The dialogue between the characters made me roll my eyes when they were confessing their love for each other. I also didn't understand why Willa being a practical joker in high school was such a big deal--it didn't add anything to the plot or character development. Other than those two things, I enjoyed the story.

Willa and Paxton are thrown together because their grandmothers were founding members of a society club formed in the 1930's. Now it's the 75th anniversary of the club and Paxton is trying to plan the perfect gala. But a dead body is found buried in the yard of the manor and this causes trouble. A mystery that has been kept silent between the grandmothers comes to light--drawing Paxton and Willa together. Of course, they both fall in love (enter the cheesiness), although the idea that Paxton loves a man she thinks is gay, but really isn't, was a little entertaining. Haven't read that in a novel before!

Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell their Stories, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

2011-12-01T19:51:00.001-06:00

It's always nice to know that you're not alone when you're being bullied. Everyone has his or her own story to tell--from both sides of the bullying problem. In this collection of memoirs, poetry, and one comic, famous authors of teen books tell their own stories. The introduction is by Ellen Hopkins (who came to PCHS--woot!) and cool authors like Kiernan Scott, R.L. Stine, Lisa Yee, Cecil Castellucci, Carrie Ryan, Lara Zeises, Alyson Noel, Lauren Kate, Megan McCafferty, and even children's book author Mo Willems! The list of authors is absolutely amazing--everyone has a story to tell about growing up bullied.

On the negative side, after reading about a quarter of the book, the stories all started to run together with a common theme. Don't worry, things will get better. Yes, this makes you stronger, but it still sucks. There is comfort in numbers...and sometimes slightly in revenge. I'm just not sure if this will checked out much in my library, although I'll make sure my counselors know I have it. I could see a teacher using selected sections in their class, too, but I'm just not sure if it's going to be a popular read. Gee, does carrying this library book make you a target for bullying? ;)

The Demon King: A Seven Realms Novel by Cinda Williams Chima

2011-11-29T09:35:00.001-06:00

I know The Warrior Heir by this author was popular in my library a few years ago, but I only gave it 3 stars on Goodreads. So I was pleasantly surprised when this book served as a good fantasy romp for me. I'm always a fan of medieval-ish British-like fantasy worlds and this book seemed like a Dickensian Aladdin Robin Hood to me.

Told in alternating chapters, the book focuses on Han Alister, a street rat who has survived as a street gang leader for most of his short life. He's rough, but loves his mam and sister and tries to escape that life to become a trader. He's spent his summers with the clan people in the woods who have taught him much about healing and living a good life.

Raisa is a princess who has grown up sheltered. She's close to her marrying age, but she knows there is more to her life than acting fancy and smiling a lot. She wants to get out into the city (think Princess Jasmine of Aladdin) and needs the help of a few good men. Fortunately, she's pretty, smart, rich, and a princess, so she has plenty willing to help. The only problem is that she isn't sure who to trust. Even her mother the queen may not be trustworthy.

The two separate stories are thrilling and DO NOT merge by the end of the book! Ugh! But it makes me itching to read the sequel, which, I guess, is the whole point. Raisa and Han are fated to meet eventually!

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, Read by the Author

2011-11-28T09:22:00.001-06:00

This little YA novel packs a whopper. Deanna is caught in the backseat of her boyfriend's car by her dad. Only problem is that she's 13 and in 8th grade and her boyfriend is 17 and a loser--obviously, since he's going after children. That one event haunts her--years later and she's still considered the school slut, even though she only had sex with that one boyfriend. No one has wanted her since, not even her dad as a daughter. Her family life stinks and her friends aren't the most faithful after she's "caught."

Now that she's turning 16, Deanna gets a job at a local pizza place and finds an unlikely friend in the store owner. She also finally faces up to the boy who took advantage her and her parents. It's a good tale for a teenage girl to read--about strength, character, and how one mistake can haunt you for years.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

2011-11-22T09:23:00.001-06:00

I may have just turned 36, but I have plenty of teenage angst left in me...and that's why I love these kinds of books. A Catcher in the Rye got it started for me in high school, and YA literature has filled the gap for me just fine as I get older. This book is littered with dog-ears thanks to me folding down corners to remind me to add quotes to Goodreads!

Dash and Lily are two geeky/dorky/different teenagers in NYC who meet because Lily leaves a notebook with clues in a cool bookstore. Next thing you know, the two are communicating via the red moleskin and falling in love. Nothing is perfect though, especially when you build an image of someone and they don't fulfill it when you finally meet! It's a snarky love story full of quirky characters--perfect!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, read by a full cast

2011-11-21T11:06:00.001-06:00

I knew this was a popular book for public library book clubs, and I love World War II novels, so I gave it a listen. It was interesting, but not as good as I expected it to be. I loved the details about Guernsey and what like was like on the German-occupied British isle though--fascinating!

iDrakula by Bekka Black

2011-11-17T15:05:00.001-06:00

Love the format of the book--iphone/iPad screen shots, along with emails. However, the tale itself is typical cheesy vampire story. I think reluctant readers will still enjoy this book though. Mina's boyfriend has to take a surprise trip to Romania and then deals with everyone around becoming a vampire. Ummm...that's about it for the summary....

I, Q: Book One: Independence Hall by Roland Smith

2011-11-16T12:38:00.001-06:00

I believe that Roland Smith is one of the most underappreciated YA writers out there. Why? One reason is because I had never heard of this novel until it was nominated for Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Adventure list. And I should have! I read Peak back in March and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to the first book in this series, even though I didn't like the young boy picture on the front cover. In the book, Q is 13 and his new step-sister is 15, so I'm not sure why the boy on the cover looks to be about 8. That's a real detriment to potential readers.

Q and Angela become step-siblings at the beginning of this book and also go on tour with their rock-singing parents. As if that's not fantastic enough, Angela's real mom was a secret service agent who was killed in action a few years before. And that's where the adventure begins. The siblings are thrust into a world of espionage, Israeli terrorists, politics, secrets, and violence. I really enjoyed the non-stop action and appreciated the plot twists that were simple enough for kids to understand, but complicated enough to hold my interest.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-11-14T21:50:00.001-06:00

I'm going to shock some people with this review. This book has received a lot of buzz lately--for good reason. But I didn't love it. I loved the concept and the originality (so hard to find in YA fantasy!), but it took me too long to finish it. Normally I read a book in two or three days--or all night if I love it. But I found myself watching the rest of the TV miniseries North & South, and various other Netflix shows instead of finishing this novel. And that's a problem, right?

Karou lives in Prague (love the setting) and is surrounded with art, chimera, teeth with power, sorcerers, doorways to other worlds, and, eventually, a lovely man/angel that she falls in love with. I know this is simplifed, but Taylor creates an amazing world--read it and see! I loved the story of Karou and Akiva, but wasn't too thrilled with the storytelling of previous lives. I might like the sequel better since there might not be as many flashbacks. Don't worry--I'll still read the sequel, and hopefully like it more!

Wolverine: Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

2011-11-10T15:22:00.001-06:00

Okay, folks, so I probably shouldn't even be blogging about this read because it's not something I like to read. I was grossed out by the violence, even though it was super-hero Wolverine violence a lot of the time. I just don't like to see blood-and-guts--in comic books, graphic novels, or movies. So this was a difficult read for me.

First Test: Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce

2011-11-05T20:17:00.002-05:00

I hate when I forget to blog about a book and add it to Goodreads. That's what happened here. I've read (or listened) to this YA fantasy novel before, but didn't keep track of it, so I had to re-read it for PPYA! But I'm glad I did, because it reminded me of how much I admire Pierce for her girl-power heroes.

Kel is only 10-years-old but wants to be a warrior like her hero, Alanna the Lionness. But things aren't fair when you're the first girl trying to train as a page. Most of the boys don't want her there--including the training master. So Kel must prove that she's tough, smart, and a darn good fighter who is worthy to serve the king. And she does!

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

2011-11-05T17:12:00.002-05:00

Rick Riordan has done it again--redeeming himself from The Red Pyramid in my eyes. The second book in the The Heroes of Olympus series is just as good as the first, The Lost Hero. Percy is back without his memory, but, of course, being the son of Neptune in the Roman world is just as good as being the son of Poseidien in his old Greek world. The prophecies don't lie, and Percy is going to have quite the adventure in the next few books. He's met a daughter of Pluto, Hazel, who is back from the dead and in this life to redeem herself. Frank isn't sure which god is his father, but he's trying hard to live a heroic life. The three immediate friends must go a quest given to them by Ares, and they don't disappoint the readers. I read this book in two days--full of adventure!

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

2011-10-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

While I loved the premise of this YA novel (the Grimm fairy tales were real!), the actual book fell short for me. I didn't feel like I wanted to know the characters, and the action seemed contrived. Elizabeth begins work at a special New York library where patrons borrow things. Things like one of the twelve dancing slippers or a magic carpet. Of course, the cool kids at school work there, too, including the star basketball player. Soon Elizabeth is involved in a mystery--someone is stealing magical objects (without following the proper procedures!) and she isn't sure whom to trust.

Once again, I'm wondering if this book is victim of inflated ratings because the setting is a library. Some librarians can't take their occupation out of their review, I think.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, Read by Edward Herrmann

2011-10-25T09:49:00.002-05:00

Absolutely, unbelievably, an amazing, fascinating, true story of a hero. People throw that word around all the time now with veterans, and, I'm sorry, but it's overused. This guy, Lt. Louis Zamperini, is a miracle. Listening to this book came at the right time for me--my life is a walk in the park when compared to this guy!

Louis was a miler--the best in the world in the early 1930's, and, like many Olympians, he served in the military during World War II. I really can't give away too many details (read the book!), but the fact that he survived is amazing. His story, his perseverance, his persistence, and, later, his faith, is quite the uplifting story. It's not sappy, but Hillenbrand is such a good storyteller that you can't help but feel for Louis and his friends. Read. This. Book!

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

2011-10-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for any historical fiction novel about World War II, so I was happy to see this YA novel be nominated for the Adventure Seekers portion of PPYA. It's always been on my to-read list, but I just never managed to read it. I knew about the Marines using the Navajo as code talkers in World War II, but never really knew the details. After reading this historical fact-driven novel, I feel like I know much more. In fact, that may be the only downfall--this reads a lot like a nonfiction book, but that makes it more attractive to some readers.

Ned Begay is sent off to boarding school from the reservation and has to learn to become "white" and denounce all things Navajo until it's discovered that the white man needs his language. The Navajo language is difficult to learn and a code developed from that language becomes the secret code of the Americans in the Pacific in the 1940s. But they aren't just code talkers--they fight, run between bullets, take hits, and die while in the Marines. The code talkers were sworn to secrecy until 1969, when computers could take the place of their code. Joseph Bruchac, while not Navajo, seemed to do a great job staying true to the Navajo ways in this book (at least to this white girl). This story needs to be told to teenagers, and this novel is a great way for it to be told. My copy at PCHS is missing/lost, and I plan on purchasing a paperback soon.

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: a Novel by Melanie Benjamin, Read by Kim Mai Guest

2011-10-16T17:45:00.002-05:00

I'm not exactly drawn to dwarves--I can't stand the reality tv shows out there. And I feel like they are treated poorly in most movies. But I added this to my to-read list after listening to a Random House book talk on it at an ALA conference.

Mrs. Tom Thumb, or Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump, had a pretty amazing history--perfect as the basis of a historical novel. Vinnie was raised with class, even though she was only 2 feet, 8 inches tall. She jumps at the chance to travel the Mississippi as a singing act. But her dream was always to work for P.T. Barnum, and eventually her dream comes true. She travels the world, meeting kings and queens, and living a luxurious life. She marries Tom Thumb for the media, and even fakes having a baby on her travels. Her life is a sham, even if it's a classy one, and she realizes this later in her life. All in all, listening to this audiobook made me sad. Vinnie was always chasing after fame and fortune, but never happy.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

2011-10-12T12:35:00.001-05:00

Awww, I loved this book. It's a book about healing, and what reader doesn't want to think that things will turn out okay? Not perfect.....but okay. Hope is good.

Amy is devastated about the death of her father in a car crash. She feels guilty about it, and blames her drug-abusing twin brother, too. Now her mom has moved out to Connecticut, shipped her brother to rehab in North Carolina, and enlisted a friend's son to drive Amy from California to their new home on the East Coast. Amy isn't thrilled about driving this far with a stranger, but she isn't exactly thrilled about anything in the depressive state she's in. Roger helps. Their road trip makes me want to hop in my car, pull open the sun roof, and do some serious exploring of America!

Huge by Sasha Paley

2011-10-06T09:01:00.000-05:00

Wil and April are paired as partners at Wellness Canyon (or Fat Camp, as Wil calls it) and the two girls couldn't be more different. April saved for months in order to afford the camp--she's ready to lose weight and learn how to stay healthy. Wil, on the other hand, is the daughter of two fitness club gurus, and sees staying grumpy and chubby as the ultimate rebellion against her wealthy, spandex-wearing parents. The two teens are supposed to support each other and work together to have a positive experience at camp, but it's difficult when Wil is not friendly and April is concerned about fitting in with the popular girls. It's clean read about friendship, boys, and self-esteem, but it isn't preachy at all--which is a plus for a book dealing with weight.

Pendragon, Book One: The Merchant of Death

2011-10-06T08:51:00.001-05:00

This series is very popular at PCHS, so I was glad I had to read it for the Adventure topic of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults this year. Bobby is thrust into a whirlwind of action when his uncle takes him away to a magical world. Turns out, Bobby is a Traveler like his uncle, which means it's his duty to help people in other worlds so that all the worlds remain stable and safe. The teenage boy isn't sure that he's happy about this situation, and his angst gets in the way for the first half of the book. With the help of his friends back home and new friends in the Denduron, Bobby (of course) saves the day.

There are ten books in the Pendragon series, as well as a trilogy of prequels, a guide to the territories, and a graphic novel. Yes, I'd say this series is successful!

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

2011-10-04T09:01:00.001-05:00

Why two covers? So you can see the difference! The first pink cover is the hardback edition, and not receiving much action at my library. It reminds me of a cheesy kung fu DVD-only movie. The second cover is the best, either, but at least it's more in tune with what YA covers look like nowadays.

Ai Ling is a prisoner of her times--she's female in ancient China and doesn't have power. When she is close to being forced to marrying a man she doesn't like, she runs away to try to find her father--the one man who can save and protect her. Her father was one an admired and respected scholar to the emperor, but now is scorned because of some unmentionable activity.

As Ai Ling travels to the emperor's city, she discovers that she has more access to the world of demons and gods than she knew. She is powerful, and must use her knowledge of the old stories to protect her newly found friends. This book is magical, fierce, and surprisingly a bit dirty-minded at times, but it all works. The sequel, Fury of the Phoenix, was published in March 2011.

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

2011-10-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed this author's Ghostopolis and was looking forward to reading this graphic novel. There are two similar stories being told here. Reese, a teenage boy about to runaway from home, is forced to go boating with his family. When the boat is wrecked on a lonely island full of threatening magical creatures, he must step it up and act like a man instead of a whiny pre-teen. In the fantastical story, a rock giant teenage boy defies his dad to go off to war on his own, with dismal results. Obviously, the stories are connected eventually. The tales are serious, but the characters provide some funny moments--especially the snarky comments of the parents and the sister's fascination with her dead pet snake.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, Read by the Author

2011-10-04T08:44:00.002-05:00

I was disheartened when I learned that this book was read by the author--I'm sorry, but that's usually not a good thing. And, just like I thought, the reading was monotone. I would have stopped if this weren't an Alex winner. After serving on the Alex committee for 3 years, I know I disagree with some books that are put on the list, and this is one I would have fought against. I can't picture any of my teens reading it--it's more of an older-woman-public-library-book-club novel. Sure, the premise is great--how cool is it that Rose can taste the feelings of the cook in what she eats? But the slowness of the action (or lack there of) and the slow magical realism disappointed me.

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena

2011-10-02T15:35:00.000-05:00

I was pleasantly by this read. Danny is half-Mexican, but has never felt like he fits in--at his private white boy school or with his Hispanic family in National City. When his mom gives him the chance to spend a summer with his cousin, Danny jumps at the chance to escape. He has trouble learning the rules or the community--and finds friendship in Uno, the same boy who punched him hard enough he needed stitches on his first day at the stickball field. The two boys form a hard-to-beat pitcher/catcher duo. Along the way, they help each other deal with their father issues--a serious topic that isn't handled this well in many books with male teenage characters. This title is on the 2011 Abe Lincoln IL book award list.

The Alchemyst: the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

2011-10-02T14:19:00.001-05:00

I know this book is a bestseller and popular. It's been on all sorts of book lists, including Illinois' own Rebecca Caudill. But I just wasn't impressed. To me, the book became good about halfway through--and normally I wouldn't keep reading after the first 50 pages. Too much telling and not enough action until the second half of the book.

Sophie and Josh are twins who find out that they are mentioned in the ancient codex that Nicholas Flamel protects. They find out they have untapped potential and could save the world or destroy it (Harry Potter, anyone?). Even though the main characters are 15, the book does seem to be for a junior high audience.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

2011-09-28T10:17:00.000-05:00

What was almost a perfect graphic novel was ruined for me on the last two minutes when it became an after-school special about why not to smoke. "Nothing...I just don't feel like smoking anymore. I don't think I ever liked it. And it doesn't look as cool as I thought it did." Ugh--what a turnoff. Couldn't that be said less blatently?

It also seems like this graphic novel is catering toward librarians--there's microfilm! And, although some librarians and reviewers won't admit, reading about libraries and librarians in books make them happy. :)

Anya is a Russian immigrant who is trying hard to fit into her high school. She wears her private school skirt short and smokes and is trying to lose weight. She doesn't even want to THINK about talking to the other Russian dork at her school. But when she spends a night in a cold, empty well, she discovers a ghost of a dead teenager who follows her around. The ghost is friendly--helping her "improve" her test grades, encouraging her to talk to the cute basketball player--but things aren't always what they seem. Ghosts aren't always like Casper.

Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy, Read by Sile Bermingham

2011-09-28T09:52:00.000-05:00

I try to listen to a Maeve Binchy audiobook every now and then--the Irish and English accents fascinate me. Her books always include a large list of characters that somehow come together in the end. In this case, the people revolve around a new heart clinic. Clara is the director, and her employees, family, and friends, all are entwined in love and relationships after one year of the clinic opening. There's romance and heartache--typical Maeve Binchy!

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

2011-09-27T18:54:00.003-05:00

500 pages of zombie goodness! This sequel to Rot & Ruin didn't disappoint! I know some of you aren't zombie book readers (I don't consider myself one either), but you have to give this author a shot! Pure action with a western twist of the undead.

Benny and his brother Tom are back and on the hunt for a better future for what the town of Mountainside holds. The hope of the aircraft seen in the previous book drives the brothers and their friends into the Rot and Ruin. But they don't get very far before the evil men of the nether regions interfere. Chong, Benny, Tom, Nix, and Lilah are all struggling to be the good person they want to be--and sometimes fate gets in the way.

Star Crossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2011-09-23T15:00:00.000-05:00

Usually I'm a sucker for books about girls who are fighters, but I struggled to finish this one. Yes, it might be because Dust & Decay is next on my to-read list, but, still, the last third of book took me days!

Celyn has lived quite the life--she can see magic, but not create it. She was raised in a convent, sentenced to die by her brother, and trained to be a thief on the streets of Gerse. In a robbery gone bad, she escapes in a rowboat with strangers and soon becomes a lady maid to one woman--why not? She's soon in the middle of royal intrigue and has to use her thievery skills to save the day.

The charcter Celyn is great and there is lots of action, but the book just didn't stick to my gut like I love them to. I've got some fantasy readers in my book club, so I hope to hear what they think soon.

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

2011-09-18T22:56:00.002-05:00

I've had this book at school for years and never read it--now I'll be recommending it to many of my fantasy/sci-fi readers.

Two different stories are told in alternating chapters. Sadima is a girl with magical powers in a world where she isn't supposed to have them. Though she's born in a poor farming world, she travels to the city as soon as she can to find a man who recognized her power to speak to animals. In the other story, Hahp is sent away to a wizard's school, and it's horrible. They receive nothing positive, the teachers are horribly mean and Hahp can't eat until he learns how to magically create food. His world is very dark--this isn't Harry Potter.

There is no conclusion to this book--the tale continues in Sacred Scars, Book #2 in The Resurrection of Magic series.

121 Express by Monique Polak

2011-09-16T10:55:00.000-05:00

Written at a 3.9 grade level, this book is part of the Orca Currents series that is for junior high/high school students who have low reading levels. I have quite a few of these in my high school library and they are very popular with the lower reading level kids.

However, I'm not too impressed with this book. Lucas is starting a new school and decides to be a troublemaker so he isn't stuck with the brainiac image from his old school. The setting for most of the book is the bus--Lucas must ride the Montreal transit to school. And the kids are rotten--throwing stuff out windows, spraying the bus with Diet Coke, etc. They even give the bus driver a mental breakdown. Of course, Lucas "sees the light" and magically decides to defend "Raghead," an Arab kid he nicknamed. In reality, I don't see this drastic change happening. If he were a good kid to start with, he never would have taken up with the idiots in the back of the bus, even if he wanted to be cool. And the sudden change just doesn't fit with his bad boy attitude.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, Read by Allyson Ryan

2011-09-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and the second book, The Dead-Tossed Waves was exciting enough for me to place the third book in the trilogy on hold. The third book is just as good as the first.

Annah is reunited with her twin sister whom she abandoned in the Forest of Hands and Teeth years ago, and she is reminded of what LOVE really is. After living on her own for years, Annah struggles with the sense of responsibility of having family and friends. In a world of zombies and the Recruiters, normal people are dying. The Recruiters are so concerned about surviving that they aren't protecting the people anymore. The undead are hording and it seems like there might not be a place to escape to anymore. But Annah doesn't give up hope.

The Daughter of Siena by Marina Fiorato

2011-09-11T19:37:00.000-05:00

I had to read everything I could get my hands on by this author. I loved The Botticelli Secret and The Glassblower of Murano, so I had to read this one as soon as it came in on interlibrary loan.

Pia is a teenage girl in Siena in 1723 and always does what her daddy wants. She is arranged to be married to a horrible man, and is thrilled when he is killed in the famous horserace of Siena. But then she has to marry his nasty younger brother the next day instead. Pia's life stinks until she sees/meets the hunky horseman's son, Bruni. Bruni is gorgeous, strong, and a horse whisperer. Of course, they have to have an affair, although back in those days, they didn't do much more than gaze adoringly at each from afar. Pia's husband abuses her, and she soon is embroiled in an Italian controversy. The contrada leaders want to overthrow the Medici government, but Pia is willing to help the Duchess. Women will do anything for love, won't they?

As always, Fiorato delivers an awesome historical romantic mystery--just what I love to read between my YA reads!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-09-06T08:52:00.001-05:00

I'm a sucker for a book that is designed oddly (see The Invention of Hugo Cabret or Bad Monkeys) and this is no different. Without the photographs, this book wouldn't have been the greatest. But with them, it's pretty awesome, although the main character should have been a little younger, I think.

Jacob has grown up with his grandparent's stories of monsters and peculiar children, but never believed them until he sees a monster in the woods at the scene of his grandfather's murder. It becomes clear that Jacob must return to the children's home in Wales to try to solve the mystery of his grandpa's childhood and mysterious adulthood.

And he does.

One book design flaw that bothered me--the words are placed too closely to the spine of the book. I'm sure there's a proper name for that, but I didn't like how I had to keep cracking the spine to get the book to open far enough for me to read the words on the page!

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

2011-09-02T22:44:00.002-05:00

The first book of The River of Time series starts off right! Some reviewers might say this book has its cheesy moments, but I think the modern language is a whimsical touch.

Gabi and Lia are bored when their mother drags them to Tuscany (again!) to hunt for ancient Etruscan artifacts. But a moment of magic in an ancient tomb sends the sisters back to the 1300s in Italy and the action never stops. Turns out that Gabi learned Italian, French, sword-fighting, and a touch of medicine and all of that helps her in her quest to save her sister and return home.

Gabi has a girl-power attitude which is out-of-place in 14th-century Italy, but the boys love her, especially hunky Lord Marcello. Sure, the romance is straight out of a Harlequin novel, but, sometimes, that's exactly what I want to read!

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

2011-09-02T19:06:00.001-05:00

I'm a big fan of Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You books, and I thought this book would be similar. And it was, but not as enjoyable.

Jess Parker has always moved around a lot and never fit in. When she settles down in her grandma's small Georgian town, she finds a boy to crush on and a mysterious note in her locker. Jess is invited to join The Cinderella Society, a secret organization of women who empower others to do good. (Don't roll your eyes, okay?) Jess finally has a support group of friends, but she still must work on raising her own self-esteem so the Wickeds don't bring her down. Add in the Villains and the Regulars, and you have all the high school cliques in one chick lit book.

I think my problem is the secret organization/spy/world-wide thing. It didn't work, but the chick lit part of the book really did. I know a sequel is already planned to come out soon, but I think the author would be more successful if she stuck with a Kieran Scott/Sarah Dessen/Ann Brashares type of book--leave the scifi/fantasy out!

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, Performed by Kevin R. Free and Katherine Kellgren

2011-09-02T08:33:00.001-05:00

I managed to listen to 8 discs (of 12) before I gave up. I loved The Percy Jackson series and didn't mind The Lost Hero (although I thought it needed tighter editing). So I was really upset that I couldn't get into Riordan's newest series involving Egyptian mythology. It just didn't work and I'm not sure why! Carter and Sadie are siblings who have been separated their whole lives, but are thrown together when their father disappears mysteriously at a London museum. Thrust into a world of Egyptian gods and goddesses, the two must find their father and hopefully bring him back alive.

Indigo's Star by Hilary McKay

2011-09-01T19:54:00.001-05:00

Well, evidently I'm in the minority again, according to star ratings on goodreads.com. Most readers liked this book. I forced myself to finish it because it was nominated for PPYA. I have nothing against strange families, but I just didn't get into the action of the book at all. The characters were cool, but, meh. Maybe because this book is written more for younger readers? I'm hoping that's it. I just didn't see an audience for it all with my high school students.

Indigo is a 12-year-old boy who is bullied at school because he's weird. His family is strange and he is strange--no big deal, right? When an American boy moves in, Indigo defends the new kid and the two become fast friends. Indigo's eight-year-old sister was my favorite character in the book--her innocence made the best parts of the book for me.

13 Million Dollar Pop: a Frank Behr novel by David Levien

2011-08-31T22:04:00.002-05:00

I enjoyed Levien's first Frank Behr novel, City of the Sun, a few years ago, so I graciously accepted a copy of his novel from Doubleday. I had a problem with the debut novel being *another* kidnapping novel, but I got the original plot line in this one! The setting is still Indianapolis (yay!), but the conspiracy is racinos and those who run them. Politics and economics control everything, even in Indiana! When Behr gets shot at while protecting an Indy businessman, he can't rest until he figures out who did the shooting. Of course, because Behr is all mysterious and bulldoggish, it costs him his job (which he didn't really like anyway) and his pregnant girlfriend (which he did like, but couldn't figure out how to show it). A new emotionally wounded Gulf War veteran joins Behr in this novel, and I hope he finds his way back into Behr's life. Can't the two of them start an agency? Hmm? Can't they? Because Decker and Behr have that strong-man relationship thing going on! And I like it!

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness, Performed by Nick Podehl, Angela Dawe and Macleod Andrews

2011-08-29T09:00:00.003-05:00

The trilogy comes to an end! Todd and Viola are still trying to defeat the evil guy (seriously, can you kill him already?) but things keep happening to prevent peace. Viola's people are nearing the planet and the Spackle are gaining power again to fight back against the humans. Todd is getting more and more powerful because of the President teaching him, while Viola is growing weaker because of her poisoned armband. I still think the first audiobook was the best, but I had to finish the series.

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato

2011-08-22T22:28:00.005-05:00

Thanks to some nice condo owners a month ago, I was able to enjoy this author's The Botticelli Secret, so I've been waiting for this novel for weeks via interlibrary loan. I wasn't disappointed, although I think the Botticelli novel is sexier and more exciting.

Leonora is a freshly divorced American looking to find herself in her past. She's a glassmaker and decides to head to the land of her father in Venice, Italy. The glassmakers of Murano are famous, but she is taken on mainly because of her family name--Manin. Her ancestor was one of the greatest glassblowers of his time, but his possible treason against his city causes grief for modern-day Leonora. In Venice, Leonora finds love, her past, and her future. Oh, big sigh! It's historical fiction and modern-day romance, all tied into one novel.

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

2011-08-22T21:14:00.002-05:00

Tola is different--she likes fairy tales, has green hair, and doesn't care what most people think of her. But when she is accused of having an indecent relationship with her art teacher, Tola acts like any other teenage girl. She reverts into herself as her vocal mother rallies the school board and press and her ex-friends brutalize her online. Tola is cyberbullied and bullied in person and doesn't step up and do something about her. Her teachers think she is lying and her mother doesn't listen. Tola's older sister is on the verge of a manic attack or suicide. Even her newly remarried dad doesn't want anything to do her.

So Tola is convinced that she is bad and isn't sure how to solve her problems. With the help of her severely ill father, the trust of a boy at school, the faithfulness of the closest thing to a friend she has, and a family that finally starts to function, she figures things out.

I liked this book because Tola is a pretty unique character in YA lit. She's different, an artist, but has some problems at home that she isn't sure how to handle. Sounds pretty real to me!

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

2011-08-20T14:33:00.002-05:00

I wasn't expecting rocket science from this chick lit book, but I was expecting something more enjoyable than what I got. The three Sullivan sisters must write their confessions to their grandmother Almighty because the old coot cut them all out of her will. And so we get the plot through their confessions. One sister loves an older man and runs away from her cotillion. One sister tells all the family secrets on her blog and gets suspended from school for blasphemy. The other sister thinks she's immortal and believes she killed her step-grandpa. And that's about it. I never did get attached to any of the characters and didn't laugh at all while I read the book. It was light-hearted in parts, but just didn't reach me. Best part of the book is the cover!

Entwined by Heather Dixon

2011-08-14T11:07:00.003-05:00

Beautiful cover! Azalea is the oldest of twelve sisters and they all escape to a magical world to dance while the family is in mourning for their mother. Of course, Keeper, the leader of the magical world, has more in mind than just dancing. He's looking to take over the physical world, too.

While I enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book, I felt the sped up plot at the end just didn't mesh with the rest of the book's pace. The love stories meshed, but the violence didn't. I never felt that Keeper was a believable character, and I expect my magical characters to be just as real as "real" characters. I liked Azalea, and especially Bramble, though.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

2011-08-10T18:53:00.004-05:00

I'm a huge fan of the sci-fi western Firefly and read through tons of Louis L'Amour books growing up. So it was a real treat to see a modern zombie young adult novel that kicked some booty in the old school tradition. Benny Imura is a teenager on the verge of adulthood in a fenced-in town. Fenced to keep the zombies out! Teenage angst to the extreme, Benny hates the only family he lives with--his only brother, Tom. Supposedly Tom is a cool zombie bounty hunter, but Benny thinks he's a coward. When Tom takes Benny out into the Rot & Ruin to learn the trade, Benny realizes that maybe he's misjudged his brother. The two brothers must avenge a wrong in their town, and set off on a rip-roaring adventure. In true Western fashion, Benny and his friends must grow up and save their world.

The Lost Girl character is sooooo River Tam from Firefly. I'd love to see this movie--and it would be a heck of a lot better than the World War Z movie they're making now.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

2011-08-07T19:22:00.002-05:00

Sarah Dessen is back and doing what she does best--writing sweet little romances about girls who need to find themselves. In this case it's Mclean, a girl who chooses a new identity with every move her dad makes. She doesn't think she wants to settle down, but being on the constant move with her chef dad and constantly fighting her mom is wearing her down. Now in Lakeview, Mclean has to be herself and she finds herself making friends she wants to keep. And, of course, a cute, smart boy.

I love how Mclean's parents' divorce is portrayed in this novel. Things aren't pretty (just like in real life), but both parents love their daughter. It's nice to see that one parent isn't a complete loser. Both parents share control when Mclean has a breakdown, which is just the way it should be.

The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason

2011-08-03T11:45:00.003-05:00

I love WWII fiction and remember enjoying In Country by this author, so I thought this new adult novel would be a good fit. It was a quick read, but it's not her best work.

Marshall Stone is 60, newly widowed, and still dealing with the crash of his B-17 bomber during the war. Now that he has the time, he returns to France, rents an apartment, and tries to find all the people of the French Resistance who tried to help him return to England. It's a simple plot, but the story is made more complicated by Marshall himself. I just didn't really like him that much--he cheated on his wife all the time. And not just in the war, but when he was a commercial airline pilot, too. He thought that surely his wife "would understand." Really, Marshall? Ugh. So I wanted the man to die old and alone to get what he deserved. lol.

On the plus side, Mason did her research so I enjoyed learning about the Resistance, crashed pilots, and how the French were treated by the Germans in the war. I'm always a sucker for historical information.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2011-08-02T12:18:00.002-05:00

This book made me feel old and geeky because I got most of the cultural references to the 1980's and videogames. Burgertime! I loved that handheld videogame!

Wade has no real life, but, like most other humans, he lives a better life in OASIS, a virtual reality world. Originally created for gaming, OASIS is now how most people on Earth work, love, and play. When the creater of OASIS dies, a treasure hunt ensues. Wade has nothing else to live for and accepts the challenge. All the guntars immerse themselves in 1980s culture and anything else the creator of OASIS loved as a boy. Along the way, Wade makes virtual friends, falls in love, and eventually learns to live in real life, too.

Why is this book awesome? It's about gaming but isn't just for gaming. It's action-packed, suspenseful, and has some KA female characters.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

2011-07-29T12:41:00.002-05:00

Reviewed from Uncorrected Advance Proof. Final book was published 7/19/11.

Lacey is a good Christian girl and has never doubted her parents and their faith. But when her old classmate Ty moves back to town and her best friend's older sister gets pregnant, Lacey starts to wonder if her religion is the right one. Is it fair that the girl who gets pregnant is shunned while her boyfriend can act like nothing happened? Are all sins treated equally in the eyes of the Lord? Because when her church creates Hell House, a haunted house-ish horror show that acts out sins to bring people closer to God, all sins are equal--gay marriage, abortion, drunk driving. But are they really all bad? Ty questions some of these himself and since Lacey likes him, she starts to wonder, too. Love makes things tricky and even her parents' love might not help her.

The book was a little too preachy for me and I didn't like the church Lacey belongs to. But I think some freshmen and sophomore girls would really like this book, especially because that's when many teenagers begin to question the church they have been brought up in. We'll see how it circulates in my library.

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

2011-07-25T23:43:00.003-05:00

Do I really need to blog about this? Back in 2008, I laughed my way through Lean Mean Thirteen and I've read every other book in this series. I rarely blog about them because they are bestsellers and if you read and like one, you'll be hooked. Stephanie Plum works for a bail bondsman, so if you skip out on your bail, she'll come get you and bring you to jail. Or try to. Maybe she'll have Lulu help, an overweight ex-hooker in size two spandex. But Stephanie's real dilemma is always between her sometimes boyfriend Morelli (a cop) and Ranger (a stud who doesn't need laws). And in a goofy family and it's a hit. I really hope the movie people don't screw this series up! One for the Money is coming out in January 2012, and I'll be there!

Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

2011-07-25T22:53:00.003-05:00

I loved The Chosen One about a Mormon girl, so I've saved this Advance Uncorrected Proofs for months. And, I hate to see it, but I don't think it was worth it.

Lacey is thirteen and has to take care of her mentally ill mother. Sounds a bit like Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, right? But the way the story is told works in that novel and doesn't quite work in this YA novel. Lacey has flashbacks constantly, but there is no break in the page to let you know it's happening. I just didn't "feel" for Lacey like I did CeeCee, and I couldn't help but compare the two characters. Unfair, I know.

In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susan Dunlap

2011-07-25T00:11:00.003-05:00

Reviewed from Uncorrected Advance Proof. Final book published 4/12/11.

I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and this one kinda worked for me. Molly is a parlormaid who ends up going to the Crimea with Florence Nightingale to become a nurse. With no experience, Molly discovers that she has healing hands (the supernatural stuff irritated me--no need for it to be included in the novel) and learns quickly. She's tough, but weak when it comes to determining if she loves Dr. Maclean or Will, a boy from back home who followed her to the war. The descriptions of the surgeries are downright gross and totally awesome--all those amputations!

The Returning by Christine Hinwood

2011-07-24T23:18:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I read a book and think, hmmm, I wonder if this will show up on the Printz list. And I think this Junior Library Guild selection might. As I was reading it, I got a little confused. It's a medieval-ish world, but there aren't any magical elements. It seems British, but I may be way off with that one.

Cam comes home from the arm missing an arm, but he also just doesn't fit back into his old life. He can't stop thinking about the Uplander lord who sliced off his arm and then saved his life. The two men from different worlds are drawn together, and their lives intertwine for years.

Graceful is a successful farmer's daughter who was betrothed to Cam, but the engagement ended after he lost an arm. After all, what good is a man missing a limb? But her father has bigger plans for her, even if it means marrying the enemy to unite two families. So her destiny is still meant to be with Cam, but in a different way.

The plot is hard to explain, but the storytelling is brilliant. I don't think this book will be popular at PCHS (we'll see the circ stats are this fall) but I think the quiet action will attract of few of my female readers.

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

2011-07-20T10:43:00.003-05:00

What a sweet read! First of all, it's great to read a book with a fabulous, not skinny, well-dressed gay boy who is a makeup artist. When was the last time you read a book with that kind of main character? Second of all, Carlos is real. He makes mistakes. He loses a friend because of his choices. He doesn't always do the right thing for his family. But, boy, is he focused on getting that makeup job at Macy's. And, finally, he's gay, but the author doesn't come right out and tell you. Carlos doesn't define himself as gay--he's an artist who occasionally likes to wear women's shoes and carry a purse. Because it's fashion!

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, Read by Jenna Lamia

2011-07-18T12:16:00.003-05:00

Sometimes a sweet little read is needed, and this audiobook recommended by a friend was the perfect summer listen. CeeCee has had a horrible childhood taking care of her mentally ill mother. Her father is always "working" and when her mother dies, CeeCee is given to a great-aunt to raise. And this is the best thing her father ever did for her. Under the care of Aunt Tootie and her cook Oletta, CeeCee flourishes.

It's a sweet, simple read and everything turns out okay. Sometimes we need books to reassure us that this is possible.

The Boy in the Suit Case by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friis

2011-07-18T12:07:00.002-05:00

Review written from Advance Uncopyedited Edition. Novel to be published Nov. 2011.

This book is being sold as the next The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I can see why. Sure, it’s Scandinavian, but it’s also about a kick-butt woman who likes to help women who are abused. Nina is a nurse who isn’t very motherly to her own family, but likes to help Eastern European women escape from men who hit them. When she accidentally picks up a suitcase for a friend and discovers a three-year-old boy in it, she decides to solve the mystery herself. Action happens too quickly for the police to catch up (of course). The boy’s Lithuanian mother is also on a crusade to save her son, especially when she discovers that his disappearance might have something to do with the child she sold years ago when she was a teenager. That’s right, sold. Sigita has been feeling that guilt for years and she can’t let anything happen to this child.

The action is fast-paced and I understand why this is a hit worldwide. It’ll be a hit in the U.S. market, too. Can’t wait to read the next Nina Borg book!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2011-07-18T11:56:00.001-05:00

Review written from Advance Readers’ Edition. Novel to be published on 9/27/11.

According to the back cover, this book is “pulse-pounding and addictive, GLOW begins the most riveting series since The Hunger Games.” I don’t quite agree, but I think this book will satisfy many readers thirsting for more Katniss.

Waverly and Kiernan are made for each other--the oldest children on a ship bound for New Earth. Luckily they like each other, so it’s okay, especially since Waverly ovaries are ready and she can soon begin having the minimum of four children that is required on their ship to maintain the population. But when another ship attacks, Waverly and all the female children are forced to leave, leaving the boys to fend for themselves. Anarchy rules--Kiernan must struggle for leadership among the boys and Waverly must figure out how to save her shipmates. There’s a conflict between secular and church thinking between the two ships, and Waverly isn’t thrilled when Kiernan starts preaching that he’s doing God’s work. This is the first book of a series, so the action isn’t completely resolved--fair warning!

Shelter by Harlan Coben

2011-07-15T16:47:00.002-05:00

My teens love Harlan Coben, so I was interested to see that he took the James Patterson route and wrote a book for teens. And it was soooo much better than Patterson's "talk down to teens" books.

Mickey Bolitar is 15, but not your typical teen. He's traveled the world with his parents and lived in some strange and third-world places. Along the way he learned martial arts and some other helpful tricks. When the first girl he likes at his new school disappears, Mickey tries to find her. Next thing you know, he's involved in a white slave trade affair in his new hometown. His mom is in rehab (not dealing well with the death of his father) and he's learning more and more about what kind of job his dad had. Mickey is a darn good hero--making friends with the fat goth girl at school and befriending the school trivia nerd. All in all, I think Coben has a great start to a new series!

The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato

2011-07-14T22:24:00.002-05:00

Thank you, condo owners, for leaving an excellent example of kinda smutty historical fiction for me to drool over for the past two days! I loved this one so much that I added the rest of the author's books to my to-read list on Goodreads.

Luciana isn't your typical heroine--she's a high-priced whore who earns some extra money posing for artists. When she poses for Botticelli and steals from him, the events of the novel are set in motion. Thrown together with a high-born monk, the two renegades are driven to save the Italian city-states from war. Of course, Luciana isn't what she thinks she is, and neither is the simple monk. But the two together are unstoppable. Think The da Vinci Code meets Girl with the Pearl Earring!

Huntress by Malinda Lo

2011-07-13T19:43:00.003-05:00

Kaisa from Lo's Morris Award winning Ash is back in this prequel novel. She accompanies Taisin, a gifted sage, and the King's son into the fairy world to speak to the fairy queen. Kaisa isn't sure what she's getting into, but she was needed, according to Taisin's visions. The adventure is long and rough and many people die. But eventually Kaisa's purpose becomes clear.

This book was slow going for me--I was looking forward to starting it and then I was looking forward to finishing. I almost didn't finish, and that doesn't happen much in a YA novel. One plus is that one of the love relationships in the book is between two teenage girls--that doesn't happen much in mainstream YA fantasy.

The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme

2011-07-11T21:41:00.002-05:00

Reviewed from Uncorrected Proof. Book was published June 2010.

Ahhhh, the perfect beach read! Abigail’s daddy might be crazy--he just built a little beach house right next to the water at Nag’s Head, North Carolina. No one else builds that close to the ocean! But Abigail loves the air, water, and freedom. Her ma is sickly, but Abigail has to give reading and writing lessons to a dirty local fisherman. Who, of course, ends up being the man of her dreams. He teaches her about racism, even though it’s Abigail who lives on a plantation and had slaves who are now her low paid servants. Abigail is practically engaged to an up-and-coming doctor, but his prettiness and uselessness is a complete turnoff after a summer at the beach.

Abigail’s about-face about slaves, black people, and rascism is a bit of a stretch, but her ability to teach freed slaves was a plus. She becomes entrenched into the “colored community” on Roanoke Island, and is shocked when her daddy shows his true colors in a lynching. Abigail’s story is breezy and light, but really well written--I enjoyed it and it puts me in the mood to go to the beach. Alabama, here I come!

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper

2011-07-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

Book One of the series has been on my shelf for months and I finally finished it after members of my PPYA committee convinced me of its worth. And they are right. It’s not cheesy like the title.

Connor and Grace, twin children of a lighthouse keeper, have always heard their father sing a shanty about the dreaded pirates/vampires, but they never imagined they would meet them in person. After their father’s death, the children escape to the sea and almost drown in a terrible storm. Connor is rescued by pirates and Grace is lucky enough to be picked up by the Vampirates. The two must use their skills (Connor is strong/quick and Grace is smart) to find each other and survive the pirate seas.

It’s a quick, entertaining read and I can see why the series is popular with middle schoolers and junior high kids. It’s quite the adventure!

The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky

2011-07-11T21:22:00.002-05:00

Published April 2011, but reviewed from Advance Reading Copy

Seventh-grader Louise Lambert loves vintage clothing. All her friends are buying new clothes at the mall, and Louise knows all the cool clothiers of earlier times--CoCo Chanel, Missoni, and tons of other designers I’ve never heard of. When she gets a special invitation to a one-day only vintage sale, she attends to find the perfect dress for the junior high semiformal. Unfortunately, the dress she tries on takes her back to the days of the Titanic. Louise is in the body of famed actress Miss Baxter, and she must try to keep the Titanic from sinking and get back into her junior high self. Obviously, you all know the ship still goes down, but her friends survive.

Good story, but I just didn’t feel like Louise’s voice was that of a 7th grader. Her character really should have ben about 14 or 15. I mean, really, she was put into the body of a adult actress with married men flirting with her--not exactly 7th grade stuff. I think the plot could have been more interesting if Louise was an older teenager.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

2011-07-11T21:06:00.004-05:00

Oh, baby, I can't wait to see this movie! How lucky was this author? Gee, I'll write a book and sell it to Doubleday, oh, and, wait, Steven Spielberg will direct a movie from it, too (out in 2013).

Think of Independence Day and Armageddon and all those movies where Will Smith kicks ass. Take it times 10. Now you have a world where robots are essential to humans--they are our domestics and factory workers. But a human creates a monster who thinks too well and takes over all computers. Sounds simple, but havoc is wrecked all over the world for years. Humans survive, but it takes several heroes to lead the resistance in the New War. The action doesn't stop and you want the characters to rescue you on their way to save the world. Read it--all your friends will be talking about it soon anyway....

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, Performed by Nick Podehl

2011-07-07T15:37:00.004-05:00

I'm telling you--you can't go wrong listening to an audiobook that won an Odyssey Award. This book was an 2011 Honor winner and really deserved it. The performer spoke like a dog, folks. And he did it well! It didn't hurt that the story was awesome, too. Books Two and Three are on my to-read list now, but I'm going to keep listening to them instead of reading them.

Todd's home on New World has completely thrown him for a loop. He grew up in Prentisstown--a world where there are no women and men don't speak to boys. He's the youngest boy, but the action starts days before his thirteenth birthday, when he is supposed to be a man. A girl arrives in the woods and he can't hear her thoughts. This is strange to Todd--he is used to hearing the "noise" from everyone around him, even pets and farm animals. Todd and the girl embark on a journey to try to find safety in a world that has gone crazy. Again, the audiobook is amazing--I wanted to sit in the garage to find out what was happening next. I know I may be the only YA librarian who hasn't read the Chaos Walking series, but better late than never!

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

2011-07-07T15:20:00.003-05:00

To be published Oct 18, 2011. Picked up ARC at ALA Annual in New Orleans.

Well, I was wondering how Ellen Hopkins could get more adult, and, wow, she sure can! I must admit that the blatant discussion of swinging, threesomes, affairs, and disregard for the sanctity of marriage made me uncomfortable. And I’m a divorced woman who has done her share of living. But Hopkins has a way of bringing taboo topics to light for young adults in her books, so I’m not surprised that she tackled something similar in her first adult novel.

Three female friends are trying to survive. Holly has the perfect husband, but chooses to have an affair and spice up her life. Marissa devotes her life to taking care of her terminally ill daughter and tolerating her gay son, leaving little time to her husband who has cheated on her for years. Andrea is divorced and trying to find a man, but has just about given up--nothing seems to work for her. The three women are floundering, as well as the men in their lives.

It was heart-wrenching to read, but I’m interested to read Hopkins’ version of the story told through the eyes of the teens in this novel. I foresee a bestseller for Hopkins--many of her teen readers are now adults, and even her teen fans will run out to purchase this adult novel told in verse.

Interesting fact...in the novel, Holly discovers her real mom, whose name is Sarah Hill. Um, that’s my name! I met Ellen Hopkins last year when she came to my school--we’ve exchanged emails about the visit. Was she inspired by my bland and normal name? :)

Here's a sample poem from page 299 in the ARC--I know, I know, it might not look like this in the final printing, but it's too good not to share.

IT’S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME

Since I’ve gone out with a man

who even pretended this much

interest in me as a woman.

Me as a mother. Me as a sister.

Me as a human being. Robin listens

more than he talks about himself.

Asks all the right questions. Laughs

at all the appropriate times. Gives

compliments freely. He’s handsome,

in a down-home sort of way. Has

a career he loves, not just a job he puts

up with, and he’s not afraid to spend

a decent chunk of his hard-earned cash

on a pricey Sunday brunch for two

at one of my all-time favorite places.

He’s in relatively good shape. Has

a really great smile. Most likely

isn’t married. And all that makes me

wonder, one: what’s wrong with

him? And, two: if there’s nothing

at all wrong with him, why me?

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

2011-06-29T13:29:00.003-05:00

In typical Harlequin Teen fashion, steampunk and romance combine to create a kick-butt female protagonist and a few swaggering heartthrobs. Surprisingly “clean,” there’s an assault and a few kisses, but nothing that screams trashy romance. The action is constant, and Finley is learning about her powers. Since hitting puberty, she’s gotten superpowers, but isn’t sure why. She finds out her secret past when she runs into a young gorgeous Duke. He, of course, has his own powers, and the two of them combine to solve the mystery of their parents and save the Queen of England, of course. Despite the steamy cover, the action isn't sexual at all--mild flirting and cheesy conversation. No one picks up a Harlequin Teen book for serious literature, and this book fit my need for something fluffy after the ALA conference.

Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin

2011-06-26T10:50:00.004-05:00

Wow...I understand why this book was a finalist for the National Book Award. It’s jarring, true, and grabs at you. The Kliatt reviewer was right on the nose with comparing this to The Color Purple. Abuse is nasty, and Felin manages to portray the abused and victims in a light that isn’t done very often. Karina’s family is Haitian and suffering from the abuse of The Daddy. He’s cruel and their mother doesn’t stick up for them. In fact, she’s willing to allow him to come back home (again) if he promises to never hit the girls again. Yeah, right, mama, but, hey, he pays the bills, right? There is a lesbian story thread, too, but really it’s a story about abuse.

H.I.V.E The Overlord Protocol by Mark Walden

2011-06-26T10:46:00.005-05:00

Even though this is #2 in the H.I.V.E. series, you don’t need to read the first book to know what’s going on. Otto is still a student at the Higher Institute of Villainous Education, and he’s invited to attend a funeral of his best friend’s father. But Otto and his friend Wang are surprised by ninjas when they arrive in Tokyo. Yes, ninjas. Cypher, a villain more evil than most, is trying to take over the world, and the two boys must rely on their training to save the world.

I can’t help but think of this book as the foil of Harry Potter. The kids are training to be evil! Yet somehow manage to be good. Or maybe just better than some of their more evil peers. I mean, really, even evil people should follow the rules, right?

The Bully by Paul Langan

2011-06-21T22:22:00.003-05:00

Little Darrell moves from Philadelphia to California and has to deal with a new high school without his lifelong friends. Darrell is short and skinny and the local bullies latch onto him on his first day. He doesn't know how to fight them--so he gives them $ every week and suffers. Eventually he makes friends, and really finds a home with the wrestling team and reading the book Hatchet. Really, I think the book had lots of cheesy parts. Read Payback instead.

To Timbuktu; Words by Casey Scieszka and Art by Steven Weinberg

2011-06-21T21:23:00.002-05:00

Awwww, this book is so sweet! Casey and Steven begin dating overseas during college. When they graduate, they decide to travel together across the world--nine countries in all. Casey is a writer and teacher, while Steven is an artist (and can teach, too). The two of them create their story together. It's entertaining because the reader learns so much about China, France, Morocco, Mali, Vietnam, Laos, etc. And, really? It makes me want to not really see any of the countries besides China. I'm not too into roughing it. :)

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

2011-06-21T21:17:00.003-05:00

I hate when I read a book and then realized halfway through that I've read it! But for some reason I didn't review it--maybe I was on vacation?

Anyway, Laine is a sad, lonely little girl when Leah, the most popular girl in school, befriends her. Leah loves the attention, even if she has to suffer through the "special" attention she gets from Leah in the upstairs closet. The two grow apart when they get older--Leah gets wild and crazy while Laine becomes reserved. She doesn't think she's gay, yet Leah keeps reminding her of what they did. Leah won't drop it, and Laine eventually confronts her about it--why did it happen?

The words "gay" or "lesbian" or "bisexual" are never mentioned in the book, although the reader knows what's going on. It's an interesting take on why the abused often become the abuser.

Death Mountain by Sherry Shahan

2011-06-16T15:51:00.002-05:00

With a better cover and title, this book could sell a lot more, I bet. Really, it's the only realistic adventure novel I've read lately with female protagonists. And that's a great thing! Girls like to read Paulsen and Hobbs, too!

Erin is on her way to her mom's, but doesn't want to go. She's lived with her grandma for the past year (her dad is a famous photographer who travels the world) because her mom took off with no explanation. But now mom wants a visit from her teenage daughter. And so Erin isn't too upset when her bus ticket is stolen. She might as well hitch back, but finds herself going hiking with two new friends. Erin's backcountry skills come in handy when a freak thunderstorm separates the group and Erin and Mae must try to survive and find their way back to civilization. The descriptions of survival are awesome--the reader learns tons of valuable information about the Sierra Nevada mountains. I was a bit annoyed with the ending--wouldn't the girls rush to the nearest campfire to announce that they are found? But the School Library Journal reviewer was spot on--give this to fans of Paulsen and Hobbs.