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Review of The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

2012-01-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. Razorbill, 2011.

Josh and Emma have been next-doorneighbors and best friends forever. About a year ago, Josh thought Emma wanted something more and tried tokiss her. Since then, their relationshiphas cooled and they have not been as close. Then Emma’s dad buys her a computer, and Josh’s mother sends him overwith an AOL disk they’ve received in the mail. It’s 1996, and America Online is very popular! When Emma installs the program on her computerand logs on, she sees her Facebook page, but Facebook hasn’t been designedyet! Emma and Josh are seeing themselvesfifteen years in the future!

The pair discovers that every littleaction they take affects their futures! They are able to see the consequences of their actions by viewing theirFacebook pages! Josh and Emma mustdecide if both the good and bad risks they are taking with their lives areworth what happens to them in the future!

The plot of The Future of Us is such a great concept and brilliantpremise! The story is told in thealternating viewpoints of Josh and Emma with :// before their names. The two have been inseparable growing up, butEmma thinks having a romance with her best friend is repulsive! I thought it was strange that Emma would haveso many failed relationships with guys without examining the one she has withJosh more closely…until the end of the book! While viewing her Facebook page, she discovers that her luck with guyshasn’t changed, but this information doesn’t seem to resonate with her! She seems unhappy in her current life andshe’s unhappy with her “predicted” future! Josh, on the other hand, is a happy-go-lucky guy in his present life,and is thrilled by what the future holds for him! What contrasts!

The culture from the 90s—Dave MathewsBand, Discmans, Velcro, dial-up Internet access, AOL, among other things--waswell-written into the story! Thecharacters’ reactions to different Facebook postings mentioning things likeNetflix and smartphones, were hilarious! I loved the way that both old and new cultural norms were included inthe book! I would like to find out whichchapters were written by each author!

Teens, especially those fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and of CarolynMackler’s novels, will love The Future ofUs! It’s a quick read and has real“teen appeal”! I recommend it for uppermiddle school, high school, and public libraries!

Review of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2011-12-09T12:40:00.001-08:00

Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Fiewel & Friends, 2012.

Cinder is the futuristic story of a teenage cyborg of thesame name that is a whiz at fixing androids, robots, and other mechanicaldevices. She lives with Peony and Pearl,her stepsisters, and Adri, her hateful stepmother in New Beijing, which is partof the Eastern Commonwealth. At ageeleven, Cinder was adopted by her late stepfather, a cyber scientist, andbrought to New Beijing. Prince Kai, theCrown Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth, brings his android to Linh Cinder’srepair booth in the marketplace, and she immediately falls for him.

In the meantime, a terrible, deadly plague is sweeping thecountry, leaving many dead in its wake. To help find a cure for the plague, cyborgs are drafted and used as testsubjects. Peony falls ill and is takenaway, and Adri blames Cinder for her daughter’s demise. For revenge and spite, Adri gives Cinder tothe plague scientists, who begin to run tests on her. While this is going on, Emperor Rikan, PrinceKai’s father, is on his deathbed suffering from the plague, and the LunarEmpire (from the moon) is threatening to attack the Eastern Commonwealth. Cinder ends up in the middle of the twoconflicting empires and must quickly learn about her past to in order protectearth.

This intriguing novel is a remake of Cinderella, but set manyyears in the future, one hundred years after the world has seen World WarIV. Lihn Cinder is a cyborg, part humanand part robot, due to an accident in which she supposedly also lost both ofher parents. I found this premise forthe basis of the novel to be both extremely inventive and refreshing!

The characters are wonderful! Cinder seems like any normal teenager…she has hopes and dreams; the“kicker” is that she is only about 2/3 human! Prince Kai wants to do what is right for his country and his citizens,even though it will ruin his personal future! Cinder’s stepsister, Peony, is sweet and naïve, while Adri and Pearl arehateful and vindictive, as is characteristic of the fairy tale.
Descriptions of the city, the market place, and the palaceare vivid and detailed! However, I wishsome additional background information would have been provided about how themoon became colonized and how people can exist there without oxygen. Additionally, I would have welcomed more informationon the history of New Beijing. Hopefully, these questions will be answered in the forthcoming sequelsin The Lunar Chronicles. The cover art is very cool...kudos to the artist!

This is a delightful and thought-provoking read! I recommend it for middle school, highschool, and public libraries. The bookhas a release date of January 3, 2012.
**Reviewer’s note: Thebook reviewed was an advanced reader’s copy provided by NetGalley and read onnook.

Review of Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

2011-11-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien; Roaring Brook Press, 2011.

In this second installment of the Birthmarked series, Gaia Stone continues in her role of midwife, but her beliefs are put to extraordinary tests. While running from The Enclave with her infant sister, Maya, Gaia is “rescued” by Will, an Outrider, and taken back to Sylum, a dystopian commune ruled by a blind Matrarc named Olivia. People are trapped in Sylum because there is something in the atmosphere that will kill them if they try to leave. Gaia learns that Sylum is run by women, although they are outnumbered by men. The courting rules are strict, and even a touch or a kiss could bring death for a man, even if he is not the one at fault. A woman who is in the gene pool may ask a man to marry her, and they are encouraged to have as many children as possible.

Gaia is accused of putting Maya’s life in danger by traveling, and the sickly infant is given over to a couple to raise as their own child. A prison on the outskirts of town houses male “criminals”, and it is there that Gaia discovers Luke, from The Enclave, being held there. Once per month, Sylum has a holds a contest where single men compete against each other for the right to live with a woman of his choosing in a cabin for thirty days. Luke wins one particular contest, and he chooses Maya, even though she is an infant, to live with him. Ultimately, he also chooses Gaia, because someone must take care of Maya. Gaia also brings along her friend, Mx Josephine and her infant daughter, Junie, because Maya needs to be nursed. Gaia ends up being part of a love triangle and must choose which path her life will take.

Prized is a fabulous read! The descriptions of Sylum, its rules, and its citizens blew me away! The class system used in Sylum and the customs followed by its inhabitants made me keep turning the pages as fast as I could! There were so many twists and turns in this plot; all I wanted to do was sit and read!

The men in the book were extremely chivalrous, hoping for women’s attentions, and, eventually, marriage, which was considered very sacred. Most of the women in the book were strong, developed characters, as were the main male characters. Gaia is strong-willed and believes in helping others, many times at the cost of hurting herself.

It was a great idea to have men take women’s last names when they marry, unlike the conventional manner in which it is usually done. Additionally, many of the terms in the novel were plays upon other words--Sylum for asylum; cuzines for cousins; Matrarc for matriarch; and so on, giving implied meanings to similar words in the novel. The autopsy scene was chilling and shocking, as was the pact between Gaia and Will not to divulge its results.

The book had a surprising, but satisfying ending, and readers can look forward to a third installment of the Birthmarked series! Also, the cover art is exceptional—beautiful and intriguing! This book will be released on November 8, 2011. I recommend this novel for high school and public libraries.

Note: This review was from an advanced reader’s copy of the book obtained from NetGalley and read on iPad.

Updated Trailer! Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick; Egmont, 2011.

2011-10-21T16:12:00.001-07:00

Review for Variant by Robison Wells

2011-10-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Variant by Robison Wells. HarperTeen, 2011.

Benson Fisher, who has gone from one foster home to another, applies for a scholarship to Maxfield Academy, which is an exclusive prep school located in New Mexico. Much to his surprise, he is quickly accepted to the school. When he arrives at the Maxfield, he discovers that the school has four rules: sexual acts are forbidden; fighting is forbidden; escape attempts are forbidden; and students must accept all punishments given to them. However, obeying last three of these rules is very difficult, and students are given detention for breaking any of them.

The school is divided into three gangs which control Maxfield, and there are no adults supervising. Instead, the school is run these groups—The Society, a gang which always follows the school rules; Havoc, a violent gang, and Variant, whose members have no ties to either gang.

As soon as Benson walks into the school, he is hustled into a room by members of The Society, who tell him that he should join their group. While this is going on, members of Havoc, also vying for his favor, are trying to bust the door down. Benson refuses both groups and is taken in by Variant.

Things are very strange at Maxfield Academy, and it is run more like a prison than a school. Members of The Society are the instructors, but they don’t teach traditional subjects. Jobs, like grounds-keeping, security, and janitorial services, are divided up among the gangs through cooperative bidding wars. It is this jobs agreement that actually keep the different groups at peace with one another. Money made through jobs is used to buy items like additional food or guns and clothing used to participate in paintball wars. Detention might consist of being denied food for a day, but sometimes punished students disappear and never return.

More than anything, Benson wants his freedom back, even if it means going back into foster care. He resolves that he will bide his time, plan, and eventually escape. He never dreams that most of the friends and enemies he has made will eventually turn out to be something much more shocking and sinister!

I loved this book! Kudos to Robinson Wells, who has done a fabulous job of making a school which is run by teenagers seem real! ! It gives me the impression that he really understands teens, especially boys! His descriptions of classes, uniforms, paintball wars, and the school grounds are extremely vivid. The whole book reminded me of A Separate Peace meets The Stepford Wives!

Benson Fisher is a really strong character. Beginning with the first chapter, the reader realizes that, despite falling through the cracks of the foster-care system, he is extremely self-assured and smart. The very idea that the school is not offering any real subjects is astounding to him! He is no “goody-two-shoes”, either, but he is continually stunned at the things that are going on at Maxfield. Isaiah, the leader of The Society, has a smooth, persuasive personality. Contrasting with that is Oakland, Havoc’s leader, who has street-smarts and a “bad” attitude. Mason, Benson’s roommate, was a very likable guy, but did a complete turnaround at the end of the book. I won’t give you any more information than that because I don’t want to spoil the book for you.

Benson stayed confused for the whole book, just like I did. Right when I thought I understood everything that was going on, a surprise would get thrown in to the plot and everything I believed would change. The book has many twists and turns, and a real shocker of an ending! The book is a real page-turner, and readers will not be disappointed!

Since there was a cliff-hanger ending, I suspect that this is a series in progress. I recommend it for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

**Reviewer’s note: The copy reviewed was an ARC received from NetGalley and read on nook.

Review of Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey

2011-09-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey; Simon & Schuster, 2011.Isle of Blood is the third book in the Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey. We again meet up with Will Henry, Dr. Pellinore Warthrop’s thirteen-year-old apprentice, as he has yet another strange adventure. In this book, a highly-prized, empty nest, made of human body parts, is delivered to the doctor. The nest, or nidus ex magnificum, is “coated in an opaque gelatinous substance resembling mucus” and is fatally poisonous to the touch. The bearer of the nest, who has, unfortunately, examined it, succumbs to madness, rotting skin, and an insatiable hunger for human flesh. He attacks Will Henry and is killed by Dr. Warthrop but Will Henry’s finger has been infected and must be amputated to save his life.

Dr. Warthrop is duped by a false monstrumology student into traveling to search for the Typhoeus Magnificum, which is believed to be “the Holy Grail of Monstrumology”. Will Henry, much to his dismay, is left with Lily Bates’s family, who wishes to adopt him. When Dr. Warthrop is discovered to be a prisoner in Great Britain’s Hanwell Lunatic Asylum, his friends and Will hatch an elaborate plan to free him. Eventually, Will Henry and Dr. Warthrop journey to the Island of Socotra, or Isle of Blood, in search of the magnificum. Will outwits Russian spies, discovers the nesting place for the magnificum, and sees more blood, gore, and death than he ever thought imaginable.

In Isle of Blood, Rick Yancey stays true to his writing style and plot development, which he began in The Monstrumologist. He elaborates more on Will Henry’s background, going so far as to “meet” one of his relatives to find out more about him. Readers are treated to an email from the relative and a visit to Lillian Bates Henry’s grave.

This third book is really more about Will than Pellinore Warthrop. All through the novel, Will agonizes over his choice to serve Dr. Warthrop and how he feels emotionally and mentally bound to him. Even when Will is given a chance to live a normal boy’s life as part of the Bates Family, he feels compelled to turn it all down and blindly follow the doctor. Lilly Bates pulls her usual teasing and flirting acts with Will, while he cannot decide if he likes or dislikes her, or both! Pellinore Warthrop is his still cynical and pompous self, but shows that he actually has a more human side. He shows, in his own way, that he truly cares about Will Henry and appreciates his loyalty.

The monster in the novel is possibly even more terrifying than the monsters in the previous books. Imagine a monster that was, at one point human, and morphs to become a type of cannibal who thirsts for flesh and blood so much that it will even eat itself! As Warthrop says of Wymond Kendall, who delivered the nidus, “He is…becoming.” An infection from the nidus is so deadly and contagious that it could actually eradicate the entire human race!

While this novel is extremely dark, there is humor in it, as well. The scene in which a group of people rescue Warthrop from the insane asylum is hilarious and includes a cameo appearance by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Some of the sarcastic comments made by Warthrop and their misinterpretation by Will Henry add a rather light-hearted tone to some extremely dark moments.

Fans of the first two books in the series will not be disappointed! I highly recommend this book for high school and public libraries!

Reviewer’s Note: The copy reviewed was an Advanced Readers Copy received from Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab.

Labels: Supernatural, horror, monsters, apprentices, orphans

Review of Plague by Michael Grant

2011-09-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Plague: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant; Katherine Tegen Books, 2011.

In this fourth book in the Gone series by Michael Grant, the kids discover that flying snakes called greenies are spreading parasites through their droppings. The parasites eat the infected host and eventually hatch as huge insects, or “gut roaches”, which cannot be killed by Sam’s blazing powers. Hunter is the first person to succumb to the parasites. Additionally, a deadly flu is spreading among the kids. This flu literally causes the sick person to cough up his lungs and die. Unfortunately, the flu is immune to Lana’s healing touch.

Perdido Beach is running out of water, and Albert has sent Sam and three others on a quest to explore Lake Tramanto. Brittney/Drake has escaped, kidnapped Jamal, and is heading toward “The Darkness”. Caine shows up in Perdido Beach to help save the kids from the gut roaches. Little Pete causes it to rain, which brings all the kids out into the streets to play in the water.

As you can see, there are two main plots in this novel and too many subplots to even mention. Having not read the first three books in the series, I was totally lost when I started reading Plague. I had to go back, read detailed synopses of the previous books and make extensive notes just to understand what was going on. The characters are all so different, and there are many conflicts, cliques, and side stories. The kids have formed their own sort of society and their own form of government. I don’t honestly see how the characters have survived, and some of them have not, with all the obstacles that are constantly being put in their way! The novel is exciting and is a real page-turner, despite the sometimes

Plague cannot really be read as a stand-along novel. I encourage people who want to read the book to read the first three books before this one. I recommend this book for high school and public libraries, but only if the first three books are in their collections.

Review of Ashes by Ilse Bick

2011-08-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Ashes by Ilse J. Bick. Egmont, 2011.

Seventeen-year-old Alex’s life has not been a picnic since she lost both of her parents in a medical helicopter crash four years earlier. After going to live with her Aunt Hannah, Alex discovers she has an inoperable brain tumor. She finally grows tired of the chemo, radiation, and experimental medical treatments and heads off to the Waucamaw Wilderness, a forest where she and her father used to go camping in Michigan. Her plan is to spread her parents' ashes somewhere in the Waucamaw. One day while Alex is camping, sixty-five-year-old Jack Cranford, his nine-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, and her dog, Mina, show up during their morning hike. While talking to Jack, a strange and devastating event happens. Suddenly, Alex feels the most horrible pain in her head. Unbelievably, while she is paralyzed, birds fall from the sky and deer commit suicide by running off a cliff. When Alex is finally able to sit up, she discovers that she is bleeding and Jack is dead. Unwittingly, Alex becomes the guardian to Ellie, who is angry and resentful that her father was killed in Iraq. After the “Zap”, Alex surprisingly discovers that her sense of smell has returned. While trudging through the wilderness, Alex and Ellie meet up with Tom Eden, who saves them from a cannibalistic zombie and wild dogs.

Tom and Alex discover that changes have been caused by EMPs—electromagnetic pulses. It has disabled modern technological conveniences, like cars, phones, computers, and televisions and triggered nuclear radiation due to power plant failures. It has also caused teens to turn into flesh-eating zombies, “The Changed”, and has killed people between the ages of about twenty-six to sixty-five. Tom, Alex, Ellie, and Mina seek refuge at a ranger station, but eventually begin heading north in an old jeep. They are robbed by a group of elderly people, who also take Ellie and Mina and wound Tom. Eventually, Alex makes it to Rule, a small town in Michigan. She is part of a rescue team to help Tom, but by the time help arrives, Tom has disappeared. Alex is accepted into the town, but she soon discovers that she may have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. The town is governed by the Council of 5, which consists of the families which founded Rule and have lived there for generations. The older teens and twenty-something youths are encouraged to “Choose” someone with which to live and eventually have children. Everyone has jobs within the town, and two brothers, Chris and Peter, often go off on long missions supposedly searching for food and other supplies. Unfortunately, the town and some of its residents are harboring secrets. Alex desperately wants to leave and search for Tom and Ellie, but she is attracted to Chris and is being lulled into the safety of Rule. Ultimately, it is Jess, one of the town elders who helps Alex escape. Too late, Alex discovers that Jess actually has ulterior motives and her own agenda for eliminating Alex.

Readers, hold onto your hats! What an intense and great ride and read this was! Ashes is a fast-paced and exciting novel! The main characters have strong and endearing personalities. There is a lot of information included about camping, hiking, and physics; the author has certainly done her research in these areas! The roadblocks that are placed in Alex’s, Tom’s, and Ellie’s paths…flesh-eating teenagers, crazed, thieving elderly people, wild dogs, and starvation, are almost insurmountable. The descriptions of “The Changed”, the cannibalistic teenagers, are horrific and terrifying. In addition, to think that sweet old people could turn into ruthless thieves, killers, and kidnappers is very creepy! This book is a real page turner! I was so upset when I got to the end and realized that the ending is a CLIFF HANGER! Boo hiss! So, look for a sequel! According to the author’s website, there will be two more books in the Ashes series. Ashes will be released on September 6, 2011. It will be followed by Shadows and Monsters.

This is one book you will not be able to put down! It is definitely for readers who can’t get enough of dystopian novels or zombies!! I highly recommend it book for high school and public libraries!

Reviewers note: The edition reviewed was an advanced readers’ copy from netgalley.com.

Review of Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-07-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

Wither by Lauren DeStefano; Simon & Schuster, 2011.

A number of years previous to the beginning of the story, all diseases in the world are eradicated through genetic engineering. “First Generations” later discover that there is a problem with subsequent generations. All females at age 20 and all males at age 25 will develop a genetic virus and die. While scientists desperately seek a cure, the lab and all research are destroyed in an explosion. Young teenage girls are considered a commodity and are stalked and kidnapped by Gatherers, who sell them to be young brides to wealthy men. Polygamy is widely practiced and encouraged.

Rhine and Rowan Ellery are twins who lost their parents to the lab explosion. They are living in their parents’ house in Manhattan and working at odd jobs in order to make ends meet. They are very careful, always looking for Gatherers and turning away anyone trying to take advantage of them. They are living in their basement and have even booby trapped their kitchen so that they can be alerted to any intruders invading their house.

However, Rhine is not careful enough because she is ultimately lured away, kidnapped, and sold to be one of three wives to twenty-year-old House Governor Linden Ashby, who lives on an estate in Florida. His current wife, Rose, is now twenty-years old and dying. Rhine’s “sister wives” are Cecily, age fourteen, and Jenna, age eighteen. Their roles are to be companions to Linden and produce children to be secretly used as guinea pigs towards a cure. The household is actually headed by Linden’s father, Housemaster Vaughan Ashby, who is a widower. Vaughan is supposedly a medical doctor and is looking for a cure for the virus so that he can save his son.

Even before Rhine enters the Ashby estate, she is trying to find a way out and back to her twin brother. As the days pass, Rose tragically dies, and the three wives become emotionally closer because they spend so much time together. Rhine discovers how controlling Vaughan is and how little Linden knows of the outside world. Much of Rhine and Linden’s time together is spent going to elaborate parties in a nearby city.

Vaughan eventually discovers that Rhine is drawn to Gabriel, a servant in the house, and is considering escaping from the estate. The results of his discovery lead to Gabriel’s being sent to another floor to work, the tightening of the wives’ freedoms, and, unfortunately, in one of their deaths. In the last moments of the book, Rhine and Gabriel do escape and make their way to freedom.

I have really gotten caught up in the dystopian movement! From the moment I started reading Wither, I was totally spellbound. Imagine a world where lives are over nearly before they have begun and a world where polygamy is commonplace, widely promoted, and accepted! While these ideas seem repulsive to me, I was so drawn into the story that I could not stop reading! Told through the eyes of Rhine, readers see both the cruelty and the oppressiveness of those who are wealthy and, therefore, feel entitled. We also see how being orphaned has affected the young and made them desperate for the necessities most people take for granted—food, shelter, water, and warmth.

Author Lauren DeStefano’s descriptions of the Manhattan living conditions, the Ashby estate, and the flamboyant parties held in an unnamed Floridian city are breathtaking. Landscapes, foods, clothes, and furnishings are explained in lush detail. All the characters have distinct and recognizable personalities. I loved Deidre, Elle, and Adair, the very young domestics who were charged with taking care of the sister wives. They are so dedicated to the women they serve! I also loved the sister wives, especially Jenna, even though she is initially withdrawn and moody.

I did not expect that Rhine would become friends with her predecessor, Rose, or any of the sister wives. However, they were there, both emotionally and physically, for each other. I also did not think Rhine would have any feelings except hatred for Linden, so I was surprised that she empathized with him. Rhine grew tremendously within the novel. She comes to believe and accept that it is Linden’s father, Vaughan, who is actually stifling and controlling everyone within the house, and who is keeping Linden in the dark about what has really happened in the world. The idyllic life that Rhine lives within the Ashby estate is a much better life than the squalid one she lives with her brother. I am surprised that she would even think about leaving it all behind, but obviously, blood, true love, and freedom are thicker than a wealthy life of leisure!

What a powerful book this was! I was surprised and excited to find out that this is actually going to be a trilogy called “The Chemical Garden”! I am so looking forward to the next two books in the series! I highly recommend this book for high school libraries and public libraries!!!

Review of Leverage by Josh Cohen

2011-05-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Leverage by Josh Cohen. Dutton, 2011.

Kurt Brodsky is recruited as a junior to attend Oregrove High School by Coach Briggs, who hungers for a state football championship. Kurt has grown up in foster care and has had some very bad experiences in his life, not the least of which is molestation by adults. In fact, at his last group home, Mr. Sandborn, aka “Crud Bucket”, was especially horrendous and evil in his abuse, killing Kurt’s friend, Lamar. Kurt escapes from his problems by lifting weights and becoming stronger, with revenge as his ultimate goal. However, he has a kind heart and a gentle soul, but also suffers from severe stuttering. He has a promising future as an offensive fullback.

Sophomore Danny Meehan, is a two-year member of Oregrove’s gymnastic team. He has set lofty goals for himself, hopefully ending in a full-ride college scholarship. Unfortunately, at Oregrove, football is king, and football players rule the school. The three football captains, quarterback Scott Miller, offensive tackle Tom Jankowski, and defensive lineman Mike “Stud” Studblatz, are extremely talented, but they are hyped up on Coach Briggs’s steroids. They terrorize the school, but mainly target the smaller athletes--the gymnastic team, the cross country team, and the swimming team.

Gymnastics coach Ted Nelson, a retired special ops military man, discovers his team budget has been cut by Coach Briggs, who is using the money to put a JumboTron up in the football stadium. Coach Nelson challenges the football players to a strength contest in the school’s weight room, with the winner getting to use the weight room whenever they wish. Much to the football teams’ dismay, they lose to the gymnasts, which sets off a series of pranks between the two teams. The retaliation between the two squads gets more and more out of control, leading to physical abuse and, eventually, a student’s suicide. In an unlikely pairing, Kurt and Danny team up with Tina, also a former foster care child, to expose the football bullies and mete out a kind of justice of their own.

This novel debut by Josh Cohen was a gripping, intense book, one I had to put down at times so I could ponder and absorb what I had read! The characters were extremely well-fleshed out and densely developed. A lot of thought went into their interactions; even the minor characters were complex! The book is told in alternating chapters between the two main characters—Kurt and Danny. I loved Kurt who, at first glance, seemed strong, imposing, and mean, but was actually a gentle giant underneath that hard exterior. Others’ perceptions of his being stupid because he stuttered only added an extra dimension to his likability factor.

Danny, as well, was extremely likable. I admired the way he set his goals to so high. The unlikely friendship that formed between Kurt and Danny was heartfelt and true. It was through Danny’s leadership and encouragement that the entire gymnastics team embraced Kurt’s inclusion in some of their activities.

Tina, the Goth techie girl whom Kurt knew from a previous foster home, was one tough chick. She was a super-hero in disguise! Not only did she know about music, computers and other technology, she was the defender of the weak! I loved how she and her friend, Indira, tried to take on Tom Jankowski in the hallway when he was bullying Danny. She also plays a huge part in the book’s climax.

The three football captains were vile, crude, and rude, and I absolutely hated them. I could not find a single redeeming quality in their personalities. However, at times, their behaviors almost seemed bully-stereotypical. I think that Cohen probably intended his reading audience to loathe the bullies, which was certainly the case, for me, at least.

The action scenes, both for gymnastics and football were extremely descriptive. The ending was awesome, although there is a surprising, unexpected twist! The novel is really about perceptions and expectations, how to overcome adversity, and acceptance of others. Due to the graphic nature of parts of the book I would only recommend it for mature readers, perhaps tenth grade and up. Those who do dive into this book will not be disappointed!

Review of Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

2011-05-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott. Simon & Schuster, 2011.

For years, Abby has worshiped her “perfect” older sister, Tess, whom everyone loves. But now Tess is lying in a hospital bed in a coma, the result of a car accident. Abby just wants Tess to wake up and get on with her life so that Abby can get on with hers. Abby’s daily visits to Tess’s bedside to talk to her and wait for her to wake up consume Abby’s life. Enter Eli, the most gorgeous boy Abby has ever seen; even his voice is beautiful.

Abby comes up with a plan to help Tess wake up. She enlists the help of Eli, whom she asks to spend time talking to Tess. Surely, his wonderful voice will jerk Tess out of her coma. Of course, when Tess wakes up, she will see Eli, and it will be love at first sight. Everyone will then live happily ever after.

But things don’t always work out like they’ve been planned. Abby never counted on having feelings for Eli, and she always thought Tess would wake up. She didn’t know that Tess and their neighbor, Claire, were carrying around secrets that had affected both their lives and their futures. What Abby comes to realize is that no one is really perfect; perfection is in the eyes of the beholder.

Elizabeth Scott has touched on many sensitive subjects—self-perception, sexuality, racial discrimination, and OCD—in her lovely story. Abby feels she has always been overshadowed by her older sister, nearly to the point of invisibility. Everyone loves Tess, wants to be around Tess, wants to date Tess. Abby feels she will never measure up to Tess, even when Tess is in a coma. Even though Abby says she hates Tess, it is apparent that is exactly the opposite. Why else would Abby try so hard to wake her up?

The way that Eli’s OCD is presented is both touching and believable. Many people with OCD cannot live a normal life, even on medication. Although Eli still exhibits some symptoms, he is able to cope in a fairly normal way. However, on top of his disorder, he also has to deal with the fact that his parents consider him damaged goods, and send him to live with his grandfather. Additionally, Eli is half Japanese, part black, and part white. While he is taunted and ostracized by the students at his school for his disorder, he is accepted at the school for his ethnicity. While this makes for a heavy burden, Eli is still sensitive, caring, and even gets ruffled at times. I loved Eli; he was a “knight in shining armor” for Abby!

Claire, Abby’s neighbor, now works at the hospital where Tess is. Much to her surprise, Abby discovers that Tess and Claire had been much more than best friends. When they had their falling out, Claire wanted Tess to “come out” so that they could be seen as a couple. Tess was afraid that everyone’s perception and expectations of her would change; she would no longer be perfect in everyone’s eyes. Claire was wounded by Tess’s actions, got pregnant and had a baby boy. Tess could not forgive Claire and, thus, ruined her senior year. This part of the book was extremely interesting, especially seeing these events unfold, in retrospect, through Abby’s eyes. She finally was able to understand that her sister was very unhappy, and possibly depressed. Of course, this was not how everyone else saw Tess!

I found out, after reading the book, that Abby’s parents had actually been teenagers in another of Elizabeth Scott’s novels, Bloom. While Between Here and Forever is a stand-alone book, if readers want some background information, they might want to read Bloom first.

This novel is a sensitive, flowing read. I recommend it for high school and public libraries!

*Note: I read an advanced readers’ copy of Between Here and Forever that I received from Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab on nook. The book will be released on May 24. 2011.

Review of The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

2011-04-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander. Walden Pond Press, 2011.

Best friends and sixth-graders Vince and Christian (aka Mac..from MacGuyver) have their own business giving advice and procuring items for fellow students. Their office is located in the fourth stall of an abandoned bathroom in the east wing at their grade school. Mac solves kids’ problems and Vince handles the money side of the business. They are both Chicago Cubs fans and are saving their money so that they can see the Cubs play if they make it to the World Series. The business is going great until they take on a third-grade client who needs protection from a legendary crime boss named Staples. Staples is running a gambling racket at the school, paying players to throw games, and charging enormous amounts of interest to his clients. Students who don’t pay up have their lives made miserable by Staples’s henchmen. In trying to put Staples out of business, Mac, Vince, and even the school bullies find out that they have taken on more than they bargained for!

The Fourth Stall has to be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. In his debut novel for young adults, Chris Rylander has successfully given voice to some very likable and memorable characters. The story is written from the point of view of Mac, who is extremely resourceful when it comes to solving problems. His best friend, Vince, is wise in the ways of number crunching and comes up with some hilarious lines he steals from his eccentric grandmother. The author really seems to understand guys’ minds and their friendships. Mac even persuades the school bullies to help him take down Staples, who has previously just been a rumor around school. The description of the grade school bullies, which include biters and computer hackers, is extremely comical! Staples is portrayed as a really bad guy, and as quite controlling. He has high school and middle school students doing his dirty work, and they are tormenting the younger students. The plot is extremely believable, and it genuinely works!

Even though there are young characters in the book, this book can be enjoyed by older students. I highly recommend it for middle school, high school, and public libraries!

Review of Darkness Becomes Her

2011-04-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton. Simon Pulse, 2011.

Thirteen years ago, New Orleans was destroyed by two hurricanes, which also decimated the southern half of Louisiana. Now called “New 2”, the old New Orleans and the surrounding area has been bought and rebuilt by the Novem, a group of powerful Louisiana families. The rest of the United States believes the rumors that exotic, mysterious New 2 is a sanctuary for paranormals. (And it is!)

Seventeen-year-old Ari Selkirk, who has been different all her life, is searching for her biological mother who gave her up for adoption at age four. What sets Ari apart are her teal-colored eyes and silver hair, which can never be cut, curled or colored. She has grown up in the foster care system, and her search leads her to New 2. Ari is befriended by Sebastian and his unusual friends, who try to help her discover why monstrous demons are trying to kill her and why her mother abandoned her. It all has to do with a family curse, and she must try to break the curse. Otherwise, she could end up dead, like her grandmother, at the young age of just twenty-one!

Darkness Becomes Her is the first young adult novel for Kelly Keaton, who has previously only written for adults, under the pen name “Kelly Gay”. The author has managed to incorporate quite a lot of Greek mythology into the story, along with the paranormal element. Since I grew up in Louisiana, I really enjoyed the descriptions of New Orleans, with its voodoo undercurrents and mystical references. Ari is a cool, but tough heroine, who doesn’t realize just how beautiful she actually is. Sebastian, who turns out to be her love interest, and the other outcasts who live with him, are just as intriguing, each in their own way. I expect these characters will be more developed with the next two books in the series.

Unfortunately, I did find a mistake in Ms. Keaton’s research. On page 28, she refers to the area around New Orleans as having counties. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. that does not have counties; instead, it has parishes, due to heavy influence of the Catholic Church on Louisiana’s heritage. I am surprised that this error was not discovered during research, or caught by the editor.

Darkness Becomes Her is a dark, necromantic read, sure to keep the reader turning pages! Look for two more additions to this series! I recommend it for high school and public libraries.

A YA Author is Living Among Us!!!!!

2011-03-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is a new young adult author living right here in Flower Mound, Texas!!! How awesome is that!? Stephanie Amox, the author of Painfully Ordinary (kNight Romance Publishing, 2010), lives about five minutes from Flower Mound High School! Who would have known? She came by today to donate a signed copy of her book and chat for awhile! Turns out that parts of her book take place in Flower Mound, and the main characters attend school at Marcus High School, just down the street! I actually downloaded a sample of the book and began reading it when she contacted me a couple of days ago. Hold onto your hats! This is a great read, and sequels are already in the works! Pictured above with Stephanie, who is holding a copy of her debut novel, are me (on the left) and Melinda Buchanan, FMHS English teacher and my partner in YA lit adventures, on the right. Look for a review when I finish the book!

Review of Bumped by Megan McCafferty

2011-03-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

Bumped by Megan McCafferty. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, 2011.

The year is 2035, and teenagers are a valuable commodity. A virus has hit the world and rendered 75% of the adult population over the age of twenty sterile. Teenage girls are urged to “bump” or become pregnant in order to keep the world populated. Many of them, called Reproductive Professionals or “RePros”, become surrogates to the highest bidder before they ever become pregnant. The rest are Amateurs and either put their babies up for public auction or donate them to infertile couples. Sixteen-year-old Melody Mayflower’s adoptive parents have spent large sums of money to give her the best schooling, athletic opportunities, and musical training money can buy, grooming her to be a RePro. The Jaydens offer full college tuition, a Volkswagen Plug, a postpartum tummy trim, and a six-figure signing bonus for her to be their Surrogette, and she is waiting for her agent, Lib of UGenXX Talent Agency, to find a professional male RePro “match” for her. Appearing on Melody’s doorstep one day is her identical twin, Harmony, who lives a “church life” in Goodside. Harmony, who is betrothed to Ephraim, decides it is her goal to convert Melody and bring her back to Goodside to live. Ephraim shows up in Otherside to bring Harmony back to Goodside. However,

Melody and Zen, her best friend, discover that Harmony is missing. Unbenownst to them, Harmony is trying to pass herself off as her sister to the extremely attractive Jondoe, who has been chosen as Melody's RePro match.

In this dystopian adventure, Megan McCafferty has written about a sensitive subject, making it both humorous and tragic, at the same time. Alternating chapters are written in the twins’ voices in their points of view.

I spent the first chapter of the book thinking that Melody, who is in a Babiez R U Store, is pregnant. However, at the end of the chapter, she takes off a “fun bump” which simulates a forty-week real set of twins in the womb, and hangs it on the wall! This blew my mind! I went back and reread the first chapter, from this perspective. Futuristic terms, like MiNet and MiChat, among others, were frequently used, and it took me half the book to figure those out! Once I became accustomed to the lingo, I was able to absorb was going on.

The two societies of Goodside and Otherside are very different, but at the same time, strangely alike. They exploit teenage girls’ sexuality through contrasting views. While both societies are trying to propagate the human race, Goodside does it in the name of religion, and Otherside does it for consumerism. I find it interesting that Melody began the book waiting and hoping to be bumped and did a three hundred, sixty degree turn in the opposite direction. On the other hand, Harmony, who was raised to believe it is a sin to have sex out of wedlock, also does a complete turnaround when she meets Jondoe!

Bumped is actually a provocative satire of the manner in which sex is portrayed in the media today! If readers can get past the futuristic computer lingo, they will have a real page turner on their hands. The copy I read was an ARC from NetGalley.com and is scheduled to be released in print on April 26, 2011. Because of the subject matter, I recommend the book for only mature high school readers and public libraries.

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2011-03-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Flower Mound HS Library now has a facebook page! Visit us on facebook and like us!
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New Arrivals @ the FMHS Library!

2011-03-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike countdown!

2011-03-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Book trailer for Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-02-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Review of The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

2011-02-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey; Simon & Schuster, 2010.

In this sequel to Rick Yancey’s The Monstrumologist, Dr. Pellinore Worthrop and his young apprentice, Will Henry, travel to snowy Canada to search for fellow scientist and former best friend, John Chanler. Chanler had gone off to hunt for the Wendigo, known by the Indians as outiko, aka Lepto lurconis, a type of cannibalistic monster which is perpetually starving, even after gorging, and can travel on the wind! While in Canada, Dr. Worthrop and Will Henry are “deserted” by their guide, who has gone insane, and must travel back to civilization, carrying the ill John Chanler through freezing temperatures and many feet of snow. Once back in New York, Chanler seems to be getting worse, and Dr. Worthrop, who is in town for the annual congress of the Society for the Advancement of the Science of Monstrumology, orders him to be taken to the hospital. Much to Worthrop’s dismay, his teacher, Abram von Helrung, has decided to present a proposal to the society about the Wendigo, which Worthrop believes to be a myth! Will Henry is introduced to von Helrung’s thirteen-year-old niece, Lilly, who tries to lead Will astray, while Chanler escapes from the hospital and begins leaving a trail of blood and gore in his wake! He leads a band of monstrumologists on a chase to capture and kill him before he can kill, eat, and mutilate the poor immigrant residents of the New York City tenement neighborhoods.

Rick Yancey has produced another fantastic gory thriller! Many of the new characters in this book are extremely funny and likable! Muriel Chanler, John Chanler’s wife and Pellinore Worthrop’s former fiancé’, is elegant, and presumptuous. Chanler, on the other hand, is portrayed as cynical and mean-spirited, and then, of course, as a monster! I find it interesting that Chanler’s monster speech patterns are reminiscent of Gollum’s in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Lilly, the teenage niece of von Helrung is a talkative “know-it-all”, and the scenes with Will and her are quite amusing! There are a number of cameo appearances by well-known historical figures, the most famous being Thomas Edison. The inclusion of Abram von Helrung is a veiled reference to Bram Stoker’s Van Helsing vampire hunter. The descriptions of 1888 New York City and, especially, its manure blocks, “crossing sweepers” and slums are dark and depressing, contrasting with those of the more prominent and wealthy parts of the city.

Readers will again have to get out their dictionaries, for there are many unusual words in the novel. There is plenty of blood and guts to keep the pages turning until the end! Even though this book is a sequel, readers will not necessarily need to read the previous volume. However, I do prefer The Monstrumologist over Rick Yancey’s most recent work. I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries!

New book review blog found! Check it out!

2011-02-08T19:02:00.001-08:00

http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/ A Good Addiction! She has really great YA reviews and giveaways! Check it out!

Sequel to Delirium by Lauren Oliver!

2011-02-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

I just found out that a sequel is going to be coming out to Lauren Oliver's fabulous book, Delirium, which I reviewed recently! The title is Pandemonium, but I have no release date right now! Stay tuned!

Review of Ivy's Ever After by Dawn Lairamore

2011-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

Ivy's Ever After by Dawn Lairamore; Holiday House, 2010.

Princess Ivory Isadora Imperia Irene, known as Ivy, heiress to the kingdom of Ardendale, finds out when she is ten-years-old about “The Dragon Treaty”. Under its terms, she is to be locked in a tower and guarded by a dragon until a prince can slay the dragon and lay claim to Ivy as his bride, her kingdom as his own, and the dragon’s treasure. The treaty is in effect to insure that Ardendale will always have a king and so that the dragons living in the nearby Smoke Sand Hills will not become extinct. When Prince Romil arrives with his entourage from faraway Glacia to fight the dragon, Ivy tries everything she can think of to persuade him to leave. She cannot bear the thought of such an unpleasant, arrogant prince ruling her beloved Ardendale. After being placed in the tower, she manages to escape, befriend a dragon, and hatch a plan to save Ardendale from sure destruction.

Ivy Ever After is a delightful fairy tale, with a twist on the stereotypical damsel in distress! The main characters are charming—Ivy is an unconventional, funny, and resourceful. Since Ivy has been grown up without a mom and has free rein of the entire kingdom, she is friends with everyone in court; in fact, her best friends, Rose and Clarinda, are daughters of the kitchen staff! The girls are loyal and fierce in their devotion to Ivy. Ivy’s nursemaid, Tildy, is loving, but disapproving of how Ivy behaves; Ivy’s father, the king, is a little addled, but dotes on his daughter and is happy to let her have fun while she is young. Elridge, the small dragon who was to guard the tower, is sweet, but very protective of Ivy. Drusilla, Ivy’s long-lost fairy godmother, and her goat, Toadstool, were hilarious in their antics! On the other hand Prince Romil and his staff are evil, critical, and devious in their plans to take over Ardendale and destroy it! The way that Ivy, the dragons, and Drusilla plot to save Ardendale was ingenious!

The plot has lots of action, suspense, and funny moments to keep the reader wanting more! I highly recommend Ivy Ever After for upper elementary, middle school, high school, and public libraries!

Review of Shine by Lauren Myracle

2011-02-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

Shine by Lauren Myracle; Abrams/Amulet Books, 2011.

Sixteen-year-old Cat was sexually assaulted by her brother’s best friend when she was thirteen years old, and, afterwards, closed herself off to people. To deal with her pain, she dropped all her friends, including her best friend, Patrick, and pretended not to see “certain bad things”.

Now Patrick is in the hospital in a coma, the victim of a vicious hate crime, and Cat is left wondering who in the small community of Black Creek, North Carolina might have done it. Or could it have been some college kids stopping to buy beer or snacks at the Come ‘n’ Go, where Patrick worked? If she had still been good friends with Patrick, would she have seen the attack coming? Could she have prevented it?

Since Sheriff Doyle is only pretending to solve the crime, Cat decides she will do some sleuthing on her own. What she finds out is that underneath its surface, Black Creek is full of drugs, prejudice, and hate; people she once considered friends are hiding secrets...some of them dangerous. With the help of Jason, a college friend, and her brother, Christian, Cat discovers who beat up Patrick and left him for dead.

WOW! That is all I can say about this fabulous book! What great characters Lauren Myracle has developed. Cat is a strong, persistent heroine, braving so many of her fears to bring the attempted murderer to justice. It is through her eyes that we see the poverty, cliques, and bigotry of her town, where everyone seems to know everyone else’s business. As Cat observes her classmates, and even her brother, in a different light, the reader sees her weigh each piece of the puzzle as she uncovers it.

It was amazing how drugs and underage drinking took over so many young lives in such a small town and lay hidden underneath the surface, apparently unnoticed by its citizens. A lot of research went into this part of the story; there were drug terms I was not familiar with inserted into the plot. I appreciate the humorous details, especially those dealing with eleven-year-old Robert, brother to Cat’s friend, who always recklessly spoke his mind.

Shine is an edgy, realistic novel and a real page turner! It is due to be released on May 1, 2011. I highly recommend this book for the upper grades of high school libraries and for public libraries!

*Note…The copy of Shine that I read was an Advanced Readers Copy from netgalley.com.

Review of Violet Eyes by Debbie Vigue'

2011-02-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

Review of Violet Eyes by Debbie Vigue'; Simon Pulse, 2010.

The only life Violet has ever known is living on a farm and helping her parents. One morning following a terrible storm, the family’s farmhand finds a man who has been hit in the head by a falling tree branch. The family provides food and shelter while the man heals, and they discover, to their surprise, that he is Prince Richard, heir to the country’s throne. It is love at first sight for Violet, who decides to compete against many princesses for Prince Richard’s hand in marriage.

This charming story is the retelling of the fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea”, with added twists and turns. In the original, the only test given is sensitivity to a pea under a mattress, which is the last test in this book. In this version, there are a number of challenges, which are hidden, disguised as other tests. While the princesses think they are being tested on what they see, the actual contests turn out to be challenges of strong character. The princesses, three of whom become Violet’s close friends, are portrayed as strong, smart women, extremely capable of running any kingdom. This contradicts most stereotypes of fairy tale princesses, usually portrayed as weak, fragile creatures. Prince Richard feels that since he is a man, he should be the one competing for the hand of a princess, and not the other way around; he actually resents his parents for forcing princesses to display their worthiness of him. Violet is a brave, energetic, and endearing heroine, and readers will be cheering for her to pass all of the princess tests.

This book will appeal to young and old, alike. I recommend it for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

Review of Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

2010-12-30T21:31:00.000-08:00

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex. Balzer+Bray, 2010

While on vacation in the Poconos, fifteen-year-old Doug Lee is bitten by a vampire. Life is already hard enough, but now he will live forever in his short, fat body. He has resorted to feeding on cows and hiding under a poncho to avoid the sun. His best friend, Jay, is trying, without much luck, to help Doug adjust to vampire life. Sejal, an Indian foreign exchange student with an Internet addiction, moves to town, and Doug is smitten with her. However, Sejal does not have the same feelings for him! Doug is invited to join a secret vampire society and begins to be tutored by a shady, elderly vampire. He learns that Victor, a handsome football player, is the vampire who attacked him in the Poconos! All the while, Doug is being hunted by the host of a vampire hunter reality show and is trying to figure out how to reverse his vampire curse.

Fat Vampire is a hilarious, satire of the current common, popular vampire romance. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics of Doug, the main character and hero. Especially funny was the scene where Doug steals blood from his school’s blood drive, and the theater group attendance at a performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Sejal’s reactions to American life and customs were, at times, hysterical. Author Adam Rex touches on many sensitive subjects, including sexual orientation, racial stereotyping, and Internet addiction. However, I felt that the sexual references were overused and many of them could have been eliminated. Additionally, there is a cliffhanger ending, which was disappointing. Instead of ending the book, there are a number of plausible endings presented, which leaves the reader to choose the one he prefers.

Overall, I found the book extremely funny and engaging. I recommend it for upper high school and public libraries.

Review of The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye

2010-12-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye by Bonnie Shimko. Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2010.

Grandpa Thomas told his granddaughter, Amelia Earhart Rye, that all she would ever need is one true friend, but Amelia doesn’t have even one person she could call a friend. Then Fancy Nelson moves to town, and Amelia finds the best friend she has never had. There is only one problem…Fancy is black! Actually, this isn’t a problem for Amelia and Fancy, just for everyone else. Fancy and her mother live in a big, beautiful mansion owned by Judge Watson, and Fancy has the prettiest clothes Amelia has ever seen! It turns out that Fancy's beautiful mother is really Judge Watson's daughter! While Amelia thinks that her mother doesn't want or love her, after her death, Amelia finds out what love really is.

This has to be the most delightful book I have read in a long time! Amelia, Fancy, and Grandpa Thomas are extremely well-developed and charming characters. Despite its early 1960s racial setting, the two girls become fast friends. I liked the added twist of having Amelia discover that Margo La Rue, with whom her father ran off, is actually a wonderful, caring woman, and the two develop a loving relationship. Having Grandpa Thomas, Amelia, and Jack, her brother, stand up to Sylvia, their cunning sister, and her greedy husband, Sam, was both funny and gratifying! Although the book is written for a younger audience, I think that it could be thoroughly enjoyed by any age group! It reminds me Fannie Flagg’s books, but written for a younger audience! There is humor, drama, and small town nostalgia all rolled into this fabulous novel!

This book was a real page-turner. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it for upper elementary, middle school, high school, and public libraries!!!!

Review of The Complete History of Why I Hate Her by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

2010-12-27T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Complete History of Why I Hate Her by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Atheneum, 2010.

In the summer before her senior year, Nola decides to take a summer job as a waitress at a Rocky Cove, a resort in Maine. Her sister, Song, is dealing with cancer, and while it is affecting the entire family, Nola is taking the brunt of the ordeal. While traveling on the bus to Maine, Nola meets Carly, who eventually becomes Nola’s roommate at the camp. While the girls bond quickly, Nola comes to realize that Carly is quite adept at manipulating and controlling people. When this character flaw begins to involve Song, Nola has to figure out how to release Carly’s hold on her and her sister.

While this book began slowly, the pace picked up around the middle and quickly sped to the end. The way that Nola allowed herself to have her identity nearly stolen by Carly was, at times, frightening. At one point, the two girls are so close that the other staff members referred to them as “The Cannolis”, a combination of Carly and Nola’s names.

Nola and her sister, Song, often create haiku for each other and also include them in their letters to one another in the summer. Carly picks up on this, and begins doing it, as well. The veiled implication that Carly has a mental disorder is never really brought out, but it soon becomes obvious that she needs to always be the center of attention, stealing others’ friends and even others’ ideas.

Girls will enjoy the book for its summer romances and friendships. I recommend this book for upper middle school, high school, and public libraries.

Review of Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

2010-12-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook. Simon Pulse, 2010.

Helen Worthington has been best friends with Lauren Wood since they were born; they were even next to each other in the hospital nursery. In the spring before ninth grade, Helen is accused of tattling on the boys who played the senior prank. Even though she is not the one who did turned the boys in, she is shunned and picked on by her classmates for the rest of the school year. When she discovers that Lauren is actually the one who caused all the trouble, she cannot believe it! Her family moves away for three years, and during that time, Helen’s appearance changes dramatically; she grows from an ugly duckling into a swan! When she has a chance to move back to Terrace and live with her grandmother, Helen decides to change her name and carry out a plan to get her revenge on Lauren Wood.

This book is reminiscent of The Mean Girls movies; only one of the characters who are mean is actually nice! Lauren and her friends Bailey and Kyla are the “popular” girls who accept the new girl “Claire Dantes” into their inner circle because they believe she has moved from New York, is pretty, and wears the right clothes. Lauren is the stereotypical rich, mean girl who believes everyone wants to be just like her. Her minions, however, become disenchanted with Lauren after a series of events that Claire ramrods. Claire is a delightful character who is so obsessed with Lauren’s downfall that she does not realize who her friends really are until it is almost too late.

The whole theme of the story is seeing people for whom they really are, and this theme is carried out beautifully in the plot. This book is humorous, and some of the characters are really sneaky. The twist at the end will surprise readers! I recommend

Review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2010-12-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

Delirium by Lauren Oliver; Harper, 2011.

Sixty-four years ago, the United States President and his consortium proclaimed "amor deliria nervosa" to be the dealiest of all deadly things. They declaired love a disease. Fifty years ago, the government closed the U.S. borders, and forbade physical contact of uncureds of the opposite sex. The military began guarding the borders; every sanctioned and approved community must be inside a border. Travel between communities would only given with written consent of the government at least six months in advance. Phone conversations are monitored and people are constantly being watched. Many things, including oil, are rationed.

Forty-three years ago, scientists perfected a love cure, to which every teenager must submit on or shortly after their eighteenth birthday. Sympathizers for Uncureds are either executed or locked in The Crypts, a combination of a prison and mental institution, to serve a life sentence. People who live in the unregulated land between recognized cities and towns, called "The Wilds", are known as Invalids because they have not been cured.

On September 3, Lena will turn eighteen years old and cannot wait for her cure. She hopes that the cure will help her to overcome the extreme sadness she feels for her mother, who committed suicide when Lena was six years old. However, she is not looking forward to Evaluation Day, where a panel of four or five people will assess her and assign a score which determines her future job or college and future mate. Lena's Aunt Carol tells Lena that she probably won't be friends with her best friend, Hana, after they undergo the cure because they will probably not remember each other and will not have any more emotional ties.

Everything changes when Lena meets a boy named Alex, who serves as a facility guard. At first, they are friends, but eventually, the relationship blossoms into something much more. Ulitmately, Lena and Alex plot to escape to The Wilds, but are caught, and Lena is imprisoned in her aunt and uncle's house, awaiting her cure, which has been moved up and will happen almost immediately.

What a great dystopian read this book was! It reminded me of a modern Shakespeare story, where love between two young people is forbidden and they must meet secretly. The cure hanging over Lena's head is like a death sentence in the distance. The characters are sketched out brilliantly; the Cureds are portrayed as emotionless zombies, unable to even feel love for their own children and family members. Lena and Hana are fun-loving and full of life. To know that these traits will soon be extinguished by The Cure adds an amount of doom and gloom to the story. The scene which features a visit to The Crypts reminds me of the horrifying descriptions of the old mental wards from the early 1900s. Lena waiting for Alex to come to her rescue near the end of the book seems eerily similar to the rescue of Queen Guinivere by Lancelot in "Camelot". She is the damsel in distress!

Fictional quotes from The Safety, Health, and Happiness Handbook, 12th edition, (also called The Book of Shhh), and other "government publications" begin every chapter. I feel like the book is a real work of art from beginning to end. It is due to be published on February 1, 2011. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for high school and public libraries!

Review of The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas

2010-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas. Aladdin, 2010.

Sixth-grader Griffin Penshine loves to make wishes! That is until she is unwittingly tricked by an old woman into accepting a box of “lucky” pennies. The pennies actually belong to people who made wishes on them and threw them into a fountain. The old woman stole the pennies from the fountain, and, with them, the wishes, which makes her a “Wish Stealer”. In order to break the “Wish Stealer” curse that the woman put on her, Griffin must somehow either return the pennies to their owners or to others in need of the same wishes. This leads her on many adventures, including using alchemy for a science project, giving a puppy to an elderly lady, and becoming a bass guitarist in a rock band.

The Wish Stealers is a quick and cute read, perfect for upper elementary and middle school students. There is just enough of a scary element in the book to keep the reader on the edge of his seat without becoming gory or violent. Griffin’s last name, “Penshine” was a smart choice. It is a play on shiny pennies, which is the focus of the book; it also happens to be the color of Griffin’s hair! Each chapter in the book ends with a quote, which serves to tie the story together. One drawback of the plot is the stereotyping of the mean girls in the story; as usual, they are rich, spoiled, and beautiful. Griffin, on the other hand, is a likeable character and is determined to do what is right. She has a wonderful relationship with her grandmother; it is this relationship that adds a twist to the end of the story. Unfortunately, some of the scenes in the story are a little contrived, and the ending is too tidy. Despite its flaws, younger students will enjoy reading what Griffin has to go through in order to save her family and friends.

I recommend this book for upper elementary, middle school, and public libraries

Review of Slayed by Amanda Marrone

2010-11-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

Slayed by Amanda Marrone; Simon Pulse, 2010.

Daphne Van Helsing has been hunting and killing vampires since she was twelve years old. Her family is descended from Abraham Van Helsing, the legendary vampire hunter. Daphne would love to be able to live in one place for a long time and make friends. Instead, she has been sketching imaginary friends in a notebook while her parents drag her all over the country for “vampire gigs”. She is surprised one night to find Kiki Crusher, formerly aka Maybelle Crusher, daughter of the lead singer of “The Disco Unicorns”, in a bar in Bristol, Maine. Kiki inadvertently saves Daphne’s life and becomes a vampire-hunter apprentice. Kiki begins on-the-job training, and she and Daphne discover that the vampires in Bristol have morphed into super-human vampires, which are much more difficult to kill. The Van Helsing’s rivals, Nathan Harker and his handsome son, Tyler, descendents of Jonathan Harker, another famous vampire hunter, arrive in town, intent on taking jobs away from the Van Helsings. Will the vampire hunters be able to get along and rid the town of the killer vampires, or will they perish in the process? However, there are more sinister forces at work, and evil is filtering into Bristol!

Amanda Marrone has done a terrific job of getting into a teenage girl’s head to describe how Daphne feels about vampire hunting. The descriptions of staking and decapitating vampires are quite bloody and gory. Daphne is torn between carrying out her duties and wanting to give it all up to be a “homebody”. There were lots of vampire facts in the book, which gives readers a crash course in their background. I had no idea that a vampire actually has to drink all of a human’s blood in order for them to actually become a vampire! A little nibble just won’t do it! This book was really funny, even though there was so much violence in it! Kiki is a real hoot, and she stepped right into the vampire hunter role like she was born to it! She pulls no punches and even becomes the bff that Amanda has never had!

Slayed is a funny twist on scary subject! I recommend this book to high school and public libraries!

Review of Once by Morris Gleitzman

2010-10-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Once by Morris Gleitzman; Henry Holt, 2010, c2005.

Felix, the son of Jewish bookstore owners, is dropped off at a Polish Catholic orphanage when he is six-years-old. They explain to Felix that he must stay at the orphanage while they expand their book business. Nearly four years later, he is still waiting for his parents to return, and World War II is in full swing. One day, Felix sees strange, ominous men burning books in the courtyard of the orphanage and is afraid that these strangers are looking for his parents in order to burn their books. Determined to warn his parents, he escapes from the safety of the orphanage where he has been sheltered from the war and the Holocaust. On his journey, Felix is shot at by Nazis, finds out new owners have moved into his family home, and is called names and chased out of town. When he reaches the ghetto, where he thinks his parents have gone, he saves a young girl and experiences more Nazi cruelty. Shortly thereafter, he is befriended by Barney, a dentist, who takes Felix and some other children into hiding. Ultimately, the group is discovered and forced onto a train bound for the death camps.

What a riveting story! Told through the eyes of Felix, who happens to be a fabulous writer and teller of his own stories, readers see how being sheltered in an orphanage has led to Felix’s naiveté and ignorance about the war, the Holocaust, and the Nazi movement. He has been led to believe, even by the priest, that Adolf Hitler is a kind man. The way that Felix describes the unfolding events has a humorous side, even though they deal with a depressing subject. He is shocked when he sees Nazis killing innocent people “over books”! Every chapter begins with “Once”…as Felix describes something that has happened to him. The title of the book actually comes from a line that Barney utters: “Everyone deserves to have something good in their life at least once.” The author indicates in endnotes that Barney is a veiled reference to Janus Korczak, who actually helped run an orphanage for Jewish children for many years.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Most accounts of the Holocaust are written through the eyes of an adult. It is refreshing to see the same events through the eyes of a child. I highly recommend this book for middle school, high school, and public libraries! Note* Once was previously published in 2005 in Australia. The cover art is stunning!

Review of Addicted to Her by Janet Nichols Lynch

2010-10-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

Addicted to Her by Janet Nichols Lynch; Holiday House, 2010.

Rafa is a junior and a member of the high school wrestling team. His dream is to win at the state meet and get a college scholarship based on his wrestling abilities. However, that all changes when he hooks up with beautiful, voluptuous Monique, who has no ambitions and only likes to party and have a good time. Jesus, who has been the only father-figure Rafa has ever known, lives with his mother, brother, and sister. Unfortunately, Jesus is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and speaks almost no English. Jesus is a kind and loving man, but Rafa is embarrassed by him and cannot figure out what his mother sees in him. Rafa sees things differently when he hears the story of how Jesus fled from El Salvador. Shortly thereafter, Jesus is falsely accused of being in a notorious, terrorist gang and is taken away by I.C.E. in the middle of the night. His “family” is determined to bring him home, and focus on ways to achieve their goal.

When I started reading Addicted to Her, I did not think that I would like it. However, it was actually quite good and a very quick read. The effect that beautiful, bad Monique has on impressionable Rafa is astonishing. He goes from being squeaky-clean and responsible to lying and lazy; the contrast is like night and day. Rafa is so blinded by love and lust that he cannot see what this trashy girl is doing to him. There is a hilarious scene in the book in which Monique brings Rafa to her parents’ house. In the scene, the reader discovers that Monique’s parents are just as trite and self-absorbed as she is! It’s no wonder she’s so messed up! Contrasting with Monique’s parents, are Rafa’s good, hardworking mother and her common-law husband. They are very proud, honest, and loving. Two side plots are going on during the story. One deals with Rafa’s younger brother, who is having trouble obeying the law and his family’s rules. The other story deals with the problem of Jesus and illegal immigration. Jesus’ story about leaving El Salvador is both riveting and compelling!

There is a smattering of Spanish throughout the book, but it is translated into English. Unfortunately, the message about illegal immigration does become preachy at times, which was a drawback to the story. I recommend it to high school and public libraries.

Book Trailer of The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2010-10-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Review of Payback Time by Carl Deuker

2010-10-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Payback Time by Carl Deuker. Houghton Mifflin, 2010.

Daniel "Mitch" True has had aspirations of being the editor of his school newspaper ever since his freshman year. But instead of being voted editor, or even lead reporter, he is assigned to be the school sports reporter. Mitch, named after the Michelin Man for obvious reasons, teams up with photographer Kimi Yon to cover all aspects of their school's sporting events. Little do they know this will lead them to become investigative journalists, trying to uncover the story behind the new, talented cornerback, Angel Marichal, who just appears on the practice field one day and has a bullet for an arm. To make matters worse, head football coach Hal McNulty will only let Mitch do interviews that he himself sets up, which makes Angel "off-limits!" On top of that, every time Mitch submits an article to The Seattle Times, Chet Jetton, the sports editor, cuts out everything about Angel! Between writing, sleuthing, and doing homework, Mitch manages to lose a lot of weight and solve the mystery at the same time. In one fell swoop, Mitch can nail Coach McNulty for using an inelgible player, which could be his ticket to admittance to journalism school at Columbia. However, Mitch and Kimi find out that things aren't always what they seem. They will have to decide if it is ethical to take advantage of their findings, and it could be the hardest decision they have ever made.

What a great read this was! The story is filled with intricate characters, plot twists, and fantastic descriptions of action-packed football games! Mitch is not your average hero; he is just an ordinary guy who has ordinary problems, and he meets them head on. The side plot of his losing weight shows that he is a very determined young man and extremely goal-oriented. Having him narrarate the story also gives him a very sympathetic, but persistent, attitude. Kimi Yon, to whom Mitch is attracted, provides an interesting "side-kick" to Mitch, and having her father, whom she describes as "embarassing, help them at a crucial point in the plot was pure genius! Coach McNulty comes across as guff and hard, but we see another side of him near the end of the book.

My only question about the plot is this: Why were Mitch and Kimi the only students to notice that Angel Marichal was not getting the attention he deserved for the crucial minutes he played in the school's football games? It seems odd that they would be the only ones to notice his heroics on the field! I wish some explanation would have been given for this. However, students ignoring Angel only served to deepen his mystique!

The final climax of the story is both surprising and exciting! Payback Time is not just for football fans, nor is it just for guys. I highly recommend this book for middle school, high school, and public libraries!

Review of The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2010-07-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted; Bloomsbury, 2010.

"Does not a child recognize her own mother?" This is what Lucy Sexton thinks when she finds a woman who looks exactly like her mother on her family's doorstep. It turns out that Aliese Sexton has an identical twin, separated at birth, and none of her family members, including her, knew! The Sexton family takes in unpolished Helen Smythe and grooms her into a fashionable, cultured woman and then formally presents her to society. Unfortunately, death begins to enter into the picture after the celebration. An intruder enters the house, ties up both sisters, and then brutally murders one of them. Lucy thinks that her beloved Aunt Helen has been killed, but then begins to have doubts. Could it be that her mother was murdered and her aunt is trying to take her mother's place? Even when Aunt Helen was alive, Lucy often got her mother and sister confused! Shouldn't a child know her own mother????

This was a gripping tale, from beginning to end! The attention to detail of fashions of this time period was exquisite. The history was very well-researched, and the customs and manners were woven into the plot. I especially appreciated the way that a secret tunnel and the way it connected two houses was implemented into the storyline. There were so many twists and turns, betrayals, and jealsousies brought out that I was kept guessing until the end of the book!

This is a thriller, and a real page-turner! I highly recommend this book for high school and public libraries. According to barnesandnoble.com, it will be available on August 31, 2010!

Review of Girl Stolen by April Henry

2010-07-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Girl Stolen by April Henry; Henry Holt, 2010.

How would you feel if you were kidnapped? What if you were also blind and had pneumonia??? This is what happened to sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder, who just happened to be sitting in a vehicle that was "car-jacked"! The car thief was shocked to find out that there was an unwilling passenger in the Cadillac Escalade that he decided to steal! The terrifying events that follow the surprising kidnapping will not only grip, but also hypnotize readers!

This story gets only more intense when Cheyenne is taken to a chop shop in the middle of nowhere, and the car thief's father finds out that she is the daughter of the iconic Nike owner! The fact that she manages to escape and elude her captors in the woods in the dead of winter is both amazing and ingenius! The way facts are woven into the plot give the reader insight into guide dogs and how blindness affects a person's senses.

This book was very well-researched, and the characters were extremely well-developed! The way that Cheyenne adapts to being blind is a tribute to both her persistance and her survival instinct. Cheyenne dupes her captor into thinking she is weak, and then uses that to her advantage in order to gain his confidence and escape. However, she eventually begins to relate to her kidnapper and actually tries to help him.

From the moment I picked up this book, I could not put it down. It is a gripping, intense story, and I was cheering on the heroine all the way through the story! I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries! It will be available on September 28, 2010, according to barnesandnoble.com.

Review of A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

2010-07-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner; Greenwillow, 2010.

This is the fourth book in the series unofficially known as "The Queen's Thief". Sophos, who is heir to the country of Sounis, hopes that he will never have to fulfill that role. However, his father has tried to prepare him for the throne, providing tutors who have instructed him in swordsmanship and battle strategy, as well as book schooling. One day, his villa is attacked, and Sophos is kidnapped and his estate is burned. He is sold into slavery, working for a power-hungry baron. After Sophos escapes, he discovers he is now King of Sounis. Unfortunately, the Mede Empire would like to rule all of Sounis, Attolia, and Eddis. It falls to Sophos, now called Sounis, to provide a solution that will allow his people to live in peace and freedom.

A Conspiracy of Kings was a fabulous adventure, filled with action, intrigue, romance, and even some mythology references. The plot is extremely complicated, filled with subplots and many characters. I had to keep a running list of characters and refer to it frequently! The descriptions of the characters, battles, and scenery were stunning, filled with minute details and nuances. It was interesting to see how Sophos matured from an unwilling heir into a true leader, outwitting the scheming barons. There is a surprising and unexpected twist at the end of the book!

Although this book could be read as a stand-alone volume, it would be advisable to read the preceding volumes first. Since I had not done that, I had to do some research in order to figure out what had happened previously in the series. Additionally, it took me awhile to figure out that once someone becomes a ruler in his country, he takes the name of the country. Hence, Sophos becomes Sounis because he was the King of the kingdom of Sounis.

A Conspiracy of Kings was on the "2010 Booklist Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy Novels for Youth" and was named a "2010 YALSA Best Fiction Nominee for Young Adults". I highly recommend it for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

Review of Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-05-18T12:55:00.001-07:00

Spells by Aprilynne Pike; HarperTeen, 2010.

In this sequel to Aprilynne Pike’s Wings, Laurel Sewell is summoned to attend instruction at The Academy, a school for faeries in Avalon, during her summer break from high school. She is expected to cram years of schooling into a couple of weeks, poring over books and memorizing plant names and their uses. After such intense study, she must attend class with other Fall faeries and learn how to make sugar vials, potions, powders, and serums. Her days consist of only class, studying, and sleeping!

Tamani continues to be a sentry on Laurel’s land, guarding the entryway to Avalon from trolls, who have recently made themselves scarce. On two occasions, Tam is able to take Laurel “sight-seeing” through the wondrous faerie land, where Laurel is treated to amazingly beautiful sights she has never before experienced! The descriptions of Avalon are exquisitely done, complete with lush details of faerie life and flora. Laurel discovers that there is actually a caste system among faeries, with Winter faeries being at the top of the hierarchy, followed by Fall, Summer, and Spring, respectively, based on the difference in faerie population numbers. A faerie’s season is determined by the time of year that his seedling germinates. Much to Laurel’s chagrin, Tam is a Spring faerie, and, thus, is expected to bow to those above him, as well as walk two steps behind upper-class faeries, including her.

Summer comes to an end, and Laurel has to leave Avalon and return to school and her boyfriend, David, with whom she is still in love. She must constantly practice her vial and potion-making, even though she has returned to the human world. Jamison, one of only three Winter faeries, has warned Laurel that she must learn to use her Spring magic quickly because her family and friends need her protection. One evening at a party, trolls stalk Laurel and David, who unwittingly enlist the aid of Klea, a human who hunts supernatural beings. Although Klea and her covert group save the pair, the incident leaves Laurel and David wary of not only trolls, but others, as well.

Weave in several subplots—conflicts between Laurel and her mom, the kidnapping of Laurel’s best friend by trolls, a faerie New Year’s festival, and, finally, a surprising conclusion. Chelsea has to choose between David and the human world and Tam and the faerie world. The ending will leave readers expecting that another book is already in the works!! Aprilynne Pike’s faerie world is exquisite and a place I would love to visit! She has outdone herself with this sequel! I highly recommend this book for high school and public libraries.

Review of Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

2010-05-14T13:36:00.001-07:00

Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson; Roaring Book Press, 2010, c2007.

Carl and Sylvie, nicknamed “Titch”, are next-door neighbors and have grown up together. They have been friends since they were both very young, and Sylvie assumes that someday they will get married. They have been making up stories about “Glassworld”, and Sylvie thinks that they will eventually become famous author-illustrators. Now they are high school freshmen, and Carl has transferred to a prestigious boys’ school, and both are having adjustment problems. Sylvie is bothered because Carl is constantly talking about his pal, Paul, a soccer star at his school. Miranda, voluptuous and “boy-crazy”, has become Sylvie’s new friend, and Carl doesn’t care for her. Sylvie cannot decide why Carl has not kissed her yet. Doesn’t he love her they way she loves him? When Carl tells Sylvie that the reason he hasn’t kissed her is that he is gay, she is totally taken by surprise, but she isn’t mad. However, when Carl reveals his true feelings to Paul when trying to kiss him, Paul retaliates until Sylvie and Miranda come to his rescue!

This is a story of first love and of love scorned. Sylvie, quite likable, is portrayed as a tiny girl, hence the “Titch” nickname; her love for Carl is pure and innocent. She is the absolute opposite of Miranda, who comes across as very worldly and pushy, but turns out to be a true friend to both Sylvie and Carl. Carl, on the other hand, is your stereotypical gay guy…not into sports, extremely handsome, neat as a pin, and very artistic. Additionally, Carl’s parents seem to accept his gender issues too easily, writing it off as a phase he is going through. Also stereotypical is Paul, the quintessential jock, clowning around, slapping and hitting his friends, and acting like a “good old boy”. The gender issue is handled well, and the book is not preachy in its approach.

This novel was first published in Great Britain in 2007 by Doubleday. Since this is a British publication, there will be some words and phrases that American teens will not be familiar with. I recommend this book for high school and public libraries.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted Blog Tour!!!!!!

2010-05-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

Single Question Blog Tour!!!!

Lauren Baratz-Logsted, the author of Crazy Beautiful, which I reviewed and made into a book trailer, is doing a "Single Question Blog Tour". She is visiting my site today and answering the one question I posed to her. The question I asked was, "How did you come up with the term, gallowglass, which is used so frequently in your book, Crazy Beautiful?

Here is her answer: "A gallowglass was a special type of personal guard in the Middle Ages hired by a Celtic chief to protect the chief's life at all personal cost, even to the death. I first learned the word when it was the title of a British supsense novel by Ruth Rendell writing under her Barbara Vine pseudonym. The book was published in 1992, so, as you can see, I was very patient--I waited 17 years to use the word in a book! I've probably had more readers say that gallowglass sent them running for dictionaries more than any other word I've used. I do love unusual words. Some other personal favorites? Enisled and termigant."

Lauren's book The Education of Bet, pictured above, is coming out on July 12!

Her blog tour schedule has or will include:

May 4: Kim's blog, "Butterfly Book Reviews". Kim's question is about The Education of Bet.

http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/

May 6: Georgia's blog. Georgia wanted to know what Lauren does to give herself a break.

http://georgiamcbridebooks.wordpress.com/

Lauren also had another book, Marcia's Madness, make its debut yesterday. This was the fifth book in the "Sisters 8" series. She co-authored it with her husband, Greg, and their daughter, Jackie. The sixth book, Petal's Problems, in this series will be released in September.

Review of Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

2010-04-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins; Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009

Tricks is the story of five teenagers who, because of different circumstances, end up in the prostitution business. Eden, who comes from a strict religious background, escapes from a rehabilitation center for wayward teens. Seth is thrown out of his home by his father, who discovers he is secretly gay. Sibling rivalry and boyfriend disillusionment pushes Whitney over the edge, and, unbeknownst to her, she hooks up with a pimp. Ginger runs away with a friend after she discovers her mother has sold her to be raped. The death of a stepfather and a gambling problem causes Cody to turn to prostitution to pay bills and cover debts. Ultimately, each teen goes into a downward spiral, which results in their ultimate destruction.

What can I say about the writings of Ellen Hopkins that hasn’t already been said? This book is edgy, brutal, graphic, and honest. Readers who have devoured her books will not be disappointed. However, as an adult, this book was extremely hard for me to read. To watch some of these teenagers be ignored and abused by their parents was just excruciating. I wanted to step into the story and help these kids! Of course, I am sure that is one of the reactions for which Ms. Hopkins was hoping! Every chapter was told alternately from each character’s viewpoint, opening with an original poem and moving into their stories, which progressively got more and more intense. Near the end of the book the stories began to intertwine, and some of the characters interacted with one another. Oddly enough, there is a semi-happy conclusion to the teens’ predicaments.
There is an author’s note at the end of the book giving information about teen prostitution and a helpful organization.

I recommend this book for upper high school students and public libraries.

Picture from TLA in San Antonio

2010-04-19T20:43:00.001-07:00

Here I am at the Follett Library booth at the Texas Library Association 2010 Conference with author Jay Asher. Jay wrote Thirteen Reasons Why! This book has been a big hit at my school! I cannot keep it on the shelf. I was so excited to meet Jay and receive an autographed copy of his book! He told me he is working on a new book that will be a romance/mystery.

Booktrailer for Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2010-04-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Review of The Dragon's Pearl by Devin Jordan

2010-04-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Review of The Dragon's Pearl by Devin Jordan--Simon & Schuster, 2009

Did you know that Marco Polo was actually famous before he was known for his trading expeditions? He and his friend, Amelio, who was also his servant, traveled across the sea, through the Unknown Lands, fought off monsters, and met Kublai Khan when they were mere teenagers! An evil mage, Arghun, had kidnapped Marco’s father, Niccolo Polo, in order to get his hands on a magic pearl he needed to resurrect and control a dragon. Marco kept a journal in which he wrote about his adventures to rescue his father from Arghun. It was soon up to Marco and his friends to free the world from the evil Arghun and his minions who were wreaking havoc on the world!

This first novel by Devin Jordan actually began as a screenplay. The historical characters of Kublai Khan and Marco Polo were well-researched and well-developed! Marco was always either getting into trouble or causing trouble, but actually ended up saving the day! Kublai Khan and the Mongols are portrayed in history books as being barbarians. However, this book showed that while Khan was a harsh ruler, he was also a fair one. There are unexpected twists in the plot. For instance, Kokachin, the guide employed to take Marco, Amelio, and Aziz, a family friend and warrior, through the Unknown Lands, actually turns out to be the Kublai Khan’s missing daughter in disguise! The one drawback to the story was that the plot seemed to lag and plod at times and some parts seemed contrived.

Action and adventure fans will not be disappointed! I recommend this book for upper elementary, middle school, and public libraries.

Cartoon for Monstrumologist!

2010-03-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a cartoon for Monstrumologist, a book I reviewed! It is from the Unshelved Book Club cartoons, by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum. The link to the cartoon is http://www.unshelved.com/2010-3-26?utm_source=Overdue+Media&utm_campaign=9ee41c7a77-UA-127250-5&utm_medium=email

Review of hush, hush by Becca Fitzgerald

2010-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Review of hush, hush by Becca Fitzgerald
Simon & Schuster, 2009.

Dark, handsome Patch is new at school, and he turns out to be Nora Gray’s new biology lab partner. Nora is attracted to Patch, but she’s also rather scared of him. He seems to know a lot about her, even her deepest secrets, and she can’t find anything out about him! In fact, it’s almost like he appeared out of nowhere! It seems like everywhere Nora goes with her best friend, Vee, Patch is there, too. Could he stalking her? And who is the person disguised in the black clothes and the ski mask? Patch is actually a fallen angel who has lost his wings. He must decide if he wants to become a guardian angel by saving Nora’s life or if he wants to become human by killing her.

Fans of the Twilight series, you will not be disappointed with this novel! First time author, Becca Fitzgerald, holds readers spellbound with her descriptions of eerie characters and breathy romance. The main characters are extremely well-developed. Nora is smart and likeable; Patch is mysterious, handsome, and brooding; and Vee, Nora’s best friend, is impulsive and funny! Many times Nora found herself alone in dark, seedy places looking for Vee, which felt a little contrived, but was still exciting. The ending of the book had unexpected twists and turns and nonstop action! Chase scenes, attempted murder, mistaken identities, and mirages abound!

The book is a real page turner! I recommend it for high school and public libraries.

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2010-03-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Review of Freefall by Ariela Anhalt

2010-03-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

Freefall by Ariela Anhalt

Luke Prescott has been disillusioned and angry at the world since his father committed suicide. However, readers are only given veiled references to the suicide at first. Luke attends an exclusive prep school in California and rooms with the popular, Hayden Applegate, who has problems of his own. Both are juniors and members of the school’s fencing team, of which Hayden is the captain. It has been a tradition for new varsity fencing team members to jump from a cliff near the campus into a pond as an initiation ritual. When Russell, a new student at the school, steals Hayden’s girlfriend and threatens his leadership status on the fencing team, Hayden starts thinking about revenge. Against his better judgment, Luke agrees to accompany Russell and Hayden to the cliff for Russell’s initiation. However, Russell doesn’t end up jumping; he is pushed by Hayden. When the push results in Russell’s death, Luke wrestles with his emotions trying to decide if Hayden’s action was deliberate or an accident. The decision must be made soon because Luke has been called to testify at Hayden’s trial.

This is the first novel for Ariela Anhalt, and she shows real talent. She is able to get into the mind of male teenagers and fluently convey their thoughts. The characters are well-developed, and the plot flows easily from page to page. Hayden is portrayed as the school’s egocentric alpha-male, Luke as his foil side-kick, and Russell as the antagonistic newcomer. There is another whole group of minor characters who make up the fencing team, schoolmates, and family members of these boys, and they are just as well-developed as the major players. The courtroom scenes are well-written and gripping. I recommend this novel for upper high school students and public libraries.

Review of The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott

2010-03-08T13:12:00.001-08:00

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott

Eugenie has lead a privileged life growing up in Paris and the surrounding area. Her father, Sebastien de Boncouer, was the Marquis of Chauvais, and her brother, Armand, is a law student and heir to the estate of Chauvais. She and her brother came under the guardianship of Comte Lefaurie of Haut-Bois, a wealthy count, after their father’s death. However, now that the French Revolution is raging, the lives of all aristocrats are in danger. Many of them flee the country or go into hiding to avoid being beheaded. Eugenie is taken by her brother to live with a milliner in Paris. What she does not know is that she has been promised in marriage by Comte Lefaurie to the wealthy but evil Raoul Goullet, or Le Fantome, who is a sympathizer of the revolution. He is seeking revenge on her family because of gambling debts he had to pay to her father. Eugenie must eventually try to escape France to live with her uncle in England, but Le Fantome is not far behind!

This wonderful historical fiction novel was a real page-turner to the very end. It is filled with romance, intrigue, and espionage. The novel was very well-researched, and the characters were extremely well-developed. Eugenie changes from a girl who has only been concerned with materialistic things to one who deeply cares about those who are less fortunate. There is a list of both real and fictional characters in the front of the book, and I found this list really helpful and referred to it over and over. There is also a historical note which explains the events of the French Revolution and a French Revolution timeline in the back of the book. I highly recommend this novel for middle school, high school, and public libraries!

Review of Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

2010-03-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

William James Henry passes away at the age of 131, and his journal falls into the hands of a writer, who eventually publishes the work. The novel is his journal. In 1888, twelve-year-old orphaned Will Henry went to live with and be apprenticed to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, who dealt in monstrumology, the study of monsters. While living with the doctor, Will Henry saw many strange things, but nothing as strange or as dangerous as the anthropophagi, cannibal monsters, discovered living near their town of New Jerusalem. The doctor and Will Henry, with the help of deranged anthropophagi hunter, go on a journey to track and exterminate the monsters.

This story is an extremely exciting and gripping tale. It is not for the squeamish or faint of heart! The book will appeal to the readers who love Stephen King and Dean Koontz. There is plenty of blood and guts: the anthropopophai have rows of shark-like teeth and eat people. Their favorite human delicacy is the human brain! The vocabulary in the book will rival that on the SAT test; I had to use a dictionary frequently! The cover art is fantastic! It will tempt readers to pick up the book! Even though the subject is rather dark, there are some very funny moments in the book. It is a real page turner!

This book was an honor book for the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award. I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries.

Review of Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2010-03-04T09:24:00.001-08:00

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lucius and his family moved to a new house after he caused an explosion which destroyed his family’s home. Aurora and her father moved to a new house because her mom passed away after a long illness. A new school year has started, and both Lucius and Aurora have to adjust to a different school. However, Lucius is considered the freak because he has hooks for hands, due to the explosion. Aurora is the girl everyone wants to be friends with. The first day of school, they make an instant connection, which they try to ignore. Lucius is treated as an outcast by most of the students and even the teachers. Later in the book, many of the students audition for the school musical, “Grease”. Aurora gets the lead, but Lucius doesn’t get a part. In a brilliant move, the insightful theater teacher realizes that Lucius has good organizational skills and makes him the stage manager. The real question the book asks is can a “perfect” girl and a social outcast be friends or more?!

I loved, loved, loved this book! It has a “Beauty and the Beast” type plot. It has some surprising elements—Lucius shows he has true leadership skills. Despite his disability, he reaches such a level of maturity that he ends up helping others who don’t realize they need his help. Aurora is a great listener and shows great compassion for others, something her late mother instilled in her. Her father, the school librarian, is a fantastic “Mr. Mom”! The characters were so well-developed; the plot was well-thought out! The book had a happy ending, which is a real bonus these days! I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries!

This book was named by the American Library Association to the 2010 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list.

Look for my booktrailer soon!

The Year We Disappeared by Cylin Busby and John Busby

2009-12-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the book trailer I just finished for The Year We Disappeared by Cylin Busby and John Busby.

Review of Last December by Matt Beam

2009-12-17T09:21:00.001-08:00

Last December by Matt Beam; Front Street, 2009.

Fifteen-year-old Steven is a former hockey goalie and a science nerd who must attend a new school and make a lot of adjustments, not only to his school life, but also to his life at home. When he discovers his mother is pregnant, Steven begins writing a journal to explain to his soon-to-be-born sister, whom he names “Sam”, how causes and effects and God with a little g have impacted him. Through the journal entries, the reader discovers that Steven is having such a hard time dealing with events in his life that he may commit suicide. He is hanging out with undesirable characters, drinking a lot, and, in a drunken stupor, nearly rapes a girl he has a crush on. He is keeping late hours while hanging out with his friends and being disrespectful to his mother and his snoopy neighbor.

The characters in the book are complex and well-developed. While the cover art depicts a boy carrying hockey equipment, hockey only plays a very small part in the book. Students expecting a hockey story may be disappointed!

Recommended for high school and public libraries.

Review of Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2009-12-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Wings by Aprilynne Pike; HarperTeen, 2009.

Another fabulous young adult author has burst upon the scene! In her debut novel, Aprilynne Pike tackles the adolescent problem of a young girl who discovers she is actually not a human, but a faerie!

Fifteen-year-old Laurel was left on her adoptive parents' doorstep when she was a young child and has always been homeschooled. Her family has always lived in a house in the country bordering on the woods. However, recently they moved 45 miles away to a city so that Laurel's father could run a bookstore, and she must attend public school until their house and land sell. Laurel has always been a picky eater and loved being outdoors, unconfined. One day, she feels a blemish growing between her shoulder blades. She begins to think the blemish is cancerous because it continues to grow into a huge mass, and she is afraid to tell anyone. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up one morning, only to discover that the mass has turned into blossoms overnight! In desperation, she has to hide her "wings" from her family and classmates. Laurel finally confides in a friend, who helps her deal with being a faerie, saving her land, her father's eminent death, and murderous trolls! Throw in a love triangle, magic, and suspense, and you've got one heck of a fantasy novel! The characters are extremely well-developed; the storyline is delightful; and the book is an excellent read! Kudos to Ms. Pike for her tremendous efforts! Teen girls will love this novel...it's a real page turner!

Highly recommended for high school and public libraries!

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

2009-12-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

I finally got to use the new Digital Juice music we ordered this year on this book trailer! Very cool music!

Review of Entr@ment by M. Spooner

2009-11-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

Entr@pment by M. Spooner; Margaret K. Elderry Books, 2009.

With teens, all things web 2.0 are in! It seems like they only communicate through texting, Facebook, instant messaging and email! So how appropriate that someone would write a book that was written all in texting and chat!

High school juniors Bliss and Tamra are challenged by their friend Annie to try to take one another’s boyfriends away by talking to them through text messages and in a chat room. It turns out that Annie is holding a grudge against boys because she was dropped by her last boyfriend. She is determined to prove that all guys are fickle! She helps Bliss and Tamra pull a disappearing act and reappear on the Internet under fake identities as foreign exchange students. Their mission is to tempt their boyfriends, Mitch and Beau, into having a relationship with them. Unknown to the girls and the boys, Annie is plotting with Johnson, Mitch and Beau’s friend, to accomplish her evil plan!

The plot parallels the Mozart opera, “Cosi Fan Tutte”, dealing with tangled relationships and love triangles.

Review of The Year of the Bomb by Ronald Kidd

2009-11-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Year of the Bomb by Ronald Kidd; Simon & Schuster, 2009.

Four thirteen-year-old boys witness the making of the movie The Invasion of the Body Snatchers in their hometown and its vicinity. They also become involved with the FBI and their search for Communists.

Told from the point of view of Paul, one of the boys, this delightful book takes readers on a nostalgic journey back in time to the 50s, when lives were simpler and nearly every kid had a stay-at-home mom. But it was also a time of fear. Was your neighbor really who they said they were, or were they actually a Communist? Students were practicing bomb drills because who knew when the Russians might decide to drop the bomb on the USA? These were the emotions of the 1950s, when kids could run and around and play just about anywhere they wanted without fear of being kidnapped or worse. A lot of researching went into the writing of the story, and the characters are all extremely well-developed. The plot parallels that of the movie and includes references to the actual cast and crew who worked on the film. Paul and his friends get caught up in a real-life “Red Scare” and actually befriend and help undercover FBI agents in their investigation. This book could be used along with the study of McCarthyism and the 1950s. There is plenty of humor and intrigue to keep the reader turning the pages!

Recommended for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

Just Listen

2009-10-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sub 4:00 by Sam V.

2009-10-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hatred by Clinton W.

2009-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons Why by Mary Y.

2009-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Can't Get There From Here by Morgan F.

2009-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Adnan A.

2009-10-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

Glass by Caitlan B.

2009-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

The Thief Lord by Daniel S.

2009-10-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Supernaturalist by Brendan P.

2009-10-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Tell No One by Preston W.

2009-10-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

New Moon by Mercedes P.

2009-10-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Rogue Warrior by Tanner N.

2009-10-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Teen Read Week

2009-10-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Last week, in honor of Teen Read Week, we showed several students' book trailers over the distribution system every day. I am posting those trailers this week!

The Hunger Games by Misbah S.

2009-10-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Book Trailer Premier Event!

2009-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Melinda Buchanan's classes view their completed book trailers.

2009-09-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Belinda Buchanan's students will have a red carpet showing of their booktrailers tomorrow!

Library Lovers' Grant

2009-09-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

I won the Library Lovers' Grant from the Lewisville Educational Foundation. It will be used to buy a flat screen monitor to put in the library to show the students' booktrailers!

2009-09-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Book trailers!

2009-09-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Melinda Buchanan's 2nd period freshman English students working on their book trailers.

Teaching how to create book trailers!

2009-09-11T05:52:00.001-07:00

I started teaching Melinda Buchanan's freshman English classes how to create book trailers using movie maker. The trailers look like they are going to turn out fantastic, and the students are having a blast! I'll post pictures later today showing the "goings on"!

Book Trailer for The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

2009-09-06T17:13:00.000-07:00