Review of Break My Heart 1,000 Times

Waters, Daniel.  Break My Heart 1,000 Times.  Hyperion, 2012.

The Event, which caused sickness, environmental damage, and chaos, took the lives of between one and four million people, according to government estimates.  It has left heartache, ghosts, and ghostly holograms behind.  There is a boy teenage ghost living in Veronica Calder’s house, and her father’s ghost makes an appearance every morning at the same time.  More and more ghosts are showing up, and their presence is getting stronger by the day! 

Veronica, “Ronnie”, and her friend, Kirk Lane, begin investigating the ghosts for one of the teachers at their high school and stumble upon a set of related “cold case” serial murders.  What they also discover is that Mr. Bittner, another one of their teachers, has been waiting for his daughter’s ghost to show up for years in another girl’s body.  Kirk thinks he has set his sights on Ronnie to be the vessel to give his daughter another chance at life!  His dilemma is to convince Veronica and to keep her safe!

What a creepy, suspenseful ghost story Daniel Waters has written!  The meshing of the ghosts and their stories with serial murders was simply ingenious on his part!  I loved how Brian, the teenage ghost living in Ronnie’s house, played a large part in the story and was actually trying to protect her.  His story was just heart-wrenching, but tied right in with one of the murders and added a great twist in the plot!

Ronnie and Kirk are both strong, brave characters, even going so far as to hunt ghosts in the middle of the night in abandoned buildings!  No way would you catch me doing that!  It is Ronnie’s friend, Janine, who really grows and matures throughout the book.  Even though she is deathly afraid of ghosts, she ends up being courageous enough to overcome her fears and help Ronnie near the end of the book.

History teacher August Bittner, is a most deceptively sinister character.  He is obviously mentally disturbed, and is possibly both schizophrenic and manic depressant.    While his outward demeanor exhibits concern and passion for Ronnie, it is extremely obvious he has malevolent ideas.  He absolutely oozes creepiness!

Throughout the book there are a lot of complex theories about the afterlife and peoples’ memories.  There is also an abundance of foreshadowing, and many of the characters exhibit signs of mental problems, possibly caused by PESD, “Post Event Stress Disorder” (Daniel Waters’s term).

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a real-page turner!  My disclaimer:  Don’t read it alone at night in the dark!  Readers who enjoy thrillers and ghost stories will love it!  I highly recommend it for middle school, high school and public libraries!

**Reviewer’s note:  The copy reviewed was an ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Review of Boy 21 by Matthew Quick.

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick.  Little, 2012.

High school senior Finley McManus lives with his dad and disabled grandfather in Bellmont, PA, which is a suburb of Philadephia.  Bellmont is not a great place to live; residents must deal with violence, racial tension, drugs, and the Irish mob.  Finley wants to get out of Bellmont, and he figures the only way this could happen would be if his girlfriend, Erin Quinn, receives a college basketball scholarship.  Finley, who wears number  21, on his basketball jersey, works hard to perfect his playing skills and loves the game, but he will never be as good as Erin. 

Russ Washington, whose parents were murdered, has come to Bellmont to live with his grandparents.  Before his parents were murdered, Russ was a brilliant student and star point guard, being recruited by dozens of colleges.   The trauma of the murder has changed him, and he is having problems coping.

Coach Wilkins, who coaches the Bellmont High School basketball team, secretly asks Finley to befriend and keep an eye on Russ.  Although Finley is worried that Russ could take his spot on the team, he agrees to help his coach.  Finley discovers that Russ is extremely unusual, and their relationship turns out to be a turning point in both of their lives.

I read Boy 21 as an ARC awhile ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it.  I loved everything about this book—it was awesome!  It has so much in it—humor, romance, sports, and a great plot line!  When Boy 21, aka Russ, was introduced, I was laughing out loud at his “antics”.  Boy 21 tells Finley that he is waiting for his extra-terrestrial family to pick him up, and that he was sent to earth to study human emotions!  The things that Boy 21 does and says and Finley’s reactions are priceless!  The characters in the book are so likable and real!  I especially like the cafeteria scene where Boy 21 claims, “We are not rabbits!”  I loved this character.  Even when he wants to play basketball again, he purposely messes up because he doesn't want to take Finley's starting position away from him.

The two boys are foils for one another.  Finley is the only white player on an all-black basketball team; conversely, Russ has been the only black member of an all-white team!  Both boys sport the number 21 on their jerseys; both have had tragic events happen to them in their young lives.  Each uses basketball and friendship to each other as coping mechanisms to deal with their respective tragic situations. 

Coach Wilkins, at first, comes across as having a caring and compassionate attitude.  However, as the story progresses, it turns out that he has ulterior motives.  He takes advantage of Finley’s loyalty to him and to the team when he pushes Finley to get Russ back on the basketball court.  Erin, Finley’s girlfriend, respects that Finley doesn’t want to give Russ’s secret away, even to her.  Without giving anything away, I will say that I was mad and upset at the situation that happened to her.

Readers don’t have to be basketball fans to enjoy this book; it has something for everyone!  I highly recommend it for junior high, high school, and public libraries!

 **Reviewer’s note:  The copy reviewed was an ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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

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

Josh and Emma have been next-door neighbors and best friends forever.  About a year ago, Josh thought Emma wanted something more and tried to kiss her.  Since then, their relationship has cooled and they have not been as close.  Then Emma’s dad buys her a computer, and Josh’s mother sends him over with 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 computer and logs on, she sees her Facebook page, but Facebook hasn’t been designed yet!  Emma and Josh are seeing themselves fifteen years in the future!

The pair discovers that every little action they take affects their futures!  They are able to see the consequences of their actions by viewing their Facebook pages!  Josh and Emma must decide if both the good and bad risks they are taking with their lives are worth what happens to them in the future!

The plot of The Future of Us is such a great concept and brilliant premise!  The story is told in the alternating viewpoints of Josh and Emma with :// before their names.  The two have been inseparable growing up, but Emma thinks having a romance with her best friend is repulsive!  I thought it was strange that Emma would have so many failed relationships with guys without examining the one she has with Josh more closely…until the end of the book!  While viewing her Facebook page, she discovers that her luck with guys hasn’t changed, but this information doesn’t seem to resonate with her!  She seems unhappy in her current life and she’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 Mathews Band, Discmans, Velcro, dial-up Internet access, AOL, among other things--was well-written into the story!  The characters’ reactions to different Facebook postings mentioning things like Netflix and smartphones, were hilarious!  I loved the way that both old and new cultural norms were included in the book!  I would like to find out which chapters were written by each author!

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

Review of Leverage by Josh Cohen

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 Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

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 Addicted to Her by Janet Nichols Lynch

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.

Review of Payback Time by Carl Deuker

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!