Vintage Dessen

Ah, Sarah. How do I love thee? Let me count thy books! Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite Young Adult authors, and she doesn't disappoint with her new novel, Whatever Happened to Goodbye. McLean and her Dad have moved four times in the past two years, and in each town, McLean has tried out a new personality. From drama queen to cheerleader cool, she slips on new identities, leaving before anyone can get too close, or she can get too comfortable. But what happens when they land in Lakeview and McLean tries being herself? As always, Dessen peppers her book with a colorful cast of characters and friends that support the story along with the main characters. If you've never read Sarah Dessen, this isn't a bad place to start. If you're a Dessen fan, than you're in for a treat.

A Little Summer Fluff

You know how you need that perfect beach/pool read? The one where you can enjoy the book you're reading without having to think too hard or concentrate like crazy? That was Getting to Third Date for me. This fun, quick read by Kelly McClymer is the perfect choice for summer (even though it takes place in the fall). Main character Katelyn Spears is a freshman in college and also happens to be the top-secret writer of the advice column for the school newspaper. When her love & dating advice sparks a flurry of criticism, her editor (and crush!) Tyler encourages Katelyn to take a softer approach. When he learns about her three-date rule, he challenges her to go back and give some of her Romeos another chance. Will Katelyn find love with an old flame? You already know what I'm going to say...there's one way to find out! (Um...that would be by reading the book, in case anyone out there didn't get what I meant.)  

The Godfather Part II, Empire Strikes Back and Queen of the Dead...

...what do these three things have in common? They were all awesome sequels! A rarity for sure, granted more rare in movies than in books, but kudos to Stacey Kade. Queen of the Dead picks up where The Ghost and the Goth left off without skipping a beat pulling readers right back into the (mis)adventures of Will and Alona. While I really enjoyed this book, there were a few snags. I feel like too many new ideas/concepts were introduced. There is a lot happening for both Will and Alona, but their stories develop almost independently of each other. I think that the Will & The Order storyline should have been the main focus, and gotten more time. The scene in the old movie theater seemed especially rushed. I'll try not to give too much away, but the whole Alona/Lily thing could have been a separate book. I will admit that the two storylines come together in the end, but I was left very unsettled. I don't really like what happened to Alona (being deliberately vague here, trying not to give anything away), but you can bet I'm going to read the next book in the series! If you've read these books, e-mail me & tell me what you think about the Alona/Lily situation.

More Manga!!

I can't believe it myself. Not only did I read Fruits Basket Volume I, I really liked it! I'm on a roll! Bursting my bubble a little? One of my Teen Advisory Group Members Molly told me that I had to keep reading. She said I couldn't just read one or two. Hm, and here I was, so proud of myself. That's OK though. Per Molly's advice (she's pretty smart, so I figure I should listen to her) I just checked out Volume 3. I will be totally honest though; sometimes, I'm still a little confused about what is going on in these books. There are times when I have to go back and reread something. It's all good though, I think the more I read, the easier it gets. And, I like that there are only 23 Volumes in Fruits Basket, and there is an end goal in sight. It's the open ended series that make me a little more nervous (I'm talking to you One Piece!).

Sidebar to all this Manga talk? Tomorrow @ 6:30pm, the Anime/Manga group meets in the Logan Auditorium. For the summer meetings, both kids & teen clubs will meet together. See you there!

The Graduation Situation

Who doesn't love a good Graduation movie like American Pie, Can't Hardly Wait and I Love You Beth Cooper? Well, did you know I Love You Beth Cooper* was based on a book by Larry Doyle? Awhile back my friend Scott told me I needed to read it, and about a year later, mission accomplished! I had actually already seen the movie, so I kind of knew what to expect. The artwork and quotes at the beginning of each chapter alone justify reading this book. The illustrations are hilariously progressive as they chronicle the misadventures of the main character, Denis Cooverman. Denis is the definition of a nerd, and uses his Valedictorian speech to declare his love for the beautiful, unattainable Beth Cooper. The fallout from this confession is as crazy as it is unexpected, especially when Beth's older boyfriend takes exception to Denis's declaration of love. Will the class geek end up with the head cheerleader? Read this book & find out!


*I will caution that this is definitely a book for older readers. There is a lot of explicit language, some violence and underage drinking.

Sci-Fi??

I finally read Across the Universe by Beth Revis. From the moment I saw this book, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I read it, the cover was that good. But how to classify it? I guess mainly Sci-Fi, but there is also a dystopian theme running through the novel, as well as some fantasy, romance and mystery thrown into the mix. The premise? 17 year-old Amy is frozen along with her parents, and others as "cargo" aboard the spaceship Godspeed. They will be awakened in 300 years on a new planet.

But something goes horribly wrong and Amy is unfrozen and awakened 50 years early. Was it a mistake? A malfunction? Or was someone trying to kill her? Amy is sure the answer lies with Elder, the future leader of the ship, who is himself wrapped up in his own struggles with his mentor and the current leader of the ship, Eldest. This book is an intriguing tale of mystery and romance as Amy and Elder find themselves falling in love, and fighting for their lives. Revis does a great job of painting life and conditions on the spaceship, and the horrors of a controlled society. There really are no easy answers to the very difficult questions that are raised throughout the book, and it should give people plenty to think about and discuss. It is also the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can't wait for the next one!