Caletti Comes Through

You know how there are some books you read that change your life? Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti was one of those books for me. When I was in Graduate School for Library Science, I figured that I would become either a Science Librarian or a Children's Librarian. I loved, loved, loved Children's Literature. But, life is funny like that. Long story short, I ended up working as a High School Librarian, and one of the first young adult books I remember reading was Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Caletti. I adored it. I felt like I had discovered a whole new world. I know, that sounds all dramatic and cheesey, but it's true. And so my love affair with YA Lit was born.

Since then, I have found other authors and books, but I never forgot Deb Caletti. Stay was published this past Spring, and I finally got around to reading it. My verdict? Excellent! Stay examines a relationship gone bad due to obsession, and addresses some very serious situations and issues. The main character, Clara is portrayed in an extremely realistic fashion, flaws and all. I like that Caletti does not try to give this book a neat, tidy ending, nor does she try to make her characters perfect. If anyone has ever questioned a bad relationship they find themselves in, this book could be an invaluable read.

Little but...

...packs a powerful punch. This is how I feel about two books I recently read; Dorp Dead by Julia Cunningham and Kat's Fall by Shelley Hrdlitschka. I found both books on the shelf by chance, as I was shelving other books and they caught my eye. Dorp Dead almost reads like a fable, but has an eerie undertone. Here is a product description that I pulled off amazon.com;

"A reissue of the novel that dramatically changed children’s literature in the 20th century. Julia Cunningham’s ground-breaking novel, first published in 1965 and unavailable in any edition for a decade, is reissued for a whole new generation of readers to call their own. “Here . . . is the story of a boy who discovers himself, who basically comes to grips with that most contemporary of problems, the isolation of the individual. It is told within the near-classic framework of the story of the orphan who survives and escapes maltreatment to find love, but it is told in frank, literate terms in the lingo of today’s youngsters. And it has, as an additional dimension, a touch of the Gothic tale, a tinge of terror and a shade of romanticism.” (The New York Herald Tribune)

Well...needless to say, between the cover, the shortness of the book and that description, I couldn't wait to read this book. Overall? I would recommend this title. It is written with honesty and intelligence, and it's nice to read a book that does not talk down to the young adult audience. It also gives you that creepy feeling, which is perfect for this time of year!

Then there was Kat's Fall. This book? So much going on. This is a must read if you are one of those readers that likes "drama" and realistic fiction. I couldn't believe how many issues and emotions the main character Darcy (a boy!) was dealing with. It's impressive that Hrdlitschka packs all this into such a small book with a decent conclusion to boot! I will caution that this book does deal with some very serious issues including cutting, child abuse and addiction.

Picture Perfect

A novel of Historical Fiction? A Ghost Story? A Romance? This book is another entry in the cross-genre category. Picture the Dead is a novel by Adele Griffin and illustrated by Lisa Brown, set primarily in Boston during the Civil War. The main character Jennie has just suffered the loss of her fiancee Will to the war, and is living a miserable existence with his family, who are also her Aunt and Uncle and serve as her guardians. The one bright spot is Will's brother Quinn who has come back from the war injured, and is slowly recovering. Jennie becomes convinced that the ghost of Will is haunting her, and becomes involved with a photographer who claims to capture images from the Spirit World. What follows is as much of a mystery as it is a ghost story as Jennie struggles to understand who she can trust and what really happened to Will and Quinn. I wouldn't say that I disliked this book, but I didn't love it. It was OK. Jennie has an odd habit of kleptomania that is never really explained, and made me like her a little less as a person. At times it was hard to empathize with her, but I kept trying. This might be a good book to read for this month, if you're looking for a  little spookiness with some history thrown in for good measure.  

Showing my Age

Well my friends, I tried. OK, I'm still trying, but it's killing me. I just read the third Fruits Baskets and I'm so sorry, but I didn't love it. I feel like the series is getting old for me already. It's the same story, just retold a little bit differently. And this is going to go on for 23 volumes? Seriously. Yikes. Maybe you have to be of a certain age to appreciate this series, and I am just too old. I don't know. I may try Volume 4 eventually, but I think I'm going to take a break.

...And then there's Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. Really? This is what everyone has been raving about? I just don't get it. It was OK, but I definitely did not love it. Again, maybe it was a little too young for me. All I know is there is a major cliffhanger ending, and I have no urgency to read the next book. It seemed so unrealistic and at times, downright silly (and not like funny, ha). That's right. I'm calling it unrealistic. Yeah, this from the girl who loves paranormal stories. When I was reading this, I was strongly reminded of one of my childhood heroes, Encyclopedia Brown. And Theodore Boone, I''m sorry, but you're no Encyclopedia Brown.   

Dead Right...

Boy Books Part II. Just read The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford. Most Excellent. Well, mostly excellent. There are some parts that require you to suspend disbelief, but go for it. This is a fast-paced, edgy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The premise? The summer before he heads off to college, Christoper gets a job in the morgue. Creepy? Morbid? Or just dead boring? Christopher's job seems pretty uneventful until he witnesses something he shouldn't. With a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew flair, he decides to solve the "case" with the help of a young (hot! & female!) news reporter named Tina. From the dynamic opening to the surprise ending, this book is the perfect choice for mystery/thriller fans.

A herd, a colony, a swarm, a flock....

Just like Lady Gaga (okay, maybe not just like) I have spent some time recently getting in touch with my masculine side. My next two books to review? Clearly boy books. Written by men, for boys with lots of boy/man characters. First up? Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray. Here's a synopsis of the book.

'It's not really kidnapping, is it? He'd have to be alive for it to be proper kidnapping.' Kenny, Sim and Blake are about to embark on a remarkable journey of friendship. Stealing the urn containing the ashes of their best friend Ross, they set out from Cleethorpes on the east coast to travel the 261 miles to the tiny hamlet of Ross in Dumfries and Galloway. After a depressing and dispiriting funeral they feel taking Ross to Ross will be a fitting memorial for a 15 year-old boy who changed all their lives through his friendship. Little do they realise just how much Ross can still affect life for them even though he's now dead.'


This book has been on my "to-read" list for ages. And now? I didn't love it. It was OK, and it had an interesting twist at the ending. But overall, it kind of let me down. And, it had a ton of British slang that distracted me as I was reading. That being said, it was nice to read a book that focused on guys and their friendships. Oh, and the title of the blog entry? A reference Sim's quirky skill of knowing almost every specialized name for groups of animals. It adds a fun element to the book, and gets you thinking!  

Don't ignore this book

Please ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King was a 2011 Michael L. Printz honor book. (The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is an honor given each year by the American Library Association.) I don't always necessarily like, agree with, or read all of the winners and honor books, but this one intrigued me. The first thing I read on the book jacket flap when I opened the cover was, "Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Even if I loved him once? Even if he was my best friend? Is it okay to hate him for being dead?" Done. I was hooked! 

Please ignore Vera Dietz is not an easy book to read. The characters, especially Vera, are dealing with some serious, heavy issues, and there aren't necessarily any easy answers. There is some strong language, sexual situations and underage drinking, so I would not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I would highly recommend it to older readers. I love Vera, she is such a real and honest character with a strong voice. I even love the way the book is written, shifting perspectives and giving different characters a chance to talk and share their point of view. This book is in turns raw, honest, open, funny, frustrating and heartbreaking, and should most definitely not be ignored.

Addicted to Drama

Thanks Melissa de la Cruz for my dose of summer fun, drama and escapism. I'm starting to think that no one does crazy YA fluff like de la Cruz. Her books are so fun, and highly addictive.

Girl Stays in the Picture is no exception. It's the story of Devon, a teen pop-star sensation fresh out of rehab, hoping to make her big comeback filming a movie in St. Tropez. Casey & Livia round out the trio of girls, and bring their own stories, drama and perspectives to the book. Get one last fix of summer fun by checking out this book. The only bad part? It ends in a major cliffhanger and de la Cruz hasn't published a sequel yet!!   

On a Serious Note

 I know, I read a lot of books that are fun, fluffy and light. But every now and then, I try to balance it all out. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky was recommended to me a few years ago, and I finally read it. Irene Nemirovsky began working on this novel in the early 1940's while living in Paris, where she was a successful writer, but also a Russian Jew. What makes this story especially poignant is that in 1942, Irene was arrested and deported to Auschwitz: a month later she was dead at the age of thirty-nine. When she was arrested, she had completed two parts of her story, and her daughters took the manuscript with them into hiding.

Fast forward sixty-four years later and Irene's work has finally been published and translated. This novel follow the stories of several groups of people as France is occupied by the Nazi's during World War II. If you're looking for a clear, succinct novel with a definitive ending, this is not the book for you. This novel is more of a narrative, not quite stream-of-consciousness, but comprised of several vignettes, loosely connected. There is not really an "ending", but I feel that this book is invaluable in capturing the essence of a people, of a nation, as they face the unthinkable. This book is not a Young Adult book, it is categorized as adult fiction and deals with mature themes and events. However, anyone with an interest in History, especially that of WWII, would benefit from reading this. 

Wicked Lies

Oh Sara Shepard, you've done it again. Dragged me right back in to the drama of Aria, Hanna, Spencer and Emily. It's crazy, silly, melodramatic, and I'm embarrassed that I can't get enough. I just finished Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5). I've heard through the Grapevine that Ms. Shepard should have left well enough alone, and not added four more books to her previous series of eight. I guess now I have seven more books to read and not three. I feel like I'm in for a penny, in for a pound, so I'll read them, but I'm not really happy about it. I hate it when a series drags on for too long, and I feel like now, this series is just being milked for the money it can make, not for the quality of the writing. I know that I shouldn't be too hasty to judge, so I'll reserve any harsh comments or criticism and hope to continue to be pleasantly surprised by this series. Maybe when I'm done, I'll go back and watch the TV Series.....

Frankly Scarlett...

...I do give a damn! I loved Scarlett Fever, the sequel to Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett. It was very well done. It's always nice to revisit characters that you liked so much the first time around. This time, Scarlett & Family are back and better than ever. If you're looking for a fun series with great characters, look no further! Ooh, and one more thing. Let's talk about cover art. I'm going to put both cover versions on either side of my text. Which one do you like better? Which cover would you pick up?

Shifting Gears

So, I finally tackled the book Shift by Jennifer Bradbury. This has been on my radar for a few years. In fact, I actually started the first chapter like 2 years ago. I know, craziness. So, what took me so long to finally read the whole thing? Who knows, but I'm glad that I did. This book is definitely a "boy" book. The main protagonist Chris has just started college when the FBI shows up, wanting to know what happened to his friend Win. Chris & Win had taken the summer to ride their bikes Cross Country, but got into a fight towards the end of the trip and separated. Chris assumed Win made it back, but it looks like he was wrong. So what really happened to Win and does Chris know more than he's letting on? This book is part mystery, part coming-of-age novel, and just plain good. Read it!

Tiger Beat Teenage Dream

OK. I admit, this post is going to show my age. I just read Stories I only tell my Friends: an Autobiography by Rob Lowe. (Dreamy sigh) Oh that Rob Lowe, what a heartthrob. You can keep your Jonas Brothers, Taylor Lautner and Justin Bieber. I'll take The Brat Pack any day. The Book? Not bad. Some amusing anecdotes and fun stories. More than anything, it seems like Rob Lowe was the King of being in the right place at the right time. This book was a fun, good diversion, just perfect for a summer read. Read this if Young Hollywood of the 1980's & 1990's interests you.

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!  

A little Guilty Pleasure

Take a great cover, a classic Fairy Tale, and the Prom. Put them all together and what do you have? A little book that I can't say no to. Enter Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer.

 

This was a fun, cute read with a likable main character. There big revelation of Cindy's on-line "friend" isn't that big of a surprise, but that really doesn't matter. I still found myself rooting for Cindy as she tried to stay calm and unaffected in the middle of LA and Prom craziness. This book was a fun little detour in between heavier books, and I would totally recommend it to someone who needs something light and fun with a happy ending.