Kain, P.G.. Famous for Thirty Seconds. 320 p. 2012. Aladdin. Paperback $6.99. ISBN 9781416997863.
Instead of a typical life attending school and playing sports like most kids her age, thirteen-year-old Brittany has grown up on a steady stream of go-sees, auditions, and callbacks for national commercial spots. Her family's temporary move to Hong Kong put a halt to her acting career, but she's confident that she'll be back in the game as soon as they return to New York. Easy-peasy, right? Well... not exactly. She's about to find out that a lot can change in a year.
I have to confess something: I am a total ham. I used to pretend to do commercials in my childhood bedroom. I would have DEVOURED this book as a twelve-year-old! And I guess I've never really grown out of my fascination with commercials, because I had a great time reading this-- even though I'm well past the age of the target audience. Author P.G. Kain has personal experience in the world of acting for commercials, and has penned a very compelling look at both the glamour and competitive nature of the entertainment industry. Acting may sound alluring, but in reality, it's hard work that can involve a lot of heartache and disappointment.
Besides the appeal of reading about a young person's experience in the acting business, there's a solid story about friendship and self-discovery here, and the main character has a lively, engaging voice. I loved Brittany right off the bat-- she's overconfident, a little judgy, and totally self-absorbed. But she's likable! Her flaws are realistic and relatable (I mean, what thirteen-year-old isn't self-absorbed??), and it's fun to watch her evolve as the story progresses. As she attempts to scheme her way back to the top and knock out the competition, you just know it's all going to end in disaster... but she learns a few things and bounces back in her own way. Plus, there's a cute, well crafted romance, for those who enjoy that sort of thing (AND I DO).
Famous for Thirty Seconds is the first volume in P.G. Kain's "Commercial Breaks" series. This book is a lighthearted, engaging read, perfect for middle grade readers-- especially those who have been bitten by the show biz bug. I look forward to seeing what's in store for the rest of the series! A review copy of this book was generously provided to me by the author.
Stead, Rebecca. Liar & Spy. 192 p. 2012. Random House Children's Books. Hardcover $15.99. ISBN 9780385737432.
I was so excited to get ahold of the ARC of the upcoming title from Newbery Medal winning author, Rebecca Stead. I absolutely loved her Newbery-winning title, When You Reach Me. I still get chills thinking about the way she wove all the plot elements together in that book! On the other hand, I really didn't connect with her debut novel, First Light. Having had such drastically different reactions to her books, I was curious to see how I would like Liar & Spy, a story about a kid trying to survive the awkwardness of middle school and navigate a strange but compelling friendship when he moves to a new apartment building.
My verdict? I loved it. This slim volume, clocking in at under 200 pages, is a quick read that's jam-packed with thought-provoking themes and memorable, multilayered characters. It has the feel of an indie movie-- quirky and brilliant, and will undoubtedly appeal to fans of The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.
The main character, Georges, is someone the reader really roots for. He's matter-of-factly morose at times, in the most endearing way. The themes of bullying, friendship, and fitting in versus standing out provide much fodder for discussion and insight, making this title a good choice for a middle school book group. Stead also weaves in unexpectedly delightful motifs like spelling and silent letters, choosing one's own name, and painter Georges Seurat's pointilism as a metaphor for life-- whether you see the big picture or examine all of the little dots individually.
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand-Jatte, by Georges Seurat, 1884-86
As she did in When You Reach Me, Stead weaves a tight storyline with subtle clues and red herrings that keep the reader guessing and wondering-- and then brings it all together with a twist at the end. I love a good unreliable narrator, and this book has a great one.
Brilliantly plotted, tightly written, and deeply satisfying.
Look for Liar & Spy on bookstore shelves on August 7. ARC for review acquired at ALA Annual from Random House.
Brown, Jennifer. Perfect Escape. 352 p. 2012. Little, Brown. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780316185578.
Having been riveted by Jennifer Brown's debut novel, Hate List, I thought it was high time to read another of her books, so I was excited to pick up the ARC of her upcoming title, Perfect Escape, while I was at ALA Annual.
The premise is compelling: Kendra is an overachieving, perfectionist who has lived in the shadow of her older brother's OCD all her life. When she gets caught cheating in her senior calculus class, she starts driving and doesn't look back-- with her brother an unwilling passenger. She believes she can get away from her troubles and "cure" his mental illness all in one shot.
Brown's writing is just as tight and engaging as I remember from Hate List, and while I enjoyed this book, I had a mixed reaction to it. The fact is, I'm the wrong audience. Teens will love the sense of escape with Kendra's impromptu road-trip, and they'll empathize with her "I made one mistake and now my life is ruined" thought process (I so remember that feeling!). On the other hand, I found Kendra to be frustratingly irresponsible and self-centered, which is by no means a criticism of Brown's writing-- on the contrary, she is a realistic and well-written character. I'm reading as a mother. I kept thinking how selfish Kendra's actions were toward her family, and even more, I got completely hung up on a secondary plot point. Kendra and her brother come across a teen mom and her baby, and that section of the book had me SO WORRIED that the baby wasn't going to make it, I couldn't focus on the main storyline. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT BABY... to the point that it made me really uncomfortable. A teen reader would have an entirely different experience with that part of the book, so again, my comments are not a criticism. My issues are entirely my own!
All in all, I will definitely recommend this book to teens, especially those looking for a realistic, issue-driven book that keeps you hooked. Tension is sustained throughout the narrative as the reader wonders if Kendra and her brother will make it to their destination, or if they'll have to give up and turn around-- and what, exactly, was so terrible that it drove Kendra to run away in the first place.
Brown provides a thoughtful portrayal of OCD, and I feel I came away from the book with a better understanding of the disorder. Kendra's brother, Grayson, is a multi-dimensional character who struggles, but is not defined by his mental illness. Also, readers with siblings will appreciate the well-crafted, complex relationship depicted here-- sometimes tortured, sometimes affectionate, but always genuine.
Perfect Escape hits bookstore shelves on July 10th. ARC for review received from Little, Brown at ALA Annual.
Double Dog Dare is a middle grade novel filled to the brim with humor and heart-- I had a great time reading it.
In this book, fourth graders Francine and Kansas find themselves competing for the position of news
anchor in their school's media club, and the winner will be decided
by a competition of dares. The two can't stand each other at first,
but it turns out they have something in common: their parents'
divorces.
Lisa Graff strikes a neat balance between the hilarity of the dares and the tough
stuff kids have to deal with, and young readers will really relate to this book. When I ask elementary school
aged readers what kind of book they want, the most common response is: "something like real life and kinda funny." Double Dog Dare definitely fits the bill! It's a
solid story that will appeal to both boys and girls, and I can't wait to
recommend at my library.
*****
As part of her blog tour, Lisa was kind enough to answer a few questions for me!
Reading Everywhere: Your writing authentically captures the feel of being a kid-- you really hone in on the things kids worry about and laugh about. How do you get in touch with your inner kid when you’re writing?
Lisa Graff: Thanks so much! That's something I try really hard to accomplish with all of my books. There are a lot of ways to get into that "kid zone" - I read a ton of children's books, for one thing, and visit elementary schools fairly often to talk about writing, so that helps. But most of it is just a matter of remembering. I’m pretty lucky in that I kept a diary for most of my growing-up years, so now it's easy to go back and see what a hilarious weirdo I was as a child. Case in point: I would like to share two pages from my actual fourth-grade diary.
(In case you have trouble reading my stellar nine-year-old handwriting, I will decipher for you:)
11/2/90 This year I'm in forth grade. I havent writen in a year, so I'm sort of out of date. It is still the 1990's but alot has changed. I havent written in so long because I lost my diary. This year I don't relly have a boy friend and I'm not relly poplaur, but I'm Ashley's best friend. And Ashley's relley poplaur this year, so I'll be more poplaur than Ashley soon. [Please note that this is a PHENOMENAL plan to take over the world. Please also note that it did not work in the slightest.] I relly like my theacher but, he gives me alot of homework, which I hate. His name is Mr. Oliver, [written before I got in trouble for passing notes in class later that year:] he's relley cute. [Text as altered after said note-passing incident:] no way!!
Reading Everywhere: I LOVE IT. I think my elementary school diaries were very similar. You're no stranger to writing for kids-- in fact, Double Dog Dare is your fifth novel for young readers. What do you like best about writing for a middle grade audience?
Lisa Graff: I really enjoy the themes of middle-grade novels-- family and friends and figuring out your place in the world. Something as slight as a snub from a friend can be so life-or-death at that age, and I love that. Because those things are extremely important, and we tend to forget that as we get older.
I also enjoy that my audience is very honest, and they know what they like and what they don’t. If they think my book is boring, they will just stop reading it. And then they will probably write me a letter to tell me how boring it is. I like being held to such a high standard.
Reading Everywhere: That's so true-- kids will always tell you what they think! You have a very memorable cast of young characters in Double Dog Dare. I empathized most with Francine and her determination to get the long-coveted role of news anchor in the fourth-grade media club. Which character in this book is most like you, and why?
Lisa Graff: I think I'm probably most like Francine, in that she has a lot of trouble dealing with things that don't end up the way she thinks they’re supposed to, like her plan for becoming news anchor, or her parents' marriage. That kind of thing always throws me off my game, too, and I sometimes have a lot of trouble recovering. But I think I'm also a little like Kansas, in that I have a tendency to take care of others before myself. (I wish I was also as good at basketball as he is!)
Reading Everywhere: They're both great characters! This book contains some really unique character names-- you don't meet a lot of little Kansas and Francines running around! How did you come up with the names in this book?
Lisa Graff: Sometimes characters just pop into my head with names already attached, and that was the case with these two. I have no idea where the name Kansas came from. Once I came up with his first name, I gave him the last name Bloom, which I thought was completely random, but later I wondered if I was subliminally channeling actor Orlando Bloom (another place name!). Reading Everywhere: Well, it's not hard to see why Orlando Bloom might be on your mind! I mean...
Anyway!
So, you're originally from Southern California, but are now living on the East Coast. As a Southern California girl myself, I have to ask-- what do you miss most about SoCal?
Lisa Graff: Most people expect me to say that I miss the weather, but I actually grew up in a weird little pocket of Southern California (the San Bernardino mountains, to be precise) where it snows fairly frequently. So, eschewing the obvious answer (my family), I am going to have to say that I desperately miss the Mexican food. New Yorkers think they know what Mexican food is, but they do not. Some days I would murder someone for a really decent taco.
Reading Everywhere: Oh yes, Mexican food is part of the essential Southern California experience. I promise I will eat some authentic tacos in your honor! Lisa, thank you so much for this fabulous interview.
*****
Readers, now that you've learned more about Lisa and her latest book, I know you must be eager to get a copy. I have good news for you! Philomel is giving away one copy of Double Dog Dare to one reader of this blog. All you need to do to enter is to email Lisa at graff [dot] lisa [at] yahoo [dot] com with the subject line READING EVERYWHERE. The winner will be chosen at random on May 1st. Good luck!
And if you're looking for another way to win, Lisa has just the thing for you! Together with Penguin Books, she is sponsoring a contest to see who can build the best Rube Goldberg Machine. Check out Lisa's video to learn more!
Many thanks to Lisa for inviting me to participate in her Double Dog Dare blog tour. I've had a blast! To catch up with the other tour stops and learn more about Lisa, visit the following:
Pearce, Jackson. Purity. 224 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780316182461.
I had some pretty intense dental work done last week (fun, right?) and needed a really good book to keep my spirits up while recovering. Purity turned out to be the perfect book to curl up with for the afternoon. Funny, sweet, and thought-provoking, it kept my attention and left me with a feeling of contentment after I turned the last page.
Before Shelby's mother died, she made her promise three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Fast forward several years, and Shelby's dad drops a bomb on her: they are going to plan and attend a purity ball! When Shelby realizes that vowing to her father that she'll remain a virgin until marriage may directly contradict her promise to live without restraint, she decides to exploit a loophole: if she's not a virgin when she makes that vow, then it doesn't count.
As you can surmise from the slightly absurd premise, this book is hilarious. The juxtaposition of Shelby calculating the most efficient way to lose her virginity while simultaneously taking waltz lessons and going cake-tasting with her dad for the purity ball is uproariously awkward. It would make a great movie, complete with a terrifically embarrassing buying-condoms-in-a-drugstore scene.
On top of the comedy, this book has real heart. The strained relationship between Shelby and her dad is emotionally affecting as they fumble to relate to one another, as is Shelby's grappling with the loss of her mother. Too, I love the strong relationships between Shelby and her two best friends, Ruby and Jonas. (And those of you who have a soft spot for good friends who fall in love, get ready to be delighted with the romance in this story!)
This book also offers a sensitive exploration of some weighty topics such as grief and faith. The author doesn't offer any grand, sweeping statements about what's right or wrong-- just an affirming message that our choices are our own, and that's okay. It's positive without being preachy.
As a librarian, part of my job is to consider the audience for any book I read. One question I had going into Purity was: how will a conservative reader react to a book about a girl trying to lose her virginity before attending a purity ball? Things to consider: sex is a part of the plot, but it's not glorified, nor is the decision to have sex minimized. Shelby is realistically portrayed as a down-to-earth girl who sometimes makes poor decisions, and her plan to lose her virginity is not depicted as, you know, a super great idea. Shelby questions faith and spends time being angry at God over her mom's death, but there are no neat and tidy answers about faith in the end. As noted above, one of the main themes of this book is making your own choices. So, a conservative reader might appreciate this as a conversation starter, or they might decide it's not for them at all. To each their own, right?
Personally, I loved this book.
Look for Purity on bookstore shelves on April 24. ARC for review kindly picked up at ALA Midwinter by my friend Lalitha of Masala Reader.
Vivian, Siobhan. The List. 332 p. Push. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780545169172.
High school can be tough. The latest title from Siobhan Vivian is set in a school with a dark tradition. Each year, an anonymous list is posted all over campus to proclaim the ugliest and prettiest girl in each grade. The List tells the stories of how these labels affect the eight girls singled out this time.
The spare prose in third-person present-tense makes for an quick, thoroughly engrossing read. With eight protagonists, it sometimes took me a second to mentally adjust from one to another and recall their concerns and situation-- like "Oh yeah, the girl with the boyfriend" or "the girl with the little sister." But Vivian writes each character in a distinct and memorable way, which is an impressive feat with such a large cast. Most compelling to me were athletic Danielle, trying to find her footing
as a physically strong girl who doesn't necessarily want to feel
unfeminine, and Candace, dethroned mean girl who has to learn how to be nice.
Each character's story is individual, but the girls' lives intertwine in intriguing and sometimes surprising and ways. Some of the secondary characters could have been more fully fleshed out (Why was Lauren's mom so controlling?), and some of the protagonists didn't have a strong sense of character evolution or closure at the end of their stories. But perhaps it's more realistic that way, and Vivian leaves it up to the reader to consider the fates of all the girls. The text also naturally invites the reader to decide which they might see themselves reflected in-- which characters they want to be like, and which characters they don't.
All in all, even though I wish there had been a little more "oomph" to the ending, I loved reading this. Vivian's writing style is addictive, and I spent a couple of nights reading way past my bedtime. This look at the way girls see themselves and are affected by others' perceptions is thought-provoking-- a highly compelling read that would make an excellent high school book club pick.
Look for The List in bookstores everywhere on April 1. ARC for review was kindly passed along to me by my local indie bookseller.
Hale, Shannon. Midnight in Austenland. 288 p. Bloomsbury USA. 2012. Hardcover $22.00. ISBN 9781608196258.
When I heard that there was going to be a follow-up to Austenland (Bloomsbury, 2007), the first foray into adult-level fiction by Newbery Honor winning author Shannon Hale, I thought, "Yay! Wait... really?" Because that story wrapped up so nicely, you see. Did it need a sequel? Maybe, maybe not-- but Midnight in Austenland is a companion book, not a direct sequel. And it's so much fun!
I have to say, Shannon Hale is one of my very favorite authors. I read and love anything she writes, whether it's written for young readers or adults. Her writing for adults is markedly different from the books she writes for kids and teens-- it's conversational, quirky, and even a little sassy, rather than lyrical and lush. Reading one of her adult-level books feels kind of like getting a chance to hang out and chat with her.
Midnight in Austenland is fresh, fast-paced, and simply an enjoyable read-- the perfect book for a cozy evening in. Brew a pot of tea and get ready for a delightful reading experience.
This book just came out at the end of January from Bloomsbury USA. ARC for review provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. 318 p. Dutton Juvenile. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780525478812.
What to say about this book? The Fault in Our Stars is what everyone says it is: funny, insightful, heartbreaking. A beautiful book. I don't feel like I can adequately express anything about this book, and I'm not sure how much I want to say, out of fear for spoiling any major plot points for those who haven't read it yet, so I'll keep my comments vague.
You probably know that the book is about two teens, afflicted with cancer, who fall in love. It's tragic and hilarious and sweet and devastating in a good way.
I finished this book in about two days-- so it'll probably only take one day for those of you without small children. Once I really got into it, I couldn't put it down and just ended up lying in bed, reading it obsessively.
I mean, not that I have time to lie in bed reading all day. With two little kids at home? No, this obsessive reading occurred at one o'clock in the morning. I lost sleep over this book! And any parent knows that's the mark of a really good book.
Of the many emotionally affecting aspects of this book, the thing that hit me hardest was the main character's concern for her parents' ability to cope once she was gone. I connected with a different part of the book than a lot of teens will, which just goes to show that this would be an excellent pick for a book club-- for teens or adults. It's richly layered and will mean different things to different readers.
The Fault in Our Stars is the kind of book that doesn't leave you once the last page has been turned. I know I'll go on thinking about this one for a while.
Lin, Grace. Dumpling Days. 272 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2012. Hardcover $15.99. ISBN 9780316125901.
I once took a trip to China just for
the food. True story!
Of course, I was living in Japan at
the time, so it wasn't that far, but still... I am dedicated to experiencing good food and interesting travel. Given
that this book combines both of these things, it’s no surprise that I
absolutely loved it.
The third installment in Grace Lin's
semi-autobiographical "Year of..." series sees the Lin family on a
month-long trip to Taiwan. It's a first for Pacy, who is not exactly in touch
with her Taiwanese heritage, having lived in upstate New York all her life. She
doesn't feel like she belongs in Taiwan, and is caught between her two
cultures. As Pacy navigates an unfamiliar language, a daunting new art style in
Chinese painting class, and her own insecurities, her only comfort is dumplings.
Luckily, there are a lot of delicious dumplings to be had in Taiwan!
Soupy dumpling photo by flickr member keepwaddling1
Filled with vivid descriptions of Taiwan, an exuberant extended family, and a rich array of new experiences for
Pacy, this book is a treat for the senses. As in the previous books in the
series, charming black and white line drawings accompany the narrative. In this
volume, the illustrations give the feeling of a travel journal.
One need not be familiar with Taiwan
to enjoy the narrative; in fact, since it’s all new to Pacy, the reader is
introduced to the sights and customs of Taiwan along with her.
The wonder of discovering a new place deftly parallels the theme of self-discovery, and Pacy's struggle with the sense
that she doesn’t belong in her parents’ homeland will ring true for many
bicultural readers. The process of her coming to terms with her identity and
finding balance is layered, realistic, and ultimately heartening.
Those who have gotten to know Pacy through the first two books in the series will love witnessing her continued growth in Dumpling Days. Here, in learning more about herself, she also forges deeper connections with her family, displaying increasing maturity as she considers how her parents must
have felt when they left Taiwan to make a new home in the United States.
I found this book to be completely enchanting, and so true to the confusing, amazing, exhilarating experience of travel. I'm so excited to give it to my niece
as a Lunar New Year gift-- she'll get a red envelope too, don't worry... but a
new book by her favorite author will be quite a bonus!
I recommend reading the first two
books in the series before this one, but DumplingDays stands on its own quite effectively if you want to jump right in.
Warning: you may feel an urgent need to run to the nearest dim sum restaurant and order up a mountain of dumplings while reading this book. I say go for it!
Dumpling Days will be available in bookstores everywhere on January 2, 2012. ARC for review kindly provided by Little, Brown.
Mellom, Robin. Ditched. 288 p. Disney-Hyperion. 2012. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 978142314338.
If you're looking to start the new year off with a light, fast-paced read that will make you laugh, this book is definitely it.
Justina has the wost prom night ever, as a series of crazy misadventures culminate with her ending up in a ditch. See? She was ditched! LITERALLY! (Hee.) Seeking solace at a convenience store after her awful night, Justina tells her story in flashbacks to a hilariously opinionated audience. The nonlinear storytelling is fun, as details and relationships cleverly unfold bit by bit.
In addition to a sympathetic protagonist, this book has a large cast of unforgettable characters. I adored the cheerful stoners, Mike and Mike, who call their dates by their "essences" instead of their names (Serenity and Bliss). The dates themselves, classic "bad" girls with hearts of gold, are also utterly endearing.
Speaking of "bad" girls, I was a little perplexed by Justina's angst over her own supposedly tarnished reputation. She used to kiss a lot of guys, and- horrors!- kissed two guys at the same party one night. I mean, not that I condone rampant kissing... it's just that I'm not entirely sure it's that big of a deal to today's high schoolers. But hey, for our younger teen audience, I like that the author keeps it clean!
As I was reading, I kept thinking: "This would make an AWESOME movie!" It's reminiscent of one of my
favorite teen classics, Can't Hardly Wait. In fact, the characters
in this book attend Huntington High School, just like in that movie... a clever shout-out? Or maybe the
book is actually set in Huntington Beach, which is possible from the
references to In N Out Burger, a California-based fast food chain.
Either way, the setting made me smile.
Bottom line: Ditched is a super cute story and a fun read. I can't wait to recommend it at my library, and if it's ever made into a movie (which it totally should be!), I will be there.
Look for Ditched in bookstores everywhere on January 10, 2012. ARC for review provided by Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.
Audition shares the nightstand with other precious items: a picture of my husband and myself, a baby doll that reminds me of my daughter (it's hers, really, but she'll just chew on it), a baby monitor, and a tin of my current favorite hand lotion, Badger Balm.
Kehoe, Stasia Ward. Audition. 464 p. Viking Juvenile. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780670013197.
Even if you think you don't like verse novels, try this one. The story of a young dancer admitted to an intense ballet academy on scholarship might change your mind.
Kehoe's knowledge of the ballet world, with all its beauty and ugliness, shines in this book. The intimate details of ballet school life and an inadvisable (but inevitable) romance make for a compelling combination.
The complex and consuming relationship between twenty-two-year-old Remington and sixteen-year-old Sara may tempt the reader to race through the pages to reach the story's conclusion. But to do that would be a disservice to Ward's writing. Her use of language is graceful, expert. You want to linger over it. She harnesses the power of the verse novel format effectively, evoking fully-realized settings, emotions, and plot turns with spare, deceptively simple lines of text.
Tension is sustained throughout the novel as Sara compares her relationship with Remington and her entire experience at the ballet school as one long, never-ending audition. She can never rest easy. She's always striving, always competing, always feeling judged. The pressure is palpable.
It's coincidental that this novel was published around the same time as Bunheads, another novel about a young ballet dancer (read my review here). Though both novels cover somewhat similar territory, the writing styles and plot elements are different enough that the books don't feel too much alike. In fact, reading one book actually enhances the experience of reading the other, especially for those unfamiliar with ballet terms.
I had the pleasure of meeting Stasia Ward Kehoe at KidLitCon 2011, and she is totally fantastic. Isn't it nice when fantastic people write fantastic books? Audition is a captivating story of self-discovery, and I am eager to recommend it at my library.
Mlynowski, Sarah. Gimme a Call. 320 p. 2010. Delacorte. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780385735889.
Ever since I read the premise of this novel, I knew it would be just my cup of tea. Seventeen-year-old Devi is approaching her high school graduation and mulling over a wretched breakup with her longtime boyfriend when she drops her cell phone in a fountain. After she fishes it out, it only dials one number: her fourteen year-old, freshman year self. What to do? Give herself advice and change her future, of course!
I LOVE IT.
I have this sort of conversation with myself all the time: if I could do it over again, I’d do so much better, I’d work harder, I’d be more focused, I’d be more involved… “it” being whatever I’m thinking back on at the moment: high school, college, sorority life, piano lessons-- anything. Of course I wouldn’t waste time watching cartoons or blowing off my homework to talk to friends. Right?
The truth is, I’m sure I’d do the same things I did the first time around. And honestly, I don't have any major regrets about my life. Still, I can relate to seventeen-year-old Devi’s urge to go all drill-sergeant on her fourteen-year-old self to improve her prospects. Who doesn’t wish they could do it over again?
Gimme a Call is a fun, quick read with engaging characters and hilarious twists and turns as Devi keeps trying to make things perfect. Mlynowski does an excellent job contrasting seventeen-year-old Devi's manic desperation for her younger self to make good choices with fourteen-year-old Devi's desire to simply explore and enjoy life. It may be a light read, but this book provides a really insightful look at the changes that take place between freshman and senior year, how priorities and personalities can shift as we grow.
I could read this book any time of the year and love it- because it’s just a very ME kind of book- but it would make an especially good beach read. Objectively speaking, the writing might have benefited from editorial tightening here and there, but personally, I enjoyed every bit of it.
There should really be a movie based on this book. It would be utterly adorable.
I would recommend Gimme a Call to readers who enjoy Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler's The Future of Us and vice versa.
Flack, Sophie. Bunheads. 294 p. Poppy. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780316126533.
Although I’ve taken ballet at various times in my life, I have to admit that I’ve never progressed past beginner's level. Alas, I’m completely hopeless at chaine turns! So, ballet and I aren’t meant for each other, but I love it. It’s so structured, so disciplined. There’s so much effort that goes into holding one’s body in the proper stance, yet professional ballet dancers make it look so fluid and natural. I have the deepest respect for the years of training and dedication that go into a ballet career, so I was excited to read Sophie Flack’s debut novel about a young dancer in the corps of a prestigious New York ballet company. Hannah has devoted her whole life to dance, but isn’t sure it’s what she wants anymore.
Having danced with New York City Ballet for nine years, Flack writes from an insider’s perspective, and her expertise shows. This book is full of intimate details about life in a dance company, both painful and beautiful. She depicts it all with authenticity: the uplifting feeling of performing on stage, the rivalries between dancers, body image issues, the physical toll dancing can take, the single-minded focus necessary to succeed, and the varying attitudes of the dancers toward their careers.
For me, the appeal of this book is more about glimpsing the inner world of life in a ballet company, rather than a strongly driven plot. I was never quite sure whether the author wanted the reader to root for Hannah to stay in the ballet company or leave it, and I was a little conflicted about the ending (which I won’t spoil, don’t worry!). Hannah has a tough choice to make, and perhaps the ending is meant to be a little bittersweet. Major life choices are never easy and there’s not always a solution that’s 100% perfect. Many readers will be satisfied by the conclusion; I just found myself thinking, “But, but…!”
One of the influencing factors in Hannah’s ultimate decision is her relationship with aspiring musician, Jacob, and I wasn’t a big fan of his character. I was frustrated that he couldn’t understand why Hannah couldn’t or wouldn’t hang out all the time and do things like normal people-- surely it's not so hard to fathom that ballet dancers have to devote themselves entirely to dance. Frankly, I felt like telling Jacob to shut his yap! That said, Jacob is a realistic and well-written character. It doesn’t bother me that I didn’t fall head-over-heels for Hannah’s love interest, because this book isn’t really about romance. It’s about a young woman’s examination of her goals and her struggle to achieve balance in her life, which, I think, makes for a stronger story.
Anyone who has ever been involved in the performing arts will relate to this book. I really liked it, and will look forward to future books from Sophie Flack.
Bunheads hits bookstore shelves tomorrow, October 10. ARC for review borrowed from my friend Lalitha at SoCal Library Connection.
Brashares, Ann. Sisterhood Everlasting. Random House Audio Publishing Group. 2011. Audiobook $40.00. ISBN 9780307912220.
Oh, Sisterhood Everlasting. I was hoping to love you! Alas, our love was not meant to be.
This conclusion to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series picks up a decade after the last book left off, and the four best friends are all grown up... but lost without each other.
My issues: The characters are really, really immature. Traits that were acceptable in teenagers, I found intolerable in adults. Lena is still painfully passive and afraid to act in any capacity; Bridget is still a screw-up who does whatever she wants without thinking of others. Carmen- always my favorite character- is the only one who seems to have her life together, but she’s clearly got her priorities in the wrong order-- she’s putting her career first (tsk!) and has apparently lost her ability to think deep thoughts because she’s constantly glued to an iPhone.
Hey. I like my iPhone.
Also, the plot is kind of a downer, and while I’m okay with the fact that not everything in life is all sparkles and unicorns, I found the pacing through the sad parts of this book to be, well, somewhat excruciating.
To be fair to Brashares, a good deal of my irritation with this book may stem from the audiobook narrator. Angela Goethals has a truly lovely voice. She sounds youthful enough to believably portray all the characters, and does a commendable job creating distinct voices for each character-- which is a difficult task, as the main characters are all 29 year old females. But! My main problem with her reading is that it's very slowly paced and overly deliberate. Her delivery plays up the angsty melodrama… or maybe her melodramatic tone is caused by the inherent melodrama in the text. Either way, I found myself shouting at the audiobook frequently. Things like: “THIS AGAIN?” and “REALLY? YOU WENT THERE?” and “LENA, I WILL SMACK YOU.”
Which, on the bright side, means that at least the book elicited a strong reaction from me, right?
So, while I can’t say I exactly enjoyed the experience of this novel, I will say that I couldn’t put it aside. I absolutely had to keep listening; I had to find out how everything would end up for these characters I had so loved from the first four volumes of the series. Most fans of the Traveling Pants books will likely feel the same way, whether they end up loving this book or not-- for better or worse, it's a compelling read if you loved the first four.
Sloan, Holly Goldberg. I'll Be There. 392 p. Little, Brown. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780316122795.
Everyone's been raving about this book all year, and let me tell you-- it lives up to the hype!
Two brothers, Sam and Riddle, have been dragged around the country by their abusive, mentally ill father for most of their lives. They finally get a taste of normal life after a chance encounter with a girl... but how long can normal last?
The first thing that struck me about this novel is the strong voice. The writing is tight, like every sentence, every word has been carefully considered for maximum impact. I was completely in awe while reading. Author Holly Goldberg Sloan comes from an extensive screenwriting background, and it shows: this novel has a cinematic quality that will draw readers right into the pages. In fact, I would love to see a movie of it-- but only if Sloan herself writes the screenplay.
I'll Be There is a wholly engaging story with a large cast of fully realized characters. The genre is realistic contemporary with elements of romance, suspense, survival, mystery, and there's a little something for everyone here. It will appeal equally to a male and female audiences, and with the strong presence of adult characters in the cast and the minimum of teen angst, this is one of those YA novels you can recommend to adults who don't usually read YA.
This book puts me in mind of John Irving's style, with the way Sloan tells her story through a third-person omniscient point of view that allows for multiple perspectives, as well as the way she puts her characters through the most incredible situations-- some absurd, some heartbreaking, some inspiring.
And the cover? I can't stop staring at it. Utterly gorgeous.
I'll Be There is one of the most amazing debut novels I've read this year, and I eagerly await whatever Sloan has in store for us next.
Perkins, Stephanie. Anna and the French Kiss. 372 p. Dutton. 2010. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780525423270.
I'd heard so much about this book and deliberately held off reading it for a while. Why would one do that to a perfectly good book? See, I KNEW I would love it. So I was saving it for a time when I was in a reading slump and needed an absolutely wonderful read to perk me back up. I was waiting, ready to savor the reading experience when I would need it the most. As it happens, I ended up reading it just before our Authors Are ROCKSTARS! interview with Stephanie Perkins, Andrea Cremer, and Kiersten White, so I wasn't actually in a slump. But just as I had predicted, I loved, loved, loved this book.
It's the story of an American girl reluctantly transplanted in Paris. And of course, in a city known for its romance, she meets a boy. A shame he has a girlfriend, but they can just be friends, right...?
This book took me right back to the month I spent studying in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1998. In fact, I'm itching to book a plane ticket there RIGHT NOW! (Alas, my husband, toddler, and baby might have something to say about that.)
I love the details of Paris in this book. Despite the fact that Perkins had never been to Paris before she wrote Anna, she got it all amazingly, wonderfully right through the power of research. The Latin quarter! Shakespeare & Company bookstore! Standing on point zero in front of Notre Dame! Francophiles will love this.
Photo by flickr member mojavesin
Much has been said in other reviews about Perkins' ability to write Anna as an authentic teen, and I agree. Anna is an appealing, well-rounded character with relatable flaws and quirks, and her realistic, sometimes sarcastic, voice makes the book such a pleasure to read as she gains confidence in her new surroundings and in herself. And of course, her love interest, St. Clair... what can I say? A charming, self-deprecating guy with a British accent? Well. I think most of us would be happy to read entire volumes about him.
Anna's story of self-discovery and romance stands alone, but there are two more companion novels to look forward to. Lola and the Boy Next Door will hit bookstores in late September, and I can't wait to read it.
Chaltas, Thalia. Displacement. 364 p. Viking Childrens Books. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780670011995.
Novels in verse aren't always my cup of tea. In fact, to be completely honest, more often than not, I'll pass them by. A lot of the time I just don't understand Why The prose needs to be Broken up On different lines Like this.
...oooh, actually, now that I did that? It was kind of fun!
Anyway, novels in verse may not exactly be my thing, but at the same time, I don't harbor an automatic prejudice against them. I can be swayed by one that's well done, and I found myself really getting into Displacement. It's a quick yet thought-provoking read about a girl who's grieving the loss of her younger sister. She decides to get away from her life and her family for a while by escaping to an isolated town in the desert.
Chaltas uses evocative language to set the scene and illuminate the main character's struggle with grief and her journey to healing. Chaltas' writing works especially well to bring the setting to life-- the desert is a strong presence in the book, almost a character in itself. Word choices are deliberate and powerful, and the reader can really sense why this author writes in poetry rather than prose.
Sometimes, too, Chaltas' language is rather... shall I say blunt? Like, you know how in some books and TV shows, characters never have to go to the bathroom? Well, um, this book doesn't have that issue. Your mileage may vary as to whether that's a positive or a negative!
I think this book will have an appreciative audience in teens because of its themes of self-discovery and healing, so I'll be buying it for my library's collection.
Displacement was published earlier this month; ARC for review snagged at ALA Midwinter.
Starcrossed. Angelini, Josephine. 496 p. HarperTeen. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780062011992.
There's a lot of hype in the publishing world about how Josephine Angelini's debut trilogy was purchased by HarperTeen for seven figures, and believe me, this thoroughly enjoyable book lives up to the hype. It deserves to become the Next Big Thing. I totally LOVED this book. I just wanted to keep reading, and reading, and reading!
The author's agent pitched the manuscript as “Percy Jackson for teenage girls,” and I think that’s a perfect description. Angelini knows her mythology well enough to put her own spin on it while incorporating essential elements of The Iliad. This story isn't a strict retelling, but an inventive "reimagining" in a contemporary setting on Nantucket Island. There's an appealing mix of everyday teen life, romance, action, and fantasy that hits all the right notes.
In a refreshing contrast to so many teen paranormal romances out there, the mysterious supernatural abilities are not the sole domain of the male love interest-- this time, the protagonist is something extraordinary, too! How great is that? Helen is a strong, well-rounded character. Aside from her incredible abilities, she's an everygirl grappling with her own identity. Anyone, especially teen girls, can relate to her.
Angelini has mentioned in various interviews that the other inspiration for this novel besides The Iliad was Romeo and Juliet, so naturally, there's a fantastic forbidden romance element to Helen and Lucas' relationship-- but the stakes are upped in a major way here. It's not that they're a danger to each other, or they're already spoken for... no, the FATE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD depends on the ability of these two teens to restrain themselves. No pressure! I like that the two characters are very intensely drawn to each other but make an honest effort to behave. The relationship between Lucas and Helen is believable, with some great banter between the two. The reader is definitely rooting for these two crazy kids by the time the book ends.
Angelini has created a large cast of unforgettable characters that I became quite attached to throughout the course of the story. I personally couldn't get enough of Lucas' big, tough cousin Hector- a sort of bad boy with a heart of gold. And Helen's feisty, loyal best friend, Claire, has some of the best one-liners in the book. Love her! The adult characters are nicely fleshed-out, too. Lucas' mom and Helen's dad are so endearing.
The storytelling is well-structured and nicely paced, with subtle but effective foreshadowing of important plot elements. The third-person narration allows for multiple points of view, including the antagonist’s. Angelini handles the shift in voice from character to character with finesse, and the portions from the antagonist’s perspective are genuinely chilling.
Don't miss Starcrossed when it hits bookstore shelves on May 31st! ARC for review provided by the publisher via NetGalley. And if you haven't listened yet, be sure to catch our supercool interview with Josephine Angelini at Authors are ROCKSTARS! (Oh, and there's a GIVEAWAY.)
Pink. Wilkinson, Lili. 306 p. HarperCollins. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780061926532.
Pink addresses a question I think we have all asked ourselves at one time or another- or perhaps ask ourselves continually: WHO THE HECK AM I?
Ava doesn't really know who she is, but she knows she just wants to fit in. Unsure of her image as a gothy lesbian, she transfers to a new school for a chance to start over and be who she wants to be. And maybe for the chance to date a boy, although she's afraid to break her girlfriend's heart. After a hilariously disastrous audition for the school musical, she falls in with a group of stage crew kids who use Internet slang and make Star Trek references. They are awesome!
This is one of those stories where a character makes grand plans for social betterment and everything goes spectacularly awry. I have so much empathy for that! Because OMG, have we not all been there to some degree? Those teenage years are tough. You’re just trying to figure out who you are, who you want to be, who your friends are, what you’re supposed to be doing… and there really are no easy answers. So, Ava hits rock bottom, but she manages to regroup in a way that will be a comfort to many teen readers. It's encouraging to see that things can be okay after messing everything up completely.
One of my favorite things about this book is the way it demonstrates that, in high school especially, everyone is searching for their identity- even those who seem the most self-assured. Everyone is trying to fit themselves into a neatly labeled box- but the message in this book is that you don't have to choose just one particular box. I love that! So affirming.
I have to admit, though, the one thing that detracts from the book's strength for me is the stereotypical depiction of an Asian character. Also, the fact that his name is Kobe. I mean, sure, there's the famous basketball player, but is anyone else actually named Kobe? Really?? But more concerning to me is that the character is stated to hate being Asian. Like... whoah there. What's that about?! Unfortunately, his story isn't fully developed because he's not the main character, so we don't really get the details on his apparent racially-motivated self-loathing. It's odd, because there's no racism demonstrated by others in this book- it's just that the Asian kid randomly hates being Asian. But he gets a girlfriend in the end, so we can assume comes to term with his ethnicity...?
I don't know what to make of that.
But everything else about this book is super awesome and positive about being happy and confident about who you are, so I'm going to assume the author had only the best of intentions when writing the Asian character.
On another note, how much do I love Ava's super-supportive progressive liberal parents?? They are completely adorable and the cause of several laugh-out-loud moments. Wilkinson has a talent for writing very endearing characters. In addition to the hilarious parents, the stage crew kids are a crowd you just want to hang with, and even the less-than-pleasant characters are shown to have a vulnerable side.
Overall, a fun read for anyone who's ever felt like they don't fit in. (Which would be, well, everyone!)
White Cat. Black, Holly. Listening Library. 2010. Audiobook $40.00. ISBN 9780307711816.
Hey, I finally caught up with the rest of the world and read White Cat! I loved Holly Black's previous books about faeries, and this book was even more amazing. How does she do it?!
White Cat is a smart, exhilarating mashup of mafia, magic, and mystery. The story is set in a world much like ours, but with a fundamental difference: there are curse workers, people with magical powers. Those who don't have powers see magic as an unfair advantage, and so curse working has become a criminal activity. The protagonist, a high school boy named Cassel, is the only member of his family without magical abilities. But he can still work a good con.
This book is seriously brilliant. The plot is tightly woven and well paced, full of twists and turns as information assumed to be true at the beginning often turns out to be something else entirely. Through the first-person narration, the reader discovers surprising truths just as Cassel does. A fascinating, multi-layered cast of characters cleverly plays into mafia cliches at times, and other times plays against them. I have a total soft spot for Cassel's brusque but loving granddad, and his geeky, loyal boarding school roommate, Sam.
I can't get over the way Black constructs the insanely clever cons in this book. She provides the reader with just enough information so we think we know what the plan might be, but details are intentionally withheld to heighten the suspense as events play out- and this strategy definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.
I listened to this book on CD, and I enjoyed the audiobook experience. Although I'm not sure Jesse Eisenberg's characterization of Cassel is how I would have heard his voice in my head if I had read the print version, he really captured the character's youthfulness (one of my audiobook pet peeves is when the reader sounds way too old for their role!), and his East Coast accent was perfect for this book.
The sequel, Red Glove, is in bookstores TODAY! I can't wait to pick it up; I know it's going to be a great ride.
