Book Review: Thumped, by Megan McCafferty

McCafferty, Megan. Thumped. 304 p. 2012. Balzer + Bray. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780061962769.

Last year, Megan McCafferty introduced the satirical dystopian world of Bumped, in which teen pregnancy is revered and two long-lost twin sisters become victims of society's out-of-whack ideals. (Read my review of Bumped.)

The plot of Thumped picks up right where Bumped left off and charges full steam ahead without an obvious rehash of the previous volume. If you're hazy on the details of Bumped, the first few chapters of this sequel might be a little confusing, but McCafferty smoothly weaves in the details of the first book as the story progresses.

Like its predecessor, Thumped is satire, with moments of laugh-out-loud humor, but sometimes the plot and characters seem a little scattered. There's a lot going on, and some of the secondary storylines (like: what's going on between Zen and Ventura Vida?) felt underdeveloped and didn't add anything to the book's main plot. I found Bumped hilarious, smart, and unexpected, whereas Thumped doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table. At the same time, it's definitely a fun read, and it ends with a positive message. 

Bottom line: if you liked Bumped, you'll enjoy Thumped. I liked it!

Thumped will be available in bookstores everywhere on April 24. ARC for review kindly picked up for me at ALA Midwinter by my friend Lalitha of Masala Reader.

Book Review: Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale

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!

There's a new main character, Charlotte, a recent divorcée who finds herself drawn to the titular Jane Austen reenactment vacation spot. As Charlotte immerses herself in the Regency-era lifestyle, there's an appealing blend of humor, self-discovery, and romance that fans of the first volume will love. And this time around, a new element is introduced in the form of a clever and engaging mystery. I had a great time reading this book.

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.

(Speaking of which, have you listened to our Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast interview with Shannon? Love 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.