A Match Made in High School

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Razor Bill, 2009
278 pages
9781595142573

Fiona's just beginning her Senior year of high school and is looking forward to fulfilling her resolution to touch her long time crush, Gabe. Her high hopes are dashed when the principal announces that the Seniors must complete a new program in order to graduate: "Trying the Knot". Each Senior girl is paired up with a Senior boy and they must pretend to be married for the school year. Fee is matched with the obnoxious school jock, Todd; his super flirty and gorgeous girlfriend is paired with Gabe (!); and Marcie, Fee's best friend, is joined with the very large Johnny Mercer. How could the school year get any worse? Oh, it's very possible.

Judging by the cover...: I had my doubts when looking at the cover. It doesn't give any justice to the story, and I spent half my time with the book trying to match up the characters to the kids on the cover.

Favorite Elements:

• Cheerleading - My one year experience with the sport (yes, it's a sport) was a complete failure. However, it gave me a certain respect for what cheerleaders actually do. It takes an exceptional amount of skill, practice, and energy to jump, shout, and dance, and they do it all in unison. They're dynamite!
• Silly "real life" simulation projects - All eighth graders in my middle school had to participate in the "egg project". We pretended for a semester that our egg was our baby. We had to carry it with us wherever we went, feed it, make sure it had a babysitter if we couldn't watch it, etc. The only thing it taught us was how to make up one semester's worth of journal entries in one night. My twins, in case you were wondering, remained in tact for the whole semester, thank you very much.
  
• Babysitting - It could be that my friends and I didn't need the egg project because, like Fee, most of us had younger siblings and/or a regular babysitting gig. Sam is one awesome kid and Fiona is a kick butt babysitter. Their antics remind me of my awesome babysitters back in the day.
• Cool adults - So often the adults in the story are super lame. Fiona might think that about her parents, but when they interact with her, you can tell that one day Fee will think they are awesome. Her parents love each other very much, which is obvious and not often found in YA books.
  

Overall (out of 5): 3.75
Like I said, I was a little nervous picking this book up. The cover wasn't spectacular, and I was convinced that the plot would be high drama. I was assured, though, that this book was worth it, and so I read the first page. And was hooked. Okay, so there is a lot of drama (it wouldn't be a book about high school without it), but good Lord is it hilarious! Walker writes extremely realistic dialog and the practical jokes are genius. I had a very hard time putting it down and finished it in one day.

Recommendation: If you're looking for funny, madcap, high school adventures, you should check it out. Don't let the cover fool you; this book is full of awesome.

Five Flavors of Dumb

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Dial Books, 2010
338 pages
978083734333

Piper's been deaf since the age of six, and has been looking forward to attending the nation's premier university for the hearing impaired. The only problem is, her parents have just used her college fund to do the unthinkable: pay for her deaf baby sister's cochlear implants. To add insult to injury, Piper has had the same hot pink hearing aids since she went deaf. Her high school's resident punk band, Dumb, has just won Seattle's Battle of the Bands. When Piper opens her big mouth, the band makes a deal with her. She has 30 days to get them a paying gig. Piper's so desperate to replenish the college fund, she takes them on, but has no idea what she's getting herself into. Dumb is made up of an egotistical lead singer, his lost-in-thought bass player brother, a guitar player with a chip on her shoulder, and no drummer. Throughout all the ups and downs, Piper must also deal with her father, an unemployed business man who is not happy playing Mr. Mom and resists using ASL, her overworked mother, and a trouble making brother. She thinks her life can't get more complicated, but Dumb seems eager to prove her wrong.

Why I picked it up: I first read about it on one of the many book review blogs I read. The plot sounded fresh, and I was especially interested in how Piper's deafness would play a part.

Judging by the cover...: This cover is awesome! I can easily picture the girl on the front as Piper, and the rest of the design feels like I'm looking at a concert poster. A+!

Favorite Elements:

• Rock Music - With Piper's significant hearing loss, she never really became interested in music. John takes the reader on a tour of Seattle's most popular musicians, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, and along the way teaches us and Piper why these guys were so influential.
• Coffee Shop - Ed's works part time in a coffee shop and can do all sorts of amazing things with espresso. HOT.
• Hair Dye - Who hasn't wanted to dye their hair an outrageous color? Pink, green, blue, fire engine red? Imagine your teenage self shocking five years off of your parents' lives with outrageous hair. Sounds fun, doesn't it!

Overall (out of 5): 4
I was extremely impressed that the book wasn't all about Piper's hearing, it was just another thing that made her who she was. I applaud John for not making this book about being deaf, but about managing a really dysfunctional group of people. Piper is a very authentic character and the plot was original and imaginative.

Recommendation: There are so many facets to this book that make it accessible to almost all groups. Check it out!

Say It on Sunday: Books That Didn't Make the Cut

Since starting this blog, I have been reviewing almost every book that I've read. Here are three books that I chose to not review for three different reasons:

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray.
Though this novel features an epic journey (favorite thing #1) through Great Britain (favorite thing #2) and is a moving story about three boys mourning the loss of their fourth friend, I just didn't like it. Firstly, the boys act like typical teenage boys. I didn't understand them when I was a teenager, and I still don't understand them today. I can't wrap my head around why these three teen boys thought it would be a good idea to kidnap the ashes of their dead friend from the clutches of the grieving parents and run away to Scotland with them. Really? How could that have even crossed their minds? I get that they wanted to give him a proper funeral, but really? And were they that naive to not think about the circumstances behind their friend's death? Were I to review the book, I would give it a 2 out of 5. Not that it was a bad book, but it just wasn't for me. I would only give it to boys; those of the female persuasion will only shake their heads and puzzle at the boys' motives.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.
I'd like to start out by saying that I was reeeeeealy excited to read this book. So excited that I bought it the moment my Nook was out of the box and hooked up to my wireless. It was the first e-book I read, too. I can't wait to use the lending option with someone else who has a Nook and let them read it. It's a fantastic book about a girl who is forced to spend her senior year of high school at a boarding school in Paris, France. As she finds her way around the city and makes new friends, she discovers love. Etienne St. Clair is the quintessential dream boy and the swoon factor is high, keeping the reader enthralled through the entire book. I chose to not review it simply because of all the press it was getting on other blogs. It's been done by everyone, so I don't want to flood the market. Just do me a favor and read it. I give it a 5 out of 5.

The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud.
This fourth book in the Bartimaeus series is actually a prequel. Stroud's style is very eloquent and descriptive, but the action tends to get dry and during the first three books, I fell asleep quite frequently, and this was no different. The dialog, however, is very witty and entertaining, and Bartimaeus's antics will keep the reader laughing. By the last fourth of the book, I was pretty fed up with the pace. I did something I rarely do, skip ahead. I don't feel I missed out on much, either. I'd give this book only to someone who has read the previous three and/or someone who doesn't mind a slower paced book. 3.5 out of 5.

Say It on Sunday: My Ocean's 11 Team

This week's topic: My Dream Team Ocean's 11 Style

By now you've realized how much I heart FYA. When they interview an author, they ask, "If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick?"

1. Me. Can't leave myself out of my own dream team, can I?
   
2. Frankie Landau-Banks from The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Frankie would be our mastermind. Her brilliant and detailed plans could get us into even the most guarded of places.
3. Bastille from the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson. Her fearlessness and skill with a sword is essential if we ever get in a sticky situation where brute force is our only way out.
4. Turtle from The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Every team needs a good shin kicker.
5. Tiffany Aching from the Tiffany Aching series by Sir Terry Pratchett. Her cool head and quick thinking will hopefully keep us from needing Bastille and Turtle. Also her abilities to whisk away pain and to play with fire would be immensely helpful.
6. Sally Lockheart from the Sally Lockheart series by Philip Pullman. She'll keep our finances straight and track down bad guys to get even with.
7. Katarina Bishop from Heist Society by Ally Carter. She's a master thief with the ability to break into anything.
8. Lisbeth Salander from the Millenium series by Stieg Larsson. Tough as nails and has mad hacking skills.
9. Tally Youngblood from the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. No one would ever catch her on her hover board.
10. Flavia de Luce from the Flavia de Luce series by C. Alan Bradley. This 11 year old is an expert at chemistry, mainly poisons. I'd rather have her on my side, thank you.
11. Amelia Peabody Emerson from the Amelia Peabody series. Our team needs a financier, and Mrs. Emerson has more than enough to go around. Her feminist views will keep the boys from even thinking about messing with us, and she'll most definitely keep us on track.

I would have no problem in covering Danny Ocean's sequels, either, but I'll leave them for another time. Who would be on your Ocean's 11 team?

I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight by Sir Terry Pratchett
Harper, 2010
347 pages
9780061433047

Once every hundred years or so, someone gets the idea that witches are bad. That someone tells someone else, and soon the entire village gets ideas of burning and stoning said witches, then moving on to innocent villagers whose only crimes are old age, ugly faces, or both. Unfortunately for Tiffany Aching, witch of The Chalk, the time of restlessness and unease has come to her stead. She knows she must figure out what is causing the unrest and put it to bed before it goes too far. Along the way, she makes some unlikely friends and suffers through old ones, mainly the Wee Free Men.

Why I picked it up: I had no idea that it was part of a series. I just knew that Pratchett had written another book and I had to read it.

Judging by the cover...: The Wee Free Men might be a little off-putting, but holding fire? Sweet. And the title? I desperately wanted to know what it meant before I even knew anything about the book.

Favorite Elements:

• Three words: Sir. Terry. Pratchett. - If you have not read anything by this genius, what are you waiting for. I will admit that I have not read everything by him, but I don't worry about ever running out of his books to read. And when I am done with his massive list of works, I will start all over again.
• Discworld: If you haven't guessed already, Pratchett's books are the end all and be all of awesome literature. There's a reason the man is a knight. Discworld, his vast creation in which his characters reside, is a masterpiece in itself. I would totally move there in a heartbeat if it were real.
• Witches: They get a bad rap, it seems, but Tiffany and her fellow witches are some of the most interesting people in Discworld.
• Scottish Accents: It's not said for sure that the Wee Free Men speak with them, but that's how I imagine their voices in my head. If I had those guys for sidekicks, there would be no end to the crazy hi-jinks we'd get into.
• Sir Terry Pratchett - I already used that one? Oh. Darn.

Overall (out of 5): 5
Is my fan girl showing yet? This perfect rating is not undeserved, either. The insanely witty dialog and crazy amounts of details that are paid attention to make Pratchett's books the most entertaining and engaging stories I have ever read. I have to shutter myself away when I want to read his novels, otherwise I get weird looks from the almost insane amount of laughing I do. This isn't your run of the mill comedy novel though. Oftentimes the humor is so embedded in the story that you have to really stay on your toes to pick up on it. I was given one by a friend my freshman year of college and have not stopped raving about Discworld ever since. Midnight is the fourth book in the Tiffany Aching series, but is really an extension of his normal adult fare but written for a young adult audience. That I was able to pick up Midnight and know exactly what was going on, without reading the other three, shows how skillful at his craft he really is.

Recommendation: If you're as much as a fan of Pratchett as I am, you'll already have read this. And if you're not a fan, that's because you haven't read his works yet. Don't worry about which one you start with, either. So what are you waiting for?!

Zen and Xander Undone

Zen and Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Houghton Mifflin, 2010
212 pages
9780547062488

After the death of their mother and with their father's will to live gone, Zen and Xander try with all of their might to cope on their own. Zen, ever the "good girl", has thrown herself into karate. Xander has found more extreme and dangerous ways, including drugs and sex. The only thing the girls have in common any more is the gorgeous boy across the street who has been their friend since childhood. When the girls see a letter from their mother that wasn't meant for their eyes, they learn that she might not have been what they remembered. This, along with the mystery of who is behind the letters they get from their mom, becomes Xander's new project. It should give the girls common ground, but instead it might tear them apart.

Why I picked it up: I came across it one day while shelving the new YA books. I don't remember what initially drew me to it, but I added it to my List of Things I Should Read. When I picked it up again, I realized how much I was in the mood for a good bonding book.

Judging by the cover...: Not the best job, but not the worst either. Very cliché, two girls who look drastically different but are obviously sisters. It gets a solid eh. I would only be a tiny bit hesitant to read it in public. I like the paperback cover much more; it's more original and grasps the theme of the book much better than the two models on the hardcover could.

Favorite Elements:

• Martial Arts - How awesome would it be if I had a black belt? If you had a black belt? If the world was just one big karate-chopping movie? Well, maybe not that awesome, but I wouldn't mind using a single kickass kick to take out douchebag boys who think pushing around women is cool.
• Sisters - Right now my sister is rolling her eyes at my lameness (I love you, Alien!), but sibling relationships in books fascinate me. Even though each family is different, brothers and sisters always seem to be able to band together and muddle through their crazy family together.
  
• Mom's Letters - If there was one thing that stood out, it was that their mom took the time to write letters and arrange their delivery (along with other things) while she was sick. Sniff!
• A Good Cry - It's been a long time since a book made me cry. This one just didn't get one tear, it got bucketloads.

Overall (out of 5): 4.25
Though I was able to predict the ending by the third chapter, it didn't take away from the book at all. I felt the love through their strained relationship. These were two sisters who really did care what happened to each other. It says quite a bit about grief, too, that everyone suffers through it their own way at their own pace. I went almost halfway through the book, though, before I realized that Xander was the older sister. I guess it goes to show how many books I've read lately where the narrator is predominately the older sibling. The little hints of romance are perfect, too.

Recommendation: A book for those who are willing to take a roller coaster ride with the girls, ready to stand by them even when you might not like them or the things they do. Just know that it is well worth the admission price.

The Space Between Trees

The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams
Chronicle Books, 2010
274 pages
9780811871754

Evie's childhood friend is found dead in the woods early one Sunday by Jonah, the object of her affection. Zabet and her had grown apart, and they barely spoke anymore. At the funeral, a little white lie starts Evie and Zabet's true best friend, Hadley, on a quest to find the killer. Each lie she tells brings them closer to the truth, but what else will they discover?

Why I picked it up: FYA did a review of the book (let's be honest here, they're the reason I pick up half the books I do). They gave mega props to the cover. Okay, okay, the plot sounded pretty interesting, too. I just can't turn down a mystery.

Judging by the cover...: Awesome cover. The picture to the left simply can't do it justice. The actual space between the trees is cut away to reveal the purple paper underneath, giving the book a silhouette feel. Just beautiful. It is ultimately what made the book for me.

Favorite Elements:

• Older boy - What girl hasn't fantasized about the older boy? The fact that Evie's in high school and Jonah is in college does nothing to deter her from pseudo-stalking him and getting him to talk to her. I have to give her credit, I certainly wouldn't have done that when I was her age.
• Dark and mysterious woods - The woods behind Zabet and Hadley's houses sound creepy. Jonah's job, which is to drag the bodies of dead animals out of the woods makes them sound even creepier. Sign me up for a camping trip, please!

Overall (out of 5) 3.75
Zabet's death makes the reality hit home for several girls in the story; it could have happened to any one of them. But could it really? It's this question, what set Zabet apart from the other girls that keeps the reader guessing throughout the story. The characters' have quite a bit of depth, and they managed to keep me immersed in the story. One can't help but feel sorry for Zabet's father, a man who tries so hard to bring his daughter back, a daughter he barely knew but wanted to. Hadley is so tortured and hurt by her friend's death, and I wish I could give her a hug. The only flaw to the plot is in a few unanswered questions, but those that were answered kept me thinking for quite a few days. How random can life really be? Would we really be happy if we got the answers we seek? How do you pick up the pieces and keep on living when something so devastating happens to your family?

Recommendation: A good read for someone in a thoughtful, melancholy mood. Just make sure you leave plenty of lights on.

Say It on Sunday: YA Books You Must Read

I'm introducing a new weekly series called Say It on Sunday. This will be a space dedicated to various topics concerning young adult literature.

This week's topic: YA Books You Must Read

There are certain titles or series that I feel are absolutely necessary to read if you're to truly immerse yourself in young adult literature. Here are just five of them:

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. If you haven't read this phenomenal work of literary art, what are you waiting for? It's not just for kids; in fact I think adults can appreciate it for the masterpiece that it is more than children can. But the point is that these are still immensely popular, and I think one day they'll be considered classics. Part of their charm is that the books themselves grow with Harry, allowing the reader to do the same.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. At first I didn't understand what all of the hype was about. It sounded like an excuse to write violence, and that was not something I wanted to read. And then I did read it. And it was amazing. Katniss Everdeen is a character that everyone will root for and remember for the rest of their lives.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. This blog might be in its infancy, but so far I've mentioned WGx2 twice. Two boys with the same name meet one fateful night. But that's not what makes this book. A young man by the name of Tiny Cooper is the keystone. If everyone had a friend like Tiny, the world would be a better, happier place. I should add that really anything written by these two authors is a must-read.

Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Ugh. I know, I know. It violates two of my rules, vampires AND werewolves. But if you want to know what the kids are into these days, read it you must. This is slightly hypocritical considering I couldn't make it past the first 20 pages of the third book, but no one can say that I didn't make an effort.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. I've been a fan of Dessen's for a long time, and this book is the reason why. It deals with a large variety of issues that concern teens today (popularity, drinking, eating disorders, and date rape are just a few), and has a powerful message that's hard to ignore. For adults it can be easy to forget how hard it was to be a teenager, and this book is a helpful reminder.

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments. This is not a job for one woman alone!

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010
260 pages
9780375866593

Lily, or Lily Bear to her overprotective family, has gone too far in her life without a boyfriend, or so her brother thinks. He devises a plan to leave a red moleskine notebook in a popular bookstore for a potential boy to pick up.

Dash, a boy of the bookish sort, must go on a scavenger hunt with the clues provided in the notebook in order to prove he's worthy of Lily's affections. This hunt starts the two off on a Christmas adventure through New York City.

Why I picked it up: It was on the cart of new books to be processed. I needed a quick and fun book to read, and boy did I find it.

Judging by the cover...: A fun and interesting cover. That some of the snowflakes are shaped like hearts is a fact that did not escape me, and the picture in the background just screams NYC.

Favorite Elements

• Awesome book store - Barnes and Noble The Strand is not. No corporate craziness here. Just a good old fashioned family owned bookstore. With 18 miles of books. Sounds an awful lot like heaven.
  

• New York City - While I would not want to live there, it can be quite fun to visit, and I would love to be there during Christmas. Since I have many friends who live there, it's fun to think about Dash and Lily crossing paths and never even knowing the others existed.

• Epic Journey - Okay, while this isn't a cross-country road trip, a mad dash (see what I did there?) around NYC can certainly feel that way.

• Tiny Cooper-esque - Since my post about Across the Universe (last post), I have been thinking A LOT about Tiny. Levithan has obviously been thinking a lot about him, too, as Dash's best friend Boomer falls short of screaming that he's the straight version of Tiny (and if you haven't picked up Will Grayson, Will Grayson, you should be ashamed of yourself).
  

Overall (out of 5): 4.75
The journal is written in alternating viewpoints, Dash's by Levithan, Lily's by Cohn. It has a very natural feel to it, and one can almost believe that they are real people. Dash and Lily have real relationship issues, too. I had this feeling while reading that Lily and I were cut from the same cloth; her reaction to the gerbil incident, while worrying to her family, seemed totally normal to me. My only hesitance in giving this book a 5 comes from the title. The duo's past two books were Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. Now Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. I know I can't be the only one who sees the pattern, and it makes me slightly annoyed that there isn't more creativity in title creation. Oh well. I guess since they write amazing together I shouldn't complain too much.

Recommendation: If you liked the two's other collaborations, you'll most definitely enjoy this one. If you've seen the movie version of Nick and Nora you'll enjoy this book. If you're a living, breathing human, you will love this book. In fact, I'm not entirely sure why you're still reading (though I'm flattered). Go to the library and request it! Now!

P.S. I'm intrigued by my excessive use of italics today. Must further observe this behavior.

Across the Universe

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Razor Bill, 2011
398 pages
9781595143976

Amy has volunteered to be a part of a mission to build a new planet. The only catch is, she must be frozen for 300 years. The plan is, when the time has come, she will be woken, along with her parents and other personnel needed to colonize the new world.

Elder is the next in line for leadership of Godspeed, the massive spaceship containing thousands of people, including Amy and her family. He knows there's something going on on the ship, but he can't get his mentor, Eldest, to let him in on the secret.

When Amy is accidentally woken up 50 years too early, her and Elder must figure out what is going on before more people are woken up and possibly killed.

Why I picked it up: I won an ARC copy of this through Library Thing's Early Reviewers program. The description was very compelling, so I signed up, never ever thinking that I would actually win. Very glad that I did.

Judging by the cover...: Very chic cover. Sexy and otherworldly. And Carrie Ryan's quote about the book is on it, which seals the deal for me.

Favorite Elements:

• Sci-fi + mystery + a little romance = very hard to put down. The combination of the two genres makes it an instant hit for me. The very flirtatious scenes don't hurt, either.
  

• Best friend - Elder's best friend, Harley, calls to mind Tiny Cooper from Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Outgoing, friendly, and eager to hook his bestie up with a girl. Add to that his heroic actions and you've got yourself a friend that you should never EVER let go. A part of me wanted to hug someone every time Harley was on the scene.

• A library - Let's face it, I'm a library nerd, so anyone that has a library as stocked as these guys is going to get my lust. Yes, it's filled with massive amounts of misinformation, but give me a month alone with the collection and I'll gladly fix that.

Overall (out of 5): 4.5
After a slow start, I was beginning to have doubts. But by the time Amy is unfrozen, the action picks up and never stops. The characters, right down to the lowly feeders, are fascinating studies of human nature. Revis asks questions that just beg to be answered. Would you do the same as Elder? Or Eldest? How would you feel if you were on Godspeed, knowing what they know? I know that I will NOT be joining an interstellar adventures for a while, as this book left me claustrophobic about everything, even my car!

Recommendation: Do not let the sci-fi aspects of the book fool you. The setting is secondary to the plot. It could happen anywhere, any time. Feel paranoid yet? Good! Now go and get this book. Its release date is 1/11/11.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
HarperCollins, 2005
320 pages
9780060541415

Ginny's aunt's last wish is for her to take a whirlwind trip around Europe. The catch: she can't contact anyone from home by phone or e-mail (snail mail is encouraged), she can only travel with a backpack, and she must follow the instructions left to her in the 13 blue envelopes, opening them one by one as directed. As she makes her way through London, Edinburgh, Paris, and beyond, she learns a little more about her aunt and herself, and manages to find a little romance, too. A great story about a girl learning to find her own way through life.

Why I picked it up: I am ashamed to admit that this was the first Maureen Johnson book, and I might not have picked it up had not John Green mentioned her in this vlog post.

Judging by the cover...: When I took the book off the shelf, I almost cringed. If I had known nothing about the awesomeness that is this book, I might have passed it by.

Favorite Elements:

• World Travel - Ginny's adventure made me want to hop a plane as soon as I finished it. A free trip around Europe with nothing but what's on my back? Yes, please! Johnson's remarkably realistic descriptions give the story an incredible depth.

• Boy with an Accent - Accents always do me in, especially a British one. Add to that Keith's artistic nature, and I'm hooked.
  

• Awesome Aunt - Aunt Peg might have been flaky, but she knew what she was doing.

Overall (out of 5): 4
What a fun book! This book felt to me like a teen version of 39 Clues. A race around Europe and a mystery to solve. It was a great adventure, and I totally wish that Ginny was real so that we could be best friends, or at least have lunch once in a while. My only complaint about the book was Keith's role; their "something" felt rushed, and I don't think he was given his fair share of the plot.

Recommendation: Run out and get this book ASAP!

Illyria

Illyria by Elizabeth Hand
Viking, 2010
135 pages
9780670012121

Maddy and her cousin Rogan have always been close. Real close. Closer than cousins should ever be. And now that they're older, their bond is, rightly so, seen by family members as unhealthy (if they only knew!). Maddy can sense that things are changing, slowly but surely, and in a last-ditch effort to keep the magic going, she suggests that they try out for their school's production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, as the twins. The future awaits them at the end of the production, but will they be able to stay together?

Why I picked it up: Forever Young Adult gave the book a favorable review. The kissing cousins element almost turned me against it, but it's a short book, and I decided to slog through. The beautiful cover, magical and mysterious, certainly helped.

Favorite Elements:

• First Love - Although most people don't fall for their cousins at any point in their lives, everyone remembers that first taste of romance and just how sweet it was. Had the two of them not been related, their overly fond feelings for each other would have reminded me of that feeling.

• High School Play - This book reminded me of the thrill one gets when acting on stage. Oh, to be in the high school musical again!

• Child-like magic - The description of the miniature theatre the two discover in the attic takes my breath away.
  

• Glamorous Aunt - Who wouldn't want to be Aunt Kate's favorite? Fancy clothes, influential friends, and regular tickets to see Broadway plays? Count me in!
  

Overall (out of 5): 2.5
The writing was beautiful, lyrical almost, and kept me reading, even when part of me started screaming, "Ick!" The fact that the two lovebirds are related could have been left out, keeping them as best friends instead of first cousins, which would have made the plot a little more easy to digest. While reading, I had the feeling that maybe Hand had not meant for this book to be YA, but the publishers took a glance at its length and the age of the characters and labeled it as such.

Recommendation: This book is not for the weak. I would even go so far as to only recommend it to open-minded friends or to teens who you are absolutely sure are equipped to see past the familial aspect and appreciate the fantasy world the two live in. The length and the cover add to the attraction, though.

Rose Sees Red

Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
Scholastic Press, 2010
197 pages
9780545060790

Rose, a ballet student at Performing Arts in New York City has resigned herself to spending high school alone. But one night, her Soviet neighbor evades the KGB and CIA stationed outside her door and climbs up to Rose's bedroom window. Rose and Yrena find they have a lot in common, and they set off to spend a wild night in the city that never sleeps.

Why I Picked It Up: I admit, I judged this book by its cover. The simple black and white with a touch of red drew me in. The blurb only cemented my decision.

Favorite Elements:

• Not Your Typical High School - Who wouldn't want to spend high school surrounded by artistic geniuses? Even though Rose quickly puts the idea to bed, I couldn't stop myself from thinking that it must be like living in the movie Fame every day. She also shows us that even cool PA students have typical high school problems.

• Subtle Romance - Sometimes the best relationships are with the people you thought were only your friends.

• Historical Viewpoint - Rose's story takes place in October, 1982. I often don't draw a connection between the Cold War and the 1980s. To me, the Cold War is the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK, and Khrushchev. I forget that tension between the US and USSR was still an every day part of life, and the threat of nuclear war was still hanging in the air, even as this story was taking place.

• Epic Night - This book was a cross between the movie Center Stage and Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Oh what a night!
  

Overall (out of 5): 3.5
The writing was very fluid, almost felt as if I was dancing with Rose through her journey. And even though Rose and Yrena were well thought out characters, but everyone else seemed a tad flat. Their mad dash through the city was intense, but the "give peace a chance" message came on too strong at some points. I found myself struggling to not gloss over those paragraphs. Luckily, they were few in number.

Recommendation: I would definitely suggest reading this book, especially since it is so short, it can be finished in an hour or two. It was a peek into the lives of teenagers during a period of time that is just now old enough to be considered historical fiction.

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to my new blog. Here I will be commenting on the young adult books I read.

A few years ago I realized that I was sick of slogging through adult novels only to be barraged by heavy violence, overly crude language, and depressing plot developments. Now, this makes me out to be a prude, but there's only so much death and destruction a girl can take. I found myself seeking out YA novels more and more, and now they have become my favorite.

I am a native of Buffalo, NY, and I currently work as a Children's Librarian for a small public library branch in a suburb of Dallas, TX. I love getting an opportunity to talk to teens about great books.

I hope you enjoy :)