The Summer I Wasn't Me

I read this book in one sitting.  Granted, I read it in the backseat of a car heading 4 hours back home from PLA in Indianapolis...there wasn't anywhere else for me to go.  But!  This made the time go by much faster, and pretty enjoyably minus a brief bout of car queasiness.  

The Summer I Wasn't Me is a YA novel by Jessica Verdi.  Lexi's father has recently passed away, her mother isn't coping well, and she's just found out Lexi likes girls.  To rescue her unraveling family, Lexi agrees to go to New Horizons-a camp that promises to transform her; to make her like boys.  She wants to do this, she wants to start over.  However, her summer at New Horizons brings surprises, both good and bad.  

I love the movie But I'm a Cheerleader.  I think it was the first LGBTQ movie I saw that was, while satirical, poignant enough to leave a lasting impression.  Actually, I still have the song Glass Vase, Cello Case in my iTunes "Favorites" playlist.  This book was similar- but so much more gut-wrenching, heart-breaking.  I think I connected with the characters more.  Lexi is pretty awesome, and The Great Gatsby is one of her favorite books.  The symbolism in the books comes into play quite a bit throughout The Summer I Wasn't Me.

What's kind of a kicker, too, is Lexi's perspective is one who has grown up in the church.  At one point she brings up the sermons and how it was "getting harder and harder to listen to everyone talking about me like God didn't love me quite as much as he did them.  They didn't know they were talking about me, of course, but that didn't make it hurt any less."  

It's so...crazy, but then you realize that there are camps like this.  I tried to find a memoir from someone who had been through a similar experience, but to no avail.  

This book brings up tough issues like religion, family, choices in general, abuse, but specifically from the perspective of LGBTQ teens.  Definitely a conversation-starter on many levels.  

Bonus!  Author Jessica Verdi will be guest posting in a couple of weeks- stay tuned!




The Summer I Wasn't Me is published by Sourcebooks Fire. Review Copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Released: 04.01.2014

We Were Liars

Okay...I'm not going to give the plot, a summary...anything.  All I will say is: READ THIS!  Commit the title to memory and/or pre-order it (or support your local library and put it on hold).

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is just...wow.  The story catches you and carries you from the first page.  The language is so beautiful and mesmerizing.  I couldn't put it down.  Seriously, I had a procedure done on my back, and the doctor had to scold me to put it away so he could get started.

I received the ARC and thought I skillfully hid it under some papers on my desk at work.  A group of us had been talking about the book, bemoaning that none of us had gotten it, and I'd forgotten I'd requested it.  So...one of my staff came into my office to ask me a question; my not so skillful hiding spot failed me, and in 30 seconds she pounced on the title.  I spoke to her like I do my dog "Drop it!  Put. the book. down!"  (I know, not exactly boss-of-the-year behavior).  She pulled back, replying "I just want to hold it..." as she hugged it to her cheek.

If that's any indication of how much buzz this book is making, you know you're in for a treat. 

And don't worry, my staff person will get the ARC after another one finishes it.  I promise, I share post-read.




We Were Liars is published by Random House Children's.  Review copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Release Date: 05.13.2014

The Naturals

Wow...

I've seen enough SVU and other crime shows that I thought I had this one figured out...I did not.  Which is great!

Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Naturals is the first in a new series. Seventeen-year-old Cassie is good at reading the tiniest of details, and figuring out a person's story to a T.  So far, though, she's used it to guess customer orders at the local diner.  When the FBI comes to recruit her, she is brought into a world of killers, cold cases...and other teens with similar gifts.  A serial killer is striking, though, and a bit too close to home for Cassie.  Will she be able to use her gift to save herself and others?

The Naturals was gritty and suspenseful, while still being..fun? Teen-ish?  It's told primarily in first person, with Cassie as our narrator; occasionally, though, it switches to a disturbing second person POV.  From the first second-person narrative, I was hooked (and creeped out).

To be honest, I thought Cassie and the others would have supernatural, X-men-esque abilities.  The fact that it was all profiling, etc, makes it so much cooler! 

The characters are likable--interestingly enough, Cassie wasn't at the top of my character favorites.  For some reason I really liked Lia, the resident liar.  I liked interactions the teens had with each other, and wondered about each past.   Actually, as sick as I am of series (for the time being anyway) I am looking forward to this branching into stories of each kid: Lia, Sloane, Michael, more of Dean...

There's a love triangle, but it's not the most compelling.  I almost wish it had been left out completely and maybe developed throughout the series.  Cassie also says she "should have" done well, a lot of things.  I got to where I highlighted every time she said she "should have [done this]" or "should have [done that]."  Those minor things aside, though, I enjoyed the book.

This would be great for anyone who likes shows like Cold Case, The Mentalist, Profiler and any of the Law & Orders.  Highly recommended for teens who like crime shows.





The Naturals is published by Disney-Hyperion.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 11.05.2013

Sanctuary

So....I grew up on Christian YAish fiction.  The Christy Miller series, the Elizabeth Gail Dobbs series...super girly, wholesome and admittedly, I still re-read them from time to time.  However...alien shisa & zombie-like victims were never a part of that.

And that is why I think Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden is awesome.  It's totally not what you'd expect from "religious" fiction!

Alien spaceships have been hovering for months, dimming the sun, and poisoning the water supply.  People are dying left and right, no one is safe.  After killing 1/3 of the population with the water contamination, alien beasts that look like shisa are sent out to attack people.  They don't kill them, but the victims wish they did.  Jennie, home from college, tries to find the strength to protect her brother.  The journey to safety is a hard one, full of colorful characters and horrible situations.  Will she find (dun dun dun) sanctuary?

I really enjoyed this.  Like I said before, it's not your typical, preachy religious fiction.  Faith absolutely comes into play, but it isn't shoved down your throat.

The story is action-packed, and told from three different perspectives: Jennie, our main protagonist; Hugh, a science teacher from her old high school, aka "Hot Mr. Harris;" and Brad, Hugh's playboy younger brother, who's kind of a douche canoe.  Other characters that come into play are Jennie's 5-year old brother Mickey, and Pastor & Mrs. Crawford- who take everyone in.

I'm trying to think of the best way to describe it...Walking Dead meets X-Files meets Left Behind? Coincidentally, I finished this just before my hubby and I watched This is the End.  It made for some interesting dreams last night...

All in all, great YA religious horror fiction (I still love that "religious" or "Christian" and "horror" are in the same description).  






Sanctuary is published by All Night Reads.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 10.10.2013

Sia

What if the only clue to who you were was the title of your iPod playlist?

One day, 17-year old Sia wakes up on a park bench, in her running gear, with no idea who she is. After a week navigating the rough streets, and being taken in by homeless Carol, she is reunited with her family.  Remembering nothing, she finds she was the school's Queen Mean Girl.  Horrified by who she was, she seeks to rectify past hurts and mend family dysfunctions.  Most people like the new Sia, but what will happen when her memory returns?

Sia, written by Josh Grayson, has a great message, and the characters reminded me a lot of The O.C. TV show.  However, after the first third-ish, I was kind of put off by how easily everything changed for Sia--just because she was nice now.  There's a situation with her alcoholic mother, and after one conversation she lets down her guard...after fighting up to that point of the book.  Another thing that had me throwing my hands up, yelling "Why!?! Why are you telling everyone that!?!" was her telling anyone who would listen her family's impending financial situation.  Though, I guess if I was so into it I yelled at a character, that speaks to some good writing :)

Those minor details aside, I loved the premise. I also loved Carol, the homeless lady who befriends Sia, and I appreciated their relationship.  It's a good lesson for kids to learn- that you never know a) what others have been through, and b) who's going to make a difference in your life.

While I think there are other books on the "bad girl gone good" front that some teens would like more, this one would be appropriate for those in more conservative households.  No sex, no profanity (that I can recall...maybe some minor stuff)- nothing terribly offensive, and I find that wholly refreshing.  Ah...just saw the screenplay will be submitted to Disney and ABC Family next year.  Actually, I think it would be perfect in that context!

It's an enjoyable read, and if you're not frustrated by the minor things I mentioned, go for it!  It's absolutely appropriate for younger tween/teen girls.  It's also intriguing as far as getting me to Google "fugue amnesia."






Sia is self-published by Josh Grayson.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 11.20.2013

Red

Do blondes really have more fun?  Not in Scarletville!

Red, a new YA novel by Alison Cherry, takes place in the Iowa town of Scarletville. In this town, red-heads hold all the power.  Felicity St. John is a creative, popular Junior, on her way to winning the Miss Scarlet pageant.  She has a dark secret, though...her hair color "comes straight from a bottle!"  If her secret is revealed, she'll lose her friends, her boyfriend, and her social status- but someone has found out, and is blackmailing her into social suicide.  In the weeks leading up to a pageant that could help her fund art school, Felicity weighs the choice to be Red, or be herself.

You KNOW I pictured Emma Stone in the movie in my mind (and she's a bottle red-head, too, so double the appropriateness).  This was an enjoyable read- it was clever and funny.  It took a serious issue to such a ridiculous level the reader knew the point being made, but it wasn't preachy.  

It's your typical "coming-of-age-be-yourself" YA novel, but like I said- cleverly done with its over-the-top-ishness.  For example, a fun little thing about Scarletville is the underground hair-dying salon; the prominent sunblock vendor; the high school class: History of Red-Headedness, where students learn about historical figures like Queen Elizabeth the First.  

Downside to this novel- there's a scene with a restaurant.  I read it after an intense workout.  They had waffle fries with cheddar jalapeno sauce, and sweet potato waffle fries with cinnamon BBQ sauce.  Seriously, I'm still drooling about this.  I love cheesy waffle fries.  Here's proof:

This was right before my husband pushed my face into the neon cheese.

Funny and thought provoking, I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who has been afraid to show their true colors.  And on that note, I'm going to go pick out some hair dye.






Red is published by Random House Children's.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 10.08.2013

Fangirl

Oh, Rainbow Rowell...you did it again.

This is the third time I've stolen away during work breaks, cut my workout short, and ignored my bedtime (5 AM comes oh so early...) to finish one of your books.  Where I can't wait to get back to your characters, and can't seem to get out from that blurred reality/fiction line and think I'm actually friends with them.  Which I guess goes really well with this new book!

Fangirl, the new YA novel by Rainbow Rowell, takes a look at fanfiction culture- and being a college freshman.  Socially awkward Cath writes fanfiction about Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-like character), and has made a name for herself in that world.  However, college throws a wrench into her introverted life- her roommate is mean, her twin sister won't talk to her, her Dad is manic, and there's a boy that won't leave her alone.  She just wants to stay in and write, but things keep forcing her to leave her comfort zone.  Will Cath learn to live in the real world? Or will she stay in her stories?

If you couldn't tell from my first paragraph, I loved this book.  It may be my Introverted, INFJ-ishness, but I related SO much to Cath!  Or as I wrote in my notebook "I have Cath-like tendencies!"  

The novel threw me back to my college days- dorm living, pushy professors (those are always the best ones, though, right?)  It also reminded me of how I preferred to stay in reading & watching movies until someone would pull me out into a social setting.

Rowell writes such real characters- smart, funny, flawed, awkward.  A board member and I even discussed last night after our meeting how real Eleanor & Park was.  She had said she didn't like the ending, but she loved the book- "Everything was just very...real," she said.  I agreed, and that is one of the Rainbow Rowell novels I devoured in a single day.  I genuinely liked the key players in Fangirl, and the few I didn't like were for good reason (they were well-written a-holes!)

And so, I will just leave this at: if you are an introvert, socially awkward, reader/writer of fanfiction (or a reader/writer in general), have dysfunction in your family, and love little "aw" moments- read this.  I can't say enough good things about it.





Fangirl is published by Macmillan.  ARC received from publisher at ALA 2013.
Release Date: 09.10.2013

Personal Statement

Ah...I needed this.

In This Together Media is an awesome publishing company that publishes books about real girls [insert Pinocchio joke here].  But seriously, when I was contacted to review the book, and started reading about this company- how could I not get behind it!  Girls need to know they can be smart and strong, and also that they don't need to see each other as competition- we should build each other up.  So!  Follow the link!  Learn more!

Personal Statement by Jason Odell Williams is a hilarious satire on the college admission "game."  Emily, Rani and Robert are from upscale Connecticut, and all have motives to be the best.  Not just the best grades, but also philanthropy.  When a Class 3 hurricane makes its way to the New England coast, they jump on the opportunity to make themselves stand out! Told from the perspective of the three teens, and a 20-something observer who's already been through it all, Personal Statement  takes a look at the dirty underbelly of college admissions...competitive volunteering.

This...this was everything I wanted the movie Admission to be.  Coincidentally, I got the e-mail asking to review the book as I was setting up our overly-complicated physical media-playing system to watch Admission.  I figured it was a sign.  [Note: Admission was good!  Just not what I expected humor-wise.]

The cast is refreshingly diverse!  Smart and snarky, real, and not a WASP among them (says the WASP reviewing...).  I was laughing from page one at the humor, but also at the truths revealed about college, admissions, debt, etc.  I was nodding with a "So true!" every few pages.  And, lots of pop culture references!

Also, jealous of these lucky New Englanders.  Whenever I say I'm from Maine I have to follow up with "but the town was kind of King of the Hill-ish...but with Downeast accents.  Not really what you see on postcards."  These kids are postcard people.

This was an original, hilarious satire.  Anyone who has been through the college admissions process, or is about to go through it, should probably read this.  I kind of want it to be made into a movie, and then shown at school assemblies.  I'm also going to take a look at the other books from In This Together Media...you probably should, too.





Personal Statement is published by In This Together Media.  Review copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Released: 08.01.2013

Somebody Up There Hates You

Did anyone read Lurlene McDaniels' books?  You know, the ones where a teen has a terminal illness, and falls in love, and starts to get better, and then tragedy strikes and you're left with an empty box of tissues?  

This isn't quite like that.

Somebody Up There Hates You by Hollis Seamon is a YA novel about a boy with cancer.  Young Richard Casey is 17 years old, has cancer, and is now spending is final days in hospice care.  With Sylvie, the girl across the hall, and a cast of patients, caregivers, and family, Richie makes the most of the time he has left.

I went into this with some skepticism- is this going to be another Fault in Our Stars?  I'm happy to say, the two are completely different.  Apart from teenage romance...and terminal illness.  I felt Somebody Up There Hates You was much grittier.  It dealt with the graphic, medical aspects of cancer- and as sad as it was, Richie's narration had me laughing out loud on a fairly regular basis.  Actually, I was laughing by the end of the first page.

Now, the books does get a bit American Pie-y, with our main characters not wanting to die virgins, but...it's real.  And I mean, at this point, the raging teen boy hormones are about the only normal thing left for Richie.  Also, remembering that Richie is a teen boy, with those raging hormones, don't be surprised at some of the raunchiness that makes its way in there.

The cast of characters is great- from the awesome nurses, Edward and Jeannette, to Richie's black sheep Uncle Phil, to the "harpy" (an old woman with crazy hair who plays the harp in the lobby...all. day. long.) and the two old men across the hall. These aren't one-dimensional characters, they're real with real experiences, and real problems.  There's actually a great quote from Edward to Richie, about how the world is "universally sad" and all people hurt, and basically, don't be a douche canoe.

This isn't a happy story, but it takes something tragic and makes it...human.  Life has a range of emotions, and this book has them all.  Anger, hurt, hormones, laughter, sadness, concern...

Again, it's raunchy and gritty, sad and graphic...so probably for older teens.  But good.







Somebody Up There Hates You is published by Alognquin Young Readers.  ARC graciously provided by the publisher.
Release Date: 09.03.2013

Sick

I needed a bit of a break from fairy tales and realistic fiction...so I chose some YA horror!

Sick by Tom Leveen is your typical zombie apocalypse/outbreak horror novel.  Brian and his friends are the school misfits/troublemakers.  Due to an accident when the school had an open campus, a high wall with spikes has been erected around their huge, Phoenix high school.  Brian and his best friend Chad scale the wall regularly to cut class.   One day, though, they come back into the school to a violent viral outbreak, and a building on lockdown.  Turned into crystallized, rage-filled zombies, students and teachers are attacking the healthy ones.  Brian and Chad hole up in the drama department, and try to figure out how to reach Brian's twin sister Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend (whom he still likes) Laura.  Both are on the other side of the school, with the living dead between them. 

The description said it was Breakfast Club meets The Walking Dead; it reminded me more of Lord of the Flies meets The Faculty...meets The Walking Dead.  An entertaining, fairly quick read, it gave me what I expect from a zombie story.

I was a bit put off by some of the dialogue, but this comes from someone who constantly has to remind teenage boys of appropriate language, etc. at the library- so, it may have just been my professional self creeping in.  Leveen's descriptions, though- wow!  Vivid and gory, super fast-paced...two thumbs up for that!  Just don't make the mistake I did and try to read it during lunch- though, that could become a new diet craze ("Just read a highly graphic, gory novel while you try to eat, and watch the pounds melt away!")

There wasn't much new zombie-wise in this book, though, I did like that Brian's Mom was a doctor and could kind of explain what was going on with the virus.  There were also some new visual descriptions I liked- physical changes, as well as motor skills.  The attack motive was good, too, and ties into a backstory. 

All in all, entertaining horror.  If you're into zombie books, you'll probably like it.  Cell it is not, but if you aren't super-picky about the genre, give it a go!







Sick is published by Amulet (an imprint of Abrams).  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 10.01.13

Skin

Donna Jo Napoli has her own section on my bookshelf.  I first read her in Jr. High, but can't for the life of me remember if it was Sirena (the Little Mermaid) or The Magic Circle (Hansel & Gretel from the witch's perspective) that caught me first.  I have always loved her takes on fairy tales, as well as historical fiction (e.g. The Smile about Mona Lisa).

Skin,  however, is not a fairy tale.  It is the story of Sep (short for Giuseppina) who is sixteen, and has olive, Italian skin.  She wakes up on the first day of school her Junior year to find her lips have turned white.  She covers them with lipstick, but as days go on, the white spreads over her skin.  Over the next weeks Sep deals with school, friendships, a new boyfriend, and dance...all the while feeling her time as a "normal" person will be cut short as the vitiligo takes over.  

I have to say, this is one of Napoli's steamiest novels.  Had to set the book down and fan myself a couple of times, lol.  It's a coming-of-age novel, and there are quite a few awkward firsts.  Some may be shocked by how quickly Sep takes things to the next level with her boyfriend, but one has to remember the sense of urgency she feels with the vitiligo (yes, what Michael Jackson had) spreading.

While not a fairy tale, there is some mythology thrown in!  There are references to Daphne & Apollo, as well as Vishnu & Ganesha   There was also a lot of education- on both the disease and animal biology.  For being a fiction novel, there was quite a bit of non-fiction/reference about tuna, swifts, etc.

While Sep deals with her new skin, her friendships, her heartbreak, and her passions, one thing she takes away is that Life Goes On.  There's no need to hide who you truly are.  Or as Dr. Seuss so wonderfully put it: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

I would recommend this to those who enjoy Napoli's other books, those interested in vitiligo, and realistic YA fiction.






Skin is published by Skyscape (Amazon Children's Publishing).  ARC provided by Amazon.
Release Date: 08.06.2013 (today!)

This Is How I Find Her

A very good book on a topic that needs to be discussed more openly-

This Is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky is a YA novel about a Sophie, whose mother suffers from bipolar disorder and has just tried to kill herself.  Sophie is the one who finds her.  She's spent her life caring for her mother, and keeping the situation secret from everyone.  After her mother's incident, she stays with her aunt, uncle and cousin while waiting for her mom to be released from the hospital.  She hasn't had anything to do with these family members in five years.  Now, with nowhere else to turn, Sophie learns more about her mother, and how to build her own life.

This was gutwrenching- having  had two friends go through with suicide while being in mixed state, it threw me back.  Somewhere I didn't particularly want to revisit.  This Is How I Find Her deals with mental illness in a way that is real, but also accessible to teens.  It is a very hard topic, but this novel conveys the issue from very many angles.  From dealing with mental illness and crappy insurance, to the side effects of a drug that's supposed to help, to how the illness affects those around you. There's learning to let others in, as well as becoming the person you're meant to be.  Being broken, and the process of hope and healing.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in or affected by mental illness, as well as anyone interested in heavy YA fiction.  There's also some good stuff regarding art, architecture, and photography.




This Is How I Find Her is published by Albert Whitman & Company.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 09.01.2013

Love in the Time of Global Warming

I remember my first encounter with Francesca Lia Block.  I was in 4th grade, and was wandering around the Calais Free Library in Calais, Maine.  I saw a short, pink book, and the title was so fun to say: Weetzie Bat.  Unfortunately (or, I guess maybe fortunately), my parents were still monitoring my reading materials at that point (not as much two years later when I picked up Insomnia), and I wasn't allowed to check it out because of language.

Well, I did indeed end up checking it out at a later time, along with the rest of the Dangerous Angels, and then found one of my favorites of Block's: Girl Goddess #9.  I don't know why that book is so comforting to me, but at least once a year I check it out from the library, and sink into it like a familiar hug.  I should probably just buy it :-)  Actually, I can't seem to read any of her books just once- I've returned to them all at one point or another.

Ms. Block was at ALA this year, and I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this novel. I also got to meet her, and have her sign it.

Love in the Time of Global Warming is a story about Penelope.  After a major earthquake, she is on an Odyssey-like quest to search for her family.  Like Odysseus, she must make a journey. Faced with monsters and madmen, banding together with an unlikely group, she recognizes her own strengths and holds on to hope.

This story is told with Block's distinct, magical, almost-dreamlike style.  I feel like I'm watching a live painting when I read her (does that make any sense?  Each sentence is like a written brushstroke).  Dark and ethereal, Pen's journey is absolutely captivating.  She and her three companions encounter giants and other obstacles, and we are swept away into their experiences.

I particularly loved all the mythological references, and Pen's guide to this new world being a copy of Homer's The Odyssey.  I had fun making the connections to the epic tale- I did the same thing with O Brother, Where Art Thou?

So, I really liked this book.  Beautiful, sensual and haunting, and like her other books- one I will keep returning to.

I would recommend this to those who like or are interested in Block's other books, mythology, LGBTQ protagonists, and post-apocalyptic stories. 






Love in the Time of Global Warming is published by Henry Holt & Co (a divsion of Macmillan).  ARC copy graciously provided by Macmillan.
Release Date: 08.27.13

Taste Test

What happens when Iron Chef, Master Chef & Top Chef meet Drop Dead Gorgeous?

You get Taste Test by Kelly Fiore!

Nora Henderson's a small-town girl from North Carolina, who's grown up in her Dad's barbecue restaurant.  When the opportunity to compete for $50,000 and a culinary trip to Paris arises, she has to take it!  She leaves her Dad and best friend Billy, hops a plane to Connecticut, and is thrust into the world of Reality TV cooking shows.  Personalities clash, judges are acting shady, and there are many too random accidents on the set.  Will Nora figure out what's going on, while still putting forth her best dishes?

I enjoyed Taste Test!  As I said in one of my earlier posts, I'm kind of addicted to cooking competition shows (tonight, even, I caught up on all my Master Chef and Hell's Kitchen episode backlog).  -And I just love experimenting in the kitchen.  

The book starts with an explanation on regional dialects, and how barbecue has its own regional dialects (St. Louis, Kansas City, Texas, etc).  My sister, like Nora, lives in North Carolina- and that barbecue is hands down the best I've ever had.  There's a lot of food explanations included in the novel, so you're learning a lot while reading it, too.

To me, it kind of read like a manga (without, you know, the pictures).  You have the jerky boy wonder, the feisty girl, the snotty princess, almost an entire book's worth of chemistry build up (like "Oh! OH! Here it comes! HERE IT-! Oh....crapdammit, c'mon!")  There's a love triangle thrown in, too.  With the love, drama and food aspects, it reminded me a lot of Kitchen Princess.  Which made me like it even more.

Then!  To add to its awesomeness- RECIPES AT THE END!!!  So, there's that.  All in all, it's a really fun, entertaining read.  

I would recommend Taste Test to anyone who likes teen dramas, reality TV, cooking shows and mysteries.




Taste Test is published by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 08.09.13

Living with Jackie Chan

"A true Karate Man is one with a god-like capacity to think and feel for others; irrespective of their rank or position. One who possesses ideals so lofty, a mind so delicate, as to lift him above all things base and ignoble, yet one who strengthens his hands to lift those who have fallen, no matter how low. The ultimate aim of Karate, therefore, lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." 

-Master Gichin Funakoshi 1868-1957

Confession: I love Jackie Chan movies.  I blame my parents.  So, when I saw the book Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles, I had to see what it was about.

It's Josh's senior year.  After fathering a baby during a one-night stand, he moves four hours away. Staying with his eccentric, karate-loving Uncle Larry (who calls him Samurai Sam), Josh tries to deal with his guilt.  However, there's a baby in the upstairs apartment, always reminding him of his past.  He meets Stella, and the two begin taking karate lessons with Larry.  Through these lessons, and the katas, Josh finds a community.  He and Stella share a connection, but she also has an extremely jealous boyfriend.  Through this hilarious and heartbreaking story, we see Josh's journey to becoming a "True Karate Man." 

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book- it wasn't until I finished that I realized it's a companion to one of Knowles' other books: Jumping Off Swings (which I now have to read).  Knowing too many kids in this similar situation, I appreciated the perspective and way in which it was told.  Most books are from the girl's perspective, and the boy is  portrayed pretty negatively.  Granted, there are sometimes good reasons for that, but they seem to be very...one-dimensional.  Josh is a complex, sympathetic character; a real kid. He made a mistake, and has to find a way to deal with it, heal from it- but not be totally defined by it.

Knowles wrote the characters in such a great way- we all have that one friend who's a bit too inappropriate, the odd uncle, the parents who have their own issues, the opposing lives of in-school strangers vs after-school friends...

I also loved the importance placed on finding a healthy outlet- finding a community, a good community.  Not dealing with problems with unhealthy substances. With martial arts Josh finds he isn't alone.  He moves in sync with a group, and they are all trying to be better people (True Karate Men).  I have found this with things like dance classes, or kickboxing. Everyone finishes, exhausted, but with a "Look! We did this! We finished together!"  Haha, like the song from Lion King II: "We are more than we are, we are one." (Gosh, I'm such a dork...)

I would recommend Living with Jackie Chan to anyone who enjoys kung fu and karate films, martial arts, and wants a realistic teen male narrator/protagonist.



Living with Jackie Chan is published by Candlewick Press.  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 09.10.2013

The Theory of Everything

Does anyone remember the show Wonderfalls?  With the French-Canadian girl that worked in a Niagara Falls gift shop, and random tchotchkes would come to life in front of her and give her cryptic messages? And Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, etc) was her brother?  I loved that show.  Which of course means it got canceled too soon.

Reading the description for The Theory of Everything by Kari Luna, my thoughts first went toward The Big Bang Theory (String Theory and Physics and all).  However, when I got to the part about Sophie Sophia seeing things others don't see, and having a Shaman Panda to guide her...my mind went straight back to Wonderfalls, and my thoughts went to "Read this. Read this NOW!"

Sophie Sophia is fourteen years old, and she sees things that others don't see.  Things like baby black bears raining from the sky, marching band pandas, and playing guitar with The Cure.  She listens to mix-tapes (late 80s bands) on a Walkman, and wears funky clothing with fun-shaped pockets.  Her father is a theoretical physicist at NYU who also sees things others don't see.  He left four years ago, and now it seems he's disappeared completely.  Sophie's Mom has settled them in Havencrest, Illinois (New York City it is not), where Sophie isn't exactly fitting in.  Armed with her new friend Finny and Walt, her shaman panda, Sophie tries to find her father.  Set to a soundtrack from The Smiths, The Cure, U2 and such, it is an adventure in string theory, friendship, the extraordinary, and most importantly- love.

The Theory of Everything is a smart, quirky, funny YA novel (with a bit of mystery thrown in).  I loved Sophie- she was such a charming, intelligent character.  She's an outsider, who's built up walls. Seeing her friendship with Finny develop was such a highlight of the story.  I just wanted to give her a hug.  I really connected with Sophie (quirky kids unite!), and there's a point in her friendship with Finny where walls come down and I just sobbed with her. 

As a chronic listmaker, I got such a kick out of the lists she creates throughout the book, like "How to Survive Going to a New School" and "How to Survive Going to School After an Episode."  And I enjoyed the evolution of those lists from the start of school to learning to let people in.

This was a fantastic book, and one that I would enjoy reading again.  Annnd it helped me, even after 6 seasons of The Big Bang Theory, sorta kinda understand String Theory (so yay!)  I would recommend it to anyone interested in String Theory, Late-80s music, Being Yourself, and Pandas (especially Shaman Pandas).



The Theory of Everything is published by Philomel Books (Penguin USA).  Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 07.11.13

Awaken

Awaken by Meg Cabot is the third book in the Abandon trilogy...which I have really enjoyed keeping up with.  I love pretty much anything by her- and have you seen her YouTube Channel?  Dying!!! (in that Who Framed Roger Rabbit "laugh yourselves to death" kind of way).

As with most series installments, it took awhile for my brain to catch back up with everything that happened beforehand.  Ha, "previously on Abandon..."

So, without giving away too much, in this final book of the YA series:

We are again thrust into The Underworld.  Pierce Oliviera and John Hayden are together, herding souls onto ships on the River Styx.  However, John has broken a strict rule- he brought a human back to life.  Furies are furious, and the life-death balance is all out of whack.  Pierce has to go back to Isla Huesos.  We meet Thanatos, the personification of Death. There is an epic battle in a cemetery. Lobster Tacos are offered. All on the quest to restore balance to the Underworld.

I have always loved Mythology, and I like how Meg Cabot took the Hades/Persephone story and gave it an awesome twist.  The lead characters are interesting- flawed yet...noble? I think that's close to what I'm looking for.  And the supporting characters are very likable- I want Kayla to be my best friend.  They have some great one-liners and situations- I found myself snickering quite a bit.  There's also a lot of action, and Pierce gets to show off some pretty cool bad-assery.  

This final installment was an emotional roller-coaster for me.  It was very "Wait, what!?! NOOOOOO!!!! Oh yay!!!!! What the crap!?!"  So thumbs up Meg Cabot, two thumbs way, way up!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Meg Cabot's other books (especially the others in the Abandon trilogy), mythology, fantasy, and Florida weather.




Awaken is published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic. Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 07.02.13

Ink

Kami, Kendo, Yakuza...just the beginnings of INK by Amanda Sun- the first of The Paper Gods YA series.

Katie Greene is newly orphaned, and has moved across the world to Japan to live with her aunt.  She becomes attracted to the school's kendo superstar, Yuu Tomohiro.  However, when she's around him, drawings and doodles come to life (like, snails coming at her with snapping teeth from a homework page).  Turns out Tomo is connected to the kami, the ancient Shinto spirits. The Yakuza are after him, wanting to use his abilities.  As the two get closer, things get out of control.  The result is a power struggle that will stir the core of Japan, and the core of Yuu.

***

I really, really liked this book.  Having been on an obsessive (to my husband's chagrin) manga kick & K/J-Drama kick the past 8-or-so months, I kept comparing the story to those- and it totally lined up.  There's a Cherry Blossom viewing scene that could've been taken right out of Honey and Clover.  Plus, all of the awesome mythology!

Amanda Sun was great at bringing in cultural Japanese "stuff."  Honorifics, slippers, the Yakuza, school children cleaning the school, viewing the sakura when they bloom, after school activities, the crazy neon kanji on Japanese TV shows...and the food, oh the food!  Thanks manga for educating me on okonomiyaki, Anpanman [pictured in my Pictures page], etc- I didn't even have to check the glossary to know what they were eating.  It pretty much makes you hungry through the whole book.  And really makes you want to go eat your way through Japan.  Not in Godzilla fashion, though...

It is kind of your typical outcast girl meets bad boy story- however, bringing in the Japanese mythology and cultural dynamic gives it something extra.  Enough of a twist to make it interesting/different.

I love how Sun put the romanized Japanese in italics, and had a glossary in the back.  It was much more effective than not having ANY definitions, or inundating the page with parenthetical definitions.  The pages also have flip sketches at the bottoms that go along with themes in the book.  There are sketches and paintings included in the novel, bringing it even more to life.  The cover is just beautiful- I love the color scheme, and the dripping ink.  There's also a Q&A at the back, with the author and artists; book discussion questions are included.

[sidenote: You know when you're reading, and you come across something and are really excited because you already know what it's referencing?  I may have done that with the mention of dango.  I learned what this was after viewing the credits of the anime Clannad (and the song has been my ringtone for months).  So, for your viewing pleasure- The Happy Dango Family!]

This YA novel is great for those interested in Japanese culture, mythology and food; also for those who like supernatural romances and Manga.  I'm super-excited for the next installment!  



INK is published by Harlequin Teen.  ARC graciously provided by the Publisher.
Release Date: 06.25.2013

45 Pounds (More or Less)

Oh my- this could have been written about me...

45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson was a fun, relatable read.  

Ann Galardi is a 16-year old girl, who wears a size 17.  She has been in Weight Watchers four times since she was 10.  She's struggled through diet after diet, only to lose a little and gain the weight back (and then some).  Her mother is very thin, and her grandmother (jokingly) calls everyone "fat-ass."  When Ann is asked to be a bridesmaid at her favorite aunt's wedding, she decides something needs to change!  She ends up ordering a weight loss system off an infomercial, and gets a job at a mall pretzel shop to pay for it.  As she juggles diet, exercise, a summer job, friends (and ex-friends), and a very blended family, she learns to be comfortable in her own skin.

I devoured (pun?) this book!  From the infomercial product ordering (Nutrisystem didn't work for me...but Zumba and TurboFire did) to the embarrassing, dress debacle in the dressing room...I've been there.  I've struggled with my weight all my life, but hit my breaking point about 4 years ago and lost 50 lbs.  But I was that overweight 16-year old up through college and the first half of grad school- trying to shop in cute stores that didn't have anything in my size.  I was cheering for her, and empathizing with her, through the whole thing!  

K.A. Barson did a great job of portraying what a lot of girls go through in their journey to a healthier lifestyle.  From poring over product websites, looking at before & after pictures, to eating a bunch of crap in one-sitting, because "after tomorrow...".  She also did a good job portraying how relationships can change: mother-daughter, father-daughter, brother-sister, stepparent-stepchild, old friends, new friends.  

I appreciated, too, that it wasn't extremely focused on eating disorders.  While I also tend to be drawn toward those (Fat Chance, Wintergirls, The Best Little Girl in the World) it is nice to see a different perspective on weight loss.  Those books are very good, but can also be very...draining.  
  
I would recommend this to anyone who is struggling, or has struggled with weight.  I would also recommend it to those interested in mother-daughter relationships, and anyone who likes pretzels (cuz seriously, the whole time I was reading, I wanted a pretzel...with nacho cheese...and still do.)



45 Pounds (More or Less) is published by Viking/Penguin Group (USA).  ARC provided by NetGalley. 
Release date: 7.11.13

Samurai Summer

So, I picked this book, because I tend to be drawn toward all things Asian.  And then I realized the author is Swedish (wha...???)  Then I actually started reading it, and learned it's about a summer camp.  Having spent many a summer at summer camp (and band camp, and theater camp), I was intrigued.

Sidenote: The term "camp" has actually been the base of many an argument between my husband and me.  I grew up in New England, where a camp- not a summer camp- is basically a summer home.  Or winter home.  Away from "it all." Nearness to a body of water is generally a given.  We have a nice one on Moosehead Lake. My husband says this is a cabin, and camp is where you play games with a bunch of kids, do crafts, and have counselors.  Deer/moose camps are something else, entirely.

Plus, the cover's pretty awesome, eh?

Samurai Summer by Åke Edwardson (translated by Per Carlsson) is the story of Kenny's last summer at camp.  Kenny's real name is Tommy- he renamed himself after ken (Japanese for sword).  He is obsessed with the ways of the Samurai, and is training himself to become one. It is set in Sweden in the early 1960s- families are just starting to get TVs and telephones.

The camp is run by "The Matron" and has visits from her creepy son, Christian.  Campers wash in a sludgy brown lake, and eat oatmeal that "tastes like chicken poop."  Dessert is similar to fruit cocktail syrup.  Campers only get to wash up with hot water and soap once, in the middle of summer, before parents come.  Counselors steal candy from the campers. There are 40 kids attending the camp, but there is no laughter.  

To escape The Matron and her counselor lackeys, Kenny and his friends escape to the forest, where they are building a castle.  As Kenny gets to know Kerstin, a girl at the camp, he toys with going against the rules, and showing her the castle.  When Kerstin suddenly disappears, Kenny teams up with his samurai "trainees" and they try to find her.  The result is a grim "us vs. them" battle.

***

I enjoyed Samurai Summer.  It wasn't a fun read- it actually got to be pretty disturbing- but it was very well-written.  There was a point I had to put the book down for a sec, because the description of the food was making me nauseous. It was like a darker, more disturbing, Holes (Sachar). 

There is a lot of information about samurai.  Legends of famous samurai like Miyamoto Musashi, who beat his opponent Sasaki Kojirō with a boat oar; training one's thoughts toward that of a warrior; LOTS of romanized Japanese, especially for weapons.

There's an ominous feeling throughout the whole book- absolutely not happy.  There are entertaining moments, however.  One of my favorites is when Kenny and his friend Janne sneak into town and meet a couple of "Explorers" their age, paddling a canoe.  The Explorers want to travel to Missouri (remember, this takes place in Sweden).

I was also interested in the significance of the bag of Twist candy.  Like, it's mentioned in almost every other paragraph, and I was like "what the heck is this stuff?"  Thanks to Google, I found out it's a bag of different flavored chocolate candies from Norway.  Of course now I want to figure out how to get my hands on some...

As I said, it's not happy.  But it's very well-written.  I would definitely recommend it to boys- probably Junior High and up, anyone who was a fan of Holes, and anyone interested in Samurai culture.

Samurai Summer Release date: 6.25.13  ARC provided by NetGalley