You Against Me by Jenny Downham

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You Against Me by Jenny Downham

David Fickling Books, September 13, 2011 (first published 2010)

Read for A-Z Reading Challenge

***This review contains spoliers!***

Summary from Goodreads:

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.

I'm not sure why, but this book has been on my radar forever, and I've been waiting to read it forever. Something about the plot line drew me in--this isn't the story of the girl who claims she was raped, nor is it the story about the boy who claims he had consensual sex with the girl who claimed rape. This is the story about the girl's brother and the boy's sister, and the relationship that develops between the two. It sounded so intriguing to me.

Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. It took me forever to get through this novel, and by the end, I could not see why Mikey was so obsessed with Ellie. I get the she was conflicted, but jeez, ****SPOILER ALERT****







she freaking withheld and deleted evidence--knowingly. And that's supposed to be OK, because she wanted her brother to be innocent? Well, hell, I want to be a millionaire, but that won't hold up in court after I attempt to rob a bank!

I get it that she's in an uncomfortable spot, and seriously, her parents are complete tools. Mom comes around somewhat, but her dad clearly plays the "favorite child" game, and Ellie is not the winner. And really, the only people who think her brother, Tom, is such a hero are Ellie and her parents. Pretty much everyone else, Tom included, can see what a loser he is.

I wasn't that impressed with Mikey, either. I tell you, a relationship that starts out based on lies is pretty much doomed to fail.  All we learned about Mikey was how much his life was changed as a result of his sister being raped. I get that he might question if she was, in fact, raped, but he doesn't really show her any kind of sympathy or support. A total louse. I'm so sorry that I didn't like this book, I really wanted to, especially because I enjoyed Jenny Downham's debut, Before I Die, so much.

Borrowed book from the library.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi 

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

HarperTeen, February 11, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge, YA Contemps Challenge AND A-Z Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?
Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star. 
Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship. 
The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation. 
As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

I finally got around to reading this book--it's been on my nook since it was released in February. Another one of those books that I knew I'd enjoy, so I waited to read it. Rival is a very quick and enjoyable debut. It's not your typical popular girl versus loner chick book, although this is the underlying theme, of course. With the chapters alternating points of view, readers are able to glimpse events as they're observed by both Brooke and Kathryn, and we quickly realize that what each girl recognizes as the truth might be anything but.

I appreciated that we were able to see Brooke's side of the story, too, so we could realize that she wasn't really the bitch she first appeared. I seem to be on a "books-about-girls-whose-fathers-want-nothing-to-do-with-them" kick lately. I wasn't too sure about the ending--I mean, it worked, but I think I might have liked a different outcome. Still, Rival was an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from Sara!

Own book.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer

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Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer

Bloomsbury USA, June 21, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND A-Z Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting-and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will devour this juicy debut novel.

This was another completely creeptastic novel! Sarah's Nana punts her off to all-girls Wetherly College after she's been caught with a boy. Sarah barely has time to get settled in before she's under the spell of her roommate, Maddy, and Maddy's best friend Agnes, who is wealthy beyond all recognition, and also harbors a not-so-secret obsession with Maddy that borders on stalkerish. The trio soon move off-campus to a house Agnes rented, and Sarah is quickly swept up into the freakish world Maddy and Agnes reside in. 


I think what I liked about this novel is that our narrator, Sarah, is not extremely likable. She strikes me as the kind of person who doesn't make friends easily, and she definitely uses sex to hide the fact that she's afraid of commitment, and to keep herself somewhat isolated. Sarah's personality makes it easier to see how she could get swept up in Maddy's and Agnes' lives, and helps us understand why she goes along with a lot of what the two do. And those two, well, they are just all kinds of screwed up. The story keeps you guessing, that's for sure. There's Maddy's story, Anges' story...will Sarah ever get to know the truth?


Looking forward to more from Katherine Easer!
Borrowed book from library.


Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian

Knopf Books for Young Readers, March 8, 2011

Read for A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

This is a hilarious and heartbreaking story of two teen girls and the summer when everything changes for them. Both Henry and Eva are New Jersey natives and excellent athletes: Henry's a master on the tennis court and Eva is a graceful ballerina. When opportunity knocks for both of them the summer before their junior year in high school they throw open the door: Henry sees freedom from her overbearing father and a chance to build her talents on the court. Eva sees the chance to be the best as well as even more pressure to be graceful, lighter, more perfect on the dance floor.

Soon, Eva's obsession with physical perfection leads her down the path to anorexia, and her health issues overwhelm everything else. But through it all these two best friends know that Jersey Tomatoes are the Best, and nothing will come between them no matter the distance.

This was a very moving novel. Of course I picked it up because it's a NJ teens read, and it's one I definitely want to add to the booklist I created for my library. But, it's not a light, fluffy novel...this is powerful stuff. This is a novel about the tests and triumphs of friendship. Henry is in tennis camp in Florida for the summer and Eva is at a dance academy in New York. The pair realizes that the separation will strain their relationship, but are confident that their friendship will endure. When Eva's health starts to deteriorate as she strives to become the perfect ballerina, however, the girls' friendship begins to crack. Will they be able to repair it before it shatters completely?

I felt this was a very touching novel dealing with family and boys, yes, but friendship above all else. You'll be rooting for Henry and Eva from the first chapter.

Borrowed book from the library.

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Numbers 2: The Chaos by Rachel Ward

Numbers 2: The Chaos by Rachel Ward

Chicken House, March 1, 2001

Read for A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Adam has more than inherited his mother's curse: When he looks in someone's eyes, he not only sees the date of their death...he feels the searing, shocking pain of it. Since Jem died, Adam has lived by the sea with his great-grandmother, Val. But when rising tides flood the coast, they return to London. The city is an alien, exciting, frightening place. Most disturbing of all, Adam can't help but clock how many people's numbers are in January 2027; how many are on New Year's Day. What chaos awaits the world? Can he and Sarah stop a catastrophe? Or are they, too, counted among the "twenty-sevens"?

I loved the first Numbers book, and I was surprised that more people didn't feel the same way. I thought the premise and the story were quite original. So imagine how excited I was to realize Rachel Ward wrote a sequel! And imagine my surprise to discover that the second book was even better than the first! In my opinion, of course.


Please don't read any further if you haven't read Numbers; I try really hard not to include spoilers, but with a sequel it's difficult!


Baby Adam is no longer a baby; he's a troubled teenager living with his great-grandmother. The pair have recently moved back to London after time spent in the country. Adam, having inherited his mother's gift, sees a person's death date when he looks in their eyes. Not surprisingly, he tries to avoid contact at all costs. When he does see someone's death date, Adam takes meticulous notes on the where, when, and who. When Adam begins seeing 01012017 (January 1, 2027) on dozens, hundreds, thousands of faces, he knows something huge is brewing. And whatever it is, it'll be going down in London.


Sarah is a new student at Adam's school, and is plagued by horrific nightmares foretelling the future. Upon seeing Adam at school Sarah realizes that he is the unnamed man who haunts her dreams. The pair need to put their differences aside so they can work together to prevent whatever tragedy is due to befall London...and the world.


I was riveted by this story, even more so than the first. Chapters alternate between Adam's and Sarah's points of view, so we learn about events from both parties. I have to admit, I was kind of wishing Sarah had the same gift as Adam, if for no other reason than to learn his death date (Adam only sees death dates when looking someone in the eye--mirrors don't count.). And the ending--holy cliffhanger!! Cannot wait for book 3, Infinity, which (as of the writing of this review) should be released on June 6!


Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Playing Hurt Blog Tour: My Review

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

Flux, March 8, 2011

Read for Blog Tour & A-Z Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college-and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
As a graduation present, Chelsea's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain-or finally heal their heartbreak?

A Blue So Dark was Holly Schindler's explosive debut, but Playing Hurt proves that she's got what it takes to thrive in the in the world of YA fiction. Chelsea and Clint are both highly likable characters. Chelsea is recovering from hip replacement surgery and trying to come to terms with the turn her life has taken. Clint is suffering from what can only be described as mental anguish because of a recent tragedy affecting his girlfriend. Chapters alternate between Chelsea and Clint's point of view, but without rehashing the same event twice. Instead, these alternating voices move the story along quickly but with purpose.

I thought this book was going to be more sports-oriented (this is not a complaint; I was relieved that it wasn't so sports-heavy) and a lighter kind of read. Was I wrong! This was not a light-hearted romance at all (and to be honest, I'm not sure why I thought it was going to be light-hearted--perhaps the cover. It's deceptively fluffy.)! Chelsea and Clint both have their own personal demons within, and are both afraid of being hurt again. In addition, Chelsea has the added factor of a weirdly creepy very attentive boyfriend. Gabe loves her, calls her, is borderline stalker-ish in his desire to know her whereabouts every minute of every day. I don't think that he'd every hurt her on purpose, but he might accidentally smother her to death. Sheesh. He definitely got the short end of the proverbial stick, but he was such a jellyfish that I wasn't even that upset for him.

Holly's writing is exquisite throughout this novel. I particularly enjoyed Chelsea's sections and I thought that her narrative was so descriptive. Here's just one example:

There's just something about him, It's like he's hotter than a steering wheel in August--he burns me every single time I get close enough to touch him. But the thing about a steering wheel in the summer is, even though it stings, you still have to touch it in order to get where you want to go. And besides, sometimes that burn feels kind of good against your hand, anyway. (p. 113)

Hot, right? And that's not even halfway through the book--it gets so much hotter! But the romance is a main part of the story, but there are so many other components. You'll be anxious to find out what happens not only between Chelsea anc Clint, but between Chelsea and her dad (what is his deal, anyway?), Chelsea and Gabe (ugh), and Clint and Kenzie (double ugh). This is an incredible novel about love, loss, life, and hope.

Holly stops by for an interview on Thursday!

Book received as part of blog tour.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

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The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), May 10, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge and A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him.
Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.

I first heard of this book at a Booklist webinar, where several publishers were promoting their favorite upcoming YA titles. I requested and received an ARC; in the meantime, I used this title for my Waiting on Wednesday for that week. Gae Polisner saw my WOW (squee!), and commented how happy she was to see her book on my blog.

I'm very happy to report that I loved this book. It is, as Gae mentioned in an email, a "quiet" book (compared with paranormal fiction, at any rate), but it's a strong storyline with incredible characters. Our narrator, Nick, is just your average kid--he's not extraordinarily handsome or athletic--in other words, he's pretty much just like most of us. His family life isn't great--there's nothing earth-shatteringly bad about it, it's just not spectacular (again, like most of our families). Mom works harder than she should have to, because Dad, a former journalist, has gained an obscene amount of weight and literally sits on the couch all day. Nick's older brother, Jeremy, is just like most older bros--most of the time he can't stand Nick, but once in a while (when it really counts), he steps up.

What makes Nick special is his friendship with Scooter, who was born with a form of progeria, which causes rapid aging in young children. So basically the Scoot is a teenager with the body of an old man. And because there's no treatment or cure for progeria, and because he ages so quickly, he will die way sooner than he should. The Scoot is a remarkable character. His level of maturity is one not often seen in adults, let alone young teens. He regards his pending death with a quiet dignity not often seen anywhere.

Jaycee rounds out this little group. She's the stepdaughter of a local news personality, and meets Nick when Stepdad interviews the family. Nick's dad makes a decision to emulate a man who gained some fame walking from CA to NY, and this causes the family to gain a bit of popularity. (Based on truth: http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/)

Although the only commonality Nick and Jaycee appear to share is Scoot's friendship, they decide to honor his last wish and head out to try and find Scoot's dad. And of course, as is true of almost all road trip stories, Nick learns a lot about himself, Scooter, Jaycee, and even his family while searching for Scooter's dad.

Jaycee is a fun character, using Slinkys and Trolls are accessories to her outfits.  She was just slightly quirky, and reminded me a little bit of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl. She's a strong character who knows what she wants, and almost always knows how to go about getting it. And, if she doesn't know, she'll either fake it, or ask for help. I love to see characters who aren't afraid to ask for help--that's realism.

There are a lot of references to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (the book Nick and Jaycee are attempting to deliver), and it's been soooo long since I've read it that I can barely remember it. All the references are explained pretty well, though. Fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy this novel. It's not a tear-jerker (at least it wasn't for me), but it does tug at the heartstrings, and you will care deeply about these characters by the end of the story.

Note on the cover: at the webinar, the publisher put up a "Cover coming soon" on the powerpoint, explaining that the original cover was being revamped. This is the cover of the ARC I received:

I think the publishers were correct to revamp. This cover doesn't really seem indicative of the story at all.

Stay tuned for an author interview with Gae Polisner!

ARC recieved from publisher.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Everfound (Skinjacker Trilogy #3) by Neal Shusterman

Have you entered to win a copy of One Hundred Candles yet?

Everfound (Skinjacker #3) by Neal Shusterman

Simon & Schuster, May 3, 2011

Read for A-Z Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

While Mary lies in a glass coffin aboard a ghost train heading west, her minions are awaiting her re-awakening by bringing lots of new souls into Everlost to serve her. Meanwhile Jackin’ Jill has met Jix, a fur-jacker—a skin jacker who can take over the bodies of animals, most notably jaguars. Jix serves a Mayan god who collects Everlost coins, and has his own agenda. In the concluding volume of The Skinjacker Trilogy, Neal Shusterman reveals new sides of the characters of Everlost, who are pitted against each other in a battle that may destroy all life on Earth.

I was so excited to return back to Everlost and the deathtimes of Allie, Nick, Mikey, Mary, and the whole gang! Finally, finally, closure! But what would it be? Would Mary succeed in destroying the living world once she reawakens? Will Allie ever get to her tunnel? Will Nick be doomed to remain a mess of chocolate for all eternity?

Trust me, all of these questions--and so many more--will be answered in this third installment of the Skinjacker trilogy. Not only do we get to revisit the Afterlights we love (and the ones we love to hate), but we're introduced to tons of new characters who you'll be anxious to get to know. Jix, who serves a mysterious Mayan king, appears to be self-serving, but is hiding a softer side. And Jackin' Jill, who I never suspected had an ounce of decency, develops into a most interesting character, as well.

I don't want to give too much away, and if you haven't read Everlost or Everwild yet, you should obvs start with them. Neal Shusterman has done an incredible job, and Everfound provides a most satisfying conclusion to the Skinjacker trilogy.

eGalley received from publisher.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Family by Micol Ostow

Family by Micol Ostow

EgmontUSA, April 26, 2011

Read for YA Contemps Challenge and A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

i have always been broken. i could have. died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and best of all a family. One that will embrace her and offer love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Tell me that cover doesn't freak you out? Love it. At the time I'm writing this post, Micol Ostow is using the book cover as her profile picture, and it weirds me out a little every time I see it. Fun stuff, I tell you.

Now, the story. I'm only vaguely familiar with the Manson murders, but I assumed that, this being a fictionalized account, you shouldn't really need that much background info. I was able to understand the story, but, like I said, I kind of knew what I was getting into. A random teen who's never heard of Charles Manson or doesn't know much about life in 1969 San Francisco will have a difficult time relating to this story. Even after spending time reading about the Manson murders on the Internet, I'm still not sure I understand what all went down.

Melinda has a wretched home life, with a passive mother and an abusive "uncle," and makes the decision to run away. Henry (the Manson character) finds her and takes her under his proverbial wing with the rest of his "family." Now, Henry isn't some ordinary guy--apparently the women of his family feel that He's the 1969 version of Jesus Christ. See what I did there? The only capitals used throughout this entire book are Henry, He, His, Him, etc. He's that important.

I don't really get why He's so revered by this group of people. It might be because the women He's chosen are broken in some way, and this family is the closest they've ever come to a real one. It might be because Henry exudes charm and charisma, and is easy on the eyes. Or, it just might be the tons and tons of drugs everyone's doing.

Regardless, His word is law, even if it's a weird law. I totally get why and how Melinda ended up with this cult, and her voice rings true throughout the story. I'm just not sure that teens will be able to relate to her, or the plot. It's a great story for those who have some knowledge of the history, though!

ARC received from publisher.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Delacorte Press, January 5, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Authors Challenge and A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.

When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

Oh, what a sweet, sweet story this was! I absolutely fell in love with it. Poor Ari, living her entire life in the shadow of her pefect best friend Summer and her not-so-perfect older sister Evelyn. She really has nothing to call her own. Sure, she's an artist, but Mom doesn't think that will be enough. She's basically just moving through life without experiencing it.

Through an unexpected inheritance Ari is able to attend Hollister Prep, where Summer goes, and there she befriends rich loner Leigh. It's under Leigh's wing that Ari develops her own personality, as well as crushes on both of Leigh's cousins, brothers Del and Blake. The crush on Blake develops into a serious relationship and Ari is finally (finally!) happy, but of course it's not going to last for long.

And you really can't blame Ari for being so miserable, can you? I mean, her parents can't really relate to her, her sister is a 23-year-old washed up housewife married to a hottie firefighter, and her best friend is Ms. Gorgeous who can have any guy she wants. (I get that her sister suffers from postpartum, although I don't think that was a clinical term back in the 80s. Or maybe it was, but it wasn't as accepted as a diagnosis as it is today. Anyway, yeah, her bitchiness is justified, but seriously, what mother would allow her older daughter to BAN the younger one from holiday functions? Seriously? Where's the Ari love?) It is kind of strange that Ari doesn't have anyone else to turn to, but I think that unfortunately, that happens all too often in real life.

And Blake! Oh, how I loved and hated Blake! He was so sensitive and sweet and kind and patient and SO UNWILLING TO HAVE A SPINE. Summer was perfect as the not-so-perfect best friend, and I even felt for poor Leigh, who's had her own share of grief and is trying to move past it.

And this is all taking place in New York in the mid-80's! I loved the mid-80s! Even though I was really just a smidge too young to properly enjoy them. I would have loved to have been a teenager in 1980's New York; even as crime-ridden as it was and with the threat of AIDS quickly becoming a reality, I think there's a sense of innocence in that time that we haven't seen since, and probably never will again. What I loved about this novel was that the time period was vitally important, the story would be just as powerful were it set in today's world. Ari's insecurity knows no bounds.

I thought the ending was absolutely perfect for the story. I know some won't agree with me, but I felt it worked quite well. All in all, a powerful debut novel (I must say that overall I've been extremely impressed with the 2011 debuts I've read so far!) and I'm looking forward to more from Lorraine!

Borrowed book from library.

Have you entered to win a copy of 7 Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes yet?

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Random House Books for Young Readers, February 22, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.

Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse,  Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.

Loved this book! I thought it was an excellent, powerful debut novel. The story is awesome: Liz is torn between her older brother and her best friend in a case of he said, she said. The crime being called into question happened, Liz thinks, as a direct result of her actions. She's starting to feel alienated not only from Kate, but her other friends, her boyfriend, and even her parents. Her camera is the only comfort Liz has left, until she realizes that even her art might not be enough to see her through this time.


And I have to say, I'm becoming more and more a fan of verse novels. When they're done well, they're very easy to read (this book took me just over an hour, start to finish). I have such appreciation and admiration for authors of all books, but verse novelists create a difficult task for themselves: every word counts. When using such a sparse amount of words, a verse novelist has to be so sure that the words chosen are the most perfect ones. Kimberly Marcus uses some really short verses, and some longer ones, but they're all so powerful.

Here's one of the shorter passages, just to illustrate my point (from page 87):

Panic makes its way up my spine
like ice water through a straw--
who else has she told?

Like I said, an incredible debut, and I can't wait to read more from Kimberly Marcus!

Borrowed book from library.

Have you entered to win a copy of 7 Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes yet?

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Graphia, April 4, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge and A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

You guys, I won an ARC of this book (and tons of awesome swag for my teens) in an auction Reggie over at The Undercover Book Lover held way back in October. And I held myself back from reading it until just recently, because I wanted to use it for my 2011 Debut Author Challenge. And also because I knew that I would love the book. If I know I'm going to love a book, I often put it to the side, kind of like a reward after reading books that I may or may not love. So I'm a freak, OK?  Let's just get that out of the way now.

So, on to the review. Amy Holder has a great thing going here. First of all, the cover is incredible. It really screams at you and just makes you want to find out more.

The characters were drawn out very well, too. Poor Alice is so lonely, just your typical girl whose best friend moved away. She's left with no one, and desperately wants to fit in. Although, she stuffs her bra with Kleenex. (Seriously, do girls still do that? Why can't she just buy a Miracle Bra or WonderBra or something?) But still, this flaw of hers just makes her all the more real to us. We were all insecure about something in high school, weren't we? And her once-friend and future-nemesis, Britney, is your typical spoiled rich kid, the exact likes of which I spent four years attempting to avoid in high school. Ugh. But Britney's got some problems of her own, believe-you-me (and I hope think that might be true for those beasts girls I went to high school with, too!).

Then there's the story itself. Lipstick Laws? As if hanging with the popular kids isn't reward enough, you can also sign (sealed with a kiss, of course) a contract that essentially means that you can never, ever be as cool as Britney. Ever. Like, if she says your dress is hideous, and that you're bringing down the group as a whole, then guess what? You're changing. And forget about gaining a couple pounds of water weight right before your period. And heaven help you if you should develop a crush on someone Britney thinks is undeserving of your attention--no way will that relationship stand a chance.

I think Amy Holder did a great job of capturing the hell reality that is high school, and while older teens might find the story a little on the young side (the main characters are sophomores), I think that younger teen girls will delight in this story of good versus evil.

Won an ARC in an auction, and also received an eGalley from NetGalley.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

March 8, 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND

A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora fights to make sense of her loss while waiting for her father’s return and a better day. When the letters and money from her father stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas. After a harrowing experience crossing the border, the two are all alone in a strange place called Houston. Now, Nora figures out how to survive while still aching for small comforts: friends, a new school, and a quinceañera to mark her fifteenth birthday.
Bettina Restrepo’s powerful and deeply hopeful debut novel captures the challenges of one girl’s unique yet universal immigrant experience.

I was really, really moved by this story. Nora is just a girl about to be fifteen, and she dreams of a life filled with the simplest things in life: earrings, school, a party to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. But instead she has had to grow up well before her years, helping Mama and Grandma gather and sell the meager fruit the farm produces, while waiting for Papa to return from America, where he has headed to find work. Money from America arrives sporadically, and news of Papa even less so. When times get even tighter than they had been, Nora and her mother make the heart-breaking decision to go to America to try and find Papa.

Bettina has a way with words and telling a story. The scene where Nora and her mother are actually making the crossing to America was very difficult for me to read. We're taken right into Nora's world, and we're right with her as she struggles with the new language and mannerisms of Houston, Texas. My heart was aching for Nora during several scenes in this story. This poor girl has nothing, yet she never lets go of her dreams. It's this hope that kept me rooting for Nora right until the end of the story. I challenge anyone to read this book and not be affected by it in some way. 

Tomorrow Bettina will be stopping by for an interview--it's my very first time participating in a book blog tour!

eGalley received from author.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Balzer + Bray, April 26, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND
A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Megan McCafferty has created a quite interesting dystopian world with Bumped, a unique world that I could very easily see becoming realist. In this world ta virus strikes most infertile at the age of 18, so teen girls are either Surogettes (like Melody hopes to be), renting out their wombs to the highest bidder, or Churchies (like Harmony), dedicating yourself to God and preparing for a life of matrimony and motherhood. Of course, each section believes that they're doing the right thing and the lines are pretty clearly drawn. There's little to no co-mingling between Otherside and Goodside.


Bumped is told in alternating chapters. We first meet Melody, raised in Otherside by her adoptive and way-overprotective parents. Ash and Ty foresaw the future and groomed their daughter to be the first "professional" Surogette--that is, the first girl contracted to carry a "pregg" for an adoptive couple. Melody's couple is quite particular about what their child should look like, however, so Melody waits to bump while the idea of pregging for hire takes off in her school. Pretty soon, teens as young as thirteen are either pros, like Mel, or amateurs (essentially "bumping" and then giving the pregg up for adoption after its born). Melody has never questioned the path her parents have chosen for her, and has always tried to live up to their impossibly high standards in order to secure an exclusive pregging contract.

On the other hand, Melody's twin, Harmony (the girls were separated at birth), living in Goodside, was raised to believe her future involved becoming a wife and then a mother. Goodside girls are expected to believe what they're told to believe, and to not question what they're told. Once Harmony discovers Melody's existence, she makes a pilgrimage to Otherside to persuade her to return home with her, to lead a good and religious life in Goodside.

When the two girls meet, however, they begin to realize that perhaps both viewpoints are skewed, and perhaps the truth isn't a black or white issue at all. Can you have religion while living in Otherside? Is pregging for hire all it's made out to be? Does anyone, either in Goodside or Otherside, ever just, you know, fall in love?

I enjoyed this story. I hadn't realized how much religion was going to factor into it, but once I started reading it made sense. Of course religion will play a huge role! I felt we were given more background information on Melody, as opposed to Harmony, and would liked to have seen more of Goodside (perhaps that will be coming in the sequel? Yes, the ending to Bumped leaves no question that at least one more book will follow.). One thing that struck me about the plot was how strict the dividing line was. You're either religious, or you're not. I didn't see any middle ground here, but again, perhaps that's a topic that will be addressed in a sequel. I just found it a little hard to believe that people either embrace religion or surrogacy. Surely there must be some people in this world who have mixed feelings on the subject!

The premise is one that I could definitely see becoming a reality, should an infertility virus attack us after we turn 18. Fans of dystopian fiction will enjoy Bumped; fans of McCafferty's Jessica Darling series might be a little taken aback at first--Bumped is about as far removed from Jessica Darling as you can get. However, it's not meant to be a Jessica Darling book. Bumped is definitely worth a read.

eGalley received from NetGalley.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Scholastic Press, February 1, 2011

Read for YA Contemps Challenge AND
A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....
Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since the Contemps first posted their reading challenge all the way back in August. Do you think it was just a coincidence that a book about a monstrous blizzard was scheduled to be released smack in the middle of winter? I think not.

Seven kids getting stuck in their high school during a blizzard seems unrealistic, but Northrop makes it work. How is it that these kids are left behind with no teacher supervision, or means to communicate to others, or parents to worry about them? It's all taken care of, and in such a plausible way that it could really happen. Yeah, sometimes all the bad things line up just...so.

But still, there have got to be worse places to be stuck during a blizzard, right? Like, how about the buses that these seven kids missed? It's possible the kids on those buses are still on those buses. Yeah, they're stuck in school, but it could be worse. They've still got electricity, heat, a roof over their heads, plumbing, food.

For now.

I'm telling you, the whole blizzard-coming-out-of-nowhere-and-dumping-umpteen-feet scenario has me so freaked out right now. It could happen, right? We have the most modern technology, but Mother Nature could care less. We were blessed with a post-Christmas blizzard here in NJ that gave us three feet of snow (some of which is stubbornly refusing to melt, by the way), and those three feet effectively shut down the state for most of a week. So how would we fare with ten, twelve, fourteen feet, or more? This novel takes place in New England, and I would hope New Englanders would be more accustomed to massive amounts of snow than us wimps in NJ, but THAT much snow, THAT fast--that would be too much for ANY state to handle.

I loved the main character, Scotty. He's just your average fifteen-year-old, worrying about his basketball game, his acne, and his chances with the girls. Another thing that appealed to me was that these seven kids weren't all friends when they got stuck. There's Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason, the resident weird kid Elijah, the bully Les, and two hottie freshman, Krista and Julie. These seven kids proved to be quite resourceful, and while they didn't always come to agreement, for the most part there was a sense of democracy among the group.

While all the kids might have at least known of each other prior to the blizzard, this catastrophe forces them into a tentative friendship for survival's sake. And it works. I did have a few "Breakfast Club" moments while reading, but I think that was mostly because of kids being stuck in school. Scotty and gang never really had a big heart-to-heart moment where they all suddenly understand one another. And trust me, no one's fist pumping to Simple Minds at the end of this book.

While I feel this book will appeal to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction, I think boys will especially enjoy it, and I'm always excited to have a book for my teen boys at the library. Definitely bundle up while you read Trapped--it will make you feel cold!!

Borrowed book from library.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Help me with my A-Z Reading Challenge!

OK, I know it's only February, and I know I've got until the end of the year to complete this challenge (learn more about it here). I know that I'm doing pretty awesome on all my challenges, overall (for instance, I've already read 9 of the 26 books for this challenge).

BUT. I have a list of titles I want to read (you can see all of my challenges, and the titles I've picked, on my 2011 Reading Challenges page) and every time I refer back to it, all I can see are the empty spaces for K, N, and Q. Argh.

I'd love some help from my friends. Are you doing this challenge? What are your K, N, and Q books? If you're not doing the challenge, can you recommend some books that start with K, N, and/or Q? I could put Need by Carrie Jones on my list, but for some reason I'm not all that keen to read it--I've heard great things about the series, I'm just not that into paranormal right now. I'm tempted to stretch the rules a bit and add They Called Themselves the KKK, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, down for my K choice, but if there's something else out there that starts with K, even better.

So, in a nutshell: YA titles that start with K, N, and/or Q. Preferably not paranormal. They don't have to be new titles. Any suggestions?

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Simon & Schuster, January 4, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND
A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.
Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.
But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

I enjoyed this story. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but that's OK. I felt so badly for Cara while reading. She's a complete loner, and apparently has been ever since she moved away from Zoe in fifth grade. Classmates delight in teasing her, and her parents are not going to win any Parent of the Year Awards (and it they did, they'd probably have to miss the ceremony anyway).

Readers will see Cara as a decent girl--bright, a decent athlete and, although she seemed shy, not completely lacking in basic social skills.  In other words, she doesn't seem any better or worse than most high school girls. I couldn't really get a handle on why she was so alone, why she was only tolerated by her fellow track members, why she never really seemed to be an effort into being approachable. But again, that's OK; that lack of knowledge worked for this story. It also made readers appreciate Zoe all that much more when she reappears in Cara's life. Not only does Cara finally have someone to talk to, but Zoe's presence seems to give Cara the confidence boost she so desperately needs to succeed--not just survive--high school.

Until things start getting weird. Bad things start happening, and Cara can only explain the coincidences away for so long. And she must figure it out on her own, because she's sworn that she'd keep Zoe a secret from everyone.

It might have just been me, but I figured out the twists pretty early on in the story. Still, I couldn't figure out HOW the twists were there, so the story definitely kept me engaged until the end. Choker was a quick enough read, and I think Elizabeth Woods did a great job with her debut novel, and I would love to read more by her!

Borrowed book from library.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Unthinkable by Shirley Duke

Unthinkable by Shirley Duke

Lerner Classroom, October 2010

Read for A-Z Reading Challenge AND

Off the Shelf Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Omar Phillips is Bridgewater High's favorite local teen author. His Facebook fans can't wait for his next horror story. But lately Omar's imagination has turned against him. Horrifying visions of death and destruction come over him with wide-screen intensity. The only way to stop the visions is to write them down. Until they start coming true... Enter Sophie Minax, the mysterious Goth girl who's been following Omar at school. "I'm one of you," Sophie says. She tells Omar how to end the visions but the only thing worse than Sophie's cure may be what happens if he ignores it.

This was a super short novel--it only took me about an hour to get through. There was a lot going on in a really short amount of time. I thought that I didn't get to know Omar as well as I could have if the story had been longer. I know more about his little brother than I do about Omar. And apparently he's been writing stories and posting on Facebook for a while, but the visions have only started recently. This causes me to wonder how good his stories were before the visions, or if they were different in style, genre, etc. I did find the idea intriging, and I was definitely hooked and eager to find out the ending.

I was expecting something more, I think. Still, an entertaining, quick read; I think it would be a good suggestion for a reluctant reader. I hadn't realized that Unthinkable is part of the Night Fall series of books (by different authors), all of which take place in Bridgewater, so fans of this books will probably enjoy the other titles as well.

eBook courtesy of NetGalley.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

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Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Razor, 01-11-11

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge AND

A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules. Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Frex, I just don't know what to say about ATU! I finished this book days ago and have just been trying to let my thoughts percolate, so I can write a halfway decent review. I don't think that's working, though...

This has got to be one of my top-five most anticipated books of 2011, and I'm happy to say that it was worth the wait! From the moment Amy is frozen up until the last pages, I could not read this book fast enough.

I still cannot get over the awesomeness that is Beth Revis. It's unimaginable that Across the Universe is her debut novel. Her writing is so polished, her characters so developed, that it seems as though she's been writing for years. She is a pro.

So, the story. It's a little sci-fi, a little dystopia, and a whole lotta fun. The early scene where Amy and her parents are frozen was very visual. Claustrophobic me was mighty uncomfortable with the descriptions of the freezing process. Amy is rudely awakened (and almost killed) fifty years before the Godspeed is scheduled to land on the new planet. This means while her parents remain frozen, Amy will age. That means that if the ship does land on time, she will be older than her parents. Mind-blowing, I tell you.

In the 250 years she's been frozen, the Godspeed has become its own planet, if you will. Generations have come and gone, and a new monoethnic race has developed, which I guess is to be expected. What I didn't expect was that Earth's history would be completely revamped and rewritten to suit the minds of a select few. Amy makes a Hitler reference at one point in the story, and I was quite inclined to agree. Eldest resorted to horrible levels to insure that his people would survive the journey to the new planet. His reasoning is that it's what's best for the people, but I shudder to think how being a mindless drone could be best for anyone except Eldest.

Oh, but Elder! He's got such a kind heart, and wants to do what's right for all. He suspects that Eldest's way of ruling might not be best, but he's not sure, and wants to weigh his options before making any rash decisions. And Amy...she's got a good head on her shoulders, too. Although I think there are times she should just shut up or risk getting tossed into space, I completely understand her attitude and the reason she behaves the way she does. I certainly wouldn't be a happy camper if I was in her shoes.

But the Godspeed! The ship is the real star of this book. Beth Revis created a fantastic world inside this ship, and exploring it with Amy is an incredible experience. Generations have lived and died aboard this ship, and most of these people have never even see the sky they're traveling through. Most of the residents are content to live their lives, farming or researching. No one questions why drinking water suddenly alters their mood, or why they're limited to roaming only certain parts of the ship, or why mating is done only during the Season, and in such an animalistic fashion. And why would they? This is the only life they've ever known, and it's pefectly fine, for most people. Until Amy comes along and rattles loose whatever doubts Elder has ever had about the ship's leader, Eldest, and the Eldests that came before him.

In case you can't tell from my review, I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series!

Purchased book.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi