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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday 1



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is the Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Book Club Picks.  This is actually my very first time posting a Top Ten Tuesday and I happen to be in a unique position to address this particular topic.  I am lucky enough to run a book club at my high school with the awesome blogger at Indie's Book Shelf  and we decided to co-post a top ten list this week.  We actually posed a similar question to our students in our club, and they, along with the two of us, compiled this list.  In no particular order.  



Top Ten (or at least Ten Really Good) Book Club Book Picks:

1.  Unwind by Neal Shusterman:

There is plenty to discuss with this book, it appeals to boys and girls, and it is extremely exciting and well-written.  Lots of fun to be had by a book club!
  
2.  Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King:

We've been mulling this book over as it deals with a timely topic for high schoolers:  bullying.  Again, the appeal for both male and female readers, as well as the multiple discussion opportunities, makes this a good choice for our kids.

3.  After by Amy Efaw:

Dealing with a very controversial issue is exactly what books are for, and having a supportive group in which to discuss these topics makes that experience even more valuable.  This novel deals with a teenager who is put into juvenile detention for abandoning her newborn baby in a Dumpster.  Though it is gruesome, the ending leaves a LOT to be discussed - we had many students who enjoyed reading this over the summer as part of the Virginia Reader's Choice list.
  
4.  Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon:

This one was a student pick.  Though sometimes series can be tough to do with a club, the high level of action and suspense would make it a fun group read.  I haven't read this book yet, but a high school vampire slayer sounds right up my alley!

5.  The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson:

Ok, haven't read this one either... pretty sure it was our girlies' answer to Infinity. Again, though, the summary on Goodreads and on the book jacket have put it in my TBR pile.  Romance, revolution, and a mysterious prophecy - sign me up!

6.  Not as Crazy as I Seem by George Harrar:

Another student pick, one that deals with Devon Brown and his struggle to fit into high school with OCD.  Again, I haven't read the book, but I admire the students' sensitivity in selecting this one.  Tolerance and compassion are excellent lessons, and two our school is focusing on this school year.  Discussing both the plot as well as learning about something new would be a great way to meet as a club.

7.  Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

This book won the 2010 Printz Award is absolutely fantastic.  While I have a little bit of a hard time selling this book to kids, no one who has read it dislikes it.  I really enjoyed the writing in this dystopian thriller.  The fact that there is a strong male protagonist in this novel is a real strength as well.  

8.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin:

This is a great psychological thriller that I know kids will have fun discussing.  The ending of this book is unreal too- it really lends itself to a great book club discussion of what we think may come next.  Knowing that book two is coming in the fall sets the club up to read and discuss the sequel too!

9.  Divergent by Veronica Roth:

Our book club actually read and discussed this novel as a group.  We enjoyed talking about how this society came to be, what faction we would be in if we had to choose, and what we think will happen in the next book, Insurgent.

10.The Bitter End and/or The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Both of the fabulous realistic fiction novels by Jennifer Brown are prime for discussion!  The Hate List deals with the aftermath of a high school shooting and The Bitter End is about a teenage girl who finds herself in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend.  


What tips and tricks do people have for running a YA book club?  We are in our first year, and any help would be welcome!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
338 pages
Published: 9/29/2011
Publisher: Dutton Books



From Good Reads:


Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.


My thoughts:


LOVED IT! This was even better than Anna and the French Kiss, which I also loved. Stephanie Perkins really has a knack for creating a character on paper who seems real. The premise behind this story is not original, but Lola makes the story unique. I loved her confidence and all her cool costumes. I also loved her insecurity and indecision that made her such as authentic character. Although this is a romantic girl falls for the boy next door book, it is also so much more. I found myself thinking of parental love and what makes good parents as I read about Lola's Dads and all their rules. I thought of sibling love and how important the sibling bond can be as I read about Calliope and Cricket's relationship. The book also made me think about forgiveness and how important it to be accepting and tolerant of the people in your life as I read about Lola's birth mother, Nora. This simple story has many, fun, layers. 

I read Anna and the Boy Next Door in one sitting into the wee hours of the morning and I just did the same thing with Lola. These books consumed me and I did not want to put them down until I reached the end. It was also fun to read about characters from Anna and the French Kiss  (Anna and St Claire) in Lola and the Boy Next Door. 

A five star review for me! I anxiously await Stephanie Perkins next book!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Stand Alone Reading Challenge




The bloggers at Icey Books and I Like These Books are hosting a Stand Alone Reading Challenge that I have decided to participate in.  I personally love to read a series but I really need some good, new titles to booktalk to library patrons who want a standalone.  I looking forward to reading:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by  
The Disenchantments by  
Try Not to Breathe by  
Dead to You by 
Double by 
Where it Began by Ann Stampler
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale 
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London, Book 1
Pages: 372 pages
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Date of Publication: Sept. 29, 2011
Format: Library Book






From Good Reads:
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
My thoughts:
I absolutely LOVED this book.  Truly, it is my new favorite!  I always enjoy a great mystery story and this is a mystery with opps, I can't say it without giving away too much!  :)
The novel opens with the discovery of the first murder in a string of Jack the Ripper copy cat killings.  Soon after the discovery of the first body, Aurora "Rory" Deveaux arrives in London for her senior year abroad.  Rory comes from a small  town near New Orleans and I loved "seeing" and learning about London through her eyes.  Johnson did a great job of writing this novel.  I found Rory's voice to be very believable and likeable.  Her experiences as the new foreign student at Wexford, her boarding school,  were believable as well.  
Just as Rory arrives at her new school, the Jack the Ripper style killings begin and Wexford is smack in the middle of the Ripper killing zone. Rory and her new friends are soon caught up in the "Rippermania" that has grabbed London.    Rory gets way more involved than she wants when she sees the suspect.  But why didn't her roommate see him too?  
I could not read fast enough to find out what was going to happen as Rory, and the rest of London, waited for each day that the original Jack the Ripper killed his victims.  Would the new Ripper strike too?  What was he going to do about Rory, the witness?
The Name of the Star is Book One in the Shades of London series.  I can't wait until book two is out in September 2012! This was my first Maureen Johnson book, I plan  to read more!



Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King


Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
336 pages
Published: October 12th 2010 
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Format: Library copy

 Summary from Good Reads:
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising

My thoughts:

I waited a long time to read Please Ignore Vera Dietz but I am so glad I  finally gave it a try!  This mystery/supernatural/ and sorta realistic fiction novel is a quick and satisfying read.  Although Vera is the primary narrator, the alternating point of view between Vera, Charlie, Ken Dietz, and the Pagoda, is really cool.  Yes, that's right, a placed called the Pagoda  talks to us in this novel too!  I also liked the use of flashbacks that provide insight into the Vera-Charlie relationship.  

One  real strength of Please Ignore Vera Dietz is how author A.S. King says so much without a lot of description.  In an era where "too much information" is so common, I found the lack of detailed description of John and Charlie's relationship, for example, to be just as horrifying- maybe even more so because it was left to my imagination.  

The cover art of this book did not really appeal to me initially but I have to say that I like it now that I have read the book.  The lighter, the title, the to do list- they are all meaningful to the story and I found myself pondering the cover art long after finishing the book.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz was a Printz Honor Book for 2011 and a title that I highly recommend.

Monday, January 16, 2012



The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
352 pages
Published May10, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Format: ebook from NetGalley




From Good Reads:
In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she’s decorating a cake. Unfortunately, everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable. 
But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems—only her dad’s about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed. 

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys,The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.


My thoughts:

What a sweet book! This realistic fiction title will do GREAT in my school's library where a good romantic novel is always a hit. I found The Sweetest Thing to not only be a romantic, fun story, but also well written with fully developed characters that I cared about. I liked the relationship between the different members of Sheridan's family- especially Sheridan's relationship with her grandmother. My heart ached for Sheridan as she tried to learn more about her mother, and I cheered for Sheridan for being such as rock star cake decorator. 

Sheridan's father is a bit of a rock star himself, as a chef in the resturarnt he owns. As his dream of moving to NY and starring in a reality cooking show begins to come true, Sheridan's dreams seem to be unraveling. As the story unfolds Sheridan and her father are forced to confront the past in order to reconnect and move forward.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach



From Good Reads: Fifteen-year-old Felton Reinstein has always been on the smallish side, but in his sophomore year he starts growing...and growing. During gym one day he smokes the football jocks in a 600-yard race. Felton has never been interested in sports, but there's no doubt-he is "stupid fast." As he juggles his newfound athletic prowess, his mom's sudden depression, an annoying little brother, and his first love, he discovers a shocking secret about his past which explains why he's turning out the way he is.

My thoughts: WOW! This is an incredible book! To start with, I love the title and the cover-- the football player in front of the bank of lockers is very appealing to guy readers, a demographic I am always happy to find a new title for. This is not just a football book though... this is a book about growing up physically and emotionally. Fifteen year old Felton has just gone through an amazing growth spurt. Seemly overnight Felton is over 6 feet tall and has become, as he puts it, "stupid fast". These physical changes bring positive and welcome opportunities to Felton in the form of sports, friends and a girlfriend. These same physical changes bring confusing and upsetting changes at home, however. As Felton grows up it seems his mother is changing too-- and in a way that makes Felton and his younger brother question her sanity. As Felton nears his 16th birthday it becomes clear that his family needs help and that he needs to learn more about his father, who committed suicide when Felton was only 5 years old. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a great realistic fiction story about family dynamics and coming of age. While this is a great sports book , it is also so much more! Run "stupid fast" to your library or bookstore to get a copy of this book- you won't be disappointed!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Rafflecopter Give Away

To celebrate their official launch, Rafflecopter is running a giveaway--you can win an iPad2 or one of two Kindle Fires! You can learn more about Rafflecopter at: http://blog.rafflecopter.com/2012/01/rafflecopter-launch-party/ You can also click on the giveaway below to get your entries in! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Without Tess by Marcella Pixley

Without Tess by Marcella Pixley
Hardcover, 224 pages

Published October 11th 2011 










Summary from Good Reads:
Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf  in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies. As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.


My thoughts:
Great book! I enjoyed the suspensful element of wondering what happened to Tess. I also enjoyed how the author slowly made the reader aware of Tess's mental illness- it slowly dawned on me just as I imagine it slowly dawned on Tess's parents that she was not ok. The story is told from Tess's little sister's, Lizzie, point of view and it is clear that Tess's mental illness hurt Lizzie in many ways. 

Very thought provoking!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year and Reading Resolutions! :)

Happy New Year!

This past year I participated in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. I really enjoyed this challenge and read a LOT of debut books. I did not, however, review all of these debuts. :( I will try to do better this year.

This year I plan to complete, meaning read and review, at least the required books for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I also plan to participate in the Sophomore Reading Challenge. I read so many debuts this year that I see this challenge as a must do-- so I can follow up on so many good series I started!

For information about the Debut Author Challenge:

http://www.thestorysiren.com/




For information about the Sophomore Reading Challenge:

http://chickloveslit.com/2011/11/sophomore-reading-challenge.html

Here is my list for the Sophomore Reading Challenge:

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
2. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
3. Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir
4. Perception by Kim Harrington
5. Fever by Lauren DeStefano
6. The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
7. Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
8. In Honor by Jessica Kirby
9. Revived by Cat Patrick
10. Rebel Heart by Moira Young