Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin review

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

From Goodreads

Kelsey is funny & poignant. We meet her & her three best friends in the final glory days of their last summer before high school where Kelsey unveils her big plans for freshman year. Naturally everything she has planned goes awry almost instantly & as her friends begin to bloom in their own niches, Kelsey finds herself odd-girl-out.

I really enjoyed Kelsey's inner monologue throughout her ordeals & we're not just talking run-of-the-mill freshman stuff. She's pretty much an embarrassing disaster waiting to happen simply because she's not patient enough to wait for the right moment. Although in some instances she is too patient & that causes just as much drama. Even through her ups & downs, Kelsey remains true to her plan to make it the best year possible. That kind of resilience is what helped me overlook some personality flaws in characters & their decisions.

The writing was nuanced enough to allow for individuality, but at the same time rhythmic enough that I felt I could almost predict where things were going. While not necessarily a bad thing, I did feel like I spent a fair amount of time trying to puzzle out when the author was going to make "x" happen. Still enjoyable to watch it all unfold, but a tad bit frustrating.

The enthusiasm & melodramatic nature of teen girls though makes up for any frustration I incurred. Seriously if you took several of the sassiest & wittiest women on comedy television you'd have these gals. It was a riot & a bit heartbreaking to watch them triumph & suffer, but you knew in the end they would benefit from the experience.

Overall I'd have to say this was a quick, light read that definitely lends itself to becoming a series. I'm not sure if that's in the works, but I'm hoping so!

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin review

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Mclean Sweet isn't who she thinks she is. Or rather, she doesn't know who to believe she is. While growing up in the back of a restaurant with a die-hard basketball-loving dad & a beach-tripping manager mother, she knew that she was Mclean Sweet, daughter of college sweethearts & an all-around fun-loving girl. After a bitter and very public divorce, Mclean hits the road with her dad chasing jobs rehabbing restaurants. In the 2 years since the meltdown, Mclean & her dad have moved 4 times allowing 4 alter-egos to crop up.

In each of the 4 towns they lived in, Mclean was always responsible for setting up home & managing a fine balance of cut-and-run technique. Each town gave birth to a new girl & a persona to go with it. She's been a cheerleader, a drama queen & a joiner, but the last thing she expected to become in this new town was herself. With the help of a stellar cast of friends, Mclean Sweet might just rediscover the part of her that never really left.

This was different...and I'm not sure how I really feel about it. I am definitely sure that I've liked her other stuff better, but this wasn't a bad book. Mclean really pulls at that part of everyone who (at least once in their life) wants to pack up & become someone new. Unfortunately I couldn't really relate to that part of her or the fact that she hid it from her family. Her secrecy felt very deceitful & selfish in a way that my brain just couldn't keep up with. Each girl was so radically different.

The new friends she makes & what she discovers about herself as a result are what make the book a really great read. Dave is such a mysterious & quirky guy that you can't help but love. The other teens are all over the place allowing for a real breadth as well as depth to the group dynamics. The most entertaining part though was the kitchen staff at the new restaurant. They were by far the life & light of the story. I could almost see each teen becoming one of the staff members in a way that allowed for fascinating dynamics.

If you're in the mood for a relatively light read, go ahead & pick this one up. I will have to warn you though, if you have issues with improper grammar & errors in a finished book, then this is dangerous territory. I think the editing step was rushed because there are far too many noticeable errors. Other than that it was peachy!

Are you planning on reading it? If you've already read it, how do you react to it? Let's hear your thoughts!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Erin Blackwell has fallen into a horror story of her own device. A headstrong young lady, heiress to a multi-million dollar horse farm in Kentucky, this former princess is living the poor artist life in New York City. After refusing to major in business, so she would be groomed for taking over the farm, in favor of her passion writing, her grandmother disinherits her & takes Hunter the stable boy as her new protege.

As if being stabbed in the back by a pseudo-childhood friend isn't bad enough, it turns out that Hunter will be attending college with Erin & that he'll also get to read all about himself... through her stories in class. And so begins the tit for tat, back and forth banter of two opposite people. Hunter, having grown up in the barn & earning his own keep, can't seem to keep his mind off the previously-pampered & rather naive Erin. These two circle one another like wild cats, searching for a weak spot. That is until they discover that each others weak spot is the other.

Jennifer Echols has done it again! A masterful piece of work that begs to be let loose to run free! Erin is a pampered princess, but not in the completely oblivious way. Some folks who grow up with money never even realize what it's like for someone less fortunate, but Erin does not have that problem. Having grown up around Hunter, she knows first hand how cruel life can be to folks of lesser income. She's a compelling character that you can't help but admire since she is fighting for herself, albeit in the wrong way.

Hunter is a mesmerizing character to follow. He's got so many different faces it was sometimes hard to keep track of everything he was into. His smugness was even entertaining to a point. He never really wanted to come right out to say "I told you so," but he didn't have to. He sounds like he'd be easy on the eyes too. That never hurts. :)

The best part of the whole book though was the background. All the horse facts & information gave this book a more elegant/regal feel that any other novel I have read. There was something more majestic about the storyline that gave the reader a different feeling. I hope that makes sense.

By all means, run out & find this book on July 19th! If you've enjoyed her other works (Going Too Far & Forget You) then you won't be disappointed with this next one!

Book graciously provided by Around the World Tours

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Love is a most potent & dangerous illness. So dangerous in fact, a cure has been created to prevent the population from having to suffer under its wrath. Lena Holoway can't wait until her 18th birthday, the day she'll finally receive the cure. She's not scared, she's simply anxious to have it over with already. A life without love is predictable & normal, safe. She's spent her whole life in the shameful shadow of her mother's love-induced suicide that Lena is ready to be protected from the deliria's grasp.

In a measured & calculated, fenced off Portland, Lena has spent the last 17 years of her life listening only to prescribed music, reading only approved books & being monitored for any possible sign of deliria infection. A few of her fellow classmates succumb to the terrible disease, but Lena is pleased that neither she nor her best friend Hana have been stricken. That is until Lena happens to meet Alex. And then, everything changes...

I know my review is a little shorter than you may be accustomed to from me, but that's because I continued to give away too much of the story as I wrote. This book was PHENOMENAL!! I absolutely could not put it down. The way the story is written is quite emotional because, despite the eradication of all forms of love, there is this undercurrent of repression. Suppressing a natural instinct is one of the most dangerous things that can be done & I honestly believe that this society is constantly on the brink of rupture. Why else would there be roving bands of guard-like protectors?

On a character level, this book was miles above the author's last attempt, Before I Fall. Many of you may recall my distaste for Oliver's characters in that novel & will say that I am very pleased that I tried this novel. A lot of the time if I don't like the first book an author has written, I won't bother to read any more. The premise of this book was too great to pass up & the characters were exactly what I was hoping they would be. I really enjoyed watching Lena struggle with not only her past & present, but with both her society & her expectations for her life. The three main characters, Lena, Hana, & Alex, are thoroughly formed & can stand on their own. While they all play off one another, I could see them working an independent people.

So basically in summation, you really need to read this book. While I may be overlooking some of the more minor editing details (that I'm sure will be cleaned up in the final editing) I really think this book has a great message & execution. Please enjoy & let me know your thoughts!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Alpha: Shifters Book 6 by Rachel Vincent

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING! This is the final book in a 6 book series so there are previous book spoilers in this review. You've been given fair warning.

Faythe is sure that war is coming but she's not sure what expect. There hasn't been a full-scale civil war in the werecat community in decades and everyone was kind of hoping to keep it that way. Unfortunately with Malone creeping in on the Faythe's pride's territory by trying to declaw her and having her brother murdered, there doesn't seem to be much other recourse.

Of course Faythe's problems can't possibly end there because due to extenuating circumstances she's got to choose between the two men that she loves. Marc has known her since she was a rebellious teen and has been her sturdy rock. Unfortunately in her darkest hours, after Ethan's death and when she thought Marc was dead too, she gave in to her needs and had a tryst with Jace. He had always been there trying to convince her to him a chance and now he's got the opportunity. Too bad whoever she is with will one day become the Alpha of the Pride and at the moment Malone is doing everything he can to make sure neither of them are eligible.

When the Territorial Council meets to vote on their new head, the werecat community shatters and nothing is the same. Friends and family will die, new bonds will be forged, and old ones will be lost forever. For Faythe, at least one thing is certain: she will keep her Pride.

This was an amazingly incredible finale to one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. Rachel Vincent is a master at weaving an enticing and enrapturing tale and she is at her best with this novel. Watching all the books' details combine into a believable and emotional conclusion was quite fascinating. Faythe is as kickass as ever and the reader can't be disappointed in her performance. While I was very sad to see some of my favorite characters fall in the war, I completely understood the necessity. And let me just say, I was quite pleased with Faythe's choice in mate. Go Team _a_ _! (He he, you thought I was going to tell you didn't you? Silly people) Seriously, if you enjoyed the other novels or haven't tried them yet, I assure you that they're worth it!

Alpha: Shifters Book 6 by Rachel Vincent

After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

Love triangles are not typically this well spoken. Camille is the typical new girl in town with a chip on her shoulder thanks to a not-so-wonderful guy in Chicago. Becca is a relatively smart local chick infatuated with poetic, jock Alec. These two girls have more in common than they think when it turns out that Alec kissed Camille at a party. Being unaware of Alec's girlfriend situation, Camille does nothing to stop the kiss and, being Alec's girlfriend, Becca does everything she can not to lose her mind.

Each girl has her own issues and each one of them seems drawn to different parts of Alec, but in the end one of them has to lose.

Terra McVoy is a genius!! I was rather skeptical of this book at first because I find the "love triangle" story overused, but this was fresh. If you look deeper than just the surface you'll see more than angsty teen drama written in verse. The language of each girl is very distinctive and deliberate. There is so much feeling involved in these girls' stories that the novel begs to be read out loud.

Becca was such a nice girl that I had a hard time relating to her until she started to really look at what was important to her. I thought her whole outlook was a bit narrow and I was thrilled to see her rise up to the challenge of really getting to know herself as a person. Camille was such a difficult girl to like and that was very intentional. She's a tough nut to crack and watching her come out of her prickly shell was amazing. Terra said it best in her appearance at Quail Ridge Books, she really tried to start the girls out as opposites with exaggerated characteristics and them bring them into a harmony or balance where each girls seems to take on characteristics and mannerisms of the other.

A wonderful book that I highly recommend, After the Kiss is an instant hit!

ARC for review provided by Around the World Tours

After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

Waiting on Wednesday: Meanicures

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Meanicures by Catherine Clark is scheduled to arrive in bookstores on October 12th and I'm very intrigued. I don't think I've ever seen any of her other books, but this blurb piqued my interest.

When three best friends get together, the first thing they talk about these days is always the mean girls in their lives. They decide to banish their enemies by holding a ceremony and burning slips of paper with the mean girls' names on them. But soon afterwards, they discover themselves becoming mean, and they must find a way--with a little help from the owner of their local beauty shop--to reverse the ceremony and revert to the sweet (mostly), kind (if slightly imperfect) personalities. Catherine Clark's first middle-grade novel is a humorous look at the mysterious--and wonderful--nature of friendship.

From Goodreads

We all know what middle school is like. It is the toughest time in most kids' lives because they don't really feel like they fit in anywhere and they are quite awkward due to puberty setting in. I'm sure we could all name a mean girl or two who made our lives difficult. This take on burning a paper effigy of something they despise is not new, but definitely not something I have seen in a younger novel. I'm impatient to see how these girls begin to morph into that which they loathed and how they emerge from the other side.

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Meanicures

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Julia knows she's not normal. Being able to feel other people's emotions isn't normal, but she's dealing with it. She has learned to avoid crowds and has even become popular among new mothers for her amazing ability to so accurately interpret their babies' needs. So it comes as no surprise that she is walking home, alone, through the woods, when she senses an intense blood-lust. Terrified, she runs and falls over a cliff only to be rescued by the dashing Nicholas.

After several whirlwind interactions, Julia finally realizes that there is something off about Nicholas. He's different every time she sees him and he's always on his way somewhere else, but he can be so sweet to her. When kids in her school start disappearing and Nicholas is all too familiar with the details, Julia begins to question everything she knows about him and the missing teens.

I can't really explain it well, but this book is best described as "foggy." There was so much that was unclear in this book, not just the storyline but the writing as well. It was so blasé that I couldn't really jive with it. While we get to know Julia quite well, as she is very self-aware, I felt like the other characters were empty. There was nothing to them or their plot-lines.

What I certainly missed in all of this was the fact that this was going to be a vampire book. That really irked me. I would have preferred an every day serial killer to vampires. The scenes were so familiar and yet so irritating. There was no comfort or enjoyment in this book for me.

In summation, this book just completely underwhelmed me. While I know there are people who have enjoyed this book, I am not among them. Although if you like alternative vampire lore, try it out.

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Jump by Elisa Carbone

P.K. flat-out refuses to go to boarding school. Just because she ditches her boring classes at her stupid high school and spends more time climbing a rock wall and dreaming of being outdoors does not mean she is boarding school material. That's when she comes up with the great idea of running away with a climbing buddy to the Western wilds in search of primo rock. The downside is that none of her friends want to go with her.

That is until Critter comes bouldering her way in the rock gym. They make off the next morning and make their way out to the Red Rocks. Hooking up with another climber, they manage to put in a new route and start to make their way out of the canyon. That's when things get a little... complicated.

It turns out that Critter is on the run... from the cops... for breaking out of a mental hospital. P.K. and Critter have to decide if they can continue to trust one another and how far they are willing to go to preserve their freedom. There's only so much rock to be climbed and what will happen when they get to the top?

This was an amazing book! I spent a good part of my teenage years playing weekend excursioner by hiking and rock climbing and generally enjoying myself. This book appealed to my outdoorsy side. There is a lot of technical rock climbing speak used in the book, which may turn many people off, but I found it interesting and just as easy to skip over since it wasn't vital information.

P.K. was a typically disgruntled teenager with a free spirit. While I don't think running away is a smart idea, ever, I still admire her courage for seizing her opportunity at a life-long dream. Critter was a big old mess, but in a fun way. His brain, actions, and general demeanor were like a puzzle that every time I thought I was getting it all put together, another piece jumbled my plan. He was a real riot to watch evolve.

The storyline was quite amusing in that "highly improbable" way because the universe would have to be perfectly aligned for everything to go exactly how they needed it to in order for the story to work. Although, I like to think it's totally plausible. This is a nice read that I think is perfect for those looking for some outdoorsy fun, that they can safely do from their favorite reading spot. Enjoy!

Jump by Elisa Carbone

This is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy-Stone

Twins Nadio & Noelle has lived in the gatehouse on the professor's property all their lives. As children, they befriended Keeley, the daughter of the professor, and have been inseparable ever since. Keeley and Noelle have always been like two halves of the same person with matching mannerisms and behavior. Nadio was always along for the ride, but never up front and center stage.

After spending a summer all separated, the trio come back together to find that nothing is as is was when they left. Nadio spent his summer running alone and writing imaginary letters to his absentee father. Noelle found a new friend into new things and managed to fall hard for tattoo-covered fry cook Parker. Keeley is still reeling from her summer at Oxford and has an awful burden from that experience.

Each of these three are hiding the truth from one of the others and everything culminates when Nadio and Keeley admit that their feelings for one another are no longer strictly platonic. What will they do to persevere, what will they have to sacrifice to be happy, and can they all be happy together?

Heather Duffy-Stone has done an incredible job with this novel. Told in the alternating view points of the twins, This is What I Want to Tell You is unparalleled. I can't think of another book that handles this common and yet complex a situation. There are at least three different stories told in the narrative, but if you include the smaller characters, there are a few more. Each story has its own attributes and complexities and at the same time they're all standard issues that teens face every day. There's drugs, issues at school, peer pressure, sex, and heart ache at every corner.

I really felt as though I related to each of the characters on some level and that they were all meant to be recognizable. I'm sure you could place someone from your high school in each of these roles and better understand their situation. The writing style really lent itself to an omnipotent presence because when one chapter left off, the next picked up from a different point of view. I know that many books can accomplish this, but (for lack of a better explanation) this was just different.

The situations were believable, the characters superb, & the writing was, in a work, magical. I truly hope to see more from this writer. She knows her stuff well and if she can pull it off again, I'd place her in the same AMAZING category as Simone Elkeles & Jennifer Echols. While my library didn't own this one, I was able to InterLibrary Loan it from another institution. Let me reiterate, it was well worth it. Find out if your local library can do the same for you!

I leave you with a fabulous teaser quote from the book:

Why don't people ever see the way other kinds of love can wreck you? What about the way being left out of love can wreck you? p.148

This is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy-Stone

Virgin Territory by James Lecesne

Virgin Territory explores the power of faith and our need to believe in miracles. Sixteen-year-old Dylan Flack is uprooted from his cozy life in New York City by the death of his mother of cancer the night before 9/11. He finds himself transplanted to Jupiter, Florida, and in the chaos of the move discovers that his father has lost their treasured collection of family photos. Dylan feels that he has begun to lose the memory of his mother's face, and without access to those pictures of their past together, each day stretches darkly into a future without hope.

Enter: the Virgin Club, a nomadic group of trailer kids whose mostly single parents drag them all over the country in search of sightings of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although not looking for membership in any club, Dylan falls in love with their leader, Angela, who believes that change occurs in direct proportion to desire and the willingness to take risks. In a series of misadventures and brushes with the law in what Dylan comes to think of as "virgin territory," she teaches Dylan to risk a future without his favorite parent. Miraculously his newfound courage leads to a long overdue confession from his father that brings them closer together and catapults Dylan into a future that holds more promise.

From Amazon

So, yeah. I had a really hard time with this book. It sounded like an interesting premise about faith, redemption, love, and longing. That's what it was about, in the end, but the execution was very poor. I felt like the author was trying to make Dylan deeper than he really was and that all Dylan's crazy thinking was just a distraction from the non-story. The tone was so jumpy from one extreme to the next that I had a hard time keeping up. Not to mention that Angela just frustrated me beyond belief!! She was quite shallow and her actions spoke much louder about her motives and character than her words ever did.

Honestly, I'd have to say that unless you really want to try it, I'd pass on this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea. There is an audience for every book and unfortunately I did not fall into that category for this one.

Virgin Territory by James Lecesne

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Elizabeth "Bet" Smith has always been a lowly maid's daughter. She has known her station her whole life, but it has never prevented her from wishing for more. Living a comfortable life between family & servant in Grangefield Hall with Will Gardener & his Uncle, Bet has truly wanted for nothing; other than the education that Will doesn't desire.

After hearing of Will's dreams of military service, Bet hatches a fantastic plan. What if Will goes off to the military & Bet takes his place at the new school? As preposterous as it sounds, Bet manages to fool Will's Uncle and so Will goes along with the plan.

After splitting up at an inn, Bet continues on her way to Betterman Academy. School it turns out is nothing like Bet could have imagined. She has a roommate (the impropriety!!), the boys are raucous & cruel, and there are dances. Even harder to deal with than these things are the growing feelings Bet has for her roommate. What's a girl-disguised-as-a-boy to do?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While I could figure out the base storyline at the beginning of the book, I still enjoyed watching this particular version unfold. Bet was such a colorful and articulate character that I truly enjoyed watching her struggle to understand the behavior of those around her and the decisions she had to make regarding her own reactions. Will, while mostly absent from the main storyline, was quite entertaining as well. He was that rogue boy every girl dreams of during this time period. There was a little mystery to him, but really he just wanted to be himself.

The interactions of the characters were what made this book such a success! I could not imagine this book being pulled off nearly as well if the characters had been flat and unengaged. They all had their roles to play from the dashing rogue, to the bully, to the stern, silent type. Everyone dealt with each other in such a particular fashion that, even if the subject wasn't identified, you knew who was speaking or doing the action. That is a rare quality in a book that I truly enjoy & admire the author's ability to pull it off.

A wonderfully charming read, The Education of Bet is one that I feel deserves at least one read. Take a peek. I promise it'll be worth it.

My many thanks to Around the World Tours for loaning me this book.

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Lou Bertignac is super-duper smart. So smart, that she skipped two grades and is a veritable pariah. Her social skills are deeply lacking due to her overactive thought process and easy ability to get lost in a daydream of thought. Despite being petrified of public speaking, her professor has demanded her subject for her oral presentation. Lou mumbles something about homelessness and is off the hook. That is until she meets No.

No is a tough-as-nails street girl who took a liking to Lou. the girls begin to meet up on a regular basis to discuss the intricacies of being a young, homeless girl. No bounces between being defensive and overly-emotional as quickly as she bounces from the soup kitchen to a friend's couch. After watching her go through this, and after the presentation is done, Lou invites No to come live with Lou's family.

The girls learn a lot about many different things, but most importantly they learn about themselves. When No's past comes back to grab her, it will take all the girls have in common, and even the things that make them different, to keep her from slipping back into oblivion. With the help of trust school hunk Lucas, Lou & No just might be able to make both their hopes into reality.

Such a powerful novel! Delphine de Vigan has earned her awards for this little gem (Prix des Libraires 2008, Révélation Roman 2007 & Prix Littéraire du Rotary). There is such emotion and force behind not only the subject matter, but the characters. These girls feel so real to me. Lou was impeccably precocious and overly-intelligent for her age, and yet she maintained a sort of innocence. No was incredibly tragic, but stoic at the same time. She wanted to be able to trust someone enough to just let go, but her need for control made that very difficult.

This book was different from some other realistic fiction books that I've read primarily because it is French. As some of you may or may not know, my undergrad degree is in French & International Studies and I studied abroad in Angers, France for a semester. My love of the language, people, and culture is something that I carry with me every day and this book just took to my heart. Homelessness is a very large problem in France and what this book did was take a taboo subject and bring it to the forefront. Mme de Vigan is poetic and unafraid to tackle difficult subject matter. For that I say "Bravo." If your French is a little rusty, don't fret, this fantastic book is coming stateside in early August. Be sure to check it out! I leave you with a small snippet of Mme de Vigan's poetic words.

"And our silence is filled with all the world's impotence. Our silence is like the return to the origin of things, their true state." p.51 of the uncorrected advance proof.

Thanks to Around the World Tours for the opportunity to read this fabulous book!

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Polly Martin has no problem attracting guys. Her problem lies in keeping them. In the last year alone she has won and lost Jack, Gareth, Sawyer, Hayden, and Kurt. Some of them were very brief relationships (does hooking up on a trip constitute dating?) and some were a little longer. The main thing they all had in common was that Polly chose to emulate whatever her current guy was interested in. Thus landing her a summer job working under Sawyer at a lowly cowboy-themed water park, unsure of what she really wants, unsure of who she really is, and swearing off guys.

On top of all her dating drama, Polly worries about the fact that her mother has to take a part time job as a food angel to help pay the bills, her grandmother (the love advice columnist Miss Swoon) is moving in with them, and her decimated relationship with her father and little sister. Even with all this going on, Polly still manages to catch the eye of geek turned hottie Xander Cooper. Will she be able to wrestle her own issues into submission so she can enjoy Xander or will Polly simply retreat and hide?

Swoon at Your Own Risk is an odd little story that jumps around a lot. Not only do you jump from stories about ex-boyfriend #1 to ex-boyfriend #5, but there is also some seriously extra nonsense. There was so much drama going on between family members, friends, and co-workers that I was having trouble keeping up. Many of the characters I thought were minor, turned out to be pretty important to understand the plotline and then others that were given some serious spotlight fizzled.

The writing was fine and I really did enjoy a) the column entries from Miss Swoon, b) the blog articles from a co-worker (I've only seen a blog used effectively in one other book, Stalker Girl), and c) the poetry-like snippits from Xander's journal. All of these pieces added depth to an otherwise shallow story. I have to admit that many of the events seem improbable at best. I honestly can't believe that someone can get so many "extra chances" to improve performance at a job. Sorry.

In general, this was a fluffy read that was only mildly enjoyable. If you like drama and gossip, this book is good for that, but not really much else.

This book was graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff was supplied by Around the World Tours and is set to be released June 22, 2010.

Esther "Essie" Green is ecstatic to be a sophomore on the cheerleading squad! She's been dreaming of getting to do this for quite some time and believes that it will help her place in the high school hierarchy immensely. She's starting to learn her place when she gets a shock: her cousin, Micah is on the football team. As if that's not bad enough, Micah is quite staunch in his religious beliefs and wears his kippah even while playing football. Essie is mortified, until she realizes that no one knows they are related. She decides to keep that a secret, so it won't hurt her chances of moving up in station.

As the school year progresses, the football team members continue to pick on Micah for being "weird" and even manage to toilet-paper his house. Essie doesn't know what to do with herself. On the one hand, she has gained popularity and even attracted the attention of her longtime crush Austin, but at what cost? Is getting to be popular and feeling overly-cherished more important than standing up for what's right?

I really wanted to like this book. I really did. I went in thinking that this was an interesting premise (especially with the religious element) and that I could really get behind it, but I found this book lacked a lot. The characters were very... predictable. Almost cliché actually. There didn't seem to be any real emotion behind the characters' actions other than jealousy and guilt.

While I did enjoy watching Essie grow as a person, I felt it took way too long. The story was just dragging along waiting for her to finally make up her scattered mind about what she wanted to do. Micah was the only character that I felt I could really relate to and that I cared about at all. Essie was just too flippant and self-absorbed, up until the end. The cookie-cutter friends were pretty much absent and I felt like they were just filler as no significant action really happened with them.

If you want a simple, light, predictable read, then this is great for that. There were some funny moments and there were some intriguing thoughts, but there was no real depth. Questions are answered almost immediately, so there is very little suspense. Give it a shot though, you may like it better than I did.

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff

Nostalgic Friday: Nectar in a Sieve

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week's selection is a book I read my sophomore year of high school. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya was originally published in 1954.

The story follows the thoughts of Rukmani, an elderly Indian woman, as she looks back on her life from childhood through adulthood.

Rukmani was the four daughter of a former wealthy family. Unfortunately, after so many dowries and the decline of her family's status, there is very little to offer to any prospective suitors. Thus Rukmani is married off to a poor tenant farmer named Nathan. In a stroke of luck, he is a kind, lovely man who is content to have someone to work alongside him and bear his children. When Rukmani has trouble delivering the sons that are needed in order to bring honor to her family, she secretly begins fertility treatments with a local doctor.

The treatments are an enormous success. A little too much so as the little family of three that was scraping by with a little leftover, is now a huge family of eight. The family continues to creep along, but times are changing. No longer is working the land enough to get by, especially when the tannery opens up. It is helpful in the beginning because Rukmani's sons have ample work and make decent money at the tannery, but as word spreads about the tannery, more and more people show up offering to work for less and less money.

Rukmani watches as everything she has known is torn to bits. Her children are scattered among the globe doing various things, and some have died at the hands of industrialization & Westernization. The change is too great, but it is something she must bear with Nathan.

Set in the early 20th century, rural India, Nectar in a Sieve is an incredible tale of love, loss, class, survival, and industrialization. This book covers the social, political, and personal aspects of being in the working class population during an industrial revolution. When Rukmani, who struggled with infertility, sees that her sons will not decide to work the land that she and her husband have fought tooth and nail to keep, she is heartbroken. A mother only wants what's in her children's best interest, but at what cost? Her educated children are a danger to themselves with their ideas and strikes. Her hard-working children have to watch as their work becomes more and more dangerous, but continues to go to others.

This captivating tale is one that I can't seem to get enough of. Rukmani's voice is powerful, yet gentle, just as I would expect a mother's to be. She is a tough woman who only wants to live her life in relative comfort. She has no higher aspirations for herself, but she wants the world for her children. Watching the changeover from tenant farmer to industrialized work is heartbreaking because you can almost hear the whispers as the old ways fall away. A great read when you are studying Westernization and its affect on developing nations. Give it a go some time.

Nostalgic Friday: Nectar in a Sieve

Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham

This ARC was generously provided by Around the World Tours. Stalker Girl is set to be released August 5, 2010 by Viking Juvenile.

Carly is really a very sweet girl; she was just a little confused.

The representation of romantic relationships in Carly's life has always been a little off. Her parents married when they caught wind that her mother was pregnant and divorced not long thereafter and now her almost stepfather (since her mom never married him) is soon to be an ex- as well. This throws Carly's whole world into turmoil as she has to move out of the only real home she's ever known and go work at a summer camp since her mom doesn't trust to leave her at home with her soon-to-be ex.

While working in the kitchen trying to feed hundreds of hungry campers everyday, Carly meets the enigmatic Brian. The songwriter and bass guitar player for an up-and-coming band, Brian can't seem to stay away from Carly either. They spend as much time together as work and band practice allows and soon find themselves at the end of the summer. The guys, whose band (at the suggestion of Carly) is now called Ernestine is Everywhere after their beloved grandmother, are really taking off and so Carly and Brian will still be able to see each other in the city.

Soon though, Carly finds out how having Brian so close could give her even more troubles. As the band rose in popularity and started to really steam along, Carly couldn't help but notice all the female attention paid to Brian. In the end, her jealousy was just too much for him to handle and he dumped her. Unfortunately, with everything else in her life going wrong, Carly can't seem to let him go; and when a new girl walks into his life, Carly has to understand what she lost to. How far is too far though? Where is the line between innocent curiosity and malicious stalking drawn?

Needless to say, I was entranced by Stalker Girl. It was simply mesmerizing. It's done in 3 parts, which I think helped a lot with the stream of consciousness. In the first part, we catch up with Carly stalking the new girlfriend. In the second part, we are thrown back in time to witness how Carly came to meet Brian and how their relationship developed. For the third part, we are brought back to the present to face the consequences of Carly's actions. This set up really changed the way I viewed the situation. For the first part I thought she was bonkers, but in the second part I really felt I understood her actions and feelings. I found myself thinking, "Well that's not too bad. I might have done the same thing." The third part makes you face the reality and severity of the situation.

Carly tended to really whine a lot, but I think that was part of character. She was kind of stuck between wanting to be treated like a grown up, but wanting to act like a child. Insecurity, both in herself and her situation, played a major role. Brian was just an average guy. I can't say that I liked or disliked him, he was just kind of there. The storyline was not quite what I expected and I definitely didn't see the end coming. I was pleasantly surprised out how it all turned out. Hopefully we'll see more from Rosemary Graham in the future.

Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham

Waiting on Wednesday: Saving Maddie

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's selection is Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson with an anticipated release date March 9, 2010.

Joshua Wynn is a preacher’s son and a “good boy” who always does the right thing. Until Maddie comes back to town. Maddie is the daughter of the former associate pastor of Joshua’s church, and his childhood crush. Now Maddie is all grown up, gorgeous—and troubled. She wears provocative clothes to church, cusses, drinks, and fools around with older men. Joshua’s ears burn just listening to the things she did to get kicked out of boarding school, and her own home.

As time goes on, Josh goes against his parents and his own better instincts to keep Maddie from completely capsizing. Along the way, he begins to question his own rigid understanding of God and whether, as his mother says, a girl like Maddie is beyond redemption. Maddie leads Josh further astray than any girl ever has . . . but is there a way to reconcile his love for her and his love for his life in the church?

From Goodreads

How incredibly interesting does that sound?! I tend to enjoy YA books which contain religious/spiritual growth for the teens characters as I think it is a key element to maturity. One must turn inward and face oneself before dealing with the outside world. Both Maddie and Josh contain a lot of potential that I am hoping will be well-rewarded. What are you impatiently awaiting?

Waiting on Wednesday: Saving Maddie