Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Dutton Juvenile, 2010, 304 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0525421580

Prereq for reading this review: Start listening to Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Alternative listening choice: In an Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

If I had a youtube video of Tiny Cooper, I would link to that in a heartbeat. But it doesn't exist... yet.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a book in desperate need of a soundtrack.

Will Grayson is pretty confused. He has spent his whole life following two golden rules. #1 Shut up and #2 Don't care. Those rules, for the most part, have kept him safe from hurt. But they've also kept him safe from really experiencing life. Maybe he could learn something from Tiny Cooper after all...

Will Grayson is living in darkness. Depression, anger, and hopelessness consume all of his days. No one can get through to Will, until Isaac. But everyone knows that when you meet someone online, there's always a chance that they're not who they appear to be... Will the darkness return if Isaac leaves?

Tiny Cooper is a literary miracle - truly, one of my all time favorite characters. Over six feet tall, bigger than a line backer, fabulously gay, and a singer-songwriter who is currently in casting for the musical spectacular Tiny Dancer: the Tiny Cooper Story.

When the two Will Graysons meet, everyone's life will be changed forever.

Wow... this book is like nothing I've ever read before! The two Will Graysons narrated the story in alternating chapters, creating a narrative style that got particularly interesting once their stories began to overlap. John Green and David Levithan each wrote a different Will Grayson. I actually was positive that I knew which Grayson was which throughout the entire book... but I was so wrong! I am not the world's biggest John Green fan (I know, I know...) but I loooove David Levithan. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Levithan had written the angst-y, emo Grayson who I skimmed through for the first half of the book and that Green had actually created Tiny Cooper! Wow. If you're hungry for more info about the writing behind this book, check out the Will Grayson faq page. (Be warned: It does contain spoilers)

What it all comes down to is that Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a story about love. It's about how all of us, yes all us, desperately need to love and be loved, no matter how dramatically we may try to convince ourselves otherwise. Be forewarned, a whole lot of cursing is used to get this point across! But the story is still 100% about love.

I laughed out loud so many times that my husband asked if I wanted to go read in another room. In the end (not a spoiler!), I had one of those delicious weep-y cries that is just good for your soul. Tiny Cooper will forever have a place in my pantheon of fictional loves. He is a life-changer. I really don't think I can say anything else about this book except... go read it. I hope it will do for you what it did for me: widen your perspective of the people around you, and make you love everyone just a little bit more.

In closing, here are a few nuggets I want to share:
Nugget #1: Both authors were asked in an interview, "One of the Will Grayson characters is gay. How important do you think it is to have gay characters in young adult novels?" And their response...

Levithan: It's essential. And not just for gay character and gay voices. We need to be detailing all kinds of identities and experiences. And it's also important to give our characters complexity - happily, we're a long way from the "gay = misery" school of literature. It's about exploring the humanity of the characters and being gay is a part (sometimes a big part) of that.

Nugget #2: In case you didn't know, Neutral Milk Hotel is actually a real band. This is their website. In real life, the band Maybe Dead Cats is actually Schroedinger and the Maybe-Dead Cats. This is their website. But unfortunately, as far as I can tell, Annus Miribalis is not a real song.

Nugget #3: I turned down the corners of 7 different pages with all of the quotes that I wanted to record, but you really just need to read the book and find your own favorite pages to turn down, so for now I'll leave you with this one...

Tiny doesn't just sing these words - he belts them. It's like a parade coming out of his mouth. I have no doubt the words travel over Lake Michigan to most of Canada and on to the North Pole. The farmers of Saskatchewan are crying. Santa is turning to Mrs. Claus and saying, "What the fuck is that?" I am completely mortified, but then Tiny opens his eyes and looks at me with such obvious caring that I have no idea what to do. No one's tried to give me something like this in ages.

Nugget #4: John Green talking about the book and reading the first page... I think I like him a little bit more than I thought I did after all...

Reality Check

Reality Check by Peter Abrahams, HarperTeen, 2010, 352 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0061227684

A beautiful girl
An ex-football star, high school drop-out who loves her
A New England boarding school
A mysterious disappearance

What do all of these elements add up to? A really, really good book.

Fast-paced, suspenseful, stuffed full of mystery and adventure, it's no wonder that Reality Check was named the 2010 Edgar Award winner in the Young Adult category.

I picked up Reality Check because I am on a perpetual hunt for the "best books for boys." Peter Abrahams' first YA novel certainly fits that bill. Cody, the protagonist, was on track toward high school football stardom, until he tore his ACL and was pronounced out for the season. When his girlfriend Clea, his first love, was sent away to boarding school in Vermont, Cody pretty much just gave up on life. He dropped out of school and picked back up with his summer job, working for a lumber yard. But then after learning of Clea's mysterious disappearance in the woods outside of her school, Cody knew that he had to check back in with reality. Leaving only a note for his abusive father, Cody set out across the country with only one mission in mind: finding Clea. Little did he know, he was going to find much more than he'd bargained for.

Abrahams' writing style is simple and to the point, making Reality Check a perfect recommendation for both struggling and more confident readers.  Cody's love for Clea was certainly the catalyst behind his need to solve the mystery, but the romantic interludes in the story were neither too flowery nor overly graphic. I loved that, while Cody had about zero confidence in himself as a student, much of his inner-strength came from a Macbeth quote (via Ms. Brennan, his English teacher): Screw your courage to the sticking-place/and we'll not fail. The book managed to impart some strong messages - trusting your instincts, making good choices, standing up for what you know is right - without being overly preachy.

Want a little more info? Check out the NPR review of Reality Check, which includes an excerpt from the book. Looking for a similar read? I loved the YA mystery The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. What do you think, Book Lovers? Do you have any other must-read books for boys? I'm always on the hunt for the next great one!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer, Little-Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010, 192 pp, Fantasy, ISBN: 031612558X


Bree Tanner is just a baby vampire. With no knowledge of her creator and no idea why she was created, Bree is in the dark... in more ways than one!


It is only when Bree joins up with Diego and Fred that she realizes there could be a whole lot more to the situation than she realized. But will she be able to put all of the pieces together while there's still time?


To be honest, I had pretty mixed feelings before reading The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. I was excited for my students who are all mega Twilight lovers. I was curious to read Bella's story from a different perspective. I loved that Stephanie Meyer had it available for free online, in addition to donating a dollar from each book to the Red Cross. However, once it came out I read several negative reviews. Being a mega Twilight lover myself, I didn't really want to read anything that would give me a negative perspective on the series.


When I finally took the opportunity to get acquainted with Bree, I wasn't disappointed! Her story was definitely a different take on what it means to be a vampire. I actually hated the scenes where she and the other newborns went hunting. The human feeding sessions were just a little too disgusting. On the flip side, I loved her interactions with Diego and Fred. There is always goodness in the world! I kept wishing that Fred could link up with the Cullens; I know they are kindred spirits. 


Like the rest of Edward and Bella's stories, the writing of Bree Tanner is a little on the shallow side... but I think that's partly what I love about the books! They are all lightening fast reads that immediately immerse you in the tumultuous lives of the characters. On top of that, I can't help but love books that make me emotional, and Bree's story left me with a little cryball in my throat in the end. 


If you've finished Breaking Dawn and have been missing your favorite vampires, I have a feeling that you are going to really like The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner! For those of you Book Lovers who have read it, what did you think?

Update/PS: While TSSLoBree Tanner is on your mind, check out Forever Young Adult's post on the book. I can guarantee a giggle and you may even end up with a new game for your next party!

Friday Blog Hop

Happy Friday! If you are not familiar with the Blog Hop, it is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Crazy for Books. Here is her explanation of the event:

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all book bloggers and readers a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  So, I  created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to   read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!

If you are new to Book Love, welcome! I am so happy you found me. Have a look around and please leave a comment or two if you see something you like. I love meeting new Book Lovers!

The Carrie Diaries

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell, Balzar + Bray, 2010, 400 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0061728918

"Having fun?" he asks.

"Sure," I say. I should be embarrassed, but I'm not. I hate the way girls are supposed to be embarrassed all the time and I decided a long time ago that I just wouldn't do it.

The Carrie Diaries is supposed to be the story of Carrie before she became the Carrie Bradshaw we all know and love. However, I am here to tell you that she has always been fabulous.

The high school version of Carrie is just starting to navigate the world of men. She falls head over heels for Sebastian Kydd, the new boy in school. And come on, with a name like that, who wouldn't fall in love a little? Sebastian is experienced, mysterious, and a few shades of dangerous. The fact that she managed to steal him from Donna LaDonna made the whole deal even sweeter. How can sweet, patient George from Brown hope to compare?

Of course, Carrie wouldn't be Carrie if she didn't have her girlfriends by her side. Mags, the Mouse, Lali, and Walt (ok, one non-girlfriend!) may not all be the loyal-to-a-fault friends whom she eventually finds in Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda... but they certainly keep things interesting!

I loved that The Carrie Diaries gave us a glimpse into Carrie's family. I thought I was the ultimate Sex and the City fan, but I had no idea that her mother had died when she was young, leaving her with an overly-analytical father and two younger sisters. On the flip side... I just read that, according to the 4th season of the television series, Carrie's father abandoned their family when she was 5. This inconsistency is not a huge deal in the grand scheme of her life, but it does make me wonder how closely Candace Bushnell followed her literary creation on the small screen.

For me, the absolute best part of The Carrie Diaries was the message that Carrie conveyed about men and sex. She reaffirmed, over and over, that a woman should never change who she is for a man. Of course, she pushed the boundaries of that personal rule herself a few times... but, we've all made mistakes in the name of love!

"I mean, it's kind of like you're more than a girl... It's like - you're a guy in a girl's body."

"What?"

"Take it easy. I didn't say you looked like a guy. I meant you think like a guy. You know. You're kind of practical but tough. And you're not afraid to have adventures."

"Listen, buster. Just because someone is a girl doesn't mean she can't be tough and practical and have adventures. That's the way most girls are - until they get around guys. Then guys make them act all stupid."

When it came to sex, she emphasized that there is nothing wrong with waiting. A few of Carrie's friends spent a fair amount of time trying to convince her that she was the only person left in the world who hadn't done the deed, but Carrie never backed down. She wouldn't do anything before she was ready, no matter who was asking.

Finally, I loved reading through Carrie's evolution as a writer. Even when she was unsure of everything else in her life, she was sure that she was meant to write. It's no surprise at all that Pinky Weatherton grew up to become the great Carrie Bradshaw.

Fans of Sex and the City are sure to love The Carrie Diaries. It's a light-hearted, make-you-laugh, look back at one of our favorite fearless females. To borrow from one of my fav bloggers, it's a YA book for the 20-something set! If you love Ms. Bradshaw, you are going to love this book.

Required Summer Reading

In the fall, several of our 8th graders will be attending City College. Nope, they are not little Doogie Howsers; City College is actually the name of one of Baltimore's best high schools. One of the requirements for all of City's incoming freshmen is a little summer reading!

Two of my favorite 8th grade readers came in to ask if I had read either of their required summer texts. I hadn't, so I decided I had better get busy!

The first is A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. For those of you who are not familiar, the sub-title is "Memoirs of a Boy Soldier," which pretty much gives you the rest of the story.

I listened to Beah's story on a long car trip with my husband, and I have pretty conflicting feelings about the book as a whole. First of all, there can be no doubt that what Beah survived was horrific. As a boy soldier, he actually lived the things that most of us only shake our heads over when we hear a passing anecdote on the news. The fact that he actually survived capture by the RUF is a miracle in and of itself. He has worked for the side of evil and for the side of good, and both sides are clearly laid out in his memoirs.

The civil wars, and resulting genocide, in Africa have been called "the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time." In that same discussion, I read, "the darkest part of Africa is our ignorance." I think that reason alone is reason enough for our students to be reading A Long Way Gone. How much do they, do any of us, really know about what is happening in Sierra Leone? We are too ignorant. The first step to change is becoming aware of the problem, so I am thankful that City is requiring more students to become aware of what is happening only a few thousand miles away.

As I listened to the story, I thought over and over again, "I would love to sit in on the discussions of this book." There were so many rich connections betweens Beah's experiences and the experiences of students in Baltimore City: gang violence, children who are forced to act as adults, drug and alcohol abuse, a fight for independence, a quest for family, a prayer for freedom. The list could go on and on! I wonder what connections the students will recognize in their own lives. I wonder if Beah's story will inspire them to stand up to the injustices in their own neighborhoods. I wonder how many teachers will identify with the adults who worked at Beah's school. Could we ever have that much empathy? That much patience? I hope so.

My only issue with the book was the writing itself. Even though the action was so intense, I felt like the pacing of the writing dragging everything down. Throughout the entire first half of the book I worried that my students wouldn't even get through it because it was just so slooooooow. However, if the kiddos do persevere through the whole book, there is no doubt in my mind that A Long Way Gone will be an amazing vehicle for learning and discussion in the classroom this fall.

The second required text is Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. If you are a frequent Book Love reader, you might remember that I've mentioned wanting to read this at least 2 or 3 other times. Well, I finally succeeded!

The story of a teenage Australian-Palestian-Muslim girl who decides to become a "full-time" hajib wearer, in spite of the fact that it will make her an almost-sure target for teasing... this book is fabulous. Author Randa Abdel-Fattah has the most spot-on voice for a teenage narrator that I've ever read. (Maybe that has something to do with the fact that she actually started the manuscript when she was 15 or 16, and then came back to it when she was 23.)

Abdel-Fattah's explanation of why she chose to write this book really resonated with me: "It became apparent to me that the only time Muslim females appeared as heroines in books were as escapees of the Taliban, victims of an honour killing, or subjects of the Saudi royalty! I wrote Does My Head Look Big In This? because I wanted to fill that gap. I wanted to write a book which debunked the common misconceptions about Muslims and which allowed readers to enter the world of the average Muslim teenage girl and see past the headlines and stereotypes- to realise that she was experiencing the same dramas and challenges of adolescence as her non-Muslim peers- and have a giggle in the process!" I think she succeeded in every way.

Amal, our protagonist, has to deal with high school crushes, a grouchy/lonely neighbor, evil teen queens, the boy of her dreams, her best friend's old-fashioned-borderline-fanatical mother, the life-changing personal decision to wear the hajib, and all of the other trials and tribulations of high school. She doesn't make it look easy; she just makes it look like real life. Amal is a character who I would truly want to be friends with. She is funny and honest and brave and compassionate and I just really like her.

Here is one of my favorite Amal quotes. "Mrs. Vaselli was, of course, right. Life isn't like the movies. People don't change overnight. People don't go from arrogant and self-righteous to ashamed and remorseful. They don't suddenly give in when they've spent years taking out. No doesn't suddenly become a yes. You don't go from wanting your daughter to throw out her high school diploma in exchange for a marriage certificate to being Melbourne's leading Education-and-Independence-for-my-Daughter advocate... But that's what Leila's always been about. Faith. Faith that she'll do something in her life. Faith in people. Faith in God. Faith that she knows who she is and what she wants and what her rights are. Things you take for granted and don't think about."

Again, I would love to be in the classrooms of the students who are discussing this book. There are so many rich themes to discuss: combatting ignorance, family values, religion, personal identity, prejudice, keeping an open mind... I wonder what students will take away from Amal's story?

What about you, Book Lovers? Do you or your kiddos have required summer reading? What books do you wish more students would read this summer?

Sweet Valley Lives!

First The Baby Sitters Club, then Animorphs, and now Sweet Valley Twins... I feel like my past is coming back to life!

The new Sweet Valley book is going to be called Sweet Valley Confidential. Unlike The Summer Before, this add-on to the series will find Jessica and Elizabeth in the future. At this point, they're 27!

For the full scoop (and a shot of a soon-to-be-trendy Team Jessica t-shirt), head over to Readergirlz!

And while you're waiting for Sweet Valley Confidential, head over to Forever Young Adult and check out their series of Sweet Valley posts. Amazing, I tell you!

So Book Lovers, if I could have wished any re-make into being, it would have been The BSC. However, I was pretty disappointed at all of the changes they made by going back in time and messing with the past. My second re-make wish would have undoubtably gone to Sweet Valley, so I have very high hopes for Jessica and Elizabeth in the future!

Let's start speculating, Book Lovers! Where will our favorite twins live? Where will they work? Will we get to see Todd Wilkins and Lila Fowler again? And just for the record... Team Jessica all the way.

Sunshine Award, Versatile Blogger, and Stylish Blogger!

Holy smokes... I am completely humbled and excited. Over the past week-ish, I was given the Sunshine, Versatile Blogger, and Stylish Blogger awards. Thank you, thank you to Kate at Kate's Library, Becky at Escapism through Books, and Taryn at Super Librarian! And now comes the fun part... passing them along.

First up, we have the Sunshine Award. This award is given to bloggers who inspire others and show positivity and creativity! Here are the rules:
1. Paste the logo into a post
2. Share the award with up to 12 other bloggers
3. Link to each of the recipients and let them know they've won via comments on their blogs
4. Bring the love back to the person you won the award from by linking back to her (or him!)

I am sending this Sunshine over to a group of women who always shine light around the book blogosphere through their lovely comments and positive posts.

Along for the Ride
Super Librarian
GreenBeanTeenQueen
The Bookshelf Sophisticate
Overlap (fyi... this is not a book blog! Overlap is my sister's blog, but she is the absolute brightest sunshine I know and she deserves an award, too!)

Next up, the Versatile Blogger Award! Here are the rules...

1. List 7 random things about yourself

2. Share the award with up to 15 other bloggers

3. Link to each of the recipients and let them know they've won via comments on their blogs

4. Thank and bring the love back to the person you won the award from by linking back to her (or him!)

Here are my 7...

- My mom is a HS librarian and the person who inspired me to become one as well. Working in the LMC with Joycey, eating EL Fudgemen, reading a whole lot... she really does have the best job.

- I am so vocal about my desire for a puppy that in the last few weeks of school, two different students came in and gave me stuffed dogs.

- I once sent in the application for my husband to become the next Bachelor. Shockingly, they didn't snap him up.

- Over the course of a school day, I am told on a regular basis, "Oh, Kate! I didn't see you there. I thought you were one of the kids."

- For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a bridesmaid, preferably in a pastel dress with poofy sleeves and a big bow. This fall, I finally get to be one for my best friend, Kari! Unfortunately... the dress is not the one from my imaginings...

- Even though I live in Baltimore, I am a hoosier in my heart. This means that I know the real word for "soda" is "pop."

- I grew up at a YMCA camp where my dad is the director. It is the best camp in the whole world. Seriously.

And here are my versatile bloggers... When you go check them out, you'll see what I mean! Each of these bloggers is somehow book-based, but on their sites you will also find So Much More.

The Reading Countess (one of my daily must-reads)

The World of Peachtree Publishers (check out the post on Review Policies)

within the walls (artist for The Mortal Instruments series of graphic novels)

7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast (if you are an art lover, be careful... you will get sucked in for hours)

My Little Buffalo (you caught me again... not a book blog... but Lisa designed the Book Love banner and button and I looooove her site!)

And last but certainly not least, the Stylish Blogger Award! Here are the rules...

1. List 5 random things about yourself

2. Share the award with 5 other bloggers

3. Link to each of the recipients and let them know they've won via comments on their blogs

4. Thank and bring the love back to the person you won the award from by linking back to her (or him!)

Here are my (stylish!) 5...

- Carrie Bradshaw is my style icon.

- I love the idea of super stylish shoes, but am content to pretty much live in my Rainbows.

- My sister-in-law is the best hair stylist in the world. She lives in MI, so I go months without a haircut because I don't like going to anyone but her.

- cupcakesandcashmere is my favorite style-centered blog.

- Claudia Kishi is clearly the most stylish babysitter.

I love the blog style of each of the 5 ladies below. They're all full of excellent writing, but I partially just love these blogs because they're so pretty! Take a look for yourself and see what I mean...

21 Pages

Emily and her Little Pink Notes

Good Golly Miss Holly

Chick Loves Lit

MadeByGirl (you guessed it... not a bb... but oh, so stylish!)

And those are the awards for today... Wild Applause!

Friday Blog Hop

Happy Friday! If you are not familiar with the Blog Hop, it is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Crazy for Books. Here is her explanation of the event:

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all book bloggers and readers a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  So, I  created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to   read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!

If you are new to Book Love, welcome! I am so happy you found me. Have a look around and please leave a comment or two if you see something you like. I love meeting new Book Lovers!

One More Reason to Love Kate Spade

I love Kate Spade.

I think it's because she has a habit of putting my name on everything...

But now, there is one more reason to love her... check out these "book bags!"

How is a girl to choose?

Love is the Higher Law

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009, 176 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0375834680


Where were you on September 11, 2001?

Claire, Jasper, and Peter were in New York City. This is their story.

Each of the three teenagers narrates the events of that time from a very different perspective. Claire put all of her energies into taking care of the people who were left behind. Organizing fund-raisers, spending nights re-lighting candles at the memorial site, making sure that hurting friends stay connected, Claire is all heart.

Jasper and Peter were supposed to go on their first date on the day that the towers fell. Obviously, their date was delayed. When they finally met up again, there was too much grief in the air to feel much of anything else.

As the stories of these three individuals intertwine, fall apart, and then slowly weave themselves back together again, the reader is given an intimate glimpse of a tragedy. 9/11 happened almost nine years ago, but as I read David Levithan's words, I felt like it was happening all over again. My heart was walking through the city streets with Claire, huddled up in grief with Jasper, and searching for meaning with Peter.

I originally picked up Love is the Higher Law because I was on the wait list for Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I had never read anything by Levithan before, and I wanted to get more familiar with his work. If you are in the same place I was, let me just say... he is a phenomenal writer. I turned down the corners of almost a quarter of the pages because there were so many passages I wanted to remember. His words evoked weighty feelings of mourning, remorse, loss, and renewal. The songs that he wove into the story gave the words a soundtrack, making the emotional impact even stronger. Did you know that the title of the book comes from a U2 song? Here is one of my favorite passages, from a U2 concert that Claire and Peter went to in Madison Square Garden, about a month after the attack:

"From the very first song, we feel it - all twenty thousand of us feel it... we rise up to meet the music. We're not just a crowd. We're not just a gathering. We're a congregation. Then the band gets to "One." As Bono sings, the names of all of the 9/11 victims are projected onto the backdrop of the stage. All of those names. And the song transforms into something much bigger than we are. We are crying and holding on to each other and singing along and reading, reading, reading. All of the names, as we're told love is the temple, love is the higher law."

I think the aspect of the book that I loved most was the focus on relationships. Jasper and Peter, Peter and Claire, all of the people of New York City. Nothing was forced or fake. Over the course of the story, everyone came to realize just how much we all need each other.

"If I hadn't met you," Jasper says, "I probably wouldn't even know there was a war happening."


"If I hadn't met you," Peter says to Jasper, "I probably wouldn't even know what the songs meant."


"And if I hadn't met you," I say to both of them, "I would've wondered if it was all in my head. My whole life, in my head."


"We are in another part of the city, in another part of another year. Our thoughts, I'm sure, travel to different things - how difficult long-term relationships are, how scary war is, how close the summer is already seeming, how amazing it is that friendships can become so full that you can't imagine what your life was like before them. We talk and we talk, and then we talk some more, until we are back in my dorm room. ...even though the second bed is open, we all lie on my bed, Jasper leaning into Peter, me leaning into them both. There's no way for them to take away my sadness, but they can make sure I am not empty of all the other feelings."

Love is the Higher Law is a beautiful, brilliant book written by a wildly talented author. I loved it. I recommend it to you all.

Last Day of School

For the past four years I have been extremely blessed to work at one of the best public middle schools in Baltimore City. I could have never, ever asked for better co-workers or better students.

And yesterday was my very last day of school. My classroom has gone from this...

to this...

So empty, I almost don't recognize it! As much as I've loved my school, I am thrilled that I will be starting the next school year as a school librarian. I love new challenges and new adventures... and this will definitely be a big one.

Here's where I need your help! I know many of you are school librarians. What advice would you give someone just starting out? Any do's and don'ts? Please tell me everything!

How does Religion factor into your Reading?

Growing up in Indiana and then going to college in western Michigan, I was never surprised to hear someone remark that her favorite author was Janette Oke. Historical fiction, lots of romance, and strong Christian themes throughout... who hadn't read the Love Comes Softly series?

However, I am fully aware that those interests do not translate across all parts of the country! In fact, I have recently started wondering how much of a deterrent religious themes are for some readers.

That train of thought started after I finished sistrsic92, a book that was primarily focused on eating disorders and family relationships, and whose protagonist was a PK (pastor's kid). I found very few reviews, and very little information in general, about the book, and wondered if the Christian sub-plot might be to blame. After I raised that question in my review, "The1stdaughter" raised the very valid point that often the response to a book has more to do with the actual writing and marketing, than whether or not it's religious. In addition, she cited Once was Lost by Sara Zarr as an example of a fabulous book that featured religious undertones, but also had great marketing, so it did extremely well in the mass market.

I think the same could be said of Marcelo in the Real World. Marcelo has a special place in my heart. I think Francisco X. Stork did an incredible job of crafting a complex character, who was full of faith and heart, and whom reading audiences fell in love with. I've also had several students who really got in the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. If you aren't familiar, this series features very realistic portrayals of (you guessed it!) teenage girls who are trying to cope with a variety of tough issues. Throughout the series, there is a definite Christian emphasis.

I actually thought twice about even putting the series in my classroom library. I know that my students come from a variety of religious backgrounds, and I do believe in a strong separation between church and state. However, I ultimately decided to keep the books on the shelf. The characters are going through things that many of my students are experiencing as well. I knew that it would be easy for my young readers to relate to the girls on the page, and hopefully learn some good coping strategies as well.

So here is what I'm wondering, Book Lovers. Would religious themes make you more or less likely to pick up a book, YA or otherwise? And for the teachers and librarians, do you have any policy on putting these types of books in your libraries? I'm so interested to hear what you think!

sistrsic92

sistrsic92 by Cheryl Dellasega, Marshall Cavendish Corp, 2009, 226 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 076145456X

Meg (aka sistrsic92 aka Eggy) has a problem: her sister is T2P2. The Totally Perfect Person. Nothing Meg does could ever compare to the wonder that is T2P2. But then Meg learns that her sister's life isn't exactly as perfect as it seems.

As her sister's perfect facade comes crumbling down, Meg learns that her own life isn't quite as bad as she had imagined. And maybe, just maybe, she and her sister need each other after all...

sistrsic92 first caught my eye because of the "Bloggrls" series header at the top of the cover. A YA book about blogging? Hmmm... I need to investigate! When I started flipping through it, I was further drawn in by the blog-style layout and the "clicktionary" at the front of the book, defining all of the terms like "tefw," "VBGF," and "world fam." All of these elements would make this book an easy sell to my female students.


But what about the plot? sistrsic92 is a pretty straightforward story about a younger sister who feels like she just can't measure up. However, her story grows more intense when Meg learns that her older sister Cara has a serious eating disorder. Once the rest of the family catches on, Cara is hospitalized. As their family works to convince themselves that Cara is getting better, Meg is the only one who knows the truth: Cara has a secret. A serious secret. And until she lets it out, nothing is going to get better. 

I would eagerly give this book to a student who had a family member (or who was personally) struggling with an eating disorder. It's full of information about how eating disorders start, how to support people who have one, and the necessity of always being truthful with one's self. While sistrsic92 does deal with a serious issue, it is extremely accessible to younger readers, including those in upper elementary school. This is the perfect stepping stone for readers who aren't quite mature enough for Lauren Myracle's ttyl series.

Author Cheryl Dellasega is a professional researcher, teacher, counselor, and nurse. She has been working with, and writing about, women in conflict for years. When it comes to the various issues that women and girls face, Dellasega knows what she is talking about. I'm interested to read her first book in the Bloggrls series, Nugrl90, which focuses on abusive relationships.


One more note: In comparison with the other books I've reviewed, I had an extremely difficult time finding information about the Bloggrls series. I've been trying to figure out why. Is it because of the faith factor? Meg's dad is a pastor and she grapples with God's presence and the power of prayer throughout her family's struggle. I'm curious to hear what you think, Book Lovers. Do you think mainstream publishers/reviewers have just written sistrsic92 off as a "religious book?" Would a book with a religious thread running through it make you less likely to read it?

Blog Love

There are just too darn many great book blogs out there. Here are a few I've recently found, and trust me... they are fabulous.

Emily and Her Little Pink Notes: I love a whole lot of things about Emily and her site. Number 1? The overall look. I am frequently guilty of judging of a blog by its "cover," and Emily's font, layout, and overall design had me at hello. Number 2? She's got some great content. I especially like her literary playlists!

Emily's Reading Room: What is it with the Emilys today? Anyway... for those of you who are die-hard Book (blog) Lovers, I know I'm not telling you about anyone new. But for those of you who may be a little more new to the scene, Emily's Reading Room is a must read. This girl's got everything! Plus, she is currently celebrating her blogiversary with a giveaway a day for the entire month of June... holy smokes!

I am a Teacher et cetera: Okay... this is not exactly a book blog. However, I am a teacher as well as a Book Lover and this is one fantastic teacher blog! I've already bookmarked about 15 of her suggested links. 

Kate's Library: I would come here every week, even if Kate only wrote The Friday 5! She does such a wonderful job of paging through the blogging world and finding all of the best of the best posts.

Milk and Cookies: One of my new absolute favorites!!! There are very few blogs that ALWAYS have something I want to read. This is one of them. Plus, Jana is also a school librarian and she links to her (amazing!) school library site through Milk and Cookies.


And that's this week's Blog Love... Happy weekend Book Lovers!

top image from here!

Friday Blog Hop

Happy Friday! If you are not familiar with the Blog Hop, it is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Crazy for Books. Here is her explanation of the event:

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all book bloggers and readers a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  So, I  created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to   read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!

If you are new to Book Love, welcome! I am so happy you found me. Have a look around and please leave a comment or two if you see something you like. I love meeting new Book Lovers!

Angry Management

Angry Management by Chris Crutcher, Greenwillow Books, 2009, 256 pp, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0060502479


Chris Crutcher is one of my writing heroes. His characters are honest and funny and heartbreakingly sad and brilliantly real. He writes about real life and the truth. He writes about the things people go through, for all of the people going through them who just can't find the words. His writing has the power to change lives.

Angry Management is a very special book. In this story, Sarah Byrnes and Angus Bethune and John Simet and Matt Miller and Montana West have all come back to life on the page.

If you are a Chris Crutcher fan, you will know that they are an assortment of characters from his other books. If you are not yet a Chris Crutcher fan, well... I'm sorry it's taken you so long to find him. This book is a great place to start!

All of the above-mentioned characters have been pulled from their places in literary space and time to join Mr. Nak's anger management group. As the members of the group share and build on their stories with each other, the reader learns bits and pieces that they may have missed from past books. However, Angry Management is certainly not a summary story! There are plenty of new characters, new conflicts, and new challenges to be overcome. There is SO MUCH MORE I could tell you... but I could never do his story justice. You just need to read it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

One more note: This book contains a lot of cursing. Most of Crutcher's stories do. Maybe that is why his work has appeared on Banned Book lists so many times. Honestly? I typically do not care for books with lots of cursing. I just usually find that it's distracting, possibly thrown in for shock value, and doesn't always add that much to the story. However! That is not at all the case with this author and his characters. They talk like real people, and real people aren't always polite. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts:

"He bends down, peers in. Sarah glances at him, then away. But he sees her and must think he's looking at some of the most seriously pathetic shit he's seen all day. He nods. 'This is unusual enough for probably cause,' he says. 'I could search your car.'


'For what?'


'Drugs, whatever.'


'Man, if you search this car and find some drugs, I'll split them with you sixty-forty. If there were drugs in this car, I can assure you you'd have to do stomach surgery to find them. This has been one perfectly shitty day.'"


**


"'Why don't we be in love?'


'Why don't we be in love?' Again, it sounded better when I said it. 'How do you just be in love?'


'You just do it, I think. You hold hands and tell each other shit you don't tell anyone else. You go cool places. You do... what we did last night. ...What do you have to lose?'


Her head snaps up. Fire burns in her eyes. 'I have everything to lose Angus Bethune. Everything. You want to know how I've stayed alive so far? By never wanting anything. I've never asked for a Christmas present or a birthday present or even a piece of dessert. I take what is given to me. When you don't have anything, you can't lose anything. Shit, I'm scared to death 'cause Ms. Lemry and her husband want to adopt me. I'm eighteen. Legally it doesn't even mean anything and I'm still afraid of it. My other fat friend, Moby? He's going off to school on the coast. You know what happens to people who go their separate ways? They go their separate ways. I'm terrified he'll just sink into time. He's not even gone and I've told myself he is. What do I have to lose? Shit, Angus.'"

**

"People just don't get it about Jesus. When He saw a wrong, He righted it. When He saw what wasn't His business, He left it the hell alone. I don't worry about Him wanting me to find a place in my heart for the Marcus Jameses of the world. That place exists naturally. Jesus didn't care whether you were some other color than pasty white, or whether or not you were gay. His Father made them and He loved them all. Jesus would want me to find a place in my heart for the Marshalls and the Stones and the Stricklands, which, if you can't tell, I have a harder time doing, but at the same time He wouldn't want me to back off them when they did mean, stupid-ass things, because the thing Jesus loved as much as truth was justice."

As you can tell by my copious quoting, this book is truly something special. Today I am thankful for writers like Chris Crutcher who make me think and question and feel things. They are the writers who make me love to read.

Get Caught Listening!

Happy National Audiobook Month, Book Lovers!

I don't mind telling you... I love audiobooks. My love affair started when I was little with Adventures in Odyssey (true... Odyssey = radio shows, not audiobooks... but I just loved hearing those stories out loud). Many years later, my husband and I spent a year in long-distance love. Audiobooks always made the miles fly past faster when we were traveling back and forth to see each other. Today, audiobooks have become a favorite of classroom teachers who swear by the merits of listening centers.

Some of my favorites? I have to admit, I don't usually listen to YA. If I have an audiobook, it's probably going to feature James Patterson or John Grisham. For some great YA audiobook suggestions, check out sidebar of Book Love: Teen (no affiliation!) under "Audios I Adore."

For information on Get Caught Listening, the official audiobook celebration thrown by the Association of American Publishers, head over here! They have cool downloadable posters, audios of authors talking about audiobooks, and suggestions for how audiobooks can be used in the classroom and library.

The next audiobook on my list? Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah, one of the summer required-reading books for my outgoing 8th graders.

So Book Lovers, what's your take on audiobooks? Love them? Prefer the print version? Have a great audio recommendation? Tell us all about it!