Guest Post: Don't Miss This One

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis, Howard Books, 2011, 288 pp, ISBN: 1451612060

I am delighted today to feature a guest post from my sister, Sarah. Sarah is truly a one-in-a-million kind of woman - one of the most joyful, optimistic, adventure-seeking, fun-loving people I know. Several years ago she introduced me to my all time favorite author of non-fiction: Shauna Niequist.  This past winter break, she was completely and utterly absorbed in another book: Kisses from Katie. To be honest, I initially thought the title was a little ridiculous for an adult book. Actually, I still do. Had it not been for Sarah's boundless enthusiasm for the story, I never would have picked it up. Thank goodness that girl knows how to book talk!


Because Sarah was the one who introduced me to Katie Davis and her children, I wanted her to introduce you all as well. Nope, this is not a YA book per se - although the author, along with pretty much everyone in it, is a young adult. And it is largely a book about faith, and I know that will deter many, but please do not let that deter you. If you are still reading, Bravo! You will not be disappointed.

Two days ago as I wandering the aisles of Barnes and Noble, I spotted this book on a shelf. I recognized it from the blog Kisses From Katie that a friend had shown me months ago. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I had to get it. Two days later I've finished reading the story of Katie and her girls.

At the age of 16 Katie felt that God was calling her to do something big with her life. She first visited Uganda as a Senior for three weeks and then returned after graduation. With only a few visits back to the States, Uganda has become her permanent home.

God has taken care of her and opened doors for her life as she went from teaching kindergarten to over 100 children, to starting a non-profit organization Amazima that sponsors children's school fees and feeds them daily, to moving her into a large house that she didn't know what to do with until God filled it with people; children and adults that come to her for medicine and food, hundreds of the kids that are sponsored through Amazima that come to eat and worship together, and her fourteen adopted daughters.

Yes. She is 21 years old and a mother to 14 girls. From different families and tribes they were chosen by Christ to become part of Katie's family.

I know. This sounds insane. But you've got to read this book. I love that this story is real. What Christ is doing for these people in villages and slums in Uganda is real. Katie doing all of this and saying "yes" to Christ because she knows that his unfailing love and grace and truth is real. You won't be able to put this book down. It will change your heart and the way you think about serving Christ where you are.

 "July 20, 2010 I am twenty years old and have fourteen children and four hundred more who all depend on me for their care. Who are all learning to love Jesus and be responsible adults and looking up to me. The reality of it all can be a bit overwhelming at times. However, it is always pure joy. There is a common misconception that I am courageous. I will be the first to tell you that this is actually not true. Most of the time, I am not brave. I just believe in a God who will use me even though I am not. Most mornings, before I even get out of bed, I am overwhelmed with His goodness, with His plan for my life; I stand in awe of the fact that he could entrust me with so much...

I don't always know where this life is going. I can't see the end of the road, but here is the great part. Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step. It is about Peter getting out of the boat, stepping out onto the water with complete faith that Jesus will not let him drown." -Katie Davis

This is a book that you need to read.

The Future of Us

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, Razorbill, 2011, 356 pp, ISBN: 1595144919

Recap:
Discmans, disposable cameras, beepers, and YM magazine... Yup, the year is 1996. Emma's dad just sent her a new laptop, and she's eager to try it out. Thankfully, her neighbor - Josh - just brought over a CD so that she can download AOL. Score!


But when Emma and Josh start surfing the net, they quickly realize that they didn't just download AOL. They got Facebook. Which won't even be invented for another 8 years. 


Facebook reveals what their lives will be like 15 years in the future: their marriages, careers, kids, and other friends. Not only that, they learn that by making little changes in the present, they can dramatically change the future. But will that much information be a blessing or a curse?


Review:
After the last few tear-jerkers I've read, The Future of Us was a welcome relief! Authors Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler make readers wonder just how much we would actually like to know about the future. I've often wished for the ability to know how things will turn out. Will I get that job? Will our house offer be accepted? I think that's just human nature. But since reading The Future of Us, I'm no longer sure that I would be quite so eager for that preemptive glimpse into the unknown.


Emma and Josh had been best friends for pretty much their entire lives, until Josh made an attempt to be more than friends, and then things just got awkward. Their shared Facebook secret seemingly brought them back together again, but the more that they learn about each others' futures, the more uncomfortable things become. And that's not even taking into account what they've seen in the future-lives of their friends and family members... 


I thought the premise behind the book was unique and thought-provoking. Back when I was a teenager, I absolutely would have wanted to see where I went to college and who I ended up marrying. But Josh and Emma's story also reinforced the notion that the seemingly insignificant actions we take in the present, can have huge repercussions in the future. This could create all kinds of interesting discussions in a teen book club!


It also bears mentioning that topics like sex and underage drinking are well-handled. Like most real life teenagers, Josh, Emma and their friends are put in situations where they have to make tough decisions. Asher and Mackler have equipped their characters to make very smart choices, without any overt preachiness. 


Although I loved the idea behind the book, it isn't destined to become one of my all-time favorites. For starters, Emma was just a little too short-sighted for my liking. She was constantly dissatisfied with her future, and no matter how many times she made dramatic changes (new husbands, new cities, new jobs), she never seemed to realize that she might be part of the problem. I thought she might end up having a big "aha!" moment when she acknowledged her own ability to influence her happiness, but that never really happened.


Next, while I loved the 90s references that reminded me so very much of my middle school years (YM, Wonderwall, and Wayne's World), I wonder if they might be lost on the teen crowd that this book was written for. 


Finally, I had started reading in the hopes that I would be pulled into the same kind of all-consuming story coma that I got while reading Asher's 13 Reasons Why, but The Future of Us never really took me there. That might be an unfair criticism as the two books are wildly different. I was just very aware that I was reading the whole time.

Recommendation:
Ultimately, am I glad that I read this book? Absolutely! It was an entertaining read that I will be more than happy to recommend to teen readers.

Quotable Quote:

[looking at a status update where someone writes that they'll post photos on their blog] "What's a blog?" I ask.
"No idea." Emma says

Variant

Variant by Robison Wells, HarperTeen, 2011, 384 pp, ISBN: 0062026089

Recap:
After years in the foster care system, Benson has decided to take his future into his own hands, and applied to Maxfield Academy. But upon his arrival, Benson quickly learns that Maxfield Academy is nothing like the school he had anticipated.


There are no teachers, no administrators, no cafeteria workers... no adults whatsoever. The school is run completely by students who have split themselves amongst three rival gangs: the Society, Havoc, and Variant.


Benson can't fathom why no one is trying to escape. They are being held prisoner, and few students seem to even care! But then he finds the graveyard. Some students were killed in the gang wars, and still others were rumored to have been killed in Detention. Maxfield Academy is a place more sinister than Benson could have ever imagined.


But even the graveyard pales in comparison when Benson discovers Maxfield's real secret. 

Review:
Like Blink & Caution, I likely would never have picked up Variant had I not seen it on a "Best of 2011" book list. Again, I would have been missing out.


Variant is completely out of the ordinary: a boarding school story twisted up in a mystery and then gradually unveiled as science fiction. As I just finished reading Divergent, Maxfield Academy's three gangs initially reminded me of the factions. At Maxfield, the gangs were essentially created for survival. Without adults, the school's first waves of students struggled to govern themselves, and those struggles eventually led to war, which led to death. Once they organized into three groups, a fragile truce was wagered. 


After the truce, I could actually understand why so many of the students were comfortable at Maxfield, even though they were prisoners. You see, they had all been alone in the "real world." Foster kids, homeless kids, orphans - at Maxfield they all had a place to belong, three delicious meals a day, friends, and frequent opportunities to work hard and play hard. Author Robison Wells created a world that many teachers strive to create in their own classrooms: the Academy's system of points and punishments kept everyone invested in making sure that tasks were carried out and that the rules were, more or less, followed, even without any adult presence. But of course, Benson is going to do everything he can to burst that comfortable bubble.


Wells' biggest twist comes a little more than halfway through the story. Without giving too much away, a boarding school mystery rapidly evolves into a science fiction thriller. Initially, I was shocked and confused because the twist comes completely out of left field. I read the rest of Variant a little more skeptically, wondering what other "surprises" might be in store. Do you ever feel like you can't fully trust the author? That's kind of how I felt after the big surprise. But, maybe that's my fault for not knowing more about the book before starting?


And now that I'm finished, well, I'm still pretty confused. I need to talk to someone else who has read Variant so that I can puzzle out what happened in the last two pages!

Recommendation:
Variant would be an easy "sell" to male readers, particularly those who have some interest in mysteries or science fiction. I think girls will find it just as enjoyable, but in my experience it's always helpful to have a few go-to "boy books." Variant is now officially on my Boy Book List!

C'mon Now: Do You Really Read Reviews?

One of the central components of a book blog is book reviews. This is pretty obvious! But lately I've been wondering, how often do we actually read the reviews of other bloggers?

Personally, I tend to read reviews for 3 reasons:
1. If the book is written by an author I particularly love (Hello Patrick Ness, Jenny Han, and Chris Crutcher! Just to name a few...)
2. If the cover is popping up on every single blog and I want to see what all of the fuss is about (Hello Anna and the French Kiss!)
3. If I already know that the blogger and I have pretty similar taste and that they write solid, thoughtful reviews (Hello There's a Book, Devour Books, Milk and Cookies, and Call Me Crazy, again, just to name a few...)

On the flip side, I will actively avoid reading reviews of books that I currently have checked out to read. I just don't want another blogger's words sneaking around in my head while I compose my own review.

In general, what do I look for on other blogs? I LOVE finding posts on:
1. Html tips and tricks (Emily's Reading Room and Small Review are great sources for this)
2. Information and ideas for library programming (Super Librarian is my current go-to)
3. Funny or fascinating book-related comics, cartoons, and articles (Which I always find via Kate's Library and Lovely Little Shelf)

So what about you, book lovers? How often do you really read reviews? And what other types of content do you get excited to see?


image from here

Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Philomel, 2011, 344 pp, ISBN: 0399254129

Recap:
It is 1941. Joseph Stalin and the NKVD are purging the Baltic states. Lina and her mother and brother have been ripped from the home in the night, separated from her father. They are shoved into a train car with other Lithuanians who have somehow also managed to sin against the Soviets, including a woman who has just given birth and her newborn baby.


As their train hurtles across Lithuania and into China, Lina has no way of knowing where they will eventually stop, or if she will ever see her father again. She has no idea that it will be over a decade before she is allowed to go home again. She cannot yet know that, when that day comes, her home will no longer exist.

This is Lina's story.

Review:
Between Shades of Gray is the kind of book that has the power to transform lives. I literally cannot stop talking and thinking about it. I don't remember ever learning about the Baltic purges in school, and I hope that I was just not paying attention, because to not teach about this era in our world's history would be a travesty.


Ruta Sepetys' writing is absolutely stunning. She has taken one of the darkest eras in our history, and transformed it into a story that lives and breathes and begs to be read. Between Shades of Gray could easily have been written for adults - and indeed, it should be read by adults - but the main character, Lina, makes it wholly accessible for teens. Lina is an artist, a devotee of Munch, using her drawings as a means to try and contact her father. Lina is a warrior, vehement in her opinions, using her inner strength to stay alive. Lina is human, making mistakes, feeling every possible emotion, giving readers a character with whom they can connect.


All of Sepetys' characters were written with such detail, it felt like I was watching a movie, rather than reading words on a page. If I close my eyes, I can still easily see the bald man - one of my favorites, or Lina's mother - easily one of the strongest, most courageous women ever written into being. As I read, I could smell Andrius' cigarette, the stench of the garbage thrown at Lina and Jonas, and the icy crispness of the snow across the Siberian tundra. Reading Between Shades of Gray is an experience for all of the senses.


Reading this book will break your heart. But it will also make you think. What similar atrocities are happening in the world today? And what can we possibly do about them? And who will we tell Lina's story to? Because she may be fiction, but her story is based on truth, a truth that was hidden and kept secret for decades. A truth that the world needs to know about.


Recommendation:
I will enthusiastically recommend Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys to everyone. Seriously. Every single person in the world should read this book.


Quotable Quote:

"People I didn't know formed a circle around me, sheltering me from view. They escorted me back to our jurta, undetected. They didn't ask for anything. They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit. We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer."

A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd, Candlewick, 2011, 224 pp, ISBN: 0763655597

Recap:
Conor has been visited nightly by a monster for months now, for over a year. Ever since his mother told him she had cancer, and maybe even before then, the monster has been showing up in his nightmares.


But now a new monster is visiting him when he is awake. And the monster is coming to tell him stories. And to hear Conor's own story. What in the world kind of monster does that?


But these aren't "just" stories. "Stories are wild creatures. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?"


Review:
Patrick Ness is a genius. Of that, I am certain. His Chaos Walking trilogy absolutely slayed me. And yet, as I cracked the spine of A Monster Calls and turned the first page, I was filled with some trepidation. What if the magic wasn't there anymore? What if I only felt it with Todd and Viola? Well, I needn't have worried. Even reading the opening author's note, relating the story of how he was asked to flesh out the idea from Siobhan Dowd following her untimely death, filled me with that special, shivery, Patrick Ness magic.

"And now it's time to hand the baton on to you. Stories don't end with the writers, however many started the race. Here's what Sioban and I came up with. So go. Run with it. Make trouble."

See what I mean? Love this man.


A Monster Calls is very, very different from the Chaos Walking books. Todd and Viola's story felt to me like fireworks or cannons blasting, fast paced and powerful. But this new story was quieter, "thicker" somehow, like a big, thick, warm blanket that curls around you while you read.


Conor. our main character, is grappling with the fact that his mother is dying of cancer. With his father in America with his new family; all of his classmates at a loss for words, and thus, either ignoring or bullying him; and all of the adults in his life looking at him with "oh, poor you" eyes, Conor is alone. His is strong for his mother, but his strength isn't enough to save her - a fact that Conor has not yet realized.

The monster is a yew tree from his yard, not a very scary monster at all, in comparison with the monster of Conor's nightmares.

"'It is most unusual, it said. Nothing I do seems to make you frightened of me.''You're just a tree,' Conor said...'And you have worse things to be frightened of,' said the monster. But not as a question."

To be honest, I didn't understand the purpose of the monster's stories until the very end. But once the puzzle was all pieced together for me, I looked back in awe at the mind who had created them. The monster symbolizes so many things: a companion, a wake-up call, Conor's own subconscious, the truth. And I don't know what to say about the final pages except that they left me in tears, hugging my own baby boy, feeling very, very thankful. 

So much of this book's magic comes from the illustrations of artist Jim Kay. His black and white creations are moody, dark, and intense - a perfect match for Conor's story. I hope you get a chance to go to Kay's website and learn more about the process he went through to create these illustrations. His artwork truly makes this book a treasure.


Recommendation:
For those who appreciate a story that makes you think. 
For those who enjoy reading books aloud. 
For those who share great books with their families. 
For those who need to be reminded to be grateful.
For those who value genuinely beautiful writing.
This book is for all of you.


Quotable Quotes:

"'You think I tell you stories to teach you lessons? the monster said. You think I have come walking out of time and earth itself to teach you a lesson in niceness?' It laughed louder and louder again, until the ground was shaking and it felt like the sky itself might tumble down."

"You do not write your life with words, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do."

ALA Youth Media Awards: WHAT?!

Well, I sure didn't see that coming.

I'm more than a little heartbroken that Ruta Sepetys' absolutely STUNNING novel, Between Shades of Gray, didn't even get a Printz Honor. There were so many books I was certain would be honored today - Okay for Now, Wonderstruck (although it did win a Schneider Award), A Monster Calls... And how were there only 2 Newbery Honors??? What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in the judges' rooms.

On the plus side, I'm celebrating Printz Honors and Odyssey Honors for Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races! And Newbery Honors for Thanhha Lai's Inside Out and Back Again!

And I'm excited to add to my must-read list:
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Geisel Honor)
- Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (Sibert Winner)
- Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall (Pura Belpre Winner and Morris Honor)
- Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (Printz Winner and Morris Winner)

What did y'all think of the 2012 ALA Youth Media Awards? Which awards had you standing and cheering? Which books do you think were overlooked? And which titles are you now excited to dive into?

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth, Katherine Tegen Books, 2011, 496 pp, ISBN: 0062024027

Recap:
Abnegation - Selflessness
Dauntless - Courage
Amity - Friendship and Peace
Candor - Honesty
Erudite - Knowledge

The year that you turn 16, you must choose your faction. And by choosing your faction, your future and way of life. And don't forget, "faction before family," so choose wisely. Once you've made your choice, there's no going back. 


After making her own choice, Beatrice thought that the hardest part was behind her. But Beatrice is Divergent. Unique. Undefinable. For her, the hardest part is just beginning. Her faction's initiation will test her to her very core. If she can't pass the tests of initiation? She will be factionless. 


And with the mounting tension and veiled threats swirling between the factions, the only thing worse than being in the wrong faction, is to not be in one at all.


Review:
Oh Book Lovers, considering the fact that I'm likely the last blogger on earth to read Divergent, what can I say that hasn't already been said? Probably not a whole lot, so I'll keep this brief!


1. Veronica Roth is a darn good writer. I don't think I stumbled across a single awkward phrase. Rather, I barely remembered I was reading a book, because Roth's writing made Tris's world feel so completely real. Aaaand, she's only 22-years-old. Wow. 


2. The factions fascinated me. I can't decide which I would choose for myself. Sometimes I think I would choose Amity; who wouldn't love a life where everyone just works to make each other happy? Then again, I know I would love the excitement and adventure of Dauntless... decisions, decisions. Am I allowed to say that I would choose to be Divergent?


3. Tris and Four. No flirting for this pair. Nope, not when you throw knives at each other's heads. We all know fictional couples aren't allowed to stay happy for too long (just look at Chuck and Blair!), but I have high hopes for Tris and Four in books 2 and 3.


Recommendation:
Competition. Murder. Romance. Scheming. Death-defying stunts. An incredibly detailed dystopic world (where the bean still exists).  I think the better question is, who wouldn't I recommend this book to? Divergent is a treat for all ages.


Quotable Quote:

"What do we get if we win?"
"Sounds like the kind of question someone not from Dauntless would ask," says Four, raising an eyebrow. "You get to win of course."

Custom Bookshelf Awesome-ness

I'll take 2 please!

Image, and all of the glorious details on Lisa Finster's creations, from here.

Blink and Caution

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones, Candlewick Press, 2011, 352 pp, ISBN: 0763639834

Recap:
As the only witness to a non-crime that has mysteriously shown up in the media as a kidnapping, Blink is on the run. 


At the same time, across the city, Caution has finally decided to leave her malicious, drug dealing boyfriend. Which could have been easy, but she smashed up his apartment and stole $8000 before leaving. So now Caution is on the run as well. 


When the paths of Blink and Caution finally cross, it's hard to tell who is in deeper trouble. But one thing's for sure, no one is getting out of trouble on their own.


Review:
I would have never picked up Blink & Caution had I not seen it on a "Best of 2011" book list. I would have been seriously missing out.


Blink & Caution is a contemporary thriller that will appeal to a range of young adults. Blink and Caution are both runaways, escaping from the violence of their pasts. In Blink's case, an abusive stepfather. In the case of Caution, an accidental shooting that resulted in death. 


With the two stories told in alternating chapters, Blink's narrative is initially difficult to get used to. Told in the second person, it is as if the narrator is giving us Blink's story, while speaking directly to him. Here's one example from the first chapter, right after Blink witnessed some suspicious events that will eventually be presented as a kidnapping:

"And you, Blink, in there with the ice machine, not breathing for fear of being sniffed out, snuffed out - are you ready? You cannot let go of that door now. So are you prepared for what comes next? Because you just stumbled into this thing and you will need a thicker skin than the Blessed Breakfast Uniform to get to the end of it."

Caution's narrative is told through the more traditional third person. Although she works hard to present herself as untouchable, tough-as-nails, "Caution: Corrosive," she is really just a little girl who has lived through something no one should ever have to experience. She is filled with such self-loathing, I wanted to give her a giant hug, and then go with her to a really good therapist.


Author Tim Wynne-Jones makes sure the reader knows that the two paths will cross eventually - once, before they meet, Caution almost hits Blink with her car - but first both characters are allowed to fully develop, independently from each other. And one might assume, as I did, that Blink and Caution will fall in love once they meet. I mean, this is a YA novel. Doesn't someone have to fall in love? Well in this case, no. Blink and Caution have a connection to be sure. And there might be some hope of romance in the future. But they both have more than a few issues to work through first. 


Recommendation:
With a fake kidnapping, a trio of thugs, a vindictive boyfriend named Merlin who always has some evil "magic" up his sleeve, and a mysterious shooting, Blink & Caution will appeal to readers who appreciate a good crime novel, a mystery, or a coming of age story. Blink & Caution is all of those things rolled into one.

Are We Living in the Future?

Apple just made several exciting announcements this morning regarding two educational initiatives:


1. Reinventing the textbook
2. Reinventing the curriculum 


First, the new iBooks 2 app will offer fully interactive e-textbooks for the iPad! Apple has currently partnered with textbook giants Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The evolution to paperless classrooms seems inevitable, and if textbook vendors want to stay relevant, others will surely follow suit.


Coming from a district where many classrooms didn't have textbooks at all, and if they did the books were often out of date, e-textbooks seem like a huge boon for education! Affordable, interactive, and easy to update - what's not to love?

On top of that, Apple revealed the new iBooks Author. This app offers anyone the opportunity to turn their writing into a completely professional looking book, then submit their work to the iBookstore and become a published author. Best of all? iBooks Author is FREE in the Apps store.


So what was that about reinventing the curriculum? iTunes U is already being used in a number of different colleges and universities for audio/video lectures, but Apple wants more teachers and professors to use it to create full blown courses online. iTunes U was already completely free, and is now available for K-12 teachers to create courses of their own.

Wow. Does anyone else feel like we're living in the future? I'm imagining Lincoln in school 5 years from now... Will all of his classmates have their own iPads? Will his teachers offer online, interactive homework sessions each night? What do y'all think about these developments from Apple? Are any of you already using iTunes U? Are you interested in publishing your own book via iBooks Author? I want to hear all about it!

Legend

Legend by Marie Lu, Putnam Juvenile, 2011, 336 pp, ISBN: 039925675X

Recap: 
"My mother used to hope I would rise up from my humble roots. Become someone successful, or even famous.

I'm famous all right, but I don't think it's what she had in mind." - Day

Only 15-years-old, Day is the most dangerous, most elusive criminal the Republic has ever known.

"I nod, because that's what she wants me to do. But she's wrong. I don't just think I'm smart. I'm the only person in the entire Republic with a perfect 1500 score on her trial. I was assigned here, to the country's top university, at twelve, four years ahead of schedule. Then I skipped my sophomore year... And if I feel like my afternoon drills aren't teaching me enough about how to climb walls while carrying weapons, then... well, it wasn't my fault I had to scale the side of a nineteen-story building with an EX-621 gun strapped to my back. It was self-improvement, for the sake of my country." - June

Only 15-years-old, June is the Republic's prodigy, and the only one with any hope of catching Day.


Review:
This. Book. Is. Awesome. Set in a futuristic "Republic of America," I used clues from the book to try and figure out where the territories of "The Republic" and "The Colonies" would lie. This is my best guess: 

The Republic seems to be the country that's in power, while the Colonies are filled with "rebels" who are trying to subvert the Republic's power. I wondered throughout the entire book how the split into two warring nations had transpired, but we are never actually told. In fact, many of the characters in the book aren't even sure that "the United States" had ever been a real thing. Maybe a little more back story will be given in book #2? Let's hope so.


Day, one of our two protagonists, is likeable from the get go. So what if our first glimpse into his life reveals that he's a wanted criminal? A little like Robin Hood, Day stealthily works for the good of the downtrodden, including his own family members - most of whom believe him to be dead. Plus he's just so darn good at being a criminal, it's hard not to admire him. Bonus: Day's chapters are written in gold ink. Fancy!


June, our second main character, is fiesty, quick on her feet, and ridiculously smart. So smart in fact, that she has been labeled a "prodigy." Her parents were killed years ago and **tiny spoiler** her older brother is killed in the first few chapters, leaving her an orphan. But because she's such a little prodigy, she is hired to take her brother's place in the army/police force. I know some readers have found her a little hard to like, but I thought June was pretty fantastic. I like a girl who can take care of herself! But... Side note: Did anyone else think it was strange that no one ever questioned a 15-year-old girl living alone?


Through a suspicious turn of events, June is given her first case: Day. She is determined to track him down, reveal his identity, and make an example of him to put a healthy dose of fear into the hearts of all of the rebels. 


Now this is a YA novel, so the fact that there's a romance woven in should come as no surprise to anyone. Throughout the first half, there were a few different characters who I thought might get a little love (Tess? Thomas? And what was up with that one-page-mention of Anden?), but the ultimate pairing proved to be pretty predictable. Predictable wasn't necessarily a bad thing in this case, but there definitely wasn't a big surprise ending.


Speaking of endings, Legend is the first book in a trilogy, so we'll get to see lots more of Day and June! Good thing too because there are all kinds of pesky loose ends to tie up: Where is Eden? What the heck happened to Thomas? Is anyone going to do something about that Plague? And I have a feeling that Kaede will be getting a bigger role in book #2 as well.


Recommendation:
I am now a HUGE fan of Marie Lu's Legend and will be recommending it to, well, everyone. Particularly those who appreciate dystopic fiction, lots of action, and a good bit of lovey stuff.

US Map from here - Edited on Picnik

Book Love Tweets!

Oh boy, Book Lovers. What have I gotten myself into? Book Love is now tweeting @yabooklove!

I've been curious about Twitter for a while now, and finally decided to take the plunge. I'm hoping it will be a fun and effective way to connect more with other bloggers and authors, and to learn more about the YA book world.

Do you have any tips for getting the most out of Twitter? Any "must-follows?" Please share!

Barnes and Noble is My Library

Ok... no it's not. I actually love my real library. But the little guy and I visited our nearest B&N yesterday with the intention of picking out a few new board books, and I realized that it may actually be the library for some other mamas!

There was a small group of moms there, sipping their Starbucks while their kiddos played with the big train set and pulled books off the shelves (and occasionally read them). Every now and then, a mom would break off from the group and read a few books with her little one in her lap.

Now before you think I'm getting all judgey, I was doing the exact same thing. I think I read Linc 5 or 6 different books before we chose our favorite. And goodness knows, before I had a little babe I would read magazines there for ages.

So Book Lovers, is it OK to make your local bookstore your browsing library? Is it only OK if you buy something after reading? Do you generally prefer to browse in a book store or library? And while we're on the subject, why don't more libraries have a Starbucks inside? I usually just dash in the door to pick up my holds, but the promise of a latte inside might cause me to linger a little longer among the stacks...

Coffee image from here and then edited on Picnik.

Beauty Queens

Beauty Queens by Libra Bray, Scholastic Press, 2011, 400 pp, ISBN: 0439895979

Recap:
A plane full of Miss Teen Dream pageant queens plummeted onto a deserted (or so they thought) island.   After pretty much everyone on board was killed in the crash, the remaining Teen Dreamers have to learn how to survive with only their curling irons, hairspray, and canisters of Lady 'Stache Off to save them.


Review:
Reading Beauty Queens was a completely unique, and at times bizarre, experience. Let's start with what worked for me: First off, I LOVE the cover. I mean, her bandolier is made of lipsticks. That is awesome. I'm guessing that our cover model is actually Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins. Or maybe Tiara. For those of you who have read Beauty Queens, who do you think?

Next, so much of the dialogue was just hilarious. I was laughing out loud through so much of the first half that I eventually had to go upstairs and read because I was driving Nick a little bit crazy. Here's just one example... 

"So, Miss Michigan, can you tell us about about your platform? Please. I mean, if you're okay with that."
"Oh. Sure. My platform's called Don't Even Think About It. I go into schools and I say, 'Whatever bad thing it is you're thinking of doing, don't even think about it. 'Cause I can see into your soul, and I will hide in your closet and come for you in the night, and the last sound you ever hear will be my sharp teeth popping through the flesh of my gums, ready to eat you.' Their eyes get all big. It's awesome. I love little kids, man. They're the cutest."

On top of that, Beauty Queens' cast of characters is so far outside the realm of typical, it almost didn't even feel like YA. And I mean that in a good way. There are lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters. There are African American and Indian characters who have plenty to say about the way people of color are typically treated in books and movies. The beauty queens have no-holds-barred conversations about gender, racism, feminism, sex, and societal expectations. No controversial topic is off limits in Beauty Queens.


Interspersed throughout the narrative are scripts from commercials for products and programming by "The Corporation." These brief vignettes offer a satirical commentary on today's media, and the unrealistic, oversexualized standards of beauty that are promoted. These one-pagers were often funny, but also prodded the reader to consider just how far off base they really were from the commercials we see on TV every day. Here's just one excerpt...

"...And our trained aestheticians can help you identify parts of yourself you didn't even know could be improved. Why wait? Schedule your appointment today... Because 'You're perfect just the way you are' is what your guidance counselor says."

So what didn't work for me? Well, some parts of Beauty Queens were just a little too bizarre for my taste. Like the entire story line with evil dictator MoMo B. ChaCha and his right-hand man, a taxidermied lemur named General Good Times. And at times I felt like the book was trying just a little too hard to be "edgy" or to spark controversy. I wish the entire text had felt more like the beginning: tongue-in-cheek, witty, just plain funny.


Recommendation:
I will eagerly recommend Beauty Queens to anyone who likes a good satire, and who doesn't shy away from sensitive subjects. And particularly to readers who appreciate Libba Bray's completely unique, often off the wall,  sense of humor. One note of caution - I would recommend Beauty Queens to high school readers and older.

PS: I highly recommend this review by Forever Young Adult.  The reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place, I think I ultimately enjoyed the review just as much as the book itself!

Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, HarperCollins, 2011, 272 pp, ISBN: 0061962783

Recap:
Ha is only 10-years-old when she escapes from Saigon to Alabama during the Vietnam war.

She must leave her father behind, not knowing if she will ever see him again, and travel on a boat to America.


Once her family has been taken in by a good-hearted Alabama "cowboy," Ha must begin the work of learning her new life: learning the rules of English, learning to make new friends, learning to come to terms with the fact that life will never be the same again.


Review:
Inside Out and Back Again is a completely lovely novel in verse. While it could easily be read in an uninterrupted afternoon, Thanhha Lai's story will linger for many days after the last page has been read.


The subject matter is weighty - war, immigration, death, assimilation - yet any reader, regardless of age, could pick this text up and find themselves consumed in Ha's journey. As Ha is only 10-years-old herself, Inside Out and Back Again would be completely accessible for an upper elementary or early middle school student. Students of all ages will easily relate to Ha's struggle to fit in, make friends, and do well in school. 

At the same time, this book will be much more meaningful for readers who have some understanding of the Vietnam War and the culture that Ha found herself in during that period. For this reason, I would be excited to see Inside Out and Back Again used as a class novel in a History classroom. Great MG/YA literature isn't just for English teachers! Imagine just how much more a class would learn, how much richer the discussions could be, if this text was used as a companion alongside a textbook. Now that is a class I would want to be in.


It bears mentioning that this book is somewhat autobiographical. Author Thanhha Lai also moved from Saigon to Alabama at the end of the Vietnam War. Her father went missing as well. Many of her own school experiences are reflected in Ha's first days in school. Reading with the understanding that Ha's journey didn't just bubble up from an author's imagination made her story all the more powerful.


Recommendation:
For those who appreciate novels in verse,
for those who value stories that reflect real life,
for those creative, hard-working teachers who can take a book and bring it to life in the classroom,
Inside Out and Back Again is for all of you!

Quoteable Quotes:
To make it worse
the cowboy explains
horses here go
neigh, neigh, neigh
not hee, hee, hee.


No they don't.


Where am I?
*****

Sometimes 
a y is used
instead of an e,
even if
it makes more sense
for moldy to be spelled molde.


Whoever invented English
should have learned
to spell.
*****

Cosmic

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Walden Pond Press, 2010, 320 pp, ISBN: 0061836834

Recap: 
Liam doesn't quite fit in. He is twelve-years-old, but he looks... well... like a dad. A lot of the time, this works to his advantage. On the first day of middle school, his principal thought he was a teacher and introduced him in the school assembly. Once he went to a car dealership, and the salesman almost let him take a Porche out for a test drive.


When Liam finds out he has won a contest to be the first on a brand new thrill ride at an amusement park, he's ecstatic! So what if he has to pose as a dad? He's done that plenty of times. But then Liam finds out that...
- he has to bring his daughter
- the "amusement park" is in China
- the "thrill ride" is a rocket


Yikes.


Review:
I was completely and utterly charmed by Cosmic. How has this book not received more attention?

Liam is the kind of student I would love to teach - clever, independent, adventurous, and kind.  He is constantly pushing the limit to see how how far his adult appearance can take him (test driving a Porche?), but it's clear to the reader that he isn't really trying to take advantage of people, he just likes to have big adventures.

Florida Kirby reminded me a little too much of, well, me. She may not know anything about gravity or outer space, but she knows every single celebrity, who they're married to, and how they became famous.  Her primary goal in life is to become famous herself, and playing the role of Liam's daughter (yes, they're the same age!) just might get her there. Boyce did a masterful job of allowing Florida to evolve over the course of the story. She could have easily remained a shallow fame-seeker, but as the story progresses the reader gets to see more and more of Florida's heart and internal motivation. In case you couldn't tell, she's my favorite.


Cosmic gets a big gold star for the fact that it is so appealing to both children and adults (particularly parental-type adults). Much like a great Disney movie, the humor throughout exists on two levels: there are plenty of jokes to keep kids laughing, but there is another, more witty layer of humor that will get grown ups chuckling too.

And did I mention that author Frank Cottrell Boyce lives in England? I was smitten with the British vocabulary sprinkled throughout. In fact, I frequently found myself reading with a mental British accent, and a big smile on my face, because seriously... doesn't a British accent make everything just a little bit better?


Finally, Cosmic is a story with a heart. All of the main characters, but especially Liam and Florida, learn what "dadliness" is really all about. In a way, this book is like a laugh-out-loud love letter to dads.


Recommendation:
I highly recommend Cosmic for any and all middle school readers! Boys and girls will enjoy it equally. And if you're a dad, try Cosmic out as a read aloud. You and your kiddo(s) will not be disappointed.

The JOY of Books

So freaking awesome.

Imagine the work that went into this! There's a little blurb about this video's creation when you click over to the YouTube version. Love, love, love...

Thank you to Tina from Tina Says for sharing this first!

Watch It! The Fault in Our Stars

Oh, happy day. John Green's newest, The Fault in Our Stars, is being released today. I heard about his vlog of the first chapter from Crazy Katie, and watched it a few nights ago while making dinner. Y'all, this is going to be a standout.

To be perfectly honest, John Green is a little hit-or-miss for me: Paper Towns - ugh, Looking for Alaska - pretty darn good, Will Grayson, Will Grayson - Ecstatic Love. With only the first chapter to go on, The Fault in Our Stars seems destined for the Love column.

What do you think, Book Lovers?? Are you a John Green fan? Which of his is your favorite? Have any of you already been able to read The Fault in Our Stars?