HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick – REVIEW October 22, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: angels, friendship, high school, love, suspense, young adult
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Simon & Schuster – October 13, 2009
Nora is a responsible girl. She keeps her grades up and always informs her mother where she is and what she is doing. Since the death of her father, Nora’s mother has had to take a job that keeps her away from home and out of town several days a month – leaving Nora alone. Nora wants to do everything she can to keep her mother’s trust since it is the only way they can keep their farmhouse. If Nora’s mother doesn’t think she can be trusted, she’ll quit her job and stay home with Nora. They would have to sell the home Nora has lived in all her life. The only thing she has left of her father.
Boys have never been an issue for Nora. They’ve never caused her to lose focus on her studies because no one at school has ever interested her. Until her Biology teacher shakes things up in class on the first day of Sex Education by changing seating arrangements. Instead of sitting next to her forever best friend Vee, she is forced to sit next to a new student named Patch. Immediately, Patch makes her uneasy. He seems to know too much about her.
Shortly after meeting Patch, strange things start to happen to Nora. A man wearing a ski mask jumps in front of her car, her room is ransacked, and someone tries to kill her twice. Nora doesn’t know who to trust. When Vee meets two new boys and attempts to set up double dates, things just get worse. Nora is frightened most of the time. Is Patch the one in the ski mask or is it Elliot, the new guy Vee wants her to date?
Nora is about to find out humans aren’t alone on Earth. Angels do walk among us, it’s just that all of them aren’t focused on heavenly pursuits.
HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitpatrick is an enjoyable mix of suspense and romance. Patch is definitely the type of dark and mysterious character that will make girls go weak in the knees. While some of the situations Nora gets herself into seem a little far fetched, they don’t take away from the story. Overall HUSH, HUSH was a book I couldn’t put down. There is a lot readers still need to know about the characters, but Becca Fitzpatrick isn’t finished. CRESCENDO, the sequel, has already been announced. I just hope we see more of Patch.
GOTH GIRL RISING by Barry Lyga – REVIEW October 2, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: death, friendship, graphic novels, high school, letters, sequel, suicide, therapy, young adult
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Houghton Mifflin – October 19, 2009
By the time GOTH GIRL RISING hits the shelves it will have been three years since THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL was published. For those that haven’t read it, do so now! You will probably enjoy GOTH GIRL RISING even without the backstory from TAAFGG, but not nearly as much as you could if you take the time to read it.
Unlike TAAFGG, this story is told from Kyra’s point-of-view. Six-months have passed since the last time we saw her. Because of something that happened at the end of FANBOY, Kyra was sent to stay at the Maryland Mental Health Unit. GOTH GIRL picks up on the day she is released.
Kyra is both relieved and nervous to be going home. Dealing with her father is tough and the thought of going back to school turns her stomach upside down. But, she is excited about one thing and that is seeing Fanboy. Here is a what she is thinking when she is walking into the school her first day back and she is looking for Fanboy. “I feel all light and puffy inside, like someone filled me up with a cloud or something. The Spermling doesn’t bother me. Roger doesn’t bother me. I’m going to find Fanboy and then everything is going to be fine. No wait, that’s wrong. Everything is going to be perfect.” (p. 35)
What Kyra finds is not what she expects and her world is shaken again. She begins to fill her days with plans of revenge and ways to ruin Fanboy. Thoughts of suicide find their way back into her head and she struggles to make it through each day. So many things are confusing: her feelings toward a long time friend, her relationship with her father, the way she feels about her mother’s death, and her plans for Fanboy.
Through letters she writes to her favorite author, Neil Gaiman, Kyra works through her many emotions in an attempt to be satisfied with life. She just can’t decide if it is worth all the trouble.
THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL by Barry Lyga – REVIEW October 2, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: bullying, friendship, graphic novels, high school, young adult
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I read this book a long time ago and didn’t realize the review wasn’t posted on my blog. Here it is now, since I’ll be referring to it in my review for the follow-up, GOTH GIRL RISING.
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Barry Lyga explodes into the teen literature world with his unique debut novel. THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL is a novel about one young man’s journey through confidence development.
Fanboy, a sophomore in high school, floats through life hoping to remain invisible since he has, more than once, fallen victim to bullies. His life is a lonely life. His parents have been divorced for six years; his mother is remarried and
pregnant, visits with his father are becoming less frequent due to his father’s increased social life, and he doesn’t relate to his stepfather at all.
Fanboy has been compiling a list for quite some time. The list includes people that have “pissed him off” for no particular reason. Once you are on the list, you never get off. This includes the jock jerks and girls from the cliques that seem to dismiss him as if he has no business even attending school with them.
One bright spot in Fanboy’s day is visiting with his friend Cal. Cal is a jock jerk, but also has a passion for comic books, and the two often debate, in depth, about different issues in the comic book universe. The problem with being
friends with Cal is, since he is a jock jerk, he doesn’t act like much of a friend at school. Fanboy knows to back off when Cal’s teammates approach them at school. Most of their conversations take place on the weekends or at night through instant messages.
Fanboy’s life begins to change when he receives an instant message from an unknown person. Fearing it is another trick to humiliate him, he doesn’t respond. After several messages and an email, he learns that it is a girl from his gym class. Kyra has been witnessing his torment the entire year. She has taken pictures of a bully hitting him in the arm while the teachers do nothing. After this initial contact through instant messaging, they agree to meet and Fanboy’s life will never be the same.
The biggest secret in Fanboy’s life, which he hasn’t even shared with Cal, is the graphic novel he is creating. Schemata takes up all of his free time and he can’t stop himself from sharing it with Kyra. She becomes a huge supporter and inspiration for the graphic novel. Fanboy is planning to attend a comic book convention where Michael Bendis himself is going to be signing autographs. Fanboy intends to show Bendis his work and truly believes it will be the break he needs to get Schemata published. Surprising and disastrous events at the convention lead Fanboy to worry about Kyra’s well-
being. While things don’t work out exactly as he plans, Fanboy realizes confidence is the key to his problems. After many uncharacteristic behaviors, he manages to come to terms with some of the issues in his life and makes plans for the future. He even takes someone off “the list.”
THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy
teenage problem novels. Comic book fans will enjoy the graphic novel references, especially the cameo appearance by Michael Bendis. While the ending left me slightly unsatisfied, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this novel. This will be a great addition to any collection.
HATE LIST by Jennifer Brown – REVIEW September 16, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: friendship, healing, high school, shootings, young adult
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Little Brown and Company – September 1, 2009
Valerie is alone. Her family tiptoes around her, her friends act like she doesn’t exist, and most of the people in the community think she should be dead. Valerie’s boyfriend, the person she trusted more than anyone else, shattered her life when he brought a gun to school and wounded several students and killed many others, including himself. Most people believe Valerie was involved, but she had no idea what Nick was planning.
After spending weeks in the hospital recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound to the leg, Valerie is moved to the psychiatric ward for observation. During the many therapy sessions, she begins to think back on her relationship with Nick and all the events that led up to the terrible event that changed an entire community.
HATE LIST is an extremely powerful story. I was in tears for the last eighty pages and felt emotionally drained by the time I reached the last page. Jennifer Brown has given us a wonderful example of the importance of keeping a watchful eye out for bullying in our schools.
Valerie is a strong character and it was a pleasure to witness her healing process. Once I started HATE LIST I couldn’t stop. I read every chance I could. Even though the subject matter is very serious, this book was a pleasure to read. Thank you Jennifer Brown.
THE HOLLOW by Jessica Verday – REVIEW September 8, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: death, friendship, high school, legends, love, perfume, secrets, young adult
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Simon and Schuster – September 1, 2009
Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, is dead. Finding it hard to accept, Abbey just goes through the motions of the funeral service and the burial. It seems wrong that Kristen isn’t standing next to her like she always has been in the past. Nothing seems right anymore.
Abbey and Kristen spent much of their free time at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. They enjoyed visiting Washington Irving’s grave and seeing what gifts people have left for him. Abbey and Kristen felt a connection to Irving since he was the author to make their little town so famous by writing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Now, with Kristen gone, Abbey is left to wander the cemetery alone – until she meets Caspian.
Abbey struggles with the process of healing while distracting herself with Caspian. He is mysterious and beautiful and all she can think about. Feelings of guilt sometimes overwhelm Abbey since she is focusing so much on her complicated emotions for Caspian instead of preserving her memories of Kristen.
It turns out there are many secrets in the town of Sleepy Hollow and Abbey is smack dab in the middle of all of them. Why was Kristen alone at the river the night she died? Who is Caspian and why doesn’t he give her any information about himself? Will Abbey learn the truth behind The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?
THE HOLLOW was a book I was really looking forward to reading. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. There were so many opportunities for the author to suck us into a wonderful mystery, but then seemed to drop the ball. I kept reading, hoping to learn about Caspian and Kristen’s death, but even after 513 pages I still don’t know what’s going on. I felt completely let down by the ending. It could have been SO good.
THE HOLLOW is the first book in a planned trilogy – and yes, before you even ask – I’ll probably read the next one hoping to get some answers. Please Jessica Verday, don’t wait until the third book to give us some answers.
NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE by E. Van Lowe – REVIEW September 3, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: high school, young adult, zombies
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Tor Teen – August 18, 2009
On the day of her Middle School graduation, Margot Jean Johnson wrote a manifesto listing her goals for high school. Being popular, having a boyfriend, and being invited to the best parties are some of the most important things on her list. Now, after four years, as Margot and her best friend, Sybil, start a new school year, she realizes she is running out of time to accomplish her goals – seeing as not even one has been accomplished.
Things turn around for Margot after the majority of the students at her school turn into flesh-eating zombies. Margot takes the opportunity to put herself in the leadership role for many of the important school activities like head of the Dance Committee, Head cheerleader, and Captain of the debate team. Finally, her manifesto was going to be completed. But, one thing Margo didn’t expect was the zombies to cause her so much trouble.
I’m all for silly fantasy novels. I completely enjoyed YOU ARE SO DEAD TO ME and ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH, but this book was too much. It was not only completely predictable, but also completely ridiculous. For example, in order to fight off the zombies, Principal Taft tells Margot and Sybil to keep a rolled up newspaper with them and hit the zombies on the nose if they get too close. I found myself rolling my eyes for most of the book.
I’ve looked at other reviews and see that a few others really enjoyed NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE. I guess the saying “different strokes for different folks” holds true. Let me know what you guys think. Am I just weird or did you feel the same way?
WINGS by Aprilynne Pike – REVIEW April 10, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: faeries, friendship, high school, love, plants, science
8 comments
HarperTeen – May 5, 2009
Laurel is starting school for the first time and in high school no less. Everything about it seems wrong. Her years of homeschooling fit so well with her lifestyle. Being able to go outside to complete her studies and having meaningful conversations with her mother were perfect. Now, being cooped up in a building without windows and natural light just feels wrong. But, no matter how much begging she does, her mother says it’s time.
Starting a new school would be bad enough, but she is also having to learn a new town. The family moved in order for her father to live his dream of owning a book shop which means gone are the days when she can go out back and wander the woods behind their home.
Laurel meets David and they become fast friends. He is extremely helpful when Laurel is faced with a frightening change to her body. A bump begins to grow on her back. At first, she tries to ignore it, but it becomes so large that eventually she knows she has to tell someone.
What they discover changes both their lives forever.
WINGS is such a great story. It is unique, touching, and funny. It will definitely become one of your favorites. The characters are so well developed that you’ll feel like you know them personally. The way WINGS ends, it seems possible that there could be a sequel, but if there isn’t, it will be okay too. There is a sense of closure and satisfaction when you get to the last page.
EVERMORE by Alyson Noel – REVIEW February 17, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: death, guilt, high school, immortality, love, psychics, young adult
31 comments
St. Martin’s Griffin – February 3rd, 2009
Ever has survived the unthinkable. She is the lone survivor of the automobile accident that took the lives of every member of her family – including the family pet. Since her “near death” experience, she hasn’t been the same. Not only is she battling with feelings of guilt for being alive, she now has psychic abilities. She can read minds and nothing is secret anymore. In order to block out the noise that constantly surrounds her, she keeps her iPod cranked to dangerous levels, hoping to distract herself.
Her self-isolation naturally leads to a lack of friends. Only Haven and Miles, outsides in their own rights, keep Ever company at school and on occasional weekends.
One day flows into the next, until a new boy shows up at school. Damen causes quite a stir with his amazing good looks and charming personality, but there is something strange about him too. Damen silences the noise in Ever’s head. Whenever he talks, he is all she hears. Whenever he touches her, everyone around her seems to disappear and a warm, tingly feeling creeps up her body. This would be great if Ever felt she could trust him, but something just doesn’t seem right about him.
Ever must come to terms with her life while dealing with a mysterious woman that seems to have a connection to Damen. Ever refuses to learn more about her psychic abilities and would rather them just disappear, but in trying ignore them, she puts herself in danger.
Can Ever find a way to live with her abilities and is Damen worthy of her trust? Read EVERMORE by Alyson Noel to join Ever on her journey through the Immortals Series. The second novel, BLUE MOON, will be available August 2009.
VIBES by Amy Kathleen Ryan – REVIEW January 31, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: first love, high school, psychics, young adult
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Houghton Mifflin – October 6, 2008
Kristi can read minds. This may sound cool, but she doesn’t get any enjoyment out of it. For the most part she just hears people thinking:
1 – how strange everyone thinks she is.
2 – what guys think about when they look at her large chest.
3 – her mother wondering why Kristi avoids her.
Kristi’s life took a dramatic turn two years ago. Her father left, her best friend moved up the popularity ladder and left her behind, and Gusty, the boy she was totally in love with, made it pretty clear he didn’t want anything to do wit her. Pretty much the only thing that gives her any pleasure is listening to operas, designing and making her own clothes, and her cat, Minnie. She has worked herself into a nice, comfortable rut.
Several things happen at once that shake up her world. Her father comes back from Africa, a new boy enrolls at school and appreciates her creativity, and Gusty turns out to be her partner for a huge school project. Everything she thinks she knows comes into question.
Kristi is a fantastic character. Her hilarious, sarcastic attitude and witty remarks will leave the reader giggling out loud several times throughout the story. You’ll want everything to work out for her.
Amy Kathleen Ryan does a great job capturing the insecure feelings of a solitary teenager. The progressive high school, Journeys, is a wonderful backdrop for this unique story. Click here to visit the author’s website for contests and great writing advice.
LOOKS by Madeleine George – REVIEW January 26, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: anorexia, bullying, eating disorders, friendship, high school, young adult
3 comments
Viking – June 12, 2008
Meghan is obese. She is the largest person at Valley Regional High and her hulking size, oddly enough, allows her to blend into the background. Most people are too uncomfortable to make eye contact and most teachers are content to allow her to remain silent during class discussions. Meghan doesn’t have any friends, but she knows a lot about everyone at school.
Aimee is reed thin. Her list of foods that give her a “bad reaction” grows everyday. About the only things she allows herself to eat are Jell-o and carrot sticks. Her big, floppy hats and black, long skirts make her all but invisible in the school’s halls. Invisible to everyone except Meghan that is…
Meghan feels the need to connect with Aimee. She begins to follow Aimee in order to try and find an excuse to talk to her, but it isn’t until Aimee is betrayed and she and Meghan share a common enemy that they team up for a little payback.
LOOKS deals with many issues – eating disorders, friendship, bullying, and high school dynamics are the most evident. George’s unique writing style in the first and last chapters give the reader a voyeuristic feeling and, at times, the lyrical and figurative language tricks the reader into thinking they are reading and extended poem rather than a work of prose. While the author doesn’t wrap the story up in the traditional way of most young adult novels, it is definitely an accurate picture of the atmosphere in a typical high school.
