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Book Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Lola Nolan thinks life in her San Francisco neighborhood is pretty great: she has a hot (older) rocker boyfriend, two caring (if overbearing) dads, and one dedicated best friend. When she’s not hanging out with any of the above, she’s either working at a local movie theater or creating her latest over-the-top outfit-cum-costume. But all of this happiness threatens to fall apart when Calliope and Cricket, her old neighbors and the two responsible for crushing her spirit and breaking her heart three years ago, move back in.
In this companion novel to last year’s overwhelmingly popular Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins has crafted another swoon-worthy teen romance full of quirky, likable characters. Lola is a force — yes, she is a bit melodramatic, but she’s also full of life. I loved her endlessly wacky and inspired outfits and costuming prowess. The boy-next-door, Cricket, captured my heart with his lovable nerdiness. Their burgeoning relationship was both delightful and agonizing (just tell him you like him already!), though that’s to be expected in a romance novel. My one real qualm was that Lola’s original boyfriend, Max, was just too obviously wrong for her, making the inevitability of the end just that much more inevitable.
Of course, it’s not all teen angst and romance — Perkins deftly handles the relationship between Lola and her mostly absent, often homeless mother, letting it evolve in a realistic manner, and Lola’s friendship with Lindsey felt very true to life. I was surprised by how big of a role Anna and Etienne played in the story, but this should work as a standalone title for those who haven’t read Anna (but if readers like this one, they definitely should!). This is a great pick for any contemporary YA lit lover!
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins will be released September 29, 2011 by Dutton Juvenile. Find in a library, on Amazon, or add to GoodReads.
Reviewed from an ARC received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
August 18th, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Movies Based on Books: August to October 2011
1. The Help 2. One Day 3. Conan the Barbarian
4. Drive 5. I Don’t Know How She Does It 6. Moneyball
7. What’s Your Number? 8. Rum Diary 9. Three Musketeers
August 10
The Help
Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer
Based on the book by Kathryn Stockett
August 19
One Day
Starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess
Based on the novel by David Nicholls
Conan the Barbarian
Starring Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, and Rose McGowan
Based on the stories by Robert E. Howard
September 16
Drive
Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston
Based on the book by James Sallis
I Don’t Know How She Does It
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, and Kelsey Grammer
Based on the book by Allison Pearson
Straw Dogs
Starring James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, and Alexander Skarsgård
Based on the novel The Siege of Trencher’s Farm by Gordon Williams
September 23
Moneyball
Starring Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, and Jonah Hill
Based on the nonfiction book by Michael Lewis
Killer Elite
Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro
Based on the novel (previously published as The Feather Men) by Ranulph Fiennes
September 30
What’s Your Number?
Starring Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, and Chris Evans
Based on the novel 20 Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak
October 14
The Thing
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, and Ulrich Thomsen
Based on Who Goes There?, a novella by John W. Campbell, Jr.
The Skin I Live In
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar and starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, and Jan Cornet
Based on the novel by Thierry Jonquet
The Big Year
Starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Steve Martin
Based on the book by Mark Obmascik
October 21
The Three Musketeers
Starring Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, and Ray Stevenson
Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas
October 28
The Rum Diary
Starring Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and Aaron Eckhart
Based on the book by Hunter S. Thompson
July 28th, 2011 ♥ Books, Movies ♥ 2 Comments »
Book Review: The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango
Virginia is only seven years old when she is sent to work for Niño Carlitos and Doctorita, a well-off mestizo family. As an indigenous Ecuadorian, Virginia earns no money, endures regular beatings, and never gets to visit her own family. Despite a terrible situation, she finds small ways to rebel, often taking cues from her idol MacGyver, and teaching herself about the world by sneaking books behind the family’s back. As Virginia progresses through her teenage years, she struggles to reconcile her indigenous identity with her new mestizo worldview while she strives for the life of her dreams.
This true story, co-written by the protagonist, María Virginia Farinango, and YA author Laura Resau, presents an honest look at the inequities between the indigenous population and the non-indigenous mestizos in Ecuador. The snippets of Virginia’s life can be heartbreaking at times, but it’s punctuated with moments of humor and cunning that are a delight to read. I appreciated the straightforward prose and cultural education, but the narrative lacked urgency and a compelling hook besides Virginia’s personal growth. Luckily her vivacious spirit — her vivísima — was engaging enough to make me care about her story and want to keep reading. This book relates a subject matter that’s lacking in the YA landscape and that alone makes this a worthwhile entry. It would be especially appropriate paired with a broader discussion of Ecuador or other world cultures in a classroom or book group.
There are also some great resources on Laura Resau’s website, including pictures of Virginia now and when she was younger. It’s actually her on the cover!
Find in a library, on Amazon, or add to GoodReads.
Have you read it? I would love to know what you think! It’s received four starred reviews — from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publisher’s Weekly.
Reviewed from a library copy.
July 25th, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ 2 Comments »
Favorite YA Covers So Far in 2011
Well, the year is more than half over (what?!), so it’s a good time to reflect on the previous six months of book covers. Overall, I haven’t been blown away by many covers so far, but there are a few that stand out.
Yay for covers with no people! I like that they’ve gone this route for the Carrie Diaries books, even though Carrie Bradshaw is pretty much a cultural icon at this point. This one’s beautiful in person — totally looks three-dimensional! — and I was only a little embarrassed to lug it through the airport on my recent vacation. I also love the type treatment and simplicity of Choker — I’m definitely a sucker for cursive.
Okay, so these look pretty darn similar, but I don’t care because I love them. The Hourglass cover is striking and bizarre — can’t wait to read the book to see how it relates to the story. And Imaginary Girls might just be my favorite of the year. A gorgeous cover for a gorgeous book, and it even reflects (ha!) the tone of the book.
So, I know there was a bit of a white-washing controversy with Across the Universe, but I still adore this cover. The type, perfection, the colors, stunning, the composition, beautiful. Just wish they would have kept the faces in tact and nixed the summary and blurb.
This flat image of Delirium does not do the finished cover justice! You can’t see the metallic blue and the cut-out text overlaying the full photo — so eye-catching. The lettering looks a lot like that of the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Sthol, but I still love it. The cover’s being redone for a special edition release, which I’m not thrilled about.
The paperback version of Mare’s War is in strong contention with Imaginary Girls for my favorite cover of the year. The contrast, the colors, and the composition all add up to one brilliant image, and featuring a person of color to boot. I really need to get my hands on this one, stat.
So, what did I miss? Do you like these covers? Hate them?
July 11th, 2011 ♥ Books ♥ No Comments »
Mock Printz 2012 on Goodreads
Since we’re about halfway through the year, it’s a good a time as any to start contemplating the contenders for this year’s Printz award and honors. Awarded by an American Library Association committee, the Michael L. Printz Award is an award for “a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.” Many libraries and library systems hold Mock Printz events in December and January, but you can get started even earlier on Goodreads as part of the Mock Printz 2012 group. So far, we’re discussing Chime by Franny Billingsley, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Have you read any outstanding YA books this year? Come and let us know!
June 13th, 2011 ♥ Books ♥ No Comments »
May Reads
Reviews of the books I read in May, all in 140 characters or less!
Popular by Alissa Grosso
While slow to start, this look at a high school clique comes with an unexpected twist that makes the second half a more compelling read.
Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart
Loved this fourth and final installment of Ruby Oliver’s story. Plenty of romantic drama and hilarity to please the contemporary YA fan.
My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff
Sweet and hilarious story of romance and friendship from a male perspective set against the backdrop of a high school theater production.
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
This somewhat harrowing novel about a new girl desperate to fit in ultimately falls flat in its attempt to pack too much into its 300 pages.
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
A story of faith, family, and love in a small, uber-Christian community. A unique perspective on a classic teen story is supremely readable.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
As the last true human in a genetically engineered world, Snowman’s tale is an astute adult dystopian novel for a sophisticated teen reader.
The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal
Sinda, the false princess, goes on a quest full of magic and adventure to find the true princess. A great fantasy read for middle grade.
Feynman by Jim Ottaviani
This graphic novel bio of physics great Richard Feynman meanders too much and probably won’t appeal to the casual reader.
May 31st, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
When Brooke finds out that her long-time crush, Scott Abrams, is moving to New York, she negotiates with her divorced parents to relocate to her dad’s Manhattan apartment for senior year in hopes of finally telling Scott how she feels. Her plans don’t go as smoothly as she imagined. Scott has a girlfriend, her mom and friends from back home feel abandoned, and her new school pushes her out of her comfort zone. But Brooke is determined and won’t let those setbacks get in her way of enjoying New York and maybe finding a little romance.
It’s hard to get past the incredibly dubious premise — really, a mom lets her daughter move to Manhattan with her estranged father for her last year of high school?! — and things don’t necessarily get better for Susane Colasanti’s latest novel. Brooke, our protagonist, is a bit of a Mary Sue. She’s allegedly super-duper-incredibly smart, but we mostly just hear this from others and Brooke herself and don’t actually see it. In fact, she makes some incredibly dumb decisions in her single-minded quest to make Scott like her. Plus, her relationships with her old friends and her parents are thrown in as almost an afterthought and get really weak resolutions. That said, there are a few highlights that make the story worth finishing. Her two new friends, Sadie and John, are fun characters who manage to bring out the best in Brooke, the city of New York shines with lots of great details, and Brooke’s character development is actually very realistic and satisfying. Though it’s not the paragon of contemporary YA romance, readers, especially those on the younger side, will enjoy this quick, breezy novel, that would be perfect for the summer.
So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti was released May 3, 2011 by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA). Find on Amazon, in a library, or add to Goodreads.
Want another opinion? Check out reviews at Spine Label, YA Librarian Tales, and Forever Young Adult.
Reviewed from an ARC received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
May 11th, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington
Clarity Fern, better known as Clare, wishes she were a normal girl, but instead she’s labeled a freak. Endowed with the ability to see people’s thoughts by touching objects, Clare, along with her supernaturally gifted mother and brother, conduct psychic readings out of their Victorian home in a sleepy, seaside town on Cape Cod. But things get even further from normal when a tourist is murdered and Clare’s brother becomes a likely suspect. When the mayor asks for her help in the investigation, Clare finds herself working with her ex-boyfriend Justin, the mayor’s son, and the intriguing Gabriel, the new hotshot detective’s son, to unravel the mystery and prove her brother innocent.
Kim Harrington’s debut novel is a refreshingly unique story where the supernatural aspects are secondary to the gripping mystery that drives the plot. Clare is a likable enough heroine, struggling with the double-edged sword that her psychic abilities bring, though I could have used a bit more character development to feel a stronger connection to her. The others in Clare’s life round out the story with plenty of family and romantic drama. Both of the love interests, the good guy Justin and the potentially bad boy Gabriel, are alluring, so it’s no wonder Clare finds herself in a love triangle. The mystery itself provides lots of twists and turns, casting suspicion on various characters and throwing in red herrings before culminating in the big reveal at the end. While this is now slated to be a series, the conclusion to the mystery is satisfying, yet still leaves some loose ends to entice the reader for more. This is perfect for readers looking for a plot-based, fast-paced story with a supernatural twist.
Clarity by Kim Harrington was released March 1, 2011 by Point, an imprint of Scholastic. Find on Amazon, in a library, or add to Goodreads.
Want another opinion? Check out reviews at YA Librarian Tales, YA Book Nerd, and GreenBeanTeenQueen.
Reviewed from an ARC received from the publisher at ALA Midwinter.
May 2nd, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Movies Based on Books: Summer 2011
(1. Something Borrowed 2. Thor 3. Priest 4. X-Men: First Class 5. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer 6. Mr. Popper’s Penguins 7. Monte Carlo 8. One Day 9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 10. Winnie the Pooh 11. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan 12. Cowboys & Aliens)
Literary adaptations continue to be hot commodities for the summer movie season. Besides the eagerly awaited conclusion to the Harry Potter movie franchise, there are lots of comic book interpretations, several children’s books coming to the big screen, and a few popular novel adaptations coming out in the next few months. What are you or your library users looking forward to?
May 6
Something Borrowed
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, and John Krasinski
Based on the novel by Emily Giffin
Thor
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, and Natalie Portman
Based on the Marvel comic book character
Everything Must Go (Rated R)
Starring Will Ferrell
Based on the short story “Why Don’t You Dance” by Raymond Carver
May 13
Priest
Starring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, and Maggie Q
Based on the manhwa series by Min-Woo Hyung
June 3
X-Men: First Class
Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence
Based on the Marvel comic book characters
Submarine
Starring Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, and Paddy Considine
Based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne
June 10
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Starring Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham, Jaleel White, and Preston Bailey
Based on the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald, who co-wrote the screenplay
June 17
Green Lantern
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Peter Sarsgaard
Based on the DC Comics character
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Starring Jim Carrey
Based on the book by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater
July 1
Monte Carlo
Starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, and Katie Cassidy
Based on the novel Headhunters by Jules Bass
July 8
One Day
Starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess
Based on the novel by David Nicholls
July 15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling
Winnie the Pooh
Featuring the voices of Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, and John Cleese
Based on the books by A.A. Milne
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Starring Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun, and Vivian Wu
Based on the book by Lisa See
July 22
Captain America: The First Avenger
Starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Samuel L. Jackson
Based on the Marvel comic book character
Sarah’s Key
Starring Kristin Scott Thomas
Based on the novelby Tatiana de Rosnay
July 29
Cowboys & Aliens
Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde
Based on the graphic novel created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg
April 28th, 2011 ♥ Books, Movies ♥ 2 Comments »
Book Review: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Mclean and her dad are starting fresh in a new town for the fourth time in as many years. Usually this process is easy, but Lakeview presents a challenge for them both. While her dad focuses on overhauling a failing restaurant, Mclean finds herself confronting both her true identity and her strained relationship with her mother, mostly with the help of a bunch of new friends, including the unconventional boy next door.
Sarah Dessen has perfected the contemporary realistic YA novel and her latest entry yet again hits all of the right marks. She fluidly integrates narratives about family, friendship, and romance into a coherent story that never feels bloated. While I did think there were slightly too many characters to truly connect to, it didn’t detract from the characterizations of those who mattered. Dessen also incorporates many familiar names and places, so even though we have a completely new story, the world feels like an old friend. It’s not my favorite Dessen book (that spot’s reserved for Just Listen), but this one is enjoyable from start to finish and won’t disappoint longtime fans or new readers.
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen will be released May 10, 2011 by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA). Find on Amazon, in a library, or add to Goodreads.
Reviewed from an ARC received from the publisher at ALA Midwinter.
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