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Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
On their way to compete in the Miss Teen Dream pageant, a plane full of teen beauty queens crashes on a desert island. The diverse group of survivors bands together despite their fierce competitiveness and makes do by pooling their skills and re-purposing evening gowns, hair dryers, and other beauty supplies into survival equipment. In the midst of some intense female bonding, the girls begin to suspect that they aren’t alone on the island. Throw in an evil corporation, a Sarah Palin-esque pageant director-cum-villain, a whack-a-doodle dictator, and a group of sexy, reality-show pirates, and you’ve got an island adventure like no other.
Libba Bray’s latest takes a wacky plot set-up and somehow makes it even more ridiculous in the best possible way. A biting satire of our consumption-driven, beauty-obsessed, reality-show-infatuated culture, this is also a straight-up adventure story with strong female leads who realize that they have more to offer than pretty faces and perfectly groomed resumes, that they can be friends despite their differences, and that sexuality is not something to be ashamed of. Bray takes different female stereotypes, pushes them to their extremes, and then subverts them all while keeping the plot rolling along. This book is so over-the-top that it may alienate more close-minded readers, but there’s enough entertainment here for girls (and boys) of all different reading tastes to like.
Beauty Queens will be released on May 24, 2011 from Scholastic Press. Find on Amazon or add to Goodreads.
Reviewed from an ARC received from the publisher at ALA Midwinter.
January 24th, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie
In a society where everything is chosen for you — what you can read, your occupation, and your spouse — Cassia begins to question these decisions when the screen containing her match malfunctions. After showing Xander, her longtime friend anyone would be happy to be paired with, the screen flickers and displays the face of Ky, the mysterious boy who moved to her town from the outer provinces. This anomaly in the otherwise perfect society leads Cassia to question other aspects of her world, but her realizations may come too late to save the ones she loves.
This book is a compelling entry in the rapidly growing genre of dystopian YA fiction, but it lacks that certain something that makes it stand out from the rest. For me, Cassia was weak and complacent. Things happened to her and around her, but her conviction to do anything didn’t manifest until near the end of the book and was almost purely based on her feelings for a boy. The worldbuilding left a lot of details unexplained and left some major revelations until the end. This makes some sense as the story is told from a sheltered viewpoint, but it was hard to really connect with these characters’ universe. Things really picked up at the end, thought, and perfectly set up a course of action for the second book in the eventual trilogy.
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Reviewed from a library copy.
January 19th, 2011 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
This Week in Reading: Dec. 13
Read
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
I’ve had this book on my to-read list for a while and recently picked it up when on the lookout for her latest book, Not That Kind of Girl (still not at my local library…). It’s a quick read about Emily, an ordinary girl from the suburbs, who commutes to Philadelphia for a summer art program. She’s intrigued by the super-artsy Fiona and does whatever it takes to be her friend, to the detriment of her relationship with her long-time best friend Meg. I really enjoyed the story and Vivian’s characterization of Emily and her friends. It’s a great exploration of identity, self-expression, and friendship.
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
This one was for my YA book club for adults and not one I necessarily would have selected for myself. In the book, Eli’s multi-billionaire father builds an underground bunker to protect the family from nuclear fallout for 15 years, but not everything goes according to plan. Eli’s twin brother and their grandmother don’t make it into the shelter and now, six years in, food is running out. Eli becomes suspicious of his father’s plans for continued survival and realizes not everything his father has told them is true. The plot favors intrigue and action over character development — Eli is super boring, his father is cartoonishly evil, and the women are paper-thin. I thought the “twist” was over-the-top and the conclusion too easy and contrived. It might be good for some escapist fun, but I was glad it was a fast read.
Reading
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
I picked up this prequel to Phillip Reeve’s sci-fi, steampunk-y Hungry City Chronicles based on some positive reviews and Printz buzz. I haven’t actually read his other books, but I’m intrigued by the idea of an orphan girl engineer in a bizarre, future London. So far, I think I like the frenzied pace and unique world-building, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about the characters.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
On my radar since the Newbery announcements earlier this year, I happened upon this in my library’s ebook collection earlier this week. While I wish I could see the illustrations in print, the story of Minli’s journey to find fortune for her family is delightful.
To-Read
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
This one is to finish out my decades challenge. I’ve never read any Jacqueline Woodson and I need to change that!
Plus, there are so many books releasing this month with lots of buzz that I want to get my hands on: Anna and the French Kiss, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, Real Live Boyfriends, Fall for Anything…
December 13th, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ 1 Comment »
Book Review: Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald
Seventeen-year-old Jenna Levison devotes her free time to environmental activism in her suburban New Jersey hometown and plans to spend the summer interning with a nonprofit and changing the world. But her parents have other ideas. Before she knows it, she’s shipped off to a small town in the Canadian Rockies to live with her godmother, Susie, and her sullen stepdaughter, Fiona. Will she learn to fit in and enjoy nature, without the comfort of her eco-friendly ways?
Abby McDonald’s second novel is nothing groundbreaking, but she has created a strong character in Jenna and it’s fun to see her learn, grow, and experience a bit of romance. The secondary players serve as entertaining foils to Jenna and the rustic setting provides for a lot of interesting experiences. Readers looking for a breezy read about friendships, family, and boys will find a lot to like here.
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Reviewed from a review copy received from the publisher on Library Thing.
December 2nd, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
Jane Eagland weaves an engrossing tale about a teenaged girl who finds herself locked up in Wildthorn, a mental institution in Victorian England. Neither the protagonist, Louisa Cosgrove, nor the reader know why she was sent there, until clues are revealed in flashbacks interspersed with the narrative. Louisa must figure out the truth behind her situation, amidst the lies and abuse from the institution’s staff, aided by the kindness of Eliza, one of the assistant caregivers. Throughout the story, a lot is revealed about women in medicine, the wretched reality of patient care, and social customs of the time, which could provide good discussion points. While the plot gets wrapped up a little too nicely at the end, it’s still a captivating story that will especially appeal to historical fiction fans.
Wildthorn comes out on September 6!
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Reviewed from a review copy received from the publisher on NetGalley.
August 23rd, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
YA Through the Decades: 1950s
For my YA Through the Decades challenge, I read Fifteen by Beverly Cleary for the 1950s. I seem to be reading contemporary realistic fiction for girls for each decade (Sue Barton, Seventeenth Summer) — I can’t decide if I want to continue that theme or not, but it is what I usually tend to read. I also hope to get a 1950s overview post up soon! So, what have you been reading for the challenge?
Check out Anne’s post on the challenge at My Head is Full of Books. She’s already finished! She read Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) by C.S. Lewis for the 1950s.
Lindsey from Ten Stories Up read A Separate Peace (1959) by John Knowles.
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Beverly Cleary’s Fifteen, published in 1956, tells the story of a few months in the life of fifteen-year-old Jane Purdy. Jane considers herself an ordinary girl – she spends most of her free time babysitting, her parents are embarrassing, and she wants nothing more than a cute boyfriend with a car. Things start to look up when she meets Stan Crandall, the new boy in town, and he invites her to the movies. Jane really likes him, and thinks he likes her, but not everything goes as planned. He spends too much time talking to cool girl Marcy, their date to Chinatown involves eating bizarre foods, and he doesn’t invite her to the first school dance. Will things ever go Jane’s way?
Fifteen is a fun and pleasant read, but doesn’t offer much in the way of substance. Jane does learn to be herself and not worry what others think about her, but most of the book is concerned with whether or not Stan will call her after one seemingly embarrassing event or another. Still, Jane’s affability and naivete are endearing and the other characters, however briefly mentioned, are fun as well. Many of Jane’s concerns – embarrassing parents, what to wear, will he call? – still apply to today’s teens, even if they’re not worried about their mother not wearing stockings, wearing the same suit twice, and tying up the party phone line. I definitely found this more accessible than Seventeenth Summer, which has a similar storyline, but that probably has more to do with Cleary’s writing style than cultural differences due to time period. I could see tweens enjoying this, especially for those who are graduating from Cleary’s younger books.
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Covers Through the Decades:
August 10th, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews, YA Decades Challenge ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
In her latest book, Cecil Castellucci makes a departure from her usual contemporary Los Angeles setting and takes her readers to 1980s New York City. The Cold War is at its height and our protagonist Rose lives next door to a Soviet family, including a girl her age, Yrena. Though Rose has been feeling “black” and friendless since choosing to attend the performing arts school for dance, she gets swept up into a night of parties, new friends, and self discovery when Yrena crawls into her window looking for a typical American experience. Castellucci makes the city and the era come alive at night as we see it through Rose and Yrena’s eyes — Rose, whose dispiritedness has made her take it for granted, and Yrena, who is seeing it wide-eyed for the first (and possibly last) time. Both are dancers and their new friends include a dancer, musicians, and actors, so it’s fun to see their passions on display. The book also touches on the issues of war and peace without being didactic about it, and while it’s historical fiction, the same concerns will still resonate with today’s readers. If anything, the book is too short at just under 200 pages. Some of the character development seemed rushed and could have benefited from longer scenes, despite the whole story taking place in one night. Overall, it’s a quick, fun read that can also open up a discussion about larger issues. Should be appropriate for grades 7 and up.
Rose Sees Red comes out on August 1!
Find in a library or on Amazon.
Add to Goodreads.
Other reviews:
Stacked
Abby (the) Librarian
Reviewed from an ARC received from the author.
July 19th, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: Middleworld by J&P Voelkel
Fourteen-year-old Max’s archaeologist parents have abandoned him yet again in favor of a Maya excavation. But his lazy summer gets cut short when he gets a mysterious ticket to join his parents in the Maya jungles of San Xavier. This city boy soon finds himself caught up in a fantastical world of artifact smugglers, ancient magic, and grand adventure accompanied by a headstrong Maya girl named Lola and her two howler monkeys. Can Max save his parents and the end of the world?
Authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel have created an action-packed adventure story filled with Maya history and culture. With the 2012 phenomenon, interest in the Maya is sure to be high and the book includes an informative glossary and explanation of the Maya calendar. While it’s not a groundbreaking work of children’s literature, the story is compelling, the characters are fun, and it sets the groundwork for an eventual trilogy. The history and magic make this a good choice for kids graduating from the Magic Tree House books, but it will also appeal to many young readers in the 8-12 age range.
Find in a library or on Amazon
Reviewed from an ARC received from the book’s publicist
July 3rd, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Audiobook Review: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
I got into audiobooks back when I was frequently driving 100 miles back and forth between San Diego and LA, but I rarely drive anymore, and hence don’t listen to many books. So I was excited when I recently had to make a 6-hour roundtrip drive, which is conveniently about the length of an average 300-page YA novel. I settled on Gabrielle Zevin’s Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, which I picked up as a free trial from eMusic’s audiobook service. It’s the story of high-school junior Naomi, who loses four years of her memory after falling down her school’s front steps. She doesn’t remember her best friend Will, her boyfriend Ace, or her parent’s divorce. Plus, she’s rescued by the mysterious new guy James, who makes her already confused life even more confusing. This unique premise gives Zevin plenty of room to examine the nature of identity. We see Naomi struggle to make sense of her relationships with not only her family, friends, and boyfriend, but also with herself. A lot happens in this not-very-long book, but none of it feels rushed and Zevin makes all of her characters likable despite their faults. Caitlin Greer deftly narrates the audiobook, giving life to each of the characters and keeping the listener’s attention throughout. Except for the memory loss, this is a fairly typical contemporary realistic YA book that should delight fans of the genre. It would also be a great book club selection, as the premise sets up some interesting questions for readers. Teenreads.com has a discussion guide.
Find in a library or on Amazon.
June 28th, 2010 ♥ Books, Reviews ♥ No Comments »
Book Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
As if dealing with their parents’ divorce and moving to a new town weren’t enough, teenage sisters April, May, and June discover they have secret powers one afternoon on the way home from school. Eldest sister April can see the future, middle sister May can disappear, and youngest sister June can read minds. Told in alternating points of view, the three sisters learn to come to terms with their powers and their relationships with each other, all while navigating the usual stresses of high school.
Robin Benway ups the ante in her second novel, using a similar contemporary Southern California setting to her first book (the fabulous Audrey, Wait!), but throwing supernatural elements and multiple narrators into the mix. With so many elements, the story could have easily gotten bogged down with details, but Benway keeps the tone fresh and the narrative fast-paced with witty dialogue and fun and believable characters. Each of the sisters feels fully developed despite having only a third of the book to themselves and each is likable in her own way. While the mere existence of the superpowers is obviously far-fetched, I was happy to suspend some disbelief and go along with these characters on this fun, and often surprising, ride.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June comes out on August 3!
Find on Amazon.
Reviewed from an ARC received from the publisher at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
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