Rating: 4
Description: Tech-savvy teen Marcus and his friends are ditching school to play Harajuku Fun Madness, a real life quest/puzzle game, when San Francisco's Bay Bridge is bombed in the biggest act of terrorism on U.S. soil since 9/11. His best friend, Darryl, is stabbed in the mass panic following the event, and then all four of the teens are picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and taken away to a place where they are stripped of their rights and brutally interrogated for days. When they're finally released, Darryl isn't with them, and it's discovered that all four of them had all been presumed dead in the explosion. This ordeal enrages Marcus and inspires him to resist the rights-violating "security measures" the DHS takes following the bombing, becoming M1k3y, the leader of an anti-government network of hacker teens. As M1k3y's notoreity catapults and he becomes the DHS's most-wanted, Marcus struggles to maintain his secret identity while continuing the fight against the increasingly harsh DHS, dealing with strained friendships and budding romance, and confronting ethical issues he never imagined he'd be facing.
Review: This book could technically be called science fiction, but its "ten minutes in the future" setting makes it scarily close to what's already happening in the U.S. As Cory Doctorow explains in the preface to the book, all the technology in the novel is real--either already available, or close to it. So are the rights violations of U.S. citizens on the part of the government, though thankfully not yet to the extreme portrayed in the book. Little Brother is the most terrifying book I've ever read, because of just how realistic it actually is. If another terrorist attack were carried out on U.S. soil today, I could well believe that this would be the response. And that terrifies me. The characters aren't as vivid as they could be, sacrificed to the almost informational, how-to tone of the book, but they're well-written enough to hold the reader's interest until the end nevertheless. Despite a mediocre score on entertainment value, Little Brother is a must-read for teenagers--they need to be aware of the kind of extremes their government is capable of going to, and be prepared for the worst case scenario portrayed here. Cory Doctorow's bravery in publishing a book containing such blatant criticism of current government policy and encouragement of resistance is to be applauded.
BONUS: Little Brother is available to read free online at Cory Doctorow's website!
Description: Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave "the Great Perhaps" even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything but boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. And nothing is ever the same.
Note: Description taken from bn.com
Review: "Looking For Alaska" is an amazing book from a new author; it's very deserving of all the awards it's won. Pudge is a great character: he's geeky and socially awkward in a way that most teens can relate to, and his collection of last words gives him a unique quirk that solidifies his character. Alaska is also relateable - in some ways she's the stereotypical bad girl, but her underlying vulnerability and her own geeky quirks make her a very real character. All of the other characters are well-defined and distinct as well, from Pudge's side romantic interest, Lara, to the dean of students, more commonly known as the Eagle. Culver Creek is exceedingly well-done - it's obvious throughout the writing that, as is revealed in the bio, the author attended a similar boarding school. The development of Pudge's relationships with Alaska and the others at Culver Creek are the driving force behind the book, and the changes that Pudge undergoes, both Before and After, is what makes "Looking For Alaska" the incredible young adult novel that it is.
Description: Egg, self-named after her favorite science fiction movie character, is friendless, and that's the way she likes it. She doesn't say hello to anyone in the halls, and no one says hello to her. She eats lunch by herself every day. The only people who speak to her are the other members of the school's science fiction and fantasy club. But then a new student arrives. Max Carter doesn't know that Egg is boy proof. He talks to her, no matter how much she insults him. He breaks the school's established patterns of dealing with Egg, and she finds her life spinning away from the path she'd set for it. Her grades suffer, and so do her relationships. Who knew that Egg liked the sci-fi geeks? She certainly didn't. At least, not until none of them are speaking to her. And neither is Max. Inexplicably, Egg finds herself craving his company. It would seem that Egg isn't as boy proof as she thought. Can she break down and let someone see what she's really like inside her hard outer shell?
Review: This book's premise is a little odd and lacking in excitement, but Egg herself more than makes up for it. Egg is a wonderful character, a combination of many different personality types - everyone will be able to relate to at least one facet of her personality. There's not much external plot to the book, but the things Egg goes through mentally are plot enough. The other characters don't really come alive very well, even Max, and I'd say that's the book's only real shortcoming, along with the fact that Egg and Max's relationship is never really resolved to my liking. Readers will fall in love with Egg herself, however, and their desire to see what choices she makes will keep them turning pages.
Description: Hava is an Orthodox Jew punk going to high school in New York when she gets the call: she's wanted in Hollywood. So Hava packs her bags and goes to L.A. for the summer, where she'll play a disaffected youth in a TV sitcom about an Orthodox Jewish family ("They're so unorthodox, they're Orthodox!"). In Hollywood, Hava is swept up into the lifestyle of the rich and famous, parties and limos and illicit affairs. And through it all, she'll have to struggle to hold onto her religion and remain true to her faith, and to herself. When Hava returns to New York at the end of the summer, she'll be an entirely different person from the one who left it.
Review: I liked the premise to this book, and Hava's New York-to-Hollywood culture shock didn't disappoint. Hava is an amazing character, an Orthodox Jew who manages to be punk while still remaining true to her religion. She also thinks about being Orthodox and has reasons for why she complies with the strict rules. I loved learning more about Orthodox Judaism, which I hadn't known much about, and Hava's Hollywood coming-of-age story was the perfect setting in which to learn about it. The plot is a tiny bit pointless and doesn't really have much of a climax, but the character development and peek at Hollywood from an Orthodox perspective makes "Never Mind the Goldbergs" most definitely worth the read.
Description: Cyd Charisse, who readers first came to know and love in "Gingerbread", is back from her trip to New York and is out to win back her true love, Shrimp, with her new and improved outlook on life. She and her mother have a truce, and she's even managed to acquire some female friends, a first for boy-crazy C.C. Cyd Charisse will have to work extra hard this year, what with school, an internship at her father's new restaurant where she's working with her arch-enemy, and dealing with relationships. As C.C. and Shrimp hover near the line between "just friends" and "an item", she'll have to work out what she really wants out of their relationship. And when her brother Danny invites her out for a week in NYC, she may discover that her path lies away from Shrimp. In the end, C.C. will have to make some tough decisions about her future.
Review: Fans of "Gingerbread" will love this sequel, which retains all the spunk and in-your-face reality of the first book. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read "Gingerbread", because it would be difficult for new readers to catch on to the plot, and some things (Sugar Pie and Fernando, for instance) would just be confusing. However, Rachel Cohn does wonderful things with characterization, and I loved meeting the new characters that were introduced in "Shrimp". I also love how this book deals with things like sex, sexuality, and drugs. In almost every teen book that has these elements, they are a Big Thing that the main character has to Deal With, but this novel handles them as just another part of being a teenager, which they are. C.C. encounters all of these issues, and while they aren't dismissed as insignificant, they are handled without all the dramatics that other books give them. Overall, I feel the same way after reading "Shrimp" as I did after reading "Gingerbread": glad I read the book because of the character development, but left wishing there was a little bit of something more.
Rating: 3
Description: Calypso Kelly, who readers first met in "Pulling Princes" is back from summer vacation, and she still hasn't decided whether she wants to date high-profile hottie Prince Freddie or the charming, witty, and equally handsome Billy. And when she's stuck rooming with her arch-enemy, Honey, and her two best friends become tight with the amazingly cool new student Indie, Calypso fears that this year is going to be even worse than the last. And when she stops getting messages from both of her guys, that seals it. Calypso sinks into a depression, and when Honey suddently starts acting nice, she's baffled. Does Honey really want to be friends, or is there some other, sinister reason Honey has sweetened?
Review: This second book in the Calypso Chronicles reads much like the first, with a few notable differences. Calypso is still an idiotic but witty character, and in this installment, she is basically the only character there is, apart from the villainous Honey and the aloof Portia. Calypso's friends from the first book are conspicuously missing, despite that their very abandonment of Calypso is one of her main whining points. This series disappoints me in that, while it is all about Calypso's boy problems, there is exceedingly little actual interaction with the boys. I want more of them, if you please. Calypso herself is hard to relate to, because she is so hen-witted. She spent weeks languishing about getting no messages from her two beaux, when they both asked, on separate occasions, why she hadn't been replying to their texts. How stupid can she be? Very, it would seem. Despite its shortcomings, however, "Stealing Princes" has its own boarding school charm, and there aren't many books like it out there. The book is worth the read if you're bored and looking for something light but absorbing.
Rating: 3
Description: Calypso, a L.A. girl, has never been popular at her English boarding school, but this year Calypso plans on things being different. She is determined to be popular and pull lots of fit boys (English slang for "make out with lots of hot guys"). Within a few weeks, it seems that her plan may be working. Her new roommate, popular girl Georgina, is friendly with Calypso and provides an in with the popular set. Before too long, Georgina, Calypso, and Calypso's friend Star are inseparable. What's more, Calypso seems to have caught the eye of Prince Freddie, second in line to the British throne and student at a nearby boys boarding school. But Georgina's former best friend and queen of the snobby, rich popular girls, Honey, is resentful of Calypso's new status, and she'll do everything in her power to make sure that Calypso's newfound popularity doesn't last.
Review: I usually love stories with royalty in them, but "Pulling Princes" fell short of my expectations. The story is a boarding school romp with very little plot. Calypso is really not that smart, and, while her dumbness is part of her charm, I'd have liked a more intelligent heroine much, much more. Considering that the whole book is character-centric (no plot), Calypso should've been much more interesting than she was. I liked that she fenced, and the fencing aspect wasn't developed at all, even though it seemed like it would have been a big part of her life, if she was ranked so highly nationally. Considering that the whole book was about Calypso's quest for fit boys to pull, there is very little actual boy-girl interaction. I don't know how Calypso manages to attract two boys by the end of the book. What little plot there was never actually concluded. At the end of the book, Calypso hasn't chosen either one of the boys that are pursuing her. Overall, "Pulling Princes" is a decent read for those who enjoy charmingly fluffy boarding school stories, but nothing special.
Rating: 4.5
Description: Ruby has had a rough week. She's lost her boyfriend of six months and her friends and is now a "leper" at her high school. All the stress she's been going through has brought on a series of panic attacks, causing her parents to send her to a shrink. Doctor Z's first assignment for Ruby is for her to make a list of all her boyfriends, past and present, official and unofficial. As she and Doctor Z work their way through the 15-name list over a series of visits, the story of what brought on Ruby's panic attacks is slowly unraveled as she begins to figure out the mistakes she made in the past and how to prevent herself from continuing to make them in the future.
Review: The idea behind this book doesn't seem interesting, but this book is much, much better than it sounds. Ruby is a fantastic teenage character, full of teen angst and teen problems. She deals with her problems exactly the way real teenagers would (and do). The fact that she's got fifteen names on her "boyfriend list" may be a bit off-putting - what normal girl has had fifteen boyfriends by age fifteen? However, Ruby's "boyfriends" range from Adam, who she had playdates with in preschool and met later at an eighth grade dance (bringing on memories of my Kindergarten boyfriend, whom I encountered again in sixth grade), to the boy at summer camp who everyone had a crush on. Every girl will be able to relate to at least one of Ruby's fifteen boyfriend stories, which are filled with the sort of awkwardness that is inherent in the teenage experience. Each of the fifteen boys is unique, and so are Ruby's experiences with them. The book's format makes it interesting to read - each chapter is devoted to one name from Ruby's list and her experience with that particular boy, but the underlying story of Ruby's relationship with her boyfriend and subsequent fall from grace is slowly revealed around and within the stories of the other boys. Ruby's poignant voice will touch the heart of any girl who has ever had a boyfriend, or even a crush.
Rating: 2.5
Description: Sami Granger is a small-town girl with big city dreams, and she moves to New York against her father's wishes with nothing but a couple hundred dollars and the goal of becoming a fashion designer. After several embarrassing rejections, she's hired as a receptionist at the offices of an up-and-coming designer, but when her new boss (who also happens to be her new boyfriend) steals her designs, Sami is left with little hope of ever achieving her dream. She ends up working in a trashy lingerie shop, and when an opportunity to design a nightgown presents itself, Sami takes it. Before too long, her sleepwear is the talk of the town and Sami is semi-famous. But with her new, glamorous lifestyle, Sami begins to neglect her friendships, not even noticing that one of her best friends has a huge crush on her. Can Sami turn things around and be a successful designer and a good friend?
Review: "Ripped at the Seams" is a fluffy and forgettable story. It's sort of the Coyote Ugly of the fashion world, and has some limited appeal as such. The plot is decent, if simplistic, but Sami is an idiotic character whose ignorance and sheer stupidity extends beyond what would be expected as the result of being raised in a small town. Sami's well-characterized friends make up for some of the lacking in Sami's character, but they aren't featured prominently enough to negate it entirely. This strictly-fluff book has some limited appeal, but should definitely be saved for a time when you're out of other things to read.
Rating: 2
Description: Anna, first introduced in "The A-List" is still in Beverly Hills and looking forward to a new internship, but when that falls through, she ends up going to Beverly Hills High along with her teenaged A-list enemies. When she and Sam, one of said enemies, must team up for a school project, neither girl is looking forward to working with the other, though both are interested in the project, a film about the lives of rich and privileged teens. Anna's life is futher complicated by the appearance of her alcoholic sister, Susan, who has been kicked out of her treatment center and her new relationship with BHH's nice guy, Adam while still dealing with her seeming betrayal by Ben, love interest from the previous book. When pretty much every character involved ends up in an elite spa for the filming of Anna and Sam's movie, secrets will be revealed and sparks will fly.
Review: This book is much like the first novel in the series in that it is incredibly unbelievable and unrelateable. This book is even worse than the first book, however, in that the novelty of reading about the lives of rich girls has entirely worn off, and there are no new elements added except for a bit of homosexuality that isn't even developed, but rather set up to be addressed in future books. Anna, who seemed pretty sensible in the first book, seems to lose any smarts she may have had. The plot is underdeveloped and centers almost entirely on this filming project, and it just doesn't work. Most readers that kept with the series after the first book will be turned off by this unsatisfying second installment.
Rating: 3
Description: Written entirely in poetry, this novel follows fifteen-year-old Ruby after her mother dies of cancer. Ruby is sent to live with her father, the movie star and heartthrob Whip Logan, whom she has never seen except on secret trips to the movies with her aunt. Whip goes out of his way to be nice to Ruby, but she refuses to acknowledge his efforts, remembering years of being fatherless. Ruby has to deal with culture shock, moving from Boston to L.A. ("Hell A"), going to a new school that is entirely too hippyish for Ruby's comfort, and long-distance relationships with her best friend and boyfriend. This is a story about love, acceptance, and discovery as Ruby learns more about her father's absence from her life.
Review: This book is incredibly hard to get into because of the strange format, but once the reader is drawn into the story, the poetry isn't quite so bothersome. Ruby is a strong character who reacts maturely and writes with a just-sarcastic-enough voice. The other characters are decent too, but of course, Ruby is the star of this story, and she shines. The plot isn't exciting, but Ruby's adventures in self-discovery are enough to keep the reader interested. The characters and storyline are good, but in my opinion, the poetry format limits the author in just how much can be conveyed. I would've loved this book if it were written in prose - I missed straightforward dialogue, something lacking in this book. Overall, this book is decent enough, but not a must-read by any means, except, possibly, for poetry lovers.
Rating: 2
Description: Lucy Loverling feels like a little kid next to the beautiful, sophisticated, Nessa, who has managed to worm her way into the friendship of Lucy's best friend Izzie. She's afraid Izzie will set her aside for her newer, prettier friend. But when Lucy falls head over heels for a gorgeous stranger she sees on the street, both Izzie and Nessa jump in to help her find her mystery guy, who turns out to be none other than Nessa's older brother. Nessa warns Lucy that he's no good, but she doesn't listen very well and may end up with her heart broken. In the end, friendship will win out over distrust and envy and forge the three into an inseparable trio.
Review: This book, the first in a now quite lengthy series, is pure, unadulterated fluff. Lucy is a featherbrained idiot concerned only with fashion, guys, and friends. She overreacts to everything and is stupid enough to fall for a guy when she sees him out a bus window. The plot is overly simplistic, with very few twists. This book might be good for beginning or reluctant readers, but it is definitely not a great book for those who read a lot, unless one is in the mood for ditziness, which is okay every once in a while. This book would make for decent airplane reading, but not much else.
Rating: 5
Description: Leo is both embarrassed and fascinated by new student Stargirl Caraway's free-spirited and open approach to life. Stargirl wears pioneer dresses and kimonos to school, strums a ukulele in the cafeteria, laughs when there are no jokes, and dances when there is no music. In the beginning, the students of Arizona's Mica Area High School don't know what to think of Stargirl. Eventually they become enamored of her unique way of making everyone feel special. She even becomes a cheerleader. But Stargirl's friendliness even extends to the opposing team, and soon some students begin to think of her as less of a free spirit and more of a misfit freak. Leo, now "starstruck" by Stargirl's unexplainable regard for him, doesn't notice, lost in enjoying Stargirl's unique view of humanity and the world around them. But when Stargirl is verbally attacked on Leo's school show Hot Seat, he notices, and, while Stargirl doesn't seem to mind the new hostility, Leo does mind when it is extended toward him and he is scornfully dubbed "Starboy". Disturbed by this new negative attention, Leo begs Stargirl to become normal, to strive to fit in. Stargirl doesn't understand, but tries in order to please him. She becomes just Cathy, a normal high school girl. Leo is pleased and loves this new girl, but "Cathy" is secretly miserable, and unless Leo can learn to accept Stargirl, quirks and all, he may lose her forever.
Review: In this book, Jerry Spinelli takes the typical high school and throws in a wildcard, one person who represents everyone's inner identity stuggle. Stargirl is the person we all secretly wish we were, but in reality most of us are probably more like Leo, the normal boy who just wants to fit in. There is something in both Stargirl and Leo that we can all identify with. The plot, while not exciting, is interesting enough to keep the reader engaged, but not developed enough to detract from the message of the story, which is the important part. "Stargirl" is a must-read book, sometimes funny, sometimes haunting, and perfectly exemplifying society's habit of stifling individuality.
Rating: 3
Description: Val is horrified when her parents inform her that they're getting a divorce, and her mother is moving in with her girlfriend. Yes, that's right, girlfriend. And Val is being given a choice: she can move in with her mom, or move with her dad halfway around the world to the tiny European nation of Schwerinborg, where he's accepting a position as chief of protocol to the royal family. Val wants an option #3, but none is forthcoming. So she chooses to say goodbye to her friends, her school, and even the boy she's had a crush on forever and is only now starting to notice her, and move. Schwerinborg does not impress Val, but on her first day there, she meets Georg, a totally hot guy who actually flirts with her, and he turns out to be the prince. Suddenly, Shwerinborg doesn't seem so bad. But when Val starts at Shwerinborg's American high school, she discovers that just about every girl at school has a huge crush on Georg, and none of them appreciate Val's intruding on their territory. And Georg doesn't seem to like her as much as he originally seemed to either, if the way he's ignoring her is anything to judge by. Will Val find romance in Schwerinborg, or will her first impression of the country (gray and boring) be her last as well?
Review: "Royally Jacked" is a fun, short read for those who enjoy a little royalty thrown into their romance. However, the plot is almost nonexistant, and could have done with a lot of fleshing out. It's boy meets girl, boy and girl have problems, boy and girl get together in the end with only Georg's royalty to spice things up. Even so, there are few enough royalty books out there to make this one worth the read for fans of that sort of book.
Rating: 2
Description: I grew up in one of those loving families that fails to prepare a person for real life... A few weeks into first grade Alice's parents took her out of school and have taught her at home ever since. Now she's about to enter high school, with the stated goal of boosting the self-esteem of her counselor, Death Lord Bob. Bob is happy now. But what about Alice? Will she be able to interact with people her own age who are not home-based learners? Will she be able to survive some sort of boy-girl interaction? Or is this best left until after high school? Until middle age? What about a unique and innovative career path? A new look? (This must, like career choice, reflect uniqueness.) Alice, I Think is the story of a teenager attempting to survive her parents, her hometown, and her reentry into society.
Note: This description is blatantly ripped off the inside of the book jacket. I was too apathetic to write my own.
Review:
The first few pages of the book, describing Alice's failed entry into first grade, are good. Then Alice grows up, and it all goes downhill. "Alice, I Think" is mildly interesting, at best. There is a severe lack of plot, and Alice is the embodiment of the stereotypical selfish teenager we all hope we aren't. MacGregor, Alice's nine-year-old brother, kicks ass. I wish the book were written from his point of view, because at least he is mature and seems to care about something other than himself (his family and his fish). Alice's one redeeming quality is that she adores MacGregor and turns to him for advice, but her self-centeredness and idiocy make me want to hit her. Hard. Repeatedly. I don't know how she manages to snag such a decent-sounding boy at the end. I have a hard time believing that this book is as acclaimed as it is, by both professional reviewers and readers. "Alice, I Think" could be good if Alice weren't in it. Unfortunately, without Alice, there would be no book. Try again, Susan. Better luck next time.
Rating: 3
Description: Cyd Charisse has only met her biological father once, at an airport, when he gave her gingerbread and bought her a doll. Ever since then, "Gingerbread" has been her constant companion. Recently returned from boarding school, where a series of unwise decisions led to her expulsion, quirky Cyd Charisse is enjoying life with her new boyfriend, Shrimp, and her elderly best friend, Sugar, who keep her sane around the opressiveness that is her mother and stepfather. But Cyd's parents are not so understanding of her rebelliousness, and eventually she is sent to New York to spend some time with Frank, her "real dad". Leaving Shrimp on a sour note and anticipating being greeted with open arms by Frank and her two older half siblings, Cyd Charisse is disappointed by the awkward welcome she receives. As she gets to know her biological family, Cyd Charisse learns to let go of her idealizations and her abandonment hang-ups, and she learns to appreciate her real family and friends all the more.
Review: "Gingerbread" is a very real book about a fictional girl. Despite being fictional, spunky Cyd Charisse goes through problems that teenage girls face every day. She is far from perfect, but her imperfections only make her more lovable and allow the reader to identify with her. The other characters are each unique and creatively imagined, and lovable in their own rights. The reader can even empathize with "Frank real-dad" and the uptight Lisbeth, Cyd Charisse's half sister. The plot is a unfulfilling, but the changes Cyd Charisse goes through make "Gingerbread" worth the read.
Rating: 1
Description: Chuy is only seventeen when he dies, stabbed to death in the bathroom of a nightclub after telling a man he liked his shoes. He drifts up from his body and wanders around Fresno and watches as his mother tries to get his uncle, only a few years older than Chuy himself, to take revenge on his unknown murderer. As his would-be girlfriend, Rachel, and his best friend, Angel, mourn his passing, Chuy's murderer, who he calls Yellow Shoes, shows no remorse at all as he tosses his knife into a dumpster. Then Chuy meets Crystal, another ghost, and teaches her the ropes of getting around in her non-body, falling in love in the process. He saves the life of a homeless man, only to befriend him in soul-form when he dies later anyway. As Chuy slowly disappears into the unknown, he draws some conclusions about life, death, and the afterlife.
Review: This book had an interesting premise, but the originality was quickly overshadowed by the plotless, dreamy quality of the book. Chuy wanders from scene to scene, each of them only loosely connected by his death. No single plot element or character is expanded enough to make the book worthwhile, not even Crystal, Chuy's ghostly love interest. Throughout the whole book, I was waiting for things to start happening. They never did. "The Afterlife"'s original premise unfortunately leads to a boring, unfulfilling book.
Rating: 2.5
Description: Anna plans to start over in L.A., ditching her preppy good-girl image and having a little fun. The fun seems well underway when she meets sexy Princeton student Ben on the plane there and is invited to the Hollywood wedding of Oscar winner Jackson Sharpe. But unknown to Anna, Ben has already been claimed by L.A.'s teenage A-list, Cammie, Sam, and Dee, and they do not look kindly on Anna for invading their territory. Anna shrugs off their petty machinations to remove her from the scene, but their viciousness only escalates. The only thing keeping Anna there is Ben, but after a seeming betrayal by the one person she thought she could trust, she begins to realize that maybe he isn't the perfect guy she thought he was.
Review: This book was entertaining enough, but the East-coast prissy rich girl meets West-coast snobby rich bitches vibe was not doing it for me. The characters were interesting enough, but so disgustingly rich I wanted to gag. The book would have been much better if Anna was charmingly impoverished, or something. "The A-List" is fast-paced and over before you know it, leaving you wanting more (good thing there are two sequels), but there's definitely something lacking in the plot. Overall, "The A-List" is worth the read if you're out of good books, but don't get your hopes up.
Rating: 2
Description: When he was fifteen, Lewis Hinton's parents told him he was adopted and related the strange tale of how a mysterious woman with a foreign accent handed Lewis to Avery Hinton in a basket. Since then, Lewis has been preoccupied, spending hours fishing on the rocks near Slippery Falls, where he swore he saw a gigantic trout the day after his birthday. Not even his best friend and secret crush, Amanda Dot, can bring Lewis out of his funk. Then, on his sixteenth birthday, his parents give him a letter from his birth mother, unopened after all these years. It turns out that Lewis's real name is Louis Poisson (French for "fish") and his mother, who signed the letter J.A. Poisson, may have been descended from French royalty. Overnight, Lewis becomes a celebrity in the small town of Slippery Falls, Idaho. Frustrated with all the unwanted attention, Lewis withdraws even more, doggedly pursuing his trout, much to the derision of the other fishermen. But Lewis's one-track mind could put him in danger when he launches a risky plan to finally catch the giant trout of Slippery Falls. Is Lewis really royalty? And will he survive long enough to find out?
Review: The premise of this book seemed unique and interesting, which is why I picked it up. Unfortunately, the original premise is pretty much the only good thing about it. Every plot element is only explored to the bare minimum, and they are only loosely connected. The characters are pretty flat and underdeveloped, except perhaps Lewis's spunky, 88-year-old friend, Maple Baderhoovenlisterah. The thing that really eats me, however, is that nothing is resolved in the end. Is Lewis French royalty? Do he and Amanda ever hook up? And what the heck is up with that giant fish?! "The King of Slippery Falls" had potential, but, in the end, it's completely unsatisfactory.
Rating: 2
Description: Annie Ireland is shocked when the doll she's taking care of for her Life Skills class saves her from a house fire by shouting at her to wake up and get out of the house. However, she's even more shocked when a humorous story she wrote for English class causes her to be arrested. Annie is sent to jail for a week along with her friend Roach Boy (or Arby), who stood up for her in court. When they get out, their parents ship them off to the Back to Basics Center, a wilderness school for "problem" kids. Luckily, Annie is allowed to bring her doll. Pantagruel Primo, Esquire (P.P. for short) is really a leprechaun imprisoned in the doll by his arch-nemesis, Slurpagar the Quaint, and he's dedicated to helping Annie and Arby get out of the mess they were unfairly thrown into. The Back to Basics Center is a less-than-fun boot camp-type school, and the other kids in their group are certainly "troubled". Not to mention Brad and Sophie, the sadistic counselors, and money-hungry Dr. Smithers and his wife Dolores, who run the camp. Can Annie, Arby, and Primo escape from the Center with their sanity intact, and will Slurpagar the Quaint ever return P.P. to his former self?
Review: A bizarre, satirical book, "Hard Time" puts a never-before-seen twist on fantasy. However, the fantasy seems like a side note and isn't developed enough to make it worthwhile. Primo seems like a plot device that's used for humor and to get Annie and Arby out of tight spots that they certainly could have gotten out of themselves with a little imagination, and his story distracts from the overall tale of the teens. This book could have done well as a straight satire, but in trying to incorporate fantasy and humor and dumbing down the story, the author loses most of any value the book may have had.
Rating: 4.5
Description: Josh "Larry" Swenson is back from the dead, and he's out to change the world (again). Only this time he's reaching out past cyberspace, all the way to the top - the U.S. presidency. Josh sets out to bring young people into the democratic process and succeeds admirably, breaking most of the unwritten rules of campaigning along the way. But there are lots of people who don't want Josh to be heard (his opponents, big business, and his old arch-enemy betagold, to name a few), and the campaign is being sabatoged from inside as well as out. Not to mention that Josh's old crush and best friend Beth is back as his running mate, and is competing with his new girlfriend Janine for his attentions. Who will Josh choose? And, more importantly, can he succeed in his life's goal and change the world even more dramatically than he had ever dreamed?
Review: Nothing could ever compare to the first book, "The Gospel According to Larry", but "Vote for Larry" is still a fantastic read. The book addresses issues that everyone should be concerned about, and puts fun characters and an intriguing plot into them. As a sequel, "Vote for Larry" pulls in beloved (and not-so-beloved) old characters and ties up loose ends, while introducing great new characters and plot twists. Not all of the new characters are developed as fully as I'd like them to be, but no book is perfect (though "The Gospel According to Larry" comes close...) An interesting mix of political commentary and fun plot, "Vote for Larry" is a good read, not just for teenagers, but for anyone concerned about the current state of our nation. Hopefully, "Vote for Larry" will succeed in pulling more people into the democratic process, just like Josh set out to do.