Seth Baumgartner’s Love Manifesto by Eric Luper [ARC]

When Seth went to Applebee’s to spend his lunch break with his girlfriend, he had no idea his whole life was about to fall apart.  First, his girlfriend uses the lunch as a quick and easy chance to dump him, since they both have to get back to work in 30 minutes and he can’t make too big of a scene in public.  Then, Seth sees his dad coming into Applebee’s with a woman who is NOT Seth’s mother.  And, to top it all off, he gets back to work late and gets fired… for the 4th time that year.  Not exactly the best day ever, by any means.  But Seth is determined to take control of his life and figure things out.  How does he plan on accomplishing such a feat?  Via an anonymous podcast called “The Love Manifesto,” of course!  Despite the depressing undertones of a break-up and parental infidelity, this book manages to be laugh-out-loud funny more often than not.  Plus, residents of the Capital Region will probably get an extra thrill when they recognize the names of places in Seth’s travels!

Between the hilarious story and the fact that there are excerpts from Seth’s podcasts, this book just screams audiobook — so I really hope I will be able to add a book and audiobook to my collection when it is released on June 8, 2010!

Happy Reading!

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Specials was originally supposed to be the final installation in an Uglies trilogy, but I can certainly see why people couldn’t help but write to Scott Westerfeld to explain the “secret definition of trilogy” and beg for another book!  Somehow, although I was super-excited to get one more chance to read about the world of the Uglies, I managed to forget to post about this book when I finished…  Please forgive my slacker ways!

There have been a whole lot of changes in the world since Tally Youngblood and her friends exposed the truth about the mind-alterations that routinely took place during surgery to make Pretties more complacent.  Now, there are a lot of “tech heads” who get high-tech upgrades during surgery and “surge monkeys” who get extreme modifications to stand out and be different.  In Japan, there is now a pretty strong “reputation economy” in which a person’s “face rank” (popularity/infamy) dictates his/her power and wealth — a throw-back to the old days when superstars had tons of power and influence just because they were famous.  This story centers around a 15-year-old Japanese girl named Aya Fuse, whose goal is to become a famous “kicker” like her brother.  She knows that finding a story big enough, and being the first one to kick the story to all the feeds, would boost her pathetically low face rank.

When Aya finds an amazingly kick story — a secret clique called the Sly Girls who enjoy extreme stunts like train surfing — she is torn between remaining loyal to her new friends and finally attaining the level of fame she has hungered for so long.  But then, the Sly Girls stumble across something that could be weapons of mass destruction and Aya wonders if she even has the right to keep quiet anymore.  Fame always seemed so cool, but kicking this story could put her in the sights of some very dangerous people.  Will Aya have the nerve to follow in the tracks of Tally Youngblood and risk herself for the greater good, or is face rank really all that matters to her?

Happy Reading!

The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle

All Alli wanted was to get a new start in 7th grade.  After spending a large portion of the 6th grade at home — sick and bed-ridden with a mysterious illness that turned out to be a serious ear infection which affected her balance and made her too dizzy to stand or walk — she gained a bunch of weight AND fell off the social radar.

Now that she has lost the weight and is healthy as ever, Alli has decided that the 7th grade will be her year to get noticed…  It’s just too bad that when she does get noticed, on the first day of school, it’s not in a good way.  Due to a rather unfortunate case of static cling, Alli ends up with a pair of her mother’s underwear inside her pant leg.  And, of course, everyone ends up hearing about it by the end of the day.  When über-popular Rachel stands up for and befriends Alli, it’s like a dream come true.  Too bad Alli’s BFFs don’t understand and accuse her of being a Rachel “wanna-be.”  A very realistic portrayal of the crazy cliques and social madness that are all too true-to-life for many middle school girls.

Happy Reading!

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

Matt Pin is 12 years old, which is a difficult enough time for many tweens.  But, he is also the son of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier who is living with his adoptive parents [in America] in 1977.  Matt’s birth mother handed him over to the soldiers who were air-lifting out children in the hope that he would have a better life, but he is both haunted by his past and bullied by his peers.  Even though his adoptive parents and brother are very loving, and he has earned a place on the school baseball team, Matt has a hard time believing that he deserves to be happy when his birth mother and biological brother remain in Vietnam.

The novel-in-verse format makes it a little easier to get through the passages of Matt’s flashbacks to life in a war zone, especially when he starts to recover some long-suppressed memories.  A great story about the true meaning of love, grief, and acceptance.

Happy Reading!

The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi

Zac Baxter has long been told about his royal African roots, the hidden treasure to which he is entitled, and the conspiracy that is keeping it all covered up.  But, he has always thought that Pops (his grandfather) was making it all up.  When his grandfather gets attacked and ends up dead, though, Zac starts to wonder if there might be some truth to all those stories.  After all, the people who killed Pops stole the diaries that Pops always claimed to be the indisputable proof of both his royal lineage and the British government’s willful involvement in the enslavement of an African prince.  Zac begins to investigate a few things, and then everything gets out of hand very quickly.  Either Zac is getting truly paranoid, or there really ARE people coming after him and trying to kill him to keep this story under wraps.  Before long, Zac is fighting for his life at a supposed mission in Ghana, and he has no idea in whom he can trust.  A great mystery, packed with action and adventure, with a very interesting look into the history of slavery as well.

Happy Reading!

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden was never a typical girl — or even a typical kid, for that matter. Having parents who worked in academia surely played a part in this development, but they never really pressured Auden to be so studious. She just kind of felt safer in that environment and gravitated toward being an overachiever. Instead of playing with dolls or riding bikes, she studied and joined the “geek” clubs that focused on math and science. It paid off, in a sense, by getting her into an prestigious college… but Auden knew she was missing something. The summer before college, Auden decides to spend some time with her father [and his new wife and baby]. And while she knew that life would be somewhat different than it had been at home with her mom, she had no idea how much a single summer could change her. What started as a part-time job keeping the books at her step-mom’s trendy clothing boutique eventually became a gateway to friendship with some “normal” teenagers. As soon as Auden learns to stop judging people based on how they look, she starts to catch up on a lot of the things she missed out on during her childhood — like learning to ride a bike. There’s so much more to this story that I just can’t put into words (at least, if I want to do them justice), so you just have to trust me. If you like Sarah Dessen, this is a book you need to read!

Happy Reading!

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

Since Cirque du Freak is being turned into a movie, I thought it might be a good idea to actually read the book!  I’ve had guys telling me to read this book for at least a couple of years now, so I have to admit that it was long overdue.  I really enjoyed the story, though, and was not nearly as freaked-out/grossed-out as I expected based on some of the things people told me.  The gigantic spider was a bit much for me, but the rest of it was just a fun adventure story.  I’m having a hard time deciding what it’s safe to say without ruining the plot for someone who has not read it, so I will just tell a little bit about the very beginning…

Darren and his friends found a flier for a traveling freak show, and they decided that they had to find a way to get some tickets and go.  In the end, they were only able to get two tickets to the show, but Darren and his buddy Steve were the lucky ones who got to attend the show.  The “freaks” like snake-boy, wolf-man, and the bearded lady were pretty cool, but the performer that really caught Steve’s attention was Larten Crepsley and his giant spider, Madame Octa.  You see, Steve said he had seen that man before — in a book about vampires — and that his real name wasn’t even Crepsley.  When Steve decides to stay after the show to confront “Mr. Crepsley,” Darren ends spying on him to find out why.  And what he sees will change his life forever!

Happy Reading!

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O’Connell

I think this book is more aimed at adult women, but it reflects back on their journeys through adolescence and the assistance they found by reading Judy Blume books, so it would probably resonate well enough with teen readers as well. There are 24 different essays, with some stories written by current YA authors like Meg Cabot, Megan McCafferty, and Lara M. Zeises. Each of the writers shares her own story of growing up and experiencing “Judy Blume moments” in her adolescence. The writers not only draw the parallels between their own lives and the lives of characters in Judy Blume’s books, but they go on to explain how sharing this connection with a literary character helped them to realize they were not alone — because it’s surely happened to other girls if there is a character in a book to whom it’s happened!

Judy Blume is well known for being an author whose work has been frequently banned or challenged, and I thought that Banned Books Week was the perfect time to start reading this collection. I cannot say that I have read all (or even most) of her books, but I recognize the fact that Judy Blume’s books speak to a wide variety of girls and help them to confront a large number of difficult situations in life. Without her laying the groundwork, I am sure that YA literature would be nowhere near what it is today. So, I would like to invite you all to check out a Judy Blume book (or a dozen!) and then read this reaction to her work. And I dare you not to find a story that reminds you of either yourself or someone you know.

Happy Reading!

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University by Kevin Roose

Kevin Roose grew up in a very liberal family — complete with gay aunts.  His parents worked for Ralph Nader.  He even attended Brown University…  So, how did this guy end up attending one of the largest and most strict evangelical Christian universities in the US?  He was curious.  After visiting Liberty University for a journalism assignment, Kevin realized that he had a very difficult time relating to his evangelical Christian peers and wondered about ways he could get to know them better.  After some self-reflection, he decided that spending a semester at Liberty (as a transfer student) would be the best way to immerse himself in Christian culture and to come away with a better understanding of what makes evangelical Christians “tick.”

Despite the uncertainties of friends and family, Kevin enrolled at Liberty University and began a journey of discovery.  In order to get the most out of his semester, Kevin experimented with prayer, took extremely hard Bible courses and Creationist science classes, joined the Thomas Road Baptist [mega-]Church choir, attended a meeting of “Every Man’s Battle” [Liberty’s on-campus support group for chronic masturbators], went on a spring break mission trip to convert the vacationing co-eds, went on dates with Liberty girls, and just plain hung out with the guys in his dorm.  Kevin even managed to snag an interview with Rev. Jerry Falwell for the school paper!

While Kevin didn’t necessarily agree with everything he encountered at Liberty, he did an amazing job of keeping an open mind and presenting information without bias.  And even though religion can be a rather hefty topic, this book managed to take on a light and humorous tone.  A must-read for anyone who is curious about the “God Divide.”

Happy Reading!

Angry Management by Chris Crutcher

This book houses three short stories — with extensions of characters we’ve met before — from teens in Mr. Nak’s “Angry Management” class.  Fans have long been asking Crutcher why he hasn’t had sequels of books like Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and Whale Talk or written an entire book for Angus Bethune.  Crutcher addresses these questions in the foreword, and then, while these are not traditional sequels, gives readers the chance to reconnect with some of their favorites.  While it might be nice to read the original books/stories so that you can get to know the characters better, it certainly isn’t necessary for readers to be able to enjoy this book.

Angus Bethune [Athletic Shorts] and Sarah Byrnes [Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes] seem an unlikely pair, but they soon form a bond that neither can deny.  They decide to take a road trip to give Sarah a second chance at the closure she so desperately needs, and end up coming away with a much better understanding of just how well each of them can fill a void in the other’s life.

Montana West [The Sledding Hill] takes a stand in front of the school board again — this time to stand up for the school newspaper.  Montana refuses to take no for an answer when the principal bans her article on medical marijuana.  Since her adoptive father is the president of the school board, the conflict soon becomes more than a school issue and Montana has to decide whether she is going to back down or move out.

John Simet [Whale Talk] and Matt Miller [Deadline] come together in a story about Marcus James — the only black student, who is also openly gay, in a “sundown town” in Washington.  Marcus is a Rhodes Scholar and an open water swimmer, so he clearly understands hard work and perseverance.  When he finds a pink noose on his locker, though, he begins to recognize how long the road to graduation will be.  This final story was eye-opening, gut-wrenching, and impossible to forget.

Happy Reading!