Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.
        But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

There is just something about Miranda Kenneally’s books that hooks me into reading them start to finish without wanting to stop…and Breathe, Annie, Breathe was no exception. This story again takes place in the world of Hundred Oaks as her previous four books do, but this one edges toward the older end of YA with an 18 year old main character heading off to college and a 20 year old romantic interest. Annie is a character I emphathized with as she is struggling with her feelings and guilt over the loss of her longtime boyfriend in an accident. She decides to train to run a marathon that he was going to do but never got the chance to, and during that time meets another guy. Her fear of losing someone close to her again makes her hesitate to get involved, even as she gets closer to him. This is a book about grief and finding the strength and peace to be able to let someone else in after losing the one she thought she’d be with forever. But it’s also a story of family and friendships and romance. It felt like an honest book, and it was enjoyable to read. I also appreciated how characters from Kenneally’s previous books make appearances in Breathe, Annie, Breathe allowing loyal readers to get an update of sorts on where they’ve ended up as well.

Elizabeth Eulberg is one of my favorite authors when I want a guaranteed enjoyable book (we bonded over our cheeseheadedness) and have been a huge fan of all of her books since I first read THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. Then came PROM & PREJUDICE, followed by TAKE A BOW, and the latest, REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY. So I was thrilled when I heard that Elizabeth’s latest book was set in Wisconsin (finally!) and even more excited when I was able to get an early copy of BETTER OFF FRIENDS to read in September. And let me tell you, I was up early the next morning to keep reading the book because I couldn’t stop thinking about Macallan and Levi. When I finished later that day, I declared it Elizabeth Eulberg’s best book yet. And now (well, tomorrow) you get to read it, too! We Wisconsin bloggers were so excited that Elizabeth’s launch part would be in Milwaukee, and I knew I had to be a part of the blog tour. And the best part? Elizabeth is visiting my school today! 

*If you can’t make it to the launch party event,  SIGNED copies can be pre-ordered or purchased after the Better Off Friends Launch Party through Boswell Books by calling (414) 332-1181. If you want it personalized, you have one more day to order!

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Title: BRIGHT BEFORE SUNRISE
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: eARC from publisher on NetGalley

Jonah and Brighton are about to have the most awkwardly awful night of their lives. For Jonah, every aspect of his new life reminds him of what he has had to give up. All he wants is to be left alone. Brighton is popular, pretty, and always there to help anyone . . . but has no idea of what she wants for herself. Her seemingly perfect life is marred only by Jonah, the one person who won’t give her the time of day, but also makes her feel, well, something. So when they are repeatedly thrown together over the course of one night, anything can—and does—happen. Told in alternating chapters, this poignant, beautiful novel’s energy and tension, amidst the humor and romance, builds to a new beginning of self-acceptance and hope.

Sometimes the best stories are the ones that take place over a course of hours instead of days. Those stories that highlight the moments in life, the nights when things change. Perspectives are shattered, feelings are awakened, hearts are broken and healed, and two people come to know each other in a way that would never have happened had circumstances not led to them being together and talking.

Both Jonah and Brighton are hurting. Their families don’t seem to realize that they’re part of what’s making each more wounded. They don’t really know each other, but they end up in the same place thrown together. Neither one thinks much of the other, although each is trying to figure the other out, and that helps them figure themselves out also. Through the course of this one night, that will happen. And in the end, neither will feel the same, act the same, or be the same as they were at the start. This is a story that has things happening, but also delves deeply into the internal examination of each character trying to figure out what they project to others and whether that’s truly who they are. Over the course of this one night, they both see each other more deeply and come to learn things about themselves that help them see themselves more clearly. I do love the ending, but I wouldn’t mind being able to follow Brighton and Jonah’s story a bit more beyond it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I appreciate it being told in dual points-of-view so that we know not only what Brighton is thinking/feeling, but we also get Jonah’s perspective on things. It makes for a richer and more fulfilling story. It also allows the reader to get to know each character more and really feel for them. I was pulling for each to come out okay in the end. This is the type of story that would work for those looking for a lighter romance book, but also those looking for a story with more depth of teens trying to figure themselves out in the context of other’s perspectives and families dealing with divorce of loss of a parent. I know that I will be passing it on to students very soon because it is the type of story I know they’ll like.

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane
        The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

        Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

First Thought:
I seriously adore all of Katie McGarry’s books! Once I start, I can’t stop reading them.

There’s something so addictive about Katie McGarry’s writing style…I’m drawn into these stories immediately and lose sleep staying up too late reading them. McGarry has a way of writing wounded characters who are finding their first love in such a real way that you are rooting for them to work through their issues and find happiness. Her books are mature in the themes that they deal with, and her characters’ home lives are nowhere near perfect, and the way in which they struggle with their issues, feelings, and relationships feels very real. The books deal with serious issues without being preachy. They have romance. They have friendships. They have major family issues. They have excitement (especially this one with the drag racing that occurs). Most of all, they have heart. That heart comes through more clearly because of the way McGarry writes the multiple perspectives of her characters. Once again, true to her style, we get the male voice and female voice in alternating chapters. And there are some chapters that are so deftly connected in the place one ends and the next begins that it led to gasp-worthy moments. Getting that first person voice of each main character as they delve into the relationship, and seeing how damaged they are, allows the reader to connect even more.

One of the really fun parts of reading CRASH INTO YOU, the third book in the series, is that the main characters from the first two books (PUSHING THE LIMITS and DARE YOU TO) are brought in as major secondary characters as Isaiah gets his turn to tell his story. And Isaiah is not what you may have thought from the parts of him we saw from other characters’ perspectives in the first two books. I loved that Isaiah was different than expected, and getting to know more about him made my heart break for him. He is so much more than I thought, and that’s a wonderful surprise. Then we get to meet Rachel, a girl with a dysfunctional family on the inside who tries to make all appearances on the outside seem perfect. These two, from different sides of town, as opposite as they may seem at first, connect in a way that is what both of them need. But things are never easy in situations such as this.

I hope we keep getting more stories in this world with these characters. I’m excited Rachel’s brother West gets to tell his story next (which means he’ll be finding someone special) in TAKE ME ON, but I really hope we get more from Logan sometime soon, too! Whatever it is, whoever the characters are, I know I’ll read whatever Katie McGarry writes next!

Final Thoughts: If you’ve read and enjoyed the first two books, you’ll definitely want to read this one when it comes out! And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?! If you like a good romance with layered characters who need to find the right one to support them, check out Katie McGarry’s books.

I’m excited to share this student recommendation/book response with you today. For one thing, it’s a book I loved that has always been very popular with my students – once one reads it, it gets passed hand-to-hand through the rest. For another, I was so impressed with some of the thoughts Jessica, a seventh-grader, had about this book and the way in which she expressed them. She was happy when I asked to post it on my blog since it is one of her favorite books.

Title: PERFECT CHEMISTRY

Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 23, 2008
Number of Pages: 357

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created ‘perfect’ life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she’s worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: eARC from publisher on NetGalley

Seventeen-year-old Julien is a romantic—he loves spending his free time at the museum poring over the great works of the Impressionists. But one night, a peach falls out of a Cezanne, Degas ballerinas dance across the floor, and Julien is not hallucinating.
          The art is reacting to a curse that trapped a beautiful girl, Clio, in a painting forever. Julien has a chance to free Clio and he can’t help but fall in love with her. But love is a curse in its own right. And soon paintings begin to bleed and disappear. Together Julien and Clio must save the world’s greatest art . . . at the expense of the greatest love they’ve ever known.
          Like a master painter herself, Daisy Whitney brings inordinate talent and ingenuity to this romantic, suspenseful, and sophisticated new novel. A beautifully decorated package makes it a must-own in print.

First Thought: I got to spend a little more time in Europe – the setting reigns in this book!

In STARRY NIGHTS Daisy Whitney has written an ode to artists and their famous artwork, to those who are well-loved and to those who just love to create. It instantly transports the readers to the streets of Paris, the museums housing the masters, and the heart of the pieces they lovingly created. It’s a touch of whimsy, a touch of romance, a touch of friendships, a touch of secret underground societies, a touch of travel guide, a touch of art history, a touch of unrequited love, a touch of kisses, a touch of mystery, a touch of art heists, a touch of a tour of the greatest art museums around the world. The twisty bits as we uncover what is really going on as Garnier races to figure out how to fix these most famous art pieces before they are destroyed adds an element to the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of my most favorite parts of the story were the after-hours in the museum with the artwork coming to life elements along with how real the setting became for me. I love Paris and Daisy Whitney transported me right back there with this novel. STARRY NIGHTS is a fun read with a sweet romance and a mystery to figure out that will keep readers intrigued and looking up artwork from the Masters. It’s a bit Night at the Museum + Heist Society + some kind of romance story.

Final Thoughts: Daisy Whitney is one of my favorite authors, and STARRY NIGHTS doesn’t disappoint. Although very different from her previous books, it’s a whimsical read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Title: THE 5th WAVE

Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Number of Pages: 457
My detailed thoughts/recommendation

     The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.
     After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
     Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Title: WHEN YOU WERE HERE

Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Number of Pages: 264
My detailed thoughts/recommendation

     Filled with humor, raw emotion, a strong voice, and a brilliant dog named Sandy Koufax, When You Were Here explores the two most powerful forces known to man-death and love. Daisy Whitney brings her characters to life with a deft touch and resonating authenticity. 
     Danny’s mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.
     Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn’t know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.
     When he gets a letter from his mom’s property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother’s memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Title: THE TESTING

Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Number of Pages: 336
My detailed thoughts/recommendation

     Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 
     The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 
     Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one. 
     But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Title: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
My detailed thoughts/recommendation

     Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
     So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.
     She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Title: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC from author (Thanks Kasie!)

Seventeen-year-old
Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment,
and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for
one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in
her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to
pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen
to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s
one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to
know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned
from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention
span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare
him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.

She
knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather
Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money.
But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince
Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money
is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized.
And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

First Thought: Hello? Pretty in Pink meets Pride & Prejudice? Sign me up!

I LOVED Kasie West’s debut book, PIVOT POINT, so was extremely excited to hear that she had a second standalone book coming out in the same year. When I read the synopsis for THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, I knew it sounded like my kind of book.  I was thrilled when an advanced copy showed up on my doorstep, and 36 hours later I had finished the book. I am in love with this story!

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is an engaging, sweet story with heart and snark. It’s a story of romance and family and honesty and looking beyond the obvious. I thoroughly enjoyed Kasie’s development of the quirkiness of the setting and the likeability of the characters. Kasie West writes some of the most charming guys in YA today – and I’ve officially declared her the Queen of the First Kiss Scenes. But it takes awhile to get to that point. Caymen and Xander have quite a bit of figuring each other out and introspection and learning to do before they can get together – and that’s part of what’s so great. Although they’re both intrigued when they start talking, it is a slow build up of their relationship, which I appreciate because it allows them to get to know each other first. The way in which Kasie writes their relationship has me rooting for them to get together and figure their differences out. I especially loved some of the cute things that happen as they build their friendship. I absolutely adore Xander. He is charming and sweet in a real way and it is obvious how much he cares. And Caymen is dedicated and supremely sarcastic (which I love!) adding quite a bit of comedic relief to the story, but Xander calls her on it – part of the reason he’s so good for her and leading to some laugh out loud moments. There is such an adoring element to their relationship that I was really drawn to in addition to their chemistry. They’re looking out for each other and supporting each other and helping find the best in each other. They have the kind of sincere, real relationship that I like to read about in light-hearted contemporary books.

Early on I was hooked, and although I was a little worried that it was going to be predictable, it ended up not being too much so. It definitely fits the formula of a rich boy/poor girl contemporary romance story, which is part of why I liked it so much because it’s familiar in a good way, but the setting is interesting, the characters are endearing, and there are enough real motivators and surprises (hello family secrets) along the way to keep it feeling fresh. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is a sweet story that warmed my heart and was so much fun to read. After I finished, I wanted to go right back and read it again.

Final Thought: I seriously need more Kasie West books in my life! For real.

This review was also posted on the Nerdy Book Club blog. They’re always looking for readers to contribute. Are you a member? If you read, you are.

Title: WHEN YOU WERE HERE
Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Number of Pages: 257
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

When You Were Here, Lost in Translation meets Where She Went,
is about an American teenager who travels from California to Tokyo to
uncover the secrets surrounding the death of his mother, all while
trying to both hold onto and let go of the girl he’s been in love with
his whole life.

Danny’s mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before
his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now
Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his
heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn’t know how to figure
out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian
speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a
letter from his mom’s property manager in Tokyo, where she had been
going for treatment, it shows a side of a side of his mother he never
knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to
connect with his mother’s memory and make sense of her final months,
which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the
cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an
almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not
have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother
going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

First Thoughts: WHEN YOU WERE HERE is an achingly, heartbreakingly, healingly
incredible novel. It ripped me apart and stitched me back together one
small piece/scene/conversation at a time.

I adore Daisy Whitney, and I loved her debut, THE MOCKINGBIRDS, and it’s follow-up, THE RIVALS, so I was anxiously awaiting her next book. I knew this one would have a different tone than her others, and I was intrigued by her writing in a teen male’s voice. I’m so glad to be able to say that I loved this book. In fact, I’m not sure that’s even a strong enough emotion for what I feel about this story.

I thought I knew where this book was headed. I thought I knew what Danny’s trajectory would be. He’s just shredded when we meet him in the beginning. He’s grieving. His father’s been gone a long time. His mother is just recently gone. He’s lost the girl he loves. High school is over. He’s aimless and doesn’t know which direction to turn. So he heads to Tokyo, his home away from his California home with his family. He needs to discover why his mom didn’t make it to his graduation, why the cancer took her too early. He needs to find a way to feel again, something, anything. He needs to find a way to discover if he can ever not be hurting. He finds Kana, a new friend, and rekindles his love of a city he belongs in. Then, nineteen chapters in, a jaw-droppingly unexpected event is revealed that changed my entire perception of the direction this book was headed. Danny’s journey becomes about much more, and it’s a true discovery of self and life and love and healing and being at peace with death. And I was enamored with every word of it.

There’s something about Daisy Whitney’s writing style that I feel so comfortable immersing myself in. She’s a fantastic contemporary voice with deep emotion and flawed characters and hope. She deftly created a balance between what is happening in the moment, and flashing back to the events in the past that led to Danny and Holland being at this point. My emotions were in turmoil throughout reading Danny’s story. I was so caught up in his emotions, I mostly just wanted to give him a big hug throughout, and by the end, I just wanted to hug the book to me and not let it go. WHEN YOU WERE HERE is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I was feeling so many emotions by the end (and, yes, needed kleenex handy); it touched on nerves deep within my soul, and the journey I took with Danny made a lasting impact on me.

Final Thought: Some books are hard to let go of and forget – this one will be with me for a long time because of its sincerity and how it hits just the right notes.

Note for teachers/librarians/parents: Please read this book; however, there are mature scenes so it’s probably better for a high school audience. If you work with 8th graders, read it first to determine appropriateness before handing to any students.

Title: THE PROGRAM
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Number of Pages: 416
Source of Book: ARC from Publisher

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane
knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an
international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the
only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one
child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also
knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank
slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under
constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave
face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person
Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both
safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough
to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other,
it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker.
Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Title: REQUIEM (Book 3 in the DELIRIUM series)

Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Number of Pages: 400
Source of Book: ARC from publisher (Thanks HarperCollins School & Library!)

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

First thought: Satisfying ending to this series
-Different from DELIRIUM and PANDEMONIUM, I loved the dual perspective voices of Lena and Hana – gave a great insight into what was going on outside the walls in the Wilds and inside the walls with the Cureds.
-The way Lauren Oliver used the length of chapters to enhance the suspense and urgency in climactic parts or the complacency in other parts was masterful…also the way the chapters end and the next one starts is seamless and helps the story flow so well.
–Lauren Oliver’s writing style is beautiful and literary and pulls me into the story and the setting.
-I’ve enjoyed this entire series and the whole idea of this society and amor being a disease…it’s an interesting commentary on the way feelings can interfere with thinking.
-The way the whole storyline comes together in the end and we see how Lena and Hana learn the lessons they learn and have their new perspectives on the world and their lives was great…especially in thinking about the choices we make in life and what those may mean for us.
-You know going into it that hearts might get broken, but the whole time you’re a little unsure of whose hearts those may be and some may surprise you—of course, that’s what happens when you choose love over a lobotomy.
-Dealing with very broken characters here who have had their worldview completely shaken and they have to figure out how to survive in a new world.
Final thought: The things we would do for those we love…

Title: LET THE SKY FALL
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Number of Pages: 416
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

A broken past
and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in
this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel.

Seventeen-year-old
Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that
killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired
girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real.
But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air
elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and
can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s
also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at
all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a
hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of
their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a
power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can
understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra
needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors
coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between
them.

You can see the just released book trailer here.

First thoughts:

Loved
this book! Action, romance, snark, caring, excitement, entertaining
writing, and a unique twist on mythological/paranormal add up to one awesome book.
– Love, love, love Shannon Messenger’s writing style and the attitude she brings to her characters. It’s like I’m talking to a friend.
– I so enjoy dual perspective POV books and this one is no different. Multiple perspectives are important for this story, and the guy voice is really well done. Vane brings sarcastic humor and Audra brings the kick-butt-ness.
– The mythological aspect of the sylphs who are Windwalkers is unique and intriguing and something I haven’t read about before. Fascinating how they can talk to the wind and have it do things for them.
– As the story goes on, it becomes more and more clear what Vane and Audra’s connection is and why it is inevitable. It was fun to follow along with their back-and-forth dynamic and learning their story along the way as Vane learned his history with Audra.
– Family is at the heart of this book and finding one’s own strength through connections with others.
– Characters were relateable in their situations and why they built the walls they did.
– The action scenes with the way Windwalkers battle and fight were exciting.
– Ending is where it needs to end, but leaves it open for the next book. The biggest battle is not yet through. They need to find their own strengths first before it can really come to a head with the villains. 
Final thoughts: I adore Shannon Messenger’s writing and her books and look forward to much more from her!

Title: REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Number of Pages: 261
Source of Book: ARC requested from publisher at NCTE

A hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom.

Don’t mess with a girl with a Great Personality.

Everybody
loves Lexi. She’s popular, smart, funny…but she’s never been one of
those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on
top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a
tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty
(with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi’s sick of
it. She’s sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of
getting them. She’s sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan.
She’s sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And
she’s sick of having all her family’s money wasted on a phony pursuit of
perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the
sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren’t going to know what
hit them. Because Lexi’s going to play the beauty game – and she’s in it
to win it.

First thought: I so adore Elizabeth Eulberg’s books and this newest one hits the right notes once again.
– Elizabeth Eulberg is one of my absolute favorite contemporary writers!
– Her books are sweet and meaningful and have real characters who are finding their true selves and how to be who they really are.
– Lexi learns to stand up for herself even in a dysfunctional family.
– Seeing the inner workings of the pageant life was entertaining throughout.
– Lexi becomes her own person, not what others say she should be…juxtaposed with the world of child pageants where it’s all about what others say about a girl.
– Has true-to-life, relatable, honest characters.
– Great best friends. One is gay, which has it’s own side story that is a nice counterpoint and instigator to what Lexi is dealing with, and both are there for her always.
– Idea: Not necessarily meant to be with the one you might think, but have to go through it to really find out about yourself.
– The drama of high school popularity politics is alive and well, and will hook my student readers.
– Some guys are truly good…even if it takes the girl a little while to see what’s there in front of her.
– Loved the fact that Taylor Riggins appears as one of those good guys (and if you don’t catch that reference, you haven’t watched enough of that amazing TV show).
– Left with hope at the end, but also at a point where Lexi realizes that she needs to work through becoming her best self before being with a guy.
– Good message for real girls.
Final thought: Is it all about looks? Who says you have to be with someone to be you?

Title: FRACTURE
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker & Co. (a Bloomsbury imprint)
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Number of Pages: 272

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy
waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her
heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.
And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly
fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone
wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she’s far from normal.
Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney finds
herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death,
or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with
similar abilities. At first she’s reassured to find someone who
understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon
discovers that Troy’s motives aren’t quite what she thought. Is their
gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a
fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the
fine line between life and death.

Student #1:

     I love Fracture by Megan
Miranda. It literally felt as if I were in the book, feeling the character‘s
emotions. This story had the perfect combo of a thrilling romance mystery, with
a thickening plot. While reading this, I never really knew what to expect
because the main character, Delaney, was just thrown into this whole lifestyle
that seemed absolutely terrifyingly creepy.
     Although
Delaney had become one of my favorite characters, there were some points in the
book where I just couldn’t stand her. Like when she befriended Troy. He was
just so creepy, how could you not sense the danger and trouble that would come
with him or when she got angry at Decker for dating someone else while she did
the same thing. Delaney’s mother was messed up too. She reminded me of a witch,
evil! I mean, who drugs their own child so they don’t wake up and have
‘hallucinations’, as she put it. Anyways, I would recommend this book to
someone who likes a good thrilling, mystery, romance book. I rate this novel
five stars.

Title: THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT (sequel to UNDER THE NEVER SKY)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 352
Source of Book: ARC from the fantastic Harper Collins School & Library reps during the “Day of Awesomeness” at NCTE

It’s been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don’t take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe’s precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

I was absolutely enamored with Veronica Rossi‘s debut book, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, and it stuck with me for a long time, so I was very anxious to get the sequel, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. I loved this second book too, most especially being back in this world with these characters. THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT has the same beautiful writing and imagery
and unique world-building from the first book, but we find out even
more about how this world came to be and what might be going on as it
disintegrates even further.

So much of this story is about the family relationships and how they affect Aria and Perry and Roar and everyone else that has been dependent on their families to help them survive in this environment. As we begin to delve deeper into these stories and what’s happening with these characters, Rossi also gives us more detail about how this world came to be the way it is and the difficulties the people are truly facing in this environment. There is real life or death at stake here and it makes everything feel that much more urgent and every moment more suspenseful.

Rossi has written a series that is truly a love story at it’s heart, and things are not easy for Aria and Perry, as they are both wanting to look out for each other, and be together, but that may not be what’s actually best for either one of them. Perry is coming into his own as a leader of his tribe, one of what I feel is the strongest elements of the book, which means having an “outsider” at his side may not be beneficial. And, of course, there are other side plots happening that require attention from each of them. I really just want them to get over themselves and stop trying to protect each other
and just be together to protect themselves together. They do support
each other so much though and it’s obvious they’re meant to be, it just might not be easy to get there.

The plot for this story is well done for a second book, with quite a lot going on, while at the end still leaving it clear where it’s headed for the third book, INTO THE STILL BLUE. I know I’ll be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the final book in this trilogy to see where they all end up.

Title: TOUCHING THE SURFACE
Author: Kimberly Sabatini
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Number of Pages: 352
Source of Book: Bought the hardcover

I’m a little torn with TOUCHING THE SURFACE. I read it because Kimberly Sabatini’s agent is Michelle Wolfson, and I love other books by her authors: Kiersten White, Daisy Whitney, Kasie West, and so Michelle recommended this debut. I loved parts of this story, but other parts drove me kind of nuts because they seemed to be tropes I’m sick of with love triangles, but it ended up being so much more than that in the end. It’s a fantasy afterlife story, told like a contemporary. Basically, I wasn’t so sure at the start, but I pushed myself to keep reading, and then once it got to a certain point with a specific event that changed my (and the main character’s) view of things, I bought into the story much more and it became very hard for me to put down at the end because I needed to know how things would end up.

Kimberly Sabatini has created a unique premise of the afterlife with reincarnation and a soul being more than just one body and one life. It deals with themes of grief and guilt and forgiveness and love in ways that connect the reader to the characters and events that are happening. The realizations the characters came to in the end, and the views they had about the afterlife and its purpose, were thoughtful and thought-provoking.

One of the best parts of this book is the way in which it was written and the plot was paced to keep the reader in suspense along with the characters, but wanting to know what’s going to happen. This story is told as if in the present in the afterlife, but as it is the third time these characters are there, they don’t seem to remember what happened in their most recent life. They have to Delve to access the memories so they can remember and learn and grow. The Delving is in italics and serves sort of like a flashback and adding more information to the story. The way in which the Delves and present events are intertwined to reveal bits of information at a time and connect the characters more was done very well. The writing is also done in such a way as to make the setting always feel very real for the reader.

Throughout TOUCHING THE SURFACE, there is a lot we don’t know as the character doesn’t know it either. The reader goes along for the journey of discovery which gets very interesting. At the start, I felt it was a little bit confusing trying to keep track of how this world worked and who everyone was, but it got easier to follow. I didn’t completely connect with the main character, Elliott, from the start, but she grew on me. I just really didn’t like the instalove that seemed to happen early on in the book and the good guy vs bad guy love interest thing going on, but the way that all gets resolved and comes together in the end made it where I didn’t want to put the book down lest I miss something important to figuring it all out.

I did like where the story ended up; although, there is a wide open ending for sure, and the journey of discovery of self that was required to get there made it all the more interesting. At its heart, this is kind of a love story…all kinds of love. And kind of a story about expectations and doing what’s necessary for your own self to find your way and save your soul, both in life and in the afterlife.

Title: CRASH (Visions, book 1)
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 256
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules
lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells
like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food
truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle
that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts
her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and
explode…and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is
everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only
one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees.
The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do.
Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s
someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she
can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

This is a must-get book – I can’t wait to get this into the hands of teens because I think they’re going to eat it up. I adore Lisa McMann and have enjoyed all of her other books, so I was excited to see she’d be signing advanced copies at NCTE this year. Ever since I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I wanted to read it…and it totally lived up to, and exceeded, my expectations. The great thing about Lisa McMann’s young adult books, just like in the WAKE trilogy, is the ease with which she writes that makes for a fast read and in a style that engages my more hesitant student readers as well. CRASH was unputdownable and I read it in one day, which was good because I was dying to know what would happen and how it would all turn out.

The plot of this story is suspenseful and fast-moving. There are layers to what is going on with family and school and the visions and romance and everything that’s happening that keep the reader going. The reader goes along with Jules as she tries to figure out what exactly is happening to her, and we find out more about her home life as we go along as well as what’s happening to her at school and with the boy she’s been in love with since she was a kid. This all comes to a head in the last third of the book as the visions become more insistent and Jules realizes time is running out for her to figure out what’s happening and save the people she cares about.

I so enjoyed the characters in CRASH. Lisa McMann has written relatable, entertaining, and endearing primary and secondary characters in this story. The voice of Jules is fantastic, especially the sarcastic top 5 lists throughout. I’d want to be friends with her for sure. There is also so much humor in this story, especially in her interactions with her family, that kept me engaged throughout. Her family situation is not always the best, but her sibling relationships are something everyone would hope for. She has an incredible older brother in Trey, who happens to be gay, which is handled in such a subtle, matter-of-fact, honest, realistic way which I really loved. I really felt like I was reading about real teens and real things that would happen to them, with the added context of the fantasy elements of the visions added in.

CRASH is a book for readers who like romance, quick-reads, suspense, mystery, science-fictiony/fantasyish predicitons of the future, family stories, and those who just want an engaging, fun, exciting read.  I’m super happy to hear that there are going to be four books in this series. I definitely want more of this story and engaging world Lisa has created in the Visions series!

Title: JUST ONE DAY
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets
laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in
England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that
spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the
following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to
discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a
journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and
through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to
break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

I have been waiting for a new Gayle Forman book since I ever since I read WHERE SHE WENT (twice!) because I really enjoy reading books in her voice and the way in which she writes that draws me into stories. I appreciate her way of making me feel as if a city is another character in the book and the way in which she writes a single day as worthy of an entire book. That is what I was hoping for in JUST ONE DAY, and I got that plus so much more.

This is a smart book. It has intelligence and humor and emotion and all of the feelings. It’s a coming-of-age story for a new generation, with a bit of Shakespeare and Paris and travel and college life and family drama and best friends growing apart and romance and missed connections and finding what’s right for what you want not what others want for you. It’s a journey of finding oneself that takes more than just one day. There were some shocking moments and some moments that were so real and true to life that I felt utterly connected to these characters. And some of the characters were so great. Beyond the main characters, there were others that came into Allyson’s life who I really wanted to stick around and hang out with. Some true friendships were developed, and others ran their course and started to drift apart, and that’s what happens in real life.

The romance that develops between LuLu and Willem during their one day in Paris is endearing. The little moments throughout their day made me fall in love along with them. As someone who loves to travel internationally, I appreciated the way in which each city’s character was drawn on the page. Some I have been to, and some I haven’t, but after reading JUST ONE DAY, I felt as if I had been on a trip to each of them.

I was reading the end of the book during my students’ independent reading time in class, and they knew I had 15 pages left, and when I was almost to the end I heard them laughing, and then I finished and made some “what?!” hand gestures because of the very ending of the book, and then they all started laughing louder and told me that my face and reactions were really funny as I was reading the end of the book. Yes, that is what happens at the end of this one. You’ll want to throw the book on the floor, and then pick it up and hold it close. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time, and it left me desperate for the sequel, JUST ONE YEAR. I’m glad we get two Gayle Forman books in the coming year, and I hope we get even more soon! This is definitely a book to get in January.

Title: PIVOT POINT
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison
Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is
faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes.
It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought.
When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has
to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the
paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is
staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as
it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the
future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is
adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high
school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands
her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in
school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When
Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s
unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she
holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which
reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live
without.

I loved this book so much. It’s fresh and original and unexpected. It’s an amazing book that was entertaining and engaging. It has characters I wanted to be friends with, lines of text that I read repeatedly because I wanted to soak up and remember them, a uniquely original world built upon a science fiction/supernatural base that reads like a contemporary, a layered storyline being told of two divergent paths that are interrelated, twists that kept me on my reader toes, and a writing voice that I connected with and felt comforted by and made me want to keep spending time enveloped in this prose. PIVOT POINT is the debut novel by Kasie West (who is repped by Michelle Wolfson, the same agent as Kiersten White and Daisy Whitney, whose new books I also love), and it is one that I think teens are going to love. I know I did. This is the kind of book that left me still thinking about it the next day wondering what was happening in those character’s lives next and wanting to go back and reread it again right away.

One of the details Kasie West included that I really loved in PIVOT POINT was the way that Addie loves books so much, and all kinds of books, but real paper books. There are many times throughout the story it comes up, and it made me happy to read it each time. Addison also has the kind of personality that I love in my main characters – a little bit spunky and sassy, with an intelligence and caring behind all she does. Her attitude is great, and there were many moments throughout where I laughed out loud at something she said. In regards to gym class in a new school: “Nobody should be forced to do physical exercise on Mondays.” Him: “My bookcase is all yours.” Her: “I’ve just decided those are my five favorite words in the world.” And many, many more that I wanted to hold onto to remember on another day. *All lines quoted from an uncorrected proof.

Another element that is incredibly strong is the twistedness of the plot and the way the two directions the story goes are interwoven together. The links are there to see how it might go with either choice in the same situations, and the alternating chapters stop at just the right point every time. There is a history to this world that is intriguing and fully thought out, but that still seems to have more to discover. There is also a depth to this story that delves into the true repercussions of choices we make and the path to get to what we may want might not always be easy. It’s about figuring out who is meaningful and necessary in her life, and what she can do to keep them there. And I can’t talk about this book without mentioning the boys. Duke and Trevor both have their charms, and they were written in such a way as to make the reader adore both of them, and not be sure which way you want the story to go yourself. Which is exactly how we should be feeling because that’s how Addie would be feeling. I also claim this book has one of the best first kiss scenes ever, but everything stays clean enough that I could hand it to my middle school students without a concern. In fact, I think they’ll love it, too.

This is the kind of book that leaves you contemplating at the end because either choice has its good sides and its bad, so it’s hard to know which one you’d want the character to choose. It does end with a definite decision and ending; however, I found out there will be a sequel, so I’m very excited to get to spend more time with these characters in this world and read more of this fresh voice in YA. Please go get PIVOT POINT in February, or preorder it now, and read Kasie West’s debut novel. You won’t be sorry.

Title: DAIRY QUEEN
Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Publisher: Graphia (a Houghton Mifflin imprint)
Release Date: June 4, 2007
Number of Pages: 274
Source of Book: Paperback from my classroom library

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.

Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D. J. can’t help admitting, maybe he’s right.

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.

Stuff
like why her best friend, Amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. Or why her
little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs
and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won’t even call
home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high
school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league.

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.

Welcome
to the summer that fifteen-year-old D. J. Schwenk of Red Bend,
Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to
say.

I’m not completely sure of my feelings for this book. I’d heard rave reviews of it, and being that I’m in Wisconsin where it takes place, definitely wanted to read it. I enjoyed it for the most part, but at times I was a little bored with it and felt like I was waiting for something to happen. It was a different type of book than I expected it to be. It was more of an inside look at one girl’s summer of discovering how to speak up for herself and repair her family relationships. And then there’s the football, which was great, and there was a bit of romance, but not quite as much of a focus on that as I expected, I guess. I think the beginning was a bit slow for me and I kept going because I wanted to see what everyone had liked so much, and it did get more exciting in the last part, but it’s definitely not as much of a plot-driven book as I guess I prefer.

I did enjoy DJ as a character and all of her inner conversation throughout the book and her observations about things that happened. I appreciated the way that she was so clueless and insecure about some things, and how she reacted when she figured them out. She is a flat-out honest character and a realistic portrayal of a small-town, farm-girl teen and she’s very likeable. DJ’s voice was very engaging to me the whole time also, in the way that she seemed to be talking directly to the reader, which all became clear in the very last paragraph of the book. All of the characters were intriguing, but it’s really all about DJ and
her family. The elements of the family dynamics and how things went
wrong were some of the most interesting parts of the book for me. The setting also plays an important role as the family farm is where most of the story happens because DJ has had to take over for her injured father.

Overall I’m intrigued enough to maybe read the second book in the series to see if the plotting picks up a little bit, but probably won’t make it through if I get the feeling again of waiting for things to happen. There are some strong messages in some of the major and minor stories in DAIRY QUEEN, and it was an enjoyable read, if I had been prepared ahead of time for the type of read it would be as a quieter, subtler type of book.

Title: AUDITION & SUBTRACTION
Author: Amy Fellner Dominy
Publisher: Walker & Company
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Number of Pages: 272
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at IRA Convention

For as long as Tatum can remember it’s been:

Tatum + Lori = Best friends

They
do everything together, including a yearly clarinet/flute duet for
District Honor Band auditions. But when a new boy transfers to their
middle school and their band, the equation suddenly changes to:

Lori + Michael – Tatum = One happy couple

With
her best friend slipping away and her parents recently separated,
Tatum’s life has turned upside down. Plus her good friend Aaron thinks
that they are secretly boyfriend and girlfriend, all because of one
little lie Tatum told. Accepting change isn’t easy for Tatum, but just
how much is she willing to give up to hold on to her friendship with
Lori and life as she knows it? For Tatum, the best way to move forward
may require a whole new formula . . .

AUDITION & SUBTRACTION is such a cute story. It’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from Amy Fellner Dominy! Her writing voice is spot on for a middle grades book that will engage readers. Her books have middle school appropriate romance with a unique twist. This time it’s the band students.

Some things seemed a little obvious to me as an experienced reader, but as a middle schooler, I probably wouldn’t have realized them at that age. However, Amy’s writing is that type of fun, school-set romance, with friendship/family elements. It’s kinds of like the chick flick for the book set, which is a very good thing because so many of my students are asking for that, but with more depth of thought and lessons to learn and quality to it than some of the other books for this age in this genre. She also writes smart characters who are not the popular kids, but are the real kids that I see who are interested in a variety of things and want to be successful, but are also insecure at times.

AUDITION & SUBTRACTION is all about the reality of what happens when it’s no longer just you and your best friend, but a boyfriend is introduced to the mix. It’s the reality of how we move on in our lives and reevalute friendships and relationships as we grow up and sometimes grow apart. It also includes a very sweet start to a relationship with a really good guy who is fully supportive of the main character.

Beyond the friendship and romance elements, there’s a strong message of figuring out what you want and going for it, no matter what others might say to try to hold you back. Doing what you can to reach your dreams by working hard is an important part of this novel. There are also strong parental figures who are supportive of their child, which is always nice to see.

Overall, Amy Fellner Dominy has written a cute, fun, easy to read romance and drama book that middle school girls are always asking me for. I think they’ll really enjoy AUDITION & SUBTRACTION, especially those band students. I know I did!

Title: CHAIN REACTION (Book 3 in the PERFECT CHEMISTRY series)
Author: Simone Elekeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 16, 20122
Number of Pages: 308
Source of Book: Bought the hardcover

Like his brothers, Luis
Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he’s scaling the Rocky Mountains or
dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the
next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules -, don’t trust a
boy who says “I love you”, boys lie to get their own way and never date
a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his
brother Alex’s wedding and suddenly she’s tempted to break all her
rules. Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis’s biggest challenge,
until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly
destroyed his brothers’ lives. Will Luis’s feelings for Nikki be enough
to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to
be the ultimate risk?

Once again Simone has written an edgy urban romance with a twist. Once my students read PERFECT CHEMISTRY, they pass it on to their friends and are clamoring for more like it. For that reason, I’m really glad this was a series of three books each featuring one of the Fuentes brothers. Fans of PERFECT CHEMISTRY and RULES OF ATTRACTION will definitely enjoy this third book in the series focusing on the youngest brother, Luis. 

I have to say I liked this one more than the second book. It didn’t feel like it was the same story again, but took a different angle on a familiar idea. I liked these characters and loved the way that my favorites from the first two books showed up in this one to support Luis. One of the aspects that I appreciate so much in Simone Elkeles’ books is the strength of the family unit and their support for each other. I really do enjoy books with two points-of-view also, and this one has it in a very engaging way. I liked Nikki – she is a strong female character who isn’t going to just take what people give her, but fights for what she wants and knows is right. One caution: This book was a little more descriptive in the mature scenes than the others seemed to be. That didn’t stop many of my students from wanting to read it, but it is worth a cautionary moment. 

I wish there were going to be more Fuentes brothers stories, but since there aren’t, we’ll have to settle for a new series from Simone Elekeles, with the first book in the FULLRIDERS series coming in 2013. Overall, if you’ve enjoyed her previous books, you should definitely grab this one for a quick, fun, romantic read. If not, what are you waiting for? Get PERFECT CHEMISTRY as soon as you can.

Title: EVERY DAY
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: ARC from NetGalley & publisher at ALA

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s
never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made
peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get
too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine
until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets
Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A
has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he
wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,
has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a
captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to
comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and
Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined
to change every day.

There’s something poignant and beautiful and humane in all of David Levithan’s writing and EVERY DAY is no exception. It’s a look into the human condition and wants and desires of the soul. It goes beyond the corporeal factors and gets to the heart, while acknowledging that in some circumstances and in some situations, the body is in charge affecting the mind and soul.

I admit I had a weird sense of deja vu while I was reading. I was describing the premise to my librarian and she said it sounds Quantum Leap-ish, and it is in a way. I used to watch that show often, so that may be why.

The suspense of the story kept me turning pages, not wanting to put it down, and staying up too late because I couldn’t stop reading. Each chapter is a different day/person, some longer and some shorter, so there were natural break points, but that also kept me wanting to read to find out what would happen in the next body on the next day. 

What would you do to prove your love for and to someone? To what lengths would you go to see that person? All of these elements and questions are integrated seamlessly into this story along with elements of acceptance and gender and relationships, both romantic and friendly and also family-related. There were sweet moments in all variations of relationships with no judgement and no preaching, just being, which is one of the things I find so strong about Levithan’s writing.

I was left with a feeling of, Huh…that’s it? at the end, but the more I processed and decompressed from it, the more I realized the quietness and rightness and possibilities left by the ending. As A says, “Every person is a possibility.”

How different each person’s life experience must be based on their soul
and body and circumstances. This idea really hit home with
me even more while reading EVERY DAY. What makes a person who they are? There are some universal
questions in this story and they’re addressed in a spectacularly
thoughtful way.