Archive for the ‘teen fiction’ Category

Gone by Lisa McMann

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves–she has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life–and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out… [Summary from Lisa McMann's website]

Gone is the third book in the Wake trilogy by Lisa McMann. Janie is faced with the toughest choice she’ll ever have to make: give up walking in other people’s dreams and live a life of isolation, or continue her life as she is now, but lose her sight and use of her hands eventually.

Gone is written in the same way as the two previous books, short segments of time in Janie’s life. The format is unique, quick to read, but very realistic. It reminds me of the diary format that is sometimes common in YA lit. McMann doesn’t shy away from tough or awkward situations and realistic language. There are no happy endings but gritty, real events that happen. The characters in Gone feel very real and confront the situations in the book as real people would. All three of these books are quick to read, but they take awhile to absorb, to think about.

I’m sad to see this series end, but looking forward to whatever McMann comes up with next. You’ll definitely want to check out the first two books in the series, Wake and Fade before reading Gone.

Purchased from Amazon.com!

For More: Check out Lisa McMann’s website!

The Heart Is Not a Size by Beth Kephart

Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. . . . Or are they?

When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters’ village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she’s always known. [Summary from HarperTeen]

You may have noticed that I’ve been blogging more lately–hurray! I’ve had time to catch up on my reading. Honestly, my to be read bookcase is filled–4 shelves and counting, over 30 books. I finally was able to pick up and read this book by one of my favorite authors, Beth Kephart. With every novel that she writes, I am amazed by the beauty of her words. Her books are filled with gorgeous descriptions of everything–setting, emotions, etc. The Heart Is Not a Size is no exception! In this short novel so much happens, but the story never feels fast or forced. Georgia is a character that many can relate to: uncomfortable in her own skin, yearning for some sort of change that will bring more meaning into her life. And she cares deeply about her best friend, Riley, who is hiding a dangerous secret. The whole novel the reader wonders: why doesn’t Georgia do something about Riley? If she cares so much, why is she silent? I ask that, if you read this book, think about yourself and what you would do as a teenage girl. What can you do? How can you speak yet save your friendship? Are there things worth losing a friendship over, if only to protect someone?

The Heart Is Not a Size asks all of these questions and many more. I encourage fans of Kephart’s other works to read this, as well as fans of Laura Resau and Laurie Halse Anderson. I hope that everyone who reads this will be encouraged to speak up, even when that’s the hardest thing to do.

It’s interesting to me that I just finished this book last night, as today in church our minister told the story of Joseph, and how because one of his brothers spoke up, he was saved from being murdered (granted, he was still sold into slavery, but at least, alive). He encouraged us all to learn to recognize the times in our lives when we should speak up, when doing so may make all the difference. All it takes is one person to speak up to create change.

Purchased from Amazon.com!

For More: Check out Beth Kephart’s blog, including an excerpt from the book! And, if interested in the story of Joseph, check out my church, Momentum Christian Church, and subscribe to the podcast to hear his story!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. [Summary from Good Reads]

Two words, a name. TINY COOPER! Tiny Cooper is a very large, very gay teenager, best friends with the 1st Will Grayson. Tiny Cooper made this book fantastic. Tiny Cooper made this book hilarious. Tiny Cooper made this book meaningful and beautiful. I adored this book and all of the characters, especially Tiny and both Wills. I kept laughing out loud, literally, while reading this, and read lines to my roommate from the book. If you love any other works by Green or Levithan, you’ll be a fan of this!

Purchased from Borders!

For More: Check out John Green’s website or David Levithan’s website and check out their other books!

Today is readergirlz’ annual teen book drop! What books are you dropping? I’m going to leave Crank by Ellen Hopkins, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, and Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta in public places around Cleveland, Ohio. I hope someone picks these up and loves them!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands. [Summary from IfIStay.com]

If I Stay was the first audiobook that I’ve ever listened to. I had to listen to an audiobook for one of my classes, and while this isn’t the one I chose for my class, I did pick this one up as well. I was skeptical at first, since I love reading so much, but because I do have quite a long drive to and from school, this turned out to be a very pleasant experience for me. Plus, I loved the book!

In If I Stay, Mia has a choice to make: should she fight to stay alive, or let her body and life go? The story is told in a back and forth fashion, between the present, where her body lies in a coma-like state, injured beyond belief, and the past, where she relives past moments in her life with her family, her boyfriend Adam, her best friend Kim, and others that have touched her life. Mia is a musician, a cellist, and her music is a large part of her life, a driving force of her existence. She shares this love with her family and Adam, although they love punk rock, rather than classical. Still, the family is tight knit, and despite some problems with Adam, they seem to be truly in love. How will Mia decide? Can she bear to go on with her life, now that everything has changed? Can she just let go, leaving Adam, her family, and friends behind? Read (or listen) to If I Stay and find out!

If I Stay is a beautiful novel, very heart-wrenching and emotional. Especially because I listened to it, I really felt that I knew the characters. I felt very involved in Mia’s life and couldn’t wait to find out whether she decided to stay and live or let go and die.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library!

For More: Visit Gayle Forman’s website and also visit Amazon or Indiebound to purchase the book!

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Available now!

A year has passed since the events of Life As We Knew It, Pfeffer’s first novel detailing the catastrophic aftermath of a meteorite hitting the moon. Miranda’s family has struggled to survive during this year, fighting off hunger, disease, and intense, dangerous weather. This World We Live In is again told in a diary format, from Miranda’s point of view.

Miranda, Matt, Jon, and her mother fight to maintain their sanity and health in their home, scavenging empty houses and wondering anxiously what happened to their father and his wife. Somehow, miraculously, Hal and Lisa survived and return home, with their new baby, plus 3 strangers, including Alex and Julie Morales (from companion novel, The Dead and the Gone). These newcomers disrupt, yet also enrich, the lives of Miranda’s family, as life on this shattered earth begins to move toward a brighter future, until one horrible event causes all of their plans to come shattering down in front of them.

Utterly depressing, morbid, and ever so sad, This World We Live In is haunting, with a melancholy beauty shaking with the last remains of hope for a broken world. This is yet again a title you won’t be able to put down, as every turn of the page creates another shocking event. Reading this, you want to believe that somehow, life on this world will become better for Miranda’s family. Where is the government? Where are the people to fix these problems? In reality, they don’t exist. The world has become a “everyone for themselves” existence, filled with dangers and secrets. With the arrival of Miranda’s father and company, life begins to change for her family. Till this point, they had been isolated, reaching and pulling back from their breaking point, so many times. New faces are a pleasure, yet also a nightmare in this environment where food and resources are scarce. Yet, the families band together to make the situation work, as once they are reunited, they can’t bear to separate again.

You’ll want to cry while reading this, as fate and fortune finds this family extremely unlucky. Despite a year having passed, disaster is unfortunately still too close to home, and you’ll finish this still wondering–what happens next? Is there any hope for this world?

Pfeffer’s work again exceeds all my expectations. This is a true dystopian novel and will appeal to many fans of that genre. This is a book that makes the reader think, and think again, and even rethink many things that we hold true in our privileged lives.

I recommend this for fans of The Hunger Games, Jeanne DuPrau’s City of Ember books, and Lois Lowry’s Giver books.

Digital copy received via NetGalley–thank you!

For More: Visit Susan Beth Pfeffer’s blog and also visit Amazon or Indiebound to purchase this book!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday I am waiting on Insatiable by Meg Cabot. What can I say? It’s Meg Cabot, whom I adore, and it’s a vampire book! I can’t wait to read this, as I’m sure it will be amazingly adorable and hilarious.

Insatiable
Release date: June 8, 2010

Summary (from Meg Cabot’s Website):

A modern sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her. No one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets — then makes the mistake of falling in love with — Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side…a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien’s already dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future…

If she even has one.

For my YA library services class, we had to create a 3 book booktalk last week. I did a booktalk on The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart, Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph, and The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau, 3 books I have read and reviewed here at bibliochic. Check out my booktalk below!

Note: Since I don’t actually work for a library (yet!) you’ll see a fake library name in the booktalk. Just so you know.

Keep Your Head Down. Don’t Get Noticed. Or Else.

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it’s all that dangerous–the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.

I should have just said no…

Synopsis from Maria Snyder’s web site, release date April 1, 2010, Harlequin Teen

Inside Out is Maria Snyder’s first foray into true science fiction and I think many people will find it a success. The world of Inside Out is filled with mystery and complete otherness. The people of this world live in what they call “Inside,” a huge metal cube where they exist. On the lower levels, the people called “scrubs” maintain the systems of living, air, waste, water, etc. and in the upper levels, the “uppers” live in what the scrubs believe to be relative luxury. The scrubs are given very few rights, and live in crowded quarters, working long hours. The uppers have families and maintain more of what we would know to be careers. The scrubs have no choice in their every day living, while they uppers have more freedoms and privileges.

In Inside Out, Trella, a scrub known as “Queen of the Pipes,” gets by day-to-day, living out her life as a loner. She has few friends, and most of the scrubs regard her with resentment because of her skills. She’s content with her existence in Inside, until the day her friend Cogon brings her to hear a prophet called Broken Man. Broken Man tells Trella and Cogon there is a way to reach Outside, through something called Gateway, which is a sort of portal to Outside that most Insiders believe will be found someday. Trella isn’t a believer in Gateway, but Cogon is, and his belief convinces her to take on a task that will lead to an even greater, yet exceedingly dangerous, journey. The path she takes could lead to redemption for the scrubs, or utter destruction of all she’s ever known.

Inside Out is an interesting, complex sci-fi story with a world similar, but unique from, many other future worlds. Trella is a complex character that you’ll simultaneously love, but occasionally be annoyed by. For me, I find that a great skill in an author–it’s easy to make characters that you’ll love or hate, but not always so easy to make characters that are realistic, with the qualities of a real human being (despite being in a completely “other” world). Inside Out will make you laugh and make you feel. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Digital ARC received from publisher via NetGalley