Don’t be deceived by the cover (Maureen Johnson’s Girl at Sea)

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

I enjoyed reading this book so much that I signed up to receive newsletters from Maureen Johnson’s blog.  This is a fanastic story – adventure, mystery and romance.  I”ll write more later.  Definitely recommended.

Fun reads, nothing too serious

In September, the library’s shipment of new books arrived, so of course, I had to pick up a few to read.  The books that I read were just for fun, nothing too serious.  I’m actually glad that I read them because at the time, I didn’t want to deal with anything too deep or involved.  I have been enjoying a nice break from the drama-ridden teen books that my students love.  I read these books:

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (This is like Gossip Girls in the late 1800’s.  I am looking forward to reading the next one.)

Airhead by Meg Cabot (This story is about a tomboy whose brain is transferred into the body of a top model)

Oh.My.Goth by Gena Showalter( A goth girl is transported to an alternate world)

Oh.My.God by Teraan Lynn Childs (This is basically a greek myth-teen drama story)

Smallville

My favorite love/hate show is Smallville and it is back for another season.   Just wondering, how many people watch Smallville, have watched it or even read the books?  Every time I say I am going stop watching it, I don’t.  I even read a few of the show’s inspired books. What can I say, I like fantasy.  Just recently, I bought Elliot Maggin’s The Last Son of Krypton although I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.  

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

  Yes, I finally have a copy of Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn in hand.  I began reading it on Sunday night and had to put it down.  I stopped because I couldn’t continue.  I have to emphasize that I do not nor ever liked the character of Bella (read my review of Eclipse).  So far, Bella has not shown any growth whatsoever…she  is looked upon as a princess who can do no wrong.  Although, it will be a struggle, I’m going to continue with it. Look for my review shortly.

Nick & Norah’s Playlist (Coming to a theatre near you)

It opens on Oct. 3. Yippee!  I am NOT looking forward to this implausible story of teens that enjoy drinking, partying and doing other ridiculous things.   Anyway, I doubt that the movie will be better than the book. As I said before, I did not enjoy the story much, so I am going to skip this movie.  However, I will be going to the movies this weekend to see Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys. Now, that is a movie worth seeing.  Later, I will share my thoughts about it. Peace.

Nick and Norah’s Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Last weekend, I read Nick and Norah Playlist and I was not thrilled by it. The story starts when Nick who only recently broken up with his girlfriend asks Norah to be his “pretend” girlfriend for five minutes. They share a kiss in front of his ex-girlfriend and so begins their one night adventure in New York City. Because I heard so many good reviews, I was expecting more. The story was too contrived…too many chance meetings. Although I did not enjoy it, I am sure others will. 

Slam by Nick Hornsby

Publisher’s Summary: At the age of fifteen, Sam Jones’s girlfriend gets pregnant and Sam’s life of skateboarding and daydreaming about Tony Hawk changes drastically.  So far, this book is great.  Sam, the progantist is quite lovable…I’ll let you know more soon. Well, I finished it a while ago, it was okay but nothing to write home about. 

 

 

 

Head Case by Sarah Aronson

The story begins with seventeen-year-old Frank Marder lying in a bed, undergoing a physical exam at a rehabilitation center after a car accident. This accident has left him paralyzed from the neck down. He cannot do anything by himself and it is his fault. While drunk driving he killed two people, including his girlfriend. Now, he has to live with the repercussions of that tragic night. What is most impressive about Aronson’s writing is the way she shows Frank’s personality and frustrations as he learns how to cope with his disability and the people around him. Head case focuses on an important topic without being overly preachy. If you like this book then you will like Susan Vaught’s Trigger and Terry Trueman’s Stuck in Neutral.

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi

Rucker Park Setup by Paul VolponiBest friends, Mackey and J.R. love playing basketball and their goal is to play in the NBA but first they have to get into a good college. They play for a local basketball team at Rucker Park, a famous basketball court in Harlem, NYC. While playing in an important basketball game, J.R. is murdered and Mackey seen it all but refuses to tell anyone about what happened on that fateful day on the court. Generally, I am not into sports fiction however, I really enjoyed this one. The play-by-play made me feel like I was actually there during the basketball games. Although some violence is included, it is not descriptive or graphic and should be appropriate for students in grades 8 and above.  If you like this, then you will Walter Dean Myer’s Slam.

 

Shooter by Walter Dean Myers

Shooter is a tragic and compelling story about a shooting at a suburban high school that occurs because of bullying. The perpetrator’s best friend, Cameron, an affluent African-American teen, tells the story. As the story begins, Cameron is center in the police investigation but as the story progresses, the shocking truth is revealed through a variety of documents: first-person accounts, police reports, doctor notes, and a handwritten diary. This story challenges its readers to think about how they handle and react to difficult situations. Because of its subject matter and structure, Shooter will definitely find an audience among reluctant readers and mental health professionals. Because this book contains some elements of violence, self-afflicted and towards animals, this book is most suitable for mature readers. If you like this book, then check out Todd Strasser’s Give a boy a gun and Frances Prose’s After.