keri's books on Books I Am Reading

84.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott - 2 year ago A-

Well that was pretty much the most depressing book ever. Sort of like Boy Toy but for kidnapped children. It was extremely well written and extremely moving. This is far from Elizabeth Scott's other works tonally, and while I think I enjoyed reading the other ones more this is certainly her most powerful book.

83.

I Know It's Over by C. K. Kelly Martin - 2 year ago A

This is a teenage pregnancy book but it isn't a cookie cutter presentation of it. I thought that the characters were both well drawn and liked how there was still an emotional connection between them after their breakup. There is more honesty about what it's like to be a teenager in this book than in most of the books I read. I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

82.

The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman - 2 year ago B

I do love Gordon Korman, but this one doesn't completely work for me. While I really liked two of the three characters, it felt like the hijinks they got into were contrivances rather than based on character motivations. Even in his silliest books, Korman usually makes the characters drive the action of the story and this was all reaction. I'm a little disappointed, especially after Swindle which was quite cute. I don't think this was the best foray into serious books.

81.

Wake by Lisa McMann - 2 year ago B+

I picked this one up for bookeval and will surprisingly continue to read the next one, which I expect will have a bit more plot and less setup.

80.

How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler - 2 year ago B

I wouldn't have read this if it weren't for bookeval but it does go slightly beyond the normal teenage popularity cliches.

79.

Imaginary Enemy by Julie Gonzalez - 2 year ago B-

I loved the ending, but wish the rest of the book were more like that.

78.

Play Me by Laura Ruby - 2 year ago B

While I was reading this, I enjoyed it a lot, but ten days later, I had to reread the plot summary to remember what it was about. Ouch. I did enjoy the main character and his quest to be a famous producer. I hated the parrot (so annoying). This wasn't as good as Good Girls but I'll be sure to keep reading Laura Ruby's books.

77.

Hero-Type by Barry Lyga - 2 year ago B+

I got to see Barry Lyga speak at YA Boot Camp a few days before reading this. It was very enjoyable though I agree with his critics that it is a bit more didactic than I'd like (but more in a Little Brother by Cory Doctorow way and not in a morality tale way). I thought the main character was unique but a lot of his friends were underdrawn. Overall, this was about as good as Fanboy and Gothgirl but not as good as Boy Toy.

76.

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr - 2 year ago C+

I found this book to be less interesting than Wicked Lovely which I was surprised to enjoy. The characters overall in this story were flatter, particularly Irial and Leslie. It seems like the story was very similar to Wicked Lovely with minor changes. Just not unique enough unfortunately.

75.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger - 2 year ago A

I love, love, love, love, love this book. I read Last Days of Summer two years ago, and was surprised to love that one. (I’m a baseball fan and everything but didn’t expect the depth of character from a novel written in notes and letters). This one even surpassed that. Some of the plotlines were fairly predictable, but the characters were so lovely I couldn’t wait to see them. I love books about smart, funny teens who actually care about the world and the people around them and aren’t just concerned with superficial things. Even the adults in this book are fun, and I love how they get involved in the schemes of the teens. If your name isn’t Steve Kluger or Jaclyn Moriarty, please do not write epistolary novels. You cannot live up to this.

74.

Magic Lessons (Magic Or Madness) by Justine Larbalestier - 2 years ago B

Less interesting than the first one. I still like the characters but find the mythology to be a bit lacking. B

73.

Playing with Matches by Brian Katcher - 2 years ago B+

I didn’t see anything super unique about this book, but I really admire just how flawed the author made the main character. He does wonderful things and horrible things and is completely believable. There was a lot of humor in this. I don’t love the cover but hope teens pick this one up.

72.

The Summer of Naked Swim Parties: A Novel (P.S.) by Jessica Anya Blau - 2 years ago B+

This was reviewed in VOYA, but was published by an adult publisher and really reads like an adult novel rather than a YA novel in spite of the 14 year old protagonist. I'm not sure if it's just the 70s setting that makes me feel that way or not. The story was unique and I really cared about Jamie and what happened to her that summer. B+

71.

Girl, Hero by Carrie Jones - 2 years ago A

This book was excellent. Definitely Carrie Jones's best book. I loved the characters and even though it sometimes seemed a bit like it was trying too hard, everything really came together in the end.

70.

Chiggers by Hope Larson - 2 years ago B

This graphic novel was super cute, but the narrative wasn't perfect. I didn't like that in the beginning I didn't know who anyone was and just how jumpy the cuts between scenes were. I love camp stories though and the overall arc was very lovely. I particularly liked the inclusion of the rules of Egyptian Rat Screw, although I think my friends and I might have played it with different rules.

69.

Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb - 2 years ago A

I meant to read this book when it first came out but never got around to it. After reading Rabb's article on YA in the NY Times, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. This was a lovely look at grieving and life after death that wasn't schmaltzy or sentimental at all. Very honest and quite lovely.

68.

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert - 2 years ago A-

This is the book Girl by Blake Nelson wanted to be. This book combined high energy and lovely prose. You wanted to be the main character even through her troubles. I don't think the mom part of the story was as successful and think her journey to find her mother should have been a larger part of the book, but overall I loved the setting, the music and the strong lead who isn't afraid to make mistakes.

67.

The Astonishing Advneture of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga - 2 years ago B+

This is the second time I've read this in one year, since it was a Speak Out book. The discussion for this was good, but I have to say I liked Boy Toy a lot better than this one. I can't wait to read Barry Lyga's fall book and meet him at YA Boot Camp 2.0.

66.

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman - 2 years ago A-

While it's not quite Losing Joe's Place or Son of the Mob, this is another hysterical book by Gordon Korman. The teens in our book club thought this one was really funny. I loved the plot and thought that a lot of the character choices were unique, although I didn't like that it took Melinda's lack of hair dye and goth makeup to make Leo notice her.

65.

Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier - 2 years ago A-

Two fantasy books in one week is a lot for me, but Magic or Madness was just fantastic. Justine Larbalestier is one of the few YA authors whose blog I read even though I hadn't read any of her books (everyone kept linking to her amazing posts, so I thought, why not?) I also have the sequel to this in my hands. Nice premise and nice easy world building. Hoping to see more complex characterizations in the sequels.

64.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - 2 years ago B+

Melissa Marr contact me after I posted on a listserv asking for discussion questions and offered to set up a discussion between our teens and her and sent some cool stuff. That just proves she's awesome. She's also a very talented writer considering she convinced me - a non-fantasy reader - to read the sequel to this, even though I wouldn't have read the first one if it weren't for my book club. I loved Seth and even though I liked the human elements more than the fantasy I enjoyed this story.

63.

All We Know of Heaven: A Novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard - 2 years ago A-

This was a really thought provoking and well written book based on a true story. This is another book that might have worked better from more viewpoints, but even so, was successfully focused on the human elements of a tragedy. This is what teens who like Lurlene McDaniels should be reading instead.

62.

Black And White by Paul Volponi - 2 years ago A-

I love this book and decided to use this as a Speak Out book since I know it would be a great discussion book. This is the easiest book to booktalk in the world, especially in an urban, multiracial setting as someone will inevitably yell out "It's the black kid who gets arrested, right?" and then every teen wants to read the book. It's interesting to root for teens who have screwed up so badly, and was especially interesting to contrast these boys with Tyrell. They had so much to lose.

61.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott - 2 years ago B+

I really enjoyed Perfect You and when Elizabeth Scott offered copies on YALSA-BK, I jumped at the chance to get this for my library. Like Perfect You, this book has a unique situation that makes it stand out from other YA books. Dani and her mother are thieves, who move from town to town stealing silver. The characters aren't quite as unique a in Perfect You, but the story hangs together better. I would definitely recommend reading this.

60.

Tyrell by Coe Booth - 2 years ago A-

I can't believe it took me this long to get around to reading this book. I couldn't help but compare Tyrell to the kids on the Wire and how your circumstances make it so difficult to succeed. I loved Tyrell and hated his mother with a passion. This is gritty and lovely all rolled up into one. It made for a great Speak Out discussion.

59.

Awkward and Definition: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag by Ariel Schrag - 2 years ago B

I first heard about this book on The Sound of Young America which I don’t typically listen to but Stefan likes it so it was on and I was very impressed with the interview. I didn’t think these were the best graphic novels (two books were published in one volume) but as the story went on both the writing and the art grew stronger. The chapters are random at times and some incidents which probably seemed very important in high school don’t really hold up as well (most of the concerts are interchangeable and while I’m only about a year younger than Schrag and listened to a lot of the same music, if you weren’t there they aren’t very interesting.) I am looking forward to Potential which even my library owns, as I expect the story and art will only continue to get better.

58.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - 2 years ago A

In addition to being a huge internet geek (like me), my husband is a huge fan of Cory Doctorow’s adult books. Once he found out that Little Brother was a YA book he was really excited and talked about it non-stop. He actually got an ARC from someone at Tor but we never got it back from Paul (our sci-fi reading friend) so I got the library’s copy. It was not a disappointment even for me, a devoted realistic fiction fan. I was a bit hesitant on page one when he felt the need to explain what w1n5t0n meant, but quickly the talking down stopped and I was swept away in the story despite the occasional technical explanation. I liked the main romantic relationship and was really caught up in how close this story could be to reality. I haven’t read any of his adult books, but he has no problem adjusting to writing for YAs and his attitude toward it is really great.

57.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - 2 years ago A

This one is a reread, since it’s a book for Speak Out this summer. Although our one participant hadn’t read the book and Marilyn and I haven’t had a chance to discuss it between ourselves, I am glad I got a chance to read this again. It was the first Sarah Dessen book I ever read, and I immediately followed it by reading This Lullaby and The Truth about Forever. The only thing wrong with this book is that the bands are fake. I know using real music artists can date books, but let’s face it, the bands Owen would listen to are not one hit wonders (more like, no hits but lots of devoted underground listeners.) I wish it was easier to booktalk this one though; unless you compare it to Speak (which seemed to work at the high school), it doesn’t have a hook; it’s just a quiet and lovely story about sisters and friendship.

56.

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Queen of Babble) by Meg Cabot - 2 years ago B+

I think Meg Cabot is stronger when writing for an adult audience. Even though her characters can be naive and a bit clueless, I don’t ever want to beat them over the head with a stick like some of her YA characters (Hi Mia Thermopolis from the last four or so Princess Diaries Books). Lizzie’s prince never stood a chance, which was a bit obvious given his complete lack of screen time, but the journey to the end was a fun romp and I loved Lizzie’s success at her work. Now if only Meg would write another one in the All-American Girl/Ready or Not series, which are the ones I love the best.

55.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson - 2 years ago A-

At the BCCLS Mock Printz meeting I had to cover my ears not to be spoiled but I know this is a favorite among them to win the Printz this year. I would say it’s definitely a contender, but it wasn’t a perfect book. I loved the premise and thought that the interactions between all of the characters were great. I didn’t love the poetry interludes and almost think the book would have worked better as a Jodi Picoult-esque novel where Jenna, the mother, the grandmother, Ethan, Allys…even Dane who I never really thought we got enough of to be important. Mary Pearson’s writing is lovely though. I loved A Room on Lorelai Street and definitely pick up her next book.

54.

Crimes of the Sarahs by Kristen Tracy - 2 years ago C+

Although this is probably the most intriguing premise for a book I have read in a long time, it fell a bit short of expectations. Four girls named Sarah are in a girl gang who go around causing trouble (usually through theft). Sarah A has all of the power in the group and Sarah T (the narrator) is feeling the pressure to keep her spot in the group. Unfortunately, in spite of the interesting setup, Sarah B and Sarah C are virtually indistinguishable, plots about family mental illness seem out of place, and the point where the book begins is far after the heyday of the Sarahs which would have been much more interesting. Cool cover though. I bet teens will like it.

53.

Lucky by Rachel Vail - 2 years ago B+

I saw Rachel Vail read from If We Kiss in 2005 and immediately ran to the book table and bought it. She gave such a funny reading that I knew I would love. I still think that one is her strongest book, but I also enjoyed Lucky. The reason it stood out is not for the characters or the plot which were fairly standard but because Rachel Vail is so effective in writing from the perspective of an eighth grader. There is no adult voice creeping in. The best example of this is the way the girls discuss the boys they dated in sixth grades. Adults think of sixth grade boyfriends and roll their eyes. To these girls, it was a big deal and at that age, it should be a big deal. Middle school girls will love this book and feel like this really is their world. B

52.

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson - 2 years ago B+

Although I have to grumble a bit about the preciousness of calling your protagonist Clio, I loved this book. Maureen Johnson has a gift in crafting interesting characters and stories. The Bermudez Triangle, 13 Little Blue Envelopes and The Key to the Golden Firebird took very familiar teen characters and put them in unique situations. Girl at Sea (like Suite Scarlett) has more in the way of unique characters which I appreciate, in addition to its odd setting. I loved the relationship with the Dad, her friendship with Elsa and the way she interacted with Aidan. The manga artist tattoo was a crazy and lovely touch. B

51.

A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt - 2 years ago A

After I finished reading this, I was even more angry than I was when this book first came out at whoever designed the original hardcover for this book which was horrible. The paperback one is much more attractive but doesn't necessarily bring out the teens in droves. I remember reading the reviews for this and sort of being intrigued but the cover totally put me off. I probably never would have gone back to it if Carlie hadn't selected it as one of our Speak Out! books for this year. I am so glad I did. This is a truly special book. It has all the makings of a problem novel in its premise, but deftly sidesteps all cliches and sentimentality. You grow to love the main character and the people in her life quickly. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes realistic teen novels. A

50.

Almost Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - 2 years ago B+

I can't objectively review the Alice books. I've been reading Alice since I was twelve and now spend each year eagerly waiting for the new book to be released. This one was stronger than some of the other books later in the series, but wasn't one of the best. I did like Patrick's role in the book and that Elizabeth came out of her shell a bit. I didn't love Pamela's storyline and thought that Alice, Liz and Pamela would have spent a lot more time discussing this from the beginning. I'm glad Phyllis Reynolds Naylor didn't go the cliche route with prom night even though I was expecting it. B

49.

Airhead by Meg Cabot - 2 years ago C+

I thought this book was interesting overall but poorly constructed and edited. I can completely buy the outlandish premise of the book, but everything seemed very cookie cutter in the beginning. I don't buy Christopher as a love interest because the character told me about him but I don't really even see him until a scene at the end. Worse than that is that this book is entirely setup. There is no real plot arc, just exposition to set you up for the next part of the story. I think the book needed to be a lot longer, but edited more carefully to give us more of a character arc for the main character and some of the supporting characters. I love many of Meg Cabot's books but this one didn't quite work as a standalone. I will read the next one in the series, since I expect there will be plot development beyond the initial premise. C

48.

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart - 2 years ago B

E. Lockhart is one of my favorite ya authors and I've read both Mlynowski and Myracle before and enjoyed their books. This one was...good...but nothing really special. I liked that the characters worked at Waffle House and that class issues were brought up. I also liked that the Christian girl was well rounded if somewhat irritating. I didn't find Mel's love interest to be all that interesting however. An okay story surrounding by solid writing and characters. B

47.

Footfree and Fancyloose by Elizabeth Craft - 2 years ago A-

I was really in love with Bass Ackwards and Belly Up when I read it last year, but in the meantime I had forgotten a lot of what had happened. It took a little while for me to get caught up but once that happened this book hooked me just as much. I love that though the books have a similar feel to the Sisterhood of the Traveling pants and other books of that ilk, the characters really stand out. They make interesting choices and even their love interests are fairly well developed and unique. It felt very finished at the end of the story as the Year of Dreams comes to a close but we can always hope for a trilogy. A-

46.

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli - 2 years ago B+

I'm of two minds about this book. It was very cute and the characters were likeable. However, there seemed to be both very little plot and very little character resolution. Gorgeous prose, but sometimes feels a bit anachronistic. What was up with Mi-Su and BT in the beginning anyway? B

45.

Peeled by Joan Bauer - 2 years ago

Joan Bauer is awesome. She's the master of the quiet book, strong female characters, and total sweetness. A-

44.

Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan - 2 years ago

This one started out slow for me and seemed a bit too calculated in the beginning. As the story went on, I was gripped by the character and really rooting for him. I thought the resolution of his brother's plotline was both fitting and heartbreaking. A-

43.

Hello Groin by Beth Goobie - 2 years ago

I really liked this one! Extremely well written and honest. I'm surprised Orca published it because it isn't really a book for reluctant readers like most of Goobie's previous books, but it was really excellent. A-

42.

Not Like You by Deborah Davis - 2 years ago

This one really grew on me. I liked the supporting characters a lot and thought the mom was a much more interesting alcoholic character than in most books. B+

41.

Dream Factory by Brad Barkley - 2 years ago

Great premise but fell just short of being great. Ella is more developed than Luke. B

40.

Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape) by Carrie Jones - 2 years ago

I liked this one a lot. Very honest. A great continuation of the first book. I would have liked to see some of the issues brought a conclusion a bit before the final pages though. A-

39.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson - 2 years ago

This one took me a little while to get into but quickly hooked me. I liked the family dynamic a lot as well as the hints of romance. I'm glad there will be sequels to this one. B+

38.

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott and Lisa Fyfe - 2 years ago

Great cover and great book. I loved the premise and thought the Dad was a great character. My only quibbles were that the realizations that Kate makes regarding her father, Will and Anna take way too long to be credible. It's clear to the reader exactly what these characters are doing right and wrong from the very beginning. Kate's lack of self-awareness doesn't quite work for the length of the book. I liked the characters though and will read other books by Elizabeth Scott. B+

37.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway - 2 years ago

This was an excellent, high energy read. I loved the tone of the book, the quick chapters, and the plotline. Some characters, particularly James, could have been fleshed out more, but overall a great book. I love the cover. B+

36.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen - 2 years ago

Another solid work by Sarah Dessen. I was totally won over by Ruby and really liked how realistic her relationship with Cora was. I wouldn't have minded spending more time with Nate. Great characters! A

35.

Certain Girls: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner - 2 years ago

Another excellent one by Jennifer Weiner. At first I thought the daughter's voice wasn't quite accurate, especially considered to most YA books but the character grew on me. The end was shocking and I cried like crazy. Hope there's a follow up but I'll read anything she writes. A

34.

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson - 2 years ago

I definitely wouldn't have picked this up if not for bookeval. It was okay. I don't typically like romance novels and this one wasn't the greatest. I never understood why the characters would fall in love at any point. The setting was fairly interesting and I liked how many tough, smart women were in this novel. B

33.

PrettyTOUGH by Liz Tigelaar - 2 years ago

I read it for book eval but found it to be highly enjoyable. Will definitely attract teen readers. B+

32.

Foreign Exposure: The Social Climber Abroad by Lauren Mechling - 2 years ago

I only read this for book eval and haven't read the two preceding books so I am probably not a good judge of this book. There was no way in for a new reader, and lots of mentions of friends who don't appear in this book. The pacing was odd with lots of little two page scenes that don't add anything to the story and then the character jumps to another event or person. I have no interest in going back to the other books. C

31.

Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN by Susanne Daniels - 2 years ago

I love WB shows (and Veronica Mars!) and was hoping for a lot more detail on the shows. This was really about the business end and focused very little on the creative. Fairly interesting though. B

30.

Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?: An Easy Plan for Losing Weight and Living More by Peter Walsh - 2 years ago

It makes sense but it wasn't like I really learned anything new. B-

29.

Converting Kate by Beckie Weinheimer - 2 years ago

I read this for Book Eval although this is the only one I would have picked up on my own. A realistic portrait of teenage life particularly concerning religion. The characters were all well-developed. B+

28.

Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The by E. Lockhart - 2 years ago

E. Lockhart can do no wrong. Super strong. Loved the narrative distance. Loved the relationship between the narrator and boyfriend - rarely is a relationship portrayed as realistically flawed throughout an entire book. A picture perfect resolution. Printz committee take notice. A

27.

You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn - 2 years ago

This is really a departure for Rachel Cohn, and a strong one, although it was a bit bleak. Almost reminded me of a Laura Weiss book, but stronger in the writing department. A-

26.

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan - 2 years ago

I read this book for Book Eval. This book truly surprised me. It started out very light and fluffy but really became very moving. I thought the DeHead boys were excellent, particularly Raven and was glad that the protagonist's transformation wasn't too quick. B

25.

How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison - 2 years ago

I only read this because of Book Eval and unfortunately it wasn't really better than I expected. I think the main character had promise in the beggining but every other character was totally flat and the premise was boring. D

24.

Change of Heart: A Novel by Jodi Picoult - 2 years ago

I thought the plot was unique and interesting and liked the resolution but I thought the writing was weaker than usual. A-

23.

Swindle by Gordon Korman - 2 years ago

Really cute. Not laugh out loud funny like old Gordon Korman, but really a great well written story. Reminds me of my book in tone. A-

22.

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger - 2 years ago

It was interesting to read the background the book provided. I was surprised that the show is really not based on the book but more inspired by it. B

21.

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti - 3 years ago

Solid read. A tiny bit overwritten but mostly rather lyrical. Great characters. I will read more by Deb Caletti. A-

20.

The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson - 3 years ago

Strong though I think the point of view was odd at times. A-

19.

A-List #8, The: Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel (A-List) by Zoey Dean - 3 years ago

Not the strongest in the series but a fun read. B

18.

Degrassi Extra Credit #3: Missing You (Degrassi Extra Credit) by J. Torres - 3 years ago

More of the same. B

17.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga - 3 years ago

I liked it a lot more than Diana did, but not as much as Boy Toy. B

16.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr - 3 years ago

Nothing special but better than most of the books like it. B

15.

First Kiss (Then Tell): A Collection of True Lip-Locked Moments by Cylin Busby - 3 years ago

Quick fast reading. Uneven but generally good. Sure to be popular with teens. B

14.

Not Buying It by Judith Levine - 3 years ago

Less interesting than expected but a cool concept. B

13.

Leftovers by Laura Wiess - 3 years ago

Such a Pretty Girl was unique but this appears to be a dark girl retread book. I'm glad I bought it for the library but also glad I saved my own money on it. A little too bleak to be believeable. C

12.

The Second Virginity of Suzy Green by Sara Hantz - 3 years ago

It was pretty good although predictable. B+

11.

Suddenly Last Summer: Degrassi Extra Credit #2 (Degrassi: The Next Generation) by J. Torres - 3 years ago

Ashley looks awful, but I liked the Emma storyline more than the Emma storylines in the show as of late. B

10.

My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson - 3 years ago

There was something about this book that was really solid but I can't put my finger on it. I really liked the plot and characters particularly Sarah. It's totally different than any other teen book about pregnancy. A-

9.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron - 3 years ago

I know a lot of people liked this book but I just didn't get it. Personally, it was a C but since it was well written and just my fault I didn't get it I'll give it a B.

8.

Turning Japanese: Degrassi Extra Credit #1 (Degrassi: The Next Generation) by J. Torres - 3 years ago

This was cute enough to keep reading the books. Some of the characters don't really look like themselves. B+

7.

Stage Fright (An Apple Paperback) by Ann M. Martin - 3 years ago

This was a reread of a book I had read long ago. It holds up fairly well and as I was reading I could really remember my prior reading as an actual child. I don't know that I would have had the same response if I hadn't read it as a kid. The cover of the particular copy I read is terrible but I think the paperback was reprinted quite some time ago with a better cover. A-

6.

Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson - 3 years ago

This was quite good. Unique storyline. Had to push throw the early flashbacks but a great story and for once a YA male love interest who has a personality. A-

5.

The Princess Diaries, Volume IX: Princess Mia (Princess Diaries) by Meg Cabot - 3 years ago

Better than the last one but I'm glad this series will be ending. Mia is the most oblivious person ever. I know J.P. liked her during the last book. I'm glad there was no easy resolution between her and Lilly. B

4.

Other People's Property: A Shadow History of Hip-Hop in White America by Jason Tanz - 3 years ago

I think I'm done reading books about Hip Hop. B

3.

Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah - 3 years ago

This was pretty good. It was a little one note in the beginning and as an outsider the elimination of romance as a possibility is hard to believe but it was very convincing, funny and illuminating. A-

2.

Click by Scholastic Inc. - 3 years ago

I don't know. It was kind of uneven. There were some stories I didn't quite care about and while I liked the photos and the shells, Maggie's character was pretty annoying. B-

1.

Girl by Blake Nelson - 3 years ago

Eh. It was originally published for adults and I can see why at the time. I think stream of consciousness is kind of annoying over the course of a whole novel. I also can tell it was written by a guy. B-

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