July 13, 2010 7:34 PM
RECENT RELEASE: Beautiful Malice
Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James, released earlier this month, is one of
the books that everyone seems to be talking about. And to be honest, I can't
wait to read it either. A thriller aimed at young adults and older, Beautiful
Malice tells the story of Katherine, who is desperate to forget her tragic
past. Until Alice comes along...http://www.rebeccajamesbooks.com/
Posted by Elle Symonds on July 13, 2010 in New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 28, 2010 9:57 PM
YA RELEASE: What's Your St@tus?
Here's another one for the YA fans! We loved Keris Stainton's debut Della Says: OMG! and this summer will see another upcoming read hit the shelves that focuses on social networking. Katie Finn, author of teen novel Top 8, is back with the sequel, What's Your St@tus? which is due for release in July. Here's the synopsis:Madison still loves logging on to Friendverse to see what her BFFs and her cute new boyfriend Nate are up to.
But the latest social networking craze is Status Q, which is all about rapid-fire status updates. When one of Mad's friends has to pull off a high-pressure heist, the gang relies on Status Q to send coded messages to each other...all in the middle of a school dance!
What's YOUR status? How about O...M...G.
Click here to view Katie Finn's website.
Posted by Elle Symonds on June 28, 2010 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 24, 2010 6:20 PM
THURSDAY PICK: Fallen Grace
Here's another YA addition to the new Thursday list. Fallen Grace by Mary Hopper was released early this month and looks very promising. In the book, Mary takes us back in time for a thrilling tale set in the Victorian era. Want to know more about the book? Then read on for the synopsis. Also, you can check out the first chapter over at Bloomsbury.Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in a rich lady's coffin. Following the advice of a kindly midwife, this is the only way that Grace can think of to give something at least to the little baby who died at birth, and to avoid the ignominy of a pauper's grave. Distraught and weeping, Grace meets two people at the cemetery: Mrs Emmeline Unwin and Mr James Solent. These two characters will have a profound affect upon Grace's life. But Grace doesn't know that yet.
For now, she has to suppress her grief and get on with the business of living: scraping together enough pennies selling watercress for rent and food; looking after her older sister, who is incapable of caring for herself; thwarting the manipulative and conscience-free Unwin family, who are as capable of running a lucrative funeral business as they are of defrauding a young woman of her fortune. A stunning evocation of life in Victorian London, with vivid and accurate depictions, ranging from the deprivation that the truly poor suffered to the unthinking luxuries enjoyed by the rich: all bound up with a pacy and thrilling plot, as Grace races to unravel the fraud about to be perpetrated against her and her sister.
Posted by Elle Symonds on June 24, 2010 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 17, 2010 11:07 AM
THURSDAY PICK: My So-Called Afterlife
With paranormal fiction currently dominating the Young Adult sections of bookstores everywhere, it's refreshing to come across a book that's not reminiscent of the vampire trend. My So-Called Afterlife, which was released in February, is the debut novel by Tamsyn Murray, and tells the story of fifteen-year-old ghost Lucy Shaw. The book is said to be hilarious, so we can't wait to read it! Here's the blurb...
I knew it was time to move on when a tramp peed on my Uggs..." Meet Lucy Shaw. She's not your average fifteen year old - for a start, she's dead. And as if being a ghost wasn't bad enough, she's also trapped haunting the men's toilets on Carnaby Street. So when a lighting engineer called Jeremy walks in and she realises he can see and hear her, she isn't about to let him walk out of her afterlife. Not least until he's updated her on what's happening in her beloved soaps. With Jeremy's help, Lucy escapes the toilet and is soon meeting up with other ghosts, including the perpetually enraged Hep and the snogtastic Ryan. But when Jeremy suggests Lucy track down the man who murdered her, things go down hill. Can Lucy face up to the events of that terrible night? And what will it cost her if she does?
A wonderful debut novel which, as well as being laugh-out-loud funny, is full of insights, compassion, and love
.Click here to check out Tamsyn's website.
Posted by Elle Symonds on June 17, 2010 in Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 1, 2010 2:41 AM
BOOK (AND MOVIE!) NEWS: The Duff
Kody Keplinger's upcoming YA novel The Duff (standing for Designated Ugly Fat Friend) is set to be adapted into a movie. The book is due for release in September 2010 and follows the life of seventeen-year-old Bianca who believes she's the 'ugly friend'.According to ComingSoon, the rights have been optioned by McG, and will be produced by Wonderland Sound & Vision. Read on for the blurb...
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
Click here to visit Kody Keplinger's website.
Posted by Elle Symonds on June 1, 2010 in Book News, Movie News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 4, 2010 11:41 PM
COMING SOON: Della Says: OMG!
I just can't WAIT to read Keris Stainton's debut novel (admittedly I love YA fiction too) and we won't have to wait THAT much longer. Della Says: OMG! is due for release on 6 May by Orchard.For those new to the site, Keris was previously editor of Trashionista. She's also written a number of articles and blogs over at Five Minutes Peace. You can find out ore about Keris at her website.
Here's the synopsis of Della Says - this looks fantastic!
Della's over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party - but then she discovers her diary has disappeared...
When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della's distraught - how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?
You can read an excerpt of Della over here.
Posted by Elle Symonds on March 4, 2010 in Book Extract, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
February 11, 2010 8:14 PM
NEWS: Katie Davies wins Waterstones prize
Katie Davies has scooped the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, with her novel The Great Hamster Massacre. The book, which is Katie's debut, is published by Simon & Schuster and gained first place over nine other books including Pat Walsh's The Crowfield Curse and Lucy Christopher's Flyaway.Katy will recieve not only a £5,000 cash prize, but also an ongoing commitment to her writing career from Waterstones nationwide.
According to The Bookseller, Sarah Clarke, Waterstones children's buying manager, said: "The Great Hamster Massacre is a wonderful book and an exciting winner, particularly as this is the first time in the history of the prize that a book written for a younger audience has won. This was the closest competition we've ever had, but in the end Katie Davies' brilliant execution in telling her sweet and funny story won the judges over."
To read the full article, click here.
Posted by Elle Symonds on February 11, 2010 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 23, 2009 9:04 PM
BOOK NEWS: Tangled
The latest novel from YA author Carolyn Mackler will be released at the end of this month. Tangled is out on December 29th from HarperTeen and is set to be a good read for the young adult fans among us! Here's the info...Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.
Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.
It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn't have to be a jerk just because people think he's one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise....
From confused to confident and back again, one thing's certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.
For more info about Carolyn Mackler and her books, check out her website.
Posted by Elle Symonds on November 23, 2009 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 16, 2009 5:32 PM
Stephanie Meyer 'burned out' on vampires?
We didn't think we would hear it, but Twilight novelist Stephanie Meyer has admitted she's 'a little burned out on vampires right now' and needs a break.Meyer, author of the Twilight series which has now sold more than 70m copies across the globe (the latest movie adaptation, New Moon, is released in cinemas on November 20) said on the Oprah Winfrey Show that she had no plans as yet to return to the saga of Bella and Edward. Also, she stated that her next would would most likely be a follow-up to The Host - Meyer's adult book.
Meyer said: "I have another book that's kind of been itching in the back of my brain, that's completely unrelated, totally fantasy. So fantasy it'll have a map in the front - that's always the judge, right?"
And according to the Guardian, Meyer is currently unsure of whether to return to Midnight Sun - a book which tells the Twilight story from Edward's point of view. However, the book was put on hold due to an unfinished draft being leaked online. Said Meyer: "I need to feel alone with something to be able to write it and I do not feel alone with that manuscript at this point. So many people have chimed in on it. I'm over the shock of it but not over the feeling that everyone's involved now, and it doesn't feel like mine so much anymore. I 'm hoping that with a little time, time to write something else, get my head out of it for a while ... it's so clear in my head, I'd like to go back to it."
Posted by Elle Symonds on November 16, 2009 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 28, 2009 8:18 PM
NEW RELEASE: Deadly Little Lies
Deadly Little Lies, the next novel by Laurie Faria Stolarz, was released last week. The young adult book, the second in the Touch series (the first being Deadly Little Secret), focuses on teenager Camilla and her relationship with new boy Ben, who has some particularly special abilities. Here's the blurb...Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift--pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?
Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.
But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past--and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late.
I can't wait to read this one. (The cover is beautiful, too!)
Posted by Elle Symonds on October 28, 2009 in New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 22, 2009 12:08 AM
BOOK NEWS: Princess for Hire
It's been a while since we've featured
any YA titles, and this one definitely deserves a mention. Princess for Hire by
Lindsey Leavitt is due to be released in March 2010. (Admittedly, I love YA and will definitely be reading this one!)When an immaculately dressed woman
steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you'd like to become a
substitute princess, do you
a) run
b) faint
c) say Yes!
For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing
for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C--that is,
once she can stop pinching herself. As
her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she
applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal Rouge," she can transform
temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing
services. Dream come true, right?
Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing
involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do
you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when
the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't
know? Or when a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things
off--and you know she would want you to change his mind?
In this hilarious, winning debut, one
girl's dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a
positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.
For more information about Lindsey and
Princess for Hire, check out her website.
Posted by Elle Symonds on October 22, 2009 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
February 3, 2009 12:24 PM
BOOK REVIEW: The Princess Diaries Ten Out of Ten
It has been a little while since we've heard from Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo. In the ninth book we were left wondering as Michael had gone to Japan to work on a robotic arm, Mia and JP were getting together and Genovia was about to become a democracy - thanks to Mia. Oh, and Lilly wasn't speaking to her.
Ten Out of Ten (or Forever Princess in the US) is the final installment of Mia's life. She is just about to turn eighteen, leave school and start college. But which college should she go to? Michael is back from Japan who she absolutely has no feelings for whatsoever. Why is she and Lilly still not speaking? And why doesn't anyone want to publish her book, Ransom My Heart?
I love how Meg quickly gets us up to speed with what has been happening in Mia's life through modern means of communication such as their Blackberry's. It is like Mia has never been away and although she is a lot more grown up, she is still lacking in confidence and a little naive, which is why we like her so much.
It is always worrying for the reader (and the author too, I expect!) when you bring a series of books to an end. You can get it right, which I think JK Rowling did with Harry Potter (well I thought so anyway) or you could end up disappointing fans, which I believe Stephenie Meyer did for many with the final Twilight book.
Since meeting Meg Cabot last year (yes I did!) I found her gorgeous and lovely and developed a mini crush on her. I therefore believe she can do no wrong. However even if I didn't believe that I would still say that Ten Out of Ten (Forever Princess) is a fabulous book. I don't think I exhaled at all whilst reading it. She has definitely left the best one until last.
Now I can breathe normally again.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try any Meg Cabot book. There are so many to choose from!
Posted by Helen Redfern on February 3, 2009 in New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)
January 23, 2009 12:20 PM
FRIDAY FLICK: Twilight
The film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s teen vampire romance novel, Twilight, has been out in cinemas for a while now, but I've been dragging my heels about seeing it.
I was strangely reluctant to even read Twilight (although I’ve no idea why – given that I was more than happy to follow the adventures of one boy wizard for a decade), but I’m so glad I did. The book is beautifully, dreamily written and I was instantly hooked.
You see, the real reason I was wary of the film is because I’m now reading Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the series, and I didn’t want the complex emotional world that Meyer had created in my head to be toppled by a dumbed-down, effects-laden Hollywood version.
Happily, Twilight isn’t like this at all. It begins with the teenage Bella narrating, just as she does in the book, “I had never given much thought to how I would die....”, as she leaves her scatty mother in hot, dusty Phoenix, and travels to the permanently-overcast town of Forks to live with her father.
Kristen Stewart, with her haunted good looks and wry delivery, is a pitch-perfect Bella – shy, brainy and perhaps more mature than her parents. There’s a slight cinema verité element to everything – all the dialogue and interactions feel very realistic, from Bella’s gruff reunion with her equally awkward father, to the various jolts and discomforts of starting at a new school.
But a contrasting romantic atmosphere takes over when Bella meets the pale, enigmatic Edward (again, played to perfection by Robert Pattinson) who compounds Bella’s discomfort by seeming to think that she smells bad.
But when Edward moves at impossible speed to physically stop a van from ploughing into Bella, she decides she needs to know more. Despite Edward’s warnings that Bella should stay away from him, he’s equally drawn to her.
Which is when Edward confesses that he’s a vampire – one of a family of vampires who have all taken an oath to avoid human blood. Bella falls for Edward, and you can see why. The boy can really smoulder (which I noticed despite Pattinson being several millennia my junior...).
But since Edward thirsts uniquely for Bella’s blood – “you’re like my own personal heroin supply”, he tells Bella - can it ever really be safe to love a vampire?
Twilight is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who brings her indie documentary-style realism from her previous films Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown, balancing it perfectly with the romance and suspense of the love story and supernatural aspects. And it's so refreshing to see a novel adaptation that neither ignores the plot nor hamstrings itself by following the novel too faithfully.
There are a few really nice moments - at one point, Edward catches an apple Bella has dropped in lovely reflection of the cover of Meyer's book. Also, there's a scene where he plays piano - an irrational movie pet-hate of mine is when the actor clearly can't play and is just miming, but Pattinson actually plays - in fact he composed some of the music for the film.
All in all I thought it was fantastic, and I’m excited now that Meyer’s second novel in the series, New Moon, is currently in production with both leads on board. It’s a great compliment to them that I didn’t for a minute think of Kristen Stewart as “the daughter from Panic Room” or Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory, because I’m usually such a film nerd. In fact, I even forgot Pattinson was English.
I left the cinema on a blissful cloud of gothic romance. I asked the friend I’d dragged along what she’d thought of it. She hadn’t read the book, and a lot of her motivation for accompanying me was around the sweets I’d bribed her with.
“Well,” she said. “It is really a movie for fifteen year old girls. But I loved it, because I’m a fifteen year old girl at heart. Aren’t we all?”
My thoughts exactly.
Posted by Robyn Wilder on January 23, 2009 in American Authors, Friday Flick, Movie Magic, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 25, 2008 9:49 AM
TV News: Dustbin Baby
Jaqueline Wilson's children's book, Dustbin Baby, has been made into a BBC1 family drama to be shown at Christmas time. It stars Juliet Stevenson, Dakota Blue Richards and David Haig. [via BBC Press Office]
The heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting story follows a young teenager called April whose troubled life began in a dustbin – a new-born baby, abandoned and alone, not celebrated, not wanted but discarded and left like so much rubbish in an industrial bin behind a pizza parlour.
Related posts: Jaqueline Wilson Honoured | Anthony Horowitz on "Tw*tgate" |Most Borrowed Library Books
Posted by Helen Redfern on November 25, 2008 in Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 14, 2008 10:22 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn & My Mother's Wish by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt
Reviewed by Jill Hart
Two Christmas Stories You Can Believe In
I love Christmas. I love the lights, the tree, even the hustle and
bustle. But, one of my most favorite things about Christmas is treating
myself to a cup of cocoa and a good Christmas story. Some years I'm
drawn back to the old standbys like A Christmas Carol or even How The Grinch Stole Christmas. But, this year I have two new Christmas favorites.
The first book, Engaging Father Christmas, is actually the second book in a series by Robin Jones Gunn. (The first book is Finding Father Christmas - my last year's favorite.)
Gunn's novellas are cozy. Set in London, they have everything I need for a heartwarming Christmastime read - love, intrigue and, of course, a happy ending. The books each stand alone, but my recommendation would be to read them together.
In Engaging Father Christmas, the main character, Miranda
Carson, is headed to see her boyfriend whom she met the prior
Christmas. She's unsure of exactly where they stand and running into a
old flame at the train station makes things even more complicated.
She's also in town to see her step-mother - a woman who hasn't been
able (or willing) to accept her as a true member of the family. She's
hoping this trip she'll be able to win her approval and finally have a
real family. But, a serious of events casts a doubtful shadow over
Miranda's trip and she's not sure she'll ever find a family to belong
to.
The second story is My Mother's Wish: An American Christmas Carol by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt. The US is joining the ranks of the Christmas Carol producers and this YA novella is a sweet example. Ellee, a frustrated teenage girl, just doesn't see things the way the rest of the world does. Her controlling mother won't give her a break, even refusing to refer to her as anything but Eleanor (her grandmother and namesake) and comparing her every move to that of her perfect sister.
Ellee finally gets fed up and decides that running away from home is the only way to escape her mother's disappointment in her. She gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself at the Comeback Cafe with no money, no ride and not a friend in site. Lives interwoven is the theme of this book and it's a beautiful picture of how each of us can have an effect on those around us.
Rating: 4/5
Posted by Aigua Media on November 14, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 11, 2008 11:30 AM
Ways To Live Forever Wins Prize
Sally Nicholls' debut Ways To Live Forever which Keris found moving, but also sweet, charming and funny, has been awarded the Glen Dimplex New Writers Awards 2008. [via Booktrade]
The young adult book, about a boy dying of leukaemia, was written when Sally was 23. Her second novel, Season of Secrets, will be out in April next year.
More Book News
Posted by Helen Redfern on November 11, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 6, 2008 2:02 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
I have recently felt the urge to tidy my house (I think the official word for this part of my pregnancy is "nesting"). Whilst doing so I uncovered Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, a book I meant to review ages ago. I really enjoyed it and so did my mum when I passed it onto her, but it was only when I was researching it yesterday that I discovered this was a young adult book. I am, sadly, no longer a young adult, nor is my mother, proof, if proof were needed that Elsewhere (like many a young adult book) is a book that can be universally adored.
Like Lovely Bones, this is a book about the afterlife. Liz, who was in tenth grade, has been killed in a terrible hit and run accident and wakes up to find herself on a boat, traveling to Elsewhere. Whilst coming to terms with her death, she discovers that Elsewhere is a place very similar to earth - except for one thing. Everyone gets younger.
As I have already said, I adored this book, and I read it at a time when I was coming to terms with the unexpected death of someone in my own family. Whilst Elsewhere is obviously a figment of the author's imagination, I found it sad - yes, but also uplifting and inspiring. It wasn't a difficult read, unlike Lovely Bones, but is gentle, enchanting and beautifully written.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Memoirs of a Tennage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Posted by Helen Redfern on November 6, 2008 in Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 5, 2008 11:12 AM
BOOK NEWS: Being Nikki
I LOVED Airhead, the first in Meg Cabot's, er, Airhead series.
The second, Being Nikki, isn't out until May 2009, but I thought I'd tell you about it anyway, because I'm excited. Are you? (Read more about it over the cut.)
Related posts: TV & Movie News: Meg Cabot | Meg Cabot interview
Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.
Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.
But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.
How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...
Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.
But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.
Posted by Keris on November 5, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)
October 24, 2008 9:35 AM
BOOK REVIEW: The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
Reviewed by Jill Hart
The Miracle Girls is a sweet novel about second chances. Ana Dominguez has just moved to Half Moon Bay and is doing her best to fit in to her new life. Unfortunately, Riley, the most popular girl in school, has singled Ana out for her own brand of high school torture. When Ana and Riley end up in detention together, Ana is sure things can't get any worse.
God uses this bad situation to bring Ana together with a group of girls (Riley included) who, like her, are living their second chance at life. Ana realizes that they have been brought together for a purpose, but she must now convince the other "Miracle Girls" - maybe not Riley - that their friendship is meant to be.
I really enjoyed Miracle Girls and am already looking forward to the next book in the series. This is the type of novel that is timeless, that I'll want my daughter to read when she hits her teens (or tweens). I look forward to the day when I can share my love of reading - and clean, godly books like this one - with her.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try It's All About Us by Shelley Medina
Posted by Aigua Media on October 24, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 21, 2008 10:24 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle
Yes, I know, it's not Christmas yet (not long now, though, you know!), but last week the weather was so miserable and drizzly, I just felt like I needed some Christmas cheer.
And who better to bring Christmas cheer than one of my favourite YA authors, Maureen Johnson, along with John Green and Lauren Myracle?
Let It Snow is three linked stories, all taking place in the same town during the same period - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Maureen Johnson's The Jubilee Express is about Jubilee Dougal, a girl named after a house in her parents' miniature Christmas village. When her parents are arrested trying to buy the latest (limited edition, of course) Christmas building, she finds herself on a train headed to Florida to spend Christmas with her grandparents. And when that train hits an enormous snowdrift and can go no further, she finds herself in Gracetown, subject to the hospitality of a boy she meets in the Waffle House.
The characters in John Green's A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle are desperately trying to get to that same Waffle House to spend the evening with hot cheerleaders (who are also taking refuge from the stuck train). Well, two of them are interested in the cheerleaders (the boys, JP and Tobin), the girl - Angie, known as the Duke - is more interested in cheese-covered hash browns (as was I, the entire time I was reading this story). Due to the overwhelming snow, the trip to the Waffle House takes hours and is fraught with peril (not least from the other boys trying to get to the cheerleaders first), but then things take a romantic turn...
Finally, in Lauren Myracle's The Patron Saint of Pigs, we meet Addie (who we have heard of in both the previous stories). She's recently broken up with her boyfriend, Jeb, and is broken-hearted. And yet she still has a frightening early shift at Starbucks... and a teacup piglet to collect.
I really enjoyed this book. All three stories are wintery, Christmassy, funny, gripping and romantic. I enjoyed Maureen Johnson's the most, mainly because I love her humour, and Lauren Myracle's didn't quite hold my attention (there was an awful lot of chat with Starbucks customers when I just wanted to get to the romance!), but the ending more than made up for it.
I love it when characters cross over in stories and this was done in an incredibly entertaining way. One for curling up with the fairy lights on and a cup of hot chocolate to drink.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson, Looking for Alaska by John Green or How to be Bad by Lauren Myracle (and Sarah Mlynowski and E Lockhart)
Posted by Keris on October 21, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
October 14, 2008 10:15 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman
Reviewed by Jill Hart
Maggie has struggled for years to make sense of her mother's suicide. She resents the fact that she has had to make up for her mom's absence - doing the cooking, cleaning and other "motherly" tasks. She wonders what it's like to be a normal teenager.
Then her sixteenth birthday arrives. Maggie's birthday wish is that sixteen will be a great year - that she's be pretty and popular and that her brother's best friend (whom she's had a crush on forever) will notice her.
Her birthday ushers in a whole new period in her life, but it's not quite what she expected. Her father gives her a family heirloom as a gift (just the fact that he remembered her birthday is a miracle) and announces that it's time for her to meet the 'special someone' in her life. Then she makes a discovery that will change the course of her life forever.
Maggie Come Lately covers a more serious subject matter than the usual chick lit/YA that I choose. It's a coming-of-age story of a girl who is searching for her place in the world. It's dark at times and yet there is a ribbon of faith that runs through the book and helps to put her struggle in perspective. It's a story of hurt and betrayal, but also one of redemption.
Rating: 4 of 5
Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
Posted by Aigua Media on October 14, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 6, 2008 10:55 AM
MORE ON MONDAY: Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
I'd heard a lot of good things about Sally Nicholls' Ways to Live Forever, but I was put off by the fact that it's the story of an 11-year-old boy with leukaemia. I'd tried to read Jenny Downham's Before I Die, but found it too upsetting, but I convinced myself to try Ways to Live Forever and I'm so glad I did.
Since he's being homeschooled due to his illness, Sam decides to keep “a collection of lists stories, pictures, questions and facts” as a project. Sam's voice is charming, sweet and funny and, inevitably, it's this voice, combined with the issues Sam is having to deal with that makes this book so heartbreaking.
Sam's questions are things like, “Why does God make kids get ill?” and “Does it hurt to die?” and he tries to answer them with the assistance of his fellow leukaemia sufferer and friend, Felix. The book also illuminates how his illness affects his family's relationships both with him and with each other.
It's very easy to read (in the main - some of the more painful parts are harder) and it's done with a very light touch.
Because I knew the ending was inevitable, I worried about it all through the book and was almost afraid to read it, but it's dealt with beautifully. Although that's not to say I didn't cry - clutching my mercifully healthy son - for about ten minutes after finishing it. It's incredibly moving, but also sweet, charming and funny.
Sally Nicholls was just 23 when she wrote this book. I can only imagine what she's going to come up with next.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
The cover above is the new UK cover (the book has been described as "Jodi Picoult for teens" so I think that's what they're going for with that cover), but which cover do you like best?
The cover on the left is the originally UK cover. Bit generic, no? The cover on the right is the US cover and my favourite.
Posted by Keris on October 6, 2008 in British Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
September 25, 2008 12:57 PM
BOOK NEWS: Planet Pregnancy
Possibly because I'm pregnant, I love this cover for Linda Oatman High's novel, Planet Pregnancy.
Written in free verse, it's the story of sixteen-year-old Texan, Sahara, who finds herself pregnant and decides to keep it a secret while she decides what to do. [via Jacket Whys]
Related posts: A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone (also written in verse) | Feels Like Maybe by Claire Allan (in which a character keeps her pregnancy a secret. I don't just throw these links together, you know!
Posted by Keris on September 25, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 16, 2008 10:43 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
I've wanted to read this book for so long. Not only because I'd heard such good things, but also because of the forthcoming film starring Michael "George Michael Bluth" Cera, who I love.
With alternate chapters written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, I was slightly worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype (which is mainly why it took me so long to read it), but it absolutely did.
The story takes place over one night in New York. Nick's just been dumped, so when he sees his evil ex with a new man, he has to do something, fast. So he asks Norah to pretend to be his girlfriend for five minutes. Norah's not so keen, but she's no fan of Nick's ex either so she goes along with it. Their interest is piqued because the kiss is utterly amazing and they spend the rest of the night on what turns out to be a pretty outrageous first date.
As I was reading this book, I kept thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) "This is SO GOOD!" The writing is brilliant. The characters are totally convincing and never cliched. If ever a character does something stupid, they then deal with it (or, at least, agonise over it) without allowing it to drive the plot. It also captures the excitement of New York. Of a big night out. Of first love and first heartbreak. It made me want one reckless night of my own (never gonna happen...).
Loved it. And now I can't wait for the film.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Looking for Alaska by John Green
Posted by Keris on September 16, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
August 22, 2008 8:38 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Tommy Sullivan is a Freak by Meg Cabot
It's hard to find new things to say about Meg Cabot's books when I find I'm reviewing them about once a month... but luckily I don't need to find new things to say, I can just keep saying they're fantastic. Because they are. (Just in case you did not get that.)
Her latest teen book (I think...), Tommy Sullivan is a Freak features Katie Ellison who is both intelligent and popular. But it's come at a cost. She has to hide who she really is and what she really thinks.
She didn't used to. She used to be good friends with Tommy Sullivan, but when he discovered that some members of the town's precious football team cheated on their SATs - and exposed them - he was run out of town.
Oh, but now he's back. And threatening to ruin everything Katie's worked for. And he's really hot.
Like all of Meg's books, Tommy Sullivan is a Freak is an easy read with hidden depths. I flew through it and, I have to say, I LOVED Tommy Sullivan, one of the foxiest teen characters I've read for a while. Plus I learned a lot about bivalves and that kind of knowledge can't be underestimated. Probably.
Read an extract here.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
Posted by Keris on August 22, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
August 13, 2008 9:05 AM
BOOK REVIEW: How To Be Bad
How to Be Bad is a novel written by three authors. Three brilliant and successful YA authors, two of whom happen to be among my absolute favourites (the third, Lauren Myracle, I have been assured that I will also love as soon as I get around to reading one of her books).
How to be Bad is also the story of three girls: Mel, Vicks and Jesse, who all work at the Waffle House and all have problems they want to run away from. And so they do. Albeit temporarily.
Following a row with her mother (following her mother winning first prize in a wet t-shirt competition – yikes!), Jesse just wants to get away. So when she learns that Vicks's boyfriend hasn't called since leaving for university two weeks ago, she suggests that they take a trip to Miami to visit him.
The only problem is neither of them has much money. But Mel does. Plenty of money and no friends. So she suggests she pays for everything if she can come along.
And so off they go. Two best friends (one of whom is behaving rather oddly) and a new girl who wants to be friends, but who they don't know very well.
Of course, a road trip isn't a road trip without adventures on the way and the girls call in to see an old stuffed crocodile, the world's smallest police station and, of course, go to a party and meet a boy.
I wasn't sure about this book at first – I didn't feel like enough was happening – but the personalities of the girls sucked me in and, by the end, I felt like I knew them. The book touches on all sorts of issues, including virginity, Christianity, drinking, sibling rivalry, family relationships, money.
Incidentally, even though I think the three authors have very distinctive individual styles, you can't see the joins in this book; I have no idea who wrote what, which is pretty impressive.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart or Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski (not YA) or something by Lauren Myracle!
Posted by Keris on August 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 12, 2008 3:38 PM
An Interview With Princess Mia
As many of you know, the next Princess Diaries book to be released is to be the tenth - and final - book of the series (boo hoo). It is out in January next year, but in the meantime I found on Meg Cabot's website that Mia has been interviewed by teenstyle magazine here. Whilst teenstyle wants to talk to her about romance and prom dresses, Mia is a little preoccupied with the small matter of an election due to take place in Genovia soon...
Related posts: To The Nines | After Eight | Meg Cabot Interview
Posted by Helen Redfern on August 12, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
August 7, 2008 10:39 AM
BOOK REVIEW: It's All About Us by Shelley Adina
Reviewed by Jill Hart
How far is too far? That's the question that seems to be ever in Lissa Mansfield's mind since moving to San Francisco.
How far will she go to be accepted in the "in crowd?" How far is she willing to go with cute Callum McCloud? How far is she willing to bend to get along with her talkative-opinionated-wacky new roommate, Gillian Chang? And most importantly of all, how far is she willing to push herself to make sure her faith in God is evident in her life?
These questions and more keep Lissa on her toes as she tries to fit into her school life. It doesn't help that she's gotten herself on the planning committee for the Benefactor's Day Ball - the biggest event of the year at Spencer Academy. Can she find a hot celeb to book for the Ball or will she end up disappointing the entire student body?
I don't read a lot of YA (young adult) Lit, but this book so much fun. The characters are charming and right from the beginning I was pulling for Lissa to make the right choices. The best part about this book is that while moms like me (thirty-somethings) will enjoy it, it's also appropriate to be shared with teens and tweens. It would make a great conversations starter for moms and daughters!
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith
Posted by Aigua Media on August 7, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
There's no such thing as an original idea
I did already know that, but last night, at the cinema, I was surprised to see the trailer for Emma Roberts' new film, Wild Child. I recently read Carmen Reid's first book for young adults, Secrets at St Jude's: New Girl. Here's the synopsis:
Gina's mother is fed up with her staying out late, spending too much
money on clothes and too much time IM-ing her friends. But her solution
to sort out her wayward LA IT girl is pretty drastic - she's sending
Gina to Scotland to go to the same boarding school she attended.
Suddenly taken from a world of malls, mobile phones, en-suite
wet-rooms, designer clothes and sophisticated boys, Gina is suddenly
forced to find her way through games of hockey, communal meals and
showers, horrible public schoolboys and stuffy housemistresses.
Will
she ever survive? Her dorm buddies might just help - they're a strange
bunch but they seem to be good fun ...And there are always the boys
from the local school to help keep them entertained.
Now carry on over the cut for the Wild Child trailer.
Spooky, no?
By the way, if you haven't seen Mamma Mia yet, I've got six words for you: Colin Firth. Wet white shirt. Again.
Related posts: Review - The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid | Review - How Was It For You by Carmen Reid | Friday Flick - Pride & Prejudice
Posted by Keris on August 7, 2008 in Book News, Movie News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
August 4, 2008 8:46 AM
MOVIE NEWS: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist trailer
Despite the fact that I haven't read the book (although I think I'm going to order it today), I'm so excited about the film version of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Mainly because it stars Michael Cera who I love. Anyway, the trailer looks cool:
What do you think?
Posted by Keris on August 4, 2008 in Movie News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
July 28, 2008 10:45 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Klepto by Jenny Pollack
Klepto, a young adult book by Jenny Pollack, is about Julie Prodsky, a New Yorker who meets Julie Braverman on her first day at the High School of the Performing Arts (the "Fame" school, in other words). Julie P finds Julie B much cooler and is thrilled to be her friend, particularly when she starts teaching her how to "get" stuff from shops.
Yep, "getting" is Julie P's word for stealing, shoplifting, taking stuff without paying. I wasn't at all sure about this when I started reading, the teen "hobby" of shoplifting never appealed to me and I wasn't sure the book would either, but I ended up really enjoying it.
Part of my enjoyment came from the fact that the book is set in '80s New York. New York is very well-described and it made me nostalgic for my own '80s experience (which is some feat, since it was mostly feeble and embarrassing).
The actual stealing isn't treated lightly. Well, it is to begin with, but before long the girls realise that what they're doing is wrong, but the book is never preachy or heavy-handed on the topic.
Reading the author bio, it's clear that the book is thinly-veiled memoir, which, I guess, is why it's set almost thirty years ago (can you believe that 1981 is almost thirty years ago?!), but it also makes it even more convincing.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
N.B. I included the covers to show how they can go from old-fashioned (top) to up-to-date (bottom) between hardback and paperback printings!
Posted by Keris on July 28, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
July 15, 2008 9:57 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson
You know I love Maureen Johnson and tend to read her books when I'm in a book lull, but that's not why I picked Girl At Sea. I picked it because I'm desperate for a holiday and I'd read that Girl At Sea was set in Sorrento, Italy and I love Sorrento.
Clio Ford is looking forward to spending the summer working in an art shop with the boy she likes until her mum drops the bombshell that instead she's going to spend the summer in Italy with her irresponsible father.
The idea of summer in Italy would probably appeal to most (it certainly appeals to me), but Clio and her father don't exactly see eye to eye. When Clio was younger, the two of them invented a popular seafaring board game and became, for a while, both rich and famous. Since then, Clio's father has lost most of the money and, following a disastrous holiday when Clio was both nearly killed and then allowed to get a tattoo, things have been more than strained with Clio's mother too.
When Clio gets to Italy, she meets her dad's new girlfriend, Julia, her daughter, Elsa, and research assistant, Aidan, and learns that, along with her dad's best friend, Martin, they're all heading out to sea... but no-one will tell her why or even allow her to contact home.
I wasn't at all sure about Girl At Sea at the beginning. I found it a bit irritating that the adults were so secretive and irresponsible and I didn't really care about any of the characters or why they were heading out to sea, but as I read on I got sucked in. It's not my favourite Maureen Johnson book (in fact, it might be my least favourite), but it was still a good read with another strong and intelligent heroine in Clio.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris
Posted by Keris on July 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 7, 2008 10:29 AM
The Luxe in London
I'd heard great things about Anna Godbersen's The Luxe and I was excited to read it. I started it last week and it started brilliantly, but then I'm afraid I got bored. (I was so disappointed.)
Still, I do love the fact that to promote the book, Penguin Books sent 17-year old competition winner Faye Edwards off around London in a replica of the incredible pink dress from the book’s cover. Plus the dress will be on exhibition in the Foyles department of Selfridges from 14th-27th July. [via The Penguin Blog]
So have you read it? Did you love it? Is it just me?
Posted by Aigua Media on July 7, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
July 4, 2008 11:52 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Jumping to Confusions by Liz Rettig
To begin with, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy Jumping to Confusions - the main character, Cat, is "the fat, plain one in my family". Her sister, Tessa is blonde, gorgeous and popular, mostly with boys. Cat's mother favours Tessa and comments relentlessly on Cat's weight. I felt like I'd read it all before and couldn't be bothered to read it again, but Cat's voice convinced me to keep going and I'm glad I did.
Tessa fancies Josh, the son of Cat and Tessa's father's American boss, who has moved to Glasgow to restructure the company. But when Josh seems more interested in Cat than in Tessa, Tessa suggests it's because he's not interested in girls at all...
What follows is utterly unbelievable, but strangely compelling. On the assumption that Josh is gay, Cat makes him her new best friend and utilises him for everything from bra shopping to kissing practice. Much of the entertainment comes from the fact that the reader knows (or at least I imagine most readers would know) that Josh isn't gay at all, rather he's interested in Cat ... and Cat is making a holy show of herself.
Plus there's Cat's crush on her schoolteacher (although she doesn't think it's a crush, she believes that he's just waiting for her to finish school so they can be together) and her - mostly hopeless - attempts to matchmake her friends.
Even though Cat came across as pathologically oblivious to what was right in front of her face, I really liked her. She's such a funny, good-hearted and stubborn character. Josh is very cute and Cat's group of friends are highly entertaining too.
Not necessarily a realistic read, but a highly entertaining one.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Pretty Face by Mary Hogan
Posted by Aigua Media on July 4, 2008 in British Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
July 2, 2008 9:20 AM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Grace Dent
You may know Grace Dent's hilarious young adult books. Or you may know her hilarious soap column (World of Lather) in the Guardian's TV Guide. Or perhaps you read her (hilarious) Big Brother column in the Radio Times. If you haven't read her at all, what are you waiting for? You can start now, with her latest book, Shiraz: the Ibiza Diaries. And this interview, of course.
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
Shiraz Bailey Wood (Duchess of Essex) and the usual suspects go to Ibiza for a fortnight of fun. Seriously, WHAT could go wrong?
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I write a lot in bed. I'm not ashamed to say that any more. It's one of the biggest perks of being an author. There's no way lying horizontal in bed can ever truly feel like work.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
Hollywood Wives - Jackie Collins.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Helen Burn in Jane Eyre. She's Jane's first, best and truest friend. I still get upset thinking about their last evening.
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Write. Don't sit about talking about how you'd really like to do it. It's the cheapest most accessible hobby in the world. Get on with it.
What are you reading at the moment?
Speaking For Myself by Cherie Blair.
What are you working on now?
I'm writing the new Shiraz book (out in October 2008). I'm writing a Big Brother 9 blog and I'm writing a television show.
Do you have a theme song?
Obstacle Number 1 by Interpol.
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been?
Why have you failed your driving test 7 times?
Because apparently I don't 'drive' to the 'suggested standards' of the so-called 'DVLA' and their 'requirements'. The swines.
Thanks, Grace!
Posted by Aigua Media on July 2, 2008 in British Authors, Interviews, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 1, 2008 1:45 PM
HELEN'S HEROINES: Mia Thermopolis
Or to give her correct title, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia. I haven't read a huge amount of young adult fiction, but I have to say, Mia, in The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot, is one of the finest heroines there is in this genre. No, not everyone will be lucky enough to find out they are secretly a Princess, but Mia's everyday actions, and the fact she always digs deep for strength and stands up for what she believes in, is surely something all girls can aspire too.
Mia is a girl after my own heart. Passionate about her beliefs, she prefers to wear boots instead of heels and she writes. A lot. We see, through her diaries, that she is young (obviously), naive and doesn't have lots of self confidence. The reader, by reading between the lines, often sees what is obvious, whilst Mia is completely unaware.
She hero worships Lilly, her best friend. Striving to be self-actualised like she is, Mia compares herself quite unfavourably to Lilly, and doesn't see that it is actually Lilly who wants to be more like her. In fact, when JP tells her that Lilly was jealous of her in book nine, Mia was astounded and demanded to know why. "For the same reason I imagine a lot of girls - including Lana Weinberger - are jealous of you. You're pretty, you're smart, you're popular, you're a Princess..." Notice how being a princess is the fourth reason. Mia could still be the other three without the title. Mia doesn't believe JP anyway, believing herself to be a five foot nine, flat chested freak. Mia also feels inferior to her boyfriend, Michael because of his cleverness.
Then, in book nine, we see Mia, wise beyond her years and passionate when she makes a speech about her ancestor, Princess Amelie. She says "sixteen year old girls are capable of so much more that wearing some navel baring outfit...or passing out from partying...and can achieve fame for taking a stand and coming to the aid of people in need." Well said Mia.
Underneath the lack of confidence and belief in her own talents is a strong girl who can rise to any challenge. Now she just needs to sort out her love life...
More Helen's Heroines
Posted by Helen Redfern on July 1, 2008 in American Authors, Helen's Heroines, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
June 30, 2008 5:03 PM
What did you read as a teen?
I read a bit of controversy about young adult fiction a couple of weeks ago, but didn't really think anything of it and didn't feel strongly enough about it to write about it here. Um, but now I do. So I'll tell you what and why.
In a review of a young adult book in the Guardian, the author Frank Cottrell Boyce wrote the following:
There's been a lot of fury among authors recently about the proposal to "age-band" children's books, but in a way they're too late. The real disaster has already happened. It's called "young adult" fiction. It used to be the case that you moved on from children's fiction to adult fiction, from The Owl Service, maybe, to Catcher in the Rye. There were, of course, some adult authors who were more fashionable with teenage readers than others - Salinger, Vonnegut, Maya Angelou. But these were chosen by teenagers themselves from the vast world of books. Some time ago, someone saw that trend and turned it into a demographic. Fortunes were made but something crucial was lost. We have already ghettoised teenagers' tastes in music, in clothes and - God forgive us - in food. Can't we at least let them share our reading? Is there anything more depressing than the sight of a "young adult" bookshelf in the corner of the shop. It's the literary equivalent of the "kids' menu" - something that says "please don't bother the grown-ups". If To Kill a Mockingbird were published today, that's where it would be placed, among the chicken nuggets.
I read the above quote on the blog, A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cosy along with the following response:
[Frank Cottrell Boyce] recalls teenagers going from children's lit to adult lit, and worries that today's teens are being kept from that adult lit. He also seems to be saying that good YA books are really adult books with a bad label.
As a lifelong reader, my choices have always been varied. At ten I was reading adult fiction; but I was also reading children's lit. It was never an either/or; and there was never a "don't read this," either at home, in a bookstore, or in a library. So yes, I did read adult lit as a teen; but I see today's teens doing likewise, reading a bit from here, a bit from there.
As for what YA lit has become.... I look at what we have now and get angry and jealous that I didn't have the reading choices as a teen that teens have today. I recall looking at adult shelves to try to find something that was teen friendly - so some of my adult book reading was not a choice, but a default. I would have loved to have the books that are available today; and I hope that these books don't go away.
When I first read this, I agreed with the above and didn't agree with Frank Cottrell Boyce at all. And then I started (belatedly) reading the excellent Fine Lines column on Jezebel. Reminded of books like Paul Zindel's The Pigman and To All My Fans, With Love, From Sylvie by Ellen Conford, I could suddenly picture myself wandering the library, desperately trying to find a book that appealed to me and, more importantly, a book that seemed relevant to me.
I can't remember reading any British teen fiction at all. It was all Judy Blume, Paul Zindel, Lois Duncan, Paula Danziger. What I would have given for a Louise Rennison or Sarra Manning. Of course, once I'd read all the above authors, I discovered the Sweet Dreams books, which no doubt led pretty much directly to my love of chick lit...
What about you? What did you read as a teen? And what are your thoughts on YA now?
[via The Boyfriend List]
Posted by Aigua Media on June 30, 2008 in Opinion, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (18)
June 27, 2008 11:33 AM
BOOK REVIEW: House of Dance by Beth Kephart
In the comments on my review of Marisa de los Santos's Belong To Me, Jade said, "Even though they don't actually contain it, I just feel like somehow her books have a sense of magical realism about them...". I feel exactly the same way about Beth Kephart's books. Every time I picked up House of Dance, it struck me that I felt like I was entering a dream ... the real world just faded away.
It's the story of Rosie, whose friends are away for the summer and whose mother is distant, spending all her time with her business partner, with whom she's also having an affair. Rosie's grandfather is dying and, though she doesn't know him all that well, her mother tells her he needs her now and so she starts visiting every day.
On the way to her grandfather's house, Rosie passes the House of Dance. At first it just seems incongruously glamorous, but soon Rosie finds herself climbing the stairs and signing up for dance lessons.
Rosie's grandfather wants to get his affairs in order and, in helping him sort through his stuff, Rosie gets to know him better: his dreams, his regrets and exactly what she can do to give him the perfect goodbye.
This book is so beautiful, I almost felt bereft when I finished reading.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Undercover by Beth Kephart
Posted by Keris on June 27, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
June 25, 2008 12:26 PM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Liz Rettig
Liz Rettig's written a bunch of popular books for teens and I've just really enjoyed her latest, Jumping to Confusions.
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
Jumping to Confusions: A tangled tale of romantic confusions unravels to reveal the truth – an ugly duckling story with a twist.
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I’d like to write my books on a balcony overlooking the ocean in the Maldives but a cramped corner of my bedroom will have to do for now.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
This is a difficult one but I think Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes – seriously funny.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice of course – a feisty, witty woman who speaks her mind. And she’s got the same first name as me so I can melt when Mr Darcy says, “Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth”. Sigh!
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Writers are prone to alcoholism, depression and suicide so don’t do it. But, okay, if you’re mad enough not to be put off by this then you’ve probably got writing potential so here goes.
Write a good book. If it’s fiction try to get an agent before approaching publishers. Don’t be put off by rejections, they happen to all of us at times, and keep your fingers and toes crossed. While you’re waiting, write another good book. . .
What are you reading at the moment?
I’ve just finished reading Before I Die by Jenny Downham. It’s one of the most moving stories I’ve ever read but so intense I needed time to recover afterwards. No time to read right now but I’m looking forward to Marian Keyes latest This Charming Man when I’m not so busy.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
I’m just putting the finishing touches to a Kelly Ann prequel of my Desperate Love Diary. Prequels are very tricky to write but, hey, they worked for Star Wars so I hope Kelly Ann fans will enjoy this.
Do you have a theme song?
(I've Had) The Time of My Life – from Dirty Dancing.
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
Would adults enjoy reading your teenage romantic comedy books?
Absolutely, there is a lot of humour in these for grown ups so grab a copy from your wee sister or daughter and have a laugh.
Thanks, Liz!
Posted by Aigua Media on June 25, 2008 in Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 23, 2008 12:20 PM
BOOK COVERS: Kate Le Vann
I love these covers so much I might even read the books (actually I have it on good authority that they're really great).
You must know I'm a sucker for books with New York on the cover so I was bound to love the Things I Know About Love cover, but I actually prefer the cover of Rain. It doesn't look like much here, but in person it's beautiful (which I know isn't helpful, but still).
Posted by Aigua Media on June 23, 2008 in Book covers, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 13, 2008 3:32 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Devilish by Maureen Johnson
I've been struggling a bit with books lately, I have to admit. I haven't found anything that's completely gripped me for a couple of weeks (which is a long time for me!). So I ordered myself a Maureen Johnson because I knew that would do the trick. And it did.
I picked Devilish, mainly because of Sarah's rave, but also because I thought it sounded very intriguing: a teenage girl selling her soul to the devil? Great idea.
Jane and Allison have been best friends for years. Attending St Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls, neither is popular, but that doesn't matter because they've got each other. That is until new girl Lanalee turns up and takes a shiny to Allison. And then Allison's personality and looks completely change and she's no longer interested in being friends with Jane.
Yes, Allison's sold her soul to the devil and it's down to Jane to save her.
This book was just what I needed: funny, clever, page-turning. It made me miss Buffy and it made me wish it had been turned into a TV series, instead of the similar, but inferior, Reaper.
In future, I'll always turn to Maureen Johnson in times of reading need (although she'd better write quicker because there's only two books of hers I haven't yet read!).
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes or Jinx by Meg Cabot
Posted by Keris on June 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 3, 2008 12:40 PM
BOOK REVIEW: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
I've been hearing about Sarah Dessen's books for years now, but I hadn't read one until The Truth About Forever.
It's the story of Macy, who is trying to keep it together following her dad's death (which she secretly feels she could have prevented). Macy's way of dealing is to keep her life very small and controlled and everything's going fine until her boyfriend suggests they take a break (he's not sure Macy is in line with his future "goals"), she gets a new job that she hates and she meets a chaotic catering crew who are always looking for extra help.
Liking the fact that when she's with the Wish caterers, she's just Macy and not Macy-whose-dad-died, she starts spending more and more time with them, particularly the gorgeous Wes. She and Wes enter into a game of truth and become closer and closer, sharing their secrets, but it's still safe because they both have partners (Wes's girlfriend is in prison).
But Macy had to have learned her coping strategy from someone and it was her mother who, when she realises how much time Macy is spending with her new friends, takes back some control of her own.
I loved this book. I liked Macy from the first page and the Wish crew are charming and hilarious. Wes is extremely sexy and charismatic and the book is filled with little details - about art, family, emotion, friendship, letting go and moving on - that are so brilliantly and subtlely woven into the story that you barely notice them until you finish reading and realise how utterly satisfying it all was. Although Macy and her family are sad, this isn't a sad book at all; in fact it's a very positive book. I'll definitely be reading more Sarah Dessen.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Posted by Aigua Media on June 3, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
May 28, 2008 1:34 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Before I Die by Jenny Downham
Reviewed by Helen Vipond
God knows I cry at everything. Television, films, even advertisements, but strangely, never at books, no matter how sad they are. Then I read Before I Die by Jenny Downham.
As the title suggests, the novel revolves around a terminally ill girl Tessa, who has a list of things she must do before her death, the first being sex. During the story, we see the world in an ironically life-affirming new light, through the eyes of a dying girl. Depressing as it may seem, the plot is told in a way that made me accidentally laugh out loud at the escapades Tessa finds herself in.
Although I won’t give away any more of the plot, I will reveal I found the last few chapters extremely difficult to read, due to the tears blocking my vision. It would take a hard- hearted person to read such a novel without being affected.
Overall, I would recommend 'Before I Die' to anyone, male or female, old or young, as an exceptionally moving novel, surely to be enjoyed.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
Posted by Aigua Media on May 28, 2008 in British Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 21, 2008 4:52 PM
Luisa Plaja on Teen Book Review
Split by a Kiss author Luisa Plaja recently wrote a great guest blog over on YA site, Teen Book Review.
Entitled Travelling Trousers and Pants on Fire: When YA Titles Cross The Ocean - it's about the differences between UK and US teen fiction and it's very interesting and, of course, hilarious. Check it out.
Related posts: Luisa Plaja interview | Split by a Kiss review | Meg Cabot title changes
Posted by Aigua Media on May 21, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 20, 2008 11:10 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Two chapters in to Elizabeth Scott's third book, Stealing Heaven, I made myself a cup of tea, kicked off my shoes, piled cushions up behind myself, put my feet up on the sofa and settled in for the long haul.
Danielle has grown up travelling around the country, helping her mother rob wealthy homes. She's never had a real friend, never had a boyfriend, or a real home, she didn't even attend high school.
But when she and her mum arrive in the beach town of Heaven, Danielle finds herself starting to change. First she meets a girl who she feels she could be friends with. Then she meets a man who she feels she could be more with, but unthinkingly she not only tells him her real name, he sees her car, he knows where she lives ... and he's a cop.
While Danielle is trying to stop herself becoming too fond of Heaven, her mother is scoping out the local houses to find which one to burgle. Of course, the best prospect belongs to the family of Danielle's first friend.
But that's not the family's only worry - Danielle's mother has a cough, a really bad cough...
I LOVED Elizabeth Scott's first two books - Bloom and Perfect You - and now that Stealing Heaven has made it three in a row, I'm very excited to read her next, Living Dead Girl.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Either Bloom or Perfect You!
Posted by Aigua Media on May 20, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
May 14, 2008 12:03 PM
MOVIE NEWS: Twilight trailer
I haven't read Twilight yet, but I've heard such good things that I'm already looking forward to the movie. Check out the trailer:
It's rather low-key, don't you think? But I LOVE the ending.
Posted by Aigua Media on May 14, 2008 in American Authors, Movie News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
May 9, 2008 11:19 AM
BOOK REVIEW: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks be E Lockhart
I've loved all of E Lockhart's books, but I have to admit I was a bit afraid to read her latest, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, since a couple of friends whose opinions I respect really didn't like it at all. Well, I don't respect their opinions anymore*, since I loved it.
Frankie attends the exclusive boarding school that her father and sister (and father's father, etc.) attended before her. When she started there, she was in her sister's shadow, but now that her sister has left - and Frankie has experienced some physical "blooming" - things are looking up.
* only joking.
Frankie is thrilled when her long-time crush and star of the school, Matthew Livingston, suddenly notices her and they begin dating. She's not so thrilled when she realises that Matthew is lying to her in order to hang out and plan pranks with the all male secret society of which he's a member.
Frankie refuses to let Matthew and his friends underestimate her and so decides to carry out a few pranks of her own with startling results.
From the first page I loved this book. I loved the character of Frankie and her refusal to be patronised. I loved how she co-opted a boys' club and had them all under her control without them ever suspecting her. There are plenty of feminist characters in young adult fiction, but I find them to be more overtly feminist (yet not stridently so) in E Lockhart's books.
While I didn't love this as much as the Ruby Oliver books (like this one and this one - and there's another coming soon!) - the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds reminded me a bit too much of the Life and Death Brigade in Gilmore Girls and there's a running joke about language that I found a bit irritating - it's yet another addition to my brilliant YA bookshelf. If E Lockhart just wrote about nine more books a year, she could give Meg Cabot a run for her money!
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund
Posted by Aigua Media on May 9, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 1, 2008 12:51 PM
BOOK REVIEW: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Like Amy I really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's YA fantasy Twilight. New Moon is the follow up and it doesn't disappoint.
Bella Swan moved to rainy Forks to live with her dad. She fell in love with a vampire - Edward Cullens - who, luckily, is a 'good vampire' and has sworn off human blood. At the beginning of New Moon they are as in love as at the end of Twilight, but all that is about to change...
I really don't want to give any of the plot away - it's so brilliantly paced and inventive that I would hate to spoil it.
Still, I will say that New Moon is just as full of intrigue, adventure and heady, intense romance as Twilight. The wonderful character of Jacob Black is developed as he and Bella become best friends, and Meyer builds her world (a world in which mythical creatures live alongside us), layering it with more depth.
Yes, this is officially classed as a YA book - and it's (obviously) supernatural, but please don't let either of those facts put you off. This series (New Moon is followed by Eclipse) is just a good story, well told. Full stop.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try: The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Posted by Sarah Painter on May 1, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
April 24, 2008 1:39 PM
BOOK EXTRACT: Tommy Sullivan is a Freak
Yep, another day another Meg Cabot book! Tommy Sullivan is a Freak - which was called Pants on Fire in the US - is finally out and we've got an exclusive extract!
Tommy Sullivan is a Freak by Meg Cabot
‘Oh my God, what’s she doing here?’ my best friend, Sidney van der Hoff, was asking as I came up to the corner booth to hand out menus.
Sidney wasn’t talking about me. She was glaring at someone at another table. But I couldn’t be bothered to look and see who Sidney was talking about, since my boyfriend, Seth, was sitting next to her, smiling up at me . . . that smile that’s been making girls’ insides melt since about the fifth grade, when we all started noticing Seth’s even white teeth and highly kissable lips.
It still freaks me out that of all the girls in school, I’m the one he picked to kiss with those lips.
‘Hey, babe,’ Seth said to me, blinking his long, sexy eyelashes – the ones I overheard my mom telling Sidney’s mom over the phone are totally wasted on a guy. He snaked an arm around my waist and gave me a squeeze.
‘Hi,’ I said a little breathlessly. Not because of the squeeze, but because I had a table of twelve (Mrs Hogarth’s ninety-seventh birthday party) that was running me ragged, refilling their iced-tea glasses and such, so I was panting a little anyway. ‘How was the movie?’
‘Lame,’ Sidney answered for everyone. ‘You didn’t miss anything. Lindsay should stick with red, blonde does nothing for her. Seriously, though. What’s Morgan Castle doing here?’ Sidney used the menu I’d just given her to point at a table over in Shaniqua’s section. ‘I mean, she’s got some nerve.’
I started to say Sidney was wrong – no way would Morgan Castle be caught dead at the Gull ’n’ Gulp. Especially at the height of the summer season, when the place was so packed. Locals – like Morgan – know better than to try to set foot near this place during high season.
At least, not without a reservation. If you don’t have a reservation at the Gull ’n’ Gulp – even on a Tuesday night, like tonight – during high season, you can expect to wait at least an hour for a table . . . two hours on weekends.
Not that the tourists seem to mind. That’s because Jill, the hostess, gives them each one of those giant beepers you can’t fit into your pocket and mistakenly walk away with, and tells them she’ll beep them when a table’s free.
You’d be surprised how well people take this information.
I guess they’re used to it, from their T.G.I.Fridays and Cheesecake Factories back home, or whatever. They just take their beeper and spend their hour wait strolling up and down the pier. They look over the side rails at the striped bass swimming around in the clear water (‘Look, Mommy!’ some kid will always yell. ‘Sharks!’) and maybe wander over to historic Old Towne Eastport, with its cobblestone streets and quaint shops, then wander back and peer into the yachts at the Summer People watching satellite TV and sipping their gin and tonics.
Then their beeper goes off and they come hurrying over for their table.
Sometimes, while Jill’s leading them to a table in my section, I’ll overhear a tourist go, ‘Why couldn’t we just have sat THERE?’ and see them point to the big booth in the corner.
And Jill will be all, ‘Oh, sorry. That’s reserved.’
Except that this is a total lie. The booth isn’t reserved.
Well, not technically. We just hold it open every night, in case of VIPs.
Not that Eastport, Connecticut, sees that many VIPs.
Or, OK, any. Sometimes, between lunch and dinner, when there’s a lull, Jill and Shaniqua and I will sit around and fantasize about what we’d do if a REAL celebrity walked into the place, like Ryan Phillippe (although we’ve gone off him a bit since his divorce) or Justin Timberlake, or even Prince William (you never know. He could have got lost on his yacht or whatever).
The crazy thing is, even if by some incredible fluke an actual VIP like that did show up at the Gull ’n’ Gulp, he wouldn’t get a seat at the VIP booth. Because in Eastport, Connecticut, the only true VIPs are the Quahogs.
And that’s who the corner booth is always saved for any Quahog who, for whatever reason, might not have made a reservation at the Gull ’n’ Gulp during high season, and needs a table.
Shocking but true: every once in a while a tourist will wander into the restaurant who has never heard of a quahog.
Peggy, the manager, had to take me aside my first day working at the Gulp last June, when a tourist was like, ‘What’s a quahog?’
Only they said it the way it’s spelled, kwah-hog, instead of the way it’s supposed to be pronounced, which is kohhog.
And I was all, ‘You don’t know what a QUAHOG is???’ and almost died laughing.
Peggy explained to me, very stiffly, that quahogs actually aren’t that well known outside the north-east, and that people from the Midwest, for instance, have probably never even heard of them before.
She was speaking of the bivalve, of course. Because that’s what a quahog is – a type of clam that, when mixed in a pot with a lot of potatoes, onion, leeks, heavy cream and flour, make for the Gull ’n’ Gulp’s bestselling chowder.
Those types of quahogs are what Eastport has been known for since like the 1600s, practically.
Now, though, our town is known for a different type of quahog entirely. Because the Quahogs is also the name of Eastport High School’s football team, which has won the state championship every year since before I was born, sixteen years ago.
Well, except for one year. The year I was in eighth grade.
But no one ever talks about that year. It’s hard to say which quahogs the town’s residents are proudest of, the clams or the team. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the football team. It’s easy to take a clam – especially one that’s been around for that long – for granted. The team’s only been on its winning streak for a decade and a half.
And the memory of what it felt like NOT to have the best team in the state is still fresh in everybody’s mind, since it was only four years ago, after all, that they were forced to forfeit that single season.
That’s why nobody in town questions the corner booth.
Even if some local did, for whatever reason, show up at the Gull ’n’ Gulp during the summer season without a reservation, he wouldn’t expect to be seated in the empty corner booth. That booth is for Quahogs, and Quahogs only.
And everybody knows it.
Especially my boyfriend, Seth Turner. That’s because Seth, following in the footsteps of his big brother, two-time first-team All-State defensive-end Jake Turner, is this year’s varsity Quahog kicker. Seth, like his brother before him, loves the corner booth. He likes to stop by the Gull ’n’ Gulp when I’m working, and sit there till I’m done, drinking free Cokes and inhaling quahog fritters (deep-fried dough with bits of clam inside, that you dip in a sweet ’n’ sour sauce. This is the only kind of quahog I can stand to eat, because the dough masks the quahog’s rubbery texture, and the sauce masks its total tastelessness. I am not a fan of the quahog – the bivalve variety, I mean. Not that I’ve dared mention this to anyone. I don’t want to get run out of town).
Anyway, then, when my shift is up, Seth puts my bike in the back of his four by four, and then we make out in the cab until my curfew, which is midnight in the summertime. So the corner booth is a total win-win situation, if you ask me.
Of course, lots of times Seth isn’t the only Quahog in the corner booth. Sometimes his brother Jake – who now works for their dad’s construction company – comes along.
Not tonight though. Tonight Seth’s brought along Quahog defensive lineman Jamal Jarvis and his girlfriend, Martha Wu, as well as quarterback Dave Hollingsworth.
And of course, wherever Dave goes, my best friend, Sidney van der Hoff, has to trail along, since she and Dave have been attached at the hip all summer, ever since Sidney’s former boyfriend – last year’s Quahog quarterback, All-State most-valuable-player Rick Stamford – graduated in the spring and sent Sidney a Dear Sidney text message, telling her he needed his space and wanted to see other girls when he went to UCLA in the fall.
Which, if you ask me, was pretty decent of him. He could have strung Sidney along all summer and then just dumped her when he got to California – or even just gone ahead and seen other girls behind her back and not told her, and come back for Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations expecting to pick things up where they’d left off. It’s not like, being all the way across the country, Sidney would ever have known Rick had his tongue in some Kappa Kappa Gamma’s mouth.
Although actually it is possible – even easy – to see other people behind your significant other’s back while living in the same town, without that person – or anyone else, for that matter – ever finding out. Easier, for instance, than hiding the fact that you can’t stand quahogs (the supposedly edible kind).
I’m just saying.
So it was nice of Rick not to string Sidney along. I told her that at the time, even though it didn’t seem to console her much. Sidney didn’t really calm down until she found out Dave had broken up with Beth Ridley due to her cheating on him with this hottie from Australia she met while crewing on her uncle’s parasailing charter.
So Sidney invited Dave over to her house to commiserate about their no-good exes in her jacuzzi over Boylan’s Creme Soda (Sidney’s was sugar free, of course). And Dave didn’t even try to take her bikini top off, which really impressed Sidney.
So of course she hooked up with him.
For such a small town, a lot of stuff happens in Eastport.
Sometimes it’s hard to keep up.
Like right now, for instance. Because when I looked over at Morgan Castle’s table and saw who she was with, I knew EXACTLY what she was doing at the Gull ’n’ Gulp on a Tuesday night in high season.
And I also knew I didn’t have time for the drama that was about to erupt. I mean, I had Mrs Hogarth’s birthday to deal with.
Sidney didn’t know that though, and even if she had, she wouldn’t have cared. I’ve been best friends with Sidney van der Hoff, the most popular girl in my class, since second grade, when I let her cheat off me during a spelling quiz. Sidney had been a wreck that day, on account of her kitten having gone in to get spayed. Sidney had convinced herself Muffy wasn’t going to survive.
So I took pity on her and let her copy my answers.
Muffy got through her surgery just fine, and grew into a fat cat who I got to know quite well from the frequent slumber parties I attended at Sidney’s house afterwards, Sidney not being the sort of person to forget a kindness.
That’s what I love about Sidney.
It’s all the drama I could live without.
‘Oh my God, is that Eric Fluteley?’ Sidney was totally staring at Morgan’s table. ‘That’s even WEIRDER. What’s HE doing here? This is hardly his kind of place. I mean, considering that no Hollywood casting scouts are likely to walk in.’
‘Hey, Katie,’ Dave said, ignoring his girlfriend’s outburst.
This was typical Dave behaviour. He is a notorious smoother-over . . . one of those people who is always calm, no matter what the situation – even Morgan Castle and Eric Fluteley dining together at the Gull ’n’ Gulp. That’s why he and Sidney make such a good couple. She’s a disrupter and he’s a smoother-over. Together, they’re almost like one normal person. ‘How you doing? Busy tonight, huh?’
‘Way busy,’ I said. He had no idea. This family from like Ohio or something had come in earlier, and the parents had let their kids run around all over the place, bothering Jill up at the hostess stand, throwing French fries out into the water (even though the signs on the pier supports say, very clearly, Do Not Feed the Birds or Fish), getting in the way of the busboys when they were carrying enormous trays of used plates, shrieking for no reason, that sort of thing.
If my brother and I had acted that way in a restaurant, my mom would have made us go sit out in the car.
But these parents just smiled like they thought their kids were so cute, even when one of them blew milk at me from a straw.
And then, after all that, they only left a three-dollar tip.
Hello. Do you know what you can buy in Eastport for three dollars? Nothing.
‘I’ll make this quick then,’ Dave was saying. ‘I’ll have a Coke.’
‘Make it two,’ Jamal said.
‘Make it three,’ Seth said, with another one of his kneemelting smiles. I could tell by the way he couldn’t take his eyes off me that things were going to get steamy in the cab of his truck later on. I knew the cami I was wearing had been a good idea, even though Peggy has a thing about bra straps showing and had almost made me go home to change until Jill had pointed out that her bra straps show every single night, and if it’s OK for the hostess, why not the waiting staff?
‘Diet for me, please, Katie,’ Martha said.
‘Me too,’ Sidney said.
‘Two diets, three regulars, and two quahog fritter platters coming up,’ I said, regathering the menus. We always throw in free quahogs for the Quahogs. Because it’s good for business to have the most popular guys in town hanging out at your establishment. ‘Be back in a minute, guys.’/p>
I winked at Seth, who winked back. Then I hurried to turn in their order and get the drinks.
I couldn’t help glancing in Eric’s direction on my way to the soda station – and saw him staring at me over the top of Morgan’s head. He had that look on his face – the same look he got when I was taking his headshots for his college apps and the stills of him for the Gazette during that really intense scene from The Breakfast Club, which our school put on, where Bender talks about how his dad burnt him for spilling paint on the garage floor. Eric played Bender, and you could TOTALLY see how Claire, the school’s prom princess, would go for him.
Eric really is talented. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the movies some day. Or some TV series about sensitive but fearless doctors or whatever. He’s already got an agent and goes on auditions and everything. He almost got a part in a Daisy Brand Sour Cream commercial, but was dropped at the last minute when the director decided to go in a different direction and use a five-year-old instead.
Which I could understand. I mean, it’s sour cream.
How intense do you want the guy to look about it? Even now, Eric was looking at me so intensely that Morgan, who was trying to talk to him, totally paused and looked around to see what he was staring at.
Quick as a flash, I turned my back on them and leaned down to ask Mrs Hogarth if there was anything she needed.
‘Oh no, Katie dear,’ she said, beaming at me. ‘Everything is just lovely. Larry, honey, you remember Katie Ellison, don’t you? Her mother and father own Ellison Properties, the real estate firm in town.’
Mrs Hogarth’s son, who was in Eastport with his wife (and some of his kids and some of their kids and a few of their kids) to take his mom and her best friends from her assisted living community out for her birthday, smiled. ‘Is that so?’
‘And Katie takes pictures for her school paper,’ Mrs Hogarth went on. ‘And for our community newsletter. She took that nice picture of the quilting club. Remember, Anne Marie?’
‘I thought I looked fat in it,’ said Mrs O’Callahan, who, by the way, is fat. Although I’d tried to Photoshop out some of the excess, knowing she’d complain later.
‘Well,’ I said super-chipperly. ‘Is everyone ready for dessert?’
‘Oh, I think so,’ Mrs Hogarth’s son said with a wink.
He’d stopped by earlier with a cake from Strong’s Bakery, which we’d stashed in the back and which I was supposed to bring out while singing ‘Happy Birthday’. The Hogarths had forgotten to get candles though, so I’d run over to the card shop and picked up two shaped like the numbers nine and seven. They were kids’ candles, with clowns on them, but I knew Mrs Hogarth wouldn’t mind.
‘Oh, nothing for me, thanks,’ Mrs Hogarth said. ‘I’m stuffed. That grouper was delicious!’
‘I’ll be right back to see if anyone wants coffee then,’ I said, and hurried around the corner to the soda station, still careful not to look back in Eric’s direction.
Ducking into the kitchen, I grabbed Mrs Hogarth’s cake, threw on the two candles and started out again – and almost crashed right into Eric Fluteley, who – looking at me intensely the whole time – took the cake from my hands, set it next to the coffee-maker, grabbed me by both shoulders and kissed me on the lips.
Posted by Keris on April 24, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
April 21, 2008 9:00 AM
MORE ON MONDAY: The Night Walker by Patricia Elliott
Reviewed by Colin Mulhern
Daniel's mother walked out, leaving his father, leaving him. Two years later, living with his dad's new partner and her two daughters, Daniel still won't forgive his mother. And Daniel has other problems: at his new school he has no friends and is chased by Todd and his gang; at home his imaginary childhood friend is giving him more trouble than he's worth; in the dark, he is haunted by footsteps, following him home, and to top it all, his older step sister - the one he�s developing a crush on - has found herself a strange, scary boyfriend.
The Night Walker starts off slowly but soon becomes genuinely dark and spooky. And then, without warning, it turns into some strange fantasy tale with giant metallic worms, sleepy children, and across a foggy causeway, a distant battlefield.
At this point, the pace of the novel almost grinds to a halt, and the characters - Frank in particular - are tedious, flat and come across as mindless. For some reason Daniel is the only trying to find answers.
Things pick up when Daniel decides he has to cross the causeway and face the battle. The scenes here are very visual - to a point where you believe it would make a great Terry Gilliam movie. Unfortunately, the story from here on is peppered with so many clichés and cringingly symbolic scenes that it starts to feel cluttered, confused, and worst of all - predictable.
Saying that, clichés are only really noticeable if you are already familiar with them. For a young teenage audience, this may not be the case, and there is something enjoyably disturbing about the book as a whole, so I can't give it too low a rating.
All in all, a fairly enjoyable, yet predictable, horror fantasy. Perhaps a YA stepping stone to Clive Barker or Neil Gaiman.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Posted by Keris on April 21, 2008 in More On Monday, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
April 18, 2008 11:18 AM
PREVIEW REVIEW: Airhead by Meg Cabot
I was desperate to read Airhead, the first book in Meg Cabot's latest series (yes, another one!), after she said on her blog that when she told her husband what it was about he said, "Meg Cabot, this time you've gone too far." Apart from trying to get *my* husband to call me by my full name, I vowed not to rest until I'd read it.
And while my husband flat out refused to call me "Keris Stainton" at all times, he did shake his head in despair each time he caught me somewhere hiding from the world, reading Airhead and muttering "No way. No way!" and "Meg Cabot's so good. And also mad."
Now I'm determined not to give anything away, so I'm not going to tell you anything about the plot, other than what you can read on the back of the book: Em Watts is a tomboy and secretly in love with her best friend and gaming buddy, Christopher. Em's annoying younger sister, Frida, is a girlie girl who despairs of Em and idolises supermodel Nikki Howard. When Em is forced to accompany Frida to the opening of a new Stark Megastore where both Nikki Howard and hot British singer, Gabriel Luna, will be appearing, Em and Nikki's lives collide in the most startling way.
That's all I'm saying. Except that the idea behind Airhead is so audacious that I actually laughed out loud when I realised what it was.
Oh and I'll also say that I loved it. I loved the characters, the New York setting, and clearly I loved the plot. Cabot's writing is so apparently effortless and convincing that I would cheerfully accept anything she chose to write, no matter how far-fetched.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja
Posted by Aigua Media on April 18, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
April 16, 2008 11:17 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Twilight
Reviewed by Amy Sheehan
Twilight is a captivating love story with a twist. Seventeen year old Bella Swan has to go and live with her dad in the small northern town of Forks, and needless to say she’s not exactly thrilled. But her view of the place quickly changes when she meets the beautiful and mysterious Edward Cullen.
Bella soon finds herself swept up in a thrilling mystery as she begins to uncover Edward’s incredible secret: he and his family are vampires! But not just any vampires - good vampires, who try to ignore their overwhelming urge to drink human blood and don’t hunt people. Only snag is, Bella is exactly Edward’s taste in, uhm, blood, and he faces a constant inner battle between wanting to protect her, and his overwhelming desire to sink his teeth into her neck. The plot thickens as Bella soon realises that she has fallen in love with him. But can it ever be safe to love a vampire?
I found myself utterly engrossed in this gorgeously romantic read; it’s a fine mix of romance and adventure, and actually reminded me a bit of the film Titanic, because what starts out as a beautifully tender story of forbidden love becomes, by the end, an exciting race for survival.
Edward is the most swoon-worthy hero I’ve encountered in a long time, and I was just as much in love with him as Bella was. Well, he is the perfect man - what with his supernatural looks, strength, speed and powers - but that all just adds to the fun. Other characters that fascinated me included most of Edward’s family - who all have their own individual histories and personalities - but especially Alice, who can see the future, and Rosalie, although we don’t see much of her.
Though technically a young adult book, this one’s not just for the teenage girls. Anyone with any romance in them will love it; it may be slightly mushy in places, but I personally loved it and finished the novel with a big soppy grin on my face. It’s romantic, surprisingly well-written, and what’s more, a page-turner: I was up late reading, dying to know what would happen.
Twilight is excellent as a stand-alone book (I was very satisfied with the ending), but readers like me who are desperate for more will be happy to know that the story continues in New Moon and Eclipse. If they’re this good, I for one can’t wait to read them.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Posted by Aigua Media on April 16, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)
April 1, 2008 7:20 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Pretty Face by Mary Hogan
I enjoyed Mary Hogan's book The Serious Kiss, but I wasn't wild about it. I enjoyed Pretty Face much more, even though it deals with some of the same issues (specifically: weight).
In Pretty Face, Hayley is overweight and the boys she likes just want to be friends. Yes, she's got a pretty face, but if they could just look past her weight, they'd see she has a lovely personality too. But they don't. And neither does her mother. Having conquered a weight problem of her own, Hayley's mother is determined to help her daughter with her own issues, but she's going about it all wrong (so wrong, in fact, that I wanted to beat her around the head with a box of Krispy Kremes).
Fortunately for Hayley, her parents decide to send her to stay with
friends in Italy for the summer. Friends who can see past the weight
and give Hayley the space to become comfortable with herself.
The story itself is very cliched (how many books have you read with an overweight heroine who finds herself and loses weight?), but I didn't care. I flew through it.
I loved Hayley from the first page and the descriptions of Italy (and the food!) made my mouth water. It was such an easy read and I kept wondering what it reminded me and then I realised it was like one of the Sweet Dreams books I used to be obsessed with.
In fact, I wish it had been around when I was an overweight teenager myself, it would have become one of my favourite books.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try The Serious Kiss by Mary Hogan
Ah, the covers. I complained in my review of The Serious Kiss that the (UK) cover didn't suit the book and I'd say the same for Pretty Face - it's just too vague. But while I like the design of the US cover (on the left), it almost seems too specific. (I know, I'm impossible to please!)
What do you think? Which do you prefer?
Posted by Keris on April 1, 2008 in Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
March 17, 2008 5:29 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
I loved Elizabeth Scott's Bloom and, following my review, Trashi reader Little Willow commented that Perfect You is even better so I could barely wait to read it. I didn't actually prefer Perfect You to Bloom, but I loved it almost as much and that saying a lot (because I really loved Bloom!).
Kate's father has given up his job to sell Perfect You vitamins in the mall. While it may be his dream job, it's not going at all well. So badly, in fact, that the family is in danger of losing their home. Kate's older brother living on the sofa and failing to find a job isn't helping either.
Kate's not thrilled to be working for her dad on a failing mall stall, but since her best friend Anna lost a load of weight, dyed her hair and started hanging around with the popular crowd - dropping Kate like a sandbag - it's not like she's got anything better to do.
Until, that is, Will starts meeting her in the supply closet to make out. It can't be more than that, because she can't stand Will and there's no way he's interested in her. Is he?
I sympathised with Kate throughout because everyone around her was so irritating. (Irritating in a good way, I mean - realistically irritating, rather than irritatingly written!) Her grandmother is condescending and rude. Her father, inconsiderate and unrealistic. Her former friend, Anna, well, I wanted to wring her neck. I loved Will and I loved the banter Kate had with him, but he wasn't quite as sexy as Bloom's Evan.
I found Kate's mother - trying to stay positive and support her husband, while simultaneously wanting the best for her family - the most poignant character (possibly because this is a YA book and, depressingly, I'm closer in age to her than to Kate).
But really I just loved Perfect You. And I'm so thrilled to have discovered Elizabeth Scott's books.
Rating: 4/5 (I would like to give it 4.5, but I can't)
Like this? Try Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
Posted by Keris on March 17, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
MORE ON MONDAY: Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Scott Westerfield has taken our modern-day obsession with physical beauty and followed it to the logical end. In his future world, an operation is carried out on every child on their sixteenth birthday, turning them from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'.
As well as bestowing physical perfection, the operation seems to lead to a life of parties and fun.
Tally Youngblood is a typical teenager. She lives in a dormitory-style school, separated from her parents (Uglies and Pretties are not permitted to mix), and eagerly awaits her operation.
Then, Tally meets Shay. Shay is also fifteen, but she has a very different view of the operation. She opens Tally's eyes to a different path - a path that leads to a secret community of renegade Uglies, living in the Rusty Ruins.
Tally cannot make the leap of faith - to sacrifice everything she has dreamed of, in order to join an uncertain and less attractive future. She returns home, only to find that the State knows about her friendship with Shay and has a mission for her: infiltrate the community and then report back on its location.
However, once back with the Uglies, Tally discovers that there is a lot more to the 'turning' operation than becoming beautiful...
This book is a real thrill-ride and the world utterly convincing - and frightening. I raced through it book and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequels (there are three: Pretties, Specials and Extras).
As well as an adventure story (with an active female protagonist - yay!), it also has lots to say about freedom of thought, individuality and the pursuit of physical ideals. Excellent reading matter, in other words, for any teenage girls you may know...
Rating: 4/5
Like this (identity issues handled in original way)? Try: Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja
Posted by Sarah Painter on March 17, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 12, 2008 12:06 PM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Tanya Lee Stone
After choosing A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl as one of my favourite books of 2007, I was supposed to run this interview in early 2008 ... March is still early isn't it? Anyway, my tardiness means that I can use this interview as an excuse to show you the new, beautiful cover, of Tanya Lee Stone's fabulous book, which is out in the UK next month! There! Now over to Tanya...
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
I can do it in 9: Three girls. One guy. Who comes out on top?
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I go back and forth between my favorite chair and my bed, pretty much always working on a laptop.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
I'm not positive it's categorized as chick lit, but I love Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, of course! Because she's strong and stubborn, speaks her mind, follows her heart, and is brave--including, brave enough to swallow her pride when she is wrong and right things properly.
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
It's a bit cliche, but I truly believe that it is quite difficult to write in any particular genre until you are very well read in it. I would say read at least 100 books of the type you intend to write. The other piece of advice is to have a trusted reader or two who can read your best draft and not be afraid to point out its flaws as well as its strengths.
What are you reading at the moment?
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
I am revising a YA novel, which I hope to finish this week, and just putting the finishing touches on a picture book.
Do you have a theme song?
No, I don't, but I'm becoming increasingly aware of the fact that I should! Any suggestions?
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
I adore this question because it invites me to be bad. I have never
been asked: "To where shall I address these chocolates?" The answer
would be most forthcoming!
Thanks, Tanya!
Posted by Keris on March 12, 2008 in Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
March 10, 2008 2:02 PM
MORE ON MONDAY: The Strawberry Picker by Monica Feth
Reviewed by Colin Mulhern
A killer seeking the perfect partner. All he wants is beauty and innocence. But when he gets close he notices imperfections, the image is shattered and the papers report another murder.
Caro is his latest victim, and at her funeral, Jemma - Caro's flatmate - swears revenge and decides to track down the killer, but in making her very public oath, she attracts the attention of a hansom, mysterious strawberry picker.
It all sounds pretty good - certainly the makings of a good thriller, but the point of thrillers is, by definition, to thrill - to involve the reader by invoking emotions, to convince them that the characters are so real that they believe and care. You can only really do that if you allow the reader to see what is happening as it is happening. The Strawberry Picker is way too passive in its delivery, telling the reader what people have said or done or doing rather than showing these things in real time. The only thing the characters do actively is make espresso - in so many scenes that you wonder if this is something the author has only just discovered.
The result of this passive, wishy-washy hold-my-hand style is that by the half way mark the characters are as lifeless as they were on page one, the scenes are painfully dull and any aspect of a mystery has withered and died before we even reach the moment where Jenna swears revenge. This, incidentally, is well past the halfway point, and to be honest, by the time I'd got there, I really couldn't care whether she fell in love with the killer, helped her mother edit another successful crime thriller (writers writing about writing - yawn) or make another bloody espresso.
There are too many other things you can spend £5.99 on. Don't buy this.
Rating: 1/5
Like this? Try Be Mine by Laura Kasischke (an adult book)
Posted by Keris on March 10, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, More On Monday, Rating: 1/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 7, 2008 11:09 AM
PREVIEW REVIEW: Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
You know how much I love Maureen Johnson - I've raved about her often enough - so I'm sure you appreciate how much I was looking forward to reading Suite Scarlett. So much that I was almost afraid to open it in case it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I needn't have worried.
15-year-old Scarlett Martin lives, with her family, in New York's Hopewell Hotel. The hotel has been in the Martin family for generations, but things aren't going quite so well. Due to money worries, all of the staff has been let go and so it's down to Scarlett, her sister Lola, brother Spencer and their parents to do everything: from manning the reception desk to cooking, cleaning and looking after guests. The Martins' youngest child, Marlene, doesn't have to do anything - a brush with cancer has left her with a bratty sense of entitlement.
Martin family tradition states that at age 15 each family member is given their own suite, complete with guest, to look after. The jewel in the Hopewell's crown, the Empire Suite, is now Scarlett's responsibility ... as is its latest guest, who plans to stay for the entire summer, Mrs Amy Amberson.
With Lola trying to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend, Chip, in the face of his rich friends' distain; Marlene keeping engagements with the "Powerkids", a group of fellow childhood cancer sufferers; and Spencer getting his last chance at becoming a professional actor before having to give it all up for catering college ... oh and the fact that all of Scarlett's friends are off doing improving activities for the summer ... Scarlett's feeling rather alone.
Luckily (or perhaps not) the formidable Mrs Amberson takes a shine to Scarlett and Scarlett soon finds herself working as her assistant, which involves taking the notes on Mrs Amberson's life story and, um, setting up a fake audition to get revenge on one of her former rivals.
And then there's Eric, who's working with Spencer on an off- (far, far off-) Broadway production of Hamlet and who might just be the most amazing boy Scarlett has ever met.
There's so much more, but my fingers are getting tired and I don't want to spoil anything anyway. Suffice it to say that I absolutely loved Suite Scarlett. The characters are so real, charming and funny. The setting (of course) is wonderful and evocative. I didn't want it to end, but I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
Posted by Keris on March 7, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 22, 2008 4:52 PM
PREVIEW REVIEW: Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja
Occasional Trashionista reviewer Luisa Plaja's first novel is out at the beginning of March (on the 6th, World Book Day, in fact). Luisa was my first crit partner a few years ago and while I'm still beavering away on the same book, Luisa's gone and got published. But I'm not bitter. No, I'm really not. Because Luisa is lovely and Split by a Kiss is wonderful.
It's the story of Jo who moves to America with her mum and soon finds herself kissing the school hunk during a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven. When Jo has mixed feelings about Jake's attentions - on the one hand he's hot and he seems to like her, on the other he's groping her and he barely knows her - she splits into two: Josie the Cool and Jo the Nerd.
The rest of the book alternates between Josie's and Jo's experiences. While Jo befriends school misfits, Rachel and David, Josie is sucked into the cool crowd, led by Chelsea, but the beauty of this book is that neither Josie nor Jo are stereotypes. Both of their paths show that there's no "right" way to be. Except for being yourself, that is.
But will Jo ever get to be herself again? You'll have to read it to find out. And, since Split by a Kiss is funny, inspiring, original, moving and sweet, you're in for a treat.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski
Posted by Keris on February 22, 2008 in British Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
February 21, 2008 10:12 AM
MOVIE NEWS: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Yes, I loved Rachel Cohn's Gingerbread and I'm intrigued by the sound of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, which she wrote with David Levithan, but I'm mostly interested in the forthcoming movie because it stars Michael Cera, who I lurve.
You know, he was George-Michael in the (sublime) Arrested Development, Paulie Bleeker in the (fabulous) Juno, and Evan in the (hit and miss) Superbad? Well, he's playing Nick and Norah will be played by Kat Dennings (who I don't know).
Related: Movie news archives
Posted by Keris on February 21, 2008 in Movie News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
February 19, 2008 8:10 PM
Classic romance comic-book-covers
Yes, again this would've been better posted on Valentine's Day, but what can you do? Entertainment Weekly has a selection of 25 classic comic-book romance covers for your delight and delectation.
Chosen from the golden age of pulp romance, this retro treat harks back to a simpler time; when the only lipstick was red and lines like 'my scandal-smeared love' were just the beginning...
Related posts: Women in comics | Avril Lavigne Manga
Posted by Sarah Painter on February 19, 2008 in Book covers, Book related, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 18, 2008 10:19 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn
I wasn't actually too excited to read Gingerbread, since a while ago I read the next book in the series and didn't enjoy it as much as I expected too, but Gingerbread was thrust upon me and I was urged to read it, so I did. And I was glad I did, because I loved it.
I was a bit worried as I started reading because Gingerbread reminded me so much of Weetzie Bat and I found myself worrying about who (if anyone) had ripped off who(m), but this only lasted a couple of chapters and then Gingerbread became a totally different book.
The heroine of Gingerbread is (fabulously) named Cyd Charisse. She lives in San Francisco with her parents, Sid and Nancy, and her younger half-siblings. Her real dad lives in New York, but she hasn't seen him for years. In fact, not since he gave her the doll, Gingerbread, who remains her best friend (even though she's really too old for a doll).
Following an ill-fated relationship with a boy at boarding school (and, frankly, an ill-fated relationship with boarding school itself), Cyd Charisse is home, dating surfer boy Shrimp and nurturing a secret crush on his brother. Her relationship with her parents seems to be irrevocably damaged by Cyd Charisse's behaviour, but she is seemingly undaunted, even planning to sue them for legal emancipation. Instead, her parents decide to send her to New York to get to know her father.
I describe Cyd Charisse as "seemingly undaunted" because she is much more damaged than she at first seems and this is what I loved about the book. Cyd Charisse at first comes across as tough and streetwise (do young people still say streetwise? I'm so old...), but by the end of the book she's a different person. I really liked her and found her very true to life (from what I remember of being a teenager...).
In fact, I loved it so much I'm going to go back and re-read the sequel.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Meg McCafferty
Posted by Keris on February 18, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
February 16, 2008 10:45 AM
MOVIE NEWS: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants trailer
I love Ann Brachares' Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and I really loved the first movie. I can't wait to see the second (and, unfortnately, last) so I'm thrilled by this trailer.
What do you think? Will you be going to see it?
Posted by Keris on February 16, 2008 in Movie News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
February 14, 2008 2:04 PM
BOOK NEWS: Airhead
Ah, Meg Cabot. Yep, she's started YET ANOTHER series.
Airhead - out in June - is the story of Emerson Watts who ... listen, I can't even begin to explain it. Read the blurb over the cut. I promise you, it sounds amazing.
And check out the fantastic interview with Meg on Barnes & Noble.
Emerson Watts didn't even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister, Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there-along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard.
How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her-and life as she'd known it-forever? One bizarre accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.
Now getting her best friend, Christopher, to notice that she's actually a girl is the least of Em's problems.
But what Em's pretty sure she'll never be able to accept might just turn out to be the one thing that's going to make her dream come true . . . .
NIKKI HOWARD IS HERE TO STAY.
Related posts: Meg Cabot guest blog | Meg Cabot interview | Meg Cabot title changes
Posted by Keris on February 14, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 13, 2008 11:24 AM
ShinyGloss meets Melissa Walker
Our glamorous sister site, ShinyGloss, met author Melissa Walker in New York recently.
Melissa was there to sign copies of the follow-up to Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design.
Posted by Keris on February 13, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
February 10, 2008 9:28 AM
TV & MOVIE NEWS: I Was a Teenage Popsicle
Bev Katz Rosenbaum has announced that her young adult book, I Was a Teenage
Popsicle, has been optioned for film and TV. (The plan is to
produce it as a film then spin it into a series.)
For any writers reading (and I know there are lots of you), this came about as the result of Bev sending a copy of her book to the production company after watching one of their shows and realizing the tone was similar to her book!
Bev's advice is to take note of which shows and indie movies are similar to your books
and send the producers (you can almost always find the production
companies' websites on the net) a copy of your book along with any endorsements/reviews (good ones would probably be best...).
Great advice and good luck, Bev!
Related posts: Heather Wells series optioned for TV | Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging trailer!
Posted by Keris on February 10, 2008 in American Authors, Movie News, Series, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
February 8, 2008 11:37 AM
MOVIE NEWS: Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging trailer!
Oh, this has been a good week for fans of young adult series. First the Sweet Valley High news and now the trailer for the movie of the first book in Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson series.
And, yes, I think that *is* T4's Steve Jones... sigh...
Posted by Keris on February 8, 2008 in Movie News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
February 7, 2008 2:08 PM
BOOK NEWS: Sweet Valley High
I don't know of a way to say this except to come straight out with it. The Sweet Valley High series is being reissued. THE SWEET VALLEY HIGH SERIES IS BEING REISSUED!
The first, Double Love, is out in April, with more following later this year. [via A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cosy]
Please tell me the Sweet Dreams books will be reissued too. Lord, I was OBSESSED with them! Ob. Sessed.
Related posts: What book first got you hooked? | Guest blog: Hester Browne
Posted by Keris on February 7, 2008 in Book News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)
February 4, 2008 11:08 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Undercover by Beth Kephart
This is her first book for young adults by National Book Award nominee, Beth Kephart. I admit I was a bit intimidated to read this because the whole National Book Award thing made me think of "Literature" and I thought Undercover might be too serious for my tastes. Yes, it's serious. But it's also sweet, charming, sad, beautiful and ... just flat-out wonderful. ("Just flat-out wonderful" - do you think that's what the National Book Award folks said about Ms Kephart?)
Anyway, it's the story of Elisa who writes love notes for boys to give to the objects of their affection, but isn't so lucky in love herself. Her mother and sister are like two perfect peas in a pod, but Elisa is much more like her father. Her father who is working in San Francisco and who may not ever come home.
Things begin to change for Elisa when, first, she discovers a frozen pond (complete with an underwater
statue of a girl reading a book), and then Theo Moses asks her to write a love note for Lila, the most popular girl in the school. Even after Theo has won Lila, he persists in hanging around Elisa, but she has no idea why. Surely he can't like her?
Whether writing poetry, skating, talking to Theo, missing her father, or worrying about her parents' marriage, Elisa is ... I was about to write "sweet" then, but then I let out a huge sigh. She's not "sweet". She's lovely, but she's also wise and sad and full of repressed emotion*. I loved her and wanted everything to work out for her.
Read this beautiful book to see if it does.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
*Have you ever watched David Duchovny's show, Californication? I can see the daughter, Becca, as Elisa.
Posted by Keris on February 4, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
January 31, 2008 9:15 AM
BOOK NEWS: Read the first chapter of Suite Scarlett
I am quite literally giddy with anticipation to read Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett. A large family living in a rundown New York hotel? It's like she's written it with me in mind!
Tragically, it's not out until May, but you can read the first chapter here. Yay!
Related posts: The Bermudez Triangle review | E Lockhart and friends on YouTube
Posted by Keris on January 31, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOOK COVER: Violet By Design
When I interviewed Melissa Walker I mentioned the beautiful cover of the follow-up to Violet On the Runway, Violet By Design and then I forgot to write about it.
So here it is. Ever since that Elton John video (Sad Songs? Nikita?) back in the eighties, I've been a sucker for a black and white picture with a bit of colour (there's probably a technical term, but I don't know what it is) and this one's a great example. Love the skirt, love the pink, love the background. Can't wait to read it!
Related posts: More book covers
Posted by Keris on January 31, 2008 in Book covers, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
January 29, 2008 1:37 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Princess Diaries To the Nines by Meg Cabot
I opened the cover of To the Nines - the ninth (unsurprisingly) book in The Princess Diaries series - and read "Oh, and Michael, the love of [Mia's] life, has dumped her." Noooooooo! I was so devastated that I almost didn't want to read the book. Of course that feeling lasted all of five seconds and soon I was as engrossed in Mia's life as ever.
If you remember, at the end of After Eight, Michael headed off to Japan to work on a research project, leaving Mia devastated. The loss of her first love has sent Mia into a depression and matters aren't helped by the fact that her best friend (and Michael's sister) Lilly, isn't speaking to her. Mia's not stuck for friends, of course - she's got Tina Hakim Baba and, inexplicably, Lana Weingarten also wants to hang out with her. No Michael or Lilly? Hanging out with Lana? It's like Bizarro World!
On top of her personal struggles, Mia has to deal with the prospect of giving a Grandmere-mandated speech to a secretive and all-powerful women's group and deal with the cowboy (literally) therapist her father is making her visit. All this while she's missing Michael terribly. Of course, there's always JP (aka The Guy Who Hates It When They Put Corn In the Chilli) to make her feel a little better about everything...
I loved this book, of course. Mia is forced to address some issues about herself and her friends and to grow up a bit. I don't want her to grow up, because the sooner she does, the sooner this glorious series will come to an end (in fact, the next book is the last - nooooooo!), but Cabot handles all of Mia's challenges so brilliantly that you can't complain.
This book, with its focus on depression and, fabulously, the differences between a constitutional and absolute monarchy (which I didn't understand until reading this book - what did they teach me at school anyway?!), is the most mature and feminist Princess Diaries book so far.
Like the Harry Potter series, I can see how events in this book foreshadow what's going to happen in the last and I can't wait to read it (except that I don't want to since then there won't be any more ... it's a hard life, being a booklover...).
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on January 29, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)
January 28, 2008 3:06 PM
Simon Pulse Blogfest
Simon & Schuster is hosting the Simon Pulse Blogfest from March 14 - 2 7. There will be over 100 YA authors featured during the two week online event, including Lauren Barnholdt, Melvin Burgess, Holly Black, and Susan Cooper.
You are invited to submit questions for the authors in advance and the organisers will choose fourteen; one for each day of the blogfest. You see? We told you YA fiction was hot...
[Via GalleyCat]
Related posts: Chick Lit for little chicks | Top ten young adult books
Posted by Sarah Painter on January 28, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 25, 2008 11:01 AM
BOOK NEWS: Split by a Kiss
Luisa Plaja - occasional Trashionista reviewer, Chicklish editor and all-round lovely person - has a young adult book out in March.
Split by a Kiss is the story of Jo who moves to America with her mum and soon finds herself kissing the school hunk during a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven. When Jo has mixed feelings about Jake's attentions - on the one hand he's hot and he seems to like her, on the other he's groping her and he barely knows her - she splits into two: Josie the Cool and Jo the Nerd.
It's already receiving well-deserved rave reviews, leading to Luisa being called "the next Meg Cabot". (Just then. By me.)
Related posts: Luisa's Growing Yams in London review | Luisa's See Jane Write review
Posted by Aigua Media on January 25, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
January 23, 2008 11:26 AM
COMPETITION: Princess Diaries To the Nines
Last week we were lucky enough to have a Guest Blog by Meg Cabot and this week we've got four copies of the latest Princess Diaries (To the Nines) to give away. (I know I said we had five, but one of them was for me. I finished it yesterday and it was fabulous. I'll be reviewing it next week.)
For your chance to win a copy, please email us your name and address (UK only, I'm afraid) with Princess Diaries in the subject line and the answer to the question you'll find over the cut.
Question: What's the name of Princess Mia's cat?
Good luck!
Related posts: Princess Diaries Seventh Heaven review | Princess Diaries After Eight review
Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in Competition, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
BEST OF 2007 AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Laura Ruby
Laura Ruby's Good Girls wasn't just one of the best young adult books I read in 2007, it was one of the best books overall. I loved it, so I'm happy to introduce Laura to Trashionista readers...
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
A mysterious and humiliating digital photo threatens to destroy Audrey’s “good girl” image.
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I have a perpetually chaotic office where I write surrounded by many, many books and a number of grumpy cats (my trusted advisors).
Your favourite chick-lit book?
My all-time favorite is the original chick-lit book: Austen's Pride and Prejudice (though I'm also fond of Persuasion). I also loved Melissa Bank's The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Though I don't think her books qualify as chick-lit, I've been on a huge Kate Atkinson binge lately.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Elizabeth Bennett of P&P. It's her wit and generosity that make her beautiful. After the book was published, Jane Austen herself said, "I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know."
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
The typical advice: read everything you can, write whenever you can. Dissect your favorite novels to learn how to plot, block scenes, write dialogue, etc. Read your work out loud as it will help you figure out whether dialogue rings true or not. Gather a group of trusted colleagues and start a writer's group in which you share your work in a supportive environment.
The not-so-typical advice: eavesdrop on the bus, listen in on the neighbors, copy down funny things your friends say and steal them for your work (though it's only polite to tell them you're doing so), put thinly-disguised versions of your worst ex-boyfriends in your stories and give them horrible weeping rashes and erectile dysfunction. To quote Isabel Allende, "Writing is about lying and about stealing." Also, it's about revenge. : )
What are you reading at the moment?
I'm reading The Scented Palace, a biography of Marie Antoinette's perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon, as well as McEwan's Atonement.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
I've got a few things going on right now: a young adult novel about a high school girl who is accused of having an affair with a teacher, another young adult novel with a sci-fi twist, and a book for adults about three sisters dealing with their troubled relationship with their father.
Do you have a theme song?
Oh, I have a theme song for every mood. If I'm feeling angry and misunderstood, Girl Anachronism by the Dresden Dolls. Pensive and misunderstood, 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco. Misunderstood and sick of it, Why Can't I Be You by The Cure.
Then there's the retro theme song: Rosemary Clooney's Mambo Italiano, the romantic theme song: Jesus, Etc. by Wilco, the goofily-defiant-and-cheerful-about-it theme song: Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley. The list goes on and on.
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been?
Q: Laura Ruby, how do you find time to write and lead such a glamorous life?
A: Well, it IS very hard to squeeze writing in between shuffling around
in my jammies, talking to the cats, shopping for anti-frizz hair
products, and watching endless cooking shows, but somehow I manage.
Thanks, Laura!
Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 21, 2008 11:04 AM
BOOK NEWS: Sara's Face
I read Melvyn Burgess's Sara's Face a while ago and, while it's a pretty upsetting read, it's also brilliant.
Much of the book is told through transcripts of Sara's video blog and the publishers have come up with a genius promo plan. They've shot eight mini videos made up of a combination of adaptations from the vlogs in the book and new material from the author
The first video will go up on the publisher's teen site Spinebreakers today and a new will be added every three days or so.
Related posts: Simon & Schuster to launch author video site | More Meg Cabot videos | Book Trailerpark - for book trailer news
Posted by Keris on January 21, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 18, 2008 10:59 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
I've raved about the gorgeous cover of Elizabeth Scott's Bloom before, but just look at it! So pretty! So pretty, in fact, that it made me almost giddy with anticipation to read the contents. Fortunately, the I loved the inside just as much as the outside.
17-year-old Lauren has a perfect boyfriend in Dave, everyone thinks so. But perfect isn't necessarily exciting and Lauren's not sure they're right for each other. Except that Dave is popular and before she was with Dave, Lauren was anonymous, now she's Dave's girlfriend. And she's fine with it. Until Evan Kirkland turns up in one of her classes.
Evan isn't cool or popular, but he is charismatic, sexy and mysterious and Lauren finds she can't stop thinking about him.
While Lauren's trying to understand her feelings for Evan (and lack of feeling for Dave), she's also struggling to cope with her relationship with her father. He works all the time and they barely talk anymore. Plus Lauren's mother walked out when Lauren was six and hasn't been heard from since. And then there's her best friend Katie who has family problems of her own.
I loved everything about this book. Everything. Lauren is sweet, Evan is gorgeous, and the family problems suffered by practically every character were heartbreaking. It's not a sad book, though, in fact it's sweet and rather thrilling (mostly because I developed a huge crush on Evan, despite the fact that I'm 36 and he's 17 ... and fictional).
I can't wait to read Elizabeth Scott's next book.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Posted by Keris on January 18, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
January 9, 2008 11:22 AM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Melissa Walker
Melissa Walker's first novel, Violet On the Runway, was highly entertaining and I'm looking forward to the follow-up, Violet By Design (and I'll be featuring its beautiful cover soon). Plus I've got author photo envy - I can't get those bands to stay on my head, they twang off the back! Over to Melissa:
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
A life-long wallflower becomes a runway model--and has to deal with the fall-out.
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I have a pink-flowered, overstuffed chair in the bay window of my tiny apartment in Brooklyn. It gets mottled sun in the morning and is the perfect spot for writing!
Your favourite chick-lit book?
Milkrun by Sarah Mlynowski. It's fast-paced and witty as hell!
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
In a book, it's probably Cyd Charisse from Gingerbread. She really stays true to who she is and knows herself, even though herself is kinda screwed up.
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Keep reading. Always make time to read. While you're enjoying leisure time, you're soaking in sentence structure, pacing, character development techniques... it's the best way to learn to write!
What are you reading at the moment?
Grief Girl, by Erin Vincent. It's heartbreakingly raw.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
The sequel to Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, comes out in March. I just finished copy edits on it! Violet goes international... and she might just fall flat on her face.
Do you have a theme song?
Ooh, yes, many! Right now, it's a rainy day and I'm feeling melancholy, so I've been listening to "Time Won't Let Me Go" by the Bravery. I love it.
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
What is your favorite moment from classic television (ie, the stuff you watched as a teenager)?
The absolutely perfect, heart-swooning, social-world encapsulating, Buffalo Tom-soundtracked, high school hallway moment in My So-Called Life when Jordan takes Angela's hand. You can watch it here.
LOVE.
Thanks, Melissa!
Posted by Keris on January 9, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 8, 2008 3:59 PM
Meg Cabot banned
Meg Cabot's dream has finally come true! She has been officially banned (well, book number eight in her hugely successful Princess Diaries series has, anyway). And it's all thanks to some narrow-minded nitwits in a South Carolina middle school.
Meg writes about the experience (and the evil nature of censorship) in her blog, but she says she's proud to finally join wonderful writers like J.D Salinger, Harper Lee and Maureen Johnson in the realms of the banned. Congratulations Meg!
Related posts: Call to ban Sarah Dessen's Just Listen | More book banning madness
Posted by Sarah Painter on January 8, 2008 in Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
January 7, 2008 10:57 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
I've wanted to read Weetzie Bat for ages. That title. And the subtitle: "Dangerous Angels". Who could resist? Plus it's been recommended to me by more than one person with great taste in books. Of course, this also meant that I was worried I'd be disappointed (because that's how I "roll"), but I wasn't.
Weetzie Bat (yes, that's someone's name) is a really cool girl who meets a really cool boy named Dirk. Dirk's gay, but he and Weetzie have a great relationship, which includes hunting for "Ducks" (which is what they call boys) and visiting Dirk's Grandma Fifi.
Before long, they meet their perfect Ducks and make a life together (yes, all four of them). Other things happen (obviously), but I don't want to say because I don't want to spoil the fast fairytale joy of the book.
I read this book in a couple of hours and in what felt like an altered reality. It really does feel like a modern (very modern) fairytale. It's exciting, sweet, original, joyful and it made me want to live in LA (which, when I went there a few years ago, I hated).
This is the kind of book you could reread and notice something new (or get something new out of it) each time. And the fantastic thing is, it's the first in a series of six. Yay.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Posted by Keris on January 7, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
January 1, 2008 1:11 PM
Eighth Harry Potter?
JK Rowling planned the Harry Potter series in seven parts, but she has now hinted that she may write an eighth book.
Speaking to Time magazine, Rowling said: "If - and it's a big if - I ever write an eighth book, I doubt that Harry would be the central character. I feel I've already told his story. But these are big ifs. Let's give it 10 years."
So, there you have it. Hope for die hard fans of Hogwarts, after all.
[Via BBC]
Related posts: Harry Potter stamps | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | JK Rowling's £40,000 book
Posted by Sarah Painter on January 1, 2008 in Book News, British Authors, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
December 27, 2007 11:00 AM
Keris's favourite young adult books of 2007
Yesterday, I told you about my five favourite non-fiction books of 2007, now it's Young Adult's turn.
5. Jinx by Meg Cabot
Fun, funny, charming and totally involving. I'm so impressed at Meg Cabot's seemingly inexhaustible supply of ideas and Jinx is another great one.
4. Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares
This book is intelligent, wise, funny, inspiring and just gorgeous. I'm so sorry it's the last in the series, but I can't wait to see what Brashares does next.
3. Good Girls by Laura Ruby
When I got to the end of Good Girls, I wanted to go back and start reading it again. Despite being entertaining and sweet, it's also an important book and one that teens should read and pass around (yes, even to their parents).
2. A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
I flew through this book, in fact I read it in one sitting. It’s clever, funny, though-provoking, inspiring, in fact, I think it should be compulsory reading for all teenage girls (and probably boys too).
1. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
I adored this book. For some reason, quite a lot of YA books seem to be part of a series and so you finish the book knowing that you're going to have to read another to learn everything you want to know. That wasn't the case with I'd Tell You I Love You... - it was one of the most satisfying books I've read for ages (Young Adult or otherwise).
Posted by Keris on December 27, 2007 in Opinion, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
December 17, 2007 11:33 AM
MORE ON MONDAY: Seven for a Secret by
Following the untimely deaths of a number of family members, James Mackenzie Wright wrote Seven For A Secret to help children deal with bereavement. Specifically, he wanted to help children see grieving as a positive rather than a painful rite of passage.
The story centres on Holly and George who have lost their 20-year-old sister, Helen. The entire family is in mourning until Holly sees a smiley woman beckoning her up a tree. After climbing the tree, Holly and George are greeted by a group of magpies who take them to meet their sister.
Helen introduces the children to various big concepts, including the idea that you choose your own life and that the level of difficulty of the life you choose is related to how many times you've lived before and what you want to learn from your next incarnation.
The philosophical lessons are interwoven with Holly and George's more child-like adventures and they're both very sweet characters.
While I found Seven for A Secret thought-provoking, it's intended for children aged between 11 and 16 and I'm concerned that there isn't an exciting enough plot to hold their interest. It might be better investigated and discussed with an adult, rather than read as a story, but it's certainly a good introduction to some difficult concepts.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
Posted by Keris on December 17, 2007 in More On Monday, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
December 14, 2007 10:17 AM
Meg Cabot title changes
In the comments to our Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match featuring Suzannah Simon from Meg Cabot's Mediator series, Robin pointed out that the series' titles were different in the US. She's not wrong.
After the first book (called The Princess Diaries, natch), The Princess Diaries series has different titles too. In the US they're called things like Princess in the Spotlight and Princess in Training, while in the UK they run from Take Two to To the Nines (via Seventh Heaven).
(While I'm on the subject, I don't like the new UK covers (left). They're boring and they look too young for the content.)
But it's not just Meg's YA books that have been renamed, I noticed the other day that the third book in the Heather Wells series is called Big Boned in the US, but Size Doesn't Matter in the UK. It's all very curious...
Related posts: TV & Movie News - Meg Cabot | What's in a name?
Posted by Keris on December 14, 2007 in Book related, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
December 13, 2007 11:41 AM
TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Teen Fiction Cafe
I love young adult fiction probably even more than adult fiction (and not just because I write it). Probably my favourite books of the last couple of years have been young adult (like this one and this one) and there are some great YA blogs out there too.
Teen Fiction Cafe features this week's author interviewee Sara Hantz, along with a host of other amazing authors including Bev Katz Rosenbaum and Lauren Baratz-Logsted.
(And don't forget Chicklish for all your British YA author news and reviews!)
Posted by Keris on December 13, 2007 in Trashionista Recommends, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
December 10, 2007 11:48 AM
BOOK REVIEW: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson's second novel, The Bermudez Triangle, was famously banned by a school library in Oklahoma. Why? Lesbian content. I know! In a young adult book! Whatever next? Is it shocking and likely to corrupt our teenagers? Is it heck!
When Nina Bermudez goes attends a college study program during the summer, her best friends and the other two sides of the triangle (I wanted to say "titular triangle" there, but I thought, given the whole banning thing, I'd better not), Avery and Melanie don't know how they're going to manage without her. But before too long, they find that they're interested in being more than friends and soon they're managing just fine.
At Stanford, Nina's coping without them too. She's met a boy, Steve, and fallen madly in love. But, of course, summer doesn't last forever and soon Nina's back home. And not only is she missing Steve terribly, she's also finding her friends don't want her around so much anymore. And soon she finds out why.
The Bermudez Triangle is relentlessly entertaining, sensitive, sweet and wise, with one of the cutest supporting characters in the girls male friend, Parker. All three girls are beautifully drawn and their issues are neither sensationalised nor treated tritely. Of course, it's not just about young lady love (what?), it's also about growing up and finding your own identity and place in the world. Universal themes, in other words. All teenagers should read this book. Yes, even those in Oklahoma.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
Posted by Keris on December 10, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
December 7, 2007 10:30 AM
BOOK REVIEW - The Second Virginity of Suzy Green by Sara Hantz
Reviewed by Luisa Plaja
When Suzy moves to a new town after the death of her perfect older sister, she decides it's time to create a new identity for herself. She's going to get top grades, stop getting into trouble at school, take out her tongue stud, join the virginity club. Yes, the virginity club.
Apparently, in her new school, it's cool to pledge that you won't be tempted by the opposite sex (and that means no touching at all - and no kissing). But Suzy decides to join as part of her new image, with just one tiny technicality - she's not actually a virgin. But if she follows the VC rules from now on, then who could know the truth, except perhaps her ex? And then he turns up...
I can't think of a single YA title set in Australia that I haven't loved, and this book is no exception. Suzy is a sweet character who means well but never quite manages to adopt her new 'perfection', or at least not in every way. This means we still get to benefit from her brilliantly irreverent 'fringes of Goth' outlook, even as she struggles to be one of the glamorous, rich gang. My favourite moments were when her old voice came through loudly at unexpected moments, and always to great effect.
The characters are wonderful, especially Suzy's friend from home Maddie, who only features on the other end of the phone, but really shows us what the old Suzy was like. I also loved the ex, Ryan. We don't get to meet him directly until relatively late in the book, but it doesn't matter because this is an easy, fast read and one of those books where you're halfway through before you know it, desperately turning the pages to find out what happens next. I was surprised to find that the story doesn't dwell for long on the sadder aspects of Suzy's life, but this is something that fits well with Suzy's character. I should also point out that it's amazingly clean for a book with 'virginity' in the title (er, if that makes any sense).
The Second Virginity of Suzy Green has everything - laugh-out-loud humour, exciting cliffhangers, cringey embarrassing incidents, and also some total lump-in-your-throat moments. Plus a lovely cover, featuring two cherries - nice touch!
If you'd like to win a copy of this book, check out the giveaway on Chicklish!
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Good Girls by Laura Ruby
Posted by Keris on December 7, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 29, 2007 6:36 PM
Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Suze v Isabel
It seems that last week you were ambivalent about the fate of Maggie Walsh (Angels) and Sadie Nelson (The Sweetest Taboo).
Let's see if two YA chick lit heroines can spark a discussion... May I present two seriously cool sixteen year olds; Susannah Simon(Suze) and Isabel (Belle).
Susannah Simon
The books: The Mediator series by Meg Cabot: Love You to Death, High Stakes, Mean Spirits, Young Blood, Grave Doubts and Heaven Sent.
Loves: Her ancient leather jacket, her friends.
Men: Jesse. Very hot and unfortunately dead. Haunts her bedroom.
hoe
Isabel ('Belle')
The book: Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning.
Loves: Not much. Isabel rules school with an iron fist; even her friends are scared of her.
Men: Atticus Smith. Isabel meets Smith at a party. He is lovely and seems to like her, but he's also older, and she lies to him. Lots.
Conclusion: If this was a contest based on covers, Isabel would win hands down, even though Suze has got more of them... Isabel is quite a hard character - she is not particularly likeable for the first part of the book; personally, I wouldn't like to fight her. However, Suze has lots of practice fighting ghosts (they can touch - and therefore hurt - her).
Or do you all think I should grow up and stop reading so much teenage fiction? (Don't answer that).
Posted by Sarah Painter on November 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
November 27, 2007 11:36 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Kiss My Book by Jamie Michaels
I was so excited when I read the premise for young adult novel, Kiss My Book. It's the story of Ruby Crane, who sold her first book and got a movie deal at the age of 15, but is then accused of plagiarism.
The clear parallels with the Kaavya Viswanathan scandal appealed to me - in case you missed it, Viswanathan was 19 when her debut novel, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life was published and was subsequently found to contain sections bearing startling similarities to various other books - and to begin with I thought Kiss My Book was going to be great, but it then went off at a tangent and, I felt, lost the plot.
After the plagiarism accusation, Ruby runs away to her aunt's house in a small town in Upstate New York. She calls herself Georgie and decides she's never going to have anything to do with books again. She immediately makes friends with a girl named Rabbit and falls for Rabbit's cousin, Jacob, who is not only a hottie, but a big reader.
After a while, Ruby realises that she misses books and can't live without them after all, and so starts a book club in her aunt's shop. The book then becomes a sort of parable (or maybe a parody of a parable) and I found it both unrealistic and patronising. Despite the fact that the teens are all fully conversant with a range of poetry, the rest of the dimwit residents of this small town appear to have never even heard of books before and get completely overexcited. Rabbit's mother is reading romance novels and so she and Rabbit's dad start having sex again. The Single Moms Club becomes the Reading Moms Club. When Ruby's aunt's store is threatened with closure the town's residents take to the streets in protest.
Yes, Ruby has to admit that she plagiarised, but it's okay because at least, through her time in Whispering Oaks, she's learned to be honest with herself, and brought literature to the unwashed masses. I think you can tell, it irritated me no end.
There's also a subplot about what may be behind the whispering of Whispering Oaks, but this felt like it had been slotted in from an entirely different book. All in all - and despite the fact that Ruby is, most of the time, an entertaining and intelligent heroine and Jacob is a hot hero - Kiss My Book didn't live up to my expectations. A shame.
Rating: 2/5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on November 27, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 2/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 26, 2007 2:41 PM
MORE ON MONDAY: Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Before it was a film with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, Stardust was a slim volume by Neil Gaimain.
Gaiman's Stardust is a fairy tale in the grand tradition of fairy tales. In other words, it is full of darkness and danger and love, and is suitable for adults and teenagers, not tots.
Beyond the village of Wall lies Faerie. Every nine years there is a fair, where Faerie sells its wares to the ordinary folk.
Tristin Thorne, the son of a farmer and a witch's servant, is in love with the haughty Victoria Forester. He promises to go into Faerie and bring back a fallen star, in return for her hand.
When Tristin finds the star, she is a beautiful daughter of the moon called Yvaine. The dying Lord of Stormheld threw a gem and accidentally knocked her from the sky, and Yvaine is not too thrilled about it.
Worse still, the Lord's sons are searching for the gem, and an ancient witch is searching for Yvaine; she wants to cut out her heart so that she and her sisters can be young again.
So, you have an everyman hero, a quest, a wicked witch, and a land of magic. Nothing unusual there, you may think, but Gaiman is a master story-teller and his characters are funny and true.
Stardust is a delightful book and one I urge you to seek out and devour; everybody needs magic of this kind in their lives.
Rating: 4/5
Like this only chick lit? Try: Under My Spell by Deborah Wright
Posted by Sarah Painter on November 26, 2007 in British Authors, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 16, 2007 11:23 AM
BOOK COVER: Elizabeth Scott's covers
I'm still being positive this week (well, I was in New York last weekend, how could I not be positive?) and YA novelist Elizabeth Scott has the nicest covers I've seen for a long time. I haven't even had a book published (yet!), but I have total cover envy. 
Posted by Keris on November 16, 2007 in Book covers, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 13, 2007 11:11 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Slam by Nick Hornby
Slam is Nick Hornby's first book for young adults and he's made a great job of it. Closer to the populist style of High Fidelity, rather than his more literary (and, in my opinion, less successful) novels, like How To Be Good and A Long Way Down.
Every preview I've read of this book describes it as being about, Sam, 15, who talks to his poster of skateboarding hero, Tony Hawk ... and the poster talks back. But that's really not what it's about at all. When Sam meets Alicia, they become very serious very quickly. Alicia's parents don't think Sam's good enough (mainly due to the fact that his mum had him at 16) and Sam's mum thinks things are happening too fast. And then Alicia tells Sam she's late...
Sam's reaction isn't ideal, but it is natural - and that was the thing I loved most about this book. Sam makes loads of mistakes, but he's such a charming and believable character that you want things to work out for him.
The Tony Hawk thing is an interesting and entertaining device - Hawk doesn't really talk back, Sam just hears relevant (most of the time) soundbites from Hawk's autobiography, which Sam claims to have read thousands of times. Having had my own celebrity obsessions as a teen (I've no interest now, of course... *cough*), I appreciated how any pronouncement by the object of your obsession can take on an importance out of all proportion and I thought it worked brilliantly in this book.
Of course, being Hornby, it's very well-written and it's also very funny and incredibly touching. I found myself near to tears a lot of the time. I'd never really thought about how teenage pregnancy could affect the baby's father before (silly, I know) and this book was a great insight into the subject. Plus it's just a really good read.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try: Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Posted by Keris on November 13, 2007 in British Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 25, 2007 2:09 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Violet On the Runway by Melissa Walker
When I was a youngster I fell in love with a series of books about an innocent young girl - I think she was called Caitlin - who got into modelling. It was like America's Next Top Model, but not so skanky. So I was excited to read Melissa Walker's Violet On the Runway, the story of 17-year-old Violet, who believes she's P.L.A.I.N. until a model scout tells her she could be a star.
Violet's friends and family are unsure this is the right thing for her, particularly when the scout, Angela, insists she goes to New York to try out for the Fashion Week shows.
Violet does brilliantly and ends up moving to New York to model and live in one of those model apartments with other models, on of whom is, inevitably, a complete bitch. Violet enjoys the modelling, particularly since she seems to be good at it, but she's not sure New York, the people or the industry are right for her...
I enjoyed Violet On the Runway to an extent. It was an easy read and Violet is an endearing character, but I felt like it didn't really live up to its promise. Early in the book Violet overhears Angela talking about how Violet's going to be "skewered" and, for me, the skewering just never happened. It was too nice, Violet's journey was too easy.
But then this *is* the first in the series - the first chapter of Violet By Design, out in March next year, is included in this book - so perhaps things hot up for Violet in the future.
One thing I will say though is that there never would have been any cocaine snorting in the Caitlin books. Either young adult fiction is getting too realistic or I'm getting old. Or both.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on October 25, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 17, 2007 11:21 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn
Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn has a really interesting premise. Gideon Rayburn starts a prestigious boarding school, but he's not alone. Well, as far as he knows he is, but we know better, because the book is narrated by a girl. A girl who is living in Gideon's head.
I know. It sounds far-fetched - well, it *is* far-fetched, obviously - but it's only weird for the first couple of chapters, then you come to accept it and it's fine. In fact, it's very entertaining to have a girl's take on a boy's thoughts and behaviour. If only it could have happened to me when I was 16 ... or maybe not.
Gideon's two roommates set him a challenge to lose his virginity to a nice girl named Molly, but of course, Gideon, because he's a boy, has set his own sights on a not quite so nice (but far hotter) girl named Pilar.
At first I thought this book was going to be fairly typical - the roommates would set Gideon up and humiliate him and it would all be terrible and I would find it very stressful, but it wasn't like that at all. Gideon is a lovely character (the girl inside his head falls in love with him within the first few chapters) and the events of the book are much more realistic and less painful than I imagined.
It was actually issued as an adult novel, but it's YA through and through (apart from one instance of a very rude word). Judging by the colours on the back of the book, the publishers were presumably trying to cash in on the success of Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep.
I haven't read Prep, but I really enjoyed Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
Posted by Keris on October 17, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
October 2, 2007 8:51 AM
BOOK REVIEW: The Queen Geek Social Club by Laura Preble
The back of this book piqued my interest, as it proclaims "I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a geek". I'm a geek too. I think - I'm a dork, at least - so I was intrigued to read a young adult book from a geek's point of view.
Shelby Chapelle hasn't had a close female friend for a while. She gets plenty of dates, but she's missing out on female companionship, particularly since the death of her mother. Yes, her inventor father has created a robot companion - Euphoria - but that's not really the same, is it? But then Becca Gallagher comes to town...
Becca's a self-proclaimed geek too and soon she's convinced Shelby that geeks need to band together if they're going to take over the world. Of course, the first step to taking over the world is taking over the school and so the "Queen Geek Social Club" is formed. Becca has plenty of ideas of what they should do - starting with force-feeding too thin supermodels - but Shelby isn't sure she wants so much attention. Wasn't she happier as a lone geek?
I enjoyed the Queen Geek Social Club. Shelby and Becca are both fun characters (particularly Becca) and I enjoyed the schemes they came up with. The problem for me was that they weren't really geeks - they were just too cool! Plus the suspension of disbelief required by the robot Euphoria was just too much for me. I don't know much about robots, but I'm not sure they can make meals, wash dishes and form romantic attachments for other household products.
Having said that, I would like to read the next book in the series, Queen Geeks in Love (out next month), if only for Becca.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
Posted by Keris on October 2, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
September 25, 2007 9:17 AM
BOOK REVIEWS: Does Snogging Count as Exercise? and Does Glitter Count as Camouflage? by Helen Salter
Reviewed by Luisa Plaja of Chicklish
Holly Stockwell is fourteen and has never been snogged, which is clearly bordering on abnormal according to the magazines she and her best friend Poppy read. She hates exercise in all its forms but has had the misfortune to be born into a sports-mad family. She also fancies Poppy's brother Luke, but Poppy seems to be dumping her for the gorgeous and rich Claudia. What's a girl to do?
In the sequel, Does Glitter Count as Camouflage?, I hope I won't be
giving too much away when I say that... Holly may think she has the boy
she wants now, but first she has to go on holiday with Poppy. And
anything could happen, so she'd better start taking relationship advice
from anyone who'll give it. Meanwhile, Poppy seems to think it's a good
idea to change her looks to get her man. And, through all the chaos,
why is there now an exercise bike in Holly's bedroom?
I can't recommend these two books enough as gorgeous, laugh-out-loud-funny reads. Anyone who's ever sat through a French lesson at school will especially adore the French jokes - there are plenty in both books. The characters feel like people you know and love (or love-to-hate, in the case of Claudia), and the plots keep you reading, enjoying and occasionally cringeing for England. Utterly teen and brilliant fun.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try "... Startled by His Furry Shorts!" by Louise Rennison
Posted by Keris on September 25, 2007 in British Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 18, 2007 10:39 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Jennifer Lynn Barnes was 19 when she wrote Golden. 19! Do you know what I was doing when I was 19? Following Matt Goss around London. Shut up. Anyway, Barnes' time was much better spent (obviously) since Golden is a treat.
Like the other women in her family, Felicity "Lissy" James has "the Sight" - she can see people's auras. Her mother, Katie, can find lost children. Or at least she usually can. When she is unable to find 4-year-old Cory Park until after his murder, the James family are hounded out of town and return to Katie's Oklahoma home town.
Lissy is greeted by three bitchy girls who tell her that her new school is split into "Goldens" and "Nons". They make it quite clear that Lissy is likely to be a Non and when, on Lissy's first day, she both throws up and passes out, her position is assured.
But the vomiting and fainting was a reaction to Lissy's first glimpse of her new Maths teacher, Mr Kissler. As a child, Lissy gave the name "Garn" to a really bad aura, an aura that signifies a person has done, or is doing, something really really bad. She's never before seen an entirely Garn aura until Mr Kissler's so, with the help of her younger sister, Lexie and Audra and Dylan (two friendly fellow Nons), Lissy has to work out just what Mr Kissler has done and what she can do about it.
The first three quarters of Golden are entertaining, but not earth-shattering - I wasn't excited to get back to it, but I enjoyed it as I read - but then the last quarter is absolutely fantastic. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was so wrong. If Barnes can come up with something as inventive and thrilling as the end of this book aged 19, Lord only knows what she'll do next.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Posted by Keris on September 18, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
September 11, 2007 5:03 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Growing Yams in London by Sophia Acheampong
Reviewed by Luisa Plaja of Chicklish
Makeeda, a Londoner of Ghanaian descent, has great friends and a fun life, even if her parents are a bit strict and she's sometimes jealous of her cousin Tanisha. But when she meets and falls for fit DJ Nelson and Tanisha encourages her not to tell her parents, things begin to change for Makeeda.
She starts to see Nelson behind her parents' back and without telling Nelson that's what she's doing. Meanwhile she's also heading for trouble at school, ignoring her teacher's advice with the direction she takes in a school project - even though it means researching Ghanaian history and learning potentially life-changing facts. But possibly worst of all, it looks like Makeeda's friendship with Bharti may never be the same again. Makeeda's in for a tough time...
I found this book a complete delight from start to finish. Makeeda is a sweet, lovable character (though she does make mistakes), and her actions were always completely believable. When she starts to get in touch with her roots, it provides lots of laughs as well as being fascinating. I loved her good friends, too, especially Bharti. Her little sister was priceless, and her not-so-good friends (Laura and Afua) were three-dimensional and in some ways not that bad, although you could completely see Makeeda's point of view about them. The best thing about this book for me was the description of everyday life and love in Northwest London. A brilliantly entertaining read.
Enter the giveaway on Chicklish to win your own copy!
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Phosphorescence by Raphaella Barker
Posted by Keris on September 11, 2007 in British Authors, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
September 7, 2007 11:36 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Beauty*licious by Lisa Clark
I absolutely loved Lisa Clark's first book - Think Pink - so I was keen to read her second Beauty*licious, tempered only by the fact that I don't have very much interest in beautifying myself. I skip the hair and make-up pages in magazines since I've been reading variations on the same ideas for about 25 years now!
But Beauty*licious really is different. For a start, Lisa Clark could write about anything (mortgages, pensions, Westlife) and make it entertaining. She really has got the coolest and funniest style. Plus the illustrations are so gorgeous they make you want to read every page.
Like Think Pink, the advice is given by the fabulous Lola Love and her funky friends (all with different beauty requirements: petite, curvy, afro hair, etc.). I even learned something (why didn't it occur to me that my sleep problems may just be related to the fact that I haven't done any exercise for about two years?).
Beauty*licious would make a fantastic gift for a teenage girl (Christmas is coming, you know), but it's a great read no matter how old you are.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Think Pink by Lisa Clark
Posted by Keris on September 7, 2007 in British Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
August 31, 2007 10:40 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers
In the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, Alice Kuipers' debut has been released in both teen and adult editions.
It's the story of Claire and her mum who are both so busy they barely get to spend any time together and instead the majority of their communication is done via notes on the fridge door.
When Claire's mum is diagnosed with breast cancer, we learn their reactions to it via the notes. Of course, both Claire and her mother are shocked and devastated, but they also struggle to cope - not only with the diagnosis, but with each other.
Because many of the notes are short, I read Life on the Refrigerator Door in less than an hour. I found that because I'd spent so little time with these people and knew so little about them (it's hard to convey much backstory in notes on the fridge door), it wasn't as involving and moving as it could have been.
I'm actually a bit annoyed that this book has been treated as a "serious" book about "serious" issues (and Kuipers' introduction doesn't help) when I've read much more moving portrayals of both cancer and mother/daughter relationships in so-called "fluffy" chick lit books.
The above probably sounds more negative than I mean it to be. I did enjoy this book (as much as you can enjoy a book in which one of the main characters has breast cancer), but I would have liked to get to know Claire and her mum a lot better and without gimmicks.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acochella Marchetto
Posted by Keris on August 31, 2007 in Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
August 24, 2007 2:34 PM
PREVIEW REVIEW: Jinx by Meg Cabot
You know how much I love Meg Cabot. She's one of my guaranteed authors (authors whose books I buy without thinking, considering, reading reviews, etc.). Her latest book (well, I say latest - she's so prolific, she might well have written another since I started writing this review) is Jinx, a stand-alone paranormal (ish) YA and it's not out (in the UK) until 7 September.
Jean Honeychurch has been nicknamed Jinx since lightning struck the hospital on the night she was born. Bad luck doesn't just follow her, it seeks her out and throws up on her shoes. The beginning of the book sees Jean arriving in Manhattan, where her parents have dispatched her to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins for a few months. Something's happened back in Iowa and Jean's family decided it was best to get her out of the way until things have calmed down.
What neither they nor Jean anticipated was that her formerly sweet cousin Tory is now a witch in both senses of the word. She's appalling to Jean, has two almost-as-awful sidekicks in Lindsey and Gretchen and is dating (well, they're "friends with benefits") the school drug dealer, Shawn. Luckily her circle also includes suprisingly sweet Chanelle and surprisingly hot neighbour, Zack.
When, on her very first day in town, Jean saves Zack's life, Tory cottons on to Jean's secret. Only she's far from sympathetic. Not only does she think that she, and not Jean, is the latest in a line of family witches, she's in love with Zack and is willing to do anything to get Jean out of her way. But Jinx will learn that ignoring her apparent gift will only make things worse and in order to deal with her wayward cousin she needs to accept herself as she is.
I had thought that Jinx was going to be a bit edgier than Meg Cabot's previous books, but apart from occasional references to sex and drugs, it was a typical Cabot book. By which I mean it was fun, funny, charming and totally involving. I loved Jean, I really loved Zack and I really, really hated Tory. I'm so impressed at Meg Cabot's seemingly inexhaustible supply of ideas and Jinx is another great one. The only disappointment is that I've now got to wait ... ooh, weeks* ... for her next book.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
* The third Heather Wells mystery, Size Doesn't Matter, is out in December. And actually I haven't read Size 14 Is Not Fat Either yet.
Posted by Keris on August 24, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)
August 23, 2007 11:04 AM
TV NEWS: Gossip Girl
Last August we brought you news that Cecily Von Ziegesar's controversial teen series Gossip Girl was to be made into a TV series by OC creator Josh Schwartz.
Now we have some more information for you and (over the cut) a video clip!
The series centres around a group of spoilt rich girls at an exclusive Manhattan boarding school, whose antics are immortalised by an anonymous blogger, Gossip Girl. As Catwalk Queen editor Kim says, "The words 'guilty pleasure' spring to mind..."
Look out for the show in the US from 17 September on the CW. And in the UK... hopefully soon!
Carry on over the cut for a sneak preview... (and if you recognise that narrator's voice, that's cos it's Kristen Bell, aka: Veronica Mars!)
[Via Catwalk Queen].
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOOK NEWS: Love, Stargirl
Last week, our interviewee Holly Shumas name-checked Stargirl (of the novel of the same name, by Jerry Spinelli) as her favourite female character in fiction.
This week, I was browsing Amazon and found that there's a recently-released sequel: Love, Stargirl. The cover alone makes me want to read it! (But what's new?)
Related: YA archives.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
August 20, 2007 2:17 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares
Despite not having read the second or third books in Ann Brashares Summer of the Sisterhood series, I was sad to hear that Forever in Blue would be the last. Between reading the first book and watching the film adaptation, the four girls feel like friends.
For the final book the girls are struggling to find the time to spend together. Tibby is at film school in New York, struggling to cope with the intimacy of first love. Carmen, surprised to find herself at an acting camp with her new friend Julia, is learning that not all friends are as good or kind as the three she's grown up with. Bridget, away on an archeological dig in Turkey, is learning that you don't always get what you want. At art school, Lena is learning as much about life and love as she is about art.
Now their lives are so separate, it's really only the pants that are keeping them together, but are they relying on the pants too much?
The thing I loved the most about this book is that the four girls have all found something they're passionate about. Brashares writes beautifully and enthusiastically about all four subjects. I wish when I was a teen I'd had a book that made art, acting, archeology and film seem both so wonderful and achievable. I also love the strength of the girls' friendships. There's a scene when Lena phones Tibby, worried because she hasn't heard from her, and is so tender and caring it made me cry.
This book is intelligent, wise, funny, inspiring and just gorgeous. I'm so sorry it's the last in the series, but I can't wait to see what Brashares does next.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on August 20, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
August 17, 2007 7:16 PM
TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Magical Musings
At Trashionista, we love us a good group blog. So I was delighted to stumble across (seriously - who knows what I clicked to get there, I'm just glad I did) another one: Magical Musings.
Bearing the tagline "Five writers who believe no story is complete without a little magic", the bloggers write novels ranging from historicals to fantasy to romantic fiction, and you can find out more about them all here.
They have some really interesting book-related blog posts on the main page, such as what happens when one of your must-read authors falls off your must-buy list (Adriana Trigiani, I'm looking at you!) and how much sex is OK in YA? (Read it and see!)
Great. Just what I needed: another must-read bookish blog... pretty soon I'll have no time to write anything myself!
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Opinion, Supernatural, Trashionista Recommends, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 8, 2007 2:43 PM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Alice Kuipers
Alice Kuipers' book, Life on the Refrigerator Door, is causing a bit of a stir. Published in both adult and teen editions, it's a compelling tale about the effects of breast cancer on the relationship between a mother and a daughter, told entirely via notes on the fridge door. A review is on the way.
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
During a tragic year, Claire and her mother learn to make time for each other.
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I write on a laptop which I bring with me wherever I travel. Right now, I'm working in my office in Saskatoon. Next week, I'll be working on my mum's kitchen table in London.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
I loved Bridget Jones' Diary when it came out. I think Helen Fielding is a terrific writer.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
My granny is 92 years old and was just in a Muller Light ad. She's my hero.
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
If any of you are writing, I'd suggest that you keep going and keep going and then write a little more. It's hard to get what you want to say on the page, it's hard to get published, it's hard to get up every day and write, but if you want to do it then don't let anyone stop you.
What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished the new Harry Potter. I enjoyed it - I think JK Rowling has done an amazing job with those books. I'm reading a novel called Steppenwolf now by a German writer called Herman Hesse. He's one of my favourites. Not an easy read but very beautiful.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
I'm working on several projects. One is a novel about a baby that falls out the sky onto someone's doorstep. One is a short story about a woman who is having an affair. I just finished a short story about a doctor who wants to save a patient who's 94 years old.
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
I was having lunch with some other writers who live here in Saskatoon
and someone asked, "Why do you write?" I think I write because I can't
do anything else; I write because the only way I can understand the
world is to put it on the page. I liked thinking about that question
and I'd never been asked it before.
Thanks, Alice.
Posted by Keris on August 8, 2007 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
July 26, 2007 1:25 PM
E Lockhart and friends on YouTube
In our interview with E Lockhart yesterday, she mentioned that sometimes she likes to write in a coffee shop with novelist friends Maureen Johnson, John Green and Scott Westerfeld. What she didn't say was that some of these writing sessions have been captured on video and posted on YouTube for our enjoyment:
Related posts: YA author Maureen Johnson's book The Burmudez Triangle banned! | Looking for Alaska by John Green
Posted by Keris on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 25, 2007 10:13 AM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: E Lockhart
We're huge fans of E Lockhart here at Trashionista - see reviews here, here and here! - so we're very excited that she's answered our questions.
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
The Boy Book - Hyperverbal teenage girl. Rogue ex-boyfriends. Exploitation of hooters. Terrors of school trip. With penguins!
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I have a tiny tiny office/closet with dark pink walls and built-in bookshelves. There are pictures pinned up all over and stacks of papers everywhere. I have coffee and diet ginger ale and absolute silence. Although sometimes, for variety, I write in a coffee shop with my novelist friends Maureen Johnson, John Green and Scott Westerfeld.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding. And the sequel, Edge of Reason. Why? Because I laughed out loud. Repeatedly. Especially at the bit about loaning out the wonderbra in prison. I love stylized prose and outrageous situations. I adore Louise Rennison's books for the same reasons.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Bridget Jones makes me laugh, but for a favorite character I prefer more inner steel. Jo March, from Little Women, is probably the character I think of most often in daily life. I think about her charity, her impulse for goodness, and the way it combined with her unconventionality and her love of hilarity and storytelling. She was figuring out how to be a woman, and a writer, and a good person -- all of which are things I still deal with every day.
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Finish your book. The big difference between me and many equally (or more) talented but unpublished writers is that I sit down every weekday and write. I finish a project, revise extensively, and begin the next one within a reasonable time frame. It is the discipline and the finishing that make the difference, not the talent.
What are you reading at the moment?
I have approximately twenty books going at any one time, plus audiobooks. Mainly I read chick lit, literary fiction, food books, mysteries, travel writing, and humor.
Currently in my pile: Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), Twelve Sharp (Janet Evanovich), Home to Big Stone Gap (Adriana Trigiani) [hope she likes it better than we did], Size Twelve is Not Fat (Meg Cabot), Laughing Gas (P.G. Wodehouse), The Bookwoman's Last Fling (John Dunning), The Coffee Trader (David Liss).
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
In the UK, the novel coming out after THE BOY BOOK will be FLY ON THE WALL: HOW ONE GIRL SAW EVERYTHING. It's about a teenage girl at a New York City art school who's a collector of odd objects and a Spider-man fan. She's also very freaked by the opposite sex, and one day she wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room in her high school, just to see what guys talk about when girls are not around. And the next thing she knows, she is. A fly. On the wall of the boys' locker room. She sees it all -- and I mean, all. [We've read it. We loved it.]
But truthfully, that book came out in the states in 2006, so I haven't exactly been working on it. I've been finishing The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which is a novel about a boarding school girl who infiltrates and eventually dominates her boyfriend's all-male secret society. It was really hard to write because I had to devise all these complicated pranks and secret society rituals, but in the end I'm quite pleased with it. It comes out in the USA in March 2008. I don't know about the UK yet!
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
Question: Would you like me to take you to a stylist who will give you
the perfect haircut? Because really, you shouldn't be cutting your hair
yourself any more, my dear, and I know you keep having bad stylist
experiences.
Answer: Yes please!
Thanks, E!
Posted by Keris on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Recent Release, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOOK REVIEW: Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
Reviewed by Trashionista reader Angela Richardson...
This book is the first in the House of Night series, where P.C & Kristin Cast have created a world where vampires have always existed. For all Buffy addicts like me who have been suffering from the void of losing their favourite series… we may have been sent a form of methadone from our American friends.
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has been Marked, to the disgust of her friends, who watch her become sicker and sicker in daylight hours. She is rushed to the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is if she survives the Change. Not all of those chosen do. It’s tough being away from all that she knows and on top of that Zoey finds that she’s no average fledging. The vampire goddess Nyx has marked her as special. When she discovers the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must find the courage within herself to set things back to the way they should be.
Okay this is probably teen lit but I tell all you parents now, keep it for yourself and only when you finish it wrap it up as the present you intended. Parents will also be pleasantly surprised at Zoey’s moralistic side to her character that, to cut a long story short, tells teens it’s not cool to be a slut or a drunk.
The only annoying thing about this book is the similarities to Harry Potter. Zoey hates her family and gets whisked away from her horrible life to a magical school, okay it’s for vampires and not witches and wizards, but you get the point. Plus she is separated out from the other pupils as special by a different mark on her forehead… now we’re getting a bit too close to Harry’s scar. This is a shame because the plot is much better than Rowling’s over hyped books. [Ooh! - Diane]
Of course this was always going to be compared to Buffy as it is a teen novel that contains vampires, but I see this as a good thing as there are no other similarities in the plot. It’s like Buffy’s arch-enemy vampire has written a book to show the world that they aren’t all nasty blood sucking fiends, but have a gentler side too: awww!
Overall this was fast paced, funny and exciting. It held my attention all the way through and Zoey grows into a feisty heroine who’d I’d definitely want on my side. (That is if I ever got into a fight between vampires… yes I know I’ve been watching way too much sci-fi.)
Go give your self a well-needed mental holiday from all the everyday stresses and strains and read this book. I guarantee you’ll come away refreshed and ready to fight another day.
Rating: 5/5.
Like this? Try Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (12)
July 20, 2007 10:01 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
We've talked about Anatomy of a Boyfriend before, when the cover was causing a stir in America. I love the design and was very interested to read the book, which wasn't really anything like I expected: I thought it would be Louise Rennison-esque, instead it's more like Judy Blume...
Daria Snadowsky's debut novel is the story of the relationship between 17-year old Dominique and her new boyfriend Wes. Wes is a shy but sweet athletic/writerly type, while Dominique wants to be a doctor - hence the title of the book, she's obsessed with medical textbooks!
We follow the couple from their first meeting, through to their first semester at university, and all the ups and downs and those major 'firsts' that come with a first love...
This very much reminded me of a modern-day Forever (although with a little less um, description). It's certainly not for younger teenagers but the sexual stuff is realistic and appropriate in the context of the story. Easy to read and with some great emotional depth, I just wondered if the teenager's voices were entirely lifelike: Dom is a little immature at times where her best friend Amy sometimes sounds like SATC's Samantha. Also the relationship between Dom and Wes takes a while to get going, and I was a bit frustrated by that!
I did love the two girls' friendship and found the story very moving and well-crafted. It's quite an easy read, but definitely not a facile one. I was sad when I'd finished it and got quite emotionally involved with the characters so I'm definitely looking forward to more books by this new author. (In other words, thank you Luisa for the loan!)
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Good Girls by Laura Ruby.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 18, 2007 4:27 PM
Guardian disses JK Rowling; her publisher disses Asda
(Now is not the time to point out that 'diss' isn't the hippest of vernacular - and no, nor is 'hip'; I'm a writer not a rapper).
Nicholas Lezard is pulling Potter to pieces in his latest piece on the Guardian books blog. As someone who got bored 50 pages into Order of the Phoenix, I'm not the hugest JK fan (although I think she seems lovely and is very very clever). But saying her prose is "toxic" seems a bit much, no?
If you're of the opposite opinion to Lezard, make sure you don't head to Asda for your copy when it's released worldwide on 21 July - i.e. this Saturday! Potter Publishers Bloomsbury claim the supermarket chain has unpaid bills dating back 3 years and so it will not be supplying the shop with precious copies of the latest installment.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 18, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
July 12, 2007 2:17 PM
BOOK REVIEW: The Serious Kiss by Mary Hogan
The first thing I want to say about Mary Hogan's young adult novel The Serious Kiss is that the cover is so wrong for the book. The cover made me think it was a historical novel, set maybe in the 19th Century, perhaps about a girl who worked in vaudeville. It made me think of (adult) novels like Angela Carter's Wise Children or Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.
So if it's not a Victorian vaudeville novel, what is it? It's the story of Libby who lives in a rundown house with her rundown family. Her father's alcoholic, her mother's overweight. With her best friend, Nadine, Libby comes up with a plan to have a serious kiss - a "totally real, sincere, meaningful, soulful, poetic, inspiring, knee-buckling, love-filled, journal-worthy, insomnia-producing, appetite-reducing, mind-blowing, life-changing, unforgettable, undeniable, serious kiss". She's just starting to get close to Zack Nash when her parents drop a bombshell - they're moving to a different town.
And that's not all. Not only do they move to Barstow, a one horse town in the middle of the desert (I've been there; I would *not* want to live there), but they're moving into a trailer park, where the grandmother they never knew they had lives. As Libby starts school, humiliation piles on humiliation until something's got to give.
At the start I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book. Libby seems a little too obsessed with not gaining weight and with her mother's obesity and, though I know teenage girls do worry about that, making it such a big part of a book only perpetuates the problem, in my opinion. But as I read on, I started to understand and sympathise with Libby and I ended up really enjoying it.
I do think that once the family arrived in Barstow things changed a little too quickly and the resolutions were just a bit too easy, but it's an interesting read that tackles some interesting issues.
Rating: 3/5
Like this? Try Holes by Louis Sachar
Posted by Keris on July 12, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 6, 2007 10:38 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Good Girls by Laura Ruby
The back cover of Laura Ruby's Good Girls claims it's a Forever for the 21st Century. What is it with Forever these days? Everyone's Judy Blume obsessed!
The premise of Laura Ruby's teen debut Good Girls is brilliant. At a party, Honours student Audrey decided to break up with her sort-of boyfriend by giving him something to remember her by. Unfortunately, someone takes a picture of her in the act and soon it's emailed around the school and even her parents have seen it.
I was worried that it might be a bit sensationalist. You know, the shocking things teens get up to with their loose morals and modern technology - but it wasn't like that at all. In fact, it was completely brilliant. One of the best books I've read for ages. (I'm constantly thrilled by how great YA books are.)
Following the photo, Audrey learns about friendship, relationships, self-worth and judging people. It made me cry and left me with a daft smile on my face. Yes, it's probably a bit more "adult" than Forever (although it's a long time since I've read Forever, so I couldn't be sure) but teens are a lot more "adult" than they were 20 years ago, aren't they?
When I got to the end, I wanted to go back and start reading it again (and there's only one other book that's made me want to do that).
Like Tanya Lee Stone's A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl, Good Girls is an important book and one that teens should read and pass around (yes, even to their parents).
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Posted by Keris on July 6, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
July 3, 2007 12:43 PM
TUESDAY THREE: Overboard!
When Diane mentioned the other day that we’d recently featured a couple of books with the word “Overboard” in the title, my Tuesday 3 radar went ping! (Tuesday 3 radar, £2.99, Argos. Probably.) So grab your life jacket as I splash out on three very different overboard books!
Love Overboard, the second of the Janet Evanovich romance novel re-releases, features Ivan who is the proud owner of a two-masted schooner, and a descendant of pirates. During the holiday season he takes a charter of passengers out every week, the success of which relies on his trusted crew. Imagine his horror when, as he's preparing to take his final trip of the season, he's greeted by Stephanie - the woman he sold his beloved family home to only a matter of weeks ago.
The story chronicles the week aboard the 'Josiah T Savage' and then the aftermath, as the season draws to a close and everyone moves back onto dry land. Ivan struggles to regain his landlegs, and has to restrain himself as Stephanie refuses to return any of the approaches he makes. And then supernatural things begin to happen... what's haunting the house?
Sarah Smiley’s Going Overboard is subtitled "The misadventures of a military wife." It's a memoir of a year in the life of Sarah, whose husband Dustin is in the navy and, in this perilous political climate, often abroad in rather dangerous situations. Which means that Sarah is home alone with their two young boys, alternately worrying herself sick and cursing her husband for having joined up in the first place.
Aimee Ferris’s debut YA novel Girl Overboard focusses on the aptly-named Marina, whose ambition is to be a Marine Biologist. Leaving her ski-loving boyfriend behind in Vermont, Marina sets out on a six-week study tour of the Caribbean, where she'll be given the opportunity to swim with and learn about sharks, turtles and dolphins. Along with the inevitable teen angst and snogging, there's a message about ecology and endangered species making Girl Overboard as educational as it is entertaining.
Posted by Keris on July 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Non Fiction, Romance, Tuesday Three, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
July 2, 2007 11:56 AM
YA star Megan McCafferty invites you to create a trailer
Big fan of (famously plagiarised) YA chick lit author Megan McCafferty?
Why not show your love by entering her contest to make a trailer recapping the plots of the first 3 novels in her famous Jessica Darling series (so that's Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, and Charmed Thirds). The trailer should be 3 minutes or less, and Megan will blog about entries as they come in, before picking her favourite - the creator of which will win a bag full of signed books.
So why not give it a go? - You couldn't possibly do worse than this...
More details and how to enter here. [Via Galleycat].
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 28, 2007 1:28 PM
THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Dodie Smith
I've been meaning to "do" Dodie for some time, and as it's cult classic week on Trashionista, what better time to honour the author of one of the first, and most fabulous YA/crossover novels: I Capture The Castle. A favourite of many modern authors (as Rachel Johnson will testify), ICTC is the charming, funny and sometimes emotionally raw tale of Cassandra, a romantic 17-year old who can't wait for her first love... but who finds things don't always work out the way you expect.
Of course it's The Hundred and One Dalmatians for which Dodie became famous (and she apparently got very cross if people spelt 'dalmatian' wrongly so I checked I'd got it right!) but she yearned to be a more 'serious' writer than her best-known works would suggest. She was a huge fan of Henry James and championed many modern novelists she admired, among them a young Julian Barnes. Smith also wrote plays (best known is Dear Octopus) and was passionate about the theatre. But her talent was for more lighthearted (but very well-constructed) fiction - and there's nothing wrong with that!
In her personal life, she was a survivor: a bit of a loner, she would escape to her school's library and find company in books. Orphaned by the age of 18, she struggled at first to support herself, but clearly she survived in the end, although struggled for money in her later years, after the death of her husband Alec Beesley with whom she had a very loving (if, it is thought, purely platonic) relationship for many years.
Read this: I Capture The Castle. Plus, if you're interested in learning more about this unconventional and opinionated writer, I highly recommend Valerie Grove's wonderfully entertaining biography Dear Dodie, which is easy-to-read yet very well researched.
[Picture via BBC]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 28, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Cult classic week, Thursday Trailblazer, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 22, 2007 12:02 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Fly On The Wall By E Lockhart
Fly On The Wall is one of my favourite YA books, and just about the only one of E Lockhart's novels that we haven't reviewed! The subtitle, How One Girl Saw Everything, gives a clue that the title might actually be literal - and it is. Gretchen is studying Franz Kafka's classic story of alienation, The Metamorphosis, for her English class and thinking that it might not be so bad to be a bug for a while and get a different perspective on her boring (yet typically teenage-angsty) life. Her wish is granted, and she gets the chance to be a LITERAL fly on the wall of the boys' locker room. Where yes, she does see everything... and learns a lot about the opposite sex, and about the things she appreciates about her life in the process.
It takes a great author to carry off such a far-fetched storyline, and E Lockhart is that author. I liked this book even more than her 'earthbound' novels, with its echoes of Kafka, myths and superhero storylines as well as the realistic portrayal of the daughter of separated parents. This is another book that both teenagers and adults will love - and you don't have to be a fly on the wall to see that.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
Carnegie Medal winners announced
Meg Rosoff has won Britain's most prestigious children's literature prize with her second novel, Just In Case.
Philip Pullman's Northern Lights has won the vote for the best Carnegie book of all time, the Carnegie of Carnegies.
Related posts: Phillipa Ashley's Decent Exposure wins the Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme award | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi scoops the Orange Prize
Posted by Keris on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Prize Winners, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOOK REVIEW: Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris
Before reviewing YA novel Girl Overboard, I'd better admit to an interest - Aimee Ferris used to be a member of the online chick lit writing group I host. Reading a book by someone you know (albeit not in person) is always a bit of a worry - reviewing it is even scarier - but luckily Girl Overboard was just as good as I expected it to be.
Part of Penguin's Students Across the Seven Seas (SASS) series, Girl Overboard focusses on the aptly-named Marina, whose ambition is to be a Marine Biologist. Leaving her ski-loving boyfriend behind in Vermont, Marina sets out on a six-week study tour of the Caribbean, where she'll be given the opportunity to swim with and learn about sharks, turtles and dolphins.
Also on the boat are (inevitably) a new best friend (Jeannette), a mean girl (Rhee) and a hot boy (Link). While the characters may be predictable, the situations and settings aren't. Aimee worked with marine life in the Caribbean herself and her knowledge and passion for the subject shines through.
The thing I loved about this book was that while there was teen angst and (yes) snogging, there's also a message about ecology and endangered species that's even more convincing for being woven into the story. It's never heavy-handed or preachy.
Plus it's nice to read about a teen who is honest and acts with maturity and integrity, while still being cool and cute.
Girl Overboard is as educational as it is entertaining and that's a rare blend.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
June 15, 2007 11:59 AM
Manga for young women
With Meg Cabot's manga sequel to Avalon High out next month, the Wall Street Journal online take a look at the entire manga for young women phenomenon. [via Galleycat]
Related posts: DC Comics launches Minx | Avril Lavigne manga | Manga romance
Posted by Keris on June 15, 2007 in Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 14, 2007 5:30 PM
THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Judy Blume
Continuing with both the Judy Blume theme and the kids's writers theme of the last week or so, it's about time we honoured Judy Blume as a true Trailblazer. A revolutionary author for children and teenagers, Blume began tackling subjects no-one wants to talk to their parents about as far back as the early 1970s.
Taking on such taboos as religion, periods, masturbation, sex, bullying and even the Holocaust, Blume had all teenagers' concerns covered and managed to write books which covered serious topics in a reassuring way whilst making the plot and characters more important than the 'message'.
Her iconic book Forever, an honest (somewhat explicit) novel about a couple's first sexual relationship, taught generations of girls and boys what to expect from their 'first time' without either scaring kids off or glorifying sex... quite a feat. Her books are well-written and always go beyond the topics they cover to create realistic people with feelings young adults can relate to. It's that, rather than any sensational reading material, that keeps generations coming back to Blume.
Unfortunately, some adults can't see beyond depictions of subjects they're uncomfortable with, and Blume's books are often banned from school and even public libraries. But her readers appreciate her, as do The National Book award people: in 2004 they gave her Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Thursday Trailblazer, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 12, 2007 7:48 PM
JK Rowling honoured with Blue Peter special!
Surely all wannabe women writers relate/aspire to JK Rowling's rags to riches story, especially as she seems like such a jolly nice lady (sorry, went a bit Enid Blyton there).
Blue Peter obviously thinks highly of her too as they're honouring the famously reclusive author with a special edition of the kids's programme (but you can watch it too, we won't tell..) Children can even enter a BBC competition to attend the filming - find out how here if you know someone who might be interested.
The programme will air on 20 July, the day before the next Harry Potter is released.
[Via TV Scoop].
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 12, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
June 11, 2007 3:58 PM
What's your "Judy Blume moment of truth"?
In honour of the release of the fabby-looking Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, Beth Kendrick of The Literary Chicks.com is asking the above question. (Your moment might be that "that all the really cute, sporty boys preferred your busty, bubbly best friend to you, just because you were a freakishly flat-chested introvert who preferred Sylvia Plath to Seventeen," says Kendrick). Read more here.
Did you grow up with Judy Blume? I loved Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. Blume created teenage characters with real concerns that girls could relate (and sometimes aspire) to...
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 7, 2007 2:05 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Dramarama by E. Lockhart
When Sarah and Demi meet, they become instant firm friends. They recognise each other as kindred spirits, as they possess an internal 'bigness' that makes them want to be performers. Demi changes Sarah's name to Sadye to suit her aspirations, and the pair are sure that nothing can ever affect their friendship or their dreams.
They both pass the audition for theatre camp and are set to spend the summer of a lifetime. But Demi clearly thrives from the very start, throwing himself into the lifestyle, whereas Sadye is more hesitant. Then Demi finds himself a serious boyfriend and the rift between the friends deepens. Sadye feels intimidated by the talent of her friend and her roommates, and she starts to question whether this is really her destiny after all. But at the same time as her insecurities increase, the spotlight seems to shine on Demi more and more. Can their friendship survive?
Fans of E. Lockhart's previous books will not be disappointed with Dramarama. The characters and relationships are realistic and you feel like you're right there with Sadye, experiencing the highs and lows of her summer. Demi is also a wonderfully drawn character, and all the people Sadye meets at the camp are completely believable. I particularly loved Sadye's constant questioning and challenging of the status quo - she really was a wonderful character.
Dramarama is filled with references which will be a delight to anyone with a love of musicals and theatre. This isn't necessary to enjoy the book, though, as everything is explained and brought to life for all readers. The plot and narration are sometimes poignant, often hilarious, and always utterly engaging.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List and/or The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
Posted by Keris on June 7, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 5, 2007 4:54 PM
BOOK REVIEW: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
I've been hearing great things about I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You for ages now (I even picked it up in New York two years ago, but then had to put it back when my sister reminded me there wasn't any more room in my suitcase). Ally Carter has written adult novels, but I'd Tell You... is her first book for Young Adults.
Cammy attends the exclusive and prestigious Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. The residents of Roseville believe Gallagher Girls to be spoiled and privileged, having no idea they're actually spies-in-training. Cammy's mother is the headmistress and Cammy's spy skills are prodigious, but while she excels at Covert Ops, she's clueless where boys are concerned. So when she meets Josh she treats dating as a mission, with its own invented identity.
At the same time as trying to crack the boy code, Cammy's dealing with gorgeous new teacher Joe Solomon, new student Macey, a secret she can't tell her best friend, Bex, and, you know, schoolwork and studying.
I adored I'd Tell You... For some reason, quite a lot of YA books seem to be part of a series and so you finish the book knowing that you're going to have to read another to learn everything you want to know. That wasn't the case with this book; it was one of the most satisfying books I've read for ages. But I'd really love to read more about the Gallagher Girls and I'm in luck: Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy is out in October.
Like this? Try After Eight by Meg Cabot
Rating: 5 out of 5
Posted by Keris on June 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 24, 2007 3:52 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
The cover of Sara Shepard's first novel, Pretty Little Liars, compares it to The O.C. It didn't remind me of that show, but it was reminiscent of a few other things: the Traveling Pants series, the Gossip Girls series, Donna Tartt's The Secret History, even the Twilight Zone. And it left me ... entertained but confused.
Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Ali are the best of friends in the same way many teenage girls are friends, i.e. they know each other's secrets and have a tendency to use them against each other. Particularly Ali, the leader of the pack. So when Ali disappears the girls are of course horrified, but also a little bit relieved. Understandably, they drift apart. Three years later they've all changed a lot and then they start getting messages signed by 'A'. Not only does the mysterious 'A' know their past secrets, he or she knows exactly what they're up to now too...
All the girls are horrified, but don't feel like they can tell anyone, least of all each other, because, well, Ali's dead, isn't she, and ghosts can't send texts, can they?
Pretty Little Liars is the kind of book I would have loved to have read in one sitting. It's utterly compelling and entertaining. The girls' problems aren't particularly original (one's bulimic, one's struggling with her sexuality, etc.), but it's very well-written and I did actually like most of the girls, despite their misdeeds.
My problem with it was the ending. I can't say much about it, obviously, but it's either hugely disappointing or brilliantly ballsy. I don't know. What I do know is that there will be a sequel and I will absolutely be reading it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund
Posted by Keris on May 24, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (34)
May 8, 2007 10:59 AM
TUESDAY THREE: Lists
I do love a good list and this week's three books use lists in different, but equally entertaining, ways.
E Lockhart’s The Boyfriend List is the story of Ruby Oliver, a 15-year-old girl who's been referred to a psychiatrist after suffering a series of panic attacks. Ruby's psychiatrist notices that she's talking about boys quite a lot, so asks her to make a "boyfriend list", listing every boy she's ever had any kind of romantic liaison with, however insignificant. Most of the chapters of this wonderful book are named after one of the boys on the list, and Ruby narrates the story of what happens with each boy within each chapter, allowing the narrative to switch around, and also feeding in information about her family, her rift with her best friend and the causes of her anxiety.
Karen Bosnak’s Twenty Times a Lady is a novel about that most sensitive of sexual subjects: your "number". You know, THAT number. Delilah Darling has just been made redundant. Even worse (in her eyes): she wakes up after a particularly regrettable one-night stand and realizes she's now slept with 20 men. She's shocked, especially as she's just read that the average girl's number is half that... so she vows that she won't sleep with another man. Ever.
This leaves her with a bit of a problem really, as she's hoping to get married and have children eventually. So she takes her redundancy payment, her hire car and her Blackberry and sets off on a journey across America to track down her lost loves. After all, she reasons, surely one of her ex-lovers must be the right guy for her... her romantic instincts can't be that bad. Can they?
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is Amy Krouse Rosenthal's autobiography - kind of. It's an alphabetised account of her experiences and thoughts on life, large and small, interspersed with a chronology of her life experiences, from how she came up with the idea of the book to why she could never concentrate during Laverne and Shirley. Although it's a very funny book it's not a superficial or silly one - Amy shares some very personal facts and difficult experiences, including unexpected deaths of loved ones. It's a completely absorbing read.
Posted by Keris on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Non Fiction, Tuesday Three, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
YA author Maureen Johnson's book The Burmudez Triangle banned!
We seem to hear a lot about American school libraries banning books - Harry Potter has come under fire a lot. And Judy Blume was never very popular with parents, was she?!
But YA chick lit author Maureen Johnson was surprised to find out that her book The Bermudez Triangle was tossed from a school library in Oklahoma. One mother complained that lesbian content and underage sex and drinking were not suitable topics for her (get this) 15 year old daughter to be reading about. Fellow YA author John Green has apparently called for a letter-writing protest campaign, while Meg Cabot teases she's just jealous that her books never get banned!
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Opinion, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
May 2, 2007 2:54 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Ooh La La, Connie Pickles by Sabine Durrant
I enjoyed the first Connie Pickles book (Cross Your Heart, Connie Pickles) enough that I wanted to read this sequel, but my expectations weren’t incredibly high. The original book was fun enough, but it was a bit derivative and I didn’t feel like I got to know Connie all that well. Ooh La La changed all that.
Connie has arranged to go to Paris, ostensibly on a French exchange, but really to find her grandparents - her mother’s parents - Les Bellechasses. Plus it might help her forget that her best friend William (whom she realised she likes as more than a friend in the first book) is now dating Connie's irritating friend, Delilah. Connie has high hopes of the family she's being sent to stay with: Pascale and her two brothers, but the reality doesn't quite live up to the fantasy.
Pascale is more Goth than the sophisticated French teen Connie was expecting, Pascale's parents' marriage appears to be on the rocks, Delilah turns up in Paris on an exchange of her own, and things with Connie's grandparents don't quite go as planned either. But there's still Pascale's brother Philippe and they are in the most romantic city in the world after all...
With Ooh La La Connie Pickles, Connie really comes into her own. She's described as a teen Bridget Jones in the promotional blurb and I'd agree with that, but there's also a touch of the Adrian Mole's about her (and, yes, a bit of Georgia Nicolson). She's very funny and charming and sweet, as is this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try "...Startled by His Furry Shorts!" by Louise Rennison
Sabine Durrant also writes "grown-up" chick lit: Having It And Eating It & The Great Indoors
Posted by Keris on May 2, 2007 in British Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
April 27, 2007 2:03 PM
Chicklish's Helen Salter giveaway
Fabulous young adult fiction blog, Chicklish (edited by friend-of-Trashionista, Luisa Plaja) currently has a competition to win a copy of Helen Salter's Does Glitter Count As Camouflage? along with a matching bookmark.
Details - as well as an interview with Helen Salter and a review of the book - here.
Related posts: Young Adult archives | Taming the Beast (reviewed by Luisa)
Posted by Keris on April 27, 2007 in Book related, Competition, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
April 26, 2007 11:46 AM
Another cover 'snap'!
Trashionista writer Danielle thoroughly enjoyed Sara Manning's Let's Get Lost, a book that's won almost as many plaudits for the coolness of the cover as the fabness of the story...
Here's the coolness in action:
Pretty, no? And unusual looking, too... So imagine my surprise when I found another young adult author has almost exactly the same cover:
Carry on over the cut to see...
...the cover of Sarah Dessen's new book Just Listen:
Don't even try to tell me that's not "inspired by"! I know it's the publishers fault, never the author's, and Sarah Dessen's book, a newcomer to my toppling review pile, looks very interesting. But really!
At least Puffin have time to pull their socks up and change the cover: it's not released until July...
Related: Are Butterflies the new feet? | Musical book covers | Judging books by their covers
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
April 24, 2007 8:41 AM
BOOK NEWS: 21 Proms
With the popularity of anthologies like This Is Chick Lit (and er, that other one), a teen short story anthology was obviously well overdue. 21 Proms is a collection of stories about... prom nights. (Who'd have thought?!) It features YA authors like John Green and E Lockhart, as well as chick lit crossovers like Sarah Mlynowski.
Being an anthology, of course it has to have several feet on the cover - but it sounds like a great read!
[Via Galleycat]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Short Story Collections, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
Interview with Aury Wellington...
No, not on here (unfortunately): editor of controversial anthology This Is Not Chick Lit, Elizabeth Merrick launched a new series of author interviews on Bookslut this week. Her inaugural interviewee is Aury Wellington, author of controversial YA book Pop!
Find out how she writes, what her big break was (clue here) and why her mum always wanted her to join the army... all by reading the interview.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 23, 2007 4:47 PM
Another Traveling Pants movie?
We really loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book and movie, so we're excited about rumours of another Traveling Pants film.
It's been suggested that the scriptwriters will use the final book in Ann Brashares' series, Forever in Blue, as the main plot with bits
of the second and third books featured too. The original
core ensemble - America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and
Blake Lively - are all in talks to reprise their roles. [via Ferrerafans]
Related posts: Top 10 Chick Lit film adaptations | Gawker on Ann Brashares | Movie News archives
Posted by Keris on April 23, 2007 in Book related, Movie News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
April 18, 2007 10:59 AM
BOOK REVIEW: A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
We actually included Tanya Lee Stone’s A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl in our Top 10 Young Adult Books last year, but we hadn’t actually reviewed it ... until now.
The first thing I must say about this book is that it’s written in verse. But don’t let that put you off. It’s the stories of three high school girls - Josie, Nicolette and Aviva - who all date the same unnamed bad boy, though not at the same time. All three think they can change him and I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say that none manages it and the girls get hurt instead.
I flew through this book, in fact I read it in one sitting. It’s clever, funny, though-provoking, inspiring, in fact, I think it should be compulsory reading for all teenage girls (and probably boys too).
I didn’t notice while I was actually reading the book, but once I’d finished and I started reading it again, I realised that each poem could easily stand up on its own. It’s an incredible achievement. Plus it features an inspired use of a copy of Judy Blume’s Forever. What more could you possibly want.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 11, 2007 10:30 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning
Taking a break from the usual chick-lit titles, I thought I'd review something different. Okay, so it is chick-lit I suppose, only for youngsters. And before you roll your eyes at me and say, 'Hey - aren't you, like, twenty?!' then let me tell you that basically, we're all young at heart. And I'm twenty-two. So there.
And let's face it, it's hard to resist a beautifully-written crossover, which can only briefly describe Sarra Manning's Let's Get Lost. Author of other teen tales such as Guitar Girl and Pretty Things, Manning has a wonderful ability to portray teenage issues in a way that's compelling for teens and adults alike.
High-school bad girl Isabella is best known around school for her bad attitude and personal army of tag-along friends. With a father she finds relatively easy to control and a life of doing practically everything she wishes, Isabel is the girl that everyone else wants to be. However, haunting her daily is the death of her mother: something she feels responsible for and something which will, it seems, never leave her.
When she meets the seemingly wonderful - and not to mention older - Atticus Smith at a party, Isabel is immediately mesmerised. A university student, his freedom and contentment reaches out to Isabel the sad rebel who cannot get away from the fact that everyone knows about her mother's death.
Throughout the book, Isabel and Smith become closer, and sometimes not so close again, as Smith struggles to uncover just what makes Isabel who she is. With trouble brewing in school, and friends gradually beginning to grow apart, Smith is the only thing Isabel has to hold onto. But will everything stay the same?
Despite being aimed at teenagers, Let's Get Lost is a fabulous read for absolutely anyone, touching on the subject of bereavement and how it can affect everyone someone so young. A tale of young romance and a secretive girl almost lost in her many layers that will either make you yell out 'I told you so' or... well... cry.
Admittedly it's not the funniest book out there, but frankly? It doesn't need to be. Sharp writing and a moving tale is what makes this book unique. So I'd recommend it to anyone who is in need of something cute yet serious. Manning certainly has a gift for compelling writing and she demonstrates it beautifully throughout this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart.
Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on April 11, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)
April 2, 2007 1:45 PM
MORE ON MONDAY: Looking for Alaska by John Green
John Green’s Looking for Alaska is probably the book I’ve heard most consistent raves about over the last couple of years (Green’s second book, An Abundance of Katherines, would be in the top 5 too) so part of me was excited about reading it, but equally I expected to be disappointed. I wasn’t.
When Miles Hunter goes away to school he is looking for something to happen. Obsessed with the last words of historical figures, Miles wants to find the Great Perhaps (Francois Rabelais' last words were, "I go to seek a Great Perhaps".) At Culver Creek Boarding School Miles's roommate, nicknamed the Colonel, introduces him to the gorgeous and enigmatic (aren’t they always?) Alaska Young and Miles’s life takes an exiting turn.
The students of Culver Creek are into pranks, sneaking out to smoke and drink, and basically getting away with as much as they can without risk of expulsion. But, of course, when you live on the edge someone’s bound to fall off ...
John Green writes beautifully and I found that once I started reading Looking for Alaska I didn’t want to stop. The book is separated into “Before” (beginning “one hundred thirty six days before”) and “After”, which was a clever device - I found myself reading faster and faster as I got closer to whatever was going to happen (which you don’t expect me to tell you, do you?).
The characters aren’t exactly original - Miles is the self-conscious, friendless nerdy type, taken in hand by the strong and confident Colonel. As for Alaska - do all teenage boys want a narcissistic depressive who will tease them constantly and never let them know where they stand? Fiction suggests they do. Having said that, I was kind of fascinated by Alaska too, so maybe everyone loves a tragic heroine.
What really stood out for me - apart from the excellent writing - were the teachers (who appeared to be typical cliched authority figures, but were really no such thing), the abrasive but witty dialogue throughout and an inspired scene towards the end that had me laughing out loud.
Looking for Alaska certainly deserves all the accolades that have been heaped upon it and the included preview chapter of An Abundance of Katherines suggests that book does too.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try Holes by Louis Sachar
Posted by Keris on April 2, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, More On Monday, Prize Winners, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: sneak peek of the cover
So apparently, there's this famous series of books about a wizard - you may have heard of them?
Those desperate for some, any, news about JK Rowling's new and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, might be sated for a little while by a look at the brand new UK cover.
Hop over the cut to see it:
[Via Galleycat]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 2, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
March 23, 2007 12:59 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
Dear Zoe has been compared to The Lovely Bones (which unlike some people, I found a brilliant read) but I'm going to state this right now: it's much, much better.
It's narrated by Tess, in the form of one long letter (divided into chapters) to her three-year old sister Zoe who died in a car crash almost a year earlier - on September 11, 2001.
It includes her recollections of the past and details of where her life is now, leading up to her attempts to get down on paper what happened the fateful day that Zoe died - and her own part in what went wrong.
It's intended to be a young adult novel, I think, but anyone could read and enjoy it. It's the best YA I've ever read, totally unputdownable. It's subtle and poignant and heart-rending, but doesn't layer the sentimentality on with a trowel, which The Lovely Bones (much as I loved it) did. I also thought the exploration of private grief on a day associated with public grief was compelling and heartbreaking. It made me think of all the people whose loved ones died on that day, both in the Twin Towers attack and for unrelated reasons. I'm not ashamed to say I cried. A lot.
But this is by no means a depressing book - it concentrates a lot on normal teenage life. At times, I found myself thinking it really was written by a 15-year old girl, rather than a grown man! Philip Beard has perfectly captured the life of a teen girl and the inner workings of a teenager's mind. He must have done some research into the grooming rituals of an image-obsessed teenager, as he has this down pat.
He's created a flawed but intensely likeable character in Tess. He's also created a very vivid and true-seeming depiction of a family's loss and I highly (highly!) recommend it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Like this? Try Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
FRIDAY FLICK: A Cinderella Story
Based on Cinderella (yes, really!) A Cinderella Story is the big ball of cheese you might expect from a Hilary Duff (star of Lizzie McGuire) and Chad Michael Murray (star of One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek) collaboration. Aka: tween heaven!
Sam has an evil stepmother, played by the fabulous Jennifer Coolidge (from Legally Blonde and Friends spin-off Joey) who has worked her to the bone ever since the death of Sam's father. Sam has to work all hours (on roller skates) at the family cafe as all the local jerks from school come in and laugh at her over their hamburgers. And all this while her stepmother and bitchy step-sisters pamper themselves and put their feet up. Thank goodness, then, that Sam has a secret friend she can talk to over IM every night - someone who really understands her, and isn't like all those other guys from school... (you can see where this is going, can't you?)
This film is fun (if a tad annoying) and silly and of course completely predictable. "A harmless girlie rom-com" is one of the comments on the front of the DVD, and that about sums it up - it's harmless and fluffy and tweens will probably love it, but it's the kind of film it's best to suspend all disbelief over - or the ideal watch at 2 am when you're having trouble sleeping, or at 5 pm when you're trying to cook a meal, paint your toenails and talk on the phone and just want something on in the background. (Which to be honest, is probably the best place for Chad Michael Murray and his smarmy expressions - the background...)
Like this, only better: 10 Things I Hate About You
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 23, 2007 in Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 21, 2007 10:29 AM
BOOK REVIEW: How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot
Gracious, Meg Cabot's prolific, isn't she? We can barely keep up with all her releases. How To Be Popular is her latest stand-alone young adult book and it's a good one.
Subtitled 'when you're a social reject like me, Steph L.' it's the story of Steph Landry who became a household name in her town after spilling a drink on a classmate's skirt. No, really. Expressions like "Don't pull a Steph Landry" caught the imagination of the town's population and Steph's afraid she'll never live it down.
That is until she finds a book that she hopes will teach her how to be popular and starts putting its tips into action. Of course, the popular kids in her school wonder what's going on with her, as do her (unpopular) friends, Jason and Becca. And when you consider that Steph's grandfather is marrying Jason's grandmother and her mother is no longer speaking to either the bride or groom and the family business may fail and Steph can't seem to stop spying on Jason doing press-ups in the nude ... well ... Steph's in danger of "pulling a Steph Landry" herself.
As we've come to expect (if not demand!) from Meg Cabot, How To Be Popular is a very sweet and funny book. It's set in a small town, which Cabot manages to convey as brilliantly as she does New York in the Princess Diaries books. Some lovely characters, an entertaining plot and a totally satisfying ending - what more could you ask for? Fabulous.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 5, 2007 10:00 AM
BOOK REVIEW: The Goddess Society by Kelly McKain
The Goddess Society is a club formed by Lia, Jen and Shelley for the purpose of losing their virginity. Kelly McKain’s novel starts out fairly shocking (there’s sex on page 2) but actually becomes much tamer as it goes on.
Shelley is a model who doesn’t get on with her mother and thinks she may be in love with her best friend. Or maybe not. Jen is definitely in love with her best friend, Dylan, but she’s got issues with her mother too. She’s dead and Jen can’t remember what happened. Despite the fact that Lia is two years younger than her two friends, she’s so keen on Jase she’s willing to throw all caution to the wind.
The girls are great friends and the description of their friendship was my favourite thing about this book. It’s written very naturally; it’s not too cheesy, but not unnecessarily antagonistic either. It reminded me a bit of Ann Brashares Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. But without the pants.
And if you enjoy it, you can read more about the girls in The Lost Goddess.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on March 5, 2007 in British Authors, Rating: 3/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
February 26, 2007 10:21 AM
TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Reader Girlz
Created by Young Adult authors Justina Chen Headley, Janet Lee Carey, Lori Ann Grover and Dia Calhoun, Reader Girlz is a new online book community "celebrating gutsy girls in life & lit".
Each month, they will showcase a YA novel "featuring a strong female character (or two!)". The first book is Justina Chen Headley's Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies). Join the club by friending them at MySpace or read the current issue here.
Find out more over the cut.
But that's not all. They also want to encourage readers to become active in their communities. "We want to connect you with stories that will change the way you and your friends see yourselves, and inspire you to have the guts to make history of your own. So you'll see lots of great community service ideas that tie in with our featured books."
A fabulous idea and an entertaining and intriguing site, I'm sure you'll agree.
Trashionista recommends archive
Posted by Keris on February 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
February 23, 2007 2:27 PM
BOOK NEWS: Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume
Judy Blume featured in our chick lit precursors list and this June sees the publication of Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume.
Edited by Jennifer O'Connell, the book features essays from authors including Trashionista faves Meg Cabot, Megan Crane, Diana Peterfreund, Alison Pace, Sarah Mylnowski and Shanna Swendson.
With a line-up like that (along with such a scrumptious cover), I don't think I can wait til June ...
Posted by Keris on February 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
February 20, 2007 8:16 PM
SPOTLIGHT: Louise Rennison
I have to admit to being a little bit obsessed with Louise Rennison. I think it might be because, as I've already mentioned, I originally thought she was a "real" teenager, so once I thought of spotlighting her this week, I couldn't think of anyone else.
Plus there's the news that the team behind Bend It Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice - Gurinda Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges - are making a film of Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging. Currently in pre-production, it's due for release next year. No casting news yet, sadly.
Anyway, Louise! Louise grew up in Leeds, Yorkshire in a three bedroom house shared with her parents, grandparents, and an aunt, uncle and cousin! When Louise was 15, the family (presumably not all of the above) emigrated to Wairakei in New Zealand.
Back in the UK and after some travelling and an assortment of jobs including playleader and dental nurse, Louise enrolled on a Performing Arts course in Brighton.
She then wrote and performed an enormously successful one-woman show called Stevie Wonder Touched My Face, which led to Louise writing for the Evening Standard. After writing an article called Dating Over 35, she got a call from Piccadilly Press suggesting she write a book. In fact, they suggested a teenage girl’s diary.
The first book, Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging, was a huge hit and Louise has gone on to write six more (with more to come). The books have been even bigger in the US than the UK, selling over a million copies and reaching Number 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Louise lives in Brighton.
Carry on over the cut for Louise's bibliography.
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers (Called On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God in the US)
Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas
Dancing in My Nuddy Pants
... And that's when it fell off in my hand (Called Away Laughing on a Fast Camel in the US because the UK title was thought to be too rude; even though the "it" wasn't the "it" you're probably thinking of!)
... And then he ate my boy entrancers
... Startled by his furry shorts!
Posted by Keris on February 20, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Movie News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
February 15, 2007 2:16 PM
BOOK REVIEW: "... Startled by His Furry Shorts!" by Louise Rennison
After Maureen Dowd derided chick lit by erroneously quoting from a Louise Rennison book, I remembered that I’d bought the latest in the Georgia Nicolson series and hadn’t yet read it.. ‘... Startled by His Furry Shorts!’ is the seventh book in the series that began with Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (the book mocked by Dowd).
Georgia Nicolson is a teen girl (I’m not sure how old she supposed to be, but I don’t think she’s aged since the first book) with a bunch of best mates (the Ace Gang), a gaggle of potential boyfriends (Robbie the Sex God, Masimo the Luuurve God, and Dave the Laugh), a couple of enemies (Wet Lindsay and Astonishingly Dim Monica), a demented little sister, eccentric parents and a few mad cats.
Very little happens in any of these books, except that Georgia and friends mess about like loons, pretend to be Vikings, fancy boys and have a laugh. When I read Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, I thought it had been written by a "real" teenage girl; it has that mix of naivety, eccentricity, petulance and good humour. And the books are really very funny (in a mad way). For example, this book begins:
I can’t believe I am once more on the rack of romance.
And also in the oven of love.
And possibly on my way to the bakery of pain.
And maybe even going to stop along the way to get a little cake at the cake shop of agony.
Shut up, brain. Shut up.
If you laugh at the above, then you’ll love these books. If you think "What on earth is she going on about?" then you probably won’t. But why not give them a try anyway? You never know, you might reconnect with your inner daft teenager.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Princess Diaries: After Eight by Meg Cabot
Posted by Keris on February 15, 2007 in British Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)
February 9, 2007 1:38 PM
Avril Lavigne manga
This is one of the strangest things I've heard for a while ... in April Random House books will put out the first in a series of manga books "starring" singer Avril Lavigne.
The first, Make 5 Wishes, features an introverted teenager who has a series of wishes granted by a demon. When things don't turn out as planned, she meets her hero - Avril Lavigne - who "helps her find the courage to conquer her own personal demons."
It's not just me, is it?
Related posts: Manga Romance / DC Comics launches Minx / Wuthering Heights gets graphic
Posted by Keris on February 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (10)
February 7, 2007 11:45 AM
Meg Cabot's new Scholastic series
I know full well how insanely prolific Meg Cabot is - just check out her bibliography* - but even I was shocked by her new deal. Meg announced on her blog that she has signed with Scholastic to produce a tween series and two new teen trilogies.
The tween (ages 8-12) series - Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls - will launch in 2008. The teen trilogies, Airhead and Abandon, will be published in 2008 and 2009.
From Scholastic’s press release (which you can read in full here): "Airhead is daring, highly entertaining and a new direction for Meg Cabot, and Abandon is a dramatic modern retelling of the myth of Persephone."
I love her books, but I just don’t know how she does it.
* which doesn’t even include two further Queen of Babble books, two further Heather Wells (Size 12 is Not Fat) books, Pants on Fire, and Jinx.
Related posts: Our interview with Meg / Princess Diaries: Seventh Heaven / Princess Diaries: After Eight / Queen of Babble / Meg Cabot reads Trashionista (probably)
Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
BOOK REVIEW: The Salem Witch Tryouts by Kelly McClymer
Another of the books I’d hoped to review during NaNovember - Kelly McClymer wrote The Salem Witch Tryouts for National Novel Writing Month. A young adult paranormal, it's a departure from Kelly’s usual style (she’s previously written historical romance).
Prudence is half witch (on her mother’s side) and half mortal (on her father’s side). Growing up in Beverly Hills and encouraged by her mother, she has lived as a mortal and neglected her magical side, concentrating instead of becoming captain of the cheerleading squal as well as, of course, being popular and “kewl”.
But then Pru’s parents decide to move the family to Salem, Massachusetts, where Pru will begin her magical education at Agatha’s Day School for Witches. Pru is desperate to retain her popular status at her new school, but finds that her magic just isn’t up to scratch. She’s just not cool either, lunching with the “fringies” - the kids that don’t belong to any one particular group - and being tormented by the school’s bad boy.
Plus she’s just not getting enough time and attention from her best friend back in California, who’s grounded so she can only text and doesn’t seem to have that much time for Pru anymore anyway.
I enjoyed The Salem Witch Tryouts to a point. I liked the premise and Pru is a fun character, but basically this book reads almost entirely as set-up for the series. There’s very little plot or action and the ending - a summary of what’s gone before, which literally begins with the words, "So, to recap ..." - is anti-climactic. A disappointment (but I’ll probably read the next book in the hope that things really get going).
Rating: 2 out of 5
Like this? Try I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum
Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in American Authors, NaNovember, Rating: 2/5, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
February 2, 2007 4:45 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Think Pink by Lisa Clark
How I wish I’d had Lisa Clark’s Think Pink when I was 14.
Subtitled ‘the ultimate “go-for-it” guide for girls!’ Think Pink takes us on ‘a kick-ass road-trip to self discovery’ accompanied by 14-year-old Lola Love and her friends.
It includes advice, anecdotes and quizzes on subjects from increasing your self-esteem to making (and keeping) friends, avoiding toxic boys and making future plans, and is not only entertaining and useful, but looks gorgeous too - Holly Lloyd’s illustrations complementing the text perfectly.
The first in a much-needed series (have you looked at the teen non-fiction shelves lately? There’s nothing there!) Think Pink will show you how to ‘fill your life with sunshine-filled, candy-kissed moments.’ And who wouldn’t want that?
And it’s not just for teens, I found it entertaining and inspiring and I’m *cough* in my thirties.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Like this? Try Being a Girl by Kim Cattrall
Posted by Keris on February 2, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Self development, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
January 31, 2007 6:56 PM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lisa Clark
Lisa Clark is the author of non-fiction teen book, Think Pink (review coming Friday). You can read all about Lisa, Lola Love, and the other stops on Lisa's Think Pink blog tour on her website. Catch her tomorrow here.
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
Think Pink is the ultimate go-for-it guide for girls! Did it in 11 - get me!
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
I'd love to be one of those super-cool author types who sit in a coffee shop with their macs or like SJP in Sex and The City who 'couldn't help but wonder' while she tapped away in a cute vest and knicker combo, but instead, I generally sit at the dining room table in my tea-stained PJs!
Your favourite chick-lit book?
Just one? Geez...The Truth About Ruby Valentine by Alison Bond is awesome - in fact, so was her first book How to be Famous...oh, I can't choose - they're both a salacious insight into the movie industry and I love 'em!
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Besides Lola Love - leading lady of Think Pink who I love, not because I created her but just because I think she's too-cool-for-school, I love Viva in Emma Forrest's 'Namedropper' - she's what I wish being a
16 year-old me was actually like!
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Persistance and perserverence, a good idea and the ability to toot your own horn, because nobody is going to know more about your book than you, so don't be afraid to big it up to anyone that will listen!
What are you reading at the moment?
Because I'm a multi-taskin' kind of girl I've got a few on the go right now - Cupcake by Rachel Cohn, Fearless by Adrienne Huffington* and the latest editions of Grazia, Bust and O magazine - I love me
some Oprah!
* Review coming soon - Keris
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
As well as being a newbie author type, I'm a journo-girl too so I'm constantly pitchin' and writing features for teen titles here and in the US, book wise though, I've just finished editing Beauty*licious,
the second in the Think Pink series, out June 07, I'm working on books 3 and 4 right now and I'm developing some fiction ideas for Lola and the Pink Ladies too!
What question have you never been asked, but wish you had (you can answer it too if you like)?
Q. Lisa, would you like this super-swanky apartment in New York City, a Marc Jacobs account card and a breakfast of pancakes and syrup?
A. Why, Trashionista, yes I would!
Thanks, Lisa! (Sorry we can't help with the above ...)
Posted by Keris on January 31, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Interviews, New Releases, Non Fiction, Self development, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 30, 2007 1:48 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Surf Wax & Vodka Jelly by Lucy Clarke
With a lot of twenty-something chick-lit fans at (or having already finished) university, it's about time we had some, well, 'student-lit.' Whilst not all students are part of the hall-dwelling, binge drinking stereotype that seems to have encased us, there's still a lot to university that's highly entertaining. Cue Lucy Clarke's fabulous novel, Surf Wax and Vodka Jelly.
What if Bridget Jones chronicled her first year at uni? It'd probably read a bit like this.
Josie Williams is a university fresher. Thrown into the midst of student life after the nervy preparation period, Josie is all geared up for her first year at uni. But will student life meet her expectations? Placed in a flat in South Halls with a group of strangers, Josie is forced to adhere to usual student etiquette and make friends. After all, these are the people she'll be living with for a whole year...
With her bubbly best friend Tam, the overtly chauvinist Matt, the introverted Suniti and dreamboat Ben, it seems that all is going as planned, despite the mysterious absences of Suniti. As Josie battles the deadlines, drama and general misdemeanours of her overexcited, mismatched and often drunken bunch of flatmates, her love life is also coming into play. But it could be a dangerous game, what with her love rivals in the flat upstairs in the form of a glamorous, kitten-heeled, bitchy twosome set on getting their own way.
Despite the scathing comments and embarrassing moments as Josie signs up for the Surf Club in the hope of ensnaring Ben, Josie is managing to fit in rather well. Her life as a fresher is perking up, but will downing bottles of wine before an essay deadline with Tam set her on the right path? Will her great life full of parties and new friends stay that way?
Written by former Cardiff university student Clarke, Surf Wax follows Josie on a journey through her first year as a fresher in diary form. Quite frankly, it’s a hard one to put down, whether you’ve been a student yourself or have never set foot in a university. Okay, so it’s not as funny as it’s made out to be, but there are some amusing moments. Whilst reading this, I couldn’t help but feel it had a lot more potential. Bridget Jones this is not, but many agree that it’s a downright accurate portrayal of student life. And Josie is cute to boot!
So, you all now know what to spend your next loan instalment on…
[Danielle Symonds-Yemm] Rating: 4 out of 5 Like this? Try English as a Second Language by Megan Crane
Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on January 30, 2007 in Girly Stuff, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
January 24, 2007 2:27 PM
A book by Jenna Bush
Jenna Bush, daughter of President Bush, is apparently looking for a publisher for a young adult book she has written, based on her experiences working with charities in Latin America. [via The Book Standard]
Posted by Keris on January 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 12, 2007 3:34 PM
BOOK REVIEW: Meri Sugarman, Psycho Queen by M. Apostilina
M. Apostilina's Meri Sugarman, Psycho Queen is another book that changed its name as it flew over the Atlantic: in America, it was called Hazing Meri Sugarman. But the story is the same: when Cindy Bixby moves away to university, she thinks that joining her mum's old sorority will be the perfect way for her to make new friends and to bond with her mother.
But although she knows getting into the sorority will be tough, she has no idea HOW tough, as the clearly psychotic sorority president Meri puts the wannabe sisters through their paces in a series of humiliating, outrageous and at times illegal dares, challenges and stunts. Cindy's torn between wanting to impress Meri, and wanting to challenge her supremacy, until Meri takes her humiliation a step too far, and Cindy vows to bring her down...
This is a really fun and very fast, well-written, snappily-paced novel which even manages to fit in a nice romantic sub-plot but it's only fair to warn you that the storyline is pretty farcical. Although the heroine is a university student, it reads much more like YA than grown-up chick lit. Which isn't to say it's not enjoyable all the same...
I wasn't that keen on the way Cindy kept putting herself down, but she grew in confidence by the end of the novel. What I did really like was the way everything was pretty nicely tied up in the last chapters - and yet there are sequels already on release in the US. I hate it when authors wimp out on a proper ending to make for the sequel (Louise Rennison!) so I'm glad this is a good read in its own right.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund.
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
January 11, 2007 11:21 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Phosphorescence by Raphaella Barker
Diane loved Raphaella Barker’s Hens Dancing so when I saw the author had written a young adult novel, I had to try it out.
Phosphorescence is about Lola who, having been born and raised in a small village in Norfolk, is horrified when her parents divorce and her mum moves her to London. She feels like she doesn’t fit in in a city and misses the sea - as well as her grandparents, best friend and the boy she likes - but everything changes when a school camping trip back to a remote island near her former home almost ends in tragedy.
I enjoyed Phosphorescence. Lola is an intelligent character and I enjoyed the original coastal setting - I believe Raphaella Barker lives in Norfolk and she writes about it very evocatively. The back of the book is rather misleading, suggesting as it does all sorts of island-based, candlelit teen shenanigans, whereas in fact that’s only a tiny portion of the novel. It’s also full of YA cliches, but the originality of the setting is enough to lift it above the ordinary.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on January 11, 2007 in British Authors, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
January 10, 2007 7:40 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Take a wander over to brilliant books site bookburger to have a look at this book cover, for YA novel Anatomy of a Boyfriend.
Does it denigrate males? Is it offensive?
Or... do you like it?
Tell us: is it a Yay or Nay - and why!
Related: Judging books by their covers / Musical book covers / Colour in your own covers! / Yay or Nay archives.
[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
January 9, 2007 11:28 AM
Gawker on Ann Brashares
Last week we told you about the final book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, and now Gawker reminds us that it wasn’t Ann Brashares’ idea in the first place. They were inspired to point this out by a feature (and slideshow) on Brashares’ New York house in the New York Times and it’s well worth a look if you like nosying at people’s homes (and I really do). (After Brashares described the house as a "bargain," Gawker went on to learn it cost $3.65million. Ouch.)
All snark aside, in the NYT article, Brashares reveals that her first book for adults, The Last Summer (of You & Me) will be published in June. Let’s hope she came up with the idea for that one herself.
Posted by Keris on January 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)
January 5, 2007 9:00 AM
BOOK REVIEW: After Eight by Meg Cabot
You know how much I love Meg Cabot and her Princess Diaries series in particular. The only disappointing thing about book seven was that there wasn’t quite enough of Mia’s boyfriend Michael. Well that’s rectified in After Eight - there’s plenty of Michael, but it seems Cabot’s setting up a love triangle with J P (the boy formerly known as The Boy Who Hates It When They Put Corn in the Chilli). Intriguing.
After Eight is full of the attributes we’ve come to expect from Meg Cabot books - humour, charm, pop culture references. It’s incredibly easy to read, which, despite Cabot’s famed prolificness (I didn’t think that was a real word, but apparently it is) suggests it wasn’t at all easy to write and she’s bravely tackled teen sex again, despite losing fans when she did it (rather than Did It) in the second book in the All American Girl series, Ready Or Not. Which reminds me of one slightly disconcerting thing about After Eight. Mia is worried that she's not a high enough achiever to keep Michael interested. She says:
The worst part is, being a princess isn’t even something I DID. I mean, it’s not like I saved the President from being shot like Samantha Madison [the heroine of Cabot’s All American Girl series], or found all those missing kids with my psychic powers like Jessica Mastriani [the heroine of Cabot’s Missing series] ...
I can’t decide whether that’s just outrageous and unacceptable self-promotion or an admirable bit of cheek. What do you think?
Despite that blip, I loved this book. I really wish I could read them a little bit more slowly though, there are only two left!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on January 5, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (10)
January 2, 2007 6:35 PM
BOOK NEWS: Forever In Blue
January 9 sees the release of Forever In Blue, the fourth and final book in Ann Brashares Traveling Pants series.
The first book of the series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (we loved the film adaptation), was released in September 2001 and was a bestseller, as were the sequels The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and Girls in Pants. So far sales for the three books are more than six million copies in the US alone!
[via Publishers Weekly]
Posted by Keris on January 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
SPOTLIGHT: E Lockhart
Since E Lockhart's book The Boyfriend List was our favourite young adult book of 2006, it seemed fitting she should be our first spotlit (exclusively) young adult author.
First things first - the E stands for Emily!
After attending both an art school and a prep school, Emily - like Megan Crane - went to Vassar before going on to attain a doctorate in English Literature at Columbia.
Her first YA book, The Boyfriend List, sold on proposal and Emily followed it with Fly on the Wall (the story of a girl who is turned into a fly and can observe her classmates unnoticed) and The Boy Book (a sequel to The Boyfriend List). Emily’s fourth book, Dramarama, will be released in May.
Carry on over the cut for Emily’s bibliography.
The Boyfriend List
Fly on the Wall
The Boy Book
Dramarama coming soon (as is a review!)
Did you know? Emily’s favourite chick flick is Gregory’s Girl! [via Lara Zeises]
Posted by Keris on January 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Spotlight, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)
December 27, 2006 4:07 PM
Top 10 young adult books
Since we’ve only fairly recently started to include young adult books in our reviews, this, the penultimate Top 10 of our Top 100 Extravaganza, consists of five books we’ve reviewed and five we haven’t ... yet. (Recommendations for numbers 10 to 6 from Luisa Plaja of teen review site, Chicklish of which I’m also a co-editor).
10 The Goddess Society by Kelly McKain
The Goddess Society is about the club that three friends form to lose their virginity 'in a non-tacky way'.
A funny, wonderfully observed account of teen life and love.
9 Let’s Get Lost by Sarra Manning
Isabel's a Queen Bee, tough and mean. She's also recently bereaved, but refuses to show any emotion about this to anyone. No one gets through to her, until she meets Smith and gets 'lost' in him, and then in herself.
I can't recommend this book enough. I found it breathtaking. It swept me away, made me laugh and cry.
8 Becoming Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty
Bindy Mackenzie is a unique teenager, and you get instantly drawn into her life by Jaclyn Moriarty's unusual and gently amusing storytelling techniques and her use of pages from Bindy's special stationery collection.
An unusual, fun, heart-warming and intriguing book.
7 Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
This unusual novel starts with the death of the main character, fifteen-year-old Liz, and follows her into the afterlife.
Gently funny, occasionally sad, and profoundly moving.
6 A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
Written in verse and paying homage to Judy Blume’s classic, Forever, A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is high quality, thoughtful and easy to read.
Carry on over the cut for the top 5.
5 The Principles of Love by Emily Franklin
The story of Love Bukowski’s attempts to create a life for herself when her father becomes the Principal of Hadley Hall prep school and she finds herself having to start over and make new friends.
“Beautifully written and Love has an interesting and original voice.”
4 I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum
Floe Ryan died in 2006 but was cyrogenically frozen until a cure for her illness could be found. Now it has, and she's been brought back to life ... but it's 2016 and things are very different ...
“This book is fun and imaginative - a great idea, executed well, even if this future isn't quite as I'd imagine it!”
3 Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
The first in a trilogy, Sloppy Firsts is about Jessica Darling, whose world falls apart when her best friend moves away.
“Sloppy Firsts is a great example of YA chick lit, but is actually shelved in the adult section too - like it says on the back cover “a good read for anyone between the ages of 15 and 99.” Recommended.”
2 The Princess Diaries Seventh Heaven by Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries series, featuring reluctant princess Mia Thermopolis, is chock-full of Meg Cabot's trademark humour and charm and should be read by young and, um, not-so-young alike.
“For days after I finished reading this book (and I read it in a day) I found myself looking forward to getting back to it and then being disappointed to remember I'd finished it.”
1 The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
The story of Ruby Oliver, a fifteen year-old girl who's been referred to a psychiatrist after suffering a series of panic attacks, it's a funny, moving and realistic portrayal of teenage life.
“Ruby Oliver is a believable and endearing character and The Boyfriend List is compelling, fun, and captures the spirit of teenagerdom brilliantly.”
We really loved the sequel, The Boy Book, too.
We’d love to hear your YA recommendations!
Posted by Keris on December 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance, Series, Top 100 Extravaganza!, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (9)
December 22, 2006 9:40 AM
BOOK REVIEW: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Megan McCafferty’s debut novel received perhaps unwanted publicity earlier this year when it was one of the books embroiled in the Kaavya Viswanathan plagiarism scandal.
It’s about Jessica Darling, who is devastated when her best friend Hope moves away, leaving her with just the “Clueless Crew” (Manda, Bridget and Sara) for company. With her mother caught up in the plans for Jessica’s sister’s wedding and her father unable to communicate except through Jessica’s running, she feels alone in the world. Until, that is, druggie dropout Marcus Flutie starts talking to her. Not only is he the bad influence of all bad influences, he was best friends with Hope’s brother who died of an overdose, so Jessica can’t even confide in Hope about him.
When a new girl at the school turns out not to be what she seemed and Jessica starts writing for the school newspaper, she starts to work out what it is she needs from her friends, family and herself.
Taking place over a full year in Jessica’s life, Sloppy Firsts will take you back to high school and remind you how happy you are not to be there anymore. Jessica’s intelligent and angst-ridden voice is entertaining, funny and painful by turn. I found myself reading quicker and quicker to find out how things turn out for her, but since this is the first book of a trilogy, the ending left me wanting more.
Sloppy Firsts is a great example of YA chick lit, but is actually shelved in the adult section too - like it says on the back cover “a good read for anyone between the ages of 15 and 99.” Recommended.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart
Posted by Keris on December 22, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)
December 18, 2006 5:33 PM
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Meg Cabot
My co-ed Keris out-and-out worships (well, pretty much!) the lovely Ms. Cabot, and I think she's a darn fine YA and chick-lit author too, so we were delighted when the Princess Diaries author took part in the famous (hey, it could be!) Trashionista author interview...
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
Princess Diaries, Seventh Heaven, is the seventh book in the Princess Diaries series.
Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?
On my 12 inch PowerBook G4, in bed.
Your favourite chick-lit book?
I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, Megan Crane's English as a Second Language, Valerie Frankel's Hex and the Single Girl, Susan Juby's Alice series, and Michele Jaffe's Bad Kitty.
Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?
Princess Leia Organa from Star Wars. Because she's socially conscious AND a dead shot with a laser gun (and she understands keeping your hair out of your eyes while shooting stormtroopers is important).
What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?
Write all the time. Never stop sending out your stuff. And remember that the first Princess Diaries got rejected seventeen times before my current publisher finally bought it.
What are you reading at the moment?
Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto.
What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)
Princess Diaries 9 (there are only going to be 10 full-length books in total, so we're almost at the end), in which everything that occurs in After Eight, Princess Diaries 8 (out in January) finally sinks in. [We'll be reviewing 8, 9 and 10, no doubt!- Diane]
What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)
There is no question I have never been asked. There are questions I can't believe I've been asked--such as the time a guy asked me if I'm still upset, like my character Princess Mia, that my boobs are so small--but I've been asked them all. By the way, the answer no...my boobs may be small, but they are spectacular.
[That's a Teri-Hatcher's-guest-spot-on Seinfeld reference, fact fans!]
Thanks Meg!
Meg's fabulous site / Interview archives
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)
December 14, 2006 5:03 PM
Top 10 chick lit precursors
Can you remember a time before chick lit?
We’ve sort of established that chick lit began in 1995 (with Marian Keyes's Watermelon), but there have always been books about strong women trying to come to terms with their place in the world, haven’t there? They just weren’t called chick lit before. We’re calling them chick lit precursors and here’s our Top 10 (along with a recommendation of their more recent chick lit "cousins").
(The following list is, of course, entirely subjective; my only rule was that the books had to have been originally published before 1995.)
10 Postcards From the Edge by Carrie Fisher (1987)
Suzanne Vale is an actress trying to recover from drug addiction, resume her career and get on with her life, while dealing with her difficult relationship with her mother. Like a lot of good chick lit, Postcards From the Edge is written in the first person, it’s also stuffed with Carrie Fisher’s trademark humour.
Chick lit cousin: Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon
9 Heartburn by Nora Ephron (1983)
The story of Rachel Samstat, a food writer whose husband has an affair with the wife of a prominent politician ... during month seven of Rachel's second pregnancy, it’s as hilarious and insightful as you’d expect from the writer of When Harry Met Sally.
Chick lit cousin: Watermelon by Marian Keyes
8 Sheila Levine is dead and living in New York by Gail Parent (1975)
As Diane reported, Jennifer Weiner reckons this was the first chick lit book, so who am I to argue? Sadly out of print, it’s the story of Sheila Levine, a Jewish girl living in Manhattan, her search for Mr. Right, and her struggles with her weight. Certainly sounds like chick lit!
Chick lit cousin: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
7 Jilly Cooper
Yes, an author rather than a book, but I’m specifically thinking of her "girls' name" books: Emily (1975), Bella (1976), Harriet (1976), Octavia (1977), Imogen (1978), Prudence (1978), Lisa and Co. (1981). More romances than the bonkbusters Cooper has become known for, these books are funny and romantic and have been reissued more than once with more chick lit style covers (most recently last year).
Chick lit cousin: Jill Mansell or Katie Fforde
6 Fear of Flying by Erica Jong (1973)
Fear of Flying created a sensation in the seventies with is frank descriptions of women's sexual appetites. The author Henry Miller said of it, "This book will make literary history ... because of it women are going to find their own voice and give us great sagas of sex, life, joy, and adventure." [via Erica Jong’s website]
Yep, that’s a chick lit precursor alright!
Chick lit cousin: Freya North (for the sex)
Carry on over the cut for the Top 5 (once again, number one might not be what you think!)
5 Forever by Judy Blume (1970)
The author Sarah Mlynowski says, “People always call Helen Fielding the mother of chick lit, but I think it’s Judy Blume. She’s who we all (chick lit writers) grew up reading, and she’s the one who helped shaped our consciousness.” [via Deanna Carlyle]
As if to prove Sarah's point, next June sees the publication of Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume , a collection of essays from authors including Trashionista faves Meg Cabot, Megan Crane, Diana Peterfreund and Alison Pace and Sarah herself.
I’ve picked Forever because it’s the Judy Blume book that had the most impact on me (stop sniggering) and it’s still causing a stir today, being one of the most challenged books in schools and libraries (it wasn’t shelved in my library growing up; you had to ask for it “under the counter”).
Chick lit cousin: The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart
4 Nancy Drew (from 1930)
We’ve mentioned the influence of the Nancy Drew books a few times, and the “girl detective” remains as popular today as ever. Nancy has gone through a few incarnations over the years, but has always been intelligent, brave, talented and independent. An excellent chick lit heroine!
Chick lit cousin: Stephanie Plum
3 Dorothy Parker (from 1926)
A commonly quoted important chick lit characteristic is “snark” and they don’t come much snarkier than Dorothy Parker.
In her review of the Parker biography What Fresh Hell is This, Diane wrote, “One of the founder members of the Algonquin round table - an influential group of writers in 1920s and 30s New York - Dorothy Parker was a gossipy journalist, well-known short story writer, clinical depressive with a tendency to suicide attempts - and a famous wit.”
Chick lit cousin: Wendy Holden
2 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
Ha! Bet you thought this would be number 1, didn’t you? As I'm sure you know, Pride and Prejudice is the story of the Bennet family, particularly Lizzie - who would make a perfect chick lit heroine even today - and Mr Darcy (on whom the best chick lit heroes are inevitably based).
In my review of Flirting with Pride and Prejudice, I wrote, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that if Jane Austen were writing today, she would be considered a chick lit author" and Austen’s influence on chick lit (not least Bridget Jones’s Diary) is well-known. She wasn’t first though. Oh no.
Chick lit cousin: Bridget Jones’s Diary, of course!
1 Evelina by Frances Burney (1778)
Beating Pride and Prejudice by 35 years is Frances Burney’s Evelina.
Written as a series of letters, this is the story of innocent Evelina's entrance into London society. “Evelina, comic and shrewd, is at once a guide to fashionable London, a satirical attack on the new consumerism, an investigation of women's position in the late eighteenth century, and a love story.” [via Amazon]
That’ll be the earliest chick lit book then!
Chick lit cousin: Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
So what do you think? Do you agree? Have I missed any? We’d love to hear from you.
Posted by Keris on December 14, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Romance, Series, Top 100 Extravaganza!, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)
Books for Christmas
If you're thinking of giving books for Christmas (and why wouldn't you be?) then I've got a couple of extra incentives to tell you about.
If you buy Tanya Lee Stone's A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl, email Tanya and tell her and she'll send you a signed bookplate and bookmark. [via Chicklish]
And if you're in the US, you can get 10% off Karyn Bosnak's fabulous 20 Times a Lady at Barnes and Noble.
Posted by Keris on December 14, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)
December 13, 2006 2:23 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you were (perhaps unsurprisingly - thanks!) unanimous in your support for book bloggers (although a little wary of Amazon reviews)!
This week a less controversial topic! Last week I picked my Top 10 chick lit film adaptations as part of our Top 100 Extravaganza, and at number 10 was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants about which I wrote, “Yes, it's a young adult book, but it's a great read and a lovely film too.” Buffy subsequently left the following comment: “Sisterhood really was well written. Young adult or no.” To which I responded that I wasn’t disparaging YA, but I know some people won't read something they perceive as being for children. Which led me to this week's Yay or Nay ...
Are you happy to read a kids or young adult book, not matter what your age, or do you think children’s books should be left to children? And in these days of the crossover book (Harry Potter, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, His Dark Materials, etc.), do we even care who books are aimed at as long as they’re good?
Basically, adults reading children’s books: Yay or Nay ... and Why?
[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]
Posted by Aigua Media on December 13, 2006 in Book related, Opinion, Yay or Nay?, Young Adult