Poised at the Edge Book Review
FATHER KNOWS BEST
Lynda Sandoval
What could possibly be worse than your dad dating your boyfriend’s mother? That’s how the summer begins for Lila. Little does she know that this summer is going to be filled with a twisting series of surprises? At the onset she is so unhappy that her father is dating Dylan’s mother, Chloe. She can’t help but imagine worse case scenarios. What if her boyfriend ends up being her stepbrother? Ew, can you imagine?
Her ultimate summer goal is to break up the relationship, but nothing turns out the way she expected. Chloe keeps being ,well….nice. To make matters worse Dylan thinks that Lila’s issue is that she doesn’t think his mother is good enough for her dad. But when she can’t find a job to help pay off her dream car Chloe gives her a job at her travel agency. Lila thinks she’s not going to like working for Chloe, but she ends up loving the job.
Things get even more unpredictable when Dylan’s ex-girlfriend, Lila’s arch nemesis, Jennifer Hellspawn Hamilton, announces she’s pregnant. Lila and her two best friends Meryl and Caressa can’t stand Jennifer. She has always been extremely superficial, and treated all of them like dirt. Still, when Jennifer’s fair-weather friends dump her as a result of her pregnancy Lila’s compassionate best friend Meryl takes her under her wing. At first Lila feels a little betrayed, but people can be surprising.
FATHER KNOWS BEST is warm-hearted, humorous romp, filled to the brim with girl-power and sincerity. The characters are likeable, believable, and often insightful and witty. It’s a story that blasts preconceived notions, and shows how life and fate have a mind of their own, no matter what plans you have. The message is positive and the story leaves the reader wanting more.a
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Book Review: EVERMORE
Poised at the Edge Book Review
EVERMORE
Alyson Noel
Ever Bloom’s life is changed is changed forever when her family gets in a serious car accident. Ever, the only survivor of the accident wakes up able to see people’s auras and hear their thoughts. Any accidental physical contact causes Ever to know any individual’s whole life story. In an attempt to avoid human contact (thus control her abilities) she shuts down. She’s been branded an outcast at her new high school, but she does have two fellow outsiders to spend time with.
All this changes when she meets the mysterious new boy, Damen Auguste. The fact that he’s rich, gorgeous, and anything but typical is nothing compared to the fact being in his presence silences all of Ever’s intrusive new powers. But just like Ever, Damen is hiding dangerous secrets.
Things get even worse when his old flame, Drina enters the picture. Cold, calculated, and preternaturally beautiful, Drina shares Damen’s lack of an aura. The fact that Ever’s best friend Haven is fixatedly drawn to Drina is source of even more peril. Drina is a menace who makes no secret of her hate for Ever. But what begins as a game develops into something far deeper and dangerous.
EVERMORE marks veteran YA author Alyson Noel’s debut into the paranormal. Beautifully written and darkly seductive is one of the more exciting books of its genre. It is infectiously exciting to read! Look for the sequel BLUE MOON due out this summer.
EVERMORE
Alyson Noel
Ever Bloom’s life is changed is changed forever when her family gets in a serious car accident. Ever, the only survivor of the accident wakes up able to see people’s auras and hear their thoughts. Any accidental physical contact causes Ever to know any individual’s whole life story. In an attempt to avoid human contact (thus control her abilities) she shuts down. She’s been branded an outcast at her new high school, but she does have two fellow outsiders to spend time with.
All this changes when she meets the mysterious new boy, Damen Auguste. The fact that he’s rich, gorgeous, and anything but typical is nothing compared to the fact being in his presence silences all of Ever’s intrusive new powers. But just like Ever, Damen is hiding dangerous secrets.
Things get even worse when his old flame, Drina enters the picture. Cold, calculated, and preternaturally beautiful, Drina shares Damen’s lack of an aura. The fact that Ever’s best friend Haven is fixatedly drawn to Drina is source of even more peril. Drina is a menace who makes no secret of her hate for Ever. But what begins as a game develops into something far deeper and dangerous.
EVERMORE marks veteran YA author Alyson Noel’s debut into the paranormal. Beautifully written and darkly seductive is one of the more exciting books of its genre. It is infectiously exciting to read! Look for the sequel BLUE MOON due out this summer.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Author Interview: A.S. King
Poised at the Edge Author Interview
A.S. King
A.S. King
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS is not your typical YA novel. With its mysticism and history, as well as unique and complex characters, it comes off as totally original and fresh. What inspired you to write this complex one of a kind novel?
I first got the idea while I was walking my dogs along a centuries-old road. I’d be lying if I said I aimed to be complex or original. I don’t really plan my books, and so, I work for a few months or years, and they come out looking like this. J But to answer your deeper question, these things inspired me: history, women in history, and dogs.
For the benefit of those who are yet to read THE DUST OF 100 DOGS will you please tell us a little about both Emer and Saffron, who they are, what motivates them, and what is their relationship with each other?
Emer Morrisey is a six year old Irish girl in 1650, when Oliver Cromwell’s army attacks her village and kills her family. She is brought up by her uncle and aunt who sell her to a man in Paris when she is fourteen. When she escapes him, and then escapes Paris , she ships herself to the Caribbean and eventually becomes a ruthless pirate.
Saffron Adams is a very clever teenager in the 1980s, trying to please everyone until she can finally escape her loser family and get to Jamaica , where she knows there is treasure buried, because she buried it 326 years before, when she was Emer Morrisey.
Location clearly is a key defining element of THE DUST OF 100 DOGS. From the green hills of Ireland , to the drizzly streets of Paris , to the balmy beaches Jamaica , the setting of the story has almost as much character as the characters themselves. Why did you choose the particular locations, and what did they have to do with the evolution of the story?
Because the story started with the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland , in a fictional location based on where I lived at the time, the backdrop of Ireland was a definite. I started writing that, and the American parts of the story, and wondered how the two would meet. A trip to Jamaica and a few pirate video games helped it land in the Caribbean . I love traveling, and I guess it shows in my work.
What kind of research did you do for the historical parts of your novel? What was it that drew you to Cromwell’s invasion? Would you say that the attack on Emer’s little village was a fairly realistic and accurate account of the invasion?
A small plaque in the nearby village (about a woman who defended her house against Cromwell’s army in February 1650) drew me to want to learn more about the Cromwellian invasion. Realizing that Cromwell’s army might have marched down the road I lived on (and learning about other injustices, in later years, on our own property) made me feel very close to it. The attack on Emer’s village is a fictional amalgam of many documented invasions, but not an actual historical event.
You’ve referred to your story as magical realism. Will you please explain the difference between magical realism and fantasy?
Fantasy is usually complete world building and involves fantastic characters and storylines. Magic realism is when magical or illogical events happen in a normal or everyday setting, to totally normal characters.
Why pirates, curses, and dogs?
The pirates and curses got the job done. The dogs helped along the way. Really, what can I say? I start writing a book, and it drags me where it wants to go, usually not the other way around. At the time, I was interacting with more dogs than humans, so that’s probably a factor.
Did you write from a carefully plotted outline? Did you know what was going to happen, and how the story would end? Were the characters carefully planned or did they evolve along with the story?
I didn’t write with an outline, though I did write a lot of notes, which I do for every book. Pages and pages of them—a kind of thinking out loud for me, where I bounce things around to see how they sound. I make a list of these ideas. I then try to use them to roll the snowball of a story into a bigger story. Some ideas die along the way because they don’t quite fit and get scratched out with black Sharpie marker. Some spring up right at the end and slot into place as if they grew there. But on a whole, my stories and characters evolve over time.
It is my understanding that you stumbled into YA literature unintentionally. Will you continue to write for the teen market in the future? Also, do you read any YA yourself? If so what are some books you enjoy?
It’s true. When I wrote this book, I was living in another country and had no idea about the US YA market for books. But I’ve always written teen-protagonist books, so landing here wasn’t so far off the mark. I do read a lot of great YA books. In the last year, I enjoyed WAKE and FADE by Lisa McMann, THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING by MT Anderson, CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson, EXIT HERE by Jason Meyers, GIRL, HERO by Carrie Jones and THE SHAPE OF WATER by Anne Spollen.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Author Interview: Justina Chen Headley
Poised at the Edge Author Interview
Justina Chen Headley
Congratulations on your third extraordinary YA novel NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL. It’s a richly woven, theme-driven, thought provoking piece of work. The story’s protagonist Terra Cooper can check a lot of the boxes in today’s oppressively rigid standards of “true beauty.” She’s got the cascading flaxen hair, the long lean legs, the perfect six-pack abs; but that’s not what makes people stare. People tend to gape unabashedly at her unfortunate birth mark. Terra has a large port wine stain on her face. What inspired you to write about this subject?
For a long time—as a woman, a writer, and a mother—I’ve wanted to tackle our society’s super narrow definition of beauty, but I wasn’t sure what the entry point to a story would or should be. It wasn’t until I was telling an acquaintance of mine what a great mothering job she was doing because her son is well-adjusted, popular, confident—and has a port wine stain on his cheek. She stopped me in the middle of my accolades and said, “That’s because he’s a boy.” With that one comment, my story was born and Terra sprang to life in my imagination like Athena from Zeus, fully-formed.
When you first began writing the story did you plan how Terra was going to handle her situation (or how her family, friends, boyfriends and peers would?) Or did her character lead you as you began writing?
Even before I began writing North of Beautiful, I knew precisely how the story was going to end down to the very last line. But the murky middle? That revealed itself as I wrote with Terra leading the way. She kept making choices that made me uncomfortable—her relationship with her first boyfriend, her deception with her second—but it was Terra’s story. And her decisions were real and made sense and, most important of all, they helped her grow.
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL is a highly educational book on so many levels. One subject of particular interest to me was geocaching. Will please explain this pastime for the benefit of the uninitiated?
Think of geocaching as high tech treasure hunting. Armed with a GPS device and specific coordinates for latitude and longitude, you search for caches filled with goodies. There are literally thousands and thousands of caches around the world—even in Antarctica, on the Great Wall, probably in your neighborhood. What can I say? Embrace your inner geek.
There are so many supporting characters that add richness (in both positive and negative ways) to Terra’s life. Probably the most significant supporting character is Jacob, her unexpected love interest. Even though at the beginning of the story Terra starts with a different boyfriend she ends up bonding with Jacob. Jacob is truly empathetic toward Terra. He’s also been the recipient of endless unsolicited stares, as an adopted Chinese boy, with a repaired cleft lip, and an uber-white family. Where did the inspiration for this wise beyond his years character come from?
I’ve been lucky to have incredible men in my life. Two inspired Jacob: one is a guy who was one of my best friends in college, and the other someone I met when I was researching a novel early in my writing career.
Terra’s fractured family members all have fascinating personalities and serious issues. They all play a huge role in why Terra is the way she is. Are any of these characters inspired by real people? Was it difficult to write a character like Terra’s father (I found myself seriously wishing he would drop dead?)
Let’s just say that of all my books, North of Beautiful is probably the most autobiographical. But I also want to get it out there: people can change for the better. And people do change to be their personal best. Take heart because it does happen. I’ve seen it.
Unlike many other YA novels NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL has adult characters who are well defined and interesting. Both Terra’s mom Lois and Jacob’s mom Norah are well-developed and have very interesting stories of their own. Have you ever considered writing an adult novel?
Yes! A number of my readers have asked me for a novel told from a woman’s POV. While my main love is YA, I do have an idea for an adult novel.
Along with writing you like to do philanthropic work. Can you please tell us what you (and the readrgirlz) have been up to on that front?
To celebrate North of Beautiful, I’m hosting the Find Beauty Challenge where I’m asking people to tell me what they find to be truly beautiful. For every uploaded video, I’m giving $10 to Global Medical Outreach, which sends surgeons to third worlds to help kids with cleft lips. You can find all the info on www.youtube.com/northofbeautiful.
Then with readergirlz, we’re gearing up to host our second annual Operation TBD (Teen Book Drop), working with Guys Lit Wire, YALSA, and publishers to drop thousands of free YA novels into pediatric hospitals around the country. Teen patients need the solace of story; we’re giving it to them!
The video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qg3y2JXPjI
Are you willing to tell us a little about your next project?
I’m not working on two…one is a YA fantasy, the other is another YA contemporary.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Book Review: NEED
Poised at the Edge Book Review
NEED
Carrie Jones
Zara White has a very peculiar obsession with phobias. She can tell you the name of everything from the fear of noises or voices (phonophobia) to the fear of eating (sitophobia.) But what she can’t tell you is how she can snap out of the depression that began when her beloved stepfather dropped dead of a heart attack. In fact, her depression is so over the top that her mother is exiling her to frozen, remote, small town in Maine to live with her stepfather’s mother.
Zara is convinced her mother is doing this simply because she just can’t handle her right now. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Maine couldn’t be more different from Zara’s home town of Charleston. The kids at her new high school are not entirely easy to get along with. The only two really nice kids begin spouting off about their belief in Pixies….not exactly normal. But the presence of a mysterious stalker who’s been seen both in Charleston and Bedford, Maine (leaving a mysterious powdery gold trail behind him) is making Zara’s new friends tales seem almost viable.
Also the there’s Nick, a mysterious boy who seems disconnected, as if he’s got some serious secrets. He seems aloof, angry, yet protective over Zara. Protection is something she really needs when people begin going missing in Bedford, Maine. Could Devyn and Issie’s stories about vicious pixie’s and blood sacrifice possibly true? How does Zara tie in to it?
Carrie Jones writes colorful paranormal suspense with as much care and grace as her realistic teen fictions. Fans of Stephanie Meyer and Holly Black may rejoice at this well plotted, mystic creature filled extravaganza. The cover art is stunning, and the story, deliciously satisfying!
NEED
Carrie Jones
Zara White has a very peculiar obsession with phobias. She can tell you the name of everything from the fear of noises or voices (phonophobia) to the fear of eating (sitophobia.) But what she can’t tell you is how she can snap out of the depression that began when her beloved stepfather dropped dead of a heart attack. In fact, her depression is so over the top that her mother is exiling her to frozen, remote, small town in Maine to live with her stepfather’s mother.
Zara is convinced her mother is doing this simply because she just can’t handle her right now. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Maine couldn’t be more different from Zara’s home town of Charleston. The kids at her new high school are not entirely easy to get along with. The only two really nice kids begin spouting off about their belief in Pixies….not exactly normal. But the presence of a mysterious stalker who’s been seen both in Charleston and Bedford, Maine (leaving a mysterious powdery gold trail behind him) is making Zara’s new friends tales seem almost viable.
Also the there’s Nick, a mysterious boy who seems disconnected, as if he’s got some serious secrets. He seems aloof, angry, yet protective over Zara. Protection is something she really needs when people begin going missing in Bedford, Maine. Could Devyn and Issie’s stories about vicious pixie’s and blood sacrifice possibly true? How does Zara tie in to it?
Carrie Jones writes colorful paranormal suspense with as much care and grace as her realistic teen fictions. Fans of Stephanie Meyer and Holly Black may rejoice at this well plotted, mystic creature filled extravaganza. The cover art is stunning, and the story, deliciously satisfying!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Book Review: FADE
Poised at the Edge Book Review
FADE
Lisa McMann
Janie has an unusual gift (although some might consider it a curse.) She has the ability to enter people’s dreams. It happens when anyone falls asleep in the near vicinity of her. She learns to use her capability to help people solve problems. She also uses her dream catching to help undercover law enforcement. Now, with the help of her fellow undercover boyfriend Cabel, Janie is going to take down a very unsavory group of high school teachers who drug and molest their unsuspecting students.
FADE is the sequel to WAKE, the story that introduces us to Janie, her abilities, and her circumstances. We see Janie living with a thoroughly irresponsible, chronically alcoholic mother. Janie is forced to work just to keep food on the table and clothes on her back. She also has little or no basic supervision. What she really wants to do is go to college, but that seems like an almost impossible dream.
In WAKE Janie meets Cabel, a rough around the edges boy, who comes from equally unfortunate circumstances. He’s impressed with her abilities and introduces her to undercover law enforcement. But in FADE he has a hard time dealing with Janie having to put herself in jeopardy to bust a nefarious group of pedophiles.
The criminals are not the only source of danger for Janie. As she begins to master and control her abilities, she finds that they are taking a serious physical toll on her. Now she’s faced with a difficult choice. Should she follow her path in the name of the greater good, or should she isolate herself in an attempt to stay safe?
FADE is written in a unique third person present style. It seems simplistic, yet it tells the story at an urgent, real time pace. It’s a fast fun read for teens and adults who enjoy suspense, drama, and strong characters. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series, because I’m still intrigued by Janie and her gifts. One aspect of FADE I enjoyed was the dream presence of Mrs. Stubin a now deceased, elderly dream catcher, who educates Janie about her abilities both in the dream realm and in a journal. As readers we learn about dream catching right along with Janie.
FADE
Lisa McMann
Janie has an unusual gift (although some might consider it a curse.) She has the ability to enter people’s dreams. It happens when anyone falls asleep in the near vicinity of her. She learns to use her capability to help people solve problems. She also uses her dream catching to help undercover law enforcement. Now, with the help of her fellow undercover boyfriend Cabel, Janie is going to take down a very unsavory group of high school teachers who drug and molest their unsuspecting students.
FADE is the sequel to WAKE, the story that introduces us to Janie, her abilities, and her circumstances. We see Janie living with a thoroughly irresponsible, chronically alcoholic mother. Janie is forced to work just to keep food on the table and clothes on her back. She also has little or no basic supervision. What she really wants to do is go to college, but that seems like an almost impossible dream.
In WAKE Janie meets Cabel, a rough around the edges boy, who comes from equally unfortunate circumstances. He’s impressed with her abilities and introduces her to undercover law enforcement. But in FADE he has a hard time dealing with Janie having to put herself in jeopardy to bust a nefarious group of pedophiles.
The criminals are not the only source of danger for Janie. As she begins to master and control her abilities, she finds that they are taking a serious physical toll on her. Now she’s faced with a difficult choice. Should she follow her path in the name of the greater good, or should she isolate herself in an attempt to stay safe?
FADE is written in a unique third person present style. It seems simplistic, yet it tells the story at an urgent, real time pace. It’s a fast fun read for teens and adults who enjoy suspense, drama, and strong characters. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series, because I’m still intrigued by Janie and her gifts. One aspect of FADE I enjoyed was the dream presence of Mrs. Stubin a now deceased, elderly dream catcher, who educates Janie about her abilities both in the dream realm and in a journal. As readers we learn about dream catching right along with Janie.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Book Review: ETERNAL
Poised at the Edge Book Review
ETERNAL
Cynthia Leitich Smith
In her mortal life Miranda was always pretty introverted and shy. Even though she was a wannabe theater geek, auditions were totally mortifying. What could possibly transform a retiring wallflower into the belle of the ball? How about a bite from undead royalty? When Miranda finds herself elevated and adopted by the King of the Mantle of Dracul she’s immersed into a decadent world of infinite wealth and luxury. But the dark gift comes with a heavy price.
Who can possibly save her from eternal damnation? Salvation (or an attempt at it anyway) comes in the form of her super-hot, recently demoted, Guardian Angel. Zachary has had his wings clipped for revealing himself, in all of his glory, while trying to save Miranda from the grasp of the menacing Dracul. Now, clumsy in his new human form, he lands a job as Princess Miranda’s personal assistant (all the undead have human PAs. It’s status symbol in the Eternal world.)
ETERNAL, which is written in alternating points of view (both Miranda and Zachary’s) reveals in exquisite detail the cutthroat antics of the self-indulgent Eternal aristocracy. Cynthia Leitich Smith borrows both from classic vampire lore, and her own unique darkly witty imagination, to create a dangerous love story that parallels Romeo and Juliet, Heathcliff and Catherine and all those other literary star-crossed lovers. Wholly original, and delightfully morbid, fans of TANTALIZE will eat this one up!
ETERNAL
Cynthia Leitich Smith
In her mortal life Miranda was always pretty introverted and shy. Even though she was a wannabe theater geek, auditions were totally mortifying. What could possibly transform a retiring wallflower into the belle of the ball? How about a bite from undead royalty? When Miranda finds herself elevated and adopted by the King of the Mantle of Dracul she’s immersed into a decadent world of infinite wealth and luxury. But the dark gift comes with a heavy price.
Who can possibly save her from eternal damnation? Salvation (or an attempt at it anyway) comes in the form of her super-hot, recently demoted, Guardian Angel. Zachary has had his wings clipped for revealing himself, in all of his glory, while trying to save Miranda from the grasp of the menacing Dracul. Now, clumsy in his new human form, he lands a job as Princess Miranda’s personal assistant (all the undead have human PAs. It’s status symbol in the Eternal world.)
ETERNAL, which is written in alternating points of view (both Miranda and Zachary’s) reveals in exquisite detail the cutthroat antics of the self-indulgent Eternal aristocracy. Cynthia Leitich Smith borrows both from classic vampire lore, and her own unique darkly witty imagination, to create a dangerous love story that parallels Romeo and Juliet, Heathcliff and Catherine and all those other literary star-crossed lovers. Wholly original, and delightfully morbid, fans of TANTALIZE will eat this one up!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Book Review: DUST OF 100 DOGS
Poised at the Edge Book Review
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS
A.S. King
The story begins with Emer Morrisey a swash-buckling; take no prisoners, pirate, dying on a Caribbean, with the love of her life only a few feet away. Before she breathes her last breath a mysterious pirate blows a dusty powder all over her, cursing her to the life of one hundred dogs. So she does. Over three hundred and sixty five years she lives the lives of a hundred dogs. With each of her lives she acquires all sorts of knowledge and memories. Including the memories of her pirate life, including the hidden treasure, which lies buried near where she and her beloved died.
Now, done with her lives as many dogs, Emer is reborn as a modern girl named Saffron Adams. Saffron, who is considered a genius, because all of her past life knowledge, has only one thing on her mind She wants to escape the confines of her uneducated demanding parents, and go find the treasure she buried on that Caribbean beach all those years ago. Her parents are very greedy about Saffron’s perceived genius. They want her to go medical school and support them forever.
Emer, with her bold fury, lives inside of Saffron, pushing her toward independence and escape. DUST OF 100 DOGS is a fascinating, highly original action novel that weaves brilliantly written historical passages with more standard modern teen ones. Written non-linearly we see Emer as an innocent child living Ireland during the merciless attacks of Oliver Cromwell. She sees her parents and brother murdered before being taken away by her sadistic uncle, who also hid during the attack. She so miserable living with her uncle’s family that she forgoes speaking for several years. Right after she meets her true love her uncle sells her to wealthy old man in Paris. Thus begins the hardships that end with Emer’s eventual transformation to pirate.
This adventure story is both engrossing and totally unpredictable. While the structure is fairly experimental, it totally works. A.S. King’s stunning debut is part history lesson, part dog training manual, part modern coming of age story. It dazzles with its risky originality and its shameless girl-power. Emer/Saffron is powerful, intelligent, willful protagonist that the sisterhood just has to love!
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS
A.S. King
The story begins with Emer Morrisey a swash-buckling; take no prisoners, pirate, dying on a Caribbean, with the love of her life only a few feet away. Before she breathes her last breath a mysterious pirate blows a dusty powder all over her, cursing her to the life of one hundred dogs. So she does. Over three hundred and sixty five years she lives the lives of a hundred dogs. With each of her lives she acquires all sorts of knowledge and memories. Including the memories of her pirate life, including the hidden treasure, which lies buried near where she and her beloved died.
Now, done with her lives as many dogs, Emer is reborn as a modern girl named Saffron Adams. Saffron, who is considered a genius, because all of her past life knowledge, has only one thing on her mind She wants to escape the confines of her uneducated demanding parents, and go find the treasure she buried on that Caribbean beach all those years ago. Her parents are very greedy about Saffron’s perceived genius. They want her to go medical school and support them forever.
Emer, with her bold fury, lives inside of Saffron, pushing her toward independence and escape. DUST OF 100 DOGS is a fascinating, highly original action novel that weaves brilliantly written historical passages with more standard modern teen ones. Written non-linearly we see Emer as an innocent child living Ireland during the merciless attacks of Oliver Cromwell. She sees her parents and brother murdered before being taken away by her sadistic uncle, who also hid during the attack. She so miserable living with her uncle’s family that she forgoes speaking for several years. Right after she meets her true love her uncle sells her to wealthy old man in Paris. Thus begins the hardships that end with Emer’s eventual transformation to pirate.
This adventure story is both engrossing and totally unpredictable. While the structure is fairly experimental, it totally works. A.S. King’s stunning debut is part history lesson, part dog training manual, part modern coming of age story. It dazzles with its risky originality and its shameless girl-power. Emer/Saffron is powerful, intelligent, willful protagonist that the sisterhood just has to love!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Book Review: THE ABC"S OF KISSING BOYS
Poised at the Edge Book Review
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys
Tina Ferraro
Parker Stanhope can’t wait to play varsity soccer now that she’s a junior. After all, she’s been playing soccer practically since she could walk. Her life has been working out just the way she wants it to. She’s made new friends who are a lot more popular than her middle school friends were, she’s paid her dues on the soccer field, and now she’s headed for varsity glory. But then her coach moves all of her best friends up, but leaves her behind with the JV losers!
This is social disaster of epic proportions. Now her crew of “best friends” is pretty much disowning her, using the excuse that she needs to bond with her own team mates. How could things possibly get worse? In an attempt to regain her “perfect life” back Parker, with the help of her studying to be lawyer big brother, cook up a ridiculous plan to be put on the varsity team.
Parker’s plan involves a prom king, a kissing booth, a desirable parking place, and lots of cash. Now all Parker has to do is pull of a realistic looking kiss. Here’s the problem: she’s never even really been kissed. Her solution: an unlikely kissing coach. How did her life ever come to this?
Now she’s having canoodling lessons from her (almost) hot freshmen neighbor! The plot thickens when her very popular ex-best friends find out about this strange relationship. Now it’s all over the school. Parker is in love with a freshmen (and she thought JV soccer was social suicide.) To make matters even more complicated, his father and her father, have a feud of Hatfield and McCoy proportions.
Tina Ferraro always writes funny, complicated novels about high school politics. The ABC’S OF KISSING is engaging story with laugh out loud moments, and memorable characters. Highly entertaining!
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys
Tina Ferraro
Parker Stanhope can’t wait to play varsity soccer now that she’s a junior. After all, she’s been playing soccer practically since she could walk. Her life has been working out just the way she wants it to. She’s made new friends who are a lot more popular than her middle school friends were, she’s paid her dues on the soccer field, and now she’s headed for varsity glory. But then her coach moves all of her best friends up, but leaves her behind with the JV losers!
This is social disaster of epic proportions. Now her crew of “best friends” is pretty much disowning her, using the excuse that she needs to bond with her own team mates. How could things possibly get worse? In an attempt to regain her “perfect life” back Parker, with the help of her studying to be lawyer big brother, cook up a ridiculous plan to be put on the varsity team.
Parker’s plan involves a prom king, a kissing booth, a desirable parking place, and lots of cash. Now all Parker has to do is pull of a realistic looking kiss. Here’s the problem: she’s never even really been kissed. Her solution: an unlikely kissing coach. How did her life ever come to this?
Now she’s having canoodling lessons from her (almost) hot freshmen neighbor! The plot thickens when her very popular ex-best friends find out about this strange relationship. Now it’s all over the school. Parker is in love with a freshmen (and she thought JV soccer was social suicide.) To make matters even more complicated, his father and her father, have a feud of Hatfield and McCoy proportions.
Tina Ferraro always writes funny, complicated novels about high school politics. The ABC’S OF KISSING is engaging story with laugh out loud moments, and memorable characters. Highly entertaining!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Book Review: NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL
Poised at the Edge Book Review
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL
Justina Chen Headley
Terra Cooper thinks that if you saw her from behind you might be jealous of her. You might think she’s “perfect.” She’s tall, with a body that’s part dancer, part athlete. Her platinum hair always looks just right. As one might expect, people stare at Terra everywhere she goes. But when people are staring at her it’s usually not because of her aforementioned “beautiful” traits. Their unsolicited ogles are the result of Terra’s face. All the thick make-up and powder in the world can’t seem to cover the red-stained birthmark that stretches across her cheek.
Unfortunately Terra’s problems run much deeper than the mark on her face. Terra and her mother (and her two older brothers, before they escaped) are forced to walk on eggshells around their home for fear of being terrorized by her bitter and controlling father. Terra’s father suffered a professional humiliation, which cost him his credibility. Now he lives to humiliate and degrade the people around him, especially the members of his immediate family. Terra’s mom, Lois, is his primary victim.
Lois is always apologizing for everything. She’s one of those women who always put her needs and satisfaction last. She’s crumbled under the constant verbal abuse of her husband. She’s wracked with guilt about Terra’s birthmark (and is always trying to do ineffectual treatments for it.) Ever since Lois’s sister died in a travel accident a few years before Lois has buried herself in binge-eating and subsequent weight gain to try to insulate herself from the many painful truths of her life. Of course her eating and weight are continual fodder for her vicious husband’s tirades.
Terra secretly plans to escape her family, her boyfriend (who people think she should be grateful for, even though she doesn’t love him) and her stifling small town. She’s rushing her way through high school so she can graduate a year early. Her plans are carefully mapped out. But of course, her father finds a way to ruin her plans. Just when things are looking hopeless, Terra meets a most unusual boy who really understands her. Suddenly she finds herself being pushed in an unexpected, scary, and exciting direction.
Jacob is a Chinese boy adopted into a (fractured) American family. He goes for a Goth style because (he tells Terra) people are always going to stare at him. They stare because he doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of his white, blonde, all American family. He’d rather wear black clothes and eye-liner, so that they’d be staring at him on his terms, not theirs.
An exciting benefit of Terra’s relationship with Jacob is that Jacob’s worldly confident mother forms a deep bond with Terra’s mother Lois. Norah helps Lois expand her horizons and live up to her best potential. Norah recognizes Lois’s many talents and encourages her to monetize them. The four of them travel to China together.
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL is an astonishingly deep and powerful novel that leaves a reader thinking about life and the real meaning of beauty. Justina Chen Headley is uniquely gifted at writing prose that is both light and witty, and remarkably serious and moving. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL tells a tale of travel, discovery, true love and enlightenment. As always Ms. Chen Headley writes with an empowering feminist slant. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL is highly educational and carefully researched. This book is a true gem. I would highly recommend it to women and girls of all ages.
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL
Justina Chen Headley
Terra Cooper thinks that if you saw her from behind you might be jealous of her. You might think she’s “perfect.” She’s tall, with a body that’s part dancer, part athlete. Her platinum hair always looks just right. As one might expect, people stare at Terra everywhere she goes. But when people are staring at her it’s usually not because of her aforementioned “beautiful” traits. Their unsolicited ogles are the result of Terra’s face. All the thick make-up and powder in the world can’t seem to cover the red-stained birthmark that stretches across her cheek.
Unfortunately Terra’s problems run much deeper than the mark on her face. Terra and her mother (and her two older brothers, before they escaped) are forced to walk on eggshells around their home for fear of being terrorized by her bitter and controlling father. Terra’s father suffered a professional humiliation, which cost him his credibility. Now he lives to humiliate and degrade the people around him, especially the members of his immediate family. Terra’s mom, Lois, is his primary victim.
Lois is always apologizing for everything. She’s one of those women who always put her needs and satisfaction last. She’s crumbled under the constant verbal abuse of her husband. She’s wracked with guilt about Terra’s birthmark (and is always trying to do ineffectual treatments for it.) Ever since Lois’s sister died in a travel accident a few years before Lois has buried herself in binge-eating and subsequent weight gain to try to insulate herself from the many painful truths of her life. Of course her eating and weight are continual fodder for her vicious husband’s tirades.
Terra secretly plans to escape her family, her boyfriend (who people think she should be grateful for, even though she doesn’t love him) and her stifling small town. She’s rushing her way through high school so she can graduate a year early. Her plans are carefully mapped out. But of course, her father finds a way to ruin her plans. Just when things are looking hopeless, Terra meets a most unusual boy who really understands her. Suddenly she finds herself being pushed in an unexpected, scary, and exciting direction.
Jacob is a Chinese boy adopted into a (fractured) American family. He goes for a Goth style because (he tells Terra) people are always going to stare at him. They stare because he doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of his white, blonde, all American family. He’d rather wear black clothes and eye-liner, so that they’d be staring at him on his terms, not theirs.
An exciting benefit of Terra’s relationship with Jacob is that Jacob’s worldly confident mother forms a deep bond with Terra’s mother Lois. Norah helps Lois expand her horizons and live up to her best potential. Norah recognizes Lois’s many talents and encourages her to monetize them. The four of them travel to China together.
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL is an astonishingly deep and powerful novel that leaves a reader thinking about life and the real meaning of beauty. Justina Chen Headley is uniquely gifted at writing prose that is both light and witty, and remarkably serious and moving. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL tells a tale of travel, discovery, true love and enlightenment. As always Ms. Chen Headley writes with an empowering feminist slant. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL is highly educational and carefully researched. This book is a true gem. I would highly recommend it to women and girls of all ages.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Book Review: I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME
Poised at the Edge Book Review
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME
Lisa Schroeder
Ava's summer begins with a funeral. Now Jackson, her first true love, is dead and gone from her forever. Or is he? Soon after the funeral Ava feels cold drafts in the house, hears her CD player play songs of its own volition, and smells the scent of Jackson's sandalwood shaving cream. Though she can't see him, or touch him, she knows he's there. Jackson has come back to her.
At first it feels like a miracle, a blessing. He even visits her in dreams, where she can see him, and kiss him, and truly be with him again. Now all that Ava wants to do is stay home and be alone with him. She doesn't want her friends to call or visit. She begins to withdraw from the world around her.
But after a while it doesn't feel like enough. Jackson's spirit is prone to jealous fits when she goes out with other people. And let's face it, a presence sometimes isn't enough. Ava feels lonely, and wants people to talk to, and a real hand to hold. But she still feels tremendous love for Jackson, and substantial guilt about his accidental death. But how can either of them really let go?
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME is eerily romantic, slightly frightening, and incredibly engrossing. Powerful emotions, vivid characters, and a heartfelt lesson, come across in very few words. Written in verse, I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, takes the reader directly into Ava's head and soul! This novel is beautifully executed. I just loved it.
Lisa Schroeder is the featured author at the Class of Y2K8
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME
Lisa Schroeder
Ava's summer begins with a funeral. Now Jackson, her first true love, is dead and gone from her forever. Or is he? Soon after the funeral Ava feels cold drafts in the house, hears her CD player play songs of its own volition, and smells the scent of Jackson's sandalwood shaving cream. Though she can't see him, or touch him, she knows he's there. Jackson has come back to her.
At first it feels like a miracle, a blessing. He even visits her in dreams, where she can see him, and kiss him, and truly be with him again. Now all that Ava wants to do is stay home and be alone with him. She doesn't want her friends to call or visit. She begins to withdraw from the world around her.
But after a while it doesn't feel like enough. Jackson's spirit is prone to jealous fits when she goes out with other people. And let's face it, a presence sometimes isn't enough. Ava feels lonely, and wants people to talk to, and a real hand to hold. But she still feels tremendous love for Jackson, and substantial guilt about his accidental death. But how can either of them really let go?
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME is eerily romantic, slightly frightening, and incredibly engrossing. Powerful emotions, vivid characters, and a heartfelt lesson, come across in very few words. Written in verse, I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, takes the reader directly into Ava's head and soul! This novel is beautifully executed. I just loved it.
Lisa Schroeder is the featured author at the Class of Y2K8
Book Review: SWEETHEARTS
Poised at the Edge Book Review
SWEETHEARTS
Sara Zarr
When Jennifer was a little girl she was ostracized, and teased mercilessly. Grade school was awful; it would have been pure hell if it weren't for her best friend Cameron. Together they weathered the taunts of the more mainstream children. They were always there for each other, until one day Cameron wasn't.
At first things were agonizing for Jennifer, but over time things began to change for the better. Her weary mother married a very decent man, who took them out of poverty, and helped Jennifer build a new life in a new place. Jennifer took it upon herself to leave her old identity behind. Gone was the chubby girl in shabby clothes, who cried at every insult (and there were lots of those.)
So Jennifer morphed into Jenna. Now she was slimmer, with shiny hair, nice clothing, popular friends, and a "normal" family in a nice house. Jenna even finds herself with a boyfriend, who lots of other girls like. But Jenna still feels Jennifer living inside her. It's almost impossible to erase the past, and be the bubbly charming girl she knows she has to be (lest people hate her, and tease her again.)
Then one day Cameron returns. His sudden appearance cracks at the fragile veneer that Jenna has been showing to the public. Now Jenna is forced to face her past, and find closure with her former self.
SWEETHEARTS is a literary victory. Sara Zarr's debut novel, STORY OF A GIRL, was universally acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Now she proves herself as a highly skilled, emotionally smart, and totally exciting member of the YA writing community.
SWEETHEARTS
Sara Zarr
When Jennifer was a little girl she was ostracized, and teased mercilessly. Grade school was awful; it would have been pure hell if it weren't for her best friend Cameron. Together they weathered the taunts of the more mainstream children. They were always there for each other, until one day Cameron wasn't.
At first things were agonizing for Jennifer, but over time things began to change for the better. Her weary mother married a very decent man, who took them out of poverty, and helped Jennifer build a new life in a new place. Jennifer took it upon herself to leave her old identity behind. Gone was the chubby girl in shabby clothes, who cried at every insult (and there were lots of those.)
So Jennifer morphed into Jenna. Now she was slimmer, with shiny hair, nice clothing, popular friends, and a "normal" family in a nice house. Jenna even finds herself with a boyfriend, who lots of other girls like. But Jenna still feels Jennifer living inside her. It's almost impossible to erase the past, and be the bubbly charming girl she knows she has to be (lest people hate her, and tease her again.)
Then one day Cameron returns. His sudden appearance cracks at the fragile veneer that Jenna has been showing to the public. Now Jenna is forced to face her past, and find closure with her former self.
SWEETHEARTS is a literary victory. Sara Zarr's debut novel, STORY OF A GIRL, was universally acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Now she proves herself as a highly skilled, emotionally smart, and totally exciting member of the YA writing community.
Poised at the Edge Book Review
DEATH AT DEACON POND
Kerri Langston has always had psychic visions of the dead. After her father's presumed suicide the visions have become more intense. Her belief in his pleas to help solve the mystery of his death have earned her the label of "unstable" by the kinder people, and "town freak" by some of her less sympathetic peers.
When Keri stumbles upon a body in the woods near Deacon Pond, she realizes that her connection to the dead may help her solve a crime. The murder victim turns out to be a small piece in a complex puzzle. The murder is also intricately connected to Kerri's father's death, and Kerri's childhood best friend, who she's starting to fall in love with.
E.M. Alexander creates a tightly written suspense story that delves into both the world of paranormal, and real-life crime. This mystery takes turns that are truly unexpected. The writing is both intelligent and original.
DEATH AT DEACON POND
Kerri Langston has always had psychic visions of the dead. After her father's presumed suicide the visions have become more intense. Her belief in his pleas to help solve the mystery of his death have earned her the label of "unstable" by the kinder people, and "town freak" by some of her less sympathetic peers.
When Keri stumbles upon a body in the woods near Deacon Pond, she realizes that her connection to the dead may help her solve a crime. The murder victim turns out to be a small piece in a complex puzzle. The murder is also intricately connected to Kerri's father's death, and Kerri's childhood best friend, who she's starting to fall in love with.
E.M. Alexander creates a tightly written suspense story that delves into both the world of paranormal, and real-life crime. This mystery takes turns that are truly unexpected. The writing is both intelligent and original.
Book Review: WAKE
ised at the Edge Book Review
WAKE
Lisa McMann
Some might call it a gift; others might call it a curse. Ever since she was a little girl Janie has found herself getting sucked into other people's dreams. It happens, on trains, school buses, and classrooms; anywhere that people fall asleep in a near proximity to her. Not only does she see all the dream's action, she actively participates in the events.
Janie's role as a "dream catcher" allows her to help people solve specific problems, and move on from catastrophic events that define their lives. But on the flip side, she also is subject to a lot of embarrassing information and revelations. Worst of all, she's sometimes exposed to terror. Life becomes complicated when she starts seeing the terrifying, panic-inducing dreams of mysterious guy named Cable.
Cable, like Janie, comes from a poor, dysfunctional family, and is a bit of a social outcast. Janie has spent so much time and effort trying to fit in, and be accepted by the wealthier mainstream kids at her school. It's probably a huge mistake to befriend Cable. But he seems to understand Janie better than anyone else. She even trusts him enough to reveal her secret. But what is he hiding from her?
Lisa McMann writes a suspenseful thriller, full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, down to the very last page. I eagerly await the sequel FADE, which is coming soon. WAKE will be in stores in just a few days.
WAKE
Lisa McMann
Some might call it a gift; others might call it a curse. Ever since she was a little girl Janie has found herself getting sucked into other people's dreams. It happens, on trains, school buses, and classrooms; anywhere that people fall asleep in a near proximity to her. Not only does she see all the dream's action, she actively participates in the events.
Janie's role as a "dream catcher" allows her to help people solve specific problems, and move on from catastrophic events that define their lives. But on the flip side, she also is subject to a lot of embarrassing information and revelations. Worst of all, she's sometimes exposed to terror. Life becomes complicated when she starts seeing the terrifying, panic-inducing dreams of mysterious guy named Cable.
Cable, like Janie, comes from a poor, dysfunctional family, and is a bit of a social outcast. Janie has spent so much time and effort trying to fit in, and be accepted by the wealthier mainstream kids at her school. It's probably a huge mistake to befriend Cable. But he seems to understand Janie better than anyone else. She even trusts him enough to reveal her secret. But what is he hiding from her?
Lisa McMann writes a suspenseful thriller, full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, down to the very last page. I eagerly await the sequel FADE, which is coming soon. WAKE will be in stores in just a few days.
Book Review: BRALESS IN WONDERLAND
Poised at the Edge
BRALESS IN WONDER LAND
Debbie Reed Fischer
Alee Rosen has been called numerous names in her high school career: "egg-head", "brainiac", and "the queen of serious" to name a few. She's a literature-loving feminist, whose primary goal is to Yale. So imagine her dismay when she's accepted at Yale, only to find that her parents can't afford the tuition.
Allee's luck takes an unanticipated turn when she takes her beautiful sister Sabrina (aka "The Fluff") to modeling competition at the mall. Much to Allee's (and her sister's, and well everyone's) surprise, she "discovered" by talent scouts. Allee is signed to major modeling agency in Miami. Now she is leaving the mundane suburban comforts of Cape Comet, and heading to the whirlwind wonderland of high fashion.
But the glamorous life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Allee falls into a hole filled with backstabbing roommates, tireless competition, and over-the top partying. It's hard to keep to her feet on the ground, and her mind on her goals (Yale!) while she's living in this alternate reality.
BRALESS IN WONDERLAND is fast-paced, clever, entertaining, and oh-so satisfying read. Debut author Debbie Reed Fischer gives us a funny, scary, realistic peek into the sometimes vicious, always fascinating world of professional modeling. This book is definitely a keeper!
BRALESS IN WONDER LAND
Debbie Reed Fischer
Alee Rosen has been called numerous names in her high school career: "egg-head", "brainiac", and "the queen of serious" to name a few. She's a literature-loving feminist, whose primary goal is to Yale. So imagine her dismay when she's accepted at Yale, only to find that her parents can't afford the tuition.
Allee's luck takes an unanticipated turn when she takes her beautiful sister Sabrina (aka "The Fluff") to modeling competition at the mall. Much to Allee's (and her sister's, and well everyone's) surprise, she "discovered" by talent scouts. Allee is signed to major modeling agency in Miami. Now she is leaving the mundane suburban comforts of Cape Comet, and heading to the whirlwind wonderland of high fashion.
But the glamorous life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Allee falls into a hole filled with backstabbing roommates, tireless competition, and over-the top partying. It's hard to keep to her feet on the ground, and her mind on her goals (Yale!) while she's living in this alternate reality.
BRALESS IN WONDERLAND is fast-paced, clever, entertaining, and oh-so satisfying read. Debut author Debbie Reed Fischer gives us a funny, scary, realistic peek into the sometimes vicious, always fascinating world of professional modeling. This book is definitely a keeper!
Book Review: THE SQUAD
Poised at the Edge Book Review
THE SQUAD
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Toby Klein is not exactly a Bayport High Socialite; definitely not varsity cheerleader material, or so she thinks. Her combat boot wearing, black belt in karate ass-kicking, class skipping, computer hacking ways don’t exactly fit the mold. So why is the reigning socially elite squad soliciting her membership?
On the surface Bayport High operates like any other high school. Cheerleaders and jocks rule the roost. Outsiders are disdained, and everyone else scrambles for acceptance. But appearances can be so very deceiving. Turns out Bayport’s varsity cheerleading squad is a government run covert super-spy organization. Toby has some serious hacking skills that have caught the squad’s eye. And they’ve been watching her for a long time.
Now Tobey must forgo her combat boots for something a little more sparkly. Post "stage six make-over" she is part of the athletically unmatchable, mentally phenomenal, socially gifted (as in masters of manipulation) group of perfectly polished undercover agents ever. Along with the squad she gets sucked into some action packed espionage.
Highly accomplished YA author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, makes a leap from paranormal into (not very) realistic fiction. Not unlike her glossy super-sleuths, she manages to make it look easy. The squad is full of such delightful, laugh-out loud, wit, it is sure to please fans of her GOLDEN series, and probably earn her a bunch of new fans as well. Hurrah!
THE SQUAD
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Toby Klein is not exactly a Bayport High Socialite; definitely not varsity cheerleader material, or so she thinks. Her combat boot wearing, black belt in karate ass-kicking, class skipping, computer hacking ways don’t exactly fit the mold. So why is the reigning socially elite squad soliciting her membership?
On the surface Bayport High operates like any other high school. Cheerleaders and jocks rule the roost. Outsiders are disdained, and everyone else scrambles for acceptance. But appearances can be so very deceiving. Turns out Bayport’s varsity cheerleading squad is a government run covert super-spy organization. Toby has some serious hacking skills that have caught the squad’s eye. And they’ve been watching her for a long time.
Now Tobey must forgo her combat boots for something a little more sparkly. Post "stage six make-over" she is part of the athletically unmatchable, mentally phenomenal, socially gifted (as in masters of manipulation) group of perfectly polished undercover agents ever. Along with the squad she gets sucked into some action packed espionage.
Highly accomplished YA author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, makes a leap from paranormal into (not very) realistic fiction. Not unlike her glossy super-sleuths, she manages to make it look easy. The squad is full of such delightful, laugh-out loud, wit, it is sure to please fans of her GOLDEN series, and probably earn her a bunch of new fans as well. Hurrah!
Book review: AUDREY WAIT!
Poised at the Edge Book Review
AUDREY WAIT!
Robin Benway
Audrey Cuttler is your typical So. Cal teenager. She scoops ice cream for cash, has an awesome best friend, and a happy home with hippie parents, and a fat cat named Bendomelena. Another thing Audrey has is a self-involved musician boyfriend, Evan, but she’s dumping him. Sure his band is good, and he has really nice oral hygiene, but with Evan, it’s all about him.
Audrey’s great love is music. Her time and energy goes to downloading songs and going to concerts. Little does she know, music is about to redefine her life. Evan has always said he’d write a song about Audrey, but he only gets around to it after they break up. And guess what? It’s not particularly flattering. To make matters worse this unflattering song is extremely catchy. Suddenly, it’s the song that’s always on the radio.
Now newspapers are calling for interviews, the paparazzi won’t leave her alone, and the Do-Gooders (Evan’s band) are getting international acclaim. She’s even getting mobbed by fans! Fans? Of course kids at her school are getting lots of mileage out of Audrey’s unique situation. How many times does she hear someone yell "Audrey Wait!" (The title of the song.) But she’ll get by with a little help from her best friend Victoria (who’s always looking for a way to capitalize on the situation, and James the super-cute, but sort of dorky, guy from her work.
AUDREY WAIT! is an awesome read! It’s fast-paced, totally fresh and original. Robin Benway has a delightful voice. I can’t wait to see what she has for us in the future.
AUDREY WAIT!
Robin Benway
Audrey Cuttler is your typical So. Cal teenager. She scoops ice cream for cash, has an awesome best friend, and a happy home with hippie parents, and a fat cat named Bendomelena. Another thing Audrey has is a self-involved musician boyfriend, Evan, but she’s dumping him. Sure his band is good, and he has really nice oral hygiene, but with Evan, it’s all about him.
Audrey’s great love is music. Her time and energy goes to downloading songs and going to concerts. Little does she know, music is about to redefine her life. Evan has always said he’d write a song about Audrey, but he only gets around to it after they break up. And guess what? It’s not particularly flattering. To make matters worse this unflattering song is extremely catchy. Suddenly, it’s the song that’s always on the radio.
Now newspapers are calling for interviews, the paparazzi won’t leave her alone, and the Do-Gooders (Evan’s band) are getting international acclaim. She’s even getting mobbed by fans! Fans? Of course kids at her school are getting lots of mileage out of Audrey’s unique situation. How many times does she hear someone yell "Audrey Wait!" (The title of the song.) But she’ll get by with a little help from her best friend Victoria (who’s always looking for a way to capitalize on the situation, and James the super-cute, but sort of dorky, guy from her work.
AUDREY WAIT! is an awesome read! It’s fast-paced, totally fresh and original. Robin Benway has a delightful voice. I can’t wait to see what she has for us in the future.
Book Review: TWISTED SISTERS
Poised at the Edge Book Review
TWISTED SISTERS
Stephanie Hale
Aspen Brooks is back! The Dooney-toting princess/super-sleuth finds herself caught up in another mystery. After a senior year that includes slashed tires, subterfuge, and being kidnapped Aspen should be ready for anything, right? But Aspen thinks college will be a great place to chill. Harry Malone (who helped save her when she was held hostage last year) is paying her tuition. She's been accepted into the most desirable sorority on campus, and her beloved super-hottie boyfriend, Rand is living directly above her. Perfect, right?
So wrong. The Zeta sisterhood turns out to be totally twisted. Aspen didn't join the Zeta's just for the obvious social reasons. Detective Harry Malone's niece Mitzi was also a Zeta member. She went missing last semester, leaving nothing behind but a blood-soaked bed. Now it's Aspen's job to infiltrate the sisterhood and find out anything she can about Mitzi' disappearance. Now she's dealing with militant, malicious meanies, who want to control every aspect of her existence.
But Harry Malone is not the only one trying to solve the mystery. Rand's super-hot, (but rude, slimy, pervy) roommate also wants to find Mitzi. He claims they were embroiled in a top-secret love affair. Aspen is totally undercover, and facing a fair amount of danger herself. To make matters worse Rand is becoming more and more detached. He's too involved with his new fraternity's obnoxious antics. Plus he's incredibly suspicious of Aspen's involvement with his misogynistic roommate.
Now Aspen's freshman year of college has turned into a big fat Greek mess! Fans of REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING will eat up TWISTED SISTERS. Stephanie Hale re-establishes herself as YA/Chick-lit royalty with this laugh-out loud adventure, full of surprising twists (yes-pun intended), and memorable characters (and one of the grossest representations of low-carb diets ever!) Brava Stephanie! Keep 'em coming!
TWISTED SISTERS
Stephanie Hale
Aspen Brooks is back! The Dooney-toting princess/super-sleuth finds herself caught up in another mystery. After a senior year that includes slashed tires, subterfuge, and being kidnapped Aspen should be ready for anything, right? But Aspen thinks college will be a great place to chill. Harry Malone (who helped save her when she was held hostage last year) is paying her tuition. She's been accepted into the most desirable sorority on campus, and her beloved super-hottie boyfriend, Rand is living directly above her. Perfect, right?
So wrong. The Zeta sisterhood turns out to be totally twisted. Aspen didn't join the Zeta's just for the obvious social reasons. Detective Harry Malone's niece Mitzi was also a Zeta member. She went missing last semester, leaving nothing behind but a blood-soaked bed. Now it's Aspen's job to infiltrate the sisterhood and find out anything she can about Mitzi' disappearance. Now she's dealing with militant, malicious meanies, who want to control every aspect of her existence.
But Harry Malone is not the only one trying to solve the mystery. Rand's super-hot, (but rude, slimy, pervy) roommate also wants to find Mitzi. He claims they were embroiled in a top-secret love affair. Aspen is totally undercover, and facing a fair amount of danger herself. To make matters worse Rand is becoming more and more detached. He's too involved with his new fraternity's obnoxious antics. Plus he's incredibly suspicious of Aspen's involvement with his misogynistic roommate.
Now Aspen's freshman year of college has turned into a big fat Greek mess! Fans of REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING will eat up TWISTED SISTERS. Stephanie Hale re-establishes herself as YA/Chick-lit royalty with this laugh-out loud adventure, full of surprising twists (yes-pun intended), and memorable characters (and one of the grossest representations of low-carb diets ever!) Brava Stephanie! Keep 'em coming!
MY LIFE THE MUSICAL
Poised at the Edge Book Review
MY LIFE THE MUSICAL
Maryrose Wood
..:
Emily Pearl has a serious love of theater. In particular she is in love with the Broadway musical AURORA. She and her best friend share an obsession for the show (who reclusive author has never been named.) Emily and Phillip take weekly excursions to see AURORA, thanks to a secret loan by Emily's grandmother Rose. The weekly ritual is the brightest spot in Emily's otherwise drab existence.
Some people (especially Emily's English teacher, Mr. Henderson) are annoyed by, or worried about, Emily's borderline obsession. Emily's neatly-packed world begins to unravel when AURORA chat sites are over-run with rumors that AURORA will soon be closing. Not only that, but Emily's warm and cozy friendship with Phillip is becoming increasingly confusing. Is she falling in love with him? Does he love her back? Does he even like girls?
MY LIFE THE MUSICAL is a tender funny story, deeply imbued with the colorful flavor of Broadway musicals. Emily and Phillip are particularly likeable characters, who you can't help rooting for. It's story about love, friendship, and life's big mysteries! It's highly-recommended read. I'd suggest pairing it with E. Lockhart's DRAMARAMA. Brava!
MY LIFE THE MUSICAL
Maryrose Wood
..:
Emily Pearl has a serious love of theater. In particular she is in love with the Broadway musical AURORA. She and her best friend share an obsession for the show (who reclusive author has never been named.) Emily and Phillip take weekly excursions to see AURORA, thanks to a secret loan by Emily's grandmother Rose. The weekly ritual is the brightest spot in Emily's otherwise drab existence.
Some people (especially Emily's English teacher, Mr. Henderson) are annoyed by, or worried about, Emily's borderline obsession. Emily's neatly-packed world begins to unravel when AURORA chat sites are over-run with rumors that AURORA will soon be closing. Not only that, but Emily's warm and cozy friendship with Phillip is becoming increasingly confusing. Is she falling in love with him? Does he love her back? Does he even like girls?
MY LIFE THE MUSICAL is a tender funny story, deeply imbued with the colorful flavor of Broadway musicals. Emily and Phillip are particularly likeable characters, who you can't help rooting for. It's story about love, friendship, and life's big mysteries! It's highly-recommended read. I'd suggest pairing it with E. Lockhart's DRAMARAMA. Brava!
Book Review: DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-
Poised at the Edge Book Review
THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU- BANKS
E. LOCKHART
Witty, feminist, YA writer E. Lockhart returns to bookstore shelves with what may be her best novel to date. The story is most original, with its own special austere humor. Its third-person narrative and unique vocabulary set a tone that sets it apart from your everyday YA novel. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY is a story of a girl coming of age in an elitist man's world. Set in the privileged world of private boarding school.
During the summer before her sophomore year Frankie morphs from invisible to desirable. These aesthetic changes enable her admission to the fringes of Alabaster Preparatory Academy a-list society. But while she can be the arm candy of Alabaster royalty Matthew Livingston, she can't really be part of his world. His world is this generations "old boy club", complete with secret societies.
But Frankie would rather use her brain than her body to unlock the secrets of the Loyal Order Of Basset Hounds. Frankie, who won't take no for an answer devises a scheme (or really series of schemes) which put her at the head of the society that has always forbidden the presence of females. But she's playing a dangerous game.
This is a book that I devoured in a single reading session. It's so incredibly witty, with a healthy dose of girl power. E. Lockhart spins a tale that is thoroughly unpredictable, and unlike any story I've ever read. Her characters are multidimensional, interesting, and totally believable. I wish every book was this good.
THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU- BANKS
E. LOCKHART
Witty, feminist, YA writer E. Lockhart returns to bookstore shelves with what may be her best novel to date. The story is most original, with its own special austere humor. Its third-person narrative and unique vocabulary set a tone that sets it apart from your everyday YA novel. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY is a story of a girl coming of age in an elitist man's world. Set in the privileged world of private boarding school.
During the summer before her sophomore year Frankie morphs from invisible to desirable. These aesthetic changes enable her admission to the fringes of Alabaster Preparatory Academy a-list society. But while she can be the arm candy of Alabaster royalty Matthew Livingston, she can't really be part of his world. His world is this generations "old boy club", complete with secret societies.
But Frankie would rather use her brain than her body to unlock the secrets of the Loyal Order Of Basset Hounds. Frankie, who won't take no for an answer devises a scheme (or really series of schemes) which put her at the head of the society that has always forbidden the presence of females. But she's playing a dangerous game.
This is a book that I devoured in a single reading session. It's so incredibly witty, with a healthy dose of girl power. E. Lockhart spins a tale that is thoroughly unpredictable, and unlike any story I've ever read. Her characters are multidimensional, interesting, and totally believable. I wish every book was this good.
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