Tessa Lancaster is trying to break ties with her yakuza family (they don't fit with her New Life in Christ) and has started her own business as a bodyTessa Lancaster is trying to break ties with her yakuza family (they don't fit with her New Life in Christ) and has started her own business as a bodyguard after getting out of prison for a crime she didn't commit. Her new clients are a contestant on a singing competition show (think American Idol) and his daughter. The daughter somehow found evidence that the whole show is rigged. Now someone's after them and will stop at nothing to make sure that information doesn't make it back anywhere.
Overtly, heavy-handedly Christian; caveat emptor, reader. The plot moves quickly enough and the mystery takes plenty of twists and turns, but that's not the same as something that kept me turning pages out of anything besides obligation.
Teen appeal = limited. There is a teen character (the daughter of the competitor), but she's not a big enough lead to really make this speak to teens. Best off in the adult section; it's not going to find legs among teens....more
Bea's just starting her senior year at a tiny private school. She's the new kid, and alphabetically arranged next to the Weird Kid in assembly, classeBea's just starting her senior year at a tiny private school. She's the new kid, and alphabetically arranged next to the Weird Kid in assembly, classes, lockers, everything. Jonah may be a little weird in his way--his classmates have been calling him a ghost since seventh grade--but he's also the best friend Bea's ever had.
Oh man I want to give this book to everyone now, because it's the most beautiful example of friend-love, of non-romantic love, of true friendship, that I've seen in a teen novel, um, ever. It's not that it's particularly lyrical or poetic--I mean, Bea describes herself as a robot--but it's so accurate and honest and so so wonderful. Everybody should read this book. At least, everyone who's ever felt like an outcast, which is probably like 90% of us who went to middle school?...more
Poor family just getting by accidentally hits a dog on their way to church. Church community pulls together to get the dog proper vet care; dog loses Poor family just getting by accidentally hits a dog on their way to church. Church community pulls together to get the dog proper vet care; dog loses a leg and boy gets to adopt him (after sacrificing his beloved gameboy to buy food). Dog gets left behind when family evacuates for Katrina. (Oh, right, this is set in New Orleans; there's not a great sense of Place around the book.) Boy will do anything to get his dog back, etc.
Not bad, a decent boy-loves-his-dog story, mixed with the grief a young teen understandably feels after his family has lost everything through no fault of their own. I'd have liked to have gotten a better sense of New Orleans both before and after Katrina, but overall it's a decent, heartwarming book.
Cover is terrible, though, and gives so little indication that it's a Katrina story. Would not be surprised to see this on middle-school reading lists in a year or two (hopefully the cover will be redesigned for the pb edition)....more
Easily among the best GLBTQ/coming-out stories I've read, complete with the confusions and angst and worries of everyday life. Sensible conversations Easily among the best GLBTQ/coming-out stories I've read, complete with the confusions and angst and worries of everyday life. Sensible conversations about sex before they have it! Awkwardness! Uncertainty about how to talk to people, dealing with pushy family members, friends who are maybe less-stellar friends than you think! There was so much I loved about this book and the way it handled the myriad issues without ever turning into a "GAY BOOK." I mean, that's the main thing going on, but it's far from the defining characteristic and why are you still reading this review instead of this book?...more
Heartwarming. That's about the only word I have, which is strange considering that this novel of local politics and an election rife with corruption sHeartwarming. That's about the only word I have, which is strange considering that this novel of local politics and an election rife with corruption sucked me in and still left me saying "blah." I think Joan Bauer might just be too sunshiney for my bitter, blackened soul....more
Got horribly behind in reading the online updates; I picked up the book to catch up and discovered that I'd already read all the content in here. But-Got horribly behind in reading the online updates; I picked up the book to catch up and discovered that I'd already read all the content in here. But--it's fantastic enough that it's worth reading a second time.
Now to figure out where I REALLY left off......more
More Mirka! This time she accidentally convinces a troll to flood the witch's house with chocolate pudding--only for the attempt to go awry and send aMore Mirka! This time she accidentally convinces a troll to flood the witch's house with chocolate pudding--only for the attempt to go awry and send a meteorite hurtling down instead. At the last second, the witch transforms the meteorite... and now there's an extra Mirka around who is better at absolutely everything. The two Mirkas were going to share their life (half the chores!), but it's not as easy as real-Mirka expected (half the meals!). If she's going to get rid of the Extra-Mirka, Real-Mirka will need to find SOMETHING she can do better than the imposter!
I <3 Mirka. And everyone else in this series. I wanted to see more of the stepmother in this one, but I'm okay (siiiiiiigh) with her being more in the background this time....more
A reasonably-satisfying conclusion to The Giver quartet, which I'm now curious to re-read to see if I notice Claire in the background--I'm curious as A reasonably-satisfying conclusion to The Giver quartet, which I'm now curious to re-read to see if I notice Claire in the background--I'm curious as to how long Lowry has had this in the works, mentally.
Tagging this as Adult because, really, the writing is accessible to kids and teens, but the subject matter--well, I don't think they're going to have a lot of real understanding about the loss of a child and the maternal instincts that really propel the plot. This is a book for the adults who read The Giver 20 years ago (yeah, it's been just about 20 years; can you believe that?) as kids and want to know what became of the characters, and are now interested in the adult concerns that Claire (and Jonas and Gathering Blue's Kira) have.
What didn't work for me (minor spoilers if you haven't read the rest of the series): (view spoiler)[Most of the book, I enjoyed, but as with Messenger the supernatural elements didn't work for me. Jonas is said to have a gift where he can "see beyond," and that's what makes him become the Keeper of Memories, but I was always able to take that as metaphor. Kira's gift for weaving, I was able to believe the same way. But then we get to Messenger and there's the Trademaster with his Needful Things trades and Jonas's "seeing beyond" is a weird sort of astral projection, and Gabe can do similar things... I dunno. To me, the fantastic elements really took away from the power of the book. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, a good conclusion to a teen series with very little teen appeal these days. Sigh....more
Nadira flies under the radar in the shadow of her brilliant sister. Really, her whole family flies under the radar--they've been living in America forNadira flies under the radar in the shadow of her brilliant sister. Really, her whole family flies under the radar--they've been living in America for seven years, but they're on expired visas. They're illegal in a post-9/11 America, and an attempt to find asylum in Canada gets her Nadira's father detained at the border, facing deportation. Nadira's sister has always been the smart, collected one--but now Nadira is the only one in her family who can hold things together.
A decent multi-cultural title highlighting immigration policies and what families go through to get legal residency. Nice to put a face (more or less) to an illegal immigrant--they're not evil people out to screw Americans or anything. Which I knew, but it's worth reminding people from time to time.
Will add to the growing list of potential titles for 8th grade reading....more
Does it count as reading an adult book when the writer is clearly more used to targeting 8-year-olds? Creepy twins, seriously idiotic lead female ("ohDoes it count as reading an adult book when the writer is clearly more used to targeting 8-year-olds? Creepy twins, seriously idiotic lead female ("oh, there's a major hurricane coming straight for the island I want to write about? HANG ON I'M GOING THERE ANYWAY, IN THE PATH OF THE STORM"), and a plot that feels derivative of something I can't put my finger on--The Shining (but not quite), everything by Stephen King ever (but not quite). Another review mentions the movie Orphan, which I didn't see, but I can see the comparison.
And I didn't hate this. Sure, I cringed at the writing and found the Big Reveal a little underwhelming (I didn't actually call the ending, mostly because I sort of just assumed and wasn't surprised by it). But it was engrossing and a quick read and kinda fun on those grounds. But not one I'm going to suggest everyone run out and read. ...more
A boy wakes up in Penn Station, remembering nothing. Near at hand is a copy of Walden, so for want of anything better he calls himself Henry David andA boy wakes up in Penn Station, remembering nothing. Near at hand is a copy of Walden, so for want of anything better he calls himself Henry David and starts a convoluted adventure to Concord, MA, to--he hopes--find some clues at Walden Pond. Gradually his memories return and we find out what got him to the place he's in.
So, didn't love it. There's a line from the Mystery Science Theater gem Overdrawn at the Memory Bank when our hero is watching Casablanca, and someone remarks "Never show a part of a GOOD movie in your crappy movie!" or something to that effect, and that's often how I feel about books that try to make a whole story out of some other story. (See also: Michael Cunningham's Specimen Days.) This is another example. The Thoreau elements are reasonably well placed but I never got the impression that they shaped Hank's understanding of himself overmuch.
I know teens who will eat this up. But it's not for me....more
Many years ago, Greg and Rachel sort of dated. Greg was never really interested, but like everything else in his life, it just sort of happened to himMany years ago, Greg and Rachel sort of dated. Greg was never really interested, but like everything else in his life, it just sort of happened to him. Now his mom is sending him to Rachel's house to hang out and keep her company, just because she's been diagnosed with leukemia. They don't fall in love. Greg doesn't learn Big Life Lessons. And this isn't Just Another Cancer Book.
I enjoyed this and I'll probably toss it into next year's booktalks, but it's not one that'll be tops on my list of YOU NEED TO READ THIS NOW....more
Confession: I picked this up not because I was interested in the story but because Nick Podehl narrates. He didn't disappoint; neither did the book. NConfession: I picked this up not because I was interested in the story but because Nick Podehl narrates. He didn't disappoint; neither did the book. Not sure I'll pick up the rest of the series, but I really enjoyed this.
A really great adaptation, and yet the book really loses a lot of its... magic, I guess, when the pacing is so much faster. On its own merits, 4 starsA really great adaptation, and yet the book really loses a lot of its... magic, I guess, when the pacing is so much faster. On its own merits, 4 stars; in comparison to the original, 3....more
Sugar Mae's mom, Reba, taught her to be gracious and kind no matter what the circumstances, and Sugar has tried very hard to live up to that. It's harSugar Mae's mom, Reba, taught her to be gracious and kind no matter what the circumstances, and Sugar has tried very hard to live up to that. It's hard, though, when her gambling father disappears on them again, Reba can't pay the mortgage, and they lose the house. Reba and Sugar move to Chicago to make a fresh start, but can't catch a break there either. Reba's breakdown lands her in the hospital and Sugar in foster care. Grace and kindness are all Sugar has left, but it might be enough to create a sense of home.
Almost Home really tugs at the heartstrings while asking questions about what a family is, what home is, and how to maintain those things even when the physical structures break down. Sugar is a little too sunny to be believable--almost Pollyanna-ish--but the story never feels fake....more
Engaging narrator, hopeful story on spite of atrocities committed against her. Nice blending of the old world and new, with all the culture shocks andEngaging narrator, hopeful story on spite of atrocities committed against her. Nice blending of the old world and new, with all the culture shocks and traumas one would expect....more
You know what? I really, really loved this one. Carter is a fantastic character, very real and true and he's really grown up and matured through the sYou know what? I really, really loved this one. Carter is a fantastic character, very real and true and he's really grown up and matured through the series. I love him.
And I don't know why Nick Podehl won't narrate my life, dammit....more
A little slow to get going, but covers an event that doesn't get much coverage in schools. A good choice for the middle school curriculum, though I doA little slow to get going, but covers an event that doesn't get much coverage in schools. A good choice for the middle school curriculum, though I don't see a ton of kids picking this up by choice....more
