Review: Lost in London

I am always looking for a fun read, and  Aladdin Mix novels fit this for me. The reads are usually fun, deal with tween issues in a light-hearted way, and leave me feeling good about life.

'Lost in London' is no exception.  

Title: ‘Lost in London’

Author: Cindy Callaghan

Pages: 240

Publisher: Aladdin

Available: NOW

Source: received from publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Twelve-year-old Jordan isn’t unhappy, but she’s definitely bored. So when she gets the chance to take part in a London exchange program, she’s thrilled to ditch her small town in Delaware and see the world across the pond.

Unfortunately, Jordan’s host sister in London, Caroline, isn’t exactly enthusiastic about entertaining an American girl. Despite the chilly welcome, Jordan finds herself loving the city and Caroline’s group of friends, who are much nicer than Caroline herself.

And then a major misstep leaves Jordan and Caroline trapped together overnight, inside Daphne’s, the world’s largest department store. Given they have complete access to all the fancy shoes, designer dresses, and coolest makeup around, there are worse places to be stuck. But when the girls’ fun has not-so-fun consequences, Jordan’s wish for excitement abroad turns into a lot more than she ever bargained for..

My Thoughts:

What an adorable tween read.

Jordan wants a bit of excitement in her life, and nothing says excitement like a trip abroad to London. But can she convince her parents? Of course. I mean, it wouldn’t be a story if the answer was no, right?

But what happens when Jordan arrives is nothing she is prepared for. After all, she is there for an adventure, and she finds one. One that is more than she bargained for.

Tween readers will find themselves thrown into the plot quickly. Callaghan does not wait to build her story; after all, she has to get her readers to London, right? By chapter two, that is where we are—and we do not stop until the novel’s conclusion.

While reading, I found myself giggling out loud as well as face palming. I mean, we are dealing with characters that are thirteen, so some of their choices are just…ridiculously ridiculous. But, I am not the audience of this novel, and the true audience will eat it up.

Jordan is a likeable character. She wants to be friends with everyone, live life to the fullest while in London, leave nothing out. Readers will see her transform throughout the novel into a more confident young lady, and that is what I really enjoyed about the novel. She is not a stagnant character—she grows, much like her adventures, and Callaghan shows readers what growing up is really about: taking life and going with it. It will not always be fun. The best decisions will not always be made. But, you deal.

As for Caroline, I really enjoyed her. After reading the description I was afraid she would be really unlikable, like ‘Mean Girls’ unlikeable. But that was not the case. She is just a typical teen is who forced to hang with someone when all she wants to do is do her own thing. How many of us can relate? I think tween readers will as well.

All of the characters brought a fun feel to the novel—Caroline’s friends quickly accept Jordan and take her under their wing. They are all fun. I want to hang out with them because they are smart, clever, and have British accents. What more could a girl want in friends?

I recommend this novel for fourth grade readers +. It is fun. It has a great message. But mostly, it is fun.

If you are ever looking for a fun tween read, the Aladdin MIX novels are always a go-to for me.

Note: There is a discrepancy in the summary—it says Jordan is twelve, but in the novel she is actually thirteen.

What tween read do you recommend?

Comment below and let’s talk about books.

Happy Reading!

-      The Hodgenator

Review: Twerp

I read the majority of this novel while on the treadmill/bicycle/elliptical. It was a great read because it kept me engaged while I was sweating to death - and I did not even notice. I mean, I noticed I was sweating of course, but I guess my point is that Goldblatt had me so enthralled with Julian's story that the time passed quickly.

This cover...love it

Title: ‘Twerp’

Author: Mark Goldblatt

ISBN: 9780375971426

Pages: 288

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Available: May 28th

Source: Netgalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

It's not like I meant for Danley to get hurt. . . .

Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.

My Thoughts:

I am always looking for books for tween boys because, let’s be honest, this is the age that boys start to step away from books. After all, the demands on their time are great, and reading tends to fall in the bottom of that category. I’m not saying this is true of all tween boys, but my experience and observation has shown that this is the age where boys step away from the printed page.

With that said, it’s important to write for tween boys on topics that interest them. Topics that will make them want to read. For fun. On purpose.

Goldblatt’s book is one of those reads. This novel reminded me of an Andrew Clements’ school story. The feel was the same as was the execution.

When we met Julian, he is in a lot of trouble. But, there is one person in the building willing to take a chance on him, his English teacher. Instead of writing the stereotypical Shakespeare paper that is required, Julian is given a chance to tell his side of the story. Instead, he finds himself writing a book—and finds himself learning life lessons.

One life lesson: do not, under any circumstances, write a love letter on behalf of your best friend. The girl could easily believe that the letter is actually from you, even if you tell her it is not, and chaos will ensue. See, life lesson. And this one is an important one.

The plot is nicely paced for the age group. The chapters are not too long and not too detailed. It’s very conversational—which I believe a lot of tween readers will enjoy and can connect with. Basically, Goldblatt has made it easy for the reader to have a conversation with the text, which would be great to discuss in a classroom. This is what I as a teacher am always trying to get across to my own students—the writer is having a conversation with you, talk back to him/her. A chapter from this book would be a great way to introduce that concept, especially to sixth graders.

As a character Julian is solid. Of course he is flawed, I mean, he is in sixth grade, but he is honest, and true, and has a good heart. His problem is that he does not always surround himself with the best people to call friends. Scratch that. I take that back. His problem is that he is in sixth grade and does things boys of that age will do. It’s just his friends are there with the fallout.

And what friends does Julian have. They will fight until the end of time for one another—unless betrayal happens—and they remind me of the boys from ‘A Christmas Story.’ Talking smack, always challenging one another, and of course shenanigans happen. Instead of a tongue stuck to a telephone poll, eyebrows are singed off.

Basically, this book is for the fourth to sixth grader in your life. While I recommend it for a male audience, I think tween girls will enjoy it as well, if they are big readers.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this so much was that I have an eight-year-old little boy, and I can see some of this being his life, but I also teach high school juniors who love to share childhood stories about one another. In that way, I connected with this book both as a mom as well as an English teacher.

What’s the best realistic fiction novel you’ve read in a while? Who is your favorite author for tween boys?

Comment below and let’s talk about books.

Happy Reading!

-      The Hodgenator

Fake, Outrageous, Cupcakes!

Okay, I know the title of this post is a little odd, but it fits perfectly with three great tween reads I've read over that last couple of weeks. Two of the novels are from a series and the other is a fun read.

I love tween novels, and I really love when I find a series that makes me feel good about life. 

Enjoy! 

Summary (from the book):

Now that she is settling into eighth grade, the class she used to envy, Alice McKinley is discovering that it isn’t all that exciting. But maybe it’s up to her to make this year as thrilling as she thought it would be. Out with the old, plain-Jane Alice, in with the new, stylish, creative Alice. She’s sick of being boring. It’s time to be outrageous!

But what if outrageous isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be? What if Alice finds herself in situations that are more embarrassing than they are wild and fun? Is Alice destined to be the same boring girl forever?

My Thoughts:

Another Alice book bites the dust. My goal is to read all of them before the end of the year, and as always, I adored this one as much as the others.

Alice is growing up, page-by-page, allowing readers to experience it with her. This is why I love these books. I feel as if I am Alice – as if I am the one experiencing all the love, friendship, and laughter.

In this latest installment Alice decides that she is just too plain, and she wants to be a bit different. It seems everyone has something that makes them special, and she is just plain Alice. So…she experiments with ways to make herself more interesting. My favorite moment is when she shows up to school with her green Mohawk – well, her sort of green Mohawk. She doesn’t shave her hair or anything. She just tries to create the spikes with her hair.

And do you know what I love about Alice as a character? That she is willing to take chances, even wearing a crazy Mohawk to school, and doesn’t really care what others think. She understands that the key to life is loving one’s self, but it is her road of discovering her own self that makes these books worth every page.

Summary (from the book):

Emma is not thrilled with always needing to rearrange her schedule to babysit her younger brother, Jake, after school. But it’s summer, and Emma is free…or so she thinks. Emma’s parents have broken the news that really threatens to push Emma over the edge: Emma and Jake are going to the same day camp together. And Emma will have to babysit Jake on the bus. Every day.

My Thoughts:

I highly recommend The Cupcake Diaries series to all tween readers. These books bring to life what real friendship is all about, even if it is through the making of cupcakes. I feel that these books also empower girls to remember that tween life is meant to be clean-cut, wholesome. Who wants to grow up too fast anyway?

I also love that each book focuses on an individual member of the Cupcake Club.

In the latest installment, the focus is on Emma. It’s summer and it’s time for day camp. But, does her brother Jake really have to go to the same one? Of course he does. And not only that, but Emma has to “babysit” him on the bus to camp each day. This alone is a trial of her patience, but she meets new friends, has a great time, and learns that sacrifice for family can never lead her down the wrong path—even if she would rather ride with her best friend to camp each day instead.

With typical “one for all and all for one” attitudes, the Cupcake Club comes together to make it all work—even when Emma doesn’t think she can take her brother anymore.

Summary (from the book):

A novelty mustache pits two seventh-grade friends against each other in a battle for the fate of the U.S.A.

The mustache in question is no cheap costume prop but the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven, a lip tickler so dazzlingly convincing, it can turn whole towns of people into mindless yes-men. Twelve-year-old Casper Bengue borrows ten dollars from his friend Lenny Flem Jr. to buy the mustache. So when a mysterious—and very short—mustachioed man goes on a bank-robbing spree, then launches a well-financed bid for the presidency, it doesn’t take Lenny long to realize that his buddy is up to no good. Too bad almost everyone else is completely under Casper’s spell.

With the amazing Jodie O’Rodeo, teen cowgirl queen, at his side and dozens of hypnotized townsfolk on his trail, Lenny will try to stop Casper—aka Fako Mustacho—on his seemingly inexorable march to the White House.

My Thoughts:

Be prepared to laugh! No seriously, I mean it.

Angleberger does it again with this hilarious take on what happens when a seven-year-old has enough money to purchase a “man about town” suit and a “Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven” mustache.

The novel opens with Lenny Flem Jr.’s point of view, following him through the discovery that his best friend is actually a bank-robbing, governorship-stealing, president-wanting criminal mastermind…all because of a suit and mustache!

The narration is broken into two parts: Lenny and Jodie O’Rodeo. I prefer Lenny’s narration, and I felt as if Jodie’s took away from the overall novel. But, the chapter titles are clever, the chapter lengths are appropriate, and the overall effect = belly laughs.

While there are parts that will make adult readers go “As if…”, young readers will be delighted with the wit and charm of this novel.

This is a fast read, and it is appropriate for both male and female readers. 

Review: How to Rock Braces and Glasses

The title of this novel really caught my attention - I mean, we all had that awkward growing period, right? No...just me?! Well let me tell you, when I was a tween, I did NOT rock glasses. I was fortunate enough not to have braces, but the glasses were enough torture. I'm not talking the cute ones you see today. I'm talking Sally Jesse Raphael glasses. And YES, I had a pair **shudders at the memory**. 

 

For those who have no clue of what I type, here is a reminder ------------------------------------------------->

Now you get me - imagine being a tween with THOSE glasses! Just sayin'.

But I digress...

Summary (from book jacket):

Super-stylish and uber-harsh, Kacey Simon is the social dictator of Marquette Middle School. She's BFFs with the prettiest girls, and she even hosts her own TV segment dispensing advice and the cold, hard truth to her classmates - whether they want to hear it or not.

But then an eye infection and a visit to the dentist leaves her with coke-bottle glasses, a mouth full of metal, and...a litthp. Dismissed by her popular friends, she falls so far down the social ladder she can barely see the top, even with her magnifying specs.

With nowhere to turn, Kacey has to hang with her nerdy neighbor and a boy who walks to the beat of his own drum - or rather, to the beat of the drummer in his band. Zander wants Kacey to be their singer, but she's determined to reclaim her throne. Will she climb back to the top? Or will she discover that hitting rock bottom kind of...rocks?

In her hilarious debut novel, Meg Haston tells the story of a mean girl who gets more than a new prescription for glasses - she gets a new perspective on life.

My thoughts:

An absolutely adorable novel.

Readers are introduced to Kacey Simon, the IT girl of her middle school. She is famous for her Simon Says segments, and while it seems to give her fame amongst her crowd, is it the way to help people?

Kacey is popular, she is beautiful, and she is talented. She also has a problem - can you guess what it is?

If you guessed braces and glasses, you get the prize. This combination leads to her social suicide, so to speak, and it turns out that friendship can be fickle.

While Kacey struggles with her new "self" and the blatant ousting from her own circle, she also discovers there is more to life than being Kacey Simon...like being in a band...but that does not mean she does not crave her old "scene" and will stop at nothing to re-claim her spot at the top of the middle school fame game.

Throughout the novel readers will fall in love with Kacey while she discovers her true self and what it really means to be a true friend.

With a cast of minor characters to sweeten the deal, re-living the braces and glasses era has never been so fun. Although, I was fortunate enough not to have braces - but glasses, oh yes I did. And they were not pretty, they were not cool, and thank goodness I did not have to have braces too.

Discover Kacey and her friends, and re-discover why you are so grateful to be done with that awkward tween age. OR...if you are a tween yourself, hop into the pages of the novel to discover that (1) you are not alone and (2) sometimes you trade in one thing and find several others.

Three Great Reads for Tweens

While I tend to lean toward YA novels, I am also a lover of children and tween novels. Over the last couple of days I've read three that I really enjoyed, and they are worth your tween's time as well.

Cupcake Diaries: Mia's Baker's Dozen by Coco Simon

First let me say that I absolutely love this series, and I recommend it to all readers, but especially if your tween is a bit of a slow reader. The plots are engaging, fun, and full of cupcakes! Each novel focuses on one of four characters, and her troubles, which might seem silly to adults, really plays to their intended audience. What more could a tween reader want?

In this installment, the sixth in the series, the focus is on Mia. She has a bit of a problem and is unsure of how to solve it. School is important to her, but when her parents let the cat out of the bag - Mia can speak Spanish - it's decided that she should take an advanced class in the language. The problem? Speaking it and reading/writing it are two very different things. 

Not only that, but her mom has recently re-married, and she wants to stay fair to her father. Is inviting her step-dad to parent/teacher night the right thing to do? And does her mom forget to make sure to include her father in the conversations as well?

With the Cupcake Club sprinkled in with the plot, Mia must figure out how to solve her problems while keeping it all together.

This Totally Bites by Ruth Ames

If you have not picked up a Poison Apple book, I highly recommend them. They are paranormal for tweens - very appropriate for the age. Think of Cupcake Diaries with a twist - in this case, vampires.

Emma-Rose Paley is quite different from her parents - not just in the way she looks but in personality as well. She has always been pale with jet-black hair, but she also detests sunshine and garlic. Is this proof enough that she is a...vampire?

Great-aunt Margo is coming for a visit, and the two of them have quite a lot in common. During the visit odd things occur - like animals mysteriously dying in the park - and Emma-Rose witnesses strange occurrences herself - is this proof that Great-aunt Margo is a vampire as well?

Tween readers will be delighted with this mysterious tale and will ultimately be surprised with the outcome. If you've not taken a bite out of these books yet, you should add them to your mound of reads.

Miss Popularity and the Best Friend Disaster by Francesco Sedita

At the opposite end of the Poison Apple spectrum is the Candy Apple books. I fell in love with these books, and I read every one when they are published. They are such fun, empowering tween reads. 

In the latest installment of Cassie Knight's tale, she is preparing to celebrate her thirteenth birthday with a skating party. She left her home state of Texas just six months ago to move to Maine and has made new friends. But what about those she left behind? No fear, it's Cassie after all. She is a master of keeping her friends in Texas in her life as well, especially with the latest technology.

But what happens when her Texas BFFs meet her Maine BFF? Catty words, petty arguments, and sparks that lead to more than just a headache for Cassie. Can't everyone just get along? And how can Cassie convince her friends that they don't have to like one another, but they do have to come together for her sake.

Mean Girls invade 7th grade

Title and author: Life Was Cool until You Got Popular by Sarah Billington

Date: Sept. 1, 2011

ISBN: Kindle Edition

Source: Sarah Billington

Summary (from Goodreads):

Thirteen year old Kaley’s best friend Jules is an alien clone. That has to be it. Because Jules wouldn’t dress like that or act like that…and she definitely wouldn’t be friends with Meg-a-bitch. 

Kaley can't wait to start at her new school with her best friend Jules. Jules was away in Europe all summer (worst summer of Kaley's life!) But it's cool, now school is starting and everything is going to be awesome. However as the school bus pulls up on that first day, Kaley barely recognizes the silky hair and glossy lips as Jules gets off with the cool kids and with their arch-nemesis Meg, the popular girl (God only knows why) who made Kaley and Jules's lives miserable in elementary school. In Europe, Meg had somehow won over Kaley's best friend and Kaley finds herself frozen out.   

Life Was Cool Until You Got Popular is a first person MG told through Kaley’s eyes, chronicling the initial pain and incomprehension of what happened to destroy their friendship. But that doesn't last long. Kaley decides that underneath the bleached blond clone with the personality transplant, Jules is still in there. Somewhere. And she is going to get her best friend back! 

My Thoughts:   
Kaley is a delightful heroine in this novel. From the start she is loveable as a character, and the reader will find his/herself rooting for her…and at times for Jules as well.

The author takes care with the angst of starting anew: new school, new friends, new interests, etc. This is a natural part of process called “growing up,” and this realistic portrayal is what will delight readers the most.

The heart of this novel revolves around Kaley trying to win her friend back. At times I found myself becoming frustrated with her, wanting her to just move on to better things, and better friends. After all, if Jules was truly her friend, would she be so hateful to Kaley, or most importantly, allow others to be? (Think Mean Girls times five).

Billington has created the ultimate monster in the character Meg. It makes me wonder if she herself had to contend with such a character in middle school. After all, haven’t we all encountered the one person in school whose sole purpose was to make our daily school lives a living nightmare? I loathed Meg. I loathed everything about her character. In her, the author truly captures a realistic side to the true angst of growing up female.

Since the author has provided us with such a wretch in Meg, she also offers up delightful characters, creating a nice juxtaposition in those who come into Kaley's life. These characters help bring Kaley full circle as a character, and they provide the strength that helps with the pacing of the novel. My personal favorite is Travis, and that is all I will write about him. BUT, I do hope Billington writes a follow-up because I really want to read more about him. 

And did I mention the cat fights? No? Ah, well...they are good and funny and clever. This part of the plot was reminiscent of The Parent Trap camp scenes at the start of the film.

While I enjoyed the book as a whole, I do have a single complaint. It’s a small one, I promise. The book was sprinkled quite lightly with the use of profane words. I do not mind it in literature. I do not fear language at all. As a matter of fact, I enjoy using those words myself. But it bothered me in this particular novel because it seemed so out of place in where it appeared. There was only one character that truly pulled it off for me—Jamie. But when it was used by another character, it seemed contrived. Please don’t let this scare you off from reading the book. It is in there ever so lightly that I would have missed it, but Jamie’s phrase is so comical that it actually enhanced him as a comic relief to the realistic topic at hand. 

Like realistic fiction before, Life Was Cool until You Got Popular will strike a chord with readers of all ages, not just the tweens. For readers of Naylor’s Alice books, Rennison’s Georgia Nicholson books, or Myracle’s The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life, they too will enjoy this novel.

Spotlight on: No Cream Puffs

While at the Harry Potter movie release party, a friend and I were discussing shopping for books based on covers. Then we started talking about covers that do not do the books justice, and I brought up No Cream Puffs, and so I thought I would "spotlight" the tween read this week.

Do NOT let the cover nor the title fool you!

It is 1980, and Madison simply wants to play baseball with a local team. The problem? She's a girl...and the team is all male. With just wanting to play because she is the strongest player in the area, Madison opens the door for other girls to play as well...a responsibility Madison does not want. 

On top of wanting to simply just play, Madison is also dealing with being 12...and all that comes with it.

It was an absolute wonderful story, and I couldn't put it down! For those of us who grew up in the 1980's, and for those who love tween reads, this book is worthy of your reading time. 

If you can clearly remember either of the above from your childhood, you have to read this book!