Accept yourself and SHINE

When I headed down to Orlando, I took a few books to keep me company during the car ride. I read Trapped on the way down, and I read Shine on the way home. I could not put this book down. I found the plot and the characters absolutely captivating.

Lauren Myracle introduces readers into a world that many can never imagine. A world that steps beyond the "backwoods" of America and into the front door of that life. This novel is an important contribution to teen literature for many reasons. I expect to see this on school reading lists in the future.

My Thoughts:
 

Cat is a typical teenager with dreams of a life better than what she is living. She hides behind books because she allows herself to be afraid of those around her. Of course, there is a logical reason for it - a reason that unfolds nicely in the plot. When her childhood friend, Patrick, is attacked and a possible victim of a hate crime, Cat decides it is time to become a part of life again...and to investigate what really happened. Along the way she discovers another element to her "backwoods" life that leads to dangers she never dreamed, and to a discovery that not only endangers herself but also those around her. 

 
At the heart of this story is self-discovery and true friendship. Cat is lost, she's been lost for three years. It takes Patrick's attack to bring her back to life. But when she discovers who she really is, who Patrick really is, she finds peace within her soul.

Myracle presents the life of backwoods America from Cat's point-of-view, but we also learn of life from the church hall gossips to the meth dealer as well. She spared no expense in this novel - it is real, it is raw. Myracle also creates a solid mystery for readers. For avid mystery readers, the clues will be easy for you to decipher, but the point of the novel isn't the mystery, it serves only as a vehicle for its message. The plot is solid; the characters are solid; the message is clear. 

I would recommend this novel to everyone, especially teens. The book opens the eyes to tolerance, or in this case intolerance, and acceptance not only of those around you but of yourself as well. When you do not accept who you are, you become your own worst enemy - an enemy that can turn on yourself, your beliefs, your friends. Allow yourself to be free to Shine.

Who knew reading about someone's head could be this great?!

This weekend I spent my time reading two awesome books - Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins and Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt. I couldn't put either down, and I love when I am so enraptured in reading that everything else sort of happens around me.

With Sean Griswold's Head I got more than a love story; I got a story about a girl struggling with who she is and who she will become - all through her focus exercise. You guessed it - the back of Sean Griswold's head! What starts out as a harmless exercise turns into so much more - even more than love. It turns into a discovery that sometimes it is okay to mourn things we've "lost" as long as we celebrate what we have.

Brief Synopsis

Payton Gritas is dealt a blow when she learns that her father is suffering from multiple sclerosis and has kept it secret from her. While this seems harmless to the average teen, Payton is not the average teen. Her life is together, and organized, and ordered. This wrench sends her over the edge...and Payton discovers she is not the girl she thought she was.

Since her version of teen rebellion is ignoring her parents, she is sent to the school counselor. The counselor's advice is simple: find a focus object and keep a journal. The object should be something inanimate that she can concentrate her emotions on. Instead, she decides to use Sean Griswold's head. After all, it is huge. This single decision sends Payton on a trip of self-discovery, learning that it is not okay to keep those you love at a distance. 

Packed with a carefree best friend (Jac, who I think got most of the great lines), a possible "vampire" (Grady), and Seinfeld references (which I loved), you will find yourself lost in Payton's world - but in a good way.

Leavitt creates a solid plot that handles a teen dealing with her father's disease with care. This book is a comfort piece for any student who finds him/herself in a similar situation. Not since Side Effects can I remember a YA novel touching on subject matter as tender as this. There are not too many books written where a character becomes empowered in the way I saw Payton transformed while "dealing." Leavitt's creative plot reminds readers that suffering happens to all of us, just in different ways...and of course that the person sitting in front of you in class could just be the love of your life.

Sean Griswold's Head was a lovely surprise for me. I picked it for the YA Teacher Reader book choice for the month of March, and I cannot wait to hear if my colleagues enjoyed it as much as I did. I highly recommend this to all lovers of YA, all high school teachers, all high school teens.

That Hawkins really knows how to end a book...

I love YA. I especially love YA supernatural. I especially especially love YA that keeps me turning the page. And all of these are wrapped in Rachel Hawkins' second novel, Demonglass.

At a normal high school, having class outside on a gorgeous May day is usually pretty awesome. It means sitting in the sunshine, maybe reading some poetry, letting the breeze blow through your hair...

At Hecate Hall, a.k.a. Juvie for Monsters, it meant I was getting thrown in the pond.

And so starts Demonglass, one of the most clever YA books I've ever read. And by clever, I mean the dialogue. Hawkins really has a talent for bringing to the forefront what the average teen girl is thinking/saying, even if she happens to be a demon. 

Do you know what I love about this book? That Hawkins really knows how to develop characters; that she really knows how to pace the plot; that she really knows how to end a book. Last year she debuted with Hex Hall, and readers were introduced to Sophie Mercer, a witch who could not control her powers. As such, she headed off to Hecate where she was to learn about her "kind" and how to control her powers.

Brief Synopsis

In this sequel, Hawkins takes readers across the Atlantic to jolly-old England. Sophie will spend the summer with her dad to learn how to control her powers. Wait, wasn't she supposed to do that at Hecate Hall? If you read the novel, you already know how that turned out. (If you haven't read Hex Hall, I demand that you do so...and soon!) While at Thorne Abbey, the new headquarters for the Council, Sophie learns not only about her kind but also about the war that is just waiting in the wings to erupt between prodigium and the Eye.

The mystery for the summer is simple: find who is creating demons and stop him/her/them before it is too late. With Jenna and Cal by her side, can Sophie control her powers to save the day, or is this going to end in disaster like so many other elements of her life?

Hawkins mixes a bit of mystery with a bit of romance. The reader will be left wondering where Hawkins will take the Sophie/Archer/Cal triangle in the third installment of the series. But oh, is it worth it!

Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell?

Most girls got flowers. I got a dirt pit used for demon raising. Nice.

If you love YA, if you love YA supernatural, if you love YA with delinquent prodigium, I highly recommend that you add Demonglass to your reading mound ASAP. If you have neglected to read Hex Hall, add it as well.

What if Jane Eyre fell in love with a rock star?

A very worthy question for a very worthy book. Jane by April Lindner brings this classic into contemporary times, staying true to the original plot while being clever in its face lift for a contemporary audience. Readers who are Jane Eyre fans will not be disappointed with this novel.

Brief Synopsis

Jane Moore is forced to drop out of Sarah Lawrence following the death of her parents. The stocks they left her turn out to be virtually worthless, and with money dwindling fast she must find a job. So, she decides she will be a nanny. After all, Jane is practical and stern, just what children need. She lands a position at Thornfield Park caring for Maddy, the daughter of a famous rock star. But, Jane is not impressed by the glitz and glamor of the rock star lifestyle, and this attitude is what makes Nico Rathburn fall for her. But Nico has a secret, one that could ruin his reputation as a rock star seeking a comeback; more importantly, that secret could cost him Jane.

Lindner stays true to the original plot throughout, providing us the answer to "What if Jane Eyre lived in contemporary times?" This novel will appeal to a plethora of readers and may even introduce the classic into their lives, a book they thought they would never read. While Lindner's inspiration for writing this book was a result of reading retellings of Pride and Prejudice, I feel that this novel is far superior.

If you enjoy a good love story; if you enjoy a good mystery; if you enjoy reading period, you must add Jane to your mound. I could not put this book down; I gave up grading to finish this book. I absolutely had to see how Lindner would tie up loose ends...and she did so amazingly and in a way that fits with the times. 

I loved this book, and I think many of you will too - Jane, read it today!

Before I Fall is worth every page!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver was my pick for the YA Teacher Readers book club because of the glowing reviews it received, mostly from fans of Thirteen Reasons Why. I wasn't too sure how the teachers would receive the book, or how I would for that matter, by at the meeting it received raved reviews from those who attended. The number one word used to describe it - interesting.

I think the one thing that speaks to us as readers is the fact that we root for Samantha Kingston, no matter what the ultimate outcome. She's been a part of the "queen bee" group in high school and because of this affiliation, she loses her life at the opening of the novel. Oliver then has us relive Samantha's final day on Earth not just once, but seven times. Each day Samantha awakens to discover she is reliving that day again. What can break the cycle? How can she move forward into the afterlife? It is not until the end of day 6 that Samantha realizes what she needs to do, what she must do, and the reader is left thinking, "Don't do it."

While the reliving the day over and over again mirrors Groundhog Day, the plot is anything but. Each of those days is cleverly woven to give the reader a new revelation, one that helps connect the puzzle pieces from day one. To me that is the true craft of the novel - how all things really are connected, whether we realize it or not. Oliver has created a page-turner with Before I Fall, one that will leave its impression on readers long after the book is complete and added to the shelf. I have just one complaint: I felt that seven days was too long. I really feel that one of those days could have been cut and the book would still have been amazing. BUT, seven is a nice number - a week for Samantha to discover the truth about her self, her friends, and life in general.

Before I Fall - add it to your mound! If you do not have time to read this novel, you must go to your local library and check it out on audio - it is that good! I did not read this novel; I listened to it. The reader was amazing, and I feel that it heightened my experience with the novel.

Jane Austen for a new generation

I believe I have expressed before that I am a cover shopper. I like to browse the shelves to see what jumps out at me. This time it wasn't the cover but the title - Prom & Prejudice. I found myself glancing back at this title several times, never paying attention to the cover nor its author, just that title. I am a sucker for Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth edition), so upon another visit to the book store I picked this book up. Then I noticed the author, Elizabeth Eulberg, and I knew I had to buy this book. After all, I absolutely loved The Lonely Hearts Club (it was the first book I featured in my Spotlight On... page).

I was right! This book had me at its opening line:   

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.

Brief Synopsis

Lizzie Bennet is a high school junior, extraordinary player of the piano, and a scholarship student at Longbourn Academy. This causes her much strife with many of her classmates who, of course, come from wealthy backgrounds and view Lizzie as an "outsider" as well as competition. She has just two friends on her side, her two roommates Jane and Charlotte. 

Longhourn Academy students have just one thing on their mind: prom. This is no ordinary high school prom. This is how they will be introduced into society. While Jane is enamored with Charles Bingley and hopes he will ask her to prom, Lizzie finds herself repulsed by the entire idea, but most importantly she is repulsed by Bingley's snotty friend, Will Darcy.

Can Lizzie set aside her pride and Will his prejudice in order to make a love connection, or is Lizzie destined to stay in her dorm room the night of prom?

Eulberg does an excellent job paying homage to Austen's masterpiece, using clever names to connect the modern teen to this classic. She stays true to the characterization of the tale, giving Lizzie just as much pride and Darcy just as much prejudice. This novel's cleverness is reminiscent of Meg Cabot's Avalon High, a re-telling of King Arthur. Prom & Prejudice is a strong indication that Elizabeth Eulberg will be a part of the teen writing scene for many years to come, and I for one cannot wait to devour another one of her clever novels.

"Hush little students, don't say a word..." The Mockingbirds are here

I am huge fan of YA novels that display empowering characters, especially females. It's one of the reasons I believe Speak should be read by all high school freshmen. The writing is strong, the message is strong, but even more so, the heroine is strong.

I read a lot of tweets about The Mockingbirds. Usually when a book gets this much push, I tend to not enjoy them. I think the main reason is all the hype - sometimes it ruins novels for me. I am proud to say that that was not the case for Daisy Whitney's debut novel. Even more so, it is easily on my top 10 YA novels of all time.

From page one I knew there would be something special about this novel, something that would speak to me as a reader, something that would speak to my students. I knew from page one that the hype was well-deserved and that the book would in fact live up to it.

Basic Synopsis

Alex Patrick awakes to discover three things: "I have morning breath, I'm naked, and I'm waking next to a boy I don't know" (1). And thus begins this cat-and-mouse game of remembering a night that she really wants to forget; however, her discovery is more chilling than what she originally believes happened. She was not just date-raped, she was date-raped twice. Who can she turn to? The exclusive boarding school Alex attends, Themis, does not have a discipline committee. Instead, the students self-police themselves through The Mockingbirds. They are her only hope.

Alex turns to The Mockingbirds at the urging of her sister and her roommate, and the investigation begins. As the pages unfold, Alex's memory of that night comes back piece-by-piece, and the reader discovers what really happened the same moment Alex does, heightening the suspense. As Alex struggles to cope with her new reality, with her friends, with the case, she matures - becoming a stronger character with each page. With solid writing, solid characters, and a solid heroine, this book is worth every moment.

One of my favorite moments in the novel (173)

      Hush, little students, we'll say the word,

     Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

     And if that mockingbird won't sing,

     Mama's gonna write down everything.

     And so that book won't look the same,

     Mama's gonna add a brand-new name.

     

Like Speak before it, The Mockingbirds will leave its mark in literary teen history, and we are the better for it.  If there is one must-read book that you should add to your list, THIS is it!

Fallen Angels & Destined Love? More PLEASE!

My first delve into the world of Fallen Angels came in the guise of Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush. After reading her sequel, I decided this was a genre I was interested in exploring in YA. I stumbled upon Lauren Kate's Fallen because of its cover - it just spoke to me. Then I learned it too was a series (YEAH), and I love series books. So, I purchased both Fallen and Torment at the same time. Who knew I would become so addicted to Luce and Daniel?!

What Lauren Kate has given me as a reader is a solid plot, full of heart-pounding (and at times frustrating) moments. I rooted for these two star-crossed lovers and was hoping I would get a glimpse into who or what Luce is. Instead, I read a story of a teenager looking to find herself - without the love of her life, without her current family, without her friends.  Who is Luce? Where did she come from? How did she and Daniel fall in love? And why does she burst into flames every seventeen years after Daniel's kiss?

In the first of the series, Fallen, we are introduced to the character of Luce, a teen with a troublesome past, or at least she is trouble according to the police. Very quickly she becomes attracted to Daniel, but it is the character of Cam who tries to snatch her time and attentions; however, true love trumps all else, and soon Daniel allows himself to be pulled back into Luce's life, anxiously awaiting her "death." This time, something is different. She doesn't burst into flames when Daniel kisses her, and now we have a mystery on our hands. What does this mean for Luce & Daniel, but more importantly, the rest of the world? Is the end near?

Then there is the sequel, Torment. Kate brings out another side of Luce, dropping her out of her element in California. Luce is not there but a mere day and already she is different, more independent, and trying to figure out why she is being placed in hiding. What does all of this mean? What truth is Daniel hiding from her, something that could keep her from ever wanting to be in his arms again? Is she really destined to be with him?

While this series is a love story, its true heart lies in self-discovery. This is an issue with Luce because she has been reincarnated every seventeen years for...well, I'm not too sure for how many years, but it is A LOT! (That is a question I hope Kate answers in Passion). Luce is lost - the world she lives in is becoming too much. She is whisked away to California, has to lie to her parents and best friend, and try to stay alive. After all, she isn't the typical seventeen-year-old gal. She is a part of something bigger, something that could bring End of Days if it isn't stopped. What that something is Kate has yet to reveal to the reader, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she is going to WOW readers with it in her follow-up novel.

And thrown into the mix of this novel is, of course, a love triangle - or is it really a triangle? By the end of Torment you might want to pick a side: Team Daniel or Team Miles. For me, it isn't even close, DANIEL ALL THE WAY! After all, he is her destiny - or is he?

Many sequels sometimes leave something to be desired, but Kate does not disappoint. This novel is packed full of tension & suspense, heart-pounding action, and the beginnings of self-discovery. I will find myself awaiting anxiously, wanting to finish this coming-of-age story with Luce until the final page.