The Sweet Side of Reading

So, aside from reading and tv, one of my favorite hobbies is baking. I love trying new, delicious, recipes and bringing them to work to share with my coworkers. My future husband will also hopefully have a sweet tooth because I indeed love to bake and I need someone to eat it all.

While looking for recipes online at one of my favorite food blogs, Annie's Eats, I started thinking about YA books that feature baking as some kind of theme and I thought I'd share. Who knows, maybe a few others are also interested in satisfying their sweet tooth in a healthier way. You know, reading about sweets rather than actually consuming them. In no particular order, here are a few YA and MG titles that may just satisfy your urge to snack.

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises
When Stella Madison's food-loving parents help her land a summer job at the local newspaper, there’s only one catch: she’s expected to write about food. Luckily, Stella has Jeremy, the hot new intern at her mom’s restaurant, who’s more than happy to help. But where does that leave Stella’s boyfriend, Max, who recently dropped the L-word? And could her separated parents be cooking up romances of their own?

 The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler
When Penny moves to Hog’s Hollow from New York City, her life changes drastically. Penny’s mom now runs a cupcake bakery, and Penny is stuck helping out. But that isn’t the worst of it. Not only did she leave her friends back home, but her dad stayed behind too. And then there’s Charity, resident mean girl who’s out to get Penny. With all this, Penny still finds some things to like: Tally and Blake…and Marcus—the cute, quiet boy who runs on the beach every night. But just when Penny begins to accept her new life, she’s forced to make a choice that will change everything.

Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes by Lisa Greenwald
With a blizzard threatening their town, a trio of seventh-grade girls devises a charitable plan to make and distribute fortune cookies to all their lonely, stranded neighbors. What they hadn't anticipated was that each of the cookie fortunes would communicate a special message to its recipient. Sweet confections of friendship and love.

(This book has been checking out like gangbusters at my library.)

The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaeffer
Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together — at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too busy with theater, Zoe's always at tennis, and Annie feels totally left out. What happened to tea every week, no matter what?

When Annie convinces her grandmother to give her a job as a barista at the Leaf, things begin to look up. In between whipping up chai lattes for customers, and attempting to catch the attention of her Barista Boy crush, Annie is finally beginning to feel as grown-up as her best friends. But an eviction notice spells trouble for the Leaf and unless they can turn the business around, the teashop will have to close its doors forever.

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder
Twelve-year-old Isabel is dying to get out of Oregon. She spends her free time in the library, reading and dreaming about faraway places. When her mom decides to open a cupcake shop in their little town of Willow, Isabel feels just like buttercream frosting to a cupcake-stuck. It seems as if it will be another disappointing summer, until Isabel learns of a baking contest. If she can come up with a winning recipe, she might have a chance of competing in the bake-off in New York City! But Isabel's best friend, Sophie, is also entering the contest, and things always seem to go Sophie's way. To make matters worse, Isabel and her mom don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the type of recipe Isabel should enter. In this sweet treat by popular teen author Lisa Schroeder, Isabel discovers that maybe it's not about where you go in life as much as it is about enjoying the view from wherever you are.

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

Foster McFee dreams of having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Macon Dillard's goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Foster's mother Rayka longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous in the little town of Culpepper. Until some unexpected events shake the town and its inhabitants-and put their big ambitions to the test.

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew?

For more adult "sweet" books, I cannot recommend highly enough Sarah Addison Allen's books. (Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, and her latest, The Peach Keeper.) She has a magical way with words and truly the most decadent way of describing food.

And, if you haven't had the chance yet, check out a real life teen baker at 17 and Baking. Lots of yummy recipes indeed!

Have your own suggestion for a sweet reading treat for young adult fiction? Please share in the comments! I'd love to read some new books.

Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

Stay is the newest book from Deb Caletti who reminds me of a teen version of Jodi Picoult. There's just something about both of these writers that reminds me of high end drama issue novels.

Synopsis:
Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough.... (B&N.com)

Clara and her father have left their hometown and headed to the small beach town of Bishop Rock for summer. It is a chance for Clara to refresh herself, take a look at her life, decide what to do after high school, and hopefully, put a very bad relationship behind her. It is not easy because even in Bishop Rock, there are memories and hidden secrets lying in wait for Clara and her father.


Alternating from the past of her relationship with ex-boyfriend, Christian, to the present where Clara has to cope with the aftereffects of a complex relationship gone bad, Stay keeps the emotions swinging just as wildly. This is the story of two relationships that are unhealthy and healthy in different ways. Caletti tackles the unhealthy teen relationship that can form easily. I saw it happen with my own high school friends, who would start dating boys who were irrationally jealous, possessive and downright scary. This situation felt very real to me and I think teens are going to identify with it. But in all honesty, this relationship was rather straightforward for me. It felt true but it wasn't where the depth of the story was, at least for me.

It is Clara's relationship with her father, writer Bobby Oates. They have a seemingly healthy relationship but being back on Bishop Rock is bringing up hidden secrets from the past, secrets that do not show her father in the best light. Father/daughter relationships always compel me in a way that other parental/child bonds do not and I think it is in this aspect of the story that Caletti soars as a writer. Clara and her dad have some great banter between them. They play games with each other, showing the companionable relationship they share. They have awkward moments. Clara does not always do want her dad wants her to and her dad proves that he can be a bit of a let down as a parent also.

I truly loved the setting of Bishop Rock. It is the ideal summer setting for any fiction book. A picturesque, lovely, and hearty little town with its own quirks and characters. I felt like I was walking the streets of this town alongside Clara, visiting the library, working in the lighthouse with its beautiful but crabby owner, and sailing on the water. There is just a great sense of place in this book that comes alive.

This book is a bit awkward in that it reads older than many teen novels. Clara, for all that she has gone through, is no longer a teenager. She is clearly a young woman who has explored the troubles and painful tribulations of love. She is out of high school, but not quite moving forward into college yet due to her personal life. It's not an adult novel but I think that some of the natural audience for this book (juniors and seniors in high school themselves, high school grads) are going to have moved on to adult books, while some younger teens may just not totally connect with what Clara is going through. On the other hand, relationships start quite a bit younger unfortunately for many teens now so may be they will know all too well how it feels to realize the person you swore you would love forever is not the same person any longer.

I was not a huge fan of the romance that popped up for Clara yet again just because in my head, it felt way too soon. It's not a bad romance it just didn't feel authentic because in my mind, Clara would have been still too traumatized and even a tad shell-shocked from her relationship with Christian to try again so soon. But I realize others may feel differently.

Stay is another strong effort from Caletti. She reminds me of Jodi Picoult, as I said, because she is not afraid of tackling rather tough teen topics, or topics that have a lot of drama and emotion attached to them, that play at the heart strings. I do not think this is a bad thing at all and there is certainly an audience for it. This is a tad heavier story in some ways than some of the YA books I have been reading lately but it wasn't heavy enough where I felt wrung out in the end (say, as in Swati Avasthi's Split). It did not quite have that emotional resonance with me. I think I needed more from Clara than I got in the story, much as I liked her as a lead character.

Other reviews:
Chick Loves Lit reviews Stay
Bookishly Yours reviews Stay
WhatchYAreading reviews Stay

ARC from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab program.

Colorado Teen Lit Conference

This Saturday, April 2, I am presenting, for the second year in a row, at the Colorado Teen Lit Conference. I love this conference. Every year it gets better and better. It’s a great mix of professional librarians and teachers and other advocates who work with teens, but also, teens themselves! Teens get exposure and one-on-one contact with famous YA writers. You can see my post about last year’s festival here if you’re interested.

This year, the keynote speakers are Rachel Vail (author of Gorgeous, Lucky, and Brilliant amongst others) and Pete Hautman (author of Godless, The Big Crunch, How to Steal a Car amongst many others). In addition, there is a local panel author featuring several Colorado YA writers including one of my faves, Sarah Ockler.

As for me, I am presenting on contemporary YA, one of my favorite topics. My presentation’s title is: The Underdog of the YA World: Contemporary YA Lit—no wizards, no vampires, just plenty of hardcore realism. (Yes, even in titles I am wordy.) I have lots of great information and resources to share with anyone interested. I’m hoping it will be a successful presentation. Last year, when I presented about the YA blogosphere, I had a packed house with over 75 people attending. That is mind-boggling to me. 75 people wanted to hear what I had to say. Frankly, if I get just one person at any presentation of mine, I am incredibly happy. So, here’s hoping it goes well.

I also want to give a special thank you to the following authors who all provided me with bookmarks or cover flats to give away at the presentation. I’m hoping it will help trigger people’s minds when they go down to the vendor area and maybe spot a book they just heard about (a contemporary book!) and then buy it. Or, the bookmarks will just be a nice reminder about which titles they need to order for their library’s collection.

So, many, many, thanks to:

Kirsten Hubbard
Denise Jaden
Lisa Schroeder (signed bookmarks!!)
Sara Bennett Wealer
Melissa C Walker

Thank you so much authors! I’m hoping my presentation will continue to generate thoughtful discussion and sales for contemporary YA writers, easily my favorite genre in YA world right now.

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Where She Went is the sequel to one of my favorite books of 2009, If I Stay. Gayle Forman takes chances on this novel, writing it from the point of view of none other than Adam himself. It was an interesting change and gave me more insight into Adam beyond the great boyfriend role he played in the first book. I will totally admit, while many people didn't think If I Stay needed a sequel (and I totally agree with that), I was still ridiculously excited when Gayle Forman announced she was writing a sequel. Yes, I was, and I'm happy to say I enjoyed this book also.

Synopsis: It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. (B&N.com)

Adam is on the road to nowhere. Music is not speaking to him anymore. Shooting Star, the band he once loved and worked hard at, has become a point of contention in his life. His bandmates seem to hate him because he gets all the media attention. He is in a new relationship that is not making him very happy and in general, he is pretty damn unhappy about his life. He is totally wallowing in pity and part of that is because he has never gotten over the thing that came to define so much of his life. Mia. She is not his girlfriend any longer, in fact, she is not in his life at all. He misses her daily, misses her family, and would sometimes give anything to go back to the time they were happy together.

Then, a chance encounter, and a night in New York City, leads him to something promising. It is Mia and she is there for the taking, if he is brave enough to get his act together. But with so much tension and anger still between them, can they make it work?

Time has changed both Adam and Mia and not necessarily for the better. Adam is a celebrity; Mia is a rising star at Juilliard about to embark on her first solo tour. But one night in New York may be all they need. Yes, I was totally rooting for them to get back together. It is the romantic in me. However, this story is more than anything, Adam's story. How he dealt with the devastating loss of Mia's family, Mia herself, and how he used that to fuel his music, both for positive and negative. I was firmly pulled into Adam's story, his struggles and his problems. Adam is not a happy guy by any means. He kind of has the emo thing going on majorly so if that bothers you overly much, you may want to avoid this story.

Gayle Forman yet again does a fabulous job of breaching emotional barriers. Adam and Mia's reconciliation is not an easy one by any means and it shows on the pages as frustration, anger, sadness, and bitterness creep into their time together. However, the idea of setting it in such a short time frame was perfect because it made those emotions all the more stronger and tangible. There was no time for a third chance for these two. It was either seize this second chance, put hurt aside, or go their separate ways permanently.

This book was interesting in that it also put Mia in the role of the fighter, the protector. She had to show Adam that she was ready for him this time, that she wanted to be the person he could lean on finally, just as he had been there for her three years ago. There had to be more give and take in their relationship this time and I think by the book's end, I got the feeling that compromise, the promise of more give and take, was going to happen. Mia was ready. That being said, she does play a much more secondary role in this book, which again, for me, worked, because the more I read, the more I realized that despite the title, this is Adam's story of his own recovery from devastation. And I was firmly engrossed and ready to be taken in by his emotions.

Where She Went is not going to please every fan out there, I can just tell. But what book can? For me, I truly enjoyed this story. Perhaps not quite as much as the first book, but on the other hand, I feel like it is a worthy sequel to If I Stay. Gayle Forman knows how to make the very worst moments life has to offer play into some of the best and most momentous occasions life can throw at you.

Other reviews:
A Good Addiction reviews Where She Went
The Crooked Shelf reviews Where She Went 

ARC provided by a very awesome friend and from Penguin!

Review: Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard is a debut that is getting a lot of positive buzz, as it should. There are a lot of great things happening in this novel even though, as I finished, I wasn't as in tune with them as others around the internet.

Synopsis: It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their Badlands town. Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal. (B&N.com)


The positives: the writing is gorgeous. Seriously, seriously gorgeous. Kirsten Hubbard really knows how to dig into her settings, her characters, and her plot to develop prose that just leaps off the pages with magic. The landscape of Wyoming, the small town of Washokey, and the rural life of Grace's hometown come alive with small details. The rock collecting. The driving to distant places for pageants. The falling apart house that Mandarin lives in. I truly had the feeling that the details that Hubbard put into creating Washokey could have become a set for a movie or play, it became that larger than life.

The family dynamic between Grace, her mother, and little sister Taffeta. It played out in sadness, anger, memories, and some happiness. I feel like, even though Grace really a major disconnect with her mother and even her younger sister to an extent, that when reading about the family, that is where I most connected to the characters, to Grace in particular.

Otherwise, this story left me wanting. Mandarin became in my mind the girl who would come back to her hometown, ten years down the road, and parade her new, successful life in front of all those who had gossiped about her. She would fall in love with some big strapping native and all would be well. (Yes, this is the plot of many a romance novel, hence why this idea stuck out in my head.) The fact of the matter is I did not like Mandarin at all. She felt like a user to me. I'm sure the author's intent wasn't necessarily to get readers to like Mandarin anyway, but I felt repelled by her character, how she treated Grace.

Even Grace did not really capture my attention as a character because I was left confused as to why she wanted to be like Mandarin so very much. I guess the thrill of the unknown, the rebel can be a very heady thing so I get that, but what I don't get is that when Mandarin let down Grace time and time again, when Grace started to realize that being like Mandarin isn't as cool as she thought, why did she go back for more? As the stars of the book so to speak, their dynamic, their "friendship" left me feeling sad and irritated. It plain didn't work for me.

Fortunately, this is only one reader's opinion. There are a bevy of readers who thrilled to every word of Like Mandarin so I am definitely in the minority. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, when it was all said and done I was rather apathetic about the story altogether.

Other reviews:
Stacked reviews Like Mandarin
A Good Addiction reviews Like Mandarin

Celebrating Kelly of Stacked!

In case you haven't been following the news lately, Wisconsin has been having a bad time for its public service employees. And that's putting it mildly. Kelly of Stacked is a librarian in Wisconsin and is facing some very difficult career choices ahead of her. It's such a shame because Kelly is a fabulous librarian who really cares for her teens. You can read a little bit of her job in this Life Behind the Reference Desk interview, or you can take a gander at some of the awesome programs she runs for her teens, such as this QR code hunt (seriously, it's awesome!).

Kelly does wonderful things for her community. She writes spectacular reviews. She is a writer. She is an advocate for all things teen which is just about the coolest thing ever. And perhaps, best of all, she doesn't stand for any BS when it comes to the library profession. She speaks her mind and calls the profession out on many of the still very old-fashioned things that make up librarianship. Kelly will give you the lowdown on librarianship, hard truths and perks.

It's difficult seeing a profession I love being constantly underfunded, having pretty constant layoffs, and equally, seeing the price for materials and programming going up and up. It's even more difficult when I can put a face and name to those people. Fortunately, Kelly soldiers on even knowing the worst may not be here yet. So seriously, next time you visit your library, pay attention to the staff, because they do a lot and deserve some recognition.

So, this post is dedicated to Kelly, one of those librarians who gives a damn about what she does. Hopefully the trends will change and dedicated teen professionals will get the recognition they deserve. In the meantime, round of applause for Kelly. :)

Also, if you haven't checked out Kelly's reviews yet (she is one of three bloggers at Stacked), here are a few of my favorites:
John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean by Jessie Sholl
Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

Life Behind the Reference Desk featuring Katie of Storytime Katie

I have a new Life Behind the Reference Desk for you to enjoy! (I hope these are still enjoyable. They are for me anyway!) This time, it's Katie of Storytime Katie! I first "met" Katie through her YA blog Read What You Know but now she has moved on to an even cooler blog. Storytime Katie showcases some awesome children's storytimes. It's been a great learning tool for me as I plan my own preschool storytimes. I highly recommend visiting! You can also find Katie on Twitter @katietweetsya so follow along. In the mean time, here's a bit about Katie's experiences thus far as a librarian.

What has been your path to librarianship? Have you always wanted to be a librarian?

Funny story – the answer is definitely no! I originally went to college for a degree in writing, with a plan to teach high school English. I was two weeks into my first education class when I decided that there was no way I would be able to teach with all the bureaucracy and hoop-jumping. Fast forward about six months, and I was writing a lit paper with a friend at three in the morning. I turned to my friend and said, “You know, I think I’ll be a librarian.” And that’s what I did.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when working with the public?

Being able to put aside my own personal bad days and have a consistently cheerful demeanor. Also, the dirty diapers in the Youth Services room. Ew!

What is one of your favorite aspects about your job?

The constant changing environment. I never do the same thing or wear the same hat every day. One day I’m busily planning storytimes, the next I’m doing monthly reports and statistics, and the next I’m spending hours of my day talking with teens about books. I don’t know if I could work in a job that doesn’t have this amount of variety!

I'm really loving your storytime blog! Where do you get so many of your great ideas? Any valuable children's storytime resources?

Thank you! I start my storytimes planning with books and build my crafts and extension activities and songs off of the books; so, I really have to credit my ideas as simply coming from such great inspiration. I love finding new storytime resources and have dedicated a whole section of my blog about sharing them: http://storytimekatie.wordpress.com/resources . Also, I have to share my friend Sarah’s blog, http://awesomestorytime.wordpress.com , because she’s a big part of the reason that I started my blog.

Did you train specifically for working with children or has it been something you've learned as you go?

I actually started my first part-time library job the same month I started library school. I was lucky enough to begin in Youth Services with an amazing boss who immediately through me straight into programming and treated me as a professional from the first day. I did take classes, but nothing has compared to my on-the-job training.

Do you have any advice for librarians interested in starting a blog?

Be yourself! The blogs that I love are ones where the author’s/librarian’s personality really shine through.

What are some successful programs you have done recently?

I’m in the middle of my first spring session of storytime and have had remarkably behaved children this session – I think it must be something in the water. And earlier this month, I did a “Hunger Games: Survival Games” for my teens where we played trivia, practiced archery, facepainted camouflage, and decorated cookies for Peeta.

Do you have any suggestions for blogs to follow for librarians?

I subscribe to SO many blogs – I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I do have a storytime/library related blogroll up on my blog; and a really old blogroll on my former YA review blog: http://readwhatyouknow.wordpress.com/blog/blogroll/  -- though that one hasn’t been updated since I stopped reviewing last summer.

Any recent favorite storytime books for preschoolers?

I adore Keith Baker’s “LMNO Peas” which just came out last fall. My favorite book from this week’s storytime is “Say, Hello!” by Rachel Isadora. There are so many wonderful books being published – I have a new favorite every other day!

And... what are you reading?

I have “Starcrossed” by Josephine Angelini open on my Nook; “Loser/Queen” by Jodi Lynn Anderson checked out from the library (and in my purse); and “Revolution” by Jennifer Donnelly on my nightstand.

Thank you Katie for sharing your librarian wisdom! And definitely take a look at her blog if you haven't yet.

If you are a librarian who blogs and would like to be interview for Life Behind the Reference Desk, feel free to email me at riddikulus.sarahATgmail[dot]com. 

Review: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

I totally and absolutely fell in love with Erin McCahan's I Now Pronounce You Someone Else.

Synopsis:
Here Comes the Bride — If She Can Pass Chemistry.
Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother with a small personality complex. Bronwen knows she must have been switched at birth, and she can't wait to get away from her "family" for good.
Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants — and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he
proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

Bronwen is a complete original. She just steps out of the pages and into your imagination with her personality, wit, and anger. I completely identified with her, in large part because at an early age, I was completely set in the belief that I was actually the child of the English royal family and had been switched at birth. Seriously and completely, I would tell everyone this: my parents, their friends, my own friends. So, believe me when I say I identified on every level with Bronwen's belief that her Real Family was out there waiting for her.

Then she meets Jared, a college guy, an old friend of her brother, Peter. Jared, and his family, is everything wonderful that Bronwen can imagine and she is completely head over heels for them all, especially Jared. He is the one and when he proposes, before she has graduated high school, she quickly accepts, sure that stepping into Jared's family will finally turn her into the Someone Else she has always wanted to be. But, is it really that easy?

I too fell head over heels for Jared. He's a great guy, there's no question about that. But more than anything, I wanted the best for Bronwen because she is a fabulous and complex character who shines on every page. She is not a great daughter and she has her reasons. Her family is not at all what she wants it to be but she has basically given up any hopes of them every being a real family. Most of my favorite scenes in the book too place between Bronwen and her stepfather, Whitt, who clearly loves her as only a father can. The tension, the yearning to be her father, is felt in every scene between them. It is clear that Bronwen wants the same but she has trained herself to try to forget about her own family, and focus on that Real Family, living out there somewhere, waiting for her. Bronwen's mother also leaps off the pages as she tries to weave Bronwen into the daughter she thinks she wants, while Bronwen resists. Seriously, the family drama and tension in this book is first rate and heartfelt. It felt real, like what happens in real families who are clearly not perfect and who are just trying to connect in some small way.

There is the issue of Bronwen and her pending nuptials to Jared which makes her focus on her own future with a clarity she has perhaps never used before. What does she want as herself? Not an Us but as Bronwen? I loved seeing their relationship play out because even when it appeared to be at its most healthiest teen relationship, there were clearly some underlying issues neither was willing to quite address, no matter how much they loved each other. Also, I liked Bronwen for sticking to her guns about not having sex before marriage. It was not tied to any religious reason (thank goodness) but more just something she wanted to do for herself because she knew she deserved that kind of commitment and exclusivity with someone. There are several very positive messages in this book that I think teens will relate well with, and this is one of them. It's not preachy or offset by an adult barging in on the decision. It's fully Bronwen's decision and she does not need any justification or reassurances from anyone that she is making the right choice.

This is one of the better contemporary YA titles I've read in several books. It was highly enjoyable, complex without being boring, and has a fabulous and intelligent female character as its lead protagonist. I just read on Erin McCahan's blog that she just signed a contract for her second book, Kissing Mr. Glaser, which will be released in 2013 (as long as the world doesn't end, according to the author, lol.) Here is the quick synopsis, from her blog:

Quick Synopsis of KISSING MR. GLASER:  Brainy 16-year-old Josie Sheridan falls in love with a guy who falls in love with her older sister who is engaged to a man Josie hates.  When Josie's sister appears to return the feelings of Josie's love interest, Josie finds herself armed with the ammunition she has been looking for that will stop her sister's wedding.  But emotions cloud Josie's normally logical mind, and she  struggles to balance her feelings with her sister's.  At the same time, she must learn what to do when the person she loves might never love her back.

So, if you haven't read I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, get on it! It was a finalist for the Cybils award this year and I am in complete agreement.

Other reviews:
Galleysmith reviews I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Dear Author reviews I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf reviews I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

Author Interview: Lindsey Leavitt

I'm really excited today to bring you an interview with author Lindsey Leavitt, author of the new book Sean Griswold's Head. If you haven't heard much about this book, feel free to read my review. In the meanwhile, here is Lindsey Leavitt tackling some tough questions. :)

1. Payton has several quirks that make her a wonderful character. I particularly enjoyed her more sanitary based quirks since I suffer from some of those same phobias. Were you able to draw from real life inspiration (i.e. very interesting friends and family) to create Payton?


I draw a lot from everyday observations. I love adding quirks together to make a character, and I love when those little traits just pop up because I've gotten to the point that I know my character so well.

I have a little brother who we call Monk because he's very into order and cleanliness and control. He used to lay out his clothes, underwear, socks, comb, backpack all in order the night before. This was first grade.

I think I used his mindset, since I'm NOT an organized person. I would hit a scene and think, okay, what would Zach think about this? One trait that IS me, however, is that Payton is a safety girl. I used to have all those worries when I was little (like shooting bullets to start a race. Who came up with that idea?)

2. One of the many things I loved about this book was the family atmosphere. Payton is close to her parents and her brothers. From your bio, it seems you have a large and supportive family? Did any family history make it into the book? (i.e. Trash cards which I totally want to do for a Valentine's project next year for the teens at my library.)

No, trash day was more inspired by the Oscar the Grouch "I Love Trash Song" which was probably playing in the background when I wrote that scene. I am really tight with my family, all of them, and we had those traditions that don't necessarily make sense, but you do them because it's what you do. And while I don't think any one piece of my family history is in there, the emotions I had a different times about those relationships certainly are. I love exploring what makes a family work, what makes them break, and how to repair the split seams.

3. Are you an avid cyclist?

Ha! I'm not an avid anything lately, except maybe an avid couch writer. Hard core into that.My husband is a cyclist, though, so he was the source of my spandex inspiration. And I've taken spin classes in the past, so I had a taste (enough of a taste to know I'm happy simply writing about cycling. Childbirth didn't hurt as much as those bikes!) ((TMI?))

4. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Writing THE END. And alternatively, a blank page.

5. Did the title Sean Griswold's Head come from you or were there other titles before this one leaped to the top?

I thought of the title before I even knew what the story was about. I don't know WHY it stuck, that was just always it. When my publisher bought the book, they weren't sure the title would work, and we went back and forth with possibilities for quite some time. In the end, they agreed nothing else had the same quirkiness that we were going for.

Lindsey is also the author of the Princess for Hire series. You can learn more about Lindsey at her website. Thank you so much for sharing more information about your books Lindsey!

Spring Break 2011!

It's getting to be that hectic time of year again. Spring break is right around the corner in my school districts which means the library will be bombarded with kids and teens for the majority of the day next week. Last year during spring break I did video games every day of the week which while the teens had fun, killed me mentally hearing the same Guitar Hero songs over and over again. That was one too many "eye of the tiger" renditions for me.

This year I am once again doing spring break activities but I am going to do something different every day of the week. The programs are not anything too grand or expensive because I cannot really afford it, so they are somewhat simple and in many ways, more of a passive type program just to keep the teens occupied when all the computers are busy in the teen area. But, I think it will be a good way to keep them busy knowing that they will likely be here for several (too many in most cases) hours during the day.

Here's the rundown:

Monday: Sharpie marker tie-dye
Tuesday: Henna Tattoos
Wednesday: Video Games (only one day of video games, phew)
Thursday: Duct tape and pixel art
Friday: Shrinky Dinks

I realize these don't seem like the most innovative let alone coolest programs but for the space I have they will work and since I tend to get mostly middle schoolers during spring break, I think they will enjoy these. And if not, well I bet they will still participate. Teens are odd like that. It works to my benefit of course because once they sit down at the tables I’ll be able to bombard them with book talk which is truly the point of having continuous programs throughout spring break. I want them to get more comfortable with the library and with me. Plus, these ideas are all relatively cheap to buy supplies for which helps also.

If you’re doing anything for spring break for the teens at your library, please share! I always want to refresh my idea palate and gain feedback from other librarians. Do you get bombarded with kids during spring break? Are you cuckoo by the week’s end? (I know I usually am, much as I love the teens that come to my library.)

Review: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

Death Cloud is a very different book for me in many ways. I have never read much Sherlock Holmes at all, if any except in some English classes in college. I know next to nothing about Sherlock Holmes as a character so I went into this book with some trepidation, even as I was excited to start it because I’ve been looking for something different to read. This book definitely fit the bill. Like I said, my knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes canon is very limited but that really didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book because it ended up being a fairly engrossing mystery.

Synopsis: Two dead bodies. One unforgettable hero. A teenage Sherlock solves his first murder mystery . . . and the legend begins. (B&N.com)


I am typically a reader of characterization more so than plot. Adventures, twists and turns, as a whole do not interest me unless it can be built around character changes throughout the story. This book did some of that in that it allowed readers a chance to see Sherlock Holmes’s developing detective skills and the false starts he had while investigating murders in the local village where he has been sent to live while on break from his boarding school. He has a mentor in the tutor his uncle hires for him. He has a developing friendship with an orphan named Matty who moves from place to place. And he has suspicions about the two recent deaths in Farnham, particularly about the shadowy cloud that hovers around the bodies than disappears. He starts to put together the clues in both a bumbling and complementary logical fashion, a fashion that would make sense for a fourteen-year-old Sherlock, not the great detective he will be. His investigation felt like the investigation lead by a teenager so the author did a good job in showcasing the twists and turns and the missteps along the way.

I have no real basis to compare it to in terms of how accurate the Sherlock mythology is but after reading it I started investigating Sherlock Holmes (only via Wikipedia however) so I can tell that the author was trying to be as accurate as possible, from what little I could compare with. Also, the book does say it’s one of the few titles to be endorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so I hope that also lends accuracy to the narrative.

This is set in the late 1860s but it really does not read that way and in this case, for the better. I think teens that would pick this up will be just fine with the story reading more modern. There are instances where the language used seems connected to the time period but overall the text had a modern feel to it. Also, sometimes I noticed the author would “info dump” as it where big chunks of text describing something from that time period that would throw me off out of the story a bit.

I liked the various characters that are introduced. Aunt Anna, the chatterbox who seemingly has nothing important to say but if you listen closely, there is more than chitchat. The evil housekeeper who seems to have some kind of vendetta against Sherlock. Amyus Crowe, Sherlock’s tutor, who has a few secrets of his own. They all play a part in this mystery and this book has surprisingly more mystery depth to it than I would have thought before reading it.

This story is at its best when Sherlock and his friend Matty are on the page, amateur sleuths trying to decipher what is going on in Farnham. There is plenty of action: fires, danger, villains, so despite its somewhat long length it reads very quickly and the pace is swift. This is definitely an action orientated story. I’m curious if the original Sherlock mysteries were as action-packed or if they were a bit more character based.

All in all, Death Cloud, the first book in the Young Sherlock Holmes series proved to be an engrossing story. It will work very well for your more sophisticated tween readers who enjoy mysteries also. And judging by my own reaction, it is going to build interest in Sherlock Holmes and perhaps lead a new generation to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books.

Other reviews:
Jawas Read Too reviews Death Cloud
The New York Times reviews Death Cloud (Love the comment about how brazenly they are courting teens with the "brazen" figure of Bieber on the cover.)
The Book Zone (for Boys) reviews Death Cloud
whatchYAreading reviews Death Cloud

ARC provided by publisher for review.

In My Mailbox (04)

Sarah Mail!
(Now that America's Next Top Model has started again, I feel very appropriate saying that.)

Ahem, onto the books!

Bought:
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
Recovery Road by Blake Nelson
Rivals by Sara Bennett Wealer
One Night is Never Enough by Anne Mallory
How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
Split by Swati Avasthi (when it was like only $6.00 on Amazon! Score! A deal for such a fabulous book.)

For review:
Chime by Franny Billingsley
So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti (already read, will use for a contest coming up!)
The Locket by Stacey Jay (also for a contest)
The Ivy: Secrets (book 2) by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur (Around the World Tours)

I was very mail excited this week I must say. Now if only I could find the time to read all these books ASAP.

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

What did you get in the mail this week? What should I start first?

Lola and the Boy Next Door!!

Stephanie Perkins (author of the amazing Anna and the French Kiss) has released the cover and synopsis for her next book, releasing September 29, 2011 (SO FAR AWAY!).

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.
When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Who is hella excited?? ME! For the full details, check out Stephanie's meet Lola and Cricket post.

Romance Roundup: March 2011

Here are some of the fabulous romances I reviewed recently, set to release this month!

A Lot Like Love by Julie James (So good!)
The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton (hot football player as hero)
The Guy Next Door by Lori Foster, Susan Donovan and Victoria Dahl
The Icing on the Cake by Alison Kent
A Light at Winter's End by Julia London

Have you read any good romance stories lately?

Review: Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

Miles From Ordinary is another chilling and heart wrenching story from Carol Lynch Williams, who never flinches from tackling situations that may seem in fact, miles from the norm, but are unfortunately happening way more often than should be.


Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control.... (From Goodreads.com)

Lacey is just looking forward to a normal day in her life. Just one day where nothing will go wrong, where her mom will not become paranoid and refuse to leave the house. Where her mom goes to a job like other parents. And Lacey, she is looking forward to starting her volunteer job at the library, where her Aunt Linda used to work. The very same Aunt Linda who her mom took out a restraining order against, barring her from Lacey's life, slicing out that very small portion of normalcy in one fell swoop. But today, on this one day of summer, things will go right.

Oh how hopes are dashed in this novel. It's a slim story but let me tell you, it packs more than a punch. It is scary, sad, anxiety-ridden, and tense. You will absolutely ache for Lacey as she tries to be like other teen girls her age. She wants a friend, wants some to sleep over at her house, wants to not be the weird girl at school, the girl people mock. She also wants to be a teen. She is tired of being the adult but she really does not know how to be anything else because the fact is, her mom needs her.

Told in both the present and the past, the author adeptly explores Lacey and her life. Lacey's mom wasn't always paranoid, scared, and depressed. There are genuine moments of sisterly laughter as Lacey's mom and her Aunt Linda reminisce about their childhood. But unfortunately, those moments are edged out by the illness overtaking the family. Lacey sees it happening and once her Aunt Linda is gone, on her mom's orders, Lacey's life falls into disarray as she tries to get her mom into a normal routine.

The book is a tense ride from the very beginning until the end. Nothing is easy for Lacey, and certainly not "normal" as she discovers when her mom goes missing yet again on a day that was supposed to be filled with hope and dreams. Quickly it is turned into a day of fear, anger, and sadness. And horror, plenty of horror, and not in a bloody gruesome Saw type movie way, but in the horror that is so much a part of every day life. Seriously, this book gave me chills.

Lacey also has to question if she is following her mother down her path of destruction. Is she too hearing voices? Has she succumbed to that utter depression and hopelessness? Fortunately there is a ray of light in this book and it is Lacey, who is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. And that's mostly because she is too busy, too consumed with taking care of her mother, that there is no way she can reflect on all the courage it takes for her to go about day to day life.

There is a lot of fear and hopelessness in this book, the idea that it is impossible for life to get better but Lacey has some hope and it revolves around her focus on finding some balance of normal in her life. I think by book's end she has come to the realization that normal is different for everyone, that she has to make her own normal, whatever that may be, but she has the power to take control of her life in a way she did not think about before.

It did take me a bit to reconcile the Lacey who called her mom "Momma" and seemed a bit immature for her age (but then, given her life, this seems reasonable) with the girl at the end of the book who struggles and fights for her dreams. (Though I did wonder just how old Lacey was. Was an age mentioned?) But given how much Lacey has had to coddle and coax her mother into even the smallest decisions, well it did finally click for me that this was just yet another layer of the character of Lacey. She had to seem weak in order for her mother to live and continue being a mother, in some small form.

Like I said, this is a slim story but it does not shy away from the harsh realities of mental illness. The climactic ending in particular will hit you in the gut like a violent punch. Miles From Ordinary is incredibly apropos for the story that takes place, but yet, it also encapsulates what it is like living with someone suffering from mental illness. It is not easy, not normal, for that person or their family and friends. Lacey is not a meek character and in her mother's illness, she finds a strength she never thought possible.

Other reviews:
I Swim For Oceans reviews Miles From Ordinary

ARC received from publisher.

Life Behind the Reference Desk Featuring Rita of Screwy Decimal

Today I have the great pleasure of featuring Rita of Screwy Decimal for Life Behind the Reference Desk. I discovered her blog via her twitter handle (@screwydecimal) and it made me laugh. I've enjoyed reading the anecdotes and stories Rita shares on her blog about being a librarian. Lots of funny pictures are included so that always helps. If you're looking for a blog that features some of the day in and day out things librarians have to face, along with so many of the wonderful positives librarians are lucky to have as part of the job, definitely check out Screwy Decimal. So without further ado, here is a little bit about Rita, who works in Brooklyn, NY.

What makes you passionate about your job?
   
People sometimes ask me why I didn’t become a different kind of librarian (school, academic, etc). The answer, for me, is very simple: I love working with the public. I really enjoy helping people of all ages answer whatever questions they have – it’s like having a little mystery to solve every time someone approaches the reference desk. I also love talking about books and working with kids. Being a librarian offers the best of all worlds.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when working with the public?

Right now, the biggest challenge is a lack of resources. My library system (along with most libraries in this country) is facing drastic budget cuts on top of budget cuts we’ve already received. We are fighting to maintain a level of service of which to be proud, but sometimes we can’t offer everything that we want to.

What are some of your duties as a children's librarian at your library?

Along with working the reference desk and other general library duties (like collection development, displays, maintaining statistics, etc.), I am responsible for children’s programming (storytime, arts & crafts, and others) and providing outreach to schools and day care centers in order to promote literacy. I am also currently serving as a mentor for two teen interns, who also help out with programming. The job is very busy and very fulfilling.


What has been your path to librarianship? Have you always wanted to be a librarian?

I came to librarianship in a roundabout way. When I was 14, the first job I ever got was working as a “page” at my local library. My responsibilities were basically limited to shelving and organizing books. I secretly discovered that when the occasional patron asked me a question, I found it very rewarding to answer it (even though I wasn’t really supposed to!) I continued to work at the library during summers in college and I always loved it. However, I didn’t realize I actually wanted to be a librarian until I became an English teacher and discovered that teaching wasn’t for me. Once I started a second Master’s in Library Science and got a trainee job in that same local library I’d worked at so many years ago, I knew that being a librarian was what I was supposed to be doing.


If you could tell MLIS students to take one particular class in grad school, what would it be and why?

I suppose it depends on what kind of librarian you want to be. I always found the reference resource classes at my school to be extremely useful, and of course I loved the literature courses. One piece of advice I have for current students is to take a chance and try something different. There were a few courses in grad school that I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about initially (like a scientific resources class – I signed up for it because it fit into my schedule), but I ended up learning a lot and actually having some fun.


Do you have any words of advice for librarians interested in starting a blog?

My blog is very simple; I just write about what interests me and what I find entertaining or emotionally poignant. My ultimate goal is to promote the importance of libraries and discuss why I love being a librarian. I think if people want to start a blog, they should have a clear purpose and feel a passion for the things about which they are writing. 


What is your favorite thing about working in one of the best public library systems in the United States?

I love the diversity of people that my library serves, and I love all the things that Brooklyn has to offer. Every day is interesting.


And of course, what are you reading?

I just read a whooooole bunch of kid’s books for some reviewing I had to do, so now I am taking a break and reading a “grown up” book: Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem.

Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell is a nice, feel good story. I came away with a smile after finishing. It's a story that tackles the basic conundrums of the teen years (friends, boys, making a place in high school) with laughter, history, and good friends.

Synopsis: Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation--and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much.
It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment.(From B&N.com)


Janie Gorman really regrets talking her parents into moving to a farm when she was nine years old. Being a freshmen in high school, going to school with hay in her hair or goat poop on her shoes, does not make for a successful entrance into the high school world. Oh how Janie longs for suburbia now. Fortunately, farm life makes for a very interesting and humorous YA book. Janie discusses her high school woes with the goats on the farm; she bemoans her mother's blog on farm life, but yet she relishes the fresh food that her mother makes with all their farm goodies. Janie just wants to be ordinary however.


Janie is a great character because in some small way, she represents the woes and successes of all freshmen high school girls. She longs to be part of a crowd, she finds herself not as close to her longtime best friend as she used to be, she is discovering new interests, she is discovering boys, and she is not quite as close to her parents as she once was. There is something in Janie for many teen readers to identify with.

What I enjoyed about this book was how Janie started to open herself up to new opportunities and new people. Yes, she initially follows the lead of her long-time best friend, Sarah, but she soon realizes that her interests are no longer meshing with Sarah's quite as much. Janie wants something else and she finds it as she meets a new girl in the library, starts to play the bass, and discovers an exciting historical project right in her own neighborhood. (Side note: I LOVED the integration of history in this book. I have a BA in history and I felt that the author did a great job of smoothly working some interesting historical points into this book, without detracting from the main focus of the story.)

Janie is discovering lots of new layers about herself and enjoying it. Yes, she hits a few bumps along the way but she is also making new friends, finally, and letting people know that she is not skunk girl. Her self-confidence shines through during much of the story and I credit that to the secondary characters, both her best friend Sarah, and Janie's own family, who have led the charge for change in their own lives, by moving out to a farm and starting over in many ways. Janie is not a stranger to eccentric after all, she is just looking for a bit more balance in her life.

I also really liked how the romantic plot element did not in fact develop. Both Janie and the guy in question realize now is not the right time, that they are content being friends. It is a different reality than I've seen in many contemporary young adult stories and I really liked that the author was not afraid to acknowledge that Janie had enough going on in her life and did not want a romance quite yet.

I breezed through this novel at a quick reading clip, that's for certain. I really enjoyed it. Honestly, it just has a great vibe to it. It's very positive and enjoyable, acknowledging some of the hardships high school can offer but also many of the great opportunities that are present if you leave yourself open to new things. I'd honestly love to see a sequel about Janie, and believe me, I do not say that lightly given how much I tend to prefer standalone titles. But, this book just made me happy and when a book does that, well, I cannot help but want to revisit the characters.

Other reviews:
Abby the Librarian reviews Ten Miles Past Normal
Pure Imagination reviews Ten Miles Past Normal
The Secret Life of an Avid Reader reviews Ten Miles Past Normal

ARC reviewed from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all time favorite book series. It is also one of my favorite movie mini-series! My love for all things Lucy Maud Montgomery has been revitalized in a big way and it’s mainly due to the excellent reviews at Forever Young Adult.

Jenny, a fantastic reviewer, has been busy reviewing this great series and in case you haven’t had the chance to read the reviews yet, here are the links. Take some time and do it because I guarantee it will rekindle your love affair with this classic series. I’ve been itching to re-read this series now, though it may have to wait until after April when I finish two presentations. In the meantime, enjoy the wonderfulness of Anne and company!


Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island
Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne’s House of Dreams
Anne of Ingleside


I’m assuming that there will be reviews posted for the rest of the series, so stay-tuned Anne fans!

Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

With a title like Sean Griswold's Head, how can you not be tempted to at least discover what this book is about? Lindsey Leavitt writes a highly enjoyable story and I'm glad I picked this book up, large dome and all.

Synopsis: According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.
The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own. (B&N.com)


Payton Gritas is pretty darn awesome. She is a worry-wart, somewhat of a germaphobe, an organizer to the extreme, and a basketball player. Or at least, she was, before she discovers (in a rather hilarious scene, even knowing what she is about to discover) that her father has been diagnosed with MS, and that her family has been hiding this fact from her for six months. World: blown! Payton can no longer be the dedicated student she always has been. She is feeling rebellious and when her school counselor (that her parents forced her to see) tells her she has to find a focus object for her focus journal, well, Payton chooses a most unexpected object. Sean Griswold's head. He is the boy who has been sitting in front of her most of her life. Damn you, alphabet! But though she starts to know quite a bit about Sean's head, she has a lot to learn about Sean the person.

Payton is a fabulous narrator. She is funny, sarcastic, unsure of herself, and pretty much an average high school freshmen girl. Her family has always been her stable world so when news of her father's disease takes hold, she basically crumbles and has to find a new way to move forward. She becomes someone her parents do not necessarily recognize but I have to say, that someone is awesome. What I really liked about her was how genuine she felt as a teenage girl. She's never really had any strong feelings for a guy so when she starts to fall for Sean, and he becomes less her focus object and more her crush, well again, she does not necessarily react in the best way, but it proves to be true Payton. Her relationships with her parents have always been important to her and I like how that fact is emphasized in the story, even as her anger grows. This is a story where the parents definitely do not take a backseat or look the other way when Payton does something wrong. She has consequences to face. I also feel like how Payton deals with her father's disease was very realistically portrayed. She does not know what to think or feel half the time. She is worried for her father, angry at him, but again, worried.

The writing in this book is hilarious and provided me with endless amusement, even as it would sometimes take a turn for the more serious. Lindsey Leavitt definitely understands when to use levity to its best advantage but she also does not rob Payton out of her more emotional and fragile moments. There is a nice balance in the book.

And as for Sean and his head, well he definitely starts off as a focus object, something a bit far-reaching and unknown, but turns into someone human with feelings and thoughts of his own as the story progresses. I really enjoyed seeing these two become friends. The very premise of their meeting is not unusual because how many times have we sit behind someone, whether a classmate or coworker, and just assumed that because we've "known" them for a long time, we truly know them. As is the case for most of us, there is more to everyone than can be revealed by studying one's large dome.

There are many great scenes of dialogue and inner narration but here are a few of my favorites while reading:

"I like to bike." I blurt out, sounding like I'm reciting from an I-can-read book. See Spot. See Spot Say Stupid Stuff.

"I'm disappointed in you, Payton Gritas. You're going to let some weather stand in your way? I thought you were more hard-core than that."

I stiffen. "I am hard-core!"

"No you're not."

"Am too."

"If you were hard-core, you'd come riding with me today."

"I'll not only go with you, I'll bike circles around you."

Sean grins. "Like you did at Valley Forge?"

.... "I'll be there," I say. Then, because I want to add something tough I say, "Lamebrain."

Sean lets out a loud guffaw. Half the quad looks our way. "Did you just seriously say lamebrain?"

"I think I did." I raise my chin.

"Is this a word you use often? I mean should I be offended or flattered or what here?"

"I was trying to think of something hardcore sounding and lamebrain is what came out," I admit.

I have a coworker who has MS. She is in her fifties and has had the disease since she was in her teens. Her symptoms are not really at all similar to what Payton's dad goes through but I felt that made it more authentic because MS truly is different for everyone. No one unfortunately has the same symptoms or deals with drugs in the same way. My coworker has terrible balance issues. She gets shooting pains in her face that have required procedures where the doctor goes in through her eyes to burn a nerve. Totally different but yet they are experiencing a still very much unknown illness in similar ways. I felt MS was dealt with very well in this book.

Also, there is a vampire in this book. :)

Hilarious, thoughtful, and just plain-old well done, Sean Griswold's Head is well worth its price in laughter and great characterization.

Other reviews:
Good Books and Good Wine reviews Sean Griswold's Head
The Reclusive Bibliophile reviews Sean Griswold's Head 

ARC reviewed from Amazon Vine.

The library as career

This month I’ll be participating in my first ever career event geared towards teens. In this case, these are high-risk teens, some of whom have mental disabilities or have been in and out of different child services for much of their life. I’m very excited to engage with them and hopefully generate interest in information and librarianship. Though I realize being a librarian may not be the most exciting thing to a group of teens, I’d like to have some salient points that discuss just why this is an interesting field to go into. The reality is of course that librarianship is changing more and more and may very well not be around in another twenty years under its current form, but there are good things about this profession and I hope to share that with the teens.

I’d love to hear your take however, whether you are a librarian or not. What makes this career interesting to you? Do you find it approachable and worth going into? And heck, if you don’t, I’d like to know why because there will be nay-sayers in any group and it would be great if I could develop both the positive and negatives to this career so the teens get a broader scope.

I’m obviously developing a plan for this event already but I’d love to hear thoughts from around the interwebs!

Month in review: February 2011

Here's what I read in February 2011:

20. Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen (2/5/11)
21. The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton (2/5/11)
22. The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor (2/9/11)
23. The Guys Next Door by Lori Foster, Susan Donovan and Victoria Dahl (2/10/11)
24. Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt (2/11/11)
25. A Lot Like Love by Julie James (2/14/11)
26. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (2/17/11)
27. Beautiful by Amy Lynn Reed (2/17/11)
28. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young (2/19/11)
29. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal (2/19/11)
30. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (2/20/11)
31. Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab (2/20/11)
32. Split by Swati Avasthi (2/25/11)
33. A Light at Winter's End by Julia London (2/27/11)
34. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt (2/27/11)

Total books read: 15
Favorite book: Split or The False Princess, enjoyed them both for different reasons
Most disappointing book: Beautiful by Amy Lynn Reed
Total books read so far in 2011: 34

As compared with February 2010--1 more book read this month than in February 2010! Woo!

What was your favorite book read in February?