Review: Double by Jenny Valentine

Double by Jenny Valentine is the second book I've read by this author. Like Broken Soup, it is the character complexities that pull me into her books. (This book has already been published in the UK as The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight.)

Synopsis: When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel’s identity, gaining the family and friends he’s always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn’t as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn’t the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel’s disappearance, Chap realizes that he’s in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.
After all, you can’t just steal a life and expect to get away with it. (Goodreads.com)

Chap really has no one in his life. He identifies himself as Nothing, a total nobody to anyone. But then, luck, or a facsimile of it, seems to be on his side and he gets the most unexpected chance to portray Cassiel Roadnight, a teen who looks identical to him. Chap knows it is wrong, absolutely knows it is wrong, but he lies and says that he is indeed Cassiel, and by doing so, he opens a door into a family that is definitely not the picturesque, happy, quaint family he always imagined in his head existed for everyone but him.

As Cassiel, he becomes witness to a family that is falling apart. A mother addicted to medication and is openly adoring of her oldest son while being somewhat neglectful of "Cassiel's" sister, Edie. Frank is the savior of the family, providing them with money and a new house after Cassiel's disappearance. Frank is happy to see Cassiel back in the family, to have his family back, but yet, there is something Chap feels he is missing.

What really worked for me in this book is unraveling Chap's life and the life of Cassiel. Even though I figured out all the major twists way ahead of the big reveal, I still felt like I was getting a lot out of the story by reading. There is just something about the main character and his struggle to find an identity for himself based on truths and not lies that I really identified with and I think teen readers will also identify with. He is looking for a place, people to call family and though he does not necessarily find it with the Roadnight family at first, he makes some interesting "family" members by the book's end.

I don't think Jenny Valentine was trying to hide the reveals, to add suspense that way. I think the majority of the suspense, that worked for me as a reader, comes from Chap's struggle to find his own name, his own voice. There is another plot of course, about what happened to the real Cassiel, and how Chap deals with those realities that I found riveting but then anti-climactic by the end. I was much more interested in the psychology of the characters than parts of the "suspense" plot.

This is a slim little story but it did pack enough of a punch for me to keep Jenny Valentine on my radar. I think she is an underappreciated YA author, and I'm not sure if it's because she is a UK author or if her books just haven't been getting the attention they deserve. While I liked Broken Soup more, I was still fascinated with Chap's struggles.

Other reviews:
Book Geeks reviews Double

ARC provided by Around the World Tours.

Review: Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski was a book that left a mixed impression on me. There some portions of it I thought were really excellent and then some parts that I just couldn't fully believe in.

Synopsis: 2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.
If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.
In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time. (Goodreads.com)


The narrative in this book doesn't totally work for me. It's very back and forth and all over the place. Not that I need to have a linear storyline in every book but in the beginning, I had a difficult time following what was happening. It was jumbled.

The main character, April, doesn't always work for me either. I found her annoying at different parts of the book and despite her "mature" living situation, I found her to be very immature for her age, more so than other characters I've read at the same age. Of course, maturity is different for everyone so this book does fit that well. I found her situation to be very unbelievable, honestly. I just can't imagine what caring parent would let their child stay with a friend, without physically meeting the adult in charge. I just don't buy that aspect of the story and could not believe April's dad would just leave like that. He should have just made her move. Parents have authority for a reason and if this wasn't an example of lax parenting, I don't know what is.

However, there are definitely some things I liked about this book and number one is its confrontation with STDs. April gets chlamydia from her boyfriend of two years. She is shocked and feels disgusted with herself for having "the chlam." She doesn't want to believe he would cheat yet the evidence is the burning she feels when going to the bathroom. Sarah Mlynowski does not shy away from the realities of STDs and I really respected her for that. STDs never seem to be a consequence in any of the books I read, whether teen or adult, and yeah, they are gross but they are also part of being in an intimate relationship sometimes and this is one of those times. April getting an STD opened the narrative door so to speak for the author to be able to put to rest some untruths about STDs and how you can get them, in a very natural way. It was also humorously written which, perhaps isn't quite true to life but it did allow for me to see the comical side of April's personality as she confronted "the chlam."

I also liked the unhealthy/healthy relationship April had with her boyfriend, Noah. They had been together for two years and just started having sex together throughout the book. It was not perfect, obviously, but they talked about contraception, even if they, like many teens, did not always actually practice what they talked about. Noah was not really a nice guy and I couldn't truly understand why April liked him so much but again, he was a good vehicle to examine high school relationships.

I loved the hot tub stuff, mostly because I liked how they turned the name of the Hot Tub, Hula, into a verb for fun. They wanted to go hulaing all the time. Again, it seemed unreal to me but it added to the total over the topness that was April and her friend Vi living totally alone, without any parental supervision whatsoever.

So, perhaps Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) was not the most realistic of the contemporary YA books I've been reading lately, but it was a lot of fun once the story truly got started and I definitely wanted to find out how everything became resolved (and yes, just as you imagine in a book like this, it was done by tying a neat bow on everything.) But this book has massive teen appeal (what teen doesn't want to live away from their parents and enjoy being an individual?). Sarah Mlynowski does several things right in this book and those things, more than anything, kept me reading about April and her wacky adventures.

Other reviews:
Ticket to Anywhere reviews Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Anna Reads reviews Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Galleysmith reviews Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)

ARC reviewed from Amazon Vine.

Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

Werewolves aboard the Titanic. I expected some campy fun in Claudia Gray's Fateful instead, I got a love story I didn't believe in at all and not nearly enough Titanic and way too much werewolves.

Synopsis: It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic.

So, I'm going to start with the few things I liked. I liked reading about Tess's life as a servant. I know that sounds kind of odd but I feel like the author really did her research here (and from her author's notes, it appears she did) because it definitely felt like Tess was a servant of the early twentieth century. Her life was definitely not her own and she was owned by her family. She was at their beck and call and the story did a great job of representing that. Even when Tess was in the midst of being attacked by her werewolf nemesis, much of her thoughts were on how soon she had to get back to her family because they had ordered her about on an errand. This was probably the highlight of the book for me, not because I wanted to see Tess suffering, but because it felt like a truly accurate depiction of what I felt like being a servant was like.

I also liked Tess's Titanic roommate, Myriam, who was traveling from Lebanon to New York City for a new life. She was full of attitude and I liked seeing her on the pages.

Basically, nothing else worked for me. I just couldn't believe in the ridiculous mythology of the werewolves that was set up in the book. It had an over the top quality that made it seem rather farcical than serious mythology. Even the villain, Mikhail, seemed more like the evil caricature from a Vaudeville production than a serious villain. Though I will say, there was no doubt he was evil but I felt his sinister qualities, and the number of times he had Tess cornered but failed to kill her himself, well, it made him less of a villain in my eyes. Tess wasn't all that smart and if weren't for Alec rescuing her numerous times, I'm not sure how else she would have escaped.


There also wasn't enough Titanic for me. Yes, there were some good descriptions and I will give Claudia Gray kudos here once again, her research into the Titanic was well documented and honest, but, I wanted more Titanic. Even towards the end, once Tess discovered that the Titanic was sinking (this is not a spoiler for anyone right??) there just wasn't enough of a hurry to escape. All the climactic moments were centered around the werewolf storyline which for me wasn't all that interesting. The peril of the Titanic however was rushed at the end and didn't have nearly the force such a momentous and historic sinking should have had. Yes, we all know what happens to it but honestly, lets give it the tension it deserves. Many people perished on this voyage but yet it felt thrown into the story like, hey, the Titanic is sinking.


As you can see, this book and I didn't click. However, I will more than likely purchase this for my library's collection because I think there is some teen appeal. While I didn't believe in the love story, the rushed feelings of never having enough time to be together that Tess and Alec experienced seems like something most teens are going to relate to. So, while it isn't a story for me, it will have an audience, particularly those teens who are already fans of Claudia Gray.


Fateful mostly left me wanting to watch James Cameron's Titanic which yes, is not any more accurate than this book is probably but it has Kate and Leo and I adore them. So, there you go! May make a fun book club selection paired with this movie actually.


Fateful comes out in September 2011.

Other reviews:
Good Choice Reading reviews Fateful
My Overstuffed Bookshelf reviews Fateful 


Copy provided by Around the World Tours

Author Interview: Sarah Darer Littman

I'm really excited today to bring you an author interview with author Sarah Darer Littman. As you may know, recently I finished reading her upcoming book, Want to Go Private? and I raved about it. It's a hard-hitting, emotional book that is sure to start many discussions in the YA community. I wanted to learn a little bit more about why Sarah chose to write this book and so, I bring you an interview! I hope you enjoy learning about Sarah's writing and research process, her inspiration for this book, and more, as much as I did.

1. This book does not shy away from the 'grooming' process as it was known in the book. Those scenes were difficult for me to read so how did you manage not to have bleak day after bleak day while writing?

Although I wrote the first draft of WANT TO GO PRIVATE? much more quickly than any of my other books - I think because the idea had been plaguing me so much I was relieved to finally be writing it - emotionally it was an extremely difficult book to write.  At times I found myself having really dreadful nightmares, particularly when I tried to write a scene that only shows up in small flashbacks in the book, the one that forced me to contemplate what happened to Abby in the motel room. After the first draft, my editor commented that it seemed like Abby and Luke just went on a car ride together. I realized that it was because I’d shied away from writing anything that touched on what might have happened to her – partially because I had an inner censor worrying about content and gatekeepers, but on a deeper level, because as the mother of a daughter her age and also as a victim of childhood sexual abuse myself, it was just too painful to have to think about. But I knew that if I were going to write an honest book on this topic, I had to open the door to that room and face it.
When I first tried writing the scene, the nightmares started, and I was worried I was going to have to go back into therapy. I stopped writing and went on with revising the rest of the book. But then I got to the point in revisions where I had to write the scene in order to continue. So one day, after the kids left for school, I had to slap myself across the face and say, “Girl, you gotta do this thing. Turn the handle and open the door.”  It was difficult writing day.

I’m fortunate to have an Awesome Boyfriend who has a rather lovely performance convertible that he is generous enough to let me drive. So when I’d get really stressed out from writing, I’d go out for a drive and blast Led Zeppelin really loud. I might have even sung loudly and very badly too, but that’s between me and the wind.

2. This book seems like a first of its kind in YA fiction, tackling this topic. Why do you think no one else seems to have written about internet predators and teens before?

I did find one other book out there when I was writing up my proposal, but when I read it I found it focused much more on the message than the narrative. For me, this was about getting to the heart of a story that would answer the question of how Abby, a “nice” girl from a “good” family who, like all kids today has heard  he lectures about Internet Safety since she was in elementary school, still make the decision to get in the car with Luke.

3. Abby is definitely going through a tough time. Did you struggle upon entering high school also?

My struggles started in middle school and didn’t get resolved until I was middle aged! I joke (but it’s only half a joke really, because I believe in the Kabbalistic notion of discovering your purpose in life, and maybe this is mine) that G-d gave me a gift, the ability to write, and then chose to give me a lot of “material.”

4. Is there anything you learned while researching this book that can help both parents and teens work together to stay safe online, without the teen thinking their parent is trying to be their jailer so to speak?

Even before researching this book, I learned that keeping an open dialogue and modeling the behavior and values you want your kids to have is so important, because I think especially once they are teens we turn into the Charlie Brown parents and what they hear is “Wa wah Wah WAAH” so telling them to behave one way but then acting differently ourselves doesn’t work.

I’ve had monitoring software on both my kids’ laptops since 2006. I did it openly and told them that it was a condition of being online until they were 18 and legally responsible for their own actions.  I’m not saying it’s suitable for every parent/child relationship – you have to be willing to give your kids space and only intervene if there is a real need. It has worked well for us – my son turned 18 recently and I uninstalled the software remotely while he was in the UK. I sent him a message over Skype telling him that and said, “Happy you are now legally and financially responsible for your own actions online Day!”

5. You do not shy away from tough topics in any of your books. What do you hope readers get out of your stories?

For anyone going through similar issues, I hope they realize that they are not

alone. As a teenager, I felt isolated and defective. I wish I’d had the rich variety of YA literature available to me back then.
And for others, I hope they gain understanding. I wrote WANT TO GO PRIVATE? so that I, personally, could begin to understand how something like this could happen – how a girl could really believe that a man who had violated her trust and her body was her “friend”.

6. Any hints about what readers can expect to see from you next?
Writing WTGP was a grueling process, so I’m giving myself a break by working on something funny. It’s a middle grade novel about a group of kids who go to an anime con. Hijinks ensue.

7. When doing research on a topic for your stories, I'm curious about your process? Do you do lots of reading, interviews, or other avenues of information depending on the topic?

I’m a research geek. I think it’s because I love learning, and I like to write books about questions that challenge me. I start off by reading for the big picture because that helps me figure out what specific questions I need to ask if I’m going to be doing interviews. The challenge is to know when to cut myself off from research and get my butt in the chair to start writing the book.

8. What is a book that has surprised and amazed you recently?
Lauren Myracle’s book SHINE. As soon as I finished it I placed it in the hands of my 14 year-old daughter, who loved it so much she handed it to her friend the minute she was done. I had to beg for my copy back when I wanted to take it to a creative writing workshop I was teaching. It has such a strong sense of place and it does what all the best books do – starts conversations. My daughter asked me why one of the characters made the choice she did and we had great discussion about the socio-economic implications of living in a small, depressed town in the South. It was an eye opener for a young person who lives in an economically privileged area of the Northeast. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you so much for your words about this book, Sarah! It was a difficult but honest story for me to read and I hope to see it in the hands of many teenagers. Want to Go Private? comes out in August so you too can read it very soon!

The Great ALA 2011 YA Giveaway!

I had such a great time at ALA that I wanted to share some of the awesome books I received. I have given quite a few away as previous at my previous job but I didn't give these away yet, and that's where you come in! I've got two prize packs to offer. You can win either one!

Prize Pack #1
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins (Signed, 9/11)
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King (10/11)
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott (9/11)

Prize Pack #2
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John (4/12)
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (7/11)
Boy 21 by Matthew Quick (3/12)

You can enter to win both on the form but you'll only get one of the prize packs. Or, you can choose to enter for only the prize pack you really want. Both prize packs will come with plenty of bookmark/pin swag. The contest is open to US residents only.

I'd love it if you would tweet about this contest but it's not necessary. All you have to do to enter is fill out the form below.

The Great ALA 2011 YA Giveaway Contest--Enter Here!

First week almost done!

So, my first full week on the new job is almost complete. (Also, that's not me in the photo, just FYI.) It's been a good first week. There was a magician on Thursday and I had 125 people show up. The meeting room was packed, even with some scheduling snafus.

I've been reflecting this week on my experience thus far and well, it's definitely different coming from a medium-sized library district to a small, more rural area. I didn't realize quite how much I took for granted in my previous position. I mean, I was busy before but now, I see my job responsibilities multiplying by 100, and that's not even because I'm the head of the small youth department. There's just so much to be done since the library director was previously trying to manage both jobs, as children's librarian and director, and so lots of things have kind of slipped. Here's somewhat of a rundown on what I've been thinking about this week.

1. Small means lots more volunteer opportunities! My library does not have an automated telephone system which just... shocked me. I've grown up with libraries that have automated telephone systems. So, basically volunteers come in during the week to call patrons to notify them of their holds. You can sign up for email notifications which are available through the ILS but if you want a phone call, a real live person is going to do it and not a machine. I didn't realize libraries still did that. Seriously naive, I know.

2. I am wearing many, many hats. Not that this wasn't true in my last job, but I think in this job, it's magnified to the extreme. Ordering, story times, children and teen programs, staff scheduling, outreach. Seriously, Ordering and Outreach were separate departments at my last library! This is very much a different library and I have to adapt, and I know I will, but I think in some ways I've been shell-shocked this week.

3. I get to do everything my way! Seriously, so excited for this. I can tweak how things are done, get staff input and hopefully make up a better solution when a work thing is not quite working out as it should. I won't be a dictator obviously but it's nice to know that when I think a task can get done more efficiently via a different method, I have the means and authority to at least start that process.

4. No programming budget. Programming money comes from the Friends of the Library, which I am thankful for, but it's very different to be at a library where there isn't a specific budget line item for programming, even though I know my new director wants more programming. Fortunately, the Friends sound like a very generous group.

5. Just because I'm part of a "system" doesn't mean that system is going to be all that helpful. As I learned today more about the library system I'm a part of, I also learned the hard way that they really aren't all that helpful for my library and in many ways, going by my new perceptions, seem to be holding back my library from moving forward in better ways. Seriously people, I am still using FLOPPY DISKS for one aspect of work. FLOPPY DISKS. That is absurd and my director thankfully totally knows that, but has no power to change the system. Also, I'm part of a system that values bookmobiles. Now, I don't want to totally hate on bookmobiles because I know they do a lot of good but honestly, they aren't where a library should be focusing spending at this point in time, especially with the proliferation of e-materials.

6. I get to order books! Okay, just had to say this because it makes me totally happy and it was one aspect of my previous job I never got to do and always wanted to. I hope to put my first order in tomorrow. I've been working on it all week and it's filled with wonderful books and CDs and DVDs. EXCITING!

7. The community has been very welcoming. I am kind of a socially awkward person when first meeting people. It's just how I am but as I've been introducing myself at programs this week, as the new youth librarian, there's been so much excitement from parents and kids that I've been able to get over that awkward part a little bit easier.

8. Mostly, just having a good time. I'm more assured than ever that I made the right decision in accepting this new job. Yes, there are some things that are different and for me, seem a bit backwards, but hopefully a fresh eye can help change things for the better. I'm excited for all the fall programs I've got lined up and really, really excited to start teen activities at my library. There has never been any type of teen programming at my library so this will be a first and I've met several excited sixth and seventh graders who are ready for some fun events.

You can see a few more pictures of my new library. It's in an old high school building so it's definitely not a new place but it's got some character I think, including the flooding that happened on Monday due to all the rain from the previous weekend. Builders have been in and out all week fixing up the sheet rock, which was worsened by the humidity and heat of this week. Though it's been an exhausting week, it's been a good one and I'm excited to share more about the programs I host throughout the rest of the year. And hopefully you'll be interested enough to read those posts. :)

If you've got any questions for me, feel free to hit me up in the comments!

Romance Roundup: July 2011

I haven't done a romance roundup in a while I think and I've been fairly busy this month so not too many romances to share, but here is what I have reviewed recently.

Twice the Chance by Darlene Gardner

Make Mine a Bad Boy by Katie Lane

Vampire in Atlantis by Alyssa Day

Inside by Brenda Novak

What She Craves by Anne Rainey

The King's Mistress by Sandy Blair

Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally by Kiersten White follows the funny and adventurous book, Paranormalcy, one of the few paranormal titles I thoroughly enjoyed in 2010. For me, Supernaturally was a fabulous follow-up title that read like a new adventure, not necessarily the second book in a trilogy. There is a distinct storyline that begins and ends but yet there is definitely an opening for more adventures.

Synopsis: Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself. So much for normal.(Goodreads.com)

Evie is free of the International Paranormal Containment Agency and living a normal life. Yet, it's not quite as thrilling as her favorite drama, Easton Heights. Gym class is sometimes more scary than facing down a paranormal and now that she is busy with school all the time, not to mention a job, she hardly gets to see Lend. Then Evie gets the chance to help IPCA again. She wants to do it though she knows Lend will not like it, so she helps on the sly, along with a new boy named Jack who has the ability to walk through the Faerie Realms without actually being a faerie. Evie is back to tracking down vampires, trolls and the like and she is, well, not exactly thriving but it does put her more normal life in perspective.

I really enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted and serious and amusing and entertaining. Yes, definitely entertaining. The humor from the first book is definitely still present. Evie has a great sarcastic personality when necessary and she isn't afraid to tell it like it is. She is not necessarily on the side of the IPCA but she does believe they are doing some good for some paranormals. It is not a necessarily black and white world any longer.

I also liked the twists and turns the story went on. Lots of adventures going on in this story, while there is equally quite a bit of Evie questioning her future with Lend, and keeping secrets. She is definitely a normal teenage girl in that respect, unable to quite trust her feelings or Lend's feelings for her. She craves balance in her life but is realizing that she isn't quite "normal" whatever that may be. She has powers of her own, a background of her own that is explored a bit more in depth, along with some secrets coming to light. I devoured this book very quickly and was sad to see it end.

What I also really enjoyed, and this may sound a bit odd, is that not everything went perfectly for Evie. She has been making plans for her future but it is not going as well as she plans in her head. Between school and the IPCA, her grades are suffering, her time with Lend is short, and homework, who can do that? This leads to some natural consequences that I'm glad were included in this book. For most teens, this is how their lives are: busy! And what that means is that life is not always going to go as planned and no matter how hard you try to achieve something, sometimes the odds just aren't in your favor. Kiersten White does not shy away from these facts of life and I think that's all to teen readers' benefit. Yes, that sounds preachy coming from me in this review but I assure you it is not written that way, all lesson like, in the book. It's very natural.

And did I mention the humor? I was laughing quite a bit while reading this book. Evie's voice is very unique and stands out amongst recent characters I've read. She is snarky, sweet, and longing for something, quite the combination to make any book first rate. Kiersten White has a great storytelling voice and it shows in Supernaturally. I'm excited to see what new adventures Evie will be getting into. This is a second book that I can safely say you will want in your collection because it stands out just as much as the first title in the trilogy. Unlike many trilogies now where I am not always interested enough to continue reading, this second book proved this is a series worth sticking on your reading schedule.

Other reviews:
Good Books and Good Wine reviews Supernaturally
Emily's Reading Room reviews Supernaturally
The Secret Life of a Bibliophile reviews Supernaturally 

Copy reviewed from a friend's ARC.

Review: Viola in the Spotlight by Adriana Trigiani

Viola in the Spotlight by Adriana Trigiani is the second book in the Viola series. It continues Viola's adventures after her time at Prefect Academy in Viola in Reel Life.

Synopsis: I am in the midst of a conundrum.
Viola is finally where she belongs—back home in Brooklyn, where there are no khakis or sherbet-colored sweaters and people actually think her yellow flats are cool. With two whole months of nothing to do but hang with her two best friends, Andrew and Caitlin, this is going to be the best break ever!
But her BFFAA, Andrew, has started acting weird around her, and a new boyfriend has her friend Caitlin ditching her every chance she gets. When Viola's roommates from Prefect Academy show up for a visit, she starts to wonder—is Brooklyn where she wants to stay? When a tragic event shakes everyone's world, Viola realizes it's not where she belongs that matters—it's who she's with that really counts. (Goodreads.com)

Viola is finally back in Brooklyn and she thinks this will be the perfect summer. However, like most teenager's expectations, this summer proves to be a mixture of disappointment and change. I will be totally honest, I have not read the first book in this series, Viola in Reel Life, but I feel like Adriana Trigiani sets up what happened in the first book just enough so I knew about Viola's time away but still was able to become engaged in her new adventures, back in her hometown.

Viola is a pretty darn mature teenager I have to say, though she does make mistakes. She covers for her best friend who is in a romance that is definitely forbidden. She is quite judgmental about this I couldn't help feeling, definitely showing her disapproval to her friend. I didn't feel like this was a necessarily true characteristic of teenagers but then, I guess when it interferes in one's life so much, it does get to be annoying.

Viola wants to be a filmmaker, badly. She helps at a local theater during the summer, gaining new experiences and learning a new side to film. She also walks her grandmother's dog. She takes on all these responsibilities and didn't leave herself a lot of time for fun, hence why I thought she was so mature. That's not a bad trait but I wonder how teen readers are going to react to it. I know Adriana Trigiani is an adult writer and it feels like it. However, I enjoyed Viola's mature outlook and the care she has for her friends. I thought Viola was a likeable character even if she didn't always necessarily read like a teenager to me.

I also really enjoyed the theater aspects to this story. There were some very vibrant characters in this story that made Viola's adventures more enticing to read about. I also liked that Viola had such a good relationship with her family, particularly her parents. There are plenty of YA books with healthy parent/child relationships but I don't think they get mentioned nearly enough so I wanted to be sure to illustrate that this is a book that tackles a more friendly parent/child relationship.

All in all, I think if you find the right teen reader for this book, maybe someone who is a bit more mature for his or her own age, or even not, I think they will enjoy Viola in the Spotlight. It has the charm of the theater world that is so present in something like E. Lockhart's Dramarama though not done in quite the same way. I'll be interested to see where Viola goes on her next adventure.

Other reviews:
The Book Scout reviews Viola in the Spotlight
Wondrous Reads reviews Viola in the Spotlight
Rachel Reads reviews Viola in the Spotlight

Copy provided by publisher for review.

Review: Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Sarah Darer Littman's Want to Go Private? is a chilling account of the how a teenager falls prey to an adult predator. It easily fits the category of books like Barry Lyga's Boy Toy or Elizabeth Scott's Living Dead Girl, where manipulation of teenagers, of how they feel and act in their immaturity, can be so easily taken advantage of. This is a book that left me shaken because it is all too real.

Synopsis: Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again. (Goodreads.com)

Abby isn't quite ready for high school. She'd much prefer for things in her life to stay the same, but unfortunately no one else she knows and trusts will listen to her. They are ready to move full steam ahead: her best friend, Faith, Abby's parents, even Abby's annoying younger sister. Abby feels like there is no one who will listen to her but she unexpectedly meets someone online who does listen, who empathizes and who seems to truly see how wonderful Abby is. Unfortunately, this guy, Luke, is nothing but a lie.

This book may be labeled as fiction but unfortunately, from what I know of internet predators via Dateline or 20/20, this is an all too accurate portrayal of how these men (and probably women?) groom teens by playing into their fears, by becoming their confidantes, and by isolating them. This book is not for every teenager nor is it necessarily for school libraries (though I actually think, if politics and parents weren't so heavily involved, this SHOULD be on the shelves) but it is a message more teenagers need to read because this exploitation is happening.

I felt the book was well-written and accurate. Author Sarah Darer Littman acknowledges the sources she used to help her with this book and it is obvious research went into this book. Abby is the confused and scared teenager so many of us know, who is just trying to find herself in a new environment. Her friendship with Faith is changing, there is a nice guy in her science class she is confused about, and then there is Luke, the guy who listens to her every woe and provides the support she needs. It is a chilling process.

This book, in certain parts, switches narrators between Abby, Lily, Faith, and Billy. For me, this worked because all of the characters, even Abby herself, were so bewildered as to how did something like this happen. And then, the ramifications of it were just as harsh to face. Abby is the victim but yet, ignorance and the mentality that somehow the girl is to blame, that once again it is the girl who did the seduction when it's clear Abby had no power in this "relationship" also comes through loud and clear. It is amazing to think about how some people, both male and female, are raised, and Sarah Darer Littman portrays that just as vividly as the heartbreak of what Abby is going through.

If you've noticed I'm pretty emotional in this review and that I didn't pinpoint exactly what worked for me, it's because this is a topic that would be impossible to not touch on emotions. That's all I felt while reading this book. Even early on, I dreaded what Abby was about to face. This book does not shy away from descriptions either. This is rape, of both the mind and body, at its most gruesome. But, this book needs to be read by teens because this is happening and some of these teens are not lucky enough to come home. I truly hope those of you working in public libraries will add this to your collections. Teens need to have access to fiction like this because it is so much in the vein of real life that it is sure to hit home and generate discussion, questions, hopefully caution, but more importantly, just talk, between teens and parents, teens and other teens, and maybe teens and librarians about what teens (essentially kids!) are facing when they are on the internet.

Add this to your must-read list of 2011.

Other reviews:
Eve's Fan Garden reviews Want to Go Private?
The Reading Zone reviews Want to Go Private?
Bookerella reviews Want to Go Private?

ARC received from a friend for review.

YALSA's Hub: Harry Potter

I'm over at YALSA's Hub today talking about my love for Harry Potter, along with several other Hub bloggers. Stop by and comment!

Going to see Deathly Hallows Part II tomorrow. Cannot wait!

Review: Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker’s newest book, Small Town Sinners, is a story that provides no easy answers when it comes to spirituality, love, growing up, or being a teenager. It is a heartfelt look into the questions that arise when teens start to develop their own thoughts and are no longer are satisfied with the answers parents provide.

Synopsis: The story of Lacey Anne Byer, a small town girl who is excited to star in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, until a childhood friend reappears and makes her question her faith. (Goodreads.com)
Lacey Anne Byer wants to be Abortion Girl in her church’s annual Hell House production. She knows the impact Abortion Girl has on people and she is sure that this is her chance to finally have the spotlight. Unfortunately, Lacey is not chosen to be Abortion Girl. She gets a lesser part but is trying to be content with that. She has some new excitement in her life courtesy of Ty Davis, a boy who has returned to Lacey’s small hometown after years away. Lacey is excited to get to know him again and he seems equally fascinated with her. It should be an easy move to finally getting her very first boyfriend but as with many things, life provides no easy shortcuts for Lacey.

There is so much I enjoyed about this novel. It is a complex look into spirituality, religion, and beliefs and how that conflict with the feelings and hormones that come with being a teenager. Lacey has never really questioned her parents’. They have always held all the answers, but when she sees her best friend Dean being picked on, with no repercussions for the bully, and when she sees her other best friend’s older sister being sent away for an unplanned pregnancy, with no consequences for the boy who played a part in the pregnancy, she starts to question all she has been taught and all the church has taught her. The world truly isn’t quite so black and white anymore. There are layers and emotions coming out at Lacey at every turn, things she did not expect to feel, or even want to feel sometimes.

I think Melissa Walker did a great job of carrying over the world of gray into the characters. Yes, I was meant to dislike Dean’s bully but as it slowly came to be revealed, there was more going on with his character. Likewise, and perhaps more intensely, Lacey’s dad is a character filled with layers. At points, I felt he was somewhat misogynistic, but yet he obviously cares for his family and Lacey, wanting only the best for her. He is a protective father who wants Lacey to steer clear of bad influences but he does not always go about explaining that in the best way, causing strife. But then he does something, mostly off the pages of the book that is filled with somewhat better intentions perhaps showing he is trying to understand Lacey and her point of view. However, even by book’s end he is not necessarily a changed man. Still very set in his ways, he is not perfect, but neither is Lacey. She has some deep questions to figure out about herself throughout her journey. Does she blindly follow her parents’ lead or does she finally discover her voice and start to make decisions that feel right to her?

Melissa Walker is talented; I’ve known that since I read her first book, Violet on the Runway. Small Town Sinners takes that talent and gives it even more dimension and thoughtful questions to ponder. I was deeply engrossed in this story and truthfully, I didn’t always like Lacey Anne but I don’t think I was meant to. She did some growing up and changing throughout the story and I feel like she is in a good place, by story’s end, to continue to develop and mature and find answers for herself.

I also kind of love that Melissa Walker wants to cast Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Lacey’s parents. Friday Night Lights fans strike again! Small Town Sinners is one of the more powerful contemporary titles I’ve read in 2011. It’s a book that has stuck with me, several days after I finished it. I truly felt like this was an honest and nonjudgmental approach to faith and religion, a book teens will relate to so easily because they are going through much of the same questioning Lacey and her friends are undergoing. I would not pass this book up. Not too many YA books have impressed me this year but this one has left a mark. (And yes, I fully acknowledge I’m a bit of a Melissa Walker fangirl but believe me, that does not diminish the quality of this book or my reaction to it in the slightest.) Also, for the fans of the classic movie, Footloose, this book definitely has that Footloose quality to it! No dancing but it just... made me think of that movie in the best way possible.

ARC provided by author for review. (Can't wait for the final copy though!)

Review: The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner is a book that left me gripped in its characters. It is a shorter novel but it packs a punch.

Synopsis: While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him. (Goodreads.com)

I really, really liked Nick. He felt genuine to me. He's a young guy, maturing but not necessarily cynical teen boy yet. He's about to start high school when his world changes around him. His dad deserts the family to pull a Fat Man Walking (walking across the country) and Nick's longtime neighbor and mostly always friend, the Scoot, passes away. And then there is Jaycee, the girl who is pushing Nick out of his comfort zone in more ways than one. 

Nick is a character I can see a lot of teen boys identifying with. He's not the cool guy necessarily. He is just starting to learn his way around girls (but yeah, desires are kicking in), he doesn't understand all that is going on between his parents but he just knows some bad things are happening, and his older brother is too busy for Nick. And oh yeah, one of his closest friends for a long time has died. This is a boy going through a lot of different emotions and I felt he responded very naturally to what happens to him throughout the course of the story. He truly read like this immature boy who is slowly gaining more maturity and insight into the world through what is going on in his life. It didn't feel artificial however because much of what he witnesses is a slap in the face to his ordinary life.

And the book, it doesn't end perfectly. I also really liked that and it was refreshing. There's an open road for Nick ahead of him and it's still filled with some crappy situations. He's had letdowns but he has also gained a new friend. I didn't see Nick grieve in the way I expected but that processed worked through other plot means throughout the story. And I truly felt like, even though this book is just 200 pages, that I got to know Jaycee, the Scoot, and Nick on a personal level. Their various quests did not always end in success. There was bittersweet moments, doubt, nostalgia and bitter truth. But it was all pulled off in a way that is approachable and honest for teens to read about.

Also, it's a road trip book so add this to your road trip book lists! It's not a road trip like I've read about before but it's a quest trip and it has unexpected (though also somewhat expected) results. I''m not a hue fan of the cover however just because I think that while the boy definitely seems like Nick's age, I'm not sure how teens will respond to it, if they'll think Nick is too young. And where is the troll necklace I ask you??

This book mentions quite a few Star Wars references but I think, given that Star Wars is still so incredibly popular and such a culture phenomenon, that teens will still respond to this. The Of Mice and Men references also worked for me because Nick is at an age when he will start reading that book for school. Also, this may be an odd point, but I really liked how the author mentions several times how much Nick enjoyed Jaycee reading aloud to him. For him, it was a cool experience and I can only hope more teens see it that way.

However, this is a book I can foresee myself book talking with great success. I can't wait to do so in fact. The Pull of Gravity is a 2011 debut worth checking out.

Other reviews:
A Cupcake and a Latte reviews The Pull of Gravity
Girls in the Stacks review The Pull of Gravity
Kid Lit Frenzy reviews The Pull of Gravity 

Review: Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard is a paranormal story featuring not a mermaid, but a Siren. It has the promise to be an intriguing story and for the most part, I enjoyed it.

Synopsis: Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without? (Goodreads.com)


Lexi used to be popular. She used to have friends, a social life. Then she killed the guy she was falling in love with on her sixteenth birthday. Her status as a social pariah is set in stone and nothing will change that. In fact, she does not want anything to change that because she will always carry the guilt of killing Steven. On top of that, having no friends makes it easier to hide her secret shame. Every night, instead of sleeping, she drives to a nearby lake and swims for hours and hours, singing her siren's song. If she doesn't swim, her day time life is a struggle. Then one night, she cannot swim because Cole is at her lake, skipping stones and she cannot reveal herself to him. It opens up a can of worms in her life that she is not expecting, but it also opens up the rare opportunity to fall in love again.


I have mixed feelings about this book. The high school romance is not bad, it's just rather blah. Cole is a nice guy. Lexi is not a terrible character, kind of bland, but not all that annoying. Put them together and they are kind of bland together. The villain was noticeably predictable also unfortunately. Though I have to give Mandy Hubbard props for visually creating a scary looking villain in my head by the time the ending rolled around.


I had some trouble with the mythology of this book. Lexi receives some diaries that talk about being a siren, the curse she is under, and honestly, it was not a lot of information, just a few pages worth, written in a handwriting font I could barely read sadly. Seriously, I cannot read cursive that well anymore which sounds bad but I don't write in cursive and I don't know many people who do. Anyway, the diaries give a few hints but then Lexi kind of takes that information and runs with it, inferring quite a bit about being a siren I thought. Suddenly, after two years of questions, she had all these answers supposedly but honestly, I didn't think the diaries revealed all that much information so I wasn't sure where she was getting her conclusions.


I think my trouble with this book is that everything seemed so obvious. The villain, the love connection, the answers Lexi was looking for. There was little to no subterfuge or mystery to this book for me, at all. What you read on the pages is what you got. That's not a bad thing necessarily because it doesn't take much to read this book, to process what is going on, but it didn't leave me intrigued or glued to the pages or wanting to come back for more. Not in the way Mandy Hubbard's You Wish and Prada & Prejudice did.


This is not a bad book. It's not a great story either, it just falls in the middle and in the end, will not be very memorable for me. But I'm still a fan of Mandy Hubbard and hope she'll be back with her quick wit and amusing stories in her next book.


ARC provided by Around the World Tours.

Contest winners!

Congratulations to Christina F and Justine W for winning a copy of Thirteen Reasons Why!

And if you haven't had the chance yet, definitely check out the Thirteen Reasons Why Project.

Review: Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Hannah Kaplan is dreading her first day of her senior year. Absolutely dreading it. She is going to see her best friend, Ava, Ava's boyfriend (and Hannah's crush), Noah, and to top it all off, she has to face her own ex-boyfriend, Sebastian. As the story unweaves, readers will discover just why Hannah is dreading her first day of school so very much.

Synopsis: On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...


Told in alternating chapters in the present and in the past (two months ago really), Hannah's world unravels from heartbreak to crush to new heartbreak. When Ava gets a summer job in Maine, Hannah is despondent. Her boyfriend cheated on her and all she wants to do is wallow in ice cream. Unfortunately, her mom wants her to get a job and when Noah offers her a rather unexpected job opportunity, she accepts and thus begins a summer at Cooley's working closely with Noah. He is kind, funny, and basically everything crushworthy a YA novel requires. He is basically a cardboard cut-out of a lot of guy crushes but he's likable and basically that's all I need.

The most interesting person in this book for me is Hannah's friend, Lacey, who she meets while working at Cooley's. Lacey is a hypochondriac and her introduction, via an "infected" freckle just made me like her, in part because I have my own quirks that I readily admit. She was definitely a high point in the book for me, adding a bit of color.

This is the perfect story for those teens who have overcomplicated love lives. Friends sleeping with a friend's boyfriend, stalking exes, driving by their houses, making up stories in one's head about what they are doing. This is high drama and yeah, I was totally immersed in it. That's what makes Lauren Barnholdt's stories so enjoyable for me. Yes, I know they aren't necessarily deep stories with layers of meaning, but they are like brief 90210 episodes. Drama, drama, and more drama, add in some teen sex (all off the pages), and a cat fight amongst friends, this is a book right up my reading alley. It isn't quite as superficial as I am making it sound however. Hannah goes through some very deep heartache and betrayal, and she feels that pain. I found it to tend to be slightly exaggerated but it fits well with the teenage mindset. The one thing that did bother me was how much Hannah would bemoan about her growing waistline from all the junk she was eating to help her feelings. It just left a rather bad taste in my mouth. I think it's a negative image for teen girls and boys.

That being said, I'm always happy when I finish a Lauren Barnholdt title. It may not be the hardest hitting YA book but it's a good quick read for those teenage girls going through their own heartache. It fits but doesn't quite fit the Gossip Girl/It Girl series, but there is a bit more heart to these books. I enjoyed it and at the end of the book, sometimes that is all I need.

ARC received from Around the World Tours.

Review: Starstruck by Cyn Balog

Starstruck by Cyn Balog left me cold. I was not at all impressed with this mediocre story.

Synopsis: Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.
At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.
But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed? (Goodreads.)


What made this book so miserable for me to read was the fact that Gwen (known by family as Dough) is absolutely miserable throughout the course of the story. She hates her body. She constantly compares herself to her younger, thinner, sister, Evie. She consoles herself with endless donuts from her mom's bakery. She is ignored at school and the thing is, she just takes it. Seriously, she never once stands up for herself, never once tries to make herself happy. She is apparently content to be miserable. When Gwen discovers her best friend, and boyfriend, Wish, is moving back to New Jersey from California, she is kind of happy but more than anything she is miserable. Wish is hot, good looking, and all the girls at school are already drooling over his Facebook profile. Gwen on the other hand is heavy, hides herself in Hanes sweatshirts, and likes donuts. 

Seriously, there is a difference between being self-deprecating about one's weight and being totally miserable and depressed. Gwen crosses that line for me. She could not think of one thing she really liked about herself and she had no clue why Wish would want to stay with her after seeing her again. Throughout the course of the book she kept expecting him to break up with her, initiating that conversation a few times herself. She had literally no self-esteem that I could see. Believe me when I say I am no stranger to weight anxiety but at the same time, I recognize I have some great qualities outside my appearance. For Gwen, it was all about how her appearance was terrible, how it conflicted with Wish's toned body. I know I am reiterating this over and over again but you know what, that's how Gwen talked in the book.


However, despite my ranting on it, this is not the main plot of the story. The story revolves around Wish and Gwen and the secret that Wish has. He is not quite everything he appears to be. He may just be a member of the Luminati, a cult that worships the stars. Of course, this bit of information doesn't really unfold until halfway through the story, after Gwen has thoroughly reminded readers of how fat and ugly she is.


Wish was rather boring as a character unfortunately. He wasn't quite a good guy cause you know, of the Luminati connection, but he wasn't a bad boy either. He falls into this vague middle ground of boys in YA land that seem to have no true personality of their own.


As you can see, I was not impressed with Starstruck. I have never read anything by Cyn Balog and when I first read the synopsis, I was definitely intrigued. Well, I was letdown. I guess it is bound to happen at some point. I would be willing to try another Cyn Balog title however if I could get some kind of guarantee that the main character, whether guy or girl, had some pride or happiness in themselves. I realize everyone has problems and yeah, being overweight is not easy, but surely there should have been something Gwen liked about herself. So, this book is a miss for me.


ARC received from Around the World Tours.

Get Rid of Books Summer Challenge--UPDATE

Small update on my summer challenge! As I've been packing up books the past few days, I have managed to bring 63 books to my local library used bookstore. Now in the scheme of things, 63 may not seem like that many, but that's 63 books I don't have to lug back to Minnesota with me or try to force into boxes. I still have my closet books to go through (yes, I have books that I have to keep in a closet, there's no other room) so who knows, I may add some more books to this challenge.

Moving, definitely helps in the lightening of the load of books.

Pack 'em up and move 'em out!

I'm currently in the process of packing up and moving! My new job in Minnesota starts soon and I leave Colorado very soon. To say I'm busy right now is putting it mildly. While I have some posts scheduled, YA Librarian Tales may be kind of slow over the next week or so as I pack, move across country, and unpack and settle in. So, please forgive me if you aren't seeing too much new content over the next week. I promise I'll be back! In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with the song that gets me motivated for packing and becomes an earworm very easily, you are warned.

Contemporary YA Lit and Why You Should be Reading it!

In case you didn't get the chance to see Kelly and mine presentation at ALA 2011 this year, here is a peak into what we presented!

Contemporary YA Fiction and How to Use it on Prezi

And here we are presenting! Thanks to Tiff for taking this photo!

Tomorrow I'll add our handout via Box.net in case you want to download that too! I forgot to send it to my home computer.

Questions? Comments? Let us know!