OK, so school has started and that means you probably have stuff to read; you know, like independent reading books. So how about you put down the manga and the fan magazines, and (oh, please!) the fashion magazines, and read an actual chapter book?
Here’s a good one to start with: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Things are going pretty well for high school student Camelia - that is until she’s almost flattened by a speeding car. Lucky for her, a mysterious stranger pops out of nowhere and pushes her to safety. He also puts his hands all over her stomach but, well, at least he’s cute, so no harm done, right?
Oddly enough, our hero soon turns up at Camelia’s school. Only it turns out, he’s not much of a hero. In fact, Ben is suspected of having killed his last girlfriend. So what’s a girl to do? Why, fall in love with him of course. Which is when things really start to get weird. Suddenly, Camelia begins receiving mysterious - and menacing - phone calls at home. Creepy photos of Camelia start popping up in the mailbox.
Is it Ben? Maybe. Is it one of the many other slightly weird people who seem to populate her world? What about Spencer, her boss at the pottery store, the one who seems “interested” in Camelia? How about concerned, ex-boyfriend Matt? Is he concerned - or just angry he got dumped?
Well guess what? You’re going to have to read it to find out. In the meantime, I’ve added this very cool book trailer. Yes, book trailer. It’s not a movie, so forget about Netflix and get yourself to the library.
LAME FACTOR: Like most of the books I put on this blog, there’s no lameness here. Otherwise, why would I be writing about it? I give it a 0 out of 5.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: There’s lots of touching here - purely for scientific purposes of course. Yeah right. There’s also quite of bit of making out and references to sex. If your parents think you don’t know about those things, they probably need to spend more time with you. Anyway, I don’t think it’s over the top, but it’s their call.
BRAIN POWER: You will need one - a brain that is. This isn’t a 19th century, Russian novel. You’ll be fine.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Andersen
What would you do if your best friend - make that former best friend - called you 33 times on the night she died? How would you feel if you didn’t answer? How about you add on a truckload of emotional problems, a totally screwed up family, and - oh, I forgot - a major eating disorder that leaves you barely alive?
Welcome to Lia’s world.
Once, Lia and Cassie had tons of things in common. Now, they have only one thing: they both suffer from eating disorders that are slowly, painfully, killing them. Each one slowly inches her way towards death, a final escape from a world making both of them miserable. Then, a winner. Cassie, with the help of bulimia and an unhealthy dose of vodka, dies.
Will Lia join her? She knows every weight loss trick in the book. Fooling her parents with pretend eating and faked weight gains, it seems like a sure thing. And why did Cassie finally reach out to her, too late now? Why does she keep reaching out to Lia even from beyond the grave? Could it be that Cassie wants Lia to keep her company?
Wintergirls is an amazingly well-written story from the author of another amazing YA book, Speak. It is a complex story of psychological and emotional problems that run too deep for any teen, or her parents, to understand. You’ll find yourself wishing that she both gets help, and maybe just shuts up and gets over herself, at the same time.
LAME FACTOR: No lameness here. I give it a zero. Please stop telling me there’s nothing interesting to read.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: I guess there are a few things your parents might not like; you know, like the sharp razors and ingestion of vodka. It’s an important topic, though, so get your parents to take a look at it, and then get reading.
BRAIN POWER: Like I said, Wintergirls is extremely well-written. It’s not ridiculously complex, but might be a challenge for younger readers. High school and most good, middle school readers shouldn’t have a problem.
Welcome to Lia’s world.
Once, Lia and Cassie had tons of things in common. Now, they have only one thing: they both suffer from eating disorders that are slowly, painfully, killing them. Each one slowly inches her way towards death, a final escape from a world making both of them miserable. Then, a winner. Cassie, with the help of bulimia and an unhealthy dose of vodka, dies.
Will Lia join her? She knows every weight loss trick in the book. Fooling her parents with pretend eating and faked weight gains, it seems like a sure thing. And why did Cassie finally reach out to her, too late now? Why does she keep reaching out to Lia even from beyond the grave? Could it be that Cassie wants Lia to keep her company?
Wintergirls is an amazingly well-written story from the author of another amazing YA book, Speak. It is a complex story of psychological and emotional problems that run too deep for any teen, or her parents, to understand. You’ll find yourself wishing that she both gets help, and maybe just shuts up and gets over herself, at the same time.
LAME FACTOR: No lameness here. I give it a zero. Please stop telling me there’s nothing interesting to read.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: I guess there are a few things your parents might not like; you know, like the sharp razors and ingestion of vodka. It’s an important topic, though, so get your parents to take a look at it, and then get reading.
BRAIN POWER: Like I said, Wintergirls is extremely well-written. It’s not ridiculously complex, but might be a challenge for younger readers. High school and most good, middle school readers shouldn’t have a problem.
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