Review: Ditched by Robin Mellom

Title: Ditched: A Love Story

Author: Robin Mellom

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Publication Date: 3 Jan 2012

Challenge: DAB

Source: Bought

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first. 

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice. 

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. 

And then ditched her. 

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...
But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

REVIEW

A fantastic, quirky book that is very hard to review without giving away any spoilers.

Written in first person narrative from the perspective of Justina, attending the prom with her best friend (although she wants it to be more). So how did she end up in a ditch in the early hours of the morning covered in various food stains. The story is based around the events of the previous evening. Told in a series of flashbacks focusing on aspects of Justina's appearance as their basis.

Justina is a wonderful character, the odd one out at her high school as she isn't from a wealthy family, she only just scrapes into the catchment area of an affluent zip code. She buys her clothes from a thrift store and soon learns to only wear black as her rich classmates cant tell if they previously owned them that way. Her mother is a bit overbearing and stuck in an 80's time-warp, yet her heart is on the right place.

I dont want to go into details about the plot because it really would spoil the story. That would be a shame because you really should read it for yourselves. What I will say is that although the main focus of the book is the relationship between Justina and Ian there is far more to it than that.

The plot shows that you can find friends in some very unlikely places. You should never jump to conclusions until you have all the facts. Making assumptions can lead to all the wrong things especially when you listen to other people that only have their own interests at heart. Communication is vital.

High school cliques are shown in full force especially how hard it is to get rid of a bad reputation once you have one. The use of the 'frenemy' was a wonderful addition to the plot. As well as how outward appearances can most certainly be deceptive.

This is so much more than a 'romance'; a story of self-acceptance, friendship alongside the romance as well as not being afraid to take a chance and be who you really are.

A fun, quirky debut that I would love to see published in the UK.I am sure a lot of my pupils would love it.

Review: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Title: A Match Made in High School
Author: Kristin Walker
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: 4 Feb 2010





Synopsis: From GoodReads
When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.
Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Review:
Written in first person narrative from Fion'a perspective. I adored Fiona's narrative voice, it just seemed so 'real' in my imagination, I identified with her from the beginning, especially the wonderfully sarcastic comments she makes. The only thing that did irritate me a little about Fiona was that she had no concept of anyone elses feeling but her own. Although I do see this a lot in 'real' life I still do not understand it. It must just be me, I have always been taught to respect other peoples feelings/opinions and find it difficult to accept that other people don't do this. I did, however, admire Fiona for 'being her own person' not giving into peer pressure; I sympathised with her struggle against the acceptable cliques and social conventions found throughout life not just in High School.

I admit to picking up this book to use in my MG Monday feature, how wrong could I have been, this is a case of judging a book by it's cover, as some of the content is a bit 'near the knuckle' and certainly not suitable for Middle Grade. Teenagers on the other hand will love this one, yes it is more for girls than boys but I think there are aspects that will certainly appeal to boys - the practical jokes for example.

A wonderful mixture of self-discovery, humour, friendship and romance is woven into the story. A lot of judging people by the way they look takes place, which is definitely something that occurs frequently in schools. I loved the way in which English education is interspersed in the narrative; how fabulous is it to be able to insult someone in an eloquent fashion so they don't even realise that they had been insulted. There are wonderful analogues and snarky one liners. Plus the music references are AWESOME.

This book is like a breath of fresh air - although the storyline focuses on self-discovery it is delivered in a 'tongue in cheek' manner. Highly entertaining.

Review: Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Title: Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance
Author: Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: 7 Mar 2011

Source: Publisher - thank you




Synopsis: From Amazon
Teen TV celebrities Jenna and Jonah (real names, Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers) make more money in a month than most people do in a lifetime. They can't stand to be in the same room as each other, but to boost the TV ratings their agents make them a 'real life' couple. Then the deception is uncovered by the paparazzi, and Charlie and Fielding have to disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realise there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.

Review:
Firstly it is easy to fall into the assumption that this is a girlie book due to its vivid pink cover, although I do think it is a predominately 'girl' read it holds appeal to males who might be put off by the pinkness of said cover.

As you might imagine with both a male and a female author partnership the story is told in first person narrative with chapters written from Jenna's point of view complimented by chapters in Jonahs perspective. I adored the different effect and tone of voice that each character had. Jenna has a more direct snarky narrative voice whereas Jonah has a softer, contemplative voice. Surprising if you go by male and female stereotyping. The direct address to the reader made me personally invested in the outcome of their relationship.

This is one of  those books that will draw you in, I actually devoured it in one sitting. I just couldn't let the story go until it had reached its conclusion. I felt as if the story were an emotional roller-coaster ride as I followed Jenna and Jonah get to know each other and themselves. Having to redefine their relationship after so many years of faking it, and without a script to guide them. Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees [ : D ]

The insight into celebrity life and the paparazzi was realistic and added to the feeling that Jenna and Jonah no longer knew who they really were, the sense of loss at their screen persona's being taken away. This was reinforced by the description of them only being known by their screen names and not their real names.

The use of Much Ado about Nothing and the parallels in personality and situations between the characters they play and their true self was genius. the realisations they both experience via this play was fantastic to follow.

This is one of those books that will make you laugh and cry along with the main characters in other words I loved it.

Review: Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton

Title: Jessie Hearts NYC
Author: Keris Stainton
Publisher: Orchard
Publication Date: 7 July 2011

Source: The lovely lady herself - Keris Stainton



Synopsis: From Amazon
Jessie’s just arrived in New York, hoping to forget about her awful ex.
New Yorker Finn is in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.
They might be perfect together, but in a city of eight million people, will they find each other?

Review:
I adore the ideal of soulmates and destiny; the way fate conspires to bring two people together. These notions are breathtakingly woven into the story. The number of coincidences and near misses that ultimately bring Jessie and Finn together was a joy to follow; the parallels with their thoughts, actions and events was ingenious. The weaving together of the simultaneous plot thread was inspired.

Plus Keris's adoration of NYC shines through the prose, merging beautiful descriptions with realistic imagery making for a three dimensional picture within my imagination.

Written in third person narrative but mainly focalized from either Jessie's or Finn's perspective. the parallels with the imagery and descriptions from both main characters add another dimension to the main storyline. There are a lot of initial characters and background details to pick up on, but the story is well paced and compelling. I have to say I absolutely adored Finn *swoon* the more I got to know him the more I was routing for him in everything from his family, college to Jessie herself. OK so he has a crush on his best friends girlfriend but he was thrown into circumstances that intensified this crush yet never acted on it til one silly drunken moment and he was instantly overcome with remorse. He is a 'nice' guy.

I instantly identified with Jessie from the first page, it always amazes me that Keris can get into the mind of a teenage girl with such ease. Jessie feelings about the divorce of her parents were relatable, showing the way in which it affects all members of the family, this was heart-wrenching even when you know that it is the best option. The way in which Jessie's fathers relationship was depicted with brutal honesty endeared him to me, there was no white washing or covering up. I actually sniggered for a while at his reaction to Jessie dating; images of J and his thoughts about our children dating filled my imagination even though they are not old enough to have boyfriends yet. I completely understood Jessie's feeling that you could perhaps be a different person by changing location/hair/clothes, I am sure we have all felt like that at some point in our lives. I could actually feel Keris herself shining through the narrative, so much so that I began to picture Jessie as a teenage Keris.

The use of contemporary pop culture references really brings the story to technicolour life. The conversation about Sesame Street had me laughing for ages and the Russell Crowe reference literally made me fall about laughing (this is very difficult to explain when you are reading in public and suddenly snort with laughter).

The use of media stereotyping for the way in which motherhood is portrayed stood out dramatically, you are automatically supposed to be loving, caring, nurturing and self-sacrificing. Yes motherhood does include all of that at times but you should still be viewed as a separate individual with a personality of their own rather than just someones mother. Motherhood is the hardest job I have ever had even if it is the most rewarding.

The way in which both families redefined their relationship in light of the revelations was awe inspiring. Jessie in particular seemed to mature emotionally through the story.

I am having trouble summing this book up because I just want to gush - fantastic, awesome, brilliant - what I will say is that I had a warm, squishy, fuzzy, happy feeling for ages after reading it. So what are you waiting for - go order it now.

MG Monday: Review: Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Princess for Hire
Series: Princess for Hire
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
Publication Date: 1 Feb 2010

Source: Library



Synopsis: From Amazon

Wanted: teenage girl to serve as substitute princess. Must be willing to travel. Please call Meredith. Ever wanted to be a princess? To float away from your ordinary life and swan about in a tiara, with everyone telling you how fabulous you are? Desi desperately wants to escape her boring, unfulfilling life in Hicksville, Idaho. And now she has the chance - she's got a job substituting for various real princesses when they need a holiday. But not all princesses live in a palace, and not all princes are gorgeous...plus the whole fairy godmother thing is seriously misleading. Thrown into the job with little training, Desi finds that she'll need an awful lot of luck - and a bit of magic - to get by. Maybe having your wishes granted isn't always as straight forward as it seems.

Review:
I knew I was going to love this book from the word Go. What little girl doesn't dream of being a Princess, I look at my 5 year old playing dress up and she favours the sparkly princess dress and tiaras. She will then get out the toy castle and have a princess tea party for her sisters and teddies. Although the 10 year old gets slightly 'miffed' at this as it is no longer 'cool' to want to be a princess at 10 (lol). I haven't broken it to her yet that the 5 year old is having a Princess tea party for her birthday in May and she is to be part of the entertainment *insert evil laugh*

Written in first person narrative from Desi's perspective, she has a fun, sarcastic narrative voice. You already know I love sarcasm so I adored the snarky one liners Desi came out with. We don't have anything unusual in the storyline but that doesn't matter the way in which the characters and their interactions are portrayed is so quirky giving it a uniqueness of its own.

The basic elements of a standard fairytale - working for little money, the mean girl, the romantic crush on the popular boy - are all elements within the narrative, but given a totally modern twist which makes it fun. This isn't a book to be taken seriously but a nice refreshing break from reality where dreams can come true.
The way in which the portrayal of bullying stemming from Desi's fathers job really struck home with me, working in a school and having to tell certain students off always causes friction, I would not want my children to be bullied for anything relating to my job - so I don't think they will be coming to the school I work in.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was the beautifully visual descriptions, really wonderful pictures to conjure in the imagination and escape reality. The OCD fairy godmother character was fantastic and unnervingly easy to relate to [ : D ] I am know carefully scouring pet shops for magic fish. Plus who wouldn't want to travel in a bubble. Told you it was quirky.

The use of old movie references peppering the narrative added a sense of realism . The way in which Desi's self-confidence grew as a result of helping others was inspiring. From experience it is sometimes easier to deal with other peoples problems than your own, maybe because you are too close to a situation, through helping others you can gain insight into yourself as Desi did.

I will be giving this one to the 8 year old when she gets a little older. A lovely light read providing a much needed escape from reality. An enchanting modern fairytale. Now where are those magic fish [ ; D]

Review: 8th Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Title: 8th Grade Bites
Series: Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
Author: Heather Brewer
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: 06 Jan 2011

Source: UK Book Tours - Thank you Lynsey




Synsopsis: From Publishers Website
Vladimir Tod has a secret. His mother was human, but his father was a vampire...
With no idea of the extent of his prowess and no one to teach him, thirteen-year-old Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and enlarged fangs. And when a strange substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown.
But then he realises he has a much bigger problem. He's being hunted by a vampire killer who is closing in . . . fast!

Review:
I have been a minion of Heather Brewer's since seeing the books advertised on amazon and goodreads, even before reading them. I am so glad that after reading the 1st book I am even more of a minion, lol.

Written in 3rd person narrative, yet focalized from Vlad's perspective, although I did feel as if the narrator had an audible presence itself similar to that of a voice-over. Vlad is a very complex character, on the one hand you have his human nature and his love for his guardian. While he keeps his half vampire nature secret and his vampire 'urges' firmly under control. Believing he is the only vampire in the world leads to a sense of loneliness that emanates from Vlad. I actually found myself feeling very maternal towards him.

Imagine only 2 people in the whole world that you can talk to; yet even though have no idea what you are going through, no concept of the internal battle you have everyday. Remembering what it was like to be a teenager *shudders* this is an internal struggle most people deal with feeling misunderstood and alone. I can't imagine how having a secret vampire identity would exaggerate these feelings.

The plot is layered with mystery after mystery, kept firmly within the reigns of the third person narrative, all the plot threads wove around one another  like a tightly coiled braid, adding dimension to the plot as a whole while keeping the reader guessing as to where exactly the story was going to conclude. Believe me there are a few surprises in store and not all the questions get answered in this one installment. Hence the trip to the library to pick up the next book in the series.

The writing is very descriptive which can be a bit off putting for the gore-aphobic that I am, the picture of Vlad with a cookie dipped in blood actually completed the picture in my imagination of him as a teenage vampire. The vampire side being just a singular part of who he is and what makes him whole. So although I am not a fan of gore, it enhanced the story in this instance. The lack of popularity and the bullying that Vlad receives seemed at odds with his personality though, this may be because he lives in the shadow of his best friend, Henry's, popularity and good looks. He is wary of defending himself against the bullying in case it reveals his vampire nature, so instead he endures it. Vlad appears to have tremendous inner strength and with his guardian ('Aunt' Nelly's) guidance he has a strong sense of decency/moral code (I am struggling to find the right word for what I want to express...blah, I am sure you get the picture) which is reflected in his protective nature towards Nelly and Henry.

The book as a whole works beautifully together. I must say I am totally invested in Vlad's future and cannot wait to find out what the other books have in store. A terrific addition (plus fun) to the Vampire genre.

Celebrating Wales: Review: Big Woo (My Not So Secret Teenage Blog) by Susie Day

Title: Big Woo (My Not So Secret Teenage Blog)
Author: Susie Day
Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books
Publication Date: 7 April 2008

Source: Library





Synopsis: From Amazon
Ta-da! My blog of lolarious brilliance has escaped from the internets. Into a book! BIG WOO! Omg behold my interestingness. But don't read it, tiny children. It is full of rudey bits and lameassery. AND SHOUTING IN CAPSLOCK which is bad for you, obvs.

Review:
If you need to learn text speak to understand your teenager nothing does it better than this book, providing an insight into the female teenage mind and all that entails while allowing the reader a good giggle.

Written in first person narrative from Seraphina perspective but in the visually dynamic format of blog posts even incorporating the comments section. Seraphina is coming to terms with the break-up of her parents, low self confidence and body image. She is completely easy to relate to even though it has been quite some time since I was a teen myself.

Sensitive issues are touched upon within the narrative such as eating disorders/divorce/new relationships/teenage sexuality/cyber bullying all impacting today's teenage life. Shown from Seraphina's view point making her sometimes funny, sometimes naive/immature/self-absorbed but all with a sense of uniqueness and inner strength. New boundaries and relationships have to be forged following her pattens split which are sometimes painful to witness,  I found myself cringing at the same time as sympathising. Having been a teenage and now a Mother it is easy to see both sides to the relationship, along with the mistakes made and blame shared.

I loved the ending showing that when the 'chips are down' family really do pull together even if it is only fictional.

A wonderful humourous coming of age/journey of self discovery. If you haven't read it yet - you really should.

Reviewed as part of Celebrating Wales - Susie is completely awesome and from Penarth [ : D ]

Follow Susie on Twitter  @mssusieday

Susie's website - the brilliantly named - Everyday should be a Susie Day

MG Monday: Review: Rockaholic by CJ Skuse

Title: Rockaholic
Author: CJ Skuse
Publisher: Chicken House
Publication Date: 7 Mar 2011

Source: Publisher - Thank you




Synopsis: From Chicken House
Jody loves Jackson Gaitlin. At his only UK concert, she's right at the front. But when she's caught in the crush and sent back stage she has more than concussion to contend with. Throw in a menacing manager, a super-wired super-star, and a curly-wurly, and she finds herself taking home more than just a poster. It's the accidental kidnapping of the decade. But what happens if you've a rock god in your garage that doesnt want to leave? Jody's stuck between a rock-idol and a hard place!


Review:
Written in 1st person narrative from Jody’s perspective. At 16 she appears selfish, self centered and occasionally immature yet completely relatable. I can remember being this age (so many years ago) and in a similar situation to Jody (minus the rock star [ ; D ] Music has always played a big part in my life – it is my sanctuary in my ears away from reality – so yes, I completely identified with Jody, sometimes uncomfortably so. Plus we have very similar taste in music. I use music for motivation to do everything even to go to sleep therefore the references helped immerse me in Jody’s world.

As a mother myself now I can see both sides of the family divide, Jody a favorite of a rather colorful Grandfather, coping with his loss but not taking into consideration anyone else’s feeling but her own. I don’t want a funeral either but I certainly wouldn’t be happy about a food fight at my wake. The details surrounding her Grandfathers death are revealed sporadically throughout the book until a complete picture of him and his relationship to Jody is formed. Showing how Jody’s personality had been shaped by this relationship more than any other. I had the feeling that Jody has been in her Grandfathers illustrious shadow and now that he is no longer there she has to discover who she really is. Although Jody feels the only way this can be achieved is via her crush on rock star Jackson.

Jackson in reality, obviously, is a complete contrast to the fantasy Jody has in her imagination. The topical reference of Princess Diana and Michael Jackson added to the image of stars how no peace at all and why so many go into rehab as there only escape is of a chemical form. It is good to remember that stars are people as well, sure we are interested in what they do but they should not be hounded like animals.

For me this book was all about finding your own identity on a multitude of levels, Jody/Jackson/Mac as well as the peripheral family characters. It was really heart warming to follow.

From start to finish I completely adored Mackenzie, Jody’s best friend, he is kind, considerate, talented and HOT, at times I felt like hitting Jody over the head to open her eyes to just how wonderful Mac is and how completely perfect they would be as a couple.

The vivid descriptive writing style brings all the events to life some use of strong language should be noted for younger readers but it isn’t out of context within the narrative. Plus I have to mention that Cardiff features in the story (Wales [ : D ])


Jody’s self-realization and acknowledgement of her talent/romance/personality is written in a straight forward manner but with warmth and humor sprinkled on top. Even at my advanced age I remember being a teen (yes it does get better) and the portrayal of Jody is spot on – there is no idealistic view of the teenage years in this book which make it all the more believable.

If you love rock music then make friends with Jody and travel through Rockaholic with her. A really enjoyable rock filled journey of self discovery.

MG Monday: Review: Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Title: Avalon High
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Publication Date: 5 Jan 2007

Source: Own




Synopsis: From Amazon
Avalon High, Ellie's new school, is pretty much what she'd expected. There's Lance, the hunky footballer. Jennifer, the cute cheerleader. Marco, the troublemaker. And then there's Will - the most gorgeous guy Ellie's ever met. She can hardly believe he likes HER.

When Will says he thinks he's met Ellie before, things start getting a little weird. A feeling that grows as Ellie discovers the strange bonds that entwine Will, Lance, Jen, Marco - and herself.
As darkness turns to danger, can Ellie stop the horrific chain of events that is about to engulf them all . . .

Review:
OK I raise my hand this is the first Meg Cabot book I have read. I can hear you gasping.... I know, I know ....I don't know how I have lived this long without reading Meg Cabot either. I pushed  this one up my TBR pile because there is a Disney movie being aired on the Disney channel later this month. When I saw the trailer I knew I had to read the book before I saw the movie. Remember I have 3 young girls so that is my *cough* excuse for watching the Disney channel. Plus #1 my oldest daughter has read the Mange version and loves it. Plus #2 it is about King Arthur - I adore stuff about King Arthur/Merlin/The Knights of the Round Table - so how could I not read it.

Written in first person narrative from Ellie's perspective. Wow, did she have such a quirky, fun character. Her parents are both professors of, guess what, medieval studies specialising in the Arthurian legend (especially her mother). Allowing in depth revelations concerning the Arthurian legend intertwined with the plot making it almost three dimensional.

From the very start of the book little plot hints and subtle references to the intricacies of the Arthurian legend are placed throughout the narrative. The writing style is so relatable I felt as if Meg Cabot had tapped into my head to see how I thought. It was wonderfully light yet superbly descriptive, (I am struggling to express myself on this one).

The way in which the Arthurian mythology was woven into the narrative was ingenious, not only was it relatable it was completely believable. The use of the names not only of the characters but of peripheral aspects such as the dog was a mastermind stroke.

All the characters were well developed, had individual character to complement the story and provide realism to the plot and believable interactions. They weren't perfect but even their character flaws gave them a sense of roundness in personality and imagination.

The use of Lord Tennyson's ballad 'The Lady of Shalott' at the start of each chapter which then corresponded with the action in the plot, giving it multiple layers, was inspired and brilliant. I don't know how Meg Cabot managed to do it but it worked fantastically well.

The main theme I found for me within this book was that although we may all have a destiny to fulfill its outcome doesn't have to be dictated to us, in the end it is each individual that is in control of their own destiny and therefore its outcome. You shouldn't conform to anyone's expectations of you but be true to yourself.

Quirky/witty/fun/entertaining. A stroke of pure genius. I heart Meg Cabot. That is all [ : D ]

Review: Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Title: Bloodthirsty
Author: Flynn Meaney
Publisher: Poppy Books
Publication Date: 5 Oct 2010

Source: International Book Tours





Synopsis: From GoodReads
Some vampires are good. Some are evil. Some are faking it to get girls. Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole blood sucking part. With his brooding nature and weirdly pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be paranormal. But, when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected. This hilarious debut novel is for anyone who believes that sometimes even nice guys-without sharp teeth or sparkly skin--can get the girl.

Review:
I would just like to say that I did read an ARC of this book and I hope the spelling errors were corrected in the final version. Some use of curse words but nothing too extreme and suited the characterisations and storyline.

Flynn Meaney manages to capture the essence of teen angst/neuroses in its purest form and yet turn it into something completely relatable and humorous.



Written in first person narrative from Finbar's (Finn's) perspective (yes really that is his name and also the cause of some series angst). At 16, Finn is a bit of a 'loser', he is so adorably geeky that I couldn't help but like him. Direct address to the reader gives the narrative an extra personal quality, my emotions were invested in whether Finn was happy/sad/angry. 

All of the characters are completely quirky and I think because of this they are very realistic, from the OCD cleaning Mum, the ADHD twin brother, the vampire obsessed goth, jocks and divas, so easy to imagine and relate their interactions. Weird and wonderful characterisations is the phrase I thought of when reading the book.


Finn is neurotic to the core providing some truly LOL moments. The realism portrayed alongside the parody of paranormal/fantasy stories worked really well together. Such an insightful look at today's pop culture and vampire/werewolf obsession, so easy to picture. The pop culture references were fantastic but did make me wonder how quickly the story would 'date'. The use of Shakespeare's Sonnets provided a lovely contrast to the pop culture.

Finn feels as if he has been living in his brothers shadow all of his life; due to his fathers promotion and subsequent move, for the first time in his life he will be going to a different school to his brother. The sibling comparisons and twin genealogy are touched upon within the narrative adding to the storyline. Finn takes this opportunity to invent a new persona for himself, without really realising that the persona he has created is more like the 'real' Finn than ever before in his life.

I think that everyone can relate to wanting to be someone else at one time or another; or even pretending to be something that we are not in order to fit in. I liked how by pretending to be something that he wasn't Finn actually found who he really was.

As his confidence grows Finn is able to view other people differently and I would say in a more positive way, becoming more sympathetic to others and a nicer person himself.

To sum up - a quick, light, nice and humorous read that appeals to both boys and girls. To twist a phrase - Geek Power [ : D ]

Review: Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Synopsis: From GoodReads
There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other

Review:
Written in 1st person narrative with alternating perspectives of the boyfriend/girlfriend shortly after their breakup.

Jordan and Courtney are complete opposites and the phrase 'opposites attract' kept running through my head. Jordan stars out as your stereotypical jock, while Courtney is a bit geeky, neurotic and obsessive. I could totally relate to Courtney's imagination. At the start of their relationship I felt a bit sorry for Courtney as it looked as if she was just a consolation prize. Yet as their relationship developed you can see the positive effect they have on each other. In the end I absolutely adored the 'new' Jordan.

The book starts in the present day, then time warps back and forth to give a complete picture of their relationship and interactions with their friends and family. I have to be honest and tell you that Courtney's Dad gave me the creeps from the very beginning.

The full plot twist is not revealed until near the end, the tension builds into an explosion of knowledge from all angles.

The book itself is visually dynamic with arrows at the start of the chapter headings - giving it a double meaning. Literally when you think of a road trip and directional arrows but also metaphorically with the past and present narrative.

The narrative gives an intimate look at social networking and how it is sometimes used for nefarious reasons, I did find this a little unnerving.

The reference within the story to The Catcher in the Rye gave the plot an extra element, making me want to read  the book *makes promise to self*.

The changes in their personalities through their relationship was lovely to witness. Although circumstances draw them together for the road trip you can see that they really are perfect for each other. 'Along for the ride' takes on a whole new meaning with this story.

A lovely quick read (I read it in one sitting) which is easy to relate to.

Review: An Abundance of Katherine's by John Green

Synopsis: From Goodreads
When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.
On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherine's. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.
Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green, acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska.

Review:
I was absolutely baffled as to why I did not enjoy this book as much as Paper Towns and have been struggling with this review for a while now. I have even been dreaming about it, so yes you can expect the story to be a good one. John Green's writing style is pure genius it draws you in, makes you immerse yourself into the lives of the characters, giving you the complete package. So why did I not enjoy it as much as Paper Towns you ask yourself, after experiencing a bit of an epiphany I realised that it was due to the fact that I found Colin, the male protagonist, extremely irritating. So much so that if I could I would have physically shaken him. Powerful writing indeed. Plus the irony of Colin's surname makes me giggle.

The story centres around Colin's obsessive compulsion to date girls by the name of Katherine (which must be spelt with a K). It is almost as if he has blinkers on to the rest of the female population, making this point one of my irritation with Colin. A child prodigy he feels like he is not living up to his early academic promise and pushes himself extremely hard with all types of academic goals. He has a schedule he likes to keep, is very goal orientated probably as a result of his parents constantly driving him from a young age. Yet I did not really get the feeling of Colin being naturally gifted, it felt as if he was just a product of his hard work, the second point of irritation. Colin feels insecure about almost everything in his life, he is exceptionally needy, constantly looking for reassurances from other people (from this point I am sure you can see why he has been dumped 19 times). Yet he does not relate to people well, he doesn't seem to consider other people's feelings only his own.

His best friend, Hassan, is Colin's polar opposite. Chubby, a slacker with a penchant for junk food and a sarcastic wit. I can see how they became friends due to both being outsiders and how they probably compliment each other. Hassan helps Colin relate to people and appreciate humour.  However, I did find his reverse racism rather uncomfortable, with the amount of political correctness that is in today's society it is unacceptable to make any form of racist comment even as a joke, yet reverse racism is seen as acceptable. This bothers me on a multitude of levels, which I will not bore you with at this point, lets just say that I believe all people are equal so should be treated the same.

Following Colin's latest break up, Hassan convinces him to go on a road-trip. although the road-trip doesn't take them that far in miles but their inner journey gives their lives a whole new meaning.

I adored the whole Gutshot scenario, the people were so down-to-earth, approachable and easy to relate to. The whole ideal of caring for others in your community was at the forefront, a lovely ideal of a by gone era in most places.

The relationships and interactions of all the characters was so well developed the movie in my imagination was three dimensional. Via these interactions Colin achieves his own epiphany and tries to capture the nature of his break-ups in a mathematical formula, which would predict when and how a couple would break-up. The maths aspect within the story was phenomenal, even J was impressed  (he is the resident math geek) and you can certainly see how math can be developed to workout almost any situation, This did remind me of the program Numbers where a math genius works with the FBI and writes a book on how to use math to predict relationships.

Although the book is written in 3rd person narrative it is mainly focalised from Colin's point of view. The narrator is a background speaker that really comes to witty life with the footnotes. I actually imaged John Green's voice reading them to me.

I absolutely loved the moral given at the ending of this story, I am not going to tell you what it is but it was very poignant.

So overall I really enjoyed the story, loved the writing style but found Colin supremely irritating. Yeah, I know its just me : D

Review: Extreme Kissing by Luisa Plaja

Synopsis: From Amazon
Carlota and Bethany are best friends. Bethany is the sensible one with a long-term boyfriend, Carlota is the crazy one with a wild past and rebellious nature. All is fine in their world - apart from Carlota hating her step-dad and longing for a old flame. And apart from Bethany thinking her boyfriend is about to dump her and that her period is late...Carlota comes up with a plan to put all their troubles behind them and go on a girls-only wild day out, with only their favourite magazine to guide them through the day. If they open it on a fashion page they have to get hold of a fabulous new outfit and pretend to be models. If they open it to a page on snogging, they have to find a boy to snog. The magazine will take them everywhere they need to go - but will it help them to reveal the secrets they are keeping from each other?

Review:
Too be honest I didn't enjoy this one as much as Split by a Kiss and I just couldn't work out why. It took me ages to figure out it was because I actually really hated (yes, hated) one of the female protagonists. Then I thought OMG Luisa's writing is so powerful that she made me hate one of the protagonists.

Written in first person narrative with alternating views of the 2 female protagonists, Bethany & Carlota. Bethany, 16, steady boyfriend, good student and all round nice girl except for her friendship with Carlota. Carlota, slightly younger (surprisingly) than Bethany yet appears more worldly; would just about do anything for fun. Have you guessed which one I hated yet?

The story follows the girls on an adventure manufactured by a teen magazine called Extreme Travel, whereby they pick a random bus/train and go where-ever it takes them. Add in random challenges taken from the pages of the magazine and you have an awesome day out. However, is it all random or are both the challenges and destination being controlled? I adored this aspect, the challenges were fun and not at all risky. The destinations were easy to picture and relate to. It really made me want to jump on the next bus/train with a magazine and see where it took me ;) Anyone want to join me?

Bethany and Carlota's personalities are revealed in depth through their adventure. Carlota's actions were sometimes amazingly naive, inconsiderate and frustrating that I wanted to throttle her. For me she was the epitome of  the 'toxic' friend (Now you know which one I hated). Admittedly some of the challenges helped Bethany achieve part of her dreams, give her confidence and discover her inner strength. Bethany was wonderfully down to earth, easy to relate to, somebody you would be glad to call friend. Throughout the adventure there is an undercurrent on both sides giving an extra dimension to the story, the insights into both of their thoughts really reinforce the narrative.

The contrasts between Bethany & Carlota's parents brought to mind the nature versus nurture debate. A very interesting and subtle comparison.

Sensitive subjects such as sexuality and teen pregnancy are dealt with frankly but with sensitivity and a bit of humour.

The pages themselves are visually appealing with pretty girlie squiggles giving the impression of a personal diary/journal.

So now you know that I did in fact really enjoy this book although it brought out some really powerful emotions in me (poor Carlota).  A wonderful humorous book perfect for Summer : D I really need to read Swapped NOW : D

Update: You can meet the lovely Luisa tonight at Dulwich Library at 5:45 along with otehr wonderful authors such as Keris Stainton, Sarra Manning & Sommone Howell. 

To all of you that go, I am jealous, please give them all a hug from me especially the lovely Luisa and the awesome Keris who put up with my ramblings on twitter : D

Review: Della Says OMG! by Keris Stainton

Synopsis: From Amazon

Don't miss this fantastic debut novel - Keris Stainton is a fabulously contemporary, witty and fresh new voice who teen girls will adore.
Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared...
When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?

Review:
After reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins I needed something on the lighter side to perk me up shall we say ;) I couldn't have picked anything better : D I started reading this book while sat in my garden on Saturday evening, the girlies were riding their bikes in the drive and all was peaceful with the Davies household. I LOL'd from  the very beginning of this book, in fact I snorted with laughter so much that the neighbours now think we have a pet pig *snort*

As you would expect from the title this is in first person narrative; Della is so wonderfully 3 dimensional I imagined this would be my oldest daughter in a few years time *HELP*. At 16 Della has the usual angst regarding sexuality, body image and family/friendships. All dealt with in a frank yet humorous manner that makes it so easy to relate to.

Having been a teenager in the 80's myself I found the 80's reference amazing bringing the story to vivid life within my imagination (the down side of this was that it made me roughly the same age as her parents *feels old*). The writing is typically British with the reference to the trip to the seaside and fish & chips. Truly realistic imagery.

I adored Della's parents and am now creating a role-model plan to follow in order to be like them ;) Anyone fancy a movie & meal theme night?

All the characters were superbly well developed and there interactions completely believable. I was concerned about the relationship between Sid, Leo and Maddy. Odd to say the least!(Re: the sharing) Plus the early sexual activity (yes I know it happens, I may be old but I was a teenager once and that's the problem *has 3 girls*).  I completely adored  Dan, he certainly is The Man. A completely 'modern man' at that. Who wouldnt want a boyfriend that is in touch with his feelings and helps you believe in yourself and be comfortable with who you are. Can I have one please : D (Shush, don't tell J).

Throw in a bit of a mystery plus a plot twist and you have a truly great Summer read. Go and enjoy : D