Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Edition: Softcover, 308Publisher: Simon Pulse|Release Date: 2004|Genre: Contemporary fiction, love, family, friendship|
|Overall Rating: 5/5|
|More Books by Author: The Secret Life of Prince Charming, Wild Roses, The Queen of Everything, The Nature of Jade, Stay, The Six Rules of Maybe, The Fortune's of Indigo Sky, & The Story of Us (2012)

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It is summer in the Northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen, ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. But Ruby is in over her head, and finds she is risking more and more when she's with him.
In an effort to keep Ruby occupied, Ruby's mother Ann drags Ruby to the weekly book club she runs. When it is discovered that one of the group''s own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading, Ann and Ruby spearhead a reunion between the long-ago lovers. But for Ruby, this mission turns out to be much more than just a road trip...

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Once again Caletti has created a vividly adventurous (and humorous) home-spun coming of age story. My first Caletti novel was The Secret Life of Prince Charming and oh the characters! It's the same with Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. The characters are jewels...and the story is so familiar yet so enjoyable.
Ruby McQueen doesn't hang out with boys. She's a good girl, has one girlfriend, a love-sick insecure librarian mother, a little brother, and a chewing machine of a dog. Typical family, typical girl falls for the bad boy next door. Or is it?
I love how Caletti takes a stereotype plot like this and whips it around into a heartwarming story about something completely different–something that makes you sad when the last page turns. Ruby was naturally a keep-to-yourself type. When she suddenly catches the eye of the motorcyle-ridin' bad boy, Travis, Ruby unleashes her alter-ego that has been hiding inside her. Suddenly things starts turning upside-down. Does Ruby really like Travis or does she just like the thrill of the wind rushing against her skin as they zoom down the highway. When Ruby and her family become invovled in a complicated mission to help Lillian, an elderly woman and fellow book-club member, unite with her true love, Ruby gets a lesson in more than just love. Sometimes, adventure is way more exciting.


I love the characters–Miz June, Ann Bee, Harold (he's a hoot), Peach, Lillian, Chip Jr., Ruby, Ann, and even the guy in the whale van. They're so normal, they're people you know...but yet throw them together and you get an unforgettable journey of strength, love, friendship, and breaking away. The humorous yet serious advice the seniors give Ruby is uplifting and inspiring. Highly, highly recommend. If you're a Deb Caletti fan already–what are you waiting for!? Ages 13+


Read More Great Books Like This:
Ten Miles Past Normal by Francis O'Roark Dowell, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Faithful by Janet Fox, After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy, The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau, A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian, Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor

Insight by Diana Greenwood

Edition: Hardcover, 244 pages

Publisher: Zondervan

Release Date: April 2011

Genre: Historical fiction, 1930s, family drama

Overall Rating: 4/5

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Synopsis from Goodreads

Some secrets won't let you go. Elvira Witsil lives about as far away from civilization as you can get, in a remote corner of Wisconsin where nothing much ever happens. In a house crowded with her mother, her cantankerous grandmother, and her little sister, Jessie, Elvira feels forgotten and alone.Their house also contains numerous secrets, and Elvira's family holds their secrets closely. Secrets about the father that Jessie never knew, and that Elvira can't forget. Secrets about that day five years ago. And the one secret that Elvira can't quite understand: that Jessie sees things no one else can see.These secrets will lead Elvira and her family on a journey far away from home—on a journey toward redemption and healing—if she can just bring herself to believe.

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Review

I'll admit that Insight was a pretty odd story. I mean her sister knows when people are going to die. I was a bit worried it would turn into be some kind of "paranormal" thing but Elvira's sister's seeing abilities were treated as a gift.
I liked the atmosphere of the Great Depression. Of course there was nothing nice about a depression but it gave the characters personalities. Elvira's granny was moody because she was forced to "wear the pants" around the household at this hard time. Her daughter, Elvira's mother, was distant and rarely gives much thought how Elvira feels. Elvira is going through the transition between girl and woman, so it is a nice coming of age story as well.
When Elvira's mother sees a opportunity in Jessie's ability, the family goes a on a road trip that will change all their lives forever.


Although I can't say Insight was a complete favorite, I still thought it was a nice read. It was mostly the ending is what sold me. The book reminded me a lot of Kimberly Willis Holt's My Louisiana Sky–which is a favorite of mine. The spiritual message in Jessie's visions is what sets Insight apart from other books. The story is told from the unbeliever's view [Elvira], therefore it sets a unique perspective.
Insight will be a nice change of pace for readers. The background story was fairly well developed and even though I did become frustrated with how Elvira's mother was using Jessie's gift to her advantage, the ending made the entire story worth while. Good endings are hard to find these days. Ages 12+ 

On the Volcano by James Nelson

Set in the rural and dangerous land of "New Pacifica", a young heroine longs to explore the world below the volcano she's always known. When Katie gets her chance at seeing other people, she is both surprised and disappointed about life outside her protected homestead. Danger and love follow Katie back and the events that follow will change her world forever...for the worst and the best.

At first I didn't think On the Volcano would hold my interest. The first couple chapters weren't that exciting and the writing style was just a bit too "juvenile" for someone my age. I decided to stick it out and by the middle of the book, Nelson had me. Katie's trip to town turned into a year long "nightmare" of how cruel people can be. Yet, at the same time, Katie discovers love.

On the Volcano did have some issues with how it was written and the basis of the plot. At times it was rather dull and the story spans over a year, sometimes nothing would happen. Although the setting was exciting enough–a volanco!–the descriptions of the landscape was blah when it could have been exciting. It gave you a very isolated feeling, which of course may serve as good feeling to bring up when reading a story about a isolated girl. I also felt that how the characters continued to lie to the Sheriff about what was really going on atop the volcano. After awhile it became in a sense, kind of silly.

However, it was still a nice story. The last half of the book was probably the best part of it. The message of life vs. death was very prominent by the final page. The actual place in which On the Volcano was actually set is a mystery to me. Part of me wants to say it took place in the mid–1800s when the American West was opening up; another part of me thinks it was a sort of dystopian setting. Either way it doesn't play a big part of the storyline...still makes you curious though.

Overall, On the Volcano turned into be a touching story of how love and family can go against hardships and the cruelty of the world.

Recommendation: Not quite a middle grade book and–because of the writing style–not quite a YA novel either On the Volcano is just...there. I can't really recommend to young readers mostly because 1) it probably wouldn't hold 10-12 yr. old's attention 2) by the final couple chapters there are much more "mature" themes introduced that didn't feel as if it was meant for kids. Katie's character is very innocent and childlike for her age, so YA readers wouldn't necessarily go for this either. YET, at the same time, like a mentioned earlier, not everything is "juvenile": murder, death, and sensuality. If I were a librarian I'd be officially confused as to what section to categorize it. However, if I had to choose between Children's/Middle Fiction and Young Adult I'd have to place it with the teen novels. I recommend On the Volcano to the general public...if it sounds like it'll interest you, go for it.

Content: Descriptions of murder, death, and near-rape. Some sensuality 

<SPOILER ALERT> and a brief wedding night scene.</SPOILER ALERT> 

|Pages: 272|Release Date: August 2011|Publisher: Putnam Son's|

|Genre: Coming of Age, Family, Romance, Dystopian(?), Historical Fiction (?)|

|Cover: 5/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Overal Rating: 4/5|

Perfectly Invisible by Kristin Billerbeck Blog Tour

It's Daisy Crispin's final semester of high school, and she plans to make it count. Her long-awaited freedom is mere months away, and her big plans for college loom in the future. Everything is under control.

Or is it?

Her boyfriend is treating her like she's invisible, and her best friend is making her sell bad costume jewelry in the school quad—and hanging out with her boyfriend. To top it off, Daisy's major humiliation of the year will be remembered in the yearbook for all eternity. It's enough to make her wonder if maybe being invisible isn't so bad after all.

Can Daisy get her life back on track? Or is she stuck in this town forever?

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Dripping with humor, drama, and the ups and downs that follow the last couple months of high school, Perfectly Invisible had all the makings of a really great story but alas the plot was...no where to be seen? Daisy's glum outlook on her social life and high school goes from bad to worse when her would-be "boyfriend"and prom date suddenly shys away from her. To top things off things are starting to heat up with her long-time crush Chase, but is he who he appears to be? And what about the constant bullying and attention Daisy has been getting from Amber and her gang? Not to mention her parents over-anxious attitude toward her college plans.

I guess the #1 problem that I had with Perfectly Invisible was that when things started getting really good and interesting...the chapter would end and sometimes it would skip several days into the future without so much as a brief note to wrap-up what important climax had occurred in the chapter before it. It was a bit frustrating. The second thing I disliked was that the story was everywhere: Daisy's high school, Daisy's friend's family dilemma, Daisy's college and job woes, and then of course her continuous–and slightly annoying–struggle between Chase and Max. Also, Daisy's parents were just outrageous at times.
 Perhaps the thing that stands out the most is that even though it fits into the category of a Christian fiction book, I felt that the religious views pushed the characters in certain ways–almost robotically–rather than help them or the story along. Daisy takes her Christianity seriously but at the same time it seemed like she used it as a crutch to get her out of tight spots. Basically that is what the story is all about that the same time–Daisy learns to make her own choices based on her Christian outlook and not to get so wrapped-up in what other people may or may not be thinking.

Since Daisy comes from a pretty conservative Christian household readers who do not normally read religious fiction may very well be "shocked" so to speak by Daisy's dating rules. Not like any of it is at all unheard of of course, but I'm thinking that compared to main-stream "dating" it is different. Too different to be enjoyed is simply a matter of taste NOT a matter of religion.  Even though Daisy goes to a Christian school it is no different than a public high school. Mean girls stalk the hallways, playboys play ball, and the geeks usually go unnoticed...but with Daisy, it's about to change.

Despite Perfectly Invisible having some plot issues, I think Daisy is humorously good example of a slightly geeky only-child finishing high school and trying to find where God is leading her in the world of adulthood.  Daisy must prove everyone wrong–er right–and snag the boy and the college of her dreams.

Recommend? Yes, especially those h.s. seniors who are moving forward in both education and life. Interest would lean more to older teens. Ages 14+

Content: Mild sensuality/kissing. Reference to drugs. (PG)

Other Books By This Author| Perfectly Dateless (Universally Misunderstood 1), Split Ends, What A Girl Wants

|Pages: 266|Release Date: July 2011|Publisher: Revell|

|Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary fiction, chic-lit, relationships, school|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 4/5–faces! Not good|

|Overall Rating: 4/5|

This original review is copyrighted© by Books and Literature for Teens. Blog Tour possible by Revell/Baker House Publishing.

Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

It's the summer before seventh grade, and twelve-year- old Raine O’Rourke's mother suddenly takes a job hours from home at mysterious Sparrow Road– a creepy, dilapidated mansion that houses an eccentric group of artists. As Raine tries to make sense of her new surroundings, she forges friendships with a cast of quirky characters including the outrageous and funky Josie.Together, Raine and Josie decide to solve the mysteries of Sparrow Road–from its haunting history as an orphanage to the secrets of its silent, brooding owner, Viktor. But it's an unexpected secret from Raine's own life that changes her forever. An affecting and beautifully written story of family and forgiveness,Sparrow Road is an incredible gift.

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Sparrow Road is a whimsically inspiring novel of discovery, family secrets, and forgiveness making it a strikingly wonderful work in middle grade fiction.

The story opens with a lot of mysterious things. When Raine is pulled from her comfortable life in Milwaukee, she suddenly finds herself at a summer country home for artists. Not only is twelve-year-old Raine not told why she is there, she must live among a very eccentric group of adults who retain a week of silence until Sundays; and of course there are many secrets hidden within the grounds of Sparrow Road.

The beginning of the story was very strong and though confusing, it made me want to keep reading. I felt the storyline slowed a bit toward the middle which may disinterest younger readers to a point, but it retained its  poetic and emotional narrative quite nicely. Nonetheless Sparrow Road is an splendid debut novel with a touching message and a setting so dreamy and vidid, you won’t want to leave.

Recommendation: Highly recommend! although the plot might seem to be somewhat juvenile for teenagers, the actual message and writing might appeal more to older readers rather than middle graders. Whatever age, it will be timeless to those who enjoy it.

Ages 12+

Content: references to alcoholism/drinking

|Pages: 247|Release Date: May 2011|Publisher: Putnam's Sons|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, family, coming-of-age, relationships|

|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 5/5|Overall: 5/5|

This review is copyrighted© by Books and Literature for Teens. Special thank-you to Stacey!

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

What would you do if your mother planned every step in your life...and demanded you follow?
Frances has one job in life. To get into Berkeley and become a doctor so that her mother's ambitions for her will be realized. And Frances doesn't think there's anything wrong with that - until the day she accidentally steps into a speech class.
Frances turns out to be a natural at debate and public speaking. But to win in competition, Frances needs to say things she really believes - and to hide what she's doing from her mother. And once Frances steps out beyond her narrowly prescribed life, she begins to question many things about the way she is raised. Frances knows she must be obedient to her mother, who has sacrificed so much for her education. But how much is Frances living out the life her mother wants her to have, instead of the life that's right for Frances?

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Bitter Melon is an emotional journey of one girl’s struggle between perfection and what it means to be truly happy. Frances must be good...at everything. She is pushed to the limit in school as well as in every other aspect of life so that she will be able to get into Berkley, become a doctor, and take care of her mother. That is the plan–or so Frances thinks until a teacher inspires her to follower her dreams.
The struggle to please parents, and more importantly ones who aren’t pleased with themselves, is a wide issue among teens. Having achievement, perfection, and specific results demanded are emotionally brutal, especially when it turns into abuse. Loosely based on Chow’s own experiences, Bitter Melon is a rare find in a sea of stories of teen anguish and is one that will be remembered.

America advertises the ability to follow your dreams but according to Chinese upbringing, there is only duty and obedience in Frances’s future. Frances is told by her mother that once she tastes bitterness, she will get use to it and eventually like it. 

Although high academic and overall life success is mostly common in Asian culture (as showcased in Bitter Melon), this sort of pressure can of course pop in any race. 

On a personal level I connected with Frances’s story very well. Even I do not have an exceedingly severe level of pressure to do certain things, I have had experiences similar to Frances’s mother’s abusive ways. Teens who also share these issues will find this story special because it offers a glimpse of hope that the future can be changed.
Besides Frances’s struggle for happiness, Bitter Melon also has a few “side-stories” that intertwine throughout the book. Frances meets a boy whom she becomes very enticed with and finds confidence in the speeches she writes for competitions–all which make the book even more worthwhile. Overall, Bitter Melon was a wonderful debut novel. Can’t wait to see what Chow writes next.


Recommendation: Highly recommend to teens ages 12+
Content: PG - family violence/abuse


|Pages: 309|Publisher: Egmont USA|Release Date: Dec. 2010|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, family violence, teen issues|
|Cover: 4/5|Content Rating: 5/5|Overall: 5/5|

Review copyrighted© by Books and Literature for Teens.

The Trouble With Half A Moon by Danette Vigilante

Thirteen year old Dellie lives with the guilt that her little brother's death was her fault. Her mother cries all the time and because she wants Dellie to stay safe, she keeps her inside as much as she can. It doesn't matter that Dellie longs to go outside to be like other girls or that there's a boy she likes and he likes her too. All that matters to her mother is that she's safe at home. So, Dellie has no choice but to watch the world of her housing project through her second story window. 

Things start to change soon after new neighbors move in on the first floor. Trouble like this has never happened in Dellie's building before. Now there are men fighting on the stoop, gunshots echoing through the night and Corey, a hungry and abused five year old boy knocking on her door looking for something to eat. Corey reminds Dellie of her brother and even though their friendship is dangerous, she wonders if this time, she'll be able to do what needs to be done. Will she be able to save Corey?

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Despite its heavy topics of grief, loss, and urban life in the streets of Brooklyn’s Projects, Vigilante leaves plenty of room for development and discovery as she weaves a light, but impelling coming-of-age story.

Although Dellie’s situations are mainly impacted from her sometimes gritty surroundings, middle graders will connect with Dellie as she comes to peace with the death of her little brother and, as she experiences the many new things that also come with growing older. Through a simple yet thought-provoking dialogue, this debut author expresses what it feels like to loose the ones you love and to remember to have faith, even if we only see half of what is really there.

This is why I love (and enjoy) reading middle grade books so much. You get a wonderful in-depth and complex story in less than 200 pages yet still manage take away just as much from it as a YA or adult novel. I also liked the fact that Delli’s environment, race, and age didn’t overpower one or the other and were all presented equally throughout the book. Many times authors let only one of these details play the dominate role in showcasing their story. The Trouble With Half a Moon however, lets you flow with a variety of characters as Vigilante shows bits and pieces of Dellie’s neighborhood without loosing sight of the true message of the story. Overall, excellent writing and a great, enjoyable book for preteens.

Recommendation: Highly recommend. Even though it might be marketed towards young adults, I think middle graders would enjoy it much more. This would also be a very nice addition to a classroom library. Lots of good discussion topics! Ages 11+

Content: PG for some violence. More details!

The Last Straw: A quote from pg. 70

She [Miss Shirley] walks over to the moon and uses her fingers to trace where the other half should be. "Just because we cannot see this half of the moon doesn't mean it's not there," she says, studying me. "You have to believe it's there. Faith young one," she says...

|Pages: 178|Published: Jan. 2011|Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, coming-of-age, family drama, friendship, loss, grief|

|Content: PG|Age Group: Middle grade/YA ages 11+|Price: $16.99|

|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 4/5|

|Overall: 5/5|

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school...Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance.Yet before she knows it, friends creep in-as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she's hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she and her mother have been running in the first place?

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Songs for a Teenage Nomad is a artistic story of music and life as our heroine makes an unlikely difference in the lives of her new found friends and discovers the secret behind her mother’s nomadic ways.

The greatest–and most important–aspect in this novel is the numerous mentioning of songs and artists. While not entirely unique, it helps greatly with connecting to the feelings of the characters. From Bob Dylan to Coldplay, Calle recounts her story from past memories to present circumstances and brings a voice through a teenager’s best friend, music. The book is very poetic, yet edgy in a way that makes the characters shine through the sometimes gloomy events that come to pass. Treading in self-discovery themes, Culberston hits two birds with one stone as she depicts relationships and love in both the high school setting and, at home. Teens will enjoy Songs for a Teenage Nomad because of its simplicity and its whimsical melodic setting of the small, sea-side town. Culbertson is definitely a author to keep an eye on.

Recommendation: Highly recommendable to teen ages 12+.

Content: Some dramatic elements and a few bad words; PG

The Last Straw: A quote from pg. 130:

I hear music under the crash of waves before I see any place that could be producing it. Soon, though, hovering in the distant dark appears a ripple of neon, a sign that becomes legible only when I am standing directly in front of it: Lucky's.

|Pages: 240|Published: Sept. 2010|Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, relationships, family drama, friends, romance|

|Content: PG|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Price: pbk. $9.99|

|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|

|Overall: 4/5|

Out With the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill

WARNING!: This is a review of a book within a series and contains spoilers! Please read my review of Me, Just Different, Book 1 in this series.
Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying ways, but it's not so easy to change her friends. Even though the old Skylar is gone, she's still not sure who this new Skylar really is. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can't win. After all, how do you choose favorites among people you love most?

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Skylar is back and ready to tackle the school halls but is she truly ready for the trials ahead? In Me, Just Different, the first book in the Reinventions of Skylar Hoyt series, Sky decides she no longer wants to be known as the school's party-harty girl. Instead, Sky slips from the "it" crowd and makes changes in her life. Meanwhile, her younger sister is about to go through some changes all her own. In this book, Sky is faced not only with her sister's pregnancy, the constant reminders of her "old" self, but the choice between love or duty.

Teen pregnancy plays a big part in this book and goes into detail about how the girls deal with their consequences. Another great teen-pleaser voiced in Out With the In Crowd is relationships: boys, friends, enemies. During the book, Sky is faced with backstabbing friends and a boyfriend stealer. Stephanie does a fantastic job of setting Sky in real-life circumstances and getting results that any teen girl could relate to. Although The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt might be–in some places–categorized under "religious fiction" there is absolutely no preachiness or anything that some might find offensive to read. In short, I'd recommend to anyone without hesitation. 

I think Stephanie's books are a great alternative for fans or non-fans of "it" girl novels. Instead of reading something about a party-girl, you get to see someone fight against it... to realize there is something more than hanging with the "it" crowd.

Recommendation: I believe I enjoyed reading this second installation to the series even better than the first. Great read for teen girls ages 14+. (Don't forget to read Me, Just Different first!)

Content: Some kisses and intensive family drama. (PG) 14 and up because topics are a little heavy for younger readers.

The Last Straw: Randome passage, pg. 129.

He pressed a kiss onto my hand as a smile crept into his face. "Sorry girl. You can't get rid of me so easy."

|Pages: 249|Publisher: Revell|Published: Jan. 2010|Price: Soft. $11.99|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance, high school, family drama, relationships|

|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: PG|
|Series? Yes, The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt|Order: Book 2|

|Enjoyed It: 5/5|Content: 4/5|Cover: 4/5|

|Overall: 5/5|

Thanks for sending this Stephanie!

This review is copyrighted ©2010 by Books and Literature for Teens.

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

"Here comes the bride"–if she can pass chemistry. Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother who has a small personality complex (he thinks he's Jesus). Bronwen must have been switched a birth, and she can't wait to get away from her family for good. Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants–and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted, too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is it Jared she truly needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

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If I only had one word to describe I Now Pronounce You Someone Else I would say personality. Not very often do books have a personality all to their own. This book not only brings an almost-untouched plot to the table of YA, I Now Pronounce You throws in various aspects of a girl's life and a unique circumstance that most teens fear to tread.
Bronwen. That's a different name. It goes perfect with the story because this story isn't your typical YA novel. Bronwen, the narrator of this book, has a unique dilemma. Not only does Bronwen have a background of identity issues, insecurity, and family frustrations, she just told her boyfriend “no”. Oh, did I also mention she's getting married? Toppling on a sea of big life decisions, readers will watch Bronwen pull through... but not without a few twists in the mix. One thing I liked about I Now Pronounce You is that–no matter how many times I tried to guess the situation–Bronwen always surprised me.
Out of all the themes I Now Pronounce Someone Else incorporates: friendship, love, family, identity, and dealing with life decisions–I think perhaps the topic that stood out the most for me was the value of purity. No, no, this isn't a book about one of those girls who goes around talking about purity-rings or her virginity. No, instead our heroine displays a very strong sense of morals and heartfelt devotion. In a world almost void of virtues and innocences, Browden’s voice rings true. I believe many teen girls will relate to Bronwen's struggles, maybe even give them hope for the road ahead.
Bronwen's issues with her family and personal identity will also hit home-base with many teenagers. Because Bronwen's relationship with her mother is falling apart and is constantly hurt by her stepfather's seemingly uncaring actions, Bronwen feels unloved. In turn, she invents a sort of alter-ego, Miss Lilywhite. Family life is such a broad topic and although it is showing up more frequently in the market these days, parent interaction with teen characters is often largely ignored. Bronwen's battle with big decisions doesn't stop at college; Bronwen is swept off her feet by a man (yes, a man) who she believes to be The One. Whatever shall she do? Only Bronwen can decide... and the results?–a stunning drama you don't want to miss.

Recommendation: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else is a great book for teen girls. Finding a book that deals with these subjects so honestly and maturely yet with the lightness of a classic Young Adult novel is rare. My suggestion: skip your next read and pick up this one instead. Recommended to ages 12+.


This Book is For: Teens and older young adults who enjoy a good drama or romance story.
Content: Mild sensuality, coupe of bad words (_am), and some emotional family situations. A-okay for ages 12 and up.


The Last Straw: "Agreeing with crazy people is so much easier–and certainly more diplomatic–than disagreeing." - pg. 3 of I Now Pronounce You Someone Else


|Pages: 258|Published: June 2010| Publisher: Scholastics|Price: Hard. $16.99|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, teen romance, drama, family drama, friendship|
|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Content: PG|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 5/5|

OTHER SIMILAR AUTHORS & BOOKS:

The Lonely Hearts Club - Elizabeth Eulberg

Love Rules - Dandi Daley MacKall

Melody Carlson (Notes From a Spinning Planet series)

Lipstick Apology - Jennifer Jabaley

This review is copyrighted ©2010 by Books and Literature for Teens.

And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman + GIVEAWAY

➜WARNING! This review is of the sequel to And Then Everything Unraveled and may contain spoilers!

Jennifer Sturman's YA debut, And Then Everything Unraveled, really surprised me. It appeared to be a simple, summery beach read but there was more to the book than that. It had depth, an exciting story, and a mystery that was very intricate. By the end of the book, I was eager to find out what happened to Delia and her mother. When I was able to review And Then I Found Out the Truth, I had high expectations that it would all end with a big bang or an exciting ending. I did get a unexpected ending, but the rest of the book was slow, especially when dealing with the mystery. I guess Sturman didn't have much mystery plot left so a lot of things unrelated to Delia's mystery dilemma were added. It was fine for awhile but I was ready move to back onto the focal point of the story. The last couple chapters were rushed and though everything turned out peachy, I just thought And Then I Found Out the Truth didn't live up to the previous book.

Delia and Quinn's relationship definitely steps up a notch and was prominent throughout the novel. I think they made a cute couple even though Quinn seemed a little too perfect at times. Delia's a good heroine but I did get a little irritated at her for thinking Quinn would break-up with her. The humor was also lacking if you compare it to the first book. Delia's aunt Charlie was the most fun character and she seemed distant in Unraveled since her sense of humor and life was everywhere in the first book. I still didn't like the idea of the physic being involved in the case against the oil company–it made everything come together all too conveniently. Overall, even though I didn't enjoy it as much as would have hoped (nor did it live up to its big sister book), if you read the first novel, you have to read this one to find out what becomes of Delia, Quinn, the oil company's dangerous minions, snooty and suspicious Thad, Detective Rafe, Auntie Charlie, and of course, the Flying Monkeys.

Recommendation: Again, you gotta read it to find out what happens to everyone! Ages 12+

This Book is For: Teens who enjoy a little mystery and romance.

This Book is Not For: Teens who are hard-core mystery novel fans–you might get bored

Content: Some mild sensuality. Appropriate for ages 12-13 and up. (PG)

The Last Straw: A teaser from the book:

"You are checking in, yes?" the guy asked as I caught up with him in the entryway.

He wasn't much older than me, with friendly brown eyes. A brass nameplate above his breast pocket identified him as Manuel.

|Pages: 262|Published: July 2010|Publisher: Point|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, mystery, teen romance|

|Content: Age appropriate (PG)|Age Group: 12+|

|Enjoyed It: 3/5|Content: 4/5|Cover: 4/5|

{Jennifer Sturman YA Mystery Giveaway}

Up for grabs is a hardcover copy of And Then I Found Out the Truth, the new paperback edition of And Then Everything Unraveled, and finally a magic 8 ball keychain. If you haven't read either of Jennifer Sturman's YA books, this is the perfect chance to get both! Good luck and happy reading :)

Special thanks to Point, Jennifer, & Toorja for letting BLT host this contest.

Contest Information:

• Fill out the form below
• Open to US residents only
• Deadline is Monday, July 19th, 12 AM EST

This review is copyrighted ©2010 by Books and Literature for Teens.




Other Reviews: Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf