Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

|Edition: Paperback, 281 pages|Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire|Release Date: December 2011|Genre: Contemporary fiction, relationships, romance, sports|

|Other Books: Catching Park by Miranda Kenneally (Oct. 2012), Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
|Overall Rating: 4/5|

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What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

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A female quarterback? Get out.
Although it may not be realistic, Jordan's status of as quarterback for her high school football team sure makes for an interesting premises for a story...and a adrenaline rush of a love triangle. I don't like football let alone will you find me reading novels about the sport. Surprisingly, after a few pages into the book, I could barely tare myself away from the story. I really enjoyed Jordan's character. Jordan sees football as something more than just a sport, or a way into college. Football is Jordan's way of proving herself...especially to her hard-sell professional football player dad. Talk about a hard thing to live up to.
Getting to know not only Jordan's personal dilemmas but the "behind the scenes" of the entire team as well made the book all the more interesting. You have your star players of course, who are closest to Jordan. They protect her, carry out her plays, and of course never leave her out of a party. Alas, though these are still guys we're talking about. Even worse...jocks. Whether Kenneally had first-hand experience on either being on or observing a football team, all those stereotypes are right on the dot. Girls, hook-ups, partying, and just being egoistic. There is a lot of crude humor and sexual remarks throughout the book. Although mostly coming from the guys, Jordan is a natural "tom-boy" and is not shy about calling shots. It's what makes her character daring and fits her into quarterback material. Despite them all being gruff and fairly egoistic, Jordan and the team care for each other quite a bit. Each player has a special relationship with Jordan which heightens the emotional tension and makes the story all the more captivating.


Being the all-star member of the high school isn't always easy. For one, Jordan is NOT a guy. Jordan hangs-out, puts up with, and relies on her team so much that Jordan has little time left for any other feelings. When a new player (and quarterback) threatens to take her title, instead of showing him who's boss (or sicking the guys on him), Jordan falls in love. Fast paced and full of daring moves, Catching Jordan surprised me with each play of the game and the final score.
Be on the lookout for Kenneally's next sport-oriented book! Recommend to ages 14+

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Content Awareness:

(14+) Sensuality, sexual references, crude humor and language. Main character participates in [moderate] sexual activity.

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.

The Accidental Genius of Weasel High by Rick Detorie

Larkin Pace desperately wants a new camcorder. How else is he going to become the next great filmmaker? But his dad won’t give him any money, his sister is determined to make his life miserable, and his nemesis Dalton Cooke is trying to steal his girlfriend. Now this height-challenged aspiring director must chronicle his wacky life for a freshman English assignment.

..........

A hilarious take on the life of a “wimpy” teenager, The Accidental Genius of Weasel High is great novel for young teens (especially teen guys) who will relate to Larkin’s comical situations and outtakes on high school, family, and first love. Incorporating illustrations within the written novel is a perfect way to get anybody to read, especially with a generation of young readers who are use to visual communication. Detorie seems like a great author to watch for more graphic novels from.

Overall, The Accidental Genius of Weasel High is a light, humorous read just in time for summer and a great novel for fans who want to graduate from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I also might add that Detorie’s inspiration for Larkin writing about his freshman year via notebook blog might just be a interesting assignment to do for aspiring writers!

Recommendation: First of all because there’s limited choices out there in contemporary YA fiction for guys, I wanted to make a special recommendation for them; secondly I want to recommend it to any teenager: freshmen–like Larkin–middle schoolers, or even those who have already fled the high school scene. Fans of graphic novels will also enjoy Larkin's story. Ages 12+

Content: some crude humor (PG)

|Pages: 197| Release Date: April 2011| Publisher: EgmontUS|

|Genre: Contemporary, comedy/humor, high school, guy lit|

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

This review is copyrighted by Books and Literature for Teens. Special thanks to Jennifer.

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

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg + GIVEAWAY

Love is all you need.... or is it?
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: no more. She's had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It's a personal choice...... and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny's not the only girl who's tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worst) in order to get their guys..... or the way their guys don't really care. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club, and Penny finds herself near legendary for her nondating ways--which is too bad, since the leader of the Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can't help but like.....

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Finally. A book about friends vs. boyfriends; and what a nicely written one too! Even if Eulberg didn't realize or intend for her novel to come out with a message of "friends are more important than guys", it doesn't matter. The Lonely Hearts Club will rock that line from the cover to the very last page.
Lets face it. More than half of us have been there. BFFs or boys? Boys or more boys? It all starts in mid-school around the age of twelve and sadly it stays that way for a long time. No more emails, IM chats (this was before text messaging), no saving seats on the bus. It's sad really, that girls would give up all their good friends for one measly boy who will only end up "dating" you for a record breaking two months. In the end, the unwanted friend comes up with two options: loose 'em or go with the flow. At Penny's high school everybody ends up "going with the flow" and getting boys for themselves; that is, until Penny makes a stand and creates a club that will change her and her friends forever.
In a world of teen books that explore boys, dating, romance, and more boys, it's nice to see a book come along with an alternative outlook to having boyfriends or more importantly, exploring the truth and hurt that comes along with it.
Overall, The Lonely Hearts Club is a great book for teen girls and I'm sure a lot of us will relate and connect with Penny as she takes you on a whirl-wind of a story from dodging jerks, crazy principals, to rocking with the Beatles and finding the right guy. Recommend for teen girls ages 12 and up!

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Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before she headed off to New York City to work in the book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. While writing her debut novel, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn't work.

|Pages: 285|Year Published: Jan. 2010|Publisher: Point|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, chic lit, teen romance|
|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Buy or Borrow? Both|NEW!
|Content: Some sexual references at the beginning|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall|

NEW! Cover Notes: Nice cover Point. Although it doesn't make the book quite POP out of the shelves, it screams femininity and has great detail to look at. Love the shoes. Thoughts anyone?

Dying to read LHC? Already have a copy but want one for your friend or library? Enter my contest to win 1 of 3 copies of Elizabeth Eulberg's hip debut novel. Girls rule!

How to Enter

• Fill out this Form

Who Can Enter

• Anyone living within the USA (ships from publishing company)

Deadline - Feb. 8th, 12 pm EST (winners announced next day)

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish? - from book jacket

*****

First off-to set people straight-this book is not about robots or anything sci-fi; it’s about love but not romance (Bea and Jonah are just good friends). In short, How to Say Goodbye in Robot is the bleak story of one unique friendship, a late night talk show, and too many goodbyes.

Bea and Jonah are different. Bea is the “stone child” who is slightly depressed about her parents and is tired of adjusting to new high schools every time her family moves. She’s different because she doesn’t do the whole “popularity” scene, plus she’s very artistic. Jonah is Canton High’s “ghost” boy. Jonah is a loner because he’s made to be. Bea and Jonah are the same, that’s why they become best friends. The late night talk show called Night Lights is a whimsical addition to the story that makes you smile and feel the stars; and the secret about Jonah’s brother is just as stunning.

I really liked How to Say Goodbye in Robot because of it’s unique characters and just the overall storyline. Most of the time I connected with Bea and shared her eye for the unique, but sometimes I did feel like Bea should have punched Jonah in the face for getting mad or jealous. Then again, Jonah has a right to be angry, he is so mistreated by his school mates and his father. The only thing I did not like about this book is it’s many references to drinking.

Some teens might have a hard time relating or even liking the characters of How to Say Goodbye in Robot simply because it’s not about your average teenagers. Some might even think of the story as being weird. If you don’t like books that go beyond the “normal” YA high school scene, then you probably won’t like this book. If you like things that are different, then you know that you will enjoy How to Say Goodbye In Robot.

Even though How to Say Goodbye In Robot may be a little odd at times (that’s the whole point), I thought it was a good story about a friendship like no other from a different point of view. I recommend to any teen who likes that taste of oddness.

Natalie Strandford does not know how to speak fluent robot, but she does know Maryland like the back of her hand, having grown up there and coming from a long line of Marylanders. Natalie now lives in New York. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is her first novel. www.nataliestandiford.com

|Pages: 276|Year Published: October 2009|Publisher: Scholastics|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, friendship, high school, family drama|

|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Teen drinking, some language, and sensuality|

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

|Overall|