The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau

Sixteen-year-old Zeeta and her flighty English-teaching mom, Layla, have traveled the world together, settling in a different country every year, making a whole new set of friends and adopting new customs. This year, they’ve chosen to live in Aix-en-Provence, France, an enchanting city full of fountains, creamy yellow light, and a fascinating group of scarlet-clad street performers.
Zeeta soon begins to receive mysterious notes and gifts from someone she calls her fantôme, or ghost, admirer. But she is expecting her boyfriend, Wendell—the love of her life, as her friends call him—to arrive in Aix for a summer program very soon. Zeeta brushes off her curiosity about her fantôme, and her simmering attraction to one of the street performers, Jean-Claude, until Wendell arrives and she begins to fear that her feelings for him have truly changed. Perhaps—like Layla—she’s simply not made for long-term romance. As Zeeta tries to draw away from Wendell, however, circumstances seem to force them together. Zeeta’s friendship with a local antiques dealer and his reclusive artist friend leads to a dangerous adventure. When Zeeta and Wendell join forces to find a secret underground spring whose water is rumored to bring immortality, they are forced to reconsider their own desires, and their beliefs about true love. Yet as soon as Zeeta decides that her mind has cleared, she’s confronted with the biggest shock of her life: the incredible true identity of her fantôme.Vibrant, warmhearted, and evocative,The Ruby Notebook is a remarkable novel about learning to accept love in all of its wondrous and imperfect forms.

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Zeeta and her world-traveling mom are back with a whole new adventure. After saying goodbye to her friends in the tropical mountains of Ecuador and her new boyfriend, the trio head to the mystical city of Aix-en-Provence in France, famous for its ancient-old fountains that litter the cobble-stone streets. 

Once again Resua has created whimsical characters (both familiar and new), a thrilling plot with adventure and mystery, and a setting that is just as exciting. Teens who have fallen in love with The Indigo Notebook will be sure to get swept away once more in Zeeta’s narrative as she rekindles her romance with Wendell and sets out on yet another journey with a group of charmingly lovable characters. 

The best thing about this book is, in my personal opinion, the setting–France! Reading Resau’s books are like stepping over into a far-away land and experiencing every little detail of it through a carefully crafted story. I absolutely loved reading the first book and The Ruby Notebook is just as good, if not better. Overall, wonderfully written sequel. (*Complete with a glossary of French words!)

Recommendation: Teens 12+ will be sure to enjoy both novels–highly recommend! (Reading the The Indigo Notebook first is probably best, but its possible to get without it.)

Content: Some sensuality (PG)

Buy or Borrow? If you read The Indigo Notebook and enjoyed it I wouldn't pass up purchasing this one.

Cover Talk: I preferred The Indigo Notebook's cover, something similar would have been just fine–the picture seems like it's a little blurry.

➥Read My Post With Laura Resau & Exploring Ecuador

➥Enter my giveaway and win THE INDIGO NOTEBOOK!

|Pages: 365|Release Date: Sept. 2010|Publisher: Delacorte|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, teen romance, friendship, mystery|

|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover Rating: 3/5|Overall: 5/5

Review copyrighted© by Books and Literature for Teens. Special thanks to Laura & Emily at Delacorte.

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?

.................

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|

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Stories of Paranormal Love

If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.Kiss Me Deadly includes the exceptional writings of several authors, including: - Sarah Rees Brennan (faeries) - Becca Fitzpatrick (angels) - Caitlin Kittredge (witches) - Karen Mahoney (vampires: sequel to story from The Eternal Kiss) - Daniel Marks (ghost kids) - Justine Musk (sorcerers) - Diana Peterfreund (unicorns) - Michelle Rowen (demons) - Carrie Ryan (zombies) - Maggie Stiefvater (werewolves) - Rachel Vincent (banshees) - Daniel Waters (zombies) - Michelle Zink (gothic ghosts)

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Reading a collection of short stories is a great way to discover (and try) new authors. In Kiss Me Deadly’s case, I got to read up on a few paranormal writers like Michelle Zink, Rachel Vincent, and Maggie Stiefvater. Although I don’t normally read paranormal fiction, let alone paranormal romance, I did enjoy a few stories from Michelle Zink (“The Assassin's Apprentice”), Diana Peterfeud (“Errant”), and Carrie Ryan (“Hare Moon”). There are lots of other well known names in this collection as well like Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush. Reading paranormal or even fantasy takes some getting use to, especially on my part, so of course there were some stories I thought were just plain weird. “Lost” for instance by Justine Musk seemed silly for it jumped right into a greek mythology type monologue and was way too rushed. Maggie Stiefvater and Rachel Vincent are famous for their werewolves and vampire books but I had a hard time reading their short fiction. Stiefvater told a tale of gritty Irish folklore which, even to this moment, still didn’t get what kind of creature it was about. Vincent wrote of a literal walking and talking nightmare... that was a bit too much for me. I think Kiss Me Deadly is probably more for paranormal readers or fans of the featured authors. Again, a good way to try out new authors.

Recommendation: From unicorns, angels, to vampire fangs, paranormal/fantasy readers will be excited to get their hands on this collection of fictional stories. Recommend to paranormal fans and teens ages 14+.

Content: sexual references, some language, paranormal elements (PG-13)

The Last Straw: First sentence:
"I made my way through the crowd, trying not to jostled by the men around me."

("The Assassin's Apprentice" by Michelle Zink)

|Pages: 423|Published: Aug. 2010|Publisher: Running Press Teens|Price: soft. $9.99|

|Genre: Paranormal fiction, romance, fantasy|

|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: PG-13)|

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

|Overall: 3/5|

Dream Journal by Karen Halvorsen Schreck

Livy has survived the pain of losing her mother by shutting herself off from the rest of the world. She has alienated herself from her best friend, and her and her father live as strangers in the same house, barely speaking, and never allowing themselves to share the grief that is tearing each of them apart. But when Livy gets swept up in a strong but ill-fated crush, and her mother's condition worsens, she must learn to trust not only those around her, but herself.

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Dream Journal is a emotional story of how people deal with grief. The story opens as Livy, our main character, recounts her dream in the journal her mother gave her. Although Livy’s mother is in critical condition and is very close to dying, Livy’s dad swears her to secrecy so that no one will know the the pain Moore’s are going through. People deal with loss and grief in a variety of different ways, it just so happens, Livy’s father’s way of dealing with her mother’s cancer is by acting like everything is fine. As for Livy, she hides. She hides from her mother, her father, and her best friend. Eventually, Ruth, Livy’s best friend, looses interest in Livy leaving her alone with a group of trouble-making seniors she barely even knows. 
Even though Dream Journal is a well written sad story of loss and goodbyes, it was not a very enjoyable book. First off, I began to immediately dislike Ruth for abandoning Livy in her time of need–Ruth was suddenly too busy chasing boys and getting into trouble. Livy also started associating with a group of party-hardy teenagers who jeopardize their chances of escaping small-town life with a thought-to-be harmless prank. To me, Livy’s personality was numb like the pain she was feeling, so naturally the book is pretty depressing. I cried–which I rarely ever do–and I had bad dreams while reading it. The ending of Dream Journal was predictable, as was Ruth’s misfortune. 

Recommendation: While it was a very dramatic and a painfully honest story, I don’t feel like Dream Journal is a “enjoyable” book to read; of course it probably wasn’t mean to be. Because I feel only so-so about this book–mainly because I don’t like depressing plots or themes–I can only recommend to older teens who can relate to the loss, grief, and confusion Livy goes through. If you don’t like this kind of theme, don’t read. I wouldn’t purchase this book either because you probably won’t want to read it again.For ages 16+.


This Book is For: Teens who can relate to Livy's loss, grief, and confusion.
This Book is Not For: Teens who don't like depressing stories/themes of loss


Content: Sexual references, some language, dramatic elements, and teen drinking (PG-13)


|Pages: 256|Published: 2006|Publisher: Hyperion|Price: Soft. $8.99|
|Genre: Loss, grief, drama, contemporary fiction|
|Content: PG-13|Age Group: YA, ages 16+|
|Enjoyed It: 2/5|Content Rating: 2/5|Cover: 4/5|
|Overall: 2/5|

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki

Timothy July has a secret. And it’s giving him nightmares. Abigail Tremens has a problem. Her nightmares are haunting her…while she is awake. When they team up for a school project, they don’t realize that Abigail’s past and Timothy’s present are making them the target of a terrible curse. A curse that turns their worst fears to reality. But their fears are just the beginning. The curse stems from a strange artifact that gains strength by devouring a human soul. And it needs to feed again. Dan Poblocki (author of The Stone Child) has written another bone-chilling page-turner to give you goose bumps. It’s the kind of book best read on a bright afternoon…which may keep your own nightmares at bay.

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From the author of The Stone Child comes another suspenseful and eerie story of how fear can control and haunt our minds. The Nightmarys is Poblocki's best book yet... perhaps a bit more scarier even. From the very first to the final page, The Nightmarys is sure to entice readers and leave them anxious for more.
Poblocki starts out with an unsuspecting and chilling event that sets the entire dilemma into play. I like that it "cuts to the chase" if you will and the whole story is very eventful–there's never a dull moment. I also love how mystery or horror books always play a big part in Poblocki's novels. In the Stone Child, the protagonist must locate the whereabouts of a missing horror writer and in The Nightmarys, the story unfolds as Timothy and Abigail follow clues in book as well. Nathaniel Olmstead, the missing writer from The Stone Child, is also mentioned in The Nightmarys so be sure to keep an eye out for this important reference. 
The story takes place in a small seaside town in Massachusetts that has some terrifying, dark secrets. Told in three parts, The Nightmarys is a great thriller for young adults or, for the young at heart. Poblocki has great potential and I think either one of his books deserve much more recognition.

I'm not a die-hard horror or even mystery novel fan but I have to admit I really enjoy reading Poblocki's books even though they do creep me out a bit. Even if–while you're reading The Nightmarys–objects seem to move out of the corner of your eye or you keep thinking the Nightmarys are going to appear at the foot of your bed, rest assure, Poblocki's characters always triumph over evil. With this said, and a fair warning included, if you're looking for an exciting book with a chilling edge, The Nightmarys is for you! I absolutely can not wait for another scary adventure...

➔The Nightmarys is now out in bookstores near you!

Recommendation: Looking for something that goes bump in the night? Recommended for ages 12+


This Book is For: Those who like "scary" stories 
This Book is Not For: Those who, well, don't like the paranormal


Content: Scary images and gore (PG)


The Last Straw: Passage from a random page [147]:
Small, shiny black eyes stared out from a pale, hairless, and doughy face. Terrified Stuart grabbed a glass of water off the nightstand and flung it into the corner of the room. It shattered above the figure's head, but the thing did not move, or even respond. It only continued to watch him.


|Pages: 325|Publisher: Random House|Published: August 2010|
|Genre: Suspense, Paranormal, Horror|Price: Hard. $15.99|
|Age Group: Ages 12+|Content: PG|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content: 3/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|

Sovay by Celia Rees

The year is 1794 and it seems the world is yearning for revolution, even the British. For Sovay Middleton, life as the daughter of a kind, wise landlord is not very adventurous at all. When her father and brother’s lives are threatened by the scent of uprising against the King, Sovay is suddenly thrown into a thrilling ride of a lifetime. From posing as a highwayman, dodging a spymaster’s evil and intricate schemes, to facing the sideways traps of the French Revolution, Sovay will do whatever it takes to find her father and bring justice to light.  From the author of Witch Child and Pirates! comes the epic story of one heroine’s quest for freedom and love amidst a fierce battle between revolution and power.

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Sovay is not just a tale of a highway robbery nor a daring story of villainous spies, but a tale more intricate than any reader would suspect. Many reviews of Sovay include disappointment. While the plot is very long and the characters many, Sovay is one of the best reads I’ve read this year. It is not only a heroic story of how justice is sought, but it also opened up a door to history, the history of both our own country and of the civil unrest that both England and France experienced as they too struggled for a People’s Independence. This book has robbers, spymasters, Patriots, and suave Frenchmen all combined in a daring race for freedom. The book jacket has everyone fooled into thinking it is just about a girl who “robbed for love”, when in fact this synopsis does not in any way do it justice. Sovay is a much grander story than that and its plot and scenery changes three times during the course of Sovay’s tale. 

Pirates! by Celia Rees

Nancy Kington, an heiress fleeing an arranged marriage, and Minerva Sharpe, a runway plantation slave, both find unlikely salvation on the pirate ship Deliverance. Life as a pirate is difficult enough, but can the two young women escape the cruel Captain Bartholome, who has pledged to follow them over the seven seas? And will Nancy's long-lost friend, a sailor in the Royal Navy, love the pirate she has become?

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I am so very sorry I didn't pick up this book sooner and I'm glad I bought it instead of borrowing the ragged copy at my library–no wonder it was so well-worn. Pirates! is a thrilling high seas venture with jolly pirates, Navy officers, and the scourge of the sea.
Many "pirate" novels and movies are filled with fantasy pirate lore and fictional accounts of the way the high seas were. In reality, however, the open ocean wasn't as romantic as anyone thinks. It was filled with death, gruesome tortures usually by the hand of the British or Spanish Empire, and slave trade. The Caribbean was founded on slavery, but it strived for freedom. As the story of Nancy and Minerva unfolds, you see the true side of pirates as well as a cunningly crafted adventure of excitement and elements of the high seas that are very near reality.
Although I have to admit I'll probably come close to loving any pirate novel you place in my lap, what I like about Pirates! is that Rees is so very realistic about the way she presented Nancy's circumstances. Remember those stories about Davy Jones? (Yeah, the guy with the tentacles from Pirates of the Caribbean.) Instead of having some half-fish, half-man creature lurk in the dark blue waves trying to find Nancy, Davy Jones becomes something of a true form combined with a terrifying curse. As this cunning figure chases Nancy over the deep blue waters, a much grander tales is spun as Nancy continues to search for her true love.
Pirates! is told in third person. While this doesn't allow room for very many personal connections between Nancy and Minerva, it does encourage a lot of imagination use. How Rees incorporates legend with real life is the best thing this pirate themed novel can offer while still being just as exciting as floating islands, The Flying Dutchman, and Johnny De– er, Jack Sparrow. I read Pirates! in one day and, even though its been several weeks since I put it down, I can still taste salt water.

Recommendation: Highly recommend. Have some extra pocket money to purchase it? Don't hesitate, it's a darn good story. For ages 14+.


This Book is For: Teens who enjoy pirates, adventure, history, or a real page-turner
This Book is Not For: Those weary of heart or sailers who don't have sea legs


Content: Graphic images of death and a few sexual remarks; PG-13


The Last Straw: A passage from the prologue:
If our story seems a little extravagant, to have something of the air of a novel, I may assure you that this is not fiction. Our adventures need no added invention, rather I find myself forced to leave out certain details in order not to shock. You will read of many things, both strange and terrible.....


|Pages: 379|Published: 2003|Publisher: Bloomsbury|Price: Soft. $8.99|
|Genre: Adventure, pirates, historical fiction, 1700s|
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: PG-13|
|Enjoyed It: 5/5|Content Rating: 3/5|Cover: 4/5|
|Overall: 5/5|

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.