Search This Blog

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Why We Broke Up

You probably know the author of Why We Broke Up Daniel Handler is popularly known by his pen name, Lemony Snicket. This YA Printz Honor Award-winning novel is about a relationship between theater-loving Min Green and popular basketball star Ed Slaterton. I tried listening to this book on audio and am so happy that I decided to read the book instead. You miss so much of the story if you listen to it as it is creatively illustrated by talented Maira Kalman. The pictures reveal so much of the story. The reader knows from the very beginning that Min and Ed are no longer together. She slowly reveals the timeline of important events in their short relationship. My favorite part of this book is the lesson learned by Min…hopefully, reading the story will forewarn many innocent girls so that they do not make the same mistake that she did. Watch the video below which features the author himself.

Eleanor & Park

I absolutely loved, savored, and now treasure Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park. The book takes place in the 80’s and is told from both characters’ points of view. Eleanor, an ivory-skinned overweight new girl, happens to sit by the Asian boy on the school bus. Park, the comic-reading half-Korean boy, who can’t help but like the new girl who reads his comic books as she sits beside him on the bus. Two totally different teens who at first do everything to not like each other, but ultimately cannot stop the chemistry that builds between them. Unbeknownst to Park, Eleanor has deep family secrets that she cannot share with anyone. How could she explain to anyone that she and her much younger siblings are controlled by an abusive stepfather? Will Eleanor ever trust and believe in the love that Park has for her? This is a must read! Click on the student made book trailer video below to learn more. Can’t wait to read Rainbow Rowell’s newest novel – Fangirl.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Siege and Storm

Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone, was my favorite fantasy read of 2012 and I have been eagerly awaiting book 2 – Siege and Storm. Once again Bardugo brings to life the dark and magical “World of Grisha”. Alina and Mal have left their homeland to hide out from the Darkling and to keep her amplifier (Morozova’s collar) hidden so others will not realize that she is the Sun Summoner. Rather quickly, the Darkling returns and takes them captive. Bardugo introduces us to new characters...ones we grow to like, but do not whole-heartedly trust. The Darkling now has the power to be with Alina without others seeing him. Alina’s powers seem to take over her sense of judgment– to the point that her relationship with Mal is jeopardized. Readers will be surprised as to how this second novel in the trilogy goes...the last half was difficult to put down. Hardest part for me is waiting for book 3 – Ruin and Rising – coming in 2014!