YA fiction – Page 6 – Peaceful Reader

Sarah Dessen fans

I had to go out and buy That summer (1996) by Sarah Dessen because I heard it was a good idea to read them in order yet I was missing that first one. I finished it last night. While this is a great first book I would say Dessen quickly grew in style as the other two I’ve read (Someone like you and This Lullaby) both seem to have more snap and crackle to them. This one is definetely worth the read though, especially if you are a Sarah Dessen fan!

That summer is about a girl in transition. Haven is fifteen (tough already), her father leaves her mother for the local weather girl and her older sister, Ashley is planning her own wedding.

In the middle of all that unrest Haven could really use a friend except her best friend, Casey is back from 4-H camp and is too busy getting into trouble on her own. Sumner Lee always seems to be around but he’s Ashley’s ex-boyfriend and all Haven remembers are the good times when Sumner and Ashley were together, her parents were together and everything around was simple. Haven figures out how to keep her life back on track but not before freaking everyone out-I would guess a rite of passage in teen land! I know I freaked my parents out more than once!

My favorite paragraph from the book sums it up:

As I walked I kept seeing my father in my mind, with his hair and that smile,
proud and bursting, father-to-be. Lorna Queen with her little ears and
blond hair. A baby with my father’s round face and my last name. My
father’s new life was progressing as planned, one neat step at a time. And
I felt it, again, that same feeling I got whenever another change or shift in my
life was announced to me-selling the house, Ashley’s tantrums, now the baby-that
need to dig in my heels and prepare myself for the next shock and its
aftermath. I was tired of hanging on, taking the torn pieces to make
something whole with them. (p. 123)

I’ve discovered the teenage years are much more difficult than anything my kids could have thrown at me as a toddler. I’m glad Sarah Dessen writes books about this age; I just know it’s going to help me later with my own seven-year-old sweet pea!

Pretty sad to get a Teaser Tuesday out so late but hey, it’s been that kind of day!!

Teaser Tuesdays (Sept.22)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser for this week is from Sarah Dessen’s first book, that summer (1996)

“I watched him walk towards the front of the restaurant and then out the door, onto the street. I thought about Virginia Beach and the ride in the back of the Volkswagon under the stars, so many summers ago.” p. 72

Luxury

One of the best things about taking a road-trip is all the reading I can get down as my husband tools along. This trip we were with out any children riding, talking, or fighting in the backseat. I was enthralled in Anna Godbersen’s The Luxe and kept stopping to exclaim about all the unusual plot twists!! I couldn’t help telling him about each unique character and about the lavish balls and of course all the mixed-up love stories had to come out; so at some point, I just began to read aloud to him. It kept him awake…what can I say, it was a blast. I read all the way up and all the way back and that is how I was able to finish The Luxe in just two days, well, that and the story is absolutely riveting!! What great research Anna Godberson had to have done in order to make this story so believable and charming. I like historical fiction but have not read anything quite like this before. I loved the variety of voices the story is told in and the snippets of turn of the century advice given to begin certain chapters. It’s like 19th Century People Magazine, dishing into the rich, old and new money and famous, with their secrets and pampered lives. It is so very romantic, yet not “romance-y”(if that makes sense) and wonderfully-twisted!
I just recieved Catching Fire by S. Collins from Amazon, and want to begin that but when I finish I will have to pick up the second Luxe novel, Rumors!

Quick Synopsis (find more at the great HarperTeen site or Godbersen’s site.

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent. from HT website.

Click here for HarperTeen Luxe site.
ps. The Luxe has been on my tbr list because I read about it over at Janssen’s@Everyday reading! Thank you for such a great recommendation-and she’s right, the book is worth it for the cover alone. Now, if I could find a dress like that-hmmmmm-just one day I would love to wear it!

Two on Sunday

Sunday I finished two chapter books-it thrilled me to finish two in one day! I was a few chapters into eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff, when I received one of those great packages in the padded envelope-it held a copy of Once a witch by Carolyn MacCullough. Of course, I started witch, which then put me in-between in two books. I alternated reading each one and think it only fitting to blog about them at the same time.

Once a witch ( Sept, 2009) is suspenseful, exciting and not creepy! I hope Carolyn MacCullough is planning a sequel; I want to know more about Tamsin and Gabriels’s story!! As I described it to a friend on the phone-the premise is good because of course, who doesn’t want to be a witch, I ask you?! You know, the same reason HP is so popular-ordinary kids doing magic!!!

In this one, Tamsin Green comes from a long line of magically talented folk yet she doesn’t find her “talent” at the regular age and resents that she is “normal”. Tamsin attends boarding school in NYC to keep a little distance between her and her family. During summer break she meets someone who mistakes her for her talented older sister, Rowena. It is this mix-up and her resentment that fools the antagonist (Alistair) into believeing Tamsin will fold against her family. Tamsin’s family is unique and believable and I wanted to be one of them!
Once a witch kept my interest easily, the characters were wonderful and the story made sense-all important aspects for me! I especially liked Tamsin’s relationship with Agatha, her roommate and Gabriel, her long-lost childhood friend.

I received this arc from a Picnic Basket request-thank you!

Check out the cool Once a witch website where you can find out more, take quizzes (discover which witch you most resemble-yes, I played) and research the Green family tree.

Read the synopsis and a quick review from Kirkus review by clicking here.

For Carolyn MacCullough’s web page click here. I found out this is her fourth book!

Eleven (2008) by Patricia Reilly Giff is the story of Sam and his grandfather, Mack Mackenzie. Sam, who struggles with reading, begins to have dreams that do not make sense to him. He is drawn to the attic, which holds a lock box with one clipping hanging out. The clipping shows his picture and his name…with a different last name. He cannot read enough of it to make sense and he needs to get the box open. Sam makes friends with Caroline, a good reader at school, who will help him. Together they form a close connection between searching for clues to Sam’s life as well as building a castle for a class project on medieval life. Sam is a builder like his grandfather, but he cannot feel comfortable until he solves the mystery of his dreams. This is a great read for 3-5th grade students.

Recommended

Sequels

I just finished Hunger, sequel to Gone by Michael Grant. The second in this series came out recently, which was great, while I bide my time waiting for Catching Fire, sequel to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins as well as the sequel to Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson!

Tristan and I both read Gone and liked the idea of the story and the sequel is just as exciting.

The idea behind Gone:

Everyone over the age of 15 suddenly disappears (poof) and all the children are left to fend for themselves in Perdido Beach, CA. Children learn to live with the loss of their families as well as find a way to live day-to-day! This would be hard for my children. That basic element of good and evil, of course, comes into play. Some kids begin to step up and take charge. Sam, Astrid and Albert organize and most of kids begin to look to Sam for answers. Perdido Beach is also home to Coates, an elite prep school with its own leader, Caine. Adding Coates into the already difficult equation adds to the pure excitement.

In Hunger, good vs. evil continues to play out with Caine and Sam struggling with leadership of their own straggling “teams”. As the title suggests food is the main concern for both sides. The grocery store is down to a few meager cans and kids are choking down random jars and cans of food (you know, all the stuff kids would normally hate). Sam, Astrid and Albert know they need to organize kids into helpers, gather more food from fields and solve a few in-fighting going on amongst the town kids. There are a ton of plot conflicts back and forth-just when you think things are resting easy-BAM something else stirs it up! I love some of the characters…Sam, Astrid, Quinn! I can only hope the third book will continue their story well.

Vidalia in Paris by Sasha Watson

The cover and the first paragraph inside the front flap appealed to my sense of adventure, which reads:

“When Vidalia wins a scholarship to study art in Paris for the summer, she can’t believe her good fortune. Finally she’ll get some time away from her needy mother, and the small town where she feels like an outsider.”

I want to go to Paris! When I read the back author flap I found that the author had spent lots of time in Paris so I thought this might be a great way to “travel” there myself if even for a few hours. I liked the story and I liked Vidalia, who seemed independent at first. It was wonderful to read little snippets about cool locations in Paris. I want to go to Shakespeare and Company, the little American book store Vidalia’s mother directs her to visit. This is where Vidalia meets her first friend, Julien. Julien is a likable character and I wish more would have happened between him and Vidalia. Unfortunetely, she meets her bad guy character, Marco and well, let’s just say her independent nature goes out the window for awhile! In between Vidalia helps out an old friend and deals with her very needy mother. It’s wasn’t the great adventure I was hoping for but I do appreciate the work Sasha Watson put into her writing. I think she has what it takes and perhaps her next books will have more snap! Does anybody know if there really is a Shakespeare and Co. in Paris? I know there are in NY, but Paris? Has anybody been shopped there?
Compulsive Reader has a review.

M. Sindy Felin's Touching Snow

I purchased this book for my school library after reading about it on some random blog (wishing now I had kept track of just which blog). Even though the content is more middle school I thought I had fifth graders whowould handle the subject matter.

What is the subject matter your asking? Child abuse and the plight of immigrant families are the overriding themes of this well-written novel. The author does a brilliant job of writing in the voice of an eighth-grade young girl.

The book begins in a startling way, with Karina telling us what it feels like to walk the halls of her school after killing her step-father. I think everyone should read this book; just as I believe all humans should work in the service industry…it is important to know how the world works; really works and this book describes how child abuse works in many families!! Karina has two sisters; Enid and Delta and all three suffer beatings from their large Haitian step-father. Here the three sisters discuss how they are going to save each other as adults:

“We should all make a pact and swear that when we get married, we’ll never let our husbands treat our kids like Daddy does. We should prick our fingers and press them together and become blood sisters and swear.” (Karina says)
“We’re already sisters, Katu,” said Enid.
“Oh, yeah, I know,” I said. “but we should swear anyway.”
“How would we ever stop someone like Daddy?” Delta asked.
I shrugged. “It’s just an idea.”…
…”I think that’s a very good idea, Katu.” whispered Enid. It was all the encouragement I needed. “All you’d have to do is call for help. We could have a signal, like…like…”
“Like the eagle has landed,” said Enid.
“No!” yelled Delta as she jumped up suddenly and began twirling around and flapping her arms like a bird. “Your guardian angel has landed!”
“Yeah, something like that,” I continued.

The girls are just looking for someone to save them; saving themselves has proven to difficult. The pattern is that one girl gets a “beat-up” from Daddy and then they are forced to lie about it to any authority figure, with the girls taking the blame. It isn’t like anybody has a gun to their head to cover for “Daddy” but they know the routine. Mama needs “the Daddy” to be there in the house to pay the bills and even though, the mother is upset with the severity of the beatings, she feels the kids need his discipline to stay in line. Daddy works as a taxi driver and Mama works at a factory; often overtime to make ends meet. In any kind of abuse there is always an unwritten code to not get the offending parent in trouble and this family has the system down.

Here is another quote describing this vicious circle:

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Gaston,” said Mr. Levinson as her reached over and patted her arm. “We will do everything we can to get your family back together.”
I could not believe what I was hearing. Yeah, I knew what I had just told Father Sanon and Mr. Levinson. (the lie that she beat her sister, Enid) But if they couldn’t tell I was lying, then they were major retards. Why did I keep thinking some adult somewhere was finally going to start acting like one? Why did I think that Aunt Merlude would know what else to do when she found Enid half dead besides collapsing into a babbling heap of drool? Why did I think Uncle Jude would drive us all to the police station and rat out his brother instead of dunking Enid in a scalding salt bath, then letting the Daddy crash at his apartment? Why did I think that Mr. Levinson would listen to me tell him how I’d beaten Enid so badly she was still limping this many weeks later, then nod his head and pat my arm and say “Bullshit, Karina“?

Yes, there is a small amount of swearing, some kissing between Karina and a girlfriend, which will probably freak some people out. It fits with the story though and as the reader, I came away cheering for Karina, Delta and Enid for making their lives work amidst all the chaos. This is a wonderfully well-written tale about a harsh topic that had me racing to the end to see if any guardian angels show up to help.

Check out The Brown Bookshelf review.

The List

I’ve looked at this book, The Patron Saint of butterflies by Cecilia Galante several times at the library.
I finally brought it home to read.
I read it in one blissful day.
Interesting cast of characters including the independent and courageous Honey and when the time is right, Agnes and Benny persevere.
Religion is at the center of the story.
Not just any old religion but a cult led by Emmanuel and Veronica.
The cult began in some small Iowa town where Emmanuel was a professor.
Love the grandmother-Nana Pete (Petunia); she is not part of the cult-thank heavens!!
Winky, another cool character, has a beautiful butterfly garden(something I aspire to have also).
You should read this book just so you can see the battle that rages inside of Agnes and maybe all of us from time to time.

Always finish…

I finished The Hunger Games last night(see previous two posts), closed the book and just smiled for awhile!! Great plot, real characters (how can Katniss not realize Peeta, “the bread boy” is it!!!). Now I have three second’s I am waiting on: sequels to The Hunger Games, Chains and Gone. All previously blogged about here but I am too tired to chase down each link!! It is Friday and I did not get all my work done, even though I worked really hard all day long!!

Update on my progress

For those of you following along I am on page 222 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!! I have today to read the rest. It is so, so very good! Last night I couldn’t put it down to get some much needed sleep so as to be prepared for my day job. My honey was shocked to find me still reading when he went to bed-he’s the true night owl.

The whole dressing the “tribute’s” up, interviewing them-fascinatingly creepy!! I never watched Survivor-didn’t like the whole be mean and fake to win thing and this book is like one big game of Survivor, although the “tributes” did not choose this path for themselves. Reading it is much better than watching real people preen for the camera.
I’m on Part II, the Games and I’m loving the cat-and-mouse game Rue and Katniss have conceived! It is very well-written and I knew I was in trouble when the book made me cry by page 37! I liked Collin’s Gregor series and The Hunger Games is truly better!