Life ain't easy

Shivana is 15, living on Chicago’s South Side, has no father, and has no ambition in life. She has a job as a babysitter, which gives her a little money. It also ends up getting her pregnant because she is having an affair with the children’s father. Shivana can’t tell her mother what has happened. Her mother would be upset. Shivana must keep her secret. And she does, for a while. Soon things hit the fan and everyone knows what she has been up to. Added into the mix is a neighbor boy. Shivana wants nothing to do with him at first, but then she starts to like him.

Weaved into the story is Shivana’s unborn child who has a narrative of its own. The fetus talks about its previous lives with other mothers. It’s a unique concept that I haven’t seen, but at times it can be long winded, and I wanted to get back to Shivana’s story. I enjoyed this novel, but if you are looking for a feel good ending, then keep browsing because this book isn’t for you.

However, I think the author does a wonderful job of keeping the novel realistic. While not every teen can relate to all aspects Shivana's life I believe the character's voice draws the reader in. We feel her helplessness and we also want to shout at the book and tell her that she’s making bad choices.

Teens who are looking for something realistic with an urban feel will enjoy this book.

Fantasy Fiction for Teen Girls

Ai Ling is a little different than most girls her age. She doesn’t want to get married to a man she doesn’t love. She doesn’t want to conform to the rules of a married wife which would make her subservient to her husband. However, if she does not marry she will bring shame to her family.

She doesn’t have much time to think about her martial status because she must rescue her father. Not only that but she has to fight demons along the way and vanquish a deadly foe that could destroy the entire Kingdom of Xia. While she is trying to save her kingdom from impending doom she meets Chen Young. She feels as a connection with him, but is unsure of what to do about it.

Silver Phoenix is a nice change from your typical fantasy books. The main character is female, and she is strong. She might not always be confident in every choice she makes, but I enjoyed that flaw. Ai Ling isn’t some angry, moody girl running around with a sword out to destroy everyone in her path. She is very human with a lot of emotion.

There is a lot of action in the book too. I’ve heard it said that female authors tend to write more romance than fight sequences when they write fantasy. This is not the case with Silver Phoenix. There is a ton of action sprinkled with a little romance.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I think students who enjoy fantasy will like Silver Phoenix. It has action, adventure and romance. Everything is covered in this novel. I look forward to reading Ms. Pon’s future novels.

Don't forget I have an upcoming interview with Ms. Pon which I will publish this Saturday.

Daddy's little girl

Well, I did it. I finally got around to reading an Ellen Hopkins book. These books are very popular, but I find them difficult to read. I'm not a poetry girl, never was and never will be. So I avoided these books like the plague. But, since I like to think of myself as a cool hip librarian (that's debatable of course) I gave it a go.

This is a novel about identical twins Kaeleigh and Raeanne. To everyone around them they have the perfect family. Their parents have money and good jobs, but what happens in people's homes can be shocking and disturbing. Things aren't always what they seem.

Kaeleigh has caught her father's misplaced attention (incest), while Raeanna spirals out of control and begins down the dark path of drugs sex and alcohol. The story is told in alternating chapters between the girls.

Ms. Hopkins tells this chilling story in poetry format as she has done with her other books. At first I was unsure if this format could do the story justice, but I think it does. You get a disturbing picture of the girl's family life.

Teens that loved Ms. Hopkin's other books will enjoy this one as well.

Welcome Back!

Well, school has started once again. Where did my summer go? I'm posting a few days late because of my new schedule.

Anyway, up for review is X 23: Target X. I really enjoyed the first X- 23 graphic novel and so I decided to give this one a go. It has excellent art. Mike Choi is an amazing artist and colorist Sonia Oback rocks!

This story takes place after X-23 has left the facility. She has been captured by Caption America, who works for a secret organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. Caption America is asking Laura (X-23) questions about her past.

The story is told in a series of flashbacks. The reader is reacquainted with Laura's life in the facility (which was covered in X-23: Innocent Lost), time with her aunt and cousin and also her meeting with Wolverine. While the story does cover material already presented in X-23: Innocent Lost, it does not weigh down the story and is used to refreshing readers of what Laura has gone though.

I enjoyed X- 23: Target X and wish this character would have her own series. I believe she is in the team book X- Force.

If students ejoyed the first book I think they will enjoy this one as well. I don't think anyone needs to read the first book in order to understand the story. I strongly suggest reading the first book because it's an excellent read.

BTW, my copy of The Heretic Queen came last weekend and it is AMAZING. I finished it in two days.

Dark Gothic Romance

Leslie’s life sucks. Her father drinks a little too much..ok way too much, her brother is a druggy and she is struggling to pay the bills with her job as a waitress. She is also dealing with a dark secert.

As she tires to pull her life together, Leslie decides she needs to get a tattoo. She believes that in doing so she will be reclaiming her body and it will set her free. What she doesn’t know is that this tattoo is going to link her to the fairy world and that her life will forever be changed.

I enjoyed Ink Exchange. Lets face it, I’m a cover snob and the cover caught my attention. So I decided to give it a go. I liked the story, but I did get a little confused with the characters and who belonged to each fairy kingdom. The author also wrote Wicked Lovely, and I’ve gotten conflicting reports on which book to read first. Is this a series? So I never read Wicked Lovely, which could be one reason why I was confused.

Looking beyond that point I enjoyed the characters, and the pacing of the novel. There was also a little romance thrown in, which added to the story. It was really cool to read about a fairly/human love affair. The vampire thing has been done to death so I applaud Ms. Marr for trying something different.

I think the same teens who liked the Twilight Series will enjoy Ink Exchange.

Young Adult Books aren't Important

It’s the day after Christmas and I decide to head out to the bookstore because I have been waiting for The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. This is the third book in the Gemma Doyle series.

Now, this series has become very popular. I do believe that A Great and Terrible Beauty made it to the New York Times best-selling list.

Sweet. Hence, one would think the book would be easy to find.

Wrong.

I went to my local Barnes & Nobel store (the one on Rt. 31). B&N has bestsellers and all the popular authors, so they must have Ms. Bray’s latest book.

Wrong.

In fact, when I asked the lady behind the counter where I could find the book she told me, “We don’t have any in stock but we can order it.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This is one of the most popular teen series and one of the largest store chains doesn’t have it in stock? Unacceptable.

So I went to Walden book store, thinking that well maybe they would have it. Again they didn’t have it either. Well, I take it back. They had it, somewhere in the back, but couldn’t find the book. The young lady helping me was very kind in trying to locate the book, but with a store growing with costumers who needed assistance she had to abandon me. I could accept that but I couldn't accept that somewhere in the back was a missing box of books. If it had been a box of Harry Potter books do you think they would have lost them?

I went to Target. It was a last ditch attempt to try and find the novel. I went to the small YA section and was greeted by empty shelves. I had struck out again.

I'm sorry but I'm more than annoyed. This is a hot YA series. If James Patterson or Jodi Picoult had released a book the day after Christmas do you think it would be proudly displayed and well stocked in Barnes & Nobel? You better believe it would. But, since this is a YA book it deserves to be overlooked?

So the quest contiunes. I could always order it from Amazon, but by the time I do that my Christmas break will be over and I won't have time to read it. Plus, that's not the point of this little rant. The point is that if this had been an adult book by a popular author I do believe things would have been handled differently. But I guess if it's a young adult book it just doesn't matter, that is, unless you are J.K. Rowling.

For those who wish to find more information on the series Random House has a great website:

Gemma Doyle Series

Gray's Got a Gun

Gray Wilton wants his misery to end.

When he enters Greenford High School Gray believes a new school is just what he needs. Things are going to be better, that’s what he keeps telling himself. The students won't pick on him anymore.

Unfortunately, his loser status follows him.

Gray tries to fit in at his new school, and things are going well until he meets Zorro one of the football jocks. Soon Gray's life becomes horrible.

There is a lot of mental and physical abuse throughout the novel. Ms. Gardner does an excellent job of portraying the pain Gray faces and also his helplessness.

Gray tries to escape into his music and tries to avoid Zorro and his crew, but nothing seems to work. His parents, teachers and the students will not help him.

With no one to turn to Gray decides he is going to stop Zorro from hurting him. The only way to end his pain is to take a loaded gun to school.

I truly enjoyed this book because it makes people think. It makes you wonder if there are Grays in your school. Is there a student who teachers/administrators ignore even though that student is bullied? Is there a student in your school who you pick on?

It’s a sad, powerful story and is a must read for teachers, principals, parents and students.

Twilight Movie Information

On her website Stephenie Meyer’s has posted information for the upcoming movie based on her novel Twilight. The novel reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Kristen Stewart will be playing Bella Swan. Ms. Stewart has been in Panic Room and her latest film is Into the Wild.

I am looking forward to this movie, I also need to finish the series. For those of you who do not know Ms. Meyer has two other books. They are New Moon and Eclipse(which was published August).

You can find more information about the movie on Ms. Meyer’s site.

Twilight: The Movie