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I have such passion for this little novel! When I complete a book and it actually results in me wanting to stand up and DO something, that's a good book and with The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher, that "thing" was glass blowing. I SO want to learn how to do the amazing art that gets so much attention in the book. Pick it up...you'll see what I mean by the end.

Alice has been best friends with Jewel since they were little kids. They do everything together and are really able to be themselves in front of each other, sharing the art they both love, a passion for great coffee, and Indie shows. Both are perfectly fine with just each other and not being a part of the popular crowd. Until the day that Alice and Jewel share their first kiss AND Alice gets asked out by Simon, one of the popular guys. Alice starts to feel a pull towards Simon, yearning for something different and new, unfortunately, leaving Jewel behind.

As both Alice and Jewel explore new and incredibly different aspects of life, both with relationships, friendships, and art, each starts to grow more towards each other, whether either wants to acknowledge it.

What I really loved about this (besides the glass blowing) was how real Alice was. I could really be best friends with her, walking down the streets of Seattle, going to art shows and drinking awesome coffee. I also had great vibes towards both Jewel and Simon. Simon was never portrayed as the guy that came to steal the girl away and Jewel wasn't shown as the jealous best friend. Both seemed as if they were genuine and just plain nice!

The writing is fabulous and the realistic feel to the characters and setting are beautifully done. I felt pure happiness as I closed the cover on this book and had to just sit back and think about it for awhile. Liz Gallagher really did a great job at connecting with teens on this one.

To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

Every now and then, what we all need in our lives is a bit of suspense. I've been reading quite a few young adult novels lately and I can't really tell you that I've come across a whole lot of suspense during my reading. That is, until I read Shift.

Written by Jennifer Bradbury, the suspense starts within the first few pages when we meet Chris and his best buddy Winston. The pair are graduating from high school and as one last adventure before they go off to the colleges their parents are insisting they attend, they've decided to take a bike trip across the country. Unfortunately, once the trip has ended, only Chris returns. Win is nowhere to be found and Chris doesn't have any answers to give the people that want them.

Alternating between Chris's first week at college, intertwined with the investigation launched into finding Win, and the actual bike trip the guys took, allowing the reader to search for clues as to where Win might have gone and how he decided to leave. Though the boys had been best friends forever, it becomes clear that Chris didn't know his friend nearly as well as he thought he did, leaving him to question if he even knows himself.

Though a tad bit predictable, Shift is definitely one of the better coming-of-age books I've read this year. Chris is a great main character, carrying an air of sadness around with him, leaving the reader to sympathize with the situation he is in because of his friend. The suspense is constantly felt as well, not to mention a great sense of adventure when the tales of the bike trip are being told. It made me want to break out my bike and helmet (though I would probably ride around the block, not across the country)!

If you're interested in learning more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

One of the more unique stories I've read this year, Ten Cents a Dance, written by Christine Fletcher is written on a subject that I had yet to encounter in a young adult book. The writing was fantastic, the characters lovely, and the overall presence of the novel fresh and new. Oh...and the cover? I wanted to see the rest of that photo SO badly! Most mysterious...Definitely a winner!

Living in the 1940's during incredibly difficult times, 15 year old Ruby is forced to quit school and work to support her ill mother and younger sister. Laboring in a factory packing pigs feet into jars is not exactly Ruby's idea of glamorous and she knows that she's being made old before her time. Her joints ache, her fingers are swollen, and her heart simply isn't in her job. Can you blame her?

When a super slick bad boy gets her a job doing something Ruby really loves, dancing the nights away, she feels like she's fallen into a movie. Being paid to simply dance with men, maybe flirt with them a bit, and to often leave the dance hall for dinners and nights out on the town, all dressed in pretty clothes and her makeup done, Ruby loves her new, rich lifestyle. Unfortunately, her job is looked down upon by most people, considered almost prostitution and Ruby knows she can never let her mother find out how she is now making money for the family. Soon, Ruby is drawn so far into the world of dancing and fantasy, she begins to fall into trouble and isn't quite sure how to get herself out. She can't trust anyone in the business and isn't even sure she can trust herself any longer.

The premise of Ten Cents a Dance is mesmerizing and the descriptions of the people, clothes, and atmosphere is simply amazing. I was hooked from the first page and will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I possibly can. For sure, one of my favorites of 2008!

To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

It isn't often that a book comes along leaving me hating the main character but absolutely loving the complete package! The main character in this young adult novel is so refreshingly dislikable...a strange statement, I know, but really, take my word for it here. You'll have extreme disdain for him through most of the book, but by the end you'll love him and just want to give him a hug.

When high school ski star and big man on campus, Dane begins suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, life seems to stand still. Though the syndrome is not permanent, it results in Dane being completely immobile, having to slowly regain nerve function in his entire body and re-learn even the most basic of tasks all over again.

While recovering, Dane resides in a rehabilitation home in central Florida, far from the snowy weather of his home in Upstate New York (YAY....my home too!) and very far from the verbal and mental abuse of his father. Given almost endless time to think and reflect on the past couple of years, Dane slowly begins to open his eyes to how he's treated people and why he is constantly surrounded by people, but always alone.

Monica Roe did a beautiful job of creating an incredibly egotistical, smart mouthed main character that really believes he can do no wrong. He has treated his family badly, his girlfriend badly, and his teammates badly, though truly believes all that hurt is attributed to their faults, not his. As he struggles to become whole again, Dane's thought processes begin to shift and his coldness starts to melt, leaving him to try to mend fences that he had broken with his lack of care for others.

Thaw was a true surprise to me. I really didn't like Dane in the beginning of the story, though I now see the point of the character being written the way he was. The plot is very strong and the characters all unique. This is a great teen novel and one I will most definitely be recommending to all.

Talk about a rollercoaster of emotion while I was reading Siobhan Dowd's newest novel for teens! Bog Child had me both loving it at times and really not understanding it (both plot and dialect of characters) as well as being almost bored from it at times...all mixed into one novel. Yep, it was a doozy of a read for me.

In the bogs of Northern Ireland, we meet Fergus, along with his Uncle Tally who happen to be in the bogs illegally and find the body of what appears to be a child. Fergus makes a mental connection to this child, probably a murdered child, and she comes to him in his dreams, almost haunting him. While trying to deal with this girl in his head, whom he's nicknamed "Mel," Fergus is also hurting over his brother in prison, who has decided to join the hunger strikers and starve himself, as well as the "Troubles" his parents are constantly fighting over, and his growing feelings for the daughter of the woman working on the bog child.

In the midst of all the emotion, Fergus is blackmailed into becoming a courier for unknown packages, which deep down he feels are drugs, carrying them along the troubled border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the constant fear of being caught, but having no choice but to continue. Though very aware of right and wrong, Fergus knows that this is just another instance of complete "wrong" that has wormed its way into his life, with no sign of leaving anytime soon.

The Irish dialect is, at times, incredibly difficult to understand and though there is a huge dose of history in Bog Child, it's so blatant....too obvious for my liking. Which led to boredom on some pages. And that stinks! I wanted to love it it....

So how do I put a rating on Bog Child? How do I tell you all whether or not to go out and read it? Did I love it? No. Did I like it? Sometimes. Was it exciting? Sometimes. Do I think teens will read it? No. Do I think adults will enjoy it? Probably.

Dowd writes heavy, intense, books and that's really all there is to it. So if you're willing to wade through the heaviness, not to mention the language and dialects of the Irish she has written about, then I really think you'll enjoy her books. I, unfortunately, don't think I'm that reader. Especially when I'm reading with the hopes that I've found a great book to recommend to my teens at the library...this is not that book. Adults will get the recommending of Bog Child to them, teens, probably not.

It's very difficult for me to just not "get" a novel, when I've read plenty of other blogger's rave reviews, not to mention reviews in School Library Journal and Kirkus....all loving this one. So take my review as you will. I...me...Amanda...didn't enjoy it. That doesn't mean you won't!

If you're interested in learning more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

What a cover!! Goodness, I have to say, as one who firmly stands by the "don't judge a book by its cover" rule (though we all do just that), I would have picked this up and ran home with it, even if it wasn't a Cybils nominated title. The cover is just gorgeous! Oh...and did I mention it's written by a one Ann Rinaldi? Queen of Historical Fiction Ann Rinaldi? Well it is. Great cover, great author, pretty good book.

Rinaldi steps out of her typical American history comfort zone to tackle the life of Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and eventual Queen in The Redheaded Princess. At the time in the book, Elizabeth is in her teen years; simply a princess and not a very honored one at that. Her father, the King, only loves her when he wants to and will only allow her in the actual court of his kingdom on occasion, leading Elizabeth to believe that the royal life is not a very pleasant one. She watches her father's wives come and go, often by the way of a beheading, something Elizabeth is threatened with many times. She must remain strong and positive during times when her siblings are on the throne and she does not agree with their decisions, as well as show her will and perserverence to the people of the kingdom, neither an easy task for Elizabeth.

I am not typically the first one to pick up a historical novel, especially if it is not one of American history, however I did enjoy The Redheaded Princess. I will complain that, at times, Elizabeth sounded as if she were much older than she actual was, especially when she was professing love at age 8, but I did learn a lot about the time period and the difficult lives royalty actually led.

If someone was coming to Rinaldi's work for the first time, I probably wouldn't recommend The Redheaded Princess as a starting point, but it's definitely worth reading if you've read the author's work previously. It's filled with historical elements and relationships, a combination which many enjoy.

If you're interested in learning more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

This is Deb Caletti's fifth novel for young adults, but only the first I've read all the way through. I tried last year to read The Nature of Jade, but for some reason, it just didn't grab me at the time...I know, I know, I must go back to it...a lot of you really liked it and now, after finishing The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, I'm totally sold!

Indigo Skye not only has a slightly um....interesting name, she has an interesting and unique life. While finishing up her senior year of high school, she's dating a former addict, turned super-cool guy and she's a waitress at a small diner, where she loves, loves, loves her regulars and of course, her quirky bunch of co-workers. Indigo isn't planning to head to college after high school, a fact that is actually somewhat alright with her mom (a point you don't often get in books) and really just enjoys living her life in the moment. When a new customer leaves her an extra special tip after his meal, a 2.5 million dollar tip to be exact, all of those "living in the moment" aspects of life Indigo loves so much go out the window. Determined to not be one of those people that is instantly changed by money, Indigo wants to give the money back to the customer, but her family and boyfriend have already started spending it for her.

My poor husband wanted to kick me out of bed last night, as I was keeping him up with my constant chuckling while reading this. I flagged so many great passages, but these are a few of my favorites:

When talking about why she loves waitressing, Indigo says this:
"See, I loved being a waitress more than anything, but apparently, it's ok to work as a waitress, but not to be a waitress. To most people, saying you want to be a waitress is like saying your dream is to be a Walgreens clerk, ringing up spearmint gum and Halloween candy and condoms, which just proves that most people miss the point about most things most of the time. Waitressing is a talent-it's about giving nourishment, creating relationships, not just about bring the ketchup (3)."

When talking about her cat, Indigo describes him like this:
"Freud has some psychological issues-he's slightly sadistic and a merciless hunter. He once sat in a tree swiping at the air in the direction of a squirrel, his focus that of a hired killer, totally oblivious to the snow that was blowing around like mad and accumulating steadily on his fur like a layer of meringue. He brings you the heads of rodents and birds, lays them down in the kitchen or on your bedroom carpet. He should have been in the Mafia (21)."
When describing how she wanted to help one of her regulars feel better, she says:
"I put in Nick's order without asking him, add an order of toast that I'll take from my tips, or rather, tip, if necessary. I want him to have something to crunch, rather than just swallow down. You are not completely helpless if you can crunch. I also ask for a hot chocolate with whipped cream, because whipped cream can remind you why it's good to be alive (113)."

Finally, my favorite:
"I hate presumptuous, overachieving appliances. Toilets that flush before you're ready; automatic. attacking seatbelts; refrigerators that beep when the door is open too long. Melanie has on of those. For God's sake, it makes me feel like my inability to decide is a criminal act. To all the pushy appliances out there, back off (130)."
I really couldn't put this one down, for both a great plot and hilarious dialog. I loved it. I cannot recommend this enough and am SO excited I've found yet another wonderful teen novel to rave about! I'll definitely be putting Deb Caletti high on my list of must-read authors. I have some catching up to do...

To learn more or to purchase, click the book cover above to link to Amazon.

I LOVED this book! I think the writing, the characters, and the plot were absolutely brilliant and I can see myself raving about this one for a long time to come. You will walk away from this book cheering for the main character and wanting a sequel so badly, just so you don't quite have to let Frankie go. I was waaay impressed to say the least. Read it!

In The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, written by E. Lockhart, the so-named Frankie Landau-Banks is a rich 16 year old attending an incredibly prestigious boarding school that both her father and her older sister have previously attended. Though not the most popular girl in school by any means, Frankie has a few good friends, a few past boyfriends, and lots of great wit about her. She's funny, smart, and has quite the chip on her shoulder, having always been considered in a lower status because she's female. When she discovers that her new boyfriend, big-man-on-campus, Matthew, is involved in the same, exclusive all-male secret society her father has always bragged about, Frankie is determined to find a way in...or make the boys involved realize just who they are dealing with.

The brilliance and wit of this novel are so refreshing and Frankie is just the girl that I always wished I could be. Brave enough to stand up to traditions she feels are unnecessary, yet likable enough to be friends with. I probably laughed out loud at every page, if not every other and wanted to kick myself for not thinking up the concept of the novel. I loved it through and through and feel it definitely deserves it's finalist status for a National Book Award. I loved, teens will love it, almost all of my adult friends are going to learn to love it! :-)

As I have explained many times on this blog, books get the thumbs up from me for many reasons, but the single most reason they get a thumbs down is if I don't feel they will actually appeal to the audience they are meant for. A book can be wonderfully written and really speak to me, but if I don't think it's going to speak to a 6 year old or a 14 year old, it's not great. Unfortunately, this is how I feel about The Shape of Water. A beautifully written book, but I cannot imagine a teenager loving it. Being part of the young adult genre, this is SO important and in my opinion, the author did not quite get there, leaving me disappointed.

The Shape of Water is written by Anne Spollen and focuses it's plot on Magda, a girl trying to survive in her world of anxiety and loneliness after her mother has passed away. She feels as if she is trapped within herself, unable to feel anything but sadness, unable to take away the fog she constantly walks through. Magda slowly begins to open up to herself, through the outlet of arson. She starts fires in the woods and marshes near her home, perhaps not meaning harm, but healing for herself instead.

Throughout the story, the reader is going to be unsure of whether Magda is simply a broken girl, hurt and devastated from her mother's death, or whether she is truly mad. She is constantly imagining fish tormenting her, forcing her to deal with family secrets and ultimately resulting in these fires that she feels are theraputic. Are the fish a metaphor for something deeper or is Magda losing her mind? I honestly don't know.

Something must be said for Spollen's writing, as it truly is beautiful. It flows well and leads to imagery and magic in the reader's mind that many authors cannot quite accomplish. However, I cannot see many teens reading past page 10, unless this is being used for an English class. It's too heavy, to thick to see the real characterization or plot points. Almost too much imagery, too much "falseness." We can't tell what is real and what's not. Maybe that was Spollen's point....to simply have us questioning Magda's mental state, but I really felt the novel focused on that aspect when it should have had us exploring the ideas of loss and loneliness instead. Adults may love it...teens, probably not so much.

Just eh.

If you're interested in learning more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

I don't usually enjoy surprises....unless it's the surprise of loving a book I never really thought I would enjoy! Fact of Life #31, written by Denise Vega definitely had the teen romance vibe going on it's book flap description, but romance is so low on the totem pole of content, it may even be labeled as "subtle." Imagine that!

Kat's mom is the infamous home-birth midwife that goes only by the name of Abra. Abra, no-last name, best midwife in the state. Kat certainly admires her mother, but she doesn't understand why this woman who allows strangers to confide in her, can't make her own daughter feel comfortable enough to share any aspect of her personal life.

Her forever-crush on super-popular Manny Cruz is one part of her social life she would life to share with her mom...like how Manny might even really like her. HER. Kat. Not necessarily a nobody, but definitely considered the weird girl, due to her yoga-in-the-hall sessions. Certainly not Manny Cruz material.

And then, what about her desires to really connect with the women that come into her mom's clinic? Why does her mom have to screw those up too? Kat knows she's a klutz and she knows her self-esteem could use a slight boost, but these women actually LIKE her. Why doesn't her mom see that? Why does she just want her to be the office girl and nothing else?

Poor Kat has a lot of different issues showing up at once, all jumbling in her head and confusing her more than ever. Does Manny like her or doesn't she? Can she be confident in the midwifery field or can't she? Will the most popular girl at school ever notice she's alive or won't she. Will her mom ever be her friend or won't she. As Kat learns the Facts of Life, you will laugh hysterically and often cringe at the pain the poor girl faces. She gets herself into some interesting situations, but seems to find a creative and funny way out of each.

I really enjoyed this title and almost wish the publisher would re-work the jacket flap description...it really turned me off at first, but once I hit page 2, I was hooked. Denise Vega has a talent for channeling a teen girl in her most vulnerable state, but still infuses strength and heart into the character. Loved it.

If you're interested in learning more about Fact of Life #31 or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.