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I first read The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark when it was released in 2004. I've re-read it at least once and talked about it many, many times since.

I've discussed this story at booktalks and conferences. I've included it on booklists, such as Coming-of-Age Novels aka Bildungsromans and Tough Issues for Teens. I've given it to regular customers, new customers, and friends.

When I was to select three titles for my Readergirlz bookmark "for the girl who has read every book in the library," I picked The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark, The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando, and Swollen by Melissa Lion. It was only after I confirmed my choices that I realized all three books dealt with loss, grief, and acceptance. (If you do get those three books - and I hope you do - make sure to also pick up The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen while you're at it.)

In other words, I've mentioned the book a great deal at this blog and in my bookstore, yet I've never written a full-length review of it. Kuz why? I don't want to spoil anything about this book. When I recommend this title to a customer or a friend, I can compare it to the books I mentioned in the previous paragraph, but then I have to bite my tongue before I speak of at least two other titles and give anything away.

* Want to know why Kuz is spelled that way? Read the book!

Spoiler-Free Summary

In my post entitled More to Life, or, Bigger Than a Breadbox, I described the book this way:

After Alison's mother passes away, she is reluctant to confide in anyone other that her long-time best friend Laurie. Alison decides to play it safe, rather than be sorry later.

Do not let anyone spoil this book for you. Just get it and read it, then come back to this post and discuss it with me. This book is poignant and real, and it gets my highest recommendation.

More Now

I'll allow myself to say a little bit more right now. Just a little.

Alison and Laurie's friendship isn't put into dire jeopardy by the arrival of Patrick Kirk. If anything, his presence further defines Alison's character. Though Alison starts to like Patrick, she doesn't want to say or do anything because Laurie has a crush on him, and she puts Laurie's happiness before her own.

The three students bond as they work for the newspaper. Outspoken Laurie starts calling her new buddy "Patrick Kirkpatrick" and can jokes around with him easily. Meanwhile, Alison quietly lives by the rules she's made for herself. She also keeps her feelings to herself and keeps everything in her backpack, rather than ever using her locker. Kuz why? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Could I say that any more? Yes, I could.

Could I tell you more? Yes, but I won't.

Read it, then share it - but don't spoil it. Those are the rules.

One of My Favorite Passages

"You're begging her?" [Laurie] asked. "You'll have to work up to that. That's one of the Alison rules."

"Alison rules?" Patrick repeated.

"Yeah. Don't worry - you'll find out," Laurie said.

- Page 27

Tidbits and Links

This morning, I reviewed Catherine Clark's forthcoming release, Wish You Were Here, which comes out in March 2008.

I plan on updating my reviews for Frozen Rodeo, Truth or Dairy, and Wurst Case Scenario, since they are being re-released with new titles and new covers in May and June 2008.

Read my previous posts about Wicked Cool Overlooked Books.

See today's WCOB roundup at Chasing Ray.

On Friday, August 3rd, I got up bright and early - which I always do, but this time, I had a very special purpose. I had been invited to speak on a panel with four other lit-happy bloggers at The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. Our panel was entitled Having Our Say: Blogging About Children's Literature. I was flattered to be in such good company and looked forward to meeting my fellow panelists - Gina from AmoXcalli, a. fortis and TadMack from Finding Wonderland and Readers' Rants, and Kelly from Big A, little a - in person.

Sadly, Gina had become ill earlier in the week and was unable to attend. However, she truly was a part of our panel, as she had created the bulk of our PowerPoint slideshow. If and when someone posts the slideshow online, I'll add a link to it in this post. Thank you so much, Gina, for all of your hard work. I hope that you are feeling better and that we do meet up in the future.

Kelly and I met up in the morning and discussed the wonders of technology and travel until TadMack and TechBoy arrived. Before we knew it, it was time for the conference to begin, and poor a. fortis was still stuck in traffic. Kelly, TadMack and I scurried into the grand ballroom, where nearly one thousand people had already gathered, and listened to the hilarious welcome speech from Lin Oliver, the SCBWI Executive Director.

The faculty members - anyone speaking on a panel - then lined up and introduced themselves one by one (or group by group - go, Class of 2k7!), with each person saying one word that represented his/her/their panel or mood. When John Green introduced himself and added, "Nerdfighters," a young woman screamed loudly to show her support.

Yes, that was me.

I apologized to Kelly and TadMack for bursting their eardrums. Shortly thereafter, we took to the stage, introduced ourselves, and said:

"Controversy . . .
" . . . conflict . . . "
" . . . and connectivity."

Oh, how I adore alliteration!

a. fortis arrived shortly after the introductions. We all headed over to the room where our panel was going to be held. While telling each other our life stories and discussing new and classic stories, we reviewed the slideshow, which ran throughout the panel.

Once our room filled up, we filled an hour with talk and laughter. I know we could have talked all day about the importance of literacy, free speech, and communication. After briefly introducing ourselves, we talked about our love of literature and of blogging while TadMack clicked through screenshots of various lit blogs and online events. We talked about The Cybils, Toon Thursday, Poetry Friday, The Edge of the Forest, readergirlz, the upcoming 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference as planned by Robin Brande, MotherReader's The 48 Hour Book Challenge, 7-Imp's 7 Kicks, The Carnival of Children's Literature, Chasing Ray's various events (the Summer Blog Blast Tour and Wicked Cool Overlooked Books plus the upcoming Winter Blog Blast Tour, Radar Recommendations, and One-Shot World Tour), Class of 2k7, The Longstockings, and more.

Many thanks to the bloggers, authors, and readers who attended our panel. Thanks also to those who sent us notes of support and good luck wishes.

I have an idea for next time: broadcast the panel live on the internet - podcast, anyone? - or incorporate a chat element, making it accessible to the everyone who can't attend in person and encouraging them to take part and ask questions.

Colleen from Chasing Ray has created many monthly or seasonal features, all of which have catchy names and intriguing acronyms. On the first Monday of every month, she posts about a Wicked Cool Overlooked Book - a book she enjoyed that she wishes others would pick up - and invites others to post their picks as well.

"It might be YA or adult, or even a picture book," she says. "All genres are welcome . . . My goal is to write about books that few others (anywhere) seem to have noticed. This is something I think newspaper reviewers do not have the time and space (or possibly inclination) to do - but lit bloggers can."

My choice for this month's WCOB (which I pronounce Wickob!) is Boy Heaven by Laura Kasischke. It came out in hardcover last August, yet I've only read one review of it other than my own.

Laura Kasischke is a published poet and author, and I may quote her during Poetry Friday this week. Boy Heaven, her first teen novel, was the first work of hers that I read. I haven't read her other novels yet, but I have her next YA novel, Feathered, on my to-read list.

If you read my blog regularly or frequently come into my store, you know how strongly I urge people not to judge books by their covers. Customers have told me that Boy Heaven looks and sounds like a teen romance novel. Oh (drawn out to four syllables, Oh-ho-ho!, but not four, because then I'd sound like Santa Claus) how wrong you are, assumptive audience! This is the stuff of urban legends. This is a creepy little thing that gets into your brain and still messes with you a year after you've read it!

Here's my original review of it:

One afternoon, three girls sneak away from cheerleading camp, planning to drive to a nearby lake. The teenagers never quite make it there. While at the gas station, the beautiful driver - Kristy Sweetland, the narrator of the tale - attracts the unwanted attention of two boys.

On the drive back, the girls attempt to lose the boys, but the narrator's best friend, Desiree, is an insatiable flirt. She prompts them to do something that only increases the boys' interest. They do eventually lose the guys and head back to camp, thinking nothing of it.

As the days go on, two of the girls think they see the boys spying on them, and one of the girls receives a threatening note in her bunk. The situation affects each girl differently: Kristy reflects on past events that have shaped her, such as the loss of her father; Desiree starts a risky relationship with a cute lifeguard; and the third girl, Kristi "with an I," becomes withdrawn and anorexic.

The vast majority of Boy Heaven is told in first person from Kristy's point of view. However, the book begins and ends in third person as the story is told around a campfire, furthering its set-up as an urban legend.

Fans of Lois Duncan ought to pick this book up. The writing style is fresh, the plot intricate, and the settings and characters quite detailed, making Boy Heaven one of this summer's most intriguing pageturners.</i>

Due to content, Boy Heaven is for older teens and adults.

Boy Heaven will be available in paperback in April, right as Kasischke's second release from HarperTeen, Feathered, is released in hardcover.