Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You
By Elizabeth Scott
HarperTeen, 2009. 276 pgs. Young Adult

As this book unfolds, Amy is just getting out of a treatment center where she has put drinking behind her and has scarcely begun to deal with the death of her best friend, Julia. Feeling responsible for Julia's death, Amy can't adjust to life without her friend. Drifting through life, Amy tries not to and to avoid any of the few people who actually talk to her, while her psychiatrist raises issues that Amy would rather not deal with.

Amy's grief and self-imposed isolation are poignantly portrayed. The characters are realistically developed, with depth showing both their strong points and their flaws. I almost returned this book to the library without reading it, but I decided to read the first chapter instead--and ending up finishing it in one day. This is one of those books that invites you in and then haunts you after you finish it.

AE

Stitches: a Memoir

Stitches: a Memoir
by David Small
Norton, 2009. 329 pages. Biography.

Many know David Small as the Caldecott-winning illustrator of So You Want to be President, and of multiple other children's books, but in this memoir, he illustrates the grimmest of childhoods--his own. Small grew up in Detroit, predictably pictured as a gray wash, but his home and his own interior landscape are equally dark. His mother, who mostly communicated her anger and displeasure with slammed cupboard doors and weeklong silences, had no warmth to offer her sons. His father, a doctor, treated David's sinus problems with X-ray treatments and when a growth appeared on his neck, his parent's ignored it for three years (just a "cebaceous cyst") until he lost one of his vocal cords, his thyroid gland, and was thought to be on the way to losing his life, though no one actually ever told him he had cancer. Small's artistic gifts are richly evident here where what at first seems to be a simple sketch is really a deeply nuanced expression. Powerful and distressing, Stitches makes Small's off-stage redemption seem almost a miracle.

The Squad: Perfect Cover

The Squad: Perfect Cover
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Laurel-Leaf Books, 2008. 275 pgs. Young Adult

Toby Klein is somewhat of an outcast at her high school and she is fine with that. She loves her combat boots and hacking into important websites. But she never imagined that she would be recruited for the cheerleading team. What Toby quickly discovers, though, is that the squad is actually a cover for a group of underage operatives for the United States government (if the girls serve for two years in the squad, at the age of eighteen they become CIA operatives). Toby is unsure of this whole set-up, but discovers the cheerleading squad might not be so evil after all.

You might be tempted to think this is a rip-off of the Gallagher Girls series, but it has enough differences that it doesn’t feel like it. This was a quick and fun read about a girl discovering that outer appearances don’t always tell the whole story about someone or something.

MN

The Yankee Years

The Yankee Years
By Joe Torre and Tom Verducci
Doubleday, 2009. 502 pgs. Non-fiction

Joe Torre had just been fired from his third job and wasn't sure he'd ever manage again when he was offered the job managing the New York Yankees. Although he was their fourth choice, he turned out to be a good one, managing the team for twelve years and leading them to four World Series titles.

In this book, readers get an inside view into Torre himself and his managing views, but also get to look at Yankees players and the dynamics of baseball. The book touches on the issues of steroids, free agent signings and trades made by the Yankee higher-ups, money issues, and more. Although it would be tempting for an ousted manager to resort to mudslinging, Torre and Verducci have written a book that is insightful, candid, and classy.

AE

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie
By Maggie Stiefvater
Llewellyn Publications, 2009. 352 pages. Young Adult

James Morgan is a prodigiously talented musician who attends the Thornking-Ash School of Music with his best friend Deirdre. He has long been harboring an unrequited crush on Dee who is beautiful, mournful, and sees Faeries. James is tired of pining after Dee and bored with the conservatory. Nuala is an alluring faerie muse who sets her sights on James. As she states at the beginning of the novel, “I liked them young, talented, male. The more handsome the better.” Nuala sucks the life force out of her victims while at the same time inspiring them to be creative geniuses. Due to his previous experiences with faeries James is the first mortal to say no to Nuala’s bargain. However, as Dee pines for a lost boyfriend and behaves in an increasingly bizarre manner James turns to Nuala for friendship. James soon learns that both Dee and Nuala are in danger from the new Queen of the Fey.

James only plays a minor, albeit charming, role in the first Faerie novel Lament. I was happy to see an entire book devoted to him in Ballad. James is the driving force behind this novel which doesn’t focus as much on plot as the characters. James is skittish, eccentric, artistic and a rebel. Although I didn’t personally like this novel as much as Lament I still enjoyed inhabiting Stiefvater’s edgy supernatural world for the hours it took me to read the book. I would recommend reading Lament before Ballad.

ALC

Heat Wave

Heat Wave
By Richard Castle
Hyperion, 2009. 198 pgs. Mystery

NYPD Homicide Detective Nicki Heat was been assigned to many grisly crimes and difficult assignments but none have tried her ability to follow orders as has her Chief’s request to allow journalist Jamison Rook tag along on her investigations. Her most recent case involves the murder of a real estate mogul which becomes more personal when Heat’s own safety is in question. Dealing with Rook quickly becomes the least of her worries.

This book is written for fans of the TV series Castle which is now in its second season. The book’s actual author is unknown but the cover lists Richard Castle, the main character on the TV show, as the writer and includes a recommendation from James Patterson who has guest starred in several episodes. If you like the show, you’ll enjoy this quick mystery alluding to some of your favorite characters.

CZ

Open

Open: An Autobiography
By Andre Agassi
Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 385 pgs. Biography

Andre Agassi was born to a father obsessed with raising the world’s greatest tennis player. His childhood was spent practicing and drilling in the tennis court that occupied the family’s back yard. Later, he would be shipped to Florida to attend an intense tennis camp where he struggled with academics eventually dropping out of school in the 9th grade. Despite his hatred for the game, his father’s drills and his own natural talent propelled him into the world of professional tennis while he was still a teenager struggling to define himself.

This is a fantastic autobiography of an athlete who seems to have found peace with himself as his career drew to an end. The honesty with which he tells his story feels heartfelt and sincere. He admits mistakes and poor judgment, gives credit to the close friends and family who helped him achieve his goals, and presents an intriguing view of the loneliness he often felt on the court. This book belongs beside Armstrong’s It’s Not About the Bike and other insightful and inspirational athletic biographies.

CZ

Dragon Spear

Dragon Spear
By Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury, 2009. 248 pgs. Young Adult
Creel's adventures continue when she, her brother, and her betrothed travel across the seas to visit their dragon friends and become involved in a battle against an alien group of dragons that has kidnapped Queen Velika, endangering her and her expected litter of hatchlings.

It was touch and go for most of this book and I wasn’t sure if everything was going to turn out ok. I don’t want to give anything away, just know that I really liked this third book. By the end of this trilogy, I’ve decided that talking dragons are okay when the characters are as charming as the ones developed by Jessica Day George.

AMM

Dragon Flight

Dragon Flight
By Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury, 2008. 262 pgs. Young Adult
Young seamstress Creel finds herself strategizing with the dragon king Shardas once again when a renegade dragon in a distant country launches a war against their country, bringing an entire army of dragons into the mix.

I enjoyed reading about the further adventures of Creel. Jessica Day George kept the action coming in the second book of her dragon trilogy. Again she left us with a cliff hanger, so of course I had to read the third book to see how it all would end.

AMM

Dragon Slippers

Dragon Slippers
By Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury, 2007. 324 pgs. Young Adult
Orphaned after a fever epidemic, Creel befriends a dragon and unknowingly inherits an object that can either save or destroy her kingdom.
I’ve owned this book for a few years, but had not read it until a week or so ago. I picked it up on a whim, not sure how I would like it since I’m not a big fan of talking dragons.

However I couldn’t put this book down. It was the perfect blend of adventure, romance, and fantasy. In fact after finishing Dragon Slippers I found out that it was the first in a trilogy, so I spent much of my Thanksgiving weekend reading the rest of the trilogy.

AMM

Distant Waves: a novel of the Titanic

Distant Waves: a novel of the Titanic
By Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic Press, 2009. 330 pgs. Young adult fiction.

Raised by a strong, spirited mother who works as a ghost medium, Jane Taylor's life is far from ordinary. Along with her sisters--Mimi, Blythe, Emma, and Amelie--she finds herself transplanted at a young age to Spirit Vale, a gathering place for all people who claim to be mediums for the spirit world. Despite such an environment, Jane manages to maintain strong common sense and even develops skepticism towards spiritualism. When she travels with her sister Mimi to New York in order to interview the fascinating scientist, Tesla, the lives of all the Taylor women are affected by the chain of following events, most particularly by Mimi's invitation to sail on the Titanic.

It is rather misleading that this book is titled "a novel of the Titanic." Although the infamous ship does make its appearance in the story, it doesn't surface until the later portion. It makes for a dramatic ending but may be a bit disappointing for readers who expect the book to be all about the Titanic. That being said, I actually preferred Weyn's decision to leave the Titanic scene for the end. The reader gets the chance to know the characters as they grow up and develop a stronger feeling for them rather than being thrown into their lives only while they are on the ship. I thought the constant stream of two dimensional famous characters was too forced and really detracted from the story, although some readers may be delighted with such references. The thread of romance was a nice touch and the tie between history and the supernatural was quite intriguing. Being simply written, this book might be more appropriate for 5th and 6th grade readers or perhaps teenagers looking for an easy read. It could definitely be an option for readers needing historical fiction but wanting more of a story. Although not Weyn's best work, it was still worth reading.

CW

The World is Flat: a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

The World is Flat: a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
By Thomas L. Friedman
Farrar, Straw, and Giroux, 2006. 488 page. Nonfiction

This book was more than I expected. It gives a brief overview of how computer technology has developed and impacted the world since the advent of the PC. The PC was followed by Windows which was followed by the world wide web, all of which create a platform for doing business in an entirely new way. The effect is to connect people, information, and materials, from the various levels of society and from disparate places on earth. There is some really interesting innovation going on. For example, did you know that UPS is repairing busted laptops? (silly me, I just thought they did deliveries).

Despite the array of interesting information, I felt that this book contained too much repetitive information--in fact, I think the book could have been much more effective if it were edited down to about half its size (it's 660 pages). I actually listened to this on CD so it was 15 discs (over 19 hours). An interesting feature of the audio program was that whenever the text of the book would refer to itself it substituted the words "audio program". Highly recommended, despite the length.

Fakes & Forgeries

Fakes & Forgeries: The True Crime Stories of History’s Greatest Deceptions
By Brian Innes
Reader’s Digest, 2005. 256 pgs. Nonfiction

This fascinating book covers the details behind the criminals and victims of the infamous and not so infamous scams played throughout the world. Fake money, stolen identities, forged works of art, and even medical scams are discussed. In some instances I couldn’t believe how gullible people could be and in others I was surprised the person was ever caught. It was interesting to discover that even the imitations have become collectable and valuable in their own right. Overall a fun book to flip through with pictures on every page making it great for adults and teens.

KK

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty
By Jenny Han
Simon & Schuster, 2009. 276 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Isabel, nicknamed Belly, truly lives for the summer time. Not just like every other fifteen year old kid yearns for summer vacation. All other seasons - fall, winter, spring, are just time to pass until she can return to the beach house, and more importantly, the brothers Jeremiah and Conrad. Every summer Isabel, with her mom and brother Steven, go to the beach house of her Mom’s wealthy best friend Susannah. Susannah is the mother of Jeremiah and Conrad who have been everything to Isabel – annoyances, friends, brothers, and crushes. Belly has long fought to be included in the trio of three older boys on equal footing. Perhaps it is only then, she feels, that Conrad will take her seriously. Since she was small Belly has nursed an obsession with him and longs for a reciprocal relationship. His increasing moodiness however, has turned her attentions away from him and towards fun loving Jeremiah. The instant the brothers notice her this summer Belly knows it will be different, because this is the summer she has turned pretty.

Author Jenny Han has her master’s degree in Creative Writing for children. As a result the writing is above average and capably describes a coming-of-age summer. The teenagers in this novel must decipher the adults around them while trying to sort out their changing relationships with each other. Belly must learn how to discriminate between feelings of love, lust, infatuation and friendship as she copes with the attention she now attracts from boys. Although there are many books with similar themes Han’s writing approaches them with a realism and subtlety similar to Sarah Dessen.

ALC

Googled

Googled: The End of the World as We Know It
By Ken Auletta
Penguin Press, 2009. 384 pgs. Nonfiction

Google is one of the most powerful companies and brands in business today. This book describes how it got there. Founded by two college friends, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google quickly came to dominate the online search market though it was years before they were actually able to monetize their product and start making money. Closely tied to Google’s history is the history of the Internet and media. Google’s seemingly effortless rise corresponds with the increasingly desperate fall of print or broadcast media. Auletta presents the opinions of many key players in this high stakes struggle to inform and entertain the world and make money while doing it.

Googled is an interesting look at the wave Google has created. They are so frequently featured in the news, sometimes as the villain and sometimes as the hero, that it is difficult to decide to love them or hate them. Auletta presents an even report without giving too much credit to the company’s obvious desire to improve the world, nor too much blame for their failure to incorporate copyright law into their business plans. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in current media trends and how the Internet and Google has changed our world.

CZ

Surrounded by Strangers

Surrounded by Strangers
By Josi S. Kilpack
Bonneville Books, 2003. 242 pgs. Fiction

Pamela Bennion isn't who she pretends to be. Working as a waitress in a low-end truck stop, she's desperate to hide her children from their abusive father--and to keep the law from finding her before she can build her case against her ex-husband. Although she has a few safe contacts, she has maintained her distance from all others, trusting no one. But when Bryan Drewry sweeps into her life just as her children's safety is at risk, she finds it necessary to rely on him more than she would like.

A mixture of romance and mystery, this book has a good plot, with a mother who will do anything to protect her children and an evil, powerful villain. The romance develops a bit quickly for my tastes, but overall, it was an intriguing concept.

AE

The Forgotten Man

The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression
By Amity Shlaes
HarperCollins, 2007. 464 pgs. Nonfiction

Shlaes takes a look at the Great Depression from a financial standpoint and examines how the main characters involved in the economic crisis did not fully understand the financial workings of it. She also details the stories of people I never learned about in school who had an impact on the Depression. Shlaes talks about how the Depression and New Deal affected the “Forgotten Man” and how both political parties used that phrase for different ends. Shlaes' large examination of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and how he conducted business during the Depression through the New Deal and other efforts will infuriate you regardless of your political beliefs and feelings about FDR. You will either be appalled at the seemingly random way he targeted businesses, people, and the Supreme Court justices or you will be appalled that Shlaes think he did all those things as part of a mighty power struggle.

This was a hard book for me to finish. I love history, but the economics in this book went over my head at times and made the reading somewhat tedious. Shlaes also recounts the tales of so many people that I just could not remember who some of them were. She also included some details that I felt were unnecessary and dragged the narrative down a bit. But it was a somewhat interesting look at how the people in Washington and others prolonged the Great Depression.

MN

Your Inner Fish

Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
By Neil Shubin
Pantheon Books, 2008. 229 pgs. NonFiction

Neil Shubin, respected paleontologist and professor of anatomy, takes his readers on a journey through the history of life on our planet. He uses human anatomy to demonstrate how we share structure and function with some of the most basic and humble creatures to occupy our world. From fish to worms to flies, life on this planet is integrally linked and that linkage is continually reinforced through scientific discoveries being made each day.

I am usually a big fan of science writing, but I admit that I had a hard time really enjoying and engaging with this book. I’m not sure if it was the writing, the narration, or the subject matter that threw me off. If a reader is interested in anatomy, paleontology, or the theories of evolution, this book would definitely be of interest. But I wouldn’t recommend it for a summer beach read.

CZ

In Defense of Food

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
By Michael Pollan
Penguin Press, 2008. 244 pgs. Nonfiction

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Thus starts the book written by Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. He admits that he sort of hates to give it all away right there at the beginning, but that’s basically the conclusion. Of course he spends the rest of the book explaining just what he means. For instance, it may seem moronic to encourage people to “eat food,” but he means real food, from the ground to your stomach in as few steps as possible, and he explains why. A large portion of the book is devoted to decrying industrial food processing, and explaining how after so much processing it’s not even what he considers a food anymore, but rather a “food product” – lacking in nutrients even though the label may deceptively advertise one strong nutrient like “more fiber!” He makes some excellent points and notes a lot of very interesting studies to illustrate how the processing of food is failing us nutritionally and aesthetically.

I didn't realize this would be so much about the processed versus unprocessed food debate (which I have never tried to learn about before), but still I found this book very interesting. There are some points he made that I don’t necessarily agree with - for instance, I think there are some foods that can still be valuable even if some processing has taken place, but he really comes off discrediting processing of any kind. The book is split into three sections, and really if you just wanted some good motivation and suggestions for healthy changes you could make to your diet, you could read the last section which is devoted to an annotated list of he thinks we should do differently. After reading this, I’ve made my own list of what I think I can and want to change, and I’m motivated to do it knowing what I do after reading the book.

BHG

The Boyfriend List

The Boyfriend List
By E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press, 2005. 229 pgs. Young Adult

Ruby Oliver's life has fallen apart. She's managed to lose her boyfriend, her best friend, and every other other friend. She's managed to acquire quite the reputation and the tendency to have panic attacks. Her parents decide she'll need to see her shrink, and Doctor Z tells Ruby to make a boyfriend list--a list with every boy she's ever dated or even thought about dating. Ruby embarks on a journey to understand her interaction with the opposite sex and how she ended up in such a mess.

Ruby is a highly engaging narrator, providing little asides in the form of footnotes which really added to the humor of the book. Ruby's voice is so realistic and strong, and the story is so painfully true to high school that readers will likely be reminded of their own experiences (or those of someone they know).

AE

Appaloosa

Appaloosa
By Robert B. Parker
G. P. Putman’s Sons, 2005. 276 pgs.

Lawmen, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, are for hire to clean up the roughest towns. Their friendship spans over a decade of watching each others’ back. They can take on the toughest of men, even Randall Bragg, a man who will not back down. But Virgil’s and Everett’s friendship is tested when Allison French comes to town.

Parker known for his mysteries has no problem switching genres into the Western arena. Fans of Larry McMurtry will be pleased to add this author to their list to read.

KK

A Wreath for Emmett Till

A Wreath for Emmett Till
By Marilyn Nelson

Houghton Mifflin, 2005. 34 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Marilyn Nelson weaves an intricate memorial for Emmett Till, whose murder in 1955 helped spark the civil rights movement. In fifteen sonnets, Nelson's haunting poetry alludes both to Emmett Till's tragic situation as well as other instances of discrimination and hate and wonders what Emmett Till's life would have been like if he'd been allowed to live, rather than dying as a teenager.

Although the book is short, it certainly packs a punch. The illustrations also highly enhance the content. A wonderful lesson about history, this book would also be useful in discussions of poetry. Nelson's crown of sonnets has each poem starting with the last line of the previous poem, and then the fifteenth poem brings together the first lines of each of the fourteen previous poems--and manages to have the first letter of each line come together to spell out RIP Emmett Till. An amazing example of poetry, as well as a moving examination of Emmett Till's murder.

AE

Brothers in Battle

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends
By William Guarnere
Berkley Caliber, 2007. 296 pgs. Nonfiction

William Guarnere and Edward (Babe) Heffron were two of the World War II paratroopers with 101st Airborne (Easy Company) who parachuted into France on D-Day. Easy Company later parachuted into Holland for Operation Market Garden and were surrounded by the Germans but held out during the Battle of the Bulge. Lifelong friends, the two men were interviewed by Stephen Ambrose for “Band of Brothers” and were advisers on the set of the film based on the book. “Brothers in Battle” presents first- hand accounts from these two men as they were interviewed by Robyn Post.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, these two men would never call themselves heroes; but their tenacious courage in battle, along with others of the 101st Airborne, has earned them the title nonetheless. Members of the 101st Airborne remained close after the war through annual reunions and visits to the countries where they fought. This made them the perfect group to be interviewed by Ambrose about World War II, resulting in the book and film. The audio presentation of their stories, read by Dick Hill, is engaging, genuine, and moving and I highly recommend it.

SH

Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia

Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia
By Robert Lacey
Viking, 2009. 404 pgs. Nonfiction

Robert Lacey is the author of twenty books, including “The Kingdom” which was published in 1983. He has lived in Saudi Arabia for the last three years. “Inside the Kingdom” traces the impact of the uprising in Mecca in 1979, the contradictory consequences of the invasion of Kuwait and the repercussions of 9/11 on Saudi society. He gives enough historical background to help the reader understand the religious and political background of Arabia. Of greatest interest are his interviews with Saudi citizens through which we can see the impact of outside events on peoples’ lives and attitudes.

The last thirty years have been critical ones for the world and for the nation of Saudi Arabia. Lacey does an excellent job of summing up Saudi attitudes and the direction the royal family is trying to take Saudi in the years to come. “Inside the Kingdom” is accessible and interesting, even for those who know little about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SH

Nine Dragons

Nine Dragons
by Michael Connelly
Little, Brown, 2009. 374 pgs. Mystery

When Harry Bosch draws a case in South L. A. apparently involving the triads, an ancient and pervasive Chinese criminal organization, he pursues his usual methodical but intense search for the perpetrators. But when he receives a message from his daughter, held hostage in Hong Kong, he goes ballistic and speeds to Kowloon to take on the triads in their den. Many surprises, not to mention a pile of red herrings and lots of gunplay greet Harry in the Orient. His relentless, breakneck, sometimes wrongheaded pursuit of his daughter and her captors leads to multiple tragedies on either side of the Pacific and irony piled on irony. But the ultimate thoughtfulness of the narrative doesn't slow the action in the slightest and one can hardly turn the pages fast enough. One final shooting along with a kicker ending seem a bit much, but Connelly and Bosch are close to unbeatable in the police procedural division and Nine Dragons is no exception with the bonus of an exotic locale.

LW

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture
By Ellen Ruppel Shell
Penguin Press, 2009. 296 pages. Nonfiction

When I picked up this book, I doubted what the author could discuss that might convince me that buying cheap is a bad idea. I am a firm believer in buying local products, though they may cost more, but beyond that I couldn’t see the disadvantage. Shell certainly brings up some good points that the American obsession with bargain-hunting and low-price goods has a direct correlation to lower wages for workers and reduced quality of goods for consumers. The book does discuss small things we can do to make changes, but nothing shows how consumers, on a mass scale, can make effective changes to the world of retail.

I did find the book interesting and not too dry. I especially enjoyed the chapters on the psychology behind pricing where Shell revealed how retailers manipulate subconscious bargain triggers that affect us even though we may be aware of them.

AJ

Odyssey

Odyssey
By Homer; Translated & Narrated by Stanley Lombardo
Parmenides Audio, 2006.
Nonfiction

One of the greatest heroes of all time, Crafty Odysseus, is the focus of this ancient yet enduring story. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' return home from the Trojan War. Odysseus spent 10 years with the other Greeks trying to take down the Trojans. He spends the next ten years trying to return home (difficult when the Gods are against you).

He begins with 12 ships and many crew members. He eventually is a lone man on raft. When he does arrive back in Ithaca he does so incognito, disguised as a beggar. From this vantage he determines who of his household has been loyal and who hasn't. Ultimately, those that have been disloyal or have been preying upon his household are all killed by Odysseus and his son, Telemachus. This is fantastic adventure story.

I listened to this on CD and found the narration quite enjoyable. Stanley Lombardo, the translator, reads the main text and Susan Sarandon reads the general introduction and the introduction to each chapter. Prior to each segment was music--drums, pipe, etc. and the sound of the surf--a nice touch.

As You Wish

As You Wish
By Jackson Pearce
HarperCollins, 2009. 298 pages
Young Adult Fiction

Viola, an artist, would rather sit back and watch her high school peers than interact with them. In particular, Viola is entranced by the beautiful and popular set that she calls, “royalty.” Viola is still devastated by her breakup with her hot best friend Lawrence, who is now part of the royal group. Ever since Lawrence surprised everyone, especially Viola, by announcing his homosexuality his popularity has soared. While sitting in English class one day Viola wishes she didn’t feel invisible. A beautiful young man with dark curls appears to grant her wish. Jinn comes from Caliban, a world where there is no individuality or love. When summoned by a human he must grant three wishes and then return rapidly to Caliban or die. However, Viola doesn’t want to make the wrong three wishes. As Jinn is stuck in Earth, chained to his “master”, he and Viola have long conversations. Eventually Viola wonders if she really wants her wishes granted and Jinn to return to Caliban.

Although there is some cleverness in this novel Jackson Pearce is a young author. The primary character, Viola, doesn’t feel she will be complete or belong to anything unless she has an extraordinary boyfriend. To her credit, the author does have Viola eventually speculate on why she feels so hollow in the first place. But I felt like Pearce’s answers to Viola’s problems were too shallow and based on the philosophy that a boy will solve a girl's problems. That said, the characters were mostly likable. In addition, Pearce does write some discerning dialogue about the difference between what we wish for, and what desire that wish really represents.

ALC

Front and Center

Front and Center
By Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Houghton Mifflin, 2009. 256 pgs. Young Adult

D.J. just wants to blend back into the background; she doesn’t want to be the center of attention anymore. This is proving hard to do though as colleges start noticing her basketball abilities and as a boy in school is flirting with her in front of everyone. As the pressure mounts for her to pick a college and her heart tells her to talk to Brian, D.J. is feeling more and more out of sorts.

Fans of the Dairy Queen series will want to read this latest book about D.J. It’s been a while since I have read the last one, but it felt good to be reading about D.J.’s problems again in her realistic teen voice.

MN

The Demon's Lexicon

The Demon's Lexicon
By Sarah Rees Brennan
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009. 322 pgs. Young adult fiction.

Nick's world consists of battling and running from magicians and their captive demons, along with his brother, Alan. When two siblings become tangled in their world, all sorts of complications arise, the most important being that Alan is death marked by a demon. In Nick's relentless quest to heal Alan, he uncovers devastating truths that could break him completely.

Great characters and an unusual plot make this an interesting novel. Nick's particularly dark, brutally honest personality really contrasts with Alan's sweet but deceiving nature. I definitely struggled with wanting Nick to show more compassion and yet admiring him for his nerves of steel. With the addition of other unique and complex people in the mix, this story is captivating. I'm certainly looking forward to the next book in the series, especially with the cliffhanger ending.

CW