Sometimes I read a book, and I even enjoy it, but I don't have much to
say about it. I jot down a few thoughts and then I move on. Some of those are starting to pile up so I thought I
would put them all together in one post.
Some recent Contemporary YA reads, one of which I LOVED:
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
This is a well written and heart wrenching account of grieving and the process of moving on from tragedy. It is not a happy book to say the least, though it does have its lighter moments and the end is hopeful. It certainly had an effect on my mood when I was reading it, which says a lot for the strength of the writing. It is long and very character driven, there is little excitement in the plot. It is about a girl coming to terms with losing her family, being at peace with the person responsible, and making a new life for herself. I can't say I enjoyed it because it made me seriously gloomy, but I appreciate it what it for what it is.
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
I really liked Amelia. I think she is genuinely teen in a world where too many YA protags are not. She is also smart and thinks about things. Chris I had a harder time with, and not because he was such a jerk loser sometimes. I love characters who are flawed, and he could have been a bigger jerk. At least he knew he couldn't and shouldn't fool around with Amelia. I guess my problem is I really liked him but wanted to see him realize he could do better for himself? He is getting there by the end of the book, but he has a looooong way to go. I couldn't help feeling he was a lot like Tom in The Piper's Son, but I respected Tom more. Maybe because he chose to face down his demons rather than run from them? One aspect of this book I loved was the discussions on gender roles and feminism. That part was fabulous. This should be required reading for every teenager for that alone.
The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
So. Much. Fun. This is a wonderful, light, summer read. I had a hard time connecting with Maddie at first because I never really cared much about the whole popularity thing, and I thought she was a little over the top with her need to suppress what she really loved. Yet I felt sympathetic towards her and I love the whole world of this novel: the comic shop and the role playing. And I adored Logan in all of his nerdy awesomeness. It didn't hurt that he's a DJ. As my husband was an awesomely nerdy DJ when I met him this made me inclined to fall for Logan right along with Maddie.
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
I really enjoyed The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and was looking forward to this. This is another attempt at the same sort of story: unlikely meeting, relationship that develops through communication rather than physicality, stressful family issues. It didn't work as well with this set up though. There was a little too much going on and at times it goes over the top. It is still a light fun read but not nearly as engrossing or engaging as I was expecting.
Some recent Contemporary YA reads, one of which I LOVED:
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
This is a well written and heart wrenching account of grieving and the process of moving on from tragedy. It is not a happy book to say the least, though it does have its lighter moments and the end is hopeful. It certainly had an effect on my mood when I was reading it, which says a lot for the strength of the writing. It is long and very character driven, there is little excitement in the plot. It is about a girl coming to terms with losing her family, being at peace with the person responsible, and making a new life for herself. I can't say I enjoyed it because it made me seriously gloomy, but I appreciate it what it for what it is.
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
I really liked Amelia. I think she is genuinely teen in a world where too many YA protags are not. She is also smart and thinks about things. Chris I had a harder time with, and not because he was such a jerk loser sometimes. I love characters who are flawed, and he could have been a bigger jerk. At least he knew he couldn't and shouldn't fool around with Amelia. I guess my problem is I really liked him but wanted to see him realize he could do better for himself? He is getting there by the end of the book, but he has a looooong way to go. I couldn't help feeling he was a lot like Tom in The Piper's Son, but I respected Tom more. Maybe because he chose to face down his demons rather than run from them? One aspect of this book I loved was the discussions on gender roles and feminism. That part was fabulous. This should be required reading for every teenager for that alone.
The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
So. Much. Fun. This is a wonderful, light, summer read. I had a hard time connecting with Maddie at first because I never really cared much about the whole popularity thing, and I thought she was a little over the top with her need to suppress what she really loved. Yet I felt sympathetic towards her and I love the whole world of this novel: the comic shop and the role playing. And I adored Logan in all of his nerdy awesomeness. It didn't hurt that he's a DJ. As my husband was an awesomely nerdy DJ when I met him this made me inclined to fall for Logan right along with Maddie.
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
I really enjoyed The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and was looking forward to this. This is another attempt at the same sort of story: unlikely meeting, relationship that develops through communication rather than physicality, stressful family issues. It didn't work as well with this set up though. There was a little too much going on and at times it goes over the top. It is still a light fun read but not nearly as engrossing or engaging as I was expecting.
Comments
I LOVED The Summer I Became a Nerd. So much fun.
Yeah...This is What Happy Looks Like was more weighed down and less happy, ironically, than Statistical Probability.