A Word's Worth: YA Contemporary Challenge

Showing posts with label YA Contemporary Challenge. Show all posts

1.04.2012

2011 Challenge Wrap-up

Okay, I thought I'd do one nice post to wrap up my 2011 challenges...And I'll 'fess up: I did not finish one of them. Eek!

The Sense & Sensibility Bicentennial Challenge
Goal: Read/watch 5-8 selections
Status: Complete!
Reviewed Selections:

Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal: Read 20 historical fiction works
Status: So very close, but not complete (16)
Reviewed Selections:

2011 YA Contemporary Challenge
Goal: 13 contemporary YA novels, published in 2011
Status: Complete!
Reviewed Selections:

This was my first time doing year-long reading challenges, and I thoroughly enjoyed the 'guides' for reading. Obviously, since I've signed up for 5 challenges for 2012. Care to join me? Click the 2012 Challenges tab above and check 'em out!

What challenges did you participate in during 2011? Did you complete them? If not, do you feel bad about it? (I don't, just curious).

Stay tuned...My "Best of 2011" post and some vague plans and goals for 2012 are coming soon!

12.30.2011

My Life Undecided

My Life Undecided
Jessica Brody
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011

Brooklyn Pierce is a girl with a knack for getting into "interesting" scrapes. As a toddler, she got trapped in a mine shaft. As a fifteen year old, she ended up setting her mother's model home on fire. After getting by with just a warning (and a LOT of community service), Brooklyn begins to realize maybe her problem is her decision-making skills. Or lack thereof. In a moment of inspiration, she creates an anonymous blog where she will post the decisions or choices she encounters, and allow the public to make the decision for her. At first, things seem to be going okay - the public doesn't always chose what Brooklyn would have, but that's the point right: have someone else make (better) decisions for you? As the experiment continues however, Brooklyn starts to waver in her enthusiasm for the idea - especially as life gets trickier and trickier.

As a character, Brooklyn was seriously annoying at first. I wanted to shake her and try to make her see things the way they really are instead of how she thinks they are. But she began to grow on me, as she started waking up a little and realizing that maybe life was a little different. I enjoyed watching her work through things, and while it took a little longer than I'd have preferred - that also lends a sense of authenticity to the story. I mean really: how many of us actually learn the first time? I cringe to remember the lessons I've relearned through the years. And I love the supporting cast, especially "Heimlich". Brody did a good job of creating a high school environment without belaboring the point.

All in all, My Life Undecided is an enjoyable, quick read that also stops to make you think: What if someone else did make all your decisions for you? How would your life change? Would it change?

Book provided by my personal library.

12.27.2011

Bunheads

Bunheads
Sophie Flack
Poppy, 2011

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. The cover is gorgeous. The story is engrossing. The characters are real, dimensional. And perhaps one of the coolest things? Sophie Flack was a professional ballet dancer, so Bunheads is full of little insider info-nuggets. Love it! ((Sidenote: I like this trend of insiders-turn-authors...it gives a sense of authenticity to the stories.))

Hannah Ward has been dancing for most of her nineteen-year-old life. It's her passion, her ambition, her life. The time and energy she has invested as a member of the Manhattan Ballet corps, always working towards the honor of becoming a soloist, have been satisfactorily rewarded by the thrill and rush of dancing. But then, by chance, she meets a cute pedestrian (non-dancer), named Jacob. And everything starts to change. As she continues to fight for her moment in the spotlight on stage, Hannah finds herself also taking a closer look at herself - at the dancers around her - at the world that exists beyond the theatre. The result is an engrossing story that is one-half dance and one-half coming-of-age. A combination I found particularly enjoyable.

I liked that Hannah was a little older than some YA characters; at 19, she's struggling to find her place in the world - orienting herself through the transition into 'adulthood', while simultaneously navigating the uber-challenging world of professional ballet. I loved all the dance details: the vocabulary, the descriptions, the emotions and frank examinations of what it means to be a ballet dancer (let alone achieve that illusive ballerina status). Hannah and the other dancers all have distinct personalities and voices, and their various approaches to handling their chosen life are intriguing and believable. I think that's one of the big appeals of Bunheads: it's believable. Even though I've never been in the professional dance world, the details and voices in Bunheads creates a world I can see and accept. Not to mention watching Hannah finally realize who she is and where she wants to go next - I can totally relate to her questioning and soul-searching.

A beautiful book that ended both too soon, and at just the right moment.

Book provided by my personal library.

12.14.2011

Love, Inc.

Love, Inc.
Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
Hyperion, 2011

What happens when three high school girls find out that their amazing boyfriends are actually one boy? In the case of Zahra, Kali and Syd, they unite forces and exact careful, painful revenge. They find it such a satisfying and effective exercise, not to mention a good catharsis, that when word leaks out and others begin to request their 'services,' Love, Inc. is born.

Love, Inc. is all about helping others find happiness in relationship, or at least find a good way through the end of one. From mediating conflicts to running reconnaissance to dabbling in matchmaking, the three girls find themselves with an endless stream of business. And even though they've been badly burned by the three-timing Eric, maybe - just maybe - all their work with the human heart is helping to heal theirs, and love can be found again. Love, Inc. is a fun read, and the concept is one I could definitely see high school girls coming up with - actually, I think it'd make for a really cute movie. Zahra, Kali and Syd have a great chemistry, and I loved watching them overcome their differences and unite forces, finding true friendship. There's a broad spectrum of high school that's seen throughout the book, as students from all circles come to the girls of Love, Inc. for assistance.

The only thing that distracted me from the read, and it's a minor distraction that's more of a personal preference, is that a lot of the characters came across so much older than their 15-17 year old range. I can understand that there are differences in society and culture depending on where you are, and kids do act older than they are in real life, but some of the actions or conversations just felt a little too mature, too far removed from what's probable. Again, minor distraction, and mainly a personal 'mini-peeve' -- definitely does not take away from the story.

12.12.2011

The Day Before

The Day Before
Lisa Schroeder
Simon Pulse, 2011

I'm still new to verse novel-reading, but so far I am definitely liking what I read. I think telling stories in verse can have a variety of effects, and in the case of The Day Before, the poems help build suspense and create mystery. As I was reading, I had absolutely no idea where I was going to end up. The poems suggested a great struggle, a big change coming that will change Amber's life - and her family's lives - forever. There's a rawness to the wording, and a realness. Then letters start slipping in, and the story starts to slip into place. Things start making sense, and I can understand Amber's impulse to spend 'the day before' doing her thing.

And yet, the mystery remains. Cade, the beautiful, unusual boy Amber meets in the aquarium, has a story of his own. As we get to know Cade through Amber's eyes, we see the confusion, feel the tension, the mystery. There's a dark, pressing need to spend 'the day before' on his own terms for Cade as well.

With the give-and-take flow of the ocean they both love, Cade and Amber spend a single, beautiful, magical day together. As they fight their own personal demons, they find strength in being there for each other. Strength in unity, in believing in someone else's success. It's a simple story, taking place over a single day and night. But there's a strong sense of reality, of connection and the pressing need to find out 'why.' I found The Day Before to be a beautiful, moving read. It's definitely one you need to read for yourself, so you can experience the journey without getting distracted by the details.

Book provided by my personal library.

11.30.2011

The A Circuit

The A Circuit
Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka
Bloomsbury, 2011

Competitive, A Circuit horse shows. A high-stakes, high-dollar competitive circle of the horse world. Late-teenage angst and self-discovery, amplified by money (or lack thereof) and opportunity. And horses. A lot of gorgeous horses.

That is definitely not a description of my world, but it is a very real world - and it's the world explored in The A Circuit (which, by the way, is apparently the first in a series! Yes! That means there's more coming!). I've always been a bit of a horse nut - I decided to go into Library Science in kindergarten when my elementary school librarian refused to let me check out Marguerite Henry books because they were chapter books. I have a lot of memories about horse books, and horse dreams. It's never been a world I was able to enter into however, except through the pages I was devouring. And this is definitely a great addition to that collection.

The storytelling is split between three main girls: Tommi (Wall Street money), Zara (celeb daughter), and Kate (working student), allowing readers to get to know each girl on a personal level: their story, their struggles, their reactions and opinions of what's going on - and of each other. Additionally, there's a whole barn of secondary characters, some of whom play pretty key roles. And the horses. We can't forget the horses! I really enjoyed getting an insider's peek into the world of 'high-end horse showing' (Georgina Bloomberg is a competitor herself), and learning a little more about the way things work. I also, as a fan of YA, I appreciate the characters and story. All the teens have an authentic feel - even with their privileged lives, they've got "normal" problems. They're human. They're young. They're learning - and making a lot of mistakes in the process. And as they make these mistakes and learn these lessons, they're starting to realize that personal actions have an impact on others - that sometimes, your first impression (or prejudice) is wrong - that sometimes, what you need most is to let others in.

Tommi, Zara and Kate - as well as their horses - have caught my attention, and I will definitely be waiting for book two to hit shelves.

Book provided by my local library.

11.25.2011

Blog Tour: Double Clutch

Double Clutch
Liz Reinhardt
2011

Welcome back to the second phase of the Double Clutch Blog Tour! Did you catch Liz's guest post last week? You should definitely check it out - she bares her soul and reveals all about...her First Kiss! Today, I'm going to share my review, and if you keep reading, you just might find a happy little surprise. It is officially the holiday season, after all!

Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark, and recreating herself. So when she arrives back in New Jersey for sophomore year, she's ready for a new adventure - and seeing just what she's capable of. It's an interesting, eye-opening experience that is nothing like she expected. From the first day - the first day - of American high school, Brenna finds herself in the middle of a complicated, passionate, and dramatic mystery of sorts. The sort of mystery commonly known as 'boy drama'. But it's more than that, as Brenna discovers. What's going on between herself, smooth-talkin' charmer Saxon, and reformed bad boy Jake is deeper than just high school drama, or even boyish competition. It's real, and it's deeply rooted in the boys' shared past as well as the intense attraction each has for Brenna - and she for them.

I really enjoyed Double Clutch, and look forward to reading the second installment of Brenna's story - Junk Miles. I've got to know how this adventure progresses, where it goes, how it ends. Because Liz has created a very *real* story. It's raw, it's authentic, it's believable. The characters are realistic -- if a bit 'growny' at times, that's still realistic: there are a lot of high school kids that I look at and shake my head. Everything feels like it could be going on in a high school, it didn't have that television movie-feel to it, if you know what I mean. It's a serious story that is a lot of fun to read.

Digital copy provided by author for review.

Would you like to win a copy of Double Clutch for yourself?
Liz has generously agreed to supply an e-book! If you want to enter, just leave a comment on this review and include your email (so I can contact you if you win)!
Giveaway ends on December 2nd at 11:00am (EST).

11.09.2011

Prom & Prejudice

Prom & Prejudice
Elizabeth Eulberg
Point, 2011

By now, you've probably figured out that I'm not only a confessing Janeite, but also a big fan of YA literature. Elizabeth Eulberg's second novel (the 'follow-up' to her smashing debut novel: The Lonely Hearts Club), is a delightful and enjoyable blending of those two loves. In this contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice - the beloved, timeless Jane Austen classic - Eulberg shifts everything into the world of twenty-first century, old-money boarding schools. Longbourne Academy is the girls' school, and Pemberley is the neighboring boys' school. Most Longbourne and Pemberley students come from old money, and fit that distinct social mold - with a few exceptions, like Charles and Jane. Unlike these students, Lizzie is at Longbourne on scholarship, and the society girls are not too keen on her arrival. Jane and Charlotte (the other scholarship student in Lizzie's class) help make things bearable, but nobody can wholly deter the likes of Caroline (Charles's twin) or Cat De Bourgh. And then there's Will Darcy, who alternates between seeming human and being just like any other Pemberley boy.

Prom and Prejudice is a quick read that follows the storyline and general make-up of Pride & Prejudice, while making it 'real' and relevant. It's still a world far, far removed from my reality - but it's got a sense of possibility. With just enough of the fairy tale. I loved the characters, and felt like Eulberg did a great job of imagining how the 'originals' would look like as contemporary teenagers. This was definitely a book I had a hard time putting down, and the twists the familiar story took brought a smile. I am now officially a fangirl of Elizabeth Eulberg, and eagerly await her upcoming third novel Take a Bow!

Book provided by my personal library.

9.23.2011

Love Story

Love Story
Jennifer Echols
MTV Books, 2011

This is the first novel I've read by Jennifer Echols, but I'm now a fan. Her characters are realistic, the dialogue is authentic (complete with the scattered f-bomb that rattles me just as much in text as it does when I hear it in the halls at work), and the story is orchestrated nicely.

The novel itself is a mix between the stories Erin and Hunter write for their Creative Writing seminar and their actual story. Sometimes this type of set-up is a mess, but in this case it works beautifully - building tension and filling in the gaps between the things we get to see take place and the things that happened to shape those events. It's masterful, without being overwhelming. It feels real, plausible. There's a history that has shaped Erin and Hunter, and their non-relationship - a history that is complicated and intricate, and one that they are discovering at the same pace we are, as readers. Surprises, twists, turns, revelations and mistakes. The setting may be one that few of us are familiar with (prestigious horse society? In my dreams, but definitely not my reality), but the struggles are universal. And the story? Well, it's a quick, compelling read that still manages to touch on very, very raw and personal questions.

And as an entirely random, personal interjection: It's been a while since I've indulged in "horse stories," and there was just enough "horse" to this tale to make me want to find a barn. Or at least revisit some old favorites from the genre.

Book provided by author for review.

9.05.2011

we'll always have summer

we'll always have summer
Jenny Han
Simon & Schuster, 2011

Oh. My. Goodness.

Last summer I read (and reviewed) the first two books in Jenny Han's Summer series. I loved them. I loved the whole story, and the way Han presented it - I never knew what was coming next, but it always turned out to be just what I wanted. It's like she could read my mind (or else she's a very, very good writer and can manipulate my mind to go in the exact direction it should be going)! When I found out there was a third, and final, installment to the story of Belly and the Fisher boys, I knew it was going to be a bittersweet read. I love these characters, and while I wanted to know how the story ended, saying goodbye was going to be hard. (And it was. I may or may not have actually teared up during the last chapter. For happy reasons, of course). Without going into too much plot detail - because this is a book, a whole series, you have got to read for yourself - let me just make some general comments.

I have always loved Jeremiah - he's fun and laughable, very much like a half-grown puppy. But in the beginning of we'll always have summer, he was kind of a jerk - I wanted to slap some sense into him. Sense does come, btw, you just have to wait it out. Conrad's in the story - of course! - and has actually grown up a lot. The arrogance that got on my nerves in it's not summer without you has been outgrown, and I found him an enjoyable character again. Still a little odd, but enjoyable. Belly...oh Belly, you've grown so much - and you're still finding yourself, but you're doing much better. I feel almost big sisterly towards Belly, wanting to help her see her own value and worth, and point out that she doesn't have to take the crap she does at times. But she's growing too - they all are. And it's an amazing story.

Just do yourself a favor, and if you haven't read any of these books yet: Check them all out, and read them in order. Also, do what I forced myself to do and do not flip ahead and read the ending. My efforts were rewarded with a much greater sense of gratification and delight from reading through (all three) from beginning to end without "peeking." That is all.

Book provided by my local library.

6.10.2011

Moonglass

Moonglass
Jessi Kirby
Simon & Schuster, 2011

I won a signed copy of Moonglass over at The Elevensies blog, and once it arrived, I swooned a little. The cover looks nice in the image, yes? You’ve not seen anything yet. In person, holding it in your hands, it shimmers. Yeah, I said it: It shimmers. We are talking *gorgeous* here. And, happy day, the story lives up to the cover’s smashing good looks.

The beach. A cute lifeguard. Sea glass. Dilapidated old beach cottages. The call of the water. Ghosts of the past. Unanswered questions. With ingredients like this, Jessi Kirby had a recipe for an amazing story, and she delivered. Anna has spent the last nine years struggling with the truth of her mother’s drowning. When her father accepts a transfer to Crystal Cove, she fights the move away from home, but then decides maybe a fresh start is a good thing. Until reminders of her past – actually, reminders of her pre-history, when her parents met – start surfacing and refuse to be silenced. Not even the cute lifeguard, Tyler, or her surprising new friend Ashley can block out the visions in her memory. As she begins to settle into life in Crystal Cove, finding a rhythm and pattern that fit, Anna slowly realizes that she can’t keep running from the past – that sometimes you can’t move forward until you stand and drag everything out in to the open. It’s painful, it’s messy, and it very nearly costs her her life (how's that for a teaser?). But at the same time, it’s oh-so-freeing.

Anna’s story has plenty of raw emotion. Moonglass is a fast read, but it’s not always an ‘easy’ one – it will get your heart involved, and make you stop and think a bit about what’s really important in life. It is a good story however, and as Anna fights against her own memories, she discovers that others’ lives have been similarly shattered – that she’s not going through this wholly alone. Kirby presents Anna’s struggle in a believable way: it’s not an easy, overnight ‘fix’ – rather, there’s a series of progressions, and even at the end, everything’s not magically ‘all better’, but it is better. In a day and society when so many young people are going through painful parts of life, it’s good to have a realistic portrayal of the journey. Moonglass is a wonderfully written debut novel that I think will have a positive impact on readers.

Book provided by my personal library.

6.06.2011

What Happened to Goodbye

What Happened to Goodbye
Sarah Dessen
Penguin, 2011

Summer is never truly ‘Summer’ for me until I read a Sarah Dessen novel. This is a reading philosophy I shall be exploring in a future post, so for now just know: Sarah Dessen = Summer. This is why I am always so very excited when a new Dessen novel is published, and why I was giddy beyond belief when I found out a new novel was coming out this summer. I’ve been counting the days between when I found out about it back in the fall, and when I got my hands on it a few weeks ago. What Happened to Goodbye … the title is arresting, the cover is intriguing, and – the most important point: It. Is. A. New. Dessen. Novel. Okay, so maybe I’m sounding a little fangirly, but anyone who has read – and been touched by – a Sarah Dessen novel will understand what I’m saying here. Okay, enough of the prelude, let’s talk about the book!

McLean has spent the last two years of her life in motion, running from whatever ghosts might come from the past to haunt her if she stops. She and her father have been physically moving around the country, but McLean’s ‘journey’ is more than that – she recreates herself in every new town. Until she arrives in Lakeview, and a surprising boy interrupts her ‘creating’ and she finds herself as simply ‘McLean.’ This surprising boy – Dave – and the equally surprising friends she finds herself surrounded by, gently force McLean to rediscover who she really is. To find the real McLean, and give her a chance. It’s hard, it’s messy, and McLean fights it like there’s no tomorrow. It’s what she needs though, and probably, somewhere deep inside, what she wants. Nothing ever comes easy, and nobody can go through life without making mistakes – and McLean definitely makes some. But that adds to the realism and charm of the story. One of the things I love about Dessen novels is how human her characters are: they have moments of incredible blind-stupidity, they have their scars and their ghosts. They’re just like you and me. McLean could be one of many girls who see their family dissolve and have to come to terms with their new reality, and decide if they are the same or different.

What Happened to Goodbye is funny, thoughtful, pure Dessen goodness. Everything readers have come to expect is delivered, complete with an adorable new hero (Dave may actually rival Wes for my favorite Dessen boy now, hard as that is to believe!). It’s a story that caught me up and I couldn’t put down until it was finished, and it also made me think. Think about the different masks we were, the different versions of ourselves we show the world. I liked McLean, I could relate to her and I was happy she actually grew out of the place she started from. Definitely a new favorite summer read.

Book provided by my local library.

6.03.2011

This Girl is Different

This Girl is Different
JJ Johnson
Peachtree Publishers, 2011

This one caught my eye from the get-go: Homeschooler Evie decides to spend senior year at public high school. As a graduate of homeschool (6th-12th grades, spending junior and senior years dual-enrolled at the community college), I am always curious to see how people represent the homeschooler-to-"real" school adventure (favorite of all favorites so far: Stargirl!)

Evie and her new friends Jacinda and Rajas are fun, engaging characters. They're very real, like high school seniors I would expect to meet wandering the halls of any high school. They meet by chance and quickly become friends - and maybe more. Evie is unlike anyone Rajas or Jacinda have ever met, and they are quickly caught up in her plans to revolutionize The Institution Of School and take down The Man. But soon their plans get out of hand, and sheer chaos erupts, tearing apart the school - and shattering their friendships. While Evie's mother is fully supportive, and even instigates a large amount, of the 'revolution,' Evie begins to wonder if perhaps there isn't a better way to bring about (needed!) social changes ... Taking the leap from homeschool to public school is a major learning experience for Evie - but also for all the students, and teachers. Lessons are learned, sometimes painfully, and everyone begins to realize there are always alternative ways to get your point across.

Now time for a mini 'rant' of sorts. I enjoyed the story - Evie made me laugh at times, and I feel like the story is largely believable. I've seen first-hand how impulsive and 'unthinking' high schoolers can be, so I could definitely see students taking advantage of the anonymity that Evie's 'lightning' plan allowed to go crazy with the personal expression idea. The one thing that did really bug me isn't unique to This Girl is Different - I've seen it in so many places, whether books or movies or what have you - and that is the idea that homeschoolers are by default radical liberals wanting to come in and change the world. Think about it: homeschoolers are almost always classified one of two ways - either painfully religious and conservative or radically liberal and freethinking. There is no middle ground or 'normal'. Stargirl comes the closest, I think, but even she is presented as very different. While it's true that there are a number of homeschoolers who match each of this stereotypes, there are more who are just 'kids' - I was one of those. Granted, I'm a little old-fashioned about some things, and haven't done a lot of what my contemporaries have - but that's been my choice, made using my own thoughts and reasons. And I've got plenty of friends who were homeschooled and are 'normal' like me - so where are the books about us? Some of us went to public school, we've almost all gone to college, what about telling our stories? Or are they not as much fun - because we're not as different and strange? Just a thought ... It always comes back to mind when I read another homeschooler novel. Anybody have any thoughts or insights?

Book provided by publisher for review.

5.24.2011

So Much Closer

So Much Closer
Susane Colasanti
Viking, 2011

When I found out my ARC request for So Much Closer had been accepted, I literally did a happy dance in my office. I'd been hearing so many good pre-release things about this, that I was giddy to have a chance to add my own two-cents. (The book has since released, so you can all go buy a copy for yourself!)

The cover caught my attention first, as did the title - and the premise kept it: girl loves boy, boy doesn't know it, boy moves to NYC, girl leaves everything she knows behind to follow boy to NYC. Did I want to find out what happened next? Do diamonds sparkle?! Of course I had to find out what happened when Brooke changed her life in a radical way - just for a boy. But not just any boy: Scott was the love of her life - he just didn't know that. And he barely knew Brooke. I think you can see how very interesting this story could become.

So Much Closer is fast-paced and easy to read. I was quickly caught up in Brooke's story, and her new world of experiences in New York City. Brooke was an interesting girl to get to know - I liked watching her grow and become more comfortable in her own skin throughout the novel. A lot of this was a direct result of her surprising new friends, and realizing that there not only was a way to make what she loved most a 'life', but that it was okay to do so. I think that's what I loved best about So Much Closer actually: Brooke's journey from planning her life around chasing a particular boy to realizing that she deserved to let herself *be* and dream and chase those dreams - surrounded by friends who cared about and supported her.

ARC provided by publisher for review.

1.14.2011

YA Contemporary Challenge 2011

Yes, this does make my 3rd challenge for the year. I might be crazy. But I think this one will work with my normal reading habits, so I'm gonna go for it! Take a looksee and tell me what you think:

Name: The 2011 YA Contemporary Challenge
Goal: Read at least 13 contemporary YA books.
Defined: Contemporary YA is defined as books written for the Young Adult audience (not adult books teens like), and featuring stories that could actually happen.
Restriction: All books must be published during 2011.
Bonus: Tri-monthly contest(s) for the participants -- every review = entry.

Yup, I'm pretty sure I can do this one. And Reggie, a.k.a. The Undercover Book Lover, was kind enough to provide a list of upcoming contemporary YA releases to help get things jump-started!

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