Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

 Escape the chaos of school and join Belly on her summer adventures at Cousins Beach. Belly has been coming to the beach house since she was a little kid, but this summer something is different. Maybe its the way Conrad and Jeremiah, the adorable boys she's been crushing on since she was little are looking at her but something sets this summer apart from the rest. Will this summer be the one where Belly finds love? The question is, which boy will she choose?

Who says that you can't enjoy a summer book when there is three feet of snow outside? Follow the life of Belly as she makes this summer the best one ever. Even after the first few pages, you feel like you've know Belly for your whole life. You watch as she remembers back to past summers, and has learned along the way a thing or two about love. But this girl still has a lot to learn, and it will be anything but a walk on the beach. This book will leave you craving more and to discover what happens during her summer at Cousins beach.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a page turning story about love and growing up. Enjoyed the Summer Boys series? Then you'll sure to fall in love with Belly. So give this book a try, I know you won't be disappointed!

Angus. Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

 The book begins with Georgia, a witty and imaginative teen trying to survive high school in the UK. From embarrassing parents to a body that won't behave, Georgia can't explain enough how very un-fabulous her life is. But when Robby, a.k.a the sex god moves to town Georgia can't help but fall head over heels. Georgia is set on making the boy her own but a few pretty little mean girls aren't going to let up that easy. Will Georgia prevail? Well I'm not going to spoil it for you silly! You'll just have to find out for yourself.

Do you enjoy reading about boring, plain and un-relatable characters? Then you probably should look into something else because Miss Georgia is certainly a colorful individual. Georgia's tendency to go off on witty tangents filled with adorable British slang will leave you laughing and unable to resist her charm. Don't know what a bloke or swiz is? Let Georgia spin her own definition with the glossary included in the back of the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read about a character who you'll laugh and cry along with. I'd like to introduce you to your new best friend Georgia, who will leave an impression on you long after you've put down the last novel in the eleven part series. Enjoy reading about Ruby Oliver in The Boyfriend List? Meet her UK twin!

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

 Turn the page to the life of Kristina Georgia Snow, the seemingly perfect daughter. But when visiting her absentee father, Kristina disappears and reckless Bree takes her place. Bree meets a boy, but this is no love story kids. She meets the monster: crank. And what starts off as a wild and thrilling escape turns into a battle through hell and back.

Hopkins writes unlike any other author I've experienced before. Every word, sentence, page is a poem that paints a very twisted picture. She creates art on the page, beauty spun by ink. This book will make you give poetry a second look, maybe it will get you hooked. Don't be scared off by the length my friends, this book is almost as addictive as crank itself.

Looking for a dark and twisted treat that haunts and leaves you craving for more? I'd recommend getting your hands on this baby as quickly as possible.  Like Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson? Then you'll enjoy Crank and all of the books by Hopkins that use clever prose to describe the sickeningly real lives of troubled teens.




Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Meet Tally. She's about to turn sixteen and in her world that means only one thing. Being surgically altered into a gorgeous version of herself. And once you're beautiful, you are sent to a world where your only job is to enjoy the new life you've been give. Even though Tally has been raised to think that looks are everything, a new friend convinces her that maybe she doesn't want to be pretty. And soon Tally learns the hard way that the pretty world is anything but pretty.

I loved reading this series. Westerfeld brings new life to an age old myth 'if beautiful really is better' and creates a world obsessed with perfection. You won't realize how fast this book flies until you've drank the last few worlds of this novel. This book is real and raw, exposing the graphic and bone chilling sides of beauty and it makes you wonder what is really important in life.

Uglies melts into the delectable and intoxicating genre of science fiction, creating images that could only exist in the vast depths of our imagination. Calling all Hunger Games fans? Here's a new guilty pleasure for you. And don't you worry, a series follows for those who can't get enough of Tally and being pretty.

The Boyfriend List by e. Lockhart

This book follows the complicated and lovable Ruby Oliver through a rather eventful ten day period. From boy drama to trouble with friends, Ruby quickly becomes over her head in teen chaos. Yet through the the mess, a witty heroine emerges and Ruby learns a thing or two about being a teenager.

I definitely enjoyed reading this book. While the story may seem repetitive to any number of  teen fiction, Ruby Oliver stands above the rest with handfuls of lists and quirky language to bring a creative spin on her daily life. Lockhart truly creates a character that you know and understand. This book is unique in that it includes footnotes that explain phrases or characters in the book all through the colorful perspective of Ruby. Take into consideration that you will have to keep looking at the bottom of the page to understand some of the jokes.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy breezy read. Be warned you probably won't be able to put this clever novel down until you discover how the drama is resolved. Those who enjoyed the witty banter of Georgia Nicolson (Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging series) will be at home with Ruby and her problems. Can't get enough of Ruby Oliver? Never fear! You can check out other books in the Ruby Oliver series and fall in love all over again.

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The novel begins with Emma, an imaginative teen stuck in foster care.  One day, Emma comes across a video online of a girl with a shocking resemblance of herself.  As Emma investigates further she realizes the identity of a secret twin and escapes to join the family she's always dreamed of.  But of course nothing is as it seems, and Emma is forced by an unknown stalker to take over her twin sister's life and try to solve what happened to her long lost twin.

I loved this book and all of Sara Shepard's novels.  Shepard is a suspense mastermind and there are so many twists that the reader can't help but crave more information.  The only downside to Sara Shepard is that all of her novels (Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game series) are a bit repetitive.

I would absolutely recommend this book to others.  If you enjoy the Pretty Little Liars books or tv series, you'll definitely love this new addictive series!