Always Watching by Brandilyn Collins

Ridiculous attempt at a thriller insults the YA audience...,

I have to ask the other reviewers who rated this book so highly -- what were YOU reading? It can't have been this superficially sketched attempt at a thriller that I just put down? There was no suspense. The heroine, Shaley (?) annoyed me as did the name of the band: Rayne. And the attempt at a Christian theme? Preposterous.

The story was bare bones and totally predictable -- it defied credulity and really annoyed me. The daughter of the 30s something "rock star" was supposedly some femme fatale that all these older men (pedophiles?) were in love with? Who were "always watching" over her? Come on! There were so many irritating parts in this book! I don't for one minute think that the authors have any idea what being in a popular rock band is like nor the way that a 16-year-old girl on tour with her mom would be acting. From the shopping spree to watching a suspect interrogation at the police station? And the body count -- ugh! And her loss of appetite for days? I am not even in the least impressed and, now that I think of all this, I ask, "Who would pay $10.00 for such a skimpy book?"

But, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some teens out there would find this scintillating stuff? I'd like to hear from them. I flat out was not impressed with this book. I am going to put it to the test of teens I know and if they like it, believe me, I will post an update. I won't be looking for the second in this series.

Too scathing? Sorry -- this was a waste of my time. Fortunately it was really short so my torture wasn't long-lived. Skip it.

Ms C

Johanna Kelly's Book Review

Right Behind You
Gail Giles
4.5 stars

Isn't it amazing how one's life can change based on one impulsive choice? One choice that was made because of jealousy and pain. One choice changed Kip McFarland's life forever. Kip McFarland murdered a seven year old boy when he was only nine.

Right Behind You is a strong emotional story about guilt and pain. The story is different from most young adult books that I've read because its told from the point of view of the 'criminal' rather than the victimized. Its a great page turner!

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

I loved this!, September 17, 2009

OK, I confess, this was only the second or third graphic book that I've read. And the first and only memoir. It really was amazing how David Small used the art to convey the helplessness, anger, angst, and pain felt by a young boy who really didn't understand the life he was living or the condition he had. At age 14, a large "cyst" and a vocal cord were removed that left him basically mute and sent him on a dangerous trajectory in his young adult years. His parents were borderline fruitcakes and I'll let you discover why so as not to spoil it for you.
Thank heavens he had his artistic talents to give him some way to communicate.
I love David! This was a lovely story and I am so happy that the author was able to tell it. Very fast read.

High interest and drags in even the most reluctant reader.

Mrs. C.

Fantastic YA Fiction -- this is an example of the best!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins -- sequel to The Hunger Games

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this one now and reserve the next!,

This book is YA at its best. Rarely do I wait with this much anticipation for a sequel. After reading Hunger Games - one of the most circulated books in our school library -- I couldn't imagine that Suzanne Collins could duplicate that success with the second volume in the series. I was so wrong! This book was fantastic, and before you read the rest of this, go ahead and place your order for the book!

I really wasn't sure where the author would go with this second book in a planned trilogy. Where The Hunger Games left off, I thought we'd be back in District 12 planning a wedding or something. I didn't expect what transpired. So as to avoid spoilers, I can't say much more than that this novel is action packed, emotionally constructed, and brilliantly written. Suzanne Collins is a superb writer. The scenes are vividly described, the characters are the type that you want to take home, hug, and raise as family. I love Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and the entire cast and crew of this world of Panem.

Hey out there -- this would make the best movie! I was glued to the pages and raced to the end of this novel -- sad when it ended on a cliffhanger because I don't know if I can bear to wait for the next volume in this saga.

I had preordered this novel for our high school library and bought copies for my nieces and nephews. Honestly -- this is futuristic fantasy at its best. Don't miss out...and yes, you must read the prior novel in the series before you read this one to get the full impact from it and the pleasure.

READ IT NOW!

The Amanda Project: Invisible 1 by Stella Lennon and Melissa Kantor

The start of a new series?

This is obviously the start to a new series and I would say that, given the content and the ages of the teens, this book might appeal to your average female middle school student. I believe that high school students might find it a bit too juvenile. Definitely doesn't contain any inappropriate content and isn't edgy in any way.

The mystery: where is Amanda? In fact -- WHO is Amanda? Seems that these three new high school freshmen have each met a different "Amanda" and now she has disappeared. None of them knew that she was friends with the other. As they talk, they discover that she was either concealing certain facts or was not being very truthful about where she lived, her family situation, and her background. When the three classmates, who are not friends, are called to the vice-principal's office, they are drawn into the situation by clues and hints that seem to appear out of nowhere. Is Amanda watching them try to find her? Why has she vanished and what does she want? Callista, Nia, and Hal find themselves trying to trace Amanda's activities and seek to discover what she wants from them. Along the way, they begin to discover that Amanda is drawing them together and they are beginning to figure out who they are as they piece the details together.

Some of this novel defies credulity given the ages of the teens. Their freedom to come and go seems a bit extreme and some of their escapades are a bit unbelievable, all things considered. There is more to the story besides the mystery of the missing Amanda as the author sets the stage for at least one upcoming sequel.

If you like your teen novels to have a clear purpose and a satisfactory ending, this book might not be the one for you. By the time I got to the end of the book, I really didn't care much about Amanda.

Ms C.

Walking on Glass by Alma Fullerton

Teens looking for a quick, superficial read should NOT pick up this book.

Although it is short, only 131 sparse pages of free verse, the depth and range of emotion expressed by the main character is heartrending and poignant. The theme of the book is about being caged -- by dreams, by choices, and by circumstance.

I actually read through this book several times -- it doesn't take long as there is really not much on the pages. It's only when I stopped to think about it that I started having questions.

Our unnamed narrator tells the story of the day he came home to find his mother swinging from the chandelier, broken glass all around. Nearly dead, she is rushed to the hospital where she lies day after day on life support. Meanwhile, the young man tries to go to school and continue on with his life though he feels trapped by his mother' s suicide attempt and his father's inability to deal with the situation. He starts to question whether turning off the machines that keep her heart pumping is really murder, and he analyzes how he missed the important clues and ignored the needs she had even as he mourns her loss. For a moment I wondered if there was the best friend Jack mentioned in the novel -- or was Jack really our narrator -- used to convey behaviors and thoughts that our narrator was too frightened or embarrassed or ashamed to admit to.

The tale left a lot more questions than it answered. Resolution was not simple. The reader is left wondering, "what would I do?"

Ms C.