Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
February 12th, 2013 from Candlewick
What if the football hadn't gone over the wall. On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret. And the devil. And the Moon Man. And the Motherland doesn't want anyone to know. But Standish Treadwell — who has different-colored eyes, who can’t read, can’t write, Standish Treadwell isn't bright — sees things differently than the rest of the "train-track thinkers." So when Standish and his only friend and neighbor, Hector, make their way to the other side of the wall, they see what the Motherland has been hiding. And it’s big...One hundred very short chapters, told in an utterly original first-person voice, propel readers through a narrative that is by turns gripping and darkly humorous, bleak and chilling, tender and transporting.
What a weird little book! This one is hard to describe beyond the paragraph up above. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. This one just may be a little hard to market. The cover and short chapters make it appear to be a middle grade book, but the eff words and a gruesome murder scene pulls away from that audience. I almost put it in the same category as Wonder by Palacio. Both wonderful books, but to me adults will like the heart-felt stories better than kids. Regardless, this book deserves to be heard.
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
January 10th, 2012 from Dutton Books
I know, I know, you read this book like the second it dropped on your doorstep. Welp, I didn't and I'll tell you why. I knew it would be sad, heartbreaking even and I don't do sad very well. So when the weeks went by and the reviews all said phrases like "my heart is in pieces" "this book broke me" I knew I had to put it off. Then suddenly I looked up and felt like I was going to be given a notice to appear in Library Court for not reading - an entire went by. I buckled, got the audio, and loved it. AND I didn't cry too much. Yes, I did but I wasn't completely falling apart like I anticipated. In fact, the part of the book that touched me and will stay with me is when Hazel's mother says, "I won't be a mom anymore." That statement right there made me just about loose my mind. If you've been putting this one off, grab the audio, a few tissues and just ride it out.... You won't regret it!
Review: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
September 11th, 2012 by Listening Library
Lucky Linderman has been the target of Nader McMillan’s relentless bullying for as long as he can remember. But he has a secret—one that helps him wade through the mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos, where his grandfather, who never came home from the Vietnam War, is still trapped. There, Lucky can be a real man and maybe even a hero. But how long can he keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside?
There is a reason this book has earned six starred reviews. Or is it seven? You get my point - everyone loves this book, and you can count me in that crowd. Lucky is stuck in this crap rotation of getting picked on and then sucking it up, turning a blind eye to cruelty like his father has taught him. Over the years the bullying has gotten worse and this crap kid named Nader has been relentless in his teasing and 'boys will be boys' behavior. After a bad situation goes predictably worse, Lucky and his mom visit his uncle in Arizona and wait for things to cool down back home and for the wounds to heal. Lucky spends his days trying to blend into the wallpaper and his dream filled nights are spent with his presumed dead, POW grandfather. Lucky is determined to rescue his grandfather and be the hero he isn't in real life. When Lucky meets a seemingly perfect girl who has it all (she totally doesn't), he starts to gain confidence and find his way out of the bleak.
Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt
April 5th, 2011 from Clarion Books
Midwesterner Gary D. Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.
Have you read The Wednesday Wars by Schmidt? If so, you will recognize Mr. Doug Swieteck. He is a sweet kid with a pretty crap home life. In this novel, Doug moves to a new town and he immediately realizes he doesn't have a whole lot to be cheery about in this crap town either. Doug can't escape his bullying brother who falls in love with the wrong crowd. He also can't escape his dad, abusive in every sense of the word. Listening to Doug put up with his brothers tactics and his fathers downright cruel remarks and despicable behavior was really uncomfortable. I was angry at everyone for a long time for not rescuing Doug from his family. Yes, Doug has a loving mother but she is caught up in the abusive cycle as well. Plus, this was the 1960s and people put up with a lot of crap they shouldn't have back then. Just when things go a little bit right for Doug something goes wrong. Over and over again. It was painful to think that there are real kids just like Doug. They are emotionally beaten down by the ones that should lift them up the most. Do kids come in my library who live like this? Would I recognize any of the signs of an abused kid? I sure hope I do.
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
April 1st, 2012 from Scholastic
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
Sometimes a book comes along and you kick yourself for not reading it sooner. This, my friends, is a fine example. Orphan boys all playing against each other in a "be the Prince or die" game is pretty entertaining to read about. I absolutely loved Sage and, of course, rooted for him to win the crown the entire time. His determination, wit, and street smarts are without a doubt one of the best parts of this book. He doesn't have much of a choice to play along with Conner's evil plan to take over the kingdom, but Sage certainty makes life difficult for Conner and his cronies He manipulates others and pulls off some pretty sweet cons of his own. Young readers will love Sage's will to stay alive and his ability to turn things around to his favor on a dime. Dare I say he is the fantasy version of a young James Bond? (minus the high tech gadgets, of course) The supporting cast, two other boys who are all competing to become the false prince, a servant girl, and the confidant are all amazing characters as well. They each bring something original to the table and in the end your feelings go back and forth about them. Good guys, bad guys? At times the lines are blurred.
Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life.
Ahhh, the power of Twitter! I ask for a rec on a good audio book and several people recommended this book within minutes. They were SO right - I loved the story, the struggle, and Matt's own personal journey. The opening scenes show Matt's explosive behavior and his lack of coping with the death of his brother in the Iraq war. We soon learn that his brother's death isn't the only loss he has suffered. We jump back in time when his house was a home filled with laughter. Those days are long gone. Matt relives his mothers death and our heart breaks a little right along with him. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love when books show positive sibling relationships. Matt and T.J. had a friendship along with their obligatory brother relationship. I enjoyed Matt's reflections about the time the two spent camping and just talking under the camp fire. They admired and respected each other. They made plans to go on great adventures and get out from under their dads watchful eye. When Matt discovers letters in his brothers returned belongings, he reels with the fact that T.J. kept secrets from him. Not just a small secrets, but a secret life. Friends he never talked about, and most importantly love that was never spoken of.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
February 14th, 2012 from Knopf Books For Young Readers
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
I've heard a lot of buzz about this book from librarians and book lovers. Some even say that it will be on a lot of awards lists, and lo and behold, it's starting to look that way. Your heart just leaks love for Auggie. He was born with a deformity and you know his life isn't peaches and ice cream. It's easy to cheer him on as he braves school for the first time as a 5th grader. Predictably, Auggie meets some not so nice kids and while you want to wring their necks for the things they say, you hope that there will be some sort of learning experience in all this. Luckily, not all of Auggie's new classmates are meanies. There are a few bright gems and the whole time I was thinking that I hope to gosh that my kids would like them. They didn't fall in line with the others when they would pretend Auggie had "the plague." It was sad to read when the kids were mean to Auggie, but when the parents jumped on board...I was livid! I think it's important for kids to know that grown ups make mistakes too, but some of those scenes filled with hate were difficult to read.
I'm gearing up for the Austin Teen Book Festival and had to catch up with Carter's 2nd series - I'm a Gallagher Girls fan too! Even though I listened to Heist Society in 2010, it was easy to jump right back into the life of teen thief Katrina Bishop. This time around, she is a victim of a con (loved!), and vows to right the major wrong. Her eyes are set on the Cleopatra Emerald and that girl goes all over the world to steal the jewel. I loved the background of the Cleopatra Emerald - is that all fiction? - and her budding relationship with cutie-pie Hale really made the story fly by. I liked this one better than the first! Great series for a middle grader looking for a mystery and adventure....with smarts!
Rotters by Daniel Kraus
April 5th, 2012 from Random House Audio
Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true that Leonardo da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen-year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey's life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.
Everything changes when Joey's mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey's father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey's life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.
Confession: I asked my library to buy this audio because it won the 2012 Odyssey Award for best audio book for children. By disc two, I could tell why it was chosen for this esteemed award. Kirby Heyborne provides the voices for Rotters. You might recognize his voice from Cohn's and Levithan's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Heyborne has a young and vulnerable voice that I found perfect for Joey. Joey lost his mother and when he goes to live with his estranged father, he feels more alone than ever. There is little dialogue for much of the book and we follow Joey as he grieves and tries to figure what role his father will play in his life. When Joey learns that his father is a grave digger, things get so very interesting. Heyborne completely switches gears and provides an all new raspy and raw voice for Harnett (father). When we meet other rotters from other parts of the county, again we are blessed with all new voices. I was truly impressed with Hayborne's versatility.
The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson & John Paterson
September 27th, 2011 from Candlewick on Brilliance Audio
The Flint Heart is a complex fairytale and takes us through several generations where a stone, the flint heart, sucks the goodness out of people. The holder seeks power and wealth and in turn, grows a cold stone heart. I picked this up because of some accolades about the narrator, Ralph Lister. I do admit that his voice is absolutely brilliant and his English accent is coveted. He plays a wide variety of characters - faeries, children, kings, talking dogs - and all had a distinct voices. I was completely impressed with him and I don't think I would have enjoyed the story as much by simply reading. The story gets a little convoluted in places, but if you get lost...just pay attention to that magnificent British accent. This would be a fun family road trip read, but a few violent scenes might concern parents of little ones. 7+
Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
December 27th, 2011 from Katherine Tegen Books
Love, gush, pleads; you need to read this now. That is my review. I was worried about the pretty dramatic opening of the story (Marcie's parents are in the midst of a divorce because daddy dropped the giant G-card and mommy is drowning in pills) and was thinking this might be one huge downer, but no...I was wrong. It isn't all cotton candy and rainbows, but this novel in verse is downright awesome and one scene easily leads to another, and before you know it, you're suddenly on the last page. After the big split, Marcie moves to New Hampshire with her mother and tries her best not to miss her boyfriend every two seconds. She doesn't exactly fit in at her new school so there is nothing left to do but miss the boyfriend. A boy. A cute boy who pays a little too close attention. Marcie walks that fine line between friend and maybe more than friends with the new boy. Love, betrayal, forgiveness; this book pretty much covers it all. And I'm not just talking about boys.
The Summer I Learned To Fly by Dana Reinhardt
July 12th, 2011 from Random House Listening Library
Eighteen-year-old Drew recalls the summer she was thirteen when her best friend was a rat, her mother started telling her lies, and her life long crush finds his true love - who is not Drew. Hanging out at a gourmet cheese shop may not sound like a good time to most, but for Drew she enjoys spending every waking moment surrounded by stinky Gouda and pungent Swiss. Plus, her crush Nick works there and she is content to stare at him all day long. When a strange boy named Emmett shows up in the alley of the cheese shop, she begins to think that maybe hanging out with her pet rat in a cheese shop is a bit overrated.
Drew and Emmett (a rat enthusiast and master paper crane maker because his last name is Crane) are both quirky and odd, and they make good companions for each other. Don't expect them to fall madly in love and sneak kisses next to the cheddar. It doesn't happen, but they do have something very special and unique. Drew is only thirteen after all! There is an air of mystery around Emmett. He is quiet and isn't quick to open up about his past. Drew's innocence comes through when she misses the signs that maybe Emmett doesn't have a picture perfect life. Before long, she realizes that Emmett is the first true-blue friend she has ever had. Only problem is, she may have figured this all out too late.
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
September 13th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin
Waverly and Kieran are aboard The Empyrean when the ship is attacked by their sister ship, The New Horizon. Told through dual perspectives, Waverly and Kieran are separated and try to fight their way back to each other and family. Waverly and all of the other children are whisked away to The New Horizon where they are all told The Empryean was destroyed and there are no survivors. Kieran, who is Captain-to-be, is left aboard the injured The Empyrean with other young men trying to help the injured and find the young girls and children that were taken. Kieran has his own battles to fight when other boys aboard the ship challenge his authority and leadership.
Glow had a really quick start with a good story making elements. All in all, I would have preferred to stick with Waverly's story. I found myself bored with Kieran and his struggle to gain control over the other boys. Waverly's story line was much more interesting and the characters aboard The New Horizon were much more intriguing than the testosterone fueled boys on The Empyrean. The New Horizon is ruled by a soft spoken, bible-wielding lady named Pastor Anne Mather. Now, I liked her a lot! She is mysterious, devious, and Waverly's interactions with her were entertaining. Total power struggle!
You by Charles Benoit
August 24th, 2010 from HarperTeen
Synopsis: This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.
You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?
There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?
Review: You is the story of a boy who is quiet, misunderstood, and eventually at wits end. The beginning of this book sets us up for heartbreak by giving us a glimpse into how everything will end. The journey to that ending is a look into the life of just an average kid who is a bit restless and prone to finding trouble around every corner.
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
October 19, 2010 from Simon & Schuster Audio
Synopsis: Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.
Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.
Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.
Review:
Crescendo picks up a few months after Hush Hush leaves off. Nora and fallen angel Patch are hot and heavy and all seems to be a-okay. Of course, danger looms and as new characters enter the picture we know all is not well. One of Nora's childhood friends, Scott, comes back to town and he has a rap sheet that would make a nun blush. Nora and Scott's mother tries to push a friendship on the two, but Scott's attitude is something to be desired. He's rude and cocky and Nora is so wrapped up in Patch that she wants no part of him. Props to her. The mystery behind Scott and his sudden return to Maine is a good addition to the book. I like the tension he carries and I'm sure he will be pivotal to the ending of the series. Not exactly a love triangle here girls, but in the end....Scott is important to Nora.
Fire by Kristin Cashore
October 5th 2009 from Penguin Audio
Graceling is hands down one of my favorite audio books and I couldn't wait to read Fire. Confession: Fire on audio was the very first thing I had ever won as far as bookish type wins go. I didn't realize at the time that is was a companion to Graceling. So, in my mind I had to read Graceling first. I found an All Cast Audio version at the library and you can read my glowing review HERE. Just. Loved.
Fire is essentially a prequel to Graceling. Having read both, Fire could be a stand alone. We follow Fire, a teenaged human monster, who is able to control minds but would rather just go unnoticed. Her abilities are wanted by the King of the Dells, but she has no desire to become a weapon in war. She will not become the evil monster her father was. Fire wants to help and she must find a way to use her power for the good of the people without compromising her own beliefs. In a time of turmoil with lives at stake, this proves difficult.
The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
August 30th, 2012 from Macmillan Audio
Synopsis: Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.
Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.
Everyone except Jenna Fox.
Review:
I wrote a book review for The Fox Inheritance just a month ago. You can read that below. All of the things I wrote then I can say again with the audio review so I will leave it in tact. However, there will be additional information about listening to the audio version at the end.
**The Fox Inheritance is a sequel/compilation novel to the fanny pack-tastic book, Adoration of Jenna Fox. I read Jenna years ago when it was a 2008 Lonestar Reading List AND Tayshas High School Reading list recommendation. Simply put, I was blow away! When this little beauty showed up at a library conference this year, I ran for it! So glad I did....
The story picks up 260 years after we first meet Jenna Fox when she *thought* she destroyed Locke and Kara's hard drives (minds) after a terrible car accident. This time, we journey with Locke as he realizes how much time has passed, and what he has lost. Locke and Kara's information - think black box - was "rescued" out of the pond and after a few tweeks, upgrades, and modifications...viola! Locke and Kara have beautiful bodies thanks to BioPerfect. Soon, Locke and Kara realize that their ultra perfect life in a mansion with the scientist who basically manufactured them is synonymous with life in prison. In a panicked moment, Locke and Kara escape with the help of a few surprising cohorts and they find themselves on the run. Where are they headed? Why Jenna's house, of course!
My heart went out to Locke almost from the get-go. He misses Jenna and wants to know where she has been all of these years and most of all, why she didn't rescue him and Kara. Kara wants more than just to know where Jenna has been, she wants revenge. Kara is manipulative and at times, I wanted someone to knock her upside the head or at least tell her to stop being a brat. Locke is so set on appeasing Kara and telling her that he loves her more than Jenna that he doesn't see her faults - and some are alarming. He is busy being the sweet and ever caring boy that he is (and always ways), and things start to go south. This tension comes to an all-time high when we get Locke, Kara, and Jenna in the same room. Trust, you have to wait for it, but it comes.
I love the side character of Dot. Without giving too much away, she is a robot with more human qualities than some people I know. I simply loved her and her dedication to helping Locke. The only tear I shed was over her. We meet other new characters and lucky for us, a few have ties to the very beginning of this story.
The story takes us over quite a few parts of what we know as the United States, and it is while Locke and Kara are on the run we learn about all of the changes to the country. I love the science-fiction aspects of this story and I found them more in the on-the-run scenes than in the explanations of how Locke and Kara came to be. I loved Mary's use of imagination as she describes the futuristic cars driven by Bots and the grids on which they drive. I wanted more!
The mysteries and surprises are plentiful and a tad predictable, but in the end I am more than satisfied where the story took me (and where it will go next). Jenna fans will devour this book. I highly recommend this story
for ages 11+!
Audio Review:
I have never read a book and then just a few weeks later listened to the audio. I enjoyed reading the ARC so much that when asked to review the audio version, I happily said yes. I have to admit - I missed some things while reading the first time around! I missed the depth of Locke's despair while being lost in his own darkness without a body. I missed Locke's desperation to find Jenna - and to find her before Kara does. I particularly enjoyed the ending chapters where Lock and Jenna get acquainted and we listen to the two talk about who they are and what comes next.
The actor, Matthew Brown, didn't have a particularly young voice, but he was enjoyable to listen to. I must admit, Lock, Jenna, and Kara are all from Boston. Now, I know you Bostonians have wicked awesome accents! Locke had no accent and I noticed that right away. Darn. Is the missing accent an effect of Dr. Gatsboro's changes/editions? Hmmm, maybe. I will say, I enjoyed Brown's take on Dot - my favorite character! He didn't have an overly dramatic robot voice and I appreciated that. Dot had a perfectly even, monotone sound that was just right. Nailed it.
Overall, an excellent audio. It would have been even more delightful to have Jenna Lamia reprise her voice as Jenna Fox. Regardless, a great addition to any audio collection!
The Boyfriend List 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver #1) by E. Lockhart
July 2005 by Listening Library
Synopsis: Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it's unusual, but give her a break—she's had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
* lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list)
* lost her best friend (Kim)
* lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket)
* did something suspicious with a boy (#10)
* did something advanced with a boy (#15)
* had an argument with a boy (#14)
* drank her first beer (someone handed it to her)
* got caught by her mom (ag!)
* had a panic attack (scary)
* lost a lacrosse game (she's the goalie)
* failed a math test (she'll make it up)
* hurt Meghan's feelings (even though they aren't really friends)
* became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)
* and had graffiti written about her in the girls' bathroom (who knows what was in the boys'!?!).
But don't worry—Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.
Review:
My daughter read this series when she was in middle school and loved it. Yes, I am that old. When this audio book was at the library, I jumped at the chance to read. I've heard a few bloggers say how much they loved it so it was a no brainer.
Ruby made a big fat mistake. She listed all the crushes, dates, and boyfriends she has ever had on personalized stationary, and instead of taking that list home or shredding it, she crumpled it up and threw it in the bin at school. Yeah, we all know what happens from there. The list is printed and plastered all over school humiliating Ruby. She's fifteen-years-old, did they really think those were all the boys she slept with? Why, yes. Yes they did. To make matters worse, her BFF Kim (insert sneer) and her ex (as in two days ago ex) are already swapping spit. Ruby takes us back in time to her first crush all the way up to today where she is the black listed hussy of Tate Prep.
You can't help but feel sorry for Ruby. She's lost all of her friends, her BFF is now with her two-day-old ex boyfriend, and she's dubbed the town slut. Ruby does make some bad choices, but she is a level-headed girl that doesn't deserve the crap she's been served. Her friends ain't no friends at all and I wouldn't exactly be devastated if her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend (her old BFF) fall off a cliff. By the end of the story, I felt a connection with Ruby and was proud that she recognized that she needed to make some changes for herself.
I loved the voice of Ruby Oliver brought to us by Mandy Siegfried. Her name should ring a bell for you. She was the reader for Laurie Halse Anderson's masterpiece, Speak. Siegfied has such a fresh, young voice. My daughter did comment that she didn't picture Ruby's voice sounding like that, but I thought it was a perfect match.
They story jumps back and forth from past to present and structured around this boyfriend list. We learn about the demise of poor Ruby's reputation, her complicated relations with boys and friends, and how her family life has played a part in her relationships. This is a smart, snarky, and at times, emotional read with lessons for every teenage girl around every corner. How many girls did we know in high school that had that reputation? Looking back now...I wonder how many of those were undeserved.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
January 2008 by Unabridged
Read by Sara Zarr, author
From the Publisher: As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.
When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.
Review:
What happens when someone you thought was lost to you forever comes back? For sixteen-year-old Jenna, it isn't exactly a reunion full of laughter and hugs. With Cameron's return, Jenna is confronted with suppressed memories and emotions tied to her only childhood friend. He brings back a painful time in her life that she has worked hard to forget. Eight years ago, Cameron was everything to her and having him back fills a void she has always had, but his return causes Jenna to revert back to some of her old, unhealthy ways. Jenna binge eats, a habit she sought help for when she left the old, fat 'Jennifer' behind, and she has some serious negative inner dialouge. Jenna has worked hard to forget those years of loneliness and has managed to hide it all from her friends and boyfriend. Jenna feels like she needs to save her long-lost friend all over again, but doing so might mean she looses everything she has worked for.
I'm not really sure how this book slipped through the cracks, but I'm so glad I found the audio version at the library. Sweethearts is a story of two childhood friends with an unbreakable bond. They shared everything together as small children. Cheers, tears, and an event that eventually sends each of them in two different directions. We learn about that unnerving event in flashbacks spread across many chapters from Jenna. Slowly, we begin to understand what lonely and unhappy children the two were. Her recollections creep up at various times, and now at 16, she is confronted with painful memories she would rather forget. The story unfolds at an unhurried pace. We aren't bombarded with answers to mounting questions. The reasons why Cameron left, why he wasn't dead after all, and what he is doing back in Salt Lake all come nice and easy.
Watching Jenna confront her past and try to keep a firm foot in reality was, at times, heartbreaking. I found myself shaking my head as if to say, "That isn't true, don't say that." Jenna is a young girl that has to work at being happy. It doesn't come natural for her. She has to continue to tell herself positive things and finds herself playing the part of happy in order to appear normal to everyone. Cameron doesn't pretend at all. He's broken, he will admit that. We see that every time he disappears for a little while. This story is evidence that painful words can be more damaging than physical blows.
As a reader, I am convinced that Cameron and Jenna have a strong tie, some link that can never be broken no matter the distance between them. Even if that day never happened, they would be bound in some way. You can't help thinking about some of your childhood friends and wondering what they would be like today. Wondering, who is the Cameron in my life?
I was happy to learn that the author, Sara Zarr, was the voice behind the novel. Zarr spoke with a monotonous tone that conveyed Jenna's numbness to everything. When I say conveyed, I mean nailed, as in perfected. This is not a dialogue driven novel. There are no drastic changes in voice from character to character. We are inside Jenna's head for most of the story with her pessimistic thoughts and worries about everything. Zarr's pitch, tone, and almost lack of inflection kept me wrapped in this story. I need to meet her and see if she sounds like this in real life.
Bottom line: Yes, this book is sad, but not depressing. Hopeful is a better word.
Published 2009 (first published 2008) by Playaway
Chelsea Mixon as Katsa & Zachary Exton as Prince Po
From the Publisher:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.
She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
Review:
Day in and day out, Katsa has to put her Grace to use. She is gifted with the Grace of killing and her uncle, the king, sends Katsa out to do his dirty work. When she meets Prince Po, she thinks that perhaps she has found the only worthy person to practice her fighting skills. What she finds is more than a fighting partner. Katsa learns that her Grace is more than meets the eye and even though she doesn't want to tie herself to Po forever, she can't possibly live without him.
For some odd dumb reason, I kept pushing Graceling aside. To be honest, I think it was the sword on the cover that turned me off. Silly I know, but I have "issues" with high fantasy books and as a result, this area isn't one of my strong suits. I'm working on it! (For the record, Graceling is not high fantasy) Regardless, many people told me to give Graceling a try and when I saw the Playaway version at the library, I had to give it a go.
Graceling is one of those books that makes you want to live back in the days where words like "crunk," "fo-shizzle," and "jank" don't exist. Although the vocabulary is made up of simple, everyday words, there is a sophisticated feel and air of properness that add to the quality of the story. In fact, it is what makes this story great. Simply put, Cashore has a way with words. Yes, the dialect has something to do with the time period and setting, but let's be honest, Cashore has a gift. For me, the language was the most special aspect of this book and it adds a lightness and airy quality feel to a book about a girl killer and her journey to accept who she is and meant to be.
Close second? The sweet romance between Katsa and Po - hands down. Man, I was really hoping that there was something more than friendship between the two. When we see that yes, indeed, love is in the air, my heart made a little jump. Surely I am repeating others thoughts, but Katsa's decision to remain unwed and essentially free of the confines of marriage, I wanted to leap for joy! Katsa's explanation for remaining "single" was sound and, to me, made perfect sense. Why would she go from serving one man - the king - to serving another? Of course, Po wouldn't ask her to do something against her will, but for Katsa, she would be living a life that she didn't envision for herself. She never thought love or marriage was an option - only death. Po doesn't push Katsa; he accepts that he will have Katsa anyway she will allow. How refreshing! Yes, very unlikely for the time period, but the message that it conveys is extraordinary. What is even more special about the arrangement is that they had a meaningful conversation about what the other person wanted and expected. Does this happen in real life between young people? No, probably not, but it should. I think those scenes where Katsa and Po were figuring out what would work for them as individuals and as a couple, were beautifully unique.
This audio version was a full cast reading. What does that mean? There was more than one reader. In fact, there were too many to count! Katsa (Chelsea Mixon) and Po (Zachary Exton) had unique voices, as well as the awesome narrator (David Baker). When Bitterblue enters the story (the tie that will bind book 1 and book 3), I was more than happy a grown woman wasn't trying to turn her voice into that of a child's. Listening to a full cast version was like listening to a play - just not watching it. The actors chosen were sensational. Each actor was so convincing and I could easily hear and understand the emotion behind the words. When I was doing a little digging around about Cashore, I ran across this video about the making of full cast audio version. Watch and be amazed!
Understand what I mean? Amazing! If you have already read Graceling, please give the full cast version a try. Yes, it is over 14 hours long, but beyond worth it. New to the story? The Playaway version is the way to go! Check out Cashore's website for awesome versions of Graceling and the sequel, Fire!
