The Firebug of Balrog County by David Oppegaard

The Firebug of Balrog County by David Oppegaard

I'm in love with a firebug. David Oppegaard's novel is set in a fictional small town in Minnesota. The main character is a high school senior named Mack who is grieving the loss of his mother to cancer. He feels the need to start fires and at first he starts out small but then things spiral out of control quickly like a rapid burning flame.  Mack has a great family and a interesting set of grandparents, all who are wounded and grieving. His grandpa is the mayor who is trying to catch the culprit who is setting fires and begins a cat and mouse game between the two of them.

The Firebug of Balrog County is a well-written novel that was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2016.  The story is told in short chapter bursts and full of wry wit and angsty humor.  You will fall in love with the main character and his family and even the small town. I was laughing and crying and rooting for Mack with all my heart.  Mack is charming and quirky and never been kissed and in desperate need of a girlfriend. In some ways Mack reminds me of Duckie form Pretty in Pink and David Oppegaard reminds me of a modern John Hughes.

The Firebug of Balrog County needs to get into the hands of teenage boys.
I would pair The Firebug with A.S. King's- Everybody Sees the Ants.


Go Beyond the book with this link:

Listen to a 4 min interview on Minnesota Public Radio of author, David Oppegaard.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/10/01/books-thread-david-oppegaard

Dreamers Often Lie by Jacqueline West

Dreamers Often Lie by Jacqueline West

Dreamers Often Lie will knock your socks off with an unreliable narrator.  Jaye suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury and is seeing and talking to Shakespeare characters, namely Romeo and Hamlet and MacBeth is there too.. She is trying to convince everyone around her she is sane, including herself, as she gets ready to play a leading role in her high school play, A Midsummer's Nights Dream.

Shakespeare lovers will adore this book.

The story is full of action and twisted plots and creative characters.  There is anger and intrigue and love triangles. Dreamers Often Lie is a quote from Romeo and Juliet as well as this awesome, page-turning novel.  This is a smart book and Jacqueline West conquers serious issues and situations with ease.
I was spellbound until the very last page.

Beyond the Book:

Here is an excerpt from the book:
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/03/dreamers-often-lie-excerpt

A review by the Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/review-dreamers-often-lie-by-jacqueline-west/374194111/

Two Books to Put on Your Literary Radar

2 New Books I Can't Wait for You to Read.

Two of my favorite Minnesota authors, Sarah Stonich and Kirstin Cronn-Mills, have new books coming out soon and I can't wait to read them.  So I thought I would share them with you so you could be first on the library list when they are released.

The first book to be released is Fishing with Rayanne by Ava Finch. It is set to be released in about 10 days on November 3rd.  Ava Finch is actually a pen name for Sarah Stonich and I have loved her previous books, especially Vacationland, which was amazing and should have won the Pulitzer or the National Book Award.  I have a couple of books to finish and then I'm reading this one.

Here is the synopsis on Goodreads:

RayAnne Dahl goes fishing for a different life, catching much more than she’d bargained for...

Having fled the testosterone-soaked world of pro fishing to finally settle in her Minneapolis fixer-upper, thirty-something RayAnne unexpectedly lands at the helm of the first all-women fishing and talk show. Between her dad's falling off the wagon, unwanted advice from Mom—a life coach to the menopausal rich—and her clingy dog, she needs the advice of her beloved grandmother more than ever.

With the show’s surprise success, producers press for celebrity appearances, but fans tweet support for RayAnne and her quirky guests, real women with unique stories and something to say. And though handsome Hal tempts RayAnne, he is a sponsor, rocketing him to the top of her don’ts list.

Just when she’s shedding uncertainty, RayAnne’s world nearly capsizes, and she’s faced with gut-wrenching choices. Will she live by the rules, or by her heart?



The next book I want to tell you about is Original Fake by
Kirstin Cronn-Mills with artwork by E. Eero Johnson

Expected publication is in April, 2016.  Kirstin is a great Young Adult author and college teacher and I loved her last book Beautiful Music for Ugly Children.  This book is full of great artwork and story.

Here is what Goodreads has to say:

In this Banksy-inspired illustrated novel, an escalating sibling rivalry train wrecks and vengeance is a street-art act of war
Introvert Frankie Neumann hates his life, and understandably so. He’s got a weird, tutu-wearing sister, Lou, and even weirder parents, Bridget and Brett—Frank Sinatra and Dr. Frank-N-Furter impersonators, respectively. And, he’s just the guy who makes pizza at Pizza Vendetta. Though he has secret artistic aspirations of his own, his over-the-top family makes him want to stay in the background. But Frankie's life is about to change—becoming way more interesting, even a little dangerous, but definitely cool.

After his shift at the pizzeria one night, Frankie meets David and Rory, cousins and errand runners for the mysterious Uncle Epic, a legendary anonymous street artist and Frankie’s absolute idol. Little could Frankie dream that his new adventures with Uncle Epic would lead to the perfect opportunity to strike back at his insufferable sister for a lifetime of torture. But things go haywire quicker than you can say “street art kicks righteous ass,” and the lines are suddenly blurred between art and Frankie’s real life.


Now go and add them to your ever growing To Be Read list.

Enjoy!

The Shadow Behind the Stars

The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn

Chloe is the youngest of the Three Fates.  Chloe spins the wool and gives it to her sister Serena, who measures the yarn.  Serena holds the yarn to the appropriate length of a life, and the oldest sister, Xinot, takes her shears out of her pocket and cuts it. Together they hold the fate of the world in their hands.

Chloe is the narrator of The Shadow Behind the Stars and the book begins like this:

"THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD.  It is a lesson for you, mortal, so listen well to my words.  Shiver and become them.  When you sleep, dream of them.  When you blink, see us sisters spinning, measuring, slicing in the darkness behind your lids. Know us. Fear us. Heed my warning, mortal: Stay far away from us."

From the first page, I knew I would like this book and love the writing style.  I love it when a narrator speaks to me personally and I adore retellings of Greek Myths.
When a young woman arrives to their secluded island just barely beyond girlhood, with a tale of unspeakable tragedy, Serena takes notice and spins a spell to lesson her pain.  Chloe immediately recognizes that Aglaia is a threat to their way of life and they should not be sharing a meal or living with a mortal. Chloe has plans to get rid of Aglaia by drowning her in the lake but cannot go through with it, as each day they took the boat out, Chloe learns a little more of Aglaia's story and comes to care for her well being.  Aglaia has a destiny and the Three Fates are wrapped up in the threads of it.

I am a fiber artist so I really enjoyed the spinning and weaving and needle work in the book. My fingers were itching to create.  The story itself moves quickly and has some surprises and twists and turns to keep the pages turning.  Full of elements of philosophy, the Shadow Behind the Stars is a creative retelling of an old classic story.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:
"Oh, you mortals, with your desperate prayers, with your terrible fates. You all want something from us--you all think there must be an easier way, a shortcut through the harder parts of life. There is no shortcut. There never is anything we can give you. You must live the life you have; it's all any of us can do."

So dear mortal, I wonder how long is your thread?
How many books will you read in your life time?

It is entirely possible that by reading this review the Three Fates are whispering in your ear and telling you to read this book and to look for The Shadow Behind the Stars.

Lizard Radio By Pat Schmatz

Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz

Lizard Radio is a frequency that only Kivali can hear and that makes her special.  Kivali nicknamed Lizard is fifteen and being sent to CropCamp to learn and conform to society before she reaches adulthood.  She's a bender, someone who doesn't fit neatly into a category of gender.  The camp is strict and you must follow the rules or be expelled from society.

Lizard makes some good friends, experiences first love and has to decide if she is a leader or a follower.  She doesn't know who to trust and must decipher carefully chosen truths.  She must also come to terms with who she is and where she came from.  She was abandoned as a baby and she was wearing T-shirt with a lizard on it.

Lizard Radio is dystopian fiction of the most intelligent kind. When you begin the book the reader and narrator have all sorts of questions which are intelligently answered slowly as the book progresses. There is a unique form to the language in the book and the uses of certain words make you think of what the author is trying to say.  Schmatz is an excellent writer who paints a creative world with her words.  The writing is poetic, lyrical and picturesque.

Lizard Radio is creative and intriguing.  I promise you haven't read anything like it.  The author sucks you in and holds tight as you devour the story.  You will fall in love with the characters, Lizard, Rasta, Sully, and Nona.  Lizard Radio is riveting and I think you're really going to like it.
Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in a creative futuristic culture that is thought provoking.

BluefIsh by Pat Schmatz

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

Bluefish is a rare story that comes into your life just when you need it.  Travis and Velveeta are two lonely souls who gravitate towards one another on the first day of school.  They are in several classes together including their 7th/8th grade reading class.  Travis is the strong silent type and Velveeta can't stop talking.  She wears the most beautiful scarves that catch Travis's eye.  The pair form a strong healing friendship and their stories are told in alternating chapters.

Mr. McQueen is their Reading teacher and he is able to teach Travis and Velveeta the value of books, reading and the true meaning of friendship.

I laughed and I cried and I cheered for these kids to find their way in a world not made for misfits. These characters are so believable and well written that I wanted them to be friends with my own kids.

Bluefish really touched my heart and made me happy to be a teacher and a reader and proud to share my love of both with others.  The best books always teach you about yourself and have a way of breaking open your protective barriers.  Bluefish did that for me.

Bluefish is a poignant book that will move your spirit and give you hope.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Bluefish!
Whose a Bluefish?

Eden West by Pete Hautman

Eden West by Pete Hautman

Jacob is 17 and has lived in the land of Nodd since he was a young boy.  Nodd is a 12 mile secluded religious community in Montana which is surrounded by an 8 foott tall chain link fence. Jacob is not allowed to leave the protection and safety of Nodd because the world is a dangerous, terrible place.  Everyone who lives outside the fence is doomed for all eternity.  Only the people are the inside will be saved when Archangel Zarachiel arrives with an Arc to bring them to paradise.  Until then, there is much work to be done.

One of Jacob's duties is to patrol and fix the fence.  One day, a girl on an ATV, sees Jacob and drives to the fence to talk to him. Lynna is different from the girls he knows and he is tempted by her.  She is beautiful and pervading his thoughts, which is sinful.

A new troubled teen joins the religious group against his will and begins questioning the rules and restrictions Jacob lives by.  And a wolf breeches the fence.  Will Jacob's faith hold?

Pete Hautman has done it again. He has written a thought provoking, realistic novel for teens. Hautman's fiction always makes me think and look at the world in a new way.  Eden West really makes you think about faith and religion and the self imposed walls that we live behind.  Eden West contains a great cast of characters that you grow to care about.  I really loved Jacob's parents and I just adore Jacob.  He is such a good teen who is doing what he should. Questioning.  Questioning his role in the world and the world around him.

Hautman is a writer that transports his readers to another place and deeply sets the scene.  I felt I knew the land of Nodd, as if I grew up there.  It felt like a real place.  Eden West is a look at a fascinating life style choice.  Hautman keeps the reader turning the pages at a rapid rate.  Eden West is beautiful, tragic, hopeful and fascinating to say the least.

Pair Eden West with Godless for a riveting discussion with your teen or for your book club.

The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

The United States lost the Revolutionary War and Britiannia (The Empire) now rules with an iron fist.  After the war, all signers of the Declaration of Independence were promptly hung. Charlotte's parents fight underground for the resistance and she has been in hiding with her brother, Ashley, for most of their lives for their own protection. They live in the catacombs, a series of caves hidden behind a waterfall. One day out in the woods, Charlotte finds a little boy about to be captured by the rotpots and she brings him to the catacombs.  He doesn't remember his name and seems to have lost all his memories. They need to discover who this strange boy is and develop a plan to enter society life in the Floating City and meet with the Resistance.

The Inventor's Secret falls in the Steampunk genre.  Steampunk is a mixture of history and science fiction/fantasy which incorporates technology.  The technology in The Inventor's
Secret is so awesome.  I loved it.  Mechanical rats, rotpots, a dragonfly plane, mouse bombs, a floating city, and so much more. Futuristic technology placed in the past within high society and culture. So cool.

The Inventor's Secret is creative, daring and fun.  Cremer is a clever author.  She tales an unlikely heroine, who best friend is a gun, and puts her in a dress and sends her into high society.  The reader gets to experience everything right along with Charlotte as she enters the Floating city for the first time and experiences the world.  Charlotte is awakened and so is the reader.

This is a fairly new gene for me as I don't read a lot of steampunk.  I'm currently a U.S. history teacher so it was super fun to re-imagine history in a unique context. I've discovered I need to read a lot more Steampunk.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

NightShade by Andrea Cremer

Note:  This is a re-post of my book review of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer from 2011.

Do you like books with bite?  Well, let me introduce you to Calla, who is the alpha of the Nightshade pack of wolves.  Calla is a sexy teenager, a bit unsure of herself, and she is betrothed to the alpha of another pack whose union will carry on an important tradition that has existed for centuries.  They roam the hills of Colorado by night and go to Mountain school by day.  Calla knows what her destiny is and intends to follow it until she meets a good looking human boy named Shay who literally changes the world as she know it.

Nightshade is a plant that is toxic to humans and animals but this book is not toxic at all, in fact, it was hard to put down.  The storyline moves fast and draws in the reader quickly.  It is intelligently told with history and philosophy intertwined within the reality of wolves who rule over humans.  It is a interesting, adventurous, paranormal read with Calla being an excellent main character.

Thomas Hobbes is a political philosopher mentioned frequently in the book.  Shay studies Hobbes, whereas the students in Calla's school have been forbidden to study his work. Hobbes was censored out of the Mountain school curriculum.   Here is a quote by  Hobbes that I think conveys some of the themes in Nightshade.

Moral philosophy is nothing else but the science of what is good, and evil, in the conversation, and society of mankind. Good, and evil, are names that signify our appetites, and aversions; which in different tempers, customs, and doctrines of men, are different.

There are several books in the Nightshade series.
#2 Wolfsbane
#3 Bloodrose

The are also 2 pre-quels.
Rift
Rise

Andrea's new series is called The Inventor's Secret.  It is being categorized as Steam Punk YA.

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

Ned and his twin brother live by the river and they decide to build a raft to take them to the sea.  When the raft sinks, the father of the boys races into the river to rescue them, but he can only save one child and he saves the wrong boy.  His mother is a witch and she uses magic to save Ned's life.  Magic always comes with a price and Ned pays for it by losing his ability to communicate well.

Aine's mother has recently died.  Her final words were "the wrong boy will save you".  After they have lost everything, Aine's father moves them into the forest, a place of mystery and intrigue.  Her father begins to wear a magic eye around his neck and it changes him. He becomes the Bandit King and raids villages and steals from others as Aine struggles to keep her family and life as she knows it intact.  One thing Aine knows for sure is that magic is evil and she wants nothing to do with it.

When Ned and Aine meet, sparks fly.  Ned has magic written all over his body and Aine wants to lead him far away so her father can't find him.  The two become fast friends and embark on a life altering journey.

Barnhill has written a magical story about grief, friendship, adventure and survival that every kid (and kids at heart) will enjoy.  I was enchanted by Ned and his story and when he met the wolf in the woods, I knew that this story was special.  I love wolves.  The characters are well developed, the plot is layered and the story is wonderfully told.

I love the images that Barnhill provokes with her writing.  My mind was busy painting with Barnhill's words and my heart was beating in time with the story and it was magic.  Magic for me is when the writer, the story and the reader connect.  Like when the fairy tale world collides with the real world and there is a flash of lightning.  The Witch's Boy will get in your bones and leave its writing on your skin and you will experience how trees move, and stones speak, and you will hear the wolf howl and feel the magic breathe.

The Witch's Boy is creative and endearing and a sweet, wonderful story.   It will make you want to hug your friends and hold onto to your family.

P.S. Can someone call Disney for me?  I have a great idea for a movie.

In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters


In the Shadow of Blackbirds takes place in 1918. 1918 is a momentous year.  It is the last year of World War I, and the Spanish Influenza is killing more people worldwide than the war. People are living in grief and no family is untouched by death. Spiritualism is all the rage because people want evidence their loved ones are on the other side and that there is a reason for all the madness.

The main character is named Mary Shelley Black after the author of Frankenstein. She is 16 and doesn't believe in ghosts or spirits until her true love joins the war and ends up dying.  Her boyfriend's brother, Julius, is a spirit photographer and Mary doesn't trust him.  She knows something is not right and that Stephen is haunted by blackbirds because his spirit visits her in the night.

This is a awesome, page turning ghost story and historical novel about WWI and the flu epidemic. It is a very enjoyable and totally creepy at the same time.  Winters does an excellent job of portraying this historical period.

While I was reading this, I kept thinking about my grandparents who were babies in 1918.  Their parents (my great-grandparents) must of been worried about them getting sick from the flu.  I am so glad we have never had a health crisis of this magnitude since then.  The widespread panic and health crisis is well written as is the descriptions faced by soldiers during the war and after.  Winters presents the social issues of 1918 in a way that you will never forget.  As a history teacher, I thought the history presented in the book was excellent and since I also enjoy a good ghost story, the two mixed together was just plain fun to read.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Aliens have taken up residence in the sky right above us.  No one knows what they look like or what they want.  People are hopeful for peaceful coexistence but that is not the plan.  Possession of earth comes in waves.

The 1st wave is Lights Out.  Goodbye electricity and anything battery operated.

The 2nd wave is Surf's Up.  A giant wave takes out the coasts and all the people who live there.

The 3rd wave is a Pestilence and disease spreads like wildfire.  No family is untouched.

The 4th wave is a Silencer.  A silencer is a sharpshooter who shoots to kill.

The 5th Wave is what you least expect.
It is action packed, full of courageous characters in the midst of an alien attack.  You won't know what hit you and that is just what the aliens want.

Cassie just might be the last human walking around on earth.  She trusts no one and her mission in life is to rescue her little brother, Sammie, who has been taken to the nearest army base with other children.  Her parents are dead.  Cassie has never seen an alien and has no idea what they look like.  The world is over as she knows it and she shoots to kill.  Then she meets Evan Walker and Cassie doesn't know what to think or do and life is not so black and white anymore.

When I started The 5th Wave, I didn't realize what I was getting sucked into but I was reading as fast as possible because this plot is a rollar coaster ride and I couldn't let go.   In many ways I was reminded of The Walking Dead TV series but there are no vampires, just aliens and you don't know what they look like.  It is a very interesting story when you have no idea who the enemy is.

I normally don't worry about 2nd books or movies but in this case, I will be first in line for the 2nd book, come Sept. 2014 and I will definitely be seeing the movie. OMG, if you like science fiction this alien attack will blow your mind.The characters are awesome and strong and I really feel like this series is soon going to be all the rage.  Move over, Twilight and Hunger Games and make room for The 5th Wave.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Once upon a time there was a story about four teens who meet every summer on their grandfather's private island to run wild and free.  Three are cousins and one is not.  Three are white and one is not.  A relationship develops.  Grandfather does not approve.  They are called The Liars.

Once upon a time, Cadence is the heir to a wealthy family.  She has an image to uphold.  She must not let anything bother her.  She must be strong.  She must stand up for her mother.  She must agree to things she doesn't believe in.  She is tired of her family fighting over money.  She is tired and gets migraines.  She takes pills.  She can't remember how she hit her head.  She wonders why no one tells the truth.

Page turning, mysterious, multi-layered, fascinating, powerful, creative. Couldn't tear my eyes away for long and before I knew the book was done and I was in OMG land.  This is a gothic tale that is reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  We Were Liars is atmospheric and is a great read for summer.

I swear, I am telling the truth for I cannot tell a lie.

 

The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

Alex Woods is a unique teenage protagonist. He is struck in the head by a meteorite when he is 10 years old and that makes him exceptional. He suffers seizures as a result and has a scar on his forehead like Harry Potter. He really has no friends except for an old pot smoking, Vietnam vet named Isaac Peterson. The form a unique friendship and it is this relationship that changes Alex Woods.

Alex has a mother who is a fortune teller, a set of bullies who follow him around and taunt him, and a cat named Lucy.  Alex is obsessed with astronomy, science and books.  He is one extraordinary individual who is under appreciated by his peers.  The only one who appreciates Alex, besides his mother, is Isaac Peterson.

Mr. Peterson has a wonderful library and every book written by Kurt Vonnegut.   Alex decides he wants to read every one of these books with Isaac and so he starts a Kurt Vonnegut book club called The Secular Church of Kurt Vonnegut. They only read Kurt Vonnegut books and the club lasts 14 months.  Lovers of Kurt Vonnegut should definitely read this book.  I have only read 1 Vonnegut book, so even if you don't love his books you will still enjoy this story.

This is a wonderful story about a creative kid, who is sick and bullied for being different, but can do extraordinary things because the people around him, namely Isaac, believe in him and trust him.  Alex Woods feels like the universe is against him, especially since it knocked him on the head with a meteorite.  Be careful universe, Alex Woods just might break your heart and defy you.

4 Great Summer Reads for the Whole Family

4 Great Summer Reads for the Whole Family

It's the  middle of summer and it is time to talk about some of the great books out there to enjoy during summer.  To me, a summer read is a book you read during the summer, not something necessarily light and fluffy. I like to read a variety of books and none of the books featured here are of the light and fluffy variety.

So here are 4 books I've read recently to spice up your summer days.  Each book will appeal to a different age group in your family.

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
BookADay:  Day 17, Book #14

Await Your Reply was chosen as a book for my book club.  I have never read anything by Dan Chaon and was not sure what to expect but this book blew me away.  Await Your Reply is a page turner and opens with a young man getting his hand cut off.  There are three different story lines that interconnect.  Each story line is compelling with interesting characters and it is fun to try and figure out how they are all related.  So good.


A Wreath for Emmitt Till by Marilyn Nelson
BookADay:  Day 14, Book #13

This little book packs a powerful punch of poetry on the death and legacy of Emmett Till. It is a told in a series of fifteen interlocking sonnets. The artwork combined with the beautiful poems about the painful subject of lynching is something to behold. This is a Printz honor book and a Coretta Scott King honor book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd
BookADay:  Day 19, Book #15

I love Patrick Ness.  All of his books are so creative.  A Monster Calls is a story Ness adapted from a story idea that author, Siobhan Dowd had before she died.  It won so many awards, I can't even count how many.  It is beautiful story about a boy and his nightmare that has come to life in the form of a Yew tree outside his window. The illustrations are stunning.  A Monster Calls made me cry and touched my heart. So poignant.  I loved it.

Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People by Susan Goldman Rubin
BookADay:  Day 20, Book #16

Diego Rivera is an artist for the people. He created art on murals for the working class and for people who were illiterate. He wanted to teach the world the history of Mexico. This is a short but detailed biography of Diego Rivera and how he became a admired artist. This is a good introductory book for kids and adults who want a quick history of who Diego Rivera is and why his artwork is important.  Some of his artwork is included in the book.

How do you define summer reading?

Guy In Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Guy In Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Guy In Real Life is a book about a lot of things.  It's a book about Lesh, who listens to heavy metal music, wears black clothes and is your average kind of sensitive weird guy who starts playing an online video game after he gets grounded for getting drunk.  He admires a beautiful girl from his school named Svetlana and she just happened to drive her bike into him, late one Saturday night.  So he creates a online character in her name and plays online as a girl, even though he is a guy in real life.

Svetlana is a role playing gamer and is the head of the RPG gaming club at her school.  She is an artist and draws many of the monsters for the game.  She sews and embroiders her clothes and is tall, blonde and beautiful.  Your typical senior hippie weird girl.  She starts falling for Lesh after they share lunch together and he saves her from a family friendly stalker boy lurking in the lunchroom.

Two very different teens from two different socio economic backgrounds tell their story in alternating chapters.  The gaming world is also represented with chapters interspersed throughout the book.  Guy In Real Life is not your typical love story and it is going to be hard for readers to fit Guy In Real Life into a box or a set category or genre because it is unique and genre bending. There's a little bit of mystery, fantasy, GLBTQ, romance and more.  So if you identify with the word, nerd or geek, this might be the perfect book for the nerdish side of you.  Nerds Unite!  Gamers Unite!  Readers Unite!

One of the things I really loved about this book was the music the characters interact with.  Brezenoff introduces the reader to an interesting playlist of tunes that go from Bjork and Iron Maiden to Captain & Tennille and composer Hector Berlioz.  I looked up some of the music and played it.  In fact, Brezenoff should create a playlist so you can listen to all the songs listed in the novel.  That would be cool.  A Novel Playlist??  Steve?

One of the things I admire about Brezenoff's writing is that he is creative.  He is not afraid to write something that no one has tried before and he takes risks.  As readers, we should take risks too and read books outside your comfort zone. Don't you agree?

Nerd alert:  So let's sing - Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tennille because this song is in the best chapter of the book.

Two Great Audiobooks

Two Great Audiobooks.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Narrated by Dan Stevens
Length: 8 Hours and 35 minutes.

I started Frankenstein twice.  The first time, I just couldn't get into it, I couldn't follow it and so I quit.  Which I then regretted and so I tried again and I'm so glad I did.  Once the slow beginning was over and I got over my confusion, the story picked up.  Frankenstein was creepy and awesome and addressed all kinds of questions about what it means to be human.  The narrator was great, expressive and after I got used to him, easy to follow.  I cannot believe that Mary Shelley wrote this when she was just 17.  That is incredible!

Rotters by Daniel Kraus
Narrated By Kirby Heyborne
Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins

Rotters was paired with Frankenstein by AudioBook Sync when they gave away both audiobooks last summer for a week for free.  Score!  This was the first I had heard of Rotters and it was a perfect pairing.

If Frankenstein was creepy and awesome, Rotters was more creepy and freaky and also awesome.  Wow, what a great story about a father and son grave robbing team and their assortment of colleagues.  I was blown away by the creative aspects of the story and just the right amount of ick inserted where needed.  The narrator was superb and added to the creepiness of the story. Highly recommend!

What audiobooks are you listening too?

Book A Day Updates and Mini-Reviews

Book A Day Updates and Mini-Reviews

I've been trying to read a book a day this summer as part of the BookADay challenge.  So far, I feel like I am keeping up.  I just got back from a trip to Maryland/DC for National History Day where my student took FIRST place in the paper category.  It was awesome!  So now I'm home and my feet are up (to decrease the swelling in my two sprained ankles) and I'm ready to read and write.

I will post the some of the books I have read and a short mini-review.

Day 4, Book #4   Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

I loved this book!  It is a love story that transcends gender and stereotypes and it was sweet and beautiful and full of meaning.  Brezenoff's writing is poetic and original.  I like a writer that takes risks and gets creative.  The characters of Kid and Scout are endearing and you will fall in love with them as they throw off societal labels.

Day 5, Book #5   Sex Criminals Volume 1 by by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky (Artist)

This graphic novel is for adults only.  It is about a couple of people who when they orgasm are able to stop time.  They decide to rob a bank while their in the orgasm zone.  It is a bit zany and totally interesting and unique.  Great storyline.  I am looking forward to the next volume.

Day 6, Book #6    Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor

I love Byrd Baylor's children's books.  Everybody needs a rock to love and this is a little instruction book for finding a truly special rock to hold and love.  Frankly, I love rocks.  They speak to me and I have a whole bunch of rocks sitting on my dresser and around my house.  This book is perfect for kids from age 3 to 103.

Day 7, Book #7   Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant

I was drawn to this book because I named my daughter Georgia.  Pieces of Georgia is told in verse.  Georgia is 13 and living in trailer with her father on a
farm.  She has been labelled "at-risk" because her mother recently died and she is introverted.  Georgia is an artist and so was her mother.  I liked the focus on art and learning about the Wyeth family artists.

I love this idea of reading a book a day.  I wish I could do this all year!

Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

Brooklyn, Burning is the type of book that only comes along once in awhile and burns its beautiful story into your heart.

Kid is a teen runaway and so is Scout.  They meet outside of Fish's bar in Brooklyn and develop a relationship while they try and survive on the streets.  Both play instruments and make beautiful music together that is raw and creative.

Kid used to sleep in the old warehouse down by the river but it burned.  The authorities suspect arson and Kid is their prime suspect.  Kid is reeling from the loss of first love and is trying to find the strength to move on and is thinking maybe jail would be the right punishment.  Yet Scout is always there when needed and maybe the truth will actually set you free.

The story is narrated by Kid whose gender is undefined, in fact for both Kid and Scout, you don't know whether they are boy or girl, gay or straight.  Brooklyn, Burning is written without pronouns for the main characters.  It is an interesting way to read a novel and I loved it.  I love how Brezenoff experiments with gender and makes a statement about love and transcendance.  At its heart Brooklyn, Burning is a love story.  Yet this love story makes you think about gender stereotypes and how teens and people define themselves.

Brezenoff's writing is poetic and original.  I like a writer that takes risks and gets creative.  The characters of Kid and Scout are endearing and you will fall in love with them as they throw off societal labels.

I loved this story of non-conformity.

Perfectly Good White Boy by Carrie Mesrobian

Perfectly Good White Boy by Carrie Mesrobian
To Be Released in October 2014

Sean is a junior and has just fallen in love for the first time.  His first love is Hallie, a senior and she's leaving him behind for college at the end of the summer.  He is pretty sure he is not going to college and feels limited in his future possibilities.

Perfectly Good White Boy chronicles Sean's senior year and how he navigates family, work, his ex-girlfriend and his new friendship with a girl named Neecie.  Ultimately every senior must make a decision about their plans after high school.  Sean is thinking about joining the Marines.  He wants to leave and never come back.  His Dad is a drunkard, his parents are divorcing and they live is rental house that embarrasses him.  He can't wait to get out of town.

Carrie Mesrobian has written a book about the decisions that every teen must face.  The biggest decision being what to do after high school but their are many other decisions teens make, like to have sex or not, to drink underage or not and more.  She has created a cast of characters that are likable, flawed and struggling to find their place in the world.  One of my favorite parts of the story is that everyone keeps talking about the iconic film Full Metal Jacket.  I think I might have to go and watch it again now.

Perfectly Good White Boy is not as shocking as Sex & Violence but it is similar in that it is brutally honest, gritty and raw.  Carrie captures the teenage experience once again and does not shy away from difficult teen issues.  Mesrobian is a courageous writer that older teens will love.  I love that Carrie takes on mature teen themes and does not sugar coat it or disguise them.  She just writes what needs to be written and makes it look easy.  You go, girl!