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Bibliography: Fantaskey, Beth. (2009).  Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  ISBN: 978-0152063849 (hc) 978-0547259406 (pb)

Plot Summary:  Jessica Packwood is your average American teen, getting ready to start her senior year of high school.  This year will be her year, but maybe she should be careful what she wishes for.  On the first day of school Lucius Vladescu shows up.  He is mysterious, handsome and has old world manners.  He’s also arrogant and a snob.  And a vampire who has come to the United States from Romania to claim his betrothed–Jessica, who it turns out, is also a vampire.  What’s a girl to do?  Lucius and becoming a vampire were not in the plan.  But when a beautiful cheerleader sets her sights on him, and then a contingent of threatening vampires shows up, Jessica realizes she must do something…

Critical Analysis:  This book was recommended to me after I read Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey and commented on one of the library listservs that I would happily take many more lighthearted  or humorous vampire romances over Twlight wannabes any day.  I think the beauty of Jessica’s Guide is that Fantaskey is presenting everything in a straightforward manner but not taking anything too seriously.  To me, if you remove the vampires, you are still left with a somewhat satirical look at life in a middle American high school, and what happens when a teenage girl realizes there is more to life and to herself than what she has been lead to believe.

This is Jessica’s story, but the letters that Vlad writes home give the reader insight into his character and thoughts which are so on point for skewering that same middle American world.  The added details of Jessica dealing with the changes that are happening to her as she prepares to become a vampire, and the addition of details from the book Vlad gives her are again so funny.  And yet, with all the vampires, threats of war and violence, humor, cheerleaders, dates and dances, in the end the reader is rooting for Jessica to take a stand for herself and the person she realizes she loves.  (It is obvious that Kirkus reviewers and I will have to agree to disagree on Fantaskey.)

Readalikes:  Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey is another humorous, fun, lighter look at vampires.  While the characters are teens, the Drake family and their friends are too busy fighting off other vampires and vampire hunters to worry too much about things like going to school.  However, they do find time for a little romance.

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey, yes this seems obvious as a choice, if you like something read more by that author.  In this case, there are similarities in the set up, a normal high school girl discovers she and the boy she is coming to love are not what she thought, but this book was darker in tone and theme and I thought had a deeper message.

Review Excerpts:  “Fantaskey makes this premise work by playing up its absurdities without laughing at them, endowing Jessica with a coolly ironic sensibility and Lucius with old-world snobberies that Jessica’s girlfriends find irresistible….The romance sizzles, the plot develops ingeniously and suspensefully, and the satire sings.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“Fantaskey’s fast-paced story is full of plot twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The story is highly entertaining with plenty of action, drama, romance, as well as self-discovery.”–School Library Journal

“Fantaskey’s novel is far more than a romantic fantasy. As Jessica wrestles with issues of identity, she must also grapple with her body’s physical changes and her newfound sexuality…. Jessica is a witty, spunky protagonist with authentic insecurities and inner conflicts.”–VOYA

“Populated with thoroughly flat characters, this vampire romance, despite charming moments, makes Twilight look like a feminist handbook.”–Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography: Godbersen, Anna. (2009). Splendor: A Luxe Novel. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 978-0061626319

Plot Summary:  Elizabeth is determined to be a good wife and mother.  She doesn’t love her new husband, but she is grateful to him until she starts to uncover details about his past dealings with her father.  Her sister, Diana is determined to forget all about Henry, but all the adventure in all the exotic places in the world may not be enough.  Their former ladies’ maid, Carolina continues to rise through society but hiding her past may cost her the one thing she wants most.

Critical Analysis:  I have read and enjoyed all four of the Luxe novels.  Matter of fact, the very first book I reviewed here was the first one, Luxe. I still feel that what Godbersen does so well is combine an interesting soap opera kind of story with a real look at what is really proper behavior and the difference between the classes, especially in the character of Carolina, who was in the lower class but moves to the upper class when she inherits some money.  She learns the hard way that money can buy you friends but not love or respect.  A similar example can be seen in Diana who refuses to conform to what is expected of a lady of her stature.

The best thing for me about this last book is how satisfying it was.  Everyone gets what they deserve in the end, according to how they have behaved throughout the series.  I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil it.  On a personal note, thank you Ms. Godbersen for setting story and character arcs and sticking to them, resisting the temptation to extend the series to more volumes.  Sometimes it is best to leave the reader wanting more.

Readalikes:  As with the first Luxe novel, I am reminded of The Gilded Age by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley.  Not his most well known work, but I think this series is the perfect opening to introduce it to teens and others, and also that it might make a great English or History reading, as the title is where the name for the time period came from.

Review Excerpts: “Readers of this series will not be disappointed with this final installment. It would be best to start with the first book and enjoy each title in order.”–Children’s Literature

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

As mentioned briefly here, I am joining Amber at The Literary Wife in an informal reading challenge of sorts as we read and blog our way through  the top 100 children’s books as voted on by readers of Elizabeth Bird’s A Fuse #8 Production.

Lindgren, Astrid.  Pippi Longstocking.  (1950).  New York: Viking Children’s. ISBN: 9780670557455

What is it about Pippi that makes her so universally appealing?  Her house where she lives by herself and does what she pleases?  Her pet monkey?  Her horse?  Her superhuman strength?  Her willingness to do anything, try anything, say anything?  I think it is all of that and more.  Pippi loves life, and she loves all of it, even making cookies and scrubbing the floor.  She loves her friends fiercely, and even the adults that don’t always understand her can see her loyalty and kindness.

I was sitting here thinking about how many times I had read this–too many to count.  And also that for me, unlike other children’s books I read when I was in the target age group, that I didn’t want to be Pippi, but I longed to be Tommy and Annika so that I could be Pippi’s good friend.  I was also remembering the 1988 movie version, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. Not a literal exact translation of the book to film, nonetheless, very true to the spirit of the book and the spirit of Pippi.  That has a nice ring to it, the spirit of Pippi.  Would that we all would have a little of her spirit!

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography:  Baratz-Logsted, Lauren. (2010).  The Education of Bet. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 978-0547223087

Plot Summary:  In 19th century England, Bet and Will, childhood friends though she is a daughter of a maid and he the son of  wealthy family, concoct a plan so both can get what they want.  Bet, an education, and Will, a chance to become a soldier in the army.  Pretending to be a boy can’t be that hard, can it?  But Bet didn’t think about how to deal with her period, undressing in the same room as a boy, and falling in love.

Critical Analysis:  I found this book to be very refreshing.  First of all, it is less than 200 pages long.  In a time when so many writers for teens have followed in J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer’s wake penning books that seem to go on and on (and often for no apparent reason other than they can) I am glad that there are still writers out there to display the skill that is needed to create a whole world and a story in fewer pages with less words.  Secondly, so glad to see a story like this that doesn’t feel like it needs magic or paranormal elements to make it complete.  Instead Baratz-Logsted gives us a charming heroine living in a well described historical setting.

Bet is probably the best thing about this book.  From the moment she is introduced, you can’t help but want her to succeed, to pull of her attempts to disguise herself as a boy, to get the education she wants.  You root for her to find solutions to problems she didn’t anticipate and hold your breath when she comes close to being discovered.  A close second is the setting, description, and events at the boys’ boarding school.  It reminds me so strongly of other such schools in books and movies, from Dead Poet’s Society to Harry Potter.  I think this is a rare work of historical fiction that might have wide appeal across ages, grades, and genders.

Readalikes:  The book reminded me strongly of the first Song of the Lioness book, Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce where Alanna trades places with her brother Alan disguising herself as a boy so that she can train to become a knight.

Review Excerpts: “…Bet’s descriptive, intimate, first-person narrative incorporates historical details and diverse characters….Despite some improbable elements, historical-fiction fans will likely find Bet an appealingly lively heroine as she pursues her dreams and makes unexpected discoveries in learning, life, and love.”–Booklist

“Baratz-Logsted amusingly describes the lengths to which Bet goes to pass as a boy (cutting off her hair) and keep her secret (insisting on changing clothes in the dark). Readers will root for Bet to the very end, as she proves that from lemons can come the sweetest lemonade.”–Publisher’s Weekly

Reviewed from publisher provided advanced copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Last week I woke up before 4:00 am and got in my car to drive to Disney World and the Dolphin and Swan Resort.  What would make me do such a thing?  The Romance Writers’ of America annual conference and their wonder Librarians’ Day.  I had attended a few years ago when they were in Dallas, and really enjoyed it.  The drive was much better than I had anticipated, turns out there is no one on the roads going up the middle of the state that early in the morning!  As before, the programs were excellent, the romance writers and librarians generous with their time and knowledge, the food delicious and the goodies and free books more than I could carry.

The program I enjoyed most was “Focus on Young Adult Romance.”  Moderated by teen librarian extraordinaire Amy Alessio featuring YA romance authors Ally Carter, Melissa de la Cruz, Simone Elkeles, and 2008 RWA librarian of the year Susan Gibberman, I wish I had recorded the whole program, but here are some highlights.

Simone on becoming a YA writer and reader:  She hated reading as a teen.  When she was an adult and had a kid of her own, in the winter they would go to the library to “mess up the kids’ section.”  She happened to pick up an Oprah book and read it straight through.  However, it was sad.  So she then picked up her first romance and loved it.

Ally on becoming a YA writer and reader:  She too was a reluctant reader, bored with the books available.  She says she went from Berenstein Bears to Barbara Taylor Bradofrd.  Then she heard about S. E. Hinton, a teen girl from Oklahoma who wrote great books, one of which was made into a movie with Tom Cruise.  Ally thought, I’m a teen girl from Oklahoma, that’s what we do.  Romance for teens is different, the happily ever after can be different from a date to a moment to a dance to an agreement to see other people.

Melissa on writing:  She writes paranormal romance for teens and teens love paranormal romance because it is a fantasy of forever love, it provides an escape.  She writes about the pleasure of reading, her parents read for pleasure and read widely.  She reads for pleasure and entertainment.

Simone on injecting romance into a book:  Romance is my focus, my characters wouldn’t be their true selves if they didn’t fall in love with this person who helps them become that true self.

Ally on injecting romance into a book:  Romance is what happens when people aren’t trying to kill you.  (Her series is set at a spy school.)  All teenage girls with crushes are spies, these girls just have the training to back it up.  Romance allows us to show another side of the characters.  It’s not realistic to portray teenage girls and not have them interested in romance.  Her characters aren’t looking for big major love, but are interested and curious about the opposite sex.

Melissa on injecting romance into a book:  Teens think about boys, sometimes it seems like it is the center of their universe, but not really, they also have family and friends who are always there.  This is what she tried to capture in her books.  I don’t set out to write a book for teens, I write a book that appeals to me.  I remember it (being a teen) misery, crushes, friends you trust so much.  Everything is a first, an adventure, love is first love.

Simone on realistic romance:  Characters must act like who they are.  Gang members fight, cuss, have sex.  Girls not so much.  Avoid teaching a lesson and teenspeak.

Ally on “clean” realistic romance:  I’m a gosh dang darned kind of person so I write gosh dang darned kind of books.  I’m not censoring myself, my 15 year olds (characters) are young because they have been in this sheltered world.  It is realistic because they are trying to figure boys out and where they fit in a man’s world.

Melissa on realistic romance:  I was a good girl, but being a teen was all about rebelling.  In my mind I snuck out, I wanted to be naughty, bad.  She lived in New York, saw how kids in the city were, the trendy scene where everyone was smoking, drinking, “so old,” living the Gossip Girl life.  Her characters may look like teens, but in reality they are 1000s of years old New York City kids.  Sometimes that gets her in trouble, when one of her characters had an affair with a 40 year old, editors wanted to make them a little younger.  I’m going to keep doing what I do because that’s what I like, write what I want to write.

Simone on diversity in YA romance:  She’s written books with Latino, Israeli and now gay characters.

Melissa on diversity in YA romance:  I’m everyone’s Asian friend with a Spanish last name.  Her Blue Bloods series has roots on the Mayflower, but other books have diverse characters.  The world of Blue Bloods allows for vampires with diverse backgrounds, like a very old Asian vampire.

Ally on diversity in YA romance:  A spy school needs to be diverse, it would be a bad spy school without diverse students.  Someone in the school can disappear in any corner of the world.