Plot Summary:  Emily knows she is lucky–she leads an life many teens dream about–perfect parents, great friends and a spot at the prep school where her father is headmaster.  But why does she dream of fire and water and dying?  When oh so bad and oh so smart Del Sugar arrives, he brings a wildness and sense of rebellion that are irresistible.  When Del is expelled, Emily is left with a hard decision and a search for the truth.

Critical Analysis:  I loved Warman’s début novel, Breathless.  I was excited to see that this is a companion book of sorts but disappointed that there was not more crossover or connection between the two.  And while I did enjoy the story and I loved some of the characters, I did not find this as well crafted.  It felt much more melodramatic than the quiet intimacy of Breathless.  I also found it full of issues but less grounded.  And the handling of one issue in particular was extremely far-fetched, I don’t care how much money someone has.  And yet, some of the secondary characters and situations had that same spark.  And I know this book was not really written for me.  There are many teen girls out there who love melodrama and issue books, so I am sure they will love this.

Review Excerpts: “Emily’s story is compelling….The plot builds slowly and, for the most part, realistically. The main characters are well developed, and Emily’s thought processes…are particularly insightful and touching. Secondary characters add depth to the story.”–School Library Journal

“…Most memorable, though, are passages that show how painful realizations often arrive: through isolated flashes of intuition and experience that layer slowly into three-dimensional truths.”–Booklist

“Emily tries to deal with these issues as she is forced to quickly grow up in this well-written coming of age story that will have readers anxiously turning the pages as they and Emily’s discover the “skeletons in her closet.”–Children’s Literature

“In this dramatic, unpredictable, romance-gone-awry companion novel to Breathless (2009), Warman only improves as she revisits the boarding-school scene. Emily’s unflinching, multilayered narration and realistic dialogue capture the wishes and fears that drive teens. A page-turner to the bittersweet ending.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Warman, author of the excellent Breathless (BCCB 11/09), returns here to the boarding-school milieu she continues to depict with finesse and tantalizing detail; the hothouse intensity and ramped-up intimacy of life in Emily’s dorm is yearningly credible. A smart, sensitive melodrama.”–Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

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.

Bibliography

Plot Summary:  After the crash, Paige’s world comes crashing down around her.  One best friend playing the martyr, one losing herself in crazy diets and a boyfriend who is more distant by the day.  A mother who is concerned that Paige must keep up her image to keep her spot on the Homecoming Court and a sister who can’t stand her.  Paige finds comfort and solace in an unexpected place–creative writing class where an odd boy makes her forget and a compassionate teacher makes her think that she is more than how others see her.

Critical Analysis:  Yes, this début novel is a little on the long side, and yes, there are perhaps one or two too many subplots, and some secondary characters that are less fleshed out.  But this book is compellingly readable.  Backes has a distinctive voice and style that is quite unlike any other writing for teens today, and in Paige she creates an unreliable but completely relatable narrator.  There is a real grittiness to the characters and events, grounded in truth.  And yet  there is room for lighter moments and humor, even in the face of tragedy just as in life.  Teens do act this way, treat each other this way, talk this way.  And there are many out there who will identify with Paige as it is a rare teen who feels as though others’ perceptions match his or her true self.

Readalikes:  Princesses  reminded me of Between by Jessica Warman which also features an unreliable narrator of sorts who would be trying to keep her life together and stay in with the popular crowd if she weren’t dead.

Review Excerpts:  ”A well-executed first novel… Backes addresses guilt, deceit, homophobia, loyalty, and the burden of keeping up appearances in a brutally believable high school setting as Paige recognizes the weaknesses of loved ones and her own imperfections.”
—Publishers Weekly

“In this debut novel, Backes takes Dead Poets Society and brings it into the age of Mean Girls. Her writing style is witty while still being relatable, and the themes of acceptance and identity will ring true to teens… Backes re-creates a world that most teens already live in, with the overarching message that anyone can become more than what others perceive them to be.”—School Library Journal

“Paige’s journey out of the Mean Girls IT group won’t shock readers, but it unfolds with pleasingly realistic hesitations, as does her relationship with the new, uncool boy….But the writing is fluid, Paige is a likably unreliable narrator and the high-school setting is believably sordid. A mostly solid, if a little too long, high-school drama.”–Kirkus Reviews

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

The winners, randomly selected thanks to random.org:

Kimberly H., ARC and Random Buzzers code

Candice M., ARC and Random Buzzers code

Kat W., Random Buzzers code

Jen, Random Buzzers code

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments.

Bibliography: Fredericks, Mariah. (2012).  The Girl in the Park.  New York: Schwartz and Wade.  ISBN: 978-0375868436

Plot Summary:  When Wendy’s body is found in Central Park, headlines paint her as a party girl.  Other girls know Wendy as the wild child who is after their boyfriends.  Some students at the exclusive Alcott School are upset and others secretly glad, maybe she got what was coming to her.  But former best friend Rain, shy and quiet because of the cleft palate she was born with, remembers the Wendy who told her to stand up and speak up.  And when Rain starts to uncover the truth and the details don’t add up, will she find the voice to speak for her friend?

Critical Analysis:  True mysteries written for teens are rare enough, and I am glad to say that Fredericks does an excellent job of creating a taut well paced novel peopled with compelling characters in an ultra exclusive setting.  Rain and Wendy are especially well drawn, contrasting with one another.  Wendy is everything Rain is not, and the reader sees that Rain both admires Wendy for being able to be so bold, so loud and feels for her as Rain knows without asking that some of Wendy’s actions are born from deep emotional pain.

The details of Rain’s cleft palate are handled with care, which makes sense since Fredericks herself was born with one.  As Fredericks notes, “For a long time, that meant I didn’t talk a lot.  But I did listen.”  Exactly the same traits she has given to Rain, and this listening and observations from the edges of events are what leads to the putting together the pieces to solve Wendy’s murder.

Oh the mystery.  I want to say I didn’t guess the ending far in advance, but I did.  But I don’t think most readers will care.  The pacing sweeps the reader along and by the time you realize who did it, you will be so involved in Rain’s story and the suspense of events and when she will tell someone that you won’t care.  This book should have high appeal for teen girls, and while there is partying and alcohol use and adult situations, I can’t see much that would keep this out of middle schoolers’ hands.

Review Excerpts: “Rain’s voice provides an authentic portrait of grief and powerlessness, while Fredericks (Crunch Time) offers profound, provocative commentary on what it means to grow up in the age of Facebook.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“[B]oth Rain and Wendy emerge as fully rounded, flawed characters that teens will recognize and connect with. A satisfying whodunit with enough clues and red herrings to keep mystery fans happy.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Fredericks has constructed a taut, suspenseful mystery with convincing characters whose actions and motives propel the plot. Rain is an unusual, compelling protagonist, a watcher who must step reluctantly out of her comfort zone. Observant readers…will find as much satisfaction in observing Rain’s personal growth as in the solving of the intriguing mystery.“–Booklist

“”The story starts off slowly, gradually building to a surprise ending. Rather than a heavy-handed explanation of Rain’s cleft palate, details are sprinkled throughout the story, building readers’ understanding of her communication difficulties and readers’ compassion for her.”–School Library Journal

“The mystery unravels amidst a sensitive exploration of Rain’s coming to terms with her own quiet, demure personality, with its flaws and its advantages measured against Wendy’s extroversion and desire for recognition and love. The crime itself offers up multiple suspects before a triumphant resolution tinged with melancholy, a conclusion that highlights the fact that while growth is certainly possible, some people, unfortunately, never make it past the slights of high school.”–The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The very real mystery of the story is a riveting background for Rain’s self-struggle, and the plot twists make this a true page-turner. This book will find a ready audience in fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti who are looking for something a bit edgier.”–VOYA

Giveaway:  I have two advanced copies of this title to share with you.  In addition, as an Ambuzzador for this title and I have special codes you can use to sign up for Random Buzzers that will give you enough “Buzz Bucks” (points) and special privileges to be eligible for a free book.  If you are already a member, perhaps you have a friend or teen who might like to join.  If you would like to be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment below with your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.  I will accept entries until Sunday night.

Random Buzzers:   An online community for teens from Random House, Random Buzzers is a fun, safe place for readers and writers to gather and share their favorite reads, chat with authors, win books, share reviews and tons of other fun stuff!  This week Mariah Fredericks is the featured author and you can post your questions for her to reply.

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

Bibliography

Plot Summary: 17 year old Sadie has been best friends and secretly in love with with Garrett for the past two years.  He parades a string of girls in front of her, oblivious to the one right in front of him.  Away at writing camp for the summer, Garrett falls yet again for someone else and Sadie has decided she’s had it.  With the help of her new co-workers at the local coffee shop and an old friend, Sadie comes up with a 12 step program for getting over Garrett Delaney.

Critical Analysis:  I must be honest and say that I have a huge book crush on Abby McDonald.  I love her books and by extension, her.  While she is similar in some ways to several others writing for teens today, she has something extra that is not present in say a Sarah Dessen.  In this book, I love that she has taken on a scenario that is very common for many teen girls–unrequited love and not just any, but that of your best guy pal.  But then she takes it to the next level and gives us unique characters, not just Sadie (and tell me that’s not a reference to Sadie Hawkins?) but a whole cast of interesting characters who come to be the center of Sadie’s life.  They are real and interesting and funny and work to distract her from her Garrett problem and in the end show her that she is so much more than a girl who is trying to hard to be what she thinks some guy wants her to be.

If I had a teen sister or cousin or niece, I would be giving her McDonald’s books–because they are well-written and funny and feature situations and circumstances that are relate-able.  I would hope she would read them and see that what the world tells her is not always right and that there is worth in being yourself, standing up for yourself.

Readalikes:  This book reminded me a great deal of Sarah Dessen’s Keeping the Moon which features another teenage girl finding new friends at her summer job and learning to value herself.

Review Excerpts: “ …McDonald (The Anti-Prom) turns the tragedy of unrequited love on its head as she traces her heroine’s determined and often comical efforts to find herself and become more independent. .”–Publisher’s Weekly

“A comedic and candid first-person narrative… Plain Janes and lovelorn teens will appreciate the sound self-help tips and be inspired by the stronger, deserves-better Sadie who emerges, ready to give love another chance.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Teen girls will relate to the all-consuming love portrayed here, will root for Sadie, and may appreciate the reminder to put self before boyfriends.”–School Library Journal

“McDonald moves with sure-footed grace through Sadie’s heartbreak and recovery, adding in the perfect pinch of schadenfreude for readers when Garrett finally realizes what a great girl he’s been missing all along. Sadie’s self-work is quietly inspirational and satisfying, offering genuine hope for the unrequited romantic.”–The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Gentle and humorous, GETTING OVER GARRETT DELANEY is sure to be a hit with fans of Joan Bauer and Meg Cabot.”–Voice of Youth Advocates

“This book is a hilarious, honest, and thoughtful look at being a girl, falling in love and trying to find the right balance between believing in love and sacrificing too much for it.”–Justine

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

So excited to be chosen by Random House’s Randombuzzers program to be an Ambuzzador for this title.  I found it a very compelling read.  As a part of the Ambuzzador program, I have special referral codes for anyone who wants to join the program-you’ll get 15,000 Buzz Bucks just for signing up!  Leave a comment with contact info if you want in!  Look for more to come on The Girl in the Park coming soon…

Plot Summary: After 3 minutes under water, you’ll lose consciousness.  At 4 minutes, permanent brain damage can occur.  Death is possible at 5 minutes, likely at 7 and almost certain at 10.  When Delaney fell through the ice, it was 11 minutes before Decker pulled her out.  She should have been dead or in a coma.  Instead she walks out of the hospital and into a life that is changed.  Friends treat her differently, and a mysterious stranger seems to show up everywhere she goes.  But it is the strange physical attraction and response to people who later turn up dead that she can neither control or understand.

Critical Analysis:  Strong characterization, especially of Delaney, great tone and voice, feelings of loss, love and guilt alongside a dark and suspenseful tautly paced plot add up to a book that is more than the sum of its parts.  I finished this book several weeks ago but it has stayed with me.  First I identified with Delaney, a studious teenage girl who loves being with her best friend.  Rather ingenious in my book to have Delaney die and come back to life–signifies that transformation all teens go through.  How her friends react to the changed her is part of what makes the story heart wrenching.  And there is darkness…you can’t cheat death and not have darkness.  Darkness in Delaney, in Troy (who shares her gift (curse?), in people on their way to dying.  I don’t want to say too much, so I’ll stop there.  But I will say how refreshing to have a supernatural story that isn’t peopled with vampires, werewolves, angels, mermaids or any other mythical or magical creature.

Readalikes:  I was strongly reminded of Wake by Lisa McMann, dark and supernatural as well.  Whenever someone nearby falls asleep, Janey falls into their dreams.

Review Excerpts: “[A] captivating and intelligent story of love and death with a dash of the supernatural….The fluid writing, empathetic characters, and big questions raised elevate this paranormal romance into a haunting meditation on what it means to be human and to truly live. “–Publisher’s Weekly

“ Delaney is an engaging personality, and Miranda is able to sustain her protagonist’s sharp voice throughout. Mom, Derek, Troy, and several minor characters are realistic, distinctive, and interesting….readers will find Delaney delightfully genuine and her story compelling. “–VOYA

“This book works as a good teen drama plot with a supernatural twist, so many libraries will want this volume for those that only want a taste of the unexplainable. “–Children’s Literature

“The story sometimes seems to be headed toward the supernatural, and then it suddenly makes a sharp turn toward realistic science, and then back again. The love triangle, combined with the allure of danger, will carry readers through this story that pulls them back every time they might feel ready to give up.”–School Library Journal

“Teetering between tired, predictable romance and edgy thriller….An occasionally thrilling paranormal romance with enough spellbinding incidents to overcome the clichéd components.”–Kirkus Reviews

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.

Plot Summary:  Only at Manderley Academy to please her parents, if being away from home and super hard classes were not enough, the “new girl” is faced with reminders of the girl whose place she took–Becca.  She is in Becca’s room, she has feelings for Max Holloway, the love of Becca’s life and strange hints of what might have happened to Becca who just disappeared one night.  She doesn’t want Becca’s life, regardless of what roommate Dana thinks, but what will happen if Becca comes back?

Critical Analysis:  A little contrived in places, this re-telling of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier mostly works.  Most of the contrivances take place at the beginning.  I wish the author could have figured out another way to get the new girl into the story and at the boarding school…her parents remember her 8th grade wish and apply as a surprise?  And she doesn’t tell them that she doesn’t really want to go so goes anyway for her senior year?  Hard to buy, especially since she spends so much, especially at the beginning, longing for home and family and friends.  I also found some of the re-imagining/re-telling to be a little, well, literal.  A costume party where Dana Veers convinces the new girl to wear the same costume as Becca–straight out of the original.

And yet, the whole cruelty and cattiness between some of the girls really works, as does the isolation and independence of boarding school.  As with the original, the character of Becca and the mystery of what happened to her overshadows everything–the new girl can’t escape.  And still, the new girl manages to overcome, to be herself, to like her life, her situation and to realize she is more than just some girl from Florida, or some new girl who took a popular girl’s place.  I think teens girls will really like this, and if other blog reviews are any indication, they won’t have read the original but perhaps now they will seek it out–and maybe the movie too.

Readalikes: Breathless by Jessica Warman–Katie didn’t expect to like the boarding school, she didn’t want to be away from her older brother Will.  She can just be one of the girls, and focus on swimming and schoolwork.   So why then does she tell everyone he’s dead?

Looking for Alaska by John Green–Miles “Pudge” Halter is abandoning his ordinary life, leaving for boarding school where he is surrounded by friends whose lives are everything except ordinary. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, Pudge realizes that life is to be lived and love to be given freely.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier–the inspiration for the story, which has great teen appeal in its own right.

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

Plot Summary:  Mickey Bolitar is not having a very good year.  His dad is dead, his mom is in rehab, and Mickey is forced to change schools and live with the uncle he doesn’t really know.   When his new girlfriend doesn’t show up to school one day, Mickey grows worried and with the help of his new friends decides to look for her.

Critical Analysis:  I am a fan of Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar series.  I think that he has a knack for combining quirky characters with real pathos and lots of dry wit added in for good measure.  When I heard there was going to be a young adult series about Myron and Win, I was interested but wondered how that would work, as they did not meet till college. and Win is, well, not a character you would think belongs in many teen books.  So I was glad when the series about Mickey was announced.

Mickey is actually introduced in the last Myron book, Live Wire.  The beginning of Shelter is the ending of Live Wire from Mickey’s point of view.  I have been disappointed lately in bestselling adult authors who have written young adult books just to capitalize on this growing market.  (I was going to name names, but decided most people would be able to think of at least one…)

So it is both a relief and a delight to report that this is a good beginning to what I hope will be a long running series.  (I was going to be mad at Coben if that weren’t the case.  There are not enough books in this genre being written for teens today but we don’t need poorly written ones either.)

Despite sharing a talent for playing basketball, wisecracking  and a deep love for family, Mickey is not Myron.  I bet Myron wishes he would have thought to yell “Homework” whenever his parents were giving him grief.  Perhaps it is because he is a teen, but Mickey feels things more deeply, and is trying to find the balance between being independent and taking help from others.  Mickey’s friends are great, moving beyond the stereotypes they represent as are the stereotypical jocks who have it in for him.  (Shades of Myron again who just can’t seem to keep his mouth shut around meatheads.)  The secondary storyline about the Bat Lady who says his father might still be alive is intriguing and appears to be a thread that will run through at least the first part of the series.

I hope teens find their way to Shelter, and perhaps to the Myron books as well which aside from a great deal of violence are teen friendly.

Review Excerpts: “Shelter begins one of the oddest—and most appealing spinoff series in recent years….[T]he youngster copes with some adult-sized problems, including his father’s death, his mother’s drug abuse problems, switching high schools, and his new living situation. Everything seems less pressing, however, than the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of a new girlfriend.”–Barnes and Noble

“Edgy and action-filled, the novel has interesting, likable characters, and it should fly off the shelves.”
—School Library Journal

“Crackerjack pace and multi-layered plotting…”—Kirkus Reviews

“Coben’s semi-noir style translates well to YA, and the supporting cast is thoroughly entertaining. It’s a strong start to the series.”—Publishers Weekly

“Quite satisfying and points to a good deal of potential for what might come next.”—Booklist

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.

Bibliography: Hart, Carolyn. (2009).  Merry, Merry Ghost.  New York: William Morrow.  ISBN: 978-0060874377 (hc) 978-0061962929 (pb)

Plot Summary:  The late Bailey Ruth Raeburn is chosen to return to her old stomping grounds, Adelaide, OK just in time for Christmas and to help four-year-old orphan Keith meet his grandmother Susan.  When Susan decides to change her will to leave everything to Keith, someone makes sure that she can’t.  Bailey Ruth must catch the murderer and protect Keith.

Critical Analysis:  I have long been a fan of Carolyn Hart, especially the Death on Demand series.  When I found out she was writing a new series, I decided to give it a try, even though I am so tired and so over anything paranormal.  Well, am I ever so glad I did!  Bailey Ruth and the heaven she inhabits and the Oklahoma she visits are delightful all around.  Bailey Ruth is as feisty in death as she must have been in life, but her heart is in the right place.  I love the details of the world that Hart has created–Bailey Ruth’s ability to imagine a new wardrobe, to appear and disappear and carry things (but the items remain visible).  She pretends to be a police officer and provides clues to the sheriff.  She breaks all the “precepts” and is worried that she won’t get sent on any more missions.  In this series entry, lots of Christmas details and cerebration, a very dysfunctional family, and a very funny scene where Bailey Ruth and the ghost of the murder victim are pulled over while driving a car.  Well, and a murder.  Delightful and cozy and I recommend it highly (along with the others in the series.)  If you can get the audio version, even better, as the reader is excellent.

Review Excerpts: “When murder and mayhem ensue, Hart’s ghostly detective gets on the track of a clever killer. Bailey Ruth’s pleasure in her earthly wardrobe, her keen observations of the other characters and her unorthodox but expert sleuthing will engage readers from start to finish.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“A cute and cozy mystery.”–Library Journal

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

 Bibliography: Washburn, Livia. J. (2008). The Christmas Cookie Killer.  New York: NAL Trade.  ISBN: 978-0451225344(t) 978-0451226662 (pb)

Plot Summary: Retired Weatherford, Texas teacher Phyllis Newsom  is sure that her lime snowflake cookies will win the local newspaper cookie contest.  She decides to take some to her next door neighbor Agnes who asks if she might make them with her grandchildren.  Phyllis runs home to find her special snow flake cutters.  Minutes later, she finds Agnes dead and is knocked out by a blow from behind.  Phyllis is determined to track down the killer.  Was it Agnes’ grandson, hiding in the attic and from the law?  the loan shark he borrowed money from?  One of the neighbors with a secret Agnes discovered?

Critical Analysis:  I am a sucker for cozy culinary mysteries. and this one was a Christmas one to boot! I don’t usually jump into a series in the middle, but I didn’t find myself lost or confused by not having read earlier entries.  I did enjoy Phyllis and her roommates and their dynamics, and all of the Christmas touches.  The mystery itself was maybe not the best part, but Washburn has the small town Texas dynamics down pat, and I may seek out another in the series to see what I think.  The recipes also sound divine, and I want to try injecting a ham with Coca-Cola just because it sounds like a great idea.

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.