This was such a strange little collection of short stories. All of them started right off in the midst of strange locations or strange cultures, and you had to just figure things out as you went along. And by the time you did, the strange, disturbing little story was over. Everything was very dark ... VIEW POST
“I Am the Messenger” by Markus Zusak
I have a copy of Zusak's book "The Book Thief" sitting on my bookshelf. I bounced off it when I tried it awhile back, and have always meant to try again (I guess that'll come true here after a few more books....). Having bounced off a previous book, I approached this one with trepidation. I was ... VIEW POST
“Chanda’s Secrets” by Allan Stratton
I had to order, and then wait for delivery of this one. It was a quick read, and unfortunately, it was only OK for me. I didn't think the execution of the idea lived up to what it maybe could have been. I didn't think the writing was all that spectacular. On page 6 is this: "Maybe they shooed ... VIEW POST
“Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy” by Gary D. Schmidt
I feel like I should like this one a lot more than I actually do. Yes, it kept my attention, I didn't set it aside and moan about having to read it, and yes, Turner, the main character was very likeable. But everyone else seemed like a cardboard character. The bad white guys are very bad. The black ... VIEW POST
“Airborn” by Kenneth Oppel
After 23 books, we finally reach the first of the Printz honored books that I have read before. It's been awhile, I remember checking it out from the town library a number of years ago, and had loved it then. I have also read and enjoyed it's sequels. I read so many books, though, that I often ... VIEW POST
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler
I was worried, based on the title, that this was going to be like Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, but thankfully it was so much better. It had a lot more emotional depth and punch, and the crisis was much weightier. It wasn't perfect, I'm not sure how you write a book about a girl with body ... VIEW POST