Purple Prose:
YA novel review

Book blurb: Carlos Fuentes idolized his older brother, Alex, when he was a member of the Latino Blood. So when Alex chose to get jumped out of the gang for a chance at a future with his gringa girlfriend, Brittany, Carlos felt shocked and betrayed. Even worse, Alex forced Carlos to come back from Mexico to join him on the straight and narrow path. Trouble is Carlos just wants to keep living on the edge. And ties to his Mexican gang aren’t easy to break, even hundreds of miles away in Colorado.

In Boulder, Carlos has to live with one of Alex’s college professors—and he feels completely out of place. He’s even more thrown by his strong feelings for the professor’s daughter, Kiara, who is nothing like the girls he’s usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart.

First line: I want to live life on my own terms.

If you haven’t yet checked out the trailer for Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles, you’re definitely going to want to. I swear, I must have watched it at least 100 times when I posted it a month or so ago. I’m not a big fan of book trailers, but this one got me excited about the book. Okay, maybe the hot guys had something to do with that, too.

I’m a huge fan of Perfect Chemistry, the first book in the trilogy. Although I felt Rules of Attraction didn’t quite reach the brilliance of that book—not to mention, it wasn’t as steamy—I did enjoy the book immensely, and had a hard time putting it down. But seriously, it would have taken a lot to out shine Perfect Chemistry.
I’ll admit, I didn’t think the ending of Rules of Attraction was believable, but I felt the characters were. This is a similar criticism some people had about Perfect Chemistry. But since it’s fiction, I didn’t really care. As long as the characters are believable, I’m good.

I loved the humor, especially the interaction between Kiara and her best friend, Tuck. Tuck was a great addition to the story, not to mention a perfect source of conflict. Naturally, Carlos is jealous of Tuck, thinking he’s the friend with benefits. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Another thing I enjoyed was that Simone Elkeles infuses the writing with Mexican idioms (see my post tomorrow on the topic of foreign slangs). The book is filled with swearing and phrases that would leave your grandmother blushing, but the majority is in Spanish, so unless you already know them, or look the phrases up, you don’t actually realize what's being said. You just have a feeling Carlos is cursing or is using a term of endearment. It’s a perfect book if you don’t like a lot of swearing. . . unless you know Mexican idioms.

While you don’t have to read Perfect Chemistry first, I do recommend it. You’ll have a better feel for Alex and Brittany, plus it’s a great book. The nice thing is the two books are nothing alike. The plot and characters are very different.

As promised, today is SPREADING THE AWESOME. Over 60 writers are reviewing books they love so much, they gave them a 10 star rating. So here’s my review for the YA contemporary novel, Twenty Boy Summer, by debut author Sarah Ockler.

Book blurb: According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna light-heartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie—she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

First line: Frankie Perino and I were lucky that day.

Anna had been in love with Matt since she was ten and he was twelve, though no one knew that, including her best friend, Frankie. But on Anna’s fifteenth birthday, her birthday wish finally came true, and Matt moved from being her best-friend-that’s-a-boy to something more special. Because he wasn’t sure how his sister, Frankie, would take the news. He asked Anna not to say anything. He would tell Frankie during the annual family trip to Zanzibar Bay, the following month. But he never had the chance. He died in a car accident.

Anna is left grieving, and unable to tell anyone the truth. Instead, she writes in her journal letters to Matt even though she knows he’ll never read them, and relieves the memories of the month before he died.

Twenty Boy Summer is a beautifully written story, which I had a hard time putting down. It’s a great example of how to write emotions that leave the reader feeling the joy and pain of the main character. How does Sarah do it? She frequently juxtaposes sadness against humor, a technique that works extremely well. When Anna blinks back the tears, so do I. The characterization is strong, and the ways the different characters deal with their grief is believable.

While there are places where you feel Anna’s pain, not to mention her frustration at keeping the secret from her best friend, it really isn’t a sad story. (Okay, I did go through a number of Kleenexes, but there was no major sobbing involved.) Anna wants to move on and help Frankie move on, too. And although she harbors a fear that she’ll forget Matt, something she never wants to do, a romance does develop between her a local boy. And yes, the romance is so worth it. I mean, really, who wouldn’t want to date Sam?

For those of you who aren’t into books loaded with diary entries, this book’s for you. We only see a few of the letters Anna writes to Matt. Most of the details about the month before he dies comes from Anna’s memories . . . including the delicious kiss. Trust me, it was really delicious. Blue-frosting delicious.

The paperback version came out this weekend. I have a copy for some lucky follower who lets me know in the comments that they want to win it. You get an extra entry if you tweet about the contest (please include your Twitter @). You have until Thursday May 6th at 11:59 pm EST. I'll announce the winner during this week's Cool Links Friday.

The next stop on the SPREADING THE AWESOME tour is Janna Qualman’s blog. Check out her review for Second Honeymoon (adult) by Joanna Trollope. For you YA lovers, there’re still plenty more novels being reviewed today. And more chances to win great books.
I’m off now to check out some more reviews. *winks*

Book blurb: Colt was with Julia for a year, but nobody else knew about it. Julia lived on Black Mountain Road in a mansion—with servants—and had a country-club boyfriend to complete the package. Colt definitely didn’t come from Black Mountain, and no one would have understood why they were together. But it never matter to them. Until Julia dies in an accident right before her senior year, and Colt is suddenly the only one who knows their secret. He tries to pretend that his life is the same as ever, but he’s haunted by memories of Julia. Things get worse after the journal she kept about their romance falls into his hands. Colt searches every entry for answers: Did Julia really loved him? Was he somehow to blame for her death? But the ultimate question—one nobody can answer—is how he’s supposed to get over someone who was never really his to begin with.

First line: Julia was killed on Labor Day on her way home from a party.

I thought the characterization was strong, and I loved the diary entries. Between those and Colt’s memories, Julia’s character is cleverly revealed, as are the events that led to her death. The subplots were interesting as we gained a deeper understanding of the differences and conflicts that existed between the kids from the flats and the Black Mountain kids. They also showed why Colt and Julia kept their relationship a secret.

Overall, I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. I found the pace to be slow in places, and I lost interest in it a number of times. But since the book is short, I was determined to finish it. Plus I enjoyed Colt’s wit, especially around his parents.

Another issue I had was the ending. I had to ask a friend who’d read the book where the climax was. Not a good sign. The part that was the most climatic occurred about forty pages before the end. Apparently that wasn’t even the climax. The true climax was nothing more than a revelation that came off as anti-climatic after the big conflict between several characters.

I know a lot of people loved the book, which is why I wrestled with the decision as to whether I should review it. I think the book is worth reading, but for me it was a study as to how not to write an ending. Rating wise, I’d give it a three stars out of five.

Book burb: What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own lifeSamantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

First line: They say that just before you die your whole life flashes before your eyes, but that’s not how it happened for me.

Let me just say right off that I loved the book. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, especially considering I was going to live through the same sequence of events seven times. But I didn’t. Each time Samantha repeats that fated day, she learns something about herself, her friends, and the people whose lives they impacted, and not necessarily in a positive way. With this knowledge she approaches each redo in a different way, each time with a different goal. A lot of what she does is trial and error, knowing its effects won’t make a difference for the next redo.

Yes, there is romance, but it doesn’t come in the form of her crush-worthy boyfriend. Instead, it’s her old friend who she no longer talks to, and who she refers to as a stalker in the beginning. I’m not going to tell if they end up together, because you’re going to have to read the book. Seriously, you have to read the book.

One thing I will say is that you won’t be able to predict the ending. Well, at least, I didn’t. I was actually in shock because it didn’t go the way I thought it would. Was I happy with the ending? I’m not going to say. I think some people will be happy, others not so much. But in the end, it’s the right ending.

Wow, talk about being cryptic. *grins*

Book blurb: It’s hard not to notice Terra Cooper. She’s tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably “flawed” face. Terra secretly plans to leave her small, stifling town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob’s path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find he true path?

Writers, did you notice her great hook? So simple yet it grabs your attention. Okay, since this is a book review and not a post about query writing, time to move on.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley is a powerful story about a teen’s search for the definition of beauty, something you’d have expected Terra to know about considering she’s an artist. But even that she questions. Her father is a map maker, which has influenced Terra’s art. Because of this, Justina infuses the prose with metaphors linked to maps and geocaching. I’m jealous at how effortless she makes it look. For those of us unfamiliar with the terms, they’re explained through the narration, but not once did they slow the pace. I highly recommend the book for anyone attempting to do the same with their novels. It inspired me to use imagery related to competitive swimming in my story, something I hadn’t even thought about doing before reading North of Beautiful.

While the story explores the definition of beauty, it also shows the destructive power of verbal abuse and how inner strength can come from the most unlikely places. For those of us who live for romance (yep, me), you won’t be disappointed. There’s a love triangle involving Jacob and Terra’s boyfriend, who has never seen her without her thick layers of makeup.

Overall, I enjoyed the story even though I’m not a huge fan of literary YA. But I do love Sarah Dessen and Kirkus wrote that Sarah might have met her match in Justina. Okay, I’ll admit, that’s why I bought the book, though I don’t think you can really compare the two authors.

Book blurb: When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends—her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott is an incredibly disturbing yet powerful story that will haunt you. The ending is sad and unexpected, but, in a way, you’re almost relieved it did end that way . . . for Alice’s sake. It’s one of those books you want to put down, you really do, but you can’t. It’s also one of those books that leaves you hugging your daughter as tightly as possible and never wanting to let her go.

Book blurb: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet Is unnerved by her hope that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

I bought The Body Finder, by Kimberly Derting, for my trip to San Francisco last week, but had a hard time putting it down once I started reading it. I was afraid I’d have nothing left for the two flights home because I keep saying, “Only one more chapter.” As if.

As compelling and suspenseful as the paranormal part was, the romance between Violet and Jay was the part that kept me from putting the book down. It was both believable (for the most part) and exciting, though there were times that I thought the romance would end up going in a different direction. Let’s just say, I thought teenage hormones were going to eventually rule the day.

The thing I appreciated most about the book was Violet. She’s a strong individual who doesn’t want to be boy crazy. Nor does she want to sit on the sidelines while other girls are being murdered. She wants to help, and she definitely doesn’t want to be a victim . . . and that includes being a victim to the school beauty queen.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. Kimberly did a good job balancing both the romance and the paranormal storylines. And unlike in most YA paranormal books, the main character (Violet) falling in love with the hot guy (Jay) was completely believable. They’ve been best friends for forever. It wasn’t like in some books in which the protagonist knows the guy for what, like, five minutes and is already picking out their kids names.

I’ve decided to review books as a regular feature. Let me know if there’s one you’re interested in hearing more about. I might have already read it.

A bizarre phenomenon spreads across the U.S. For some unknown reason, recently deceased teens aren’t staying that way. Based on the preconceived notion that zombies—or the living impaired—are dangerous, they are shunned by society, and for many, by their family and former friends.

Despite the fear and prejudice surrounding these teens, the administration at Oakvale High School takes a more progressive approach. But it proves challenging to integrate the dead kids when teachers and “living” students are less than willing to embrace their presence. And some of the living are eager to making their feelings known, especially since the “differently biotic” have no rights and there are no laws to protect them.

Phoebe, a “living” teen who’s into goth, develops a crush on Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids. Neither her best friend, Margi, nor her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team, can believe her feelings for Tommy. To make things more complex, Adam is in love with Phoebe but she doesn’t realize it.

The Hunter Foundation, an organization involved in the physiological, psychological, and sociological research of differently biotic kids, links forces with Oakvale High to offer the Differently Biotic Work Study program. The AP accredited course includes a weekly focus group to help understand the views of the undead and living kids. The goal is for the change in societal views, starting with the teen participants. The researchers are also interested in finding out why some biotic kids are higher functioning compared to others. Phoebe convinces Margi and Adam to sign up.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters is told from the perspective of three teens: Phoebe, Adam, and Pete. As the story progresses, the reader experiences Adam’s change in attitude towards the dead kids, Phoebe’s growing interest in Tommy and her questioning of his feelings for her, and the driving forces behind Pete’s hatred toward the living impaired.

The compelling story brings to light how our attitudes and prejudices are shaped by our fears and lack of understanding, and how by seeing past these prejudices we can accept others in spite of their differences. It also shows how these prejudices can lead to bully. But most importantly, it demonstrates how we are all responsible for creating change in how society views others, regardless of their race, age, interests, abilities. However, the book does not come off as preachy. It is witty and cleverly written. And the cliff handing ending will leave you wanting more. Fortunately the sequel, Kiss of Life, will be available May 12th.

Sixteen-year-old Parker Prescott is the middle child to the perfect older sister and the hyperactive younger bother. She’s quiet, invisible, and would be happy to keep it that way, especially at school.

Dubbed the Ice Princess, according to comments on Marion Henessy’s popular blog, Parker is seen as cold and aloof. Of course the advantage of being the Ice Princess is that you can keep your cool in the face of adversity. The disadvantage? Someone’s bound to want to thaw you for sport. She becomes the target of cruel pranks. Naturally, the blog reports the outcome, including a racy photo of her in a hot tub in a comprising position.

Parker’s world crumbles around her. Her father was laid off and money becomes tight. In order to save her family, she resorts to blackmailing her sister’s ex-stalker.

And then there’s Parker’s boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend.

He’s the hottest guy in school and every girl lusts over him. But he wants more from Parker than she’s willing to give. She dumps him then realizes it was a mistake. She can’t get him out her mind. And then he comes over with handcuffs. Her parents aren’t home. At least they weren’t supposed to be home….

As she struggles to deal with her problems, Parker makes wrong choices and is forced to face the consequences. Her eyes finally open to the truths surrounding her: her sister’s imperfect life, her ex-boyfriend’s true feelings for her, the truth about the ex-stalker. And in the process, she discovers who the real Parker is.

Told in the first person point of view, Handcuffs, by Bethany Griffin, is an incredible book that is extremely tough to put down. It’s a sexy read, but definitely not a mindless one.

My prediction? It’s bound to be a bestseller. Of course, with a title like that, who wouldn’t be intrigued to take a peek? And once you begin reading, you’ll be hooked.

Once upon a time, in a kingdom deep beneath the sea, lived a beautiful mermaid full of love and grace. She possessed a singing voice that would leave you speechless, or so I’ve been told. But our fair mermaid made one fatal mistake. She fell in love with a human prince. In her quest to be human, she sold her voice to the sea witch who gave her three days to win the love of the prince or else she would die. In the original Hans Christian Anderson story, the mermaid dies, and I’m weeping when I read the final lines. In Disney’s version, the ending is much happier. The only one who dies is the evil sea hag. But what about in Midnight Pearls, the retelling of the tale by Debbie Viguié, is there a happily ever after for that young mermaid?

Now this is where things get tricky. This story is so cleverly written that nothing is what it might seem. It is told from the point of view of several characters which increases the suspense. The main protagonist is Pearl. As a young child of four, she was found in the sea during a vicious storm. The fisherman, who rescued her, and his wife raise her as their own daughter. Pearl grows to become a young woman in a time when you married at the age of sixteen or seventeen. Everyone shuns her except for one: Prince James. But their friendship is not allowed, as she is a mere commoner, so they meet in secrecy.

Pearl knows she’s different, but doesn’t know why. As a conspiracy against the royal family and an evil enchantment from beneath the sea merges, she is forced to question everything she knows and everything she believes in. And to save the one she loves, she must make a difficult decision that could ultimately tear the two friends apart.

Midnight Pearls is one of the growing number of retold fairytales found in the Once Upon A Time series by Simon Pulse. Each one is a twist on a beloved story told with more suspense and conflict then the original version. The voice is compelling as are the characters. The female protagonists embrace strong virtues important for today’s teen. And I’m proud to admit that books are addictive. I already own several and am eyeing several more. Hint. Hint. You can expect to see me review another one soon.

A once upon a time
A curse
A prick of the finger
A sleeping beauty
A handsome prince
A kiss
A happily ever after…The End

Now that’s how the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty goes. But not so for Cameron Dokey’s retelling of my favorite fairytale—not to mention my favorite Disney movie. I mean, how could you not have a crush on Prince Philip? Okay, he’s not Edward Cullen, but still.

Anyhow, Beauty Sleep starts out the same. You know. Wicked fairy (or cousin Jane in this tale) feels slighted when she fails to receive an invitation to the royal christening of baby Aurore in some kingdom that none of our major airlines fly to. Oops! Now don’t you hate it when that happens? I was referring to the invitation part. Well, you know what happens next. Blab blab blab blab.

Flash forward almost sixteen years later. Princess Aurore, who never really fit in at court—in other words, she isn’t part of the in crowd—does what no one else can be bothered to do, other than her father the king. She spents time doing manual labor with the common people while getting to know them better. Well, who needs to be popular with the in crowd anyway? Okay, the down side? That crowd tends to stab you in the back, as Aurore eventually learns.

On her sixteenth birthday, Aurore discovers that not only will the impending curse cause her misfortune—which was, of course, downgraded so that she’s supposed to, instead, end up working on her beauty sleep for one hundred years—but it will also inflict harm to the entire kingdom. Being the generous and kindhearted princess that she is, she escapes to la forêt—the enchanted forest—to seek an end to the curse.

Now where’s the hot looking prince, you may ask? Well, it turns out Prince Ironheart—who’s really just a regular looking teen—has a mission of his own. He bumps into Aurore in the forest. She agrees to help him find the sleeping princess who he is supposed to kiss and awaken from a curse. Naturally, this is all very confusing to Aurore since she’s supposed to be that princess, but she’s very much awake.

I’m not going to tell you what happens because then you won’t buy the book. And then the good people at Simon Pulse, who edit the Once upon a Time series, might come after me with a curse of their own. And well, I don’t exactly have the time to go on a quest to end the evil magic—unlike in fairytales where heroines seem to have all the time in the world.

But I will tell you that the book—as are the others in the series—is well worth the read. It is written in the first person point of view, and Princess Aurore is a delightfully witty character you can’t help but to root for. There are many twists and turns that will leave you unable to put the book down, and many surprises that you won’t find in the original tale.

Now I’m off to buy another book from the series. Maybe the retelling of The Little Mermaid. Oh, I do hope she doesn’t die in that version. I do so hate it when that happens…

Ah, my dream scenario. I’m sitting in my grade twelve history class, listening to my teacher drone on about who knows what, and suddenly he vanishes. Poof. Gone. Oh, wait. Since I skipped most of my grade twelve history course—hence why I had to repeat it (hint, hint)—this might not have been such a big deal. But this is exactly how the teen Sci-fi novel, Gone, by Michael Grant begins.

One minute the citizens of Perdido Beach, California are immersed in their normal day-to-day existence; the next minute everyone fifteen years and older vanishes, leaving chaos in their wake. Stoves are left on. Cars are still running. Babies and young children are abandoned. And almost everyone turns to Sam Temple for leadership, a role the fourteen-year-old doesn’t want.

But Sam’s problems escalate when Caine Soren—a charismatic student from Coate’s Academy, a school for troubled youth—rallies together the town bullies. This begins the typical battle between good and bad.

As Sam and his friends struggle to survive in an isolated world without adults, they desperately search for answers to their bewildering questions: What caused the sleepy town of Perdido Beach to become the FAYZ—Fallout Alley Youth Zone? What happens when you fade away the minute you turn fifteen—is it a good or a bad thing? And, can they prevent it from happening if they so choose?

This gripping novel surges with twists and turns—and a little romance—that hook you from page one. Although the story flows from numerous points of view, Sam clearly remains the main character. And it becomes obvious from the beginning he harbors a secret that is vital to their survival. The truth also raises new questions. Naturally, you crave to keep reading to discover the answers.

Because you journey inside the head of a number of characters, you learn what motivates them to behave as they do. The multiple points of view also help prevent holes in the plot. The story would have been sadly lacking—and a lot shorter—if it had only been told from Sam’s point of view. The other advantage is that the characters all seem real. Any one of them could easily be someone you know. Well, almost someone you know. You’ll have to read the book to figure out what I mean.

I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of Sci-fi—though I loved Stephenie Meyer’s The Host—but I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Grant’s Gone, and can’t wait for the sequel. I only hope I don’t have to wait too long, especially since the series is supposed to contain six books (groan!).