Staff Reviews & Reader’s Guides
Recent Reviews:
Message form an Unknown Chinese Mother
Rating:
The Book of Lies: A Novel (P.S.) by Mary Horlock
Rating:
The Magician's Elephant
Rating:
The Tiger's Wife
Rating:
Enduring Love
Rating:
Flash Burnout, Almost Perfect, Positively
Rating:
A diverse collection of YA reading...
Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan (YA Madigan)Sixteen-year-old aspiring comedian Blake is nicknamed "Gritty" by his photography teacher, in response to the subjects he pursues with his camera. When he takes a picture of a middle-aged woman passed out on a street corner in the sketchy part of town, his classmate and best friend, Marissa, immediately recognizes the female subject as her mother. Torn between being supportive to Marissa and a doting boyfriend to his girlfriend, Shannon, Blake finds himself in some precarious situation...more Sixteen-year-old aspiring comedian Blake is nicknamed "Gritty" by his photography teacher, in response to the subjects he pursues with his camera. When he takes a picture of a middle-aged woman passed out on a street corner in the sketchy part of town, his classmate and best friend, Marissa, immediately recognizes the female subject as her mother. Torn between being supportive to Marissa and a doting boyfriend to his girlfriend, Shannon, Blake finds himself in some precarious situations that are no joke. L.K. Madigan balances stark reality with humor through Blake's convincing teenage voice. His secondary characters are three-dimensional with quirks that add zest to this well-paced narrative. The ending is a bit tidy, but Madigan does not allow Blake to emerge unscathed. Overall, a great read with wide appeal. Eighteen-year-old Logan's senior year is nothing like he expected. Cheated on and dumped by his girlfriend of three years, he cannot seem to move on, until a captivating, charismatic, and six-foot-tall new girl named Sage enters his biology class. Their instantaneous connection smolders under the rules imposed by Sage's parents, whose motives for homeschooling Sage for the last four years and not allowing her to date perplex Logan. When the intensity in their relationship crescendos, Sage reveal...more Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher (YA Katcher) Eighteen-year-old Logan's senior year is nothing like he expected. Cheated on and dumped by his girlfriend of three years, he cannot seem to move on, until a captivating, charismatic, and six-foot-tall new girl named Sage enters his biology class. Their instantaneous connection smolders under the rules imposed by Sage's parents, whose motives for homeschooling Sage for the last four years and not allowing her to date perplex Logan. When the intensity in their relationship crescendos, Sage reveals the most intimate of secrets to Logan: she is a biological he. Turmoil erupts between them and Logan must reconcile his true feelings of love and desire for Sage with this new knowledge. Will he be able to accept her for the person she is and love her openly as he so desperately wants, or will he let his perceived ideas of others' reactions win over his own happiness? This is an original text with realistic characters, situations, dialogue, and dilemmas and is a solid contribution to the GLBTQQ canon. Positively by Courtney Sheinmel (YA Sheinmel)HIV defines seventh-grader Emerson Price’s life. She cannot escape thoughts of its impending sentence, making the joys of growing up and developing first crushes painful and hopes for the future seem destined to be dashed. With the loss of her mother, who contracted HIV unknowingly and infected Emmy in utero, the feelings of abandonment and loneliness cause her to detach herself from the physical world and those who inhabit it, including her best friend Nicole, and her father, who divorced her...more HIV defines seventh-grader Emerson Price’s life. She cannot escape thoughts of its impending sentence, making the joys of growing up and developing first crushes painful and hopes for the future seem destined to be dashed. With the loss of her mother, who contracted HIV unknowingly and infected Emmy in utero, the feelings of abandonment and loneliness cause her to detach herself from the physical world and those who inhabit it, including her best friend Nicole, and her father, who divorced her mother years ago, remarried, and is expecting a new daughter with his wife, Meg. Anger and heartache consume Emmy as she leaves behind her comforting old life and home to live with her father and Meg, whose anticipation of their new family engulf Emmy with jealousy and fierce loyalty to her mother. As a last resort to save their relationship with her, her father and stepmother send Emmy to Camp Positive, a camp for girls infected with HIV. While at first adamant about not engaging in camp life, Emmy unexpectedly finds a kindred spirit in Whitney, whose candor and vitality help Emmy awaken to what makes life, however long it is, worthwhile. Emmy’s authentic voice propels this narrative forward, and a flawed and richly drawn cast of characters prod her emancipation from a life lived only for death. Layered with emotional depth, Sheinmel’s novel encourages true introspection.
