Crush Control

Jennifer Jabaley's Crush Control focuses on seventeen year old Willow's return to her childhood community. Filled with memories of Max, her best friend since birth, the return is much anticipated. She remembers all of the schemes they came up with together, as well as the time she hypnotized Max in an attempt to make sure that he would consider her his best friend forever right before she moved to Nevada for her mom to have a hypnotist show. Throughout her years away the two friends stayed in close contact, and Willow also realized that she liked Max as more than a friend.

Based on their first interactions, Willow had hope that Max's feelings were similar to her own, until she found out that he already had a girlfriend. Struggling to find out where she fits not only with Max but in general at her new high school, Willow ends up using hypnosis with her new classmates, including some in attempts to get Max to notice her. Only she never could have anticipated how complicated everything would get. One schenanigan after another Willow tries to get herself out of the mess she created.

The English major in me always loves it when books weave in the literature that students are learning in their classrooms, so the way that Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream appeared in the book was an instant hook for me. I also loved that the conflict was a theme that adults and children alike can relate to - realizing you have made a mistake but having to weigh coming out and telling the truth in order to have others help you, knowing that in doing so they will be disappointed or trying to fix it on your own. Once I got to a certain point in the book, I could not wait to keep flipping the pages to see how it would all turn out, at times cringing with Willow's decisions, making it all the more suspenseful.

I am excited to host a Q&A with Jennifer Jabaley soon as part of her Crush Control blog tour. The premise of her first book, Lipstick Apology, also has me intrigued.

*Review copy provided

A & L Do Summer

Jan Blazanin's A and L Do Summer was a fitting read for the first days of my summer break - a fun, quick read focusing on best friends Laurel and Aspen's summer before their senior year. The two girls are on a mission to get noticed in their rural Iowa town. They get attention all right, just not necessarily the type they were seeking.

Both girls find themselves in and out of trouble, putting a damper on some of their summer plans. Yet, the two persevere, trying to find ways to avoid a trio of newly graduated senior boys who are constantly threatening them, while also seeking summer romances and to try to have some fun in the midst of all the consequences for mistakes and misunderstandings.

The book had the perfect blend of adventure, friendship, and romance. I would love to read more about what happens with Apsen and Laurel during their senior year of high school as I am sure their adventures will continue.

I noticed on the back cover that Blazanin has another YA book, so I was curious to see what it would be about. When I saw more about it on her site, I was thrilled to see that it was a MTV book, since I typically enjoy them. I can't wait to see what Blazanin will write next!

*Review copy provided

Family by Micol Ostow

Disturbing was a word that popped into my head often while reading Family by Micol Ostow. Although it was quickly followed by another thought - what did I expect from a novel that the back of the book describes as being "loosely based on the Manson family murders of 1969"? Oh, and there's the cover that obviously let me know from the beginning that it was not going to be a happy, cheery book.

Yet, the premise intrigued me and I wanted to keep reading, holding on to the hope that Mel, the main character would realize that the "family" was not the best option for her and that she would find her way out of the cult's strong grasp.

The novel, which is told in verse, a format that I always love, shares Mel's story of a difficult childhood that led to her on a journey that eventually landed her in the middle of a cult lifestyle - a place where she finally thought she had found acceptance. Yet, some lines from the first page foreshadowed that Mel would not always feel so positive about her new "family".

The haunting verse weaves back and forth between the past and the present, circling around to give more and more details about specific events so that as readers we are able to zoom in and get a clearer sense of what is going on in Mel's world. Even though I knew Mel seemed to be having some second thoughts about the cult and its leader, I was not sure how she was going to respond, whether or not she would find the inner strength to listen to those inner voices or if the manipulation would be far too strong. Then there were times when I was thinking she was figuring it out, only to realize that she still had a strong sense of commitment to the cult.

The book is recommended for 14 and up. I think it really depends on the individual. As an adult I found it hard to read at times and I actually had to put it down since I had started it with the stressful rush of the end of the school year and it was just too much for the moment. This weekend I was able to finish it once some of the stress was relieved. People who are going to read it need to be ready mentally for a heavy, tough topic. However, once a reader feels prepared for it, I highly recommend the book and the artful way that Ostow tells the story. It also has the advantage of helping readers to understand others and to imagine what the context would be like.

*Copy provided for review purposes

Codename: Dancer

In Codename: Dancer by Amanda Brice, Dani is off on a new adventure. She is in her first days at a boarding school that specializes in the arts and is anticipating all the opportunities that the school will offer in order for her to grow as a dancer. She can't believe her luck when not only does a television show decide to host a reality TV show similar to Dancing with the Stars at her school, but she is one of the four students chosen to participate. She is swept up in the world of reality TV and star struck with her rising teen idol partner.

Unfortunately, not long after the practices get underway, negative events happen that all appear to be related to the show, many of which directly involve Dani. The mystery begins and Dani and her friends have decided to take matters into their own hands in order to do their own investigation, rather than relying on the police's investigation.

I loved reading Caridad Ferrer's Adiós to My Old Life, so the premise of Codename: Dancer caught my attention. I knew that they would have a different tone because of their target audiences (older YA/adult vs. younger YA) and the mystery aspect of Codename: Dancer that was absent from Adiós to My Old Life. Yet, I still imagined I would enjoy the book.

I found myself flipping through the pages in order to confirm (or not) my building predictions about the mystery. The book held my attention, but as I reached the climax, it felt like some of the aspects of the plot were not fully developed, leaving the ending with a bit of an abrupt feeling.

However, I noticed that Brice has more Dani Spevak mysteries in the making (the second one coming out in November), and I would still like to read more. Since Codename: Dancer is her YA debut, I imagine that her writing is still emerging and that her future books will continue to improve with aspects such as development. I look forward to reading more about adventures at boarding school, as well as the possibilities for getting to know characters (both minor and major) introduced in this initial book in the series. The second book's title and synopsis already has me wondering!

*E-version provided for review purposes

Someone Like You

When it comes to Sarah Dessen I am more familiar with her covers and some of her plot scenarios without being that knowledgeable about the order of publication, so when Miss K left a comment recently saying she has "loved watching her writing evolve from Someone Like You to her more recent books," it made me curious to peek at the copyright. When I saw that it was published in 1998 my first thought was, "What!? I could have read this when I was in high school!" So often I think about how there is a much more wider variety of YA books available now then when I was in junior high and high school, but part of it was also just a lack of exposure to all of the great books. At a time when it was just becoming common to have email, I never found out about books to read via the Internet. It is interesting to think that if the Internet and blogging was like it is now when I was in high school, I probably would have heard about it when it was released.

Luckily, as an adult I was still able to enjoy Someone Like You. Earlier this week I was swept up in Scarlett's and Halley's worlds. Right at the start of the book Halley realizes that roles are changing, instead of Scarlett always being the strong one there for Halley, she finds that she needs to provide the supporting role for Scarlett whose boyfriend has just died in a motorcycle accident. All the while Halley is always walking on egg shells with her mother and trying to navigate a new romance of her own.

I noticed some similarities to Just Listen, which I imagine may be key concepts in all of Dessen's books in one way or another, such as exploration of a wide range of relationships and main characters coming of age. I appreciate that she shows a wide range of emotions about the same context throughout the book, a realistic window into teenage girls' lives, helping readers realize that it is natural to be confused when making important decisions.

The girls in my 8th grade class have been enjoying Dessen books this year, and I look forward to reading more of them any chance I get!

Sarah Dessen Week

This week is Sarah Dessen Week hosted by YA Bibliophile and The Reading Housewives. I jumped on any chance to give myself a reason to finally read more of Sarah Dessen's books. Right now I am mid-way through Someone Like You and will be posting my thoughts later in the week. In the meantime, here is a link back to my review of Just Listen. Coincidentally, yesterday I just saw another review of one of her books yesterday over at Watchareading. Like always with Dessen books, the cover alone makes me want to read it. (Added note: After posting I was looking at The Reading Housewives' launch post for the week, and they have a fun post with her covers from four different countries. I love them all for different reasons, but my favorite is still the US version.)