Tuesday, June 28, 2005

The Rose Queen by M. E. Rabb
(#1 in the Missing Persons Series)

Sam and Sophie Shattenburg are on the lam. They have changed their identities and run away to Venice, Indiana to avoid being separated by their uncaring step-mother, now that their father has died. Unfortunately a popular teenage girl is now missing and she was last seen with Sam and Sophie. With the Venice police being inept, it's up to Sam and Sophie to clear their own names without blowing thier cover.
A quick, light read but not fluff.

Highly Recommended
One Nation Under a Groove: Motown and American Culture by Gerald Early
(revised and expanded edition, 2004)

A great, brief look at the history of Motown records, expanded with interviews of Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.

Recommended
The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse

Mila is a teenage girl who has been raised by dolphins since the age of four. This is her diary as she learns to speak and "be human".

Highly Recommended

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Watching Alice: break the surface by Daniel Parker and Lee Miller

Supposedly the real diary of Tom Sinclair whose girlfriend Alice Brown has gone missing. This is the first of five books. It appears that the second one is Alice's diary. There is also a website with more clues and Tom's email address.

The book is okay but I don't think I'll read the rest.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Stoner and Spaz by Ron Koertge

Ben Bancroft has cerebral palsy. Colleen Minou is a drug-addict. Who would have thought they would end up being friends. A short, engaging read.

Highly Recommended
The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

The second novel by the author of The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing.
Sophie Applebaum is the black sheep of her Jewish family. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her career, or her love life for that matter. Told in vignettes.

Highly Recommended

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Ashley's best friend Nat is head of the Prom committee but Ashley could care less. That is until the math teacher runs off with all the money. Now Ashley has to jump in and help save Prom.

Highly Recommended
Fermata by Nicholson Baker

Arno Strine has a special power. He can stop time for everyone but himself. And how does he use this? To undress women, of course. Now he's writing his autobiography, Fermata, because he's ready to tell the world.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Rae, also known as Sunshine, is perfectly happy being a pastry chef at her stepfather's coffee house. Unfortunately her life is turned upside down when she is kidnapped by vampires and she manages to escape.
An incredibly well-written page-turner.

Highly Recommended

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Shrimp by Rachel Cohn

This sequel to Gingerbread was very engaging and more mature than its predecessor. When Cyd Charisse returns from visiting her bio-dad in NYC she is totally ready to undo her break-up with Shrimp, but is he ready?

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Kissing Vanessa by Simon Cheshire

Kevin think that he and the new girl, Vanessa, would be perfect together. Now all he has to do is get her to see it too.

Recommended

Friday, June 03, 2005

Ten Things To Do Before I Die by Daniel Ehrenhaft

When 16-year-old Ted Burger and his friends decide to make a list of the ten things he should do before he dies, it's just a joke. That is until Ted finds out he ate some poisoned fries and only has 24 hours to live.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

the boyfriend list by e. lockhart

Panic attacks, friends stealing boyfriends, bathroom graffiti, and social leprosy; all in 10 days of Ruby Oliver's life. What would you do?

Highly Recommended
The Garden by Elsie V. Aidinoff

This is a novel about Eve, the Serpent, Adam, God and the Garden of Eden. Told from Eve's point of view, it is a novel about knowledge, wisdom, good, evil and what those really mean. Very interesting.

Highly Recommended