The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

The sequel to the Travelling Pants, and rumoured to be a film waiting to happen. I have to say that I enjoyed the Second Summer much more than the first. Bridget finds that her Dad has hidden letters from her Grandmother. She decides to go down to stay with her Grandmother for the summer, but she doesn’t let her Grandma know she is coming. Tibby goes to film school for the summer and has to decide what she wants to do with her life. Lena struggles with the after-effects of what happened in Greece the year before and tries to uncover a secret that her Mom has been keeping.  Carmen now has to deal with her feelings as her Mom starts to date again.

The stories are all very interesting although Bridget’s was the most compelling. I started to get annoyed with Carmen, although I think that may be because I’m getting old. This is definitely a good summer read with just the right amount of serious conflict.

Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

The first of the series this book introduces us to Georgia Nicolson. Georgia is a pretty standard Brit teen with an embarrassing family, funny friends but no guys in sight. As Georgia tries to figure out the opposite sex she gets stuck with a variety of problems. The guys don’t seem to do anything other than make out (snogging). All this time Georgia tries to catch the eye of the older Sex God, brother of the guy her best friend is in love with.

Told in a diary style I really enjoyed this book. The situations that Georgia gets herself into are quite amusing, although usually more of the embarrassing sort of amusing.  I wanted Georgia to get the Sex God but I have the feeling (being older and wiser then I was at 14) that it will end badly. A very typical British sense of humour is expressed in the book and a helpful glossary is given at the back “for American readers”. I was familiar with some of the terms and the other ones I got used to pretty quickly. There isn’t any message in this book which is great, it is just a fun read. I look forward to checking out other books in the series.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

So doing this for school has officially ended but I don’t think I’m going to let go of this blog or reading YA. With school out I wanted to decompress with some more reading. I chose this one as I had seen the movie last year but never read the book.

 Plot summary:
Four girls born in the same month whose Mom’s were friends are spending their first summer apart. As they prepare to depart on their first individual adventures they find a pair of pants which magically fit them all. Unlike the film this is not done at the store but in Carmen’s room. You follow each of the girls through new and exciting/horrifying/embarasing situations. 

Evaluation:
I sort of enjoyed this movie just because of the actresses but as always the book is so much better. The plots are explored more deeply and the characters are more real. I felt that Carmen and Tibby’s stories were well portrayed in the film but not the other ones. I liked this book but didn’t love it. It was a fun summer read and at 15 on the beach I’m sure it would have been fabulous. I guess I’m getting old as I wanted to know more about the Mom’s as well as the daughters.

Score:    Quality – 3/5     Popularity  – 4/5

Flipped

Flipped tells the story of Bryce and Julianna, known as Juli, who live across the street from one another. Told in alternating chapters you get both of their points of view of the monumental events in their lives. The book begins when Bryce and his family move into the neighbourhood in second grade and ends when they are both in eights grade. This book doesn’t really have an issue or really a strong plot line. It is really a story of their relationship and how it changes over time, as well as how they and their families change. The story moves around a few main events: the destruction of Juli’s favourite sycamore tree, Juli’s entry in the science fair, Bryce’s Grandfather coming to live with them and Bryce’s selection as “basket boy”. Getting both sides of the story makes it easier for you to get at the “truth” of what happened. The resolution of the book although not complete was fantastic.

I absolutely loved this book. I found that the method of storytelling using both Bryce and Juli’s voices really brought the feelings to live. At different times within the book you are completely onside with one character and think the other is being silly, but then as quick as anything things change. The growth of the characters is amazing as the book spans a good seven years. It is also interesting to see how what they think about each other and their families also change. I would definitely add this to my collection. I think that this book could work equally well for boys and girls, as both characters are very sympathetic and realistic.

Age range: 13 plus

Ranking: Quality – 5/5 Popularity – 4/5

Sticks and Stones

Jujube is a normal high school girl, that is until she goes out to her boyfriend’s car during a dance. “Mr. Warpspeed” tries to get her to do more than she wants, but she says no and they go back in. Jujube finds out that she has been labeled as a slut. Jujube discovers how hard it is to fight against a label, especially since no one is interested in the truth. Jujube and her friend Carlos use an English project about communication to bring to light the hurtful side of gossip, graffiti and labels.

The issues dealt with in this book are universal, as most teens have been labeled as something they are not. Trying to cope with this label is something that many teens struggle with and “Sticks and Stones” actually shows a very positive was to deal with it. The book is well written and enjoyable to read. It was possible to forget that this was supposed to be a hi/lo book as you didn’t notice the simplicity of the writing or storyline at all. I would like to see Orca put out a book about the other side of this story, the pressure on teenage boys to be sexually experienced and brag about it to their friends.

Age range: 12 plus
Ranking: Quality – 4/5 Popularity – 5/5

10 Things to Do Before You’re 16

Beth and Anna have just turned 15 and have realized that time is running out if they are going to be fabulous and popular by their 16th birthday. They live in the shadow of Frankie, the fabulous girl at school, who has a modeling contract and gets into clubs. They decide to make a list of the 10 things that they need to do over the next year. Jump ahead nine months and the girls still haven’t done anything on their list. They push themselves into overdrive to get it done. Some of their efforts, like home applied hair extensions, are a disaster and others work out well. They learn that although pampering and preening can be fun that it isn’t necessary for happiness.

A fun little book that and old English teacher of mine would refer to as “toilet reading”. This was a very quick read with not that much substance but I still wanted to know how it ended. There is some Brit slang that some readers may have trouble with but you get used to it rather quickly.

Age range: 14 – 16

Ranking: Quality – 3 Popularity – 4?

Zee’s Way

Zee and his friends have it in for the merchants of a local strip mall, but they deserve it. As the “war” between the merchants and the boys escalate Zee decides to graffiti the side of the building. But as an artist Zee decides to paint a door on the wall as well. Although the merchants paint over the graffiti they leave the door. After a few repeats of the tagging Zee gets caught by Mr. Feniuk, who hires him to paint a mural rather than graffiti. As Zee discovers that the merchants aren’t all that bad he and Mr. Feniuk decide that perhaps they can bring the two sides together.

This hi/lo was much slower paced than Death Wind but I still enjoyed it. I felt that the situation that was portrayed was much more realistic and could probably be understood by more teens. Although this book lacks action, Zee’s thoughts and feelings are explored in more depth. I think that perhaps the target audience, teen boys who don’t like to read, may not appreciate this fact. This is not the best hi/lo that I’ve read.

Age range: 14 plus
Ranking: Quality – 2 Popularity – 3

Luna

Told through the eyes of a young girl, Regan, trying to come to grips with the fact that her brother is a girl. Regan has become the only support for her older brother Liam, who now goes by the chosen name of Luna. He has decided it is time to transition to being a woman on a full time basis, not just at night. The burden that Regan carries isolates her socially and contributes to her struggles in school. At school she is always in the shadow of super intelligent Liam. At home she is trying to defend Liam and herself from their overbearing father. When she gets paired up with the new guy in chemistry class Regan thinks her luck is finally changing, but Luna’s unstoppable emergence throws everything off kilter. It is really difficult to summarize the depth of emotions expressed in this book. As we follow Regan she learns to deal with who she is as well as who her brother is.

This book was mesmerizing. The storytelling is fantastic, seamlessly merging the present with flashbacks. Even though this book does not tell Liam/Luna’s story completely you do get enough bits and pieces to be able to empathize with the character, you know why she must be free. I loved the way that Regan doesn’t really understand why Liam is transgender but that doesn’t matter, she loves and supports him. Throughout the book I just wanted desperately for Regan to be happy, to be able to have someone to be there for her. Really I wanted to be there for her and Liam and I guess that is the sign of a great book.

Age Range: 15 plus
Ranking: Quality – 5 Popularity – 3

Life as I Knew It

Angelina is part of a happy family, not without its problems but happy. Angelina is the adoring daughter of Andrea, the passionate Italian, and slightly estranged from her cold English mother. She is 16 and in love with her best friend Jax who happens to be gay. Growing up in rural Vermont she is just living her life, which is pretty good. Then her father suffers a stroke and everything changes. She feels further isolated from her mother, who is even more devote to Andrea. She struggles to accept her father in this new form. After they learn to cope again they are hit by another blow when Andrea dies suddenly of a heart attack. Angelina learns that dealing with life changing events sometimes means that everything is the same and nothing will ever be.

I liked this book especially because even though it is an “issue” book, it presents whole and loveable characters. Randi deals very well at presenting the conflicting emotions that surround illness and death. How you can for moments forget what has happened until it all comes flooding back. Neither does the author shy away from favouritism within families, and trying to accept people for who they are. Angelina’s emotions are very clearly presented and easy to empathize with. I would recommend this book for a library collection.

Age range: 13 and up

Ranking: Quality – 5/5 Popularity – 3/5

The Girl with a Baby

Jane Williams was always the good one in her family. Her family has been going through tough times since her mother’s death from cancer. Her brothers have dropped out of school, her father is often absent and her grandmother, Teh, has had to move in to help out. In the midst of this Jane finds herself pregnant. As the book opens Jane is giving birth to her daughter, Destiny. She had managed to conceal her pregnancy from her whole family. Destiny’s father knew of the pregnancy, but after her birth he moves away and does not keep in touch. Jane must resolve to raise her daughter and keep her family together in the wake of this surprise. When Jane returns to school 6 weeks after the birth of her daughter things get even tougher. She is lucky enough to attend a school with a daycare but she finds that she is now shunned by all of her old friends.

Things come to a head when she decides to audition for the school musical. A talented singer Jane has to decide if she should audition for the lead role, going up against the beautiful head of the drama club. Jane has to struggle with the demands on her time and her lack of self-confidence. Bolstered by her new best-friend, a new girl on the block and the support of her grandmother Jane decides to audition for role of Sandy in Grease. When Jane is the better of the candidates another problem erupts when one of the judges refuses to allow Jane the role because it would reward her and set a bad example for other kids. However Jane does get the role and manages to stay on top of raising her daughter, doing schoolwork and rehearsing for the play. Giving it more depth is the fact that weaved throughout this story the fact that Jane is part Native, her mother Native and her father white. This affects how Jane sees herself and her family, especially as compared to her white middle-class neighbours.

This book is a fantastic insight into the thoughts of a first-time mother, as well as a teenager in a tough situation. It is not a preachy book about the difficulties of being a teen mom; neither does it gloss over the stresses of being a single mother. Jane is a real person and you can understand and empathize with everything she is going through. The relationships are also well presented and realistic. Jane fights with her brothers, her grandmother has difficulties keeping up with everything, her father is flawed. But there is also a great part where Jane’s best-friend Dawna expresses her envy of Jane’s family. Dawna confides in Jane about her family, where she feels like an outsider.

The only facet of the story that I don’t think that the author dealt with enough was the situation surrounding Jane’s first and only sexual experience. From the description of the situation one could say that perhaps she was forced. Not in a brutal way but in that her boyfriend had sex with her despite that she asked that he used a condom and that she asked that he stop. She never physically tried to stop him, and perhaps Jane would not say that she was raped or coerced; more that she did not understand fully what was going on. Perhaps it would not have fit within the story but I think that perhaps it would have been important to discuss in the author’s note.

The experiences of the author bring this book its authenticity. Sylvia Olsen is a white woman who married into the Tsartlip First Nation and she works with First Nations communities. Her daughter also became a mother at 14.

Age range: 13 and up

Ranking: Quality – 5/5 Popularity – 3/5