Title:  Carter Finally Gets It
Author: Brent Crawford  [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Contemporary
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Series: Carter
Source: Purchase
Parental Advisory: language, sex
Teachable Moments: acceptance

I’ve determined that I do indeed have the sense of humor of a fourteen year old boy because I found this book outrageously funny.  Well maybe not outrageous, Carter is fairly typical as pubescent boys go, but still it’s pretty dang funny.  I had many laugh out loud moments as I was working through this book.  It was heart-warming and entertaining to watch Carter navigate his way through the start of high school.  A typical boy of that age he’s awkward in many capacities.  He’s not particularly suave with the ladies (though he thinks he is) and fumbles his way through an upstart relationship with the girl he likes.  He’s not all that inclined towards academics but manages to find his way through classes.  He does enjoy sports enough to try out for swim team and manages to show his own version of school spirit.  He even steps outside the usual HS social norms and tries out for the school play!

The most interesting aspect of this book was how the brash and sarcastic attitude Carter portrayed on the outside didn’t mirror the vulnerability he had on the inside.  He was building up his armor so he could be impervious to the customary difficulties of high school.  In actuality he had depth and showed others that ultimately it’s ok to be who you are and do what you like and still you can manage to be “cool”.

If you’re looking for a book that shows the adolescent journey towards finding a place in the world then Carter Finally Gets It is for you.

 

Title:  How to Say Goodbye in Robot
Author: Natalie Standiford [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchase
Series: None
Parental Advisory: language
Teachable Moments: acceptance, inclusion

How to Say Goodbye in Robot was a fantastic exploration of self-discovery done in a way that isn’t too ponderous.  Bea (or “Robot Girl”) thinks herself to be rigid and without emotion.  Which is ironic since by the end we learn that this isn’t the case at all.  Jonah is the school outcast, the boy no one wants to associate with under any circumstance.  This is what draws Bea to him most, she feels as though he exemplifies how she feels.  Untouchable.  And this, folks, shows emotion.

Sure, some of their interactions felt flat to me.  There wasn’t any romantic appeal to their interactions.  BUT, there wasn’t supposed to be.  They were meant to be friends and friends only.  Which frankly was a refreshing change in a book.  There was absolutely not intended romance just a really great and realistic friendship.

Knowing this made it more understandable that Jonah is so standoffish.  At times his treatment of Bea is pretty reprehensible.  He’s not a bad person per se, just damaged in his own right.  In the end, it went to show Bea’s continued strength as it made sense that she stuck around for it as she felt she deserved it.  She felt as a “robot” she didn’t have to feel anything and as such being hurt by his manic behavior did little to change things.  It wasn’t until the end, when she learned her own value that she finally made the effort to change their relationship.

Filled with a fabulously quirky and original cast of characters, How to Say Goodbye in Robot used a late night radio talk show as the catalyst for Bea and Jonah’s relationship.  The regular callers helped guide them through many a revelation about themselves and their relationship which ultimately changed them both individually and together.

Sweet and meaningful this book is one that I enjoyed a great deal and would highly recommend.

 

Title: Kiersten White
Author: Paranormalcy [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Paranormal
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Hardcover
Series: Paranormalcy
Source: Purchased
Parental Advisory: language, violence, criminal activity
Teachable Moments: acceptance, teamwork

I gotta say, I enjoyed this book but have to admit it didn’t live up to the hype I’ve seen about it.  I couldn’t quite understand why so many people are so very in love with it.  It seemed like fairly typical paranormal fare.  There was a pretty standard and (at least for me) fairly predictable mystery to it.  There was romance but it wasn’t all encompassing and didn’t have overwhelming chemistry to it.  I liked the characters much more independently than together frankly.  Also, I would classify this as a great middle grade read, it definitely felt a bit young for a YA categorization.  This in itself isn’t a problem merely that had I gone into reading it with that in mind it may have changed some of my perceptions and prepared me for the immaturity I felt at times.

So Evie is a girl who has a job.  That job is to monitor the supernatural in her territory.  She wants nothing more than to lead a “normal” life, to watch her favorite teen soap opera (think 90210 style programming) and hang out with her friends.  She just wants to be free of the lifestyle she’s bound to at work.  Naturally strange and dark forces are at work and things go upside down when a a boy named Lend is captured.  He’s intriguing and most importantly he’s off limits.  That naturally makes him all the more appealing to her.  Of course, the two connect on a platonic then romantic level as they work through the mystery of Evie’s life.

The best thing I can say about this book is that Evie is a fantastic heroine.  She’s not afraid to be herself and she is *filled* with girl power. She’s vulnerable and tentative but at the same time powerful and fearless.  She’s not afraid to put herself in danger for what she believes in and more times than not what she believes in is right and good.  She’s loyal and dedicated to her friends and her cause and doesn’t waver from her path as she tries to overcome the odds.  I really enjoyed her and know that other readers will as well.

All in all a good book that I would recommend.  Particularly to those who like to read about kick ass heroines.