Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: May 5th, 2009

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I've had my eye on this book for a couple of years.  The draw for me was the title, mostly because I get it.  I was a pretty awkward adolescent; taller than all the boys (I was 5'7" at 12), ridiculously thin, with legs that made up 3/4 of my height, and NO boobs.  I had braces to fix my GIGANTIC, crooked teeth,  and hair that never got the memo that big was in (it was always flat by 1st period, no matter how much hairspray I used).  That all changed for me the summer between 8th and 9th grades.  Suddenly my boob growth caught up with the rest of my growth (although you would never have called me curvy, I at least was no longer concave), flat-all-one-length hair became fashionable, and the boys caught up to, and passed me, in height.  All of the sudden, my long legs were a good thing... I became PRETTY, and the boys were suddenly paying attention out of nowhere.  That all being said, I totally bonded with what Belly, the protagonist, was feeling in the book.  She was so unsure of herself, but at the same time, realizing the power that a pretty girl has.  Put my relation to all of that aside and this book was not REMOTELY what I expected.  I was expecting a fun summer beach read.  This book was not all that fun... It was actually a bit on the heavy side.  That's not to say I didn't like it.  I did.  A lot.  It just wasn't the carefree, fun read I was expecting.  It was still excellent though.  Of course, you won't get any spoilers from me, so I won't be telling you why it wasn't what I expected or why I still liked it...

The things I didn't like?  At first I would say I didn't like Belly, but she did grow on me, and I have a feeling I will begin to like her more as I progress through the series (which I definitely plan to do).  In this book she was mostly just whiny, immature, self-absorbed, and crazy-spoiled in a coddled, overprotected way.  I definitely think she matured in some ways by the end, but she never became as mature as she should have been at 16.  I also didn't like that it was a tad predictable.  By that I mean, I saw the "climactic secret" coming a mile away, and thought that the kids should have as well...

Now for the things I liked... The writing style was great.  I liked the flashbacks to prior summers.  I liked the words Jenny Han used to describe the atmosphere at the beach house; physical and emotional.  Sometimes you felt like you could cut the tension with a knife in that house, and I love when I feel what I'm reading in my gut.  The character development was good.  That doesn't mean I necessarily liked all of the characters, but I felt like I got to know them for good or bad.  The best part for me though, was the fact that I really think Jenny Han gets how the teenage mind works.  I know I'm years (LOTS) past my teen years, but I remember what it was like, and I feel like she hits the nail on the head.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  I read it while I sat on a quiet piece beach in Bermuda, and I couldn't have asked for a better setting.  It didn't blow me away, but I have a feeling the next two books will.  I think this is the quintessential set-up book.  We'll see...

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation:   This book is heavy on the romance, for sure, building from just feelings to action. Inappropriately so?  I don't think so.  I wouldn't say that this would be an introductory YA book for an advanced younger reader, but it is definitely fine for it's intended age group.  I would say ages 12 and up (6th grade+).  As I said, heavy romance, plus teen drinking and a bit of language.

Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 5th, 2011

Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he's willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I've never been a huge fan of Contemporary Fiction. I hate as many books in the genre as I like, and those that I like, I often like in a "guilty-pleasure" way (as in, I wouldn't admit to other adults that I liked them). Teens are such a jumble of emotions and hormones to begin with; throw in the fact that the teens so many "realistic" YA books are written about are self-indulgent brats (think Gossip Girl and The Clique series), and I often find myself wondering why I picked the book up in the first place. Now before you get mad at me for knocking these series that you may well love, keep in mind that I don't think they suck; I actually find some of these books quite entertaining when I need a trashy, mindless read. I just have so many books to read, in so little time, that I would typically rather read something that takes me to a better place or has an impact on me on an emotional or intellectual level. That all being said, I wasn't sure about Deb Caletti. I never paid much attention to her or her books, and I just wrote her off as another CF author for teen girls. If this book (my first by Caletti) is any indication of her general style, I was very,VERY wrong in my assumptions. I was beyond impressed and I will most definitely read more of her books.  So, on to the review...

Stay was a great book on many levels. I will first delve into the technical aspects. The book was well written and expertly paced. It kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages, needing to know what the outcome would be. I felt like Caletti was doling out just enough information to keep the story moving, without giving the outcome away. So many authors just can't manage to do this. I will love the story, but will see the end coming a mile away. Caletti not only managed to do it, but managed to do it without my hating her for it.

As for the actual story? Chilling. Horrifying. Real. As with all of my reviews, I will not give any spoilers whatsoever. I will say that I believe that every teenage girl should read this; preferably before getting involved in her first serious relationship. I remember having a high school friend with a relationship like Clara and Christian's. It happens more often than we care to think, and it's tragic every time. Sure, they don't all end "badly" in a physical sense, but they always, ALWAYS leave the young girl damaged for life on some level. I also think parents of girls should read this. It is so hard to take teen romances seriously sometimes, and I think a great many parents blow off what is an extremely intense relationship just because it's between two teenagers. BIG mistake. Teens have some of the most intense emotions out there, but often lack the maturity to have full control of them. Throw in the hormones and you get a potentially dangerous situation like the one that plays out in this book. Unfortunately, adults, in most cases like this, fail to notice a problem until it's much too late in the game. Hopefully in reading this, teen girls (and their parents) would see warning signs early on and get out. 

As chilling as this book is, it isn't a total downer. There are a fair number of positive parts that add levity the story and the feeling that Clara's life isn't all intensity, fear, hurt, and uncomfortable feelings. I felt like it was balanced enough not to leave the reader depressed and hopeless, while still driving home the gravity of her situation. In all, it is an extremely competent portrayal of a very important and sensitive topic. Caletti manages to bring to light the horrifying nature of this type of relationship without coming across as preachy, or sacrificing the lesson for the sake of entertainment.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: Initially, I was going to say 9th grade+, but then I thought back to my high school friend and the fact that she became involved with her "Christian" at the end of 8th grade, and changed my mind. Thinking back, I realize that most of my friends their first "real" boyfriends by 8th grade, and that it would definitely benefit girls younger than that to read this. That said, I would recommend this book for 6th grade+ (ages 12+). It does have some mature content (the protagonist describes in a non-graphic way, the loss of her virginity), but it is relevant, appropriate, and realistic.

Review: L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: June 1st, 2009

In L.A. CANDY, nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts moves to L.A. and unexpectedly becomes the star of a reality T.V. show. With fame comes wealth, hot clothes and even hotter love interests -- and Jane′s lapping it all up with her eclectic entourage of pals who are always up for a wild night out and the chance to get a piece of her spotlight. But soon Jane realizes everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.

L.A. CANDY is a fast-paced, honest and entertaining fictional account of what it′s like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

The only reason I picked up this book was because it fit a challenge. I've never watched the television show she's in, but I imagine this is loosely based on that? It seemed very autobiographical, from the little bit I know about her. I honestly expected it to be horrible, and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't hate this book! I didn't love it either, but I didn't expect to. I honestly thought it would be so bad that I couldn't finish. Well, I did finish, and I thought it was pretty good. Will I read further in the series? Maybe. Perhaps I will need another challenge book. It's not something I would clamor to read, but it wouldn't be painful either.  At any rate, I felt like Lauren Conrad did a good job telling her story in a fictional format. The writing was competent, the story moved along at a good pace, and if you like tabloid fodder, it was entertaining. I can see why some teen girls would enjoy this. It's the life many of them dream about.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: Grades 9+ (Ages 14+). There are definitely some things in this book that wouldn't be appropriate for a younger girl. There is MUCH underage drinking in clubs, several instances of "going home" with guys and one night stands. There is a bit of language, but that's never been a sticking point for me after about 5th grade.

Review: Trapped by Michael Northrop

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: January 1st, 2011

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I grew up exactly between Buffalo and Rochester, NY and when I found out there was a YA book coming out about a bunch of kids stranded at school, with no adults, in an epic blizzard, I knew I HAD to read it. I mean, where else gets more snow? I have first-hand experience going to school in snowstorms that would shut other places down for days; not taking blizzards seriously because "it's just a little snow". I figured that I could easily see if this was a far-fetched thing of something that could happen, and I have to say... I could totally see this happening.

This book was so much better than I expected. I almost didn't read it because it's average rating on Goodreads was a little more than three stars, and I typically don't pick it up if GR has it at fewer than 3.5-4 stars. Well, I am not sure why the lower ratings because I thought this book was very good. It took me two days to get through the first five chapters, but then I had to read the rest in one sitting. I liked the characters (even though a couple weren't really very likable), and I thought they were well-developed enough. In this tale, I really didn't see a need for more character development. The plot was pretty well paced. There were a few places where it was a little slow, but even those were only a couple of pages long. Overall, the story was so good that putting this down was not an option. I just had to know what was going to happen next, which brings me to my only gripe about this book (and the reason it's getting four stars instead of five)... The ending sucked. I'm not going to spoil it, but I will tell you that there were way too many unanswered questions for my liking. Of the seven kids that were trapped in the school, we only find out out the fates of two. The other five? A total mystery.

Overall, I really liked this book. It kept me turning pages, and I think it was just realistic enough. I will definitely read another book by this author.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: This book is clean as far as elements such as sex, language, adult situations, drinking/drug use, and violence are concerned. There is a death of at least one major character and the assumed death of several minor characters. There are some realistic, scary situations but nothing I think a 3rd or 4th grader wouldn't be able to handle. Maybe younger students in the Northeast should wait a little longer. :) Final opinion: 3rd grade+ (ages 8+).

Look for the following reviews later this week.  Happy Reading!

      

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: April 5th, 2011

When I first heard that Gayle Forman was writing a sequel to If I Stay, I really didn't get it. All I could think was, "How can she possibly continue that story and do it any justice?". I wasn't really even sure I wanted to go there at all. At first, I didn't even see myself bothering to read it because I thought it would just be a big, fat disappointment... As the buzz surrounding its upcoming release started to build, I became more curious. Tentatively, I put it on my TBR list, and over time, I started to get really excited. By the end of 2010, my attitude had done a complete 180, and Where She Went was near the top of my "Most Anticipated Books of 2011" list. Did it live up to all my anticipation and excitement? Abso-freakin-lutely! This was a read-in-one-sitting book for me. That doesn't happen to me often, but it did with this book (and If I Stay). I just couldn't put it down.

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I loved this book as much as I loved it's predecessor, but for very different reasons. I loved If I Stay because is was so raw and heart-wrenching, yet so beautiful and tender. The level of emotion in that book was so intense. From the feelings it evoked in me, as the reader, I cannot begin to imagine being the writer. Where She Went was very much the same, in that respect, but so different at the same time. The book was sad, angry, and full of regret for circumstances beyond anyone's control. Told from Adam's point of view, three years after Mia devastated his world, we learn how he picked up the pieces, becoming a huge "success", while never really having picked up the pieces at all. The chapters went back and forth, between the present and the past (mostly the three years, beginning when Mia left for Julliard). We learn so much about Adam and his internal struggle; his feelings of angst, remorse, inadequacy, and lack of understanding over why his relationship with Mia panned out the way it did. We also learn a lot about Mia and her reasons. I'll admit that there were times when I really did not like her. I felt like she was a selfish b**ch, but then I would remember what she had been through and all she had lost. There were so many tense moments where I was just dumbfounded at the fact that they were in this place, three years later. At the same time, was thrilled that they were.

I don't want to give any more of this story away, and you'll thank me. It's totally worth the read. This book is so full of conflicting emotion that it is impossible to walk away from it. I was very pleased, and surprised by the ending. The entire book leads you to an expected conclusion- closure for both Mia and Adam. What was unexpected was the answers I got, to the questions I didn't necessarily know I even had. If you read If I Stay, you really MUST read Where She Went. If you haven't read either, you really should. Just make sure you have a box of tissues and several hours straight. Neither book is one that you'll want to put down...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: 7th+ If this book were a stand-alone, I would probably say 5th or 6th+, but because of it's predecessor, If I Stay, I have to say it's more upper-middle to high school. You can't really understand Where She Went without reading If I Stay first, and If I Stay was just too raw and intense for the average 5th or 6th grader. Kids, ages 13 and up, should have no problems with the content. Readers that are younger than 13 would not get as rich an experience from reading this. I would venture to say that the BEST age to read this would be about 17 or 18 years old. By then, most teens have had, at the very least, an intense crush, if not a real relationship. I think a reader needs to have felt very intense feelings of love and/or duty to really GET these books.

Review: Shine by Lauren Myracle

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: May 1st, 2011

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. 

Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I know that I am a few reviews behind. I am trying to review in the order that I read books, but I just feel a NEED to spread the word about this particular book! I find this so funny because I'm not the Lauren Myracle reader in my house. That would be my daughter, Emma, and she is the main reason I picked this book up at all. You see, Lauren Myracle is one of those authors that writes both MG and YA novels, and not all of her books are appropriate for my (almost) 10 year old (this one is NOT, but I'll get to that later). When Emma found out she had a new book coming out, she begged me to buy it for her and I told her I would read it and let her know, so I guess I can thank her for one of my best reads so far this year, and possibly ever. I won't do that yet though. That would make her only want to read it more, and that would be torture for her over the next 4-5 years...

"So why do you feel the NEED to get the word out?", you ask. Well, for starters, it's a total page turner. It's one of those books that no matter what is going on around you, you cannot put it down. I got so sucked into this book I found myself thinking about it even when I had to put it down for basic human functionalities like going pee, making/eating meals, brushing my teeth, and showering. I actually took it to my six year old daughter's softball game and pretty much missed a nail-biting win to read... It's a mystery that keeps you guessing from the first page, but it is SO much more. Lauren Myracle manages to take a horrible event and make it a cathartic growing experience, not just for the protagonist, but also for the reader. When a book makes you look within yourself, you know it's a winner. The story is so heartbreaking, yet so beautiful. Honestly, it's beautiful cover (which is one that even my husband noticed and commented on) really does a great job capturing the essence of the story. The person responsible for the cover design at Amulet Books must have read this book and connected with it like I did, and so many other people will do. It's a book that will stay with me forever, much like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Outsiders.

This book is about a horrible hate crime against a gay teenage boy, Patrick, in a small backwoods NC mountain town. When I say horrible, it really is just awful. It still brings the taste of bile to my mouth when I think about it. The story isn't really about him though. It's about his childhood best friend, Cat, a 16 year old girl who had been struggling with her own demons for several years. Over the years, she had dropped all of her friends and isolated herself from everyone who loved her. When this happens to Patrick, she knows there's more to it than meets the eye and decides that maybe she needs to take matters into her own hands; find out the truth... Cat is a smart girl and she notices details most people would miss. She notices that her old group of friends, the same group that Patrick continued to be a part of when she dropped him, is acting funny and she feels an inescapable desire to get to the bottom of it. The problem is that everyone in the group either does not want to talk or seems to be scared to. This doesn't deter her. In fact, it just makes the fire in her burn hotter. While on her quest to find the truth and bring justice to Patrick's attackers, she realizes many truths about herself; truths she really doesn't want to face, but must in order to find the facts she needs. She also finds out that her small town harbors serious meth addiction issues and that many of her friends are involved. She is surprised to find out how wrong she is about some of her assumptions, while being dead on about others.

This book is such a detour from the books I'm used to reading by Lauren Myracle. I know her for her Winnie Years and Luv Ya Bunches MG series, and her Internet Girls YA series. All light, funny books, filled with humor and the anguish of being a girl. This book is not light, funny, or humorous. It's gritty, truthful, painful, beautiful, emotional, and raw. I found myself invested in the characters, feeling their pain and helplessness. I felt Cat's desperate wanting to have hope, while second guessing her right to have it. I felt the anguish of the people around her. The ones that helplessly had to stand by, watching those they loved spiraling down into the black hole of meth addiction, and those drowning in the black hole, feeling that meth was the only way to ever feel joy again.

I think that this is one of the rare YA books that adults would also love. In fact, I think that as an adult, I got so much more out of this book than I would have as a teenager. That's not to say that teens should not read this book. There are several important lessons in this book and I think it would make a great discussion book for a HS or college literature class.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: This is definitely a high school and up book (I would say ages 15+). I told my daughter she had to wait 5 years. There is graphic description of a violent hate crime against a gay teen, which I'm sure you can only imagine. There is also sexual assault (also rather graphic in it's description if it's read by a younger reader), rampant drug use, drinking, and violence beyond the assaults described before. This is not the type of "what if" violence in dystopian or fantasy fiction, but real violence, much of it domestic, of the ugly and violating sort- the type I wouldn't want a child to read about.

Review: The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date:  April 4th, 2011

I'm going to own up to it right now... I only picked this book up because the cover ROCKS! I am a total cover whore, and this one had me the second I saw it! Of course, I knew it wasn't going to be anything profound, but it looked extremely entertaining and a tad naughty...

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay? (Courtesy of Goodreads)

I really enjoyed this book in a "guilty pleasure" sort of way. There were funny parts and downright horrifying parts. I don't remember girls at my high school being this awful, and I hope to God that I wasn't one of the awful ones and too just warped to remember! If you like Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and The Clique, you'll LOVE this.

I have mentioned before that I really don't like "mean girl" books, and I almost put this book down a few times because of that, but I kept reading... The protagonist, April, is definitely not a "mean girl" in the beginning of the story. She's actually somewhat of a loser, who for whatever reason, is allowed to hang with the popular girls. She knows that everything about this group of girls is wrong, but is so desperate for friends that she ignores her gut and her BFFs warning and keeps on surrounding herself with them. Of course, in typical "mean girl" fashion, they turn on her. Now here is where I envisioned her taking the high road and gaining popularity and respect with her winning personality. Well, we all know that is NOT how high school works. AT ALL. So, April disappoints me, and does what is necessary to make this story entertaining. She seeks revenge in awful ways, and while I was a little happy that the nasty little b**ches were getting some of what they had coming to them, I felt like April wasn't any better than they were with her antics.

 Will she become one of them through her own shallow behavior, or will she see the light? Will she win the boy of her dreams, or will the "Lipstick Lawlords" turn him against her?  Will her greatest secret be revealed to the whole school, ruining her forever?  This book is worth reading to find out!

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: 5th or 6th+  There is some teen drinking, but not in a glorified way, and there are actually consequences. Otherwise, this book is pretty benign.

Review: The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: December 7th, 2010

I had a life anyone would kill for.
Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.
Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thePretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin. (Courtesy of Goodreads)

This book wasn't bad. I'm going to HAVE to read the 2nd book, Never Have I Ever, because the ending was such a cliffhanger. I didn't love the book though. Honestly, I would have liked at least some answers. Even a hint would have been nice. Toward the final third of the book, I thought I was starting to figure things out, but by the end, we were back to "everyone's a suspect". I feel a little jipped. That said, I enjoyed the book. It was a fast paced, easy read, and I'm a sucker for mystery and intrigue. This book definitely had both. The idea was original, and the perspectives it was told from were brilliant. I loved that the ghost of the dead sister (Sutton) was narrating and watching everything that was going on with the living sister (Emma), but that the living sister wasn't aware of any of it and had to sort it all out on her own. I also liked that the Sutton's death was a mystery even to her. When I began reading this book, I was under the impression that the Sutton was somehow communicating with the Emma; that they were working to solve the mystery together. That wasn't the case. They were trying to solve it independently, in a parallel fashion.

The things I disliked about the book have only to do with personal preference. I really don't like "mean girl" books, and this was definitely one. "The Lying Game" was a game that a group of popular girls (Sutton's friends) made up. It consisted of the girls planning and executing elaborate and often VERY cruel pranks. They had done so many horrible things, that even the police no longer believed their lies. They not only play these pranks on other people, but they play some of the cruelest ones on each other. Given the title of the book and and where the story is headed, it is obvious that Sutton's death has something to do with the game. I would say that this is ultimate "mean girl" behavior. I realize that there is a HUGE market for this kind of book, and teen girls that enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, or The Clique will love this as well.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Grade Level Recommendation: This book is NOT for tweens. I would say this is minimally grade 8+. There is a "snuff film" that plays a prominent role in the plot line. I would expect that many teens aren't aware of what a snuff film is, and I would HOPE most tweens aren't. Because of that, I think this book is highly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 14. As I said above, I am also not a fan of "mean girl" books, especially for the more impressionable tween girls. That said, I would say that even if the snuff film doesn't disturb you, the "mean girl" nature of this book still eliminates it from the "tween" section.

Review: Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Okay. So I thought I was going to end up writing an absolutely HORRIBLE review on this book. It started out so cliche that I wanted to puke. Seriously. Plus the writing, on a technical level, was just bad. But, I changed my mind after a bit...

Corrinne is a spoiled, overprivileged, overindulged, 15 year old Manhattanite (think Gossip Girl). She comes home from an afternoon shopping at Barney's to a "family meeting"... Guess what? High powered Dad has been laid off from his job and they are going to have to change their lifestyle! OMG! Corrinne can no longer go to her high-priced boarding school, drop thousands at a time at Barney's, or continue to ride her thoroughbred at her posh CT stable,  and what's worse? She has to move in with her grandparents, to the backwoods Texas town that her mother grew up in. The town her mother hated so much that she had never even taken her children to visit their grandparents there... So guess what? You guessed it...  Corrinne hates it! She just can't stomach all those cowboys and hicks and their boring country ways! Then to make matters worse, her grandmother makes her eat carbs AND get a JOB! (Gasp!) But alas, it starts to grow on her, even if she can't admit it. She makes a friend and meets a rocker boy who is a fish out of water, just like she is (but another boy likes her and he's the oh-so-cute football star who happens to be smart and funny, but not her type, so she's mean to him)...

That is when the book started to become a page-turner for me. I just had to know how this story would pan out. I have to admit that while the romantic part of it was totally predictable, I didn't actually see the ending coming. So... While the premise was cliche, with stereotypes that really annoyed me, and a good part of the story was predictable from the beginning, it turned out okay. Because I liked the story, this book did not make my "Hate List" and because I had a hard time putting it down, I gave it a 3-star rating. It was okay. I could definitely see a teenage girl loving it. In fact, this would make a great teen movie (a la Miley Cyrus in her Hannah Montana Movie)- riches to rags, a love triangle, coming of age- a definite hit!

My rating: ★ ★ ★

Grade Level: 8+ due to content. There is a good bit of glorified teen drinking. Some parents would say that this would knock it into HS+ territory, but I disagree. There aren't many 8th graders out there that aren't aware that teens drink, and  that they often have fun while doing so. My nine year old knows that, for Heaven's sake. Other than the drinking thing, it's pretty clean. No sex or other "touchy" topics.

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