Reader: Frannie M.
Age: 15
Title: Winger
Author: Andrew Smith
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub Date: 05/14/13
Galley: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Spoilers Ahead!
Winger was such a fantastic book for me because it provoked an amazingly wide range of emotions. I went from laughing at Ryan Dean's drawings and jokes to tearing up at Joey's death. I became so attached to the characters that I went through a short period of numbness after finishing the book. I couldn't bear to start another book, so I just let all of the leftover thoughts from Winger float around in my head. Andrew Smith did a wonderful job of writing from the point of view of a real teenager. By the middle of the book, I felt like Ryan Dean was simultaneously my best friend, the cute boy I had a crush on, and my silly little brother. When he finally plucked up the courage to kiss Annie, I legitimately had to put the book down and give a little whoop of pride. Ryan Dean, like all of the best characters, had some serious flaws. His relationship with Megan really humanized him, and I understood his struggle of whether or not to continue things with her. Another thing that I appreciated about Winger was that some things were left unresolved. Ryan Dean's friendship with JP, for example, was never completely mended. I both loved and hated the ending of this book. I hated it because it was so abrupt. One minute they were all laughing in their Halloween costumes, and the next they were mourning. However, I definitely understood why the author did this, and I think it made Winger a better book. The ending needed to be abrupt, because that's often how it is in life. One minute everything is normal and the next something completely crazy happens. Though I wish I could have read more about Ryan Dean, the ending really brought the whole story together, and made the book very profound.
Memorable or Forgettable: This book was very memorable for me because it wasn't like the books I've read recently. It didn't have to be dressed up by wars or mutations, it was just a teenager's story, albeit a funny and odd one.
Cover: The cover definitely made me pick the book up because it is so striking and in your face. I liked it even more when I reached the corresponding point in the story.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
tags: realistic fiction / boarding school / ya lit
Reader: Frannie M.
Age: 14
Title: Noggin
Author: John Corey Whaley
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 04/08/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Noggin originally grabbed my attention with its odd and mind boggling concept - the idea that someone could come back to life by having their head sewn onto a new body. I started this book expecting a ridiculous but light story. However, the whole head-on-a-new-body thing didn't dominate the story as much as I thought it would. I interpreted this book as taking place in modern times, because Travis, the main character, describes seeing things like "people wearing blue jeans tight on their calves" and "electronic billboards that change their ad every few seconds", both things that we have today. The story begins with Travis waking up after being 'dead' for five years. Life is very difficult when he returns, because he has been gone for so long that most of his friends and family have moved on. Additionally, he has to go back into high school as a sophomore even though he should be in college based on his birth date. John Corey Whaley does an excellent job of conveying Travis' complex emotions with the first person point of view. I have no idea how someone would react in Travis' situation, but everything Travis did made sense and reflected how I think I would react to having my head sewn onto a new body. The main thing that Travis had to face was the fact that his girlfriend (Cate) from before his 'death' was now engaged. He spends much of the story trying to win her back, not understanding how hard it was for his friends and family to see him die, even though it wasn't permanent. The character development in this book was profound, and each character had an important role in the story. Every character enhanced the story, especially Travis' two best friends, Kyle and Hatton. Despite the difficult themes in this book, it still retained a sense of humor, making me laugh out loud on several occasions. This book was insightful, amusing, and out of the ordinary, and I would definitely recommend it!
Memorable or Forgettable: This book was very memorable to me, probably because I haven't read anything like it. It was fun to imagine having someone actually come back to life from a body transplant. This book was a breath of fresh air compared to all of the violent and dystopian books that are popular now.
Cover: The cover of this book is awesome, and is a great representation of the story. It is striking and bold, but also amusing.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
tags: realistic fiction / science fiction / contemporary / ya lit
Reader: Frannie M.
Age: 14
Title: Love in the Time of Global Warming
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: 08/27/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I particularly enjoyed this book because it defied every one of my expectations. I found myself predicting the plot throughout the story, but I was consistently proven wrong, something that is exciting in a book. Pen's journey was fun to follow, and the parallels to The Odyssey made it even more enjoyable. Each character was distinct and I found myself becoming attached to all of them. The character development in this story was also fantastic, and seemed very realistic, which can be hard to find. Each new character Pen met on her journey enhanced the story, as did each new danger. No part of this book was superfluous, it all fit together beautifully.
Memorable or Forgettable: The ending of this book was what made it particularly memorable for me. The end (without revealing too much) leaves many things unresolved, but it did it in such a way that I wasn't bothered by it, as I frequently am by cliffhangers. The end was satisfying, while still keeping with the mystique that was carried throughout the book.
Cover:
The cover was beautiful; it was why I chose this book in the first place! The butterflies seemed like a random addition to the cover to make it prettier at first, but I discovered later that they make up a large part of the story. This cover was an excellent representation of the story.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity:4P Broad general teen appeal
tags: coming of age / post-apocalyptic / magical realism / ya lit
