Good Enough by Paula Yoo - Well told story about Korean-American first generation Patti Yoon, a high school senior. Patti is an exceptionally bright student. Patti strives to achieve her parents’ expectations to be accepted by YaleHarvardPrinceton. Patti also is an exceptional violinist who learns a lot from a new trumpet player in the orchestra. I liked the way the relationship was handled. There’s a warm humor to the book that I really appreciated. The story is about achievement, love, success, happiness. It includes recipes for life and Spam (the canned lunchmeat).

I'll ask you three times, are you ok? : tales of driving and being driven

Jenn's Pick!

I have a friend who has struck up a friendship with a guy who called her from India one night to try to sell her a satellite dish. My friend isn't particularly interested in satellite dishes (she doesn't have a TV,) but she's one of those people, I'm sure you know them too, who can just connect with anyone, under any circumstances. That's what this book is about, even though it claims to be about "tales of driving and being driven." True, all the stories take place while the author is driving her own car or riding in a taxi, but mostly, it's about how she tries to learn a little something about the world from everyone who crosses her path. Each chapter is its own new story, and I'd suggest taking this one slowly, because all the stories do start to sound alike if you try and read it straight through.

The weakest part of this book is the title, which makes it sound a little like a self-help title. It's explained in the first story, but still, I think Naomi Shihab Nye could have come up with something better. Otherwise, it's worth a read.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Jenn's Pick!

Get yourself ready for earth day with this great (true) story about a family living for one year eating only food grown locally. I'm a huge fan of Barbara Kingsolver, ("Prodigal Summer," and "Animal Dreams" are my favorites, but I've read them all,) and this was fun because it was written by her whole family. Her oldest daughter, in her first year at college, wrote essays about the experience, and the younger daughter saved up for a horse selling eggs from her chickens. This book will change the way you think about your food. I've given up bananas and started checking my milk to see where it came from. It's also somehow extremely entertaining.

We have this title in several formats. Book, audiobook, and the MP3 audiobook. I checked out the MP3 version; its read by the authors.

Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher - Happy page turner I wished I had read immediately after the most serious yet immensely readable Hush - An Irish Princess Tale. Gallagher's story is about first crush and realistic expectations. I enjoyed it because of the realistic characters and situations. Alice and Jewel have been friends for many years - Alice takes a liking for popular Simon causing her to re-evaluate her relationship with Julian(Jewel).

Snow Falling in Spring by Moying Li - Movingly portrays the author's involvement in the failed plans of the Government after World War II. In one such failing - She and her brother as children helped in Chairman Mao's declared war on sparrows - their eradication however caused a worse insect problem which in turn caused destruction of crops. The famine and drought that ensued caused millions of people to die. Moying Li tells us about the destruction of books and arresting of educators. Moying Li continued to educate herself forming a secret reading club. The Government goes through changes. The Cultural Revolution officially ends in 1976 and Moying Li takes advantage by entering Language School. Because so many educators have either been killed or ousted she is offered a promotion to "teacher.' Moying Li however, opts to become one of the first students since 1949 to study in America.

Wednesday April 2nd 3:30-4:30 pm

Kenny Blackwell and Dorian Michael will be at our Teen Cafe Wednesday April 2nd from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Come listen to them!!
Free food and drinks!

Posh by Lucy Jackson - This story presents sketches of very different people who attend an upscale Manhattan School. The character studies and relationships are spot on. It doesn't matter how much money you have - Same problems remain. Good Read.

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva

This was a rather fun mindless affair and especially welcome after just spending months in medieval Europe with an enslaved Irish Princess. Camden King works very hard in school and at the family's Thai restaurant. Complications arise - She needs $10,000 to make things right - then another $5,000. A rich self absorbed handsome twit becomes her guy - Happy fast read.