Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Jenn's Pick!

This is a light, fluffy sort of read--the story of two friends friends who set off to drama camp thinking it will change their lives and get them out of their humdrum town. The plan works for Desi, but not so much for Sayde.

I wasn't a Drama Person, in my teen years. I was just barely cool enough to be a part time Band Person, if you see what I'm saying. So I can't really speak to the Drama Camp experience in this book, whether it's realistic or overdone or just plain weird. It was believable enough for me to finish the book.

I've read some folks that were unhappy with the ending of this book. They thought Sayde gave up everything that made her unique and sparkly and fantastic. At the end of the book, I was pretty pleased with Sayde. I thought she was coming to grips with how friendships change over time, and how even your dreams of the future change over time, and she was learning about what kind of fantastic she'd be next. Could go either way. If you've read this one, chime in and tell me what you think. Did Sayde change for the better, or for the worse?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Jenn's Pick!

Did you read Tangerine by Edward Bloor? If you didn't, you probably should. If you did read it, and you liked it, try this book. I was reading Part-Time Indian, thinking, "You know, the main character in this book reminds me a lot of Paul from Tangerine." I turned the page, kept reading, and on the very next page Junior, the main character of Part-Time Indian said that Tangerine was his favorite book! I was excited about this for two reasons. 1) Obviously, I'm psychic. and 2) I like it when authors call out to each other like that. Probably, Sherman Alexi liked Tangerine, or at least, he's read it, and he's sort of giving Edward Bloor a high-five by making it Junior's favorite book.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a good read, about a kid stuck in between two worlds that just don't mesh. It's really sad in places, gut wrenchingly sad (the kid's dog dies before the end of the first chapter, kind of sad.) It's also a strange kind of hopeful, too. Not the kind of hopeful that makes you think "Yeah. Right." The kind of hopeful you could sort of imagine yourself feeling in the same situations. A grim but realistic hopeful, if you see what I mean.

It's also got some great illustrations, that remind me a bit of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This book was a National Book Award Winner, and though I don't always agree with the way these things are handed out, in this case, it's perfectly clear. We've got this one in the Kids Room, so while you're over there, you can also grab Tangerine.

As a side note, I've tried some of Bloor's other books, and haven't been wild about them. Anyone got a favorite Bloor, other than Tangerine that I should try? Leave us a comment and tell us about it.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce - A spiffed-up retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story – The setting for this tale is a woolen mill in a small village in 18^th Century England. To get out of debt, Charlotte and her sister Rosie enlist the help of a mysterious person. The author presents us with a real sense for those superstitious times with a bit of magic thrown in. I liked the way the story was resolved – It made sense.

Fight Game by Kate Wild – This is a fast paced read. The setting is England – British references abound.

Freedom Smith, dismissed by many as “trailer trash”, has inherited a super power fight gene from his great, great, great grandpa.

The condition has caused him much grief; since he is basically a good kid, yet is continually in trouble with the police. Through a twist of fate,

Freedom becomes involved with a secretive police unit to infiltrate an illegal fight club. The ending left me wanting a sequel.

Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman – 16 year old Brit Hemphill is sent to rough disciplined Red Rock Academy.

She finds all is not what it seems and launches a fight to close the facility located in a remote section of Utah.

I liked the interplay of the characters; The actual realizations of root problems and finding real solutions which

were at odds with those of the staff. I cared about the main characters; it was a page turner that kept me wondering

what would happen next.