I have this prejudice against “dying child” books. Basically, I feel like it’s cheating. Dying children is a sad topic; and as an author, you don’t have to work very hard to make me cry. If I’m going to cry, I want to be moved by a depth of character or deeply complicated plot thatContinue reading “Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
Tag Archives: book review
Book Review: Ten Miles Past Normal
I love slim books but this one just didn’t grab me the way I wished it would. I love the concept, and the writing was strong, but the emotion just didn’t resonate with me. I’ll be trying other books by this author. I wondered if the reason it didn’t grab me was because the protagonistContinue reading “Book Review: Ten Miles Past Normal”
Book Review: The Big Crunch
Pete Hautman is one of my favorite writers. He won my heart with GODLESS, fed my curiosity with HOW TO STEAL A CAR, and satisfied me once again with THE BIG CRUNCH. I generally dislike books about destiny. I wasn’t even a big fan of Slumdog Millionaire. Partly this is because I don’t believe inContinue reading “Book Review: The Big Crunch”
Book Review: Don’t Stop Now
I love all of Julie Halpern’s books. This is no exception. Into The Wild Nerd Yonder is definitely still my favorite, so if you haven’t read this author, I’d start there. But this book is wonderful, too. The cover is blah. If I didn’t love the author I would have passed this by on theContinue reading “Book Review: Don’t Stop Now”
Book Review: Girlfriend Material
I liked this book. I picked it up mostly because it was published by Disney-Hyperion and I’ll be attending an upcoming conference with one of their editors. I always feel better if I’ve come with at least one of their books read. Possibly I’ve read more, but nothing comes to mind. Anyway, I started anotherContinue reading “Book Review: Girlfriend Material”
Book Review: Flash Burnout
Flash Burnout is a perfect YA book. Well, the story is perfect. I’m not digging the cover so much. And, while the jacket copy was clever, it didn’t give me an accurate sense of the story – the frame of the story, yes, but the heart of the story, no. I may not have readContinue reading “Book Review: Flash Burnout”
Book Review: Gender Blender
I was really slow getting on the Blake Nelson train. I just read Paranoid Park last year. Didn’t even know it had been a movie. Still haven’t seen that, but I was in love his writing from the start. When I think of edgy YA fiction, I think of Paranoid Park. That book was dark,Continue reading “Book Review: Gender Blender”
Book Review: An Off Year
It’s possible that I gave this a five star rating because it has one of the best covers I’ve ever seen. But, I think it’s more than that. Do you ever feel like you belong to a book instead of it belonging to you? That’s how I felt when I read this book. And thoughContinue reading “Book Review: An Off Year”
Jody Sparks Mugele 