Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

2.5 stars, I guess (I'm having a hard time with the rating... feeling ambivalent)
R- 0
YF

Um.... I'm really not sure what to say about this book.

Having been one of those teens that really doesn't care a ton what others think, I couldn't really understand the narrator. But at the same time, I also couldn't really understand how Stargirl (whose real name is Susan) could have no clue how weird she was. If she was really as observant as she was made out to be she should have gotten it, at least on some level.

It's just kind of a weird book. Stargirl is just kind of an enigma.... both the character and the book.

I guess the message is that you shouldn't conform for conformity's sake, but I honestly don't think that's what teens are going to get out of this book. I really don't.

And by the same token, frankly, nonconformity for nonconformity's sake is just as stupid... and just as unoriginal.

And okay, I guess I went to a bigger high school and that makes a difference, but the whole setup just didn't work for me. This idea that EVERYONE in the school follows the lead of the alpha guy/girl? Really? I don't think I could even identify ONE alpha guy/girl in my graduating class, let alone the whole school. There was tons of diversity, even though I went to a school that was 90% (or more) white, middle class/upper middle class, and LDS. I just don't see how one new weird girl would cause such a huge scandal.

One last note, then I'm going to stop myself before I take stars away. I am not a fan of homeschooling. Yes, I've seen it done well, but I've seen it done really really badly and I think that's more the norm. That said, I don't like the stereotype the book portrays. She's weird because she's been homeschooled. She doesn't get it because she's been homeschooled. While there is some validity to the idea that a child that doesn't interact with peers is going to be less "connected" as they discuss in the book, I don't think it's entirely fair. And like I said, if she was so observant and knew all about all these people around the town how could she really be that out of the loop?

ETA: As I think about this book more, I realize that a friend of mine who went to a very small high school and was in the minority will likely have a totally different opinion because of her experiences. But for me, with my background and my experiences, I've figured out one of my biggest problems with this book-- the whole "conformity v. nonconformity" thing fits middle school, not high school. I think the book would have worked much better for me had it been set in a middle school.

Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor by Willow-- Full Review

5 stars
R-0
YF? I'd call it YF
Source- Copy for review through Virtual Book Tours

I loved this book.

Written in a simple style, it felt like listening to a great storyteller. It reminded me of traditional fairy tales.

This is a majorly ACTION-PACKED book! Wowsers! Hard to put down because there's soooooo much going on! More than 300 pages, but it's a page-turner.

And the style of art on the cover really suits the style of writing.

Tirissa is an interesting young heroine who manages to do what even she thought was impossible-- saving not one, not two, but THREE kingdoms. And as she learns at the end-- she has more to do.

That's right, Tirissa will be going on more adventures. And I, for one, am glad of that. I actually can't wait until Boo is old enough for this book. I'm thinking 3-4 more years, maybe 5, but I'm looking forward to sharing it with her. :D

Don't forget-- join Tirissa's Facebook fan page for a chance to win a free copy of the book: http://tinyurl.com/yzna8l7 !!

One Full Year

388 posts (as of 11/13, which was the 1 year mark)

Post with most comments-- Scarlet Pimpernel with 13

Books read in that year-- 13 in 2008 and 135 in 2009, 148 total.

Don't ask me to pick a favorite. It ain't going to happen. Too many really really good books!

Giveaways.... um.... 5 or 6? Something like that.

Quite a year. :D

Which of course means we need some sort of celebratory.... something. :D

So here's my thought-- everyone who comments on this post gets an entry. FIVE winners will be drawn and receive a cute handmade bookmark or two....
And ONE grand-prize winner will get a book. And a bookmark or two. (I'll make up a list to choose from.)

So there you have it-- just leave a comment. :D

Wordless Wednesday-- Introducing...

Baby J. Coming soon to a blog near you.

ETA-- It's a girl!

Missing Mark by Julie Kramer

4 stars
R- 3 ish
Sequel to Stalking Susan

I'm likin' the title theme.

Once again Riley Spatz is digging up stories for the ratings sweep.... and sometimes that's a little too literal.

When she sees an ad in the paper-- "Wedding dress for sale- Never worn"-- she thinks she may have hit upon a good story. Because audiences love weddings. The research proves it.

She has no idea what she's getting into.

Add to that a crazy neighbor who may or may not be up to something suspicious, a return of Shep-- now a K-9 crime dog-- to her life, and a missing prize fish.... well, whoever said her life was boring?

There was a little bit of the whole "the characters have forgotten what they learned and how they grew in the last story" but not too annoying.

Riley's still maybe not the world's most likeable person and there was a bit of "hello, why didn't you think of that, Riley??", but hey. It's a good mystery.

:D

Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor by Willow

Okay, confession. I've had this book for a while-- plenty of time to read it.... And I haven't finished it.

Because I just started it this weekend.

Which would have been fine if Boo hadn't woken up sick at 1 in the morning Sunday. Sigh.

So I am sadly not very far into the book.

BUT I am LOVING it. I'm fascinated. This is one that plunges the reader straight into an interesting world and a great story.

So I'm really excited to finish it and tell you all about it... you'll just have to wait a little bit longer. :D

In the meantime-- join Tirissa's Facebook fan page for a chance to win a free copy of the book: http://tinyurl.com/yzna8l7

ALSO-- I totally blew off posting about my one year blogiversary! That's right, it's been a whole year. Where does the time go?
SO be on the lookout later this week for a year in review, a fun announcement and other such stuff.
:D

FULL REVIEW NOW AVAILABLE!! CLICK HERE!!

Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer

5 Stars
R- 2
Reader's Choice

Okay, so I honestly had to check the "about the author" to make sure this wasn't connected to the Monkee Wrench mysteries! LOL

It's not, though. :D

Riley Spartz is a tv newscaster on the hunt for a new big story. Preferally one not involving her this time.

While Riley isn't always an overly likeable character, I did really enjoy the story and look forward to reading the sequel-- Missing Mark.

Oh, and a quick warning-- there is NO ROMANTIC RESOLUTION at the end of this book. None. Well, not really, anyway. :D

I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller and definitely recommend it. It is a little creepy, but not any more so than your average episode of Criminal Minds.

Why wasn't Riley likeable I hear you asking... Well, Riley is a reporter... and she reminds me of why I decided in my high school journalism class that being a reporter wasn't for me. It wasn't that I felt I couldn't be that ruthless, it was that I was worried I could. Riley will do a lot of things for a story... even some that may be going too far. I figured I wouldn't like myself a whole lot if I pursued that line of work.

She does have a lot of redeeming characteristics, though, and I felt like she got more likeable as the book went on.

My one big peeve-- it took most of the book for me to pin down when it was taking place. Which was really annoying since they kept bringing up the dates of cold case murders. It was driving me crazy that I didn't know how much time had passed, 'cause let's face it, that's an important detail if you're looking at possible serial killings. A simple date at the heading of the first chapter or something would have solved it.

Really though, that's all probably me being OCD. It was a really good book. :D