Book Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Jude’s older sisters have taught her a lot, but the thing she remembers most from them is the fact that the Vargas brothers are heartbreakers and should never be trusted.  But now Jude is the only sister living at home, and she’s helping her ailing father restore a vintage motorcycle.  She needs a mechanic to help out, and that mechanic happens to be a Vargas boy–and be seriously cute.  How does Jude reconcile her feelings for the vows she made her sisters, and how does she balance her increasingly complicated life?

Sarah Ockler’s latest offering is strong contemporary YA, focusing on a family saga of the finest quality.  This is a novel about family and fathers and daughters, and it delivers on many of its promises.  Jude is an authentic narrator, and her last summer at home before college is filled with learning about herself, about her father, and about what it means to become an adult.  Solid contemporary YA that’s perfect summer reading.

A poignant story, Ockler really shines when she allows Jude and Emilio Vargas to spar and get to know one another.  The charged attraction between the characters is palpable, and readers will eat it up.  Also noteworthy is Jude’s devotion to her family and especially to her father, whose declining health propels much of the story, making her quest to restore the motorcycle all the more important.

There are things here that don’t work, and I would be remiss to not point them out.  The story feels a little overlong at times, and Jude’s deteriorating friendship with her high school friends doesn’t feel fleshed out enough to warrant the page time it gets.  Also problematic is how hard it is to distinguish between all of Jude’s sisters.  These are minor things, though, and most readers will be willing to overlook them because so much of the rest of the novel is strong.

Jude’s family is Argentinian-American, and while this could easily become a way to prove how multicultural the story is, it never succumbs to this.  Ockler infuses her story with culture and authenticity, and it’s a resounding success.

Recommended.

Simon Pulse: 2013. Electronic galley accepted for review via Edelweiss.

Fall TV Preview

You guys know that I follow the network upfronts every year.  And every year, I get excited about some of the new shows each network has to offer.  This year is no different.  These are the shows I’m most looking forward to, with the realization that most of these will either disappoint or bore me within weeks of their premiere dates.

Without further ado!

FOX

1. Us & Them

The show is a remake of the British comedy Gavin & Stacey, and basically had me at “Jason Ritter.”  I will watch that boy in anything, pretty much.  It also looks kind of stupid and cute, and has a lot of other actors I really like.  So, yeah, I’m going to be watching this one, much to J.’s chagrin.

2. Sleepy Hollow

As a fan of the original novel and also of the deeply creepy Tim Burton movie, there was no way I wasn’t going to check this one out.  I worry about long-term sustainability, but that’s my worry with many shows.  This one also appears to have a sense of humor, which makes it a little more fun.

NBC

1. Blacklist

Early buzz on this one is good, so I’ll give it a try.  I mean, I’m probably the least excited about this one on the entire list, but it’s also the only new show on NBC I’m likely to watch.

ABC

1. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

I mean, it’s Joss Whedon.  How could I not?

2. Super Fun Night

Ugh, I don’t know. I love Rebel Wilson and want to support her, but this comedy looks so broad that it’s unappealing.  That’s pretty much the case with all ABC’s new sitcoms, though.  Broad doesn’t equal quality, guys.

3. Mixology

This one is a dating sitcom.  The huge cast hints that there might be a couple of stand-outs.  I guess it could work?  I’m not sure.  There’s some potential here, but not a whole lot.  I’ll tune in and probably immediately tune out.

CBS

1. The Crazy Ones

I’d be lying if I said I was watching this for any other reason than Sarah Michelle Gellar.  I don’t know what it is about that woman, but I can’t seem to quit her.  Except for when she was on that stupid effing show where she played the most unconvincing set of twins I’ve ever seen.  I quit her about halfway through the pilot on that one.

The CW

1. Reign

I’m sorry, but what in the fresh hell IS THIS?  It’s a teen sudser about Mary Queen of Scots, and I will be watching the hell out of it, because HOW IS THIS A THING THAT IS HAPPENING?

What shows are you excited about come this fall?

Book Review: Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

It used to be Anna and her mom against the world.  But then her mom started dating, and soon Anna had a series of stepfathers and an increasingly distant mother.  When Anna discovered boys, she found that there were new ways to fill the emptiness inside her.  Boys can be her new family, and that’s what Anna tries to make happen with Desmond, and Joey, and Todd.  But Anna is always left alone, with only her friend Toy to comfort her.  It isn’t until she meets Sam and is accepted into his family that she begins to understand what real love is–and what’s at stake if she were to lose it.

Erica Lorraine Scheidt’s debut is a tricky novel to write about, because the basic premise is going to be polarizing.  Readers are going to be divided on whether or not this one works for them.  Some readers will get it and love it while others will get it and be uncomfortable with the message it leaves them with.  Still others will miss the point and resort to troubling and misguided slut-shaming while proclaiming that they aren’t, you know, for the whole slut-shaming thing.  For this particular reader, the book works on every level, making it a powerful, raw, and oftentimes disturbing read.  This one should be in every library.

Scheidt’s spare, brilliant prose feels deliberate on every page.  As she unfolds Anna’s story, the reader can feel Anna’s pain as she is left increasingly alone by her mother.  The emotions in this story are palpable, and Anna’s voice is unfailingly authentic.  Anna is a tough nut to crack, but it’s worth the reader’s time and investment to get to know her.  She’s vulnerable but resilient, resourceful and, most important, real.

There’s a lot to unpack in this slim, sparse novel.  Scheidt’s exploration of sex as a way of empowerment and as a way of destruction is unflinching in its portrayal of teen sexuality.  Anna is trying to figure out who she is in relation to herself and others through the use of sex, and this is going to make some people uncomfortable.  Again, this is important stuff, and it helps underscore how hard it is to figure out your sexuality in a world where it is not safe to do so.

Of course, there’s so much more that can be unpacked here: the murky life lessons that Anna is learning, the fact that she continues to repeat the same patterns of behavior, the fact that she continually allows herself to be defined by the boys in her life.  Anna’s friendship with Toy is fascinating and worth a closer look itself.  This is a book that begs to be read more than once.

Not for everyone, but definitely one that deserves to be talked about and thought about.  Scheidt is an author to watch, and Uses for Boys is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt. St. Martin’s Press: 2013.  Library copy.

 

 

Book Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Parker Frost is about to be the valedictorian of her high school, and she’s played it safe her entire life.  When she ends up with the task of sending out journals to seniors who graduated ten years ago, she discovers that she has a chance for some rare insight into a town mystery about star-crossed lovers.  Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz were remembered as the golden couple of their high school before the car accident that ended their young lives.  But when Parker starts reading, she starts to realize that there might be more to the story than she ever thought possible.  Through Julianna’s journal, she starts to really live her own life.

Jessi Kirby’s latest offering helps to cement her as one of the contemporary YA authors worth rooting for.  Her novels feature protagonists who are authentic, flawed, and absolutely compelling. Golden is a contemplative, inspirational novel that offers readers a different take on the well-traveled YA romance tropes.  Absolutely satisfying, this one should work for readers who like their stories firmly mired in strong characters and a compelling (but not fast-paced) narrative.

Rich characterization adds to this story.  Parker is a well-developed narrator whose safe little world starts to expand as she discovers just how much she might be missing out on by playing the good girl.  A funny, well-developed best friend helps round out Parker’s personality, and other strong secondary characters make the cast of the novel all the more appealing.  There’s a slightly underdeveloped plot with Parker’s mom, but with everything else going on in the story, this is forgivable.

A dash of mystery and a small romance round out this story nicely.  Readers are likely to become as ensconced in the mystery of Julianna as Parker is, and while some readers will likely figure it out long before Parker does, the journey is still a lot of fun.  Kirby doesn’t provide her readers with any easy answers, which makes this all the more satisfying.

A warm, thoughtful read.  This one will work for fans of Sarah Dessen (especially her earlier works). Recommended.

Golden by Jessi Kirby. Simon & Shuster BFYR: 2013.  Electronic galley accepted for review via Edelweiss.

Book Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher

When Lizzie is caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night, her life is ruined.  The school turns against her and her best friend Angie cuts her off completely.  Unable to cope, Lizzie kills herself.  But when Lizzie’s handwriting is found on lockers and pages of her diary are surfacing around school, it’s clear that someone is not ready to let her go.  Angie begins to investigate these mysterious appearances, she gets pulled deeper into darkness over her own guilt about Lizzie’s death.

In all honesty, I’ve been putting off reviewing this book because I’m so conflicted about it.  On the one hand, Pitcher’s debut attempts some pretty difficult stuff, both in its subject matter and in it’s fairly unlikely protagonist.  But amateurish writing, a desperate need for tighter editing, and a plot that sort of fizzles instead of explodes makes this one hard to remember.  After finishing it several months ago, the details have all but escaped me.

That’s not to say that there aren’t things that work here.  Readers are likely to be riveted by Angie’s narration.  A mystery that reads quickly, this one has appeal especially for reluctant readers.  There’s enough intrigue here to fill the pages, and some of the secondary characters are interesting enough to hold their own.

But savvy, sophisticated readers are going to stumble over the novel’s awkward writing and stilted dialogue.  Pitcher doesn’t ever seem to be in total control of her prose, and the result is a clunky narration that jars the reader out of the story too often.  Bizarre metaphors and similes clutter the pages, some of which are so bizarre they’ll leave you scratching your head in complete bemusement.  Surely that can’t have been Pitcher’s intent.

At times heavy-handed and perhaps a bit too issue-driven, this one isn’t a standout, despite its best intentions.  Although it’s likely to find an audience and might open up a dialogue about what it means to give power to words, it stumbles far too much in its delivery and its message to really pack a punch.  Disappointing.

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher. Gallery Books: 2013.  Electronic galley accepted for review via Netgalley.

Book Review: Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

Nicole Castro is the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school until the day she’s splashed with acid on one side of her face.  The whole world takes notice, but no one can solve the mystery of who her attacker was.  When social outcast Jay Nazarro decides to investigate the crime, he puts his hacker skills to good use.  It’s when he gets to know Nicole that things get even more complicated.

Paul Griffin’s taut thriller will keep readers glued to the page as they race to figure out who splashed Nicole with acid.  Gripping, authentic teen characters and a snarky, slightly self-deprecating narration from Jay make this a standout in the YA market.  If you’re a Griffin fan or new to his work, this is one you don’t want to miss out.

Both Nicole and Jay are fully-realized characters who display growth throughout the course of the book.  Although Jay provides the book’s narration, readers are treated to snippets of Nicole’s diary throughout the novel.  Despite this, she remains somewhat of a mystery to readers and to Jay, which strengthens the book’s central mystery.  A cast of other characters and suspects make this a riveting read.

Although the novel starts slow, the build up to the satisfying and incredibly tense reveal and conclusion is well worth it.  Once it gets going, it really gets going, and while some savvy readers might be able to finger the perp before Jay does, the reveal is still shocking.  There’s a lot to think about and talk about here, and Griffin never gives his readers any of the easy, pat answers.

Definitely a contemporary YA novel to have on your shelves (personal or otherwise), this one is a standout in the mystery/thriller genre.  A deeply affecting author’s note (don’t read until you’ve finished the book!) makes it all the more poignant.

Highly recommended.

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin. Dial: 2012.  Library copy.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.  Its purpose is to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

This week I’m eagerly awaiting:

The Beginning of Everything by Robin Schneider

Expected Release Date: August 27, 2013

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

(summary via Goodreads)

This one looks like a solid YA read.  I love that we get a male POV in a contemporary story (they’re out there, but certainly much more rare than the female narrators), and I think this one looks like it’s  going to be equal parts funny, sweet, and maybe a little sad.

Definitely a great end of summer read.

What are you waiting on this week?