By Mari Mancusi
Reviewed by Arina Bykadorova
It’s the first day of school – except four months into her sophomore year. It’s time to start over – except she’s been dressed by her grandma into “a pair of bulky, pale blue “mom jeans” that came up past my belly button and a totally non-fitted oversized sweatshirt with – brace yourself here – frolicking unicorns embroidered on the front. Isn’t that a fabulous way to start fresh in a new school teeming with “Aberzombies” and American Eagle addicts?
Yet, such is a sum-up of Maddy Starr’s life, in the first chapters of Gamer Girl, by Mari Mancusi. Despite the title, which might at first strike the average adolescent as cheesy, the book is full of references that we can all understand. There’s no doubt about this novel – it’s for today’s teenagers.
Maddy Starr’s life is somewhat standard for a realistic fiction book. Her parents get divorced, her mother can’t pay for her high school in Boston, and she has to move from the city into the suburbs, where she is bullied by the popular kids. Nevertheless, Mancusi takes the cliché plotline (that could probably be found in a school anti-bullying brochure) and spins it into a fast-paced, relatable modern novel. After they move into her grandma’s house in the ’burbs, she is nicknamed “Freak Girl” by her classmates. Even outside of school nothing seems to piece together. The only thing that does work out is the online video game her dad got her, where she can be the illustrious elfin character Allora, with perfect defenses against the very things that bother Maddy – bullying, shyness, and lack of friends. Online she also meets the only friend she’s had in a while, the charming Sir Leo, who becomes a comfort when life gets tight.
Gamer Girl is a very quick read. That doesn’t mean it’s short, but it flows very well, without losing rhythm. I am not a very swift reader, and I managed it in one day. Every chapter leaves you wanting to read more, mostly because of Mari Mancusi’s original and very accurate portrayal of the voice of a sixteen-year-old girl. Just the right slang is used, which makes it closer to the heart than some third person story with too many SAT words. Mancusi doesn’t dwell too much on any part, but doesn’t fly by something important, either. Each event is allotted just the right amount of time. My only negative is that many bends in the road can be anticipated by the reader, since the plotline isn’t anything too out of the ordinary. It is this predictability that could endanger the book to be listed as a “typical young adult novel.” Still, I believe that the fact that it is so well-written compensates for this.
Overall, Gamer Girl is a fun read. This is just the book you’d want to pick up after staggering away from something dark and gloomy. Original, witty, and clever, its words strike true in its readers’ minds and capture their concern for Maddy. Will she win the manga contest and go back to the Boston Academy? Or make do with Hannah Dunstin H.S.? Fairy-tale or tragic ending? There really is only one way to find out -- and I highly recommend it.
Peeps
By Scott Westerfield
Reviewed by Caroline DeSantis
Though Peeps may bring to mind images of sugar-coated marshmallow bunnies, this new novel is far from a sickly sweet read. It’s a fast-paced science fiction novel, seamlessly blended with adventure, romance, and even a little horror, leaving readers turning the pages and craving more.
Author Scott Westerfield joins the vampire craze with his new novel, Peeps. Teenage protagonist Cal happens to be a vampire. However, the similarities between this book and other clichéd vampire stories end here. Westerfield describes vampirism scientifically, and categorizes it as a disease. There are no magic or supernatural forces involved. This disease is cause by parasites, and the term “vampire” is used rarely in the book. It’s referred to as parasite positive, or peeps for short.
After a one night stand with a mysterious woman named Morgan, Cal becomes one of these peeps. However, due to a genetic mutation, he can live a normal life without the devastating effects of the sickness. Instead of becoming cannibalistic and destroying the things he once loved, he experiences only the perks of being a peep: super human strength, smell, and eyesight. Despite these additions to his character, Cal is still a teenager who deals with girl problems and struggles to fit in. Now, it’s Cal’s job to hunt down other peeps and stop the virus from spreading and infecting even more people. That includes tracking down the strange woman who infected him.
Throughout the story, told in first person narrative through Cal’s eyes, Westerfield describes some parasites in great detail, explaining how they are necessary in our world, as well as the disastrous consequences they can have on their hosts. These chapters are not for the weak stomached though; they include nauseating descriptions of hookworms, plasmodium, and screw flies. Cal describes these parasites and their importance to the plot in just enough detail- he explains what’s going on, but leaves you with a small enough amount of information to keep you guessing.
With its unique plot line and thrilling chapters, this sci-fi novel stands above the rest of the vampire books. Scott Westerfield has produced another science fiction masterpiece, and it should be picked up by all teen readers. His book won several notable awards, including an ALA Best Book of 2005 for young adults. Just make sure you have enough time to read it entirely through, because once you start, you won’t want to put Peeps down for a second.
Stargirl
By Jerry Spinelli
Reviewed by Amanda Liu
"Did you see her?” It’s only the first day of junior year and the rumors are spreading already. In the quiet, dull, and indifferent halls of Mica Area High School, that was all the students could hear. Who’s the “her” they’re referring to? She's Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl.
Your typical eleventh grader, Leo Borlock is the narrator of this story, who’s just like the rest of Mica High – and doesn’t plan to change either. However, there’s a new student, who calls herself “Stargirl.” She’s fresh and bubbly, the exact opposite of her classmates. It becomes obvious that she’s not the average tenth grader when she suddenly begins to strum her ukulele in the middle of lunch and serenades everyone on their birthdays. She leaves the entire school bewildered when they find out that she brings her pet mouse, Cinnamon, to class every day. For Mica High, Stargirl is too different, but this is what sparks Leo’s interest. This, too, is what makes me and others love Stargirl.
Stargirl’s peculiarity keeps readers turning pages. That is also what keeps Mica interested in her. The students admire her, while keeping a distance at the same time. Personally, I first read Stargirl for one reason – it was mandatory for English class. However, when I learned about how others can’t understand her, I just wanted to be able to reach out and help her. Readers often want to sigh when they hear about her – she doesn’t notice anyone else’s opinions, and she puts everyone else before herself. She also does not seem to have any reaction to all of this.
Stargirl is probably only one of the few people who still practice “random acts of kindness” so often. She always does the unthinkable: attending funerals, buying gifts, making cards – all for people that she didn’t know. Leo wonders, “Why couldn’t she be like everyone else?” Ashamed of his love for the most bizarre girl in school, he pleads for her to try to become “normal.” However, after being marked as different, can she really become something that she’s not?
Spinelli created a girl who seems to be questionable, yet she is a lovable and warm character. Stargirl’s story has touched many readers nationwide, receiving notable awards that include ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, Publisher Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and Parents’ Choice Gold. When Spinelli ended Stargirl, he left me full of curiosity. The conclusion definitely left me wishing that there was a girl as fascinating as her in my school. What will become of Leo and Stargirl? Can she ever be what others consider normal, or will she continue to go her own way? Follow Jerry Spinelli’s greater-than-life character in Stargirl.
True Talents
By David Lubar
Reviewed by Jason Duong
“It’s time to take your medicine,” Bowdler barks as you wake up indolently. You quiver with apprehension as you are forced by the ruthless kidnapper to drink the fluid from the cup and move the marble set on a white table with your mind. This is a typical day of fourteen-year-old Eddie Thalmeyer, a boy who tries to live an ordinary life with a secret talent: telekinesis. His adversary, Bowdler, works to exploit the hidden talents of people such as Eddie’s. The reason for this is simple: greed. He plans to use their powers as military weapons in exchange for money and will stop at nothing to do so.
Every story is told in a different way, but perhaps this one is the most unique. Published by Starscape, True Talents is the sequel to an ALA Best Book for Young Adults called Hidden Talents. Released in March of 2008, it became an instant success among teen readers. Author David Lubar decided to publish True Talents after fans of its predecessor wanted a sequel. From starting fires to telepathy, this story satisfies most areas that a reader would want, including suspense, action, combustions, and even mind reading. As Booklist mentions, “Lubar’s trademark blend of humor and suspense, complete with explosions, supernatural powers, and just enough gore, will be a hit. The book may be an entertaining sequel, but it also stands nicely on its own.” Lubar likes writing for children, often including humorous books such as The Curse of the Campfire Weenies and Flip.
Another reason to why True Talents is so incredible is because of the plotlines and how they are incorporated to flow perfectly together. The storyline of each character is easy to follow because of smooth transitions and the steady use of adjectives and verbs to lucidly describe what happened. These events are significant to the story and easy to keep track of because each chapter is so memorable through the actions and speech of the individual. For example, when Eddie sees a dead body with blood coming out of it, he appears sick and nauseous, a feeling that would overcome most people, making it easy to identify and relate with Eddie. Characters’ talents are revealed to the reader but not to other characters in the book through their behavior in certain situations.
The book won a multitude of awards, such as the American Library Association Quick Picks for Young Adults and the KLIATT Editor's Choice Best of the Year award. The thriller has been quite popular over the past year among many teens. Perhaps it’s not as notorious as the Harry Potter series which also involves supernatural powers and friends who stick by each other, but it has just the right amount of action, bloodshed, and suspense. A negative aspect of the book, though, is that some of the jokes are very corny and pathetic. For example, one mentioned was the following: “My cousin Devon likes to party. We call him “blackjack” because ever since he turned 21, he’s been trying hard to make sure he never hits 22.” Luckily though, these catch phrases don’t often appear, meaning it can be easily disregarded. So if you’re sick of boredom, this book will be the dose of medicine you need, especially the six plotlines told from six different points of view. One perspective is Eddie’s, a first-person approach that makes you feel like you’re experiencing what he does. After that, the next character is depicted from a third- person vantage point doing something simultaneously in a different location. Once every plot is told at least once, Lubar manages to meld all six plotlines into one by giving a conclusion to them individually and then linking them through the characters’ actions and the destination in which they finally meet.
Not as overly-romantic as Twilight and not so repetitive that you give up on reading the book, this story will be able to make you feel oblivious to the world around you. So what should you do with your spare time? Read True Talents! As the saying goes, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Who knows? You might have an untapped talent that’s worth hunting down.
Confessions of a Shopaholic
By Sophie Kinsella
Reviewed by Ivy Zhang
During a stuffy business meeting full of serious-faced businessmen, Becky Bloomwood only had one thing in mind--- the green Denny and George scarf on sale. All she needed was another £20 and it would be hers. While everyone around her listened to the finance presentation, a horrible image of someone getting that gorgeous scarf before her flashed in her mind. Impulsive Becky suddenly blurted out, “I’m desperate. I need twenty quid!” The room fell silent and all eyes were on her. This was just another normal day in Becky’s hilarious life. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella follows British financial journalist Becky Bloomwood as struggles to pay off her credit card bills while never missing out on a sale.
One of the best aspects of this book is the steady stream of unpredictable and comical events. A day that starts out like any other can lead to Becky running from her stalker bank manager. Other times, Becky stuffs the enormous stack of bills in her drawer and pretends that they are nothing but a bunch of harmless numbers that happen to equal £6,000. Throughout the book, Becky tries her best to pay back all her debts. If the lottery won’t do it, then maybe earning more money or cutting back on shopping will. But of course, the essentials such as a fabulous gray cardigan on sale or the buy three get one free beauty products can never be avoided.
Kinsella’s vivid characterization makes the novel a must-read. One example is Becky’s best friend, Suze, who might be the only one who understands everything she has been through. Suze knows about Becky’s flaws, yet supports her all the way. Many times, she also tries to make Becky face the reality, get her life back on track, and always provides comfort her during Becky’s downfalls. Suze is so realistic you may think she is based on you best friend, the one who never leaves you throughout your worst moments.
One thing that may not be the easiest to accept is Becky’s personality. Her ignorance and slight foolishness sometimes might make you want to go into the book and give her a good shake. At some points, you may even want to yell at her and tell her to just stop spending so much money. However, the humor and the way she always fixes her problems on her own will allow you to overlook her flaw.
Overall, Confessions of a Shopaholic is “too good to pass up,” according to USA Today. According to a New Jersey newspaper, The Star-Ledger, “If a crème brûlée could be transmogrified into a book, it would be Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and I couldn’t agree more. This is a book you will never get sick of, even after reading it multiple times. It is phenomenal, whether it is for a rainy day or before a good night’s rest. Buy this book even if it means you’ll sacrifice the money you were planning to use for the stunning new bag you saw at the store the other day.
Schooled
By Gordon Korman
Reviewed by Brian Lee
A typical story plot: Life is good until some evil villain threatens the main character’s life and perhaps attempts to destroy the world. It soon becomes horrifically obvious how the story will end: the protagonist beats the villain and saves the planet.
However, Schooled by Gordon Korman has a new and unique plot. Imagine that you lived your whole life on the farm and your education has always meant being homeschooled by the only family member that lives with you. Now, imagine that the family member (your teacher) has been severely injured and must stay in the hospital for a long time. The law breaks into your life and determines that you must find another source of education, a.k.a. school. This is exactly what happens to Capricorn Anderson, Cap for short. He has to put up with this drastic change in lifestyle. The “royalty” of the school, also known as the popular group, takes one look at Cap and it automatically becomes their mission to completely ruin his life and humiliate him in every way possible.
This amazingly written story can easily branch off into many different storylines. What will happen to Cap? Will he be mercilessly tortured by other students and end up being depressed and miserable? Will he reunite with his teacher after she returns from the hospital? Unlike the clichéd plot of saving the world or frustrating cliffhangers that lead to the same ending in sequels, the ending of this story is almost impossible to predict.
One special and intriguing aspect of this book is the fact that the main character isn’t your average Joe. He isn’t even considered human to most students in his school. His hair is long like a hippie, he seems impervious to insults, and he always takes things in a positive way. But apart from his weird traits, he has an angelic, powerful quality that makes him more super than a superhero, and it doesn’t involve mutant powers. His impulsive actions can literally change the lives of people around him.
Another great part of this story is its alternating points of view. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective, introducing the reader to the deep thoughts of a variety of people, including the unusual Capricorn Anderson.
Overall, this book can really change how a person regards first impressions. After I read this book, I found myself quite satisfied. It certainly taught me a few life lessons, like the famous quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” If you’re tired of the ancient storylines, you really need a dose of this revolutionary book.
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Tenth Grade Bleeds
By Heather Brewer
Reviewed by Irissa Cisternino
When you hear the word vampire, most of you automatically think of the Twilight series. Well think again, because a new teen vampire just hit tenth grade, and his name is Vladimir Tod. From blood-drinking to near-death experiences every other day, Vlad is an unpopular teenager who faces two devastating problems. The first: trying to survive his sophomore year of high school. The second: trying to live out his life as a vampire when he is prophesized to rule over all mankind.
Vlad, technically only a half-vampire, was born from a vampire father and a human mother. While battling through his hilarious high school years and his nonexistent social life, he learns that he is supposedly known as “the Pravus,” an invincible human/vampire hybrid who can survive in sunlight and will someday rule over humans and vampires alike. Now, with only his vampire abilities and his gothic, yet tender personality, Vlad will have to face some of the most ruthless vampires in history, or “psycho maniacs,” as he calls them, if he wants to live to see eleventh grade.
The vampire thing might seem a little clichéd, with all the Edward Cullen backlash floating around, but Heather Brewer manages to give the standard plot line a unique twist. Readers everywhere will be on the floor laughing at the insane humor that Tenth Grade Bleeds has to offer. One incredible aspect of this book is that it covers two totally different genres. Whether you like action or comedy or both, you will love this fantasy novel. Teens will also be able to relate especially well to Vlad’s character. When he cries or laughs, readers will do the same because they can identify with him even though he is a vampire. He is amiable, sullen, strange and dark, all at the same time, and I am sure that we all have some, if not all, of these traits inside of us somewhere.
The general format of the book is the same as the other books of this series, with a new school year leading up to a climactic battle and some kind of change. This is something that I think could be improved, but beyond that, each new installment brings new challenges, new teachers, and most of all, new humor into the mix. This fantastic saga is a roller coaster ride of hysterical thrills and chills, giving you not only an action-packed fantasy novel, but an outrageously descriptive account of the terrors and emotional upset of the troublesome teenage years.
This classic vampire book contains all the examples of vampire lore, from staying out of the sunlight, to having superhuman strength and speed, to a blood-filled diet. The series stays true to mythology, while taking it in a completely new direction. This is probably the best third book that fans of the series could have asked for, and even if they are picking it up without reading the other two, they will not be totally lost. Sufficient information will catch new readers up. As teens across the country sink their fangs into this story, they are left eager to read the next chapter. Heather Brewer crafts a tale of pain, action, loss, humor, sorrow, and most importantly, blood, that teens everywhere are falling for.
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen
Reviewed by Anna Mo
When we think of classical romance, we tend to think of Shakespeare, confusing language, and praises to Heaven for the invention of Spark Notes. However, Pride and Prejudice is a major exception. Although the novel has sophisticated language, it won’t induce you to befriend a dictionary out of desperation. The eloquent prose actually makes the book more interesting. Written by the renowned author Jane Austen in 1813, this captivating book continues to enthrall readers to this day.
The plot of this story focuses on two characters: Mr. Darcy, a seemingly arrogant and proud man of an enormous fortune, and Elizabeth Bennet, a lively and independent girl with a playful disposition. The two meet at a ball and start off with the wrong impression of the other. However, as time goes on, Mr. Darcy begins to see the good qualities of Elizabeth, even as he’s criticizing the bad ones. While Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth struggle with their own feelings, Jane, Elizabeth’s older sister, has the same issue with Mr. Bingley, a wealthy man who has recently moved into the neighborhood. To top it all off, Bingley’s sister, Caroline, who is also in love with Mr. Darcy, will do anything to stop Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship. As misunderstandings, false friends, and the rules of society continue to work against the success of both relationships, you’ll keep turning the pages to find out whether love will triumph, or fall.
Austen’s presentation of the characters to the reader is just one of the reasons why I love this book. Instead of describing each character’s physical appearance, she leaves readers to visualize. Even though the story doesn’t really tell readers what the characters look like on the outside, they still are very vivid in our minds as we read. Their personalities and interaction with other characters breathe life into them. They don’t have one personality with everything written out about how they would behave. The characters gradually change throughout the book, which makes the story more realistic, as people are always changing throughout their lives.
All the characters in the book have unique personalities. For example, here is an excerpt taken from a conversation between Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet on the first page:
“...You delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”
This conversation is an example of Jane Austen’s wit and humor in her writing. It is a bit ironic in some parts of the story, because even though the characters in the story quarrel, their manners are courteous though icy.
This book is different from other romance stories because it portrays how people in England used to live. The setting makes me feel as though I am the one riding the chaise with Elizabeth and Jane. I enjoyed this book particularly because I love romance and the historical context makes it refreshing. Even as I reread the story, I sometimes catch myself wondering whether or not Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy will be together, even though I already know the ending. With two paths to choose, one which accepts the boundaries of society and one that is true to his heart, which one will Mr. Darcy follow?
