DPL Teens

Title:  The Diary of Melanie Martin…Or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza

Author:  Carol Weston

Review:  I liked this book because you could never tell what was going to happen next.  You could never tell when Melanie was going to get in trouble for what her brother did.  Her brother, Matt, was always getting lost.  I like the part when Melanie said she wanted to be a hero and not get in trouble when they were on vacation on her parents’ anniversary and her dad found an old friend, Sophia.  It seemed like her dad and Sophia still liked each other.  Melanie called for a toast and everything was fine.

Teen Reviewer:  Chauna

**Thanks for your review Chauna!  We love having teens contribute to the blog.  Remember teens, any review you submit to one of our libraries earns you an extra 75 points to put on your Summer Reading Program log to help get you towards that grand total.  Stayed tuned as we feature teen reviews all summer long…keep reading, keep reviewing!

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title: If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Other books in series or Standalone: It has a sequel/companion called Where She Went

First Impressions: I picked this one up because it sounded like a pretty interesting story.  A 17-year-old girl named Mia is riding in the car with her parents and little brother when they are in a horrific car accident.  With her parents dead and her little brother’s life hanging in the balance, Mia has an out-of-body experience while comatose.  She can see what is going on around her and realizes that she has to make the decision herself:  should she live or die?

Last Impressions: I really liked this book!  At first I wasn’t sure how it would work with the whole thing going on while the main character is in a coma, but the flashbacks very nicely give us backstory on Mia and her family and helps to get to know them as lovable characters.  The flashbacks also provide plenty of light and humorous moments, which helps break up the saddness of the whole situation Mia is in.  I also really liked how passionate Mia is about playing the cello.  I enjoyed that uniqueness about her, and it even kind of made me want to listen to some cello music!

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT):  Mia’s flashback to her first date with her rocker boyfriend Adam.  Really cute and romantic.

Least Favorite Moment:  The description of the accident scene.  But then again, I might have a weak stomach where blood is concerned.

Thoughts on the bookcover:  Very simple and pretty.  I love the colors, and the dying tree with one bloom left on it seems like it fits Mia’s situation well.

Dream Cast:  Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) as Mia, Reid Ewing (Modern Family) as Adam

People who should read this:  If you like realistic fiction or more serious books.  Music lovers will also appreciate what a big role music plays in the book (Mia is a cellist, her boyfriend Adam is in a rock band, and her parents were avid music lovers).

If you like this book, you may also like:  Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, one of Sarah Dessen’s many books (like What Happened to Goodbye), either Speak or Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I read this book as a requirement for my Disabilities Literature class, and I absolutely loved it… so I here I am, telling you that you should read it too!

The Girls, by Lori Lansens, is the story of a pair of twins, Rose and Ruby Darlen.  Rose is the serious, talented writer and Ruby is the beautiful, funny one who loves to discover ancient artifacts.  They’re twenty-nine years old, which wouldn’t be that big of a deal for the average set of twins.  But these twins are joined at the head, and at 29 years old, they are the oldest surviving craniopagus twins in the world.  The Girls is told from both Rose’s and Ruby’s perspectives; they alternate chapters as they write a book together about their life. 

You might think that the central story line would be Rose and Ruby’s disability, but it’s not.  These girls refuse to let their disability define them.  In fact, at times, you will probably forget that they are joined at the head.  These girls are extraordinary first, and disabled second.  Their disablity does play a role in how they live their lives, but their story tells more about  their struggle to be accepted by others.  At times, you will also probably forget that this is a work of fiction, and not a true autobiography.  I don’t know how Lansens did it, but she really managed to give each character their own unique voice, and she made this story come to life in an incrediblely realistic way. 

I would tell you more, but I don’t want to give anything away.  The writing is beautiful, the story is amazing… just see for yourselves and read this book!  You won’t be sorry

Here’s another review that I think sums it up pretty well: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-girls-by-lori/page-2/

-Brianne

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title:  Incarceron

Author:  Catherine Fisher

Other books in series or Standalone:  Has a sequel called Sapphique

First Impressions:  This sounded like a really unique story.  Finn is trapped in a futuristic prison called Incarceron.  He has always been told that he was born there, but he can’t remember anything before the past three years and he’s sure that he had a life on the outside.  Things start to piece together for Finn when he comes into ownership of a device that lets him communicate with someone on the outside: Claudia, the daughter of the Warden.

Last Impressions:  Once it gets going, this book is great!  I had the hardest time at first trying to figure out when and where it is set, but once things started coming together, it turned into a really exciting and thought-provoking story.  The technology involved is super cool and it’s fun to imagine it alongside the 18th century style of clothing.

Favorite Moment:  I can’t say because it’s a HUGE spoiler, but I’ll say that I really liked the ending.

Thoughts on the bookcover:  Very cool.  It’s so mysterious because you don’t know how all the objects on it are going to come into play in the book.  And the crystal key looks so pretty!

Dream Cast:  A movie is already in the works starring Taylor Lautner as Finn, and I can see him filling this role perfectly!  No one else is confirmed for the cast yet, but I could totally see Emma Watson as Claudia.

People who should read this:  With the dual viewpoints of Finn and Claudia, both guys and girls could enjoy this book.  It’s great for anyone who likes dystopian lit or books about cool futuristic technology.

People who should not read this:  It kind of takes awhile for the story to pick up and for you to figure out what exactly is going on, so if you’re impatient, you might get frustrated.  But seriously, hang in there, it gets really good!

If you like this book, you may also like:  The sequel, Sapphique, of course!  Also The Maze Runner, Gone, and The Knife of Never Letting Go.

Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (DVD & Blu-ray)
Directed by: Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead & Hot Fuzz)
Released: 2010
Length: 112 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Action, Guy-Friendly-Romance, Comic/Gaming (pretty much everything awesome!)
Based on: Scott Pilgrim graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley

Are you in your teens?  20’s?  30’s?  Heck, young at heart?  Boy, do I have the movie for you! [Blogger’s note: I would be an awful Billy Mays.]  Well, that’s assuming you like any of the following: graphic novels, music, video games, comedy, over-the-top action and/or romance. What’s that? You don’t? Well, GET OUT. …I’ll wait for the whole zero people to leave the blog. We good? Okay.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was easily the most entertaining movie of 2010.  Filled with comic and video game-imbued fight scenes, dumb (e.g., Scott) and witty (e.g., Wallace) comedy, insanely catchy music, and a seriously messed up relationship.

For those of you that know nothing about Scott Pilgrim, the story begins like this: Scott Pilgrim is a 23-year old slacker.  Still reeling from a bad break-up, he manages to form a tentative relationship with high schooler Knives Chau.  While complacent, Scott is turned on his head when his literal dream girl shows up: Ramona Flowers.  After finally convincing Ramona to start dating, and a half-hearted break-up with love-struck Knives (perhaps not entirely in that order), Scott discovers that in order to remain with Ramona, he must battle her seven evil exes.  And these are no Karate Kid structured matches; each evil ex has their own abilities and powers, and is willing to go to any low to defeat Scott (something Scott himself has no problem doing).

Did I mention Scott’s in a band?  Featured as the bass player in Sex Bob-omb, along with Steven Stills as lead guitar/vocals and Kim Pine on drums.  For those of you worried about some random band performing and the hoity-toity actors lip syncing and pretending to play the instruments, fear not!  Each member of Sex Bob-omb plays their own instrument, both in the movie and for the soundtrack.  I will note, however, that Beck wrote all their songs—who cares?!  Beck is awesome!  As for The Clash at Demonhead, Brie Larson (as Envy) sings in the movie, but it’s Metric’s song on the album—again, Metric is superb, so oh well!  And may I just note that there is, I kid you not, a Bass Battle!  I love puns.

Worried about the movie straying too far from its graphic novel roots?  Again, not an issue!  The beginning is nearly word for word, and while they have to leave some things out for time’s sake, and the ending is a bit different due to the final volume not being out until after the movie’s script was written.  Aside from that, nearly everything including the characters’ clothes and hair styles are identical to those in the graphic novels.

Okay, Scott’s pretty oblivious, and Ramona seems to have been cold and uncaring in her past, but the events and the dialogue that transpire with these two and those around them will have you giggling and/or pumping your fists into the air…or at the very least, it will leave you with good memories and a pleasant sense of nostalgia.

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title:  Matched
Author:  Ally Condie

Other books in series or Standalone: First in a trilogy.  The second book, Crossed, will be released in November 2011 and the third (still untitled) is due out in November of 2012

First Impressions:  I was SUPER excited for this book.  From the description, it sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, a dystopian tale filled with romance and rebellion.  Cassia lives in a world where The Society dictates every aspect of your life, leaving you no choice or real free will.  Everything is chosen for you, including who you marry.  At her Match Banquet, Cassia is shown the face of the boy she is to marry, and it turns out to be her best friend Xander.  But then for a brief moment, another face flashes before her (the face of her friend Ky), leading her to question the choice that has been made for her and what exactly The Society is up to.  The book had a ton of buzz, so I figured it would be pretty great.

Last Impressions:  One of the things I found most interesting about this book was how choice was so completely taken away.  It’s not just that you can’t choose who to marry; The Society has also limited the culture so as not to “overwhelm” the people with too many choices.  They have narrowed things down to The Hundreds, meaning that there are now only 100 songs, 100 movies, 100 poems, and so on.  It was interesting to watch Cassia go from thinking that this isn’t a bad thing to raging against it after her beloved grandfather gives her a poem that isn’t one of the 100 and is therefore forbidden.  I really liked their relationship and what she learns from it.

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT):  Ky teaching Cassia to write.  Very sweet, and yet another reminder of how The Society restricts people’s actions (no one is allowed to write, only type into their Scribes).

Least Favorite Moment:  I don’t want to say because it’s a big spoiler!  But it involves someone getting his/her heart broken, and it made me sad.  And that’s all I will say.

Thoughts on the bookcover:  LOVE the cover!  Such a pretty picture, and with the girl in the bubble it’s a good visual image of what the book is about (because Cassia is very much trapped in the safe protective bubble of the Society).

People who should read this:  Anyone who likes a good love triangle or enjoys dystopian stories filled with rebellion and intrigue

If you like this book, you may also like: The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, and Delirium by Lauren Oliver (read my review HERE!)

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title:  Delirium
Author:  Lauren Oliver

Other books in series or Standalone:  First in a trilogy.  The sequels will be titled Pandemonium and Requiem, but no release dates are available yet.

First Impressions:  I read the summary and thought that it sounded really interesting; it’s a dystopian society where love is considered to be very dangerous, so people get a vaccine when they turn 18 that prevents them from ever falling in love.  Lena is anxious to get it since love caused some serious pain in her family many years back….that is, until she meets Alex….

Last Impressions:  I need the sequel to come out soon.  Like, yesterday, please.  Even though I thought that the worldbuilding was kind of weak (I’m still not totally sure of the origins of this fear of love), I thought that the love story and the feelings that Lena and Alex have for each other were quite powerful, and it really sucked me in.  I also loved seeing the transformation in Lena; she goes from being a girl who does what she is told and tries to please people to a rebel with a mind of her own.  Awesome and empowering.

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT):  Lena and Alex fall asleep together in his roofless trailer, looking up at the stars.  Swoon.

Least Favorite Moment:  Turning to the last page and realizing that I’m facing a cliffhanger.

Thoughts on the bookcover:  I know they say “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but I totally only picked this book up because it has such a pretty cover!  I just really liked the color and design, so it made me curious to see what it was about.  I think it fits the mood of the story very well.

Dream Cast:  Alexis Bledel as Lena (true, she probably just popped into my head because that’s the name of her character in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but I could totally see her in this part!), Alex Pettyfer as Alex (I think he has that rebel look down), and Amanda Seyfried as Hana.

People who should read this:  Anyone who likes a good love story, fans of dystopian lit

People who should not read this:  I don’t know if boys would identify with it as much, since it’s from the perspective of a girl and it’s all about love and whatnot, but I could be wrong, so give it a try anyway!

If you like this book, you may also like:  some other dystopian lit that involve a love story, like Matched by Ally Condie, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  After reading Delirium I also decided to try Lauren Oliver’s first book, Before I Fall, and while it’s fairly different from Delirium, it is also EXCELLENT!