YA Books - The Romantic and the Sexy

For this week's book picks, I looked at the sweeter side of romance. I started with one I already read, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares:

Levithan, David, and Rachel Cohn. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010.    

Plot Summary:

Lily leaves a notebook full of challenges at the Strand bookstore, and Dash finds it. He and Lily take turns writing in the notebook, coming up with more (innocent) dares each time they write. As they write to each other, they start to fall in love. When they finally meet in person, it's a disaster, and it doesn't seem to reflect the romance they'd started through writing. They have to get to know each other again, and eventually they become close, but to the real people they are.  

Where I Found It & Why I Picked It:

I originally found this book at the library. I'd heard of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and I hadn't realized that Levithan and Cohn had written other books in the same vein (Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List), with each author writing for one of the characters.  I love David Levithan's books, so that was another reason to give it a try. Also, romance that begins in the Strand? C'mon. (My husband and I met in the college library and had our first kiss on the library elevator... but anyway...)

I'm highlighting this book because it's sweet and romantic. It's in some ways a conventional love story (boy and girl meet, boy and girl have problems, boy and girl get back together, Happily Ever After -ish ending), but the structure of the book and the dares makes the book a fun read. With so many people meeting each other online (dating websites, etc.), it's good to think about how well you know someone just through their written thoughts.

Lockhart, E. The Boyfriend List. New York: Delacorte Press, 2005.

Plot Summary:

Ruby is having panic attacks; her boyfriend broke up with her for her best friend, and her friends have completely turned against her. Her parents are making her see a shrink. Her shrink asks her to make a "boyfriend list." Although Ruby's only had one actual boyfriend, she comes up with a list of 15 boys who have affected her life in one way or another. Dr. Z. helps Ruby figure out the patterns in her misadventures, and Ruby's social life is reconfigured.

Where I Found It and Why I Chose It:

I found this book in the library while my daughter and I were browsing. I've read about half of it  I just finished it - I meant to read just a few pages but I couldn't stop. This is the problem with me finding books for these assignments. 

Ruby was a fun character. This book wasn't a straightforward romance or overly sexy book, but a conglomeration of the difficulties you can have with boys as a high schooler. One thing I loved about this book was the structure of the list Ruby has to make for Dr. Z. (I'm noticing that I really like unusual structures in books). I also enjoyed the footnotes in her list that explain things like the traditions of the prep school, certain terms (Freddy Krueger), or her general commentary. And honestly, I'm a sucker for a good therapist-helps-the-protagonist story.

Cabot, Meg. Teen Idol. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004.

Plot Summary:

Jenny is the force behind "Ask Annie," an advice column in her school newspaper. She's great at witty but heartfelt responses to the lovelorn, but can't seem to get herself a boyfriend. When an acting superstar, Luke Striker, comes to her high school to research a role, she's in charge of keeping the whole thing a secret. But secrets can't be hidden forever, especially when it's a hot movie star. And then Luke asks Jen to a dance. Is he the right guy for her? (Dun dun DUN...) 

Where I Found It & Why I Picked It

Library, again. The summer reading program is in full swing, and my daughter must earn tickets to win the Isabelle American Girl Doll! I've never read any Meg Cabot... I think I kind of avoided her because her books seemed too fluffy. But I figured I'd give it a try. And again (sigh, I mean really, come on, Lisa! There are sophisticated adult books to read!) I'm reading the whole thing. 

I picked the book because Meg Cabot seems to represent this style of light romantic writing... kind of like Sarah Dessen, but for a younger audience, and less substance (to me). Her books are enjoyed by lots of kids as an easy, pleasant read. A bit predictable, in my opinion, but maybe not, if you're her target audience. I can tell my younger daughter will be into Cabot's books... she likes the sweet HEA endings.

Forman, Gayle. Just One Year. New York: Penguin Books, 2013.

Plot Summary:

Just One Year is a follow-up to Just One Day. In Just One Day, Allyson meets Willem and they have one perfect day together in Paris. At the end of the book, Willem has disappeared, and Allyson is devastated. In Just One Year, we read Willem's perspective. Willem remembers Lulu (Allyson) and travels the world looking for her. Willem learns a lot about himself from his journey. Forman also just released a "mini-novella" called Just One Night, which starts Willem and Allyson on their Happily Ever After.

Where I Found It & Why I Picked It

I have not  found it and I'm irritated about that. I read Just One Day and I liked it (I really like Gayle Forman in general). But Just One Year is never at the library, and I'm stubborn enough to not buy it and forgetful enough to not put a hold on it.

I probably picked it because I'm listening to If I Stay and Where She Went right now. The romance between Allyson and Willem, like the romance between Mia and Adam, is real. Not fluffy or light, but  authentic, adultish romance. Their love is the kind of love we all want.

Young Adult books: funny!

I'm writing this on the train from Brussels to Paris, but I'm going to be a good little student and try to get my work done. (It took almost 20 minutes to get online, and that should surely get me the bonus points to make up for not having these books in my hand. We can count the one I read, right?)

I'm a realistic fiction reader, so these books will be in that vein: more witty than guffawing all over the place. Like me. Right? On to the first book, one I absolutely loved, An Abundance of Katherines.

Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines. New York: Speak/Penguin Group, 2008.

Plot Summary

Poor Colin (former child prodigy) has been dumped 19 times, all by girls named Katherine. Unfortunately, the 19th Katherine dumped him right after graduation. His friend Hassan decides that what he really needs is a road trip. They end up in Gutshot, TN, in search of the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Colin meets a girl named Lindsey who might be able to help him escape the curse of the Katherines.

Where I Found It and Why I Picked it

I've read An Abundance of Katherines. There's a copy in my daughter's room and somewhere in mine. I think I was influenced by a literary agent's tweet that she was so excited to take a long plane ride because she really wanted to read the book.

This book isn't an "issue" book like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska. In addition to Green's normal wit, the book is filled with funny additions: footnotes, anagrams, graphs, equations, the "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability," historical references, and an appendix. The book is also sprinkled with great quotes, including ones from Greek philosophers. There's a ton of sarcasm between Colin and Hassan.

LaZebnik, Claire. Epic Fail. New York: Harper Teen, 2011.

Plot Summary

Epic Fail takes place at Coral Tree School in Los Angeles, an elite prep school where Elsie is at the bottom of the food chain. Her failing? She's the daughter of the new school principal. Everyone at her school worships Derek, the "prince of the school." Her sister falls in love with Derek's best friend, which leaves Elsie with a lot of time to spend with Derek. But she's falling for Webster Grant instead, a social pariah.

Where I Found It and How I Picked It

I have heard of this book, but haven't read it before. I found it trolling for funny YA books on Goodreads, to be honest. The title pulled me in--my daughter and I use that term.

Part of the reason I fell for this book is that it's a modern day take on Pride and Prejudice, one of my all-time favorite books. Elise is Lizzie, and Derek is Darcy, of course. (Get the names? And her sister Juliana is Jane, and their last name is Benton...) An elite prep school is the perfect setting for Austen's mannered and genteel characters.

Just glancing at the first page made me laugh. Elise describes a "condom tree" at another prep school, where students put up their used condoms. Another funny moment right away is when she bumps into another girl on her first day, and the girl snarkily says, "Fail."

Kenneally, Miranda. Catching Jordan. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Fire, 2011.

Plot Summary

Jordan is the captain and quarterback of the high school football team, and in fact the best high football school player in the state. The catch? She's a girl. She's surrounded by hunky players, but she's focused on getting a college scholarship. And then one day, a new boy arrives, and Ty is both incredibly hot and a quarterback. She falls for Ty... or is she falling for her best friend, Henry?

Where I Found It and Why I Picked It

I've had this book on my Goodreads "to read" list for a long time. When I saw it listed as a funny book, I was skeptical; I thought it was just a sports romance kind of book. Instead, what seem like throwaway lines keep us entertained. Jordan narrates, "I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer reading. (1)" It's the kind of book that's sweet and funny, with some heart.

I'm baaaaaack...

And here is my triumphant return to Lisa Loves Libraries! I'm in a summer class on Children's Literature, and for the Young Adult Literature half, we're back to blog posting.

For this week, our topic is Award Winners, and we need to list 3-5 YA books on this topic. I'm going to start with one book I've already read, that I HAVE to include on my list because it was one of the first YA books I'd ever read, and, well, it's amazing.

Halse Anderson, Laurie. Speak. New York: Macmillan, 1999.

Awards: 

-1999 National Book Award finalist

-2000 ALA Best Books for Young Adults

-2000 Printz Honor Book

-2000 Edgar Allan Poe Best Young Adult Award finalist

-and more!

Plot:

Melinda is a pariah at her school because she called the cops at a party over the summer, and some kids got arrested. Melinda is mute and withdrawn for most of the book, although her artwork helps her find a way to express herself. Finally, Halse Anderson reveals that Melinda was raped. When the boy tries to attack her again, Melinda's best friend comes back to her and helps her come to terms with her trauma. Melinda finally speaks.

Where I found it and why it's highlighted here:

-I was introduced to Speak as part of the National Writing Project in 2008. I bought the book and have read it several times, although it's a tough read emotionally.

-I'm highlighting this book because it was the first Young Adult book that really touched me. The effects of Melinda's rape were stunning to me; at that point, I hadn't read many stories where there character was raped. It was required reading for entering ninth graders at a school district near us, and some parents weren't happy. But Melinda was precisely that age when everything happened to her, and we disrespect teens when we think they can't handle this sort of book when one in five women is sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Hopefully it speaks to boys as well as girls.

Next up--

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000.

Awards:

-Newbery Honor Book, 2001.

-a New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year

Plot:

Joey Pigza is off to have a summer visit with his dad; he hasn't seen him in years. His dad turns out to be a big version of Joey--ADD to the extreme. Joey gets involved in baseball, hangs out with his dad's girlfriend, and is generally doing okay until his dad forces him to stop using his medication. Joey spirals out of control and eventually goes back to the stability of life with his mother.

Where & Why

-I found it at the public library in the children's room. I checked it out to look at it, and ended up reading the whole thing. I retold it to my daughters in the car and I think the older one will probably read it next.

-I'm highlighting it because it was funny and serious at the same time. Joey's antics are funny (like when he pretends to be a mannequin at the store), but there's so much heart in Joey's growing self-awareness and in his relationship with his mother. Joey's ADD is reflected in Gantos's writing; the more 'wired' Joey is, the more the sentences run on and on and on. 

And finally...

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009.

Awards:

-Newbery Medal winner, 2010

-Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2012.

-a New York Times Notable Book, 2009

-and more!

Plot:

New York City girl Miranda is going through lots of changes. Her best friend, Sal (a boy), has dumped her. Her apartment is broken into. And to top it off, Miranda has gotten mysterious notes asking her to write a letter about something that's going to happen. When Sal almost gets run over by a car, Miranda realizes that this is the event in question. She pieces it together at last and realizes that a homeless man and her (sort of) friend Marcus are the same person, connected by time travel to save Sal.

Where & Why:

-Got this one at the library (was trolling for Newbery books, and remembered that my daughter liked this book). Like the other book, I read it cover to cover. I was sucked in. I needed to know what these notes are all about!

-I chose the book because there are so many layers here--not just the ones I picked for my plot summary. The book is a hybrid of realistic fiction, mystery, and science fiction. I liked that I couldn't predict the mystery's end.

*****

I'm going to stick with three this week, because I was really wordy and I'll be in Belgium 48 hours from now!