Review: She, Myself, and I

She, Myself, and I
by Emma Young

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

SHE, MYSELF, AND I by Emma Young is a fresh and unique new release that tells the tale of Rosa, a paraplegic who takes part in a new innovative surgery that transplants her brain into the body of a donor. As she struggles to come to terms with who she has become, Rosa becomes obsessed with knowing more about Sylvia, the girl whose body she took. Along with the help of a new romantic interest, Rosa explores the story of the dead stranger who allowed her to live.

This book was such a fun yet intriguing read, and I couldn't put it down. The philosophical debate on what makes a person who they are, and the difference between one's brain, body, and potential soul was such an interesting plot, and I thought about it for days after I finished reading the book. It is not that common for YA books to be so intellectually fascinating, and this theme of what people are at the most basic level was one I don't think I've ever read about before. The characters felt genuine and their struggles realistic, and though the romance aspect was a bit cheesy, it was still a delight to follow. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to see what Young writes next.

Review: Genuine Fraud

Genuine Fraud
by E. Lockhart

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

GENUINE FRAUD is a book full of lies. Two murders, three bad romances, two girls. One is Imogen Sokoloff. The other is arguably also Imogen Sokoloff. One Imogen is the murderer, one Imogen is the victim. Both Imogens have gone missing. Both Imogens refuse to give others what they want. One of the Imogens is named Jule West Williams. And she is a runner. The plot is one big spoiler. The novel goes backwards until the very end and tosses you around like a rag doll.

I loved GENUINE FRAUD. While I am unlike both of the main characters in nearly every way--murder is simply not for me--they resonate with me, because ambition and fear are things I understand very deeply. E. Lockhart makes this roller coaster of a book feel slow enough and clear enough to shock you in a different way than you were expecting. But never does it become too confusing for you to catch every little bit: no, you stick to her writing style like fly paper and everything soaks in. It is unsettling and wild and wonderful.

        

Summer Roundup: Fandom Finds

Couldn't score that San Diego Comic-Con ticket this year? We're right there with you. But you can still celebrate the awesomeness of fandom by picking up one of these great YAs featuring fans like you!

It's no Hall H wristband, but we hope it helps.

ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS by Francesca Zappia 

Rachel loved this "beautifully written" story of a teenage webcomic author whose real life gets complicated when the new boy at school turns out to be her comic's #1 fanfic author.

SCARLETT EPSTEIN HATES IT HERE by Anna Breslaw

Scarlett is an avid fanfiction writer for her favorite tv show, so when it's canceled, she's obviously devastated. In an effort to stop her message board friends from leaving to write fanfic about other shows, Scarlett starts an original story...and they love it! Unfortunately, Scarlett's story is entirely based on the other kids at school, so it's only a matter of time before her online and IRL worlds collide.

STRANGER THAN FANFICTION by Chris Colfer

Anna reviewed this coming-of-age, road trip novel by a real-life superstar! When four teens obsessed with the TV show Wiz Kids invite its star actor to go on a cross-country road trip with them, they don't expect him to respond, much less actually accept. But the five teens find themselves on a vacation they'll never forget!

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE by Maurene Goo

No one is more motivated than high school senior Desi Lee. She's top of every class and on the varsity soccer team, and she works hard to be there. But she's no good at romance: too much spontaneity, not enough guidelines. Until she starts really watching the Korean dramas that her dad is obsessed with, and realizes that they use a highly effective formula for romance... One that she can use in her own life. After that it's enter cute boy, and cue awkward Desi theme music.

We can pretty much guarantee that by the time you finish this book, you'll obsess over Korean dramas as much as Desi does (although maybe you'll be a little smarter about romance). Luckily, the author includes a handy Korean drama guide at the end.

GEEKERELLA by Ashley Poston

Elle is counting on using her obsession with Starfield to win ExcelsiCon's costume contest and use the winnings to escape her horrible stepmother and stepsisters. Darien is the new teen hearthrob slated to star in the Starfield reboot, who genuinely loves the fandom, but is only seen as an empty-headed pretty-boy. When they meet, it's a "feel-good" summer read that reviewer Camille says has "the true essence of a fandom book".

THE GEEK'S GUIDE TO UNREQUITED LOVE by Sarvenaz Tash

Graham's friendship with Roxy started when they were two Harry Potter-obsessed eight year olds and now that they're sixteen they share years of history and a love of comic books. When Graham learns that the creator of their favorite comic is going to be at New York Comic Con, he's sure that this is the perfect grand gesture to show Roxy that he wants to be more than friends. However, things don't always go according to plan, especially when everyone is pretending to be someone they're not. If you're looking for that immersive, comic-con experience in book form, this is the one for you.

FANGIRL, CARRY ON, and KINDRED SPIRITS by Rainbow Rowell

When it comes to fandom writing, Rainbow Rowell's books shine with the power of 100 lightsabers and are as sincere as any Hufflepuff.

Cath is the titular FANGIRL, obsessed with the Simon Snow series about teenage wizards at a magic boarding school. Her twin sister has moved on from writing fanfiction, now that they're starting college, but Cath just feels safer immersed in her fanfic than dealing with their dad's breakdown, a friendly roommate, or a cute boy. CARRY ON is a companion book to FANGIRL. It's basically a mix of Cath's most epic Simon Snow slash fanfic and the actual Simon Snow series, and it is delightful.

KINDRED SPIRITS chronicles the drama and boredom of camping out for a movie (in this case, Star Wars: The Force Awakens).

Review: Into the Hurricane

Into the Hurricane
by Neil Connelly

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: June 27, 2017

INTO THE HURRICANE is pretty much about what you’d expect it to be about: two kids getting trapped in a city while a category 5 hurricane passes right through it. Eli, one of the protagonists, is a depressed teenager who witnessed his older sister die. While Eli has some extreme views on life, he is a very relatable character due to his interests. Max, on the other hand, initially seems to be the complete opposite of Eli, but throughout the book, we see that they really have more and more in common than either they or we realized. As expected, a relationship forms between Eli and Max, but I really liked that it was formed appropriately over time, and never even started until the end of the book. I really liked this because it portrays a sense of realism, and does not distract anyone from the real threat. The main antagonist in this book is not the rifle wielding, car stealing, cult-like family they encounter, but Hurricane Celeste, which threatens everyone on the island.

This book really reminded me of THE MARTIAN, due to its “man vs. nature” theme. They both have their environments try to destroy their protagonists. The characters somehow find a way to escape, only to have another disaster sent to them. There is some death caused by the hurricane, but in my opinion, there was not enough. While unfortunate, I feel it would have been more realistic if at least one more character died due to the hurricane.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and while I had some minor problems with it, it was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of reading it. INTO THE HURRICANE is a bit shorter that I would have liked for this plot, but Connelly has still done a great job for the length that it is. This thriller really allows you to relate to its nicely developed characters, while still telling a great story. 

Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 27, 2017

THE GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE is by Mackenzi Lee and follows the story of Monty, Percy, and Felicity. Monty lives in 18th century England, and is now getting ready for his tour of the Continent with his best friend Percy and his sister Felicity. Monty is a young bisexual lord, and while he hopes to spend his tour flirting with Percy, his father hopes that the tour will set him on the right path. But, what should have been a regular tour of France turns deadly when they are attacked by highwaymen. So begins their adventure through many of the great European cities to escape the highwaymen and figure out why exactly they are being chased.

One of my favorite parts about this book was how diverse it was. The characters all had something unique about them, from having a disability to being an amazing feminist voice. The author is also able to really show us the various struggles that these characters would have faced during this time. We are able to experience the poor treatment of women and Africans from a point of view not from now, but from the 18th century. Another part of this book that I enjoyed was the main character. Monty is not your typical lord with charming manners and swoon-worthy philosophical quotes. He is a bit of an alcoholic with a serious attitude problem. But that is what makes it more real. Instead we get to see his character development as he learns and matures throughout the book. Another part of the book that I enjoyed was the setting. Throughout the whole book we are traveling and experiencing new places. We get to see what various cities were like during this time.

If you are looking for a book that will take you across Europe that has adventure, romance, and a bit of magic, you should definitely check this out!

Teen Readers Council Application 2017-2018

Thank you to all of our 2016-2017 TRC members!! You're all shining stars.

Do you want to join the Teen Readers Council? We have open spots for the 2017-2018 school year! You too could read and review new teen novels before they're released!

All you need to do is download and fill out an application and then email or snail-mail it back to us! (By August 20th, 2017.) You can also get hard copies of the application at Children's Book World.

Check out the application HERE

Need some inspiration for your application? Take a look at the TRC reviews of some popular books from 2016-2017!











Nick's review of BECK











Mariko's Review of ONCE AND FOR ALL











Layla's Review of THE HATE U GIVE











Juliette's Review of SCYTHE











Isaac's Review of BANG

Review: Such a Good Girl

Such a Good Girl
by Amanda K. Morgan

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: June 20, 2017

SUCH A GOOD GIRL by Amanda K. Morgan is about a high school senior named Riley Stone. She is perfect. Riley gets straight A's and has never done anything bad in her life. She accidentally falls in love with her French teacher and she suspects he loves her back. The decision they will have to make will change their lives forever. She has to figure out the best course of action. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was very interesting and it was set up nicely. The book was concise. There is a really crazy and surprising ending.