This debut novel, first published in 1999, has been reissued purportedly because of its wild popularity, but probably because it opened as a movie in October 2012 and starred Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame. Still, it has shown up on the New York Times bestseller list, so someone must be reading it. I went…
Have you ever wondered what people did before the number zero? It has always existed, right? Not so. Changeling is about a world where zero is just starting to exist and to open up whole new worlds for people – and that is a fascinating adventure to be a part of. Luca is known as…
There is a danger to anticipation. It can lead to let down. When you are anxiously awaiting a novel and it turns out to be nothing more than filler, people can get cranky. Very cranky, very quickly. That was the case for me here – I loved the first novel in this series but book…
Hollywood and reality collide as a senior at the University of New Mexico becomes the object of attention of a movie superstar. When it comes to modern fairytales, doesn’t being wined and dined by someone every movie-goer knows sound exciting? Tippetts debunks the fairytale with a large dose of reality in this enjoyable inside look…
Consensual sex is the theme of this thoughtful romance set in college. Freshman Jacqueline ignored her interests to follow her boyfriend Kennedy to the college of his choice. Then she signs up for an economics class because of him. Fortunately, this state of affairs doesn’t last as Jacqueline not only finds her own identity, but…
Sometimes it seems like it’s impossible to find a fresh idea in the stacks of YA novels out there. This latest book is a sort of redo of Cowboys vs. Aliens except with teen protagonists and zombies rather than aliens. The changes didn’t improve the story any. Jett Gallatin has seen the worst life has…
When it comes to YA fiction, I make snap judgements. 99% of the time, I read the first chapter and I’ll know whether I’ll like the book or drop it. So after hearing so much about Ms. Stiefvater’s 2011 YA fantasy, I decided to give it a try. And, indeed, the first chapter test didn’t…
Books with lots of hype always frighten me. On the one hand, the build up for them is so high that it is easy for them to fall short simply due to ridiculous expectations. On the other, it is easy for them to fail because there was never much there to begin with. It is…
I love finding great new YA authors. Since the genre is currently saturated with paranormal novels, it is rare that the books offer anything new or different. The great news is that this tale of the Grisha magicians is new and different. It brings some variety to a market becoming glutted with similarity. Long ago…
In the world of YA novels there are two kinds of books: Those meant strictly for the YA audience and those that appeal to all ages. It’s hard to define what separates the two but I definitely know it when I see it. This novel falls into the YA audience only category. Wendy…