Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen
Dessen, Sarah (2008). Lock and key. NY: Viking Children’s Books. 432 pages.
Sarah Dessen’s popularity among the patrons who compete with me for YA materials at my library is evidenced by the amount of time it took me to finally get my hands on this book. It’s been pretty much a year since publication, and I’m [...]
The Ask and the Answer, by Patrick Ness
Ness, Patrick (2009). The ask and the answer. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 513 pages.
After I busted through the first novel in Ness’s “Chaos Walking” trilogy (The knife of never letting go, 2008), I was psyched to read the second volume and, in the end, not disappointed by the series’ continuation. The second book begins mere [...]
Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork
Stork, Francisco X. (2009). Marcelo in the real world. NY: Arthur A. Levine Books. 312 pages.
In spite of my populist ways and commitment to questioning the often elitist adolescent books awards, reviews and ratings systems, I was curious to read Stork’s well-reviewed novel for young adults. Plus, it had a pretty cover.
Told from the first [...]
The Waters and the Wild, by Francesca Lia Block
Block, Francesca Lia (2009). The waters and the wild. NY: HarperTeen. 113 pages.
I just don’t know what to think about Francesca Lia Block anymore. I’ve always been a fan of her delicately gothic urban fantastic young adult novels; lately, however, I’ve felt a bit let down. I had read an interview with FLB in Voice [...]