Loose Girl

Loose Girl

Kerry Cohen Hoffman

Hyperion

$18.76 (Barnes and Noble)

Reprint 2009

This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for my review

Total grade: C. The style kind of got to me

Total rating: 16+ (Obviously a ton of sex)

Summary:

Some girls turn to alcohol. Some to drugs. Kerry Cohen turned to sex. This is her memoir.

My Thoughts:

This book had interested me ever since I read Easy a few years back. My only real problems with this book was the style. It seemed to run on a bit too much for my taste. I was also a little too upset by the way this girl allowed her body to be treated. I didnt really find it as a powerful DONT SCREW TONS OF GUYS story, it was more like, I had sex with him, and him, and him, and oh dont forget him. If there would have been more of a point I think I could have accepted this book more.

Glimpse

Glimpse
Carol Lynch Williams
Simon and Schuster
$16.99
June 2010
FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide a review for no compensation.

Characters 15/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: moderate
Violence: moderate
Drugs: mild
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: mild
Total rating: 14+

Summary:
Sisters Hope and Lizzie are also best friends; Lizzie, the elder sibling, has looked after Hope since she was an infant. When Lizzie suddenly becomes suicidal, though, Hope is bewildered, but she gradually realizes that she may have some insight into the roots of Lizzie's depression. Glimpses into her memories and her dreams unfold a story of neglect and abuse that will haunt both Hope and the reader alike.

My Thoughts:
This book was not as good as I expected to be honest. Usually I devour books written in verse as well as ones where a character suffers the trauma Lizzie does. I will not tell you what she faces but I will tell you it is flat out disgusting and may very well piss a few readers off. I don’t want to say I enjoyed that part of the book because that just sounds wrong. I will say that is what made me read it in the first place and what kept me reading.

The plot was gappy and predictable at times. I had figured out Lizzie’s problem long before Hope did. I know that the issues facing Lizzie were gruesome but they should have been addressed a bit more. I also feel that there should have been more focus on the suicide attempts, not just brief mentions.

The ending was okay but not really happy. It leaves you fearing for the girls again. This time it is for their emotional development. The situation they are left in seems bad but at least it is only a “temporary” kind of thing.

I recommend this to fans of abuse books. Readers looking for a passionate story of the bond between sisters will enjoy this!

Playlist:
1. Candle “Sick and Tired” (White Tie Affair)
2. Fearless (Colbie Caillat)
3. Where’d You Go (Fort Minor)
4. Dance in the Dark (Lady Gaga)
5. Secret (The Pierces)

Crash Into Me

Crash into Me

Albert Borris

Simon Pulse

$16.99

July 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 15/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 80% B

Total rating: 14+

Summary:

Introverted Owen, brash confabulator Audrey, struggling lesbian Jin-Ae, and alcoholic Frank don't seem to have much in common, but they bond online over a shared interest: to commit suicide. Some of them have already made repeated attempts, and now they make a pact. They take a cross-country road trip from New Jersey, visiting the graves of famous people who have killed themselves, that will culminate at Death Valley. There, they will take their own lives—no backing down, no changes of heart. But as they crisscross the states, these isolated, unhappy teens begin to connect over more than just their desire to die; as they share their darkest secrets and most cherished wishes, real friendship and even romantic love develop. As the end of their trip grows closer, the time comes to decide: Is life worth living in spite of the pain, or do they keep their deadly promise?

My Thoughts:

This book was not as good as I expected it to be. From all of the summaries I had read I expected an awesome book, instead I received a good book. I felt that it took to long to really get exciting. The only explanation we got for where it started was the IM’s we read throughout the entire book. The characters were not very likeable; they actually kind of pissed me off. Maybe that was the way the author thought it needed to be but I was not a fan. There were a few parts that had me laughing out loud (like the fact that I realized my mom named her dog after an athlete who later became known as a rapist and cannibal. The lovely things I learned from this book.). I would recommend this to readers who have an interest in suicide books.

Playlist:

1. Party in Your Bedroom (Cash Cash)
2. Secrets (One Republic)
3. Vienna (Billy Joel)
4. Dance Floor Anthem (Good Charlotte)
5. Dead and Gone (TI)

The Best and Hardest Thing

The Best and Hardest Thing
Pat Brisson
Viking
$16.99
May 2010
FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 15/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 15/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: Moderate
Violence: n/a
Drugs: moderate
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: mild
Total rating: 14+

Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Molly Biden has always been studious, dependable, some might even say saintly. And she's sick of herself. So when she spots mysterious bad boy Grady Dillon, she devises a plan to make herself over into someone new, someone who will attract Grady's attention. She succeeds—but a little too well. When Molly discovers she's pregnant, she's forced to make the hardest choice of her life.

My Thoughts:
Although I finally got into it at the end, the start of this book was not super. It felt forced to me. Some of the verse didn’t flow like books such as Far From You and Impulse. It was too much emphasis on using different types of poetry and not enough on developing the actual plot. I felt mislead to think a lot of the book would be teen pregnancy, when in reality if was less then half.

The cover is awesome so that kept the grade up. Also, the end finished things up nicely so that kept it in the B range. I felt not enough development was made in the other categories to give this an A.

I recommend this book to fans of teen pregnancy. I’m always up for a good teen pregnancy book. So if anyone has a recommendation, comment away!

What Kind of Love

What Kind of Love?

Sheila Cole

Avon Flare

$5.99

1996

FTC: This is my book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Valerie Larch, 15, is pregnant. By the time she visits Planned Parenthood, an abortion is not an easy option. Both sets of parents are against her marrying Peter, and, to keep them apart, the young man is sent to live with his father in Santa Barbara. This six-month excerpt from the young woman's diary reflects her thoughts and feelings from suspecting the pregnancy to setting up an appointment with an adoption agency. Cole's research and proven writing ability combine to create characters and a plot credible enough to hold readers' interest. By limiting the book to only a part of Valerie's story, the author leaves readers wondering whether or not she will go through with the adoption and what her life will be like if she doesn't, effectively causing them to relate to her dilemma and to ponder the consequences of her decision.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book but I felt it had a few too many holes. I didn’t like that it started and stopped in such strange places. It just bothered me. I liked Valerie and felt some emotions for her. I think it could have better if it started before she got pregnant and ended when the baby was born.

If you like books about teen pregnancy this is for you.

Jumping Off Swings

Jumping off Swings

Jo Knowles

Candlewick

$16.99

August 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: above moderate

Violence: mild

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: mild

Swearing: high

Total rating: 15+

Summary: (Amazon)

Ellie has sex with boys who make her feel wanted and beautiful and then never call again. Even seemingly decent Josh, a virgin, leaves right after their tryst and never speaks to her again. It turns out the condom "slipped off" and she gets pregnant. The next nine months are narrated by four characters—Ellie, Josh, and their best friends, Corinne and Caleb. Ellie's and Josh's families are filled with stock dysfunction—from Ellie's shrill, uptight mother and perfect-on-the-outside home to Josh's washed-up, hard-drinking father and hapless mother. The plot of this novel is tired, but Corinne and Caleb, at least, are mercifully convincing and thoughtful. Each, of course, comes from a stable family. Caleb's single mother is the novel's moral center.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this fun novel. It handled a delicate issue in a way that was amazing. The issue of teen girls having sex because they want to feel love is real. The girls who do that are often labeled sluts. This book made me realize how difficult the girls have it. This was an important book to read. The choice Ellie made is not easy but I feel it was important to the story.

Ellie was an incredible character. I loved how self wise she became. Josh pissed me off. He needed to grow up and actually take some REAL responsibility. As for Ellie’s friends… I want them as my friends. They were awesome.

I recommend this book to all teen girls.

Planet Pregnancy

Planet Pregnancy

Linda Oatman High

Publisher:

$16.99

2008

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 10/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: Moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

If you’re a mom / can you still / go to the prom? Pregnant at 16, Sahara, a former Dixie Queen pageant winner, considers her choices in her small Texas town: adoption, abortion, or keeping the child. No way will she marry the baby’s father: He’s a bum. / He doesn’t work. / He’s a jerk. / He’d be / a bad dad, just like the dad / I never had. She lies to her mom and says her pregnancy resulted from date rape, but Mom is not supportive, at least at first, and Sahara worries that her religious best friend will reject her as a knocked-up sleaze. There is too little about what it is like to go to school after a pregnancy begins to show. But true to the teen’s voice, the gripping narrative, written in very short lines of free verse with occasional rhyme, makes for a roller-coaster read. Even teens who do not agree with Sahara’s final choice will be caught up in the rising tension as she copes with her guilt, regret, despair, and hope.

My Thoughts:

This was a quick, light read. Okay maybe teen pregnancy is not a light issue but the way it was written made it so. I read this within 2 hours, probably a lot less because I was mostly reading between commercials.

The plot was interesting and well written. It was comical and cheesy but in an enjoyable way. I would recommend this to just about anyone. It’s super fun!

Tricks

*Barnes and Noble is not working so no pictures.*

Tricks
Ellen Hopkins
Mcelderry Books
$18.99 USD
August 2009
FTC: This is my friend’s book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this novel.

Characters 20/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: 20/20
Violence: 15/20
Drugs: 15/20
Underage drinking: 15/20
Swearing: 15/20
Total rating: 16+

Summary: (Amazon)
"When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival."

Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons.

Five moving stories remain separate at first, then interweave to tell a larger, powerful story -- a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. A story about kids figuring out what sex and love are all about, at all costs, while asking themselves, "Can I ever feel okay about myself?"

My Thoughts:
I had super high hopes for this book but I felt that it did not fully meet the needs of this topic. Teen prostitution is rarely covered but its super important. I think people a tough topic should not wait till halfway through the book to begin. There was too much wasted plotline.

I love how there is five characters. They were all so clear you had to have someone to connect with! They each had their own story and it was started. There were just too manu unneeded gaps to fully fill the plot.

I recommend this book to fans of Dark Literature.

Quotes:
Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

I followed, found sheets cold as death.

Undiscovered Gyrl

Title: Undiscovered Gyrl
Author: Allison Burnett
Publisher: Vintage Paperback
Price: $14.00
Release: August 2009
FTC: I received this novel from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review with no compensation.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting20 /20
Cover 15/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: 15/20
Violence: 0/20
Drugs: 10/20
Underage drinking: 15/20
Swearing: 15/20
Total rating: 16+

Summary: (Amazon)
Undiscovered Gyrl is the blog of beautiful, blond, Katie Kampenfelt, an 18-year-old girl who seeks to record, for her own edification, the year following her high school graduation.
The novel begins as the diary of an ebullient, funny teenager, filled with the musings, mood swings, and escapades of youth. We are in her skin as she plots her break-up with her college-age boyfriend, battles with her mother, considers whether to sleep with a 32-year-old film professor, confronts a terrible truth about her new boss, and lands a new job as nanny to a newborn.

Soon, however, the story deepens into the engrossing record of a young soul in peril.

My Thoughts:
This novel was amazing! I have never been so impressed with a book that is in blog/diary format! I enjoyed every minute of this book and could not stop reading. I even got in trouble for reading too much in a class but hey, it was so worth it!

The ending pissed me off at first but after a little bit I realized that’s how it had to be. I loved how honest it was and I have my own ideas as to how the story came to an end… J

Go read this book! NOW!

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is what I want this week! I did get an early borders card ;)

Jumping Off Swings
by Jo Knowles

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How they begged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For awhile anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result. Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind.

Why?

For some reason the psychology behind teen pregnancy interests me.

FTC: I am not being compensated for linking this book