Recent Reads: "Resting" = Reading

We interrupt this time of unplugginess because, well, it's my blog and I can (Lol!) and to share with you a few recent reads because, let's face it, I don't know how to just "rest." (Sorry for the uber-long post.)

Book: The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (May 2010)

Count: 20

Genre: YA Contemp Fiction

Connelly Sternin likens her life to a fairytale – with a widowed mother and living in a high-rise apartment, she’s Rapunzel, trapped in a tower by the evilness that is SATs and college applications. But when Jeremy Cole, who she’d deem to be the Crown Prince, sits down beside her at lunch one day, everything she thought she understood about her kingdom begins to unravel. Jeremy knows Connelly’s secret, but before too long, he confides in her one of his own. As their friendship grows, the weight of the truth grows heavy, but the honesty in their story, and their friendship (because that’s all it is) definitely clings on.

 

Book: As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks (June 2010) - Cover not yet available.

Count: 21

Genre: MG Contemp Fiction

I’d like to premise this with “I thought it was YA” then I started reading and discovered the MC was in the 5th grade. Uh, ok so not so much on the YA thing. So I was a little worried I couldn’t give a fair opinion, but you know what? I totally forgot about this being MG as I got into the story. It was really good. Verbena Colter is a girl who knows she’s bad. She knows she’s trouble and she’s just learned that her parents have kept the reasons why from her since she was a baby. She wishes she were someone else, and when she meets Pooch, a boy visiting for the summer, Verbie takes the opportunity to be someone else. A cute story about self-discovery and seeing things from someone else’s perspective.

Book: Winter Longing by Tricia Mills (August 2010)

Count: 22

Genre: YA Contemp Fiction

Winter’s been in love with Spencer just about her entire life. The day after she fesses up, and he admits his mutual feelings, Spencer’s killed in a terrible accident, leaving Winter longing for what could’ve been. Wow. That’s all I have to say. This book was emotional and raw and real and A. MAY. ZING! I loved it. Learning to live without someone you love is something everyone goes through in some way, shape or form, but this story adds in so much of what might’ve been, but also reminds you not to forget that life is still filled with what could bes.

Book: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway (August 2010)

Count: 23

Genre: YA Paranormal Fiction

Three sisters (Yes, they would be the April, May and June in the title) are now part of the statistic: their parents just got divorced. When they move to a new place with their mom, they suddenly discover that maybe they’re more different than the thought. April begins seeing visions of the future. May can disappear, literally. And June can read everyone’s minds. Told from alternating perspectives, this was a great story of sibling relationships while navigating through high school and learning that being different can also mean being extraordinary.

So I'm off to do some more "resting." Hoping to be back soon!

Happy Reading!!