The Not-So-Great Depression

The Not-So-Great Depression by Amy Koss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jacki is a high school freshman whose world gets turned upside down when her mom gets laid off from her high paying job. Soon, they've lost half of their investments and are having to make some significant changes. Her parents are divorced, her older sister is set on an ivy league school and is perfect in Jacki's eyes until she starts leaving the house more and more, and Jacki's younger brother always has his music so loud he can't hear anything.

The storyline is this book is an interesting one, and you definitely want to find out what happens. I would've rated it higher if the main character had seemed more believable--she acted too young for her age.

A couple of good quotes from the book:

It makes a girl’s chest hurt, thinking about how many ways there are to be alive. --The Not-So-Great Depression

So long as even the same things are risky, we might as well take our risks on the things that really matter to us. Maybe we’re supposed to take the risks that count. --The Not-So-Great Depression

If the choices in life are to be happy, or not--well, that’s an easy one, don’t ya think? --The Not-So-Great Depression

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Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wonderstruck tells the story of Ben and Rose, 2 young people separated by 50 years. Ben's story is told in prose, and Rose's story is told in pictures. Rose is deaf and her mother is ashamed, never being part of her life. Rose chronicles her mother's life in a scrapbook. Ben has never met his father, but when his mother dies he decides to find his father. Both stories intertwine in the end in New York City with a surprising finish.

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Ghosthunters

Ghosthunters And The Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tom has discovered a ghost living in his basement. His family thinks he's crazy, but luckily for him his grandmother is best friends with Hetty, the world famous ghosthunter. But, when Tom finds out that the ghost living in his basement is just an ASG (averagely spooky ghost) and that it's living there because it got spooked out of its own house by an IRG (incredibly revolting ghost). The only way to get rid of the ASG is to take on the IRG and get rid of it once and for all. Tom is scared, but him and Hetty gather their supplies and head to the home of Mr. Lovely to take on the ghost.

After reading Inkheart, I'll read anything by Funke. This is a new series, part scary, part hilarious, that I will be recommending to 3rd & 4th graders--they are always interested in a good ghost story!

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Perfect

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ellen Hopkins is, in my opinion, the best young adult writer out there. She tackles hard issues, and does so using poetry as her art form. Poetry is such an emotional way to tell the compelling stories that Hopkins chooses.

Perfect uses four different voices to tell the story of the high school seniors in this book. Kendra struggles with an eating disorder and body image while on her way to a modeling career. Cara, whose brother Connor just tried to commit suicide, is having a hard time deciding between her perfect boyfriend and a new intriguing girlfriend. Sean is a baseball player on his way to Stanford and will take whatever steroids he needs to ensure that dream, despite what it may cost him. Andre loves to dance, but has to keep his dreams hidden from his family who wouldn't understand, all the while dealing with an alcoholic girlfriend, Jenna, who will do anything to score some beer, even if it gets her killed.

This book is a follow up book to Impulse, which tells the story of Cara's brother, Connor. The books both have the same ending, told from a different perspective and are interwoven so perfectly.

I love Ellen Hopkins, and I loved this book. My only wish for this book is that the author's note where Hopkins explains the concept of perfection, and why she chose to write about it, was in the front instead of at the end. I'm afraid too many people will stop at the end of the story and not read her notes.

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Titanic Trilogy

If you know anything about me, you know how much I am OBSESSED with Titanic. So, naturally, this new trilogy had to be the first on my reading list.

And, the books held up to my expectations. Korman does a great job of blending the facts of the Titanic, from its building structure to the famous people who were on it, with the fictional stories of 4 kids: Alfie, Sophie, Julianna and Paddy. Each of these children comes from a much different background and with different reasons for being aboard the Titanic. Of course, in the end, the Titanic sinks. But you are so engrossed in the fate of the four children, that the sinking is secondary.

This trilogy only gets better as you continue reading. Murder, mystery and friendship are intertwined throughout. If you love the Titanic, you have to read these books. Even if you don't like Titanic, if you love adventure, this series will draw you in (and hopefully interest you in the Titanic).

ZooZical

ZooZical by Judy Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book made me smile with it's delightful rhyme. It takes work to rhyme "awoke, he" with "karaoke" and make sense--but this book pulls it off seamlessly, along with lots of other fun vocabulary. There are also a lot of musical tie-ins that young students will be familiar with. Loved it!

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