The Class of 2K7 Wants to Share Our Reviews!
Our members have earned impressive reviews and amazing blurbs. Everyone is excited and thrilled, and we can’t wait to see the reviews come in as all our other classmate’s books arrive later this year. We wanted to share some of the latest news with you!
Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent
“This will have special appeal for adoptees, but the questions about family roots that Kent raises are universal.” — ALA Booklist, Feb. 15, 2007
“I don’t know of another book for middle grade kids that approaches adoption and birth family searches in such an authentic, yet age-appropriate way.” — A Year of Reading
Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones
“A faithful head-on look at crumbling first love, right down to the crash and achingly funny postmortem. Read it and laugh. Have tissues on stand-by.” — Rita William-Garcia
“From the first sentence of Carrie Jones’s novel I could tell that here was a bright new writer who was going to set the world of young adult letters aflame.” — Kathi Appelt
“Tips for having a (really) great time: Pick up this book!” —- Michele Jaffe, Bad Kitty
No Castles Here by A. C. E. Bauer
“I completely enjoyed this book.”—Hilary McKay, author of Saffey’s Angel
First Light (A Junior Library Guild Selection) by Rebecca Stead
“An absolutely gripping story of a hidden world, the secrets between it and ours, and the courageous, determined Peter and Thea, who mean to get answers, no matter what the cost. I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it!” — Tamora Pierce
In the Serpent’s Coils by Tiffany Trent
“A luscious read.”— Shannon Hale, Newbery Honor-winning author
“In the Serpent’s Coils is a rich, earthy, engrossing novel that heralds Tiffany Trent as one of the best dark fantasy writers of our time. I was completely mesmerized by her tale, and deeply gratified in the end. Bravo!” — David Farland, New York Times Bestselling fantasy author
Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
Story of a Girl has received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist. For a full roundup of news and reviews, visit Sara’s web site at www.sarazarr.com.
Tall Tales by Karen Day
“Tall Tales is a hopeful, wonderful first book. Karen Day has given us a sympathetic and humorous heroine in Meg, and we keep our fingers crossed for her as she looks for friends and a new life.” — Patricia Reilly Giff
The Silver Cup by Constance Leeds
“YAs who gravitate to historical fiction will appreciate the author’s research, obvious in the rich storytelling as well as in the thoughtful end matter. The tender friendship that develops between Anna and Leah will also speak to teens, who may recognize their own deep attachments in the girls’ unlikely bond.” — Booklist
Reality Leak by Joni Sensel
“Fun and funny to boot. Few of the titles out there have as clear a sense of lighthearted glee as Joni Sensel’s Reality Leak. Never disappointing and always surprising. I was truly delighted.” — Betsy Bird, children’s librarian and Fuse Number 8 blogger
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
“Riveting and dark: I love this tale of a smart, tough girl who walks the razor’s edge between an ancient fairy curse and her future!” — Tamora Pierce
“Wicked Lovely is a sexy, updated fairy tale as timeless as the seasons and as modern as titanium body jewelry.” — Clare B. Dunkle
Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
“VERY cool, with a unique look at the great fairytale characters.” — Tamora Pierce
“Fabulous in the oldest, truest, and best sense of the word, harking back to fables, wonder, and magic unleashed.” — Bruce Coville
“Into the Wild’s fairy-tale characters are fascinating, and Julie is everything one could want in a heroine.” — Patricia C. Wrede
“Consider this an intense debut.” — Betsy Bird (Fuse #8)
Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
A Borders Original Voices selection/A Books-A-Million Teen Book Club selection
“A fresh, honest, and heartfelt look at first love.” — Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist
“Finally drawn, honest, sweet and charming, Bloom is like getting a beautifully wrapped gift—it’s lovely to start with, and just gets better as you tear into it.” — Michele Jaffe, author of Bad Kitty
“…Bloom is a beautiful, powerful love story, a wonderful coming-of-age story, and most of all just an amazing novel told in Lauren’s fresh, funny, and distinctive voice.” — Jocelyn Pearce, TeensReadToo.com
Before, After, and Somebody in Between by Jeannine Garsee
“An amazing action- and danger-filled plot-driven contemporary YA urban tale in which we find that alcoholic parents — whether rich or poor — can thoroughly poison their kids’ lives, that it is not always easy to just say no, and that in the face of really bad stuff going down, some teens will make it to a better day while others are swallowed by the cracks.” — Richie’s Picks
“Addresses abuse in various forms - alcohol, pills, verbal, physical - as well as recovery and redemption. Though no one is ever fully healed nor redeemed, that makes it all the more realistic.” — Bildungsroman
Prom Dates From Hell by Rosemary Clement Moore
“Written in a fresh style dense with pop-culture witticisms, this title entertains…” — Kirkus
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
“Very clever premise, strong voice, perfect suspense. This one will keep you reading. Jay Asher is a fine storyteller.” — Chris Crutcher
“A spectacular first novel. Jay Asher tells his story with such honesty and simplicity that the tragedy feels shatteringly real.” — Gordon Korman
Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers
“As homey, gossipy and charming as a small-town beauty shop, Laura Bowers’ first novel will soothe your mind, cleanse your pores, and make your hair curl with laughter.” — E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List and Fly on the Wall
“Bowers gets all the emotional details right in this warm-hearted story. These are the kinds of characters you hate to leave behind when you finish the last page.” — Ellen Wittlinger, author of Blind Faith, Sandpiper
“Funny, aching, and authentic, Laura Bowers’ debut is one of the finest, most entertaining I’ve ever read.” — Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Tantalize and Rain Is Not My Indian Name
Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham
“With compassion, candor, and riveting clarity, Kelly Bingham poses a paradox: can a person really be whole without losing something first?” — Tim Wynne Jones, author of Rex Zero and The End of the World
“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, along steps author Kelly Bingham into the ranks of talented new writers with the compulsively readable Shark Girl. This debut novel grabs hold and won’t let go.” — Ron Koertge, author of Stoner and Spaz, and Strays.
“This heart-in-your-throat story, eloquently written, bravely examines the capability of the human spirit, especially in the face of terror, indignity, and sorrow…Bravo to Kelly Bingham, a fresh new voice in young adult letters.” — Kathi Appelt, author of My Father’s Summers
Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris
“Never having read one before, I had no idea that any girl-type novels were this well written. I liked it! Learned stuff! Good book!” — Daniel Pinkwater, author of The Boy From Mars, and The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death.