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books

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

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One of the things that BEA is known for is buzzing titles. That is, there are a few books that get immense press and word-of-mouth marketing throughout the convention, and this year, 18-year-old Kody Keplinger’s The DUFF was one of those titles. It was one I was very interested in snagging a copy of, and . . . I was quite impressed.

Bianca and her friends Casey and Jessica have been hanging out at a local under-21 club for a long time, but on one particular winter day, Wesley, a male classmate, calls Bianca the Duff. Never having heard the word before, Bianca gets an explanation: she’s the designated ugly fat friend, and more than that, she’s the reason her friends fall for guys like him — if the cute guy is nice to the ugly girl, well, how could the cute girls not fall for him? He’s clearly sensitive, right?

Bianca’s hurt, and she takes this word on herself. But rather than letting it eat away at her, Bianca pushes against it. She doesn’t believe her best friends would simply keep her around because she’s a Duff. Sure, she doesn’t always feel as pretty or thin as they are, but she can snag a guy for herself, can’t she? But a tough relationship from the past may just come back to haunt her into believing that she is, indeed, little more than the Duff.

Oh, but did I mention that Bianca may just begin using Wesley, the certified jerk, as her own personal pawn? Or maybe, just maybe, they will be falling madly in like with one another, despite their inhibitions and Bianca’s interest in the sweet and sensitive Toby?

The DUFF was a fast-moving, engaging, and at times hilarious story about fitting in and not fitting in. There were moments that made me laugh and some that made me sad, but there was no stopping the pace. Keplinger wrote some sexy scenes, as well, that were straight out of a Simone Elkeles novel.

The dialog and situations within the novel were realistic and unbelieavbly true to an authentic 17-year-old experience. Because Keplinger’s age is brought up over and over again in other reviews, I can’t leave it out: I think her being 17 at the time of writing this is not only a heck of an accomplishment but a true asset in delineating such realistic dialog and characters. None of the characters here felt flat, though at times I felt the adults were nothing but figures to move the plot (but isn’t that the case in many ya novels anyway?). Likewise, I think the message in this book that everyone feels like the Duff is an important one, and it is one I think will stick with readers for a long time.

If I had to plot Keplinger’s writing on a map, I would call it the perfect melding of Elizabeth Scott and Simone Elkeles. We have a real teen situation with a gripping girl as a lead character (a la Scott’s romances) and some sexy situations written in a way that makes the reader blush at times (a la Elkeles). Pass this book off without hesitation to fans of either writer, as well as fans of Lauren Oliver. It might be a little more issue-driven than most of Sarah Dessen’s work, but I still think there’s an obvious audience there. This is definitely a title that will resonate with teen girls (and even adults!) but will probably have little appeal for boys. A couple of other important issues raised in the book include alcoholism and divorce, so this may be a good pick for readers interested in either of those.

Keep your eyes on Kody Keplinger. She has earned the buzz status with this title, and she has a heck of a long and exciting career in the field ahead of her. The DUFF won’t hit stores until September, but keep your eyes peeled for what will certainly be tons of opportunities to snag advanced copies of this little gem.

(I want to step back here a second, too, and say that though I was never initially a fan of the cover, I think it works now. I think including a fat girl on the final cover for this title would be belittling to the cover and to the greater message presented in the book. I stand corrected).

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce redeux!

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You read Kim’s review yesterday of Pearce’s forthcoming Sisters Red and I wanted to offer my take on this one.

The premise is enticing — a retelling of the classic “Little Red Riding Hood” set in modern times, where the main characters are fighters of the Fenris, or the wolves who haunt and torment (primarily) younger, innocent, and naive girls. Scarlett and Rosie’s grandmother had been killed by one, and they made it their mission to kill them and save the lives of countless others. It also helps they have a suave guy in Silas, a neighbor whose family was also haunted by the Fenris, to help them take with the takedowns. And what would a good story like this be without a little romance (Silas and Rosie) and a little twist in the plot where one of the characters you think is good is actually bad? It’s no surprising plot twist if you’ve read even one paranormal/fairy tale retelling in your life.

Sisters Red stood out to me for its strong writing and well developed back story. However, for all of the world building in the first half of the book, I felt the story began to fall apart right around when we find out one of the people we liked is actually, maybe evil. It felt like a convenient way to segway into an ending for the story, when the author could have taken this as an opportunity to go in an entirely new direction. I felt what made sense in the first half of the book for this world fell into sinews in the second half — the story of why the Fenris exist never made sense to me in a logical way. That is, it was never once apparant how the heck Scarlett could have figured out the puzzle. She spent a lot of time researching but never once giving readers any insight into what she was learning, and the final conclusion came out of left field. I wasn’t with the story from here on out since this piece was not as logically developed as it should have been. Perhaps this has to do with my lack of being family with the original fairy tale (see below!).

Character development was strong, though I found Scarlett to be overbearing and Rosie herself to be far too weak. Time and time again she let Scarlett walk all over her, and Scarlett simply used the excuse that she saved Rosie’s life. I wanted Rosie to come more into herself and stand up to her sister. Silas was well done, though at times he felt more like a convenience to the plot, rather than a central character.

Sisters Red will have wide appeal, and I think that this will be the story that propels Pearce into the spotlight as a YA author. It’s delightfully urban, but it’s relatable, too. There’s love and romance, strong family relationships, and the fairy tale elements. As a reader, I didn’t pick up enough of the “Little Red Riding Hood” back story, but that made me realize that perhaps I do not know the real Grimm’s tale. So, guess what this book is making me want to do? It’s always a plus when a book urges you to read more. And I think anyone who pursues the original tale might come back to this story and see a lot more here.

Although Pearce’s story falls into a lot of the tropes other paranormal stories do, the fairy tale elements make it stand apart. There’s a little more working here. Serious fantasy fans may not be impressed, but this isn’t written for that audience. It, to me, felt like a bridge book for those interested in trying something new and different without losing some element of books they typically enjoy.

Sisters Red will be out in June. I’m a little bummed to report this will be a series (seriously?) BUT this one definitely would stand alone without any issues.

* Copy provided so kindly by the publisher.

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

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I’ve read a number of books that deal with mental disabilities, and while I can’t say any have felt inauthentic per se, I haven’t read one that has made the character a completely normal person. But I am excited to say I found that experience no longer true after reading Tara Kelly’s debut Harmonic Feedback.

Drea and her mother move from California to the Seattle suburbs after her mother can no longer afford to support them both. They’re moving in with her mother’s mom, who has agreed to take them in — for a while, at least. Drea’s mom is not the most stable as we discover, but she’s not central to the plot. Drea is.

Drea is ADHD and has Asperger’s disease, but those challenges aren’t what will hold her back from trying to make friends at her new school. As soon as she steps foot at her grandmother’s, she is greated by Naomi, the neighbor who happens to her age, and she is immediately making a friendship. This helps get her settled into school just a little easier, even though Naomi has a list of issues herself. She’s a little too into drugs for Drea’s liking.

Music and sound design are Drea’s passions, and those two things are what lead her to meeting — and falling for — Justin. Well, really, they meet the first day of school since they are both the new kids. They don’t hit it off immediately, but when they start talking music, the sparks fly. Without much time, Justin, Naomi, and Drea are mixing their own jams. But then things go south for Naomi when she spends a little too much time with the wrong guy…and the wrong drugs.

Harmonic Feedback was a fast-moving and well-written book that portrayed Drea is a completely normal light. Although she mentions a few times that she has a couple of mental challenges, the book is not dominated by THE ISSUE. Drea wants to keep it under wraps from her new friends and the potential boyfriend, and when eventually the diagnoses come out, it’s refreshing to see that no one makes it a big deal. They make Drea different, but that is neither a good thing or a bad thing. It just is.

Drugs, sex, and rough language abound in the book, but I didn’t think they were too distracting. In fact, I thought that Tara Kelly provided one of the most convincing portrayals of real teenagers I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t feel they were forced or set up to provide essential issues. The obsession with music in the teens’ lives were well developed and weaved into the fibers of the characters, and I think readers will connect with someone here quite easily. Likewise, it was a relief that Drea’s mother wasn’t as deadbeat as she could have been, and it was sort of interesting to see grandmother as the powerhouse in the family. I definitely saw Drea in her grandmother.

Harmonic Feedback will appeal to teens who love music, stories about those with mental challenges, or stories about fitting in and forging new relationships. It sort of reminded me of Robin Benway’s Audrey, Wait, despite all of the major differences. Perhaps it’s the music element and the enjoyable writing style. Those who like realistic fiction will eat this one up. Because of how well written Drea is, I think her story will appeal to both males and females pretty easily — music is clearly a uniter.

Kelly’s debut will hit shelves in June. This was one of the top 5 of the debuts I read for the challenge . . . and the one that wrapped up my goal to read 20!

* Review copy provided by the publisher, who was so kind as to send it to me after chatting with me at PLA. Thanks!

Audiosynced: Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd

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I loved this book. Loved loved loved it. Part of the reason I’m so very pleased by how much I loved it is because I did not expect to. I’ve been in the mood lately for fast-paced, action-filled books, and all reviews of Bog Child indicated that it would not fit the bill. But I was about to go on a road trip, and I needed something to help pass the time. My library has a rather small collection of YA audiobooks, so I didn’t have a whole lot of options. I’m so very glad I picked this one up.


Bog Child is essentially a coming of age story (I know many teens cringe at that phrase, but I still love those type of books). Fergus McCann is 18 and living on the south border of Northern Ireland during “The Troubles” in 1981. His older brother, Joe, is in prison due to his involvement with the Provisional IRA, and Joe and his fellow inmates have begun a hunger strike. While out cutting peat, Fergus and his uncle stumble upon the body of a child, preserved by the bog for almost 2000 years. The archaeologist who comes from Dublin to study the body also brings along her daughter, Cora, who provides romantic interest for Fergus. There are a number of threads in this novel weaved together with incredible skill by Dowd, the most remarkable of which is the dual stories of Fergus in 1981 and the bog child, “Mel,” in AD 80.
After reading so many technically flawed books recently, it was so wonderful to read this one. Bog Child is that rare thing: a perfectly-written book. Siobhan Dowd does not write like a rookie. Her writing is polished, beautiful, and communicates the story without a hitch. She demonstrates why writing is called both an art and a craft. The narrator was also spot-on, pronouncing each word slowly and deliberately in her wonderful Irish accent (which added greatly to my enjoyment of the story).
The book IS slow, but it needs to be. It chronicles Fergus’ maturation, and that’s not something that can be rushed. By the end of the story, Fergus has grown in believable ways. And there’s plenty of action near the end of the book to make the first parts worthwhile. Bog Child would be best for older teens who like more contemplative books, and it’s also a book I’d readily hand to an early twenty-something. Even if you don’t think you’d enjoy the book, I encourage you to give it a shot (on audio, if you can).

The Real Estate

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I’ve mentioned once or twice I am a pretty big non-fiction reader. I don’t review a lot of it because much is super specific and wouldn’t have wide appeal. But today’s your big day. I’m giving you a quick peek into a few of the real estate books I’ve read and found to be quite readable and interesting.

House Lust by Daniel McGinn was one of the first books on this topic I read and fell in love with. McGinn is a writer for Newsweek, so his style was fluid and easy to follow.

This particular title published January 2008, right around the crash of the housing market. But, considering how long it takes to research and write, this book was put together right as the housing market was where there was a ton of money to be made. I read it in the summer of 2008, so the housing market was just beginning to nose dive.

McGinn’s book discusses how American culture has always had an obsession with housing, and in the high times of real estate, there was a ton of money to be made (and spent!). This book focuses very little on the financing aspects of real estate and much more on how we obsess with what features a home has, what areas of the home need to have the most value, and perhaps the part I loved most, our obsession with reality home television. It was interesting to learn how people began falling in love with HGTV’s House Hunters and with the obsession we have with the notion of square footage and price per square foot, the writers of the show rewrote it to include this information.

This is also the book where I learned about the power of the website Zillow. Did you know people used to hold (and maybe still do!) hold Zillow parties where they’d get together and price all of the homes in the area to see where they stood up?

If the social aspect of real estate interests you, this is a good pick. I noted in my review of this title 2 years ago that I found his style a little grating and that some of the really interesting stuff (to me!) got less time than I wish it did. Thinking back on this title in comparison with the two I’m going to talk about next, this is a terrifying look at how the real estate market got to where it is now. I might need to reread it, simply to see where the signs were so clear. This will both interest and sicken readers, which is what a good piece of non-fiction should do. Check out the website if you want more info or want to read an excerpt.

So, now that we know about the obsession American culture has with homes, how about what happens when we can’t afford what we lust for? Alyssa Katz, in Our Lot, published in June 2009, deep in the heart of recession. Of course, take some of that with a grain of salt when you consider the time period of her writing and researching.

Katz, like McGinn, is a journalist and writes for a number of outlets. In Our Lot, she tackles the topic of American greed and how it ultimately came to cause the collapse of the housing market. She writes fluidly — and with less grate then McGinn — making a book that could otherwise be overwhelming with its jargon and technicality on banking and financing really accessible. And utterly terrifying.

I read this book while trying to get my own mortgage, and it made me eternally grateful for the struggles we had in attaining our financing. Reading about how bankers utterly deceived people in order to build a profit made me sick to my stomach, and it made me reevaluate how I had perceived the great real estate collapse (more on this in a second). For the most part, I thought it was even-handed politically. Katz gives us some insight, too, into how we can get our obsessions in check for a much sounder, safer real estate world. This book will teach you a lot about the banking side of real estate, and it should be read in companion to House Lust.

If you want more information, she maintains a nice real estate and financing blog on her website.

Last, but certainly not least, I finished up Edmund Andrews’s May 2009 title Busted this week. If Katz’s title can be called a good look at the “faceless” side of real estate, I think that Andrews’s title could be called the face of greed.

Andrews is a journalist for The New York Times and more specifically, an economic reporter pulling in a 6-digit salary every year. In the midst of the housing frenzy, he chose to invest in a house on a low-doc mortgage well beyond anything he could ever imagine to afford. HE KNEW THIS going in, and yet, he followed his lust and jumped into it.

Busted does a little bit of what Katz’s book does in unraveling the complexities of the housing collapse on the banking side, but what made this book stand out to me was that Andrews himself is a person facing foreclosure and the loss of his house. He gives us the background into how banks were misleading underrepresented groups with subprime lending, as well as how bankers and underwriters were approving (and even encouraging) applicants to lie or not even mention important things like income in their mortgage applications. Reading this after the hellacious experience I had getting a mortgage made me grateful again it was such a horrible experience.

That said, this book shows us the utter greed people like Andrews brought to the collapse of the housing market. He, with his 6-figure job, background in economics, and education, knew better than to do what he did, but because he was lusting after more (see House Lust), he chose to jump in anyway. And it doesn’t work. This is his attempt to document it.

Unfortunately, while this book reads well and does a good job of putting a face to the crisis, I never once felt sympathetic for Andrews. I felt even less sympathetic when I found out later he omitted some pretty important details in his experiences (like the fact his new wife had filed for bankruptcy twice). Reading this in conjunction with Katz’s title, though, was important because it emphasizes that there was no one cause for why real estate fell to pieces. It was a combination of greed from a number of sources, as well as deception from a number of sources. Bonus: he has a little report, too, in the NYT for your reading pleasure.

If you have even the slightest interest in our current plight, read these. Read them each with a grain of salt, of course, as you would any non-fiction title. They will inform you and inform each other. Even if you have no background in real estate or financing, you will find all three accessible (and skimmable for if you find yourself bored by some details).