Category Archives: Reviews

Nick Gardner’s father just walked out on him–and he’s still walking, all the way to New York City to lose weight.  And Nick’s best friend, Scooter (a.k.a. The Scoot), is dying of progeria.  Scooter’s wish: to return to his estranged father a signed copy of Of Mice and Men.

Enter Jaycee Amato, a female, a good-looking one at that, and braver than Nick.  Jaycee’s wish: get out of town.  It’ll work for Nick. What follows is a road-trip to satisfy Scooter final wish.

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner is more than satisfying.  The tension and humor in Nick’s voice, Scooter’s innocence, Jaycee’s longing . . . it stays with you long after you’ve put it down, which is an important quality of any novel, but especially for a coming-of-age story that is as bold as its characters. Polisner’s unflinching look at friendship in the face of illness is to be admired.

I, for one, will never forget it.

Check out this week’s other Bookanista Reviews!

Elana Johnson sings out for Chime

LiLa Roecker thinks Epic Fail is a great success — with giveaway.

Scott Tracey is entranced by Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Carolina Valdez Miller marvels at The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Carrie Harris is spellbound by Possess

SOMETHING LIKE HOPE isn’t an ordinary book and it isn’t about ordinary people.  The protagonist, Shavonne, isn’t ordinary (a 17 year old mother in juvenille prison), neither is her newest shrink (crass, comedic, lonely) and neither is his name (Mr. Delpopolo).  Her guard is neither ordinary nor fair (Ms. Choi taunts Shavonne so she’ll snap and Ms. Choi has reason to beat her).  Her baby doesn’t belong to her, her face is battered and bloody, and her deranged roommate is now obsessed with geese.  Shavonne’s future may be bleak, but she–like this book–is extraordinary.

Shawn Goodman’s novel starts with Shavonne, trapped in her cell, after stealing her teacher’s sandwich and then elbowing her in the face.  Shavonne is already in deep trouble, has been for awhile, when she’s forced to explain her most recent crime.  Enter Mr. Delpopolo, a man with plenty of his own problems.

What follows is unflinching look at the flaws in a juvenile justice system that grants far too much power to guards and not enough support to its inmates.  Shavonne may be not perfect–often times, admittedly, she’ s violent, selfish, and uncaring–but she’s real and raw and forgiving and unforgettable.

As a high school teacher with more than a few former students locked up at some point in their teenage years, I found this to be a truly fascinating read.  I can’t wait to share it with my students next year.

And….while you’re here, check out these other great Bookanista posts:

Elana Johnson celebrates A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie

LiLa Roecker adores Torn

Christine Fonseca is crazy about Cryer’s Cross – with giveaway

Beth Revis interviews Goddess Test author Aimee Carter – with giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller delights in Texas Gothic AND Bad Taste in Boys – with giveaways

Jessi Kirby is giddy about Hourglass

Shana Silver fawns over Forever

Jen Hayley is hot for Wildfire

Stasia Ward Kehoe jumps for Bumped

Veronica Rossi devours Bad Taste in Boys

It’s no secret that zombies are cool.  Super cool.  Like Justin Bieber.  Blue jeans.  Peanut M & M’s.  And Britney Spears back when she was cool.

But to Kate Grable, a high school biology smartypants, zombies aren’t so cool.  They stink.  Really, they do: their breath smell like rotten beef.

They bite.  They barf.  They take a chunk out of her lip.  They infect her family.  They ruin her school.

And that’s just where the fun starts, as Kate tries to unravel a medicinal mystery and breath life back into a team of beef-smelling, beefy football players.  Aaron Kingsman, quarterback and object of Kate’s desires, aligns with her (the consolation prize to the whole zombie thing), as the two of them seek to remedy the sordid situation at their school.

Carrie Harris’ BAD TASTE IN BOYS is a compulsively readable story with a host of super cool zombies–sorry, Kate, but they are pretty cool–and a strong supporting cast, including the suave Aaron and Kate’s dopey brother.  But the best part, the best part, is Kate’s quick witted sarcasm, which starts on page 1, setting a nice balance of comedy and horror.

For summer laughs and chills, reserve your copy today.

Release date: July 12th.

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While you’re here, check out other Bookanista reviews:

Elana Johnson marvels at Moonglass

Christine Fonseca raves about It’s Raining Cupcakes

Shelli Johannes-Wells chats with Pure and The Summer of Firsts & Lasts author Terra McEvaoy

LiLa Roecker and Carrie Harris have a passion for Possession

Beth Revis admires the audiobook of Anansi Boys

Carolina Valdez Miller is giddy over Moonglass – with giveaway

Megan Miranda swoons over Strings Attached

Shana Silver delves into Divergent

Sarah Frances Hardy gabs about Gossip from the Girls Room

Stasia Ward Kehoe glories in a guestanista review of The Rendering

I couldn’t wait for this splendid Bookanista Thursday to come.  Couldn’t wait to tell the world (listen up, world) why LIKE MANDARIN is an unforgettable book, one I’ll be handing over to my students once Spring Break ends (easy now, Break, don’t end too soon) and those 9th graders trudge down the halls, knowing very well what’s to come.

LIKE MANDARIN’S Grace Carpenter, like the 14 year olds in my school, knows what’s to come–and she isn’t such a fan.  Washokey, Wyoming doesn’t offer much in the way of excitement, nor does her family, whose biggest pride and joy is pageantry. Grace, bookish and bored, sleepwalks around her sleepy town until Mandarin Ramey–dangerous, pretty, promiscuous–inexplicably chooses her as a tutor.   What follows is an unforgettable journey of discovery, love, and loss between two unlikely friends.

The characters are skillfully drawn, the plot is well-paced, and the story couldn’t be more REAL.  Whether you’re from the badlands of Wyoming or the boogie-down Bronx, every teenager can relate to wanting to be someone else.  In LIKE MANDARIN, Grace actually gets that chance, but how fragile it is.  How fleeting the opportunity.  How strange and perfect and frustrating Mandarin proves to be.  How difficult and enchanting and wonderful it is to be like Mandarin.

And what a pleasure it is to read this wonderful book.

Check out other Bookanista reviews!

Elana Johnson visits Dark and Hollow Places

LiLa Roecker gets silly over Spoiled

Christine Fonseca has a passion for Possession – with giveaway

Shannon Messenger marvels at Moonglass – with giveaway

Jamie Harrington adores Invincible Summer

Shelli Johannes-Wells is in the grip of Possession

Scott Tracey bathes in Blood Magic

Carolina Valdez Miller interviews Invicible Summer author Hannah Moskowitz

Jessi Kirby praises Playing Hurt

Bethany Wiggins delves into Divergent

Shana Silver presents a Guestanista gushing over Between Here and Forever

Carrie Harris sings out about Shift

Rosemary Clement-Moore applauds Abandon

Sarah Frances Hardy enjoys Me Jane

Corrine Jackson delights in The Duff

Stasia Ward Kehoe discusses Displacement