The Secret Identity Of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt
5 Stars

The Secret Identity Of Devon Delaney is about a girl that told her summer friend Lexi that she was in the “Popular Group and going out with the Most ‘Popular Guy” in the school. The in Devon’s third period class Lexi is at her school! Lexi thinks she is with the popular people, and she thinks why Devon is not with them.

She thinks she is dating the popular guy when she is not. Most of her friends turn against her. But some came through.

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The Clique Series by Lisi Harrison
5 Stars

This book goes along with not only middle school, but all of high school. Drama is non-stop, and the girls will always be terrible. It does go to show what a girl goes through in her teenage years. Rejection, drama, fights, and all other youthful things are enclosed inside these books. Also one of my favorite things in the books, are the quotes. Like ‘are you a female dog?…’ Or ‘did I invite you too my BBQ?’. I recently got the first movie, and I thought it was great. Kristen, and Dylan didn’t look as I expected, but I’m glad that they made a movie.

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Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

If Twilight is just too chaste for you, Vampire Academy may be the slightly racier teenage vampire book you are looking for. Rose and Lissa are best friends and have been on the run for two years. They escaped from the vampire academy they both attended in Montana. Why are they fleeing? Lissa is a Moroi, a mortal vampire who is learning to harness the earth magic that all Moroi develop. However her powers are far different from any other Moroi. Lissa can heal wounds, and compel anyone to do her bidding through the use of Compulsion. Rose on the other hand is only half vampire, and is training to be a Guardian, someone who protects Moroi from their enemies, such as the Strigoi (the immortal race of vampires who have no magic and only seek to kill). Lissa and Rose also share a special bond. Rose can feel when Lissa is stressed, scared, or in danger. Sometimes she even “slips” into Lissa’s mind and can see and hear everything Lissa is doing. The Moroi royalty and Strigoi would love to harness Lissa’s power. After being forcibly returned to the Vampire Academy, Lissa and Rose are still unsure who to trust.  They are thrust back in the cut throat social scene of the school, and Rose is forced to take extra training sessions with an expert Guardian, upon whom she soon develops a crush. Lissa on the other hand is being attacked by someone who keeps leaving dead animals in her room. The more stressed Lissa gets, the more she loses her control of her abilities. It will be up to Rose learning how to harness their bond for good, and to put into use her new butt kicking techniques if she is to protect Lissa from a mystery adversary. That is, if she can survive the rumor filled social scene she finds herself in.

Vampire Academy is a fairly good book. It is a bit steamier than Twilight. So expect scenes of teens getting to second base, and poorly written innuendo-filled flirtations (which is about the only thing I felt that was off about this book). The flirtations just come off contrived at times, and not as witty as they are intended. Other than that there is a lot of action, drama, and a mystery that needs to be unraveled. Sex is another theme, but there is a not-so-hidden message about the appropriateness of sex, and respecting yourself. With that in mind I’d say this gears slightly for a more mature crowd than the first Twilight book has. I can see both boys and girls enjoying this series (there are two follow-ups already written), and it is good for ages 16 and up.

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My Mother Is a French Fry and Further Proof of My Fuzzed-Up Life by Colleen Sydor

This book is a must for women, young and old alike. It is the story of Eli, a fifteen year old, only child, struggling to love her Mom. In addition to the normal adversarial relationship many daughters and mothers experience in the teen years, Eli carries a deep secret that further alienates her from her Mom. Embarrassment of her Mom is kicked up ten-fold when Eli’s middle-age Mom announces she is pregnant. Young adults will easily relate to the sub-plots involving school, boyfriends and best friends. The other characters are well defined and each has their own background story but together they provide Eli with a wonderful safety net.

The author offers a broader perspective on what constitutes family and loving relationships. The story demonstrates that love is complex, actionable and is as much a decision as an emotional response. It is a good read with smiles, tears and hope.

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Arnold Spirit Junior is a young teen growing up on an Indian reservation that is caught in a depressing cycle of poverty, alcoholism and fatalism indicative of many Indian families. Arnold carries around all the normal teen angst plus added stress from being different and living on a reservation. He was born with water on the brain so he is smaller and weirder than the rest of the kids at his Indian school. Arnold is also smart, restless and angry about his circumstances and the plight of Indians in general. He has only one friend, Rodney, who allows his personal anger to manifest outward and is the reservation bully. His family, in their own way, is supportive and loving. One day, Arnold has a mental break through and knows if he doesn’t change his circumstances, no else can. He makes the decision to go off reservation to school and his life takes a dramatic turn. This story is well written, an easy read and captures one year in the life of a adolescent moving towards self-realization and manhood

I would recommend this book for two reasons. It is full of modern Indian culture and daily realities of life on a reservation wrapped neatly into the story line. This is not always a pretty picture but gives good insight into the barriers faced by those in the cycle of poverty and despair. Secondly, it has moments of triumph, despair, heartache and reconciliation. The accompanying emotions transcend race or circumstances and readers will be able to relate to his expression of these emotions through his behaviors and thoughts.

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My Summer On Earth by Tom Lombardi

Before I begin my review I would like to let you know that this book has a large amount of foul language, frank discussions of sex, nudity, and crass humor. This book is intended for young adults who are 16 or older and who are not put off by the previously mentioned items. With that out of the way, I really enjoyed the book and found it extremely funny, and think it would be great for reluctant older male readers.

Click here for the full review

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TTYL by Lauren Myracle
This book deserves 5 Stars

I loved this book so much I could read it over and over again!!!! TTYL

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