Thursday Three: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Define "Normal" and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Last weekend while home sick with stomach nastiness I read three YA novels I've been wanting to read for ages. Here are my brief thoughts about them:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Quite controversial and banned in many schools across the country, this novel IS very racy and deals with lots of issues parents might not feel comfortable having their young teens read about: sex, drugs, drinking, masturbation, abortion, mental illness and sexual abuse. Written by fifteen-year-old Charlie in the form of letters to an unknown recipient, it chronicles his life during his freshman year of high school. He has a very unique voice and his mistakes and successes are equally fascinating. This is a good novel that has a strong narrative and the challenges Charlie faces are believable. It should not be suggested to a teen if you're not sure of their background or family persuasion.

Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters
This novel is a perfect middle school read that centers on two girls, middle schoolers themselves, who are paired together for peer counseling. Jazz is a "punk" who dresses in black and changes her hair colors frequently. She hates her mother and is struggling to break out of her parents stranglehold. Antonia is a "priss". She gets good grades, follows the rules and has a horrible home life. Her mother is mentally ill and stays in bed all day while Antonia is expected to care for her two younger brothers, run the household and do her homework. This book says a lot about stereotypes, judging others by their appearance and letting others help when you are ashamed to ask them for it. A very sweet story with a happy ending.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
While dealing with many of the same issues as Wallflower, along with racism, alcoholism and poverty, this novel adds humor and pictures to give extra spice and vigor to the issue novel. Junior is a Native American who lives on a reservation and decides he wants to attend the "white" school in town instead of his reservation high school. This choice brings him more heartache and joy than he could have anticipated. His misadventures are grin-inducing, but I found this book lacking for some reason. It didn't feel cohesive or as seamlessly written as Wallflower and I thought Junior was a punk most of the time. Maybe I just don't enjoy teen male humor?

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.

I thought this book was well written. It was a historical fiction with a bit of a mystery twist. I am not sure how much the kids will connect with it. If kids are doing a historical book report I would highly recommend it. It was an enjoyable read for me. It had some interesting facts and there was no slow points. A fast read. Thumbs up.

posted by Lisa

RIP Brian Jacques

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-12380763

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver’s first novel, Before I Fall, was one of my favorite books last year. Dynamic and beautifully plotted, it’s a masterpiece of YA literature. When I heard that Oliver had a new book in the works I mentally noted it and was later pleasantly surprised to find Delirium offered as an ARC on NetGalley.



Oliver possesses that most desirable of qualities for a writer – the ability to engage a reader to the point of obsession. The minute you open the book (or load it onto your screen in this case) she throws magic reading dust in your face and you are instantly sucked into her story. On reflection, you realize her plots are not all that unique, nor are her characters, but her writing is wonderful and she turns her familiar stories into ones you’ve never heard before.


Especially with Delirium. This is another dystopian-with-a-romance novel, the combination that has become money in the YA lit publishing world. In this instance, Lena, our heroine, lives in a society that has banished love. Love is an infection, a disease that is despised and feared. At the age of 18 every citizen undergoes an operation, a procedure, that cures the disease. They’re also told who they will marry and what job they will perform in society. It’s the summer before Lena’s 18th birthday and a few months before she’s to undergo the procedure and she just happens to … fall in love. With Alex, a mysterious young man who has ties with “resistors”, those who are trying to overthrow the government. Gentle Lena has always obeyed, though she isn’t without questions and Alex’s influence propels her to question even more, even speculate about living a different life, a life in the “Wilds”, an unregulated area inhabited by the “Invalid” population. The story reaches its climax a few days before Lena’s procedure – will she choose duty or love?


Oliver has written a brilliant novel with complex plotting and with twists and turns that will leave you breathless. The only problem I have with the novel is Lena, the main character. I think she suffers a bit from the “Bella Syndrome” – an uninteresting, plain girl who is desired by an exciting, charismatic man. What does Alex see in her? Lena does change during the novel, however, and by the end I liked her.


This is the first in a planned trilogy and I will read the others. I really like Lauren Oliver and am very pleased she writes for teens. They deserve someone this smart and talented writing books for them.


I kindly received this ARC from HarperTeen through NetGalley. It will be released on February 1, 2011.

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Sapphique, the sequel to Catherine Fisher’s brilliant YA fantasy, Incarceron, captured my imagination from the first chapter. From there it led me on an enchanting, enthralling and breathtaking journey, which is hard to write about without revealing spoilers or even plot lines that are best discovered by the reader.



I will tell you this- if you like fantasy, read these books. If you don’t like fantasy, read these books. They are the perfect fantasy novels for non-fantasy readers (me) because the world Fisher creates is entirely accessible and magical and peopled with strong, complicated characters.


Oh, the characters! The haughty, yet vulnerable Claudia; arrogant and resilient Keiro; gentle and intelligent Jared; conflicted and tormented Finn; and my favorite, the overlooked yet vital Attia.


I can’t say enough about these two novels. And though I would love to read more about the characters I’m glad it won’t be a trilogy. It ended on a perfect note.


Hollywood has noticed these books and Incarceron will be made into a movie starring Taylor Lautner as Finn. I’m a bit scared about this turning into another Twilight cheese-fest, but I don’t have to watch the movie, do I?

Dear Toni is quick read by Canadian author, Cyndi Sand-Eveland. The diary-style writing of our main character is highlighted with “doodles” and ink illustrations to engage the reader in the life of 6th grader Gene Tucks. Gene, (named after an Uncle, despite being a girl) is a nomadic middle schooler whose only goals are making the field hockey team and having a best friend at her new school. Both goals are accomplished, but new best friend, Winnifred, (Winn) soon leaves the area to live with her Uncle and ailing mother. Gene finds solace in the landlord’s St. Bernard puppies she and Winn took care of daily.

The book never gives the reader a true climax, but rather a rolling internal dialogue from Gene’s point of view. Toni is actually the diary Gene writes in every day, giving the audience a sense that “Toni” is really Gene’s best friend. The characters could have been more fully developed, but overall the tone and style are perfect for reluctant readers who are dealing with middle school angst and concerns.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Lennie Walker is grieving. Her older sister, Bailey, died suddenly of a heart condition and Lennie is suffering in isolation. She's shut out everyone important in her life; her grandma, her uncle and her best friend, Sarah. Her only outlet is the poems that she writes on scraps of paper and scatters around town. Not even her formerly beloved clarinet playing produces relief. Then she connects with Thoby, Bailey's boyfriend. Though she finds strange comfort in him she can't deny her feelings for the new boy in school. Joe Fontaine is French, gorgeous and a musician, like her. She doesn't want to abandon Thoby, but how can she resist Joe?



The Sky is Everywhere is written in an endearing contemporary style, yet it is disjointed and I didn't enjoy it. The author tosses almost every cliche of young adult fiction into the pot, mixes it up and produces a tedious and frustrating plot. Her 17-year-old characters sound like 40-year-olds and her adult characters are juvenile. Her dialogue is similar to that of TV shows like Glee and Gossip Girl. It is undeniably clever, but it gets old. This works well for a teen audience, but from an adult perspective it's too forced. I also didn't care for the foul language and frank crudity of some scenes. I read this novel for the Printz challenge. I don't think it will win.