It is not very often that I fall so in love with a character that I find myself carrying her around with me. Libby Strout, also known as "America's Fattest Teen", just happens to be the type of character that spoke to my heart and left an imprint there. She is tenacious, lovable, resilient, and compassionate. After years of being homeschooled, Libby decides she is ready to take on the world again and try her hand at high school. She becomes victim to an awful game called "fat girl rodeo" which results in her and the perpetrator, Jack Masselin, landing in group counseling. The more time that they are forced to spend together, the more they realize that being together is far better than apart.
"Holding up the Universe", by Jennifer Niven, is an incredible story of two teenagers that each have some personal issues that they are trying to deal with while pretending to seem unaffected and normal on the outside. Libby is brave and quick-witted and stands against the cruelty of judgemental teenagers. Jack is putting on a front and no one, not even is own parents, knows that he is dealing with Prosopagnosia (he can't remember faces). They both struggle with their own challenges and eventually realize that those challenges seem to disappear when they are with each other. Their relationship is torturous and adorable and an example that what's inside is what truly matters.
Each of these characters is so unique; this is a teenage love story unlike any that have come before. The author paints a wonderful story with scenes that are so real they almost hurt. You will find yourself flinching in one moment and then laughing in the next. Brimming with wit, heartache, hope, and joy; I give "Holding up the Universe" 5 out of 5 stars. It is a brilliant story for young people to read and find the courage to appreciate themselves as they truly are. As spectacular as this story is, though, it is riddled with swear words and some inappropriate topics. Keep that in mind before giving this book to the intended reader. Check it out and let me know what you think!
I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books for this review.
Love is in the air. Does anyone else love the atmosphere that Valentine's Day creates? I enjoy celebrating the whole month through romantic books and movies. "Lord Fenton's Folly", by Josi S. Kilpack, helped satisfy my craving for a cute love story. It is more than simply a cute love story though. This book is full of verbal sparring between the main characters and a secret that finally comes to light after twenty years of hiding.
Lord Fenton has made it his life's mission to embarrass his father, the Earl, in any manner possible. He has transformed himself into one of London's greatest dandies and he takes every opportunity to make the fool of himself in his father's name. This discord between father and son ultimately leads to the Earl deciding to disinherit Fenton as heir and pass it on to his younger son instead. When Fenton begs for redemption, he is given certain circumstances he must meet in order to return to his father's good graces. One such circumstance is his must marry an eligible young woman by the end of the year, just six months away.
Alice has been smitten by Lord Fenton ever since they were children, so when he asks for her hand in marriage she couldn't be happier. She is the giddy bride-to-be but quickly observes that Fenton doesn't seem to share her enthusiasm. When she discovers that their engagement is a forced one, she tries to protect herself in the only way
she can - by burying her feelings.
"Lord Fenton's Folly" is filled to the brim with wit and parrying insults. As you can imagine, Alice is not very happy when she discovers Fenton's true motives, which results in a couple that doesn't know how to do anything but argue. Alice is a strong character and doesn't back down from her new husband. She displays a handful of honorable characteristics and I love when women are written with a strong will and independence. Especially in a time when women were not supposed to be opinionated. Fenton on the other hand is an idiot and he makes so many wrong choices that you want to shake him and put him on the right path. You will fall in love with his character though through the small cracks of vulnerability that the author adds in. This book is a "proper romance" and does not include anything that would keep me from wholeheartedly recommending it. For its genre, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Merry Christmas everyone! It is only about a week away!! This is a time of year where warm fuzzy feelings are in abundance and "Rad Women Worldwide", by Kate Schatz, will definitely add to that. This book is full of inspirational stories of women across the globe. Women from the past and some currently changing the world. Each story takes up about one page and gives enough information to leave the reader feeling inspired without getting into deeper details. There are also illustrations to go with each story.
This book is perfect for anyone that loves to learn about the difference that women can make. The stories vary so much and provide something for every type of female out there. As the cover says, "Artists and athletes, pirates and punks, and other revolutionaries who shaped history." These are truly empowering stories and might encourage readers to look more deeply into these women's lives. It's not the type of book that you would sit down and read in one go, but read a few stories here and there. It would make a great present for any girls looking for some female role models. Check it out and let me know what you think!
I received a copy of "Rad Women Worldwide" from Blogging For Books for this review. Click here to learn more about the author, Kate Schatz.
There is something so satisfying about reading a book in just one day. Even when it isn't THAT big of an accomplishment because the book is meant for elementary aged kids. :) When I closed the back cover of "Friday Barnes: Girl Detective" I thought to myself, "Wow, I read that really fast". Then I had to remind myself that I am not a 10-year old and there were a handful of small illustrations placed throughout the book. However, that didn't stop me from smiling at my small accomplishment.
"Friday Barnes: Girl Detective," by R.A. Spratt, is an amusing tale of a young girl who is way too smart to handle. She solves a robbery case that stumped the cops and uses the reward money to send herself to one of the most expensive boarding schools in the country. Learning is the most important thing to her and all she wants is to melt into the background while the rest of the world goes on around her. Her hopes are dashed, however, when an accident on her very first day puts her at the center of attention. She stays in the spotlight as she helps her classmates find stolen assignments, vanishing desserts, and even a monster that is haunting the school swamp.
This is an engaging book for elementary aged children with a heroine that kids can look up to. Friday is a kind and intelligent young girl that doesn't fit in to any of the school 'clicks' which means she can be friends with just about anyone. Any child will enjoy following Friday as she helps her classmates and solves some of the biggest mysteries at her new school. The story is fun, with some unexpected twists, and is appropriately written for the intended audience. This book receives 5 out of 5 stars from me, in it's respective category. This would make a great present this holiday season! Plus, this is just the first to a five book series. Check it out and let me know what you think!
"My Fair Gentleman", by Nancy Campbell Allen, is a classic tale of the student falling in love with the teacher. Jack wants nothing more than to live his life as a sailor, but his grandfather has other ideas for him. He names Jack his heir as Earl of Stansworth, on the condition that Jack learns to fit in with the aristocratic society. Despite Jack's lack of desire to be the Earl, he takes his grandfather's offer because it enables him to provide his mother and sister with a very comfortable life. In an effort to fulfill his grandfather's condition, Jack takes on a tutor, the young and unpredictable Ivy Carlisle, to teach him how to impress the ton and ends up learning a lot more than he planned.
"My Fair Gentleman" is more than the ordinary 'proper romance' because the author adds some suspense to the storyline. When Jack inherits, someone decides to remove him from his position by attempting to kill him. Throughout the book Jack has to be on his guard at all times to avoid the attempts on his life. This added suspense deepens the storyline and further adds to the richness of the characters as they try to help each other through these trials.
This is an entertaining story about making the most of any situation while unconsciously falling in love. You will want to hug the characters one moment and then shake them the next for being so silly and shy. It is appropriate for readers of all ages and would make a great gift for the upcoming holidays. Or buy it for yourself to curl up with during the cold weather. Either way, you should get a copy and let me know what you think!
