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Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA StyleJuly 4, 2009 Happy 4th of July! The fireworks, parades, picnics, family, food, fun and all because of Independence Day. My eternal gratitude to all who made it possible. As for me, 40+ members of my family will get together to eat, play games, eat, talk, eat, make crafts with the kids, eat, hit the pinatas and take home the left over food. And what better way to celebrate than to hear from our amazing YA readers and the books that have been entertaining them this summer.  Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee RussellRead by Maddy, 17  Nikki Maxwell is 14. She has an annoying little sister who is afraid of the tooth fairy, parents who are embarrassing, and also (according to Nikki) brain dead. She is starting school at Westchester Country Day, and wants an iPhone to get a spot in the CCP (Cute, Cool, & Popular) group. But her mother gives her a diary instead. For the next couple of months Nikki writes down her experiences. From new best friends, cute boys and mean girls Nikki's life is just full of drama. Entertaining and witty I thought this book was fun to read. It shows what tween life is like, and it would be easy to relate to for any girl in that age group. It makes being a dork cool.  The Well By A.J. Whitten Read By Bekah, 17 Cooper Warner has a small problem. His mother is trying to kill him and give him over to the thing at the bottom of a well. No matter how far he runs, the thing knows where he is and can mess around with his mind. Of course, no one will believe Cooper, not even his brother who witnesses their mother’s betrayal. So, Cooper does what any fourteen year old boy would do: he turns to his girlfriend for help. But, like all good hero stories, things just have to go wrong. Now, Cooper must save the girl and escape the two century old destiny placed before him, all while battling the ever horrifying Shakespeare essay.
I was entralled by this deliciously creepy and intense read. Whitten gives an excellent perspective of a battle between good and evil, often making the lines cross. The love between Cooper and his girlfriend is like that of all young sweethearts: innocent and pure. This reminds all us young teens that romance can start at any age. In fact, I fell in love with this book. The Season by Sarah MacLean Read By Rae, 16 Alex, 17 year old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Worthington, had everything but finding an eligible suitor on her mind. Being the intellectual and independent girl she is, Alex finds herself dreading the ordeals that comply with the season. Alex and her two closest friends, Vivi and Ella, find that their attempts at resistance to the whole whirlwind leads them to uncovering the hidden secrets and lies behind a murder and scheming crimes. Though Alex feels subject to love, she cannot prevent the changed feelings between her and her childhood companion, though he himself is entangled in the suspicious crimes and possibly in grave danger. Page by page in the beginning chapters I felt I was engulfed in this 1800’s Gossip Girl relative. Later in the book, a more mature element was exposed as the plot grew more serious and the unexpected peaked around the corners. I give kudos to the author for not only attempting such a dangerous writing style, but having clearly having such brilliant success with it. Reading this book made me wish I lived 200 years earlier in London. I feel this book would be fitting for girls and young women anywhere from late junior high to primitive college years.
Auden, an academically mature but socially awkward teenager decides to spend the summer before entering college with her father and his new wife and baby to get away from her imposing mother. In the tiny town where they live, there’s not much for kids Auden’s age to do except host parties on the beach every weekend and watch bike riders at the jump. Auden meets Eli, the talented biker who stopped following a tragic episode in his past, and suddenly Auden realizes she’s found somebody who understands why she never did any of the normal activities kids do when growing up, like riding a bike or playing Dodgeball. For Auden’s last summer before entering college, she decides to spend her nights with Eli, and she learns that nothing is too late to fix. Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite young adult authors, because her characters are so relatable to me and most likely any teenage girl. Along for the Ride is a read that left me satisfied but anxious for Dessen’s next. I hate having to wait for good stuff. Read by Alexis, 15
In less than a blink of an eye everyone over the age of 14 is gone. Poof, vanished, disappeared. No more cops, teachers, or parents. With kids developing strange and terrifying powers and animals mutating to something disturbing, nothing will ever be the same again. 300 kids trapped in a 20 mile wall in diameter and humanity running low. They all have to face the harsh reality of their new life.
Excellent! From someone that has read and enjoyed Lord of the Flies I can honestly say this book was far more extraordinary! Every twist and turn has kept me up late and always on my toes. Gone has the perfect balance of horror, adventure and reality.
Bottom Line: "Liberty is the breath of life to nations." ~ George Bernard Shaw
Posted by Barbara Vey on July 4, 2009 | Comments (5)
July 4, 2009
In response to: Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style AJ Whitten commented: Wow! We're so thrilled you enjoyed THE WELL! Thank you! Hope you all have a great Fourth of July!
July 4, 2009
In response to: Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style Dianna Love commented: Wonderful blurb. The stories all sound like fascinating reads.
July 4, 2009
In response to: Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style Liza commented: I find more YA books to read with every posting.
July 4, 2009
In response to: Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style Blurbette Heidi E commented: Awesome reviews!! More to the to-be-read list!
July 5, 2009
In response to: Special 4th of July Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style Lori A. May commented:
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Along for the Ride by 
Hairstyles of the Damned by Joe Meno
Gone by 
