Book Review: Pinned by Sharon Flake

Pinned by Sharon G. Flake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Autumn and Adonis are an unlikely pair, unless, of course, you ask Autumn. According to her, a girl athlete and champion wrestler couldn't be better matched for a boy with no legs, and Adonis’ perfect grades and genius brain are perfect for a girl who can’t read. Convincing Adonis of this, however, is a difficult task. When Autumn’s parents push her to improve her reading skills, Autumn learns a lot about herself and those around her.

Told in alternate voices, Pinned, is a light young adult novel about realistic events high school students encounter and overcome. Autumn and Adonis seam real although not always likable. I was a bit put off at the beginning due to the poor grammar in Autumn’s narrative, but now I think it adds to her character. Although not an earth-shattering novel, this was a great read. I was interested in the characters and the plot. I couldn't put it down.


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Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Ok, so I'm on a John Green kick.  I can't help it; he's great.

Former child prodigy Colin Singleton has been dumped by Katherines his whole life.  Nineteen times he has loved a Katherine and nineteen times he has lost a Katherine.  His most recent dumping has made him a little crazy, albeit adventurous.  When his best friend Hassan suggests a road trip to clear his head Colin agrees.  And that is how a heart-broken former child prodigy and his Muslim best friend find themselves in a tampon factory in Gut Shot, Tenn.

John Green, how do I love the?  Let me count the ways: 1.  The characters in this book are smart but real.  2.  The plot is total fantasy (meaning that would never happen fantasy not here comes a dragon fantasy) but totally believable.  3.  There is a moral/ revelation at the end of the book.  4.  The book ends.  No sequel.  This is a good thing.  I hate sequels.  5.  There is a Muslim-American character as a main (and hilarious) character and not just thrown in for the sake of multi-culturalism.  Although Paper Towns is still my favorite, An Abundance of Katherines is hands down my second favorite John Green book. 5/5

Book Review - Paper Towns by John Green

This is a Young Adult novel. 

Quentin, a well-adjusted and under-the-radar senior, finds himself caught up in the minor pranks of his impossibly cool neighbor Margot the night before she disappears.  Quentin (Q) realizes Margot has left clues for him regarding her disappearance.  He feels compelled to follow the clues not knowing if they will lead to Margot alive and well or something more sinister.  While on this epic journey, Q finds out many things about Margot, his friends, and himself.

I loved this book. John Green is fantastic.  Paper Towns is so well-written, I wanted to read it again when I finished it.  It was a great mystery full of humor that was cleverly placed throughout the book.  The characters, although they were unlike any teens I have ever met, were so great that they seemed like they should be real if for no other reason than that they were just so dang cool.  Okay, so maybe I can relate to band nerds and computer geeks; is that so wrong? 5 out of 5.

Book Review - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This is a Young Adult Novel.

This satirical novel can be described as Miss America meets Lord of the Flies. Fifty teen beauty queens experience a terrible plane crash and, after the damage is assessed, realize that only thirteen of the queens have survived. They must survive on the island using their resourcefulness until they can be rescued. Little do they know The Corporation – sponsor of the Miss Teen Dream Pageant, creator of such hit TV shows as Pirates Bodacious IV: Badder and More Bodaciouser and Patriot Daughters in which Betsy Ross and her sewing guild “give it all” for their country, and such products as Git R Done 447 personal safety handgun (currently under a voluntary recall) and Lady ‘Stache of Cream which is surprisingly useful on a deserted island - has set up camp on the island as well; and their intentions are not noble.

On the surface, this may seem like a cute teen novel about dingy beauty queens, but don’t “misunderestimate” it (this is a quote from the book). It is actually a well-crafted satire about standards for women, feminism, gender and sexuality (which, be warned, there is a lot of), greed and capitalism, terrorism, and so many other things. It was SO FUNNY! My only criticism is I’m not sure the allusions would be understood by the novel's intended audience – teens. But who knows, I might be “misunderestimating” them as well. :) I give this book 5 out of 5 whatevers (stars, points, thumbs...insert your favorite noun here)