Happy 2014!!

May your year be filled with lots of wonderful books! And remember....

Engaging Eccentric

This is definitely an extremely random read, but one that is at time funny, always intriguing, and overall a great read. Bee Fox is a fifteen-year-old whose Mom, Bernadette, takes off to an unknown destination. She is an oddball architect who marches to the beat of her drum; her daughter is a bright and diligent girl who solves the puzzle via emails and many other methods. It's actually hard to go into details since the plot is fairly straightforward in its quirky way, but make sure to set aside some time if you're picking this one up.

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I Believe in Miracles

To be blunt: this is one of my favorite books I've read in the last few years. The tale centers on Julia who at ten years old is coping not just with typical concerns like her parents' failing marriage and her first love, but also the end of the world.  The planet's rotation is continually slowing, throwing the normal balance of the world completely out of whack. Walker's incredible explanation of this intricate world through her attention to detail is truly a pleasure and you will surely find yourself wrapped up in this original story.

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End Game

It's a big month for YA at the movies! Not only does the second Hunger Games movie come out mid-month, but one of my favorite books premieres at the beginning of the month: Ender's Game. If you haven't read this book, you really really should.  Re-reading this recently as an adult definitely lived up to the strong emotional memory I had of reading it the first time around. A major plot twist, a brilliant young boy, and all in a world on the brink of intergalactic war? Make sure to grab a copy and then get your tickets!

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The Evolution of Interesting

Since The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer seems to be one of the most hyped books of the summer, I was cautiously (read: really) looking forward to diving into it. I thought the writing was really strong and while I've since heard mixed reactions to the characters’ appeal, the book was well plotted. The story follows a group of friends from an artistic summer camp through adulthood. Par for the course, their relationships change over time but what I actually found the most interesting was how their original characteristics evolved as the years wore on. Insecurities grow, greatness is achieved, depression and entitlement rear their heads, and so much more. The outsider will always feel this way, the fragile and feminine will only grow more so, the true genius flourishes and no amount of time or scenery takes them as far from those summers as they think they have come. At times there is awkwardness, at others there is jealousy; but overall there is a certain sense of confusion, insecurity, and manipulation that plagues the central characters well past their teenage years.

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