Before I Die – Jenny Downham

Before I Die is also nominated for the Teens Top Ten list this year. This is the story of Tessa, a seventeen year old girl who is dying of cancer. She has decided to go out on her own terms, to stop fighting her death and enjoy the time she has left. She has a list of things she wants to do before she dies. She accomplishes things on her list, for good or for ill. And the list keeps changing.

This book is both heart breaking and life affirming.  You are going to cry, so prep your reading space accordingly.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You – Peter Cameron

Someday this pain will be useful to you is a novel about James Sveck, an eighteen year old New Yorker who doesn’t want to go to college. He thinks he can learn everything he needs to know by reading books. He will buy a house in the Midwest and read Trollope, Denton Welch and Eric Rohmer.  That would be much better than spending time in school with people his age who he has nothing in common with and who have nothing interesting to say.  He works in his mother’s art gallery where currently on display is a collection of garbage can art by a nameless artist (he doesn’t believe in the use of names).

Months ago, something happens with James at a seminar in Washington, D.C. that causes concern for his family.  He won’t talk about it because he doesn’t have anything he needs to say.

He doesn’t fit in.  He doesn’t really want to fit in.  He doesn’t want to go to college.  His parents each ask him if he is gay.  Why should it matter?  Was his sister, Gillian (now pronounced with a hard G) asked if she was heterosexual?  And why does their Standard Poodle, Miro, act like he thinks he is human?  (Although, don’t all dogs act like this?)

If you read this book, which I think is worthwhile, you will come across words that you would expect to find on a college entrance exam.  You will meet a character who has something missing inside.  A character who thinks.  A character who likes words to be used properly.  A character who is sad all of the time.

Eclipse – Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse the third book in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series has been nominated for the Teens Top Ten list. Twilight made the list in 2006 and New Moon in 2007. I expect that Eclipse will make the 2008 list.

I read the first one and haven’t gotten around to reading the next two. I bet that some of you are just screaming “How can’t she have read the other two yet?” Well, they are always out and people have holds on them, and I would rather you guys read them then me. How about that for an answer?

So, if you read it and you loved it, you should vote for it in October. If you haven’t read it, I hear that you must and you should just place a hold and wait a bit.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow – Jessica Day George

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is a retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. A poor family had a ninth child and the mother refused to name her. So, they called her the Pika (girl). A nameless child may fall prey to trolls, thus the Pika had to be careful.

The Pika loved her oldest brother who had gone away for a time and came back changed. When she has the opportunity to help him and her poor family, she jumps at the chance. She ends up at an ice castle living with an isbjorn (ice bear – polar bear) and a gargoyle, a faun and a pixie, among others, as servants. Fortunately, the Pika also has her wolf, Rollo. She has all she can eat and lots of books to read, but she has little company and she misses her family.

I enjoyed reading this book, but I wish I had thought to look for the glossary when I first started reading the book. I would then have been pronouncing the names correctly. So, learn from my mistake, and check out the back – but only for the glossary, don’t ruin the ending for yourself. This book has been nominated for the Teens Top Teen list of books for 2008. And now I know why.

Beauty Shop For Rent…Fully Equipped, Inquire Within – Laura Bowers

Almost fifteen-year-old Abbey has a plan. She will be a millionaire by the time she turns 35. Her mom left Abbey with Granny Po, Abbey’s great-grandmother, four years ago with a promise to return by winter. Abbey has decided she will not be like the women in her family. She will not have a child when she is a teenager and she will not let her life be ruined by a man.  She will not be like her mom and move every time something goes wrong.

Abbey works in Granny Po’s beauty shop sweeping the floors, organizing the towels, shampooing and cutting hair. She reads good bits out loud from the gossip magazines and beats everyone at Wheel of fortune. She saves the money she earns from tips and she is afraid that everything will change if the sign on the front lawn, Beauty Shop For Rent…Fully Equipped, Inquire Within is answered. Everything is good, the plan is working, she has friends and volunteering.  Then one day Gena arrives and the beauty shop changes.  Life gets even better.

And then mom shows up.