Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

September 20th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Synopsis:
Jenna thought her childhood best friend Cameron was dead, but when he shows up at her high school 8 years later, she must confront demons long buried and deal with unresolved issues with her family.
Review:
I was very impressed with the way Sara Zarr built the suspense in Sweethearts. I was aching to find out [...]

Popularity: 11% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1)

September 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Synopsis:
A teenage girl discovers that she comes from a lineage of demon hunters, and finds herself drawn into the ongoing battle between good and evil.
Review:
I picked up City of Bones after reading a rave review of the next book in the series on the Queens Public Library’s email newsletter for YA picks. It sounded [...]

Popularity: 13% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

August 26th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Synopsis:
High school senior Jill is “all girl”–except for 4 days out of the month, when she turns into Jack, who happens to be in love with her best friend.
Review:
Cycler has quite the premise, with Jill literally transforming from girl to boy once a month, right after her period ends. Girly girl Jill wants nothing [...]

Popularity: 20% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

October 9th, 2007 · 2 Comments

Synopsis:
A legendary folk hero tells the first part of his life story, encompassing his early years as a vagabond and his time spent at University studying alchemy and magic.
Review:
It’s not for nothing that The Name of the Wind has been touted as a great fantasy debut. It absolutely is. I am leery of [...]

Popularity: 46% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

Sunless by Gerard Donovan

October 4th, 2007 · No Comments

Synopsis:
Bereft and aimless, an ex-meth head signs up to test a new drug promising to cure anxiety of all kinds.
Review:
I picked up Sunless because it promised a Chuck Pahlaniuk-esque satirical romp through all the woes of our modern age, dressed up in off-kilter post-apocalyptic trappings and with an addictive prose style.
Instead, I suffered through a [...]

Popularity: 37% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

Grub by Elise Blackwell

August 2nd, 2007 · 12 Comments

Synopsis:
The trials and travails of a group of young New York City-based novelists.
Review:
Grub is a reworking of a 19th Century novel. I can’t speak to its success in that regard because I haven’t read the original, but I will say that author Elise Blackwell pulls off a rare bird: a satire brimming with humanism. [...]

Popularity: 33% [?]

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Tags: American Literature

Emperor and Clown by Dave Duncan

July 25th, 2007 · 2 Comments

Synopsis:
Now married to the cursed Sultan Azak, Princess Inos finally heads to the capital city to plead her case in front of the wardens, as stable boy Rap rushes to meet her and embrace his destiny.
Review:
(Is that like the worst cover you have ever seen? Seriously.) Emperor and Clown is the final installment [...]

Popularity: 52% [?]

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Tags: Canadian Literature

On the Death of My Father by Brian J. Martin

July 19th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Synopsis:
The death of Brian Martin’s father by suicide prompted him to reflect on his own spiritual journey and battle with depression.
Popularity: 26% [?]

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Popularity: 26% [?]

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Tags: American Literature