Holiday Buying Guide - Books
The Frenzy by Francesca Block
Red-haired Olivia doesn’t look like her parents and is locked in typical teen struggles with their values. But things aren’t normal otherwise. Liv’s hair is embarrassingly rich on every part of her body—even her toes—and her police-chief dad hasn’t been able to solve the brutal murders of four hunters in the local woods. Readers will figure out that Liv is a werewolf several chapters before she does, and Block’s spin on modern werewolf lore includes a dose of small-minded, small-town meanness that Liv—with a black boyfriend, a gay best friend who commits suicide, and a mom who is fashion sensitive and emotionally shallow—must deal with. From another writer, this would be passing fare for the magical-creature hungry, but missing here are Block’s insouciant and pithy dialogue, her usual stellar balancing of scene and action, and other hallmarks that readers adore in—and expect from—her writing. Werewolf fans will accept this, as will those who consume anything by a favorite author, but this is a mere a gateway to Block’s more creative titles.
"Step aside vampires, this book is all about werewolves."
--Girl Zone
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the “no-fly” rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. But while twin sister Tamra, who never manifested and was shunned, is happy with the move, Jacinda feels only anguish within Nevada's desert climate. Then she meets Will and, despite recognizing him as the same draki hunter, feels herself come alive. Jordan's compelling addition to the supernatural star-crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance, with visceral writing and believable relationships among characters, particularly among Jacinda's family. A foreshadowed twist and a thrilling confrontation in the end pages leave Jacinda heartbroken and in trouble, and readers will howl for more.
"How can you live a normal teenage life when you are hiding that fact that you can transform into a dragon?"
--Girl Zone
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Kristina, the meth-addicted antiheroine of Crank (2004) and Glass (2007), has five children by four different men. Fallout is about the lives of her three oldest children. Hunter lives with his grandmother in Nevada. He cheats on his girlfriend and smokes a lot of dope. Autumn lives with her sweet aunt and gruff granddad in Texas. She has OCD and knows little about her mother. Summer lives in a trailer in California with her father and a string of abusive/slutty/stupid girlfriends. She hates pretty much everyone. Hopkins's not-quite poetry is as solid as ever, though her use of visual formations gets more mystifying and extraneous with each novel.
"A glimpse into the 'fallout' of drug addiction."
--Girl Zone
When Molly Was a Harvey Girl by Frances M. Wood
Thirteen-year-old Molly Gerry and her older sister Colleen’s world is rocked when their father dies, leaving them penniless. Their best hope seems to be leaving their small Illinois town to work at a Harvey Eating House in Raton, New Mexico. Molly manages to appear 18 (the minimum Harvey Girl age) in order to get the job and soon catches on to the rhythm of life beside the railroad tracks. She continues to struggle with the desire to return home and worries about the fact that the outlaw Genius Jim is still on the loose. Inspired by the author’s great-grandmother’s experiences, this historical bildungsroman shows life out west in the late 1800s in all its flash and grittiness. Molly is a solidly drawn character, attracted more to cooking than serving and determined to be honest and fair in her work. The outlaws provide spice, and the romance Molly tries to conjure up for Colleen gives humor. The values of education, courage, and simplicity all come together in this delightful tale.
"Molly is humorous heroine that you'll be disappointed to leave behind."
--Girl Zone
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Scott’s fresh and thoughtful treatment of a familiar theme belies the somewhat sappy cover (two barefoot, blue-jeaned teens playing footsie). Gorgeous Brianna and less-stunning Sarah have been best friends since kindergarten, but now Sarah’s got a wicked crush on Brianna’s new boyfriend, Ryan—and it’s reciprocal. As in Love You Hate You Miss You (2009), what drives this quick read is the complex interaction of the two girls. Sarah and Ryan’s relationship, with the visceral thrill of physical attraction, is beautifully captured, but it’s the delicate balance between insecure Brianna’s need to put Sarah down and Sarah’s loyalty to her needy and lonely friend that will stay with the reader. The painfully abrupt ending fits the characters and story, and will leave readers wanting more. Scott’s realistic dialogue and empathetic view of symbiotic relationships will have teens thinking she has been eavesdropping on their conversations. Romance readers will pick up this novel and discover fine, accessible writing many notches above the standard love story.
"Would you break the unwritten rule?"
--Girl Zone
Justin Bieber First Step 2 Forever: My Story
His debut album has already gone platinum. His YouTube videos have received over 10 million hits. He's sung for the president of the United States. His screaming fans have stormed TV studios and shut down shopping malls. Justin Bieber is a global superstar and now, for the first time ever, he's going to tell all in his very own book. In this book, Justin tells the story of his amazing journey from small-town schoolboy to global superstar. Stunningly designed and jam packed full of exclusive unseen photos of Justin on and off stage, plus private captured moments.
"This book is a must have for any Justin Bieber fan in your life."
--Girl Zone
