One by Sarah Crossan

Very rarely do I cry over books or movies, but I was grabbing at the tissues when it came to Sarah Crossan's latest book set to release Sept. 15, 2015, One.  I'll be honest, I picked this book up because I thought the cover was beautiful (even though I have always been told to never judge a book by its cover).

Meet Grace and Tippi.  They are sisters who share everything:  their room, their clothes,... and their bodies.  These sixteen-year-old conjoined twins have never wanted to undergo the risky surgery that would separate them until they are forced to consider it after Grace suffers from a fluke virus.  Readers will ache to reach through the pages and hug Tippi and Grace as they confront the most important and impossible decision of their lives.

I had never read Sarah Crossan before, but now that I have, I want more!  She writes with an exquisite grace and sensitivity that makes the reader question everything they thought they knew about identity, sibling relationships, and true love and understanding.  I love that this book is written in free verse poetry (think Love that Dog by Sharon Creech or Brown Girl Dreaming  by Jacqueline Woodson) because there is a certain power behind each and every word, phrase, and image Crossan conjures.  This was a quick, but compelling read for me.  While I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read, girls 14 years and up will most definitely enjoy this glimpse into a world so alike and yet drastically different from their own.

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to pre-order your copy of One! (Release date:  Sept. 15, 2015)

"1984" by George Orwell

Winston Smith lives in a world ruled by fear.  Everyone fears their children who are trained as spies for the government. They fear the thought police. They fear emotion and even speaking. They fear being killed. Most of all, they fear The Party.

 In the city of London, country of Oceania, the year is 1984 – or so Winston thinks, he can’t quite remember the date. He does know that The Party rules Oceania, and he is an outer member working for the Ministry of Truth. His job is to keep information ‘up to date’. Sometimes this means manipulating the records of the amount of supplies distributed to make The Party seem generous. Other times, if people were vaporized, it’s Winston’s job to make them unpersons. He deletes them out of all records as if they never existed. Winston also alters the facts of history. So much history has been rewritten; no one knows what life was like before The Party existed.

Winston loathes The Party, but just like everyone else fears it. He never shows any emotion and never speaks unless he must. Anything could be seen as rebellion and anyone can report to the ever present thought police. But one day Winston buys a journal on the black market and begins writing. It’s against The Party, but he knows his punishment would be minimal. Stories and emotions slowly begin to fill the pages. At first he is so nervous he almost can’t write, but as he continues rebellion is sweet. His hatred of The Party gradually conquers his fear and his anti-Party actions increase in number and severity. 

I have never read anything quite like Orwell’s 1984. As a lover of young adult literature, dystopian novels have a special place in my heart, but this novel is nothing like the ones I have ever read. The society Orwell created is so fear based that no one ever talks; there is rarely dialogue. Yet, from the outsider’s view of Winston’s thoughts, a clear picture of the setting, society and time is painted.  Written in 1949, this novel predicted the future as Orwell saw it.  1984 gives readers the unique ability to compare a past prediction to what actually occurred. I found it extremely intriguing and highly recommend it!

Clare gives 1984 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Grace's July Indie Next List Picks

The July Indie Next List just came out and two of the featured reads are my current favorites to recommend!

Grace's 1st Pick: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell has quickly become one of my favorite authors.  I would buy anything she wrote, even if it was a technical manual on how to operate a vacuum cleaner.  That's why I'm so excited to tell you all about her latest novel, Landline, because not only is it about a topic way more exciting than vacuum cleaners, it's an exceptional piece of writing! 

Georgie McCool (seriously, what an awesome name!) is about to make a big move in her career as a television writer and she couldn't be happier, except that it means the slow implosion of her marriage is about to speed up.  Georgie's husband, Neal, and their kids leave for Christmas while Georgie stays behind to work on her new TV show, and she begins to wonder if she's finally ruined everything.   That's when she discovers that her old landline offers a way to communicate with Neal in the past, exactly one week before he proposed.  Now she has the opportunity to fix her marriage before it even starts...unless she's not meant to?  Faced with a choice of moving forward or living in the past, Georgie must decide which path is the best for herself, her marriage, and her family.

Readers will be enthralled with Rowell's true-to-life characters and her ability to make a magical connection to the past seem completely feasible.  I mean seriously?  A magical landline?  And yet, I completely bought into it because Rowell's writing totally captivates and engrosses the reader from the very first chapter.  It's the perfect beach read, rainy day read, stay up until all hours of the night read, forgot to make dinner because this book is so good read...you get the idea!

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of Landline from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop & Guest House.

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Grace's 2nd Pick: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

My second pick is featured as the cover page title of the July Indie Next List and it has a take-charge, intelligent heroine at the helm.  Kelsea Raleigh Glynn has been raised in exile, but now that she has come of age, she must reclaim her mother's throne and learn to be a ruler despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  There's the Red Queen, a powerful monarch in a neighboring kingdown; the Caden, a group of assassins tasked with eliminating Kelsea; and the Regent of Tearling, her uncle Thomas, who will do anything necessary to stay in power. Facing these three foes, Kelsea must gain the trust and loyalty of her protectors and subjects, as well as learn to use the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense power passed on to her by her late mother.

What doesn't this novel have?  Readers can find magic, adventure, mystery, and romance as they follow Kelsea's journey to reclaiming her throne.  Johansen has laid a fantastic foundation for what promises to be thrilling trilogy in this first book.  While the story seemed to drag in a few places, it had more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep me reading late into the night.  Johansen's characters and world-building really blew me away and must have impressed some other readers as well because Harry Potter producer David Heyman has taken on the project of creating a film version of the book with Emma Watson starring as Kelsea!  While book to movie adaptations always make me nervous, it sounds like the novel will be in good hands.  Just be sure to read the book before the story hits the big screen!

Grace gives this book 4.5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of The Queen of the Tearling from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop & Guest House.

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"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

I might be a little late to the Rainbow Rowell fan club, but I've got to say that I'm absolutely hooked after reading Fangirl.  I gave serious consideration to immediately re-reading the book once I finished it, but my pile of "books to be read" is just so huge at this point that I was forced to move on.

Meet Cath, an 18 year old starting her freshman year of college.  Her twin sister has abandoned her to meet new people, her roommate is less than polite and has an overly friendly boyfriend, her dad isn't coping well with the whole "empty nest" thing, and her fiction writing professor constantly expects more from her.  All Cath really wants to do is disappear into the world of fanfiction where she's most comfortable.  She's already gained a little bit of fame on the Simon Snow (world-wide literary phenomenon--picture Harry Potter) forums.  Fanfiction is what helped her cope with her mother leaving, created a stronger sisterly bond with her twin, and provided the inspiration for her chosen field of study.  Faced with a new life outside of her comfort zone, Cath will have to choose between moving forward in the real world or continuing to hide in the fanfiction world.

Rowell has a real talent for creating characters so life-like that you almost believe they are people you know.  The dialogue that flies back and forth between certain characters is so realistic and true to the college experience (or at least my college experience) that I was constantly telling people, "Here, just listen to this, I have to read it to you."  Perhaps most impressive was the amount of work and planning that evidently went into setting up a fictional Harry Potter-esque franchise as part of the backdrop for this book.  "Excerpts" and plot points from the Simon Snow series are sprinkled throughout which further sucks the reader into the book.  I actually did a web search to see if Simon Snow was a real series just to make sure I wasn't missing something.  I also appreciated the fact that this is a true young adult novel.  While I do enjoy a good teeny-bopper book, Fangirl  is definitely written for a slightly more mature audience (I'd probably recommend to ages 16+) and I found that really refreshing.

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of Fangirl at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop & Guest House.

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"The Diviners" by Libba Bray

When looking for a good book to kick off my summer reading, I searched through my "Books to Read" list (an Excel spreadsheet on my laptop complete with the title, author, date I heard about it, and whether or not I already own it, I kid you not) and decided it was time to give The Diviners a try.  I'd read several of Bray's other books before and loved them, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed the book.  I was shocked however by how quickly I was hooked and deeply I was engaged by the end of the first chapter.

It's 1926 and Evie O'Neill, the very definition of a flapper girl, has been exiled from her hometown in Ohio to the bustling streets of New York City (poor thing!) after making an enemy of the town's golden boy while drunk at a party.  She is sent to live with her Uncle Will, a curator for the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, who has been asked to give the police an assist in solving a string of grisly murders.  Evie convinces her uncle to let her use her ability to read people's pasts while holding an object of their possession to help him in the investigations.  Bray creates a fantastic company of characters to support Evie in her quest for answers, including a mysterious assistant at the museum, a numbers runner in Harlem who dreams of becoming famous through his poetry, a Ziegfield Follies girl on the run from her past, a rakish pickpocket, and Evie's more traditional best friend, Mabel. Now Evie and the rest of the cast must solve the mystery behind the murders before the killer has a chance to unleash some real evil into this world.

What impressed me the most about this book is the way Bray is able to seamlessly weave together multiple points of view from the different characters to create a narrative that is both snappy with that Roaring 20s vibe and hauntingly suspenseful.  There were times where I was compelled to read far later than originally intended because I had  to know what happened next.  Bray also does a fantastic job of bringing her diverse cast of characters to life.  There are only a few books that I have read where I have felt as though I truly know a character from their motivations to their mannerisms, and this is one of those books.  While this book is not for the faint of heart, I would recommend The Diviners to teen readers and those who enjoy being completely engrossed in a fantastic story.

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

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"Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

There is nothing better than falling in love with an assigned reading for one of your college courses which is exactly what happened to me when I was "forced" to read Inside Out and Back Again for my Children's Literature course.  This 2012 Newbery Honor book is actually a collection of poems (à la Love that Dog by Sharon Creech) and follows the story of 10-year-old Hà and her family as they flee from Saigon to Alabama when the city falls to the North Vietnamese.  Hà loves her native Saigon from the sweet snacks and smells found in the market to the papaya tree she grows in her backyard.  She lives with her three older brothers and her mother; her father was taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese several years ago and is classified as MIA.  When Saigon does fall to the North, Hà and her family escape the city by ship and immigrate to Alabama where they must learn a new language and new customs.

I think what I loved most about this book was Hà's poetic style.  Many of her poems were witty and clever with a strong and natural 10-year-old voice, and some of them were truly heartbreaking.  As the book is based off of real events from the author's (Thannha Lai) life, it is no surprise that he is able to capture the images and emotions that come with being forced to flee one's homeland with truthful clarity.  I have always been interested in the Vietnam War era, but had only really read accounts from United States citizens.  This novel brought a whole new perspective to that time period for me.  I would recommend this quick read for ages nine and up, especially those readers who are historical fiction fans or have a particular affinity for the Vietnam War era.

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to order your copy from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

"The Legend of L'Esprit" by Doris Greenberg and Pandré Shandley

As the resident dancer here at The Velveteen Rabbit, I was so excited to have The Legend of L'Esprit fall into my lap this summer.  It was the perfect summer read for someone who spent 14 years of her life in a dance studio, but I think the plot line will appeal to those who have never stepped foot in a dance class as well.

Libby Nobleton and her family have recently moved to Chicago and she is looking for a new dance studio to call home.  When she auditions for the premier studio, L'Esprit, she knows she's found her place.  But there's more to this dance studio than ballet barres and full-length mirrors; rumor has it that L'Esprit is haunted by the spirit of the prima ballerina who originally founded the school.  Now Libby and her new friends have to uncover the truth about what happened on the most tragic night of L'Esprit's history to help more than one soul find its peace.

What I found so refreshing about this first novel in the Dance Legacy series was its spot-on blend of the day-to-day life of a young dancer along with the mystery and intrigue of the paranormal phenomena at the dance studio.  I also appreciated the fact that Libby was not involved in a torrid love triangle; she's got a straight head on her shoulders and is an excellent role model both for young dancers, as well as young women in general.  That's not to say that this book is not without its romance!  There's just enough of it to keep the reader satisfied and it's handled in a way that makes it seem realistic, rather than totally unattainable. 

One of the unique features of this book was the dance glossary located in the back.  After having been taught dance by hearing the terms rather than reading them, it was fun to see them actually spelled out and say, "So that's how that's written!"  Each chapter features a different dance term as well, so you don't have to keep paging to the back of the book to look them up.  This is a must-read for those reading dancers out there, as well as those readers just looking for a good book.

Grace gives it 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

"The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig

This book is not technically a recent read for me as I finished it this past spring, but we've been pretty busy at The Velveteen Rabbit and haven't had much of a chance to blog about what we're reading.  Now that I finally have a chance to sit down and type out my thoughts, I'd like to first give credit to Beth for recommending this fantastic series to me.  It'd been one of her staff picks for awhile and now I can see why!  My only disappointment in this series is that it isn't a true story, which just goes to show how wonderful Willig's narrative really is!

The novel is a story within a story.  The reader follows Eloise Kelly, a smart but slightly fumbling American grad student as she works to uncover the secret identity of the Pink Carnation, the most elusive English spy during the Napoleonic wars for her dissertation.  Her search leads her to some of the descendents of the Purple Gentian, another famous spy whose identity was revealed and therefore was forced to retire.  One such descendent, a Mr. Colin Selwick, is a little more than irate to find that his great-aunt has let a perfect stranger look at their family papers and it's hate at first sight.  Of course, hate has always been rumored to be far closer to love than most would think.....

As I've already mentioned, I was more than a little disappointed that the majority of the espionage and intrigue in this novel was all fiction.  I so desperately wanted there to really be a Pink Carnation and a Purple Gentian, but that just shows how totally engrossing Willig's novel is.  It sucked me right in and didn't even let me go when I finished the book.  I had to immediately purchase the next book in the series (and the next after that and the next after that.........you get the idea).  Now, at the halfway point in the series, I'm taking a small moment to recommend this novel to readers in search of a great escape from reality.  Then I'm heading back to England with Eloise and the Pink Carnation!

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen

Jane Austen's last novel, though overshadowed by her other wonderful classics, is fully worthy of the highest praise. Anne Elliot is the unmarried heroine of the story, having been persuaded to deny her love her hand in marriage, due to class distinctions. Now a handsome naval officer, a resentful Captain Wentworth and Anne are brought back into the same social circle. Various love interests and crises spice the pages, which go by altogether too quickly.

Unique charaters make this novel the intriguing satire that it is. Proud Sir Walter Elliot, conniving Mrs. Clay and fickle Mary Musgrove are a few who make their appearances. Anne Elliot herself is described by her creater as "almost too good for me", according to every description of the book that I've read. The plot jaunts across England, from Lyme to Bath, and the latest news is never far behind. An intelligent commentary on England's gentry, it is moreover an artfully scripted lesson in love and true character.

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

I love reading about women who were erased by time. The magnitude of Henrietta Lacks--her life, her death, her cells--has impacted almost every facet of genetic science since the 1950's. She has opened the doors for a crop of new cures, allowed new and exciting research to be done, and caused a generation of people to question the ethical practices in modern medicine. Perhaps most impressive, Henrietta Lacks did all this after she died--and without her knowledge or permission.

Henrietta suffered through a rare and extremely volatile case of cervical cancer. While being treated, doctors collected samples of her tissue for medical tests. They never asked permission; they never informed her family. Little did they know her cells were capable of reproducing indefinitely, becoming the first "immortal" cell. These "HeLa" cells (taken from the first two letters of Henrietta's first and last names) were soon distributed world-wide for use by scientists. Skloot not only unearths the lost story of Henrietta's life--for years, scientists believed the source of their cells was a "Helen Lane"--she also delves deeply into the impoverished, superstitious, and often-jilted Lacks family. A heartfelt story of a family's struggle to understand their mother and her impressive legacy is woven into Skloot's impeccable journalism and scientific descriptions.

Beth gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of "Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

“Wisdom’s Kiss” by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

 I have never been more confused  by the first 15 pages of a book as I was by the latest novel from the author of the Dairy Queen series.  Of course, if I had read the back cover of the book more carefully,  I would have realized the brilliance of the narrative from the first page.  What makes this book truly unique is the way Murdock seamlessly links diary entries,  letters, encyclopedia excerpts, a self-published family history, and a play to give this fantastic fairytale a unique sense of realism.  Once I figured out how to piece the story together from  the different sources,  I was able to fully enjoy the magic, adventure, and romance that fill the pages.

The story follows the adventures of Princess Wisdom, from the female-led kingdom of Montagne; Trudy, an orphaned kitchen maid; and Tips, a soldier and the object of Trudy’s affections.  Duchess Wilhelmina of Farina wants to absorb the smaller kingdom of Montagne and has set her master plan in motion to do just that.  Now the three heroes of this tale must save their empire from ruin – that is, if they can tolerate each other long enough to form a plan!  They are assisted, as well as hindered, by a thoroughly entertaining cast of characters including Sir Felis el Gato (a master swordsman with an ego longer than his sword), the Queen Mother Benevolence (an attentive and caring chaperone of Princess Wisdom), and her cat, Escoffier.  

As I’ve already mentioned, the unique narrative is what keeps the storyline fresh and exciting for the reader. Although it does take some getting used to, stringing the story together from the several sources of narration becomes a fun sort of game that propels the reader forward until the end of the book. If you’re looking for an entertaining read, Wisdom’s Kiss will not disappoint.

Grace gives this book four and a half out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of Wisdom’s Kiss from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"All These Things I've Done" by Gabrielle Zevin

Author of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac and Elsewhere, Gabrielle Zevin totally and completely ensnares the reader in her latest teen novel. All These Things I've Done is the first book in the Birthright series which promises to be an exciting dystopian thrill-ride!
The year is 2083. Chocolate and caffeine are controlled substances, water is carefully rationed, and books are scarce. Anya Balanchine is the daughter of New York City's most notorious (and dead) crime boss and a member of one of the great chocolate families in the world, though she distances herself from them as much as possible. With a dying grandmother, a brain-damaged older brother, and a genius little sister to look after, Anya becomes the head of her immediate family. And when she falls for Win Delacroix, the new assistant DA's son, she knows the match is doomed from the start. Things become even more complicated when her bully of an ex-boyfriend is almost fatally poisoned by a bar of Balanchine chocolate and Anya is briefly thrown into prison.

I was completely caught up in the paranoia that surrounds Anya's everyday life through her association with her mafiya-esque extended family. Just when I though I had the whole thing figured out, another twist in the plot completely threw me for a loop. Anya is a strong character who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means the ultimate self-sacrifice. Plus, the love story is as sweet as it is forbidden. I think the Publisher's Weekly review says it best about this story: "Offering the excitement of a crime drama and the allure of forbidden romance, this introduction to a reluctant Godfather-in-the-making will pique the interest of dystopia-hungry readers."

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of All These Things I've Done from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Fixing Delilah" by Sarah Ockler

Delilah's life has a habit of falling apart. Her once good grades have slumped, her boyfriend is more of a non-boyfriend, and her mother won't discuss the huge fight that divided her family eight years ago. But when her mother receives a phone call late one night saying that Delilah's grandmother has passed away, Delilah's summer starts off in a new direction. Now Delilah and her mother must return to her grandmother's house; a place they have not visited since the big family fall-out. Filled with new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test an already complex bond between mother and daughter, Delilah's summer forces her to face her family's painful history.

Having read Sarah Ockler's other young adult novel (a 2010 Kids' Indie Next List pick), Twenty Boy Summer, I was more than delighted when a copy of Fixing Delilah fell in my lap. Ockler creates such realistic characters with whom readers can instantly connect and Delilah is no exception. She's reckless and impulsive, but in a way that endears her to the reading audience. The supporting cast of characters help to create a small-town feel complete in all its hometown quirks. And although I will admit to reading the entire Twilight saga (and enjoying them), I found it refreshing to read a young adult novel that doesn't involve paranormal or supernatural beings having forbidden love affairs with mortals. But don't worry! The romance found in this story is both charming and intense enough to satisfy even the most sentimental readers.

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of Fixing Delilah at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess

I tried. I really tried. I just could not force myself to finish "A Clockwork Orange". I flinched my way though the opening chapters, squinting just long enough through the horrible scene in which the title is explained. At this point, I was thoroughly disgusted enough to promptly slam the book shut and push it away from me.

Granted, Burgess is portraying a dystopian world, in which droogs run amuk, drinking vellocet-laced milk and violating devotchas. It is supposed to be horrible. For my taste, it accomplishes this goal a little too intensely, but I'd imagine if you could stomach the violence easily enough it would be a good read. The book is quite creatively written in an inventive Russian-inspired slang, which at times is rather difficult to decipher but without which the emotive character of the book would be lost. For this sake of this interesting writing, I'll give the novel a second chance once the aftertaste has left me--though that might end up being quite some time.

However, don't let this scare you away from dystopia-inspired novels. "1984", by George Orwell, is one of my all-time favorites. Though for me personally, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley doesn't hold a candle to "1984", I enjoyed reading it and know many friends have liked it just as much if not more than my beloved Orwell.

Kerry gives it 3 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase "A Clockwork Orange" from the Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov

Maybe I'm just too head over heels for any and all Russian writers. However, it seems to me that even a Russian novel would have to be extremely captivating to keep me up, reading all 336 pages in the wee hours of the night. Nobody writes like this anymore. This quality cannot be found in any modern romance; it's almost a lost art. I suppose I'm being a bit melodramatic...but this unique story worth getting all worked up over.

The characters are more than well-rounded and complete; they are fascinating. Throughout the book, you're never quite sure of whose side you're supposed to be taking, or who exactly is "the good guy". Refreshing and frustrating, it keeps you from hating the narrator Humbert Humbert, though he would normally be representative of a clearly evil character, a pedophile, and kidnaps a young "nymphet", Lolita. Nabokov spins their story, however, so that everything is seen in shades of gray rather than a distinct good and bad. It is still a love story, albeit a strange situation--but above all else, Humbert does love Lolita. And since when is love ever black and white?

Philosophy notwithstanding, the book is a classic for a reason. The first page will capture you completely, just as Lolita did Humbert. "Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta."

Kerry gives "Lolita" five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase "Lolita" from the Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Press Here" by Herve Tullet

Tullet's whimsical, imaginative book is absolutely ADORABLE. Engaging and surprising, funny and clever, you automatically end up obeying and interacting this darling book without a second thought--from pressing the yellow dots, counting and clapping--and are quite pleased and/or dismayed by the results that occur from the actions with every page turn! It's cheerful encouragement is a delight, and it sneakily includes practicing colors, counting and more into its simple but effective sentences.

Just out this March, this is definitely a fantastic addition to any family's bookshelf. This little book has been raved over in every review I've read, from the basic praise "Simple in appearance, genius in execution" to being credited with proving that books need not lose out to "electronic wizardry", as they can be just as engaging. It WILL get you to smile while you're reading...and perhaps even squeak out a chuckle or too. Perfect for young children, this book is still entertaining for child-like adults (myself included!). You can't help but feel accomplished when you turn the last page; this is one to reread over and over again. To quote the book: "Bravo!"

Kerry gives "Press Here" 5 out of 5 carrots! (and it's also one of Clare's picks!)

Click here to purchase "Press Here" from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Faith, Hope, and Ivy June" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

In "Faith, Hope, and Ivy June", Naylor does an amazing job of comparing the lives of a country girl and a city girl. Ivy June Mosley and Catherine Combs, both from Kentucky, are participating in their 7th grades' first ever student exchange program. During their two-week stays, they each are supposed to record what they honestly think of the other girl's way of living. For Catherine, living in the rustic country is a more difficult change then it sounds. Not having a shower every day, at first, definitely seems impossible. Ivy June on the other hand is amazed by the big houses and the fact that Catherine has a room all to herself! Between the two, they learn a lot about life from each other and that people from different places are, well, different!

Realistic fiction is a genre I enjoy immensely. They way the characters, places and activities are described leaves a vivid image in your mind. I would recommend "Faith, Hope and Ivy June" to any girl.

Clare gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of "Faith, Hope and Ivy June" at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"I'm Not Her" by Janet Gurtler

As a senior, Kristina has everything she could ever want. She is athletic, outgoing, pretty, popular, and of course with those qualities comes a boyfriend of her choice. Her little sister, Tess, on the other hand, is quiet, shy, and smart. Feeling the need to give her sister, who is now a "Freshie", a head start in high school, Kristina tries to ease Tess into society by taking her to parties and introducing her to all of the popular kids. But Tess prefers to keep to herself and watch everything from the outside. That all changes when Kristina gets diagnosed with cancer. Tess quickly finds with Kristina gone, the popular kids and everyone else comes to her for answers about Kristina. With her sister bedridden and both of her parents very distraught, Tess realizes that she needs to be strong for her family in order to keep them from falling apart. Luckily they also have Jeremy, who not only makes Kristina happy, but also seems to understand what she needs during this difficult time. Both Tess and Kristina come to understand that true friends are always there to help and love you when you need it the most.

"I'm Not Her" is an inspiring story about life and its struggles. It suggests that when a drastic changes occur in life, you sometimes need to step out of your shell. Being strong and steady for the people who are hurt and confused is very important.

Clare gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of "I'm Not Her" at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

“Stupid Fast” by Geoff Herbach

I don’t often enjoy novels that involve sports – myself being "allergic" to athletics in general – but this new novel from Geoff Herbach captivated me from the first page. The story follows Felton Reinstein, a reluctant athlete who is trying to manage friends, a first love, and a family that is falling apart. It all starts when Felton decides to give his all in a PE 600-yard race, and beats the rest of the class by more than 150 yards. Then the coach convinces him to join the football team in the fall. Felton has never had that much interest in sports, but as he puts it, “I am stupid fast.” Now he has to figure out how to juggle his newfound athletic abilities, a mother who refuses to be a parent, a genius pianist of a little brother, and the new girl in town who wants to kiss him. And even his fantastical speed won’t help him run from the shocking secret about his past!

There aren’t too many good coming-of-age books for boys, but this novel is a sure bet! Told through Felton’s witty inner monologue, this book had me laughing out loud more than once. The unique first-person narrative really helps to capture the confusing awkwardness that accompanies being a teenager and will ring true with readers of any age or gender. “This could be a dark tale”, as the first line warns, but Herbach manages to keep readers laughing just enough to realize that even in dark times, there’s always light-hearted moment or two to keep you going.

Stupid Fast comes out in June 2011.

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

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"Girl in Blue" by Ann Rinaldi

When Sarah Wheelock runs away from home to join the army, she knows that it is the right path for a large number of reasons. One is that her father physically abuses her at home for simply contradicting him. Also, if she stayed home, she would be forced to marry her horrible, abusive, neighbor. Satisfied with her male imitation, and knowing that she's a crack shot with a rifle, Sarah sets off to become a soldier. Along the way she takes chances-saving a confederate woman-that forces her to give up her identity, and becomes associated with some of the big names in spy history.

Girl in Blue is a thrilling realistic-fiction adventure. Having partially based it on the life of an actual girl during the Civil War, Rinaldi does a spectacular job of keeping the facts straight while putting her own twist on the story. Although this novel is written for kids in their early teens, I believe that it is a book that any history fan can thoroughly enjoy.

Clare gives Girl in Blue 5out of 5 carrots!

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