"Waiting for Normal" by Leslie Connor

Waiting for Normal is one of the most normally written books I've ever read. It seems strange to compliment a book for being average, but in reality it makes the book believable and ties everything together. For the book's main character, twelve-year-old Addison Schneeter, nothing that is preciously normal should be taken for granted. After years of living through "all-or-nothing", see-sawing between an empty pantry and Thanksgiving feasts (in July), normal is all Addie wants.

This book is a realistic, heartfelt tale of courage and character, uniquely shown through the day-to-day trials, however odd, of a troubled sixth grader. Addie’s journey from her family of “twists and turns” to the esteemed and long awaited “normal” is not one to be missed. Though written more towards an audience of middle grades, it is a book that any reader can appreciate and learn from.

I originally read this book when it was first published as an advanced copy. Now that I've picked it up again, two years later, I'm remembering why I recommended it so highly in the first place.

“Normal..is when you know what is gonna happen. Not exactly what, because probably nobody gets that. But normal is being able to count on things…just because they belong that way.”

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

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

"The Thieves of Manhattan" by Adam Langer

If you've been following any of my earlier posts, you may notice a trend in the genres I generally read: dystopia and teen fiction. Well, I'm switching it up a bit with this new release from Adam Langer, author of Crossing California and The Washington Story. The Thieves of Manhattan is a literary thriller with a new twist and turn on every page!

The story follows an aspiring writer trying to make ends meet with a minimum-wage coffee shop job while also attempting to write something worth publishing. Enraged by another writer's best-selling fake memoir and his girlfriend’s seemingly instantaneous literary success, Ian becomes entangled in a painstakingly intricate scheme to pass off a false memoir of his own and expose the publishing industry's corruptness to the world. He very quickly realizes that things get dangerous when fact and fiction begin to unexpectedly intertwine!

My favorite review of this book comes from Carl Hiaasen (author of Hoot): "The Thieves of Manhattan is a sly and cutting riff on the book-publishing world that is quite funny unless you happen to be an author, in which case the novel will make you consider a more sensible profession—like being a rodeo clown, for example, or a crab-fisherman in the Bering Sea."

With a winning combination of exciting characters, mind-blowing plot twists, and a satisfyingly snarky commentary, this fast-paced novel pokes and prods at the publishing world making the reader think twice about the books they pull off the shelf!

Grace gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order The Thieves of Manhattan from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!
(Available in July)

"Essential Neruda" by Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda is my favorite poet, along with being one of the more influential poets of the 20th century. He writes with great variety, ranging from lamenting stanzas to fast-moving free verses and covering topics from love to political unrest. But even in that variety, he keeps his same irrevocably passionate voice that makes it completely recognizable as his. This collection of his poems, a compilation of his many published books, mixes and matches his most well-known works.

This anthology is also wonderful because it keeps both the original Spanish verses and their translation into English side by side -- Spanish on the left page, English on the right. If you're keeping up with your Spanish like me, or you just want to try reading these poems in their original (and very romantic) language, this version is perfect, as well as beautifully translated.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It's perfect for a summer beach read but is also fully capable of much more depth, as each poem has a history and a story to it. You will find your new favorite poem within this book's 199 carefully scripted pages (Hint: mine is on page 8/9).

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order Essential Neruda: Selected Poems from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"My Name is Memory" by Ann Brashares

Although nothing less could be expected, Ann Brashares again delivers an imaginative and inspired novel about a love that truly withstands the test of time. Daniel has the ability to remember all of his previous lives and recognize the souls he met during them, including his soul mate, Sophia. This is both a gift and a curse, because for all the times he and Sophia have managed to connect throughout the centuries, they’ve also been wrenched apart by fate. Readers are transported through time as they follow these two souls and their journeys to find one another.

I especially appreciated how Brashares would intertwine both Daniel's and Sophia's past lives and the present day. It really kept the reader captivated and the plot flowing. I also have to grudgingly admit that as much as I was upset by the ending of the novel (don't worry, I won't spoil it), it was the best fit for the story. As a fan of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books I was very pleased with Brashares' latest novel and apparently so were other readers because it's featured as a June Indie Next List Pick!

Grace gives it four and a half out of five carrots!

Click here to order My Name is Memory at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Elliot Allagosh" by Simon Rich

Author Simon Rich is basically your prototypical author for an angsty, tongue-in-cheek book about high school. He's young, talented, and one of the snarky writers on Saturday Night Live. Naturally, Elliot Allagosh would resonate with anyone from a sixteen-year-old video game nerd to a reminiscing adult.

Seymour Herson opens his narration with a bleak glimpse into his life as an eighth grader at a NYC private school. He's chubby, a social outcast, and has recently been dubbed with the unflattering nickname "Chunk-Style." However, this somewhat cliched portrait of middle school angst is quickly interrupted by the arrival of the impossibly rich, incredibly eccentric (especially for a 13-year-old!) boy named Elliot Allagosh.

Elliot loves a challenge, and transforming the school pariah into the class president seems like a great way to pass his time. What ensues could have been a Cinderella-type story with a touch of after-school special, but Rich keeps the story funny and wonderfully fresh. My favorite parts were stories told by Elliot's father, who has never worked a day in his life and loves to find creative ways to use the billions of dollars in his bank account.

The story does, however, have a great deal of heart: Seymour learns the inevitable (popularity through lying, cheating, etc. does not guarantee happiness) and, during his senior year of high school, gets a much-needed waking up call. Elliot is a delightful con man, intriguingly neurotic and complex--you'll be reminded of a puppeteer crazed with boredom, tugging at the strings of his marionettes.

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to buy this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons

This is kind of a retroactive blog post, but with bullying in the news so much these days, this book has not left my mind. Odd Girl Out is a meticulously researched book, packed with interviews with real preteen and teenage girls. Oftentimes, parents don't realize the true extent of their daughters' struggles in school--girls can be especially adept at hiding that pain. This book focuses on the notion that, while boys take out their aggression in physical ways (i.e., a fight), girls fight a psychological battle that can last years. Girls can be shunned, teased, and publicly humiliated with horrible rumors. You'll be amazed at the cruelty Simmons has uncovered through her interviews. Simmons' dappling in social psychology manages to be informative while not overbearing, making this book accessible for all ages.

Simmons pairs this look into the world of bullying with realistic advice for both young girls and their parents. (Yes, despite what the quote on the cover says, dads can benefit from reading this too.) A book like this is especially crucial in this day and age, where constant texting, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter make "cyber bullying" a hot-button issue.

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!
Click here to order this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop.

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

I'm probably not the only one writing a bad review of this sad, sad excuse for a novel--after all, Bushnell has given her readers plenty of cause to hate this book. First of all, it is a young adult novel based on the life of fictional flirt Carrie Bradshaw, whom you may know from Sex and the City. In that way, this book serves as a sort of gateway into the television show, which is less than appropriate for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl (young adult books are usually geared to ages 12-17).

Secondly, I have never--EVER--read a book with a character so devoid of life. The young Carrie in this book isn't witty or interesting--I'd rather read the story of her pet rock than read another droning page of boyfriend woes, complaining about friends, etc. Seventeen-year-olds are wonderfully over-dramatic and vivacious! Carrie Bradshaw is like a sad dead thing. What happened to the Carrie who playfully sports a tutu on the streets of New York? What happened to the word-playing, savvy writer who women all over the world wanted to emulate? Bushnell had a prime opportunity to write a sprightly coming of age novel, but her writing prowess fell short. Way short. The ingredients list on the back of Carrie Bradshaw's neon pink nail polish is far more interesting than this drivel.

The best thing about writing a bad review is that it allows you the opportunity to recommend BETTER books, and I have plenty:

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty is the journal of the loveable Jessica Darling, a hyper-observant, cynical, brainiac high school girl who makes even the most mundane of days humorous. The love story is also much more realistic to high school and much more enviable than Carrie Bradshaw's lackluster relationships.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison is one I've mentioned before, but it bears repeating: Georgia Nicholson's life will have you laughing out loud on every single page. That sounds like a cliche, but I promise you--it's so true.

What's your favorite young adult book? Feel free to comment, and further save people from the travesty of The Carrie Diaries!

Beth gives this book one out of five carrots.

Click here to buy The Carrie Diaries at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!