"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!

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“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!

Click here to purchase your copy of "Stupid Fast" at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"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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"A Dangerous Woman: The Life, Loves, and Scandals of Adah Isaacs Menken" by Michael and Barbara Foster

A young reporter named Sam Clemens, ready to print a snarky review of a play and its famous actress, sat amidst a massive crowd in a tiny theatre. As the curtain was drawn, he--and everyone else--was instantly mesmerized by the beautiful creature on stage wearing her signature pink, flesh-colored tights (and little else). Although Sam Clemens rarely let anyone escape without a scathing review, even he was blown away by young Adah Isaacs Menken.

Walt Whitman likened his friend Adah to a meteor: a flash light that could brighten up even the darkest skies. He had no way of knowing that Adah's life faded just as quickly as a meteor, when she died inexplicably, impoverished, and virtually alone. She was the most notorious woman in the world. She scandalized the elite of London and the prudish Victorians of New York. She had five husbands and never bothered with divorce. When an unknown illness claimed her life one hot summer day, she was just thirty-three.

Reading about figures from the past who have all but disappeared has always fascinated me. Adah Isaacs Menken captured the world's attention and virtually created the persona of a dangerous celebrity femme fatale--a persona that would be emulated by Clara Bow, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrichs and many other fabulous women from history. Even in a modern context, Adah's daring is astounding. She was part black (although "passed" as white, as did many men and women in the nineteenth century), bisexual, dressed frequently in men's clothes, and wore very little during her stage performances. A short review could never do Adah justice--her life is fascinating enough to fill volumes of books. The Fosters capture her life, succinctly and expertly weeding through the tall tales Adah often told to hide her past, in this biography.

Beth gives it four out of five carrots!

Click here to buy your copy of A Dangerous Woman at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival" by John Vaillant

A tiger crouches in the stillness of the Siberian taiga. His breaths are ragged from effort. He's spent days stalking around the cabin, his eyes trained on the man's every motion. There's a saying in the taiga--a tiger sees you one hundred times before you see it once. The man, with his sawed-off shotgun and sloppily homemade bullets, doesn't stand a chance against this four-hundred pound monster.

Vaillant uncovers this attack (and the ones that followed) piece by piece, only to discover that the tiger seemingly had a plan. Tigers are vengeful creatures--they don't hunt indiscriminately, but rather stalk and murder in premeditated attacks which sometimes last days. There are some books that take you far, far beyond any experience you've ever had in your life--The Tiger is one of those stories. Vaillant does a great job describing the poverty-struck village where townspeople are all but forced to poach for food or money. The tiger, of course, is worth an exorbitant amount of money--if he doesn't get you first. Thus, the Soviet government appointed a team of men to enforce strict anti-poaching laws. The team leader, Yuri Trush, becomes wrapped up in the mystery of the tiger and is determined to stop its reign of terror.

While telling the story, Vaillant goes on many tangents--all of which are informative, relevant, and interesting. He weaves in scientific studies about tigers as well as humans, how their behaviors have changed and evolved, and historical accounts of tigers.

This book is, quite frankly, all that is man--I can't imagine any father, brother, boyfriend, etc., not being completely wrapped up in this hunter vs. hunted tale. However, Vaillant's impeccable writing and research makes this a great read for anyone interested in nature, conservation, history, behavioral psychology, and, of course, survival.

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to buy The Tiger at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"The Allegra Biscotti Collection" by Olivia Bennet

As an avid fan of the television show Project Runway, I was very excited when this book fell into my lap! Emma Rose is your average seventh grade girl with a flair for fashion. When a famous fashion magazine editor discovers her designs in the backroom of her father's lace shop and offers her a feature in her magazine, Emma panics and a secret identity is born: Allegra Biscotti. Allegra is everything Emma is not: cosmopolitan, sophisticated, and fearless. But when Emma has to start juggling a secret identity along with homework, a new crush, and friends, she finds out that a double life is not as glamorous as she thought.

While this book is meant for readers ages 10 and up, I still found this book to be a real treat as a college freshmen. Bennet's descriptions of the clothes and the process of making them are so precise and elaborate that the reader can picture themselves in Emma's design studio watching her work. The two-color illustrations of her sketches and doodles in the margins really bring the clothes to life and give the book a feeling of a designer's journal. This book is perfect for the tween girl with a passion for fashion!

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to purchase The Allegra Biscotti Collection from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Be sure to watch for the second book in this new series coming out in June 2011: Who, What, Wear!: The Allegra Biscotti Collection

Books We All Love!

We at The Velveteen Rabbit are quite voracious readers, and we all have different interests. However, there are always certain books that we come to a complete consensus on! Here are just a few books that more than one of us claims as a "pick!"


The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Who loves it? Beth and Marie
Why? The Book Thief is not only boasts near-perfect writing, but its storyline is absolutely enthralling. It is the most uniquely written Holocaust book (perhaps even most uniquely-written book ever--after all, it is narrated by Death) and combines every element of a good story. Don't let its placement in the young adult section fool you--this is a great book for adults, too!
Rabbit Trivia: Beth has given this book to nearly everyone she knows.




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Who loves it? Clare, Grace, and Beth
Why? We all have a love for dystopian novels, and The Hunger Games certainly fits the bill. It also is exciting to read about a strong female protagonist. The action is non-stop, the characters are enchanting, and Collins is a fantastic storyteller--the rest of the series is equally wonderful!
Rabbit Trivia: The Hunger Games is based loosely on ancient mythology--specifically, the myth of Theseus and the minotaur.






The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Who loves it? Marie and Beth
Why? The Help is a breathtakingly beautiful portrait of 1960's Jackson, Mississippi--the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's wonderful to read a book that reminds us how far we've come in the last forty-plus years--not to mention that the characters (Aibelene and Minnie especially) are absolutely unforgettable.
Rabbit Trivia: The Help is currently being made into a movie, starring Zombieland's Emma Stone and Bryce Howard Dallas.




I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Who loves it? Grace and Marie
Why? Julia Spencer-Fleming weaves fantastic mysteries that are centered around two lovable characters: Russ Van Alystne and Clare Fergusson.
Rabbit Trivia: We've had Julia Spencer-Fleming for two author signings, and she is just as lovable as her books!