May - September Book Reviews

I had a very busy summer reading, and since I chose to focus on young adult books, I was able to read quite a number of them. In order to catch up, I decided not to write full reviews for each book. I gave my personal rating and then just provided a brief description and link for each book in case anyone wants to check them out further. Three stars are fairly easy to come by, so I would more highly recommend any of the four star books.

Break the Skin by Lee Martin, fiction
**1/2
"In “Break the Skin” Lee Martin weaves the stories of two women to explore the evils that can lie beneath the banality of small-town life."
New York Times

The Adults by Alison Espach, fiction
***
"As this first novel's 14-year-old narrator looks on, her affluent suburban family disintegrates."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/books/review/Kucyznski-t.html

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman, middle grade
****
^Printz award, finalist (2001)
"Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy and cannot function, relates his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, especially as he believes his father is planning to kill him."
Amazon

Teen, Inc. by Stefan Petrucha, young adult
***
"Fourteen year old Jaiden's family is a corporation and his home is an office building."
http://www.amazon.com/Teen-Inc-Stefan-Petrucha/dp/0802796508

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson, young adult
****
"After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, [Tyler Miller's] reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles."
http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/0670061018

Matched by Allyson Braithwaite Condie, young adult
***
"For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the 'burden' of choice."
Amazon

Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix, young adult
***
"Lindsay Scott, 16, lives a completely secluded life after spending her early years in the spotlight as a child star. Her fame, coupled with an ability to hear all that is said about her by everyone throughout the world, take its toll, and, at age 11, she suffered a nervous breakdown."
http://www.amazon.com/Claim-Fame-Margaret-Peterson-Haddix/dp/1416939172

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen, young adult
***
"Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski."
 Amazon

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal, young adult
***
"For sixteen years, Nalia has been raised as the princess of Thorvaldor, but one day she learns that her real name is Sinda and that she is part of a complicated plot that would change the future of her country forever."
http://www.worldcat.org/title/false-princess/oclc/432992770

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, young adult
****
^Printz award, finalist (2000)
"In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager."
Amazon

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, young adult
****
^Newbery honor book (2010)
"A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century."
http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Calpurnia-Tate-Kelly-Jacqueline/dp/0805088415

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, chick lit
**
"Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiancé."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, young adult
****
"Ella is under a spell to be constantly obedient, a fact she must hide from her new step-family in order to protect the prince of the land, her friend for whom she's falling."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327679/

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, young adult
***
"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs."
YouTube

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, young adult
****
^Printz award, finalist (2006)
"Ed is a 19-year-old loser only marginally connected to the world; he's the son that not even his mother loves. But his life begins to change after he acts heroically during a robbery."
http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Messenger-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375830995

Testimony by Anita Shreve, fiction
***
"In her latest novel... Shreve explores issues surrounding teenage sexuality and the long-term ramifications of our in-the-moment decisions. When a video surfaces featuring a 14-year-old freshman girl engaging in sexual acts with three senior boys, Avery Academy in Avery, Vermont is shaken to its core."
The Book Lady's Blog

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, young adult
***
"... the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island."
Amazon

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, fiction
****
"From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The House at Riverton, a novel that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through generations and across continents as two women try to uncover their family's secret past."
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Forgotten-Garden/Kate-Morton/9781416550549

Gym Classes and the Pumpkin 5K

Last month, Michael and I finally joined a gym. We talked about it for a long time but waited until we could fit it in the budget. There were many factors we took into consideration including price, contracts, location, and amenities. Of course, the gym first had to fit in our budget. Second, we wanted a gym that offered a month to month contract so that we were not locked in. Some people might be willing to travel to a fancy gym, but we preferred something close to home because we knew it would increase the probability that we would actually go regularly. Finally, we hoped to find a gym that fit all those requirements and also provided plenty of equipment, a variety of classes, and a clean, comfortable atmosphere. We were extremely fortunate to find all those at Lifestyle Family Fitness, less than two miles from home. It has totally been worth the investment for us. I've already tried their Zumba and spinning classes, and they offer these LesMills classes (which I had never heard of) that are really good. So far I've checked out BodyPump and BodyStep. Classes are great if you are social and want to meet new people, are looking for a low level of accountability (if you become a regular, you might be missed), if you like sticking to a schedule, or if you just want someone else to guide you through a workout. I can tell these are serious calorie-burners, and I hope to keep going.

The gym has also been a great way for me to supplement my running routine. I signed up for The Great Pumpkin Run 5K, which is next weekend, and have been moderately training for it. I would love to set a new PR, but I've been somewhat sluggish in training, so I don't know how well that will go over. The cross-training and extra strength training I get by going to the gym has definitely been good though.

Time for a Comeback?

So, I'm thinking about blogging again, and I'm just wondering... is it worth it? Did anyone miss me? If I come back, I'm thinking about making a few tweaks to the content. While I enjoy using the blog to update friends and family about life, I'd also like to add some value to my posts, things that might interest or help my readers in some way. I would love to hear your thoughts, so please take my poll and leave a comment. Thanks!