Jenni's Reading

Invisible, by Pete Hautman

Dougie and Andy are best friends and total opposites. Dougie is shy and introverted, preferring to work on his model trains and replica of the Golden Gate Bridge (which he is constructing completely out of matchsticks). Andy is popular and outgoing, starring in the school play and scoring touchdowns for the football team. Despite their differences, these two boys are tied together by ominous past events that the author allows to unfold throughout the course of the book.

This is definitely a book for the "best of '05" category. Short, edgy and irresistible, this is one of the most supremely crafted books (with a shocking twist at the end) that I have read lately.

Where I want to Be, by Adele Griffin

Jane and Lily are sisters separated by one year; Jane is the older and Lily, the younger. As they grow up into their teen years, Jane stays rooted in her childhood, eschewing any interest in dating, hanging out, and going away to college. Lily, on the other hand, has a steady boyfriend and a close group of girlfriends and is excited about her future. Told in their alternating voices, this book weaves together their lives after a tragic incident occurs.

I read this book after reading Hautman's Invisible, which I think detracted from the experience, since there are some similarities to these books. This, like Invisible is a fast-paced read, but Hautman's work seemed to be edgier and more gripping than Griffin's book.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything , by Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner
	After finishing the audiobook version of this title I was reminded of a riddle from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: why is a raven like a writing desk? Freakonomics looks at some odd pairings: the commonalities between teachers and sumo wrestlers and the Ku Klux Klan and real estate agents. Leavitt makes the dry subject of economics come alive and appeal to the reader, relating it to contemporary subjects. Covering an extremely diverse area of topics from sumo wrestling to abortion to crime to baby names, this book is truly outstanding and is well rounded enough to please most audiences.
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Flush, by Carl Hiaasen

Noah Underwood knows that the town's infamous gambling boat, the Coral Queen is dumping human sewage into the harbor. Due to this dumping, the local beaches where the kids swim and animals live are becoming polluted and inhabitable. Noah's dad tries to stop the Coral Queen, but ends up in jail, leaving Noah and his sister Abbey to unearth the shady doings on the Coral Queen.

If you liked Hiaasen's previous book Hoot, you will love Flush. A fast-paced and funny mystery filled with pirates and Hiaasen's trademark eco-consciousness, Flush is one of the best books I have read this year.

Fullmetal Alcehmist Volume 1, by Hiromu Arakawa
	This manga poses the question between religion and the science. Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse are alchemists, but when they break the laws of alchemy, a terrible accident occurs, and one brother's soul is trapped in a suit and another loses an arm and a leg. This volume follows their adventures as they seek out the philosopher's stone to try and recover their complete bodies back. Fullmetal Alchemist is a fast, thrilling read. I didn't expect to like it half as much as I did, and am now really looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing more of Edward and Alphonse.
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Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch

Everything is not always black or white. Keir Sarafian is a decent student, respected athlete, and an all-around good guy. As high school is coming to a close and graduation approaches, Keir's entire world is changing.

But Keir's world is not as well-defined as he believed. Things and people are not always what they seem.

On graduation night, Keir makes choices that will affect him his entire life. Keir attempts to comfort his childhood friend and love, Gigi, in her distress. However, the night takes a shocking turn and everything is turned upside down for all of the people involved.

In this slender book, Lynch chooses his words carefully and skillfully. We see the events as they happen through Keir's eyes, and feel the feelings that Keir is feeling. Inexcusable is a chilling portrayal of a violent occurrence and a deeply powerful book.

Double Helix, by Nancy Werlin
	Eli Samuels has just finished high school and is offered the chance of a lifetime to work at Wyatt Transgenics, a laboratory specializing in genetic engineering. Eli idolizes Dr. Wyatt, and is honored to accept his offer, which seems to good to be true. While working at the lab, Eli begins to notice some strange occurrences. Eli's father wants him to stay away from Dr. Wyatt, yet will not explain why. Eli meets Kayla Matheson, a beautiful girl staying with Dr. Wyatt who looks strangely like Eli's mother. Blending together the ethical concerns about genetic engineering and one man's struggle to find his own identity, Double Helix is a well-crafted mystery.
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The Orpheus Obsession, by Dakota Lane

Anooshka Stargirl lives in a small town near Woodstock, New York with her less-than-stable mother. After hearing the music of Orpheus for the first time, she is instantly obsessed. Through a series of chance (and not-so accidental) encounters, Anooshka meets Orpheus and begins a relationship with the pop idol. Anooshka's sister, ZZ Moon, who lives in New York City warns her about falling too deeply for the older musician, but Anooshka is completely smitten and believes she and Orpheus share a cosmic connection and that their love must be deeper and more real than all of the groupies that surround him. Fans of Francesca Lia Block's writing will delight in this lyrically written cautionary love story.

Runaways, Volume 1: Pride & Joy , by Brian K. Vaughan
	What would you do if you found out that your parents were truly evil? Alex, Karolina, Gert, Molly and Nico discover that their parents are evil super-villains working for a mysterious sect called "The Pride." The six teens decide to run away and try to warn the world of their parents' hideous secret. Along the way, they discover some secrets for themselves and the adventure begins. Not your typical superhero graphic novel, Runaways is funny and fast-paced. With vibrant full-color illustrations and realistic dialogue, Vaughan's first volume of this dynamic series is sure to please.
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Saving Francesca, by Melina Marchetta

Set in Australia, Francesca Spinelli attends St. Sebastian's, a newly coed school, where she is one of thirty girls among seven hundred and fifty boys. Sounds like every girl's dream, right? Hardly - Francesca has to make all new friends, and the girls at St. Sebastian's are nowhere near as cool as her old friends from her old school and she has to deal with Will Trombol and his confusing signals towards her. At home, life isn't much easier, since Francesca's mother refuses to get out of bed. With all of these crises, who will save Francesca? Saving Francesca is a fast, well-written read, reminiscent of a high school Bridget Jones.

Twilight, by Stehpanie Meyer
	Isabella Swan moves from warm, sunny Arizona to rainy, dreary and cold Forks in Washington State. On her first day at her new school, she meets Edward Cullen, an enigmatic and handsome young man. Though other boys show Bella attention, her sights are firmly set on Edward - even after she learns that he is a vampire. How can they make this relationship work? Bella and Edward forge ahead in their ultimately doomed relationship and the struggles that they face grow until the book's tense climax. Twilight is a dark love story, and will delight romance fans and vampire aficionados alike.
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Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, by Deb Caletti

Ruby McQueen is the "quiet" girl, who no one ever really notices, until the summer that she meets Travis Becker. Wealthy, good-looking, and dangerous, Travis and his thill-seeking get Ruby into situations that she never would have dreamed herself in - yet Ruby cannot break free from Travis. Ruby's mother, Ann, the town librarian, also has a dangerous man in her life - Ruby's father, a freeloading, two-bit amusement park musician with big dreams.

Together with Ruby's mother's senior book club, both mother and daughter learn what love really means - that it's not just "honey, baby, sweetheart," when they embark on an impromptu road trip.

A National Book Award finalist, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is a wonderful book for mothers and daughters, and fans of Nicholas Sparks.

Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Patterson

Louise (or Wheeze) feels constantly overshadowed by her twin sister, Caroline. Caroline, is delicate and frail, with a voice like an angel, and everyone always endlessly dotes upon her. Growing up on a small island in New England, during WWII, Louise feels like she cannot escape Caroline. Jacob Have I Loved chronicles her story through adolescence and her transition into adulthood.

My heart broke over and over for Louise, as I saw her hopes built and demolished. Paterson paints a vivid picture of the difficulties of wartime, coupled with the difficulties of adolescence and wanting to fit in. Jacob Have I Loved was written 25 years ago as young adult novel (and won the Newbery Award in 1981), but this story has stood the test of time and should appeal to adult and teen readers with interests in historical fiction and familial dramas.

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