Hidy-ho bookworms! I hope you enjoyed this month’s pick, a teen love story featuring cancer, Amsterdam and a highly-antisocial author. John Green is truly a master of YA fiction and he didn’t disappoint. Just a note: if you didn’t have time to join in with this month’s read, this post will CONTAIN SPOILERS.

The Fault in Our Stars introduces us to our protagonist, Hazel, who has terminal cancer and a generally pessimistic view on life (who can blame her?). She attends a support group for other kids with cancer, mainly to please her over-protective mother. One day, at the support group,  she meets a new boy, Augustus Waters. They are kindred spirits, who can connect on so many levels, besides their common battle with cancer. Through a series of interesting events, they end up together in Amsterdam, where they meet the author of Hazel’s favorite book. Once they return home, it becomes clear that Augustus is once again battling the cancer that he thought was gone. Even though their time together is finite, the two continue to grow and bond, forever changing one another and causing me to sob buckets along the way. Read More »

Hello again readers! I hope you’re having a spectacular March so far. After last month’s laugh-festival “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”, I’ve decided to make things a little bit more serious for March. But not too serious.

John Green is one of my favorite authors and he happens to write very moving teen fiction. I’m sure I reviewed at least one of his books on the Saturday Read. He has a new novel out called “The Fault in Our Stars” about Hazel, a 16 year old with terminal cancer. I know that sounds very dreary, but trust me, if there’s anyone who can take that subject and turn it into a really important book that’s not too depressing, it’s John. He’s brilliant.

Please join me this March and pick up “The Fault in Our Stars”. As per usual, we’ll meet back here at the end of the month to discuss the title and pick something for April. You can get your copy at Amazon.com for just under $10.

I am a HUGE fan of John Green! I’ve previously reviewed two of his books (Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska), so when I saw that he would be writing with another YA heavy-hitter, David Levithan, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After begging publishers for an advanced reader of “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” (unsuccessfully, might I add), I surrendered and bought myself a brand new hardcover the very day it was released.

“Will Grayson, Will Grayson” tells the story of two teenage boys living in the Chicago area, both named Will Grayson. Other than their name, they have little in common, but a chance meeting one night sets into motion a series of events that changes both of their lives. The first Will Grayson that we meet is a smart, normal teenager. His best friend is a massive, gay football player ironically named Tiny, who has decided to write a musical chronicling his life being gay. Will isn’t too thrilled about this musical, especially about the character who is supposed to represent him, Gil Wrayson.

The other Will Grayson is a bit sadder; he’s living with his single mother, is on anti-depressants and is all together quite lost. All of his happiness comes from an online boyfriend, Isaac, so one night when Isaac suggests that they meet, Will Grayson is thrilled. On the same night, Tiny, the first Will Grayson and their other friend, Jane, decide to go to Chicago for a concert. However, neither of the Will Grayson’s nights go according to plan and they end up meeting.

And that’s all I’ll tell you. Read More »

Anyone who reads the Saturday Read knows that I am a closet teen fiction reader. It’s so honest and spirited that I can’t help but devour teen fiction after teen fiction. And, as I have said before, a teen read is a nice way to take your mind off of your school textbooks. I have read books where I’ve needed a dictionary beside me the entire time just to comprehend what’s going on. Those books are experiences, but can also be work, and with a course overload right now, I can’t afford to be working in my relaxation time.

So, I’ll say it again – I turn to teen fiction.

John Green is definitely one of my favorite authors of teen fiction. He always creates smart, funny, likable “heroes” and “heroines.” (I put it in quotes because even though they don’t really contribute a ton as a result of the plot of the novel, they undergo heroic transformations!) The hero of “Paper Towns” is Quentin Jacobson. He is very normal, very smart and, as he says, very well-adjusted, thanks to his therapist parents. His neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman is pretty much the exact opposite: rebellious, popular, desired. Quentin and Margo were childhood friends, but clearly, their paths have since divided and Quentin has spent a good deal of time pining over Margo. One night, Margo appears at Quentin’s window and takes him on a life-changing ride, pranking everyone who has done her wrong. And then she disappears.

Quentin is the last one to see Margo and also seems to be the only one who wants to find her.

Of course, this is only in the first few pages. Margo leaves Quentin clues, including a worn copy of “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman (one of my favorite poets!) and paper towns, which are unfinished subdivisions and apparently, very popular in central Florida. Completing the book (and aiding Quentin on his journey) is Quentin’s sidekick and best friend, Radar, who runs an online encyclopedia and helps deduce the mystery that is Margo. Read More »

Working at a bookstore, I run into plenty of what I call “book snobs.” People who will only read a book if it’s received 5-star reviews from the most prestigious of literary critics, if it is on the Bestseller list or if it’s won the flipping Nobel Prize. Even though these people see themselves as the cream-of-the-crop of book readers, I think they are just shallow and narrow-minded. Plenty of books, even fluffy ones, can have great messages and really strike a chord within the reader.

That’s one of the reasons that I read teen fiction. It always has a great message and doesn’t try to be precocious. Teen fiction – written to inspire a love of reading in young peoples’ hearts – is written soulfully and simply. And I love it.

One of my favorite teen fiction reads is “Looking for Alaska” by John Green. This is Green’s debut novel and, in my opinion, his best to date (although “Paper Towns” and “An Abundance of Katherines” are great as well!). He writes from the perspective of a naive teenage boy, finding his first love. I find this book so beautiful and honest and, most importantly, quirky. Read More »