Book Review: I Have Lost My Way, by Gayle Forman @gayleforman ‏

I had heard that I Have Lost My Way is told backward, and I was skeptical. (Seems like a "thing" lately.) I shouldn't have worried.  Forman skillfully uses flashbacks to tell the backstory, and it flows seamlessly.

Freya is one of our main characters.  She's a budding pop star, who has lost her voice.  She's feeling a lot of pressure from her manager and her mother. She's estranged from her sister, so when she sees a Facebook post that her sister is engaged, she kind of loses it.

Actually, she falls off a bridge in a park and lands on Nathaniel, who has just arrived in New York.  Harun is the bystander who sees it all and comes to help.  Freya and Harun decide that Nathaniel needs to see a doctor since he passed out and is very confused.

This begins a story of a special relationship, as these three bond very quickly and don't seem to want to leave each other.  Even though they all have other plans.  The reader discovers these plans slowly, through glimpses of the past leading up to this chance meeting. I didn't even realize until the end that this story takes place all in one day.  But what a huge day for these characters.

These three exemplify the title of the book -- they have all lost their way. Can they help each other to find their way back? Well, you'll have to read it.

 Foreman hasn't disappointed her teen fans. They will love I Have Lost My Way.

Published by Viking BFYR, March 27, 2018
eARC obtained from NetGalley
272 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a super cute contemporary romance that I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Simon is gay, but he hasn't come out to anyone.  He's having an ongoing email conversation with a guy who is called Blue, but Simon doesn't know his true identity.  So much of the story is Simon trying to figure out who this guy is that he has a huge crush on.  And they go to the same high school. Many conversations are about coming out -- and when, and to who -- as well as Simon pushing Blue to reveal his identity.

Simon has a great circle of friends and he's also involved in the theater at school. He accidentally leaves a school computer logged in, and one of the kids at school, Marty, sees his emails.  Marty has a crush on one of Simon's friends, Abby, so Marty basically blackmails Simon.  He wants Simon to arrange for Marty to get together with Abby. If he does, then Marty will keep Simon's secret.

Everything blows up -- in many ways -- for Simon. But eventually, this is a happy story that leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart. As far as the LGBT aspect, this story was a natural, cute romance.  I don't like it when these stories feel contrived to include gender nonconforming teens. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda did not feel like that.  Simon and the other characters are teens just like any others, with stressors just like many of them.

The only thing I found a bit over the top was the fact that Simon could be so in love with a guy just by reading his emails.  Especially when there is so much they can't say to each other, lest they reveal their identities. Maybe I'm just too old to remember what it's like to be a teen.  Perhaps it isn't unrealistic for them.

I'm picky about my YA romances, and I enjoyed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda a lot. I'm sure many more of my teens will pick it up after Love, Simon the movie, releases on March 16.

Published by Balzer + Bray, 2015
Copy obtained from the library
303 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, by Benjamin Alire Saenz @BenjaminAlireSa

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is about the characters.  It is a "coming-of-age" story.  And it's a good one.  I don't tend to enjoy these books as much, but when done well, I can appreciate it.

Sal is our narrator. He's the adopted white son of a single Mexican father who is gay.  His father knew his biological mother and was there when Sal was born.  His grandmother has been very close to Sal, kind of substituting for his mother.

Sal's best friend is a neighbor girl, Samantha.  She has grown up with a single mother who hasn't always been there for her. Fito is another friend who is trying to be successful even though his mother is a drug addict.

These three kids are trying to navigate their way through their senior year of high school.  Sal isn't sure he wants to go to college yet, and his father is pressuring him to get that application essay finished.  All three of the teens will suffer tragedy in their lives. They lean on each other and mostly on Sal's dad, who is a gem.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life takes a profound look at the family.  Sal is exceptionally lucky, especially in contrast to his friends, to have his dad and his extended family.  Even though he wonders about his mom and his biological father, he learns to appreciate what he has. He isn't perfect, though.  Lately, it seems like his fists have a mind of their own, and Sal is having a hard time dealing with his anger appropriately.  He learns that sometimes he's not the only one dealing with difficult issues, his dad needs Sal's support too.

The friendships are genuine.  Fito isn't a teen that would normally be in this circle, but Sal recognizes something special in him and brings him in. Don't expect a romance.  Samantha and Sal's relationship is based on nothing more that true friendship, and neither of them ever consider each other as a romantic interest.  Kind of refreshing.

It is a moving story.  It kept me interested. although at times I felt it was a bit drawn out. Teens who may be feeling the pressures of life (and most of them are) will find something valuable in The Inexplicable Logic of My Life.

Published by Clarion, March 7, 2017
eARC obtained from NetGalley
464 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: We are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

Delightful! Just as a reminder, I'm not a huge contemporary fan, but once in a while I see one that looks appealing.  We are Still Tornadoes is just that book.

We are Still Tornadoes is told entirely in letters sent back and forth from Scott to Cath.  Cath has just gone away to college, and Scott is back home working at his father's clothing store.  They have lived across the street from each other their entire lives and are best friends.

That's right.  I said letters.  No email, no texting.  We are Still Tornadoes takes place in the '80s and the references to the music of that time added to the entertainment.

It is no secret where this book is heading, but that is OK.  Because these two encounter a lot of bumps along the road, and they help each other through. Along the way, they are very entertaining.  I literally laughed aloud several times at their clever comebacks.

It's mostly a story of true friendship; the romance part is only at the very end. So if you want heat, this isn't the book. It's been compared to Eleanor & Park, and while I can see that, it's really not the same.  Scott and Cath aren't really misfits. They are fairly normal kids going through the stresses of adolescence and experiencing big changes in their lives.

We are Still Tornadoes is a quick read that will entertain contemporary friendship/romance fans of all ages. I can't wait to recommend this one!

Published by St. Martin's Griffin, November 1, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
304 pages

Rating: 5/5

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The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, DNF

The Serpent King is just not the book for me. After reading 25%, I gave it up.

The story is about three misfit kids trying to make it through their senior year. Each character narrates their part of the book. In the 25% I read, really nothing happened. They went shopping for school clothes. We got some background information about why each of the characters is a "misfit." It just wasn't enough to hook me.

The writing is fine, the format is good. I just didn't care enough about these characters to continue. The Serpent King got a nice blurb from John Corey Whaley, but his books have not always settled well with me either, so what do I know?

Just my opinion; you  might love this one if you like character driven stories.

Published by Crown BFYR, March 8, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
96/384 pages

Rating: DNF

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Audio Book Review: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

While The Sense of an Ending really isn't my type of book, I enjoyed it for the most part.

The Sense of an Ending is narrated by Tony, and it's basically his life story you're going to hear. The novel is a character study -- not much of a plot, although there is an entertaining twist at the end.

Tony tells us about his friendship with three other boys, but in particular a boy named Adrian. They each go their own separate ways during college, and Tony starts up a romantic relationship, which eventually ends. And then Adrian and the ex begin a relationship and Tony loses touch with them. And then Adrian commits suicide.

So, Tony has "come of age" and we've heard a lot of details that seem a bit irrelevant. Once we hurry through Tony's progression to middle age, he begins to look back on his youth and try to make sense of some things. It's a short book, which is good, because I don't think I could have listened to much more.

I can see why this book is award winning. The writing is beautiful. If I hadn't been listening to the audio version, I'm sure I would have had to include some philosophical quotes -- of which there are many.

The narrator, Richard Morant, does a great job and lends authenticity to Tony's voice.

Definitely an adult book, but if you enjoy a meandering, philosophical, introspective look at one man's life (and don't' forget about that twist), then you should try The Sense of an Ending.

Published by Borzoi, 2011
Audiobook obtained from the library
176 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

When a book has three medals on the cover, you feel like you are supposed to like it. Probably a lot. But for me, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was a disappointment.

Ari is our narrator. He doesn't talk much, worries about not knowing who he is, has no friends, and prefers it that way. One day at the swimming pool, a boy asks Ari if he wants to learn how to swim. So Dante teaches Ari how to swim and a friendship is born.

Let's talk about what I liked about  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The blurb talks about "breathtaking prose." I can see that. The writing is very good. The characterizations are excellent. I really felt like I got to know Ari and Dante very well. I loved the parents in this one. Especially Ari's conversations with his mother. Great stuff.

But, as you can probably tell, I had some problems. Nothing. Ever. Happens. Well, maybe things just happen very slowly. The "accident" happens at about the middle of the book, but it doesn't really move the story along very much. The last 50 pages were very interesting and almost wrapped things up too quickly. Maybe not too quickly, but it was startling after the slow development of the rest of  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. 

As the story meanders along, you become fairly certain how things are going to end. And I suspect Saenz wants you to know. But still, I wanted so badly for it not to end like that. It was just way too easy and happy. I was hoping for something different that would surprise me. But no. Totally predictable.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an LGBTQ book dealing with homosexuality. If the romance in this book had been heterosexual, it would have been boring and cliche. It was. I felt the same way about Rainbow Boys when it came out in 2001. At that time, it was somewhat groundbreaking, at least to me. But the only reason that book was interesting was because of the homosexuality. If the story had been written with couples of the opposite sex, it would have been a boring, cliche romance. I don't understand why predictable romance stories get so much attention just because they are about gay couples.

I'm obviously way in the minority here, and I'm probably being very controversial. Just remember, this is just my opinion and don't judge me to harshly.

I'm sure Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe has a teen audience, and I won't hesitate to recommend it to them.

Published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
359 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King @AS_King

A.S. King novels are unique, and Glory O'Brien's History of the Future is no exception. She comes up with unusual situations, but her characters are so well done, nothing seems that strange.

Glory is going to graduate from high school. Her best friend, Ellie, isn't because she's home schooled by her mother at the commune right across the street from Glory's house.

Glory lives with her father. They have some issues. Her mother committed suicide by putting her head in the oven when Glory was four years old. Her dad quit painting after that and also got rid of the oven. They only have a microwave, and they don't speak of Glory's mother.

Glory and Ellie found a dead bat that they put in a jar a couple of years ago. Ellie's mother finds the jar in a shed, and shakes it until the bat literally becomes powder. Glory and Ellie are staring at the stars one night, drinking beer, and they decide to pour the powder in their beer and drink it.

After they drink the bat, they can see things about people when they make eye contact. Sometimes it's things about the person's past. Sometimes it's the future. Glory seems to see bad things, but the things Ellie sees are fun and happy.

Glory begins to urge her dad to talk about her mom, and she finds some old scrapbooks of her mother's. Glory loves photography, just like her mom, but she can't figure out what to do with her life. She feels doomed to repeat what her mother did. No one talks about her mom, so she doesn't know if they are alike or not.

That's a pretty convoluted and non-detailed description that doesn't sound like much. I just can't go into every detail that makes Glory O'Brien's History of the Future special--there are too many of them. But the book is very emotional and dramatic. There are many side stories that contribute to Glory's trying to find her way. Suffice it to say, if you have read A. S. King before, you will want to read Glory O'Brien's History of the Future. If you haven't, this is as good a place to start as any. If you've read Ask the Passengers (probably my favorite one) this book has the same feelings and emotions as that one. And, Gerald, the main character from Reality Boy, gets a mention.

What a talented author. King will always be one of my favorites, and I'll make sure to read anything she writes. I love putting her books in the hands of my teens. You should try it.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR (October 14, 2014)
eARCobtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: The Disenchantments, by Nina LaCour

As far as contemporary stories go, The Disenchantments is a worthy addition to the genre.

The Disenchantments is also a road trip book, which adds a lot with the changing scenery and new characters being introduced. Bev, Alexa, and Meg are in a band. Not a very good band, but that doesn't matter. They are going on a summer tour, and Colby is driving them in his uncle's VW van.

Colby and Bev have been best friends since they were very young, and they, unlike all their other classmates, have decided not to go to college. They are going to spend a year touring Europe. They've been planning this for at least 4 years, and after the band's tour, they are leaving.

Things don't always turn out the way you planned, and this is certainly true for Colby and Bev. Another strength of The Disenchantments are the characters. They each have their own thing going on -- they are not cookie-cutter teens. Their relationships are complex. There's some romance, and quite a bit of tension.

The book is well-written and the pages turn easily and quickly. There's nothing earth shattering here. Just teens trying to figure out their lives and the best direction to take, but it's well done and I think many teens will enjoy The Disenchantments.

Published by Dutton, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
307pages

Rating: 3/5

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