Monday 14 September 2015

Saint Anything

https://yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1189517101_saint_anything
By Sarah Dessen

Sydney has lived her whole life in the shadow of her older brother Peyton. Everyone in her life, especially her parents, dote on him despite his continued troubles with the law. Then one night, her brother gets in real trouble when he drives drunk and hits a boy on a bike. Now Sydney is known as the girl with the brother in jail, and all she wants to do is crawl under a rock. 

To allow her family to put her costly private school tuition toward lawyer bills - and to get away from the stares - Sydney decides to change schools for senior year. At her new school, Sydney meets the Chatham family, who have their own set of problems but are entirely more open than Sydney is used to. As Sydney navigates through new and old friendships, a new family dynamic, and confronting her crushing guilt about the accident, she starts to find herself after feeling invisible for a very long time.

This book started a bit slow for me, but by the halfway point I was in love with it. Sarah Dessen fans will not be disappointed. I really connected with the characters and loved the meaning behind the title "Saint Anything" (you get to it, eventually). Also, that beautiful carousel on the cover!

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Alex as Well

Alex as Well
By Alyssa Brugman

This is the complicated story about a young teen who is trying to figure out who they are. Many teens are trying to figure themselves out but for Alex things are a little more complicated because Alex, our main character, was born a little different. Alex was born intersexed. What is this? You may be asking yourself. Well Alex was born with the sexual organs of both sexes. As a baby Alex's parents chose to raise Alex as a boy. Unfortunately Alex has always felt like a female. So after being raised as a boy for so long she decides to create a whole new identity as a female. The journey will be tough and long. Many questions and lessons about gender, acceptance, sexuality, belonging, and friendship are dealt with in this novel. Alyssa Brugman's Alex as Well answers the question; does it matter whether you're a boy or a girl?

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Book of the Month: September - Emmy & Oliver

Emmy & Oliver
by Robin Benway

Emmy and Oliver are best friends up until grade 2 when the unthinkable happens, Oliver is kidnapped by his dad. Oliver's friends and family are all devastated when he disappears and for 10 years Oliver is always in everyone's minds - lost, but not forgotten. One day they receive the news they have all been waiting for - Oliver has been found! For Emmy this brings back fond memories of a boy that she felt an instant bond with, and a hope they can take up where they left off. However, when Oliver arrives back home it becomes clear that nothing is the same. The boy that was taken from them has grown up. Moreover, Oliver is struggling with reconciling the truth of his kidnapping by a man that he can't help but still love.

Will Emmy and Oliver find a way back to each other? Will Oliver be able to look forward to his future knowing that his past has been a lie?

A fantastic book that is funny, heart wrenching, and real. A great read!

Other books like Emmy & Oliver: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell,, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkin, An abundance of Katherines by John Green