Showing posts with label Teen Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teen Fiction. Show all posts

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Book #26 - Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga



ISBN: 0618723927
Format: Hardback, 311 pp
Pub. Date: October 2, 2006
Genre: Teen Fiction
Not part of a series
Borrowed from New Albany Library

From the Publisher

Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning
out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their
favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark
side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy's new little brother or sister.

Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he's been working
on without telling anyone, a graphic novel that he is convinced will
lead to publication, fame, and—most important of all—a way out of
the crappy little town he lives in and all the
people that make it hell for him.

When Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous,
cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for
jocks and bullies. Fanboy can't resist someone who actually seems
to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her
advice—to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way.


My Opinion of the Book

I heard good things about this book so checked it out from my local library. I did really enjoy the book and could tell the author was very familiar with the comic industry. The only thing I didn't care for about the book was how abrupt the ending felt. It would be nice to see him come out with a follow-up book that talked about what happened after this book, but I don't think that is in the works. I'll have to keep my eyes open just in case.

If you want to learn a little more about this book (and hear the intro), you should go to this link and watch the video about it on YouTube:

Fanboy and Goth Girl Video

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Book #20 - one of those hideous books where the mother dies by Sonya Sones


ISBN: 0689858205
Format: Hardback, 268pp
Pub. Date: April 27, 2004
Genre: Teen Fiction
Not part of a series
Checked out from library mobile

From the Publisher

My name is Ruby

This book is about me.

It tells the deeply hideous story of what happens when my mother dies and I'm dragged three thousand miles away from my gorgeous boyfriend, Ray, to live in L.A. with my father, who I've never even met because he's such a scumbag that he divorced my mom before I was born.

The only way I've ever even seen him is in the movies, since he's this mega-famous actor who's been way too busy trying to win Oscars to even visit me once in fifteen years.

Everyone loves my father.

Everyone but me.

My Opinion of the Book

I believe this is the 3rd book I've read by Sones and I really enjoy her writing style as well as her stories. I know lots of readers don't enjoy the prose format and honestly, I didn't think I would either, but it really doesn't feel like it's written in poetry.

Of the three Sones books I've read, I believe this story was my favorite. I loved the transitions that Ruby made in dealing with her mother's death and all the changes in her life. Some of it was predictable, but some of it still surprised me. The whole dream sequence before the earthquake was very interesting and I also liked how Ruby continued emailing her dead mother throughout the book in coping with her emotions a bit more.

Looking forward to finding other books by this author.