Are You Experienced, by Jordan Sonnenblick

In the past, I've been a fan of Jordan Sonnenblick's novels. Curveball... Notes from the Midnight Driver... These books are the perfect combination of hilarious and heartfelt, real and ridiculous, and sporting a cast of characters that are well-rounded and easy to relate to. Unfortunately, the author's latest offering, Are You Experienced, missed the mark. 

At first, I was elated to learn this new novel was set at Woodstock. I'm a huge fan of classic rock, and the time period of peace and love has always held a particular fascination for me. Then I heard the story also had a time travel twist. Time travel is a literary aspect that is extremely difficult to write about without sounding completely cliche. Still, I was intrigued...

The premise of Are You Experienced is as follows: Richard, a teen boy whose parents (dad in particular) are so strict he can't even chew gum, discovers an antique guitar in his father's office. A guitar signed by none other than the Late, Great Jimi Hendrix. Of course he tries it out...and is mysteriously and magically transported to Woodstock, where he meets his 15-year-old father, his uncle (who died of a drug overdose), and his uncle's "hot" girlfriend. Yes, it sounds a little Back to the Future. But I love Back to the Future. Richad MUST have been sent back for an important reason! Perhaps even to save his uncle? Sounds like it could be awesome, right?

Well...

Are You Experienced read more like the author's fantasy than an actual, fully-fleshed-out story. The characters (who were cliches of hippie teens) were flat, uninspired, and spent most of the time listening to music and "tripping out" on various illicit substances. Dialogue was all over the place. Sometimes they spoke like groovy 60's kids, and other times like modern-day teens. The setting (rain, mud, people getting high and dancing around, mentions of various bands that performed) was also vague, like something gleaned from looking at old photos. Didn't even try to put me, the reader, in the story. Telling instead of showing. There was, really, no sense of place at all.

Then, if Richard's time warping back to Woodstock isn't unrealistic enough, the characters also just happen to meet Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, and a few other famous people from back in the day. Aside from that, there really wasn't much of a plot. Nothing even really came of Richard going back in time: He didn't save his uncle--or change the future in any way. There really wasn't much of a point to his journey. Then, once back in modern times, there is a much-much-too-long (3 chapters) explanation of why things are as they are that was about as realistic as a chance meeting with Hendrix. I mentally rolled my eyes several times. But by then I'd pretty much lost interest anyway.

With Are You Experienced, it seemed like the author was more interested in writing about Woodstock than telling a good story. I was disappointed all around.

If you're interested in reading one of Jordan Sonnenblick's books, I recommend skipping Are You Experienced. 

Read Notes from the Midnight Driver instead. --AJB

Where's The Doctor?

Waldo? Yeah...you've already found him. Been there, done that. Or have you?With Where's The Doctor, llustrator Jamie Smart puts a whole new (and timely) spin on Waldo-esque books. In this fun and colorful volume, The Doctor, Amy, and others are hidden among Daleks, Judoon, Weeping Angels (don't blink!), and more. You don't even have to be a "Whovian" to appreciate this book. So.... Where's The Doctor? You won't know until you find him.

Teen Review: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

Teen Reviewer Elizabeth Grabowski, 12, loved The Subtle Knife, the second book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials (Golden Compass) trilogy. In this exciting follow-up to The Golden Compass, Lyra and her deamon companion have fled their world through a mysterious...and ended up in another. Here, she teams up with Will, a boy from our world. Using a magical artifact, the children learn more about the terrible Authority that threatens to destroy not only their worlds, but all of them.

"The Subtle Knife is really good. I would recommend this book because it is challenging and quite well-written. Also, it has a lot of action and adventure in it and, in places, it can get really intense and exciting!"--Elizabeth Grabowski.

Elizabeth recommends The Subtle Knife for teens 12 and older.

Teen Reviewer: A Stone Rose

Teen reviewer Hannah, 11th grade, read A Stone Rose, by Jacquelin Rayner (A Stone Rose is a Doctor Who novelization). She read it on the suggestion of a friend, and really enjoyed it:

"The book is great if you love the show Doctor Who or Sci-fi. It's such an intriguing plot line, and the characters are so interesting. The whole thing with paradoxes is really cool. The Troublemaker and the way everything works out in the end is really interesting. This is a very fun and light read. Great for a weekend!"

Hannah wouldn't hesitate to recommend the book to someone else.

Midwinterblood

Centuries ago, on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed, a viking king is ritually sacrificed in hopes that his death will end a mysterious curse that has been plaguing the land. The curse ended...or did it? Shortly after the king's death, the queen vanishes--only to reappear months later possessing a terrible secret. A secret that would change the island and its people forever.

Flash forward: In the year 2037, investigative reporter Eric Seven visits Blessed hoping to uncover the truth to the claim that the residents of the island have discovered the secret to eternal life. Upon his arrival, he meets Merle, a woman he feels he's known before. As history brutally repeats itself, Eric realizes he has known Merle--in another lifetime. Many other lives, in fact. What follows are seven chapters told in reverse chronological order, summarizing how Eric and Merle's souls have encountered each other again and again throughout the centuries. 

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick is this year's Printz Award winner. But despite the high honor bestowed upon it, the story is lacking. Chapters are too short to allow for much character development, and the way the plot jumps makes the storyline difficult to follow. What's more, clues linking the stories feel forced and are a little too convenient even for fate. Because of this, readers may have a hard time staying engaged. Lastly, the concept (two souls linked by tragedy doomed to follow each other throughout history) is stale. It's been done many times before: "Reincarnation" by Suzanne Weyn, "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell, "The Midnight Club" by Christopher Pike... The list continues.

While mildly entertaining, this one, unfortunately, isn't highly recommended. --AJB