Eight Days on Planet Earth, by Cat Jordan

Eight Days on Planet Earth is down-to-earth yet it's magical, funny, and a little heartbreaking.

Matty Jones has grown up knowing the field he lives next to is a little different. Matty's father claims that a spaceship landed there on the night he was born. But Matty's father has since run off with his brother's sister, leaving Matty and his mother alone, so Matty isn't all that inclined to listen to what his father believes. When a strange girl suddenly appears in Matty's field claiming to be from another planet, waiting to be collected by a spaceship, Matty knows it can't be true. But there is something so ethereal about Priya  that she starts to change Matty's view on life, the universe and even love.

It wasn't until I reached the very end of this book that I actually started to understand it. For most of this story I expected a spaceship to land in Matty's field and colllect the celestial Priya. But this book is actually a contemporary novel - real life, real world issues. It is just like it claims in the synopsis - about life, the universe and love. The ending of this book is beautiful but it also has a surprising twist. I didn't see it coming and it changed everything about how I viewed this book, the characters and their actions. The surprise is actually the best part, so I'll stop here.

This book is written from Matty's perspective across eight strange and life-changing days, which enables the reader to burrow into Matty's head and heart.
Eight Days on Planet Earth wasn't what I was expecting, but instead was a delightful and moving surprise. It is perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary novels about romance, family, self-discovery, tearjerkers and that something special that is just a little otherworldly. *JK*

Landscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson

There is something that I cannot resist about a slim novel and this one comes in at 149 pages plus has a great cover.  I'll be honest and say upfront that this isn't a book for everyone but I really liked it.  It was weird, which I love, and it was scifi without feeling like scifi.

This is our world after the vuvv, an alien race shaped somewhat like coffee tables, have landed.  The vuvv are all about efficiency and when they first landed they promised Earth a world with no more work and no more disease.  However, all of their tech was sold to the highest bidders and now the economy is in ruins.  Adam used to have a normal life but now his father is gone, there's another family living in his basement, and his mother has been unemployed for months.  Adam is a painter in a world where most art is digital and each short chapter feels like a painting.  Adam is trying to find ways to support his family, by recording his relationship with Chloe for the vuvv and entering in an art contest, while dealing with a disease makes digestion miserable.

I thought this was a really interesting book.  It looked at the line between the haves and have-nots in a way that didn't feel heavy handed.  Adam's family used to be middle class and I like how it painted the picture that anyone could lose everything.  Adam's mother never gives up hope and Adam is always trying to come up with a better way.  Great scifi for someone who doesn't necessarily like scifi. -RYQ

The Ex Factor

When it comes to girlfriends, self-proclaimed child prodigy Colin Singleton definitely has a type. And that type has nothing to do with hair color, height/weight ratio, interest (or lack thereof) in sports, or the usual things that might attract people to each other. No. Colin is attracted to girls named Katherine (not Katie, not Kathy, not Kat, not Catherine-spelled-with-a-C). He's dated 19 of them to date, and each one has dumped him. Reeling from the crushing heartbreak of his most recent dumping, Colin decides he needs to get away from it all: From his hometown, from his over-protective and success-obsessed parents, AND from Katherines. Joined by his quirky friend Hassan, Colin embarks on a cross-country road trip, on which he hopes to complete a mathematical formula that will predict the outcome of any relationship. The guys end up in Gut Shot, Tennessee, the apparent burial place of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a historical figure who has much significance to Colin. Here, in this unlikely rural town, Colin and Hassan find jobs, friends, and life lessons. There might even be an opportunity for Colin to break his lifelong Katherine streak.

Although not quite as good as John Green's other books (in my opinion), An Abundance of Katherines is not without its charms. There's well-developed and likable characters, there's a fun plot, and there's the author's trademark humor. A warning for those clueless about math: There's quite a bit of math in here, so it's easy for to get sidetracked (and then lost) due to the complex formulas. On the other hand, you math nerds will love this! Overall, this book was entertaining and I'd recommend it. --AJB 

Game On for Love!

Meet Scott Pilgrim, 22-year-old slacker and bassist for Canadian rock band Sex Bob-omb. Scott's dating high schooler Knives Chau, but is really in love with punk rock Amazon.ca delivery girl Ramona Flowers. But there's something Scott must do before he can date this girl of his dreams--besides ditching Knives with as little drama as possible. Scott's got to fight Ramona's Seven Evil Ex's, who include a famous skateboarder, a vegan rock star with super powers, identical twins, and a girl in need of some serious anger management therapy. And, of course, Scott must also own up to his own inner demons. Will Scott defeat the bad guys, win the girl, and save the day? Or will he be KO'd? Or worse, become an Evil Ex himself? 

Based on the gaphic novel series by Bryan O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim vs The World combines a great storyline, perfect casting, awesome special effects, and elements from old school video games. All this while remaining true to the books (as much as it's possible for a movie to do so, that is). But this movie can be enjouyed even if you're not familiar with the books. Exceptionally entertaining and highly recommended! --AJB