Our Chemical Hearts, by Krystal Sutherland

I really loved this book. It was funny and cute but it also had a lot of meaning. I loved how everything was balanced and it wasn't just a fluffy contemporary and it wasn't one of those books that will leave you feeling like you got ran over by a train. It had a perfect mix of humor and sadness.

I really liked the main character, Henry. I also loved his group of friends as well as his family which are quite amazing. I thought each character had interesting and different perspectives. Although I had a difficult time liking Grace in the beginning of the story. It was very obvious that Grace was keeping something major to herself so it is no wonder that her character was more of a mystery. I also enjoyed the interactions between Henry and Grace when they were together.

The main focus of this book is really solving the mystery that is Grace and Henry slowly builds a relationship with her. Grace does have some tragedy in her past which is greatly impacting her present life. Henry is patient and tries to be there for Grace even though he wants to move forward and focus on a future with her. For Henry, Grace become his total focus often to the detriment of other things in his life. In addition to being a story of first love, Henry learns a lot about himself, his family, and his friends over the course of the story.

Overall, Our Chemical Hearts is a great read. It's so well written and original. *JK*

P.S. I Like You, by Kasie West

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West is ridiculously adorable. I'm a huge fan of modern settings/real world and I was very impressed with this story which had solid plots and strong characters.

Basically, Lily is an aspiring songwriter in an endearingly chaotic family. She sees a note on her chemistry desk from another student who shares her taste in music, so they leave notes for each other and build a strong connection throughout the semester. There are a few possible guys who could be it. So the first third of the story is trying to figure out his identity. The rest of the story is her trying to reconcile the guy she knows in the notes with the version she knows in real life. It's a total Darcy/Elizabeth relationship of Pride and Prejudice.

The way everything unfolded was the best part --the pacing and execution were perfect. The characters felt like totally believable, realistically flawed teens. Even the secondary characters were well done! I loved how important Lily's home life was and how kind she was to her brothers. Lily herself was hilariously awkward, stubborn, and probably my favorite main character.

I don't want to say who the guy is (even though it's really easy to guess!), so I'll just say that whole relationship built up perfectly. They go from hating each other to slowly getting to know each other to being in love. It's a hate to love romance that actually works and doesn't feel at all forced.

Kasie West is such a talented writer. Everything is so real and just pulls you in. It's one of the most adorable, feel-good books I've read in a long time. If you like her story, I also recommend you to read The Fill-In Boyfriend which is also my favorite! *JK*

Gemini by Sonya Mukherjee

Growing up with a twin I've had my fair share of sharing things- birthdays, bedrooms, toys, even friends. However, he (I'm a she) is my fraternal twin. Meaning we don't look a lot alike and aside from things and days, we don't share any of the same physical attributes. Hailey and Clara are also twins, they do look a lot alike (aside from the fact that Hailey has dyed her hair hot pink). They also happen to share more than a birthday and a bedroom. They share a spinal column. Hailey and Clara are conjoined twins.

The girls are in their senior year of high school in the small town of Bear Pass. Here most of the people are use to seeing the girls, who are conjoined back to back (or butt to butt as they put it). Daily life is routine and as normal as it gets for the girls. They may not physically be able to play on a sports team, but they (secretly) have a love for astronomy and the arts. Everything is thrown upside down when a new senior boy moves to Bear Pass. It's someone that has never seen the girls before. How will he react? With his reaction comes a new turn in the girls' lives, one that may just split them apart.

Gemini is a great coming to terms books for all readers (the characters are seniors in high school and speak heavily of college, this may make the book more relatable for older teens). The characters are strong and smart (how could you not be?). There real sides and feelings are also shown from each point of view as the chapters switch between the girls. They battle every day high situations such as applying for colleges and dealing with the opposite sex, while managing to be individuals. Individuals that happen to always be with each other. I love the characters personalities and how they manage their lives. Mukherjee does a fantastic job at not only describing big things, like a Sadie Hawkins Dance, but how the girls manage little things like setting the table as well. Gemini is a fantastic, fast pace read that is located on our new shelf. Check it out today! Let us know what you think!

-JAC

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

He had his whole high school career planned out- it's pretty easy when you're a star athlete. Peter was going to finish up eighth grade and head into ninth as an all- star. As lead pitcher for your baseball team and a partner in crime as your catcher what could go wrong? During a baseball game Peter feels something happen in his elbow. Being the determined athlete he is, he ignores it and continues the game. He winds up, throws hard, and then with a snapping sound he blacks out. With that curveball, everything in Peter's life changes.

After needing surgery on his elbow Peter is out of commission and out of luck. He starts high school off with a gray cloud over his head and not a baseball in sight. Things seemingly get worse when his grandfather hands him thousands of dollars worth of photography equipment and seems to be "losing it". With the help of a new friend, Peter is able to make it through his first year of high school and some major changes in his life.

Curveball was a great quick and inspirational read. Sonnenblick did a fantastic job at mixing in real life situations, but still keeping his readers entertained. Along with the storyline, the characters are likeable and readers can easily relate to them. (I mean who doesn't have that friend that just doesn't take a hint?) Through both his own struggles and his family's readers learn to love Peter and on occasion commit a good ol' forehead slap on his behalf. After reading Curveball I was quick to pick up another book by Sonnenblick. I think this would be true of most readers. His realistic fiction books are great for readers moving from middle school into high school. If your a sports fan- there's enough action to keep you interested. If you're not (like me) there is not too much to scare you away.

-JAC

Even in Paradise, by Chelsea Philpot

I initially picked up Chelsea Philpot's Even in Paradise because I was desperately looking for a read-alike for We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a book I devoured earlier this year and have ever since been seeking something of comparable awesomeness. Even in Paradise seemed like it had promise for that (maybe it was the cover similarities). 

Paradise did have some striking similarities to Lockhart's masterpiece (If Liars were to have be told from an outsider's point of view), but it also reminded me a lot of Perks of Being A Wallflower in that the narrator recounts an almost magical time in her life when she was swept into a golden world by friends who are too good to be true.

Unlike most of the students who attend St. Anne's, Charlotte is fairly normal and relatable: She's not rich or the daughter of someone famous. She doesn't wear expensive clothes or have an impressive (or infamous) background. She's a scholarship student, studies art, and is friendly with most but has no best friend. She's normal. And kind of boring.

That all changes the night she saves a very intoxicated Julia Buchanan from being busted for underage drunkenness, a behavior that would surely cause the girl to be expelled. From that point, Julia takes Charlotte ("Charlie") under her wing and introduces her to a world of beautiful things and beautiful people. Charlotte is charmed and awed. And she's more than a little bit in love with Julia's brother, Sebastian. It was the magical sort of friendship Charlotte always dreamed about but never expected to personally encounter.

But not all is as golden as Charlotte first believes.

On the surface, the Buchanan family seems the picture of perfection: Beautiful, rich, privileged, famous, and always smiling in the spotlight. But beneath all that gloss and glitter lurks a dark tragedy: Years ago, Julia Buchanan, her sister Augustine ("Gus"), and Gus's boyfriend , David, were in an auto accident. Julia walked away with only bruises. Gus and David weren't so lucky. 

This is something Julia was up front about right away. 

The twist, the truth no one knows (or will admit to), is this: Julia, then 14, had actually been the one behind the wheel on that fateful night...and the guilt that she was responsible for the two deaths has been eating away at her ever since. 

In a perfect storybook ending, Charlotte would help Julia overcome the tragedy. She would be the rock while her friend healed and got past the guilt and sorrow. And the two of them would grow closer because of it and become lifelong friends.

But this is not a perfect storybook ending. Julia is too broken for such a recovery. And instead of trying to face her guilt and the tragedy, she distances herself from everything and everyone that reminds her of it. And that includes distancing herself Charlotte. 

The ending is not a happy one. It's messy, it's cruel, but it's also realistic. Sometimes friendships last, but quite often they don't. Sometimes there is a falling out. Sometimes people grow apart. And sometimes there is no explanation for why a friendship ends. It just does.

But there's also hope for a new (albeit different) beginning. The reader knows Charlotte will be OK despite everything.

So was Even in Paradise the We Were Liars read-alike I was hoping for? No. Not quite. Not even close. I guessed the twist early on. In fact, I guessed it the first time Julia and Charlotte ever talked about the accident. There were no jaw-in-my-lap surprise endings that left me with that "OMG!" feeling long after I finished the last page. 

But I really liked Even in Paradise even though it wasn't what I was hoping for. I liked it for it's own awesome qualities: The characters and the ways their relationships developed... that hazy, nostalgic quality to the narration that made everything that happened to her seem almost too good to be true... The way the plot was built. 

Definitely recommended! --AJB

More Reviews by Oxford Teens

It's great to see so many teens so enthusiastic about reading that they're willing to write reviews about the books they love (and sometimes hate). Not only are these reviews helpful to other teens who are looking for something to read. They're also helpful to staff so we can see what's popular and order similar books. Here are a couple more reviews:

Eighth grader Haley read Siobhan Vivian's The List while on vacation, and gives it the highest possible rating: "Each year, a high school makes a list saying the prettiest and ugliest girls from each grade. Each chapter talks about how each girl's life changed (because of the list). I loved this book so much! I could not put it down! It is my favorite book. I think every girl should read it because it has a really good message at the end."

Hannah, 14, enjoyed Dragonspell, the first book in Donita K. Paul's Dragonkeeper Chronicles: "I love this series and have recommended it to many. The plot is amazing and has you laughing and crying with the characters." Hannah tried this series because her mom remembered that her older brother read and enjoyed it--and thought her daughter might like it too. She was correct.

Oxford Teens are awesome! Thank you to everyone who submitted a review!

Teen Reviewer:

Teen reviewer Olivia, 14, read an advanced reader's copy of The Beginning of Everything, by Robyn Schneider and thought it was awesome, fantastic, and everything a good book should be (and more). She would absolutely recommend the book to someone else. Here is her review:

"Where do I start? This book is perfection! It was painstakingly true, and I found myself laughing as well as crying as Ezra and Cassidy's story progressed. Ezra was the "It" guy: Charming, athletic, intelligent. That is, until a gruesome car accident shatters both his legs and his reputation. Ezra then falls in love with new girl Cassidy Thorpe, who is a mystery all in itself. I cannot help but say this book made me find myself. Ezra is a male version of how I think: He cares too much what others think. The book ended and I cried, not only because it was over, but because Ezra Faulkner and Cassidy Thorpe helped me realize that pure, silly happiness is possible and that we ALL have our own personal tragedies. And yet, despite this, there are still perfect moments in life. I could not put this book down because it was so unlike anything I've ever read. Hilarious character development, excruciatingly true aspects of adolescent life, unpredictable plot twists, and a respectable ending. That's what makes this a perfect book. Thank you, Ms. Schneider. I feel blessed to have been able to read your book!" 

The Beginning of Everything will be published August 27, 2013. 

Teen Reviewer: Tori Coker

Teen Reviewer Tori, 12, read Monster High, by Lisi Harrison (of Clique fame) and thought it was awesome! Here is her review:

"I really enjoyed this book and the rest in the (Monster High) series. I wouldn't say it was a realistic story, considering it's about a bunch of high schoolers who are monsters. One of the reasons I enjoyed it was because of the love story. I love books with that quality :) I would recommend it to any girl my age!"

Tori also loved Mockingjay, the final book in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy: 

"This book is the last addition to the series, and I think it ends well. It's got its ups and downs, but the main character heals herself. It kills off two of my favorite characters, which I wasn't very happy about. But it has an epilogue that shows 20 years later, which is always a good thing. I can't wait to read more books like this one!"

Tori recommends both books.

Want to be a Teen Reviewer for this blog? Stop by the Teen Desk and talk with Alissa Bach.

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Notes from the Psych Ward

How can a story about a suicide attempt and time spent in the psychiatric for said suicide attempt be funny? Easy--if that story is told by Ned Vizzini. It's Kind of a Funny Story details what happens to perfectionist teen Craig Gilner after he is accepted into the (ultra-prestigious and very challenging) school of his dreams, the Executive Pre-Professional High School. At first, life is just peachy. Then Craig finds out the hard way he just can't keep up with the demands of school and life in general. Thus, Craig begins a downward spiral of depression and self-destructive behavior. After a near suicide attempt, Craig finds himself in the mental hospital. And it ends up being the best thing that ever happened to him. How can this be? Well...you've got to read the book to find out.

Inspired in part by the author's time in the psych ward in 2004, It's Kind of a Funny Story is just that, albeit not in the obvious, in-your-face way The Three Stooges or flatulence jokes are funny. There's dark humor here. And entertaining, often awkward situations. And a cast of characters so unique they couldn't be found anywhere BUT the psych ward. This book has definitely found its way onto the short list of "The Most Unique Books I've Ever Read...and Am So Glad I Did!" --AJB

Kiss Me!

Half-human, half-mermaid Princess Waterlily has only a few months to choose a mate. Otherwise she'll lose the throne and her inheritance to her evil cousin.  She's got big plans, though: She'll kiss her longtime crush, Brody, and bond with him for life. Then they'll travel under the sea where they'll live happily ever after. Never mind Brody is fully human and has no idea about Lily's true mermaid identity. Never mind they've barely spoken in the three years they've gone to school together. It'll work out. It has to. But a case of mistaken identity at the school dance bonds Lily with her annoying neighbor, Quince, instead. Oops! The two journey to Lily's undersea kingdom to undo the bonding magic. Along the way, Lily discovers maybe she kissed the right boy after all.

Forgive My Fins may not be terribly deep or introspective. But this light and bubbly romance is definitely fun to read! Perfect for the beach--or curling up on a chilly night with a cup of hot cocoa. And stay tuned afterward for some fun extras, including a recipe for Mermaid Cupcakes, a short story about Quince and Lily's first meeting, and a sneak peek at the sequel!--AJB

Ooh La La!

Looking for a truly satisfying read that's just as good as (if not better than) any romantic comedy movie out there? Pick up Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. 

Anna has her Senior Year all figured out: She'll finish up her high school career, hang out with her friends, work her dream job at the local movie theater, and her crush will finally ask her out. Then comes a major curve ball: Her bestselling novelist father is shipping her off to Paris where she'll attend a high school for artistic American students, where she won't know anyone and doesn't speak a word of French. Although initially frustrated and homesick, Anna soon makes friends and finds several opportunities to immerse herself in her passion (film and video). She also meets the handsome St. Clair--who seems interested in her as more than a friend! But St. Clair has a girlfriend. And Anna's crush from back home has been emailing and calling her... There are several deliciously romantic encounters and near-misses. But will Anna and St. Clair ever get together? 'Cause it's obvious from their first meeting these two are meant to be A Couple--right?  AJB