A Great and Terrible Beauty

The book A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) by Libba Bray is the first in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. This book is set in Victorian England in the 1800s where the only thing expected of girls is that they become good wives (if they come from families with money) or good servants or nannies (if their families are poor). Never does a girl have a choice in what she will do with her life, and even the choice of whom she will marry is made for her by her parents.

Although it has a historical backdrop, this book is fantasy. Throughout it, 16-year-old Gemma has visions which at first frighten her, but become beautiful; she describes them as a "great and terrible beauty." She is warned to control and stop the visions, but through these visions she finds what she most wants: acceptance and friendship. She and her friends at the girl's boarding school also learn that they have choices, even though each choice comes with a consequence.

This book is being adapted into a movie, which should come out within the year. Read it before you watch it!!!

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is weirdly a fabulous story. I say weirdly because it is written in the voice of Death himself. Yes, the Grim Reaper. But Death tells you very quickly that he is not very Grim Reaperish - that's just the human idea of him. So as Death goes about his business of reaping souls, he tells you the story of Liesel, a little German girl who never knew her father, lost her brother, and was abandoned by her mother. A foster family takes her in, and over the next few years Liesel makes a life for herself and becomes the book thief. Life takes a turn for the worst as WWII begins and Liesel's town deals with rations, air raids, bomb shelters, and Jew walks. Through it all, words are what carry Liesel through and give her the will to survive. An accordian-playing Papa, a mayor's wife, a Jewish fist-fighter, and a thieving boy play important roles, too! Read it!

My only question is: what does Death do with all those souls he reaps? He never tells you that. 

The Saffron Kitchen

The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther is one of the best books I've read in a while. I picked up this book on a whim at a discount book store. It cannot definitely be categorized as a teen read because in the beginning of the book, the main characters, Sara and her mother Maryam, are adults. However, much of the book goes into a memoir of Maryam's life as a teenager. Raised in Iran, her father tried to arrange a marriage for her, but Maryam refused and said she wanted to go to college to become a nurse. Little did her father know, Maryam was also in love with her father's young assistant/servant. Her father agreed to let her study, but at a devastating price that affected the rest of Maryam's life. This book will tell you how Maryam eventually went to England, if she ended up with her childhood love or not, and how a journey home forty years later reconnected her to her past.

I found this story fascinating because of the cultural aspect of it. Much of the book explores the clash of British and Iranian cultures. There is also a very real love story pervading the book, and I was carried by the power of the characters' memories and emotions through this heart-wrenching story. 

The story begins from Sara's point of view, then goes into third person, and then changes to Maryam's point of view and then alternates between the three throughout.  I recommend this book for older readers.  

Read an interview with Yasmin Crowther here.

The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall is a lovely novel about the adventures of four sisters one summer. The Penderwick sisters retreat to a summer cottage on the grounds of a mansion with their father for the summer. The mansion's owner is a formidable Mrs. Tifton, but soon the girls find some more friendly folk: Mrs. Tifton's son Jeffrey, the gardener, and the cook. Follow these girls as they make trouble, get lost, have fun, and learn a little about friendship and love. The Penderwicks was one of the books President Obama helped pack in backpacks for children of military personnel.  It was an easy read and a delightful book for younger readers, probably ages 8-11. 

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Ever thought what it would be like to know you only have a year to live? Would you make different choices? That is exactly the premise of Chris Crutcher’s book Deadline. The protagonist, Ben Wolf, finds out the summer before his senior year that he only has a year to live. He changes his plans and activities with this news. The book chronicles his senior year from a 1^st person point of view.
The book is very readable and interesting. There is a slight agenda within the book, as Ben challenges his teachers, arguing that much of the curriculum is slanted. He mentions the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen, which is an actual book that criticizes American History curriculum taught in schools.
There is some language in the book, but nothing that is completely out of place or awkward. This book would be liked by just about anyone, I think – including athletes, as much of his final year is about his new football career at the high school.