Two books for today; both are teen or young adult reads.
The first is Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. Oden donated this one, he really enjoyed it. He initially read it because the movie has just been released, but he's glad he read it.
The chapters of this clever novel alternate between two narrators—Julianna and Bryce—who meet after first grade when they become neighbors. Julianna takes to Bryce immediately, but he dislikes her eagerness to become friends and avoids her for years. Then in middle school, he sees her with new eyes as smart, entrepreneurial and committed to what she believes in. Telling incidents and perfectly pitched middle-school voices reveal how these characters' positions flip.
Here's a photo of Oden reading Flipped, while I'm driving us to the Zoo.
The second book is an ARC of I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. This is one of the books that had a lot of buzz at Book Expo America, this May.
From the Publisher
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next.
BTW, Pittacus Lore is a pseudonym for writer James Frey and co-author Jobie Hughes.
If you're interested in either of these books, leave a comment - be sure I have a way to contact you. The winner of last week's book, A Little Big Life, is Jan.
You always share such great insights, but I must admit I'd like to read Flipped. Partly because it caught Oden's interest, and partly because it just sounds like a delightful book, that takes us (myself being older) back to a time of innocense. And after I read it, I'd love to pass it on to a pre-teen, or someone else whom I think might enjoy it. Hymm. I wonder if my ten year old great-niece might like it.
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Yea...a new book, thank you so much. I already know who will get to read it after me. Flipped sounds like something Michael might like. Not so sure about the other. So I would like to enter Michael's name for this drawing.
ReplyDeleteCount me in for either.
ReplyDelete"I Am Number Four" sounds good to me... My son (number two) would love to read that. Right now we're reading Daniel X... sounds like it'd be right up his alley.
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