by Victoria Aveyard
Hennepin County Library hardcover 383 pages
genre: YA fantasy adventure
This was really good! I could hardly put it down. The Reds - people with red blood - are kept in subservience, poverty, and desperation. The Silvers - people with silver blood and special abilities - stay in power with periodic shows of their "superiority" with mandatory attendance at competitions.
Mare Barrow is a red, but she's different. And when she attracts the attention of some very special Silvers, crazy things happen. I must buy this for PRMS!
Monday, August 24, 2015
A Perfect Ambition: The Worthington Destiny
by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit
mine paperback 306 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I wish I hadn't had to buy this, but it wasn't available in libraries . . . It was formulaic and ended in a huge cliffhanger. Ugh. I hate that.
page 26 - "People in general believed what they wanted to and ignored what they didn't want to know about." Too true!
page 27 - interesting way to introduce a secondary character . . . is it Will, or someone new? Yeah, someone new.
page 84 - I had just been thinking there was no way the firstborn kid in a dynastic family wouldn't carry "the name." Andrew, son of William Jennings Worthington VI? Question answered . . . William Andrew Jennings Worthington VII. Yep.
page 153 - Democrats / Republicans / neither
page 161 - Dem / Rep and religion - " . . . she wished that people would stop equating their religious beliefs with their political beliefs." Billy Graham a democrat? Didn't know that. Interesting ideas here.
page 283 - "multitasking was a myth." Fits with the ideas in professional books I've been reading.
page 291 - What?! Talk to Sean, immediately! He needs to know the truth about his parentage!
page 301 - Ugh . . . dirty politics and money and power. Again, talk to Sean.
Cliffhanger - really?! Don't feel compelled to read it though I'm curious.
mine paperback 306 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I wish I hadn't had to buy this, but it wasn't available in libraries . . . It was formulaic and ended in a huge cliffhanger. Ugh. I hate that.
page 26 - "People in general believed what they wanted to and ignored what they didn't want to know about." Too true!
page 27 - interesting way to introduce a secondary character . . . is it Will, or someone new? Yeah, someone new.
page 84 - I had just been thinking there was no way the firstborn kid in a dynastic family wouldn't carry "the name." Andrew, son of William Jennings Worthington VI? Question answered . . . William Andrew Jennings Worthington VII. Yep.
page 153 - Democrats / Republicans / neither
page 161 - Dem / Rep and religion - " . . . she wished that people would stop equating their religious beliefs with their political beliefs." Billy Graham a democrat? Didn't know that. Interesting ideas here.
page 283 - "multitasking was a myth." Fits with the ideas in professional books I've been reading.
page 291 - What?! Talk to Sean, immediately! He needs to know the truth about his parentage!
page 301 - Ugh . . . dirty politics and money and power. Again, talk to Sean.
Cliffhanger - really?! Don't feel compelled to read it though I'm curious.
Friday, August 14, 2015
The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way
by Amanda Ripley
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 discs
read by Kate Reading
genre: non-fiction, education
This is worth a re-read. Ripley, a journalist, followed three American teenagers who studied abroad (Finland, Poland, and South Korea). She also interviewed countless exchange students who came to America, teachers, principals, parents, and politicians. Her thorough research brought out some very interesting differences between the United States and other countries who are outperforming us in education.
One of her biggest findings had to do with expectations - in other countries, adults have high expectations of students, especially in math, and students strive to achieve. Not so much in the U.S. where classes are much easier than in other countries.
She pointed out that it is harder to become a teacher in these other countries, with fewer, more exclusive universities offering programs that lead to teaching degrees. Those countries with higher expectations of their teachers also give them more autonomy in their classrooms.
She suggested that in other countries, students have freedom to fail and learn from the consequences. In the U.S., there are so many second chances, lowered standards, and work-arounds that students aren't really ready for the real world or the rigors of the work place. Rigor came up a lot, especially in regard to exit exams.
She did point out that Finland, Poland, and South Korea are much more homogenous than the U.S., but she also shared statistics from other countries with higher populations of immigrants that are more successful than U.S. schools. She also pointed out that the U.S. spends much more money per pupil than most other countries, but has worse results.
The system in South Korea sounds horrible to me. That country (according to the author) has the highest suicide rate among adults in the entire world! The hagwons (cram schools) sound too intense to be believed. As much as I am passionate about education, this doesn't sound like a good solution.
One student observed that "meeting expectations was mostly a matter of hard work" in talking about exit exams and systems (like Korea) that have high expectations of students. The author observed that "kids are kids" - in every country she visited, they like to play video games, talk to friends, etc.
I thought I had made other notes about this book . . . perhaps I'll uncover a scrap of paper and need to add to this. This book gave me a lot to think about in terms of my role with my students. I can't reform the country's education system, but I can do my best to stretch my students.
The author and reader both did excellent work on this.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 discs
read by Kate Reading
genre: non-fiction, education
This is worth a re-read. Ripley, a journalist, followed three American teenagers who studied abroad (Finland, Poland, and South Korea). She also interviewed countless exchange students who came to America, teachers, principals, parents, and politicians. Her thorough research brought out some very interesting differences between the United States and other countries who are outperforming us in education.
One of her biggest findings had to do with expectations - in other countries, adults have high expectations of students, especially in math, and students strive to achieve. Not so much in the U.S. where classes are much easier than in other countries.
She pointed out that it is harder to become a teacher in these other countries, with fewer, more exclusive universities offering programs that lead to teaching degrees. Those countries with higher expectations of their teachers also give them more autonomy in their classrooms.
She suggested that in other countries, students have freedom to fail and learn from the consequences. In the U.S., there are so many second chances, lowered standards, and work-arounds that students aren't really ready for the real world or the rigors of the work place. Rigor came up a lot, especially in regard to exit exams.
She did point out that Finland, Poland, and South Korea are much more homogenous than the U.S., but she also shared statistics from other countries with higher populations of immigrants that are more successful than U.S. schools. She also pointed out that the U.S. spends much more money per pupil than most other countries, but has worse results.
The system in South Korea sounds horrible to me. That country (according to the author) has the highest suicide rate among adults in the entire world! The hagwons (cram schools) sound too intense to be believed. As much as I am passionate about education, this doesn't sound like a good solution.
One student observed that "meeting expectations was mostly a matter of hard work" in talking about exit exams and systems (like Korea) that have high expectations of students. The author observed that "kids are kids" - in every country she visited, they like to play video games, talk to friends, etc.
I thought I had made other notes about this book . . . perhaps I'll uncover a scrap of paper and need to add to this. This book gave me a lot to think about in terms of my role with my students. I can't reform the country's education system, but I can do my best to stretch my students.
The author and reader both did excellent work on this.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Mary: the Summoning
by Hillary Monahan
Hennepin County Library hardcover 252 pages
genre: YA horror
I don't like horror stories, but I can see how this would appeal to readers who like to be creeped out. Four girls "summon" Bloody Mary in a mirror. One of the girls, Jess, is the instigator. But when Mary "escapes" the mirror and comes after her best friend Shauna, things get out of hand. Ironically, my least favorite part involved Jess' personality and "friendship" choices. I'll probably buy this for my collection, but I will never re-read it. Though it's a debut novel, it definitely could have a follow-up book . . .
Hennepin County Library hardcover 252 pages
genre: YA horror
I don't like horror stories, but I can see how this would appeal to readers who like to be creeped out. Four girls "summon" Bloody Mary in a mirror. One of the girls, Jess, is the instigator. But when Mary "escapes" the mirror and comes after her best friend Shauna, things get out of hand. Ironically, my least favorite part involved Jess' personality and "friendship" choices. I'll probably buy this for my collection, but I will never re-read it. Though it's a debut novel, it definitely could have a follow-up book . . .
Sunday, August 09, 2015
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat
by Gail Jarrow
Hennepin County Library hardcover 157 pages plus extras
genre: YA non-fiction, history, medicine
This was very well-written! It was interesting and drew me along as she uncovered the story behind the illness Pellagra. I may have heard of it before, but didn't have much knowledge at all. Often times, a purely chronological approach frustrates me as a reader but this one kept me wanting to find out what caused the illness and how it was cured. Fascinating stuff for early 1900s America! Joseph Goldberger (and others) were truly medical heroes for the work they did in discovering this dietary deficiency disease. The "4-D" of dermatitis (skin rash), diarrhea, dementia, and death were devastating for far too many people for too long (especially poor people).
Hennepin County Library hardcover 157 pages plus extras
genre: YA non-fiction, history, medicine
This was very well-written! It was interesting and drew me along as she uncovered the story behind the illness Pellagra. I may have heard of it before, but didn't have much knowledge at all. Often times, a purely chronological approach frustrates me as a reader but this one kept me wanting to find out what caused the illness and how it was cured. Fascinating stuff for early 1900s America! Joseph Goldberger (and others) were truly medical heroes for the work they did in discovering this dietary deficiency disease. The "4-D" of dermatitis (skin rash), diarrhea, dementia, and death were devastating for far too many people for too long (especially poor people).
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
by Simon Sinek
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 discs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction leadership
Random notes:
I did not love the author's reading of his book. He has such a strange accent and way of pronouncing some words. Catch his stuff at http://99u.com/videos/20272/simon-sinek-why-leaders-eat-last or not.
Sigh. Some of this is such old ground that I've had covered in other books. I suppose a review can be helpful, though. Brain chemicals - dopamine, endorphin, serotonin, cortisol, and oxytocin - and how they affect humans. Yep. Still can't tell them apart, but I understand that there's a biological basis for why we do what we do.
Generations and how their life experiences affect how they lead and think in a business environment. Greatest generation, Boomers, Generation X, Gen Y/Millenials. (Interesting summary of generations at http://www.marketingteacher.com/the-six-living-generations-in-america/)
Rule 1 - Keep It Real (personal contact)
Rule 2 - Keep It Manageable (150 or fewer people in a group)
Rule 3 - Meet the People You Help (see the personal impact / we are social animals)
Rule 4 - Give Them Time, Not Just Money (more value)
Rule 5 - Be Patient -( trust takes more than 7 days to develop but should be there in less than 7 years)
Develop a culture of sharing / collaboration (e.g. Post-It notes and 3M's culture around "mistakes"). Innovation happens in a culture of sharing. Create a strong circle of safety. We follow the leader if the leader has integrity. Lots of Marine Corp examples. Made me curious . . .
There were leadership lessons.
1 - So Goes the Culture, So Goes the Company
2 - So Goes the Leader, So Goes the Culture.
3 - Integrity Matters
4 - Friends Matter
5 - Lead the People, Not the Numbers
One of my biggest issues with a book like this is that I'm not the leader at PRMS. I can be a leader in my classroom and I can impact PRMS, but ultimately my principal has the leader's burden on her shoulders. This book was primarily geared toward business, although Sinek used a lot of military examples as well. Overall, interesting but not very helpful. Lots of good real-world examples (both positive and negative).
I'm kind of amazed that there is so much of this author's content online . . . . including TED talks. I guess he's a really big deal.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 discs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction leadership
Random notes:
I did not love the author's reading of his book. He has such a strange accent and way of pronouncing some words. Catch his stuff at http://99u.com/videos/20272/simon-sinek-why-leaders-eat-last or not.
Sigh. Some of this is such old ground that I've had covered in other books. I suppose a review can be helpful, though. Brain chemicals - dopamine, endorphin, serotonin, cortisol, and oxytocin - and how they affect humans. Yep. Still can't tell them apart, but I understand that there's a biological basis for why we do what we do.
Generations and how their life experiences affect how they lead and think in a business environment. Greatest generation, Boomers, Generation X, Gen Y/Millenials. (Interesting summary of generations at http://www.marketingteacher.com/the-six-living-generations-in-america/)
Rule 1 - Keep It Real (personal contact)
Rule 2 - Keep It Manageable (150 or fewer people in a group)
Rule 3 - Meet the People You Help (see the personal impact / we are social animals)
Rule 4 - Give Them Time, Not Just Money (more value)
Rule 5 - Be Patient -( trust takes more than 7 days to develop but should be there in less than 7 years)
Develop a culture of sharing / collaboration (e.g. Post-It notes and 3M's culture around "mistakes"). Innovation happens in a culture of sharing. Create a strong circle of safety. We follow the leader if the leader has integrity. Lots of Marine Corp examples. Made me curious . . .
There were leadership lessons.
1 - So Goes the Culture, So Goes the Company
2 - So Goes the Leader, So Goes the Culture.
3 - Integrity Matters
4 - Friends Matter
5 - Lead the People, Not the Numbers
One of my biggest issues with a book like this is that I'm not the leader at PRMS. I can be a leader in my classroom and I can impact PRMS, but ultimately my principal has the leader's burden on her shoulders. This book was primarily geared toward business, although Sinek used a lot of military examples as well. Overall, interesting but not very helpful. Lots of good real-world examples (both positive and negative).
I'm kind of amazed that there is so much of this author's content online . . . . including TED talks. I guess he's a really big deal.
Saturday, August 08, 2015
My Heart and Other Black Holes
by Jasmine Warga
Hennepin County Library hardcover 302 pages
genre: YA fiction, coming-of-age, suicide
I was nervous about a book dealing with suicide. Middle schoolers are as much at risk for depression and suicide as older teens are (and they are much less able to think / talk through things in general). This is beautifully written. Aysel (pronounced like "gazelle" without the initial letter) and Roman meet online to be suicide partners. As they meet to plan how they will end their lives, they start to like one another and find joy in their time together. Their pain, their fears, their past all start to get unpacked as they talk. I don't want to wreck the story for another reader. It's a pretty quick book, but very much worth the time and energy. Still struggling whether I will or won't buy it for my collection. Tough stuff to deal with.
page 40 - "What people never understand is that depression isn't about the outside; it's about the inside. Something inside me is wrong. Sure, there are things in my life that make me feel alone, but nothing makes me feel more isolated and terrified than my own voice in my head."
page 180 - "I wonder if joy has potential energy. Or if there is potential energy that leads to joy, like a happiness serum that lingers in people's stomachs and slowly bubbles up to create the sensation we know as happiness."
page 228 - "I guess he's right: I am a flake. But maybe meeting Roman has helped me to understand myself better. Yes, I'm broken. And yes, he's broken. But the more we talk about it, the more we share our sadness, the more I start to believe that there could be a chance to fix us, a chance that we could save each other."
Hennepin County Library hardcover 302 pages
genre: YA fiction, coming-of-age, suicide
I was nervous about a book dealing with suicide. Middle schoolers are as much at risk for depression and suicide as older teens are (and they are much less able to think / talk through things in general). This is beautifully written. Aysel (pronounced like "gazelle" without the initial letter) and Roman meet online to be suicide partners. As they meet to plan how they will end their lives, they start to like one another and find joy in their time together. Their pain, their fears, their past all start to get unpacked as they talk. I don't want to wreck the story for another reader. It's a pretty quick book, but very much worth the time and energy. Still struggling whether I will or won't buy it for my collection. Tough stuff to deal with.
page 40 - "What people never understand is that depression isn't about the outside; it's about the inside. Something inside me is wrong. Sure, there are things in my life that make me feel alone, but nothing makes me feel more isolated and terrified than my own voice in my head."
page 180 - "I wonder if joy has potential energy. Or if there is potential energy that leads to joy, like a happiness serum that lingers in people's stomachs and slowly bubbles up to create the sensation we know as happiness."
page 228 - "I guess he's right: I am a flake. But maybe meeting Roman has helped me to understand myself better. Yes, I'm broken. And yes, he's broken. But the more we talk about it, the more we share our sadness, the more I start to believe that there could be a chance to fix us, a chance that we could save each other."
Ink and Ashes
by Valynne Maetani
Hennepin County Library hardcover 380 pages
genre: YA mystery, action, relationships, coming-of-age
The cover of this book looks intense and I expected another hard-core teen novel. It was surprisingly mild. The protagonist is 17 years old and never been kissed. There's almost no swearing at all. Some of the story seemed slow in developing.
That said, it kept me interested until the end. Trying to figure out who was doing frightening things to Claire, why they weren't targeting her brothers, how these things fit in with her father's past . . . It was an interesting book.
I feel as though I ought to write a synopsis here, but I don't feel like it. Amazon says, "Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away ten years ago. But on the anniversary of his death, she finds a letter from her deceased father to her stepfather. Before now, Claire never had a reason to believe they even knew each other. Struggling to understand why her parents kept this surprising history hidden, Claire combs through anything that might give her information about her father . . . until she discovers that he was a member of the yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed. The race to outrun her father's legacy reveals secrets of his past that cast ominous shadows, threatening Claire, her friends and family, her newfound love, and ultimately her life. Winner of Tu Books New Visions Award, Ink and Ashes is a fascinating debut novel packed with romance, intrigue, and heart-stopping action."
I liked it and may buy it for school. The Japanese culture aspect was interesting - the author's explanation at the end added to the story.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 380 pages
genre: YA mystery, action, relationships, coming-of-age
The cover of this book looks intense and I expected another hard-core teen novel. It was surprisingly mild. The protagonist is 17 years old and never been kissed. There's almost no swearing at all. Some of the story seemed slow in developing.
That said, it kept me interested until the end. Trying to figure out who was doing frightening things to Claire, why they weren't targeting her brothers, how these things fit in with her father's past . . . It was an interesting book.
I feel as though I ought to write a synopsis here, but I don't feel like it. Amazon says, "Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away ten years ago. But on the anniversary of his death, she finds a letter from her deceased father to her stepfather. Before now, Claire never had a reason to believe they even knew each other. Struggling to understand why her parents kept this surprising history hidden, Claire combs through anything that might give her information about her father . . . until she discovers that he was a member of the yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed. The race to outrun her father's legacy reveals secrets of his past that cast ominous shadows, threatening Claire, her friends and family, her newfound love, and ultimately her life. Winner of Tu Books New Visions Award, Ink and Ashes is a fascinating debut novel packed with romance, intrigue, and heart-stopping action."
I liked it and may buy it for school. The Japanese culture aspect was interesting - the author's explanation at the end added to the story.
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia
by Candace Fleming
Hennepin County Library hardcover 253 pages
genre: YA non-fiction, history
This is an extremely well-written and interesting book about the Romanov family and what happened in Russia at the end of their rule. The photographs and primary source excerpts (letters, diaries, etc.) are invaluable to understanding what happened. I especially love that the author balanced the Romanov story with what was happening in the lives of peasants and workers. The contrast could not be more stark! It stuns me that Nicolas II and Alexandra had no clue how impoverished their people were. And I am very creeped out that the empress' fascination with icons and religion allowed her to be so swayed by Rasputin.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I probably won't buy it for PRMS. My students don't use non-fiction books much (except for history day research) and I can't possibly afford all the titles that might be useful. Sad truth.
Page 234 - makes me want to re-read The Kitchen Boy. "He (Yurovsky) ordered the kitchen boy, Leonid Sednev, to pack his things. . . . In truth, the commandant did not want the fourteen-year-old to be among the murder victims." I know TKB (Zimmerman) is fiction, but it was one of the first books I ever read relating to the Romanov murders and it captured my attention.
In her bibliography, Fleming writes about the importance of primary resources. "The heart of all research is the firsthand accounts and eyewitness testimonies of those who lived through an historical event." Perhaps I should buy this book for my collection, just to share the power of primary sources for my young researchers! She goes on to talk about the power of first-person accounts and different perspectives. Good stuff.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 253 pages
genre: YA non-fiction, history
This is an extremely well-written and interesting book about the Romanov family and what happened in Russia at the end of their rule. The photographs and primary source excerpts (letters, diaries, etc.) are invaluable to understanding what happened. I especially love that the author balanced the Romanov story with what was happening in the lives of peasants and workers. The contrast could not be more stark! It stuns me that Nicolas II and Alexandra had no clue how impoverished their people were. And I am very creeped out that the empress' fascination with icons and religion allowed her to be so swayed by Rasputin.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I probably won't buy it for PRMS. My students don't use non-fiction books much (except for history day research) and I can't possibly afford all the titles that might be useful. Sad truth.
Page 234 - makes me want to re-read The Kitchen Boy. "He (Yurovsky) ordered the kitchen boy, Leonid Sednev, to pack his things. . . . In truth, the commandant did not want the fourteen-year-old to be among the murder victims." I know TKB (Zimmerman) is fiction, but it was one of the first books I ever read relating to the Romanov murders and it captured my attention.
In her bibliography, Fleming writes about the importance of primary resources. "The heart of all research is the firsthand accounts and eyewitness testimonies of those who lived through an historical event." Perhaps I should buy this book for my collection, just to share the power of primary sources for my young researchers! She goes on to talk about the power of first-person accounts and different perspectives. Good stuff.
Monday, August 03, 2015
How It Went Down
by Kekla Magoon
Hennepin County Library hardcover 325 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
I really liked this book, though I was able to read it in one sitting (riding home from the lake). There are LOTS of characters, so it could get quite confusing to read in separate sittings. Tariq Johnson is killed by a white man in front of lots of witnesses, but they saw and heard things differently. Those different perspectives make a very rich story about inner city kids and the power of gangs.
My favorite characters were Jennica (Noodle's girlfriend until she decides she wants out of "the life", Tyrell (Tariq's best friend and only other holdout to the 8-5 Kings gang), and Tina (Tariq's little sister with a very unique perspective on situations. This was a very good thinking story - the author shows the different ways people interpret the same situation. It kind of made the cops look like the bad guys, though . . . I look forward to discussing this with the others at Litwits.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 325 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
I really liked this book, though I was able to read it in one sitting (riding home from the lake). There are LOTS of characters, so it could get quite confusing to read in separate sittings. Tariq Johnson is killed by a white man in front of lots of witnesses, but they saw and heard things differently. Those different perspectives make a very rich story about inner city kids and the power of gangs.
My favorite characters were Jennica (Noodle's girlfriend until she decides she wants out of "the life", Tyrell (Tariq's best friend and only other holdout to the 8-5 Kings gang), and Tina (Tariq's little sister with a very unique perspective on situations. This was a very good thinking story - the author shows the different ways people interpret the same situation. It kind of made the cops look like the bad guys, though . . . I look forward to discussing this with the others at Litwits.
Vanishing Girls
by Lauren Oliver
Hennepin County Library hardcover 357 pages
genre: YA mystery, coming-of-age, relationships
I didn't like this book but I recognize its merit for older teen readers. My issues?
1. Immediately got the sense that I was being jerked around as a reader. Reminiscent of We Were Liars (Lockhart) and The Raft (Bodeen), I knew there was something behind "what happened" in the accident. I could never really get into the character's stories, because I was trying to psych out what was real and what wasn't. Is she actually in a coma and dreaming this? Did one of the sisters die? Why is the author yanking the reader's chain?
2. The alcohol, illegal drugs, dangerous choices . . . yeah. Don't want this "normal teenage behavior" in my middle school collection. This is more appropriate for older, more jaded readers.
3. The sisters' love/hate relationship was incomprehensible to me. I "get" the older / perfect vs. the younger / "bad girl" dynamic, but why did Dara (younger) keep dragging her older sister into things? And why did Nicole go along with it?
4. Nicole "protecting" her little sister did way more harm than good. I understand that parents who are getting a divorce may not be aware of what is really going on, but they were seeing a therapist and ignoring warning signals. It also just bugged me that Nicole was addressed by "Nick," which made me initially think it was a brother/sister thing.
Okay. It wasn't that bad, but I personally just didn't like it. Parker is a great character. The FunLand bits were good. The Madeline Snow disappearance was interesting.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 357 pages
genre: YA mystery, coming-of-age, relationships
I didn't like this book but I recognize its merit for older teen readers. My issues?
1. Immediately got the sense that I was being jerked around as a reader. Reminiscent of We Were Liars (Lockhart) and The Raft (Bodeen), I knew there was something behind "what happened" in the accident. I could never really get into the character's stories, because I was trying to psych out what was real and what wasn't. Is she actually in a coma and dreaming this? Did one of the sisters die? Why is the author yanking the reader's chain?
2. The alcohol, illegal drugs, dangerous choices . . . yeah. Don't want this "normal teenage behavior" in my middle school collection. This is more appropriate for older, more jaded readers.
3. The sisters' love/hate relationship was incomprehensible to me. I "get" the older / perfect vs. the younger / "bad girl" dynamic, but why did Dara (younger) keep dragging her older sister into things? And why did Nicole go along with it?
4. Nicole "protecting" her little sister did way more harm than good. I understand that parents who are getting a divorce may not be aware of what is really going on, but they were seeing a therapist and ignoring warning signals. It also just bugged me that Nicole was addressed by "Nick," which made me initially think it was a brother/sister thing.
Okay. It wasn't that bad, but I personally just didn't like it. Parker is a great character. The FunLand bits were good. The Madeline Snow disappearance was interesting.
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