The Happiest Are Sometimes the Most Miserable...

Happyface by Stephen Edmond is an amazing book. The story is added to and punctuated by drawings and sketches of Happyface, the protagonist, and his thoughts and experiences. The book is set up to be his journal.

Happyface can't escape his past. His brother is dead, his relationship with his former-best friend and love is torn to shreds, and his parents are separated. He moves to a new town with his mother. He realizes he has an opportunity to put his past behind him and be the person he choses. And Happyface is born. He makes new friends and even a new love interest named Gretchen. Things are going great until Gretchen's ex-boyfriend Trevor reappears. Afraid of their romance rekindling, Happyface's facade begins to slip. The situation gets worse when Chloe shows up, a dark figure in his past. Happyface struggles to keep the life he wants, without denying the one he had. Edmond unravels extreme loss in a teen's life through Happyface's story. Through the facade of joy, Happyface attempts to rebuild his life the way he'd like to be. To conquer your fears, you have to face them. While you can't run away from your past, it doesn't have to destroy you either....9/10

Almost Perfect, But Pretty Damn Close

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. Within the pages of this book lies a story profound, controversial, and downright confusing. Katcher paints a brilliant picture of two teens and the struggles of trying to be normal in an abormal world. When Logan (a small-town track runner and average high school kid) meets Sage (the tall, pretty newcomer in town) their worlds are flipped upside down. Logan falls for Sage and her strange ways. Sage wants to be with Logan, but can't for reasons she won't explain. After a hapless kiss in the night, Sage reveals her secret to Logan: she's really a boy. So begins the emotional roller-coaster of Sage and Logan, a teen romance gone terribly askew. Logan likes Sage, but can't accept his growing attraction to her because of her "condition". From friends to lovers to enemies and back again, the suspense in the story never stops. Katcher approaches transgender transformation in a unique and stylish way. Sage Hendricks is both a believable angst-ridden teen like every other girl in high school, and a boy deeply struggling to be the girl she knows she can be in a world that doesn't accept her. Logan's feelings of contradicting love and abhorrence towards Sage is remarkable and shows the good and acceptance that someone can feel when they truly look past skin deep. A remarkably tense, gripping, and eye-opening ride, one you'll never want to put down. 10/10

*Note: The blue words are the 50 word review.

Kristin Cashore

Today was definitely one of the coolest and most exciting days the club has had. Thanks to the Boulder Bookstore, we were able to host a visit from Kristin Cashore.

The event was even more exciting because today was also the release day for her newest book, Fire. She read from her book and talked a bit about her writing process, which was definitely interesting to hear. She was very personable and easy to talk with; it definitely seemed like the students enjoyed being able to meet and talk with her. After talking with her and enjoying some delicious treats thanks to our culinary arts program students, she took the time to sign our copies of both Graceling and Fire, which are high on our reading lists now! This was a great way to start October... can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

King of the Screwups by K.L. Going

Liam Geller is Mr. Popular. He has the skills, the charm, and the fashion to be the man everybody loves. But it's never quite good enough for Dad. After one too many screwups, Liam is kicked out of the house. Fortunately for him, his gay glamour-rocker "Aunt" Pete is willing to take him in. Despite its appearances, Liam sees this as more than a step down in the hierarchy of society. He sees this as a chance to remake himself into everything his father wants in a son. But Pete sees him for who he really is, forcing him to choose: be true to his father or himself?

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REVIEW: A magnificent story about finding yourself. Liam goes through an amazing shift, seeing life in a different way. He realizes the most important thing in life is being yourself, no matter who wants to change you. Lots of comedy and life lessons bundled into one. A great book, highly recommended for young readers. 9/10

Book 1: Ghost Huntress - The Awakening by Marley Gibson

Kendall Moorehead never wanted to move. She missed all her friends from Chicago, the big city. Now she's stuck in a small blip called Radisson. To make matters worse, she can't sleep. In an attempt to help her sleep, Kendall's father buys her a white-noise machine. Instead of soothing sounds, however, Kendall starts hearing voices. The more curious Kendall becomes, the deeper she is thrown into a world she never knew existed.
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REVIEW: An interesting story. The story has a good flow and despite all its focus on "otherworldly things" still manages to address the normal issues of an uprooted teenager. Kendall and her friends have good character style and development. I'm interested to see how this series develops. 8/10

Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg

Bobby Framingham has it all. He's the star quarterback of his highschool football team. He's popular, handsome, and gets good grades. But Bobby isn't happy. The one thing nobody knows about Bobby could rip his world apart: Bobby is gay. When Bobby's secret gets out, he finds himself scrambling to keep ahold of his friends and his life. He's out of the pocket and out in the open with no one to rely on but himself.
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REVIEW: This is a great story about being true to yourself and finding out how you really fit into the world. I really like the perspective on the gay side of the most popular kid in school, instead of the usual shut-in or outcast. Definitely makes people think about how simple things like orientation can affect how people really see somebody. 8/10

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer

This is the third installment in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series. Fans from the previous two books can expect to be just as satisfied with this one. The plot is more personal and readers see more of the developing Pravus side of Vlad. Aside from battling the ever-vengeful Diablo and his vampiric minions, Vlad must also contend with his best friend rebuking his drudge status and Vlad's feelings for Meredith. The story is gripping and the action stays fairly constant. Unexpected plot twists send the story and its characters down paths readers won't see coming.
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REVIEW: The story is thrilling, the characters continue to grow and develop, and the readers are pulled more deeply into the growing world of Vladimir Tod. Between the external struggles Vlad must face as the Pravus, there is also a key aspect of his internal struggle of self-realization. Readers will be delighted and won't be able to put it down. 10/10