Finally Getting To It

You may remember me whining (or whinging, as befits the setting) about I Am the Messenger several posts ago. It was the last book I started during the G.I.A. and perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for something as dark as this is. I was really debating whether this was even a teen book, consumed as it was with the end justifying the means. There was serious doubt as to the outcome - it could have convincingly gone in any one of many directions. That alone is impressive. Basics: Contemporary Australia; 19 yr old Ed's life is going nowhere fast, until he manages to stop a bank robbery in its tracks. Soon he is embroiled in an extensive game that is both rewarding and dangerous. It was interesting, and I can see how the book would have a following, but it wasn't really my kind of book. Older teens, adults.

Not in the Heartland!

The return of Koertge brings an interesting (well, not that interesting) format/device where the voice rotates three characters who are on the cusp (yes, cusp. I said something earlier about coming-of-age themes, didn't I?) of graduation. The plan is for the inseparable trio to get out of podunckville and find a land of acceptance. The voices are largely individual, although sometimes blurry, which can be realistic - any group of people who spend that much time together do eventually pick up on each other's mannerisms. Elliot feels inferior, Larry is gay, and Teresa has an unrequited crush on Elliot. All of them need to come to terms with this. Oh, and there is that heartland vs. gay twist. I mean, you did expect that, right? It's a respectively tame and rather predictable read, but not unpleasant. Either, 14+.

Two Gulps

I don't remember why I read this. I think that maybe Rachel said something about it. Well, for whatever reason, I read it in two short sittings; it's one of those quick, satisfying reads that most of us can identify with, as we tend to be slightly dorky, rather intelligent (if I do say so myself) girls (intelligent, I meant, not girls. Well I did mean girls as I am one, and I most of you are too... oh dear. I'll just go with the thought that you know what I meant...). Egg is obsessed with a sci-fi movie called Terminal Earth, which she's seen 42 times (good grief. If I've seen anything 42 times it's The Princess Bride and that's only over like, 20 years). She's changed her appearance to fit the heroine, and hides behind the facade, which helps her forget that she's boy proof. She has everything under control, until the new boy hits town. Girls 12+.