Great adult book for teens - Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Hello fellow readers... if you're out there! I just finished a great book that was one of the best Chinese immigrant stories that I have ever read. Kimberly moves from Hong Kong to Brooklyn to better her life along with her mother who is widowed tragically. In Hong Kong, Kim was at the head of her class and her family was fairly well off. Now in America, they live in a cockroach infested apartment in Brooklyn due to her aunt's selfishness and she has to work in a sweatshop. Kimberly's only escape is school, but even this proves to be difficult as she struggles with English and making friends when she herself is so different. It's a heartbreaking story of trying to achieve your dreams with a strong love story at the heart of the book as Kim falls for a boy who knows all about her struggles.
High school teens who loved Memoirs of a Geisha and even Esperanza Rising will truly become attached to this book. Check it out.

Jinx by Meg Cabot

Hello August readers,
I hope you had an enjoyable summer thus far. As it nears the end, my brain is already traveling into early fall so that I can begin thinking about Halloween and sweater weather. With that said, I have just finished a great audio book by Meg Cabot titled Jinx. Back in the days, when I was once a middle school librarian this was a book that circulated many, many times in my library.
Jinx, is a young teen who has left her small town in New York to live with her cousin Tori and her family. Tori, is not too happy about her cousin reappearing in her life, and has a few secrets up her sleeve. She is well aware that Jinx has been granted special powers from their family heritage of witchcraft that skips generations. While Jinx tries her very best to fit in, she soon discovers that the magical powers within her is causing animosity between her and her cousin. As the situation deepens, Jinx soon finds herself in danger and must embrace her magic powers to overcome her cousin's wish to do her harm.
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. Readers of fantasy fiction may enjoy it, especially since the general theme is very interesting. As a avid teen reader, I felt it was a little slow to start however the ending made up for it just the same. Hope you like it!

Ocean Art Activities

This month I geared up with about 50 guests to create fun ocean themed art activities. Here are the instructions for the crab.
You will need:
1. Orange or Red pool noodles
2. Scissors
3. Googly eyes
4. Red or Orange pipe cleaners
5. Print out of crab claws ( from Word)
6. White school glue

Instructions:
Cut your pool noodle into nice "cheerio" shapes. Bend your pipecleaners for the eyes and crab legs.
Glue on the googly eyes, and attach the claws by poking through the end of the pipecleaners. I found the claw images by simply "googling," cartoon crab claws. Enjoy!

What am I reading in August?

August heat and L.A traffic has me reading indoors in the evenings and listening to audio books on my way home from work. This month, I picked up two very different reads one is teen and one is adult fiction. "The Paris Wife," by McClain is a fictional story based on the true events of Hadley and Ernest Hemmingway's marriage. If you know Hem, he was not the easiest man to get along with. The second book, which I am listening to on audio, is a fun magical teen read based in Georgia titled, " The Magnolia League."
Before you ask, no I have not finished the entire book ( either one). However, I am hopeful that I will make it to the last page (of both) before Labor Day.
Perhaps you can catch up with me and we can discuss the endings? Hmmmm??!
Please note: I am talking up " The Paris Wife," on my teen/tween blog as many high school students are required to read The Great Gatsby and they may enjoy McClain's book as well since it reflects upon the same era. Happy reading!

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Choldenko

Moose Flanagan is a twelve year old boy living on Alcatraz Island with his sister, who is not like other children. It's 1935 and the family has just moved here since their father works on the infamous island. Moose has to deal with taking care of his sister who has a disability, sharing a home on an island with convicts, and handling the warden's daughter Piper who is always thinking of a new scheme on how to meet Al Capone. That's right! I said Al Capone! At this time he has been sent to prison on Alcatraz for tax invasion and also because he has tried to swindle his way into better perks at every prison he has been sent to. All Moose wants to do is protect his sister, make some friends, and stay out of trouble but he soon discovers that he may need the help of the most notorious gangster to help him save his sister's education.
This is a great tween read with much excitement and many chapters that will pull on your heart strings. I would definitely recommend this book to older tweens as there are some issues in the book that come up with "coming of age," ideas.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

This modern story is set in Iran and includes two young women, who love one another and must keep their relationship a secret or risk being punished to the extreme; death. The story is heartbreaking, as Nasrin and Sahar must hide their relationship especially because  Nasrin's family has promised her to a man for marriage. Sahar thinks of a perfect solution, she can undergo surgery to change into a man since this procedure is legal in Iran while homosexual relationships are not.While this is indeed drastic, Sahar needs to dig deep to find out if their love is worth such a transition.
I recommend this read to older teens and those in the LGBT community who are looking to read about characters who are not your regular run of the mill middle class type. It's nice to see an author take risks and invite us into a world we don't know a lot about.

The Truth About Us by Janet Gurtler

Happy Holidays fellow readers! While healing and resting on medical leave.. I had the chance to read a teen book that was not the average high school romance novel. Gurtler's, The Truth About Us follows a teen named Jess who gets caught up having too much fun ( sunbathing topless and drinking. Yikes!) and is punished by having to help out at a homeless soup kitchen. Much to her surprise, a cute boy from the other side of the tracks, Flynn frequents the facility but not as a volunteer. Since everyone views Jess as a spoiled little rich girl... its no wonder she is misunderstood and told to stay away from Flynn. Jess however, has not had an easy life herself and must find her way through to what she wants most. This book is not all cookies and cream... which I loved! The characters really have to prove themselves and find their truth. Teen readers are sure to enjoy it.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

This book tackles the issue of bullying and takes it to another level. I would recommend this book for high school and college students only. The main character, Regina Afton is one of the popular girls who rule the school. It is taken away from her one night when she is attacked by Donnie her best friend's (Ana) boyfriend and rumors fly that Regina slept with him. Day after day, Ana seeks out revenge along with her clique to destroy her emotionally and sometimes physically. Regina seeks refuge in a friendship with a loner named Michael who she once bullied and carries some secrets of his own.
The reader will be taken on a rough journey through Regina's revenge, Ana's games, and the struggle she goes through to stay alive and one step ahead. A must read for all teens!

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

The cover art for Heather Hepler's, The Cupcake Queen drew me in to read this light and fun book. Penny arrives at Hog's Hollow, with her mom after her parents separate unexpectedly. She leaves her friends, Dad, and life back in NYC and tries to cope with being new. Mix in "mean girl" Charity along with a new bakery and a new boy and you have a great young teen story about what it's like to truly be the new person in school while dealing with a bit of family drama.

The story starts off a bit slow, but the middle and ending draw you into a great story about finding your way without the fluff of normal stories. Also, cupcake lovers will enjoy hearing about Penny's creative baking strategies and ideas. The author also wrote some great titles that you should explore. Here is a link to the author's website: 

Enjoy! http://www.heatherhepler.com/books/ (courtesy of the author) 

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

The author Isabel Quintero, brings readers a funny book that chronicles a Mexican American girl during her senior year named Gabi. She is not your normal run of the mill high school teen; she is spunky, real, loves her tacos and stays strong throughout her life's challenges such as dealing with her pregnant best friend, her meth addicted dad, her gay best friend and her Tia Bertha ( aka the hypocrite). This book will have you laughing and crying all in one sitting.
I loved the way the author didn't sugar coat things or have the protagonist seek out help for an easy fix. She kept the story fit alongside how teens of today act when they think they can handle things alone. The author also touches what it is like for a young woman to be Mexican American living in California and all that that can entail.
This is a great book for graduating seniors, or any teen who wants to read something new and fresh!

A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

I absolutely loved the spin off title from Heasley's Where I Belong, titled A Long Way from You. The book follows one of the previous characters Kitsy as she embarks to art school in New York all the way from Broken Spoke, Texas. I loved all the New York tidbits and places mentioned in the book and how Kitsy finds herself and her roots through her art. This is a great title for fans of Sarah Dessen and any lover of New York and/or Texas.
The main character Kitsy gets carried away by the Big Apple, but finds her way in the end back to who she really is and where she wants to be. The characters were well developed and it was a fun read. It was also a great lesson for teens in that the character always struggles to be herself no matter what situation. I think a teen who travels or is caught in a small crossroad would greatly relate to this book.