The tragedy of loss and learning to move on

Growing apart is probably one of the hardest parts to growing up. But having your best friend die when you’re both only 13 is one of those great tragedies most of us luckily don’t have to face. In Dear Anjali, by Melissa Glenn Haber, Meredith cannot believe that her best friend Anjali could possibly be dead, so she decides to write her letters every day. Through these letters we get glimpses of depression, anger, and confusion. The letters are written on a typewriter, and also by hand, so there are different fonts in the book to give it a realistic journal-like feel. As Meredith struggles through the months after her friend’s death, she starts talking to and hanging out with the boy she’s had a crush on for years. Through this new friendship it is revealed that Anjali was keeping secrets from Meredith. The secrets aren’t nearly as dramatic as I hoped as a reader, but they were realistic and nonetheless shattering for Meredith. Yet, through these realizations, Meredith is finally able to move on with her life. Dear Anjali was a touching read, and was helped along by its unique format—who doesn’t like a book written entirely in letters. For all you scholars out there, when a book is written in this way, it’s called an epistle style novel. If you want a dramatic story about friendship and moving on, I would give Dear Anjali a try.

Pretty little liars and their dirty little secrets

I must say I am totally in love with Pretty Little Liars right now. Okay, so I haven’t even finished the first one yet, but I can tell already I’m completely hooked. By the way it starts, with an omniscient voice saying how this perfect setting she’s describing isn’t really so perfect, it kind of reminds me of Desperate Housewives—for teens. And I should warn you this is definitely for the older teen crowd, what with the mature situations, mild drug use, and sexual situations. But it’s the mystery that keeps this so addicting. In seventh grade, five girls are best friends and the most popular in their upper class private school. Then one of the girls--the girl who knows every dirty little secret about the other four—goes missing. Flash forward to 11th grade and the four remaining friends have grown apart. Then they start getting messages from someone reminding them of all their secrets. Who could it be? What should they do? Which designer bag should they buy next? Each question more revealing than the next (except maybe that last one). It’s Beverly Hills 90210 in book form, with a mysterious twist (I’m referring to the original 90210, I must admit I have not seen the remake). Oh! And there’s a show coming out! Check out a copy before you’re the last girl who doesn’t know what’s going on!
~Amanda D.

(kind of) Twilight junkie

I hopped on the Twilight bandwagon pretty early. I didn't pick it up because I heard it was good, the plot intrigued me so I decided to read it (actually I listened to the first three. Ilyana Kadushin, the narrator, isn't the greatest but she's not bad. She has an interesting voice and tries to distinguish between the characters). Then we heard a movie was being made. And you know, I'm not much for following the crowds, but I think the popularity has actually created more of an appeal for me. Seeing the actors grace the covers of all the rags that I see when I'm checking out at the grocery store stirred my desire to see the movie. And I'm gonna see the movie. Except, from the pictures I've seen of the actors, Rosalie doesn't quite live up to the person I was picturing in my mind. Actually, none of the other vampires do either. Their puffy coats and ultra coiffed hair don't scream "seasoned vampire" to me. Let's just hope their acting makes up for it. Are you going to see the movie? Have you already? Tell me what you thought! And please agree that Jasper needs to get a haircut.

I want to read it!! (Get in line, sister)

Feed your mind with Sci-Fi

Feed by M.T. Anderson

I’m not a huge fan of reading about spaceships and aliens, but I do enjoy a good sci-fi book. Science fiction doesn’t mean it has to be about big green aliens or UFO’s. Some of the most fun books have elements that are abnormal or strange to our world. One book in particular I think you would like is Feed by M.T. Anderson. It’s about the not too distant future here on Earth. People can take day trips to the moon, and everyone is connected to a super computer that allows them to talk to each other in their minds and shop and buy items they see instantly. Sounds pretty fun, right? Well, it is, for most people. But (isn’t there always a but?) there are some people who don’t react too well to the surgery to get connected to the computer. The story is fun to read because we get to see how normal teens react to not so normal situations. Have you read it already? Let us know what you thought about it!

Check it out.