The Buzz

• BuzzGuy Review: The Tragedy Paper

  May 8, 2013

  About The Tragedy Paper:

  Add to your RB bookshelf | Goodreads | Buy a copy

  Read the Chapter Sampler!

  SUMMARY: It follows the story of Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.”

  A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy.

  To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.
   
  Jumping between viewpoints of the love-struck Tim and Duncan, a current senior about to uncover the truth of Tim and Vanessa, The Tragedy Paper is a compelling tale of forbidden love and the lengths people will go to keep their secrets.

  REVIEW: Truthfully, I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked up The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan. Forbidden love isn't usually an angle I tend to spring for, since a lot of the misconceptions and angst can be cleared up almost right away if you were honest from the start. But I digress.

  Initially, due to Ms. LaBan's naming scheme and the dual POVs between Tim and Duncan, who are hinted at to have had some sort of weird interaction before the book begins, I thought that The Tragedy Paper was going to be some sort of rewrite of Macbeth, which would have been cool. Instead I realized that while there are a few Macbeth jokes here or there, The Tragedy Paper actually has more parallels to another classic that I read for class - Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome, which is just as cool, if you ask me.

  Not to give away the book, but with Tim and Vanessa stepping into loose roles of Ethan and Mattie, the constant allusions to heavy winter snow and "the accident", and the senior year sledding activity, it's really hard to ignore the same themes that both Tragedy Paper and Ethan Frome follow, especially with how "cold" everything feels, and how Tim (or Ethan) feels so miserable and trapped and thinks that Vanessa (or Mattie) could be his key to being happy.  

  As an albino, Tim has some really high walls up because he's lived his life being stared at and made fun of. But after a chance encounter with Vanessa at the airport, she brings a sense of color and freedom he's never really felt before. Except Vanessa already has a boyfriend and he'd totally kick Tim's butt. Sometimes I cringed at Tim's social awkwardness because he's just so transparent about his wanting Vanessa - guy's never heard of a poker face. But overall, Tim is a steady narrator and a likable guy. You can't help but feel for him, even if you'd wish he'd stop moping so much and let himself enjoy things and let people other than Vanessa be his friend. While Duncan is the second narrator and his own story going on, I found myself really looking forward to hearing Tim whenever it wasn't his chapter, trying to race ahead to find out what happened to Tim and Vanessa, and what happened between Tim and Duncan. 

  I know a lot of people compared The Tragedy Paper to Thirteen Reasons Why, and I guess it's a fair enough comparison, especially with the use of tapes/CDs to tell a story in retrospect, but I'd also recommend picking up Looking for Alaska, Paper Covers Rock, and Ethan Frome. Overall a great read, not too heavy on the romance, and a great character study.

  If you liked these books, pick up The Tragedy Paper:

  

  Have you read The Tragedy Paper, Buzzers?

  by BuzzGuy | 8 comments |
  Filed under: BuzzGuy Review elizabeth laban the tragedy paper

• BuzzGuy Review: Scowler

  Nov 20, 2012

  Scowler by Daniel Kraus:

  Add to your RB bookshelf | Goodreads | Pre-order

  SUMMARY: Imagine your father is a monster. Would that mean there are monsters inside you, too?
  
  Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.

  
  
  

  REVIEW: After reading Rotters by Daniel Kraus, I knew that from that book forward, I'd automatically add any and all books by him to my TBR pile. BuzzGirl swiped a copy of Daniel's upcoming book Scowler for me at NY Comic Con, and I hurried through the other books on my TBR pile so I could finally get to it. Scowler isn't actually going to come out until March 2013, but don't worry, this is as spoiler free as possible!

  I wasn't sure what to expect from the summary, other than the thought that troubled and estranged father-son relationships may be a specialty of Daniel Kraus's. I also didn't really know what to make of the "imaginary childhood protectors" part, but I'll get to that. 

  My disclaimer from Rotters still stands: if you don't have the stomach for descriptive language, calculated and brutal violence, and tense situations that stretch on ever so casually, think twice before picking up Scowler. Kraus is excellent at writing horror mostly because he's so unflinching and actually thrives in writing uncomfortable situations that have the reader clenching their jaws. I've also realized the key to a good horror book is visuals and a lot of "show not tell". You can't tell someone to be frightened or uneasy, you have to show them why.

  Scowler takes place over the course of a few days as a meteorite shower hits Ry Burke's dying family farm in the middle-of-nowhere, Iowa. Ry is 19 years old and the "man" of the house now that his father is in jail, having been put there mostly due to Ry's efforts. Ry, his mother Jo Beth, and little sister Sarah are distraught to find out that Marvin Burke is coming for them however, and they scrabble to figure something out - only to find out they were a little too late. Now Ry and his father must face-off once again.

  Now I know you guys are wondering why the summary mentions "childhood protectors". Mr. Furrington, Jesus Christ, and Scowler are Ry's old toys and actually had a lot to do with Ry's initial face-off with his father (written through two brief interludes as a flashback) whether or not their support could be summarized as hallucination, actual, or a child's coping mechanism is open to discussion. Naturally when Ry learns that Marvin is making his way back, he reaches out to them again, although this time, as a 19year old almost man, he must now also struggle with his potential for cruelty and darkness.

  In short, an excellent horror novel that's got a slow burn and while not as graphically horrific as Rotters, still terribly visual in its haunting violent acts (I will never look at needles the same way again). May or may not open the possibility of psychosis up for interpretation.

  Is Scowler on your TBR pile?

  by HeadBuzzer | 5 comments |
  Filed under: BuzzGuy Review Daniel Kraus Scowler

• BuzzGuy Review: Bonechiller

  Oct 31, 2012

  Bonechiller by Graham McNamee:

  Add to your RB bookshelf | Goodreads | Buy a copy

  SUMMARY: WELCOME TO NOWHERE.
  
  Danny’s dad takes a job as caretaker at a marina on the shore of a vast, frozen lake in Harvest Cove, a tiny town tucked away in Canada’s Big Empty. If you’re looking for somewhere to hide, this is it.
  
  It’s the worst winter in years. One night, running in the dark, Danny is attacked by a creature so strange and terrifying he tries to convince himself he was hallucinating. Then he learns about Native American legends of a monster that’s haunted the lake for a thousand years. And that every generation, in the coldest winters, kids have disappeared into the night. People think they ran away.
  
  Danny knows better. Because now the beast is after him.

  REVIEW: So I noticed some of you have recommended Bonechiller by Graham McNamee more than once for our Scariest Books post and thought I'd chime in with my two cents, especially since I read it recently. 

  Danny and his dad have moved around a lot, ever since his mom died. They do it to forget, and they do it to keep from ever forming attachments. In their latest town, Danny is in the furthest, coldest, and darkest regions of rural Canada, where you're more likely to encounter a wild animal than a person after dark - and that's what Danny thinks has happened to him when he gets attacked.

  To say that Graham McNamee writes a lot of horror is an understatement - it's all he writes. He clearly likes to get to know his monsters, and when you pit a tiny town where its dark out even during "daytime" against an ancient Native American legend, you know you're in for some spooks. Something's been haunting the town's children for centuries and no one really knows what it is. Add that to a group of teenagers no one really believes and you've got your hands full.

  I thought it was interesting how the Wendigo stalked its victims primarily through their dreams; it's a massive monster that could definitely take out some puny teens with a swipe of its paw, but the scares were most effective when you realized that Danny was trapped in his own mind and the Wendigo had lured him in there - and he can't move. Think about it - it's like Freddy Krueger, except you can't really fight back!

  Basing the story in Canada was definitely interesting for me, as I've never been, but the imagery of Danny and his friends riding around on bikes with shotguns was definitely fun to read! Oh, and his crush Ash? She's a hottie!

  Bonechiller is a dark but humorous - perfect for a quick read tonight! It might make you want to look over your shoulder as you walk around in the dark trick-or-treating.

  If you like these books, you'll love Bonechiller:

  

  
  

  by BuzzGuy | 12 comments |
  Filed under: Bonechiller BuzzGuy Review Graham McNamee

• BuzzGuy Review: Gil Marsh

  May 30, 2012

  Gil Marsh by A.C.E Bauer
  

  Get a copy | Add to your RB Bookshelf | Goodreads

  SUMMARY: Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gill Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil's athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.
  
  Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.
  
  When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.
  
  Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.

  REVIEW: I don’t mind reading more “classic” literature every now and then, but even though there’s a lot of talk about war and battles, it can be a bit dry sometimes. That was, until I read Gil Marsh by A.C.E Bauer – talk about a retelling that I really enjoyed!

  Gil Marsh is the coolest kid in school – good looking, smart, athletic - the overall best, well rounded guy ever. Until Enko transfers in from Montreal, a guy who can easily match Gil in everything he does. Instead of fighting and developing a hardcore rivalry, Gil and Enko become inseparable best friends. Until Enko dies. When Enko’s parents take Enko’s body back and away to Montreal without letting anyone say “goodbye,” Gil decides to find Enko’s grave so he can properly say farewell, embarking on an epic adventure by himself.

  I thought it was especially cool how parallels and aspects of the ancient story of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian king from 3000 BC, are woven into Gil Marsh (doesn’t “Gil Marsh” sound really close to Gilgamesh?). Not only does the story have one of the most famous epics as a storyline, but it’s been modernized! While I can’t really relate to Gilgamesh the king, I can easily sympathize with Gil Marsh who sets off on this dangerous journey to initially find his best friend’s grave, but his trip changes into a trip that's about finding answers, self discovery, and growing up. On top of the soul searching that Gil does, he’s out to discover the secret power of a ring Enko left behind.

  I really enjoyed reading Gil Marsh – I’d recommend it to anyone who’s a sucker for classics and epics. Pick up a copy if you enjoy classic stories and modern retellings!  

  If you liked these books, you'll love Gil Marsh:

  
  

  by BuzzGuy | 16 comments |
  Filed under: BuzzGuy Review Gil Marsh

• BuzzGuy Review: Almost Perfect

  May 15, 2012

  Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
  
  Get a copy | Add to your RB Bookshelf | Goodreads
  
  SUMMARY: Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.

  REVIEW: I had an ARC of Almost Perfect lying around my room. From the pretty girly cover, I didn’t really think it was my type of read, but when I saw that it had made the “Popular Paperbacks” list by YALSA, I figured I should give it a try - and I’m really glad that I did.

  Logan is a high school senior in a tiny town with the same 80 kids he’s gone to school with since kindergarten. He’s trying to recover from a bad breakup and finish his last year of high school without falling apart, until Sage Hendricks transfers to his school. Sage is different – tall, loud, awkward, and pretty in a weird way. Soon she has Logan crushing on her pretty bad. Except for one thing, Sage was born a boy.

  Holy smokes, when I got to the part where Sage revealed that she was actually a transgender girl in the middle of transition, I freaked out! I really wasn’t expecting that. But the story of Almost Perfect isn’t about the big reveal of Sage’s secret –  it’s really about Sage and what happens to her as she and Logan try to learn how to be friends.

  Like Logan, I had a lot to learn about transgendered people, so reading his struggle and thought processes as he tried to truly understand – and see - Sage as a person was as if I was experiencing it for myself. Almost Perfect is very informative without coming off as educational or lecturing and is definitely a unique love story. Most importantly, it opened my eyes to different types of people out there, and how to empathize.

  I’d like to say that Almost Perfect had a happy ending, but things got messy, things got violent, and it ended on a rather bittersweet note, so beware! If you feel up to reading books that deal with adult issues, then definitely give Almost Perfect a try.

  If you liked these, you'll enjoy Almost Perfect

  

  by BuzzGuy | 14 comments |
  Filed under: Almost Perfect Brian Katcher BuzzGuy Review

• BuzzGuy Review: The Deserter

  Mar 26, 2012

  The Deserter by Peadar O Guilin

  Add to your RB bookshelf | Peadar O Guilin Q&A | Goodreads

  To save his tribe, the cannibal Stopmouth must abandon it. Leaving the stone-age world of the Surface behind, he travels to the Roof, the mysterious hi-tech world suspended above. But the Roof has its own problems. The nanotechnology that controls it is collapsing. And now a rebellion against the ruling Commission is about to erupt. Hunted by the Commission's nano-enhanced agents, Stopmouth must succeed in a desperate hunt of his own: to find the woman he loves. Only she knows how to save his tribe. But in this super-sophisticated world, all he has to fight with are his raw strength and fierce courage.

  
  
  
  

  REVIEW

  “Wow.” That was my first thought after putting down this book. I don’t know where to begin to describe why The Deserter is now of my favorite books – it’s intense, it’s a great futuristic dystopian read, and it really got me thinking.

  The Deserter is the second book in Peadar Ó’Guilin’s Bone World trilogy, and I have to say that I haven’t read such an original book in a while. Stopmouth is part of a Neanderthal tribe that violently hunts and forage in order to survive a dark world without technological advancements. So when I found that Stopmouth and his tribe were actually a living in a futuristic world, my jaw dropped!

  In The Deserter, Stopmouth has to travel to “the Roof,” the mysterious high tech world above the surface, find the computerized brain that powers and runs the world, and somehow return home - alive. Except a deadly virus is on the loose and it’s already destroyed the upper part of the world, sending refugees down below to seek shelter. Now there’s a rebellion brewing, organized by people who wish to erase the entire sub-surface civilization to make room, and Stopmouth is running out of time.

   Like any good dystopian book, The Deserter really makes you think about social issues. While you read about Stopmouth and his frantic search to save his people, the author does a great job on subtly bringing up themes of class differences, extreme poverty, and racism. You have this high-tech, super advanced society that doesn’t have to worry about survival, but it wants to completely terminate the other class - that struggles to eat on a daily basis - solely because of the prejudice that they’re primitive and savage. It really gets you thinking!

  The Deserter is a bit grim and brutal at times, so if you’re faint of heart, beware!

  If you enjoyed these books, you’ll love The Deserter:

      

  by BuzzGuy | 14 comments |
  Filed under: buzzguy reviews dystopian Peadar O'Guilin the Deserter

• Graffiti Moon: Reviewed by BuzzGuy & BuzzGirl

  Feb 10, 2012

  Happy Friday Buzzers! Next week not only do we have Caitlin Kittredge joining us for a Q&A on the forums, but we also have a guest blogger, author CATH CROWLEY! The Aussie author penned A Little Wanting Song and most recently, GRAFFITI MOON - which goes on sale in the US next week! We'll be putting a new post from Cath every day next week and since she's also a member on the site, keep an eye out in case she responds to your comments! 

  Not familiar with Graffiti Moon yet? Here's the summary: Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

  Since the book is written in alternating points of view from Ed and Lucy, we decided it would be fun to have our very own BuzzGuy and BuzzGirl read the book and then answer a few of our questions! We hope you'll enjoy it! Also, if you want to win an ARC copy of Graffiti Moon, we have several we're giving away next week. Just complete this activity here to enter!

  
  
  
  

  A CONVERSATION ABOUT GRAFFITI MOON

  with BuzzGuy and BuzzGirl

  
  
  

  1. So, overall - did you like Graffiti Moon?
  
  BUZZGUY - Overall I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I don’t read that many contemporary books, especially ones with strong romances but there was enough action that I like and it read more like an adventure book than a romance book which was cool.
  
  BUZZGIRL - Yes, very much so! I was a bit hesitant when I started reading cause I didn’t know what to expect, but now I don’t know why I ever was. It’s funny, fast paced, and the descriptions are so great - I wish those pieces actually existed so I could see them!  
  
  2. Who was your favorite character and why?
  
  BUZZGUY- That’s a tough one, but for me I’d have to go with Ed. I’ve never read a character like him. He was tough and a little rough around the edges. He wasn’t a prince charming or Mr. Darcy (as mentioned in the book). He didn’t always say the right things or do the right things and he makes a lot of mistakes. He was an underdog and I’m always rooting for the underdog.
  
  BUZZGIRL- I loved, loved, loved Jazz! At first I was a bit wary because she seemed like she was going to be a horrible cliché with her funky sense of style and psychic abilities, but I really like that she had different sides to her that made her a whole person - she was a great foil to Lucy’s slightly neurotic tendency to play it safe. Jazz was funny, cool under pressure, and flighty without being an airhead. Thumbs up!
  
  3. How did you feel about the alternating points of view?
  
  BUZZGUY- I haven’t read very many books with alternating points of view so this was something new for me. I found it hard to follow at first but once I got the hang of the rhythm of each POV I thought it was pretty cool. It was nice to see typical teen situations portrayed from both a guy and a girl’s perspective - like that party scene!
  
  BUZZGIRL- I thought the alternating POVs were one of the things that made Graffiti Moon strong and memorable. You really got to know Ed and Lucy so much better by being inside their heads, and it’s always interesting to see how one event is viewed and remembered differently.
  
  4. When it comes to the infamous failed first date, who do you think was to blame - Lucy or Ed?
  
  BUZZGUY - It’s definitely all Lucy’s fault. Sure Ed shouldn’t have grabbed her butt, but she broke his nose! And didn’t even help him to the hospital! Or call him the next day to see if he was okay! He wasn’t some stranger, they were on a date, she knew Ed and yet still resorted to violence - not cool!
  
  BUZZGIRL - I’m going to side with Lucy here. Although I did feel bad for Ed, I couldn’t help but laugh at him. What did he really think was going to happen? He kinda deserved what he had coming. Lucy using her elbows really upped her likability for me. Sure, she should have called to see if he was alive, but did she have to? Not really. I’m not going to hold it against her cause I’d be pretty mad if someone grabbed me like that.
  
  
  5. Do you have a favorite scene?
  
  BUZZGUY - I thought the scene in the park with Malcolm Dove and his thugs was great. Malcolm made a very nasty bad guy and the whole scene was really tense, thrilling and at one point, kind of gross. It really gave the story a sense of urgency that hadn’t really been there before. I think this was the turning point scene when everything was just taken to the next level. It was awesome!
  
  BUZZGIRL - I really enjoyed the scenes when Lucy and Ed were tracking down Shadow’s paintings and the back and forth between them when they would come to a new painting. Those scenes were romantic, but not in a cliché kind of way – they were simple and beautifully written but they also revealed a lot about these two characters.
  
  
  
  6. What do you think about Poet’s poems being thrown in every now and then?
  
  BUZZGUY - Honestly, I think I only read about half of them. I’m not all that into poetry.
  
  BUZZGIRL - I was a bit surprised at first cause it was so random, but it made sense, since Poet and Shadow’s works go together. I started seeing them as nice reminders that other characters were around when things were starting to get tense.
  
  
  7. What sub themes and side plots did you notice and pick up on?
  
  BUZZGUY - All of the art talk was definitely a sub theme of the story. Art itself could have been a complete character. So to me, I think one of the side plots was about overcoming the challenges in life in the pursuit of art - or just in the pursuit of what you love to do.
  
  BUZZGIRL - The big one for me was all the possible dead ends Ed was facing. He’s a high school dropout who can’t get a job but needs the money desperately - that’s a lot to deal with!  
  
  
  8. Who do you think should have gotten POVs?
  
  BUZZGUY - I think Since we got Leo’s perspective from his poems, I would have enjoyed a chapter or two from Jazz. We know how Leo feels about her but he doesn’t truthfully know how Jazz feels about him, we only know what Lucy tells us.
  
  BUZZGIRL - Jazz! She would have definitely had a lot of interesting stuff to say. I’m pretty sure that her POVs would have been very different for sure.
  
  9. Who would you recommend this book to?
  
  BUZZGUY - I’d recommend this to any of my more artistically gifted friends, I think they’d really love all the artsy discussions between Lucy and Ed. I think this book would inspire them.
  
  BUZZGIRL - My friends for sure! My book club has been looking for a good, fresh read that’s for an older teen crowd and has a bit more excitement.
  
  
  10. Flash forward 10 years, what will you remember most about this book?
  
  BUZZGUY - I think I’ll remember Ed the most. He was a really complex character that even though if he was a real guy we probably would never cross paths but I still came to respect him and understand him. The fact that he’s a graffiti artist is also really cool and I’ll definitely remember that. I’ve never read a book with a graffitist main character!
  
  BUZZGIRL - I’m also going to say Ed. It’s weird, cause even though this is an alternating POV chapter, this seemed really more like Ed’s story and his personal growth. Everything about him was so bleak and hopeless at first, but by the end, you can tell that something’s changed for the better.

  by HeadBuzzer | 22 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Reviews Buzzgirl buzzguy Cath Crowley graffiti moon

• BuzzGuy Review: My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan

  Feb 8, 2012

  My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan

  Written by Seth Rudetsky

  Get a copy | Add to your RB bookshelf | Goodreads

  SUMMARY: Justin has two goals for sophomore year: to date Chuck, the hottest boy in school, and to become the king of Cool U, the table in the cafeteria where the "in" crowd sits. 
  
  Unfortunately, he has the wrong look (short, plump, Brillo-pad curls), he has the wrong interests (Broadway, chorus violin), and he has the wrong friends (Spencer, into Eastern religions, and Mary Ann,  who doesn't shave her armpits). And Chuck? Well, he's not gay; he's dating Becky, a girl in chorus with whom Justin is friendly. But Justin is determined. In detention one day (because he saw Chuck get it first), Justin comes up with a perfect plan: to allow Becky to continue dating Chuck, whom Becky's dad hates. They will pretend that Becky is dating Justin, whom Becky's dad loves. And when Becky and Justin go out on a fake date, Chuck will meet up with them for a real date with Becky. Chuck's bound to find Justin irresistable, right? What could go wrong?

  
  
  
  

  REVIEW: One of my friends told me I should read My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan by Seth Rudetsky. Truthfully, words like “popularity” in titles make me a little uneasy, but one of my reading resolutions this year is to branch out and try other genres that I normally don’t read, so I gave it a shot. This book is way more different than I thought it would be, and that’s a good thing.

  Justin Goldblatt is definitely not one of the “cool” kids – he’s short, chubby, and into geeky pursuits like theater. His best friends are on the awkward side of the social spectrum, with Spencer being into philosophy and Mary never shaving her armpits, but that’s okay. Justin has a plan to rise to the top and date Chuck, the hottest – and most popular – guy in school. He’s going to pretend to date popular girl Becky, Chuck’s girlfriend, so that she and Chuck can secretly date because Becky’s dad hates Chuck’s guts and has forbidden them from going out. In the meantime, Justin gets to hang out with the popular kids and the more time Chuck spends with Justin, the sooner he’ll realize that they’re meant to be.

  The plan I just outlined sounds pretty complicated, but trust me, it’s not hard to follow when reading. My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan is humorous, lighthearted, and funny without being too nonchalant about some serious issues concerning teens – gay or not – today, like bullying, needing to fit in, and trying to find out who they really are. While Justin doesn’t know it, he’s pretty confused and needs to figure out what makes him truly happy and who he is, and if it’s really worth it to climb the social ladder in high school if no one’s going to be with you up there.

  My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan was an easy, enjoyable read, and not bad at a first attempt at branching out of my favored genres. Seth Rudetsky has written an enjoyable contemporary fiction YA novel that remains funny without being flippant, but just serious enough to make you think. Good job! 

  If you liked these, you'll enjoy My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan:

      

  by BuzzGuy | 20 comments |
  Filed under: book reviews buzzguy reviews My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan Seth Rudetsky

• BuzzGuy Review: Rotters

  Jan 18, 2012

  So over the weekend, I got around to reading a book that’s been on my TBR pile for a while – Rotters by Daniel Kraus. Holy cow. I thought the premise itself was a bit morbid and macabre (which I’m okay with), but I guess I wasn’t prepared for the extent of just how morbid and creepy Rotters was going to be.

  If you’re squeamish and don’t like vivid descriptions of severed limbs, the stench of corpses, dark nights of mucking about in grave dirt, or anything dead and gross – you might want to reconsider because Kraus’s language is very vivid, detailed, and almost lyrical in its descriptions. While Kraus uses grave digging as a plot vehicle, Rotters is a layered story with much more to it - it’s about teen angst, high school, revenge, bullying, and learning how to deal with life.

  Sixteen year old Joey loses his mom in a horrific accident and social services sends him away to live with a father he’s never met and doesn’t want Joey anymore than Joey wants him. When Joey discovers his father’s secret occupation as a grave robber, he is at first horrified, but slowly starts to join him in his nightly excursions, slowly immersing himself into a family tradition that is bound by rules and a code of honor.

  Rotters is a book meant to make you think about morality and it deliberately goads strong reactions from you. I found myself cringing in horror and disgust at not only the grave digging but the actions and thought processes of some characters, while still peculiarly drawn to the cast of unique and oddly likeable “Diggers” who do despicable deeds but are easier to sympathize and relate to than the normal folk of Joey’s new town. Thought provoking! 

  Get a copy | Read the chapter sampler | Add it to your RB bookshelf | Q&A with Daniel Kraus

  If you liked these, you'll love Rotters:

  

  by BuzzGuy | 14 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Reviews buzzguy Daniel Kraus horror rotters

• BuzzGuy Review: The Devil's Breath by David Gilman

  Dec 6, 2011

  The Devil's Breath by David Gilman

  Published June 7th, 2007 

  Summary: He’s escaped an armed assassin and his explorer father is missing. Now a secret clue, left by his dad, takes Max Gordon into the wilderness of the Namibian desert. Ruthless businessman Shaka Chang is masterminding a major ecological disaster that will destroy countless lives. Stalked by the forces behind his father’s disappearance and in conflict with the vicious Chang, Max is fighting for more than his own survival. Plunged into a world of ancient tribes and the supernatural, Max will come face to face with evil–and be forced to make the most terrifying decision of his life.

  
  

  Review: The Devil's Breath is the first in the Danger Zone trilogy by British author David Gilman. (The third in the trilogy, Blood Sun, goes on sale this month. Read more about it here.) I was referred to this book from a friend and classmate who was a fan of action-packed novels, so I decided I'd give it a try.

  The story explodes right away, with the very first sentence and doesn't stop until the very end. Like a teen Jason Bourne, Max Gordon is thrust into a dangerous world and forced on mission to find his missing father, all while escaping his own pursuers using the training and skills he received at what must be the coolest high school ever.

  While the story gets a little far fetched, particularly Max's seemingly good luck and uncanny ability to escape harrowing situations, I like that Max is still completely relatable. The plot is so fast paced, I found it sometimes difficult to keep up. I found myself occasionally having to go back and reread sections because so much was happening within each sentence, if I wasn't paying close attention chances are I'd miss something and then get confused later on.

  If you prefer novels that have a strong love story or smart, witty dialogue The Devil's Breath will probably leave you disappointed. However, if you like your novels that are as action packed as a James Bond movie (more Daniel Craig Bond than a Roger Moore Bond) then you're going to love this book. Full of mystery, suspense and heart-pounding around the globe adventure, this is a book for any thrill seeking reader. 

  If you liked these books, you'll love The Devil's Breath:

     

  by BuzzGuy | 22 comments |
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