I Am More Than Just a Girl. Empowered. Informed. Equal. by Leah Oviedo

If any of you ladies out there are looking for a feel-good, self-empowerment book, this just may be the one for you! This self-help-like book challenges young women between the ages of 14-21 (though it is appropriate for older ages) to recognize themselves as the special people they are. Filled with tips for self-defense, to help you feel better about yourself, and various hotlines if needed, I Am More Than Just a Girl is quite the motivational read. Interspersed with some blank pages for doodling and reminding ourselves that we are more than "just girls," this book is sure to brighten up any low self-esteem day!

Though the book is recommended for ages 14-21, I would say ages 12 and up would be appropriate. The book does have some parts about sexual abuse that are probably not suitable for audiences younger than 12. It also touches on sexual orientation, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders. But one of the (many) great things about I Am More Than Just a Girl is that is provides a list of hotlines for young women who my be dealing with any of the aforementioned subjects.

This books is an excellent confidence booster and even reminded me of what makes me special and why I -and all the other women in the world - deserve to be treated as such.

Happy Readings!

On the Shelf: As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

I'm Back...!

Well...it's been a while. The world seemed to catch up with me and take me for quite a roller coaster ride! As you can obviously tell, I have not reviewed books in a long time. But that doesn't mean I have stopped reading!

I hope everyone has enjoyed his or her summer and is looking forward to the holidays. I (finally) have some downtime, so I will try to continue blogging about more books. No promises, just very good intentions.

Please feel free to join Bookend's Facebook page, too! So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, New Year's, and everything and anything in between! Happy readings!

Looks by Madeleine George

Looks is the tale of two very different girls who wind up sharing something in common: a hatred of a third girl. Meghan is obese and will binge on food. Aimee, on the other hand, is anorexic and will only binge on a single bite of a carrot. Meghan prides herself on being invisible to the rest of the school while Aimee prides herself on her poetry. But when Cara, the seemingly "nice girl", rewrites Aimee's poetry as her own, Aimee decides to get revenge. And with whose help? Meghan's. Meghan is thrilled to join in as she and Cara have a nasty past together. Together, their revenge is perhaps far meaner than the things Cara has done to them...

I can't say I enjoyed this book. Many topics were left unresolved at the end of the book, such as the girls' eating disorders, and there was no concrete moral. Or perhaps the lack of moral is the moral itself. Anyway, the book was frustrating to get through, and the only reason I wound up finishing it is because I was curious about Meghan's past with Cara. None of the characters learned any lessons, and life wound up continuing normally only a day or two after the plot for revenge was executed. Looks was annoyingly left open, leaving the reader looking for some descending action and a resolution. But it was as invisible as Meghan!

I do have to say, however, that Madeleine George presented an interesting idea to explore. I was curious to read it (seeing as I did), and there was obviously some gripping component because I wound up finishing it (after returning it to the library and taking it out again a few weeks later).

So, if you're dying to read this book, I would say it's age appropriate for anyone 13 and older. Thematic elements include eating disorders, bullying, family issues, and some sexually-charged dialogue.

And if you or anyone you know suffers from an eating disorder, please seek help, because it is out there for you. National Eating Disorders Association has some great information out there (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/), and the biggest step to getting better is admitting you have an issue. I thought it was important to add this information in here because the book does deal with these topics quite heavily. Remember, help is out there, and you are not alone.

Happy Readings!

On the Shelf: Under the Banyan Tree by Toni DiPalma

Behind the Text: Bill Folman

Check out Behind the Text for an exclusive look at what Bill Folman, author of The Scandal Plan, has to say about writing and his advice to aspiring writers!

New Feature! Behind the Text

Hey there, Bookenders! Behind the Text is a new feature I've added to share with you the words and wisdom of published authors with whom I've spoken! I have been contacting authors whose books I've reviewed, and you can find out what they have to say under the "Behind the Text" tab.

Enjoy, and happy readings!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Andi Alpers is an only child. She wasn't always, though. Just a year or so earlier, she lost her younger brother Truman to a devastating accident, and now Andi's simply struggling to survive each day. But that's easier said than done. Andi's failing school, her mother's mentally breaking down, and her father is an award-winning geneticist with little time for family. Soon, though, things start to change as Andi's dad checks her mother into a psychiatric hospital and drags Andi with him halfway across the world to Paris. They stay with friends of the family, one of whom is a renowned historian who recently made a discovery: the jarred heart of Louis Charles, the imprisoned son of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. Andi becomes wrapped up in the story of the lost child when she finds the diary of Alexandrine Paradis, Louis Charles's companion and servant. And one night in the old catacombs, the history and the past collide into one dangerous - if not deadly - adventure for Andi...

Revolution won an Odyssey Award and has several highly acclaimed reviews. I found the book well-written and enthralling...and a little too scary for my liking, but nevertheless, I couldn't put it down. It's not that the story itself was scary or involved traditionally scary elements like vampires or werewolves or other supernatural creatures; rather, I was frightened because of the thematic elements discussed. Andi has issues for which she takes medication, but that doesn't stop her from contemplating suicide a few times throughout the book. Her mother's mental health is deteriorating, which is something I find worrisome to contemplate. Add to the fact that Andi's father is doing genetic testing on a centuries-old heart of an eight-year-old boy, and I find that this is not a book to be reading home alone at night.

Other thematic elements include drug/alcohol use and abuse, implications of sex, parental issues, and moderate profanity. My recommendation is for teens ages fifteen and older.

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: Looks by Madeleine George

The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman

Never in the course of American history has the public encountered a presidential candidate who is as honest as he proclaims. Until, that is, Senator Ben Phillips decides to run for the presidency. Phillips is lagging way behind in the polls and a victory is utterly inconceivable. But then an idea flits into renowned campaign strategist Thomas Campman's mind: Sin will make him human. Campman creates a plan so crazy, so incredulous, so...scandalous that it just might work. Before long, the rumors and reporters are underway on the quest to uncover the "truth" Campman created: that Phillips had an extramarital affair years ago. Not long after, other absurd claims come out about Phillips ranging from more affairs to drinking problems. Campman's scandal may be racing out of control, but Phillips poll points are racing to the top! The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman all culminates in one 24-hour block that is as breathtaking as the initial accusations against Phillips...

Folman creates a vivid Washington, DC scene that brings readers straight to the heart of America and straight behind the curtains of politics. Filled with many laugh-out-loud, oh-no!, and is-it-true? moments, once you start The Scandal Plan you will not be able to put it down. Refreshing, original, and just crazy enough to work, The Scandal Plan is a turn-of-the-century novel about love, loss, lust, likability, and how it all factors in to politics.

The novel contains thematic elements including alleged affairs (obviously!), alleged drinking problems, marital issues, some sexual content (though nothing obscenely graphic), and a multitude of curses. I'd advise this book to teens sixteen and older strictly because of those factors.

If you're looking for a sassy, funny, smart comical book with some twists more unforeseeable than a twister itself, then pick up The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman!

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

The question: What do you get when you add a few hard-rocking teenagers, one annoying little brother, one mysterious quest to famous musicians' houses, and a deaf band manager? The answer: Dumb, Seattle's newest Battle of the Bands winner. Piper, the main character, went deaf around age 6 and life hasn't gotten any easier for her eleven years later. Five Flavors of Dumb opens with an impromptu rock concert in front of her school, and soon thereafter Piper finds herself agreeing to manage Dumb. The trouble is, she can't hear them. But she can see enough and feel enough vibrations to know that they're not good. So she brings in some help, and things begin to change for Dumb. Before long, they're composing songs, visiting famous musicians' houses, and they even land a gig. But trouble and chaos are soon to ensue... from Piper's parents who just can't seem to understand her, to breaking school rules, and even to finding love, Dumb is about to get really smart about some things really fast!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was humorous, had a great theme, and presented a view that many people would never even consider. It really made me think about what my life would be like if I was deaf or if my parents didn't understand me. John brings to the literary world an exciting new character in Piper that puts a fresh spin on people's perspectives. I would recommend it for readers fourteen and older.

Five Flavors of Dumb contains a moderate level of profanity, one or two thematic elements dealing mostly with parental issues, and some romance that escalates into a few kisses Piper will not soon forget.

All in all, Five Flavors of Dumb, is a refreshing read with well-developed, three-dimensional characters who really seem to bring Dumb and all of its flavors to life. Embedded with humor, romance, and some things to think about, John has created a wonderful book for any and all readers.

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Road trips are supposed to be fun, especially when you're going on one with your boyfriend or girlfriend, right? Wrong. A few days before Courtney and Jordan are leaving on their road trip to college, Jordan breaks up with Courtney for a mysterious Internet girl. So now Courtney's stuck spending a few days in the car with her ex, his rap music, and his phone that won't stop ringing. She's also left trying to figure out who the Internet girl is, and why Jordan would break up with her for someone he's never actually met, especially when things were going so well between him and Courtney. With a mystery to unravel and a temper to control, Courtney has to grin and bear it to make to college. But Jordan's not telling the truth, for reasons of his own, and secrets are about to be revealed that will rock their worlds forever...

Two-Way Street is told in alternating points of view through various points in time, all leading up to one big, climatic event that is as unforgettable as Courtney's and Jordan's breakup. This is simply a great book. Barnholdt creates an atmosphere in which the reader understands both Courtney's and Jordan's perspectives. I truly felt torn during the book because I had no idea what I would do in either of their situations. The characters are well-developed, and it is easy to sympathize - and in some cases, empathize - with Courtney and Jordan. The plot flips back and forth between the road trip and the events leading up to it, including the night Courtney and Jordan met.

The book contains moderate profanity/cursing, some thematic elements (parental issues), and does openly talk about sex. Cigarettes and alcohol also make appearances throughout the course of the novel. I would recommend this book for teens ages fifteen and older.

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

This phenomenal thriller takes the reader to the world of coding, cryptology, and crime. Susan Fletcher, a cryptographer for the National Security Agency (NSA) must crack and unbreakable, thought-to-be perpetually changing code that threatens not only national security, but her boyfriend's life. While she's fighting off impending doom in the states, her boyfriend David Becker is scouring Spain for the passkey to the code that only the code-writer, Ensei Tankado, and his elusive accomplice have. The only problem is, Tankado was murdered hours earlier. With an assassin on his trail, and a murderer on the loose back at NSA headquarters, Susan and David are in a fight to save their lives and their country. Filled with a plethora of wild twists and turns, Dan Brown's first novel is one the reader will never forget.

Once you start Digital Fortress (published 1998 by St. Martin's Press), it's virtually impossible to stop reading it. The first time I read this book, I stayed up until 3 o'clock in the morning finishing it, much to my parents' chagrin. I physically could not put this book down. When I finally finished, my fingers were stained black from the ink because of where I held the book. I don't think my hand has ever been as stiff from being in the same position for so long since.

Digital Fortress is appropriate for most teen readers, though I would recommend it to mainly teens ages sixteen and older. There is some suggestive content as well as moderate cursing. Digital Fortress also contains some thematic elements (assassinations, violence, suggested sex, suggested drug use) that may not be suitable for all teen readers.

Overall, Digital Fortress is a truly noteworthy book. It is fast-paced, thrilling, and has a wonderful style that is rare even among the best of authors.

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer (copyright 2000, published by Penguin Group) is one of my all time favorite books. Hope and her aunt, Addie, have recently been swindled out of their money, and move down to the small town of Mulhoney, Wisconsin, where they start working at the diner that will change their lives forever. The Welcome Stairways diner is owned by GT Stoop, a man with a plan to run against and dethrone the corrupt mayor of Mulhoney. Hope soon starts making new friends, campaign plans, and finally settling in to a place she just might be able to call home.

Hope Was Here is a proud Newberry Honor Book, the winner of the Christopher Award, and ALA Notable Book, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Bauer weaves a stellar web of plot intertwined with character development that will leave the reader laughing, crying, and dying for more.

This book is appropriate for any teen reader. It does deal with some thematic elements (cancer, maternal issues), but is well worth the read. There are very few, if any, profanities. The romance factor is low, with only a few kisses scattered throughout the book.

Happy readings!

On the Shelf: Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Welcome

Welcome to Bookend: A Book Review Blog for Teens! What I plan to do is review books that I feel are suitable and enjoyable for male and female teen readers alike. I'll try to blog about both mainstream and non-mainstream books. The "On the Shelf" note at the end of each post will inform you of the next book I intend on blogging.

Feel free to email me at bookendreviews@gmail.com if you have appropriate book recommendations.

Enjoy, and happy readings!