Review: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Summary: As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts.They were also one another's only friend.So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken. Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.


My Thoughts: From the cover, you'd never guess that this book is the emotional tale that it is. I guess that's why they always tell you to not judge a book by it's cover.

Jennifer and Cameron have always shared a impenetrable bond. Being bullied and picked on, these two were always there for eachother through thick and thin. Years later, after the dissapearance of her best friend, Jennifer has evolved into Jenna. She goes to a different school, lost her baby fat and lisp, made some friends, and gained a boyfriend. However, Jenna can't help but think to the days when it was just her and Cameron against the world. She starts to question who she really is, and if she likes the person she changed in to.

Jenna's life is turned upside down by the reappearance of Cameron Quick, they boy she thought was gone for good. Life hasn't been kind to him, and Jenna starts to remember some unpleasant memories she'd rather forget about their past.

Sweethearts really suprised me. I hadn't loved a book like this in a long time. The main characters had multiple layers to them that the readers got to see stripped away throughout the book. The writing was pheonomenal, leading me to never want to put the book down. Overall, It was a beautifully, heartbeaking tale of friendship, and love, and not being able to, or wanting to let go of that one person that's always loved you for who you really are.

Memorable Quote: "Because love, love is never finished. It circles and circles, the memories out of order and not always
complete."

Rating: 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Pub. Date: October 15th, 2009

Summary: dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

This is the type of book I drool over. I love angsty books. I love stories of friendships that aren't all rainbows and butterflies. I love reading about the coping and moving on process. Alot of people like to read books that are fun and happy (I do, too!), but I also like to read things that are a little darker with some deeper emotions.

In My Mailbox

Eh, I've been really slacking on updating my blog. I've actually been procrastinating on everything I need to do (don't even get me started on my summer homework).

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie to share the awesome things we’ve received in the mail in the previous week(s).

I'm not going to post summaries for the books today (the books are all well known), just the covers, I'm being lazy I know.



Airhead by Meg Cabot




Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson




The Clique Summer Collection by Lisi Harrison

So, how was everyone else's week, book-wise?

Mandatory Music: Send it On

Yeah, I know this has nothing to do with books, but I want to share this brand new song that came out today with everyone. I love the message behind it, and the voices are so powerful (Mostly, Demi Lovato, which is fine with me, because she is amazing). I love it when people use their voice to make a positive contribution to the world, which this song does. It has a message that everyone can do something to make this world a better place ("just one spark starts the fire."). Just humor me, and listen to it if you have the time.





Song by Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, and Selena Gomez. (Yes, I listen to Disney stars. And everyone here should be listening to Demi Lovato, anyways.)



So, what did you guys think of the song? I want the truth. Trust me, I'm not a fangirl, so I wont be hurt if you dont like it. :P

Review: "The Treasure Map of Boys" by E. Lockhart

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
Release Date: July 28th, 2009

Summary:

(Spoilers for the two previous Ruby Oliver novels) Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it's her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what's more: Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. Rumors are flying, and Ruby's already-sucky reputation is heading downhill. Not only that, she's also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances. In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love--if such a thing exists.

My Thoughts:

The Treasure Map of Boys is a quirky and hilarious look at High School student Ruby Oliver's daily trials and tribulations, which includes boys, old and new friends, a bake sale, therapy, and a great dane named Polka-dot.

I've always been a fan of this series, so I was super excited to get a copy of this before it was released. Ruby is one of the funniest characters I've ever encountered, and I love reading everything she has to say. However, this wasn't my favorite book in the series. Ruby, overall, seemed indecisive and even at some points annoying.

Gladly, though, there was a lot more in this book that I liked than disliked. As always, the cliffnotes add a unique twist to the story. Plus, I loved reading more about Ruby's friendships with both Hutch and Meghan. And I hope to see more of that in the future if the books continue.

E. Lockhart again weaves undeniable comedy with heartfelt emotion in the third book in the popular Ruby Oliver series. I would recommend this to anyone who has read the previous two books in the series, and to everyone else I recommend the first book (The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart)

4 Stars

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie to share the awesome things we’ve received in the mail in the last week.

Giving up the V by Serena Robar (Autographed!)

Spencer Davis just turned sixteen. But unlike most hormonal teenagers who seem obsessed with sex -- like her entire crew of friends -- Spencer just doesn't get it. She'd rather wait for the right guy and the right moment. But that moment may be arriving sooner than she'd thought. Enter Benjamin Hopkins, a new transfer student who seems to have his eyes on our V-card-carrying heroine. He's gorgeous, funny, suave, athletic, and capable of making Spencer's knees wobble with a single glance. Spencer has never felt this way about anyone before, but is Ben truly V-worthy?

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (Hardback)

While on vacation in California, sixteen-year-old best girlfriends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna's first summer romance, but Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.

Also, from the Library I got:

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
Tomorrow Wendy by Shelley Stoehr

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

Rose of No Man's Land by Michelle Tea

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, and Abandoned Rock Operas by Sarah Brown

Claws by Will Weaver

A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian

PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives by Frank Warren

Also, I ordered a couple dvd's off of amazon that arrived not long ago.

Radio Free Roscoe Season One Greatest Hits

Aghh!! I wish they would have released all the episodes of both seasons, but I guess I should be grateful they even released this set. I used to be in love with this show when I was 10. I miss it.

Everwood Season One

One of the best shows ever on televison. I put off buying season one until they started releasing the other seasons. Season two was just released so I had no excuses to not pick this one up.

Felicity Season Two

This was on sale at Best Buy and I couldn't help myself. I loved the first season, and needed to see the rest, since I missed this show the first time around.

Ok, that's all! I hope everyone had a great week overall and in their mailboxes!

Going Out Of Town

Hello everyone! Today I am leaving to go camping with my family up in Sisters, Oregon. It's kind of a tradition we do every summer, and it's beautiful up there. You should see the stars at night time. I will not be back until Tuesday, so if you try to get ahold of me, I wont be able to get back to you until that date. I'm sorry if this provides any inconvenience for anyone.

I hope you all have a good weekend!