Jellicoe Road Melina Marchetta

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
My top ten YA list, is constantly changing but Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta will always be on it. I am a huge fan of Marchetta's writing. So much so I was tempted to order her third novel Jellicoe Road when it was originally published in Australia in 2006. I decided to wait, but thanks to Farrin from HarperCollins, I didn't have to wait until August. If you've never read Marchetta you're seriously missing out. So after you read this go to your favorite book source and order her first two novels. Looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca. Treat yourself to a mini Melina Marchetta marathon. Then you'll understand why I love her writing so much. Marchetta's first two novels have a Laurie Hale Anderson/Sarah Dessen feel to them.

Jellicoe Road is nothing like Marchetta's previous novels. Taylor Markham, has attended the Jellicoe school ever since her mother abandoned her on Jellicoe road at eleven years old. She was discovered by Hannah a women who works at the school. The school is made up of six houses, each run by an upper classman. Taylor runs the Lachlan House. There is an on going territory war between the Jellicoe School, the townies and the cadets. Taylor is chosen has the schools representative by the graduating seniors. Taylor is not the best house leader. She has made a home for herself at Jellicoe School with Hannah's help but lately she's been wondering about her mother. She is also distracted by her dreams of a boy in a tree who is trying to tell her something.

For the first half of the book, I felt one step behind the author. Marchetta's writing kept me reading.

"First thing's first. This year we get the Townies on our side, I say. Ignoring everyone in the room but Ben. The chorus of disapproval is like those formula songs that seem to hit number one all the time. You know the tune in a moment and it begins to bore you in two."

The author gives us fragments of stories. Along with Taylor's we learn of the five, five friends who are forever linked to a fatal car accident 22 years earlier.

"My father took one hundred and thirty two minutes to die. I counted. It happened on Jellicoe Road."

Jellicoe Road reads like a puzzle, I was more then okay with this. As a reader sometimes I get a thrill out of having a story finally click. (like ohh I get, I see where the author is taking me) To enjoy Jellicoe Road you must have a lot of patience and trust in Marchetta's writing. I could see readers getting frustrated with Jellicoe Road's chaotic order but the end result is beautiful, tear shedding good.

I love that Marchetta didn't underestimate teens, and wrote Jellicoe Road the way she did. Every reader remembers their first complex multi layered novel.
Jellicoe Road is a journey of a read. A few days after you finish it you'll understand how beautiful it really is. Marchetta's writing always finds a way to touch my heart Jellicoe Road is no exception. I highly recommend it. Jellicoe Road will be released in the U.S. on 8/26

Six Innings James Preller

My baseball team went into a series slump last week. Losing a four game series, to a divisional rival. For those of you, who don't watch baseball its very hard to lose a four game series. Sadly I gave up hope after game three. I lost faith in my team. As a fan that's the worst thing you can do. Without faith each loss is heavier and the next win slips farther away. Then you start blaming yourself, maybe if I believed my team would win again. I was tired of wallowing in the loses and avoiding ESPN. I was going to fight for my faith back. The first step, reminding myself of the goodness that is baseball. I decided to begin with a book.

Six Innings by James Preller. Preller is the author of the early chapter series Jigsaw Jones. Six Innings is his first middle grade novel. A major league baseball game is nine innings, a little league game is six innings.
Its all about the big game. Preller doesn't waste time with the regular season or even the playoffs he gets right to it. The championship game

Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies vs Northeast Gas & Electric

Six Innings opens with 13 Sam Reiser, who would be playing if not for cancer. Though Preller doesn't reveal why Sam is sidelined until later on. He spends the little league season in the booth. Though he his pulling for Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies, Sam calls a fair and unbiased game.
Before the game begins Preller shares the teams lineup cards, including the little league special rules. Each chapter is another inning. The action is fast, the game playing out in front of the readers eyes.

"Dylan Van Zant dives for the ball but is out of reach. Carter Harris charges. He's on the grass moving fast. Carter knows there is no time to hesitate. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Green heading for home- there is no play there. And now Carter is in the Tunnel charging the baseball, and that's all the world he sees, that bouncing white globe. He is deaf to the shouts the cries from the stands. He can't wait for a good hop its now or never, do or die. Without thinking Carter bends low and short hops the ball with his bare hand "

Preller gives us a great story and doesn't limit himself to the field. We learn about the players as well. The book doesn't get overly emotional, its just the right amount for boys to enjoy.

"Mike will try to sneak away to visit Sam later if he gets a chance. It almost feels wrong that he's on the field, while Sam the better player is stuck up there. Mike checks the stands and wonders Will they come? His parents miss so many of his games. But this one is different. This time it means something to Mike."

Preller also manages to slip in some baseball history, like the 1956 world series. I loved Six Innings. It's the best middle grade baseball book I've ever read. I was telling my co workers I plan on selling Six Innings like candy. (I wasn't kidding) This book is for every boy who prefers to be on the field. Its for every baseball fan who loves the game down to the core.

Tonight, my team hit a homerun in the bottom of the 9th to tie It was 6-5 bad guys bottom of 12th. I wasn't worried, I believed again. They won 7-6. Faith is good. Baseball will always be beautiful even when its hard to watch.
I shall thank Preller, for helping me get my faith back by selling the hell out of his beautiful book, Six Innings

Into the Dark Peter Abrahams

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams, is the third book in the Echo Falls Mystery series. 13 yr old Ingrid lives at 99 Maple Lane in Echo Falls. I love Ingrid, she's a independent teenager, who solves mysteries. Ingrid reminds me a lot of Jennifer Allison's character Gilda Joyce. If Ingrid Levin-Hill and Gilda Joyce meet they would be best friends or archenemies they're so much alike.
Though a mystery must be solved Ingrid's life doesn't stop. She has school, family issues, including an older brother who tries to get out of chores. Also Ingrid is a member of the Prescott Players, a local theatre group. This year they're preforming Hansel and Gretel.

"Ingrid loved being int the Prescott Players,loved this beautiful little theater in Prescott in Prescott Hall, loved everything about putting on plays especially working with Jill. Jill was a real actress. She'd been in a Hollywood movie Tongue and Grove"

Abrahams writing is visually strong and Ingrid does the rest. She's a smart girl who uses deductive reasoning like her favorite fictional character Sherlock Holmes.

Ingrid's grandfather, Aylmer is arrested for murder. Ingrid knows her grandfather is innocent because he would never shoot anyone in the back. Unfortunately, Aylmer is not the most likable person so he decides to take a plea deal. Ingrid discovers her grandfather alibi, but she can't reveal it, its his secret to tell. Leaving Ingrid with only one option, find the real killer.

"Now she had a list, but what did it mean? Her mind refused to make those three questions had up to anything. What did Sherlock Holmes do in baffling situations? Sometimes he took cocaine, that was out. Or he played violin, Ingrid, although she liked belting out songs in the shower, had no musical ability whatsoever. But sometimes Holmes went for a walk"

It pretty easy to figure out who the killer is. What makes this book good is how Ingrid figures out the why. What makes this book great is the ending. There is nothing better then someone trying to cover up a murder with a murder. I loved the last few chapters, the action was fast, intense, scary, page turning good.

The Echo Falls mysteries work well as stand alone books. I highly recommend this series, especially for fans of the Gilda Joyce and Kiki Strike books.

Ruby and the Booker Boy Derrick Barnes

Brand New School, Brave New Ruby (Ruby And The Booker Boys) by Derrick Barnes I found this little goody on Sunday while helping a customer. I am always exicted to find a new early chapter series, and its featuring a black girl. What! Thats double sweetness. Ruby Booker is going to the third grade and a new school. I like Ruby from the start, first day jitters won't stop Ruby from being herself. Ruby's first day of school outfit is a purple and orange ensemble including mismatched sneakers. Ruby's schoolbag is in the shaped of a guitar. Its easy enough to go with the trend but Ruby's fearless, and does her own thing.

As I looked in the mirror for the last time, I whispered to myself,, "Ruby Marigold Booker, you are fabulous! And that's the truth.

Ruby has three older brothers Roosevelt, Tyner and Marcellus aka the Booker boys. The Booker boys are very popular at Hope Road Academy, Ruby's new school. Ruby's worried she won't make a name for herself at Hope Road Academy. She doesn't want to be seen as the Booker Boys little sister but rather Ruby the singer. Throughout the day Ruby is determined to shine, but each time its about to happen the PA system comes, and its always about one of Ruby's brothers. I enjoyed the PA interruptions, it was fun trying to guess what the announcement would be. In the end Ruby finds a way to stand out.
This is a great book for younger siblings. They will relate to Ruby's desire to make a name for herself and get out of older brother's shadows. Plus its not a hand me down book, thats double sweetness. Ruby is going to be a fun girl to follow. I love that Barnes doesn't neglect Ruby's family. His writing is fun and enjoyable.
This is going to be a great series I can't wait to read more. I won't have to wait long. Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme, the second book in the Ruby and Booker Boys series was released with book one

Impulse Ellen Hopkins

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
A co worker recently read Impulse and loved it. She wanted me to read it so we could discuss it. Of course I said yes, I do what I can to encourage my coworkers to continue reading YA. Plus I have yet to read any of Ellen Hopkins bestselling books. ( shame on me) Her first book Crank was published in 2004. There are four (and one on the way) Crank, Burned, Glass and Impulse. The singled titled bestsellers are about teen facing crisis or addiction. The novels are written in poetry form, each poem gliding into the other. Impulse is about three teens who attempted suicide. They all end up at Aspen Springs for treatment. There's Tony the street kid, Vanessa the cutter and Conner the clean cut All American teenager. Hopkins develops each character, giving us the how and why. I couldn't stop reading as each teen told their story. Hopkins poetry style works very well, the transitions are smooth.
While reading Impulse I wondered why it took me so long to pick up one these books. I couldn't help but love the honesty of it. There's something so right about these tough topics in a poetry form.
It cuts out all the B.S.
Ellen Hopkins new book Identical will be out August 26