Saturday, July 19, 2014

YA - The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer

  Can I just say that I really, really enjoyed this book?  Finally, an author creates a work for young adults that assumes they're literate, capable and open to learning.  The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy follows a group of friends (Luke, Ethan, Elizabeth and Jackson), their pet gerbil Baconnaise, and the evil force that is changing the face of their school - kTV.  kTV has created a reality program centered on a few students from Selwyn Academy called "For Art's Sake".  The program has corrupted everything that Ethan and his friends hold dear.  No longer are hallway conversations debating the merits of Monet vs. Manet, people are more interested in who Maura Heldsman made out with last week.  When one of their own crosses to the dark side, the rest of the group will stop at nothing to rid their school of kTV.
  Seriously, this book was great.  Like I said earlier, it's refreshing to see a YA author use an extended vocabulary (I had to grab a dictionary more than once).  It's also refreshing to read a book about kids that care about school, their families, and each other.  Really - you need to read this book.  It's my favorite of the year (so far).

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

NON FICT - Sex With Kings : 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge by Eleanor Herman

  Sex with Kings is educational gossip at its finest.  It covers scandalous relationships from the past through the semi-present (the book was published in 2004, so the Charles and Camilla info is a little dated).  Herman uses what little recorded information she can get her hands on, mostly personal correspondence, to paint an extremely entertaining portrait of what royal sex lives were like over the last 500 years.  What I've learned from this book is that mistresses were an extremely powerful force at their zenith.  After that they were usually exiled, sent to covenants, beheaded, publicly derided, and subjected to the merciless gossip of those once fawning courtiers.  Some, of course, laughed all the way to the bank - raking in millions upon millions in titles, estates, and pensions.  Some, on the other hand, as I previously stated, were not so fortunate.
  If your desire is to write a research paper about the sexuality of the past royals, this probably isn't the book for you.  The content is somewhat disorganized, jumping back and forth between kings, their mistresses, and time periods.  If you're looking for an entertaining and sometimes hilarious read - this will do the job.  I found the stories to be really interesting, especially the focus on the mistresses' fall from grace.  Not to mention the money! Oh, the money!  Oh yeah - how could I forget the queen?  The poor queen.  Being queen stinks (apparently).  Give this book a read if you need to relax and enjoy.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

YA - Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

  Creed centers on the total misfortune of Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and Luke's brother Mike.  Dee has planned a surprise getaway for Luke's birthday, but everything goes astray the minute their car breaks down.  In freezing cold, all three walk towards the closest town, but once there realize that the town seems to be deserted.  There's no one at the gas station, no one on the streets, and no one in the houses.  They decide to take refuge in one of the homes and what they find sets the tone for the rest of the book.
  Creed was a good book.  It's one that I'd recommend to a teen looking for a thriller/horror novel.  The plot is unusual and the pace moves quickly.  I will say YA is entering this trend where there is no "consumer satisfaction".  Part of the twist is that not everyone gets what they deserve, some things fall through the cracks, and good doesn't always trump evil.  Personally - I'm over it.  There is no shock value in it anymore.  The shine has worn off and now it's exactly what I'm expecting. 
  I was provided with an advanced reader copy of Creed via NetGalley.  Creed will be released on 11/8/2014.  Look for at the Lewes Public Library.