My Love/Hate Relationship with Books

Anyone that knows me, I mean really knows me, knows that I love books. When asked about my favorite hobbies, I always say reading, which people either agree with or look at me like I’m some sort of alien from another planet. They seem to unknowingly say, “How could you possibly enjoy reading?!” Reading allows me to delve into a number of fictional worlds whether ones I can relate to, such as Claire Zulkey’s An Off Year, or ones that are completely unlike anything I have ever experienced, such as Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies. Sometimes characters are easily relatable and they make you want to root for them throughout the entire book. On the other hand, there are characters that you quickly begin to despise and want to shout at them, “What in the world were you thinking?!” Reading allows me to go through many emotions. I laugh, I get mad, I am shocked, and ultimately, I am glad I read the book.

With that being said, reading also drives me absolutely nuts! I don’t mean the act of reading itself, but finding the “perfect” book for the “perfect” time. There are weeks that I can go through a number of “pretty good” to “great” books without even really being aware of it. But then there are times, such as the present, when I just can’t get into a book. These times seem to drag on and on, making me wonder if I’ve just burned out from reading. As of yesterday, I started the first 2-3 chapters of 5 different books and none of them sparked my interest. I tried ones that had great reviews, ones that were on award lists, and ones that just looked visually appealing. Nonetheless, they just weren’t for me.

I find my relationship with books and reading sort of funny because either I love it or I hate it. Period. Working in the library has enabled me to see that I am not the only one with this “issue”. Patrons come in all the time saying they just can’t find a good book. On that note, I will be starting John Green’s Looking for Alaska at dinner tonight, hoping I will proudly return to my love relationship with books.

An Off Year by Claire Zulkey

Summary: Upon arriving at her dorm room, eighteen-year-old Cecily decides to postpone her freshman year of college and return to her Chicago home, where she spends a year pondering what went wrong while forging new relationships with family and friends.

An Off Year tells the story of Cecily, a teenager who, upon arriving at her chosen college, decides she no longer wants to attend college, but would rather take a year off to figure her life out. Rather than just pointing readers to Cecily’s reasoning for making this quick decision, author Claire Zulkey takes readers on Cecily’s journey of discovery herself that flows smoothly from one page to the next.

Cecily’s character is both quirky and inquisitive, while being completely believable. Like many teenagers in the process of or ready to take the college plunge, Cecily is just unsure what her life holds and whether or not college should be a part of it. Having once been a college student, I was able to connect with and understand how one may always assume they are going to attend college, but when the time comes to move in and start classes, what once was such an assumed experience, begins to be one that is questioned.

Zulkey writes a superb story that interweaves plenty of emotions that readers will be able connect with, but also one that examines the fears and stress that can arise when it comes to college. Rather than making college seem like a fun filled paradise, Zulkey shows how the comfort of high school and the relationships formed there are not always taken to college and just brought to the next level. College is a journey that is different from one person to the next, good or bad.

I “liked” this book and would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

***If you liked An Off Year, you might like one of these...***

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

It's All in the Theme

Anyone that has worked in a public library tends to know the craziness, excitement, and overall positive impact a summer reading program can have, whether it’s for children or teens. Being in teen services, and now a Teen Librarian, for over two years has showed me how valuable the teen summer reading program can be in bringing teens into the library both for reading and programming.

Although I have been excited about the teen summer reading programs in the past, I am most excited for this year’s program because not only am I completely in charge of all the planning, but I have been lucky enough to have the chance to stray away from the national and state program themes and have created my own “Read like a Rockstar” theme. How I see it, the summer reading program is all in the theme. The theme can either make being creative in the planning process challenging and mind boggling or fun and exciting.

In my experience both in the library and through listservs, I have seen teen librarians struggle with trying to create programs that will entice teens into participating just because the theme is too difficult or just plain boring. How can a teen librarian get teens excited about the program if they themselves are not excited about it? Although the summer reading program can sometimes be overwhelming, stressful, and crazy at times, its value on teens is unquestionable.

I’m thankful that I have been given the opportunity to sort of do my own thing for this year’s program, but I think what it all boils down to is that good theme or bad theme, don’t spend so much time scrambling to make everything fit into the summer reading program’s theme. Focus on what will get teens excited and what will allow the library to stand out among all sorts of other activities teens can choose to do. We have enough competition vying for teens’ attention, why should we make ourselves another battle to overcome?

Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks

Summary: When two of sixteen-year-old Pete's childhood classmates disappear from a carnival the same night, he is a suspect, but his own investigation implicates other old friends he was with that evening--and a tough, knife-wielding enemy determined to keep him quiet.

As I was putting together a teen book display entitled “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover”, I kept coming across Black Rabbit Summer and had to include it in the display. The four characters shown on the cover of the book look mysterious and just caught my eye. After walking past the book a few times, I read the summary on the inside cover and thought it sounded like an intense, mysterious read and picked it up.

After not having been close friends like they once were, Pete meets up with some of his past middle school friends at their old hangout spot, the den, and then decide to go to the local carnival. Although certain mysterious clues are thrown into the mix, such as Pete’s friend Raymond’s strange personality and hints at an old romance between Pete and his friend Nicole, the plot tends to focus on drinking, drugs, and alcohol. Although it would have been fine to add these elements into the scene at the den, they just pulled down the story line. Readers, especially reluctant readers, will have a hard time getting into this book and, unless they feel obligated to finishing it, will quickly give up on Black Rabbit Summer because of its weak plot, flat and undeveloped characters, and lack of suspense. In addition, the solution to the mystery is not all that exciting and the “problem” with Raymond and his disappearance are never solved, which is quite disappointing. Overall, readers that have the ability stick it out with this book to solve the mystery will be greatly disappointed by the ending.

I “did not” like this book and would give it 1 out of 5 stars.

***If you liked this book, you might like one of these…***

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

Fake ID by Walter Sorrells

Jumping Off Swings by Johanna Knowles

Summary: Tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a "one-time thing" between Ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her, and Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life.

After reading this book, one of the first things I instantly connected with is the impact one’s past experiences can have on their present life. Ellie is looking for love in all the wrong places because she wasn’t really feeling loved at home. Josh feels pressured into having sex by his friends and rather than ignoring them, he does what so many teens do…he has sex to fit in. We learn later that there are issues at home impacting how he deals with life. This aspect of the book alone will appeal to teens that are struggling with issues at home themselves.

Although I wouldn’t say this was an amazing read, what I did like about it is that it shows the hardships faced by those going through teen pregnancy, both from the female perspective and the male perspective. Some television shows on nowadays seem to glamorize teen pregnancy, which is scary in itself. The story being told in varying viewpoints allows readers to gain a good understanding of each character, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I “liked” this book and would give it 3 out of 5 stars.

***If you liked this book, you might like one of these…***

After by Amy Efaw

I Know It’s Over by C. K. Kelly Martin

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Summary: Three teens who meet at Reno, Nevada's Aspen Springs mental hospital after each has attempted suicide connect with each other in a way they never have with their parents or anyone else in their lives.

Impulse, the third book I’ve read by Ellen Hopkins, offers readers an insight into the world of depression, verbal and physical abuse, and the impact these things can have on someone’s life. Like many of Hopkins’ other verse novels, Impulse is a raw and gritty read, even at times overwhelming when reading about the characters’ past experiences. Combined with beautifully written descriptions, both visual and emotional, readers will yearn to learn more and more about each of the three main characters. Besides the writing itself, I always enjoy how Hopkins develops character throughout the entire book, rather than only at the beginning or end. This allows readers to continue learning more and more about the character, with a shocking climax about each one towards the end. Just when you think you know the characters inside and out, you will be shocked to find out that you do not. Twists and turns in the plot line will have readers wanting to read more and more before they quickly realize the book has come to an end.

I “really liked” this book and would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

***If you liked Impulse, you might like one of these…***

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

After by Amy Efaw

Cut by Patricia McCormick

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

Summary: Annaleah's grief over the tragic death of seventeen-year-old Brian is compounded by the fact that her friends did not like him, while his friends and both of their families knew nothing of their intimate relationship.

When I first chose to read this book, I was in the mood for a verse novel and found You Are Not Here on the “New” shelf. I initially thought this would be the typical teen love story gone badly, because of Brian’s death. The first chapter of this book opens up with Annaleah being at Brian’s tombstone and for some reason my interest in the book quickly grew. Readers first learn that Annaleah and Brian had a relatively normal relationship. They met, flirted, and hung out a few times. Nonetheless, readers will quickly realize their relationship was anything but normal and some teen readers may even feel that they too have a rather awkward relationship.

Annaleah and Brian attended different schools, so it would make sense that their lives would not be fully exposed to one another like it would for a couple attending the same school. Beyond that, Annaleah and Brian have a rather awkward relationship in that they keep secrets from one another, refuse to introduce one another to their respective parents and friends, and Annaleah is constantly looking for and wondering where Brian is. Throughout You Are Not Here, Annaleah and Brian’s relationship quickly unfolds and will leave readers both surprised and kind of sad. More importantly, readers get to experience Annaleah’s journey through grief and finding herself, which also contains one major surprise for readers.

I was not only impressed with author Samantha Schutz’s writing style, but I found myself addicted to this book. There are some books you just can’t put down, but this isn’t just one of those books. The depth of Annaleah’s feelings that were described were done well, not in an overly sentimental way, and the layered plot, with all of its twists and turns, make this book a much better than average romance read.

I “really liked” this book and would give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

***If you like this book, you might like one of these…***

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher