48 Hour Book Challenge – update 1 – Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer
Sarah Ockler
Little, Brown
Pgs: 290
Rdg Time: Total for book 2hs 49 min

Book Challenge
Books – 1
Pgs – 137
Time:
Rdg: 1hr 51m
Twitter: 1hr 9m 20BoySummer Twitter Party

Writing:
Twenty Boy Summer tells the story of Anna and Francesca (aka Frankie), and Matt, three best friends. Francesca and Matt are brother and sister. Anna and Frankie are best friends. Matt and Anna? Anna’s always loved him and they finally get together only to have Matt torn from her one measly month later. But they never told Frankie and now it seems like its too late. Frankie has enough hurt and the things she’s doing to bury it can only cause problems later. But Frankie and Anna get a second chance and decide to have the absolute best summer ever: the A.B.S.E.

‘Rithmetic
I enjoyed Sarah Ockler’s writing style in this book. She has a way of juxtaposing the sad with the humorous and never downplaying either. Her details are vivid, when Frankie puts on her armor, we see it:

“Anna, I know things aren’t great right now,” she says. “But we need to confer on outfits. We have to coordinate in tone and style. And also, I need to borrow your silver dangle earrings.” p. 254

Frankie was by far my favorite character. She felt real and 3 dimensional while Anna seemed more like a follower. I thought the pacing of the story was just right and I liked how Matt stayed with us throughout the entire book. I really “knew” him as a character.

I thought the parents weren’t very well-drawn. I almost got to know Jayne, Frankie’s mother, but then she faded into the background again. All the parents were completely clueless, and luckily, I don’t know many parents that way. Yeah, some of us pretend to be blind, but these four were completely oblivious. I also didn’t like the picture of virginity as something to be gotten rid of nor did I like how Anna had no feelings about it afterwards. I do think these are issues that a book club can discuss and even for moms to discuss with daughters. I would gladly give this book to Jess and then we could talk about things over our very own VaVa Vineapple Smoothies.

All in all, I give the book 4 copies. I will buy it for the library and put in the hands of small groups of mature young ladies. Don’t tell the parents, though! j/k

PS – Total time is 3hrs 45 minutes to be adjusted for twitter time.

48 Hour Book Challenge – update 1 – Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer
Sarah Ockler
Little, Brown
Pgs: 290
Rdg Time: Total for book 2hs 49 min

Book Challenge
Books – 1
Pgs – 137
Time:
Rdg: 1hr 51m
Twitter: 1hr 9m 20BoySummer Twitter Party

Writing:
Twenty Boy Summer tells the story of Anna and Francesca (aka Frankie), and Matt, three best friends. Francesca and Matt are brother and sister. Anna and Frankie are best friends. Matt and Anna? Anna’s always loved him and they finally get together only to have Matt torn from her one measly month later. But they never told Frankie and now it seems like its too late. Frankie has enough hurt and the things she’s doing to bury it can only cause problems later. But Frankie and Anna get a second chance and decide to have the absolute best summer ever: the A.B.S.E.

‘Rithmetic
I enjoyed Sarah Ockler’s writing style in this book. She has a way of juxtaposing the sad with the humorous and never downplaying either. Her details are vivid, when Frankie puts on her armor, we see it:

“Anna, I know things aren’t great right now,” she says. “But we need to confer on outfits. We have to coordinate in tone and style. And also, I need to borrow your silver dangle earrings.” p. 254

Frankie was by far my favorite character. She felt real and 3 dimensional while Anna seemed more like a follower. I thought the pacing of the story was just right and I liked how Matt stayed with us throughout the entire book. I really “knew” him as a character.

I thought the parents weren’t very well-drawn. I almost got to know Jayne, Frankie’s mother, but then she faded into the background again. All the parents were completely clueless, and luckily, I don’t know many parents that way. Yeah, some of us pretend to be blind, but these four were completely oblivious. I also didn’t like the picture of virginity as something to be gotten rid of nor did I like how Anna had no feelings about it afterwards. I do think these are issues that a book club can discuss and even for moms to discuss with daughters. I would gladly give this book to Jess and then we could talk about things over our very own VaVa Vineapple Smoothies.

All in all, I give the book 4 copies. I will buy it for the library and put in the hands of small groups of mature young ladies. Don’t tell the parents, though! j/k

PS – Total time is 3hrs 45 minutes to be adjusted for twitter time.

48 Hour Book Challenge – update 1 – Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer
Sarah Ockler
Little, Brown
Pgs: 290
Rdg Time: Total for book 2hs 49 min

Book Challenge
Books – 1
Pgs – 137
Time:
Rdg: 1hr 51m
Twitter: 1hr 9m 20BoySummer Twitter Party

Writing:
Twenty Boy Summer tells the story of Anna and Francesca (aka Frankie), and Matt, three best friends. Francesca and Matt are brother and sister. Anna and Frankie are best friends. Matt and Anna? Anna’s always loved him and they finally get together only to have Matt torn from her one measly month later. But they never told Frankie and now it seems like its too late. Frankie has enough hurt and the things she’s doing to bury it can only cause problems later. But Frankie and Anna get a second chance and decide to have the absolute best summer ever: the A.B.S.E.

‘Rithmetic
I enjoyed Sarah Ockler’s writing style in this book. She has a way of juxtaposing the sad with the humorous and never downplaying either. Her details are vivid, when Frankie puts on her armor, we see it:

“Anna, I know things aren’t great right now,” she says. “But we need to confer on outfits. We have to coordinate in tone and style. And also, I need to borrow your silver dangle earrings.” p. 254

Frankie was by far my favorite character. She felt real and 3 dimensional while Anna seemed more like a follower. I thought the pacing of the story was just right and I liked how Matt stayed with us throughout the entire book. I really “knew” him as a character.

I thought the parents weren’t very well-drawn. I almost got to know Jayne, Frankie’s mother, but then she faded into the background again. All the parents were completely clueless, and luckily, I don’t know many parents that way. Yeah, some of us pretend to be blind, but these four were completely oblivious. I also didn’t like the picture of virginity as something to be gotten rid of nor did I like how Anna had no feelings about it afterwards. I do think these are issues that a book club can discuss and even for moms to discuss with daughters. I would gladly give this book to Jess and then we could talk about things over our very own VaVa Vineapple Smoothies.

All in all, I give the book 4 copies. I will buy it for the library and put in the hands of small groups of mature young ladies. Don’t tell the parents, though! j/k

PS – Total time is 3hrs 45 minutes to be adjusted for twitter time.

48 Hour Book Challenge – Go!

This is my first official post for the 48hr book challenge! It’s not too late to join! – go here.

I’m reading Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
Pg. 152

It is 8pm. Check back with you later!

48 Hour Book Challenge – Go!

This is my first official post for the 48hr book challenge! It’s not too late to join! – go here.

I’m reading Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
Pg. 152

It is 8pm. Check back with you later!

48 Hour Book Challenge – Go!

This is my first official post for the 48hr book challenge! It’s not too late to join! – go here.

I’m reading Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
Pg. 152

It is 8pm. Check back with you later!

Friday Five – June 5

It’s The Friday Five! Welcome – come on in!

1. Viola in Reel Life - check out this summary from PW:

“…Adriana Trigiani’s Viola in Reel Life. The first YA book from bestselling author Trigiani, the novel is the first in a series featuring Brooklyn teenager Viola Chesterton. Chesterton, a funny teen whose parents are globe-trotting documentary filmmakers, is forced to attend her mother’s alma mater, a stuffy boarding school in South Bend, Ind., called the Prefect Academy. Convinced she’ll hate Prefect and South Bend, Viola, who largely views the world from behind her camera, learns unexpected things about herself—and starts a romance—as a result of the move…”

People, I live in South Bend, Indiana!! IRL! OMW! This is a total must read for me. And..it just moved Very Valentine closer to the top of the reading pile! This is so rad!

2. Twitter Party - yes, you read that right! I’m going to a twitter party tonight! Come join @sarahockler for a night of fun and good times with to kickoff your summer of reading. We’ll be discussing Twenty Boy Summer! What? You haven’t read it? Get off the computer and read it!! NOW! This will be here when you get back! See you at the Twitter Party at 7pm EST!

3. 48 hr Book Challenge – I’ll be starting this later today. Watch for my beginning post. I will be donating books from their wishlist to Color Online’s Summer Book Drive. If you’d like to help out they have a wish list at Powell’s. If you can’t find their wishlist – use their email address – cora_litgroup@yahoo.com.

For each book I finish, I will buy them a book from the list.

4. Jane Carter Solution – seriously thinking of locing my hair. Right now it’s twisted and I always undo it before it locs. Twisting takes about 2 hrs and my hair is short! Still, it’s an easy do. I think I’m going to take the plunge sometime this summer…thoughts? Also, if you go to JCS – turn down the sound, it talks automatically!

5. 20 Must Reads – Last year I posted 20 YA books I wanted to read over summer. I’ve read 17, not too bad. Here are 18 more plus 2 from my previous list:

• Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
• Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
• Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
• Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
• Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
• Return to Sender by Julie Alvarez
• Ash by Malina Lo
• Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange
• Hate List by Jennifer Brown
• Happy Face by Stephen Emond
• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
• Diego by Carmen T. Bernier-Grande
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, 1 by MT Anderson
• Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
• My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose

You will note that a couple of these haven’t come out yet – giving me a little leeway! What’s on your must read list?

Well, that’s the Friday Five today. I’ll be posting an awful lot over the next few months so I hope you stick with me! Look for my first Contest Monday on…Monday!! Have a great weekend!

PS – Apologies to E. Van Lowe – I have 2 ARCs of your book right here!! I was just typing too fast. Please forgive!

Friday Five – June 5

It’s The Friday Five! Welcome – come on in!

1. Viola in Reel Life - check out this summary from PW:

“…Adriana Trigiani’s Viola in Reel Life. The first YA book from bestselling author Trigiani, the novel is the first in a series featuring Brooklyn teenager Viola Chesterton. Chesterton, a funny teen whose parents are globe-trotting documentary filmmakers, is forced to attend her mother’s alma mater, a stuffy boarding school in South Bend, Ind., called the Prefect Academy. Convinced she’ll hate Prefect and South Bend, Viola, who largely views the world from behind her camera, learns unexpected things about herself—and starts a romance—as a result of the move…”

People, I live in South Bend, Indiana!! IRL! OMW! This is a total must read for me. And..it just moved Very Valentine closer to the top of the reading pile! This is so rad!

2. Twitter Party - yes, you read that right! I’m going to a twitter party tonight! Come join @sarahockler for a night of fun and good times with to kickoff your summer of reading. We’ll be discussing Twenty Boy Summer! What? You haven’t read it? Get off the computer and read it!! NOW! This will be here when you get back! See you at the Twitter Party at 7pm EST!

3. 48 hr Book Challenge – I’ll be starting this later today. Watch for my beginning post. I will be donating books from their wishlist to Color Online’s Summer Book Drive. If you’d like to help out they have a wish list at Powell’s. If you can’t find their wishlist – use their email address – cora_litgroup@yahoo.com.

For each book I finish, I will buy them a book from the list.

4. Jane Carter Solution – seriously thinking of locing my hair. Right now it’s twisted and I always undo it before it locs. Twisting takes about 2 hrs and my hair is short! Still, it’s an easy do. I think I’m going to take the plunge sometime this summer…thoughts? Also, if you go to JCS – turn down the sound, it talks automatically!

5. 20 Must Reads – Last year I posted 20 YA books I wanted to read over summer. I’ve read 17, not too bad. Here are 18 more plus 2 from my previous list:

• Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
• Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
• Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
• Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
• Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
• Return to Sender by Julie Alvarez
• Ash by Malina Lo
• Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange
• Hate List by Jennifer Brown
• Happy Face by Stephen Emond
• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
• Diego by Carmen T. Bernier-Grande
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, 1 by MT Anderson
• Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
• My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose

You will note that a couple of these haven’t come out yet – giving me a little leeway! What’s on your must read list?

Well, that’s the Friday Five today. I’ll be posting an awful lot over the next few months so I hope you stick with me! Look for my first Contest Monday on…Monday!! Have a great weekend!

PS – Apologies to E. Van Lowe – I have 2 ARCs of your book right here!! I was just typing too fast. Please forgive!

Friday Five – June 5

It’s The Friday Five! Welcome – come on in!

1. Viola in Reel Life - check out this summary from PW:

“…Adriana Trigiani’s Viola in Reel Life. The first YA book from bestselling author Trigiani, the novel is the first in a series featuring Brooklyn teenager Viola Chesterton. Chesterton, a funny teen whose parents are globe-trotting documentary filmmakers, is forced to attend her mother’s alma mater, a stuffy boarding school in South Bend, Ind., called the Prefect Academy. Convinced she’ll hate Prefect and South Bend, Viola, who largely views the world from behind her camera, learns unexpected things about herself—and starts a romance—as a result of the move…”

People, I live in South Bend, Indiana!! IRL! OMW! This is a total must read for me. And..it just moved Very Valentine closer to the top of the reading pile! This is so rad!

2. Twitter Party - yes, you read that right! I’m going to a twitter party tonight! Come join @sarahockler for a night of fun and good times with to kickoff your summer of reading. We’ll be discussing Twenty Boy Summer! What? You haven’t read it? Get off the computer and read it!! NOW! This will be here when you get back! See you at the Twitter Party at 7pm EST!

3. 48 hr Book Challenge – I’ll be starting this later today. Watch for my beginning post. I will be donating books from their wishlist to Color Online’s Summer Book Drive. If you’d like to help out they have a wish list at Powell’s. If you can’t find their wishlist – use their email address – cora_litgroup@yahoo.com.

For each book I finish, I will buy them a book from the list.

4. Jane Carter Solution – seriously thinking of locing my hair. Right now it’s twisted and I always undo it before it locs. Twisting takes about 2 hrs and my hair is short! Still, it’s an easy do. I think I’m going to take the plunge sometime this summer…thoughts? Also, if you go to JCS – turn down the sound, it talks automatically!

5. 20 Must Reads – Last year I posted 20 YA books I wanted to read over summer. I’ve read 17, not too bad. Here are 18 more plus 2 from my previous list:

• Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
• Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
• Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
• Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
• Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
• Return to Sender by Julie Alvarez
• Ash by Malina Lo
• Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange
• Hate List by Jennifer Brown
• Happy Face by Stephen Emond
• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
• Diego by Carmen T. Bernier-Grande
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, 1 by MT Anderson
• Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
• My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose

You will note that a couple of these haven’t come out yet – giving me a little leeway! What’s on your must read list?

Well, that’s the Friday Five today. I’ll be posting an awful lot over the next few months so I hope you stick with me! Look for my first Contest Monday on…Monday!! Have a great weekend!

PS – Apologies to E. Van Lowe – I have 2 ARCs of your book right here!! I was just typing too fast. Please forgive!

Twenty Boy Summer 20 Days of Fun – Day 1

Twitter Party!

Tomorrow we will kick off our Twenty Days of Fun with a Twitter Party hosted by none other than

Sarah Ockler! Join twitter and sign up to follow

@thebrainlair and @sarahockler

From 7pm until 11 pm EST, Sarah will be answering questions about the author, tweeting book trivia, and giving stuff away!! Yes, you can get stuff just for talking! So finish reading the book and get your tweet on!! Tweet you there!