Tag Archives: book reviews

books

2 Sentence Book Reviews: Nonfiction

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i’m overdue for some book reviews, and will be posting reviews of 23 books this week. as i’ve done in the past, i’m posting two sentence book reviews. in each case, the first sentence is a summary of the book; and the second sentence is my thoughts on the book. i include a 1 – 5 star rating also. and occasionally, i’ll have an additional note.

today’s reviews include 6 nonfiction books:

war of artThe War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
5+ stars
understand and overcome your internal resistances to creative output. this is a must-read for anyone doing sort of work that is even remotely creative, which, really, should be pretty much all of us.

homeschool sex machineHomeschool Sex Machine: Babes, Bible Quiz, and the Clinton Years, by Matthew Pierce
4 stars
self-published, hilarious, autobiographical stories from the author’s teen years. so, so funny (particularly for those of us who grew up in the sometimes odd world of christendom); my only complaint was that i wanted it to be three times longer.

finding the space to leadFinding the Space to Lead: A Practical Guide to Mindful Leadership, by Janice Marturano
4 stars
the subtitle says it all: this book is about learning how to be present in the context of leaders. easy to read through a christian meditation lens, i found this book to be wonderfully helpful, and have used it now with a couple of my coaching groups.

henrietta lacksThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
5 stars
well-researched history and science about the most common cells in medical research, which were harvested, without permission, from a poor black woman. i’ve rarely read a book with such a stellar combination of science and story, all written in a compelling and accessible style with tons of subtext and ethical challenges.

dueling neurosurgeonsThe Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery, by Sam Kean
5 stars
the history of neuroscience, told via fascinating case studies. if you’ve ever thought about reading a book to understand the human brain better, but were worried it would be too technical or boring, this is the book you should read.

kingdom of iceIn the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette, by Hampton Sides
4.5 stars
exquisitely detailed history of a failed polar voyage in the late 1800s. the quantity of detail was so well crafted that it never left me wanting less.

on deck for tomorrow: five church ministry and youth ministry-related books

books

2 Sentence Book Reviews: Fiction

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i’m overdue for some book reviews, and will be posting reviews of 24 books this week. as i’ve done in the past, i’m posting two sentence book reviews. in each case, the first sentence is a summary of the book; and the second sentence is my thoughts on the book. i include a 1 – 5 star rating also. and occasionally, i’ll have an additional note.

today, five Fiction books:

one more thingOne More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, by B.J. Novak
5 stars
a collection of mostly humorous essays–mostly fiction, but not all–from The Office writer and exec producer (and ryan, on the show). i found these wonderfully entertaining even when they weren’t laugh-out-loud funny.

serpent of veniceThe Serpent of Venice: A Novel, by Christopher Moore
5 stars
a hilarious, lusty, and fantastical mash-up of The Merchant of Venice, Othello, and The Cask of Amontillado (yes, you read that correctly). moore is my favorite comedic writer, and this one is absurdly over-the-top in the best possible way.

worst person everWorst. Person. Ever., by Douglas Coupland
4 stars
dirtbag TV cameraman gets an assignment on a tropical island for a ribald Survivor-type show, where nothing more could go wrong, and nothing can spare him from his a-hole self. reads more like chuck palahniuk than douglas coupland, but is biting commentary on our cultural obsessions.

brutal youthBrutal Youth: A Novel, by Anthony Breznican
5 stars
4.5 stars
a lowly freshman makes his way through his first year at a parochial school full of systemic (even endorsed) bullying. great characters and wonderful honesty, with development and insight into teenagers.
*note: this is not a young adult fiction book, but a fiction book about teenagers. in my observation, one difference is that these teenagers talk like real teenagers.

your fathers, where are theyYour Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?, by Dave Eggers
4 stars
a lonely and disturbed man shackles a series of captives on an abandoned military base in order to question them, to make sense of his life. more light-hearted (sort of dark comedy) that my summary would lead you to believe, this isn’t eggers’ best work (i believe eggers to be one of the 20 best living fiction writers), but it’s interesting and insightful.

on deck for tomorrow: six nonfiction books

books

2 Sentence Book Reviews: Young Adult Fiction

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i’m overdue for some book reviews, and will be posting reviews of 24 books this week. as i’ve done in the past, i’m posting two sentence book reviews. in each case, the first sentence is a summary of the book; and the second sentence is my thoughts on the book. i include a 1 – 5 star rating also. and occasionally, i’ll have an additional note.

let’s get started with Young Adult Fiction:

allegiantAllegiant, by Veronica Roth
4 stars
the third and final installment in the Divergent series brings a sort of teen-led revolution and wrap up to the series. the author took some big risks (which is obvious by how many amazon reviewers were not happy with this book’s approach or ending), but i felt the risks paid off and made this final installment less predictable than it might have been.

maze runner
The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure, by James Dashner
4 stars for the first book, 3.5 stars for the other two
a group of teenagers push through a series of deadly tasks as part of an ill-formed and twisted scientific plan to rid the world of a deadly pandemic. often interesting, certainly nonstop, but ultimately uneven, with plenty of missed opportunities for deeper insight into motives, relationships, and humanity.

firecrackerFirecracker, by David Iserson
4 stars
a rich and self-centered teenage girl gets kicked out of her elite private school and is forced to attend public school as a super-smart loner with an axe to bear and lessons to learn. the writing is fantastic and the main character is brilliantly witty and snarky, though as a whole, it feels a concurrently over-the-top and lacking depth.

hollow cityHollow City, by Ransom Riggs
5 stars
the second installment of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children finds the children on the run for their lives. these books almost defy description: beautiful in writing, layout, creativity, and full of metaphorical insight into every person’s uniqueness.

tomorrow’s reviews: five fiction books

books, youth ministry, youth work

2 sentence book reviews: parenting, church and ministry

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yay! this is the week my readers either love or ignore (traffic tells me many are in the latter camp). i have found that writing reviews of the books i read really helps me remember them. and i hope it helps some of you make reading choices (and avoid others). i allow myself two sentences for each review (unless i’ve already written an official endorsement): the first sentence is a summary of the book, and the second sentence is my opinion of it.

here’s the plan for the week!
monday: 8 young adult fiction books
tuesday: 2 fiction books, 2 non-fiction books, and 2 graphic/illustrated books
wednesday: 10 christian living and theology books
thursday: 10 parenting, church and ministry books

Parenting, Church and Ministry

the catholic churchThe Catholic Church: What Everyone Needs to Know, by John L. Allen
3.5 stars
a journalist’s sympathetic-but-not-myopic overview of everything catholic. i’m glad i read this, even though it wasn’t always compelling.

youth ministry now not yetYouth Ministry: Now & Not Yet, by Matt Wilkinson
3.5 stars
reporting and reflecting on a survey of youth ministry practices among baptist churches in ontario, canada. of course, canadian baptists have to read this; but i found it insightful (particularly due to its research base) for all north american youth ministry contexts.

jesus centered youth ministryJesus Centered Youth Ministry: Moving from Jesus-Plus to Jesus-Only (Revised Edition), by Rick Lawrence
5 stars
a revised edition of a young ministry shaman’s gentle insistence that we focus youth work on the person of jesus.
my official endorsement (found in the book):
Well past halfway through the chapters of my life, i’m still trying to dislodge from my brain the flannelgraph childhood images of Jesus hovercrafting in his pretty blue robe across a glassy bit o’ blue. The longer I walk with Jesus, the more wonderful and mysterious he gets. In this book, Rick calls us to run–arm in arm with teenagers–to the epicenter of that mystery, that person, that incarnate child, that trouble maker, that up-ender, that ultimate rescuer.

freshmanFreshman: Making Faith Your Priority, Sophomore: Stepping Into Maturity, Junior: Making Sense of It All, Senior: Preparing for the Future, by Lars Rood
5 stars
30 day student devotionals focused on developmental and faith issues common to each particular grade of high school. brilliant idea, effectively executed–this is one of those “why didn’t i think to write these?” ideas that makes perfect and obvious sense.
(full disclosure: i agented these books; but i still love ’em!)

bold parentingBold Parenting: Raising Kids to be More than Just Rule Keepers, by Lars Rood
4 stars
easy to read and full of practical ideas, this short book encourages parents to hope that their teenagers would finish high school as more than merely sober virgins. helpful for parents, perfect for a parent small group discussion (or parenting class), and might give youth workers language for encouraging parents toward a higher goal.
(full disclosure: i agented this book; but i still love it!)

red cup christianAre You a Red Cup Christian?: How to Live a Stand-out Faith in a Fit-in World, by Lars Rood
4 stars
a student counterpart to the previous book, the author challenges high schoolers to do just what the subtitle suggests. easy to read, would be particularly great for juniors and seniors, on their own or in the context of a small group.
(full disclosure: i agented this book; but i still love it!)

get your teenager talkingGet Your Teenager Talking: Everything You Need to Spark Meaningful Conversations, by Jonathan McKee
4 stars
an overabundance of guided conversations for parents and teens.
my official endorsement (found in the book):
Calling this book practical is an almost-ridiculous understatement: it’s a bounty of creative starters for deep conversations between teenagers and parents! There are plenty of helpful, theoretical parenting books on the market; but Jonathan’s book isn’t merely one to think about, it’s a gift to be used.

books

2 sentence book reviews: christian living and theology

4 Comments

yay! this is the week my readers either love or ignore (traffic tells me many are in the latter camp). i have found that writing reviews of the books i read really helps me remember them. and i hope it helps some of you make reading choices (and avoid others). i allow myself two sentences for each review (unless i’ve already written an official endorsement): the first sentence is a summary of the book, and the second sentence is my opinion of it.

here’s the plan for the week!
monday: 8 young adult fiction books
tuesday: 2 fiction books, 2 non-fiction books, and 2 graphic/illustrated books
wednesday: 10 christian living and theology books
thursday: 10 parenting, church and ministry books

Christian Living/Theology

chilvaryChivalry: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World, by Zach Hunter
3 stars
formerly teenage abolitionist author zach hunter challenges his 20something peers to live with honor and character. good book, but sometimes felt like the publisher or editor should have pushed the author to focus more (still worth giving to 17 – 23 year-olds, though).

in search of deep faithIn Search of Deep Faith: A Pilgrimage into the Beauty, Goodness and Heart of Christianity, by Jim Belcher
4.5 stars
the author and his family travel through europe, seeking insight from the stories and lives of a wonderful collection of faith heroes.
my official endorsement (found in the book):
Equal parts pilgrimage memoir, parenting book, theological reflection, and biography collection, Belcher weaves a particularly fascinating journey. That combination might sound strange; but it totally works, allowing us to view historical authors, theologians, artists and dissidents through the eyes of the author and his family, and reflecting on theological anchor points as if we were traveling with them.

the in-betweenThe In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing, by Jeff Goins
5 stars
life isn’t all mountain tops, obviously; so what’s the learning of that space between? full of great stories and profound insights, goins deserves to be read.
(full disclosure: i agented this book; but i still love it!)

thelogy of hopeTheology of Hope, by Jurgen Moltmann
5 stars? 2 stars?
sure, it’s probably the most brilliant theological exploration of this topic ever written, i suppose. but it sure revealed the limits of my capacity for pithy, mostly impenetrable, theological writing.

hope within historyProphetic Imagination, Hope within History, and Hopeful Imagination: Prophetic Voices in Exile, by Walter Brueggemann
5 stars for insight, 2 stars for style
absolutely brilliant colletions of essays that unpack what i have come to see as the biblical model of hope. my upcoming IVP book about hope wouldn’t exist without these books, of which Hope Within History is by far the best, imho.

surprised by hopeSurprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, by N. T. Wright
5 stars
briliant, wonderfully readable dismantling of multiple ways we christians (particularly we evangelicals) have gotten it wrong. really, i don’t know how to plead with thoughtful evangelicals more strongly to read this.

a better atonementA Better Atonement: Beyond the Depraved Doctrine of Original Sin, Tony Jones
3 stars
short collection-of-blog-posts-turned-ebook about atonement. unnecessary sloppiness found in many self-published ebooks, but was SO helpful to me and very much worth reading.

jesus feministJesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women, by Sarah Bessey
4 stars
a very personal (often autobiographical) exploration of feminism through a jesus lens, completely without anger or bitterness. this is a wonderful book that should be required reading for all evangelicals.

books

2 sentence book reviews: fiction, non-fiction, and graphic/illustrated

3 Comments

yay! this is the week my readers either love or ignore (traffic tells me many are in the latter camp). i have found that writing reviews of the books i read really helps me remember them. and i hope it helps some of you make reading choices (and avoid others). i allow myself two sentences for each review (unless i’ve already written an official endorsement): the first sentence is a summary of the book, and the second sentence is my opinion of it.

here’s the plan for the week!
monday: 8 young adult fiction books
tuesday: 2 fiction books, 2 non-fiction books, and 2 graphic/illustrated books
wednesday: 10 christian living and theology books
thursday: 10 parenting, church and ministry books

Fiction

the circleThe Circle, by Dave Eggers
5 stars
follow the new employee of a google-like, massive tech company through her rise in a company that is hellbent on the natural extension of many of our current social media obsessions (including the elimination of privacy). eggers’ best in a while, with humor and incision-y slicing, served as light-handed cautions of our tweeting, posting, liking, sharing, commenting selves.

practical demonkeepingPractical Demonkeeping, by Christopher Moore
3 stars
a cast of characters–yup, including a demon with particular powers and limits, and his “keeper”–careen and collide into each other enroute to putting things right. this is one of moore’s older books, and it’s weird and funny and unpredictable, but not as smart as his later work.

Non-Fiction

dad is fatDad Is Fat, by Jim Gaffigan
4 stars
short essays from a funny comedian about his family of seven and their life in a manhattan two-bedroom apartment. such a blast, especially if you’ve ever had kids, and a nice break from other reading.

david and goliathDavid and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, by Malcolm Gladwell
4 stars
why being smaller or less powerful or otherwise apparently disadvantaged might actually work in your favor. 100% worth reading, but didn’t provide me with quite the same amount of learning as gladwell’s other books.

Graphic and Illustrated

i kill giantsI Kill Giants, by Joe Kelly, illustrated by J. M. Ken Niimura
5 stars
eccentric loner girls seeks and destroys monsters real and figurative. wait, short graphic novels aren’t supposed to have this level of depth and beauty, right?

coffee with jesusCoffee with Jesus, by David Wilkie
5 stars
jesus and a collection of, well, us, get real in simple panel cartoons.
my official endorsement (found in the book):
I remember when the “What Would Jesus Do?” tsunami almost completely engulfed all of us who worked with teenagers. Suddenly, we felt compelled to provide an answer to that impossible question. Problem was: most of us didn’t really have a clue what Jesus would do, really. And any honest reading of the Gospels reveals that his disciples didn’t know what Jesus would do either. Coffee With Jesus steps into that same tension, responding with plucky, snarky, and occasionally awkward honesty. We don’t really know the full answer to “What Would Jesus Say?” But I’d sure like it to be close to the Jesus in these panels.

books

2 sentence book reviews: young adult fiction

13 Comments

yay! this is the week my readers either love or ignore (traffic tells me many are in the latter camp). i have found that writing reviews of the books i read really helps me remember them. and i hope it helps some of you make reading choices (and avoid others). i allow myself two sentences for each review (unless i’ve already written an official endorsement): the first sentence is a summary of the book, and the second sentence is my opinion of it.

here’s the plan for the week!
monday: 8 young adult fiction books
tuesday: 2 fiction books, 2 non-fiction books, and 2 graphic/illustrated books
wednesday: 10 christian living and theology books
thursday: 10 parenting, church and ministry books

Young Adult Fiction

the half life of planetsThe Half-life of Planets, by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
3.5 stars
a teenage girl and a guy with asperger’s wrestle with identity, friendship, and love. halpin’s YA fiction has mostly been way subpar to his otherwise fantastic books, but the voice of this character with asperger’s brings this one up a click or two.

divergentDivergent, by Veronica Roth
4.5 stars
in a dystopian future chicago, a teenage girl is forced to choose a lifetime with one of five personality-driven factions. sure, dystopian future YA faction is getting overplayed, because it provides, as does this book, a magnifying lens into the real internal searches of today’s teenagers.

insurgentInsurgent, by Veronica Roth
4 stars
in part two of the trilogy, our heroine uncovers the plot to overthrow “the way things are.” part two of trilogies are rarely the best slice (but while i haven’t read the third part yet, i’ve rarely seen such vitriol on amazon reviews).

requiemRequiem, by Lauren Oliver
4 stars
part 3 of the Delirium trilogy finds the government’s physiological suppression of love, starting at age 16, blown apart and dismantled. the story wraps up somewhat predictably, but is still satisfying.

after the snowAfter the Snow, by S. D. Crockett
5 stars
yup, another dystopian future–this one told from the perspetive of a teenage boy trying to survive in a chaotic world of almost-perpetual winter. culturally insightful and brilliantly written, this is now one of my top 10 favorite YA fiction books.

ender's gameEnder’s Game, by Orson Scott Card
5 stars
you know: super smart kid is recruited for a space training academy to prepare him to lead an alien battle. one of the many cases where the book is SO MUCH better than the movie.

looking for alaskaLooking for Alaska, by John Green
5 stars
high schoolers at a boarding school bond in the first half, then struggle to find meaning and explanations for pain in the second half. highly recommended, john green’s insight into teenagers and creativity with plot and word proves that young adult fiction doesn’t have to be predictable or cheesy.

somebody up there hates youSomebody Up There Hates You: A Novel, by Hollis Seamon
4 stars
teenage guy in hospice wrestles with who he is and why he’s dying. full of pain and beauty.

books, church, youth ministry, youth work

two sentence book reviews, part 4 (christian living and church & ministry)

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getting caught up on book reviews. i allow myself two sentences: one for summary and one for my review.

Christian Living

wreckedWrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life, by Jeff Goins
5 stars
how coming to the end of yourself is essential for the good life. fantastic writing and insight, this book needs to be assigned reading for anyone 17 – 40.
*full disclosure: i was the literary agent for this book.

only godOnly God: Change Your Story, Change the World, by Dwight Mason
4 stars
how to lean into a full life of adventure, alignment and purposefulness. i didn’t think i was going to like this book, but i liked it more and more as i read; a nice practical counterpart to donald miller’s A Millions Miles in a Thousand Years.

EricSamuelTimmStatic Jedi: The art of hearing the quiet whisper of God, by Eric Timm (book cover not available yet*)
4 stars
learning to move beyond the static (noise, clutter, distractions) in our lives.
the official endorsement i wrote for this book: Weird title/awesome book. Quirky author/insightful thinker. Unique style/fresh ideas.
*note: this book releases in early september

Church & Ministry

cultivateCultivate: A Youth Worker’s Guide to Establishing Healthy Relationships, by Matt Wilks
4 stars
advice for managing the many relationships in the world of a youth worker. worth the read, for sure, for paid youth workers who want to be more proactive in the complexities and nuances of the myriad relational contexts where they need a win.

thin placesThin Places: Six Postures for Creating and Practicing Missional Community, by Jon Huckins and Rob Yackley
4 stars
a look at the missional church movement through the experience of a particular experiment in san diego. helpful and interesting, and easy to read, but occasionally too focused on the context of the central case study.

criticism bitesCriticism Bites: Dealing With, Responding To, and Learning From Your Critics, by Brian Berry
5 stars
brilliant, practical advice for handling criticism for ministry leaders. written for a youth worker, this book is must reading for anyone in any church leadership role.

taking theology to youth ministryTaking Theology to Youth Ministry, by Andrew Root
4 stars
the first in a series of four short books exploring theology in youth ministry, sometimes using the fictionalized story of a youth worker in theological crisis. the content is amazing, but the jumping in and out of the fable occasionally frustrated me.

everybody's urbanEverybody’s Urban: Understanding the Survival Mindset of the Next Generation, by Leneita Fix and Jeffrey Wallace
4 stars
reframing “urban” as teenagers in survival mode. while i wasn’t sure i completely agreed with 100% of this book, it completely made me think in new ways.

youth ministry from the outside inYouth Ministry from the Outside In: How Relationships and Stories Shape Identity, by Brandon K. McKoy
5 stars
a radically different way of thinking about teenage identity formation and youth ministry.
the official endorsement i wrote for this book: My brain is swimming with questions and ideas, conviction and possibility after reading Youth Ministry from the Outside In. McKoy turns our ministry inside out, actually–moving our focus from isolated individuals assembled together, toward an ecosystem of living and breathing people-in-relationship. Read this book carefully–it may take more than one pass–and watch how it worms its way into your thinking and practice.
*note: this book releases in early october

a faith of their ownA Faith of Their Own: Understanding the Common Cry of Preteens, by Chris Folmsbee
5 stars
a non-fluffy look into the faith development of pre-teens.
the official endorsement i wrote for this book: In my over 30 years of ministry with young teens, I have noticed that many parents don’t start thinking about teenage faith development until their children are well into their teen years. This book provides parents an entré into engaging the faith formation of their preteens and young teens before their children have mostly separated into a faith of their own. Deeply theological while still easily readable and practical, Folmsbee gives parents a greatly needed gift.
*note: this book releases on july 1

books

two sentence book reviews, part 3 (non-fiction)

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getting caught up on book reviews. i allow myself two sentences: one for summary and one for my review.

Non-Fiction

fooling houdiniFooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind, by Alex Stone
4 stars
fascinating memoir of a young magician learning his craft and trying to earn the respect of his peers. a truly interesting look into both the hidden world of illusionists and the ruthless dedication needed to excel.

guns, germs, and steelGuns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
4 stars
epic unpacking of from-the-beginnings-of-time reasons why some cultures are powerful and others not. interesting, to a point, but so dang long.

assholes a theoryAssholes: A Theory, by Aaron James
3 stars
a philosopher develops a theory on why some people are that way. sometimes interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes fluff to fill a book.

brain on fireBrain on Fire: My Month of Madness, by Susannah Cahalan
5 stars
autobiographical story of the author’s short slide into crazy-land, due to a then-undiagnosed illness that impacted her brain. great story with a journalist’s flare.

is everyone hanging out without meIs Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling
4 stars
mindy kaling’s combination of humorous observational essays and personal story. it’s hard not to compare to tina fey’s 5-star book, since they’re so similar; but it’s still a fun, inconsequential read.

seven years with banksySeven Years with Banksy, by Robert Clarke
3 stars
autobiographical story of the author and the time he spent with the world’s most elusive artist. i’m fascinated with banksy, so found this fun, even though the writing is really weak.

debating emerging adulthoodDebating Emerging Adulthood: Stage or Process?, by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Marion Kloep, Leo B. Hendry, and Jennifer L. Tanner
2 stars
a debate-format book with two teams of writer/experts. i couldn’t finish it, as i found it boring (even though the subject matter is one that interests me).

failure of nerveA Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin H. Friedman
5 stars
a revolutionary book about what’s missing in all forms of leadership. my second read of this difficult and challenging book, worth the challenge for its stunning insights.

books

two sentence book reviews, part 2 (young adult fiction)

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getting caught up on book reviews. i allow myself two sentences: one for summary and one for my review.

Young Adult Fiction

that's not a feelingThat’s Not a Feeling, by Dan Josefson
4 stars
a teenage boy is sent to a residential school for troubled teens, where the strange systems and burned-out staff do little to help him. good characters and a unique setting, but it would have been nice if one or two of the adults weren’t idiots.

it's kind of a funny storyIt’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini
5 stars
post-suicide attempt, a high school boy learns about himself while spending a week in an adult psych ward. insightful and honest, a rare gem of a book for teenage readers.

miss peregrine's homeMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
4 stars
fantasy about a boarding school for strangely gifted children who exist in some sort of parallel space. fun and quirky reading, even though it’s not particularly life-changing.

notes from the blenderNotes from the Blender, by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
3 stars
a metalhead outsider and a popular girl become step-siblings. surprising mediocrity from one of my previously favorite authors (halpin, when he wrote adult fiction). *note: a church youth group factors in, though.

colin fischerColin Fischer, by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz
5 stars
a high school boy with asburger’s syndrome finds his way through being mainstreamed in a public school, while using his unique thinking to solve a crime. one of the best young adult fiction books i’ve read in a couple years (i would give this to any teenager who reads).

eleanor & parkEleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
5 stars
the gentle and believable love story of two teenage misfits. i don’t know that i’ve ever read a teenage love story with such insight into the world of teenagers.