2013 YA Contemporary Challenge Recap

2013 YA Contemporary Challenge

Challenge: YA Contemporary Challenge
Host:  Katie's Book Blog
2013 Level:  Level 2 (10 books)
Thoughts:  It's that released in the current year that gets my every time!
1.  Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
2.  Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
3.  The Namesake by Steven Parlato
4.  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Graberstein
5.  The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense
6. A Week with Fiona Wonder by Kelly Huddleston
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A Week with Fiona Wonder

Title: A Week with Fiona Wonder
Author:  Kelly Huddleston

Publisher: Open
ISBN: 978-0615722825

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: YA Contemporary, Standalone, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: If I had to summarize A Week with Fiona Wonder in a phrase, I would call it a contemporary YA version of Roseanne.  It very much has the feel of the show, but with more teen angst, but real angst not fake angst like on teen TV shows.  It is very hard to describe, but a wonderful read.

Rating: 4 stars

Jump Cut

Title: Jump Cut
Author:  Ted Staunton

Publisher: Orca
ISBN: 978-1-55469-947-6

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: YA Contemporary, Free Reads, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Each of the books in the Seven series follows a grandson as he carries out his grandfather's last request.  Jump Cut is Spencer O'Toole's story.  Because he dreams of being a filmmaker, Grandpa D sends Spencer to visit aging B-movie star Gloria Lorraine and film her giving him a kiss on the cheek.  Spencer cannot understand the reason behind the request, but that is all part of what proves to be an interesting journey as Spencer, as do all good YA protagonists, learns a lot about himself along the way.  This is a wonderful, quick read perfect for more reluctant readers or anyone who enjoys a good YA aimed at boys.

Rating: 4 stars

2013 YA Contemporary Challenge

Challenge: YA Contemporary Challenge
Host:  Katie's Book Blog
2012 Level:  Level 1 (5 books) - COMPLETED
2013 Level:  Level 2 (10 books) 

1.  Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
2.  Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
3.  The Namesake by Steven Parlato
4.  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Graberstein
5.  The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense
6. A Week with Fiona Wonder by Kelly Huddleston
7.
8.
9.
10.

YA Contemporary Challenge

Challenge: YA Contemporary Challenge
Host:  Katie's Book Blog
2012 Level:  Level 1 (5 books) - COMPLETED
Thoughts:  Another favorite challenge.  I will definitely go up a level next year.Books:
1.  The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
2. Night Sky by Jolene Perry
3. The Liberation of Max McTrue by Kim Culbertson
4. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
5. Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

Knee Deep

Knee Deep
by Jolene Perry
published by Tribute
2012
ISBN 978-0-9837418-8-6
Why Read?: Review
Challenges: YA Contemporary, Standalone, YA Saves, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Jolene Perry knows how to present tough issues in a way that is accessible and acceptable to teens, as evidenced by her latest novel, Knee Deep.  This is a realistic portrayal of abusive high school relationships, charged with emotion.

Ronnie has always known Shawn was the one for her.  They began dating as young teens, stayed connected when Shawn's family moved, and are stronger than ever now that it is senior year and Shawn has moved back.  However, Shawn is different from that boy she fell in love with.  Lately, he has become moody and temperamental when Ronnie does things he does not like - such as wear shoes that make her taller than him.  When Ronnie finds out that his parents have been getting into heated arguments that often become physical, she blames his irritability on that...and even looks the other way the first time he leaves bruises on her wrist.  Soon, though, the bruises become more frequent, but Ronnie knows she must stand by Shawn.  Their friend Luke, though, begins to notice that something is not right, and even stops Shawn from hurting Ronnie a few times.  But no matter what Luke says, or how close she and him become, Ronnie feels Shawn can go back to that boy she feel in love with and she must stay by him no matter what.  What will it take for Ronnie to finally see the truth?

While I, luckily, have never been in a situation like Ronnie's, Perry made it really easy to see where she was coming from.  So many times we read about an abusive relationship and wonder why she (or he) does not just leave; through Ronnie's viewpoint, Perry shows why that is not possible.  Hearing Ronnie's thoughts and seeing how they parallel some of my own in totally different situations helped me connect with her and truly understand her predicament.  

Knee Deep is a must read for all teen girls, whether they are in an abusive relationship or not even in a relationship at all.  Jolene Perry gets to the heart of the matter in a story that is highly readable and enjoyable.

Rating: 5/5

Night Sky

Night Sky

by Jolene Perry

published by Tribute

2012

ISBN 978-0-9837418-6-2

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  YA Contemporary, Sophomore, Standalone, YA Saves, Multi-Cultural, 100 Books in a Year

Night Sky is so far my favorite YA contemporary of 2012.  Jolene Perry's smooth writing style pulled me in immediately and did not let me go until the last page.  

Jameson world has just come crashing down - or so he thinks.  Sarah, his best friend and the girl he has a crush on, used him as a date to their dance just so she could hook up with the guy she has a crush on.  Devastated, Jameson finds himself driving around his hometown of Las Vegas where he picks up Sky, a college freshman who is living with her grandparents just down the street from him. With just one night swim, Jameson finds that he has fallen hard, and Sky's demand for honesty brings their relationship to a whole new level that anything he ever had with Sarah.  But when he learns that Sky is keeping some of her own secrets, Jameson learns that the one whom he must be the most honest with my just as well be himself.

Perry's writing is just as honest as Jameson tries to be with Sky.  She delivers a realistic story that many high-schoolers - especially seniors on the verge of adulthood - can relate to.  Nothing in the plot or character development feels forced, and Jameson is truly the type of guy that every girl wants but tends not to notice.  Telling the story from his point of view adds an additional level of realism than I think would have come across if Perry chose Sky as the main character.

With a very believable storyline and characters, Night Sky is a must read.  Jolene Perry is definitely a YA contemporary author to watch.  

Rating: 5/5

YA Contemporary Challenge

Challenge: YA Contemporary Challenge
Host:  Katie's Book Blog
2011 Level: 13 Books - COMPLETED
2012 Level:  Level 1 (5 books)


1.  The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
2. Night Sky by Jolene Perry
3. The Liberation of Max McTrue by Kim Culbertson
4. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
5. Knee Deep by Jolene Perry