I just read. . .

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris.

When I started reading the book, I was expecting a cliche version of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Female protagonist goes to school with seemingly-normal guy, doesn't pay him much attention, until *BAM* he saves her life in a supernatural way. Suddenly female protagonist sees supernatural (now hunky) dude as an attractive suitor, and finds herself falling for him even though she hardly knows him. At first, the comparisons were quickly stacking up between the two books (i.e., getting hit by a truck but surviving thanks to supernatural cute guy; dad in law enforcement; supernatural dude first insisting the female is crazy about what she saw, then revealing the truth to her and professing his love for her, etc. etc.). But fortunately, this book managed to take a 180 degree turn and became a fantastic creation all on its own. (Don't get me wrong, I tore through each book in the Twilight series as they came out, but the vampire theme is a little overdone and I'm ready to try some new plot lines.)

Beyond the initial comparisons, this book has a really great concept and pulls the reader in. It's a new take on science fiction, end of the world plots, and concepts that are out of this world. Janelle Tenner is a strong female lead character, full of persistence, determination, and strong will. Those qualities end up getting her into trouble occasionally, but she doesn't require a guy to defend her. Even when facing the possible end of the world, she can hold her own against FBI agents, catty ex-friends, and the supernatural.

The main character, Janelle Tenner, gets hit by a truck and killed, but she is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a guy she barely knows from school. Mystery surrounds the incident--the truck has no identification information, not even a VIN, and the driver died from radiation burns, not from the crash. Meaning he was dead when he ran into Janelle. How is that possible? Speaking of the impossible, why was Ben Michaels at the accident scene, and how did he bring Janelle back to life? Who exactly is Ben Michaels? With secret access to her FBI agent dad's case files, Janelle and her friend Alex try to put the pieces together to the case. But the deeper they dig into the case, the stranger the case gets.

Each chapter is titled with a countdown, which speeds up the closer it gets to the end. Three days into the book, or 13 mini-chapters later, the reader finds out the countdown is for a UIED (Unidentified Improvised Explosive Device) that seems to be connected to a string of unidentified dead bodies that have been melted from radiation--just like the truck driver. As the clock ticks, Janelle and Alex realize it's not just a countdown to a bomb, but a countdown to the end of the world. Will they be able to work with Ben to stop the clock and save the world? You'll have to read to find out!!

Are you FABULOUS?

Are you fabulous? If you're Tiny Cooper, you have no doubt you are and that you need to spread it around. His plan? To write, produce, and star in a play for his high school that announces his own trials and finally his acceptance with his homosexual love life. Not something normally attempted by a high schooler? Well, that's because there's only one student as fabulous and self-aware as Tiny Cooper. However, there are two students named Will Grayson. Will 1 is Tiny's best friend, a heterosexual who has a difficult time relating to others and expressing his emotions. Will 2 is a love interest who has a difficult time relating to others and expressing his own emotions. The parallels drawn are an important message reminding us that no matter who we are, it's a safe bet that we have all struggled to become aware and accepting of our own unique characteristics that really do make us all fabulous.

John Green and David Levithan do a wonderful job of merging their humorous writing styles to create a tale that is both appealing and relevant to teens. Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a read I quickly became engrossed in and as I laughed at the conversations between characters, I also grasped that importance and seriousness of the situations they experienced. By the end of the story you'll realize that you have some fabulous to spread around as well.

Also available on disc and as a Playaway.

The Danger Box

"It is like confessing a murder." - Charles Darwin

"His hand holding the purple crayon shook." - Crockett Johnson from Harold and the Purple Crayon

How are these quotes related? Read The Danger Box by Blue Balliett and find out.

Meet Zoomy, a 12 year old boy who lives with his grandparents in the small town of Three Oaks, Michigan. He sees the world in a different way than most because he can hardly see the world at all. He is legally blind and his "thick as oatmeal cookie glasses" give him only a limited view barely beyond the end of his nose. When he finds a treasure that is "fragile, easily recognized around the world, too valuable to put a price on, and could fit in your pocket," he knows he has to figure out a way to make others around him see its importance as clearly as he can.

If you like mysteries, enjoy learning new things, and are brave enough to see the world around you in a whole new way, pick up Blue Balliett's new book The Danger Box. You may be already familiar with her twisty plots, artful coincidences, and her unique style that embraces the reader and forces a true interaction with the story from her earlier works: Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Caldar Game. However, The Danger Box allows Balliett to continue communicating with the reader and encourages them to not only think in a new way but also to act in a new way. A way that could change how one reads books - forever. A way that could change how one tries to survive - forever.

Hint: How is a book like a danger box?
Hint: How did Darwin and Harold get others to believe that the world they saw was real?
Hint: How is survival of the fittest like a game?

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy: Best Friends, Boyfriends and Purity Rings

Tabitha and her best friends all made a promise when they were tweens: to keep their virginity until marriage. Their purity rings mean everything to them - friendship, faith, and a promise to God and each other. But as Tabitha gets older - she's fifteen now - everything's gotten more confusing...and more exciting, especially having her first real boyfriend. When one of Tabitha's friends takes it to the next level with her boyfriend, crisis hits their close-knit circle. Like lots of Christians, Tabitha struggles with what's right - What does it mean to be loyal to a friend? What did Jesus say about sexuality? How can you hold to your values without being judgmental? Pure shows one good- hearted, smart girl wrestling with the tough issues and the excitement of growing up.

You might want to visit Terra Elan McVoy's website to hear what inspired her to write Pure and even take a look at some of the questions she has for readers to think about after reading the book.