I'll start with Zen and the Art of Faking It, by Jordan Sonnenblick. If you've paid attention to me ever, you know I loved Sonnenblick's After Ever After (if you still haven't read it, you must!). I also really enjoyed Zen, as well. In Zen and the Art of Faking It, our main character, San Lee, a 14-year old Chinese-American boy who was adopted by white parents, has just moved to a new school in Pennsylvania with his mom. He is estranged and extremely angry with his dad, who is in prison. He's also frustrated with the fact that he has moved a lot over his lifetime and he's tired of being the new kid and figuring out his identity in a new place. When his social studies teacher starts a unit on world religions, including Buddhism, San has already studies this and figures out who he will be - the zen guy. He starts researching in order to pull it off and has everyone fooled, including the girl he really likes. However, you can't live a lie forever - someone is going to find out. If you want to be entertained, Jordan Sonnenblick never fails. His writing is funny and his characters are lovable. I'm looking forward to reading his 2014-15 Truman nominated title, Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip in the near future!
If you haven't read The Selection series, by Kiera Cass, you're missing out. The final installment of this series, The One came out last week and it ends the saga of America Singer, a contestant in her country's Selection pageant - a contest in which the Prince chooses whom he will marry. Prince Maxon and America formed a friendship from the beginning - will it turn into true love forever? You'll have to read this series to find out. If you like The Bachelor and Survivor - you'll love this story!
Thanks to NetGalley, I got an advanced copy of Peter Moore's new book, V is for Villain. Now this was a fun read. If you are totally into superhero stories, this is one for you. Brad Baron has spent his whole life living in his brother Blake's shadow. Blake is a real-life superhero, who fights evil and crime with the Justice League. Brad doesn't have any super-hero-like abilities, which frustrates him to no end. When he's kicked out of super-hero school into an alternative school, Brad starts to wonder if the "super-heroes" are really heroes after all. He discovers a hidden ability and with a group of new friends decides that maybe being the villain is the way to go. I liked that this was a totally different twist on the traditional hero-type story. Brad makes a great anti-hero and despite the fact that he's being a villain, you end up rooting for him anyway! This book will arrive on bookshelves this coming Tuesday, May 20th. I encourage you to check it out!
Finally, I'll recommend another book I was able to preview thanks to NetGalley. Jex Malone, by C.L. Gaber & V.C. Stanley brought back my favorite memories of previous girl detectives, including two of my favorites from growing up - Trixie Belden & Nancy Drew. Jex (Jessica) Malone has been sent to Las Vegas for the summer to stay with her dad. She's hardly spent time with him at all over the past several years. She still hasn't really forgiven him for the fact that her parents split, but her mom, and a judge, force her to adhere to her visitation time. Upon arrival in Las Vegas, Jex soon meets three new friends who fill her in on the neighborhood mystery - the disappearance of Patty Matthews, a 13-year old case that has never been solved. Since Jex's dad just happens to be the officer who was in charge of the case, they snoop into his files and set out to solve the mystery themselves. What Jex didn't count on was how cute she'd find Patty Matthews much-younger brother...and the danger that solving this mystery places her and her crew in. This is a fun read and I really enjoyed it. Jex will arrive in bookstores on June 18th, so you have a bit of a wait if you want to read her story. I encourage you to check it out!
Of course, I've got more recommendations I'll send your way in the near future. I hope you've started your summer to-read list!
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