Eternal

Bibliography:
Leitich-Smith, Cynthia. 2009. Eternal. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763647735
Summary:
Miranda is just an average teenager dealing with her parent's divorce, pining after the star of the soccer team, and dreaming of becoming an actress. There is one thing special about her, however: Miranda has a guardian angel...who has fallen in love with her! When Zachary breaks the rules to save Miranda from an accidental death, he unwittingly sets her up as the next victim of a vampire. But not just any vampire-the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul! Miranda has been chosen to be groomed for vampire royalty and, unfortunately, takes to her new role well. Zachary must fall to earth in order to set things right, make Miranda remember who she is, and save both of their souls in the process!
Critical Analysis:
Oh, what's one more vampire novel? At least this one delivers a few twists on the subject. First, it is a romance between an angel and a vampire, much of it one-sided until the end. Second, there are not very many "good" vampires to sympathize with. Unlike many other current vampire books, you don't get the feeling that it is better to be a vampire than to be human. Zachary is a very likable character and his feelings for Miranda are well developed and believable, having known her since birth (even though she didn't know him). Miranda is a little more complicated. Because her initial "soul-sickness" (her adjustment to vampire life, characterized by remorse and sadness for what she has become) is mostly skipped over and only referred to in flashbacks, the reader is left with the vampire Miranda, who is ruthless and completely unsympathetic, for most of the book. However, in the end, I can believe that Miranda has a primal attachment to Zachary and that he slowly brings her humanity back. In romantic terms, the ending bites (no pun intended) but it is also the only credible way for the story to end. It is cosmically satisfying, if not immediately gratifying. There is an underlying theme of appreciating the hand you are dealt, as Miranda is handed the world but grieves the loss of her simple human life. Redemption and sacrificial love also play a significant role in this paranormal romance. There is a grittier feel to this book than some of the other vampire romances as evidenced in the cruelty of the main protagonist, from whose view the reader must hear the story. There is definitely more violence and blood than one might expect at first glance. Overall, it is a well-written book that deserves to join the ranks of this particular genre, bringing something a little different to the table.
Tantalize is the companion book to Eternal and actually takes place at an earlier time. According to Smith's website, an actual sequel in which the casts of both books will cross over is scheduled to be released in 2011 and will be titled Blessed.
Reviews:
School Library Journal:
Grade 9 Up–"This dark romance is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of 17-year-old Miranda and her guardian angel, Zachary, in an alternate America in which vampires and werewolves exist. Early in the novel, Zachary falls from grace as punishment for materializing in his full radiance in a failed attempt to save Miranda from being bitten by a vampire. The tale resumes a year later with the now-vampire Miranda a revered princess living among vampire royalty and feasting regularly on humans. Zachary, meanwhile, has sunk into a life of aimless debauchery and is resigned to never regaining his wings when an archangel suddenly gives him the opportunity to become Miranda's personal assistant. Determined to save his former ward, with whom he has fallen in love, Zachary takes the job. Miranda finds herself drawn to him, and the murders she has carelessly committed begin to weigh on her conscience. With his help, she is determined to find a way to redeem herself and help him return to grace. The plot is occasionally choppy and frequently grisly, and the dialogue seems forced in places. Neither Miranda nor Zachary is particularly likable, and the ending, while logical, is not one that romance fans will favor. The story lacks the elegance of Stephenie Meyer's hugely popular novels, but serious vampire buffs will undoubtedly add the novel to their must-read list."–Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD
Kirkus Reviews:
"The pace of this entertaining romp is quick and the action plentiful...A true page-turner, I can't imagine any fan of gothic suspense/romance not thoroughly enjoying this - and not just young adult readers either."

Book trailer for Eternal

Here is a Reader's Guide to Eternal that includes discussion questions and interview with the author.

Struts and Frets

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Bibliography:
Skovron, Jon. 2009. Struts and Frets. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN 9780810941748
Summary:
What do you do when your band's lead singer is a rageaholic, your best friend from childhood is crushing on you, and the Gramps that you know and love is slipping away? Sammy Bojar sure as heck doesn't know. All Sammy wants to do is write songs and play music but life keeps getting in the way. Joe, the lead singer of his band, is a total jerk but Sammy and his other band mates put up with him out of fear and, for Sammy, a desperation to keep the band together; his only outlet for his music. Jen5, sometimes called Fiver (because there were four other Jennifers in their class and, according to Jen5, "it took five versions to get it perfect") has been Sammy's best friend since they were kids but Sammy is finding out that she has stronger feelings for him. But how can they move into a relationship without the weirdness, and does Sammy even want to? And then there is Sammy's Gramps, a musical genius whom Sammy deeply relates to, and who is also becoming more and more a stranger as dementia takes hold. This is the story of a young musician coming of age and trying to find his place in the world. Through truly seeing and understanding the people who play a part in his life, he will begin to discover himself; who he is and who he wants to be.
Critical Analysis:
Jon Skovron was another of the authors at the Greater Houston Teen Book Convention that I attended and, I admit, I bought his book in part because he was just so funny! When asked how he found an authentic teenage voice for Sammy, he said he could just hear his sixteen-year-old, snarky, sarcastic self over his shoulder. You just have to love a guy who uses the word "snarky". Fortunately, I was not disappointed! This book, told through the eyes of Sammy, is written with a wonderful honesty. Everything from the realistic dialogue to the very real and identifiable issues the characters are dealing with, capture the emotions of those tumultuous years when you are on the brink of figuring out who you are, and seeing others, maybe for the first time, for who they are. Sammy Bojar is an extremely likable protagonist, owning a great sense of humor and an emotional maturity beyond his years. The other characters are also fully developed and given the depth needed for Sammy, as well as the reader, to understand where they are coming from and why they do some of the things that they do. The feel of this book is obviously very music-oriented. Even though all readers can relate to and enjoy this story, it will definitely strike a chord with music lovers and musicians. Each chapter is named for a song title and there is a soundtrack play list for the book at the end. The author's knowledge of music is apparent and current references to the indie music scene gives credibility to the story. However, this book would just be a another well-written and humorous look at the teenage years, if it weren't for the complexity that Sammy's relationship with his grandfather brings to the story. Through this touching connection between grandfather and grandson, Skovron does an amazing job of clearly depicting the thin line between creative genius and madness, and Sammy's fear of sharing the same fate as his Gramps. In one conversation, Gramps likens the experience of getting lost in playing music to a relentless pursuit of searching for the moon. "It's a beautiful thing when you touch it. But there's an awful price to pay. Look what it did to me. And I'm one of the lucky ones...But it was worth it. Such wonder. Such magic." Anyone who has ever witnessed the slow loss of a loved one to dementia or Alzheimer's will identify with Sammy's feelings. Overall, Skovron writes an honest and funny look at coming of age with a musical twist and a surprising depth that sets it apart from other books in this genre. This is Jon Skovron's debut novel and I, for one, can't wait to see what he writes next!
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal-Gr. 9 and up-"This debut novel will find an audience not just with music fans, but also with those who appreciate a good coming-of-age story."

Check out Jon Skovron's web site

FYI for classroom use: This book does contain profanity, including the F-bomb, and includes a homosexual character. It also describes a first sexual encounter though it is not graphic at all (describes the initial kissing and then skips to afterward).

The Lonely Hearts Club

Bibliography:

Eulberg, Elizabeth. 2010. The Lonely Hearts Club. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 9780545140317

Summary:

After suffering a heartbreak at the hands of her childhood love, Penny, named after a Beatles song, decides that boys are not worth it. She starts The Lonely Hearts Club for girls who are sick of putting guys at the top of their priority list only to be treated badly. After word gets out, Penny is amazed at how many girls feel the same way and are willing to swear off dating boys in order to give themselves and their girl friends top priority. Unfortunately, just when the club reaches its peak of popularity, Penny meets a guy that just might be different from the rest. Now she has to find a way to give love a chance without trading in her ideals and compromising her loyalty to her fellow club members.

Critical Analysis:

I just want to say that, being a single chick, I really really really wanted to like this book. Elizabeth Eulberg was one of the authors at the Greater Houston Teen Book Convention, which I attended, and her humorous and energetic presence is what made me buy her book in the first place. I really like the concept of the book in which a strong female character decides that she doesn't need to date to be happy. The problem, I think, is in the character development. I never really felt like I got inside Penny's head and therefore was just not as invested in her as I could have been. The dialogue also didn't seem authentic to me, sounding more like an adult trying to talk like a teenager than an actual teenager. For example, Penny's best friend in the book says things like "what to the evs" and "those shoes are adorbs". One or two signature sayings I could have believed, but I don't know any teenager who talks like the captions in Tiger Beat magazine. In the same way, some of the interactions in the book also seem cliched. Any time a conversation between a girl and a guy ends up with the giggling girl being thrown over the guy's shoulder, you know it's not going to tax your imagination to figure out how the book will end. Likewise, some of the action in the book was a little melodramatic. I accept that the club is serious to the characters but there are a few parts where I caught myself literally rolling my eyes. One part that comes to mind is when Diane, a friend of Penny's, sees one of Tracy's (Penny's best friend) many crushes kiss another girl. A dramatic moment ensues when Penny and Diane discuss how mad Tracy will be at Diane when she tells her. Really? Granted, Tracy doesn't like Diane very much and is prone to obnoxious dramatic outbursts, which would have been fine if the other characters acknowledged that personality trait. But instead, they are truly worried (you can almost hear the duh.. duh...duhhh in the background) and, worse, ask the reader to be equally invested. Penny's parents are a whole other problem. What could have been portrayed as her parent's quirky endearing love of Beatles music crossed the line for me about the time that we find out that they are vegetarians, and require their children to be vegetarians, ONLY because Paul McCartney is. At that point in time, they became immature groupie morons to me, completely stripping them of any parental credibility and making it hard to take them seriously when they try to assume that role. On a positive note, I didn't absolutely hate the book, although it seems like I did. It does a few things really well, like depicting the universally familiar emotions of having your best friend desert you for a guy. I think that just about everybody has that experience at some point in their lives. The message that the book gets across is empowering for girls, as well. It is an urgent reminder to remember your priorities, to not lose yourself in trying to please the opposite sex, to value your girlfriends, and to be sure you know who you are before you share yourself with someone else. This book will probably find an audience with tween and teen girls who are looking for a strong female main character and identify with the angst of dating (and breaking up). This being Elizabeth Eulberg's debut novel, I find there is just enough promise in this book that I will read her next book just to see how she is growing and improving as a writer.

A review from Booklist:

"After a devastating betrayal by the boy she thought she was destined to be with forever, Penny Lane Bloom (who fortunately inherited her parents’ love of the Beatles to go with her name) swears off guys and quietly starts the Lonely Hearts Club. To her surprise, many of her girlfriends are also sick of high-school guys and want to join—even Diane, Penny’s former best friend and one-half of the school’s power couple until a recent, amicable breakup. The club grows and becomes an influential social force as members meet every Saturday night, go to dances together, and support one another in their academic and extracurricular pursuits. But conflict arises when the school administration fears the group is getting too powerful and “making the boys feel bad,” and Penny finds herself torn between her no-boy pledge and the courteous advances of one of the nicest guys she knows—who happens to be Diane’s ex-boyfriend. This first novel will be a draw for readers looking for an upbeat take on friendship, empowerment, and finding romance without losing yourself. Grades 7-10. --Heather Booth"

*Here is a link to the Barnes and Noble page that includes a short video interview with the author, Elizabeth Eulberg.