Katherine Vasilik the Young Adult Librarian at Franklin Lakes, NJ Public Library has reviewed 3 books for teens. Ms Vasilik we be reviewing 3 books monthly for The FLOW Journal so check back. We are happy to have “Kate the Librarian” as our new Book Reviewer.
Two Way Street By Lauren Barnholdt
Courtney is stuck traveling with her recently-ex-boyfriend, Jordan , from their homes in Miami to begin their first year at Boston University . Told from alternating points of view and switching between the time spent in the car during the roadtrip and the events leading up to the breakup, this unlikely tale is full of secrets and revelations. With each character’s input, the reader learns more about the characters themselves, as well as the backstory, colored by additional storylines. Nothing – the characters, the backstory, or the sidestory – ever becomes more than two-dimensional, the story is full of predictable plot points, and a bit more careful editing wouldn’t have hurt the final product. However, the characters are interesting enough to hold the reader’s attention for as long as it takes to get through to the end. It’s a quick, fun read, if ultimately unoriginal. Two Way Street is an optional purchase, and the number of mentions and insinuations of drug and alcohol use and sex in Two Way Street might make it appeal most to an older teen audience.
Madapple By Christina Meldrum
Aslaug is a fifteen-year-old girl who would have been average if she had just lived a different life. Aslaug was born to a woman who claimed to “have never had a lover,” and was then raised in isolation, her only companions being lessons in religion, language, and botany. When Aslaug’s mother dies, she discovers that she has an aunt and two cousins who live nearby. She is fascinated by her cousins, who seem equally fascinated by her, although for different reasons, and her relationships with her newfound family go through dramatic shifts as the plot progresses. Told through shifting time periods, half of the story follows the events following Aslaug’s mother’s death up to the present time; the other piece of the whole covers the trial for the death of Aslaug’s aunt and cousin. Religion, magic, and science play major roles in the mood and depth of this story. Ultimately, this story leaves readers focused on the idea of perspective, and how the understanding of theories and actions can completely change based on the point of view of the storyteller.
While the text of the story sometimes drifts uncontrollably to botany details and longwinded religious debate (mostly historical rather than contemporary controversial), this is an original and fascinating novel about family, self, perception, and love. Because of high-quality content, the writing and story are best suited for high school readers. The cover is breathtaking, and the characters unpredictable, and the story captivating.
How to Built a House By Dana Reinhardt
Dana Reinhardt does it again. Realistic fiction at its best tells the story of seventeen-year-old Harper, who decides to take a break from life, including from her broken family and her none-too-perfect sort-of boyfriend. Her passion for environmental and social responsibility leads her to the volunteer organization, Homes from the Heart, and she ends up spending her whole summer rebuilding a home in Tennessee that was destroyed by a tornado. Upon her arrival, she is stressed out and tired of having to deal with people, but new friends and tough physical work begin to break her down and win her over. More than anything, it is watching her get to know her new friends and fall in love with Teddy, the son in the family for whom the home is being rebuilt, that allows the reader to become completely immersed in the story, wherever it leads. Her ultimate realizations about family, relationships, independence, and love are the icing on top of the cake. The reader is alternatively heartbroken and uplifted by Harper, and by those who lift her higher. Some age- and situation-appropriate language and some sexual encounters might make this story appropriate for an older readership, but the character’s exploration will appeal to teens and adults alike.