"Piggy" by Brit C. Ward

**Alright, so I am a little biased about this book (what can I say, my boyfriend's awesome), but when he first told me the synopsis for this novel my reaction was something along the lines of "you have to write this book!  And hurry up so I can read it!"  That said, here is my review.**

What strikes me first about this novel is that I can't really compare it to anything.  There are certain elements that remind me of other works, but the basis of the story is original (at least to my knowledge).  Justice is the daughter of Paul "Piggy" Peterson.  When she was young, her mother gained sole custody of Justice when she discovered that Piggy was a child molester.  Piggy attempted rehabilitation, but committed suicide when it became clear to him that he could not be cured.  Fast forward a few years to the day Justice meets Emma- the last of Piggy's victims.  Against the odds the two become friends but will speculation and harsh memories tear them apart?

Brit C. Ward's Piggy really isn't too far out there compared to other books.  Yes, the initial concept isn't something I have seen addressed very much in the YA world, but at it's core this book is about two teenagers trying to beat the odds and form a friendship.  In addition to their struggles, there is a little bit of romance, plenty of family baggage, and an ending readers will not soon forget.  I was rather impressed with this novel.  The characters feel very real and don't come off as fake (some fictional teenage girls seem too over the top and exaggerated for me) and seem like the kind of people I would expect to come across in real life.  The situation and scenarios are also extremely realistic.  This is certainly the kind of book that I know I will want to read over and over again. 

Happy Reading!
-Melly

“Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have)" by Sarah Mlynowski

I have yet to come across a novel by Sarah Mlynowski that I haven’t enjoyed by Ten Things We Did (andProbably Shouldn't Have) just might be my favorite.  Granted, a certain amount of disbelief is needed for this novel.  You have to be willing to believe that a seventeen-year-old girl would be allowed to stay behind when her father and stepmother move to Cleveland (after her mother got remarried and moved to Paris).  Of course, the parents don’t know that said friend’s mother stars in a play in another town and the two girls are living completely on their own.  You also have to believe that said father would deposit $1000 per month into his daughter’s bank account each month to cover “expenses” and doesn't realize that she is spending her income on things such as a hot tub.  Once you can believe these things, this is an awesome book!

This book has many laugh out loud moments.  As April learns to live on her own she makes discoveries such as what kinds of soap can go in the dishwasher (as you can imagine, she learns this the hard way) and which people in her life truly care about her and which ones don’t.  As I was reading, I felt that April was a very real character.  As the story progresses she takes the sort of risks that is to be expected when a girl her age is left completely unsupervised, but she learns so much from the decisions and by the end of the novel has completed one of the best character arcs I have seen in this genre.  There is one discover that April makes that I had to applaud Mlynowski for writing (trying not to spoil something incredibly plot important here).  I have run tons of YA lit, but I cannot really recall a writer that has put a main character in that situation.  I was blown away but so pleased that Mlynowski wrote that into her novel (Confused?  Again, don’t want to spoil anything, but if you email me, I’ll let you know which bit I am talking about). 

I really loved this book.  I am sad that it took me so long to get around to reading it.  After all, I love the Magic in Manhattan series, Gimme a Call and Monkey Business.  If you like girly books, this one is an absolute must!

Happy Reading!

-Melly

"Then Again, Maybe I Won't" by Judy Blume

With Banned Books Week coming up I've been thinking a lot about the books I have read that have been challenged or banned.  I feel very strongly that books shouldn't be censored.  If you don't like something don't read it.  If you don't want your kids to read something, don't let them (though they're probably going to sneak it now that it's forbidden, but that's another ramble).  I can't imagine trying to censor the books another person wants to read.  So as I've been thinking about Banned Books, that's led me with the desire to re-read one from the queen of the banned book, Judy Blume.

My first experience with Blume's work was in the first grade when my teacher read Freckle Juice to the class.  My next experience was when my fourth grade teacher read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.  It was around that time that I began picking up more and more of her books, experiences I will never forget.

Today I am writing about Then Again, Maybe I Won't.  I totally get why it has been challenged.  It does describe things that I can easily understand why parents and adults wouldn't want kids to read it.  However, I look back on my pre-teen self and realize that it was a good experience for me to realize "boys do THAT?!"  Blume perfectly captures newly turned teen Tony as his family comes into money, moves away from the only life he's ever known, and finds out what it's like to live next door to a gorgeous sixteen-year-old that doesn't remember to pull her shades down.  You have to give Blume credit for being able to write a believable story through a young boys perspective.

There is really only one thing I don't like about this book (and it could just be that I have an older copy).  Thanks to changes in the world, this book has begun to feel a little dated.  Sure, the emotions and hormones that Tony experiences have stayed the same but it's beginning to feel weird when characters aren't able to put cell phones and other technology to use through the course of a book.  I recently found out that Are You There God, It's Me Margaret was updated to include some more modern forms of feminine hygiene.  Anyone know if Then Again has had a similar treatment?

I f you haven't read Blume's work, you are really missing out.  I learned a lot from her books.   She writes some of the best characters that have ever graced the literary world.  She's the kind of author that has something for everyone and really should be a part of every book collection.



Happy Reading!
-Melly