The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs - Jack Gantos

The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs - Jack Gantos

Pages: 181
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Release Date: 3rd April 2009

Other Title by this Author: Joey Pizga series, Rotten Ralph series, Desire Lines, Hole in my Life

Everyone loves their mother. But what happens when you love her so much you can’t bear to let her go - ever? That’s the sign of the Love Curse. And Ivy’s got it…bad.

The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs is one of the oddest books that I’ve ever read. The curse was a sort of Oedipus Complex and taxidermy was mentioned on nearly every page. It was creepy, weird and disturbing. I didn’t like it much at all.

I didn’t really connect with the main character Ivy very much. Her character and personality seemed to begin and end with the curse. I got no sense of who she really was. I also couldn’t work out what time period that the book was set in; it seemed muddled to me which was rather annoying.

On the cover there are brilliant reviews from two of my favourite British authors; Kevin Brooks and Melvin Burgess. That’s one of the main reasons that I took a chance with it, but they let me down. I’m really disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it.

However, being the science nerd that I am, the long passages explaining DNA, genetics, the nature vs. nurture debate and the processes of embalming and taxidermy (disgusting, by the way) were kind of fascinating to me. You could tell that Jack Gantos really did his research for this book, or has very strange hobbies!

I also liked how important historical figures and events were entwined in the Rumbaughs family history. I think that it added reality and depth to the story as well as telling the story of the Love Curse that definitely needed explaining!

Although The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs had a few highlights, I don’t think I’d recommend it. It was far too weird for me; even the cover was creepy (though kind of cool)!

Sophie

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Tina Ferraro

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Tina Ferraro

Pages: 223
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: 13th March 2007

Other Titles by this Author: How to Hook a Hottie (my review), The ABC’s of Kissing Boys (my review)

Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school - Rod “Rascal” Pasqual. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. And she got to stare at it all evening long as a reminder.

But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She’s a junior now - older, wiser, and completely over-whelmed by a new set of problems: 1. The bank’s ready to foreclose her childhood home. 2. Her father’s too busy with his “replacement” daughter to care. 3. Her best friend’s brother is an eternal thorn in her side. 4. Her best friend isn’t exactly the rose attached to that thorn in her side. 5. Rumours are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would 6. Ruin all chances of a college scholarship. 7. She still likes the guy who dumped her in the first place. And 8. What in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway?

Strangely, it’s getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic’s problems.

Tina Ferraro’s books are cute and fun with fantastic titles. I love them!

One of the things that I enjoyed about Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress was the mention of two of my favourite films; Bring It On and Pirates of the Caribbean (gotta love Johnny Depp!). Nic has good taste!

I also understand Nic’s connection to her prom dress. Mine is still on the back of my bedroom door even though I got to wear it to my year 11 prom last June. I can’t bear to get rid of it. It’s important to me as it holds precious memories so everything that Nic felt about The Dress I understood which allowed me to really connect with her.

The way that Tina Ferraro included Nic’s feelings about her parents divorce and her half-sister also helped me to connect with her as I knew exactly where she was coming from. They were real feelings and subtle in the way that Nic kept them to herself that made the situation very true to life.

I would definitely recommend this along with Tina’s other two books for anyone who wants a light and charming read.

Sophie

Dreamland - Sarah Dessen

Dreamland - Sarah Dessen

Pages: 313
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Release Date: 14th November 2002

Other Titles by this Author: Last Chance, Someone Like You, This Lullaby, Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, Lock and Key (my review) , That Summer (02/07/09)

Unable to deal with the family fall out when her elder sister runs away from home, Caitlin finds herself withdrawing into a private world. A dream world where everything - and everyone - can be kept at arms length. And a place where her damaging relationship with her boyfriend, Rogerson, need never be faced up to or discussed…

There are very few authors who can compare to Sarah Dessen. I really do love her books. Dreamland was no exception; powerful, striking and heart-breaking.

The way that all of her books are interconnected by places, schools and characters from previous novels cropping up. Having read Lock and Key not long ago, I noticed that Rogerson and Dave from this book appeared in it a few times. The two main schools in the town were the same as well. There aren’t many authors that I can think of that do this, but I think it’s very cool to be able to catch up on old characters. It makes them more real somehow. Now I’m just waiting to Wes from The Truth About Forever to pop up again! He’s my favourite of Sarah Dessen’s guy characters.

Sarah Dessen handled Caitlin and Rogerson’s relationship beautifully. It was scary how seemingly unimportant and subtle the events were that changed their relationship and each other completely. The instances in themselves were hardly noticeable until they culminated in, well, everyone who has read it knows what happens, and if you haven’t read it, why not?!

At some points I had to hold back tears, crying at college isn’t cool, but I couldn’t stop reading. I can’t wait for That Summer to be released in the summer and if you haven’t read Sarah Dessen before, now would be the perfect time as Along for the Ride will be released in the US in June!

Sophie

Operation Retirement Rescue (2): How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

Due to all the talk about ARC's, Adele from Persnickety Snark came up with a great idea. Operation Retirement Rescue is a way for bloggers to remember and celebrate old YA classics.

All you have to do is:

Before May begins post reviews for 1-2 YA titles that -
1) were published more than five years ago,
2) hold fond memories, and
3) post the icon somewhere in your review.

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

Fifteen-year-old New Yorker Daisy thinks she knows all about love. Her mother died giving birth to her, and now her dad has sent her away for the summer, to live in the English countryside with cousins she’s never met.

There she’ll discover what real love is: something violent, mysterious and wonderful. Then her world will be turned upside down and a perfect summer will explode into a million bewildering pieces.

How will Daisy live then?

How I Live Now was first published by Penguin in 2004.

Meg Rosoff’s debut YA novel, How I Live Now, blew me away. As a fairly sheltered twelve-year-old, this book shocked me. It introduced themes that I’d never encountered before in a starkly beautiful way. Rosoff’s writing style is, in my eyes, one of the most identifiable and individual. She really keeps you on your toes!

I remember this to be one of the first book that kept me reading by the light of my phone (I had to turn my lamp off and stop reading at ten) late into the night. The next day at school, my English teacher asked why I was so tired and just laughed and asked me what book it was so she could read it when I told her!

How I Live Now allowed me to have the confidence to branch out my reading tastes and read what I want about whatever I want. I became less childish and more free in what I read which has allowed me to read amazing books across genres that I’d never have dreamed of reading if How I Live Now hadn’t opened my mind the way it did.

Meg Rosoff’s fourth YA novel, The Bride’s Farewell is out on 6th August in the US and 3rd September in the UK.

Sophie

In My Mailbox XIII

This was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out her blog. All summaries are from the book jackets.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

‘Just Listen,’ Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel. I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen.

‘Stay,’ he says.

For seventeen-year-old Mia, surrounded by a wonderful family, friends and a gorgeous boyfriend, decisions seem tough, even when they’re all about a future full of music and love, a future that’s brimming with hope.

But a life can change an instant.

A cold February morning…a snowy road…and suddenly all of Mia’s choices are gone. Except one. As alone as she’ll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.

Haunting, heart-rending and ultimately life-affirming, If I Stay will make you appreciate all that you have, all that you’ve lost - and all might be.

Thank you to Georgia from Random House for sending me my only book this week. I absolutely loved it, you can see my review here.

Sophie