boys,bears, and a serious pair of hiking boots

boys,bears, and a serious pair of hiking boots

By Abby McDonald

2010

293 Pages

From Inside Cover:

Seventeen year old Jenna may hail from the 'burbs of New Jersey, but environmental activism is her life. So when the opportunity arises to spend the summer in the wilds of Canada with her hippie godmother, Susie, this Green Teen jumps at the chance to explore this nature she's heard so much about-and the cute, plaid-wearing boys she's certain roam wild and free. But after a few unpleasant run-ins with local wildlife(from a larger-than-life moose to Susie's sullen Goth stepdaughter to a hot but hostile boy named Reeve), Jenna realizes that her long-held ideals, like vegetarianism and conservation, don't play so well with this population of real outdoorsmen. With the help of a dusty survival guide, Jenna begins to navigate the wilderness, and those who call it home-but can she learn to navigate the surprising turns of her heart?

My thoughts:

When I read the first chapter I was a little worried that Jenna would be an eco-terrorist and the whole book would be about Green Teen saving some back woods town from itself. Well I am happy to say that there was so much more to this book and Jenna then that.

Jenna and her best friend Olivia have their hearts set on spending the summer taking up environmental issues with Earth Now as interns. Then Jenna learns that her dad has accepted a job overseas and her mom wants them both to live with her grandmother in Florida for the summer.

In a desperate move Jenna decides at the last minute to take a trip to Canada to see her godmother Susie who is newly married and in the middle of opening a bed and breakfast.

She is not at all prepared for the wild outdoors, Susie's moody step daughter or the complicated lives of three cute boys she meets.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Jenna discovers a old survival guide in a box and uses the tips in it for the people situations that she encounters throughout the story. Such as the moody room mate Fiona and the mysterious boys that are cold one minute and hot the next.

I enjoyed Jenna's journey as she discovered being adventurous and trying new things can lead to finding out some pretty important things about yourself.

It was great to watch Jenna grow through the book And by the end we are sure that she is finally ready to deal with whatever her parents are going to be putting on her in an not so distant future.

I really liked this book. It wasn't at all what I was thinking it would be. It ended up having so many more dimensions then I thought were possible. The characters were real, I liked them sometimes and other times a few of them got on my nerves. But that's what good writing does!

I received this book from the awesome people at Candlewick Press. Thank you so much. I plan to give this book away at our Summer Reading Program next month.

BOYS, GIRLS AND OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

BOYS, GIRLS & OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

By Rosalind Wiseman

2010

279 pages

From Inside Cover:

Charlie Healey just wants a drama free year, but it doesn't seem like she's going to get it. Middle school was rough. There were mean girls all around her; and she was even in danger of becoming one herself. High school was supposed to be her chance to leave all that behind, except that it isn't. On her very first day, who does she run into but he former best friend, Will, who'd moved away years ago. Now he's back, he's HOT, and he's popular. Befriending him again takes Charlie back into the danger zone. And when a hazing prank turns near deadly, Charlie and their new no-drama friends realize Will has gotten in way over his head trying to prove his loyalty to upperclassmen. Torn between doing what's right and secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

I was very excited to read this book because years ago I read Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wanna Bees, which made quite a lasting impression on me. It's a great book and I think anyone who has a daughter should read it. Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials is her first work of fiction. The main character Charlie is ready to make some big changes in her life after a few horrific experiences with some frenemies in junior high school. But her hope to break free is crushed on the first day when she finds herself face to face with a couple of people she never expected to see at this new school. One of whom is her old best friend Will who she hasn't seen in a few years. Is Will still the same good old guy she remembers from years back or has high school and his new found popularity changed him into someone completely different?

I really like that Ms. Wiseman touches on the subject of hazing in her novel. In this case, the high school lacrosse team target incoming freshman. Who are subjected to dares or humiliating acts in order to be accepted and considered team members by the upperclassmen. Alot of times this hazing is allowed by coaches and excused by adults in the name of tradition and a coming of age rite of passage. In my opinion it's all bullshit and should never, ever be tolerated. Hazing is harassment, assault and in many instances against the law.

I recommend this book for ages 13 and up. High School situations. Some Language. I will be donating this book to the Salmon Public Library. I won this book in a contest sponsored by The Story Siren. Thanks Kristi!

Spud

If you are looking for laugh out loud funny this is the book for you. Spud by John van de Ruit is one of the funniest books I have read in a while.
The story comes from John "Spud" Milton who attends an all boys boarding school in South Africa set in 1990. His tale is written by way of journal entries which relate his various adventures, trials and humiliations.
John rooms with a group known at school known as the "Crazy Eight" and they never fail to live up to their name. These 13 year old boys are full of schemes and trouble galore. He deals with feeling home sick, the insecurities of not fitting in and being marked as a lowly freshman. Not only is John dealing with the insanity at school but on his breaks he puts up with his crazy family at home. Which includes his paranoid, bottle loving father, his always on the edge mother and stark raving mad grandmother he calls the wombat.
We follow John through his first year of boarding school where he bonds with his crazy roomies, has his first crush, deals with power hungry upper class men and drunken teachers.
I found this book hilarious, honest and surprisingly tender.
I'm happy to say that this is the first book in a series featuring John "Spud" Milton. I can't wait to catch up with him and the rest of the crazy eight again.
I would reccomend this book for readers 14 and up. It's about thirteen year old boys so know that the topic of sex will be brought up, there is crude humor and some rough language.
Excellent Book! This book is available at the Salmon Public Library.