Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

3 Stars (-2 for language and sex)

"If Naomi had picked tails, ... she wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. ... She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James ... and she'd understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her 'Chief'. But Naomi picked heads."

Yeah. This could have been a fascinating read about a girl with no memory of her immediate past, who gets a second chance to redefine herself and be who she wants to be; who has better relationships with those around her, and comes to understand and appreciate all the good in her life. I know, it SOUNDS like an interesting book, right? Sadly, wrong. It was NOT interesting. It was driveling. There were a very few bright points in Zevin's writing (she obviously has some talent--wish she'd kept at it until the rest of it came up to par!), and it was a predictably sappy teen novella. Boo. Don't bother. And based on this book, I would be hesitant to pick up anything else by this author, as well.

Conflict of Interest by Clair Poulson

6 stars

At first I was skeptical about reading an LDS courtroom thriller. Generally I am not a fan of LDS fiction. Generally I'm not a fan of courtroom fiction either but I have read one or two John Grishams. However, this book was intriguing enough to be an interesting read.

Chalice by Robin McKinley

8 Stars

"As the newly appointed Chalice, Mirasol is the most important member of the Master’s Circle. It is her duty to bind the Circle, the land, and its people together with their new Master. But the new Master of Willowlands is a Priest of Fire, only drawn back into the human world by the sudden death of his brother. No one knows if it is even possible for him to live amongst his people. Mirasol wants the Master to have his chance, but her only training is as a beekeeper. How can she help settle their demesne during these troubled times and bind it to a Priest of Fire, the touch of whose hand can burn human flesh to the bone?" (Taken from this site.)

This is probably the best new fantasy I have read in a LONG time. It is imaginative, thought-provoking, and heartfelt. It is also full of McKinley's organically lyrical writing and avid descriptions. I would happily live in this world she's created, and can readily identify with several of the characters, though we have few life experiences in common. The only reason I gave it 8 instead of 9 stars is because there is no direct timeline, so it's a little confusing to get into at first. Eventually, I appreciated the flow this gave the book, but I recognize it could be off-putting to readers. And, as with all of McKinley's books, I felt it just the tiniest bit lacking in the "ending" department; but I would readily read it again, and only hope that the somewhat open-ending will encourage her to write more in this setting!

The Dream-Web Diary of Gwenevere Stoker by Laura Stoddard

5 Stars

Gwenevere Stoker is a lonely young girl, haunted by an accident that changed her life two years before. Every night she escapes into her dreams, grateful for the break from her miserable reality. Until she discovers that someone is infiltrating her Dream-Web (the place where all her dreams reside) and stealing her Dream Orbs. She must find out who is wreaking havoc on her dreams, while learning to face her past.

This was an interesting read. The author is very imaginative, and her descriptions of the dreams have just the right balance of reality and bizarreness that they feel very much like real dreams. However, I found the book a little too graphic for younger readers (Gwen is supposed to be 12, so I assume the book is geared to that age-group; I think it would be too much for anyone younger than that), and not well-written enough to appeal to a much older audience. I also found it somewhat heavy-handed in the handling of some of the more mature themes, and was a little put off by the apparently unconsidered ramifications of the actions of a couple of characters. If you are interested in dreams as a topic, you will find it an intriguing read, but I wouldn't otherwise recommend it.

Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Peter Dickinson and Robin McKinley

7 Stars

"Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson share tales of mysterious merfolk and magical humans, all with close ties to the element of water. From Pitiable Nasmith's miserable existence in a seaside town whose inhabitants are more intertwined with the sea than most people know, to Tamia's surprising summons to be the apprentice to the Guardian who has the power to hold back the sea, each of the six stories illuminates a captivating world filled with adventure, romance, intrigue, and enchantment." (Taken from this site.)

As with all short story collections, this one jumps from world to world, keeping the reader guessing from one tale to the next. But, I found myself not only enjoying each tale, but eager to see what the next would bring. Each story is well-written, interesting, and creative and focused on a different aspect of this particular element. I don't know that I'll pick it up again soon, but I will definitely be seeking out the other titles in the series! (And, yes, Trina Schart Hyman DID illustrate the cover, why do you ask?)

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison

6 Stars (-1 for language)

Georgia Nicolson is a sassy British teenager, for whom nothing ever goes right. And even if things were to go right for a change, she'd still find plenty to complain about. Herein, Georgia argues with her father, complains about her cat, crushes on a local hottie, complains about said hottie's girlfriend, argues with her mother, complains about her sister, argues with her friends about the hottie, and generally makes the reader laugh throughout it all.

This is definitely not a read for everyone. As evidenced by the title, it's a little irreverent at times. But HILARIOUS. If you're ever in the mood for being in a whiny, self-centered, British teen's head for an afternoon, though, this here's your book. (And, if nothing else, you should pick it up and read her "British" glossary at the back. Probably the best part of the book, really.)