Coraline

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. New York City: Harper Perennial, 2006. 162 pages. (Dark Fantasy)

There is a door in Coraline’s new flat. When her mother unlocks the door, there is a brick wall behind it. When Coraline unlocks the door, it opens to a dark hallway. Coraline walks through the hallway- this is her first mistake. On the other end of the dark hallway is a flat just like hers with parents just like hers- only different. The parents on this other flat call themselves her "other parents". They are chalky white and have long fingers, but the most disturbing part is that they have black button eyes. There the food is better, there’s more to do, and the people there actually pronounce her name right! But there’s one thing she must do to stay there... she has to sew on button eyes.

I think Coraline is a really good idea for a story, but it is really short so there’s not that much detail. It’s kind of dry,; there are no emotional ties and no passion. Also, I think the character of Coraline is really hard to believe. I think the author tried to make her sound brave, but it just ended up making her hard to believe. Other than that, I liked it.

Reviewed by: DancingPenguin96

ttfn

Myracle, Lauren. ttfn. New York City: Amulet Books, 2006. 230 pages. (Fiction Series)

Good girl Zoe falls madly in love, wild Maddie experiments with drugs, and fashionable Angela is given news that will change her life forever. Will the winsome threesome make it through their junior year? There’s only one way to find out… read ttfn!

This book is the second book in the series. These books are extremely unique because they are written entirely in text messages. It’s true that because of this you lose some emotion, but she definitely makes up for that with, I don’t know what but she does! I definitely recommend this series. Don’t miss the first book ttyl, and the third book L8r, g8r (my favorite).

Reviewed by: DancingPenguin96

L8r, g8r

Myracle, Lauren. L8r, g8r. New York City: Amulet Books, 2007. 274 pages. (Fiction Series)

Zoe~ good girl Zoe is still going strong with Doug, perhaps a little too strong…

Angela~ has worries of her own: her two best buds are leaving for college at the end of this year, her dating life is not working out too well, and Jana (the Q B), has certainly not forgotten her…

Maddie~ has a little fun getting revenge on Jana. Little does she know that Jana does not intend to play fair, and she ends up taking it WAY too far…

Follow these three best friends as they fight to make it through their senior year.

These books are told entirely in IMs and the only words I can use to describe them are: FUNKY and FRESH!!!!!!!! It’s a totally different experience to read books written in IMs than books written regularly. Don’t miss the first two books in the series: ttyl, and ttfn.

Reviewed by: DancingPenguin96

Wintergirls

Anderson, Laurie. Wintergirls. New York City: Penguin Group, 2009. 278 pages. (Fiction)

Cassie is dead. Lia is skinny, Lia is skinnier, Lia is skinniest. Her body wants food, her mind hates food. 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 89... She’s on a downward spiral, with her dead friend haunting her all the way. Soon she’ll be nothing... and she’ll be with Cassie.

This book was REALLY amazing! At some times I thought of Lia as stupid, but then other times I felt bad for her. Laurie Halse Anderson (the author) is an INCREDIBLE writer!!!!!!!!! She has a way of writing that makes you adore a character one moment, then hate them the next. It’s really fun to read her books. Don’t miss out on another of her books: Speak, (also an amazing book).

Reviewed by: DancingPenguin96

ttyl

Myracle, Lauren. ttyl. New York City: Amulet Books, 2004. 209 pages. (Fiction Series)

Zoe (zoegirl), Maddie (mad maddie), and Angela (SnowAngel) are in their sophomore year of high school. They are best friends and they swear to never let high school split them apart, but as the days pass, they find themselves getting caught up in trouble, love, and the popularity game.

zoegirl- gets caught up with a flirty teacher. Will she realize it before it’s too late?

mad maddie- tries to impress the “Queen Bee” and ends up turning on her friends when she needs them most.

SnowAngel- falls for guy after guy only to be heartbroken.

Follow this funky tale told entirely in instant messages and prepare to have fun!

This is a pretty amazing series. The whole thing is told entirely in instant messages (IM), which I had never heard of before this. Because of this, you lose some of the passion and feeling that you have in normal books, but she makes up for that with... I don’t know what exactly! I definitely recommend this book to girls, but not to boys. A totally new experience!

Reviewed by: DancingPenguin96