Monday, October 10, 2011

The Teen Menu

Welcome to the October edition of The Teen Menu. (BTW, how is it October already!?)

YA News

For those who have been waiting for e-book versions of the Harry Potter books, which were originally scheduled to be available this month on the Pottermore site, those releases have been delayed until the first half of 2012.

The Guardian ran a preview of what fans will see when the "Making of Harry Potter" exhibition opens at Leavesden Studios in England next year.

YA Reviews

This month I read Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, a book I spotted while at a book signing for a friend earlier this year. It's the story of Corrinne Corcoran, a rich girl living in New York City until the recession puts her father out of job. Suddenly, her dad has to take a job in Dubai, she has her credit cards taken way (no shopping at Barney's!), and has to move, along with her mom and little brother, in with her grandparents in Broken Spoke, Texas (aka the middle of nowhere).

The book starts with a letter to the reader from Corrinne herself. In it, she admits that at the beginning of the story you might not like her a lot. After all, she's selfish and not always nice. But she asks that you stick with the story to see what kinds of changes she undergoes. When she arrives in Broken Spoke, she's got that turned-up nose attitude about her grandparents' small, modest home, the paltry shopping and entertainment options in the little town, and the hicks she has to go to school with. But gradually, Corrinne starts to fit into her new life, even seeing some positives along the way -- be it a unexpected but true friend or a boy she could have never imagined liking before the recession turned her life upside down.

12 comments:

  1. I have not read a lot of YA. Though yes Harry Potter counts. I am reading THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy right now that also counts.

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  2. I love YA books and am so happy to see there are more of them being written. It is so very important for young adults to have this genre with stories that fit right into their own lives. If they read about a situation that mirrors the same things they are going through, they can realize that they are not alone. This age can be such a rocky time in the lives of teens and to have YA books to hold onto is imperative. In addition, reading itself is so important and if we can get more teens to read for pleasure, you get them hooked on books for life. OK. Off my soapbox! ;-) I love the synopsis of this book and look forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing.
    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  3. Hi Trish!

    I haven't read any YA books recently, but Where I Belong sounds really good! I'll have to check it out!

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  4. I have waited for the ebooks this long, it will be great when they do get here. Patience is my middle name (no not really but some things you just have to accept).
    I like the sound of Where I Belong. I have been reading some very old Donna Parker mysteries that I tracked down for my granddaughter. Can't wait to give them to her and I hope she gets the enjoyment out of them that I did.

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  5. Sounds like a wonderful story. I haven't read a lot of YA book but do enjoy them

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  6. I had not heard about this one. Thanks a ton for sharing it. I will definitely grab the story.

    Tami

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  7. Hey Trish! WHERE I BELONG sounds like a lovely story. And I have to say I just adore the cover -- it is so pretty!

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  8. I don't read many YA books but the ones I have I have always enjoyed. I can say YA got me started on paranormals, and that was before it was popular. I have come across a lot of great sounding YA books so am planning to pick up a few.

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  9. This sounds like a great story. And I agree with Buffie, it is a very pretty cover.

    Thanks, Trish!

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  10. Hey, Trish!

    I SO wish I could visit "Making of Harry Potter"!!! It would be a dream come true for me. :) I am pumped for 11.11.11!!!

    I have to say that I love the sound of WHERE I BELONG! I so enjoy stories like that. I will be checking it out! :)

    Thanks, Trish! Congrats again on your Maggie win!!

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  11. I had heard of WHERE I BELONG before and it sounds like a book with a few good lessons for us all. Thank you for the sneak peek of the Harry Potter studio exhibit. Wish it were closer.

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  12. Thanks for the listings!! Can you magically make my days longer so I can get more reading done? Thanks also for the YA !

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