Novel Novice

Remember those awkward, teenage years? The fumbling, bumbling, and then the sweet taste of victory when something finally goes your way? No?

Well, you can relive it all and more in hilarious form with The Edumacation of Jay Baker by debut author Jay Clark. And we promise, reading about those experiences will be far less traumatic than they are to this book’s teenage protagonist:

A few “sexy” bullet points about Jay:

• He is in love with a cheerleader named Cameo “Appearance” Parnell
• He is forever losing “Love-15” to tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson
• He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns
• His family-life cookie is about to crumble.

Live vicariously through Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents’ relationship implode, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself(ish).

Clark has one of the funniest, freshest voices in YA fiction today and reading his story is simply delightful. The fact that his story is so honest, engaging and heartfelt just makes the experience that much more fulfilling.

With The Edumacation of Jay Baker, Clark has perfectly captured the experience of high school and growing up. He likewise tackles the touchy subject of a broken home and the difficulties of accepting a new family structure with poise and honesty. Whether you’ve experienced divorce first-hand or not, he paints a clear picture of the messy emotions and conflicting feelings that come along with it.

While there are plenty of character relationships at work in The Edumacation of Jay Baker, my favorite is the pitch-perfect dynamic between Jay and his older sister. I’m sure I latched onto this because it really reminded me of my relationship with my own younger brother — but all of the relationships in Edumacation are executed perfectly.

I haven’t laughed this hard while reading a book in a long time, and it’s always refreshing to see such a universally appealing story hit the YA shelves. This book is for everyone: teens, adults, guys, girls, llamas, etc. Clark captures the honesty of growing up with all the humor and tenacity you need to relive those teenage years.

The Edumacation of Jay Baker is in stores on Tuesday.

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Legend by Marie Lu is one of those blockbuster YA books that gets so over-hyped ahead of its release, you become wary about whether it’s really deserved all that attention. In this case, I’d say the answer is an overwelming yes.

As a sort of Dickensian dystopian, Legend tells the dual stories of June and Day — two teens, whose stories couldn’t be any more different (and yet, so similar). Day has grown up in the slums, and his Robin Hood-esque crimes have earned him the title of “most wanted criminal” in this futuristic version of the United States. Meanwhile, born into the lap of luxury and considered a prodigy, June is being groomed for the military’s highest ranking offices. The two teens’ paths cross when June’s brother is found dead, and Day is named the prime suspect.

It’s no surprise that Legend was optioned for a movie adaptation before even hitting store shelves. Each moment is packed with action of a cinematic scope — and as the story progresses, the stakes keep getting higher and higher. The plot unfolds like peeling back the petals of a flower — each layer reveals some new twist that keeps you turning the pages, looking for new answers.

June and Day are likable characters, and though perhaps not the most original, they each give you a reason to root for them. It’s the side characters and supporting roles that really give this pair depth. Honestly, it’s easy to become invested in their stories — as each fights for what they believe is right.

And remember that Dickensian quality I mentioned earlier? Amidst all the science fiction and futuristic dynamic at work, the heart of Legend’s conflict is, indeed, something you might find in the work of Charles Dickens. Class distinction. The upper class, versus the lower class. Elements of Dickens’s work seep into the very foundation of Lu’s action-packed novel.

That action culminates in a thrilling and heart-breaking climax that sets the stage for the rest of this planned trilogy. Legend is a fast ride, so hold on — because those 300+ pages will go by lightning-quick.

Legend is in stores now.

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An intriguing twist on the myth of Persephone and the Underworld, Everneath by Brodi Ashton will delight fans of paranormal romance and entice fans of books like Abandon by Meg Cabot, and Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

Everneath tells the story of Nikki Beckett, who was sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s back and has six months to say goodbye to her friends, her family, her life — before returning to the Everneath forever. But returning isn’t as easy as she’d hoped, and Nikki soon finds herself torn between her boyfriend Jack, whom she loves more than anything, and Cole — the charming bad boy immortal who first seduced her into the underworld to begin with. And he wants her back — this time as his queen.

Much of the conflict in Everneath centers around Nikki’s struggle over whether to fight fate — and keep her life on the surface, despite the potential consequences — or give into Cole’s wishes, and join him in the Everneath as ruler. And then there’s the troubling third option, in which Nikki is banished to the Everneath and becomes — essentially — a power source for that world.

These are no easy decisions for Nikki to face, though in certain parts of the novel the dramatic tension lags. The climax brings some much-needed intensity and some gripping emotions — but getting there can be slow. If you’re willing to stick with the book in its slower moments, the ending has some worthy drama.

The real charm of Everneath is the way Ashton has taken the Persephone myth and used it to inspire her own mythology, dropping clues throughout the novel that her characters must piece together to understand fully what’s going on. It’s these clues that really help string the reader along during the plot’s slower moments.

Everneath is in stores today.

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Weetzie Bat has been a classic icon in young adult literature for almost twenty years — and now, she’s back in an all new prequel to introduce new readers to her fabulous modern day fairy tale escapades.

Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block introduces readers to Weetzie’s middle school years, and shows us how this iconic character became the Weetzie Bat of the Dangerous Angels collection.

In her formative years, Weetzie is less sure of herself than her older self seen in Block’s beloved collection of stories. With Pink Smog, readers witness the events that help shape her personality, her signature style, and her strength. There’s a lot of real world drama for Weetzie to deal with: bullies, a broken home, and witnessing one friend’s eating disorder, and another friend’s questionable means of income.

These are issues any teenager can relate to — and yet, woven throughout Pink Smog is an element of whimsy and magic, the very signature style that Block is known for. She weaves these fantastical elements into her story so seamlessly that it’s easy to believe magic is real and that this whimsical version of Los Angeles really exists.

I fell in love with the Weetzie Bat books when I was a teenager, and I fell in love all over again reading Pink Smog. Whether you’re a long time Weetzie Bat fan, or just meeting her for the first time, Pink Smog is a seductive, magical story that will leave you ready for more.

Lucky for us, there is lots more to Weetzie’s story!

Pink Smog is in stores on Tuesday.

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