Editor's Note: Hey, Indigoers! Installment number two has arrived, as promised. Look for more Aja goodness next week - and check out Part the First if you missed it - Kirsten
16. Hanging on to Max, by Margaret Bechard. (Young adult) (C) All I can say about this is that I should have read the ending before I A. bought it and B. read it. (Hint, the title is misleading.)
17. Gossamer, by Lois Lowry. (Kids) (B+) The young boy already being so messed up at so young an age, the mother being hopeful that she could get her life back on track, and the dreams of what was, what might be, what could be...It was beautiful and haunting.
18. The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye (Volume 1), by Robert Kirkman. (Graphic novel and science fiction) (A-) Its got some stellar art, a very far-fetched plotline (lone guy in a hospital filled with zombies who survives and finds a trapped, live horse to ride), and the encampment's portrayal? Spot on.
19. Emma, by Jane Austen. (Classics) (B) About 1/3 through I had to call my friend and confirm each of Austen's characters to their Clueless counterparts.
20. U.S. of Eh, by can't remember. (Humor) (D) NOT AS FUNNY AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN. All about Canada's secret control of the U.S. It should have either been actually funny or walked a completely straight line about Canada secretly
controlling the U.S. It waffled too much and I found myself easily setting it down.
21. Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin. (Young adult) (A) A 15 year old girl dies, ends up in Elsewhere to live her life over...in reverse, and must still learn all those important, hard lessons.
22. Shakespeare's Secret, by Elise Broagh. (Kids) (C) I, uh, had some problems. I'm willing to disbelieve up to a certain point. This just kept throwing fantastical coincidences one after another. So, I kind of stopped caring because it was pretty obvious these weren't real people in the slightest. I'll give it props for thinking creatively about "the real Shakespeare" and Anne Boleyn. It was cute and it was obvious why 8-12 liked it. It's just a shade too under YA for me to handle.
23. Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer. (Young adult) (B) What was truly interesting was that this story, ostensibly about the travels Jenna takes with her boss on a six week store tour ,is actually about being a shoe salesperson.
24. Chesapeake Blue, by Nora Roberts. (Romance) (B+) This is the fourth book tacked on to what was originally a trilogy but manages to stand on its own as a good, solid read.
Note: I love Nora Roberts. To the point that I've been watching some seriously bad Lifetime channel movies based off of her books. I read her stuff a lot.
25. A Summer of Kings, by Han Nolan. (Young adult) (C) I have big issues with books that cross the line from a white person trying to find his/her path during the
Civil Rights movment and that same person being the one to show everyone what that path should be.
Note: This was a Golden Sower nominee.
26. Tokyo Fiancee, by Amelie Nothomb. (Foreign fiction) (B-) The only issue I took with this book was A: it started throwing out Japanese things like a touchstone (Hey, I too know what okonomiyaki is and how to spell it!) and B: the female protagonist is kind of self absorbed.
27. Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer. (Fantasy) (C+) Coming from a blended family, I liked the thought of a family together by choice and love.
28. New Moon, by Stephanie Meyer. (Fantasy) (B-) Meyer has a surprisingly sensitive and effective treatment of mental health issues but still sets a horrible example for how a young woman should interact with someone they love. (Co-dependancy issues.)
29. Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer. (Fantasy) (B-) Turns out Jasper is a functioning member of the family - who knew?
30. Breaking Dawn, by Stephanie Meyer. (Fantasy) (C-) GROSS. Seriously. Like 90% of this book grossed me out. And I'm not even talking about blood and guts and stuff.
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