This book is basically a non-musical version of Hannah Montana (and yes, it is sad that I know even one lyric from the opening song by heart). 


Jen Calonita has written for Teen People and Entertainment Weekly, one of which is my favorite zine and other something I never read when I was actually a teen.  Predictably, this is the first in a series.

( Work, work, work, Kaitie-kins. It will pay off. )

How fitting that my first review of October should be for a book like this.  If I time it right, I could have Twilight read and reviewed by Halloween. (Not that I'm making any promises.)


There's been a lot of horror/fantasy stuff coming out lately - not just books, but TV shows and movies - but nevertheless I was surprised to see that this book came out earlier this year.  Is it weird that I kinda want those shoes?

( Whatever was going down, it wasn't Settler stuff. It was black-arts stuff, the kind of thing that led to nothing but seriously bad news for average humans and Settlers alike. )

Okay, another confession: this was one of the first books I saw that interested me in this reading campaign I now have going on.


I ordered the paperback off Amazon for literally $4.00, so I knew I wouldn't beat myself up too bad if it turned out to be a dud. 

( Power and/or wealth seemed to be the order of the day. And again, I was the odd one out. )

Another one from my recent trip to the library.  I remember seeing/hearing about this book a few years ago.  Now I know why: everyone was busy praising it to the heavens.  And with good reason.


On a whim, I went on Rachel Cohn's website and I saw this author's name on her blogroll.  Isn't it great that good YA authors love each other? (Note: neither Alyson Noel or our friend Meg made the list.)

( Fact of Life #1: Fat girls don't get much action. Fact of Life #2: I want to increase my kissability. )

... as I explained to my father while driving home from Borders.


Translation: Stargirl.

I first read this book last summer (or the summer before last - can't remember) and I'm so glad I did.  That's right - this book is so good, I'm thankful that it came into my life.

Here's the deal I made myself concerning Meg Cabot: I wanted to read one of her books, but not any in the Princess Diaries series.  The movies (yes, the first and second) were enough for me.  I believe this is her most recent offering - published in March 09 - and I snatched it up at a used book store.  About $5 for a four-month-old book - and in hardcover.  I was proud.


Great ass, right?

( Tommy Sullivan is a freak. )

This is one of TV's best shows, first of all.  Even if you only know Judd Apatow from his movies, which seem to be taking over the entire comedy genre in Hollywood, you have to know that this is where it all started - and worth your while to check out.  It's in a class all of its own (no pun intended).


Like many people, I didn't watch this show when it aired.  I was in middle school then, and I guess not a part of the show's target audience.  In a way, it was probably for the best, since I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much.  It's amazingly well-written with a large cast of aforementioned freak and geek characters, not to mention other staples of high school like jerky jocks, bitter math teachers, eager guidance counselors, and of course well-meaning parents.


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So way back before Christmas 08, I was checking around for the latest popular YA books, I discovered this gem.  I took one look at it and immediately put it on my Christmas list. 


This was also part of my ongoing campaign to read more YA books with male main characters (see Flight, Stargirl).  Larry Doyle used to write for The Simpsons, as I mentioned, which was all the more encouraging.  I read this book in less than a week.

This is the most adorable book.  I want to cuddle with it.


A couple entries ago, I mentioned how much I like character-heavy stories.  Unlike The Juliet Club, this book did something with all of its characters, and a lot of it came as a big surprise.

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