My Photo

Brook Andreoli Photography

on my nightstand

  • Catherine Murdock: Dairy Queen

    Catherine Murdock: Dairy Queen
    This is another favorite of 2009. Unique--a contemporary YA novel set in Wisconsin. Fantastic example of voice. I stayed up until 2:00 finishing this one--and it involved a fair amount of football--so you know it had to be good if it kept me reading.

  • Maggie Stiefvater: Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception

    Maggie Stiefvater: Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception
    Written by the author of Shiver. An excellent example of great dialogue. I can't wait for the second book to arrive at my doorstep.

  • Becca Fitzpatrick: Hush, Hush

    Becca Fitzpatrick: Hush, Hush
    A YA novel with some serious tension. I stayed up reading until my eyes closed shut. Rachel, Joan and I went to Becca's signing on Saturday. She was gracious, and sweet and friendly.

Reviews

  • Justina Chen Headley: Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)

    Justina Chen Headley: Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)
    Another excellent book from Headley. This novel felt different from North of Beautiful--and I liked that. A YA book about being part of two cultures (Chinese and American) and learning to love yourself, your family and understand, appreciate and stand up for your differences. Headley's writing about relationships is also a refreshing take in the YA world.

  • Justina Chen Headley: North of Beautiful

    Justina Chen Headley: North of Beautiful
    Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Highly recommended! Beautiful. The author, Justina Chen Headley, is a founder of Readergirlz--an online girls' book group. Readergirlz features YA books with strong heroines. This is exactly what you will get--a real-life heroine who finds her own beautiful; in her life choices, relationships, and in the mirror. Read it and then share it with a teenage girl you know.

  • Juliet Marillier: Daughter of the Forest

    Juliet Marillier: Daughter of the Forest
    Amazing, again. One of my favorites of all-time.

  • Gabrielle Zevin: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

    Gabrielle Zevin: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
    Simply put--I just really liked this book. I really want to read Elsewhere by the same author. (YA, contemporary fiction--some language and inappropriate references).

  • Shannon Hale: The Actor and the Housewife: A Novel

    Shannon Hale: The Actor and the Housewife: A Novel
    Simply put I loved this book. This goes on my favorites list for 2009. At one point I was crying (real tears) and laughing at the same time. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is powerful stuff."

  • Janette Rallison: My Fair Godmother

    Janette Rallison: My Fair Godmother
    A fun mixed up fairy tale that starts in high school and travels to old England. A clean, fun book that I would easily recommend to my young women.

  • A. E. Cannon: The Loser's Guide to Life and Love: A Novel

    A. E. Cannon: The Loser's Guide to Life and Love: A Novel
    Fun, summer read for young adults. Laugh out loud funny in some parts. Written by local author Ann Cannon.

  • Carol Lynch Williams: The Chosen One

    Carol Lynch Williams: The Chosen One
    Excellent, but disturbing book. This book (written by an LDS author) features a 13-year-old girl who lives in a polygamist colony. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It is one thing to read about disturbing things happening in India, but another to read about something so close to home.

  • Zoë Marriott: Daughter of the Flames

    Zoë Marriott: Daughter of the Flames
    This was so close to what I was looking for. . .Unique heroine, landscape, fantasy, mean guy, and love story.

  • Carrie Ryan: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

    Carrie Ryan: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
    I am not exactly sure why I thought I would love a book about apocalyptic zombies. The zombie part actually didn't bother me (and I thought the suspense could have been much greater). I thought some of the main characters motivations were unclear and some of the events left me saying, "huh?"