Friday, January 26, 2007

It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison

Charlotte did not think her job at the mall, spritzing perfume on those unlucky enough to walk by, would be quite so educational. But, standing at the entrance to a department store looking out over the mall offers insight into a lot of things. After two weeks of spritzing perfume, here are just a few things she has learned:
-Don’t trust the skinny people who work at Cinnabon. If they don’t eat the stuff they sell, how good can it be?
-No matter what the person at the make-up counter says, buying the lip gloss will not make your lips look pouty and full like the model in the magazine.

But, there is one thing she learned that she would have preferred not to and that is her best friend’s boyfriend, Bryant, is cheating on her. That’s right. She spotted Bryant hanging out with another girl. So, she has no choice but to tell Brianna the news, right? I mean wouldn’t you want your best friend to tell you something like that?

But, love is a funny thing and Brianna chooses to believe Bryant’s lame excuses of why he was with the girl, leaving Charlotte to either go along or lose her best friend.

It’s a Mall World After All is a funny, delightful read that will leave you laughing out loud. (YA 8th grade & Up)

KSS

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

In Plum Lovin’, Diesel is back. Diesel is another hunk of a man with “unmentionable” powers that we first met in Visions of Sugar Plums.

Stephanie is enlisted by Diesel to help him find true love for five people by Valentine’s Day in exchange for turning over Annie Hart, a relationship expert, who is wanted by the law. Therein lies the problem, how can someone who can’t decide about her own love life, find true love for others? Surprisingly, love comes together smoothly and, in some cases, in very funny ways.

For those of us who can’t wait for the next chapter in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s life, Evanovich has written a fun, breezy read that will keep us satisfied until the next installment. All the usual characters are present including Lula, Bob the dog, and Grandma Mazur. Unfortunately, Ranger and Morelli are not prominent characters in this one. Sigh…

KSS

Dead Connection by Charlie Price

Nikki, a cheerleader from the local high school is angry. She’s angry because someone killed her and left her buried where no one can find her. So she spends her days crying out for help in her unofficial, makeshift grave in the local cemetery.

Murray Kiefer, a local teen, spends most of his time hanging out in that cemetery alone. Well, not really alone because Murray has a special gift that allows him to talk to dead people. One day he hears a new voice crying out for help. Could this be, Nikki, the missing cheerleader everyone has been looking for? Teaming up with Pearl, the caretaker’s daughter, Murray sets out to find the truth behind Nikki’s disappearance.

Dead Connection is a great mystery with plenty of twists and turns along the way that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Each short chapter is told in alternating character voices giving a unique insight behind their motivations. Readers will appreciate the quirky characters and the wry humor that exists in the story. (YA 10th grade & up)

KSS

Devilish by Maureen Johnson

From the author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes, comes a tale of supernatural high-jinx in an all-girl’s preparatory school. Devilish tells the tale of two friends, Jane and Allison, who are not very popular at school and fellow classmates think they are a little weird. So when Allison throws up during an assembly, things can’t possibly get any worse. Can they?

Jane doesn’t think so until Allison becomes a whole new person after her embarrassing incident. Allison is more assertive and has changed her appearance, for the better! Jane doesn’t understand how she could change so fast and starts to suspect foul play.

Sure enough, Jane finds out that Allison has sold her soul to the devil’s assistant, Lanalee, in exchange for becoming a new person. Jane makes her own deal with Lanalee to try and save Allison, but, is she too late? Johnson weaves a tale of suspense and humor in this entertaining romp that you won’t want to put down. (YA 10th grade & up)

KSS