All the Bright Places

All the Bright Places

Jennifer Niven

Theodore Finch is known either as Finch or "Freak." There are rumors about him that he doesn't deny or confirm so there is a mysterious aura about him. Violet used to be popular and used to be sociable until that one night that changed everything. Finch is constantly thinking about death and which is the best way to kill himself. Violet is counting down the days to graduation so she can escape this small Indiana town and the grief of her sister's death that infamous night. When they both meet at the top of the bell tower for the same terrible reason, their lives are forever changed. Finch and (ultra)Violet have a school assignment to discover the natural wonders of their town, so to be different they take a unique approach and discover the secret treasures of the town…and themselves.

It takes a few chapters to get used to Finch. He's annoying, attention seeking and doesn't stop talking. All these characteristics become his best qualities. Violet is neither annoying nor attention seeking and she hardly talks. This book is written with a dual perspective. I appreciate and enjoy this type of narrative because you don't just get one side of the story or one gender's outlook. This teen book is beautifully written and the story is different from what's out there and has been out there for the past 5 years. There's no dystopian world, this is set in today's time with cellphones and cars. There's no love triangle, just your ordinary good old fashioned boy and girl, will they or won't they romance. There's no government trying to do something for the greater good, it's just high school. What the characters do have to deal with are mental illness'.

This is a real story with real people and swearing, sex and drugs but don't let those things put you off. The values make it appropriate for readers aged 14+. If you like John Green, this book is for you.  A gripping coming of age story that will break your heart. You will be prepared but you will be in denial. Make sure to be emotionally unavailable for a couple of days after finishing the book. It's for the best. And then there's this quote: "Gentlemen are rare. They're like virgins or leprechauns." Jennifer Niven, you're a genius. 

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska

John Green

Pudge (Miles) has always led a non eventful life, until his last year of  high school when he chooses to go to Culver Creek Boarding School. With his obsession with famous last words and his lanky skinny body that earns him the ironic nickname Pudge, he becomes friends with his roommate The Colonel and while seeking the 'Great Perhaps' he finds it unexpectedly in the form of the beautiful Alaska Young.

Adoration for this book is an understatement. It's hard to believe this is John Green's first novel, especially if you've read some of his more recent works. This coming of age story has elements of Catcher in the Rye, but is in it's own category for the teen of today (watch out, there's swearing!). All characters have their own quirk and geekness about them. Pudge loves famous last words, The Colonel loves strategies and is a real mastermind and Alaska, well, Alaska is the very cool and unpredictable mysterious girl that captures the heart of Pudge. Oh yeah, and she loves collecting books:

"Have you really read all those books in your rooms?"

Alaska laughing -"Oh God no. I've maybe read a third of 'em. But I'm going to read them all. I call it my Life's Library. Every summer since I was little, I've gone to garage sales and bought all the books that looked interesting. So I always have something to read." -I think we can all relate to that.

A gripping read that captures your heart but not in the romantic sense. The idea of boarding school is always cool and rebellious but this book shows that in reality, it's quite lonely. I suggest reading this book at 16 years of age and then reading it again in your mid 20s. To truly understand a coming of age novel, you need to do exactly that: come of age. Every emotion comes to surface and you really feel for all the characters. You may think that Pudge needs to grow a pair or that The Colonel needs to take a chill pill and that Alaska seriously needs to stop pretending that everything is ok. But I guess that's just all part of Green's "Great Perhaps."

The Outsiders

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton

Set in the 50s, the world is divided into two groups. Socs (Socials) and Greasers. Ponyboy is part of the Greasers gang along with his two older brothers Sodapop (the heartbreaker) and Darrel/Darry (the father figure).  His coming of age story begins when he leaves the movie theatre with Paul Newman in mind and gets jumped by a pack of Socs. The next thing Ponyboy is looking at "is Johnny's hand. He was clutching his switchblade, and it was dark to the hilt." 

Short review: I dare you to not carry all of Ponyboy's emotions. I dare you to not see where Darry is coming from and why he's such a hardass. I dare you to not fall in love with Sodapop. I dare you to try and put this book down while reading.

Substantial review: It's hard to imagine that S.E. Hinton was only 15 when she wrote The Outsiders. She writes with such vision and purpose that you feel as if you are involved in every detail of the story. The 50s gave birth to the teenage rebel and all things teen. The Outsiders is all about teenagers. Adults are only mentioned as formidable parents or teachers. Ponyboy is smart and polite but thinks that he needs to toughen up so he can be more like his older brothers and their friends. He likes to read and there are few mentions of other books in here such as Gone with the Wind. He's the one that gets mostly A's in English. This is suitable for 14+ readers boys and girls. Classics have no gender.
Hinton teaches you to think and shows you how others think. The events that take place in Ponyboy's life are not unpredictable but when you experience them through his narrative, they are explosive. Get ready for "movie star handsome good looks", "dangerous moods" and don't forget to comb your thick greasy jet black hair back. And above all else, stay golden.

The Perks of being a Wallflower

The Perks of being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

Charlie is a 15 year old who is just about to start his freshman year at high school. He is shy. He loves to read. He is weird. But he is a wallflower. He writes to his "friend" about the experiences he has from day to day. A coming of age story, one day Charlie's life changes when he meets Sam and her stepbrother Patrick. Together, they become "infinite". 

The thing I love most about this book (amongst many others) is that Charlie says everything that we're thinking out loud. There's something about him that everyone can relate to. Published in 1999, it's definitely relevant to teens today. Chbosky writes about taboo subjects that society is still afraid to talk about. Sex, homosexuality and childhood traumas are just some of them but they are presented with such ease and normality that you find they are naturally part of the story and not to be controversial.  Although, I would recommend this title for readers aged 15+. 

Always a big fan of books that mention other books, this one does not disappoint. Charlie is led by his English teacher who introduces him to some great novels of literature such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Naked Lunch and The Great Gatsby. This is this generation's Catcher in the Rye.