In Which Rochelle Fails at BEDA...

Okay...so my suck level is HUGE right now!!! I totally didn't get a post in yesterday!!! Now, its true that I could post-date this blog and make it look like I posted yesterday...but I don't want to lie to you guys or jeopardize the integrity of BEDA. So I'm just going to do two blog posts today. Anyway...my plan for yesterday was to do a featured YA author. I chose E. Lockhart. It is no secret that I love her books. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is one of my favorite books I've read this year. E. Lockhart has also written several other books including the Roo series (The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, etc.), Dramarama, and Fly on the Wall. I have read all of the E. Lockhart books that we have in our system and I think that she is one of the best YA authors being published today. Frankie Landau-Banks was a beautifully written book about a girl growing up and learning about love. The Roo series is similar, except that Roo becomes a leper and has no friends, no boyfriend, and no way of fixing her problems. She sees a shrink, she deals with a skeezy ex-boyfriend and a heinous ex-best friend. The books are wonderful though. You feel sorry for Roo, and you understand her actions, but at the same time you are shaking your head wondering why she hasn't clued in yet. But she is believable!!! That is my favorite kind of character. One who is not perfect, who is flawed, who learns about life, and who is a better person in the end.

E. Lockhart has a wonderful ability to write about characters who are easy to relate to. I could have been Roo in high school. Actually, except for the tons of men, I was Roo in high school! E. Lockhart is definitely an author you should check out. If you love her books you can also find her on the web. She has a hilarious blog that you can find here and if you use twitter you can now follow her there as well.

Teaser Tuesday: February 10, 2009

Today's Teaser comes from The Boy Book by E. Lockheart. Am I on an E. Lockhart kick or what?

"And I read how there were these gay penguins at a zoo in Berlin. A number of them, actually."

If this one isn't interesting you can always get more here.

Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:

Debate Club

Her father's "Bunny Rabbit"

A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:

A knockout figure.

A sharp tongue.

A chip on her shoulder.

And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 16:

Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

This is my question: Is YA lit just better now than when I was a teen? Or is it just that I can appreciate it more? The answer: A little of both. E. Lockhart rocked my reading world! I love strong female characters, and Frankie is certainly a strong female character. The story follows her as she questions the fairness of an all male club, and takes over as their leader-without any of them knowing it's her. It also shows how everything can fall apart when you are living a lie. Frankie's trouble starts at the very beginning of the book when she is questioning her mother's decision not to allow her to walk into town, even though her younger male cousin had been given permission earlier during their vacation. Her family sees her as "Bunny Rabbit"- one of the cutest animals out there (besides a puppy sized elephant of course.) None of them seem to take her seriously, and she really isn't happy with it. The story follows her to boarding school as she starts a new school year. It shows how her class about secret societies and her own desire to prove she is as good as the boys eventually leads her to create the best stunts that her school's secret society has ever seen. The only problem is no one knows she is the person behind them and no one really understands that they are more than just pranks. The reader can see her frustration build, can watch her relationship develop, and basically see her come to understand that love isn't always enough. We also get to see her life crumble because of her actions. However, Frankie realizes that "it is better to be alone...than to be with someone who can't see who you are." Frankie is invisible at the beginning of the book, and by the end she is invisible again. Her invisibility is the saddest thing of all; however, I don't think it will last. All in all-I love a girl who will grow up to change the world!

Teaser Tuesday: February 3, 2009

Today's Teaser comes from The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Here are some of the awards that DHoFLB has won and some information about the book as well.

"She had heard Alpha talk about sex like that before, like he was having it, he'd always had it, like he'd never been a virgin and sex was no big thing. But it disconcerted her everytime he did it."

If you weren't crazy about this teaser you can always find more here.