Confessions of a Teen Nanny

Sixteen-year-old, plain-jane Adrienne Lewis has an ordinary life that suddenly turns extraordinary when her best friend snags her a job at the home of a snooty billionaire. That's right, she's hired as a nanny for child genius Emma Warner. At eight years old, she can translate books from French to English, loves watching Oprah, and takes AP Calculus. But that's not all she can do-she's also fired the previous five nannies that her mother had hired. Can Adrienne manage to hang on despite a few disasters? It might be hard when Emma's wild-child, party-girl sister, Cameron, is always hanging around trying to steal Adrienne's boyfriend...and her sanity! From the glittery streets of Manhattan to hot beaches of Palm Beach, Florida, this kick-butt chick lit will keep you flipping those pages!

   Grab this book by Victoria Ashton and head to the beach if you want a guilt-free, light, and funny summer read. I can't wait for the next novel, Rich Girls!

Cicada Summer

Lily Mathis, age twelve, has kept quiet for two whole years, ever since a tragedy struck her family. Lily's good at keeping secrets, especially ones that hurt. But this summer, a cicada summer, in Olena, Illinois, is going to be different. Along with the cicadas comes trouble-making, lying Tinny, whom Lily despises. It's going to be a lot harder to keep her dark secrets because Tinny knows them and will stop at nothing to find out what really happened in Lily's past. But then a mysterious stranger shows up in town, and a few nights later, Tinny goes missing. It's up to Lily to find her-and possibly save her from a terrible fate, even though Lily can't stand Tinny. Can Lily use all those tips from the Nany Drew books she's read to save Tinny's life? And at the same time, will she be able to confront what happened two years ago to her beloved brother?

   Well-written by author Andrea Beaty with flashbacks that make the simple plot much more interesting, Cicada Summer makes a great read for younger bookworms. I found this novel very slow and almost boring at the start, but it eventually sped up towards the end, climaxing and concluding with a perfect ending! Recommended for readers in grades 4-6. 

Dizzy

Dizzy's mother hasn't visited her in eight years, leaving Dizzy with her artist father and his girlfriend in the gray city of Birmingham. Every year on her birthday, Dizzy eagerly awaits a message from her mother: a postcard, or a present from her ever-traveling mum's latest destination. But, this year, on Dizzy's twelfth birthday, there's a big surprise waiting for her. Yes, Dizzy's very own mother, a New Age hippie named Storm, who takes Dizzy, her bags and her guitar, into her pink patchwork van that's headed towards adventure. Mother and daughter travel on the British festival circuit, meeting lively characters that include handsome, friendly Finn and secretive, angry little Mouse and his mangy dog, Leggit. Along the way, Dizzy discovers surprises, fun, a little romance, danger, and a whole lot of life-changing experiences... 

   Cathy Cassidy's first novel is magical, bright, different, and concludes with a perfectly satisfying ending, leaving readers begging for more. After reading Dizzy, I'm craving more of Cathy's brilliant writing. Dizzy is now definitely at the top of my "Favorites" list!

How I Saved My Father's Life (And Ruined Everything Else)

Twelve-year-old ballerina Madeline has a normal family that lives in a normal house. They're not rich, but they're happy and love each other: her mom, her dad, Madeline, and her little brother, Cody. But then Madeline's whole life changes when her writer father takes a new assignment: writing about his heli-skiing experience to-be in Idaho. That's when Madeline performs a miracle, rescuing her father from a deadly avalanche and saving his life. Once her father comes home, he divorces Madeline's mother, writes a bestselling book, starts to get thousands of fans, marries a woman who is known for making famous tarts named Ava Pomme, and has a new child with her, all of which Madeline blames her mother for. After all, how can a girl on the road to sainthood concentrate on holy matters when her mother is a weepy mess, stumbling around the kitchen and making gross dishes for her food column in Family magazine? Then a new friend, a once in a lifetime trip to bella Italy, and a new perspective of things come along, and Madeline slowly learns that sometimes the small things in life (like parents, friends, and a religion that you have faith in) are miracles all by themselves.

  Author Ann Hood writes with sincerity in this sweet, engrossing, and touching novel about religion, faith, and family. Readers ages 10 and up will be happy to indulge!

The Clique: It's Not Easy Being Mean

Ehmagawd! The Clique (Massie, Dylan, Alicia, Kristen, and-yes-Claire) is finally back at OCD after a treacherous three weeks of expulsion, and are as fabulous as ever! This time, they're on a quest for a key: not just any key, either. The key that will lead to the famed legendary room of eighth-grade paradise. Current eighth-grade alpha Skye Hamilton is passing down the key now that it's almost the end of the year, and Massie is sure that if the Clique gets the key, they'll keep their alpha positions next year. If only they could find it (supposedly stashed under the bed of one of the Briarwood boys-but who?) before an LBR does, or else it's bye-bye popularity...But what if Claire isn't even there next year to celebrate the room with the rest of her pals (if they ever get the key!)? Yes, after Claire's Hollywood debut in Dial L For Loser, she's on high demand. But if a lead role means giving up her newfound popularity, friends, and super-sweet crush, Cam, she's not sure if she wants to follow her dreams as an actress (especially when it calls for an ah-mazingly ugly makeover!). 

   The seventh book in the wildly popular Clique series by Lisi Harrison is just as sweet, fresh, fun, and well-written as the previous! I absolutely ah-dore these fabulous summer reads, and girls ages 11 and up will, too.

Oh. My. Gods

Phoebe Castro has always loved to run. When she runs, she can feel her deceased father by her side, and she has no problems. So that's why she wants to commit her life to her sport. She even has her whole future planned out: after graduating from high school, she'll be going to USC on scholarship. After that, she'll be a famous runner. But her life suddenly changes when her mom shows up with a new man on her arm, announcing that they're getting married and moving to his home, the tiny, isolated island of Serfopoula in Greece. Phoebe thinks all is lost: what about college? What about her best friends, Nola and Cesca? The only good part of moving is that she'll be far away from her ex, Jerky Justin. But once in Greece, Phoebe's got a whole lots of surprises in store for her: a stepsister from Hell who wants to make Phoebe's life miserable, and a huge secret about her school: all the students are descendants of the Greek gods, including her stepfather himself! But not all is lost: Phoebe manages to make some friends and some enemies (including the very good looking boy on cross country team...), as well as finding out a secret about herself that she didn't know was possible...Can Phoebe follow her dreams as an athlete, even though she's thousands of miles away from her home? Will she be able to fit in at her new school? With a little romance, lots of magic, and some fun, that might just be possible...

   I love, love, loved this ah-mazing book by Tera Lynn Childs. It was extremely well-written, made sense, and had a quick plot. The only thing that readers will be sad about is when this spunky, creative YA novel ends! I can't wait to see what's next from this seemingly-talented new author! (:

Likely Story Contest!!!!!!

Yay! It's my first contest, and I'm sooo excited! I'll be giving away one (1) copy (yes, an ARC) of David Van Etten's Likely Story (review coming soon!). Here's what you have to do to enter: just simply leave a comment here by August 1, 2008 saying that you want to enter. If you want an additional entry, put a link to this contest on your blog. To let me know that you've "qualified" for a second entry, just put another comment here (Bookworm Readers) with a link to your blog! Good luck!

~~Bookworm

PS. While you're at it, check out another fun contest at And Another Book Read: it looks super!

Interview with Fabulous Fashionista (and author) Lisa Barham!

Hello Readers! Check out the interview that I conducted with Lisa Barham, author of The Fashion-Forward Adventures of Imogene as she tells us about her latest book, what's next for Imogene, and fashion! Thank you for the great interview, Lisa! (:

Bookworm: Why did you want to write A Girl Like Moi?

Lisa: The initial spark of my idea was humor. In my neck of the woods, it's not uncommon to see preteen/teen girls walking around with $2,000 Chanel bags. Girls today are faced with so much temptation, and are so plugged in and are such voracious consumers of everything from designer clothing to computers, communication, travel, electronics, music, and entertainment. All this while straddling two worlds: the world of high school and childhood, and that of the grown up workaday world yet to come, and the struggle for how to keep true to one's self amid all the pressure and noise out there. Mix into that a yearning for fame, stardom, notoriety, or whatever you want to call it. To me, that was all such a good backdrop for conflict and storytelling. It was so easy for me to see characters dropped into that crazy life.

Bookworm: How many books are you planning to write in the series?

Lisa: So far, there are three. The third book in the series, Accidentally Fabulous, is due out next month (August 26).

Bookworm: What's next for Imogene?

Lisa: She and Evie are going to be stirring up plenty of trouble in Accidentally Fabulous at L.A. fashion week.

Bookworm: What was your favorite book to write?

Lisa: I love them all, but A Girl Like Moi is closest to my heart. It being the first book in the series, I paid closer attention to exposing the things that make Imogene tick--her deepest desires and dreams for herself, as well as her flaw, foibles, and life conflicts--the things that have been holding her back.

Bookworm: Who is your favorite character?

Lisa: I suppose it's Imogene. Mostly because she has the most to deal with. Her parents are by no means well-off. Yet she is surrounded by great wealth. She's the one "have-not" in a town full of "haves". Additionally, she doesn't always have the best judgement. But despite all the wrong turns, stumbles, and mistakes she makes, she learns from them. And she knows, despite her insecurities--the insecurities that all girls her age face--she is driven. And completely optimistic. She knows that it's only a matter of time before she makes her mark on the world.

Bookworm: Which character are you most like?

Lisa: Imogene's mom!

Bookworm: Who is your favorite fashion designer?

Lisa: OMG-I love them all...just like Imogene. Lately, I'm especially loving everything from Rodarte. And I go into a complete frenzy at fashion week. (My heart beats faster just thinking about it!) And I have an obsession with great accessories--from hats, to gloves, to belts and bags, to shoes.

Bookworm: Why did you choose to write about fashion?

Lisa: Having graduated from F.I.T., in New York City, I began my career in the fashion business. I moved from buying and merchandising to fashion forecasting where I began my writing career--as NYC editor I covered the NYC Collections, and everything about fashion in New York. Along the way, I was exposed to a number of very colorful characters and situations. I guess Imogene had been cooking all that time.

To read a review of Lisa's first book, A Girl Like Moi, click here.

Watch out for the review of the second book, Project Paris, coming soon! And be sure to check out Lisa's latest book in the Imogene series, Accidentally Fabulous, coming into bookstores on August 26!

Bras and Broomsticks

Rachel Weinstein, age 14, is just an average high schooler (well, as average as you can be when you're flat-chested and socially challenged). All she needs is a little popularity, some friends, and a boy (hopefully a cute one) to take her to the Spring Fling dance, and she'll be perfectly satisfied. But her world is turned upside down when she finds out that her quiet, vegetarian little sister, Miri, is a witch. And that's not all: her mother is, too! Rachel and Miri alike are thrilled when they hear that Miri has the power to conjure up spells. For Rachel, magic could be her key to popularity (and a date to the dance)! As well as this, Miri's powers can also be used to stop the ceremony that will wed the girls' dad to their evil new stepmother and her whiny daughter. But what if all the spells go wrong...? 

   Author Sarah Mlynowski has created a hilarious, kick-butt novel for teenage girls. Readers will love Rachel's spunky voice and will be rooting for the sisters throughout the novel. 

Frogs and French Kisses

In this sweet and funny sequel to Bras and Broomsticks (by Sarah Mlynowski), Rachel discovers that it's hard being the only normal one in a family of witches. Her mom and sister are witches, so why can't she be one, too? While her little sister is trying to use magic to save the world, and her mom is trying to conjure up a date, Rachel is trying to manuever her way through high school, and possibly even get her crush, Raf, to like her. And then there's the Prom coming up, and one of Miri's distastrous spells might just ruin that, too! Combine that with a love spell gone wrong and a heart-stopping crush, and Rachel's up to her shoulders in pandemonium! Can Rachel save the dance and her date? And can there be such a thing as too much magic?

   Don't let the funky title throw you off! I totally adored this book, it had me cracking up from page one. Rachel is so witty and sincere; readers will really be able to relate to her. Recommended for girls in grades 8 and up.