Four down...

Well, I intended to post prior to this but ... better late than never!

I have read four of the selections for this year, After River, Gotcha!, Little Brother, and Gravity Journal. I have enjoyed all of them, despite their clear differences in style, characterization and plot.

I think After River was my favourite so far - it has a great plot and excellent character development. I really empathised with the protagonist and enjoyed the twists in the storyline - it even made me a little weepy near the end (I`m a softie when it comes to emotional stories!).

Gotcha did a great job of dealing with the pressures of being a teenager (Yes- I still have some vague recollection of that time in my life - however long ago it may seem!) including trouble relating to parents, peer pressure, relationships with friends and budding romance. It was a quick read and had lots of action!

I found Little Brother a little hard to get into at first (being a technologically inept thirty-something English teacher) but it was worth the effort! The content was current and relevant for our post 9/11 world - and a little bit scary! The author is a technological genius and explains the workings of computers and their trappings really clearly (so that even I got it!)

The most recent book I finished was Gravity Journal - a serious novel about a young woman with an eating disorder who self- mutilates - but strangely hopeful at the end. I enjoyed the author`s style - her poetry and word-play was clever and engaging. It was sort of disturbing but very interesting to get a glimpse into the psyche of an individual with these problems that seem to affect so many young people today.

Generally, I am really pleased with this year`s selections - I am looking forward to Dooley Takes the Fall!