Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy

MUHSD Battle of the Books 2018 selection.

Yuri doesn't know how to swear in English.  In fact Yuri doesn't know how to do much of anything besides high level physics.  At 17 he is a professor at Moscow State University and is well on his way to a Nobel Prize when he is loaned to the United States to help stop an Earth-killing asteroid.  An accidental meeting with American teen Dovie and her brother Lennon introduce him to American culture and his first experiences of actually being a teenager, complete with sneaking out at night, going to prom, and meeting your girlfriend's parents.  In his spare time he is also trying to save the world-- and learn how to swear.

This story requires a fairly large suspension of disbelief, which is hard at first but easier as the story develops.  In the end the novel is the funniest apocalypse story you will ever read.  Yuri, Dovie, and Lennon are endearing characters whose hijinks will make you laugh and cringe in equal measures.  Highly recommended.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner: A Review

Carver Briggs is one fourth of the Sauce Crew.  His three best friends Eli, Mars, and Blake comprise the rest.  Right before their senior year, Eli, Mars, and Blake died in an horrible car accident.  Carver wasn't in the car.  He was waiting for his three best friends to come pick him up. He was so impatient that he texted Mars "Where are you guys? Text me back."  

Did his text message distract Mars causing the horrific accident?  What if Carver had never sent the text message? 

The title of Goodbye Days refers to Carver spending a day with each grieving family saying goodbye. Yet each family seeks Carver's presence for different motives. Could they be trying to trick him into implicating himself as the cause of their sons' deaths? Could they be trying to understand the children that they lost?

A strong narrative voice coupled with powerful, complex conflict means that this was a book that I could just not put down. Not only was Carver dealing with the grieving parents of his best friends, but he also befriended Eli's girlfriend, Jessmyn.  Feelings develop between the two causing even more problems.

I'm a pretty cold-hearted, cynical reader, but this book really affected me. I found myself inexplicably engaged with all the characters. Interestingly, I was emotionally invested in not only the teen protagonist. I also cared deeply for the parents even when they were in conflict with the protagonist. Tears may have fallen. I can neither confirm nor deny. 

This powerful book will surely speak to teens. If you are a fan of The Fault in Our Stars, this book may be for you.   It's power is in its portraits of grief.

Come check it out from the library today.  Copies are available at BCHS, MHS, and GVHS.  If you don't attend those schools, you can still request a copy.  

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

The long-awaited new book from John Green is already here.  Turtles All the Way Down is the story of Aza, a sixteen-year-old girl who suffers from anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. She and her best friend Daisy decide to investigate the disappearance of a local billionaire in the hopes that they can collect a $100, 000 reward. 

During the course of the investigation, Aza reconnects with the lost billionaire's son, Davis.  They have previously met at sad camp (a camp for kids who have lost a parent).  This new connection provides both positives and negatives for Aza.  Will her anxiety get in the way or her relationship with Davis? How will it affect her friendship with Daisy? 

In true John Green fashion, this books will make you laugh and make you cry.  I was particularly impressed with how John Green handled the inner thoughts of Aza.  You are truly able to step into her mind and understand the spirals of her thoughts.  The storyline behind the relationship between Aza and her best friend Daisy was well done and should resonate with many teenagers.  Green's ability to portray how teenagers cope after the loss of a parent is beautifully rendered. 

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska, I think this book is definitely for you!

If you want a preview, watch this video of John Green reading Chapter 1 in the video below.  

Available at BCHS, GVHS, and MHS currently.  Soon to be added at AHS, ECHS, and LHS. Contact your friendly library staff to check out this title or put it on hold today!