Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Fat Cat By Robin Brande

Synopsis: You are what you eat. . . . Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywheredohave their benefits. As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . . This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

This book was hilarious. Granted there were a few parts where I thought Cat was insane, but she proved me wrong. Once again another novel that takes a classic, overused plot line *in this case that was with how the romance worked out* and twists it into something completely unseen and extremely creative! You never expect what you find when reading this novel. Robin Brande was brilliant at taking her experience as an over weight teenager and turning it into well THIS! A amazing novel that anyone would love to get their hands on. I truly wasnt expecting what was delivered. Honestly. Cat lives only off of organicly grown foods, or food she makes. I honestly dont think i would be able to do that. But one person can. She drags practically everyone she knows into it, and soon enough shes got her little brother walking to school with her! She goes through some bad boyfriends and bad withdrawl symptoms but in the end.. Well read and find out.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays :D

We decided to compile a list of our favorite books.

Aris List... (mostly realistic fiction)

• Fat Cat by Robin Brande
• Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
• The Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
• My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
• The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
• Sucks To Be Me by Kimberley Pauley
• Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Whip It by Shauna Cross
• Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
• The Lauren Holbrook Series by Erynn Manngum
• The Ghallager Girl Series by Ally Carter
• and most importantly
• NEVER TWILIGHT!

Contest Canceled

Hey sorry!
But we only had one person enter.
So no book *and other stuff* for anyone...
However.
That one person *lindsay* if you could please email us at teensactuallyread@gmail.com *if you want to of course* we can hook you up with a consolation prize :D

1/2 Day For Us Equals Double The Books! (Things Not Seen + Chains)

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Synopsis: It's a Tuesday morning in February, and I get up as usual, and I stumble into the bathroom to take a shower in the dark. Which is my school-day method because it's sort of like an extra ten minutes of sleep.
It's after the shower. That's when it happens.
It's when I turn on the bathroom light and wipe the fog off the mirror to comb my hair. It's what I see in the mirror. It's what I don't see.
I look a second time, and then rub at the mirror again.
I'm not there.
That's what I'm saying.
I'm. Not. There.

Things Not Seen is a great book. (yes it is :D) It's about a kid named Bobby who wakes up one day to see, or not see, that he is invisible. Things Not Seen is part mystery, part science fiction. Bobby has to figure out how he became invisible while evading everyone who thinks that he has disappeared off the face of the Earth, which, really, he has. I really liked this book and think that it gives real perspective on invisibility. It's not all fun and games, especially when someone gets hurt. (Ari butts in and does her thing to make this review longer)

*ehem anyway...* This book was one of those scifis that you have to read to truly understand. This book was a page turner. Every moment I wasnt reading I was wondering what had made the main character Bobby invisible. And then I kept thinking of how thick the romantic tension was between him and one girl. It was AMAZING! I knew I would like this book because I have always been a fan of Andrew Clements books. This is definitely a book I would recomend for you to go out and read, check your school library anything! Just read it.

Chains By Laurie Halse Anderson
Broken in to two parts based on how her life completely changes, this book is incredible. Written about slavery during the revolution, it was a huge attention grabber with its cover. The events in this book are extremely accurate when it comes to history, too. With several quotes in it based on people such as Nathan Hale and using titles such as Common Sense as books that the characters read, this is one of the best slavery history books for young adults. I would say this book is perfect for anyone needing it for extra credit in American history, a historical fiction addict (*cough, cough*), or just anyone needing a good read. This page turner has so many character changes, drama, and plot alterations that you never know what is going to happen next. I give this book a 9 and I'm excited for the sequel to come out in 2010.(Shocked Lydia didnt comment here *Looks for her)

The Espressologist By Kristina Springer (+Contest!)

The Espressologist By Kristina Springer

Synopsis: Whats your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you're lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You must prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps its a small decaf soy sugar free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen year old Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all dwon in a notebook and calls it espressology. So its not a totally crazy idea wehn Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their drink orders. Like her best friend Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Janes Espressology, He makes it an in store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? Shes the one who set them up! She should be happy for them right?

I laughed the entire time I read this book. It was incredible! In Kristinas debut novel she brings a whole new outlook to the world known as coffee. Jane is a character so many people can relate to. All of us have been or will be seventeen at some point in our life and even if we havent we already know the ups and downs of being a teen. Let alone a teen with a job! In the novel Jane never planned for things to go as far as they did. To her it was just helping a good guy hook up with a good girl after he and his girlfriend broke up. But a coworker saw her work her magic and wanted an in also. She gets hooked up. But then Janes best friend Em breaks it off with her boyfriend, and she is devestated. Jane has no idea what to do. But hook her up with a boy from her college class. As always one things leads to another and before you know it, it ends in boy drama. But hey no one was planning on it to happen. This book found a way to put a great twist on a overused plot. I definitley loved it. I really hope I get to read more from this author.

10 stars

GIVEAWAY!: We are giving away one copy of The Esspressologist *courtesy of unnamed donors* by Kristina Springer! And who knows what else will be thrown in. *considering Erynn Mangums Lauren Holbrook series since both are about matchmaking and coffee!* Also because of the holidays well throw in some swag to help you out this year for the holidays, and chocolate :D

Evil Rules X.x

We must have at least 5 participants or no giveaway. Sorry standard procedure.
Must be a US resident *same rule as everyone else. if you cna get someone to send it to you great.*

It will be a random selection based upon Random.Org

Starts officially December 1, 2009

Ends *unofficially* December 10, 2009 *will be changed based upon request

How to participate

Participate by entering here....Entry Form

Jumping Off Swings By Jo Knowles

Jumping Off Swings By Jo Knowles

Synopsis: One pregnancy. Four friends. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written YA novel. Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How they begged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For a while anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result. Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind.

This novel was extremely touching. I found it much more compelling then most other teen pregnancy stories. It showed a true spirit that is masked away. Jo Knowles focuses on showign the true world of teenage pregnancy. How it is caused, why it happens, and how everyone reacts. She shows that one girl. Ellie. Just wants to be loved. When she finds out shes pregnant no one reacts well. Especially her mother who focuses on life being perfect and wonderful. Every chapter is a rotation between four different teenagers showing how they all see what is happening in their world. Ellie takes refuge with her friends mother, an understand woman who tries constantly to help Ellie. She acts like the mother that shunned Ellie. Although this novel shows teenage pregnancy cuts you off from loved ones it also brings you new loved ones. This was truly a heart warming/tugging story that I sorta wished I hadnt read because it was so sad. Yet I am also glad I did read it. Jo Knowles is a genius and I truly loved this novel.

Ari

Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

Synopsis: Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth.

As always, Laurie Halse Anderson never fails to deliver. My partner in crime forced me to read this, *glares at Lydia,* but I still loved this book. It was so simple, but also extremely complex. No one expects a secret of one high school freshman to be kept so long, but in this book that is exactly what Melinda achieves. This book had many parts that would chill someone to the bone, and other parts that all of us can relate to. Melinda has no one. Only a big, fat secret. One too horrible to tell anyone. Through out the book she struggles with her secret, and seeing IT at school. She struggles with school, cliques, and friends who aren't too happy with her. Oh, and of course the ever-present rumors. Her secret affects everything about her: her outlook on life, her appearance, and her performance in school. Except for once class. The one class that changes everything for her and helps her realize what she has to do. Art. Her art teacher is infamous for randomly assigning students their art subject for the whole year. Read as secrets, trees, and whatever else is spun in there creates what is known as Melinda's freshman year. One where she will remain silent. Until she finally speaks!

(Edited by Lydia)

Read Our Review Of Winter Girls!