Hellhole

Hellhole

by Gina Damico

Synopsis:

A devil is a bad influence . . . 

There was a time when geeky, squeaky-clean Max Kilgore would never lie or steal or even think about murder. Then he accidentally unearths a devil, and Max’s choices are no longer his own. The big red guy has a penchant for couch surfing and junk food—and you should never underestimate evil on a sugar high. 

With the help of Lore, a former goth girl who knows a thing or two about the dark side, Max is racing against the clock to get rid of the houseguest from hell before time, and all the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos this side of the fiery abyss, run out. 

My thoughts:

This dark comedy will have readers laughing out loud as they cheer on Max as he tries to get rid of the devil that has moved into his basement.

Max makes a mistake when he steals a silly toy for his ill mother.  This mistake allows a devil, one of 666 that live in hell to invade Max’s basement reeking havoc into the usual straight laced teen’s life.  Max, optimistic throughout the story, sees an opportunity and makes a deal with the devil.  The wisecracking devil, Burg,  will cure Max’s mother’s critical illness on the condition that Max find Burg a mansion with a hot tub.  The condition being that the mansion must be gotten by illegal means.  Afterall, Burg is a devil.  Enter the love interest Lore, a girl who understands Max’s dilemma only too well.  The pair team up to try to appease Burg before complete chaos erupts.

Readers will adore the lovable and endearing Max an awkward, shy teenager who is trying to balance taking care of his ailing mother, work and school.  Burg, the devil, with his snarky commentary and antics will keep readers laughing and entertained throughout.  Lore, the girl who steps up to help Max rid himself of his unwanted houseguest is a perfect round out for the cast.  She too is socially awkward while at the same time witty.  The plot is engaging and entertaining.  With Damico’s wry wit and constant dark humor, Hellohole is a quick funny read that will not disappointed.

Read Between The Lines

Read Between The Lines

by Jo Knowles

Synopsis:

Thanks to a bully in gym class, unpopular Nate suffers a broken finger—the middle one, splinted to flip off the world. It won’t be the last time a middle finger is raised on this day. Dreamer Claire envisions herself sitting in an artsy café, filling a journal, but fate has other plans. One cheerleader dates a closeted basketball star; another questions just how, as a "big girl," she fits in. A group of boys scam drivers for beer money without remorse—or so it seems. Over the course of a single day, these voices and others speak loud and clear about the complex dance that is life in a small town. They resonate in a gritty and unflinching portrayal of a day like any other, with ordinary traumas, heartbreak, and revenge. But on any given day, the line where presentation and perception meet is a tenuous one, so hard to discern. Unless, of course, one looks a little closer—and reads between the lines.

My thoughts:

A unique novel set in a small town over the course of one day brings readers into the minds of nine teens and one teacher who, may pass each other through the school hallways, but are connected with that common angry gesture of the finger.

Readers will empathize with characters like Nate, who suffers a broken finger in gym class thanks to a bully but upon return from the hospital when he feels empowered by his splint finger — the middle one — and holds it as a weapon.  And on this day the finger —a gesture of power for Nate, or shame for Claire — will appear ten times over the course of the day.  The voices of the characters are at times gritty but are always honest.  Every reader will be able to find a home somewhere in the course of the novel.  Perhaps with the boy who lives with a distant father; the recent graduate who is counting the time before he can move on to his dream job; the brother and sister who are harassed by their neighbour; a gay couple that can’t be out and open; the girl who feels like she’s nobody; the girl struggling to fit in while accepting herself for who she is; or one of the other characters.

Knowles masterfully weaves these narratives together using the middle finger as her anchor. It’s smart and realistic.

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda

by Becky Albertalli

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn''t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone''s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he''s been emailing with, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon''s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he''s pushed out-without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he''s never met.

My thoughts:

Sixteen-year-old  Simon Spier is gay and he's having an email relationship with an unknown boy, Blue,  this year at his school. Simon is not ready to come out but when his emails fall into the wrong hands, Simon’s secret becomes very public.  What could be a very serious and depressing story instead is an engaging uplifting romance that deals with real issues young adults face..

I loved this story told from the first person point of view of Simon.  He is funny, authentic and relatabled.  His family and friends are supportive and likeable. Readers will race through this to find out the identity of the Simon’s secretive love interest and will be rooting for Simon and Blue as they follow along through the emails sent back and forth between the two characters.  Not only does this story deal with Simon coming out to his family and friends but also focus’ on friendships, consequences of actions, bullying and prejudice.  After finishing this story it is hard not to smile.  One of my favorite reads this year!  Highly recommended for anyone who likes romance, suspense and humor.