Letter to My Daughter by George Bishop


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I won an advanced copy on Firstsreads. It is a thin book but a pleasant read, ideal as a pick to fill in a few hours. Nothing earth shattering , but an enjoyable read exploring a mother’s recollection of her teen years written as a letter to her run-away daughter. The writing was good and the story was realistic.

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Metamorphosis: Junior Year by Betsy Franco


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a little gem of a book.

Ovid, named after and inspired by the Roman poet, journals all of his thoughts into a notebook. This teenagers voice is very believable and honest; he holds nothing back putting all his feelings on the line.

Ovid's journal tells of his high school experience, he gives the reader a snapshot of his life, as well as the lives of other high school students in a unique way. Ovid also gives each student a separate identity, connecting each one to a Roman mythological character based on each personality and struggle. Other juniors wrestling with their demons include musician Orpheus, obsessed with his girlfriend; incest victim Myrra, trying to find what's left of the girl in her; Alexis, a female Icarus flying too high on weed; and Sophie and Caleb, an internet Psyche and Cupid.

The only fault with this book is that it is too short. Despite its brevity, it's amazing how each character, including Ovid, grows and changes.
Who knows, after reading this you may find yourself looking up Ovid and the original Metamorphosis.

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Fairest by Gail Carson Levine


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Remember Ella Enchanted? Do you like fairytale-like stories? Here is one for you.
In a world where beauty, and singing ability are revered, Aza is awkward, and homely. Her only attribute is her glorious voice and has a gift of throwing her voice, that she calls "illusing." A duchess invites Aza to act as her companion and accompany her to the palace to attend the king's wedding. The new Queen Ivi she sees a way of protecting her reputation and disguising her own lack of singing talent by threatening Aza's family. Aza deceives the court into believing that Queen Ivi is a gifted singer. When the ruse is discovered, Aza is forced to flee the castle in order to save her life. Aza discovers her own strength of character, learns about herself, and decides that her physical appearance is not worthy of the stress and worry she has wasted on it. The plot is fast-paced, and you don’t even have to read it – the book comes on CD so you can enjoy the story and the singing. What’s not to like?

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