J.C. Buchanan

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Title: The Hidden Summer

Author: Gin Phillips

Published By: Dial Books (2013)

Synopsis: After a falling out between their mothers, 13-year-old best friends Nell and Lydia are forbidden from seeing each other for the whole summer. Nell struggles with the thought of not only losing her best friend, but also losing the only person in whom Nell finds refuge from the difficulties she faces at home. Determined to find a place of their own, Nell and Lydia spend the summer hiding out in an abandoned golf course where Nell and Lydia find mysterious symbols scattered throughout the grounds. As they reveal the secret of the symbols, Nell discovers she isn’t the only one seeking haven and begins to uncover what’s really been hidden all along, finally allowing herself to be truly seen. (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

This book was…interesting. Very good and well written, but interesting.

The Hidden Summer follows the summer of two best friends, Nell and Lydia, who have been banned from seeing each other, thanks to a fallout between their mothers. Since they live right in front of an old abandoned golf course, Nell plots a plan so the girls can secretly live there during the day all summer. It starts as just a way to spend time as friends, but soon merges into a story of self-discovery.

While the writing was very good and the characters were well developed, the plotline, in my opinion, had some issues.

The whole concept of her living on a golf course was fascinating, and it even was believable her parents could believe it was camp. I wasn’t bothered that there was no realistic upkeep or guards: this is imagination working here so the story doesn’t need to be one-hundred-percent realistic. My issue was with Gloria and Maureen and Jakobe. Not that I didn’t like them; they were very well done characters. And I liked the way they lived on their own. My problem was that they didn’t seem to serve a purpose in the story and their story is never tied up. They’re homeless, we know that, but in the end, we still don’t know if they’ve found a way out or if they’re still on their own.

Also, I found it kind of unbelievable that a woman like Gloria would have no problem with kids living on their own during the day without their parents knowing; or that she’d say things like, “I wish you didn’t have to leave.” Maybe her daughter would say something like that; but Gloria’s a mom. I did not get it. As well, it kind of felt like Maureen and Jakobe were a start of a subplot and never were finished. They dart in and out of the storyline, never truly contributing, but rather just sitting there, and then when Nell leaves the course we never find out what happened to them. Like the author kind of just forgot.

Maybe I’m wrong and this was just an element for Nell to see on the golf course and for it never to be explained or tied up. Either way, I was disappointed.

While Lydia and Nell’s friendship seemed realistic, Lydia was a very stereotypical best friend. She’s just like every other best friend you read in books—outgoing, energetic, encouraging, etc—but with nothing of her own personality. She did not pop out at me as a real character like Nell did, simply because she was so predictable and stereotypical. Nell, on the other hand, was a gorgeous character full of her own personality.

Overall:

There was a lot of positive and fun things about this story, but the few issues I had were enough to downscale this to a 3.0 star rating. I did still enjoy it though.

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Rating: 3.0

Recommended to: Anyone looking for a fun, imaginative story!

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Title: So Not Happening (A Charmed Life, #1)

Author: Jenny B. Jones

Published By: Thomas Nelson (2009)

Synopsis: New York’s social darling just woke up in a nightmare: Oklahoma. Problem is, it’s right where God wants her.
Bella Kirkwood had it all: A-list friends at her prestigious private school, Broadway in her backyard, and Daddy’s MasterCard in her wallet. Then her father, a plastic surgeon to the stars, decided to trade her mother in for a newer model.

When Bella’s mom falls in love with a man she met on the Internet–a factory worker with two bratty sons–Bella has to pack up and move in with her new family in Truman, Oklahoma. On a farm no less!
But before long, Bella smells something rotten in the town of Truman, and it’s not just the cow pasture. With her savvy reporter’s instincts, she is determined to find the story behind all the secrets.
How can a girl go on when her charmed life is gone and God appears to be giving her the total smackdown? (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

This book was AMAZING! Jenny B. Jones is such an incredible author. While I could definitely see similarites between Bella and Katie from A Katie Parker Production, Jones’ other teen series, there was still enough of a difference that Bella was totally her own person. This was, overall, and incredible work.

One thing I really love about Jenny B Jones’ books are that they are so long. Most of the time I tend to find long novels unnecessarily drawn out, but in this case, this book is just incredible. You meet the character, come to love her, and then get three or more 300+ page books on her! Once you meet a character from Jenny B. Jones,  the few long books there are written on her don’t even seem long enough. You come to care so much about these characters that simply following them around in everyday life is amazing. If Jones wrote a book where nothing happened but literally was just following her character around in her life, no matter how boring it was you can bet I’d be reading that book the second it came out.

This book was really, really well done. The characters and plotline were well developed. The writing was great; Bella sounds just like an average teen, without all the slang and casualness. Her friendships are well written, as well are her relationships with family and step family. The one thing I felt was missing was we did not get a lot on her father, only that he doesn’t really care and that it hurts Bella. Beyond that, there was really no further development. Luisa seemed a little one-dimensional, too, but mostly just because she was in so few scenes. Besides that, though, every other character was phenomenal.

The plotline was definitely for an older audience, but it wasn’t too intense; rather, there were more mature elements. I will note everything is appropriate and wholesome, however.

Speaking of which, I really, really liked Bella from a Christian perspective. Differing from Katie Parker, Bella’s definitely a Christian girl. She feels distant from God, but she’s not embarrassed and prays on a regular basis. And not praying as in get-on-my-knees-formally-because-I-have-to, but more spur-of-the-moment “Help me, God,” which seemed more realistic (and more genuine). Bella still has her doubts and worries, but they don’t hold her back.

And I have to mention the romance. It was not at all inappropriate, but rather a bit hilarious. The way this was done—in a clean, Christian voice—was excellent and very entertaining. Unlike most YA, it actually seemed like part of Bella’s story, rather than being some pointless clichè added on to make the story more dramatic. Because of this, I didn’t even mind when the story dived a bit toward a love triangle. (It never really ended up that way, though.)

Overall:

All together, though, this was another amazing work from Jenny B. Jones. I am so happy I discovered her books, and I’m highly looking forward to the next books in this series (two more! yay!) Wholesome, intriguing, and straight-out hilarious in some parts, So Not Happening was an incredible read!!

Negative Content:

None that I can remember.

Rating: A definite 5.0!

Recommended to: All teens ages 13+!

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Title: Scumble (Savvy, #2)

Author: Ingrid Law

Published By: Dial Books (2010)

Synopsis: Nine years after Mibs’s Savvy journey, her cousin Ledge has just turned thirteen . . . But Ledger Kale’s savvy is a total dud-all he does is make little things fall apart. So his parents decide it’s safe to head to Wyoming, where it’s soon revealed that Ledge’s savvy is much more powerful than anyone thought. Worse, his savvy disaster has an outside witness: Sarah Jane Cabot, reporter wannabe and daughter of the local banker. Just like that, Ledge’s beloved normal life is over. Now he has to keep Sarah from turning family secrets into headlines, stop her father from foreclosing on Uncle Autry’s ranch, and scumble his savvy into control so that, someday, he can go home.

Starring a cast both fresh and familiar, Scumble brilliantly melds Ingrid Law’s signature heart and humor with the legendary Wild West. (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

A sequel to the award-winning Savvy, Scumble follows more characters in the Beaumonts’ extended family in a sure to be exciting and energetic story.

Ledger Kale has waited forever for his 13th birthday, where his savvy will be revealed. He is sure he is destined to be the fastest runner ever—until his birthday arrives and he starts breaking things. Literally. Things fly apart by just his thought. Ledge is sure he is doomed with this horrible savvy for life, but scumbling (learning to control your savvy) might just teach him something different.

This book was hilarious, energetic, and a fast-paced, fun read. It was magic in a sense, but still very realistic—easy believable this kind of thing could happen in real life. The names are awesome, and I enjoyed seeing Mibs again and her family. Sarah Jane was simply hysterical, but you can’t help rooting for her even when she isn’t the best friend. The few plot twists, which made the book such a fun read, were written well. The scenes, set, and characters were described very vividly.

Overall:

A great, fun read. A great follow-up to Savvy; you won’t be disappointed.

Negative Content:

None.

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: Everyone who loved Savvy!