One More Book

Because Brave New World ended up not being Young Adult, I have thirty one books on this blog. My last eleven are on this page and the first two on the next.

Cherry Ames Dude Ranch Nurse by Julie Tatham

This was pretty much most ridiculous book I have ever read. Cherry Ames is this perfect, pretty, spunky nurse living a charmed life. Of course, this is a book, so Cherry must face "real problems" like not knowing what to wear. All of the men in this book at very stereotyped - if they are good they are overwhelmingly handsome (and, of course, in love with her). And if they are bad they are ugly beyond degree. But the bad guys don't bother Cherry. She is tough! She is brave! She is a woman of the mid 50's gosh dang it! And she can handle anything. Including solving a mystery and getting everyone to like her. You know, just a day in the life of Cherry Ames.

Would not recommend.

Page Three

On this page are the third ten books I read during the semester.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is possibly one of the greatest books ever written. I read it a long time ago when I was in sixth grade. I believe it was the beginning of my love for reading (although I withstood it for years after that because I didn't like feeling forced to read, but it was an early start.) It is about a society in which everything is perfect and everything is the same. Everything is decided for its citizens and nothing is ever out of place. What begins as a Utopian society becomes a Dystopian society after the author reveals the society's truths. The story follows one young boy in the city who is different from the rest. He is chosen to learn from The Giver. He learns everything that is real - everything that is not their society. He learns about snow, something his society never has. He learns about color too. He learns about all different sensations we take for granted daily that he has never known before.

The novel really helps you appreciate what you have and know. It is well-written and very engaging. I would recommend it to anyone.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This book is incredible! I am not the "Sci- Fi" type, but I couldn't put this book down. Ender is a young boy enlisted in the Battle School. He quickly excels and becomes the top in his class. The praise and acknowledgment turn him into a recluse, excluded by others from everything. He continues to succeed at Battle School instead of going home. The reason he left and the reason he stays away from home is because of his extremely oppressive brother. He eventually is promoted to Command School. The longer he stays in Command School, the harder his tasks become. He gets so tired his wake life and his sleep life begin to blur. His final task becomes more than a simple challenge. I highly recommend this book, especially to reluctant science fiction readers.

Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt

When Henry's brother is hit by a truck his world is turned upside down. His family pretty much all goes into seclusion individually. Although his brother is still alive, it's not very hopeful. Eventually Henry himself decides to remove himself. However, the way he does so also seems to draw him nearer to his brother. He decides to go to Maine and climb a mountain he and his brother had planned on climbing. He brings his newly adopted dog, Black Dog, and his friend. They have no other way to get there but to ride with the very person who hit his brother in the first place. The story is amazing. Everything ties together in beautiful connections I never could have thought of. Gary D. Schmidt is a great author and this is a great book.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

This is a beautiful story about teenage pregnancy. Yeah, I said beautiful. Some might worry that by saying that I am promoting teen pregnancy, but it doesn alomst the exact opposite. Told from perspectives of "Then" and "Now"this novel portrays the difficulties of teen pregnancy, but it also portrays the joys of parenthood. Bobby is a sweet young man with a loving successful family and a bright future. He has a girlfriend, Nia, whom he loves deeply at only fifteen. On his sixteenth birthday his girlfriend tells him she is pregnant. Complications during their daughters birth result in Nia's death. Bobby is left to take care of her alone. The novel goes through the struggles he faces and all of the love he has for his daughter in a beautiful, almost poetic way. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those young adults who are sexually active.

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

The way things look are not always the way things are. This book simply plays off the idea of perspectives. Told from the perspective of Keir Sarafian, a young high school student. He tells about his life and about how everything in it exemplifies that he is a "good guy." However, accusation made by a fellow classmate, Gigi Boudakain, make him and the reader wonder if he is as good as he says he is. Sort of the opposite story of Speak, this story is about the raper in a date rape. You'll wonder what the truth is yourself.

I would recommend this book, but only to certain people. I know some people who couldn't handle the content. But I liked it and I think it was very well written.

The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli

I had a really hard time reading The Great God Pan for a few of reason. First of all, I thought it was about Peter Pan when I picked it up and I was sorely disappointed to discover that it was not. Second, Pan was fully of hormones. He really liked women... of any variety. And he described it in a good amount of detail. It was just a little to sexual for my taste. Lastly, I had a hard time getting into the style of writing. It's written much like a man thinks - in short choppy sentences and paragraphs, most of which there is little to no transition for. It is about the God of Nature, Pan, who's mother cursed him to be half goat, half human for the rest of his life. He can transform into anything in nature, but never whole human or whole goat. He doesn't care much and he lives his life carefree, until one day when he meets a human girl unlike most human girls. She is bold and intelligent, and she is not afraid of him. This girl is so different from most, he begins to fall in love.

Although I will not give away what happens after that, I wouldn't recommend it to most people.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

This graphic novel contains three separate stories inside of it. The stories have seemingly nothing to do with each other, but tie together nicely in the end. I had actually never read a graphic novel before this one and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought I would hate having someone depict what something looks like for me, removing all imagination from reading, but I actually enjoyed it. It wasn't much like reading, I'll admit, it was almost more like watching a television show. It was really easy to follow and some of the picture made the story so much better. The faces they made were so important (and funny sometimes). I really enjoyed the graphic part of this graphic novel. However, I really disliked the novel part of it. The stories kind of bothered me. They were a little gruesome and disturbing at points. A lot of them were just simply crude. Although they tied together nicely, I didn't like the ending. I wouldn't recommend this book to many people.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is one of the best Young Adult novels I have ever read. It was very long, but every page was worth it. The story is about a young girl right before and during the Holocaust. She is forced to live with a foster family when her mother, a communist, is forced into concentration camp. Her foster father is a kind and loving man, however, her foster mother is the exact opposite. This foster father teaches her to read. She begins to love reading so much she starts to steal books - thus the title, The Book Thief. The story is written from the perspective of Death. He gives her that title after watching her steal books. The best part of this novel is Death's commentary. He is not the typical "Death" we know, a skeleton with a hood and scythe. He is kind and gentle; just a hardworking guy trying to do his job. He is actually afraid of human because they are so destructive. However, his fear does not keep him from watching The Book Thief.

War Is... by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

This novel is not one story, but a compilation of fiction and non-fiction written by many different people. IT is divided into different aspects of the war and each story is prefaced by the person who wrote it. Some of the stories are interesting, some are a little dull, and others are incredible. There were a few stories with some seriously crude language, but they had a good message. The book is definitely anti-war, but it shows the reasons why from a lot of different perspectives and insights. It wasn't my favorite book and I wouldn't recommend it to that many people, but I'm glad I read it nonetheless.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

There's not much I can say about this book without ruining it. It's a book of poetry all written by the same young boy "Jack" under the premise that he is only writing it for a class. It begins with him hating poetry and being very clearly against it. As the story develops, his writing improves, and his love for poetry grows too.

The book is so sweet. I  read it out loud to my husband as we drove to Idaho Falls. I'm not a big crier and I ended up choking up and breaking down into a full out bawl right in front of him; no shame. It was just so touching and sweet - it's every English teacher's dream :)

Page Two

On this page are the second ten books I read during the semester.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Scout Finch is the daughter a big lawyer, Atticus Finch. Scout, her brother Jem, and their dad live in a small town in Alabama during the depression. Her mother passed away before she could remember her and she has grown up in a household of men. She has become somewhat of a tom boy with all the male influence in her life.She does, however, have one female influence in her life - their cook and nanny, Calpurnia, and African-American woman. The story is about Scout and Jem and a few years in their life. They face a number of obstacles and challenges including the following: friendship, curiosity, puberty, judgment, persecution, and racism.

This is my all time favorite novel. It is perfect. And I don't say that often. It presents serious issues through the simple eyes of a child. I feel like anything I say about it to boast it will not be enough. So just know that it is wonderful and that every single person should read it.

Getting Away with Murder by Chris Crowe

This is a story I had never heard before. It would have been a story no one would have ever heard very easily, but thankfully, it is not. The story of Emmett Till and his brutal murder changed history, and, in effect, initiated the civil rights movement. This novel is his story; a biography written by Chris Crowe. The book is filled with facts and information, but it is portrayed in a way that is interesting to all audiences. It is filled with pictures of Emmett, his family, and the time period. It also includes a graphic picture of the open casket funeral service (that lasted three days and attracted swarms of people). His body was beaten and destroyed beyond recognition. That picture, and others like it, shook the world. It helped people see their wrong.

I was so grateful to have been able to take in this part of history through this book. It really shed a new light on the civil rights movement and what this country was like before it.

The Devil's Arithmatic by Jane Yolen

Hannah is a twelve year old Jewish girl, who, like most young girls, is embarrassed by her family. She, however, is embarrassed because they are Jewish. Her grandfather survived the Holocaust and is constantly, and sometimes obnoxiously, attempting to relate his account. He wants Hannah to remember. Despite her families efforts to engage Hannah in their family heritage, she resists. During their celebration of the Passover, Hannah is chosen to open their front door as a tradition to "let Elijah in." When she opens the door she is transported to another time and place - Germany during the Holocaust.

I have always loved stories about the Holocaust. I think they are fascinating. This book did not fail to meet that expectation. It added another dimension to the history of the Holocaust. It made the event more real through it's portrayal of Hannah, a modern character, in the heat of it. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

Angels Watching Over Me by Lurlene Mcdaniel

Right before Christmas, while her mother was away on her honeymoon with husband number five, teenage Leah Lewis-Hall is admitted to the hospital. Her pinky finger hurt and they discovered it was broken and that they need to run some tests. They give her a room to stay in while she waits for the tests. Her roommate is a young girl, Rebekkah, who happens to be Amish. When Rebekkah's family come to visit her they meet Leah. Leah is amazed and intrigued by this Amish family, especially Rebekkah's older brother Ethan. When they meet he  hardly looks at her, looking everywhere else to avoid eye contact. She quickly becomes friends with the family, but it takes some time to break Ethan. When she finally breaks him he expresses his love for her - and she returns it. The story is sweet and heart-felt. It is not only about new love, but about family love and friendship as well. When Leah finds out that she has cancer all bonds are tried.

It's a pretty good book. I decided to read it because I remember everyone in my class in eighth grade loved it and I never could get it from the library because it was always checked out. I think I would have liked it better then though. It was a little too sappy, but mostly good.

Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson

Scribbler of Dreams is a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Kait comes from a poor family and her father is in jail. They cannot afford their private school anymore and are forced to attend their rival school. It's not only their rival in sports and academics, it's her families rival in life. A long past family feud has driven the Crutchfield family and the Malone family apart and has caused a rift and a hatred between them. This hatred is so deep that Kait and her sister cannot safely go by "Malone." She is a quiet girl who likes to write. During lunch she finds a secret place to sit and write alone. However, her solitude is disrupted when a boy sits down a little ways away from her. To her surprise the boy, who she had noticed and recognized his extreme popularity, is just seeking solitude as well. She bonds with him silently as they both work in their sketchbooks. He finally breaks the space between them one day to present a picture he had drawn of her. The boy, Bram, and Kait quickly fall deeply in love. However, she soon finds out who his family is, and, in keeping with Shakespeare's plot, he is a Crutchfield. Family bonds are tried, and love is put to the test.

The book is engaging and easy to read. Although it was a romantic page turner, it was pretty predictable and cliche.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak is about a young girl, fifteen or so, named Melinda who is hated by everyone. Every single person in her school almost hates her with a passion. Unfortunately, she ,too, hates herself. But not in the same way everyone else does, or for the same reason. She is beginning to close herself off from the world. She has lost her friends and can hardly talk with her family. She finds a closet behind the janitors closet in her high school where she hides. She is removing the world from her and the world is removing her too. The novel is all about her insights and observations, all revealed through her thoughts only.

It is a beautiful novel. I would recommend it to almost anyone, with the warning that it includes some sexual themes.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Moving to a new town is tough. You have to make new friends, deal with new teachers (and old curriculum), and start dating anew. It's even harder when you hate the rain and the cold and your new town if Forks, WA. Bella is dealing with just that when she decides to move in with her dad so her mom can travel with her boyfriend. A new girl in the high school in Forks doesn't happen very often so when she arrives everyone welcomes her graciously (mostly out of curiosity for the anomaly). The boys swarm her and practically throw themselves at her. The girls, too, adore Bella. But one person pays particular attention to her, in the worst way possible. He seems to hate her. He doesn't even know her and he hates her. His hatred for her is obvious, but no one knows his reasoning. However, his hatred is quickly turned into love, and his love for her is just as strong as his hatred was. Why he hates her and even why he loves her happen to be along the same lines - reasons you'll have to find out by reading the book.

This book seems to release two audiences - those who absolutely LOVE it and go to bed wishing they didn't have to fall asleep. And those who HATE it with their very being. The two polar opposites seem to think that their opinion of the book (and the series that follow it) is the only correct opinion and they will fight anyone who opposes them to the death. But I will openly admit, I am in the middle. I'm a fence sitter and neither side will ever pull me down. Although I lean more toward "hate" on the three novels that follow Twilight, I am dead center for the first. It really was a fun read. I was constantly engaged and it drew a fair amount of emotion from me. But the cheesiness and the hype keeps me in the center. I would not recommend it or NOT recommend it. I am Switzerland.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

Life was simple for Janie Johnson. She had loving parents, good friends, and a handsome love interest. Nothing could be better. One day while sitting in the cafeteria with her friends Janie notices a little girl on the back of a milk carton. The face of the child looks incredibly similar to herself. She becomes convinced that the girl is her and that she must have been, at some point, kidnapped. She begins to search for other evidence and quickly finds it. She realizes that there are no pictures of her before three or so, her parents won't show her a birth certificate, and she finds a chest in the attic with another girls name on it. The mystery only deepens when she finally confronts her "parents" about this. They have an answer for her, but you'll have to read the book to find out what it is and what happens after that.

This was a re-read for me. I read this novel once before in eighth grade. I was captured with the characters and plot the first time, being lead along by the mystery of the novel. I was worried that since I knew the ending I wouldn't enjoy it as much, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was till a fun and exciting read. I would recommend it to anyone.

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

This story is about a young girl, Estrella, in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Her family has been secretly practicing Judaism without her ever even knowing it. Her whole life she practiced Judaism in private and Catholicism in public. When the law begins to really crack down on Jews everyone in the city goes mad. Everyone begins accusing his or her neighbor of being a Jew and eventually the accusation falls on Estrella's family. The story is about the bonds of friendship, first love, family unity, and the persecution of religion.

I love this novel. I listened to it on a trip with my husband and we've been talking about it ever since. the subject matter is controversial, but tastefully portrayed in the novel. The author writes prose like poetry - it's beautiful.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

In an uptight private school where the teachers rule with an iron fist order gets unraveled when a student breaks the rules. He doesn't actually break any written rules, but the unspoken rules of both the school and the gang of students that actually governs the school. A secret society called the Vigils have quietly run the school since it began. The students that make up the group are the leaders of their society, and of those around them. When a teacher has the opportunity to become the dean of the school if he creates enough sales in the school's annual chocolate sale, he turns to the Vigils for help. The Vigils begin creating assignments for each student to follow in complete secrecy. When a task falls on the main character and protagonist, Jerry, he follows the orders without hesitation. However, when the task is supposed to end, Jerry doesn't quit. When they order him to quit the task, he refuses the order. One simple word - "no" - begins a full out war within the school.

I don't say this about very many books, but I hated it. I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and so was the plot. It built up to the climax the entire time and then there never really was one. It was a big let down and I would not recommend it.

Page Three

On this page are the first ten books I read during the semester.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders is the first Young Adult Literature novel I ever read. I read it when I was nine and hardly understood the concepts it taught, I was just proud that I could read it. I've read it again since many times over. It's a gripping novel about friends, social pressures, violence, and growing up. The novel begins with the main character, Ponyboy Curtis, coming out of a movie theater with hardly a care in the world. We quickly learn that he is part of a gang called "the Greasers." They are part of the lower socioeconomic class and they are sworn enemies to a gang of spoiled rich kids, called "the Socs" (pronounced so-shez). The Greasers and the Socs both feel that the other has no place in this world and feel it their duty to remove them. Ponyboy, who is usually caught up in this rivalry, is moved when he meets a couple of nice girls in the Soc crowd. Quickly after that his best friend kills a young Soc out of self-defense. His world is shaken and he is caught up trying to sort out what is right and what is wrong, who is right and who is wrong.

It is by far my favorite young adult literature book. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it

Athletic Shorts: Six Stories by Chris Crutcher

Each short story published in Athletic Shorts is, of course, about something athletic. However, the athletic element of each story is merely just the platform for deeper, more important and life changing subjects. Each story is focused on weighty issues many young adults are faced with daily. Issues such as divorce, homosexuality, relating to parents, racism, loss of loved ones, loss in general, and more. Each story is interesting and entertaining. Even if you are not into athletics, you will be into this book.

The stories are funny and heartfelt. I would recommend it to lots of people; the stories are easy to relate to, no matter who you are or what you do.

Friction by E.R. Frank

Friction (noun) - 1. The scientific notion of energy created by two object rubbing together. Used in repelling to slow or speed movement. 2. I dissension or conflict between persons, nations, etc., because of differing ideas, wishes, etc. 3. The rubbing of the surface of ones body against that of another.

For Alex and her friends the word "friction" is nothing but innocent until the new girl shows up. Stacy, the strange and rebellious new girl causes commotion in the innocent    Middle School she comes to. At fourteen, she is older than the rest of the kids, she has a tongue ring, and she has a crude sense of humor. While learning to repel in preparation for their upcoming class camping trip Stacy makes a casually fowl joke about "friction." This joke leads her to tease Alex that their teacher wants to explain a very crude type of friction to her. What begins as a joke turns into constant torment, and later turns into an incrementing accusation about their teacher. Alex is young and confused, and is trying to sort out what is right and what is wrong. The story is engrossing. It will have you wondering what the truth is too.

I would recommend it, but only to some. It's a little controversial at points. I liked it, but I know some people wouldn't.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book." This, the very first line in the entire novel (and series) could not be more serious. Although this book, with the author's commentary, is subtly hilarious, it is nothing but sad. From cover to cover the novel is unhappy. Right away we find out that the three children the story follows have just lost there parents in a terrible fire and are now found homeless and without family. After all seems lost, a very distant relative takes them in. Their happiness is quickly erased after they actually move in with their "uncle" Count Olaf. He is a vile, disgusting, evil character who treats the children awfully and is only after their inheritance. The novel will make you miserable. And just when you think everything is going to get better, hang in there, because it won't. It only gets worse for the poor orphans. It is truly a bad beginning.

It's a wonderful, exciting book although it's incredibly unhappy. I tell everyone to read it, with the warning that they will want to read all of them and there are thirteen.  

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

I was obsessed with this novel, a novel ironically about the dangers of obsession. Right away we see how overwhelmingly obsessed the main character, a young girl named Sym, is with a dead man. Not only is this man dead, he has been dead for hundreds of years. She became obsessed with this man, the arctic explorer "Titus" Oates, at a young age and has had him as her constant, imaginary companion ever since. She is simultaneously obsessed with his fatal expedition to Antarctica and the polar region itself. Her uncle is also obsessed with the region. But his obsession takes an extreme - an extreme than divulges itself slowly and immediately after he kidnaps her and takes her on their own expedition to the deep south. The novel is gripping. It will have you wondering what is about to happen to them the entire way through.

I had a hard time with the writing style, but once I got past it the book was a quick read. The twists in the tale, although not my favorite, I admit, were surprising. It's an interesting book. I'd recommend it only to a select few.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The novel begins with a boy named Gem trapped in the King's prison. The crime? Stealing from the king. How he got caught? He bragged about it to the whole entire town, even displaying the item he stole as a token of his mastery in thievery. Clearly this was not the brightest idea. Or maybe... maybe it was. After being half starved and refused any sort of shower for an unquantifiable length of time, the King's guards release him into the hands of the Kings adviser, Magus. Magus has a special task for Gen, a secret item to steal from a neighboring country for an unknown reason. The book is thrilling and intense. The mysteries continue to reveal themselves throughout the entire novel, even until the very last page.

This type of fiction usually isn't my type, but I was absolutely absorbed in this book. I loved it. I would recommend it to anyone.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Set in the future, Brave New World is about a Dystopian society breaded through an assembly line of reproductive technology. Along this assembly line each person's intelligence, physical ability, and social class is determined. The members of this society are blinded to their sin and faults by a brainwashing "sleep-learning" therapy they participate in since birth. That and the drugs they indulge in called "Soma" leave them blissful ignorant to their inhuman way of life. One of the upper class men disturbs the order of life by rebelling against the so-called norm. He refuses Soma and indulges himself in the ups and downs of real emotions. Because of this he is generally rejected by society. He takes a trip to a primitive area in America that has not conformed to this way of life. They live almost a completely opposite life that the New World does. While visiting this world he finds a very important young man that will not only change his life, but the lives of many of the blinded masses. It is a dramatic story with important plot twists. It is full of creative imagery and important moral questions.

I know a lot of people don't like this book, but I thought it was great. It really made you question what is truly of worth and just exactly how worldly you are. It was incredibly creative and fascinating. I would warnt hat it has some sexual context. Other than that, I recommend. 

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

This is a haunting, yet hopeful tale of a boy, his two younger sisters, and their physically and verbally abusive mother. Matt, the narrator and protagonist, has lived in fear his entire life and has learned to deal with it. He has created his own, conscious and subconscious, rules for him and his sisters to survive their mother's tyranny. He uses these survival mechanisms every day without really realizing this way of life is even wrong. That is until one day when he sees a man in a grocery st...more  
This is a haunting, yet hopeful tale of a boy, his two younger sisters, and their physically and verbally abusive mother. Matt, the narrator and protagonist, has lived in fear his entire life and has learned to deal with it. He has created his own, conscious and subconscious, rules for him and his sisters to survive their mother's tyranny. He uses these survival mechanisms every day without really realizing this way of life is even wrong. That is until one day when he sees a man in a grocery store defend an abused child. This encounter creates a sudden shift in Matt's mind about what is and is not right and what he has to do about it. The story twists and turns, always engaging the reader while at the same time explaining that the ending is a happy one.

I liked this book a great deal. It addressed a serious and uncomfortable topic in a tasteful way. I really liked that in never made you wonder if they might not get out. It was always hopeful, yet still gripping. I would recommend it.

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

Written in two perspectives, those of Ursula Riggs and Matt Donaghy, two students at the same high school, the novel peers deep into the ideas of true friendship and self discovery. As the character describes in first person, Ursula Riggs comes from a wealthy, attractive, and popular family, but she is none of those things. When Ursula went through puberty she grew "big" and "ugly." When society began to reject her for these superficial subjects, she developed a second self - she called this "Ugly Girl." Ugly Girl is strong, immovable, and self-confident. She sheilds her heart and is hurt by no one. Matt Donaghy is one of Ursula's class mates, a popular, nice, straight A student. He seeks the approval of his friends through their laughter and is always attempting a joke. One day his big mouth and jokes get him into trouble and he ends up in jail. His friends quickly divide their confidences in him and refuse to come to his defense. The only person willing to come to his rescue is "Big Ursula Riggs" - Ugly Girl. Through their common trials throughout the novel, the two develop common virtues. They become friends, misfits, and lovers.

This book is really funny and very sweet. I liked Joyce Carol Oates' different take on romance. Aside from the language (cursing is fairly common) I would recommend it to all.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Dairy Queen is a story about family, coming of age, and young love. A romance between two of the most unlikely characters begins when the protagonist, D.J., a small-town farm girl, and her counterpart, a spoiled quarterback on the rival football team are forced together for the day. Brian, the football jock, is forced to go to D.J.'s family's farm and work there for the day. D.J.'s family has been raised to love football, almost more than their own lives. Normally unwilling to associate with any member of the rival high school's football team, they only allow Brain to stay because they are old friends with his coach, the person who sent him. D.J. is assigned to take Brian around the farm and put him to work. Although she does most of the work during the day, he still thinks his small load is too much and he quits. The coach forces him to return and asks D.J. to be his trainer. Though star-crossed, the two agree to it and begin, over time, to form a friendship, which later turns into love. The novel is full of wit and sarcasm, love and romance, and most of all football.

The book is a little slow, I think I had a difficult time with the writing style. Other than that the book is great. It is funny and sweet (a little too sweet, but not overkill). A fun read for anyone... but mostly girls.