A-List by Zoey Dean

The A list is a very good book. I started it a long time ago and it bored me honestly. I picked it up the other day and right at the wedding part it became a very good book. This is the first book in the series. I reccomend it.

3 out of 5 stars

Interview with Alexa Young :)

TEENCHICKLITTERATURE Q&A WITH ALEXA YOUNG



Which character is the one you can relate to the most? Why?

I relate to all my characters in different ways, but Avalon is the one closest to my heart (interesting that readers seem to like her least—HA!). The thing is, she has that type-A need to control everything, just like I do. (How endearing is that?!) She also works really hard for everything she gets, and tends to over-think things, while Halley sort of breezes through a lot of situations without obsessing too much (except when it comes to a certain guy, of course!). Mostly, I think I relate to Avalon because she’s painfully insecure but pretends to be tough and above it all. I hope readers (and people who know me!) realize it’s all an act—that in reality she’s (I’m) just a sensitive little lamb who wants to be loved. (Wow, could I sound more pathetic? :-)



Designer brands are a huge part of the novel. Which is your favorite designer label?

Well, let me first say I am in NO WAY as fashion-obsessed or savvy as the girls in FRENEMIES. When I decide to spring for something a bit higher-end than Xhilaration at Target or a pair of capris from the Gap, I usually opt for Calvin Klein or Michael Kors because most of their designs are classic and flattering. When I’m trying to be cool or somewhat edgy, I like Free People. I’ve always had a bit of a hippie chick side and I like how retro-rock the FP stuff is.



What is your summer must-have?

A black swimsuit. Since having my son (a few years ago), my belly isn’t quite what it used to be so these days I opt for a one-piece, and I found a great one (designed by—yes—Calvin Klein) in the Victoria’s Secret catalog last year. I was so bummed when I took it out of the drawer last month and discovered the elastic had completely eroded. But (lucky me!), VS had almost the identical style again this year…so I got myself a new one. Woot!



What other ChickLit books do you recommend for teens?

I love, love, love the VIOLET series by Melissa Walker (and I’m about to read her latest, LOVESTRUCK SUMMER). I’m also a huge fan of LOVE AND OTHER FOUR-LETTER WORDS by Carolyn Mackler, CLASS FAVORITE by Taylor Morris, and OH. MY. GODS. by Tera Lynn Childs. For the slightly older (high school) readers looking for something a bit darker, I like I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE and the soon-to-be-released BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, both by Stephanie Kuehnert, and the PRETTY LITTLE LIARS series by Sara Shepard. Both are such amazing writers. And though it’s not technically YA, I recently read THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold and was blown away (very dark and kind of scary, but beautiful and funny at times, too). I’m way behind on my reading, but I’m really hoping to dive into some more books and be able to recommend them by the time the summer’s over.



What inspires you to write about Halley and Avalon?

It all starts with my editors—the brilliant people who came up with the concept for the books (along with all the titles and many of the plot details!) in the first place. I can’t say enough good things about them. They’re so smart and cool and nice. My editors simply ROCK. I also get kind of inspired by reality TV (in book three of the series—GLAMNESIA—one of the characters is loosely based on Lauren Conrad!), and by my readers (who often tell me about their own experiences with their own frenemies…and crushes…and more!).



Have you ever had a frenemy like Halley or Avalon?

Yes. (Is it cool for me to just answer the question that way?! ;-)



If you could travel to any place in the world where would you go?

I’m really lucky in that I’ve already been to a lot of my dream destinations (thanks to my incredibly well-traveled parents, who took me and my brother EVERYWHERE growing up)—but there are two places topping my list right now: Corfu (one of the Greek Isles) and Las Ventanas (a resort hotel in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico).



What is your favorite summer song?

Ugh, you can’t limit me to just one! There are SO MANY: The Go Go’s “Head Over Heels” and “Vacation,” Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer,” Duran Duran’s “Rio,” The Hooters’ “And We Danced,” the entire soundtrack from Footloose and from St. Elmo’s Fire. (I saw both during or just before my summer vacations.) I know I’m totally dating myself now…but those were the summer songs of MY teen years and they were AWESOME! ;-)



Did anyone in your life inspire any characters in the book? If yes, who and why.

I did have a few friends back in the day who definitely THINK they inspired some characters in the book—and maybe they did, in a way. I had two close friends in particular who were sort of the attached-at-the-hip trendsetters of our middle school. One of them was my BFF, and she tended to hassle me on a regular basis for being a “granola nerd” (during my hippie-chick phases) and for wearing way too much pink and purple (during my valley girl phases). I had a few frenemy-like situations—friends I broke up with—throughout my teens, too. It almost always involved a guy (of course)—specifically, my friends would get boyfriends and, since I never had a boyfriend let alone a date, I would accuse them of being big sluts. I think that was fair, don’t you…?! Tyler Brandon—Halley’s fifteen-year-old brother—is also somewhat inspired by my own big brother, and somewhat by my husband and his dorky friends (!). Honestly, a lot of the people in my life tend to seep into my characters. I think that’s unavoidable.



If Frenemies became a movie or TV show who would you want to play Halley and Avalon? Why?

Funny you should ask! I actually just got word that The Disney Channel might be making a TV-movie based on the book(s) and I’m SO EXCITED! It’s tough for me to say who should play the girls, though. Part of me would love to just have two unknowns because there aren’t that many well-known actresses that age. Then again, far-fetched as this would be, I would love to have Abigail Breslin for Halley and Dakota Fanning for Avalon. I think they are two of the most talented actresses of their generation and see huge things for them—and I think they could bring a really cool, edgy, dark spin to the FRENEMIES characters and story. I’d like the deeper layers of the story to come through and sometimes that doesn’t happen until really talented actors interpret the characters.



Would you ever do some of the things Halley and Avalon did to each other? (the blog fights and party stuff, etc.)

Pathetically enough, I kind of have. I actually broke up with a friend last year and promptly deleted her from my friends on MySpace and Facebook. (Yes, I am still thirteen.) In better news…we’ve since reconciled. I’ve also bailed on friends in the middle of parties, largely because of miscommunication and all-out confusion.



What is your favorite part of Frenemies?

I love the scenes between Halley and Wade. There’s just nothing more exciting, crazy, scary, amazing than falling for your first love (or the person you think could be your first love!).



Do you think being a writer is a hard job? Is it your dream job?

Well…writing doesn’t necessarily come easy to me—I really have to work at it, and I agonize over pretty much every last word I write. So in that sense yes, it’s hard. It challenges me. It’s also tough for a type-A person like me to deal with the fact that I can’t control people’s opinions of my writing, I can’t control sales—all that stuff. Of course, it doesn’t matter what profession you’re in; you’ll never be able to control everything. You just have to do your best and then let the chips fall where they may. As far as writing being my dream job? That’s such a great question. And you know what? I think I’d have to say it is. But I don’t know that I realized that until this very moment. I get so caught up in the day-to-day struggles and the uncertainty of whether or not I’m good enough to be doing it, I think it’s scary to admit this really is IT—what I want to be doing. But it actually is. I love it, struggles and all.




Lastly, what is your idea of the message of Frenemies? How did you try to convey this message to the readers?

You know, the last thing I want to do is preach to readers about what they should or shouldn’t be doing. I think readers will automatically sense they’re being told what to do and resent that. So more than anything I hope that these books are fun, entertaining, and an escape from what can be pretty tough times (especially when you’re a teen, but really at any age!). That’s not to say there isn’t a message, because there absolutely is. And for me, it’s that friendships—relationships—are WORK. It’s not always easy. We tend to be so focused on ourselves and what’s happening to us, we forget to think about what the other person might be going through—how those things they don’t even tell us about might be influencing their behavior. I know that sounds so psycho-babbly! Sorry. I guess the bottom line is that it’s important to give the people we love the benefit of the doubt—to not let every little sideways glance or quiet word make us defensive and insecure and then offensive and overzealous. I think I tried to convey all that through the misunderstandings between Halley and Avalon. I hope the reader sees what’s going on and realizes the girls are lashing out because they’re feeling so unsure of themselves—and that there are better ways to handle those situations. Hopefully, when the reader sees these characters acting without thinking, that will give them pause and make them think twice before being too reactive in their own lives. ACK! Now I’m getting preachy! The real message is that girls need to pay less attention to fashion and more attention to friendship. Um. YEAH! :)

Thank you so much Alexa for all of your time! You can buy Frenemies at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Frenemies-Alexa-Young/dp/0061175617 and wherever books are sold :)

Wicked by Sara Shepard

This is the fifth book in the series. This book is about what happens after the madness. A is revealed and the girls can go back to being pretty little liars. There is a new A in town though. There basically is a lot about Ian's trial. You might have thought it was over but it has just begun. This book is fabulously amazing with people doubting who they are for real, more cheating, and more lying.

4 out of 5 stars

Poseur by Rachel Maude

This is the first in the private series. The whole book I found sort of confusing and lacking detail. I didnt really like the main character. I couldnt really relate to her. I like the idea of the book though. Its about 4 girls who are put in a class where they start a fashion label. They are all very different which naturally means that there is a difference among the name of their line and the clothes in the line. There are cute sketches throughout and how to's in the back. If you are into fashion this is definitly a book for you. I feel the characters are not developed enough and I feel as though I barely know anything about them.

3 out of 5 stars

Unbelieveable by Sara Shepard

This is the forth book in the series. This is one of my favorite books definitly in my top 5. This is the tell all book. You find out who, what, where, when, and how. You can not miss this book. I read this book in 2 hours. It was so good I couldnt put it down. You will enjoy it too. Spencer has been having flashback, Emily is in Iowa, Hanna is in the hospital, and Aria is living with her dad and his mistress. In this captivating novel, it will have you guessign untill the last minute.

5 out of 5 stars

Perfect by Sarah Shepard

This book is number 3 in the PLL series. It conitnues with the story line. This is a cant miss book in the series. I cant really give a ummary so here is the Amazon version:
In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.

Aria can't resist her forbidden ex. Hanna is on the verge of losing her BFF. Emily is freaking out over a simple kiss. And Spencer can't keep her hands off anything that belongs to her sister.

Lucky me. I know these pretty little liars better than they know themselves. But it's hard keeping all of their secrets to myself. They better do as I say . . . or else!

Good book

4 out of 5 stars

Flawless by Sara Shepard

Flawless is book number 2 in the Pretty Little Liars series. This book the secrets continue. Its a medium sized book. It basically is important with a few key things but doesnt give any answers. Its a good book though.

4 out of 5 stars

Frenemies by Alexa Young

This is the first book in the series. Its a great book about two best friends who have always been together and are finally seeing differently and spreading their wings. I think this book has a theme and a message that we have all been through and I think we all have a frenemy. This is a very quick,easy book.

4 out of 5 stars

Interview with alexa young:
http://teenchicklitterature.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-with-alexa-young.html

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

This is an individual novel. It showcases an ex fattie, Colie, whose mother is famous aerobic queen, Kiki Sparks. She has to stay in Colby, North Carolina with her eccentric aunt Mira. She gets a job at a diner and is befriended by Morgan and Isabelle, two waitresses in their 20s. This is an excellent book, with a slow start it gives an important lesson about self confidence and believing in yourself. This is one of my favorites for sure.

5 out of 5 stars

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

The first novel in PLL series. This book is hard to explain. It starts of on the night that 4 girls and there best friend Alison were together. She then went missing. Now the girls are juniors and spread apart in different groups but one thing the have in common is that they are getting text messages from a person named A. They are being blackmailed with new secrets and old secrets that only Alison knew. This is my favorite book.

Five out of Five stars

Beautiful Disaster by Kate Brian

This is the second novel in Privilege series. This is about Ariana recreating her life at the most prestigious school in the country. She has a new group of girls to become the queen bee of. She has Kaitlynn, her former best friend, blackmailing her for money. I thought this book was really good but I did feel there was something missing like a better climax.

3 out of 5

Privilege by Kate Brian

This is the first book in the Privilege series. Privilege is a spin-off of the Private series with Ariana Osgood as the main character. Ariana escapes from Brenda T. facility and starts her new life. She has a plan to get all the money she can get her hands on and become rich and successful. Her and Kaitlynn are going to have a new life no matter who's life is at stake. This book is good, it is never dull but kind of outlandish.

4 out of 5 stars

Last Christmas by Kate Brian

This is the prequel to the Private series. This is the tell all book. It is about when Ariana and Thomas's love began. It has murder and qualities of a scary movie at parts. This book gives you an insight on Arianna's pov. It was a little slow to read and somewhat boring at parts. I find Reed's pov to be more interesting.

3 out of 5 stars

Paradise Lost by Kate Brian

This is the last book in the Private series untill September 2009. This book is when the Easton crew takes a Christmas vacation to St. Barths' after all the madness has been stopped. There Reed falls for a guy and is tormented by a group of old Billings alum. Someone is still messing with Reed though and she is pretty sure its Poppy, her new fling's old fling. And Reed doesnt want to seem paranoid but some things just make you suspicious. The ending once again is shocking as is a pattern with most Private novels. It has a slow start though. Overall this is a quick, enjoyable read.

4 out of 5 stars

Revelation by Kate Brian

This is the eighth book of the 9 in the Private series. This is the best and most riveting book out of the entire series! In this story Reed has lost it all Billings, Josh, and friends. And to make it worse the blackmailing is becoming worse. Reed needs to find Cheyennes murderer and quick. This thriller will keep you guessing up until the last minute and have you thinking "oh no she didnt!"


5 out of 5

Ambition by Kate Brian

This is the seventh book in the installment of Private. What happened at legacy is supposed to stay there but it doesn't. And with Gwendolyn Hall up in flames Billings is responsible and they have to raise a hefty amount of money. Now someone is following and blackmailing Reed and this is just the beginning. Really a good book. The ending breaks your heart and you feel as if you are Reed.

five out of five stars

Legacy by Kate Brian

This is the sixth book in Private series. Reed is elected Billings new president and receives all the popularity and privileges with it. Cheyenne is dead and now she has a tarnished reputation of Billings to uphold along with getting Easton into this years Legacy party. This party is full of surprises and there are a few along the way. New enemies are met. I liked this book. It was a pretty good friendship book and pretty shocking and kept you guessing.

Four out of five stars

Inner Circle by Kate Brian

This is the fifth installment in the Private novels series. As all the excitement dies down Reed returns to school in this book. This is a very quick read. Reed returns with her love interest Josh to take over the school. With new friends and enemies Reed tries to take control of the Billings house and empower the new girls sent to live in Billings. This book is very dramatic and realistic for teen girls. I enjoyed it. The ending adds a twist.

Four out of Five stars

Confessions by Kate Brian

This book is number 4 out of the 9 books in the private series. This in my opinion is the most captivating and second best book out of the whole series! Everyone at Easton believes the case is closed. Josh Hollis was the murderer, but Reed doesnt believe it was Josh. Reed is trying to put the pieces together and solve who did it. She will stop at nothing to find it out. The clues will make you twist your head and go crazy. This book keeps you guessing and is a real mystery. The murderer's identity will leave you speechless.

Five out of Five stars

Untouchable by Kate Brian

Confessions is third in the Private series. Thomas Pearson is murdered and everyone wants to know who and why. Easton has become different. All the Billings girls are acting strange. Everyone seems to think that Reed's new love interest is the murderer. The plot is very exciting with a twisted ending. This book is when the excitement starts for fans of these novels. This is a key book to the series.

4 and a half out of 5 stars

Invitation Only by Kate Brian

Invitation Only is the second installment in the Private series. Invitation Only shows Reed finally in Billings and tight with the Billings girls, although, she still has to go through the traditional initiation process. Her new roommate blackmails Reed with photos from a party and turns her life upside down. She has two options: she can dig up secrets of the Billings girls who befriended her or she can be expelled. Reed has to decide which is more important friendship or herself. As if that is not enough Thomas is missing and Reed is hoping to find him at the years most legendary party, the Legacy, on Halloween. The only problem is you have to be a legacy or a plus one of a legacy. This is a story of suspence and scandal and surprise. You will be wanting more. This book is shocking and delightful. You will feel as if you attend Easton and embody Reed's emotions. Its a very good story. Just the beginning of more books that will leave you mouth watering.

five out of five stars

Private by Kate Brian

Private is the first novel in the Private series. It takes place at Easton Acadamy in Easton, Connecticut. The story is set around a teen girl named Reed Brennan who comes to Easton on a scholarship to escape her ordinary life and pill popping mother. As she arrives at Easton she realizes that the girls here have done and own it all. She is entranced by a group of girls who she learns are the Billings girls and soon tries to befriend them. These girls make it tough for Reed, make her second guess herself, and work hard to prove that she is worth there friendship. She relizes that is she wants to be anywhere when she grows up Billings is the place to live and she has to become a Billings girl. This story is full of romance and suspence. Overall I believe Reed is a person you can relate to. You will as if her feelings and emotions are your own. I heavily reccomend this book.

FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS

Sarah Dessen/ Author of the month/ June 28,2009

This month's author of the month is Sarah Dessen. Dessen has written a new york times #1 bestseller along with 9 other novels. Her novels are about teenaged girls who readers can easily relate too and are people you meet of the street. I believe her books give you an insight on what the life of some people are and let you experience what her charecters experience. In Dessen's novels you become emotionally attached to the charecters. Her books include Keeping the moon, This Lullaby, Just Listen, That Summer, Lock and Key, Along For the Ride, The Truth About Forever, Dreamland, and Someone like you. Thank you Sarah!

Sarah Dessen's bio: courtesy of SarahDessen.com
I was born in 1970 in Illinois, but all the life I remember I've spent in Chapel Hill, NC. My parents were both professors at the University of North Carolina: my mom is a classicist (which means she knows everything you could ever imagine about myths, Latin, and words) and my dad teaches Shakespeare (which means I'd seen As You Like It about five times by the age of 18.)
I've been writing, in one way or another, for as long as I can remember. I was always a big reader, mostly because my parents were. I used to get frustrated with my mom because she bought me books for Christmas when what I really wanted were the gift my friends got, things like sweaters and jewelry. But I did love to read. When I was eight or nine my parents gave me an old manual typewriter and a little desk in the corner of our den, and I'd sit there and type up my stories. I was the kind of kid that people always sighed over and said, "She has such a wild imagination," which usually meant "I wish Sarah would try to stick to the truth." I have a tendency to embellish: I think it's just a weakness of fiction writers. Once you learn how to make a story better, it's hard not to do it all the time.
In high school, I was lucky enough to have a big group of girlfriends that have really inspired a lot of the stories in my books. I'm still close with my friends from that time, so it's never very hard to put myself back into that place, that voice. Also it doesn't hurt to still be living in my hometown, where it's a given that I'll bump into people I had homeroom with, or guys I had big crushes on, while I'm pumping gas or buying stamps. It makes it hard to leave high school behind entirely, which is a good or bad thing depending on what day you ask me. I attended college at UNC, where I studied creative writing and graduated with a degree in English. (Which means I can quote small parts of many Great Works. Comes in handy occasionally, like at cocktail parties.) I'd been on the five-and-a-half year college plan, and when I graduated my parents were hoping I'd settle down and get a Real Job so they could stop worrying about me. But instead of doing the whole resume/pantyhose thing, I decided to stick to my job waiting tables at the world famous Flying Burrito restaurant and try to publish a novel. At the time, I had only one very bad book I'd written my senior year of college and the beginnings of another one. Luckily, my family was supportive and I spent a few years living in a ramshackle little house where I wrote during the day and did the restaurant thing at night.
Three years after graduating, I sold my first book, That Summer, but it wasn't until a year after that that I got offered a teaching job and left waitressing for good. I still miss it sometimes, though. It was a great job for a writer. Endless conversations to eavesdrop, tons of material, and fast money without ever taking work home. Plus, free Mexican food, the best perk of all. Now, I've published seven books, all for young adults, which you can find more about on this site. I never really intended to be YA writer, but the second book I showed my agent she thought had a strong teenage voice, so she sent it off to an editor at Orchard Books, who bought it. Even though it was in a way accidental, I've found that writing for teens suits me. I do short stories, and other novels, that are for an older audience, but again and again I am brought back to the stories of high school. Maybe it's because so much happened to me then that I'm not finished yet telling everything. My senior quote was from Pink Floyd (okay, I was a bit of a burnout---I spent a lot of time in the parking lot, whatever, let's move on) and it pretty much summed up my future, although I didn't know it at the time. It was: "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say." It turns out that I did.
The books I read when I was teenager, the good ones anyway, have stuck more in my mind than anything since. I still love books, but while I couldn't tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowry's A Summer to Die or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them: I think it's the best thing to which any writer can aspire. I've also been lucky enough to teach writing and see my students find their own voice. Teaching was great for me, because I got to show people how writing can really change the way you see not only yourself but the world. I've found in my own life that if my writing isn't going well, not much else will. It is the one constant, the key to everything else. Now that I'm writing full time, I have my good days and bad days. But I'd rather be doing this, even on the worst days, than anything else.
As far as my other life, my non-writing life, I live in the country with my husband, my daughter, and two very spoiled dogs. I like to work in my garden---although I have not yet perfected the art of keeping everything alive----and, in my weaker moments, shop. I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) What else can I tell you? I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and that's a good thing. It's always more fun to make stuff up anyway.

Reccomend a book to be reviewed

write the name of the book and author in an email to ashocklin8@gmail.com . It has to be in the chicklit category.