Amanda

I don't know, Tally seemed really passive in this one, for all the running around and fighting that happens. I was really uncomfortable with the cutting, and the semi-glamorization of it (thought this isn't something I have a background in). Also, Tally's decision in the end disappointed me, both who she went with and where she went.

I really liked this – I've read the whole series before, but I started a reread and now feel compelled to finish it. Two things about the end (and therefore spoilers): 1) I really like that Tally was gonna go with Zane over David, because I get tired of the first boy in a YA book being the main character's One Twoo Love. 2) It was really unfair of Maddy to blame Tally for Zane's brain damage. Like, if the pills had to be taken together, maybe you should PUT THAT IN THE DIRECTIONS. Even a pretty could understand that.

I love Jane Austen and all, but this one is just kind of weird. I don't really care for any of the characters; the Crawfords are entirely unsuitable, considering what happens (kind of abruptly) in the last few chapters, but at least they have some personality. I don't know if Edmund is meant to be Mr. Collins Light, but he really is. Also, he and Fanny are cousins, which is still pretty gross.

Anecdotal historical fluff about royal mistresses. If there's such a thing as beach-reading history, this is it.

I want to reread this already. I loved the stories in two timelines (which makes it sound like Lost, but I can't think of a better way to put it, and I REALLY loved the Griggs/Taylor relationship (and all of Taylor's friends, really, especially Raffy). This book wasn't at all what I was expecting from the blurb, which is good, because it's so much better.

I liked this, but I don't know if I'll reread, which is usually the sign of a book I really liked. I was glad that it was more about friendship and moving on than typical chicklit (which, fairly or not, I think is more about romantic relationships). The “derby = life” metaphor got a little overworked for me by the end, and some of the minor characters needed some more development, but overall, I'd recommend it.

P.G. Wodehouse makes me happy.

I kind of wish this hadn't ended with a boy happening. But other than that, as someone who's been in a lot of geek subcultures, not everyone in there is a diamond in the rough. It's kind of nice to see that.

Ending seems a little abrupt, but I'm not sure that's the authors' fault.

I wanted this to be longer. I really liked it, and thought the main character's journey was interesting (and it's nice to see a sympathetic “mean girl”-type character, since they're usually villains). I guess I'd liked to have seen a little more dealing with the fallout, though.

Incredibly well-constructed. I always get really confused with time-travel plotlines, but this actually made perfect sense to me. I figured out who was doing the traveling pretty early on, but since I'm probably twice the age of the target audience, I shouldn't be too proud of that. Loved it, love all the Wrinkle in Time references, and yeah.

Really liked this one. It's not perfect, but it's foulmouthed and funny and definitely an entertaining read. (Um, for sensitive readers, I am not kidding about foulmouthed. But if you're a sensitive reader, why are you reading John Green and David Levithan anyway?)

Loved it. The style took me a while to get used to, and I really preferred his narrative to the letters, but god. Amazing and disturbing and sometimes hard to read, but excellent.

Amazing YA fantasy. Very well-written and excellently plotted.

So, I'm assuming this is the second book of a trilogy, because this didn't resolve anything, it just ended. I liked most of the characters, just like I did in the first one, but I thought the Marlene arc came from nowhere and the entire book needed more Mrs. Amberson. (And less Eric, even though he was barely in it. Yes, I hold grudges against fictional characters.) Basically, I did like this, even though this review sounds pretty negative. I love most of the characters, but the plot needed some work.

Quick read, but a lot of fun. Don't know how it would go over with people who aren't Columbus fans, but luckily, I am. Wish the pictures had been in color and there had been a little more original material, since the majority of the book is reprints of columns published online during the season. Overall, though, I enjoyed this and it made me really hope MLS comes back on schedule.

Spoiler: Columbus wins!

I liked the narrator, but everything that the reviews on the first page say about the girl characters is true. Maybe I'm going easier on this book because I've read way more un-feminist YA books (I am still mad that I read [b:Cycler 2970898 Cycler Lauren McLaughlin http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255632240s/2970898.jpg 3001136], yes). I enjoyed this, though, and I can see this book being a jumping-off point for readers to find the music and books that are mentioned in it. I don't know if I'll re-read or not, but it was worth the time.Random side note: this was published in 2006, but no one has a cell phone?

I liked this, though I don't know if it'll be a reread like [b:Prep 9844 Prep A Novel Curtis Sittenfeld http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166071934s/9844.jpg 2317177] is for me. I like Alice as a character, and was able to separate her from Laura Bush, but Charlie was always George W. Bush no matter what, and I think my feelings about him got in the way of my being able to appreciate the actual character. Alice is essentially passive, which gets frustrating, but the book acknowledges that.

My least favorite E. Lockhart, but since she's my favorite YA author, an average E. Lockhart book is still excellent.

Not as good as [b:Suite Scarlett 2328841 Suite Scarlett Maureen Johnson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255725165s/2328841.jpg 2335405], but better than [b:Girl at Sea 357105 Girl at Sea Maureen Johnson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174060733s/357105.jpg 1428079]. I do wish Ginny was more developed as a character beyond the whole envelope thing, but I overall liked this one.

Cute and sweet, but a little too young for me – we'll ignore that I'm 26 and reading YA in the first place. I liked the world, and I kind of liked that it didn't explain too much about itself and just let the reader catch up. I liked this book a lot, but I didn't love it.

I read this over the summer, I think, and remember next to nothing about it. It wasn't bad, really, but it was pretty average. [a:Maureen Johnson 10317 Maureen Johnson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1197703391p2/10317.jpg] has written much better.

I wanted to like this more than I did, but it suffered in comparison to Nick and Norah. The Ely/Bruce relationship is cute and sweet and the best part of this book, but I couldn't really relate to Naomi. The alternating narrators work well, though I wasn't sure about adding the third-party narrators (like Robin).

I wanted to rate this higher because it's such an interesting concept, but I can't in good faith, because the actual book is a total disappointment. It's essentialist, bi-phobic, and not even well-written (if I read “deeply” or “mal” one more time I was gonna throw something, and seriously, YA authors, stop trying to create your own slang – it didn't work for the Babysitters Club and it won't work for you). I wanted this book to be so much more than it was, but no one is really developed as a character (least of all the parents), and I didn't like any of the main characters enough to care what happened to them.

And for the record? 5'9” and 118 pounds is not “voluptuous” or whatever the narrator describes Ramie as. It is EMACIATED. It's an aside, but it bugged me for the rest of the book.

Maureen Johnson is hit or miss for me, but this was a definite hit, and my favorite book of hers. I like the setting and the family dynamic (and Scarlett's brother is a great character). I know there's a sequel coming out soon, and I'll definitely be reading it. Overall, nothing earth-shattering, but light and cute and a lot of fun.ETA: reread this February 2010 after reading [b:Scarlett Fever 6138539 Scarlett Fever Maureen Johnson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256408513s/6138539.jpg 6317320].