Fracture by Megan Miranda

I saw this book while browsing on the Barnes and Noble website a few months ago, and thought it looked relatively interesting, so I placed it on my to-read list. When I found out that Megan Miranda was coming to TBF this year, I was excited to find that she was the author of Fracture, and that I would have to read it for this blog!

Delaney was dead; after being pulled out of an icy lake and revived, her heart hadn’t beat in eleven minutes. But somehow she was able to come back to life. Except now, everything is different. She feels fine, but she has so much brain damage that she should be dead. And in addition to being “the girl who lived,” she now is drawn to the dying --- she can’t resist going to those who are in their last moments. So when she meets Troy, who also has the same abilities that she does, she can’t help but be drawn to him, thinking he might have some of the answers to the questions she’s trying to answer. But Troy isn’t all that he seems to be. Should she listen to him, or should she try to figure things out on her own? And on top of that, will her life ever be the same as before?

When I first went into this, I thought it’d be another typical realistic fiction story. But as I got deeper and deeper into it, I realized that it was so much more. Delaney is a cool narrator, and the dynamics between her and her friends and family are really interesting to watch. On top of that is the whole almost supernatural ability that she and Troy have, which I totally did not expect. The added conflict between the two made the whole book more suspenseful too. If you like realistic fiction, I would totally recommend this book --- sure, it does have a bit of non-realistic stuff in it, but overall, it’s a great novel about a girl and her family and friends.

Check back in a while for our review of Megan Miranda’s new book Hysteria which comes out in a few months. Check out her website at <www.meganmiranda.com>. I hope you’ll stop by to see her at the festival!

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find the book in the Monroe County Library System here.

Hope you received some great gifts...

...and that you asked for them to all be books by our TBF authors! Did you get any? Let us know!

Interview with TBF author: Stephanie Kate Strohm

Stephanie's TBF page 
Get all of Stephanie's books available through the Monroe County Library System here.

Hello everyone!

ROC the day was very successful! Thank you to everyone who donated to TBF and the other non-profit organizations!

I'm so excited to present to you, readers, Stephanie Kate Strohm! She is the author of Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink about a teen fashionista, Libby, solving mysteries, flirting with cute guys and looking fabulous, of course! The sequel, Confederates Don't Wear Couture hits the shelves Summer 2013.

Miranda Reads: Libby, the heroine in Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, loves history and fashion. Do you have the same love for history and fashion?
Stephanie Kate Strohm: History and fashion are two of my favorite things - which makes fashion history probably my most favorite thing! I was a history major in college (focus on women in 19th century America), and I spent inordinate amounts of "research" time reading 1850s fashion magazines - just for fun. Consequently, my early drafts all have ridiculously long descriptions of everyone's outfits - like pages and pages that have to be edited out! Apparently, not everyone wants to read endless paragraphs about buttons. But if anyone ever wants to talk about antebellum sleeve detailing or the evolution of pantaloons, just let me know.

MR: Can you tell us what Confederates Don't Wear Couture is about?
SKS: Confederates Don’t Wear Couture follows Libby and her BFF Dev down to Alabama where they spend the summer at a series of Civil War Reenactments. So lots of hoopskirts, hardtack, and handsome boys in uniform. And of course, it wouldn't be a Libby summer without a ghost out for revenge!

MR: How many books are you planning to have in the Pilgrim series?
SKS: Definitely three...beyond that, it's still kind of up in the air!


MR: What was it like traveling to different states to perform in plays? Did you have to wear a corset?
SKS: A theater tour is a very strange, unique experience. It is very cool to be able to see so much of the country, and I'd never performed on such big stages before - sometimes as many as 6,000 seats! But after a while, you get tired of living in hotels and constantly driving around. And I have spent way more time in a corset than the average 21st century woman. Actually, the first time I was laced into one, I passed out! Faceplanted in the dressing room during a costume fitting. Now, however, I'm a corset pro - I can spend all day in one. Spending three summers at Shakespeare festivals will really build up your corset stamina.  

MR: Which novel of Jane Austen is your favorite? Why?
SKS: Emma. Although my favorite has changed over the years. When I was writing Pilgrims, it was, no surprise, Northanger Abbey. But after recently rereading all the Austens, I found my affections had switched back to my first favorite - Emma. Why Emma? Emma is the heroine I identify the most with. Sure, we'd all like to be Elizabeth Bennett, but I am most definitively...not.

MR: What author are you most looking forward to meeting at the 8th annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival?
SKS: I'm really looking forward to meeting Robin LaFevers - we have the same publisher, but we've never met! And she obviously loves history too, so I think we'll have a lot to talk about!

Thank you, Stephanie for taking some time to chat with me! To learn more about Stephanie, go to her website or her Facebook page.

Enjoy the holidays, everyone!

Miranda

PS--If you happen to be in the village of Fairport, you definitely want to check out the newly re-done YA area! It's gorgeous!

The TBF giveaway winner is....

Amy!

Congratulations! Amy, please email me at mirandareadsfortbf@gmail.com so you can get your TBF $10 gift certificate. Thank you for those who participated!

Make sure you check out the blog again for the next giveaway!

If you haven't already, take a look at the interview with TBF author, Susane Colasanti!

Miranda

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

I’ve been wanting to read Alexandra Bracken’s first novel Brightly Woven for years, but I’d been unable to find it in any library. So when I heard that she was coming to TBF and that I’d finally be able to read her books, I was very excited. On top of all that, I got to read an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of her newest novel The Darkest Minds, which comes out next Tuesday, December 18^th. And I am delighted to say that I was in no way disappointed.

Most of the children in the US are dead. Some say those are the lucky ones. If that’s the case, then Ruby is far from lucky. When she woke up on her 10^th birthday, amidst the deaths of her classmates from a mysterious illness, something about her had changed. Something terrible enough that she her parents had the police take her away. Now 16, she lives in a government camp, along with other surviving children, all of whom display uncanny powers --- and the stronger their powers are, the more dangerous it is. Ruby has disguised herself for years as someone with little power, but someone has figured out her secret. So when she is offered the chance to escape, she takes it. But these new “friends” might not be what they appear. Will she be able to get to East River, the one safe place there is for children outside the camps? And if she can find it, will Ruby be able to get there in time?

This book is honestly one of my favorite I’ve read this year, out of the hundreds that I’ve read. And to top that off, I’d rank The Darkest Minds as one of the top five dystopian books I’ve ever read as well.  I’m not sure whether it’s the beautifully descriptive writing or the totally fleshed out characters. Maybe it’s the fact that I (as my friend put it after she read it) “suffered emotional trauma at the hands of this book.” (Yes, trauma in the most amazing way.) It might also be the fact that this is not your typical dystopian read --- it has more sci-fi aspects and is a type of coming of age story on top of that. There’s just so many good things packed into this nearly 500 page book, and yet it doesn’t overwhelm the reader.

So yes, this is one of my favorite books now, and I cannot WAIT to meet Alexandra Bracken in May. She’s also written Brightly Woven (check back for a review soon!), and she’s working on the sequel to The Darkest Minds, which I am looking forward to. Look at her website, http://www.alexandrabracken.com/, and follow her on Twitter and Tumblr. (The links for both are on her website.) I’m so excited, and I hope you are too, that Alexandra Bracken will be at the festival in May!

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find all of Alexandra's books in the Monroe County Library System here.

ROC the Day!

Don't forget to ROC the Day tomorrow!! TBF depends upon the generosity of people. No matter how small the donation. It all matters. We know that for many of you, spending money in order to be able to attend events like TBF would be impossible. Unfortunately, fab events like this cost money in order for them to happen. That's why its so important, for those of us who are able to, to support this event. Please make it possible!!! 
Thanks everyone!

Interview with TBF author: Susane Colasanti

Susane's TBF page
Get all of Susane's books available through the Monroe County Library System here.

Hello readers!

I'm excited to post the first author interview of the year: Susane Colasanti. She is the author of Keep Holding On, the book Elizabeth reviewed. For more info about Susane's other novels, check out her website.

Miranda Reads: Most of your books are in the contemporary genre. Have you thought about writing a book outside of the contemporary genre?
Susane Colasanti: Not at all. Realistic contemporary fiction is my thing! I love the feeling of totally being able to relate to the story and characters when I’m reading. The books that resonate most strongly with me have characters that feel like they could be my friends. Their life feels like my life. That sense of connection brings a cathartic experience and helps me feel less alone. Historical or futuristic novels could accomplish the same goals, but I don’t seem to relate to them as authentically as books taking place right now.

MR:If you could marry one fictional character, who would it be? Why?
SC: Ponyboy Curtis from The Outsiders. Because he understands about sunsets and colors and things. Enough said.

MR:I love the chemistry between your characters. Are you a fan of romance novels?
SC: Epic love stories are my fave. I’m obsessed with soul mates. How they feel that immediate, undeniable connection the second they meet. How they can’t stop thinking about each other. How they always find a way to be together in the end, despite conflict. Writing about soul mates just makes me happy. Hopefully, my books inspire readers to believe in true love.

MR: Where do you get your ideas from?
SC: Ideas come from everywhere. Lots of ideas are inspired by my own experiences. Keep Holding On is my most autobiographical book yet. Much of what happens to Noelle actually happened to me in high school. Same with When It Happens. Sara is a lot like my high school self. Including quirky details from real life is always fun. Sara’s stuffed koala bear, Chez, is real. You can find a lot of cool New York City details in So Much Closer and Take Me There that are real. Some ideas come from dreams. The plot of Something Like Fate came to me in a dream. Right when I woke up, I knew I would develop the dream into my next book. The relationship dynamic between Rhiannon and James in Take Me There also came to me in a dream. And of course plenty of ideas come from my imagination!

MR: Sadly, your favorite TV show, The Office, is ending. What are you planning on watching now?
SC: Dude. The end of The Office is so tragic I can’t even. I’m completely in denial. Last season without Michael Scott was not the same. Not at all. I’m scared to watch this season. I don’t have a TV, so I’m always a season behind. But there is a party up in my Netflix queue! I developed an instant addiction to New Girl. Then there’s Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Breaking Bad, Modern Family, Parenthood (which brings some relief over the tragedy of Friday Night Lights ending), Gossip Girl, Girls, Glee, Fringe, Homeland…so much to watch. Nothing will ever replace the magic of Jam, but I have to move forward.

MR: What author are you most looking forward to meeting at the 8th annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival?
SC: Everyone I haven’t already met! I have serious love for book festivals. Not only do I get to meet readers, which is the best thing ever, but so many amazing authors are gathered in one place. This year’s TBF will be epic.

Thank you Susane for your time to answer some interview questions! The TBF readers, Elizabeth and I are looking forward to meeting you!

Miranda

Giveaway!!

Good news: Elizabeth and I are extending the giveaway for $10 in TBF merchandise. The new deadline will be December 12th the same day as "Roc the Day". To enter the giveaway, in the comment box, tell us one thing you are thankful for about TBF.

Question: What is "Roc the Day"?

Answer: It's an online fundraiser to help raise money for different not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Rochester area.TBF will be on the not-for-profit organizations list. All the money that is donated to TBF will go toward the 8th annual Teen Book Festival Fundraiser challenge: if we can raise $8,888 the entire TBF committee will have to wear prom dresses at the festival. So December 12th, "Roc the Day" and help TBF and other not-for-profit organizations!

For more information go to the website: http://www.roctheday.org/

Come back to check out the blog again for another book review!

Miranda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Sixth grade is a hard year, as Tommy and his friends know, fraught with social and academic problems. Lately, they’ve been asking Origami Yoda, their loser classmate Dwight’s finger puppet, for advice. And almost every single time, it seems that Origami Yoda was right; and Dwight obviously isn’t behind it, what with the way he acts. But Tommy has a BIG question that he needs to know the answer to --- and soon!  So he decides to compile a case file of all the questions asked to Origami Yoda, to see if he should take its advice. What will he decide?

I do not like many middle grade novels, but I absolutely LOVED Origami Yoda. This book is just so much fun! The characters, and the situations, are completely realistic. I originally read this when I was in 9^th grade, so middle school was still fresh on my mind, and I loved how the book took me right back to there. Everybody says middle school is horrible, but it really isn’t, and this book really reminds you of it. Sure, there are the minor mishaps that seem like the end of the world, and this book has plenty of them, but Origami Yoda ultimately reminds you that everything will turn out fine in the end. And to top that off, there are sequels! Two of them, in fact. Check back in a few weeks to see reviews of them.

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find all the books by Tom available in the Monroe County Library System here.

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Hey guys,

So I checked out the TBF Facebook page to see our progress of  the TBF Facebook challenge and I was very pleased to see 737 "likes". Yay, you guys are doing an awesome job! I love seeing the number of "likes" but I would love even more if we could see the TBF Committee dance Gangnam style at the festival. In order to see the Committee dance, we need 763 more "likes". If we manage to reach our Facebook challenge by 1/1/13, it's possible that someone might record it and put it on YouTube....tempting isn't it? So we need those 763 "likes" by 1/1/13, that's less than 2 months!

One of the many things I like about Thanksgiving is thinking of all the things I'm grateful for. I know Elizabeth and I are grateful for TBF because we've become friends and made new friends in the Rochester area, thanks to TBF. For the first giveaway of the year, tell us what you're thankful for about TBF by posting a comment. The giveaway ends 12/4/12 and only one person will recieve a gift card for $10 to spend on TBF merchandise. Note, that the gift card can only be used the day of the festival, 5/19/13 and cannot be used for books, only TBF merchandise. Over the years, there have been a lot of cool things like a TBF T-shirt, bag and more!

Alright, back to my book review for the week. I recently read Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm, a debuting author. One of my favorite movies is Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. I can see a similiarity between Elle Woods and Libby Kelting, the main character in the book. Take a look:

 Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.

In Legally Blonde and Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, other characters underestimate the heroine's intelligence because they're into designer labels. What I love about these fabulous heroines is that they will prove other characters wrong. Even when people admit they misjudged her, Elle and Libby are still nice to them. I think Libby would be a perfect role model because she is kind and friendly and has a passion for history.

I recommend Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink to readers who want a quick, easy read and like laugh-out-loud hilarious books.

So add this to your "to-read" list. After reading Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink and you're craving for more Libby Kelting (that is a promise!), do not fear, the sequel, Confederates Don't Wear Couture next Summer. If you want to know more about Stephanie Kate Strohm, check out her Facebook page.

Enjoy the vacation!

Miranda

Find all Stephanie's books available in the Monroe County Library System here.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

I’d been meaning to read The Adoration of Jenna Fox for months, if not years. Every once in a while it would pop up unexpectedly as I was either perusing Barnes & Noble or looking through the library. The time finally came to read it for this blog, & I’m really happy that I finally did.

Jenna Fox has been in a coma for eighteen months. When she awakes, she finds herself surrounded by her family --- but she can’t remember them, or really anything else about her life before. As the days pass, she only comes to remember what she is told, like how she loved ballet, as well as small snippets of memories. But as the weeks wear on, Jenna realizes that something is not right. Her parents won’t tell her what’s wrong, so she decides to find out for herself what it is. But once she does, how will she deal with the knowledge and its impact?

I really, really loved this book. When it begins, the story feels very quaint --- you know it’s a modern book and that the story takes place in the future, but it has this familiar, yet unique, feeling to it. Jenna was very interesting as a character; she knows nothing about herself at the beginning of the novel, so as a reader, it was cool to journey with her, learning about her as she learns about herself. And on top of that all, there are themes in this book! Whenever I find a YA book with themes it makes me incredibly happy. The Adoration of Jenna Fox’s themes became more evident as the story played out (I won’t give any spoilers), and made me actually think about the subjects brought up. 

I would definitely recommend The Adoration of Jenna Fox to anyone needing a new series. There are two more books in the trilogy, and we’ll be reviewing them here later on. You can visit Mary E. Pearson at her website http://www.marypearson.com/ , & follow her on Twitter as well. I hope you’ll come see her at the festival in May!

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find all the books by Mary that are available in the Monroe County Library System here.

Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

Hey guys!

Good news: we’re making progress on the Facebook challenge! We currently have 715 “likes”. But don’t stop now. We still need 785 “likes” if we want the TBF Committee to dance Gangnam style at the opening assembly. The Facebook challenge ends 1/1/13! That’s less than 2 months! Please spread the word to your friends and family. You could post something on their wall about it.

During the long weekend, I stayed home and read all day. I just finished reading Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks. This will appeal to readers who like manga and graphic novels. Even if you're not interested in graphic novels, never judge a book just by looking at it. At first, I wasn’t really keen on the idea of looking at drawings/pictures and "read". But as I began to read more graphic novels and manga, I was obsessed. I love how they’re quick, short, easy reads. As a visual person, I felt like I'm watching a movie. Instead of reading how the character felt, I could exactly see the emotion.

With that being said, take a look at Friends With Boys:

A coming-of-age tale with a spooky twist!

Maggie McKay hardly knows what to do with herself. After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and rough-housing with her older brothers, it’s time for Maggie to face the outside world, all on her own. But that means facing high school first. And it also means solving the mystery of the melancholy ghost who has silently followed Maggie throughout her entire life. Maybe it even means making a new friend—one who isn’t one of her brothers.

Funny, surprising, and tender, Friends with Boys is a pitch perfect YA graphic novel full of spooky supernatural fun.

Even though it can be “spooky”, Faith Erin Hicks does a brilliant job keeping the audience entertained. And the drawings are so unique and different! She’s definitely talented, folks. She draws better than I do by a long shot.

Thanksgiving break is just around the corner, so stop at your local library and catch up on some reading. Make sure you check out Friends With Boys along with Faith Erin Hicks’s other graphic novels; The War on Ellsmere and Zombies Calling.

Miranda

Find all of Faith's books available in the Monroe County Library System here.

Every Day by David Levithan

I saw this book in the new section at my local library a few months ago & decided that I needed to take it out; after all, my friends have been bugging me for months to read David Levithan’s books. So I said what the heck, & I got it, & boy am I glad I did.

Every single day of his life, A has woken up in a new person’s body. He’s always been that way, and over the years, although he hasn’t come to like it, he’s grown to accept his difference. A’s learned to keep his distance from others --- if he doesn’t make friends, it won’t hurt to leave them at the end of the day. He’s abided by this one rule until the day he wakes up in Justin’s body and meets Justin's girlfriend Rhiannon. She’s unlike anyone else he’s ever met, & despite himself, A falls in love with her. After he leaves Justin’s body that night, he can’t get Rhiannon out of his mind, and he decides to try to find her again. But if A changes bodies every day, how could he ever hope to make her love him back?

I LOVED Every Day. I’ve read other books that Levithan has co-written, so I knew a bit what his style was like, but I loved reading a whole that he’d written by himself. In Every Day, I felt such a great connection with A. I think what appealed to me the most was that he has to try to figure out every single day who he is, over and over and over --- and what teen does not feel that extremely often?

Overall, Every Day is a book that I love & would totally recommend. You can visit David Levithan’s website here.This will be David Levithan’s third time at TBF (he came in 2007 and 2009), and I am extremely excited to meet him in May.

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find all of David's books that are available in the Monroe County Library System here.

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Hello readers!

Quick reminder to Facebook users: if we get 1500 "likes", the entire TBF committee will have to dance Gangnam style at the opening assembly in front everyone including our 2013 writing celebrities! Click here if you have no idea what Gangnam style is http://www.youtube.com/user/officialpsy
If you want to see our very own Stephanie Squicciarini dance Gangnam style, "like" the Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/friends/organize?source=feed_action#!/pages/Greater-Rochester-Teen-Book-Festival/165678353823?fref=ts
Currently, we only have 654 "likes" and need 846 "likes". We need your help so spread the word to your friends, family, classmates, teachers and local librarians.

For TBF 2013, Kate Brian will be joining us! She is a "New York Best-Selling Author" of the Private and Privilege series. Attention to all Pretty Little Liars fans: You will fall in LOVE with Shadowlands as well as the Private and Privilege series.

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

One of the many things I like about this book is the thrill and suspense. I jumped right into it within the first chapter. Since Kate Brian's writing is really well written, I actually feel like I'm Rory. On the vacation island, Juniper Landing, things are very fishy. There happens to be no mail, newsletters and Internet connection. The vacationers and residents are pretty suspicious too, hiding secrets and lying to save themselves. I must admit that being at Juniper Landing was like being in the Twilight Zone. When I finished, I was dying to know when the sequel to Shadowlands will be out.

Unfortunately, Shadowlands is not coming out until January 8th, 2013. In the meantime, you should check out Kate Brian's Private and Privilege series http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Kate-Brian/20269767

Be sure to check out the blog to see some author interviews and giveaways!

Miranda

Find all of Kate's books that are available in the Monroe County Library System here.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStephano review

I first read Wither almost two years ago. I picked it up off of the “New” shelf at my local library, read it within a few days, and positively loved it. So I was oh-so-happy to find out that I needed to re-read it for our TBF blog.

Rhine is sixteen, only four years away from the certain death that genetic experiments brought upon humans a generation ago. Now all women die at age twenty, and men at twenty-five. Rhine, like many other teenagers, has been kidnapped by Gatherers and sold to a rich family in order to marry its heir and produce children. Rhine finds herself in a totally new world, filled with luxuries and excess, so different from the hunger and fear that she and her twin brother were familiar with. But this new world also denies her freedom. All Rhine wants to do is to escape this prison and be reunited with her brother, and Gabriel, one of the servants whom she forms an attachment to, might be able to help her. But even with his help, how will they manage to escape?

Wither is a scary, awesome (as well as scarily awesome) book. I personally loved it, precisely because it deals with such a terrifying idea. Although our world probably won’t end up like Rhine’s did, it’s still a harrowing possibility to think about. Wither was such a great book not only because it imagined such a horrible world (especially, I think, for female readers), but also because this book is also literary. The first time I read it, Wither seemed to be just another dystopian sci-fi book. After reading it again, the themes (especially of freedom) really hit home with me. Rhine is also incredibly strong and beautiful in her thoughts, and is extremely capable of being profound.She's the kind of heroine I really like, precisely because she thinks, and the reader can see her thinking as the story goes on.

Wither is the first book in the Chemical Garden trilogy. The second book, Fever, is already out and the third book, Sever, comes out early next year. (Check back in a while to see our reviews of them!) This is Lauren DeStefano’s first time at TBF, and you can find her on the web at www.laurendestefano.com/ . I hope you’ll come hear her speak in May!

Happy reading!

Elizabeth

Find all Lauren's books available in the Monroe County Library System here.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Hey readers!

Happy Halloween! For those who think they're "too old" for trick-or-treating, there's a book to keep you company; The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Here's a description:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

I have to admit that I loved Hadley and Oliver right off the bat. They're so perfect for each other that I think Edward and Bella have some competition for the "YA Perfect Couple" award. At one point in the story, an elderly woman said to the couple, "...when you're young and in love, a seven-hour plane ride can seem like a lifetime..." and she was definitely right. It was incredible that Hadley and Oliver had just met because the connection was so strong and believable. I was easily convinced that it was true love. One of the many things I liked about the book was that it's not all about "love at first sight" but a second chance in love. Jennifer Smith expresses very positively that having a second chance can be just as powerful as the first.

I highly recommend The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight for those who like a quick, easy read. You have nothing to fear. Just enjoy the thrills and chills of love at first sight.

To check out more of Jennifer Smith's incredible tales of love,  go to her website http://www.jenniferesmith.com/

Miranda

Find all of Jennifer's books available in the Monroe County Library System here.