The Day After, an Amazon Short by Hannah R. Goodman

I like this author's two YA novels so had to read her short story. Here Ms. Goodman explores the abusive high school relationship. Each party blames him/herself and they alternately attract and repel each other. The story takes place at the girl's home when the boy brings flowers for her birthday, but flashes back to earlier moments in their manic love/hate relationship. Goodman's writing, alive with description, shows a girl, without a clear model as her parents "stay together" for her sake, who falls for a boy in the care of his grandmother when his own parents split literally and figuratively. The girl has honors classes and rehearsals, while her guy speaks with pride of being a skater punk and uses mood-altering substances. As I've noted in other Goodman works, she masterfully handles character development. Readers of any age can't help but relate to the feelings evoked or situations described. At 16, we either were these people or we knew them. As with Goodman's novels about Maddie, I can't wait to read more of her short stories.

My Summer Vacation by Hannah R. Goodman

Years ago, in a Children's Lit class, I gave a presentation on kid's books, from picture books through YA, that dealt with the theme of death. I wish I'd had this book then. My Summer Vacation is a "must read" for parents, teachers, librarians, grief counselors, and anyone else who may have to make recommendations or help a kid work through a devastating loss. That point aside, it's a great read. Ms. Goodman's descriptive writing brings scenes to life, and her adroit character development makes us care for and/or identify with Maddie, her friends, and their situations. The secondary themes, such as that of teen drama over boyfriend/girlfriend issues, and the interesting handling of a boy with Tourette's Syndrome, make this book eminently accessible to teens, and adults who recall those years. There's humor here, too, rounding out a multi-faceted story that can proudly follow Goodman's first Maddie installment, My Sister's Wedding.

My Sister's Wedding by Hannah R. Goodman

I can count on one hand the number of books I've read twice. I recently finished a third reading of My Sister's Wedding before moving on to Ms. Goodman's second Maddie book, My Summer Vacation. Since that one moved me to write a review I thought any book that keeps me returning to it deserves a review, as well. As evidenced by its impressive list of awards, this is a formidable first book that showcases a new talent in Young Adult fiction. Goodman has given us a main character we can like and route for. More importantly, Maddie, her family, and her friends are people with whom we all - young or old - can identify. Who hasn't experienced teen peer pressure? Who doesn't have a little dysfunction in his or her family? Who hasn't been touched by alcoholism, or doesn't know someone who has. This book's themes are serious, timely, and handled with a loving parent's sensitive touch. Yet, there is humor here, too, as in the way Maddie consults self-help books, or her commentary on events like her dissatisfaction with a bridesmaid's dress, or the prominent location of a zit. Who can't relate to that? Teachers and counselors, as well as parents need to be familiar with My Sister's Wedding. It should be on school library shelves and recommended reading in teen alcohol programs, or just read by those of us interested in a good story, well written.

So Many Books, So Little Time

Amazon.com knows me, probably better than my kids. They send e-mails when they think they have a book (or CD) I might want. They send these e-mails frequently and are usually correct. Don't tell Amazon that I still hang out in bookstores, and libraries sometimes, too. The virtual world will never recreate the sights, sounds, textures, and smells of being surrounded by real books - thousands of them. There was no internet when, as an early grade schooler, my uncle took me along to the library where I couldn't narrow my choices. I practically cleared a shelf before he promised I could return with him every two weeks. I can get lost for hours in bookstores. Browsing takes half the "hours" and the other half is spent promising myself I can return in order to force a purchasing decision. My daughter used to try to distract me as we walked past mall bookstores. She'd hope I wouldn't notice the entrance so I could remain focused on her priorities. Currently, my most frequented Rhode Island bookstores are Barrington Books, and Borders at Providence Place Mall. However, my all-time favorite bookstore is a recent discovery and too far away. You'll find Elliott Bay Book Company near Pioneer Square in Seattle. It's the best bookstore ever and a reason to relocate. The store goes on forever, and once you've made a purchase you can take it downstairs to their cafe and start enjoying it with a beverage and snack. I will never live long enough to even make a dent in all the novels, essay/short story collections, and non-fiction works that constitute my ever-increasing mental list. My pile - actual and virtual - is limitless, like some kind of surreal, Alice In Wonderlandish stack teetering precariously into infinity. For the most part, reviews and recommendations send this pile soaring even higher, but occasionally help to cull, or at least keep a title from becoming another book in the load. With my next post, I'll begin to share reviews of my own which will probably add to the lists and piles of others, and occasionally warn someone away from a dud. That is if anyone actually ever reads this stuff.