Random Reads

Rolling On The Floor Laughing

These books will make you roll on the floor with laughter. Don't be surprised if you cry tears from laughing so hard.

Happy Chuckling!

Project Sweetlife by Bart Hartlinger

A funny and refreshing tale about a group of 15 year old boys who will do anything so they don't have to work summer jobs. Dave is looking forward to his last summer of complete freedom. Everyone knows that fifteen year olds can work if they have to, but its optional. Dave's father (who's best friends with Dave's 2 other friends' fathers) decides he has to get a summer job. Dave's friends are also forced to get summer jobs. Instead of doing just that, they calculate how much money they would need to convince their parents they actually worked all summer. Trouble finds this trio as they concoct hilarious scheme after scheme to find money. I read this book and ROTFL.

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot

This was my favorite Princess Mia book to date. I can't believe Meg Cabot will end the series with the last and final tenth book! In Princess Mia, we see another side to Mia. Following her break-up with Michael, Mia is depressed. I mean seriously depressed. While not suicidal, she is perfectly content to lay in bed all day watching reruns and shows like I Wore Lipstick to my Masectomy. And she started eating meat. After a week of depression, her father sends her to a cowboy therapist who is the leading psychologist in adolescent behavior. Her best friend Lily (Michael's brother) still isn't speaking to her which further depresses Mia. In a drastic turn of events, she begins hanging out with Lana Wineberger of all people. I mean seriously, what is the world coming to. This novel shows Mia's true spirit and resilience as she finally develops a backbone and readers will seriously miss her by novel's end. After reading this novel, I wanted to have lunch at Albert Einstein High School with Lana, Tina Hakim Babba, and the rest of the crowd.

P.S. The only reason I kept saying "seriously" is because that is Mia's favorite word.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

This novel is the male version of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Capricorn Anderson lives with his Grandmother Rain on a commune where he's homeschooled. Secluded from the real world for 13 years, Cap has no idea of life on the outside. He has no concept of 911, television, and oblvious that you actually need a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. When Rain falls and breaks her hip, she must enter rehab for a brief period. Nowhere to go, Cap lives with a former member of the commune who has since turned their back on that lifestyle. Cap enters public school where he instantly becomes a target for bullying except he doesn't even realize he's being made fun of. The novel is a great and funny read with a hilarious ending that is sure to please everyone.

The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie's first novel for young adults is getting rave reviews and deservedly so. Junior lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation and makes a radical decision to attend a different school in town. Feeling that he is a trader, his fellow Indians begin to treat him like an outsider. His new school offers insight into a different world and Junior struggles to adopt to his new surroundings. The novel has various illustrations throughout which only add to the overall comedy and reality of the story. Highly recommend to readers looking for something a little different.

Lobsterland by Susan Carlton

Charlotte lives on a tourist island off the coast of Maine and she'll do anything to escape in order to attend boarding school. Everyday she's responsible for catching the ferry and taking her two younger siblets to daycare and then getting herself to school. Her parents seem like they're from a totally different era, either that or they're just plain crazy. The one person she'll absolutely miss is her longtime boyfriend Noah who has been her friend/boyfriend since like forever. An easy, breezy read meant for the beach.

Princess on the Brink by Meg Cabot

Say it ain't so! Michael is going to Japan for an entire year to develop his procedure involving open heart surgery. Sure many people's lives may be saved but what about Mia? How is she going to cope for an entire year without seeing him or smelling his neck? Mia is in full crisis mode as she develops a plan to keep Michael stateside. Will she finally give Michael her precious gift? Or will she find another way to persuade Michael to stay in New York? Things, as usual, don't go according to plan and readers will be absolutely stunned in the final pages of Princess on the Brink. Who will Mia turn to now that her boyfriend and best friend are angry with her? I surely don't know but can't wait until the next installment of the Princess Diaries to see what develops...

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

Meet seventeen year old Vince Luca. He is your typical teenager except for one thing, his father is a huge mob boss and Vince wants nothing to do with the business. The only thing is that his father's lifestyle is infiltrating Vince's life. For example, Vince is always getting good grades because teachers are afraid to fail him in fear of retaliation from his father. Vince goes out for the football team but nobody will tackle him because they're afraid that Vince's dad will whack them. In one particularly funny scene, Vince is on a date, at the beach, and coming close to getting lucky. When he goes to his car to get out a blanket, he discovers an unconscious body left over from his brother Tommy. He even lands in jail when his birthday present Porsche turns out to be stolen. Vince finally meets a nice girl but the problem is that her dad is an FBI agent trying to bring down Vince's mobster family. This book will have you laughing out loud and don't be surprised if people look at you funny when you burst out with laughter.

Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle by Gordon Korman

Vince Luca has decided to attend college in Santa Monica as a film major. He is excited to finally be on his own and away from his family. But is he? He is still dating the FBI agent's daughter Kendra who is attending a college nearby. His new roommate is a congressman's son. He struggles with his freshman year and before you know it, his mobster brother has shown up along with some of his thuggish uncles. Vince thought he could escape his past by attending college on the West Coast. Korman once again provides a fast paced hilarious look at Vince's family affairs while trying to make his way in the world. This sequel is actually better than the original Son of the Mob which is hard to believe. I hope Korman continues the saga of the Luca family because they provide a guaranteed great read with just the right amount of comedy.

The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian

Josh Swenson is very mature for being 17 years old. He is passionate about saving the world and has strong opinions regarding global issues. Oh yeah, did I also mention he is completely in love with his best friend Beth? Larry launches a website where he delivers his daily messages while preaching his ideas and opinions. The website is called the Gospel According to Larry with Larry being his alter ego. Larry aka Josh remains anonymous and soon his website creates a media sensation. People embrace Larry's philosophies and ideas with a passion. Soon, the entire school, his city, and the world wants to know who Larry really is. Josh is in a predicament because Beth is a huge fan of Larry, but if he reveals the truth to her she may feel betrayed. Tashjian writes a book exploring many issues but with such comedy that you will find yourself laughing throughout the novel. Don't miss the sequel, Vote for Larry, in which Larry tries a run at the presidency.

King of the Mild Frontier by Chris Crutcher

Chris Crutcher is simply one of the best teen authors of the 21st century. His novels usually involve a high school setting and the main character is usually an athlete swimmer. Anyone who reads Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes will want to devour the rest of his books. King of the Mild Frontier is an upclose and personal look at Crutcher's upbringing. You get to live with his family and experience firsthand his problems, adventures, and heartache. "Wanna see something neat?" is a typical phrase Chris Cruther hears from his brother who once had him convinced that Jesus had a brother. He provides insight into his years as a therapist and what motivates him to write awe-inspiring yet sometimes controversial novels. His website www.chriscrutcher.com, is one of the best author websites around. He discusses his novels and takes a firm stand on censorship and challenges made to his novels. He is highly involved with teens and travels extensively to schools and libraries. He is one of my favorite authors of all time.