Poser by Sue Wyshynski

"After today, I'd speak up. Be totally honest. Even if it was the most awkward, embarrassing thing ever. Unless, of course, it was some life-or-death situation."

My Rating: 10/10

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication: June 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8027-2094-8
Page Count: 278 Pages
Ages: Young Adult (12 and up)

MY (new!) RATING: 10/10

Poser is fun from the beginning and all the way to the end! Wyshynski definitely grab any reader who would read past the first page! Definitely a beach-read and a good book to reread for surfers and non surfers!!! :D

Sue Wyshynski's Poser Official Website

In High School, teenagers tries hard to fit in. In Poser, Tallulah Jones' first day was great she had the right clothes (Roxy head to toe). Her one (and biggest) mistake, though, was that she told a lie just to fit in. Jenna is the most popular girl in Tallulah's new high school and Jenna surfs.

Tallulah did surfed once...but it ended up very badly.

But the thing is, Tallulah told Jenna that she surfed. Through the hurricane waves. Now she's Hurricane Girl and the whole school knows it. Plus, she has to prove it--she has to surf with Jenna. Everyone's going to be there.

Tallulah decided to come clean...but can she?

Jenna was glad she finally has a surfer friend that's a girl. What will Tallulah do?

Well...she tries to explain to Jenna at times. But then there's Corey--Jenna's brother who's really hot and he's the guy who lent Tallulah his short surfboard. Unfortunately, Jenna broke his surfboard, her chance to be with him, her rising popularity and also her friendship with Jenna.

Hurricane Girl becomes Poser in no time.

Sue Wyshynski's debut novel is definitely fresh and funny. If you enjoy Elizabeth Scott, Sarah Dessen or Meg Cabot's novels, you'll definitely be captured in reading Poser. Despite Tallulah's desire to make friends, Wyshynski had created a fresh personality in the bookstore's shelves.

What I love about this book: I fell for the cover and when Bloomsbury USA sent me a copy, I knew I was going to love it--I read it in 2 and a half hours! It was very funny from beginning to end. In some parts readers will just be confused (unless, of course, they surfed) but since Wyshynski created Tallulah as a girl who only pretends, we as the readers get the explanations, too. I read something different (because I have no clue about surfing except the part that it's done in the beach, with a board and a surfer wears the wetsuit...) and I learned from it. Readers can definitely relate to Tallulah Jones because everybody needs somebody and Tallulah only wants her friend. In Poser, Wyshynski also describe how cruel high school can be, which can be pretty funny sometimes.

What I dislike about this book: In the beginning, when Tallulah wanted to come clean, her mind conflict stopped there. I think Poser would be even better if Tallulah's conflict was displayed throughout the novel--although it's well shown in her actions and words, I think a bit more of the mind-conflict wouldn't hurt... ;)

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

"'It's time to start balancing out the universe.'"

My Rating: 10/10

Publisher: Macmillan
Publication: March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-374-33979-1
Page Count: 258
Age Range: Young Adult

Madison Kasparkova had always wanted to be popular and to hang out with the most popular girl in her high school; Heather Campbell. Then one day, she found a way (Well, not really--Angie, her friend was the one who found the article in the magazine, but still), she was the one who submitted her boyfriend's profile to Contempo Girl, the 'it' magazine.

Maddy was right--she was popular the next day. Jade even thinks they can get in the Loft because of Mason's (Maddy's boyfriend) increasing popularity. And they were, invited to the Loft by Heather Campbell personally.

Maddy saw the Mason who was staring at Heather and she asked it bluntly if Mason would want to date Heather if there's a chance to. Mason said no. Mason had said why would he want to date anyone else when he has Maddy, too. Maddy believed Mason.

Of course, only until she walked in on Heather and Mason making out on the bed on the Loft.

Then her mom dragged her to learn more about spiritual health, after witnessing her daughter's heart broken. Karma karma karma.

Maddy knows because of Jade (her other best friend) that karma is supposed to pay back people. Well, Maddy knows better than just to wait for karma to happen a decade or eons later; she wants it now Now NOW. Besides, Jade and Angie's ex boyfriends needed some reality call from their heavenly life anyway.

And, the Karma Club was born. The pact even promised that they wouldn't date anyone until their senior year is done (they are seniors, by the way).

Then Maddy met Spencer. Spencer Cooper is the rich and handsome guy whose parents owns the Loft that the popular kids hang out in. Somehow, just like The Great Gatsby, Spencer does not actually attend the parties. It's not his thing. More of his girlfriend.

Spencer actually isn't the rich snotty brat Maddy thinks he's supposed to be. In fact, he's sweet, really. So...there's Jenna LeRoux, Heather's best friend, Spencer's girlfriend.

Something happened and Jenna dumped Spencer, and Jenna founded the pink notebook of the Karma Club. Jenna will give it back, in exchange for the Karma Club to mess with Spencer's life.

What will Maddy do?

What I love about this book: It's funny and realistic. Hilarious. Seriously. This book makes you laugh from cover to cover, be it from Maddy's reaction to certain things or the way the Karma Club inflicts revenge to their targets. It's realistic in a way that anybody could relate to--got dumped, wanting revenge.

What I dislike about this book: I didn't dislike anything, it was fun reading this from beginning to end! :D

Jessica Brody's The Karma Club Official Page

Jessica Brody also gives away free books every Friday; some are signed copies! Check out the website here!

What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson

"'...She said, 'Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt you.'
'Yeah, that's what they always tell us.'"

My Rating: 9/10

Publisher: Random House (Delacorte Press)
Publication: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-385-73507-0
Page Count: 288 Pages
Ages: Young Adult

What They Always Tell Us is Martin Wilson's debut novel. It is written in a simple way, although as a reader I feel like it was just filled with emotions unspoken with words.

The book started with Alex's perspective. Alex is a junior who recently became a misfit. A social outcast, but the kind that wasn't picked on. You name it. But that happened even before he drank the Pine-Sol in a party. After that, everyone just started calling him a freak.

His older brother, James, deep down, probably do too, to Alex.

James--like everyone else--asked Alex why he did it. Not that Alex ever answers, of course. So James, like everyone else, starts to ignore Alex too.

James just wants to get out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Start over everything he messed up.

Alex, on the other hand, just wants...something. He doesn't know yet.

Then there's Nathen, who's always nice to Alex (even after the Pine-Sol "accident"--as James and their parents calls it). One night, Alex started jogging again like he used to and he met Nathen on the way.

Nathen encouraged Alex to join the cross country team. Alex wants to know why he's nice to Alex. Why he's always been nice to Alex.

There's also Henry, a 10 year old kid who lives next to Alex and James. A puzzle piece out of the place in Tuscaloosa. Henry, the kid who reads the DICTIONARY. (Click here for Henry's word of the week! Good for SAT/ACT, people!)

What They Always Tell Us tells a different yet still heart breaking story about first love, boy to boy and how a teenager cope with ex-friends, exes, brothers, family and most of all; life.

What I love about this book: Okay, so first of all, I'd never thought I'd read a boy-boy/girl-girl love kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I have NO PROBLEM with it. But I liked this book. A lot. Because it's meaningful, and it's a good piece of literature. It's always nice to get glimpses of someone else's life who is totally the opposite. I like how Martin Wilson switches perspective from Alex and James, and I like how the characters developed throughout the book. :D

What I dislike about this book: The beginning was a bit slow for me, the first 2 chapters. But I understand that Martin Wilson was trying to set the story up, so it's all good! :)

Martin Wilson's Official What They Always Tell Us Web Page

Thank you, Martin, for the signed copy!! :D

P.S: I highly recommend this book if you really like books. If you can't handle the boy-boy part, then just don't read it really.