A Very, Very Bad Thing by Jeffery Self is written in a way that keeps readers wanting more. Narrated through the voice of Marley, a gay senior, the story begins by revealing that Marley has done something bad. Time shifts between the now and the early fall of Marley’s senior year. We watch as Marley meets Christopher, the gay son of a widely known, conservative Christian pastor. Marley and Christopher have an immediate connection, but their relationship is met right away with hostility from Christopher’s parents. The two boys do their best to navigate their budding romance despite outside pressures, but this also means that they do a lot of sneaking around in order to spend time together. In and out of “pray away the gay” camps, Christopher decides that he can no longer return home to his parents and works with Marley to escape, thus leading to A Very, Very Bad Thing. This book is appropriate for middle and high school students.
Author Archives: Stacy Udo
Wax by Gina Damico
Reviewed By: Shelley Walter, OHS Library Secretary
This is the story of a teenage girl, Poppy, who is an aspiring actress. She has a nightmare performance and is ridiculed by her peers, namely a boy name Blake. Blake bullies her and she seeks revenge and finds a secret studio inside the town’s famous candle factory.
The old woman in the secret studio, who crafts wax figures of various people including townspeople, warns Poppy of a plot to take over the town by replacing the humans with wax substitutes.
The book took time to get going and at times seemed to drag. It is a good story and did get my interest as it went along.
Poppy’s family did not quite develop into interesting characters. The wax teenage boy “Dud” plays a part, I found myself wishing he had a bigger part (he did in the end). Poppy has a somewhat sarcastic sense of life and I identified with that.
My first young adult novel to read in quite a while.
Vanilla by Billy Merrell
Vanilla by: Billy Merrell
The book Vanilla by Billy Merrell is beautifully written and have quickly become one of my favorites. The story follows two high school boys, Vanilla and Hunter, who have been in love since middle school. Their relationship is based first on friendship and later on romantic feelings. Although things have progressed physically over time, Hunter is ready for much more than Vanilla is ready to give. The two are struggling in their relationship for the first time; both are emotionally invested and have feeling of love for one another, but Vanilla continually backs away from sex any time the two discuss it or get close to trying – ultimately causing a rift between the two. Written in verse, Vanilla, will appeal to reluctant readers because of the lyrical nature and the unusual formatting, it makes for a very quick read. Ultimately, Vanilla allows readers to watch as the characters struggle with their own sense of self-discovery. Anyone looking to add diverse reads to their collection should consider Vanilla a must-have.
What Girls Are Made Of
This novel grabbed me from the very start. I do want to warn that it should be given to upper-high, mature readers. The book is told from the perspective of a sexually active 17 year-old girl, who is trying to figure out just how much love and sexuality should and do define one’s true character. The book discusses sex in an upfront, honest way – characters find pleasure in sex, but are also presented with consequences. The main character tries to gain self and peer acceptance, much of which is dependent upon her sexuality and the way she views boys and men treating women. I found it interesting that the author was able to weave in art history surrounding the roles of men and women throughout time and place to help further the character’s understanding for gender roles and expectations. Although many of the scenes are raw, disturbing and even shocking – the novel truly sheds light on the way young females view sexuality and the pressures to be accepted. I was pleased in the end to see the main female character find her own way, not dependent upon anyone else; the book leaves the reader feeling like she will be okay.