Loved this book!

I just finished Dumplin' by Julie Murphy.  It was excellent.  I flew through this book because I was so absorbed in what was happening with Willowdean, the main character.

Willowdean is a "self-proclaimed fat girl."  Her mom calls her Dumplin', which Willowdean doesn't always appreciate.  Willow is pretty confident in her own skin until she meets Bo, a very good-looking coworker at Harpy's fast food restaurant.  As her relationship with Bo escalates, her self-assurance declines.  She decides to enter the local beauty pageant to try to get some self confidence back.  She figures that by showing the world she deserves to be in the pageant, that she will feel more deserving of a happy life.

The book is very realistic and really gets into the thoughts of Willowdean.  I found myself really identifying with her and hoping that she would gain back her confidence.

As I Googled Julie Murphy to find more books, I found out that she wrote her first novel, Side Effects May Vary during NaNoWriMo.  How cool is that?  :)

Definitely a 5 STAR book!

A Must Read

I just finished reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. I am a huge Picoult fan and this book definitely fits in there as a favorite.  It was one of those books that I wanted to get to the end to find out what happened, but I didn't want the book to end because I felt so connected to the characters.

Ruth has worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 20 years.  During a regular shift, Ruth gets removed from a patient because she is African American.  The next day she is left alone with the infant and he goes into cardiac arrest.  Ruth is unsure of what to do because she has strict orders not to touch the baby.  Since she hesitates, Ruth is charged with a very serious crime and must plead her case in court.  She is assigned a public defender, Kennedy, who has never tried a big case like this before.  As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust and learn that their beliefs might not always be right.

What I like most about Picoult's books is that she tries to tell every side of the story.  In this book we get to hear Ruth's story (labor and delivery nurse), Turk's story (the dad of the infant), and Kennedy (Ruth's lawyer).  Being able to see into all sides of a story really puts a unique twist on the plot.

I feel that Picoult always puts a lot of time researching her topics and trying to make the story as real as possible.

I give this book 5 STARS.

The Thousandth Floor

I'm currently reading The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee.  It was part of the last Junior Library Guild shipment and I couldn't wait to start reading it.

The book is set in a Manhattan, the year 2118.  A 1000-story tower was built in New York, where the wealthiest live in the upper levels.  The people who support the maintenance of the tower live in the lower levels.  The book is told around five teenagers, and each chapter is from a different character's perspective of the world.

I'm about halfway through right now, and I'm enjoying the book very much.  Every free moment I get, I find myself wanting to read a few chapters.

Just Finished

I recently finished Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy.  I think this is a great read for high school students.  Really makes you think about how you want treat people, regardless of what is happening in your life.

Sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia and decides to spend her final days getting revenge on the people who have made her life miserable.  She convinces her best friend, Harvey, to help her with her crazy "bucket list."  See what happens when Alice has to come to grips on what her decisions have done to the people around her.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  Worth the read.
Comment below on your thoughts on this book after you've read it.