Douglas Coupland: Hey! Nostrodamus

My first Coupland, interesting.  A school shooting told by one of the dad victims, then the narration changes to the boyfriend whom ends the killing and tries to save the girl but she dies in his arms.  Then  the boyfriend's lover 10 years on, which really has nothing to do with the shootings, except to say that the boyfriend has a lot of hard times dealing with the disaster.  Then the Dad who is crazy religious.  It is a very interesting style of story telling, and I liked it a lot.  It ends oddly I thought, not much of a tidy bundle, which seems to suit the book anyway, I mean after a horrible thing happens to people how can life just roll on without a ton of consequences?  A worthy read for teens or adults.

The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight

I really liked this mystery, and it seems that Jenny Valentine the author borrowed heavily from a real life imposter.  Cassiel Roadnight is missing and one day someone mistakes the un-named narrator as Mr. Roadnight.  The mystery boy goes along with the idea and poses as the missing teen but keeps thinking he will be caught.  He meets his 'family' and starts to put together the life of the kid he is replacing.  It is suspenseful and creative, -a page turner.

Forgive me Leonard Peacock

Written by Matthew Quick.

This is a wonderful book, with plenty of suspense, literary references, and interesting characters.  Leonard, the narrator, is planning to kill himself after he takes care of several things.  The story is mainly one day, and guides you through his personal history and explains why he has come to this radical decision.  I loved it all the way through as I really was hoping that he would not commit suicide but knowing that he would in the end.  It is not a sad book though, but fairly life affirming.  He is a teen on the fringes who is much more well liked and smarter than he thinks.  He has a good friend, an old man who he visits every day and they communicate using Bogey quotes such as: 'play it again Sam.'  He has the best teacher in the world who realizes what is happening and tries to save Leonard.  He often turns to Hamlet for advice, its all great.

It is good for teens, especially ones questioning their place in the world.

How I live now, Meg Rosoff

I just finished "How I live Now" by Meg Rosoff.  This is an easy reading small book with a lot to say about living with conflict.  Much is left to the imagination though, as it is a journal of one girl's experience.  It is also a romance.  The writing is solid but not spectacular.  I liked it a lot though, -good for teens.