Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Real Friends by Shannon Hale -  220 pages

Shannon has trouble making friends.  Luckily she has one good friend -- Adrienne.  Or does she? 

This graphic novel memoir by author Shannon Hale is really well done.  It accurately portrays how it feels when your friends start to abandon you and when a former friend becomes an enemy.  It also incorporates OCD in children without forcing the issue.  The symptoms are merely mentioned at times without any commentary.  I would highly recommend this to grade school girls to read.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness - 317 pages

Once again the indie kids are battling an apocalyptic event.  The Immortals are trying to enter and take over our world.  They're fighting to save not just their lives, but the entire world.  But that isn't this story.  This is the story of the regular kids -- the kids just hoping to make it to graduation before the high school is blown up  . . . again.

I listened to this on audio.  I truly enjoyed the book. It was interesting to see the "story" from the point of view other than the Chosen One.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness - 320 pages

When the apocalypse comes, there is always the Chosen One.  It's one of the indie kids with too cool names.  They must fight the battle to save the world.

This isn't their story.  This is the story of the other kids -- the regular kids just trying to live their lives and make it through graduation without the high school being blown up . . . again.

I absolutely loved this book.  I loved the premise as soon as I heard.  And the book lived up to all of my expectations.  I could not put it down once I started it -- I read it straight through.  A great book for all teens.

The Nao of Brown, by Glyn Dillon

The Nao of Brown, by Glyn Dillon, 208 pages

Nao is a young woman trying to find a place in life as an artist, despite her obsessive compulsive tendencies and urges to hurt those weaker than her.  This was an interesting graphic novel, with a slice-of-life tone.  Interspersed within was a story of a half-tree/half-man character that was interesting.  The story was not the greatest, but the glimpse into OCD was worthwhile, as was the artwork.