Geek Charming - by Robin Palmer

This was a fun take on the Frog Prince fairy tale. Dylan is a princess. She's a self-centered popular person who passes judgment on the whole student class at Castle Heights High. She has a popular jock boyfriend and a little entourage who seem to bend to her selfish whims, including trying to fish out her expensive, stylish purse that she drops into the fountain at the mall. Insert Josh, who is a film geek with asthma, who makes a deal with Dylan. He will get her purse out of the fountain if she agrees to being the subject of a documentary on popular people that he will use for his entrance project for Film School.

Dylan agrees, but shortly after, reneges on the deal, until Josh speaks to her father. What follows is Josh and his friends filming Dylan and her friends a couple of times a week. At first they just capture how horrible popular people can be, especially Dylan, but Josh quickly starts to see the insecurities and worries she has, just like everyday people, and that they are not so bad, after all. Dylan and friends also begin to realize that geeks aren't all that bad, either.

Dylan eventually gives Josh a makeover that raises his status at school, even while staying true to himself. Dylan loses her boyfriend and popular friends, and things blow up when Dylan sees the wrong version of the documentary. Everything works out in the end with a realistic and feel good ending.

I didn't actually like either Dylan or Josh at the beginning, and wasn't sure if I'd like the book. But it quickly won me over with the character development and fun plot. I was rooting for both characters by mid-book, and was very satisfied in the end.

Fun chic-lit!

Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival - by Arthur Slade

Stories about people being plagued with lightning fascinate me. This was a fun story about a kid named Newton Starker whose family seems to be cursed with lightning. On Newton's mother's side of the family, everyone except his mean grandmother has been killed by lightning. This means Newton is always taking precautions by staying indoors and checking the weather, and checking the weather again.

One a particularly unpleasant trip to visit his grandmother once, Newton's family discovers Jerry Potts Academy for Survival, a boarding school whose entire campus is made of safe, sturdy stone. Newton immediately this safehouse is the school he wants to attend. After his mother's passing, he begins school at this strange new place, where all the classes have an added focus on survival, in addition to the fact that they wear kilts and eat haggis.

Newton has always been homeschooled, and so is excited for the chance to learn how to survive, learn more about cooking, make some friends and shine as #1 in the class. On his first day there he does make a friend, Jacob, but also makes an enemy in Violet, who embarasses Newton by knocking off his kilt in front of everyone.

I have to admit I wasn't sure I liked Newton in the beginning, though I was intrigued by his circumstances. He has a high opinion of himself and feels destined for glory, as long as he can keep from being struck by lightning. But as the story moves on, I liked Newton more and more. He develops his friendships with Jacob and Violet, and acquires a truffle finding pig named Josephine. Through some trials in the end, Newton learns some things and comes out of it all a better person.

It was a light, quick read, and I recommend for anyone looking for a nice little jolt.

Jump the Cracks - by Stacy DeKeyser

This was a good story. It's a quick read with a good hook, having a teenage girl become an accidental kidnapper. It brings up the serious issues of childcare and the rights and protections for children.

Victoria leaves her mother at the start of the summer and is on her way to visit her Dad in New York City. She is still bitter about her dad having missed some of her softball games, and some of her highlights during those games.

While on the train, she notices a young woman and her 2-year old boy. The mother doesn't seem to care much about her kid, and Victoria sees bruises on the boy's arms. When the train arrives, Victoria notices the woman gets off the train alone. Concerned, she searches until she finds the boy in the bathroom. By the time she calls her dad to see where he is, the train begins moving, with Victoria and the little boy still on the train.

Victoria soon learns that the mother was meeting someone dangerous, and that he has reported Victoria to the police as a kidnapper. With the more Victoria learns, and the lack of assurances from the police, Victoria keeps the little boy because she fears for him, and wants him to have a safe home where he can trust the adults in his life.

It was a good read, and it ended realistically. I wasn't sure if I liked either Victoria or the baby at first, but once the train pulls away and situation becomes much more serious, both characters become much more likable, as well as more interesting and sympathetic with the more you learn about them. The interesting question is: what would you do? Would you turn the boy in right away knowing he has a bad home life? Or would you keep him to try to hold out for better? I'm not sure what I would do...