As Good As Stargirl

If you liked Stargirl, you will also really like Schooled. The premise is similar (take a home-schooled kid and throw them into a public school and watch them try to survive) but it doesn't feel like a copycat of Stargirl, just a very good companion to it. I really enjoyed it, and marked this quote and one I know I'll use one day: "When you're unkind to others, it's usually because you don't believe that you, yourself, deserve kindness." Ah, words of wisdom.

For Those Who Don't Fit In...

This summer I listened to the audio of Alt Ed by Catherine Atkins. Many of the book's themes hit home for me: the struggle to fit in, the pain of adolescence, etc. I thought it was realistic and had many good lessons.

The Hunger Games Sequel!

At the end of July I was fortunate enough to borrow an ARC (advanced reading copy) of Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. It was just as good as the first! There's no sophomore slump to worry about here! It was every bit as compelling as Hunger Games.

Catching Fire just came out this week and I urge you to read it. But start with Hunger Games first if you haven't read that.