Kimberly's Top Ten

	Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Instead of reading that other cancer kid book, I read this one by a debut author. It was a rollicking, irreverent novel with an endearing, if emotionally stunted and clueless, main character.
	Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter I had to wait so long for this installment of the Gallagher Girls novels, but it was worth every agonizing second. Adventure, intrigue, twists and turns, and romance as the cherry on top. Now if only I had the final book in the series…
	Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler Novels about first love lost are a dime a dozen, but Handler’s use of the epistolary format, lyrical phrasing and meandering sentences, as well as his perfect depiction of a teenage girl’s roller coaster emotions make this one an intriguing heart-wrenching read.
	Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John A fascinating novel that was as much about a rock band, friendships and family relationships, as it was the realities of life as a deaf person in a hearing world. I learned just as much about Kurt Cobain as I did about deaf culture.
	Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl Jane Austen meets Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle in this delightful Regency romance. What the book lacks in substance, it easily makes up in charm and humor.
	Son by Lois Lowry The Giver has long been one of my favorite books, but I’ve always had questions about what the future held for the characters. With this stunning conclusion to the series, Lowry beautifully and respectfully drew the story to a close. Exactly the finale I needed.
	I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga It was like one of the creepiest episodes of Criminal Minds in novel form.
	Wonder by R.J. Palacio A story about a ten-year-old boy with extreme facial deformities entering school for the first time sounds like the recipe for heartbreak. But Auggie is an endearing little boy with astonishing insights about the people he encounters, and his is a heartwarming story of friendship, acceptance and courage.
	Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Despite the huge cliffhanger ending that had me frantically yelling while listening in my car, this was paranormal romance at its finest. Taylor has created a complex world with fascinating characters caught in a fate not wholly of their own choosing.
	Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein With strong female characters, fascinating period detail, and surprising twists at every turn, this is historical fiction at its finest.

Honorable Mentions

Black Heart by Holly Black

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Review: 'Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick' by Joe Schreiber

I was going into shock. The pain wasn’t getting any better,

and I thought that I would probably black out before

 I found out how this was going to end. Just as well–

I was never particularly good at finishing things.

 

Perry Stormaire is a regular high school guy, more enthused about his band’s first major performance in New York City than with senior prom. But when his mom tells him he has to take Gobi, their shy, awkward Lithuanian exchange student, to the prom, Perry’s plans for an epic rock show that same night are crushed. After an incident at the prom and an impromptu drive into New York City, Perry realizes that Gobi is actually a trained assassin on a mission to take out targets all across the city. Now Perry and Gobi are on a wild ride around the city in his father’s Jag, with thugs on their heels and explosive revelations at every stop.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is a fast-paced, action-packed YA novel, the likes of which I haven’t read in a long time. Once Perry and Gobi hit New York City and Gobi’s mission begins, the novel is basically one thrilling scene after another. There are plenty of car chases, gun fights and confrontations with members of the seedy NYC underbelly, all wrapped up in snappy dialogue between the two main characters. The action isn’t always that realistic considering the ages (and, in Perry’s case, experience) of the characters, but it is certainly exciting!

For the most part, the novel barrels along at a frenetic pace, but there are also moments of introspection on Perry’s part. Most of these moments have to do with the situation; some are Gobi trying to help Perry understand that his future doesn’t have to be dictated by his parents. These conversations between the two are some of my favorite because they add a certain amount of depth to the novel and give insights into who the characters are beyond this one crazy night.

Schreiber very cleverly begins each chapter with a different essay question from various college applications, and the contents subtly match the prompts. This structure, combined with short chapters that often end on cliffhangers and the action-packed plot, works wonderfully to propel readers through the relatively short novel. The questions also neatly link the plot to Perry’s overarching worries about college and his future.

Although not bursting with deep thought and realism, Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is a great novel for vacations, lazy afternoons, and reading slumps. Pick it up now and look for the sequel in November!

 

Book Source: Local Library

Reviewer: Kimberly

 

Recommended Ages: Officially 12+, but probably more appropriate for 14+ because of language, brief discussions of sex, and violence.

 

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