Swim the Fly by Don Calame

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Matt and his two best friends set themselves a challenge every summer. They choose something that they all must do before school starts. This summer they are 15 and their goal is to see a real, live, in person naked girl. You would think since they are all on a coed swim team it would not be that difficult, but they go to some pretty amazing lengths to get the job done.


This book is so funny! The characters are realistic and well thought out. Sean, Coop, and Matt are amazing, but the really impressive characters are the girls. When you read this story you will recognize girls that you knew in high school. The story is sweet and fun and not at all as racy as the summary would lead you to believe. I would recommend this book for 9th grade and up. It’s a great way for girls to find out what guys are really thinking. This book features Matt as the main character but the other book, Beat the Band tells a story from Coops perspective.

Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

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Alyss is a princess in Wonderland. Her mother is the queen and ruler of the land. When her evil Aunt Redd wants to take over Alyss and Hatter find themselves out of Wonderland and into the mortal realm. Alyss makes friends with a writer who tells her story, but he messes the whole thing up. Alyss told him the truth and he made a book about a girl named Alice who uses her imagination to go on an adventure. She is furious. As she grows up and finally makes her way back to Wonderland she must face many challenges to take her place as the rightful queen of Wonderland.

I liked the retelling of the story from a different point of view. This book is intended for audiences 10 and up. My older teens liked it, but they thought the story might be better for middle school than high school. They didn’t really feel a connection to any of the characters. Overall it was an ok book, but I wasn’t blown away by the story.

Bumped by Megan Mccafferty

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So in about 20 years everyone will have a virus that makes them infertile. Both men and women will have a reproductive expiration date of their 18 birthday. So after years of telling teens not to have sex, and that they should use protection if they do, the message has changed. Condoms are illegal. Teens as young as 12 are encouraged to “get bumped” which means sex to get pregnant. The more babies they can have the better. Some of the teens are amateurs, they have a baby and then look for someone to adopt. Some of the teens are professionals. They have agents who sign them with families and when the perfect biological match is found they have a designer baby for the family. Of course they are paid very well.


This is the story of two sisters, Melody and Harmony, who were separated at birth but who find each other. One is a professional and the other is a part of a religious group that thinks each person should keep their own children. They live separately from the rest of society and get married when they are 13 so they can start having as many babies as they can before the virus takes over.

To say this story is weird would be an understatement. I like the different look at pregnancy. I like the way the story shows what can happen with teen pregnancy without taking a preaching turn. It is funny in parts and sad in others. I’m interested to read what happens next to these girls and their families. The one thing that really put me off is that condoms are illegal. No mention is ever made in the whole book about STDs. Condoms don’t just keep babies out, they keep out all of the dangerous viruses, infections, and diseases that can be passed during sex. Since these kids are having mass sex parties to try and get pregnant I can’t believe that STDs are not mentioned. I wonder if this is something that the writer is saving for the sequel, or if STDs don’t exist in this future.

Blood on My Hands by Todd Strasser

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Callie is at a party when she starts looking for her best frenemy. As she is walking by the dugout she trips over the body. What’s a sensible girl to do but feel for a pulse? No pulse but lots of blood all over Katherine and Callie. What’s that shiny object next to the body? Maybe Callie should pick it up…Oh it’s a knife (the murder weapon). Snap. Snap. Snap. Everyone from the party with a phone is taking pictures of Callie covered in Katherine’s blood and holding the murder weapon. Now Callie is on the run in her small town. She is trying to prove she is innocent by avoiding the cops and doing her own investigation.

The ending was a bit of a surprise, but this is my least favorite Todd Strasser book. His stories are usually a little tighter. The motive is a little shaky for my taste and some of the characters are a little one dimensional until the big reveal at the end of the story. I would read Wish You Were Dead by Strasser instead.

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

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Hartley’s boyfriend is a cheater, but is he also a killer? When Hartley finds a dead body and all of the evidence points to the cheater she has to decide if she wants to let him rot or solve the case and find the truth. This book is like Stephanie Plum for teens. Hartley is a flawed and crazy character with a best friend and mom that you have to read to believe. There is also a very hot potentially dangerous boy that she partners up with.


This is a good mystery and a lot of fun to read. I would recommend it for girls who like their mysteries with a little humor. There is no cursing because the main characters are trying to give it up. The substitute curse words are so funny I laughed out loud in some parts.