Shadowland (The Mediator, Book 1)

Product Details

• Notes: Label New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Fettle: NEW
• ISBN13: 9780060725112

Description

Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.

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Customer Reviews

3.5 Stars for Shadowland
3.5 Stars - A fun, light, easy paranormal read - this book is nice beginning in the Mediator Series. The main Character Suze is true to most teens - going her own way to deal with the ghosts she's trying to send to the "other side". She's head strong and knows just how she likes to do things, which maybe isn't always the right way. However, throughout the book it makes you question whether or not she'll be able to get the job done.

With some mystery - ghost's and a head strong teen, I look forward to find out more and what's coming next for Suze, not to mention finding out more about Jessie and to see where his part of the story leads.

If your looking for a light mysterious read with ghosts? Then this is the perfect series for you.

2010-02-26 | A Life Bound By Books (US & UK, both I call home) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Amazing Series!!!
This series is amazing. I was reluctant to read it due to the appearance. I had always heard don't judge a book by its cover but I never thought that I would. The book seems to be a superficial chick-flickesk novel, but it has wonderful plot twists and compelling characters combined with action, fantasy, and of course, romance. This was the first series I ever reread. I first read it when I was 13 years old. Now, at 20, I still love these books, Cabot's relatable characters, and her funny wit! If you have not read this series yet I recommend you go read one today. You will not be able to put it down.

2010-02-12 | E | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A quick, enjoyable read...
I discovered this book when I was trying to find another series after having read everything in the Twilight saga. Now, I would never say that this is great literature or anything, but I read this book in a few hours because I just didn't want to put it down. Beyond the fantasy/paranormal angle, this book really doesn't have a lot in common with Twilight beyond the fact that it is a wonderful book. Suze Simon is a strong-willed, exciting main character, and the "mediator" concept is quite intriguing.

I'm just glad I still have 5 books to go in the series!

2009-11-12 (Columbus, OH United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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OK read
The Mediator series is alright. It's not awesome, and the writing is not genius, but it's a story. At times, I felt kind of dumb reading this series because it seemed to drag on. The main character is a bit annoying too. Read if you have nothing better to do.

2009-10-20 | Jenny (Carson City, NV) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Suze Simon Delivers with a Punch
Right off the bat, I'll `fess up - I've come to the Meg Cabot party a little late. Meg started writing her young adult novels after I had already passed through that stage of my life and in fact after I had written my first young adult novel. After taking a too long break from writing, I am back to it and forging ahead, and along with that, I am reading more than ever. I knew I wanted to read some of Meg Cabot's work, but didn't want to start with the Princess Diaries series as it was ten books in length, and knowing me, I would have to read them all one right after the other and I had a book of my own to write. So, I started in November last year with the Heather Wells Mystery series (I have read all three currently available, but have only written the one review for Size 12 is Not Fat so far). Then in July while I was waiting for some feedback on my completed novel, through @compelledtoread on Twitter, I was led to her post about the Mediator series by Meg Cabot. The description of the series captured me, so I grabbed my Kindle and downloaded a sample of the first book in the series Shadowland.

To say I consumed this series would almost be an understatement. As soon as I completed one book, I downloaded the next and continued to read. Bless the ease and accessibility of Kindle to more reading material and thanks to Meg for having the books available in Kindle format so I didn't have to go to the bookstore or wait for a delivery. Sometimes instant gratification can be wonderful.

We meet sixteen year old Suze Simon (short for Susannah) as she arrives in Carmel, California from New York City to move in with her mother, new stepfather, and three stepbrothers. She's been living with her grandmother for the last six months since her mother married Andy because there was no space available at Mission Academy for her to attend school. Suze, who doesn't let anyone except her mom call her Susie, is trying to make the best of it, but is not really excited to be leaving her friends, well, friend Gina, to move in with a new family in a strange new place, but wants to make her mom happy. She is distressed to learn that not only is the school she will be attending old, but her new house was built in 1849, and Suze doesn't like old buildings. This may seem like a really strange dislike until you realize the reason Suze doesn't like old buildings is that they are much likely to contain other things that are old, like old ghosts. And while in many ways, Suze is a normal, angsty, maladjusted teenager, the thing which sets her apart is she can see and talk to ghosts.

To cap things off, the first thing she runs into in the new house, in her room of all places, is Jesse, a ghost who has been living in the house, in her room, since the mid-1800's and refuses to leave. When Suze starts Mission Academy, a catholic school, she is less than thrilled to almost immediately run into a ghost. It is the ghost of a girl who committed suicide and is the reason the vacancy opened up for Suze to attend school. What is mind blowing to Suze is she is not the only person who can see this particular ghost. Father Dominic, the principal of Mission Academy, is a mediator just like Suze. They are both shocked to find someone else with their gift, or as Suze sometimes thinks - curse. Father Dominic considers this to be a fortuitous sign and decides he must tutor Suze on the proper mediation methods, as Suze tends to mediate a little after the fashion of Rambo, striking first and asking questions later. As mediators, it is their job to help the ghost determine why they are still on this earth and help them pass on into the next life. Suze has found getting physical from time to time with the ghost in question is sometimes necessary, because it comes as a shock to them that she can actually touch them, and her punches hurt.

One of the true powers of Cabot's writing is her ability to draw the reader into the story. Her characters are penned with authority, and they are quirky, yet lovable, even though sometimes a little prickly. We, the reader, can identify with Suze Simon as she worries about the minutiae of normal teenage girl life - how to fit in at a new school, boys, how to make friends, boys, clothes, boys, etc. We've all been there, or are there. Suze makes some poor decisions, and learns to regret some of her choices, but the teenager within understands why those choices were made. The writer in me pays homage to the power of Cabot's pen. Meg you rock.

2009-08-24 | Happy Reading! | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Big Boned (Heather Wells Mysteries)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780060525132
• Notes: Disgrace New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Equip: NEW

Description

Life is reasonably rosy for plus-size ex-pop star turned Assistant Dormitory Director and sometime sleuth Heather Wells. Her freeloading ex-con dad is finally moving out. She still yearns for her hot landlord, Cooper Cartwright, but her relationship with "rebound beau," vigorous vegan math professor Tad Tocco, is more than satisfactory. Best of all, nobody has died lately in "Death Dorm," the aptly nicknamed student residence that Heather assistant-directs. Of course every silver lining ultimately has some black cloud attached. And when the latest murdered corpse to clutter up her jurisdiction turns out to be her exceedingly unlovable boss, Heather finds herself on the shortlist of prime suspects—along with the rabble-rousing boyfriend of her high-strung student assistant and an indecently handsome young campus minister who's been accused of taking liberties with certain girls' choir members.

With fame beckoning her back into show business (as the star of a new kids' show!) it's a really bad time to get wrapped up in another homicide. Plus Tad's been working himself up to ask her a Big Question, which Heather's not sure she has an answer for . . .

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Customer Reviews

well-written
I read this first before I read the previous two books. I hate doing that. I usually go in order- I hate to skip a book in a series. In my defense, I thought Big Boned was the first in the series. Anyways, even though I was kind of lost through the references to the previous books, I loved this book. It's my favorite of all three. Maybe I'm biased cuz I read it first...but whatever. lol

2010-03-16 | Shy Marchioness (Florida) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A fun book
I really enjoy reading the Heather Wells books. They are very light hearted, fairly juvenile books, but they are fun. Big Boned really delivers what the Heather Wells fans want and leaves room for Meg's next book!

2010-02-07 (Texas) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Entertaining
This was a fast moving story, not great but pretty enjoyable. But, I found that in this story there was alot of rambling and I was able to skip entire chapters and not miss a thing. I'm looking forward to the next Heather Wells' book. I feel that Heather could be anyone I meet, she is very personable and her character is believeable and endearing. Cabot definetly has a talent of writing characters that we've come to love.

2010-01-04 | bookworm (Utah USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Quick Review (no story plot)
Not my favorite Meg Cabot book but still good. A light hearted read with her usual loveable characters and mystery. Definite read if your a Meg Cabot fan!

2009-09-23 | bookworm chick (NC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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DON'T WORRY! THIS IS NOT THE END!!!
Let me start by saying that I am a huge Meg Cabot fan. I think that she is an absolute genius when it comes to chick lit, and I love all of the books that she's written (excluding the Princess Diaries series, which is odd because they are the books the rocketed her to superstardom). Anyway, back to the point.

This book is my favorite of the series (they're all pretty closely tied), mostly because of the ending. I'm not going to reiterate the summary of the book, because if you are truly a Heather Wells fan, you don't care what the book is about, as long as Heather makes an appearance.

I am just here to let everyone (who is freaking out about how the series is over and how the book was too short and the ending seemed like it needed a few more chapters) that the series IS NOT OVER!!!!! I know that 2 years have passed since Big Boned was released, but have no fear! Meg Cabot fully intends to write more sequels, 2 to be exact. If you don't believe me just check her website and read the FAQs.

Like the rest of us, I wish she would get a move on with the Heather Wells series, but I understand that she also needs to release new books for the teenage (Airhead, Being Nikki, etc) and young children (Allie Finkle) audiences. She has said that she just needs to find time to write the books (which should be out around 2009 to 2010, though I'm sure that now it will probably 2010 to 2011 as it has been a while since she has updated that part of her FAQs. (I know, because I check weekly.)

*Big Boned Spoilers Below*

I read somewhere that the fourth book would be about Heather helping at a camp with Jordan's wife Tania Trace and then the fifth would most likely be Heather and Cooper's elopement. I can't recall where I read that at, but I'm sure that I read it somewhere.

*End of Big Boned Spoilers*

Okay, I found it, sort of. I searched through her blog, because I suddenly had a stroke of genius and remembered where it was I read it, and it appears that:

1) In March of 2008 Meg posted the following: "Quick update: It's official....There will be two more Heather Wells books! No titles to announce yet for the new books. The books themselves won't be out until next year. The fourth one will take up soon after Big Boned (Size Doesn't Matter in the UK) left off. It will probably take place over summer break and be about Tania Trace Rock Camp. The fifth one will be about Heather and Cooper's you-know-what and take place the following fall."

2) In April of 2008 she said: "...I'm far too busy writing new Heather Wells books..."

3) In March of 2009 she updated, saying: "Oh, and I'm working on Allie Finkle #5, too (for the scoop on #4, go here) as well as more Heather Wells...."

And finally...

4) In April of 2009 she said: "Wow, it's weird how things change. But New York isn't all that different! I mean, Washington Square Park is all cleaned up and spiffy (I had to check it out as research for the next Heather Wells novel, coming soon! And by soon I mean next year because I haven't turned it in yet, or finished writing it)."

So, rest assured, more Heather Wells books are on the way and should be here by next year, 2010. Hooray! Hope that helped some of you in your Heather Wells distress!

2009-06-12 | Avid reader and movie watcher (Rogersville, Mo United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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She Went All the Way

Product Details

• Notes: Mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Health circumstances: NEW
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to sentiment our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• ISBN13: 9780061340246

Description

There are a few places screenwriter Lou Calabrese would rather be than crammed into a helicopter with Jack Townsend, star of her claim to fame, Copkiller, and whose ex just ran off with Lou's ex. Talk about uncomfortable. But when, halfway out to the isolated arctic location where Copkiller IV is currently shooting, their pilot turns murderous and their helicopter crashes, Lou realizes her day has just gotten a lot worse.

Now, while family and friends back home fret over her disappearance, Lou is on the run in the arctic wilderness with America's sweetheart Jack Townsend and only the contents of her purse, his pockets, and their mutual knowledge of survival movie trivia to keep them alive. Can these two children of Hollywood put aside their differences and make it back home without killing each other? Or much, much worse, actually start to like one another?

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Customer Reviews

This book made me stay up all night.
I'm not a professional review person (see?) so I'm going to keep this short.

I loved this novel. Loved, loved, loved it. I don't read novels of any sort because they could actually happen. I read to escape from things that happen in real life.

I've also been trying to read closer to my age group. The 20-somethings and early 30-somethings are more relatable for me, so I really liked this book and the characters.

2010-01-11 (Savannah, GA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Guilty pleasure
I was a little surprised that I got into this book. I've read several books by Meg Cabot, even her teen books. I really liked her other book called The Boy Next Door. That was funny and I loaned it out to several coworkers. This one is more steamy and has really good character development. I liked how she put time into letting the reader know what the main characters were thinking and feeling. I recommend reading this book, especially if you have a long road trip to Vegas. So read it and also pick up The Boy Next Door. Enjoy!

2009-12-31 | musiq lovr (CA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Contemporary romance.. in Alaska
If you enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of thriller in the wilds of Alaska, then you might want to try this romance story.

Lou Calabrese, Hollywood screenwriter and Jack Townsend, Hollywood hunk and action star are lost in Alaska after a helicopter they are in goes down in the far reaches of Alaska. They survive the crash but will they survive their dislike for one another? Will they survive the killers that are tracking them and trying to do away with them?

The dialogue is good and the action scenes are great. The romance between the characters is fun as well. I enjoyed this as light reading and you will too.

2009-12-24 | Bookworm (Charlotte, NC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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This was AWFUL.
The only reason I finished this book is that it was the only reading material i had while on vacation. It was awful. The repetitive "they hated eachother but there was such chemistry" thing got old by the end of the first chapter -- and was repeated, ad nauseum, throughout the rest of the book (and quite nearly on every single insufferable page). Skip this and instead read ANYTHING by Marian Keyes; all of her books are the perfect Chick Lit -- especially "Watermelon."

2009-06-21 (Manhattan Beach, CA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 1

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Fun Read
This book was fun to read, fast paced and had very cute dialogue. While I didn't enjoy it as much as Meg Cabot's other books, namely The Boy Next Door and Boy Meets Girl, I did enjoy it. For those of you who want some light, fun reading, I would recommend this one.

2009-04-11 | Book-a-holic (Lakewood, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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Sanctuary (1-800-Where-R-You)

Product Details

• Notes: Characterize New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Shape: NEW
• ISBN13: 9781416927075

Description

JESS MASTRIANI

Knew she wasn't going to be able to hide her psychic powers from the U.S. government forever. But she never thought that she and Dr. Krantz, the special agent brought in to convince Jess to join his elite team of "specially gifted" crime solvers, would have something in common.

When a local boy's disappearance is attributed to a backwoods militia group, it turns out that Jess and Dr. Krantz have the same goal. Suddenly Jess finds herself collaborating with one enemy in order to stop a far worse one. In an atmosphere of hate and fear, Jess and Dr. Krantz must work together to unite a community and save a life...without loosing their own.

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Customer Reviews

Meg Cabot it Great!
I loved the 1-800-Where-R-U Series. I can't believe that it got cut short. I really did enjoy this book, along with all the others. You can see where she was preparing the series to go before it got cut off. I love the characters in this series - the whole Mastriani family is great!

2009-05-05 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Sanctuary (1-800-Where-R-You)
Although Sanctuary is my least favorite in the 1-800-Where-R-You series, I still gave it four stars. This series is a fun read and perfect for teen readers. Meg Cabot has created a great adventure with loveable characters.

2008-02-25 (westlake village, ca United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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GREAT!
This book is simply amazing! I loved it loved it loved it! If you even LIKE Meg Cabot you are going to fall in love with her writing in this one! It is simply amazing and just fantastic! I definitely did not expect it to be this great but it was!! Buy with confidence- you are going to love this book!!

2007-09-02 | .:Love and Peace:. (on planet EARTH) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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Sanctuary
Jess is changing, as are all the other characters. It's so interesting now to look back to the first book, and I realize that so much has happened but it doesn't seem like that much. And now there is only one book left in the series and I guarantee you I will miss reading these books. They go by fast, let me tell you.

2007-06-13 | Chel (Necedah, WI) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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a great book!!!
Sanctuary is a fantastic book that readers will fall in love with, especially fans of the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU series. READ THIS BOOK!!

2007-01-23 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Ready or Not

Product Details

• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Trade name New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780061479960

Description

Top ten things Samantha Madison isn't ready for

10. Spending Thanksgiving at Camp David
9. With her boyfriend, the president's son
8. Who wants to take things to the Next Level
7. Which Sam inadvertently announces live on MTV
6. While discussing the president's dubious policies on families, morals, and, yes, sex
5. Juggling her new after-school job at Potomac Video
4. Even though she's already the (unpaid) teen ambassador to the UN
3. Getting accosted because she's "the redheaded girl who saved the president's life," despite her new ebony tresses
2. Dealing with her popular sister Lucy, who for once can't get the guy she wants

And the number-one thing Sam isn't ready for?

1. Finding out the hard way that in art class, "life drawing" means "naked people"

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Customer Reviews

After what
I loved the first book I loved all of the first book. But this book is just so well blah blah blah it was increasling annoying and rather predictable. I, grew to love Sam and feel her feelings in the first book but really come on. I mean all the things that made the first book good were gone. I mean Cant we have more of a complex thingie. Really Meg cuz this book suxed

2010-02-20 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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A bit of a letdown.
The first book in this series is clever, funny, and a good light read.
This one, however, failed to deliver. I'm not giving anything away, but literally the entire book just revolves around sex. And after a while, frankly, it gets quite boring. The characters, Lucy especially, are inconsistent, and overall I'd have to say this book could've stood a few more rounds through the editing process.

It's still got a few good plot points and the main struggle of the story was a well-thought out idea, even if drawn out.

2010-02-13 (Virginia) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Not what I expected
Though this book didn't come up to my expectation, it was on the whole a nice read. Honest, humorous and well-paced, Ready Or Not was typically Meg.

I didn't have a chance to read All American Girl but fortunately the book itself doesn't relate much to its prequel so I could still give a complete review. The plot was original to me. I've yet to read anything with a teenage ambassador in it, at least not one who saved the president ad then later became his son's girlfriend.

Samantha's life was alluring to me because it both depicted a life of a normal girl and one of a young celebrity. Being famous wasn't cool as it might sound, in contrast, it brought Sam more troubles than ever. In addition to coping with common issues - going to a school she didn't like at all, having one best friend only, being semi-ignored by her parents and shadowed by the seemingly perfect sister - she also had to avoid public prying eyes into her relationship with David and the likes. I enjoyed reading those parts, which made me laugh yet feel bad for Sam at the same time.

Sex was also a subject dealt with in this story. It was bold and fun. However, it annoyed me Sam freaked out too much on being asked to "do it". What was also ironic was even though Sam misread David and all the time she was way too nervous, she was the one who later decided to take it to the next level.

Anyway, I do like a lot of things about this story: the cute moments of Sam and David, how Lucy cared and protected her little sister, and the funny life drawing lessons. Besides, the book could somehow help you with your SAT tests as Meg included lots of SAT words there.

I would not say this is my favorite book but if you're looking for an entertaining one, you may consider Ready Or Not.

2009-12-14 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Is this book controversial? You bet! Is it funny! No doubt about it. Is it appropriate reading material for all ages? Depends on what you deem appropriate.

I've read with interest the other reviews for READY OR NOT, Meg Cabot's sequel to All-American Girl. I even agree with a lot of them. But before I start my review, let me remind you of one salient point--this book is a work of FICTION. It was written by a HUMAN who has her OWN views of life. Just as everyone on Amazon isn't going to agree on whether or not abortion is right, or the war in Iraq is necessary, or whether religion should be allowed in public schools, no two people are going to agree on whether or not *SPOILER* Sam should have had sex with her boyfriend at the age of almost seventeen.

That said, I loved the book. I'm a thirty-year-old happily married mother of two, and I still enjoyed Ms. Cabot's individual brand of humor, the trials of being a teenager, and the ability of one person to make a difference in the world.

The Samantha Madison of All-American Girl has grown up. She's older, she's dyed her hair because she "needed a change," and she's wondering what to do now that her boyfriend, David, who just happens to be the son of the US President, has invited her to Camp David over Thanksgiving weekend to play "parcheesi."

Sam is all ready reeling--from the realization that she either looks like a cute Ashlee Simpson (her older sister Lucy's comment on the dye job, which is not good) or a dead Joan of Arc (her younger sister Rebecca's comment on the hair, which could be good depending on how you look at it); the fact that "life studies" in art class obviously means "naked people" (really not good that the first naked man you see is a complete stranger); and the knowledge that the President seems to think providing the teens of America birth-control should not be done without their parents approval.

I truly enjoyed READY OR NOT. The message is a powerful one--the sexuality of a person should be based on their maturity, not their age, and that birth-control is a personal decision of the person engaging in sexual activities. That said, however, never once does the book become preachy about teen sexuality. I can understand where some parents might not like having their teenage daughters reading about a sixteen-year-old who decides to have sex with her boyfriend, but I personally would rather have my daughter read a book about a girl who knows what a big decision it is, comes to peace with it in her mind, and seeks out ways to avoid the dangers that are associated with sex no matter what your age--pregnancy and disease--then have her feel ashamed to research her decision.

I think the subject matter was wonderfully handled, and by no means is the entire book about Sam trying to decide whether or not to have sex with David. A lot of reviewers will attempt to make it be so, just because the subject matter is a touchy one. But it's also about Sam wanting to be her own person, not just "the girl who saved the President." It's about learning to love yourself as you are, and understanding the intricacies of your family, and taking important steps in your life to make the world a better place.

Samantha Madison grew up in this book, and that's how it should be. Any parent who thinks their teenager isn't thinking about sex is sadly mistaken--it's just a fact of life. And Meg Cabot presents a wonderful story about the highs and lows of falling in love, of making life-altering decisions, and being the best person you can be.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

2009-06-26 | Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier. (All Over the US & Canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Is this book controversial? You bet! Is it funny! No doubt about it. Is it appropriate reading material for all ages? Depends on what you deem appropriate.

I've read with interest the other reviews for READY OR NOT, Meg Cabot's sequel to All-American Girl. I even agree with a lot of them. But before I start my review, let me remind you of one salient point--this book is a work of FICTION. It was written by a HUMAN who has her OWN views of life. Just as everyone on Amazon isn't going to agree on whether or not abortion is right, or the war in Iraq is necessary, or whether religion should be allowed in public schools, no two people are going to agree on whether or not *SPOILER* Sam should have had sex with her boyfriend at the age of almost seventeen.

That said, I loved the book. I'm a thirty-year-old happily married mother of two, and I still enjoyed Ms. Cabot's individual brand of humor, the trials of being a teenager, and the ability of one person to make a difference in the world.

The Samantha Madison of All-American Girl has grown up. She's older, she's dyed her hair because she "needed a change," and she's wondering what to do now that her boyfriend, David, who just happens to be the son of the US President, has invited her to Camp David over Thanksgiving weekend to play "parcheesi."

Sam is all ready reeling--from the realization that she either looks like a cute Ashlee Simpson (her older sister Lucy's comment on the dye job, which is not good) or a dead Joan of Arc (her younger sister Rebecca's comment on the hair, which could be good depending on how you look at it); the fact that "life studies" in art class obviously means "naked people" (really not good that the first naked man you see is a complete stranger); and the knowledge that the President seems to think providing the teens of America birth-control should not be done without their parents approval.

I truly enjoyed READY OR NOT. The message is a powerful one--the sexuality of a person should be based on their maturity, not their age, and that birth-control is a personal decision of the person engaging in sexual activities. That said, however, never once does the book become preachy about teen sexuality. I can understand where some parents might not like having their teenage daughters reading about a sixteen-year-old who decides to have sex with her boyfriend, but I personally would rather have my daughter read a book about a girl who knows what a big decision it is, comes to peace with it in her mind, and seeks out ways to avoid the dangers that are associated with sex no matter what your age--pregnancy and disease--then have her feel ashamed to research her decision.

I think the subject matter was wonderfully handled, and by no means is the entire book about Sam trying to decide whether or not to have sex with David. A lot of reviewers will attempt to make it be so, just because the subject matter is a touchy one. But it's also about Sam wanting to be her own person, not just "the girl who saved the President." It's about learning to love yourself as you are, and understanding the intricacies of your family, and taking important steps in your life to make the world a better place.

Samantha Madison grew up in this book, and that's how it should be. Any parent who thinks their teenager isn't thinking about sex is sadly mistaken--it's just a fact of life. And Meg Cabot presents a wonderful story about the highs and lows of falling in love, of making life-altering decisions, and being the best person you can be.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

2009-06-26 | Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier. (All Over the US & Canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Runaway (Airhead)

Description

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

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