5-Minute Book Club

Our book pick this month is Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. You seriously have to click on her name to go to her site just to see the cow. I love it!

This is what it's about:

Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard–falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High… until vicious rumors about her and her best friend’s boyfriend start going around. Now Regina’s been “frozen out” and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn’t come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend… if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don’t break them both first…

This is what we have to say:

Kathleen:

At first, I was very disappointed. I made it to page 152 before realizing that there would be no werewolves in this book. Total bummer. Everyone knows that werewolves are the cherries on top of the ice cream.

Despite the disturbing lack of werewolves, Courtney Summers again manages to prove that she’s one of the most exciting contemporary YA writers in, well, ever. I loved her use of present tense, I loved her voice, I loved page 111 which had just a single sentence. And I especially loved Michael. There are three writers who make me desperately wish I wrote contemp. Courtney Summers is one of them.

Jamie:

SGA had me turning the pages at light speed, hands glued to the cover, unable to put it down until the very last word. Inside my head I kept chanting, oh no, oh no, OMG, no way! Just when I thought the last twist had come, I ran right into another one. Raw. Real. This one stays with you. You want to start all over from page one when you finish.

Jennifer:

Some Girls Are was a major wow. I don't like the perfect- pampered-rich girls and bullies and complete high school angst that has become a cliché, so I was skeptical. But this was surprisingly refreshing and not a cliché. Regina gave as good as she got. I actually found myself sympathizing with almost all of the characters. I was drawn in by the voice. And my weakness, the boy love interest, was refreshing. Michael was the absolute best. I would read this again, it was that engrossing.

PS: Werewolves make hot love interests :P

Our super-de-dooper guest blogger, Melissa Hill:

This is Mean Girls, except meaner. The story examines how girls can be so cruel to each other in a way that makes me glad I’m no longer in high school. Despite having cruel intentions, I liked Regina and wanted her to get the guy in the end. I think the biggest strength of the story was the depth of the characters and the way you were never really sure how everything was going to work out.

Debra:

This book is seriously one of my Favorite. YA Contemps. Evah. I bow to Summers' brilliance at taking a thoroughly unlikable character--Regina--and making me weep for her not once, not twice, but THREE times in the course of the novel. Genius, despite the absence of werewolves (Kath made me say that.) The first person present prose was strong, powerful, and at times, gut wrenching, and the love interest was convincing. Even given the sort of ambiguous ending with the lead Mean Girl character, I really can't recommend this book highly enough. Go. Read. And be very, very jealous that YOU didn't write it.

Sarah:

I found it very weird to cry in frustration from a book. I don't think it's ever happened before. But there I was, seriously shedding tears because I felt so much pity for mean girl Regina. Not only does Some Girls Are keep you flipping pages violently until the end, but it puts things in perspective, shining light on the brutality of high school drama and gossip. Summers pushes the limits while avoiding a soap opera slope. And although I saw Regina's flaws throughout every scene, I still rooted for her until the very last page.

What are your thoughts?