Books I Didn't Finish: Bumped by Megan McCaffrerty

Total Finished:   78 out of 244 pages.

So, Why Couldn't You Finish It?

In the near future, infertility has struck everyone over the age of 18.  Because of this, teen girls are encouraged to "bump" -- get pregnant.  Recently reuinited 16 year old twins, Melody and Harmony go about this in very different ways.  Harmony, raised on a religious commune, is preparing herself for wife and motherhood.  Melody, raised by hyper-perfectionist parents, has "gone pro" and sold her fertility to the highest bidder.

There is something here -- the idea of teen pregnancy being a desirable state, and the commodification of teen fertility -- these both have great narrative potential.

However,  McCafferty's writing does nothing for me.  The jargon of her dystopia is artificial and cloying, and instead of creating a world, pulled me out of it.  More pressingly, Harmony and Melody are flat out annoying, and not interesting enough to compensate for it.  Throw in a crush on a "perfect" guy by the religious girl, and the refusal of the "perfect" girl to realize that she's crazy about her best friend...  I'm done.

Dissenting opinions?  
Publisher's Weekly
 Good Golly Miss Holly 
Write Meg

Final Word:   Annoying and trite pretty much spells the end of a book for me.  I have too much other stuff to read....

A New Challenge: The Great Graphic Novels for Teens List

So... Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

This is a YALSA list that I watch with some interest.  Full disclaimer:  I am not active in ALA.  The conference fees are prohibitive, and my library does not subsidize professional development.  I have met many of the librarians who serve on the GGFNT committee and think that they are excellent at what they do.

However, this list puzzles me.  Often, their choices seem off the mark.  I think part of it is that they never define what "great" is.  Is is popularity?  Quality?  Readability?

In an effort to better understand the list, I am making a pledge.  This year, I will (attempt) to read every book nominated for the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.  Yes, even the non-fiction.  And the manga.

The first batch of nominated titles is now up.  Let's see..... well, I've read Return of the Dapper Men.  And Axe Cop is on my desk.  So I'm 2 for 7.  Oy.