Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern OPTIONAL

Halpern, Julie Don't Stop Now, 224 pags. Feiwel and Friends, June 2011. Language--PG-13 (30 swears); Sexual Content--PG-13; Violence--PG.

Lillian's sort-of friend, Penny, fakes her own kidnapping on the day after high school graduation. Lil and her best friend Josh decide to take the situation into their own hands, and instead of telling the police, decide to take a road trip to Washington to figure out what she was thinking. Most of the book is from Lil's POV, but Penny does have a few paragraphs every couple of chapters to give background and perspective.

I usually really enjoy "road trip" books. But this one, I didn't get. Periodically I'd ask myself, "What is the point of this novel?" and I never had an answer. By the end of the story I decided it was Lil and Josh's relationship, since that is the question asked on the cover. But even at the last page, where their relationship stands is still up in the air, so again, I had to ask, "What was the point?" And going after Penny seemed a really flimsy excuse behind the road trip. I found it a rather pointless book.

HS--OPTIONAL. Rebekah, youth services librarian

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg - ADVISABLE

Eulberg, Elizabeth Take a Bow, 288 p. Point Books, 2012. $17.99. Language-PG, Violence-PG, Sexual Content-PG.

Tells the story of four students at a performing arts high school in New York City. Sophie is a highly competitive singer. Her best friend Emme writes the lyrics for her to sing, but is too shy to take the stage to perform solos on her own. Emme's friend Ethan is a master lyricist with self-destructive tendencies. The love of his life is right in front of him, but he must have the courage to win her over. Sophie's boyfriend Carter is a former childhood star, looking for a normal life by going to high school. He discovers, however, that he has a talent he never dreamed - and it has nothing to do with acting. From their freshman year audition to graduation, the four students experience highs and lows they never dreamed of.

I read this book in under 24 hours, which is unusual for me, but I had to know what would happen. Although the ending was predictable, it was getting to that point that I had to see. Students who are into performing arts, especially girls who love romantic books with plenty of drama and betrayal, will enjoy this one.

MS, HS - ADVISABLE Reviewer: Caryn.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire-ADVISABLE

McEntire, Myra. Hourglass, 390 pages, Egmont, 2011, $17.99.
Language-G, Mature Content-PG, Violence-G  

Emerson thinks that she is crazy. She can see people from the past- apparitions of Southern belles and 1920's jazz musicians who once inhabited the buildings of her Southern hometown. Haunted to the point of insanity, she has tried everything to make the images go away, and as a last resort her brother has employed the handsome Michael Weaver  from the organization, Hourglass, to help her. With his experience and knowledge, he may be able to help her see her life as a continuous pattern-the past, the present and the future. Only she begins to wonder if Michael is the answer or the problem? Is Hourglass a benign institute for the study of time or something more sinister? If she is getting better, why is she still being haunted? This was a very engaging, highly-readable, original addition to the YA paranormal genre. The cliffhanger ending may have been a little too steep for my liking, but I can't wait for the sequel.   MS/HS-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Gretchen

The Jane Austen Diaries: Pride and Popularity by Jenni James-OPTIONAL

James, Jenni. The Jane Austen Diaries: Pride and Popularity, 238 pages, Inkberry Press, 2011, $11.99. Language-G, Mature Content-G, Violence-G

Chloe has been avoiding Taylor Anderson since the summer before their sophomore year. He was too popular, too handsome and far too sure of himself for her. When they end up in the same art class senior year, she can't avoid him any longer. Why won't he and his friends leave her and her friends alone? But when his best friend falls for hers, things get messy, and her pride and his popularity get in the way. There was really nothing new here, and much of the Pride and Prejudice parallels seemed forced. Ultimately, it is an easy read with a few bright spots for the young Austen enthusiast. MS/HS-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Gretchen

The Darlings in Love by Melissa Kantor - ADVISABLE

Kantor, Melissa The Darlings in Love. Hyperion , 2012. $16.99  Language- PG (7 sears); Mature Content-PG ; Violence-PG.   Victoria, Natalya, and Jane all have different lifestyles and plans for the year.  Between boys and school they really don't know if they even have enough time for their friendship.  With problems brewing with those they love most, they hope the can remain true to not only themselves,  but to each other.  I really liked this book.  It's the second in the "Darling's" series.  The girls are easily relateble to and also entertaining at the same time.  MS-  ADVISABLE Student Reviewer: BJS     

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander - ADVISABLE

Alexander, Jill S.  Paradise, 246 pages  Feiwel and Friends, 2011. $16.99 (Language PG-13 (18 swears); Violence-G ; Sexual Content  PG-13 ) Paisley is a drummer, a closet drummer.  She is part of a band that wants to make it big at the upcoming band show in Austin and nothing is going to distract her, except maybe the new lead singer, Gabriel.  Gabriel teaches Paisley and the band how to find their confidence and believe in their musical abilities.  Paisley works through telling her family about her dreams of being a drummer and finds how strong she didn’t want to know she could be.  Fun romance and coming of age novel.  There is teen dialogue with a stress in favor of sexual abstinence.  HS - ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.