Not What I Wanted Wednesday

Again, I managed to get into a lot of Young Adult books that I don't see working in my library. It's a tricky line, sometimes based on content, sometimes based on style and sometimes, I kid you not, based on print size. Anything smaller than 12 point, and there are complaints! Most of these would probably be great in a high school library!

Kenneally, Miranda. Catching Jordan.
From Goodreads.com: "What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate."
What I wanted: A good sports story for girls.
Why it didn't work for me: While I adored Jordan and thought the writing was pitch perfect, this was far too mature for middle school. Several f-bombs, and a LOT of sexual innuendo. Drat. Really liked it otherwise.
People who liked this include: Obsession with Books, 2 Read or not 2 Read, Coffee Table Reviews, and Fabbity Fab Book Reviews.



King, A.S. Everybody Sees Ants.
From the publisher: " Overburdened by his parents' bickering and a bully's attacks, fifteen-year-old Lucky Linderman begins dreaming of being with his grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War, but during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective."
What I wanted: All the cool blog kids are reading it.
Why it didn't work for me: The style and voice of this seemed older, and the magical realism premise seemed a bit confusing.
People who liked this include: Guys Lit Wire, Booking Mama, Ringo the Cat's Blog, and My Words Ate Me.


Riggs, Ransom. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children.
From the publisher: "Sixteen-year-old Jacob, having traveled to a remote island after a family tragedy, discovers an abandoned orphanage, and, after some investigating, he learns the children who lived there may have been dangerous and quarantined and may also still be alive."
What I wanted: All the cool blog kids are reading it.
Why it didn't work for me: Tiny print, weirdly disturbing pictures, and the tone and pacing of an adult novel.
People who liked this include: YA Book Lover, Of Books and Reading, S. Krishna's Books, and The Infinite Shelf.



McKinty, Adrian. Deviant.
From Goodreads.com:"Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed. This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves. But with few freedoms, the students become sitting ducks for a killer determined to “clean up” Colorado Springs."
What I wanted: A mysterious, supernatural creepy story.
Why it didn't work for me: I don't like cats. REALLY don't like cats, and even for me, the first chapter of graphic cat abuse was too much.
People who liked this include: Inspirations and Popcorn Reads.


Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. Every Other Day.
From the publisher: "Every other day, sixteen-year-old high school student Kali transforms into an invincible demon hunter, but when she sees that a popular fellow-student is marked for death in the next twenty-four hours, unfortunately it is the wrong day for Kali."
What I wanted: Adore this author's Tattoo, The Squad and Raised by Wolves series and was hoping for more.
Why it didn't work for me: Fighting hell hounds didn't feel like something my 6th graders who want paranormal romance books were really looking for. Again, drat.
People who liked this include: Almost Grown Up, In the Good Books, The Book Swarm, and Bookd Out.

And am I the only one having trouble on Blogger with spacing? Even when I edit out the tags on the html, it still puts huge spaces between things. After about ten minutes of trying to fix it, I give up. Sorry about any excess spacing!