A Boy and his Dad at War

Liam has grown up with the critical voice of his dad always harping on his multiple failures, to the point that Liam knows what a screwup he is. He can't do anything right. He makes poor choices. He isn't smart, and his chances for future success at anything are pretty much nil. And the sad thing is, Liam absolutely believes this, and the first words out of his mouth whenever he interacts with his dad are an apology and a promise to try harder. Liam admires his dad, who is a CEO of an important company, a well-recognized success story. Who wouldn't admire such a man?



Liam has gone too far this time. Caught drunk and in the midst of having sex in his dad's office with a girl he doesn't even like, Liam is sent off to live "for a while" with his dad's brother -- whom he hasn't seen since he was about 7 years old. That was when "Aunt Pete" showed up in drag, dressed in a gorgeous red ball gown, at Liam's mother's retirement party (when she gave up her successful international modeling career). Liam's dad and his ultra-strict grandparents were horrified, threw Pete out, and haven't spoken to him nor seen him ever since. So as Liam starts a new life at a new school, he is hoping to do whatever it takes to get back home, which would mean earning his dad's respect. So instead of continuing as "Mr. Popularity," he figures, he should become the least popular kid at school. Focus on academics. Join an unpopular club. Avoid the "cool kids." And if he can only get Darleen, the dorky neighbor girl whom everybody has predicted will earn the label of "Class B*tch" in the yearbook, to like him, his dad will surely see how hard he's trying to be a serious student.

I loved the message of this book. Liam learns some important life lessons, and so do we. But I can honestly say I've never met such a one-dimensionally hateful father in any of the books I've read. Even though the author was trying to make a point, it's hard to believe that there were never any redeeming qualities or some reasons that he was as mean as he was. Otherwise, why would Liam's mother have stayed with him? That was never explored, and that gap was a flaw in the book.

But Aunt Pete and his gay friends were well-drawn, without stereotypical limits, and Liam's changes, though extreme, were believable.
I give "King of the Screwups" 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

What's scarier - terrorists or politicians?

This 3rd book in the Gallagher Girls series was just as much fun -- and as well-written -- as the first one. Cammy Morgan, 16-year-old daughter of two spies and a student at the exclusive Gallagher Academy just outside Washington D.C., is the central character in this series. After her father's death in some foreign country about four years ago, her mother "retired" from active service and became the headmistress at the Gallagher Academy, ostensibly a snooty school for spoiled rich girls, but actually a training ground to prepare girls for a future as a spy, researcher, or some other illicit government service. Cammy is now in her junior year, and has moved on from basic language study, history, and "the best ways to evade a pursuer" to more advanced study of "Covert Ops." This year they're getting into disguises -- which comes in very handy when Cammy, Bex, and Liz need to escape the school to protect Macey. Since her father is running to be America's next Vice President, Macey is out on the campaign trail helping with the "family image" so important to candidates today. But someone is out to kill Macey. Cammy just happened to be on hand in Boston when someone made the first attempt, and she and Macey barely escaped, though with serious injuries. Cammy's long-lost Aunt Abby (also a spy) shows up to serve as Macey's personal security guard, but she's only one person, and doesn't know everything that Cammy and her friends have found out -- so they know they just have to chip in when Macey has a command appearance at the next stop on the campaign trail. But other considerations are complicating the whole story -- why does Zach, the romantic but mysterious boy from the OTHER spy school, keep showing up when things go wrong? And is Macey seriously interested in that dorky son of the presidential candidate? Is there really a secret society whose mission is to destroy anyone connected with the Gallagher Academy? There is definitely more here than meets the eye!

For its clever dialogue and writing style, for the romance, adventure, and suspense, and definitely for its unexpected twist at the end, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

Girls go all Harry Potter

It's been a long summer, and I've read a LOT of books, seen a lot of movies, watched a lot of TV, pulled a lot of weeds, etc. etc. . . . but what I want to share with you, dear readers, is my joy at discovering a new, fun series that I want to recommend to all of you. It's the Gallagher Girls series by Abby Carter - and the first book hooked me right away. In I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, Cammy Morgan is a student at an exclusive girl's school just outside of Washington, DC. But it's no ordinary high-falutin' private school. No, this is a school for spies. Cammy studies covert operations, culture and assimilation, and advanced encryption. (see, that's how it's like Harry Potter - a "secret school" with really unusual subjects to study!) Her parents were both spies -- her father died "on the job," and her mom is the director of the school. Soon after she returns to the school for a new year, she meets a hot local guy in town, Josh -- but she can't reveal to him the true nature of the school or what she's training to become. Before you know it, her friends have conspired to investigate this new object of Cammy's desire, and have developed convoluted plans to help her sneak out of school to meet Josh. Can Cammy and Josh have a NORMAL relationship, when everything about her is everything BUT normal? This was a fun book - and will make a great movie (I was trying to cast it the whole time I was reading it). There are two sequels already - stop by the library to try out at least this first novel in the series.
4 out of 4 stars