Wonder When You'll Miss Me

This book was on my wishlist, and I can't remember exactly where I got the title from, but I think it was on a book a day calendar. This book certainly didn't disappoint. In fact, the whole story was interesting and full of a cast of memorable characters.
The reader really gets a sense of who the main character is, even though she doesn't. And that's very hard to write indeed.

Faith Duckle tries to reinvent herself at high school by losing weight at an institution after a failed suicide attempt. Despite the weight loss, Faith doesn't make any waves during her reentry into high school until a single, violent act forces her to flee her home and meet up with a friend who has disappeared into a small, traveling circus.

Faith, fearing capture, renames herself Annabelle and goes on a multi-state journey before finding the circus--only to find that her friend is long gone, his whereabouts unknown. She begins working at the circus as Annabelle, doing various grunt and dirty work until she becomes part of the show, thanks to her involvement with the elephants.

Throughout her physical journey, the Fat Girl she once was offers commentary and criticism. Most of the time, Faith/Annabelle fights with the fat girl, but when her newfound life at the circus is threatened, the fat girl teaches Faith/Annabelle a few important things and proves a well of strength.

I really liked this journey of self discovery, it is unfortunate that author Amanda Davis died so soon after it's completion. The afterword by Michael Chabon memorializes this bright light of American literature that was extinguished too soon.

Such a Pretty Girl

Again with the bookcrossing! Yes, it's a habit and I can't quite seem to break it. I read Laura Weiss's book really quickly (I think in the span of two hours?) and came away having read a good story and a pretty darn good ending, which you don't normally think of when you start reading this YA-novel. Review is below.

One time 'Daddy's Girl' Meredith holds a secret so terrible that it is talked about by everyone--her neighbors, her schoolmates and even people she doesn't know. Meredith's testimony at her father's trial three years ago was the nail in the coffin--and he should have been in prison for a very long time.

His good behavior, however, gets him back on the streets and back into her house, free to become the predator he once was. This time, Meredith is older and, now 15, she can trap him. In order to do so, she enlists the help of an ex-policeman neighbor, her handicapped boyfriend (who was also once a victim of her father's appetites) and her boyfriend's mother (the former lover of the monster himself).

In order to trap him and keep other children safe, Meredith will have to use herself as bait--an action that will alienate her from her mother--the one person's in Meredith's father's corner. Meredith makes some tough but believeable decisions. In Meredith, Weiss has created a strong, believeable character than fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's 'Speak' will embrace and remember for years to come.