Slept Away by Julie Kraut

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: 5/26/09

About the Book: Laney Parker is a city girl who is looking forward to parties in Manhattan with her friends and a loungey summer by the pool. Maybe she could even find a cool fashionista internship and get lots of fashion swag!

But Laney's mom has other plans and sends her to Camp Timber Trails for the summer. Laney is surrounded by arts and crafts, daily sports activities and no cell phone or e-mail. Can a city girl survive at summer camp?

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I really enjoyed this book! It was light, funny, and a great summer read. Even if you're not heading off to summer camp, Slept Away is a great vacation read.

I'm more of a city girl myself and the only camping I've ever really done was staying in my grandparent's RV which was in their backyard, so we had easy access to indoor plumbing, air-conditioning and snacks. So I totally felt Laney's pain with being stuck at camp for six weeks!

The thing I liked most about this book was that in the beginning, Laney was more of a city girl somewhat snobby character, but that all gets turned upside down when she arrives at Camp Timber Trails. She's the outcast of her bunk, she's mocked by the "billboard butts" (the self proclaimed popular girls at camp), and she's stuck with the pool peers. This really made Laney more empathic and relatable-I wanted to cheer Laney on through her summer.

The dialog is witty and full of pop culture references. At times I thought there were too many pop culture references, and I wonder if some of them will go over the heads of younger readers. Still, there were several moments I laughed out loud! There's even some romance, which anyone who knows me, knows I love romance!:) Laney tries to play matchmaker with one of her bunk mates and the nerd romance that ensues is just too cute!

If you're looking for a book to start your summer reading with, I highly recommend Slept Away.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Realistic Fiction Release Date: 2/26/2013 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Eleanor and Park are both misfits. When new girl Eleanor sits next to Park on the bus, they don't want anything to do with each other. But over the course of the school year, things change. It starts with comic books and becomes a friendship and a romance that the two will never forget. You never forget your first love. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Have you ever had a book sit on your shelf that you've heard so much hype about? And you think that books sounds like it would be right up your alley, but you're in a reading slump and you're afraid to give it a try unless it fails? I knew Eleanor and Park sounded like my perfect book, but I was in such an after committee slump that I even though I knew this book would help, I just didn't want to be disappointed. I should have known better because Eleanor and Park was perfect and everything that I had hoped it wou

Post Downton Abbey Reading List

Downton Abbey is over (with a shocking and frustrating ending!) and now I'm suffering Downton Abbey withdrawal. I've got a reading list full of books that I hope will satisfy my post-Downton Abbey cravings and I thought I'd share what's in my pile and get suggestions for other after Downton reads. Here's what I hope to be reading this year (a mix of YA and adult titles): A couple Julian Fellowes reads: And a few re-reads: Edited to add: What's on your Post-Downton Abbey reading list?

Tween Tuesday: Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Genre: Magical Realism Release Date: 3/4/2010 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Polly Peabody lives on a magical farm. They grow chocolate rhubarb, it rains every Monday at exactly 1:00, and her best friend is a plant named Harry. When the rain stops, Polly's brother falls ill, and her aunt wants to sell the farm, Polly must figure out a way to save her beloved home. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Drizzle is on our state book list and one of our Chat & Chew book club picks. The kids reviews were mixed on this one and sadly, it was my least favorite of all the books we read for Chat & Chew. The kids that liked it said it had action, but for me the plot was slow and dragged too much. The book could have been edited down and I lost interest in the story. I liked the magical farm that Polly lived on, but the magic wasn't enough to hold my interest. I felt like the plot went around in circles too much and never got going. The ending was also a bit

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