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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares



Synopsis:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

Book: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Author: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Release Date: October 26th, 2010
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 272

Review:
Wow! This has to be one of the smartest YA novels that I have ever read. Not only did authors, David Levithan and Rachel Cohn use big, yet understandable words, they wrote their characters in an intelligent, witty way that most teenagers can relate to.

I loved the realness (is that a word?) of this novel. Not only could you actually find a red notebook on a bookstore shelf, but the characters, like mentioned above, are vastly similar to ones self , and, therefore, you understand them and want to get to know them better.

Dash's parents are divorced and haven't talked to each other since their initial separation. This makes it very easy for Dash to trick his parents into letting him stay in New York by himself for Christmas break. Dash tells his mother that he will stay at his dad's house while she's away from the break, and vice versa with his father.

Just the fact that Dash's parents are divorced makes him a normal teenager, and most readers can relate to him. My parents have actually been through a seperation, and, although they do talk to each other, they do go through their fair share of problems, and often prefer to communicate through my sister and myself, rather than with each other. Because of this, I understand exactly what Dash is going through during the Christmas break.

Lily, it seems, is the exact opposite of Dash. Lily's parents are still happily together (in fact, they've taken an anniversary trip to Fiji together for Christmas break), she gets along amazingly with her brother Langston, and she is the stereotype for the perfect, all around good girl. Lily's never been kissed, let alone gone any farther, where as Dash has been a lot further with his ex-girlfriend.

If you can't relate well to "bad-boy" Dash, then you can certainly relate to "good-girl" Lily. This is definitely a nice touch to the story for every teenager because it leaves the book loveable.

Overall, I loved this book. I only had one problem with it, involving the crimson alert, for anyone who's read the novel. But it didn't change my rating.


Overall Rating: *4 Stars*
Cover Rating: *5 Stars*

Saturday, February 5, 2011

I'm Back!

So, I'm pretty sure I haven't posted on either of my blogs in nearly a year. Lately, though, I've been getting back into the book community and following people on Youtube.

I've read MANY books in the past couple of months and I will be reviewing them all as soon as possible.

I am also revamping my blog. I'm looking for a new template and the one I'm currently using will most likely bee changed soon. I will be adding a Review Policy page, along with an About Me page, and possibly more.

Feel free to contact me to make suggestions because I would really appreciate it.


Yours' Always,

Isabelle <3