It's Monday, What are you reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week.

Read Last Week:

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews:  This was a great summery read; we were having the best weather so far this summer last week, breezy and warm, but not too hot and humid, and this book fit my mood.  I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading the next one, Savannah Breeze. 

Ta-Ta For Now by Bethany Lopez:  This is a young adult book about the trials of beginning high school.  I felt it was a very accurate portrayal of how difficult the transistion can be, and I am sure the kids at my school are going to pick up the book, read it, and like it. 

Currently Reading:

Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank:  As my summer is winding down, I find myself trying to cram as many beach summer books in as I can.  I love to read seasonally, lol.   

Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster:  I have heard good things about this author, so I wanted to give her a read. 

Sometimes I Feel Like A Nut by Jill Kargman:  I am actually reading this one right now, and last night I had to put it down.  I was laughing right out loud, and I had no one to share the funny parts with! So I put it aside until my husband came home and I could read parts to him. 

Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake:  I am still working on this- I don't want to give up, but it might take me forever to finish it.

Ta Ta For Now - Review

Title:  Ta Ta For Now!
Author:  Bethany Lopez
Publisher:  through Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary:

Melissa begins her freshman year with one goal in mind, getting Brian Jackson to be her boyfriend. She will soon learn that things don't necessarily turn out the way you plan them, the value of true friendship, and the importance of family.

My thoughts:

First, I want to preface this by saying that I know the author - she is my friend and former college roommate.  However, I want to be an ojective reviewer, and I will not let the fact that she is a friend of mine cloud that. I am very proud of her for taking this scary step of writing a book and putting herself out there for the world to judge.

This book is a very accurate portrayal of what life is like for the average fourteen year old girl starting high school- such a transitional year, with changing friends, boyfriends, alternately hating your family and realizing they are the best thing that could happen to you.  And the main character, Melissa, has a rough freshman year, having to go through it all.  Bullies, friends who aren't really your friends, peer pressure- she is indoctrinated pretty quickly to the world of high school.  She manages to keep it together with the help of good friends and her family, who support her and love her, although she did find herself hitting some low points in between, such as fighting in school and with her sister. Her feelings about certain things were dead on to how a younger teenage girl would feel.   

There were a few typos.  Also, the scenes with the kids smoking, it seemed right out in the open where teachers or monitors would see them, such as the school courtyard at lunch.  Maybe I am too old to remember, or maybe it is because I work at a school and think that this would be noticed, I don't know. 

All in all, I think this is a great first book! Beth donated it to me for one of our school libraries, and I am going to send it to the middle school library.  I think this book is definitely one kids are going to pick up, read and enjoy!! 

You can check Bethany out at her blog, and follow her on twitter as well.