(Image from Indiebound)

The more time Payton spends observing Sean, the more she realizes that, for all the time they've spent sitting near each other, she doesn't really know him. When she decides to broaden her research to include more than just Sean's head, Payton discovers the boy's totally stalk-worthy. Not only is he nice, but he's cute, interesting and even a little mysterious. As Payton gets to know him better, Sean becomes less of a science experiment and more of a friend, a friend with a whole lot of potential to be more.

(Readalikes: Sort of reminded me of After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick)

(Image from Indiebound)

Alex Patrick isn't the kind of girl who sleeps around. In fact, she's never slept with anyone at all. Which is why waking up next to some guy she barely knows shocks her to her core. She doesn't know his name, can't remember coming to his dorm room, and hopes beyond hope that the condoms in his trash don't mean what she thinks they do. Memories of their night together are so fuzzy she's not sure she'll ever remember anything, let alone the most important question of all: Did she consent to having sex with a boy whose name she can't even remember?

One thing is certain - Alex drank way too much on the night in question. Still, pieces of the evening are floating back and the more she remembers, the surer she becomes that Carter Hutchinson raped her. Now he's bragging about it to anyone who'll listen. Alex has to do something, but she can't go to the administration of her exclusive boarding school (they'd never believe one of their students committed a criminal act) or the police (who would violate her even further with their evidence-gathering). The Mockingbirds are her only hope. Themis Academy's secret justice society has its own kind of power; Alex just has to convince its judges to wield it in her behalf. But proving her case means reliving the worst night of her life, ruining another student's reputation, and enduring threats from a very angry Carter. Is it worth the fight? Does she have any hope of winning? And what will the battle cost her?

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney discusses date rape with an honesty so searing it can only come from personal experience. The author was violated while in college and, although she took a more traditional route to justice than her heroine, going through the process herself means that Whitney's book rings with an authenticity that will speak to not only rape victims but to all women. Although the writing gets awkward at times, the story moves quickly, the characters are mostly interesting, and the secret society angle gives a common topic some originality. I expected the book to blow me away. It didn't. Still, it was a compelling read. Not an easy one, but one that made me think.

(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of any, although it references To Kill A Mockingbird quite a bit.)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language and sexual content

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper knows she's not the prettiest girl in her clique. Or the skinniest. Or the most well-liked. But she's shocked when playboy Wesley Rush informs her that she is, in fact, The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). "It's not like you're an ogre or anything," he explains, "but in comparison ...(6)" His cruelty wounds Bianca more than she wants to admit, hence the Cherry Coke she throws in his face. Still, the insult lingers. As does the anger, which she feels boiling through her at the mere sight of Wesley.

When Bianca's assigned to work with her arch enemy on a school project, she's not exactly thrilled. Especially since Wesley insists on calling her "Duffy." Trouble is, when she's alone with him, he's not all that bad. The jerk may even have a sensitive side. Considering the fact that Bianca's family is falling apart at the seams, she could use a sympathetic ear. And arms. And lips. Okay, she's hopelessly attracted to him. Only she can't tell a soul. Her friends wouldn't understand. Heck, she doesn't even understand. All she knows is that hanging out with Wesley makes her feel better. Maybe he's toying with her, playing with her emotions as carelessly as he does with all the other girls' - so what? She's using him, too, right? It's all fair.

It's only when she realizes how much she's come to rely on Wesley that she faces the truth: not only does she like the uber flirt, she might actually love him. Of course he doesn't feel the same way - a guy like Wesley would never fall for The Duff. Their little enemies-with-benefits arrangement was supposed to be an emotionless fling. So, why is Bianca hurting so badly? Cutting herself off is the only solution. Good thing sweet, Harvard-bound Toby's waiting in the wings. He's not a user, but her heart doesn't throw a tizzy when he's around either. If Bianca's The Duff, then why is her love life suddenly so complicated?

The DUFF, a debut YA novel by 19-year-old Kody Keplinger, has been getting so much buzz lately that I couldn't wait to tear open its cover and start reading. Then, the F-bombs started exploding, the sex talk got going, and Bianca's abrasive personality reared its ugly head. I would have quit with Chapter One, but by then, I had to know how things turned out. Still, the more I read, the less I cared for our foul-mouthed heroine. I didn't like her enough to feel sorry for her when things got rough at home, or when her situation with Wesley got confusing. My opinion? They're both self-centered users - they deserve each other. None of the other characters were developed enough to become truly interesting. All of this, combined with the profusive profanity, graphic sex scenes, and the way all the teens in the book talked about intercourse like it was the most casual thing in the world, left me hunting for redemptive value. Guess what? I found very little. Keplinger can write, the story she tells is compelling (though in a "Why am I still reading this?" kind of way) and the novel does carry a "Just be yourself" message. However, if being yourself means living the kind of coarse, depressing, shallow life Keplinger describes, then no thank you.

Unlike a lot of YA authors, Keplinger's actually attended high school in the 21st Century, so maybe The DUFF reflects a realistic teenage experience. Maybe I'm just too old or too big a prude to get it. It's totally possible. Because I didn't. At all.

(Readalikes: Hm, I don't know. Suggestions?)

Grade: C-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, graphic sexual content, and one instance of physical abuse toward a child.

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find