This year I'm having a go at the 50bookchallenge. Again. After last year's utter failure, I've decided to not be too picky with my books this year, and just read whatever I feel like reading, even if it's fiction for 12-year-olds.

Oh, and I should actually finish books before getting distracted by new ones.



1. THE WEE FREE MEN by Terry Pratchett

The wonderful thing about Terry Pratchett is that even when he writes a book intended for young readers, he doesn't patronize with simplified vocabulary or formulaic plots. The Discworld came into being as a parody of conventional fantasy literature, and this carries right into the story of nine-year-old Tiffany.

After all, fairy tales are just another form of fantasy.

From the start, I was enchanted by Tiffany Aching. An exceedingly sensible girl who has a way with cheese, Tiffany deals with a monster that jumps out at her from a stream by going at it with her mother's frying pan. She wants to know why the handsome prince and beautiful princess in the stories are what it says they are. She is able to identify a witch on sight, though perhaps the talking toad was a bit of a clue. Above all, she wants to find Granny Aching.

Great read, had me in tears the first time, and now I reread it at least once every year. It's also where I first came across the word "susurrus". There's also a cameo by certain characters from the main Discworld novels. Fits in best with the Witches' storyline, but the character of Tiffany reminds me a lot of Susan from the Death storyline. Highly recommended to readers of all ages, and especially to fans of Pratchett's other works.



2. GETTING IT by Alex Sanchez

Sanchez is a guilty pleasure of mine, I admit. (Good thing I still look young enough to be in the 'young adult' section.) Even though his stories usually border on being cheesy, there's a certain charm to the writing that helps the reader form an attachment with the characters. I also love how he integrates the Chicano sub-culture into the narrative; nearly all the main characters in this book have a Latin American heritage, and Sanchez makes this clear in a very natural way that doesn't detract from the plot.

The story is quite simple: 15-year-old Carlos is tired of not having a girlfriend (among other things) and, inspired by the show Queer Eye for a Straight Guy, asks a gay fellow student at school, Sal, to give him a make-over. In return, he agrees to help Sal start a Gay-Straight Alliance at school. The story touches on the roots of homophobia in a high school environment, as well as explores how friendships change and evolve through experience.

A lovely read, overall. Definitely reminded me of being a teenager, from AIM chats to lunch tables in the school cafeteria. It also looked at the environment of a child growing up with divorced parents, a reality for many young people in the USA today. Not exactly classic literature, but a nice feel-good read for a busy day.

PROGRESS

2 / 50 books. 4% done!