Friday Finds From the Bookstore (07/24/09)

The books pictured above were the books I bought on Sunday (July 19th)

From the back cover of Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson:

"High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background---average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer working outdoors to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy---and Tyler's secret crush. Soon his life is a roller coaster, with fantastic highs, devastating lows, and no seat belt to protect him. He has no choice. He'll have to ride it out..."

From the back cover of Things Not Seen, by Andrew Clements

"My heart is jumping around in my chest, and I'm tensed, ready to cut and run. Alicia smiles at the man and says, 'This guy here next to me, can you tell me if he's taller than I am? We've been having an argument because I think I'm taller than he is. What do you think?' Her hand tightens around mine.

The man is torn. He doesn't see a thing. I can tell this guy is worried that he's going to hurt this blind girl's feelings. But he clears his throat, and he says, 'The guy there next to you? Miss...actually, there's no one there.'

She shakes my hand like a puppy shaking a rag. "He's right here---I'm holding his hand! Who's taller, can't you tell?' Her voice is shrill, almost frantic.

The guy doesn't like being called a liar. 'Miss, whoever you thought was there next to you, he's not there now.'

And now there's a new look on her face. New for Alicia. But I've seen it before. On Mom's and Dad's faces that first morning. It's the look of someone who's trying to process impossible information.

Because when something impossible happens, everything else comes unglued. She's having trouble breathing. Then the first words. 'So...you're, you're really---'
'Yeah,' I say, 'Invisible.'

I bought these books on Tuesday.

From the back cover of Postcards From No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

"'I'd really like to know about your grandfather,' Hillie said. 'We've always wondered who he was, what he was like, this man whose grave we laid flowers on. But the years my mother did it, and I did it, no one came up and said it was their relative's grave. So we could never ask. until today. What about a coffee? We could go to a cafe and talk.'

Jacob would have liked nothing better. Everything about this girl appealed to him. Her looks. The things she said. The funny, slightly aggressive way she said them sometimes. As always when someone specially attracted him, he wanted to touch her.

He pushed the thought from his mind lest he give himself away, and to allow himself time to answer, he looked for Tessel, who was lagging behind somewhere with Wifred.

'I'd like to,' he said. 'But I'm with Mrs. Van Riet, with Tessel, and---'
'I don't mind,' Hillie said in her matter-of-fact style, 'she seems very nice, but it wouldn't be the same, would it?'

He glanced at her, and she smiled the same complicit smile she had given him when they all shook hands.

'No,' he said, 'it wouldn't.'"