In this, the third and final book of the Peaches series, author Jodi Lynn Anderson brings Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie back to the Darlington Orchard for one more summer of exploration, adventure, and romance before bringing their stories to a close. Wild Murphy cut all ties with Bridgewater, Georgia when she moved to New York City after high school, including those with boyfriend and all-around great guy Rex. Deciding to return home for the summer means facing him again and facing some truths about her emotional hangups. Beautiful, perfectionist Leeda has found love with a perfect new boyfriend at Columbia University, and his love gives her an instant identity complete with a circle of new friends. When she returns to Bridgewater and receives a most unusual inheritance from her eccentric grandmother, Leeda may finally have to confront who she is and what she wants. Meanwhile Birdie had planned to stay in Mexico where she has been studying abroad and where she and Enrico have grown even closer…perhaps too close since Birdie shows up at the orchard unexpectedly at the start of the peach picking season. Birdie finds that her father has plans for the orchard and the house that may destroy her dreams. Now Birdie must decide whether she really wants what she thought she wants and figure out how to follow her true heart.

The writing is a little uneven on this installment, but the characters are richer and those who’ve read the first two will enjoy seeing where life is heading for the three girls. A sweet story of love and growing up. If you loved the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, you’ll want to grab this series too.

If you’re looking at trends in teen literature of the last few years, you can’t deny that fairies/faeries/faerys are BIG. They come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities–flawed and humanesque in the works of Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange), good versus evil faeries in Herbie Brennan’s Faerie Wars, dark and wild in Holly Black’s realm (Tithe, Valiant, Ironside), and fluffy and dim-witted in the world of Harry Potter.

Well, late 2008 brought us another take on the concept of “fairy” in How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier. The novel takes place in a world that isn’t, according to the author’s note, “Australia or the United States of America but in an imaginary country, perhaps a little in the future, that might also be an amalgam of the two.” Specifically in a city called New Avalon “the greatest city in the world” according to the residents, who never would want to leave…why would you when, as you in learn in school, New Avalon is graced with the highest mountains, the deepest oceans, the most famous artists, the best sports stars…you get the idea. But best of all, here in New Avalon people have their own personal fairies–unseeable charms that help you excel at something. There are loose-change fairies, good hair fairies, never-drop-a-ball fairies…but 14-year old protagonist Charlie (Charlotte Adele Donna Seto Steele) has a fairy she hates–a parking fairy. Charlie can’t drive yet, but she is constantly being used by family and classmates to get prime parking spots. Why couldn’t she have gotten a shopping fairy like her best friend she wants to know? And though there is no scientific proof that you can get rid of your fairy, Charlie sets out to do just that.

When I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was going to be a fluffy bit of romance, nothing more (I know, I know…never judge a book…). I’m glad I went ahead and read it because there’s more going on here than that. Yes there is a romantic interest with a boy from outside New Avalon, but when an all-the-boys-like you fairy starts making trouble, some interesting ethical questions arise. Plus, his outsider status allows him to speak for the reader and ask why are all you people so arrogant? Larbalestier also likes to play with language and the New Avaloners have a whole range of words that outsiders don’t use (you may find yourself turning to the glossary yourself on occasion). There’s also interesting tension built around the prestigious sports school that Charlie attends, where life is regimented and rule-driven…and all the kids love it?

All told, this fairy tale is a modern story of love, friendship, and choices with elements of science fiction sprinkled throughout–and a tale with several subplots left unfinished so be looking for a sequel to come. Fans of Maureen Johnson and E. Lockhart will especially want to check this out.

Setting: Gracetown, North Carolina; Christmas; massive snow storm. Three popular young adult authors write three separate but interconnected romances.

In the first, Maureen Johnson tells the story of Jubilee Dougal stuck on a train to Florida and her grandparents because her parents have been arrested as part of a riot over collectible Christmas decorations. Parted from her perfect boyfriend, things go from bad to worse when the train gets stuck in snow in Gracetown. Jubilee decides to make a break for the Waffle House across the interstate rather than get trapped on the train full of hyperactive cheerleaders. There she meets Stuart, who invites her to stay with he and his mom for Christmas. Stuart is sweet and cute, a good listener, who unfortunately asks a lot of uncomfortable questions about just how perfect her boyfriend really is. The question is, is Jubilee ready to face the answer?

John Green brings the second tale of Tobin, who is happily watching a Bond marathon with his best friends The Duke and JP while his parents are stuck in Boston with the snowstorm, when his other friend Keun calls from his night shift at Waffle House demanding they come immediately with a Twister board–for THERE ARE CHEERLEADERS here! Tobin and JP are instantly convinced it is a brilliant idea to go out in the storm for the sake of cheerleaders…the “Duke” however, their lone female friend, is less than enthusiastic…though she is convinced with the promise of Waffle House hash browns. The three friends face one crazy obstacle after another on their quest for the Waffle House, but as they near their destination, Tobin becomes uncomfortably aware that he is less and less interested in cheerleaders and more and more distracted by an unlikely source.

The third story comes from Lauren Myracle and involves the romance, or rather break up, of Addie and Jeb. Addie and Jeb have been dating for the last year, until a week before Christmas, when Addie makes a choice that may have destroyed their relationship forever. Addie is mired in her own misery and begins to feel worse as her friends help her see that it may not be Jeb who needs to change. Is it too late for Addie to start fresh and win Jeb back?

All in all, a cute collection of holiday romance, nothing too deep, but fun to kick back with on a weekend…especially if it ever gets cold enough for snow!

When Scarlett Martin turns 15, she is given the key to her very own hotel suite…to take care of. You see, Scarlett’s family owns a hotel in New York City, which sounds very glamorous, but is actually hard work…and not a very financially successful enterprise as of late. The tradition is to give each of their children a hotel suite to be responsible for when they reach 15, and when Scarlett is given the Empire Suite, she also inherits an unusual, generous, and demanding guest named Mrs. Amberson. As if that’s not enough, Scarlett’s older sister is having love life problems, her older brother may have to give up his dream of acting, her younger sister has survived cancer to become a brat, and her parents have had to dismiss all the other employees at the hotel. Scarlett’s guest Mrs. Amberson, a wealthy ex-actress and wannabe author, hires Scarlett as her assistant and in no time at all has involved herself in Scarlett’s family’s problems, including helping her aspiring actor brother by taking over the direction of a play.

This book is fast-paced and lots of fun–among the best of the genre. Author Maureen Johnson accurately portrays the confusion of first love and the intricate dynamics of sisters and brothers. The end result is a witty, sweet, charming book with an extremely likeable cast of characters.

Just when you were asking yourself, “why aren’t there more teen books about roller derby?” along comes Derby Girl by Shauna Cross. The novel’s main character Bliss Cavendar, an “indie-rock-loving misfit” feels like she must be adopted. Her mother is a beauty-pageant loving former Miss Blubonnet with visions of a family dynasty. Her father is a quiet, football-loving man who does anything Bliss’s mom says. Bliss longs for city life, but is trapped in tiny Bodeen, Texas working at the Oink Joint with her best friend and fellow misfit, Pash Amini. While shopping in Austin (or, “civilization” as Bliss thinks of it), she finds an ad for a Roller Derby League. She convinces Pash to go in search of cool people and “real boys.” And that’s where the fun begins.

This is a really quick read with snappy dialogue and some very funny moments. While Bliss seems to be trying a little too hard to be a snarky hip-chick, she does sound authentic to me, like a teen trying desperately to be cool…for that I could forgive her. The book covers standard teenage fare of love and betrayal, but in a setting and scenario that is fresh. A great pick for something fun to read on the beach or a rainy day.