The following review of Strange Times, written by 13-year-old Laurel Sawyer from Mississauga, ran in the Toronto Star’s Ontario edition on Thursday:
Natalie Fuentes, a 16-year-old girl, gets tossed around from school to school like lettuce in a salad.
As the new kid at Western High, there’s nothing more she’d like than to avoid making waves. All those plans get lost and she ends up witnessing a very vicious attack on the head custodian. Everything is a whirl of police officers, justice and clearing somebody’s name.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I’m always told this. I couldn’t help but judge the cover of this book. It was horribly drawn and made me feel, “Oh no … it’s one of those books. The ones where they look bad and are bad.”
I was gravely mistaken. The writing was amazing and made me want to read on. I couldn’t put it down. This was probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. I recommend this for anyone who adores funny mysteries.
Just noticed another review online at Mad Jenny Flint’s blog:
This is quite an urban story, there is a lot of discussion of race and mention of different faith groups, and the school faces many of the issues that come up in urban school environments. I mention this because I think it is unique amongst the new teen mysteries I’ve read this year, and somewhat refreshing.
hi em i like laurel’s review. esp. the line: i was gravely mistaken.
x
Comment by tamara — November 16, 2006 @ 4:16 pm
Thanks, T. I like it too. Honest and sincere.
Comment by Emily — November 20, 2006 @ 9:03 am
guess what i saw today at expozine?!?!
apart from your friends, i also saw KM 13!! WHICH I STILL DON”T HAVE.
love you anyway (muaha), julia
p.s. hope chicago was ok.
Comment by Julia — November 25, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
Hey Guys.
I’m really glad you liked my review.
I just searched my name on google, and the first thing that came up was this!
-Laurel
PS-I’m fourteen, that was a typo! =}
Comment by Laurel Sawyer — November 26, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
Laurel,
Glad you found this–and liked Strange Times! Do you happen to have the actual printed Star article? I’d love a copy for my records…
–Emily
Comment by Emily — November 30, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
Me and Von Bark are both reading Strange Times right now. It’s great! The characters are really well drawn and all the multicultural Torontoistic detail flows very naturally, without any feeling that the author is being coy. We’re a little old for the target demographic, but we don’t really act our age, and we are both totally caught up in the story. Whenever one of us puts the book down to go pee or whatever the other one grabs it. Right now he’s got it, so I’m puttering online until I get my chance. Way to go, Emily!
Comment by sally — December 3, 2006 @ 4:37 pm
Hey, thanks Sally (and V.B.)! I love young adult books, to be honest. They feel so much less pretentious.
It’s weird, I just happened to notice this post… For some reason, the site didn’t notify me when you first wrote it.
Comment by Emily — December 8, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Hi,
I’m glad you liked my review well enough to post it. I thought the book was great! And, I’m glad to hear that book 2 is getting closer to publication.
Also, I love the Natalie Fuentes website. What a great tie-in for the book and the character.
Thanks for a great read!
Mad Jenny
Comment by Mad Jenny Flint — December 12, 2006 @ 2:17 am