The Kiss Quotient

Pengarang: Helen Hoang

Penerbit: Corvus (Inggris)

Tahun Terbit: 2018

Halaman: 321

Buku saya baca dalam bahasa Inggris, untuk e-book tersedia di Google Play Books.

Stella Lane memiliki Asperger's Syndrome. Ia memiliki otak cerdas dan fokus yang luar biasa yang menjadikannya seorang ahli ekonomi bergaji fantastis, namun canggung dalam berinteraksi dengan orang-orang di sekitarnya. Ia merasa terganggu dengan bahan pakaian yang menggesek kulitnya, ia selalu salah berbicara sehingga membuat orang di sekitarnya sedih atau marah, dan terutama... Ia tidak bisa berpacaran. 

Kedua orang tua Stella mengharapkan Stella untuk segera menikah dan memberikan cucu karena Stella adalah anak tunggal dan mewarisi kekayaan yang cukup besar. Kandidat sudah ada, tak lain dan tak bukan adalah teman sekantor Stella sendiri, Phillip. Namun bagaimana ia bisa menikah sedangkan untuk berpacaran saja ia tidak bisa?

Stella kemudian memutuskan untuk menggunakan jasa escort untuk mengajarinya cara menjalin hubungan dengan pria, terutama untuk melatihnya berhubungan seksual. Pengalamannya berhubungan seksual selalu buruk dan membuatnya ketakutan dan ia tidak ingin calon suaminya nanti meninggalkannya karena hal ini.

Michael sudah 3 tahun menjadi escort. Bukan karena dia suka, tapi karena ia harus membayar tagihan rumah sakit ibunya dan mencukupi kebutuhan ibu, nenek, dan kelima adik perempuannya. Menjadi escort memberikan pemasukan lumayan, apalagi jika kliennya wanita kaya raya. Michael memang berwajah tampan dan berbadan atletis serta memiliki kepribadian yang disukai wanita. Aturan Michael jelas: hanya bekerja di hari Jumat dan tidak ada pengulangan klien. Ketika mendapati bahwa kliennya bernama Stella, ia menduga kliennya itu menggunakan identitas palsu dan hanya seorang wanita paruh baya kesepian seperti kliennya yang lain. Betapa kagetnya Michael ketika mendapati Stella adalah wanita muda yang cantik, elegan, dan sepertinya tidak membutuhkan bantuannya. Apalagi ketika Stella berkeinginan untuk menyewanya untuk beberapa waktu demi mengajarinya pelajaran seksual.

*******

Attachments

Pengarang: Rainbow Rowell

Penerbit: Orion Books UK

Tahun Terbit: 2011

Halaman: 357

Versi Indonesia sudah diterbitkan oleh Penerbit Haru (di sini)

Attachment berkisah tentang Lincoln, si pegawai bagian keamanan internet di perusahaan media massa The Courier. Waktu itu masih tahun 1999 dan internet belumlah secanggih sekarang. Lincoln bertugas membaca e-mail-e-mail karyawan yang masuk folder kategori mencurigakan guna menjaga karyawan mematuhi SOP perusahaan. Pekerjaan yang sangat membosankan, karena Lincoln harus menghabiskan waktunya hanya dengan komputer, dan jam kerjanya justru terbalik dengan pegawai normal. Semua berubah ketika Lincoln membaca rangkaian e-mail dari dua sahabat, Jennifer dan Beth.

Jennifer, yang seorang editor, dan Beth, yang seorang penulis artikel film, sering berbagi kisah pribadi mereka melalui e-mail. Mereka tak peduli pada kenyataan bahwa perusahaan memiliki karyawan yang ditugasi untuk mengawasi e-mail mereka. Jennifer memiliki masalah rumah tangga di mana ia belum merasa siap untuk memiliki anak sedangkan suaminya sudah ngebet memiliki anak. Sementara itu, Beth justru sebaliknya. Pacarnya yang seorang musisi sepertinya belum siap berkomitmen. Lincoln lama kelamaan menikmati interaksi keduanya melalui e-mail yang selalu masuk ke folder-nya.

Semakin Lincoln membaca e-mail Jennifer dan Beth, semakin Lincoln merasa mengenal dekat keduanya. Namun, kenyataannya, Lincoln hanyalah orang asing bagi keduanya. Kehidupan Lincoln tetaplah menyedihkan; tanpa pasangan dan masih menumpang pada ibunya, serta nyaris tanpa kehidupan sosial--kecuali grup main video game-nya bisa dibilang kehidupan sosial. Dan lebih parah, Lincoln akhirnya malah jatuh cinta pada salah satu dari kedua wanita itu.

Apakah akhirnya Lincoln dapat berkenalan secara langsung dengan Beth dan Jennifer dan menyatakan perasaannya pada salah satu dari mereka?

On the Fence

A photo posted by Martina Sugondo (@martinasugondo) on Mar 27, 2016 at 1:12am PDT

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: HarperTeen

Year Published: 2014

Pages: 296

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Being Sloane Jacobs

A photo posted by Martina Sugondo (@martinasugondo) on May 2, 2016 at 5:55pm PDT

Author: Lauren Morrill

Publisher: Ember (randomhouseteens.com)

Year published: 2014

Pages: 330

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

Saint Anything

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

Year Published: 2015

Pages: 417

Sydney had always been the least priority in her family. Her big brother, Peyton, had always gotten their parents' attention. Peyton, who was more cheerful, active, and later caught in never ending troubles which made him had to go to jail. Sidney, the one who was always calm, smart, and obedient, never made a scene in their family, thus, her parents didn't feel the need to look after Sydney.

I was used to being invisible. People rarely saw me, and if they did, they never looked close. I wasn’t shiny and charming like my brother, stunning and graceful like my mother, or smart and dynamic like my friends. That’s the thing, though. You always think you want to be noticed. Until you are. 

After all Peyton's problems--which left so many questions to her and her family, Sydney had to move school. Not only because she wanted to stay away from people who had already known Peyton's problem but also because of financial matter. There, at her new school, she met the Chathams: Layla, Mac, and their mother. With the Chathams, Sydney felt "visible". The Chathams were very warm and really saw her as herself, unlike her parents.

“As I shut the door and started to walk away, I heard him say, "Hey. Sydney."
"Yeah?"
"You had on a shirt with mushrooms on it, and your hair was pulled back. Silver earrings. Pepperoni slice. No lollipop."
I just looked at him, confused. Layla was walking toward us now.
"The first time you came into Seaside," he said. "You weren't invisible, not to me. Just so you know.” 

One thing that Sydney wanted was to meet the boy whom Peyton hit, to really know him and to say sorry. But her mother became very protective toward Peyton and thought that that was a very bad idea. And finally, after so long being invisible, Sydney finally became visible to her mother; not as the good girl Sydney but the problem child Sydney. And finally, Sydney realized what had made Peyton change: their parents.

Jesse's Girl

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Year Published: 2015

Page: 291

Every year, Maya Henry's school, Hundred Oaks, has this Career Shadow Day, where every senior has to "shadow" a professional for a day as the way to help them to figure out what kind of career they want in the future. Maya wants to be a musician, and she had already expected to work in the electronic section at Walmart--because Career Shadow Day is usually that lame. So, she was very surprised when she was given task to shadow a famous teen country singer, Jesse Scott, and an opportunity to meet him on his concert. First, she hadn't expected that her headmaster would be that serious about her dream. Second, he also happens to be Jesse's uncle. Third, she has never liked country; she's more into Queen and other 80's rock bands.

At the beginning, Jesse was a jerk toward Maya as he thought Maya was one of his groupies. But on that one day Career Shadow Day, when Maya and Jesse had to spend a day together to get Maya know how the life of musician is like, everything changed. Jesse was interested in knowing more about Maya and her passion in music and Maya found out more about the real Jesse that most of people don't know: his insecurity and his love to his family. Jesse understood Maya's dream and pushed her to be brave to go solo.

Will Maya be able to reach her dream? And will there be a chance for love to grow between Maya and Jesse?

The Chapel Wars

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Year Published: 2014

Pages: 294

Lenore: A $500 savings bond

James: A leather bomber jacket

Mom: An antique writing desk

Secretary Donna: An heirloom watch

Minister Dan: Grandpa's saxophone

Dad: Grandpa's decked-out golf cart

"Finally, I leave my granddaughter, Holly Evelyn Nolan, pause for dramatic effect." The lawyer furrowed his brow and read the line again to himself. "Oh, sorry. I think he was telling me to pause. Okay, I leave my granddaughter, Holly Evelyn Nolan"--this time he did pause, and it was clear he'd been in a courthouse once or twice and knew his pauses--"the Rose of Sharon Wedding Chapel. This place is all yours, Holly Bean. Now, keep me in business."

16-year-old Holly was her grandfather's favorite granddaughter. But nothing can surprise her more than receiving a wedding chapel in Las Vegas from her late grandfather. Not to mention that it was almost broke. Running a wedding business is definitely not a teenager's business. But because her beloved grandfather has told her so, Holly has no other choice than to find a way to keep the business running.

Along with the testament is a letter Holly must deliver to Dax Cranston, a grandson of Holly's grandfather's nemesis, Victor Cranston, who is the owner of Cupid's Dream, a wedding chapel located next to Rose of Sharon--the chapels even share the parking lot! Victor definitely wants Rose of Sharon to be closed down, so Holly doesn't understand why her grandfather wanted her to meet and give the letter to Cranston's grandson. But Dax is not like his grandfather... and suddenly Dax is everywhere in Holly's life. 

Fallen in love with the enemy is absolutely not a choice to be taken. But Holly can't resist Dax's cuteness and his presence around her. In this Romeo and Juliet Wedding Chapel War's version, will there be a happy ending for Holly... and Dax?

How to Say I Love You Out Loud

Author: Karole Cozzo

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Year Published: 2015

Pages: 217

Jordyn Michaelson has never been the center of attention in her family; it has always been her younger brother, Phillip, who is autistic. Not that Jordyn envies Phillip. In fact, she really loves her brother. It's just that sometimes, being together with Phillip is too much to handle.

In her old school, everybody knew Jordyn as Phillip's older sister and there were times when the kids were very mean to her because of that. Now, in her new school, when finally she's able to go to different school with Phillip, Jordyn finally gets what she has always wanted: being known as herself. She's never talked to anyone about her brother, including to Alex, her crush who is also her boy friend.

It was last year's summer when Jordyn and Alex became close and finally shared a romantic kiss. But the fact that Jordyn has a secret, pulled her from him. After that, they decided that they would be nothing more but friends--which is quite nice until... Alex suddenly hooks up with the school's most popular and the bitchiest girl, Leighton, and makes Jordyn suffers. And what makes her suffer more is the fact that the special school Phillips has been attended to is closing and now, Phillip has to temporary go to Jordyn's high school until the government finds the new place for him. Jordyn is afraid that people at school would find out who Phillip is and destroy Jordyn's life as before. Counting the days until Phillip finally moves to his new school, Jordyn tries hard to cover the fact about her family.

Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Publisher: Speak

Year Published: 2008

Pages: 305

Quentin Jacobsen--or Q--had been obsessed with his popular classmate and neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, since his childhood. The beautiful and unique Margo. But just like the other unpopular students, Quentin couldn't reach Margo so that he just liked to look at her from his bedroom window. One day, Margo appeared in Q's room, and asked Q to join her one night adventure. Together, they had to fulfill 11 missions, from breaking into their classmate's house to breaking into the Sea World. It was such an unforgettable night for Quentin so that he thought that starting that night, his relationship with Margo would change. But what came the next day surprised him.

That night, I lay on my side, staring out the window into the invisible world outside. I kept trying to fall asleep, but then my eyes would dart open, just to check. I couldn't help but hope that Margo Roth Spiegelman would return to my window and drag my tired ass through one more night I'd never forget. 

Margo had left her house. And it's not the first time. Her parents had lost their patient and decided not to care. However, Margo was already 18, which is considered as adult. They thought Margo was just looking for attention as usual, since on her last departure, she had left some clues--which her parents decided to ignore--and came back by herself after being ignored. But Quentin couldn't stay quiet. He really felt that this time, Margo was serious and maybe she had planned something horrible to herself.

Quentin then searched for the clues Margo had left. With the help of his two best friends, Ben and Radar, Quentin searched and analyzed Margo. What he found later, made him realize that maybe, the true Margo Roth Spiegelman was not like what he had imagined before.

Here's what's not beautiful about it: from here, you can't see the rust or the cracked paint or whatever, but you can tell what the place really is. You can see how fake it all is. It's not even hard enough to be made out of plastic. It's a paper town. I mean, look at it, Q: look at all those culs-de-sac, those streets that turn in on themselves, all the houses that were built to fall apart. All those paper people living in their paper houses, burning the future to stay warm. All the paper kids drinking beer some bum bought for them at the paper convenience store. Everyone demented with the mania of owning things. All the things paper-thin and paper-frail. And all the people, too. I've lived here for eighteen years and I have never once in my life come across anyone who cares about anything that matters.

This Song Will Save Your Life

Author: Leila Sales

Publisher: Farrar, Strous, and Giroux

Year Published: 2013

Pages: 279

I didn't really want to die. I never had. All I ever wanted was attention.

Elise Debowski had never been popular. In fact, nobody cared about her at school. No matter how hard she had tried to change herself, to follow the trend, no one wanted to be he friend. Even after she tried to cut her hand and made one of her classmates, Amelia Kindl, called 911 and saved her life--at least Amelia thought so.

Seven months later, her suicidal attempt led her to full supervision of her divorced parents. Elise must stay alternately at her mom's and her dad's house every week. However, they still didn't know what actually made Elise cut her hand. There was also no change at school except now Elise had two social-climber friends, Sally and Chava, whom she'd never understand the reason why they wanted to befriend her.

"It's Start!" Vicky replied. Her normal speaking voice was loud enough that she didn't even have to try to project over the music. "The greatest underground dance party in the world!"

Every midnight, Elise had this habit of walking around the neighborhood alone. Until one day, she met Vicky and Pippa, and an underground dance club called Start. Suddenly, Elise found a place which would accept her as she was. The DJ, Char, recognized her talent and gave Elise opportunity to become a DJ. Suddenly, Elise got the life and popularity she had been wanting to have. But how long would it last until she had to go back to her real life? What if her new life was not as beautiful as it seemed?

The Survival Kit

Author: Donna Freitas

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Year published: 2011

Pages: 353

Sixteen-year-old Rose Madison used to have a perfect life: a loving and caring family, popularity, and a gorgeous boyfriend. But all changed after her mother passed away. Nowadays Rose was a full of grief teenager who hated being in the center of crowd. She pulled herself from her friends, her boyfriend, and also from music: thing she used to like the most.

One day, Rose found her mother's last gift for her, the Survival Kits, that was meant to help Rose to walk through her difficult time, contained an Ipod with songs compiled by her mother, a picture of peonies, a crystal heart, a paper star, a box of crayons, and a tiny handmade kite. Also, a beautiful gown Rose calls the Dress Made of Night. It's up to Rose's interpretation to use the kits. Rose started using the Survival Kits by planting the peonies with the help of the family's gardener and also Rose's senior, Will Doniger. Gradually, by using the Survival Kits, Rose found her new happiness and a way to live life after loss. And maybe a new love.

Let the Sky Fall

Author: Shannon Messenger

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Year Published: 2013

Pages: 409

Vane Weston was an orphan. When he was 7 years old, his parents had died from a category-five tornado. Vane was the only survivor. Not long after, Vane was adopted. Vane could not remember anything about his past before the tornado except a brown-haired girl. This girl always appeared in his dreams but Vane could not tell if the girl was just his imagination or she really existed in reality and somehow related to his past.

As a common 17 years old teenager, Vane wanted to date and kiss a girl. So, when his best friend, Isaac, asked Vane for a double date, Vane decided to try his luck. Unfortunately, the date was disturbed by the appearance of a girl who has haunted his dreams in the restaurant. The second date was also a failure because of sudden wind that blew near Vane.

The girl from Vane's dream finally appeared before Vane after penetrating into his dream and laid unconscious in Vane's bedroom floor. The girl's name was Audra, and she brought bad news for Vane. Apparently, Vane was not a human but a Sylph--an air elemental--and he had been hidden by the Sylph guards named Gale Force from Raiden, an evil Sylph who wanted to rule the world by taking the power of the West Wind possessed only by Vane. Audra was his guardian and now she wanted Vane to learn the language of three winds: Southerly, Northerly, and Easterly, and hopefully those three winds would finally summon the last language of wind, the Westerly, to face Raiden, who also have possessed the language of three winds. But how could Vane remember how to speak Westerly while he couldn't remember anything about his past?

In Honor

Author: Jessi Kirby

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2012

Pages: 235

Honor had been growing up as an orphan since very little. In this world, there were only her and her big brother, Finn. Of course there was Aunt Gina who took care of the siblings. But to Honor, Finn was her everything. Finn had always protected her. Always made sure that Honor was happy and had her needs fulfilled.

It all changed after Finn graduated high school and suddenly changed his plan from college to army. Without asking Honor's opinion, he left his college football scholarship and went to Iraq. And he died.

After Finn's funeral, Honor found a handwritten letter from Finn to her. It was the only letter he handwrote. Along with the letter, he also gave Honor a Kyra Kelley's concert ticket in California with a message to Honor to tell Kyra Kelley about her handsome brother. Honor took her brother's letter seriously as it was his final order to her so that Honor decided to skip her first week at college and to go to California to fulfill Finn's final wish.

Rusty was Finn's former best friend. Together, they were invincible in football. Their friendship broke when Finn decided to give up his scholarship and joined the army. Rusty took Finn's death by drinking and drinking and drinking and somehow he ended up in Honor's car that morning, joining the road trip to fulfill Finn's final wish.

Getting along with Rusty was not an easy thing. Although his bad boy aura made most of the girls easily fell for him, not with Honor. Honor hated Rusty because he didn't stop Finn from joining army. Honor hated Rusty because he'd given up his friendship with Finn. But Honor didn't know the side of Rusty's story, and that Rusty actually had all the answers to the questions Honor had been wanting to ask Finn.

The List

Author: Siobhan Vivian

Publisher: Push

Year Published: 2012

Page: 333

THE LIST

Freshmen

Ugliest:

DANIELLE DEMARCO -- Also known as Dan the Man.

Prettiest:

ABBY WARNER -- Bonus points awarded for overcoming family genetics!

Sophomores

Ugliest:

CANDACE KINCAID -- Beauty isn't just skin deep, btw.

Prettiest:

LAUREN FINN -- Everyone's hot for the new girl.

Juniors

Ugliest:

SARAH SINGER -- It's like she's trying to be as ugly as possible!

Prettiest:

BRIDGET HONEYCUTT -- What a difference a summer can make.

Seniors

Ugliest:

JENNIFER BRIGGIS -- (Drumroll, please.) The only four-peat in Mount Washington history! Congrats, Jennifer!

Prettiest:

MARGO GABLE -- All hail this year's homecoming queen!

Every year, a list contains the name of the prettiest and the ugliest girls' in every grade is published at Mount Washington High. No one knows who made it and why. One thing for sure, the list affects 8 girls whose name has been stated in it.

We Were Liars

Author: E. Lockhart

Publisher: Delacorte Press/Randomhouse

Year Published: 2014

Pages: 225

Format: Paperback

Cadence Sinclair Eastman has been suffering from massive headache since her accident two years before. Not only the headache, she also has been suffering from selective amnesia; she cannot remember what happened before the accident, on her summer fifteen at the Beechwood Island.

The Sinclairs--the family from Cady's mother, owns a private island and every summer, the Sinclairs go there to spend summertime together. Harris and Tipper Sinclair, their three beautiful daughters, and seven grandchildren--and Gat. Gat, the Indian boy, the nephew of Aunt Carrie's lover, and also the boy Cady has fallen in love with. The four oldest children has always been together and they call themselves the Liars: Cady, Mirren, Johnny, and Gat. Cady has always been waiting for the summer since she can only meet the Liars during the summer.

Two years after the accident, Cady finally comes back to the island. But this summer--the summer seventeen--is not the same as the other summers. The grandmother has passed away. The mothers are fighting each other, Mirren always sick. And Gat says hurtful things about their relationship. But Cady cannot remember what happened during summer fifteen that changed everything..

What was really happened during summer fifteen? Why does everybody keep it from Cady?

Forever Summer pt. 1 - Laguna Cove

Author: Alyson Noel

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Year Published: Laguna Cove: 2006; Cruel Summer: 2008

Pages: Laguna Cove: 216; Cruel Summer: 229

Thanks for Mbak A.S. Dewi for giving me this book. Much kiss!!

This book contains 2 stories from 2 different books. Since the stories are not related one another, I'm gonna write separate reviews, starting from Laguna Cove.

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LAGUNA COVE

Anne had to move from New York to Laguna Beach, California, to live with her super-busy Hollywood Producer dad, after her parents decided to get divorced. Being totally clueless and alone, since she had never met her dad since her arrival and she knew no one except her dad's protege, Jake--whom Anne doubt would see her as more than a baby to babysit, Anne started her first day at school awkwardly. Luckily, Christ, a guy she met at the beach with Jake, recognized her and asked her to join the popular crowd. Everyone seems friendly, except Ellie, the prettiest one. Chris then asked Anne to learn how to surf, and surprisingly, Anne was talented in it so that she decided to join the Surf Fest.

Ellie was smart, pretty, and talented in surfing. After her mom's death, her father became obsessed in training her to become a surfer. Only with Jade and Lola, her best friends, Ellie could relax. Ellie had been liking Chris, her friend since childhood for so long, but had never been brave enough to tell him her feeling... until the new girl came to town and becoming her rival in winning Chris' heart and in Surf Fest.

Lola a.k.a Lolita had always be fun to hang-out with. But actually, she was keeping a secret. She had had a secret boyfriend and got dumped. Her Mexican parents now were matchmaking her with a guy named Diego, who she refused so much. 

Jade had been in this unhealthy friendship with Ben, who was a drug and alcohol addict. Goodhearted Jade had always wanted to help Ben even when he'd never really asked for it. Until the police stopped Jade's car and found drugs on the back seat.

Struck by Lightning

Author: Chris Colfer

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year published: 2012

Pages: 258

Carson Phillips was a teenager with big dream but lived in a small town. His ultimate goal was to leave Clover once he graduate high school and to be a journalist published in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Boston Globe. He must go to Northwestern for college.  However, no one seemed to understand Carson's dream and his way of thinking. His drunken mother and all the people at school thought that he was too much. He thought too much and he spoke too much. No one would be able to handle Carson.

The Writer's Club: A place students can express their thoughts and creativity through the power of words. But ask anyone else and they'll tell you it's worse than detention and we apparently "SUCH COCK."

Carson was the president of the Clover High Writer's Club and run Clover High Chronicles.. alone. No one in his club seemed interested enough to write an article for the magazine except Malery, who constantly unaware that she only rewrites stories from the already published and famous stories. One day, the school counselor, Ms. Sharpton, suggest Carson to  make a literary magazine to boost his application to Northwestern. But how can Carson start one when it's obvious no one is care enough to submit anything to him?

Carson finds a light when he coincidentally caught Nicholas Forbes, the high school's rich kid, and Scott Thomas, the president of Drama Club, made out in the bathroom. Carson then found the idea on forcing students to submit his literary magazine: by blackmailing.

Catching Jordan

Author: Miranda Kenneally (Hundred Oaks #1)

Publisher: Sourcebook Fire

Year Published: 2011

Pages: 284

This is a gift from the author. Thanks Miranda!

Jordan Woods is a talented football player and a dependable captain for her team. The problem is, she is a girl. And girls don't play football. Although all of the team members respect her and follow her lead, Jordan always feels that she has so many obstacles ahead. Her father, the great Donovan Woods, a famous NFL player, always doubt her capability and chooses not to attend any of Jordan's game. He always pushes Jordan to quit, even after University of Alabama shows the interest to recruit Jordan. The one who always supports her no matter what is her best friend and teammate, Sam Henry.

The arrival of Ty Green, a transfer student, threatens Jordan's position as a quarterback because that's also Ty's position and Ty is way better than Jordan. But Ty is so sweet, caring and also sexy. And most of all, he shows his interest for her. For the first time, Jordan thinks she finally falls in love. But love and friendship cannot walk along together. As Jordan becomes closer to Ty, she feels that Henry slowly walks away from her. What happens to Henry and why can't Jordan have them both?

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books

Year Published: 2012

Pages: 318

Hazel Grace Lancaster, 16 years old, once had a thyroid cancer that causes her lungs cannot function properly anymore. Although her tumor now can be tamed by this new medication called Palanxifor, her ability to breathe--as well as to live--depends on her oxygen tank and she still has to take the medicine regularly to tame the tumor. Her mother wants Hazel to keep meeting her friends and interact with them like any normal teenagers so that she pushes Hazel to join the support group.

One day, she meets Augustus Waters, a friend of her friend, Isaac, on the support group. Augustus or Gus once had an osteosarcoma and got one of his feet amputated. But still, he is a hot and sexy boy. It doesn't take a long time for Hazel to fall for this boy's charisma. Seems like Augustus has this same feeling with Hazel so that he asks Hazel for a movie date at his house right after their first meeting.

Hazel loves reading and An Imperial Affliction, a novel about a cancer girl written by Peter van Houten, is her most favorite books. Maybe because the life of Anna--the main character of the book--is so similar to her (Anna also had cancer and Hazel thinks that Peter van Houten really knows the feeling of dying when he described Anna). Too bad, the ending of the book seems undone and Hazel is so eager to ask Peter how the story ends. Peter, sadly, has never been replied any of Hazel's letter. When Augustus finally reads the book, Augustus also feels the same way as Hazel so that he decided to use his wish from the Genie Foundation to bring Hazel to Amsterdam, to meet Peter van Houten.

Going to Amsterdam surely not an easy thing for Hazel, a girl with terminal disease. But finally, she, Augustus, and Hazel's mom are able to fly to Amsterdam. A lot of things happen at Amsterdam--both good and bad: meeting Peter van Houten, going to Anne Frank's house, and also.. Augustus' secret.

Lock & Key

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak

Year Published: 2008

Pages: 422

"What is a family?"

Who knows that answering this simple question could be so difficult for some people?

Seventeen year old Ruby had never experienced the meaning of a family like any other normal people experienced. After her parents' divorce, her father had left the family and had never bothered to check his daughters. Not long after that, her 10-years-older sister, Cora, also left the family after she started college and never came back. Ruby was left with her emotionally unstable mother, who often brought her to move to many places and often abused her. But one day, her mother also decided to go and never got back until Ruby got busted living alone without an adult, since she were still a minor, and later was forced to reunite with Cora, who apparently had a perfect life now, until she reached 18.

Living with Cora, a sister who once Ruby relied on but then abandoned her without any words, surely needs adaptation. At first, Ruby attempted to runaway but then she met the neighbor, Nate, who later became her friend at school. From the surface, Nate seems like having a perfect live although his parents already divorced. He was friendly and active. But the longer Ruby knew Nate, the more she realized that she and Nate had more similarities, especially in their relationship with their parents.