Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Review: Scenarios 2 All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell



Scenarios 2: All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell




rating: 4.0/5.0






From Amazon.com:
Product Description
Drew Daniels finally has what she thought she wanted—popularity and a cute boyfriend. But now she’s faced with choosing between pleasing her boyfriend and doing what’s right. Tween readers make the choice in this interactive story and see how the consequences change Drew’s life. Includes a contract and prayer to remind the reader of the importance of making godly decisions.

Book Description
Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?
I really enjoyed this look into teenage life that reminds me of the old Choose Your Own Adventures books I use to read. Except these help tweens and teens see the consequences of choosing one of two scenarios. One is obviously the morally correct choice and the other is the often popular/go-along with the crowd choice.

In this look at twins Drew and Dani as they start high school, I felt the story played out very realistically. Dani is the serious twin and she's just trying to find her way in a new situation and keep her morals about her. Drew is wanting to change and change as much as possible. She's ready to break out of her shell and make whatever decisions she needs to in order to become more popular.

I enjoyed watching both Drew and Dani and the situations that they came across. I read both endings and feel they were both well done and very representative of the choices and consequences that are out there, without being too preachy or anything that will turn a teen/tween off at this point in her life.

If I had girls I would definitely have these on hand for them to read and would encourage parents to read them also as a guide to what is out there and good ways for parents to handle these challenging years also. I know I took away things that I hope will help me in the years to come as my boys approach their teen years.

But apart from the moral and teaching value - these books have a great entertainment factor. They move quick and the characters are fun. It reads like teenagers act and creates a great storyline. I enjoyed every minute of reading the book and look forward to going back and reading Truth or Dare and for the next two in the series that will release in April 2010.

Binding: Paperback
On-sale Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Barbour Books
Pages: 192
Reading Level: Young Adult

I read this through NetGalley.com - thanks to Barbour Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Waiting on Wednesday - August 12th


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My "can't-wait-to-read" selection for this week is:

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Release: September 8, 2009







Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

Nicholas Sparks is the local boy (lives in New Bern about 1 hour away from where I am) and his books take place in NC so I am a sucker for them.

So what are you waiting on this week? Go here to see what everyone else is waiting on.