FOOD FIGHT by Kelly D. Brownell and Katherine Battle Horgen

In FOOD FIGHT, Brownell and Horgen explore the obesity crisis in the United States. They discuss the epidemic’s possible causes, its contribution to poor health, the toxic environment, the persuasion of food and soda companies, and most importantly the solutions.

The book primarily focuses on problems in the United States, but dedicates almost a whole chapter to explaining how obesity has become a worldwide problem. As Canadians, we are not exempt from this epidemic. We are second only to the U.S. for obesity rates and many of the problems occurring in the U.S. are also applicable in Canada.

Why are North Americans fat? The answer is simple. The average person consumes more calories than their body needs and rarely exercises. If that person were to limit their caloric intake to a healthy amount and exercise for thirty minutes a day, weight would be maintained.

If only the obesity problem was that simple. Placing responsibility solely on the individual ignores all outside factors. Food Fight explains how Americans are living in “The Toxic Environment”. Obesity is almost inevitable due to environment.

People eat junk food because it is fast, cheap, and tastes good. Junk food is available twenty four hours a day. Soda and food portions have dramatically increased in size. Processed food is cheaper than healthy food such as fruits and vegetables, which are more expensive and harder to find. Eating poorly is simply easier than eating healthy.

Exercising is also more difficult. Instead of walking or biking people are driving. In many cities t is dangerous for people to walk or bike because roads are unsafe. A lack of crosswalks, sidewalks, bicycle only lanes, and properly paved roads are major issues.

Food companies are a huge part of the obesity epidemic. These corporations are making millions selling products with high fat and sugar contents. They say their products can be part of a healthy lifestyle and there are no links between fast food or soda and obesity. Studies have proved otherwise. Corporations claim they give people choice, but people cannot make the right choices if healthy foods are not available.

Coke and Pepsi urge educators to put soda machines in schools in exchange for thousands of dollars. However, they are earning millions in profits. The government should be investing in education. Schools shouldn't have to depend on soda companies for money.

Overall, the writing becomes repetitive at times, but this can be overlooked. Arguments are backed up with multiple facts and research. The book brings up important issues like advertising to children, soda in schools, environmental and economic factors of obesity, the hypocrisy of food companies, and the government's role. After every problem a solution is given. Change is emphasized and encouraged. The authors make the reader feel like change is possible; that the food fight could be won.

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

Although it is listed as a young adult novel, THE BOOK THIEF is a story that both teens and adults will find captivating and heartbreaking.

Using Death as his narrator, Zusak crafts an emotionally charged story about life in Germany for a simple teenage girl, Liesel, during the Nazi regime. Before the war even begins, Liesel experiences much tragedy in her life. She watches her brother die on a train and her mother leaves her with foster parents. She endures nightmares about her brother every single night, and has only one connection to him – a book she found at his grave site.

Liesel’s character development is a huge part of THE BOOK THIEF. The reader knows she is not completely innocent, but at ten years old she is naive about the atrocities of war. As she becomes older she begins to understand the power of words, especially during Hitler’s messages of hate, and the importance of books. She has a compulsion to steal books when she has the chance, and reads them each numerous times.

Liesel is able to see both sides of the war after her foster parents rescue a Jew named Max, and the two of them grow close. He writes her a book titled “The Standover Man” with powerful illustrations depicting two children standing, holding hands, on top of a massive pile of dead bodies. Through Max, Liesel questions why Jews are treated so badly and ponders Max’s fate as well as her own as they live in fear he will be discovered.

THE BOOK THIEF is written in a prose like style. Instead of lengthy character descriptions, there are small poems about unique characteristics of each person. The characters are more memorable this way, because each has their own quirks.

Zusak sprinkles the text with frequent colour metaphors relating to the sky, Liesel’s father’s eyes, and the war. There is also a metaphor about Liesel’s street. She lives on Himmel Street which means Heaven, but it is far from heaven.

As an omniscient narrator, Death is a perfect choice. He is surprisingly empathetic, carrying souls from Earth to elsewhere, holding onto them for a few moments before he watches them pass. No matter what happens, Death is everywhere, and he is always busy. Also, as noted on the final page, Death is haunted by humans.

At 550 pages, this novel is quite long, but this thought-provoking story about the perseverance of the human spirit is worth every minute. The Book Thief leaves the reader feeling like they have been on an emotional roller coaster, but that they will be the first in line for the next ride.

THE BERMUDEZ TRIANGLE by Maureen Johnson

The Bermudez Triangle was the last of Maureen Johnson's five books that I read. I wish it had been the first, especially after it was challenged in Oklahoma.

The story follows three best friends, Nina, Avery and Mel. Nina gets accepted into a university program and leaves for the entire summer. Nina obviously misses Avery and Mel, but she meets a boy named Steve who cares about the environment as much as she does, and she falls for him.

While she is away, Avery and Mel work at a restaurant and spend most of their time together. Soon Avery and Mel discover there may be more-than-friends feelings between them and the development of their relationship happens gradually, like real life.

When Nina returns, Avery and Mel are distant. Nina knows something in their friendships has shifted, or changed, but she is not sure what. She is shocked when she finds out (and not in the most appropriate way) that Avery and Mel are dating, and feels like she has to take sides when Avery and Mel break up.

The whole book is a refreshing look at love that just kind of happens, and how friendships change when two people you're best friends with begin dating. Nothing is contrived, but instead the issues are examined with care, and a feeling of innocence and confusion from the characters.

Readers will relate to the ups and downs of falling in and out of love and discovering who you are in the process. A must read.

SKINNY BONES AND THE WRINKLE QUEEN by Glen Huser

At 15, Tamara has survived the foster care system through brains, will, and attitude. Now close to getting out, she dreams of being a model. First, though, there’s high school to get through, along with her teacher’s latest community project — volunteering at the local seniors home. Tamara doubts she can endure either the residents or the smells.

Then she’s assigned to — a cranky, wealthy, and extremely frail former schoolteacher. As the two warily size each other up, they realize each is the key to achieving their own very different goals. Miss Barclay wants to attend Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Seattle — a trip doctors insist she’s too weak to undertake. Tamara wants to enroll in modeling school in Vancouver — an expense she can’t begin to afford. Daringly, they plan the road trip of a lifetime — but can these two bossy, manipulative women keep from throttling each other before their goals are realized?

**Description taken from Amazon because it's a much better than one I would write.**

I picked this book up on a whim and in the end it was satisfying. I say in the end because the first half of the book is rather slow. It's mostly Jean and Tamara planning their trip. They don't actually leave for Seattle until almost three quarters of the way through. Teenagers might find the pace a little too slow and quit reading, which would spoil a great ending.

The suspence is held throughout the last act, with Tamara wondering when her foster family will figure out she's not really at Jean's house, but in Vancouver. Will Jean get thrown in prison for kidnapping? Do people her age even get thrown in jail?

The plot could have used some work, but the characters are what bring the story to life. Both women are opinionated and loud mouthed, and have their own flaws. Their personalities clashed, and they argue throughout most of the book. Still, it was interesting to see the differences in age, physical abilities, and personality, and yet they work together to achieve a common goal.

The chapters switch between Tamara and Jean's point of view, so the reader knows what one character is thinking about the other. I thought this was well done and I liked seeing the reactions of both characters.

Maybe I was disappointed because I was expecting another road trip novel (after reading Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney) when the story is really about two women coming together despite their differences. If you like a book with strong characters, read this one, just don't expect an overly exciting plot.

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY by Ned Vizzini

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is by far the most accurate portrayal of depression I have ever read. This is not surprising, considering the story is based off of Ned Vizzini's own experience with depression. In 2004, he spent five days in the adult psychiatric ward of Methodist Hospital.

The book follows Craig Gilner, a high achieving eighth grade student, who's goal in life is to get into the prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School in Manhattan. He spends all his time studying until his acceptance letter arrives.

Craig thinks his future is set. He will have a Good Education, get a Good Job, and make Lots of Money. Instead, he spirals into depression and anxiety as he realizes he cannot keep up with the stress of school, his grades are average, and therefore he is average and doomed to be a failure and homeless.

Soon his stomach cannot hold any food, he doesn't sleep, feels miserable, and gets into arguments with his own mind. He reveals his intimate thoughts, like wanting to lay in bed all day just to think and wanting to jump off the Brooklyn bridge.

One night while laying in his mother's bed contemplating suicide, he pulls a book off her shelf and flips to the back. It tells him to call a suicide hot line. The person on the phone suggests he go to the hospital, where he checks himself in for depression.

He spends five days in the hospital where he meets lots of people with similar problems. He makes a lot of progress in recovery, even helping out other patients, and determines that he never wants to be in the hospital again. Furthermore, he makes changes in his life like switching to an arts school.

Ned Vizzini tells Craig's story in a way that truly touches the reader's heart. Craig is an ordinary teenager but he gives a message of hope to anyone who feels depressed. Reading IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is a reminder that you are not alone, and that your problems are not insignificant and can be overcome. Life is hard sometimes, and the path you think you should be taking is not always the best one, and that's okay.

HOW TO RUIN MY TEENAGE LIFE by Simone Elkeles

I'm feeling a little tired today. Why? Because I reading HOW TO RUIN MY TEENAGE LIFE by Simone Elkeles. This book mesmerized me and kept me turning the pages well into the wee hours of the morning.

Rarely a sequel lives up to the first book. HOW TO RUIN MY TEENAGE LIFE far surpasses in wit, humour, and charm.

Amy is back in the United States after spending her summer in Israel. Being home presents a new set of problems and challenges. Her mother is pregnant with her new husband's baby while her father refuses to go on even one date and Amy worries he will never find true love. Her relationship with her non-boyfriend Avi, who is stuck in Israel for military training, confuses her, and her best friend Jess is having guy problems of her own. Not to mention her constantly farting dog who impregnates the neighbour's prized puppy.

Amy's relationship with her father is one of my favourite parts of this book. Their dialogue flows much more easily and even though Amy signs him up for an online dating service without his permission, they seem closer than ever. Her dad even shows his over-protective side when her non-boyfriend Avi, shows up to surprise her.

But how will Avi react when he hears that she kissed Nathan?

Being a person who wants to fix everything, Amy is always trying to figure out how she can make her life better, but at the same time makes everything worse. Will she learn that it's okay that her life isn't perfect?

HOW TO RUIN MY TEENAGE LIFE is filled with awkward moments that will make you laugh. You won't be able to put this one down, not even to sleep!

HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION by Simone Elkeles

Sixteen-year-old Amy Nelson is looking forward to her summer vacation until her absent father calls with news her grandmother in Israel is sick. He sends Amy a plane ticket and in no time she has left her priviledged American life behind to discover another culture.

At the beginning, Amy does not believe she can spend three months with family she's never met and a dad she barely knows. She rebels and is quite angry, but her father and family are persistent, and slowly she adapts to her surroundings.

Since Amy has such a new relationship with her father, and is in a country with family who are strangers, it's almost like the reader is discovering herself and her life at the same time she is.

Amy is a strong, opinionated, and outspoken teenage character. She is compelled to speak her mind, and sometimes her big mouth gets her into trouble and hurts the ones she loves most. Despite this, she has a good heart and her thoughts only come from the frustration of her chaotic life, and the feelings she experiences are justified given her circumstances.

Some parts felt a little forced, and the emotional scenes didn't connect me to the characters as much as they could have. I saw the potential though, and where the book was heading.

How To Ruin a Summer Vacation is a worthwhile read that touches on themes like finding yourself, new love, and accepting change. Fans will have fun seeing what kind of trouble Amy gets into next in the sequel, How to Ruin My Teenage Life.