Friday, August 12, 2011

Contemporary Book Reviews: Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler and Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler


Love at First Click

Paperback: 185 pages
Release date: March 31st, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Goodreads Summary: I could no longer deny what the heat in my cheeks meant when I was around Flynn. I was falling for my sister's boyfriend. 
There's just something about Flynn. Yes, he's a tall, unbelievably gorgeous, dark-haired football player, but . . . he's also sweet and nice and super easy to talk to. It's lucky I'm the photographer for the school paper, because my camera likes Flynn almost as much as I do. Unfortunately for me, so does my sister, and there's no way I can nab Flynn with her in the picture... 

This book has an adorable story of the only photographer at school, Hayley. She’s the regular photographer of their school paper which includes her constant attention to all football games and social events. She was determined to keep her status as a secret admirer of Flynn, the football star of the team, until her sister Breeze dated him.

I love Hayley’s name for one. She’s this simple and honest teenager who doesn’t want the spotlight focused on her. Her sister Breeze has that spotlight and Hayley is just contented on being the one squinting up on her sister’s light. I really liked her character because I can somehow picture myself in her. We both think wearing clothes that cause attention and spending too much money on them are just ridiculous. She saves up for money for her dream camera just as I save up to buy books. In that way, I know we both don’t feel deprived of buying any other things. Breeze is a little selfish but at the same time, she loves her sister and cares for her. Flynn is pure of awesomeness. Well, he's kind as always. What a fine specimen.


I read this a few hours after finishing my previous read. I was looking for a light yet fun read and I’m glad that I chose LOVE AT FIRST CLICK. Reading about the photography bit sparked my interest. I’m a huge photo enthusiast and I’ve always dreamed of having an SLR of my own someday. This book is relaxing and the story is truly cute. There were some predictable parts of the plot but I still liked it regardless. Just exactly what I was looking for at the moment.


Photobucket


Fixing Delilah

Hardcover: 320 pages
Release date: December 1st, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
Goodreads Summary: Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?
Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

I’ve been meaning to read a Sarah Ockler book in a while and FIXING DELILAH caught my attention. The book is about Delilah, a sixteen-year old girl who finds herself tangled up with life’s disconcerting issues. Her grandmother’s death brings her and her mother back to Red Falls, where memories are left behind eight years ago following the loss of her grandfather. There, Delilah unfolds the mysteries of her life and watches it change right before her eyes, that mends her broken life.

I’m in awe of Ms. Ockler for a wonderfully written novel. The words used are all well put-together and the complexity of her writing is just brilliant. I felt the weight of Delilah’s need to know more about her father, her Aunt Stephanie, and the cause of her grandmother’s depression.  I kept guessing and came to the point when I was so sure of what might be the answer to all Delilah’s question. I was SHOCKED to find out that I got the other half wrong.

While finding for answers, Delilah did what she thought she will never do: She fell in love. Patrick was her childhood best friend up until they moved to live in Keys. I felt all giddy every time they were together. It’s also great to have a change for once. Instead of a love at first sight kind of thing, they knew each other for a long time and the feelings came back after eight years of absence.
I highly recommend this to those who seek for a good realistic fiction and a great dose of teenage romance.



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