Nerd break

I took a break from reading upcoming and current year YA to read one of last year's BBYA books, Julie Halpern's Into the Wild Nerd Yonder.  And I'm so glad I did.  I met Julie at a conference a few years ago when her first book, Get Well Soon, was just hitting the shelves.  I enjoyed meeting her so much that I bought her book at the conference for myself and read it in one sitting that night.  It was smart and sad and still humorous in moments.  It flew off the shelf at my library and so I was completely excited to get an ARC of her latest book.  But then somehow, I got bogged down in other reading and it got lost in my bookshelf until it was time to move, which is when I found it and put it in my suitcase.

And I'm super glad I did.  I have never really enjoyed a book the way I enjoyed this one.  What I loved most about it was the way it achieved so many things, all in one book.  Moments where I am cracking up so hard I almost pee my pants?  Check.  Touching older brother - younger sister moments?  Check.  Awesome skirt making?  Check.  Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy like everything is right in the world?  Check.

It was such an endearing story with characters that will stick with me for a long time.  I can't believe I didn't read the ARC last summer when I got it, but then I'm so happy I found it so that I could, for one day, just really, really enjoy what I'm reading.  With BFYA picking up steam, it was great to take a break for one day and remind myself what best books for teens are like.  And I've found one of my new favorite YA books to recommend.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled reading.