Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Ninja Reviews. . .Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan


Just a quick review before it's time to go home for the day!

I read this one in a day and got a kick out of it. It actually made me laugh out loud, and I love a book that can do that.

Kristi Carmichael is different. She wears tons of dark eye makeup, she makes skirts out of old umbrellas and potato sacks, and she can read minds. That's right, she knows the thoughts - the mean, spiteful, hurtful thoughts - of her classmates at the touchy-feely-granola alternative school she attends. Her mother is a doctor who is rarely home, her father is currently out of the picture, and the guy she has had a crush on for years (but tells herself she no longer does) always thinks Sick when he's around her. Can't get any more brutal than that.

But then Kristi is paired with Gusty (the crush) for a school project. Her mom gets a promotion and is suddenly home a lot more often (which isn't good when you have a cat hidden in your room that your mom doesn't know about and is allergic to). And her dad is about to re-enter the picture.

Kristi is a really great character. At times I wanted to slap her upside the head because she can be just as mean to other people as they are to her. But she's so sarcastic and witty and she's really just plain confused, I just can't help but love her. How can you not love someone who makes a blouse out of an old curtain and isn't afraid to wear it in public?

I recommend this to anyone who loves a snarky main character who doesn't quite fit in with the popular crowd.

2 comments:

Jill said...

Another good read from the Library Ninja. I really enjoy your suggestions and I'm going to read "Tenderness" next. Thanks.

Amy said...

Thanks, Jill! I love reading comments people leave.

If you read "Tenderness", please let me know what you think. This book is driving me crazy, and I'd like to know what someone else thinks about it.