From: Nina Lindsay <nlindsay>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002 12:41:35 -0800

I have been completely bowled over by a few books for young adults:

First French Kiss by Adam Bagdasarian. This is completely different than his Forgotten Fire; it's vignettes of his childhood and adolesence. Funny and touching. He has a direct line on his emotional memory, in a way that few writers do. This book really showcases his talents.

One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry. This is marketed as an adult book, and is a series of comic strips that were originally published on Salon.com. Similarly gripping as Bagdasarian. She gives a sense of having such power over her life through her artistry/writing... memories that seem bad or silly become important and almost glamorous.

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Long, dense, involving, hilarious writing about an Indian-American teenager and her best friend in New Jersey. A perfect coming-of-age novel. Hidier writes to a young adult's level. Complicated. Insightful. Painful-but-with-a-happy-ending.

Nina Lindsay Librarian, Children's Room Oakland Public Library 125 14th Street Oakland CA 94612
(510)238615 nlindsay at oaklandlibrary.org
Received on Wed 04 Dec 2002 02:41:35 PM CST