Two recommended reads

The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith is fresh, even frothy and whimsical, despite dealing with difficult family issues, including a parent’s second marriage.  I agree with the School Library Journal review which said, "This novel has a simple premise, but it is packed with detail, emotion, and likable characters." 

 

An incredibly quick read, I enjoyed the teasing dialogue between the two main characters, could certainly feel as though I was aboard the airplane, and envied the travels through London.   The European setting is reminiscent of Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes, but Jennifer Smith intersperses flashbacks and limits her story to an eventful 24 hours or so.

High school in the States is the setting for the soon to be published (March 11) Don’t Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski. I laughed over this book, initially choosing to read it because of the "goofy" premise: "We used to be average NYC sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots and suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking."  Sound silly?  It is, but it also effectively causes the reader to pause and think about those "secrets" we may not want to share and others' thoughts we may not want to hear.  This is a very funny, entertaining book.  

Pick up either one when you are looking for something light. Both of these titles will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Catherine Murdock, and Meg Cabot. The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight is on this year’s list of nominees for the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award.  I hope that Mlynowski’s Don’t Even Think about It makes the nominee list in the future, too.