Today is Tuesday and I promised a book review each month. Soooo I guess I need to hold to that, eh? :0) I swear that is the last smiley face on the post. Well...I realized I'm smiley addicted. Without further ado, I introduce you to Meg Cabot's Airhead series. Well, the first two anyway. (oops, almost inserted a smiley, again!)
*I have decided not to link to Amazon for the time being. Until they can be more professional about the cost of books which we work hard on writing...I don't want to support them. These are linked to Barnes and Noble online.*
AIRHEAD and BEING NIKKI
by Meg Cabot
Em Watts was just your average over-achieving brainiac...until disaster struck. Now instead of judging her by her grades, people are judging her by her looks...and she's stuck in a nightmare life she never wanted. Where do you hide when everyone knows your name?Em Watts is just like 15 year old me without the gaming. I heart her. She has those typical "I'm not a typical teen" feelings. I love her crush on her best friend, Christopher. Meg Cabot portrays this as a sweet time in life, with all the confusion and hormones, but without trashy language or images.
At first I thought the book lacked believability. How judgemental of me! Meg Cabot managed to cleverly make this work. It's Em's brain put into Nikki's brain dead body. She explains this rather well, but not to the point of yawning complication. The catch is that Em has to continue Nikki's life-not her own.
Another thing I loved about both books was the voice of Em. It is all her, nothing adult or Meg Cabot bleeds through. That is something we all strive to portray correctly in our writing. She gives good example with these books. Em is an intelligent teenager, yet not above saying "gag me" and loves to show off her vocabulary through argument.
While it could go to the serious, darker side of teen angst, Meg Cabot keeps it light and humorous. While there may be a serious moment of heartbreak, she cuts right to the humor or breaks scene with something else-another new problem for her poor main character, Em. These books are written from Em's point of view, in first person and I love it. She shines through with every thought.
Now, personally, I'm not waiting with bated breath for the next in this series, but I could see where young girls would be. Meg Cabot combines humor with mystery and a touch of romance with a fast paced and intelligent read. I love that. I think the only issue I may have had with these books is that I would have liked to get to know her love interest, Christopher a little more. Although-I think she's done this on purpose so we learn more each book. :0) I would be interested in other books by her. She's an excellent writer.
If you would like to purchase these books or learn more about the author, please click on the links I have provided! Thanks for reading with me. :0) dangit, two smileys without even knowing it!
