Notes from the Blender - Trish Cook & Brendan Halpin

 

Declan loves death metal--particularly from Finland. And video games--violent ones. And internet porn--any kind, really. He goes to school with Neilly Foster and spends most of his classroom time wondering what it might be like to know her, to talk to her, maybe even to graze against her sweater in the hallway. Neilly is an accomplished gymnast, naturally beautiful, and a constant presence at all the best parties (to which Declan is never invited). She's the queen of cool, the princess of poker face, and her rule is uncontested-- or it was until today, when she's dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her former BFF Lulu, and then informed she's getting a new brother--of the freaky fellow classmate variety. Declan's dad is marrying Neilly's mom. Soon. Which means they'll be moving in together.

 Okay, can I just tell you how very, very much I loved this book.


I didn't want to give it back to the library. 


At all.


But here's my disclaimer....I'm a 27-year-old who runs a YA book blog.  YA books are geared mostly towards the 14-17 year old market, as far as I'm concerned.  And this may not be the age at which most teens realize that, well...boys can be rediculous.


And horny.  So very, very horny.


That being said, Declan, one of the narrators in the story, is a wonderful little metal-listening-to, goth-dressed, virtual-zombie-killing little pervert, and you get to see the world through his (lust filled) eyes.  There are mentions of porn and masterbation, and him lusting after girlie bits, especially those that just happen to be attached to his new step-sister-to-be.


It's rediculous and I loved it.  I loved Declan and Neilly and their interactions and how they manage to become the most grudgingly loving kind of family that has ever existed.  


Loved it so much.


But, like I said...I'm 27.  This may be a little much for younger teens (and their parents) who aren't ready to see that side of the teenage boy psyche.


Personally, I thought it was simultanously honest and absolutely hilarious.


If you think you can handle it, I highly recommend you pick it up.


If you're not ready for that kind of blatent honesty...well...more for me then.


Happy Reading!


-geekgirl