In My Mailbox #70

In My Mailbox brought to you by The Story Siren

 Bought/Swapped:

Fallout - Ellen Hopkins

It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini 

(I already read & loved this awhile ago but wanted my own copy to re-read before the movie comes out.)

Craig Gilner is a gifted 15-year-old boy who works hard to get into a fiercely competitive high school, then crumbles under the intense academic pressure. Blindsided by his inability to excel and terrified by thoughts of suicide, Craig checks into a psychiatric hospital where he finally gets the help he needs. Vizzini, who himself spent a brief time in psychiatric "stir," invests his novel with great emotional honesty. A graceful, skillful, and witty handling of a sensitive issue, this is an important book we heartily recommend for older teens.

Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer

Described by friends and relatives as smart, literate, compassionate, and funny, did McCandless simply read too much Thoreau and Jack London and lose sight of the dangers of heading into the wilderness alone? Krakauer, whose own adventures have taken him to the perilous heights of Everest, provides some answers by exploring the pull the outdoors, seductive yet often dangerous, has had on his own life. What would possess a gifted young man recently graduated from college to literally walk away from his life? Noted outdoor writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer tackles that question in his reporting on Chris McCandless, whose emaciated body was found in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992.

Breaking Up is Really, Really Hard to Do - Natalie Standiford

In Book 2 of this series Holly wonders whether Rob is really her 'it guy' and decides to break up with him. Lina's crush on a teacher leads her into more madcap adventures and an unexpected friendship. Meanwhile Mads tries to make herself into a 'woman of the world' to attract the brooding 11th grade artist she's fallen for. In the end, the three put friendship before hormones and help each other to a feel-good ending.

That's what I got this past week. So what did you all get? How was your New Year's?