“LIM” Like You’ve Never LIM-med Before (Oh Wait, You Haven’t!)

Recommended for grades 7-12

I had to reread Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell—it’s one of those books that I plan on rereading every few years.  It was a book club pick at my work and I’m thrilled with just how much I enjoyed the book.  I bet you’re wondering what “LIM” stands for…well, I’ll tell you later.

Here is the general gist of the book: Vassar Spore has planned life out for herself, almost as if it was a science.  Some of her goals include, “Graduate valedictorian from Seattle Academy of Academic Excellence (with a minimum 5.3 GPA).”, “Publish the definitive book on (TBD) by age 37”, “Receive Pulitzer prize.”  Vassar is what you would call an overachiever (and I wonder why I like the book so much).  But, you come to realize she is a bit overprotected and sheltered…that is until her Grandma Gerd blackmails her parents (something to do with “The Big Secret”) into letting Vassar fly to Malaysia to trek around looking for “found art”. 

The novel only gets better…Vassar’s three girlfriends won’t let her escape the summer without arranging how she can pull off being valedictorian instead of Wendy Stupacker (the resident popular girl).  It is decided that Vassar will write a novel about her adventures in Southeast Asia—she has no idea just how unbelievable her novel will be! 

Vassar flies half-way across the world and meets Grandma Gerd, who is aloof, a non-planner, and artsy—the opposite of Vassar.  Grandma Gerd leads Vassar through several regions of Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos.  If you don’t read the book for the humor (and it’s RIPE with humor), adventure, and the personal journey Vassar goes through (if I used the word “on”, I feel like it’s implied she wanted to go through it), then please, PLEASE read it for the setting—Cornwell outdoes herself, from the dirt streets with the outdoor make-shift cafes and tiny-market vendors to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat—she definitely earns the title “travel junkie”.

Cornwell does a great job developing the main characters, as well—Vassar, who is so preposterous at points that even when her friends read about “Sarah” (the protagonist Vassar secretly pins herself as), they think she’s a “goody-goody”, which puts Vassar out a little, especially since they all LOVE Aunt Aurora (Grandma Gerd), and Wayne (Hanks)—Vassar’s guide turned love interest, who also happens to be a Chinese Malay cowboy (with chops and Godlings)!  Even as I’m thinking about what else I want to write about the book, it has me smiling and chuckling…

….I suppose I can let you know what “LIM” stands for now—its Grandma Gerd’s acronym for “Live In the Moment!” 

Cornwell, A. (2007). Carpe diem. New York, NY: Square Fish.

This Book Is More Than The Sum Of Its Parts

.…or I’ve Flipped for Flipped

Recommended for grades 6-9

I was so excited to find out that Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen had been made into a movie, which is odd because I’ve never read the book. But, like all good books, its reputation preceded itself—I knew I would get around to reading the story. I really wanted to see the movie, especially after watching the preview (not gonna lie, probably watched it upwards of five times that first time). I counted down the days till it would hit theaters. Then, I started searching all the internet movie sites determined to find what local theater it would be in…it was showing in ZELCH! Come on now!! Not even the independent theaters were showing it and trust me, I checked for several weeks, hoping that eventually it would make it to a theater near me. It never did.

Well, with that disappointment, I decided I would just be one of the first people to check it out from the library. I watched it this past week and loved every minute of that movie! The two young actors portraying Juli and Bryce were wonderful and so was the supporting cast. The movie guaranteed that I would be reading the book within a week’s time (library, here I come!). So, not only do I have to buy the movie because I liked it so much, I now have to buy the book because I liked it so much and want to be able to read it yearly. I just have to point out that I ONLY buy movies that are my favorites and will stand the test of time of me watching them over and over again.

Flipped is a coming of age story that ventures a little into first love (or crazy first crushes…we’ve all been there), but Van Draanen keeps the balance well, by alternating chapters between Bryce and Juli. The book begins the summer before Bryce and Juli go into second grade. Juli sees Bryce (who just moved into the neighborhood) and right away she’s “flipped” for “those blue eyes.” On the other hand, Bryce wants nothing to do with Juli. This continues for several years, but along the way you find out what a strong-spirited individual Juli is and what a confused individual Bryce turns out to be. They live right across the street from each other, but their families couldn’t be any more different—Bryce’s family is well-off, but not stable, whereas Juli’s family might not be rich, but they are close knit.

Then it happens, in eighth grade, Juli finally discovers what a “coward” Bryce can be and really wants nothing to do with him (for the most part), but at the same time Bryce finally opens his eyes and sees Juli, I mean really sees Juli and what do you know, he’s “flipped” for her…funny how the story’s title works on several levels. The reader knows that Bryce isn’t all that bad and the story ends on a sweet note with Bryce’s noble act and Juli thinking that maybe she and Bryce can be friends after all.

One of my favorite lines in the book comes from Chet, Bryce’s wise grandfather, who says, “Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss…But every once in a while you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.” I feel the same way about books.

Van Draanen, W. (2001). Flipped. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.