I don't read a lot of YA fiction. However, I'm a sucker for a Brendan Halpin book (check out Donorboy if you want to know why). I'm also skeptical about co-written works as I often find the change in perspective and voice jarring.

In this case - the dual voices work. There is no confusion where the voices of Declan and Neilly are concerned and their stories intertwine beautifully.

The novel speaks to our current culture with its blended families, progressive spirituality and even a little veganism in the mix.

As always, Halpin tackles grief with a deft hand and Trish Cook excavates the soft underbelly of the beauty queen in a delicate and disarming manner.

Funny, sweet and ultimately uplifting - Notes From The Blender is one of those books I wish I'd read thirty years ago. ( )

Notes from the Blender is one of the books my dear, lovely friend Jordan brought back from ALA for me. When I read the blurb on the back, I was hugely skeptical about how this was going to go. It sounded like a manga plot, because they love the step-sibling thing (and the sibling thing, which we do now too apparently, as there's a new YA book about that which I both do and really do not want to try) and I just didn't know if it was going to be my jam, as they say.

Actually, I really liked it! Don't you just love when first impressions are wrong for the better? (Presuming, of course, of course that I did not make a huge fuss about not liking the person/thing/place first, in which case I mostly just feel like a fool. This happened recently with Modern Family. Even paragons of perfection like myself (ha!) make mistakes now and then. Anyway, this book is super cute and successfully rocks the alternating stories written by two different parties. Both characters had real voices and were likable (and not occasionally). Folks who enjoy the collaborations between Levithan and Cohn should definitely give this one a chance!

This story managed to hit on soooo many key issues in teenage life: death metal, veganism, violence, dating, sex, pregnancy, drugs, alcohol and homosexuality. The attitudes conveyed therein are pretty awesome, although I would also list this as the only real weakness, since, on some topics, it got a bit preachy. Pretty much every single character (except for the jerks and, in an isolated incident) express their absolute disdain and disgust with anyone who drinks ever. This makes sense with Dec's mother (whose father was an alcoholic) and Dec (whose mother was killed by a drunk driver), but seems a bit more unlikely for Neilly (she drank too much once and doesn't want to drink again, which is fine, but why does she abhor it so?).

Anyway, this was just really fun, quick and cute, so I highly recommend it!
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This was both funny and sad which is a killer combination for me. I loved both teens' voices, but Declan particularly appealed. I breezed through this in one morning; it was a great break from some of the other, heavier things I've been reading. I liked that nobody came off as perfect - not the kids and not the parents - maybe Declan's aunt a little bit. This was also a bit of a different take on religion than I've seen in YA fare before which was nice. ( )

What happens when your crush becomes your step sister? Told in alternating voices that is exactly what happens in the funny story about starting over, adapting and making do. ( )

A genial read which authentically replicates boy vs. girl perspectives. Death metalhead Dec is overjoyed--and appalled--when he learns that hottie schoolmate Neilly is about to become his stepsister. Both kids are shocked and annoyed by the suddenness of the announcement, which includes a new baby in the works from their parents' union. Dec and Neilly grow together and try to support each other, with a few misunderstandings along the way, and find community in a church group. The book is very pro-gay (both kids have gay family members) and somewhat profane (Dec speaks frankly about masturbation and the woes of being constantly aroused teenage boy) but the language will be nothing new to a modern teen, and the book has a surprisingly wholesome tone to it, since both have their reasons for eschewing drugs and alcohol.