YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

Jacquelyn and I will be reading this from January 19th 2014.
This book has not yet been published and review copies are available on request from edelweiss - http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/

Everybody welcome ☺

Woo!

Sarah, are there requirements to sign up to get these ARC books from this site?

Vicki wrote: "Sarah, are there requirements to sign up to get these ARC books from this site?"

Vicki, I actually got this one as a download now. Didn't have to request it. I just clicked a button and it was sent to my Kindle. It is great!

Vicki wrote: "Sarah, are there requirements to sign up to get these ARC books from this site?"

There are. You have to sign up for an account, very similar to netgalley, only personally I find the site more difficult to navigate. It's worth a try though ☺

Jacquelyn - I think you got this as a download now because you have a pre-approval with harpercollins. I got it a couple of months ago, and I know a lot of other bloggers did too within the space of about 2 weeks. I difference between edelweiss and netgalley though is that they don't tell you you've been pre-approved, you just get the download box instead of the request box ☺

Oh. So you're saying you think I got this on Edelweiss because I am Auto Approved by Harper Collins?

Well I just checked and all the books from Harper Collins say download now. So that is super cool! :D

So cool! I did a major happy dance when i got that! It's better than christmas because it comes more offen and there's free books!!!!

LOL! I think it is sooooo cool! HarperCollins publishes awesome books too! :D YAY!!!

I'm hoping and praying that they put on there soon ☺

I need to read that series!!!! I will read them soon then! This is so cool! They have some of the best books!

the selection is one of my most favourite books ever! a lot of people don't like it though.

I will hopefully read it soon then and see for myself! (:

Starting now ☺

end of chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ I used to hide in my closet too, I was reading though! (hide spoiler)]

chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ yikes. this girl is seriously messed up. i wonder who had sex with her? (hide spoiler)]

chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ I like the lyric thing ☺ (hide spoiler)]

chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ i really want to know who it was now! (hide spoiler)]

chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ suspects - dad, collie, dane winters, bodee, two boys from homeroom, matt from church, craig, hayden, band director. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ i think its collie. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ lyric guy knows who she is! (hide spoiler)]

chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ I don't believe that Hayden is captail lyrics. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ can't wait to find out who the rapist is! collie or craig?! (hide spoiler)]

end of chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ it was craig?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ she's nuts if she chooses hayden over bodee (hide spoiler)]

Finished - loved it!

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Date Changed. Restarting July 1st 2014. Happy Reading ☺

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Thanks Sarah! :)

Starting tomorrow everyone?

Rachael wrote: "Starting tomorrow everyone?"

I'm starting this today. But I think we're in different time zones. :P

Sadie wrote: "I'm starting this today as well. I agree, we're in different time zones. It's 11:57AM on the 1st here. :)"

Ha, same here. Guess we're not in zones that different XD. Are you from Romania? O.O

End Chapter 5
I'm confused; Is there a meaning to Kool Aid kid?
(view spoiler)[ Is it only me but sometimes Alexi's thoughts are jumbled and confusing to read? I guess it's partly because her 'secret' is kept in the dark at this point... (hide spoiler)]

I don't know if I can start today guys! Its 7.32pm where I am and I am trying to read the GBR. :)

End Chapter 6
Is this why he's called Kool Aid kid...?
(view spoiler)[Bodee dyes his hair with Cool Aid? Is that why Alexi talks about the blue in his hair... or am I reading this whole thing entirely wrong lol (hide spoiler)]

What the heck does "Kool Aid" even mean? :/

Googled it and it's a powdered cordial drink @_@

Noella wrote: "Googled it and it's a powdered cordial drink @_@"

Oh! Why don't they just call it cordial? Is it an American book?

I think it is lol. I found out why he's Kool Aid kid (something to do with the powder).

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Bodee is so sweet. I wonder if he is the captain? Hmm I question it because that guess is too obvious. (hide spoiler)]

Wait.. you guys don't know what kool-aid is? It's a drink.. It comes in powder form and you mix it with water and sugar..

Oh man.. I just started the audiobook and it's Tris's voice.. The same lady that read for Tris in Divergent.. This hurts my heart more than it should

Sadie wrote: "No, I live in Bahrain. It's in the Middle East. I'm actually from California. :)"

I'm from and in California :)

Noella wrote: "End Chapter 5
I'm confused; Is there a meaning to Kool Aid kid?
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I'm confused too.. What is her big secret? I thought it was the whole scratching the shit out of herself thing? Self inflicting pain.. or is it more. (hide spoiler)]

Wait... I've never heard of a cordial drink?

@Sadie - San Diego pretty much all my life :)

Chapter 8 - okay so her big secret is revealed.. I kinda thought that's what happened.. The only thing I'm curious about us lyric guy but other than that I'm pretty bored

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Dane is pretty obviously the guy that abused and possibly raped Alexi last summer (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ what the heck! Why doesn't she speak up.. say no.. scream.. anything. Not just "um" (hide spoiler)]

This is an annoying read so far..

Chapter 12
Well I guess that's honorable of Bodee... (view spoiler)[ Kids that come from violent backgrounds can go either way, good or bad.. So I guess it's good that Bodee is taking the high road.. insistent on not being his father (hide spoiler)]

So far behind.... >.<
Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[This book is ok. She's been abused and he's a sad kid. Right now I'm pretty sure Bodee is her lyric guy. I'm curious who's the one who abused her. That talk about her grandfather was weird. I wish I knew more about Bodee and how his mother died. So far he is a far more interesting character than she is. (hide spoiler)]

70% Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ Omg so Alexi said it was one of the guys at the treehouse scene who raped her. It sounds awfully like Craig because that would explain why she doesn't tell her family?? Is that farfetched or am I on to something. Oh god if it's true she must have felt suffocated in the house... (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Chapter 11 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
Yeah this bit was baffling like she doesn't make a noise when she's uncomfortable, which is basic human instinct right? (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Chapter 12
Well I guess that's honorable of Bodee... [spoilers removed]"

It's surprising though with his (view spoiler)[ lack of a support group. His brother leaving him alone and him basically being alone since he doesn't seem to have many friends. (hide spoiler)]