http://www.blounttoday.com/news/columnists/courtney-bowers/?partner=RSSblounttoday.com Stories: Courtney Bowersen-uscolumnists/courtney-bowershttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/jul/12/bookshelf-teen-review-hanging-woods-scott-loring-s/?partner=RSSGrowing up in a southern town in the mid-seventies, 14-year-old Walter and his two mischievous best friends, Jimmy and Mothball, spend most of their time sneaking out at night and playing down by the river. They are particularly interested in the Troll, a homeless man who lives under the railroad tracks. Their parents worry about the boys’ adventures, but in the times when the world seemed a much safer place, the kids pay no attention to their warnings. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17370-733965columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sandersblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-hanging-woods-scott-loring-surn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17370-733965Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/jun/21/bookshelf-teen-review-write-naked-peter-gould/?partner=RSSSixteen-year-old Victor is not a typical teenage boy. Instead of spending his time playing video games or causing trouble with friends, he prefers to live life “under the radar,” hoping to remain unnoticed by the rest of the world. While browsing through a yard sale, he finds an old Royal typewriter, and he can immediately feel a connection telling him that the machine holds something magical inside for him. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:12:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17290-733944columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Write naked by Peter Gouldblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-write-naked-peter-gouldurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17290-733944Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/jun/14/bookshelf-teen-review-virgin-suicides-jeffrey-euge/?partner=RSSIt all began with one sister. Cecilia Lisbon, the youngest and certainly oddest of the five Lisbon girls, attempted suicide in her family’s bathroom. Until that one act, the Lisbons had been viewed as the most beautiful girls in the whole town -- mysteriously flawless and completely unattainable. Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17256-733937columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenidesblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-virgin-suicides-jeffrey-eugeurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17256-733937Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/may/10/bookshelf-teen-review-under-same-sky-brett-smuckle/?partner=RSS“Under the Same Sky” is the story of two friends whose love is overpowered by their opposite goals in life. Olivia meets Emmett when she is in kindergarten, and they spend all of their childhood years together, playing in the backyard and going on family vacations to the beach. Mon, 10 May 2010 18:13:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17122-733902columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Under the Same Sky by Brett Smucklerblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-under-same-sky-brett-smuckleurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-17122-733902Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/apr/12/bookshelf-teen-review-perks-being-wallflower-steph/?partner=RSSIt is Charlie’s freshman year of high school, and he doesn’t quite know where he belongs. He has never fit in with any of the kids his own age because he is so shy and timid. However, Charlie has a great deal of potential hiding behind his quiet ways. He is extremely intelligent, an exceptional student who receives extra reading assignments from his English teacher. He spends his days devouring the books, trying to understand the characters in them. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16975-733874columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chboskyblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-perks-being-wallflower-stephurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16975-733874Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/mar/08/bookshelf-teen-review-losers-guide-life-and-love-e/?partner=RSSEd McIff is your typical teenage dork, a guy who never knows what to say to girls and wears a tuxedo and bow tie to his job at Reel Life Movies. According to Ed, no one of the opposite sex could ever be remotely interested in a loser like him. What Ed doesn’t know is that his best friend and coworker, Scout, has had a crush on him for ages. Ed has never even considered the idea of Scout being interested in him; she is just one of the boys in his mind. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16811-733839columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannonblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-losers-guide-life-and-love-eurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16811-733839Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/feb/08/bookshelf-teen-review-ordinary-ghosts-eireann-corr/?partner=RSSEmil has always lived in the shadows of others. His older brother, Ethan, was the popular guy at Caramoor, the private prep school they attend. No matter what Ethan did, he always made it look effortless, and Emil feels that he pales in comparison. However, when Emil’s mother dies of cancer, Ethan takes off. He’s just suddenly gone, and no one knows where he is. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:14:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16669-733811columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corriganblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-ordinary-ghosts-eireann-corrurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16669-733811Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/jan/11/bookshelf-teen-review-golden-compass-philip-pullma/?partner=RSS“The Golden Compass,” the first novel in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, introduces readers to another world that is quite similar to ours. The difference is that people in this world have external souls that take on an animal form known as daemons. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16551-733783columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullmanblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-golden-compass-philip-pullmaurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16551-733783Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/dec/28/bookshelf-teen-review---lily-dale-discovering/?partner=RSSIn the final installment of the Lily Dale series, Calla Delaney finally discovers the whole truth about who she is and the secrets her family has kept hidden for so long. In the previous novels, Calla has explored her spiritual connection to ghosts in the small town of Lily Dale, New York, after her mother’s mysterious death. Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:36:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16494-733769columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review - Lily Dale: Discoveringblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review---lily-dale-discoveringurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16494-733769Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/dec/14/bookshelf-teen-review---lily-dale-awakening-wendy-/?partner=RSSIn the first novel of Staub’s new mystical series, “Lily Dale: Awakening,” readers are introduced to seventeen-year-old Calla Delaney. After her mother dies in a mysterious accident, Calla is inconsolable. She decides to escape the misery by visiting her grandmother who lives in the quaint little town of Lily Dale, New York. Once Calla arrives, she learns that Lily Dale has more quirks than she expected - the community is filled with psychics who claim they can communicate with the dead. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16423-733755columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review - Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staubblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review---lily-dale-awakening-wendy-urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16423-733755Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/dec/07/bookshelf-teen-review-haunted-sister-lael-littke/?partner=RSSEver since Janine was little, she was known as the good girl. Her twin sister, Lenore, was the wild and mischievous one. That was the only difference between the two girls, and the fact that Janine had a mole on the right side of her chin, while Lenore’s was on the left. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16383-733748columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Haunted Sister by Lael Littkeblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-haunted-sister-lael-littkeurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16383-733748Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/nov/09/bookshelf-teen-review-nick-and-norahs-infinite-pla/?partner=RSSBy now, most teenagers have seen the movie “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” and have fallen in love with the New York City adventure that takes place all within one unforgettable night. The novel, penned in 2006, is even more captivating than the film. “Nick and Norah” is a story of Nick, a heartbroken Yugo-driving bassist in an unknown punk band, and Norah, a complicated music-lover whose father is a famous music producer. Both teens are struggling with their lives. Nick is unable to move on from his ex-girlfriend, Tris, who cheated on him during their entire six-month relationship. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:55:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16210-733720columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithanblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-nick-and-norahs-infinite-plaurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16210-733720Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/oct/26/bookshelf-teen-review-vibes-amy-kathleen-ryan/?partner=RSSKristi is definitely not a normal girl. She has her own style, which includes digging through the garbage to create outfits. She has her own opinions, which tend to be laced with sarcasm and attitude. She also has an unusual mind - she’s psychic. One might think that knowing others’ thoughts would make life easier, but that’s not the case for Kristi. The only thoughts she hears are others’ negative opinions of her weight and eccentric style. The worst part, however, is what she hears from Gusty Peterson, her lifelong crush, who thinks “sick” every time she walks by. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16134-733706columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Bookshelf, A Teen Review: Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryanblounttoday.combookshelf-teen-review-vibes-amy-kathleen-ryanurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16134-733706Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/oct/12/book-shelf-teen-review-thirteen-reasons-why-jay-as/?partner=RSSWhen Clay Jensen received a package one fateful afternoon, he never dared to consider what it may contain. Soft-spoken and polite, Clay is a nice guy. Everyone likes him, because he never bothers anyone. So the last thing he expected to find inside that shoebox was a collection of seven cassette tapes, all recorded by a dead girl. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:46:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16071-733692columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Book Shelf, A Teen Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asherblounttoday.combook-shelf-teen-review-thirteen-reasons-why-jay-asurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-16071-733692Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/sep/15/book-shelf---teen-review-its-kind-funny-story-ned-/?partner=RSSCraig had always been the smartest kid in his class until he was accepted into a Manhattan prep school. Here, his best is no longer good enough, and he is shocked to find himself among the “average” students. He still feels pressured to excel, but it no longer comes easily to him, and he sees nothing good about being ordinary. This mediocrity begins a downward spiral into a dark depression that even his friends and family cannot lift him out of. When Craig is with his best friend, Aaron, he just finds himself jealous of his beautiful girlfriend, and Aaron’s usage of drugs certainly doesn’t steer Craig in the right direction. Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-15924-733665columnists/courtney-bowersCourtney BowersMaryville, TNThe Book Shelf - A teen review: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizziniblounttoday.combook-shelf---teen-review-its-kind-funny-story-ned-urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-15924-733665Change0Usable