Donut Days ~ Book Review & Giveaway

Synopsis:

Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend’s not speaking to her, a boy she’s known all her life is suddenly smokin’ hot and in love with her, and oh yes, her evangelical minister parents may lose their church, especially if her mother keeps giving sermons saying Adam was a hermaphrodite.

But this weekend Emma’s only focused on Crispy Dream, a hot new donut franchise opening in town, where Harley bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. Writing the best feature story on the camp for the local paper might just win Emma a scholarship to attend a non- Christian college. But soon enough Emma finds the donut camp isn’t quite the perfect escape from all her troubles at Living Word Redeemer.

In a fresh, funny voice, newcomer Lara Zielin offers up a mesmerizing, fast-paced narrative full of wit and insight.

Review:

A few weeks ago when I was at the public library while Sam was there for his tutoring I was looking for some new books to read. I was in the Young Adult section and found a display of the books that were on the reading list for 6th - 8th graders. Okay...I'll bite. Looked at the list and picked one out. I'm so glad that I did. I picked up Donut Days by Lara Zielin. I had posted it on my Spring Reading Thing 2010 list and Lara saw it and contacted me! How cool is that! From those emails she asked if I would do a review of her book and do a giveaway. SURE! I was reading it anyway so why not go ahead and review it. Now that I have read it I am very pleased that this book is on the recommended reading list.

I honestly was hooked from page one. It was completely refreshing to read a book about a young lady struggling with her faith. You really don't see that much in young adult books. It's not pushy on the religion but it is a main theme of the book. I feel as though it would not be a turn off if you are not a religious person.

Emma, the main character and narrator, is a wonderful refreshing young girl. She is struggling with her faith, she is having a fight with her best friends, and she is trying to write an article to get a scholarship because her parents have put strings on her college fund. Speaking of her mom and dad, they are going through a lot at the church where they are the preachers and Emma really wishes they would share their feelings and thoughts about everything that is going on there. For Emma to write her article she turns to the Crispy Dream Donut Camp. The main characters that she meets at the camp are a bike gang that are born-again Christians that help her realize that it's okay to be different.

Emma is such a believeable character as well as all the others. I would highly recommend this book to young adults and adults that love to read young adult fiction. It's a quick read, funny, and refreshing. Great job Lara! I can't wait for your next book!

Now Lara is offering a giveaway! She is offering a $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate to be won by commenting about the most bizarre donut you have ever tried or liked. I'll select the winner by using random.org on Wednesday, April 21, at 9:00 pm Central Standard Time.