Pink Review+Giveaway

Author: Lili Wilkinson
Release Date: February 8, 2010
Pages: 310 (ARC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher
Challenges: 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Ava has a secret. She is tired of her ultracool attitude, ultra-radical politics, and ultrablack clothing. She's ready to try something new—she's even ready to be someone new. Someone who fits in, someone with a gorgeous boyfriend, someone who wears pink.

Transferring to Billy Hughes School for Academic Excellence is the perfect chance to try on a new identity. But just in case things don't work out, Ava is hiding her new interests from her parents, and especially from her old girlfriend.

Secrets have a way of being hard to keep, though, and Ava finds that changing herself is more complicated than changing her wardrobe. Even getting involved in the school musical raises issues she never imagined. As she faces surprising choices and unforeseen consequences, Ava wonders if she will ever figure out who she really wants to be.

 So. Pink. It was a title I was pretty ashamed to show people, and the cover didn't help. Cause it just looks so...girly, which is very not me. But I don't even care cause...this book. Guys. THIS BOOK.

I spent a lot of this novel wanting to shout at Ava. Cause I mean, she can be preeeetty stupid. But somehow I still really loved her, and wanted nothing more than for our confused heroine to succeed in her mission of self-discovery.

All of the supporting characters were so original and fantastic. I want each member of the stage crew to hop out of Pink and come and criticize my town for it's lack of a good hole-in-the-wall cafe. They were all so fun and real and oh so very lovable. I mean, even the prissy girl has a story!

My friends can tell when I'm really lovin' on a book, cause I'll text them quotes from it that I find to be particularly LOL-worthy. This happened with Pink. It was just so. freaking. funny. Fans of John Green's humor will definitely enjoy the humor in Pink, as well.

I knew I needed to read it when I saw John Green blurbed it, and he didn't steer me wrong one bit. This book is my favorite 2011 debut of the year so far. Lili Wilkinson is sure to become a prominent new voice in American YA, and I for one can't wait to read more of her work. Pink was everything I looked for in a fantastic contemporary novel, so go read it.

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbed me from page one and didn't let go.

Characters: Seriously wonderful!!

Writing: Great!

Ending: It was very fitting and right...even though I might've rather had a "and then they kissed and rode into the sunset on horses" ending...but I still loved it.

Kid friendly? There's talk of sex, teen drinking, and some occasional swearing.

Should I read it? Yesyesyes.

Overall:

 

  

Because I loved this book I'm getting my own hardcover copy of it, so I'm giving away my Advanced Reader Copy of it. US and Canada only, ends May 13. FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER. Good luck!