For this month's selection, I turned to my friend Coleen, who is currently living in Singapore.  She's mentioned to me before how expensive books are in Singapore, and how books can sometimes be difficult to find.  So, for her selection, she's chosen one that she already has in the house.  This book comes to us from Coleen and her daughter, who recently read this book, the first in a series, and liked it enough to ask for more.  Please join Coleen and me in reading Uglies by Scott Westerfield. 


If you have teenagers or pre-teens in your house (maybe it's just girls reading it, I don't know, and Sophie's still in board books so she was no help here) you may have already heard of this book.  If you have girls that will be in this age group soon, you probably will see it around your house soon.  For the rest of us, we've all been young girls once and may just enjoy the book anyway.

The book is described in this way:
"Tally is about to turn sixteen--the most important birthday in her life. It is at age sixteen that residents of Uglyville cross over into New Pretty Town and their unattractive physical attributes are replaced to make them drop-dead gorgeous. Just before she is about to have her operations, Tally meets Shay, another Uglie about to reach the magic age of sixteen. However Shay is different; she is not convinced that being ugly is all that bad. Shay ultimately decides to run away and join a group of renegades who are resisting the authorities, leaving Tally to await her operations. Unfortunately, the authorities suspect Tally of assisting Shay's defection and refuse her operation until she betrays her friend. "

Reviews from People We Don't Know:
"I LOVED THIS BOOK!! It was one of the most awesomest books I've ever read!!! It takes so many unexpected twists and keeps you on the edge of your seat. IF YOU HAVEN'T, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!! and the other two, they're cool too!!!"
- Olivia
[editorial note: I like any commentary using the word "awesomest" and the strong use of !!! tells me that it truly must be the awesomest]

"I promise, this book won't have a bad review! It is one of my favorite books!!!! All my friends have read it! I guarantee you will love this book!!! This is more of a girl book though."
- Katarina

"This is a great adventure book! I have never read a book like this one before this! I would recommend this book to anyone from a young adult to a person at age 100!"
- KayLynn

Now, since this is a book recommended for girls in Grade 6 and up, I feel a bit strange about adding a wine pairing.  But, since we're not reading this with a group of 12 year-old girls and offering them a swig, I guess it's okay.  This month's pairing is a dedication to my friend Sevda, and our fellow book club member, who will be married later this month at Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa, California.  So, whether or not you'll be at the actual event, join us in toasting Sevda by sampling any one of BV's tasty wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.