Some months ago, our peeps at Knopf called and asked if we'd like to be a part of a very special pre-publication book tour for one of their new authors. The idea is, they'd send us a bunch of galleys of the book, we'd give them out to a small, select group of NYMBCers, and then the author would come to town and take us all out for some food and drink and we'd chat about the book.

Cool, right?

So I invited the kids, and I've been getting feedback from all of them about how much they L-O-V-E LOVE the book. And Miss Shannon loved it, too. And I'm sure I would love it, only I haven't had time to even look at it!

This morning, dear reader, I finished it. O, why didn't I carve out time in my life earlier?

Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature is as smart and unique a teen novel as I've read. It's the story of Mena, a girl who is starting a new semester with lots of problems: her former friends hate her, her family isn't talking to her, she's grounded until eternity, and she's not even allowed to go to church. She must have done something awful, right? Well... not exactly.

This is a story about faith and science and truth-seeking. Best of all, it's important while never being dreary, funny and clever while never being mean-spirited or jaded. I loved it! And it made me have even more of a crush on science! And nerdy boys! And puppies!

So yeah, I guess I'm a little obsessed with the book and with it's author, Robin Brande... who, it seems, is a very amusing blogger as well. Now I am SO EXCITED about the book group thing!!! YAY! I will have to post all the details after the event.