msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

A classic teen break-up book with a unique format. Arty Min and basketball King Ed meet at a party and fall in love as they play show and tell: Mina introduces Ed to her true love, foreign film, and Ed gives her a remedial course in basketball-captain's-girlfriend pageantry. Needless to say, things don't work out, and Min tells their story via a series of objects collected throughout their courtship that she puts in a box to return to Ed. Although the characters fit a bit too neatly into their stereotypical templates (Min comes complete with a boy who is 'just a friend,' aka Ducky), fans of teen relationship books will enjoy this young adult novel from the author of Lemony Snicket, and Maira Kalman's artwork turns the book into something special. The WWBU project provides readers with a chance to share their own break-up story. Grade 8+

Sometimes when struggling to complete a piece of writing, you discover something that facilitates procrastination in exciting new ways. While trying to finish the screenplay for her much-anticipated second film, Ms. July found herself reading the ubiquitous Pennysaver classifieds during longer and longer lunches. Eventually, she contacted some of the strangers with items for sale, and circuitously found the ending for her screenplay (not to mention an unforgettable actor who wound up playing himself in the film). Her home visits to the Pennysaver crew feel like prolonged eavesdropping on a public bus and are just as entertaining. An excellent holiday gift for Miranda July fans.