Quick review for a quick, wonderful read. Man, this novella makes me wish I'd been able to see more of Bodee's life and perspective in "Faking Normal", because this was a great, brief view. Courtney C. Stevens makes this narrative pop with tight writing and an intimacy that made the story and interactions work for what it offered. I loved his character, even through the brief interactions we see him with Gerry, a girl who gets off a bus and encounters Bodee as he contemplates leaving at the station. The two of them take a trip together and share insights on their lives and relationships here, knowing they're not going to see each other again - but they share common ground.

I loved Gerry's personality and thought it was a nice match to Bodee's calmer, quiet one. Gerry laments losing her girlfriend and confesses to taking a trip of escape of her own, while Bodee confesses to the abuse that he and his mother suffer from his father. They each have secrets, but they're expanded upon in some measure with a refreshing degree of honesty, albeit brief. This also shows how Bodee becomes the "Kool-Aid" kid as Gerry - with some degrees of hilarity - dyes his hair Berry Blue ("I look like a Smurf.") XD

This kind of slice of life portrait - with attention to tough details and character interaction - and intimacy is the kind of thing I love reading in YA contemporaries, and I would name it as one of my favorite novellas/short stories in the vein.

Overall: 5/5 stars.

I got this for free on Smashwords. Blue Haired Alien Girlfriend by John H. Carroll tells the story of a fast food employee who meets an alien girl. She's surprised because people aren't usually meant to see her, yet, for some reason he can. They talk to each other about their lives.

I kind of liked it, but it was a bit dull and the story didn't really lead anywhere interesting. I liked the premise of the story, but I just feel like not enough was explained. For that reason, I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but didn't particularly dislike them either. There just wasn't much to go on. As a story, I think it has all the intention of being memorable, but it's just not interesting enough to be that way.

3.5 stars

I'm always surprised when short stories are capable of growing an authentic and likable character in so few pages. Gerry, the girl Bodee befriends in this novel, is an interesting and sympathetic character, much like Bodee. I was going to give this three stars but the ending chapters packed an emotional punch I felt worthy of a higher rating. If one plans on reading this, I would recommend reading it after Faking Normal simply so nothing is ruined for you.