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Extra Credit Epidemic
Taffy Snackerge is a high school senior who likes doing things her way. Gifted in science, she'd rather analyze infectious diseases and pick up a girl for the occasional fling than deal with her boring schoolwork or the high school social scene.
When she notices a surprising number of cases of food poisoning in the area, she's eager to dig in and find the cause. To help with the investigation, Taffy approaches the only teacher she's ever liked and respected, Van Brenner. As a former state epidemiologist, Van is uniquely qualified to help Taffy get the data and insights that she needs.
However, Van has one Taffy needs to work with two other students on the case, and she doesn't get to pick them. As the cases start to multiply and the underfunded state health department continues to drag their feet, Taffy knows that it's up to her to find out what's making so many people sick.
But can she learn to work with her two teammates - including a beautiful, hyper-organized girl who's president of the Young Attachés Club and an emotional overeater who can't go out in public without his lucha libre mask - while still retaining her autonomy? Can the team fend off a snooping assistant principal and step up when the adults let them down? And can they locate the source of the outbreak before it reaches epidemic proportions?
If you enjoyed Extra Credit Epidemic, be sure to search for these other titles by Nina
- One Ghost Per Serving - Eric Snackerge, and the ghost that he's possessed by, must get to the bottom of a supernatural infestation.
- Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse - the debut novel that started it all, with talking ferrets, fallen angels, and the high stakes world of post-apocalyptic snack foods.
- Last Donut Shop of the Apocalypse - the madness takes a more fatty, sugary turn as Kelly Driscoll must prevent the apocalypse... AGAIN.
- Danger in Cat World - a homicide detective must solve the murder of an heiress while dealing with the dozens of cats mysteriously materializing in his house.
When she notices a surprising number of cases of food poisoning in the area, she's eager to dig in and find the cause. To help with the investigation, Taffy approaches the only teacher she's ever liked and respected, Van Brenner. As a former state epidemiologist, Van is uniquely qualified to help Taffy get the data and insights that she needs.
However, Van has one Taffy needs to work with two other students on the case, and she doesn't get to pick them. As the cases start to multiply and the underfunded state health department continues to drag their feet, Taffy knows that it's up to her to find out what's making so many people sick.
But can she learn to work with her two teammates - including a beautiful, hyper-organized girl who's president of the Young Attachés Club and an emotional overeater who can't go out in public without his lucha libre mask - while still retaining her autonomy? Can the team fend off a snooping assistant principal and step up when the adults let them down? And can they locate the source of the outbreak before it reaches epidemic proportions?
If you enjoyed Extra Credit Epidemic, be sure to search for these other titles by Nina
- One Ghost Per Serving - Eric Snackerge, and the ghost that he's possessed by, must get to the bottom of a supernatural infestation.
- Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse - the debut novel that started it all, with talking ferrets, fallen angels, and the high stakes world of post-apocalyptic snack foods.
- Last Donut Shop of the Apocalypse - the madness takes a more fatty, sugary turn as Kelly Driscoll must prevent the apocalypse... AGAIN.
- Danger in Cat World - a homicide detective must solve the murder of an heiress while dealing with the dozens of cats mysteriously materializing in his house.
214 pages, ebook
First published June 30, 2013
About the author
Nina Post
12 books69 followersNina Post is the author of ten novels, including The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse, One Ghost Per Serving, and The Zaanics Deceit.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 21, 2013
Actual rating is 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up for the fun-factor.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Let me preface by saying the people at Curiosity Quills are amazing. There were some synchronisation issues between Netgalley and my kindle and by the time I noticed, this galley had already expired. When I told the publisher this, they sent me a new galley and I am so glad they did, because this book was super fun.
I have to admit that the driving force behind the story - at least for me - was Taffy Snackerge. Classic BAMF, she makes her own candy and sells it, which makes her as much money as the prizes she wins for the scientific experiments she conducts in her free time. She is a force, but the funny thing is that everyone knows this but her. Her parents are touring the States and while she'll never admit it, she has a hard time being on her own. She goes to school extra early, so she can spend more time on her research without intrusion. Science is her life and she's not afraid to show it.
Taffy isn't very forthcoming with her emotions, but not because she's been hurt before or because she's "damaged". That's just how she is. As someone who often has trouble emoting, I appreciate this. It's not that she doesn't care, she just doesn't know how to communicate it, especially to other people. She means well, but she can be really brusque and hurts people without intending to or realising it. However, when this is brought to her attention, she will go through a whole lot of trouble to make it right.
That's just Taffy, she creates trouble everywhere she goes and she couldn't care less if it's against school policy. She easily makes judgements based on appearances, but you can tell it's sort of a defence mechanism. Her favourite science teacher and friend, Van Brenner, is worried that her solitary lifestyle will cause her to miss out on many things. To prevent this from happening, he teams her up with Taylor and Gabe. The three of them couldn't be more different, but they challenge each other and create this awesome dynamic that's filled with hilarious banter:
Taffy popped a CD in the aftermarket player and ambient electronic music filled the car.
"What is this?" Gabe said.
"It doesn't bother me when I think," Taffy said. "It's not intrusive."
"I find it soothing," Van offered.
"Me too!" Taylor added.
"Do you have any Metallica?" Gabe asked.
"Do you?" Taffy asked.
"Why would I have that on me?"
"If you like it so much you can't sit in someone else's car without it, then you should bring it with you at all times."
See? About 90% of their conversations cracked me up.
I love how passionate Taffy is about science, but I have to be honest and say the whole scientific mystery didn't do much for me. I primarily read this for the characters and boy, did I enjoy reading about them. One of the things that impressed me most was how subtle this book was. Sometimes things are mentioned offhandedly, but never dismissively. There was an instance where Taffy drove by a house her father temporarily lived in when her parents had problems, and that's the only thought she'll waste on it. This reads as very realistic to me. Sometimes you're reminded of a certain time of your life in passing, but you don't feel the need to dwell on it.
For the most time, we see the story through Taffy's eyes, but every once in while, the perspective will switch to Taylor or Overboard. While I won't deny that these moments are necessary for the development of the story and simultaneously add nice touches to the supporting cast, their infrequency made them seem a bit random. I wonder if there was a better, more organic way to incorporate differing POVs, but overall it didn't bother me.
Taffy's sexuality is mentioned very casually. I love this. Taffy happens to be a lesbian, but it's a complete non-issue. There is no angst over her sexuality, and, more importantly, she isn't the only one. She doesn't have to go to gay bars to meet a girl. On the contrary, they are just as omnipresent as heterosexual people. Halle-freaking-lujah. She can just walk into a bar and chances are high she'll run into her next one-night-stand in a matter of minutes. I was so happy with the way Post portrayed this as completely normal and mainstream, because that is how it should be.
The romance between Taffy and Taylor is one of the best I've read to date. Their relationship developed very organically. It starts from a place of pure attraction, lust on Taffy's side and curiosity on Taylor's. They get to know each other better and are not afraid to address the other's flaws. Both of them grow so much while they're coming to terms with what they have. For Taffy, this means opening herself up to a meaningful relationship, while Taylor is still in the process of accepting her sexuality. This is primarily shown and not angsted over. There are no big "I love you"s or even "I like you"s, just a gradually developing relationship that's still going strong by the end of the book.
Extra Credit Epidemic started out very strong for me. I immediately took to Taffy's closed-off character and I love how Post gradually showed us her more fragile and insecure side. The story did lose some of its steam for me towards the end, but I like how not everything was neatly wrapped up. Unfortunately, it didn't captivate me as much as the first 85%. However, I cannot stress enough how happy Post's treatment of homosexuality made me. This is a contemporary I can wholeheartedly recommend.
This review also appears on The Random Transliterator, the epicentre for random thoughts and rambles.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Let me preface by saying the people at Curiosity Quills are amazing. There were some synchronisation issues between Netgalley and my kindle and by the time I noticed, this galley had already expired. When I told the publisher this, they sent me a new galley and I am so glad they did, because this book was super fun.
I have to admit that the driving force behind the story - at least for me - was Taffy Snackerge. Classic BAMF, she makes her own candy and sells it, which makes her as much money as the prizes she wins for the scientific experiments she conducts in her free time. She is a force, but the funny thing is that everyone knows this but her. Her parents are touring the States and while she'll never admit it, she has a hard time being on her own. She goes to school extra early, so she can spend more time on her research without intrusion. Science is her life and she's not afraid to show it.
Taffy isn't very forthcoming with her emotions, but not because she's been hurt before or because she's "damaged". That's just how she is. As someone who often has trouble emoting, I appreciate this. It's not that she doesn't care, she just doesn't know how to communicate it, especially to other people. She means well, but she can be really brusque and hurts people without intending to or realising it. However, when this is brought to her attention, she will go through a whole lot of trouble to make it right.
That's just Taffy, she creates trouble everywhere she goes and she couldn't care less if it's against school policy. She easily makes judgements based on appearances, but you can tell it's sort of a defence mechanism. Her favourite science teacher and friend, Van Brenner, is worried that her solitary lifestyle will cause her to miss out on many things. To prevent this from happening, he teams her up with Taylor and Gabe. The three of them couldn't be more different, but they challenge each other and create this awesome dynamic that's filled with hilarious banter:
Taffy popped a CD in the aftermarket player and ambient electronic music filled the car.
"What is this?" Gabe said.
"It doesn't bother me when I think," Taffy said. "It's not intrusive."
"I find it soothing," Van offered.
"Me too!" Taylor added.
"Do you have any Metallica?" Gabe asked.
"Do you?" Taffy asked.
"Why would I have that on me?"
"If you like it so much you can't sit in someone else's car without it, then you should bring it with you at all times."
See? About 90% of their conversations cracked me up.
I love how passionate Taffy is about science, but I have to be honest and say the whole scientific mystery didn't do much for me. I primarily read this for the characters and boy, did I enjoy reading about them. One of the things that impressed me most was how subtle this book was. Sometimes things are mentioned offhandedly, but never dismissively. There was an instance where Taffy drove by a house her father temporarily lived in when her parents had problems, and that's the only thought she'll waste on it. This reads as very realistic to me. Sometimes you're reminded of a certain time of your life in passing, but you don't feel the need to dwell on it.
For the most time, we see the story through Taffy's eyes, but every once in while, the perspective will switch to Taylor or Overboard. While I won't deny that these moments are necessary for the development of the story and simultaneously add nice touches to the supporting cast, their infrequency made them seem a bit random. I wonder if there was a better, more organic way to incorporate differing POVs, but overall it didn't bother me.
Taffy's sexuality is mentioned very casually. I love this. Taffy happens to be a lesbian, but it's a complete non-issue. There is no angst over her sexuality, and, more importantly, she isn't the only one. She doesn't have to go to gay bars to meet a girl. On the contrary, they are just as omnipresent as heterosexual people. Halle-freaking-lujah. She can just walk into a bar and chances are high she'll run into her next one-night-stand in a matter of minutes. I was so happy with the way Post portrayed this as completely normal and mainstream, because that is how it should be.
The romance between Taffy and Taylor is one of the best I've read to date. Their relationship developed very organically. It starts from a place of pure attraction, lust on Taffy's side and curiosity on Taylor's. They get to know each other better and are not afraid to address the other's flaws. Both of them grow so much while they're coming to terms with what they have. For Taffy, this means opening herself up to a meaningful relationship, while Taylor is still in the process of accepting her sexuality. This is primarily shown and not angsted over. There are no big "I love you"s or even "I like you"s, just a gradually developing relationship that's still going strong by the end of the book.
Extra Credit Epidemic started out very strong for me. I immediately took to Taffy's closed-off character and I love how Post gradually showed us her more fragile and insecure side. The story did lose some of its steam for me towards the end, but I like how not everything was neatly wrapped up. Unfortunately, it didn't captivate me as much as the first 85%. However, I cannot stress enough how happy Post's treatment of homosexuality made me. This is a contemporary I can wholeheartedly recommend.
This review also appears on The Random Transliterator, the epicentre for random thoughts and rambles.
June 16, 2013
Please note: I had this listed under the wrong genre! All Nina Post's books up to this point have been either fantasy or had paranormal elements, so I just assumed and stuck on that genre and didn't think to change it before posting! Oops!
Book Info: Genre: Coming of age/YA
Reading Level: Young Adult (F/F romantic interests)
Recommended for: Fans of surreal comedy, F/F coming-of-age relationships
Book Available: July 1, 2013 from Curiosity Quills
Trigger Warnings: bullying
My Thoughts: Taffy was my favorite character in the previous book from Nina Post, One Ghost per Serving (my review linked here where formatting allowed), so I was super excited to hear she was featuring in this book.
I think a lot of people won't quite understand or appreciate the humor in this one. It's not the sort of almost slapstick that Nina Post uses in her Last... of the Apocalypse series; it's more a sort of surreality shown through the interactions of the characters. People who enjoy things like Monty Python's Holy Grail (or the TV series) will probably like Extra Credit Epidemic. A small sample of dialogue with Taffy's mother:
Taffy is such a player, and that really amuses me, since so often the stereotypical lesbian behavior is “bringing a U-Haul for the second date.” It also seems so counter to her usual behavior, which is to hold everyone at arm's length and/or completely ignore them that I have to wonder how she so thoroughly switches on the charm for her pick-ups. We are never given the details, just the information that she did it again. Taylor's silly little ditties on her banjo and Gabe's wrestling mask gave them each a fun quirk, but their characters were also well-developed otherwise, which I appreciated. I really loved the growth that Taffy showed through the course of the book, and the strong team she built with Taylor, Gabe, and Van.
The major problem I had with this was a formatting issue: chapters 15 and 16 were mixed up, so it went Chapter 14, chapter 16, then chapter 15, which left me very confused until I figured that out, because it went from heading into the farm in Ohio to pulling into Taffy's house with everyone mad at Taffy and I having no idea why until I noticed the chapter mix-up. This was an ARC, so hopefully that will be fixed by the time this book is released on July 1, 2013.
Nina Post is a recent addition to my favorite author roster. I've read all of her books so far, and enjoyed them quite a lot. My favorite is “Danger in Cat World” (review linked here where formatting allowed).
Disclosure: I received an ARC e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Taffy Snackerge is a high school senior who likes doing things her way. Gifted in science, she'd rather analyze infectious diseases and pick up a girl for the occasional fling than deal with her boring schoolwork or the high school social scene. When she notices a surprising number of cases of food poisoning in the area, she's eager to dig in and find the cause.
To help with the investigation, Taffy approaches the only teacher she's ever liked and respected, Van Brenner. As a former state epidemiologist, Van is uniquely qualified to help Taffy get the data and insights that she needs. However, Van has one condition: Taffy needs to work with two other students on the case, and she doesn't get to pick them.
As the cases start to multiply and the underfunded state health department continues to drag their feet, Taffy knows that it's up to her to find out what's making so many people sick. But can she learn to work with her two teammates—including a beautiful, hyper-organized girl who's president of the Young Attachés Club and an emotional overeater who can't go out in public without his lucha libre mask—while still retaining her autonomy? Can the team fend off a snooping assistant principal and step up when the adults let them down? And can they locate the source of the outbreak before it reaches epidemic proportions?
Book Info: Genre: Coming of age/YA
Reading Level: Young Adult (F/F romantic interests)
Recommended for: Fans of surreal comedy, F/F coming-of-age relationships
Book Available: July 1, 2013 from Curiosity Quills
Trigger Warnings: bullying
My Thoughts: Taffy was my favorite character in the previous book from Nina Post, One Ghost per Serving (my review linked here where formatting allowed), so I was super excited to hear she was featuring in this book.
I think a lot of people won't quite understand or appreciate the humor in this one. It's not the sort of almost slapstick that Nina Post uses in her Last... of the Apocalypse series; it's more a sort of surreality shown through the interactions of the characters. People who enjoy things like Monty Python's Holy Grail (or the TV series) will probably like Extra Credit Epidemic. A small sample of dialogue with Taffy's mother:
“How are you? Are you eating? Are you sleeping?”
“Don't you think your extraordinarily high expectations could be putting too much pressure on me?” Taffy asked.
Taffy is such a player, and that really amuses me, since so often the stereotypical lesbian behavior is “bringing a U-Haul for the second date.” It also seems so counter to her usual behavior, which is to hold everyone at arm's length and/or completely ignore them that I have to wonder how she so thoroughly switches on the charm for her pick-ups. We are never given the details, just the information that she did it again. Taylor's silly little ditties on her banjo and Gabe's wrestling mask gave them each a fun quirk, but their characters were also well-developed otherwise, which I appreciated. I really loved the growth that Taffy showed through the course of the book, and the strong team she built with Taylor, Gabe, and Van.
The major problem I had with this was a formatting issue: chapters 15 and 16 were mixed up, so it went Chapter 14, chapter 16, then chapter 15, which left me very confused until I figured that out, because it went from heading into the farm in Ohio to pulling into Taffy's house with everyone mad at Taffy and I having no idea why until I noticed the chapter mix-up. This was an ARC, so hopefully that will be fixed by the time this book is released on July 1, 2013.
Nina Post is a recent addition to my favorite author roster. I've read all of her books so far, and enjoyed them quite a lot. My favorite is “Danger in Cat World” (review linked here where formatting allowed).
Disclosure: I received an ARC e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Taffy Snackerge is a high school senior who likes doing things her way. Gifted in science, she'd rather analyze infectious diseases and pick up a girl for the occasional fling than deal with her boring schoolwork or the high school social scene. When she notices a surprising number of cases of food poisoning in the area, she's eager to dig in and find the cause.
To help with the investigation, Taffy approaches the only teacher she's ever liked and respected, Van Brenner. As a former state epidemiologist, Van is uniquely qualified to help Taffy get the data and insights that she needs. However, Van has one condition: Taffy needs to work with two other students on the case, and she doesn't get to pick them.
As the cases start to multiply and the underfunded state health department continues to drag their feet, Taffy knows that it's up to her to find out what's making so many people sick. But can she learn to work with her two teammates—including a beautiful, hyper-organized girl who's president of the Young Attachés Club and an emotional overeater who can't go out in public without his lucha libre mask—while still retaining her autonomy? Can the team fend off a snooping assistant principal and step up when the adults let them down? And can they locate the source of the outbreak before it reaches epidemic proportions?
August 31, 2016
"We're all screwed-up, fragile sacks of meat, overly dependent on a brain and memory structure that we barely understand, here on earth for this specific time and possibly never again. It's harrowing."This was definitely different... The plot revolves around a salmonella outbreak! The protagonist is Taffy Snackerge, a very sarcastic and cynical 17-year-old whose goal is to be an epidemiologist, "hunting down outbreaks around the world". She prefers to work on her own, considering other people not good enough. After she discovers a high number of cases of food poisoning, she goes to her science teacher, former state epidemiologist, to investigate.
Her agrees to help her, on the condition that she works with two other students. One of them is Gabe, an insecure guy who feels the need to wear a mask in public, and Taylor, president of the Young Attachés Club, who likes to go around with her banjo and is basically very different from Taffy (friendly, sweet, a people person).
Taffy is also a lesbian, and sets her eye on Taylor, who of course considers herself straight. But this is definitely not a romance, the book focuses on the plot, on the team investigating the outbreak (which includes searching through garbage and hilariously questioning people), and the characters' development - with some romance in there.
I liked all of the characters, even Taffy, who's the most 'detached' one. And as with many YA, this is not very realistic (I mean, students, who of course seemed older, investigating an outbreak, which felt way too easy? A principal [or whatever he was, haha] who feels almost like a caricature, with an irrational hate/dislike towards a simple student? A teacher whose emergency contact is a student?), but it was entertaining, it's written with much humor and doesn't take itself too seriously.
September 21, 2015
Very funny. I really enjoyed this book - well written, engaging characters and such weird and interesting subject matter - epidemiology no less! I had a laugh and learned something about public health in the process.
December 6, 2016
This book has everything!!! without giving too much away, it contains:
- a cute queer girl relationship
- a bacterial infection epidemic
- luchador masks
- several villains
- an absurd breakfast food concoction
- almost no violence
- science-y detective work
- the right combination of silliness and sappyness
- a cute queer girl relationship
- a bacterial infection epidemic
- luchador masks
- several villains
- an absurd breakfast food concoction
- almost no violence
- science-y detective work
- the right combination of silliness and sappyness
September 17, 2017
Nut cases solve a nut case.
A very eccentric cast. A hopefully unrealistic case.
A very eccentric cast. A hopefully unrealistic case.
June 30, 2013
Taffy Snackerge is a minor character in Nina Post's One Ghost Per Serving, and though she doesn't feature prominently in the book, she's one of Post's standout characters. For this reason alone I was delighted to learn Post was writing a book with Taffy as the main character—and even more delighted that I got to read it early (so note: this review is based on a non-final draft of the book).
Extra Credit Epidemic, Post's first foray into YA, is, without a doubt, her best book. The plot is tighter, the characterization richer and the humor funnier than anything she's ever written. The book is aimed at a YA audience, but should be required reading for one and all.
Taffy Snackerge is a high school genius. She's knows what she wants, knows how to get it and suffers no fools. When she finds herself in a bit of trouble, her science teacher and confidant Van Brenner gives her the only type of assignment she has no aptitude for: a group assignment. Though seething at the prospect of having to do anything with other people, Taffy can't resist the opportunity to investigate a mysterious salmonella outbreak plaguing her town, and so she acquiesces. Eventually learning to work as a team, she and the Jamesville Four attempt to track down the source of the outbreak and expose whoever's behind it.
Though there are a lot of books that tackle the virtue of teamwork, this is one I'd recommend to teenagers like me. Though Taffy displays some truly outrageous behavior (at least I hope no one would read this and say, "Taffy is, to a T, exactly like me!"), her struggles are relatable to people who absolutely despised group work in school because they knew for a fact that no one else could possibly do as good a job as they could by themselves because everyone else simply wasn't as smart and it's galling to have to delegate any responsibilities to these morons and it's totally unfair that your grade is in any way based on what they in their incompetence manage to do!
Not that that was me.
(No, truly, I got better [mostly].)
Anyway, for teens that find this feeling familiar, I think ECE does a fairly good job arguing in favor of compromise and teamwork. There are pros and cons; it can work, with effort. At the very least, it should prove therapeutic to realize that others have experienced the same angst.
That aside, though, this is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I defy you to read the fourth chapter of this book and not laugh out loud (which is what I tried [and failed] to do, as it was late and my wife was asleep). In fact, I just went back and reread the section I was thinking of. Still laughing. Ms. Post knows funny!
In addition, it's nice to read a YA book whose main character is a lesbian without that be the primary focus of the book. Taffy is out and accepted by her parents, and her sexuality isn't even really a topic of discussion: She is who she is. It's an authorial decision which, I think, only makes sense in a 21st century world, but, well, that's where we are, and this is where fiction should be headed. There will always be a place for characters who are exploring their own interiority (be it sexuality, gender, ethnicity, spirituality or any of the other important facets of one's identity—someone very much like Taylor, Taffy's love interest, in fact), but it's refreshing to see characters who've answered these questions for themselves and who can go through the world as confident humans beings comfortable in their own skin who happen to be homosexual.
Again, Extra Credit Epidemic is YA, but I'd recommend it to all readers. It's as much as fun as you can possibly have with a virulent outbreak of salmonella, and you won't regret it (and will also learn a bit about identifying and avoiding salmonella. Quite useful [though I won't stop eating at restaurants]).
Extra Credit Epidemic, Post's first foray into YA, is, without a doubt, her best book. The plot is tighter, the characterization richer and the humor funnier than anything she's ever written. The book is aimed at a YA audience, but should be required reading for one and all.
Taffy Snackerge is a high school genius. She's knows what she wants, knows how to get it and suffers no fools. When she finds herself in a bit of trouble, her science teacher and confidant Van Brenner gives her the only type of assignment she has no aptitude for: a group assignment. Though seething at the prospect of having to do anything with other people, Taffy can't resist the opportunity to investigate a mysterious salmonella outbreak plaguing her town, and so she acquiesces. Eventually learning to work as a team, she and the Jamesville Four attempt to track down the source of the outbreak and expose whoever's behind it.
Though there are a lot of books that tackle the virtue of teamwork, this is one I'd recommend to teenagers like me. Though Taffy displays some truly outrageous behavior (at least I hope no one would read this and say, "Taffy is, to a T, exactly like me!"), her struggles are relatable to people who absolutely despised group work in school because they knew for a fact that no one else could possibly do as good a job as they could by themselves because everyone else simply wasn't as smart and it's galling to have to delegate any responsibilities to these morons and it's totally unfair that your grade is in any way based on what they in their incompetence manage to do!
Not that that was me.
(No, truly, I got better [mostly].)
Anyway, for teens that find this feeling familiar, I think ECE does a fairly good job arguing in favor of compromise and teamwork. There are pros and cons; it can work, with effort. At the very least, it should prove therapeutic to realize that others have experienced the same angst.
That aside, though, this is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I defy you to read the fourth chapter of this book and not laugh out loud (which is what I tried [and failed] to do, as it was late and my wife was asleep). In fact, I just went back and reread the section I was thinking of. Still laughing. Ms. Post knows funny!
In addition, it's nice to read a YA book whose main character is a lesbian without that be the primary focus of the book. Taffy is out and accepted by her parents, and her sexuality isn't even really a topic of discussion: She is who she is. It's an authorial decision which, I think, only makes sense in a 21st century world, but, well, that's where we are, and this is where fiction should be headed. There will always be a place for characters who are exploring their own interiority (be it sexuality, gender, ethnicity, spirituality or any of the other important facets of one's identity—someone very much like Taylor, Taffy's love interest, in fact), but it's refreshing to see characters who've answered these questions for themselves and who can go through the world as confident humans beings comfortable in their own skin who happen to be homosexual.
Again, Extra Credit Epidemic is YA, but I'd recommend it to all readers. It's as much as fun as you can possibly have with a virulent outbreak of salmonella, and you won't regret it (and will also learn a bit about identifying and avoiding salmonella. Quite useful [though I won't stop eating at restaurants]).
February 8, 2015
Taffy Snackerge cares about nothing more than being a scientist. She is pretty much a social reject, perfectly content to lock herself away in a lab and do her own thing. When she notices an increasing number of salmonella outbreaks in the area, she starts digging for data and investigating the origin. She heads straight to her mentor and favorite teacher, Van Brenner. He was an epidemiologist for the state, Taffy’s dream job, and agrees to help her with the investigation, but only if she meets one condition — she must work with two other students. He insists upon it only because she’s a loner and he doesn’t want her to go to college with zero social skills. After careful consideration, she hesitantly agrees to his condition. As with any good book, there are those that want to hinder her progress, mainly the assistant principal, or deputy principal as he likes to be addressed, Phil Overboard. He can’t wait to put Taffy in her place for thinking she’s far superior to everyone else. His shenanigans are downright scandalous, and could ruin everything for Taffy, including her future at Penn State.
You know how when you read a synopsis a picture begins to form in your mind about how you think the book will be? Yeah, I thought I had this book all figured out after reading the blurb. WRONG! It’s nothing like you think it will be, it’s actually FAR BETTER! After the first chapter I thought, “What kind of lunacy is this?” I’m pretty sure a few things went over my head at first, but before long I was fluent in Nina Post. Taffy Snackerge is a brilliant, quirky, snarky, Science nerd — minus the nerd, really, who likes to quote The Dead Milkmen and also shares an appreciation for one of my favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. She reminds me of Ellen Page in Juno, but maybe with a supplement of crack. I’m kidding, of course, but she’s absolutely crazy and I’m totally smitten. Taffy speaks to everyone as if they have limited intelligence, but she does it with such flare, you just can’t stop yourself from loving her character.
Extra Credit Epidemic made me chuckle, then giggle, and after a while I was full out belly laughing. I don’t recall ever being so amused by a book. I read some parts more than once, not because I was distracted, but so I could keep the snickering momentum going. I thoroughly enjoyed the character arcs. All three students in their group — Taffy, Gabe, and even Taylor — though hers was more subtle, make some remarkable changes. The friendship bonds created are extremely touching, and I found myself wishing I didn’t have to say goodbye. This awesome story is one that everyone can enjoy, and is one that I will add to my re-read list (and you all know I don’t usually read a book more than once). This book deserves a double rating of ten stars, in my opinion. I recently learned that Taffy Snackerge is in another of Nina’s books, though not a main character. Squee.. more Taffy!!
You know how when you read a synopsis a picture begins to form in your mind about how you think the book will be? Yeah, I thought I had this book all figured out after reading the blurb. WRONG! It’s nothing like you think it will be, it’s actually FAR BETTER! After the first chapter I thought, “What kind of lunacy is this?” I’m pretty sure a few things went over my head at first, but before long I was fluent in Nina Post. Taffy Snackerge is a brilliant, quirky, snarky, Science nerd — minus the nerd, really, who likes to quote The Dead Milkmen and also shares an appreciation for one of my favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. She reminds me of Ellen Page in Juno, but maybe with a supplement of crack. I’m kidding, of course, but she’s absolutely crazy and I’m totally smitten. Taffy speaks to everyone as if they have limited intelligence, but she does it with such flare, you just can’t stop yourself from loving her character.
Extra Credit Epidemic made me chuckle, then giggle, and after a while I was full out belly laughing. I don’t recall ever being so amused by a book. I read some parts more than once, not because I was distracted, but so I could keep the snickering momentum going. I thoroughly enjoyed the character arcs. All three students in their group — Taffy, Gabe, and even Taylor — though hers was more subtle, make some remarkable changes. The friendship bonds created are extremely touching, and I found myself wishing I didn’t have to say goodbye. This awesome story is one that everyone can enjoy, and is one that I will add to my re-read list (and you all know I don’t usually read a book more than once). This book deserves a double rating of ten stars, in my opinion. I recently learned that Taffy Snackerge is in another of Nina’s books, though not a main character. Squee.. more Taffy!!
September 2, 2013
"Extra Credit Epidemic" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a quirky and humorous adventure of three Jamesville Senior High students - Taffy Snackerge, Taylor Koprowski and Gabriel (Gabe) Gómez-who, with their teacher a former state epidemiologist Van Brenner investigate the mystery behind a rash of food poisoning in the area. As the story opens Taffy a self-assured, highly intelligent loner approaches her teacher about getting an extra credit for investigative research on the outbreak, only to be faced with a condition that she work with two team members which he'll choose. Torn between shelving the idea, and taking on a case that the state health department is slow to look into, she stubbornly agrees.
Although she knows she's submitting to Van Brenner's manipulation, what Taffy will discover is not only a case that stimulates her scientific curiosity but one that will provide lasting friendships, something she's never experienced before.
The story is entertaining and comical as three unlikely characters with complex and completely diverse personalities are thrown together to locate the source of the outbreak. Taffy Snackerge, a lesbian who's quick-witted, highly-intelligent is an out-spoken individual who shuns the familiarity and closeness that comes from friendships. Taylor Koprowski a recent transfer to the school is Taffy's antithesis; hyper-organized, sensitive and compassionate. Gabe Gómez, the third member of the team is an emotional overeater who lacks self-esteem and has to wear a mask to talk to people. Eccentric, he likes to repair vending machines and continually undervalues his skills and intelligence. Add to this mix Val Brenner, an upbeat supportive teacher, the owner of dogs named after French Musketeers and Pete Campbell, the helpless USDA employee who tries to drink his problems away. Even the team's antagonist, the mean-spirited and cranky Deputy Principal Chad Overboard is memorable as he tries to dampen school spirit with his book of rules on student conduct and discipline, and tries to spoil Taffy's scholarship to Penn State.
Although I'm not a fan of a lesbian hero, I did find Taffy Snackerge amusing with her glib remarks which added to the dynamics of this delightful story. Well-written, the plot is filled with hilarious moments like Van Brenner's office in the janitor's supply room and Taffy's consumption of unhealthy foods at the Koprowski's party. Even the names of places and people are clever like the Pinhead Bowling Alley or unique foods like the Steak n'Waffle Sausage Cookie Sundae. This is an amusing story if you like mystery and adventure with a weird and wacky twist.
Although she knows she's submitting to Van Brenner's manipulation, what Taffy will discover is not only a case that stimulates her scientific curiosity but one that will provide lasting friendships, something she's never experienced before.
The story is entertaining and comical as three unlikely characters with complex and completely diverse personalities are thrown together to locate the source of the outbreak. Taffy Snackerge, a lesbian who's quick-witted, highly-intelligent is an out-spoken individual who shuns the familiarity and closeness that comes from friendships. Taylor Koprowski a recent transfer to the school is Taffy's antithesis; hyper-organized, sensitive and compassionate. Gabe Gómez, the third member of the team is an emotional overeater who lacks self-esteem and has to wear a mask to talk to people. Eccentric, he likes to repair vending machines and continually undervalues his skills and intelligence. Add to this mix Val Brenner, an upbeat supportive teacher, the owner of dogs named after French Musketeers and Pete Campbell, the helpless USDA employee who tries to drink his problems away. Even the team's antagonist, the mean-spirited and cranky Deputy Principal Chad Overboard is memorable as he tries to dampen school spirit with his book of rules on student conduct and discipline, and tries to spoil Taffy's scholarship to Penn State.
Although I'm not a fan of a lesbian hero, I did find Taffy Snackerge amusing with her glib remarks which added to the dynamics of this delightful story. Well-written, the plot is filled with hilarious moments like Van Brenner's office in the janitor's supply room and Taffy's consumption of unhealthy foods at the Koprowski's party. Even the names of places and people are clever like the Pinhead Bowling Alley or unique foods like the Steak n'Waffle Sausage Cookie Sundae. This is an amusing story if you like mystery and adventure with a weird and wacky twist.
June 12, 2017
Extra Credit Epidemic — Nina Post (17 chapters) June 11-12, 2017
This was a funky, eclectic read. It was unique and came at a great time in my to-read list. Unique, you say? Well, the protagonist was a science girl genius. And her story was very nerdy. I think this story would really attract WISE girls (and if you know that acronym, then you are the perfect reader for this story!)
The characters worked well together, and the protagonist actually grew from where she started at. Yea! for that. This is definitely YA; the way it was written and the "romantic" scenes are as glossy as those in heterosexual teen stories; I am quite a bit older, but still enjoyed the dynamics of the plot. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters, and was glad the author took the time to tell their backstory. It was just the right amount of time spent on them. The character names were very funny (reminding me of Captain Underpants, or other such funny stories that use word play for characters names.)
About the only knock I have on the story is that the fonts/type was crazy in places. It was italic and a completely different font in some places and that made it hard to read at times. I didn't understand if there was a reason they were italicized out not. Both my iPhone and laptop had this issue, so I’m guessing it was done on purpose by the author. That was distracting and unfortunate for this reader.
Also, there were a few typos/grammatical errors/punctuation issues; not many, but they did stand out.
Overall, a fast and enjoyable read. I like the artwork used to illustrate the chapters.
I could see myself reading another Taffy adventure but only if Taylor is still in the picture.
Four stars.
This was a funky, eclectic read. It was unique and came at a great time in my to-read list. Unique, you say? Well, the protagonist was a science girl genius. And her story was very nerdy. I think this story would really attract WISE girls (and if you know that acronym, then you are the perfect reader for this story!)
The characters worked well together, and the protagonist actually grew from where she started at. Yea! for that. This is definitely YA; the way it was written and the "romantic" scenes are as glossy as those in heterosexual teen stories; I am quite a bit older, but still enjoyed the dynamics of the plot. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters, and was glad the author took the time to tell their backstory. It was just the right amount of time spent on them. The character names were very funny (reminding me of Captain Underpants, or other such funny stories that use word play for characters names.)
About the only knock I have on the story is that the fonts/type was crazy in places. It was italic and a completely different font in some places and that made it hard to read at times. I didn't understand if there was a reason they were italicized out not. Both my iPhone and laptop had this issue, so I’m guessing it was done on purpose by the author. That was distracting and unfortunate for this reader.
Also, there were a few typos/grammatical errors/punctuation issues; not many, but they did stand out.
Overall, a fast and enjoyable read. I like the artwork used to illustrate the chapters.
I could see myself reading another Taffy adventure but only if Taylor is still in the picture.
Four stars.
July 20, 2013
This was such a perfect read for me. I have just finished a fantasy book (very fantasy) and this book balanced it out perfectly. I enjoyed it so much that I surprised myself a little.
Some parts of Extra Credit Epidemic I found to be quite humorous and that is something that I don't usually come across. I had been very interested in this book since I first came across it so I was very glad that it didn't disappoint.
I loved the idea of this book, I don't think I have ever read anything like it! It was really fun and the characters were great. We need more books like this. I really wanted to give this five stars but I just couldn't because I had a couple of minor issues with Taffy. Sometimes she was cool but other times her attitude really bugged me. The book made up for it in terms of uniqueness and supporting characters.
Something that called out to me was the pacing of the book. It was pretty much perfect. Not so fast that I was like 'hang on a minute, what just happened?' or so slow that I lost any interest whatsoever in the story.
Usually when I finish a book I refuse to read a sneak peak of other books by the author. Spoilers *shudders*. But I could barely restrain myself from reading the excerpts of Nina Posts' other books. Don't worry, I managed. In other words, I will definitely be checking out this author's other works.
I would recommend this to everyone. It was such a nice and easy, pretty light, fun read. If you read contemporary every day then this could probably squeeze in a little variety in terms of what the book is about. I'm pretty sure you won't have come across many books like this with leading characters like Taffy.
4/5 stars.
Some parts of Extra Credit Epidemic I found to be quite humorous and that is something that I don't usually come across. I had been very interested in this book since I first came across it so I was very glad that it didn't disappoint.
I loved the idea of this book, I don't think I have ever read anything like it! It was really fun and the characters were great. We need more books like this. I really wanted to give this five stars but I just couldn't because I had a couple of minor issues with Taffy. Sometimes she was cool but other times her attitude really bugged me. The book made up for it in terms of uniqueness and supporting characters.
Something that called out to me was the pacing of the book. It was pretty much perfect. Not so fast that I was like 'hang on a minute, what just happened?' or so slow that I lost any interest whatsoever in the story.
Usually when I finish a book I refuse to read a sneak peak of other books by the author. Spoilers *shudders*. But I could barely restrain myself from reading the excerpts of Nina Posts' other books. Don't worry, I managed. In other words, I will definitely be checking out this author's other works.
I would recommend this to everyone. It was such a nice and easy, pretty light, fun read. If you read contemporary every day then this could probably squeeze in a little variety in terms of what the book is about. I'm pretty sure you won't have come across many books like this with leading characters like Taffy.
4/5 stars.
July 11, 2013
Review: I love this book!
The main character, Taffy Snackerge is sooo cool! She reminds me of my family, but she is more extreme of diseases than I am. I WILL eat out and eat at buffet restaurants. I go by the rule, some germs help keep you healthy.
The characters in this book are easy to sink your teeth into to relate and be a part of their life. Everyone has had or known a person in their life that acted like anyone of these characters.
The plot/ story line was easy to keep up with and flowed like a well-oiled machine throughout the book. It flowed so well that I read the book in one setting without trying. It makes the book a very light read.
The characters talked like normal teenagers throughout the book. The dialogue worked very well and flowed naturally throughout the book.
I believe any well knowledgeable teenager would enjoy this book. It does have the pros and cons of doing a project as a team effort, but this book plays the lesson of team work out very well that any person could not complain about the lesson learned.
Five stars
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, Taffy Snackerge is sooo cool! She reminds me of my family, but she is more extreme of diseases than I am. I WILL eat out and eat at buffet restaurants. I go by the rule, some germs help keep you healthy.
The characters in this book are easy to sink your teeth into to relate and be a part of their life. Everyone has had or known a person in their life that acted like anyone of these characters.
The plot/ story line was easy to keep up with and flowed like a well-oiled machine throughout the book. It flowed so well that I read the book in one setting without trying. It makes the book a very light read.
The characters talked like normal teenagers throughout the book. The dialogue worked very well and flowed naturally throughout the book.
I believe any well knowledgeable teenager would enjoy this book. It does have the pros and cons of doing a project as a team effort, but this book plays the lesson of team work out very well that any person could not complain about the lesson learned.
Five stars
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2013
Received from: Curiosity Quills Press via netgalley.com (in exchange for an honest review)
I loved this YA story. Taffy makes no excuses for being smart, for being gay, or for being a loner. Why should she? They are who she is. What I loved is that she accepts who she is, but she also accepts who her friends are for who and what they are. She doesn’t pressure any of them to become anything different. No ready to come out of the closet? No problem. Not comfortable talking in groups? She employs a luca-libre mask with you. Her only feelings of derision are aimed at those who do less than their best. All if this is wrapped in an enjoyable story of intrigue.
Recommended for: 14+
Editing / Grammar: B – a few small errors
I loved this YA story. Taffy makes no excuses for being smart, for being gay, or for being a loner. Why should she? They are who she is. What I loved is that she accepts who she is, but she also accepts who her friends are for who and what they are. She doesn’t pressure any of them to become anything different. No ready to come out of the closet? No problem. Not comfortable talking in groups? She employs a luca-libre mask with you. Her only feelings of derision are aimed at those who do less than their best. All if this is wrapped in an enjoyable story of intrigue.
Recommended for: 14+
Editing / Grammar: B – a few small errors
July 26, 2013
This book contains clever moments and quips, and it was refreshing to see a lesbian main character where her sexuality was not the her defining characteristic. The characters, however, did come off as slightly annoying at times, the side characters weren't very distinctive, and some of the "quirkiness" didn't work with the writing style. If you are a fan of 80's movies such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club, I think that you'll enjoy the story and the overall quirkiness of this novel, but overall it just wasn't my thing.
July 4, 2013
Extra Credit Epidemic is an amusing YA tale of teen science wiz, Taffy Snackerge who is being forced to work with a team of fellow students. A loner by nature, Taffy has to learn the joys & pains of friendship (and more). She & her team trace the problem of an outbreak of food poisoning to its source and send a scoop to the Wall Street Journal before the local health officials are aware of the problem. Now I just need to get hold of any other books written by Nina Post.
July 29, 2013
What a quirky fun mystery. Extra Credit Epidemic was about a high school girl learning to become part of a team and investigate an outbreak of illness. Taffy is so brash and is the classic loner. All the teammates have some quirk they come to terms with. It was an interesting read that flowed well throughout the book. Nina Post did a fantastic job with this YA mystery.
December 1, 2015
First time reading from this author and I truly enjoyed this one and would love to read more along these line. I have a friend just like the main character and truly felt vested. All the other character were great at well and I could visualize everything that was taking place.
July 18, 2013
There were some clever quips and the writing was strong, but I didn't like any of the main characters and thought the overall plot was boring.
June 12, 2014
Quirky, easy and lighthearted read. Enjoyable story with easy to like characters. A good book to take to the beach.
September 8, 2016
Great book
This was a really great story. I really enjoyed the banter of the characters and loved the investigation side of the story.
This was a really great story. I really enjoyed the banter of the characters and loved the investigation side of the story.
April 1, 2017
Read it quickly, thought the idea good, and while some of the dialogue was funny, after a while it began to grate on me. All quips, almost all the time, asides, comments about this and that...eventually, it got to be boring.
On the positive side, a nice relationship between two young ladies, played not for laughs against them, but for them. I'm no stranger to writing lesfic, and it was refreshing to see no stereotypes of the LGBT community. On the negative side, see above. Didn't hate it, but didn't care for any of the characters, really, and the supporting cast was sort of generic. Not bad, but not worth reading again.
On the positive side, a nice relationship between two young ladies, played not for laughs against them, but for them. I'm no stranger to writing lesfic, and it was refreshing to see no stereotypes of the LGBT community. On the negative side, see above. Didn't hate it, but didn't care for any of the characters, really, and the supporting cast was sort of generic. Not bad, but not worth reading again.
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