W... W... W... Wednesdays 10

W... W... W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer three questions in a blog post:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

As the school year winds down, I have less and less time to work on my blog.  However, while reviews and other memes have been lacking, I have actually been able to keep up with some reading (gotta relax somehow!)

What am I currently reading?

I am just about finished with Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl, a debut novel by author Jesse Andrews.  While it strikes me as a bit raunchy for most high school students, I have enjoyed it!

What did I recently finish reading?

I just finished two novels:  Lord of the Flies by William Goulding for school, and Torn by Stephanie Guerra for my own pleasure reading.  Both are very good, but a little disturbing!

What do I think I'll read next?

I am so pumped - Where She Went, Gayle Forman's follow up to the fabulous If I Stay came through the library.  I got to snag it!  I am so excited to start it!

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:


In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.


This book has been highly recommended to me by many readers - students, friends, co-workers, etc.  I am always a little nervous to try books like these as I am afraid I will be underwhelmed.  However, this book did not leave me wanting for anything - except more time to read it!  It is definitely one I will be recommending to students.


Mia is the protagonist and narrator.  It is through her eyes the reader gets to experience laughter and heart-wrenching pain and grief.  Her voice was strong, and a voice I felt connected to from the start of the story.  I particularly liked that she is a character who is intensely loyal to her family, especially her little brother Teddy.  As a ferocious big sister, I enjoyed reading about Mia's connection to her brother from the moment he was born.  I also liked Mia's ambition and confidence in herself; while she admits to moments of insecurity, she is a character who has serious goals.  Even when her goals threaten to take her away from her boyfriend Adam, Mia stands strong in what she wants.


The plot of this story isn't exactly action driven, but instead follows Mia's life story through her memories as she debates one of the most important decisions I can imagine anyone making - whether to fight to live, or to join her family in death.  For whatever reason, I found this set-up insanely "un-put-downable."  I read the book in two days!  By the end of the book, I was highly invested in Mia - and her family and friends.


As far as content goes, I would feel comfortable recommending this book to almost all of my students.  There are a few examples of mature language, but nothing that seemed out of control.  Instead, it was integrated in a natural way, and believable out of the characters who were speaking.  Certainly, nothing that would keep me from handing this book to students.  One small down point, I think, would be the cover on this book, both the hardcover and paperback (which I have pictured).  It's melancholy appearance is certainly appropriate to the tone of the story overall, but it's not necessarily something that would jump off a shelf to potential readers.  It's a shame - this book was fantastic!


I can't wait to share this book with my students; this story was powerful, moving, and just well-written.  As school winds down, I will have to keep checking and seeing when Forman's follow-up comes back into the library.  I need to see what happens next!

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Image and summary from Goodreads.com

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.


Warning:  This review is somewhat spoiler-iffic, given that it reviews a sequel to a book with a lot of mystery involved.  If you do not want to ruin some aspects of the first novel, stop now!


I was relieved when I was able to check out this novel immediately after completing the first in the trilogy, Across the Universe.  While the first book didn't end on a complete cliffhanger, it definitely left enough unanswered questions and unresolved issues between Amy and Elder to make me want to follow and see what happens.  Generally I feel the second novel in a series, especially in a trilogy, is usually the weakest; A Million Suns surpassed my expectations.  I even liked it better than the first!


Without a doubt, my favorite part of this book is the reader gets to know a lot more about Amy and Elder - and their relationship together.  Amy in particular resonated with me.  I liked how Revis does not fall prey to the "insta-love" trap so many YA authors do, but rather has Amy experience some real doubts about her feelings for Elder.  After all, being on a ship with only one real love prospect would bring up some serious questions about choice and true feelings versus lack of other options - especially given what she finds out about Elder in the first novel.  Elder is also affected by the theme of choice, but whereas Amy is dealing with a lack of it, Elder must deal with the ramifications of an entire population facing it for the first time.  He shows remarkable maturity for a teenage character, but not so much that he seems flat or unlikeable.  As in the first novel, Elder still acknowledges temptation - and even falls prey to it a few times.  I found these moments of weakness only strengthened his overall character, though, rather than diminished it.


Unlike the first book, which told one essential plot from two different perspectives, this novel follows two different stories - one experienced by Amy, and one by Elder.  Amy's story largely deals with a good old-fashioned "whodunit" sort of mystery.  In this case, she is following clues left by Orion to solve some important mystery about the fate of the ship.  For the most part, I found this the more exciting of the two story lines.  My only *tiny* beef would be that at times, it felt like Amy figured out the clues a little too quickly.  Then again, I probably also would have had beef if Revis had depicted her excessively stumped on the clues, so I guess it goes to show I can't have everything.  Elder's storyline is a bit more predictable, in that once his shipmates are shown they could potentially rule themselves, the ship descends into chaos and possible mutiny.  I liked reading about Elder's reaction to some of the crises that arise, but overall, I felt the storyline lacked the creativity of some of the others Revis has devised.  However, the ending of the novel was SPECTACULAR.  Where the first novel left off on a somewhat satisfying note (at least to me), this second one DID NOT.  Oh man, what an ending.  How I am to wait until January for the third book, Shades of Earth, I will never know.


Of the two books, A Million Suns is far more clean.  This is largely due to the absence of the whole awkward "mating season" of the first.  However, the weird "future-cuss" Elder employs is still present, and there are some depictions of sexual violence towards women (though never graphically described).


Overall, I would recommend anyone who read the first novel should continue with the series and pick up the second.  I would also put this in the hands of any fan of a more true science fiction novel.  It is a series worth reading and one I can't wait to see continue. 

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:


Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.


I would be remiss if I didn't mention my interest in this book was largely due to its breathtaking cover.  I mean - look at it!  When I cracked the spine, I could only hope the story inside was as well done.  Thankfully, I was not disappointed.


One of the strengths of this novel is that it switches between the viewpoints of the two main characters - Amy and Elder.  Amy struck me as a very well-written character.  Though clearly she is placed in an unrealistic situation (I personally don't know anyone who has been cryogenically frozen and traveling in space for over two centuries), she was someone who possessed relatable traits.  She is preoccupied with her boyfriend on Earth (and what went wrong), feels like she doesn't belong, and genuinely misses her parents.  Her voice is strong and intelligent, but not overly so; she reacts to her adverse situations with a level of doubt that seems natural.  Elder is similarly relatable, despite having been born on a spaceship.  My favorite aspect of his character is that he faces temptation in a believable way.  As a leader, he is obviously presented with choices that are difficult, but probably morally correct - and vice versa.  Though he usually does the "right thing," he has a respect for temptation too.  To me, this made his character much deeper than I anticipated.


The plot of the novel isn't action-packed, but this is mostly because each event takes a while to develop.  I appreciated this aspect, as it allowed for very rich story development.  The setting, though limiting in its scope, is wonderfully drawn.  I actually felt like I was aboard the Godspeed with Amy and Elder.  As the plot unfolds, it has a little bit of something for all varieties of readers - romance, action, and even some mystery.  Though I found the ending a bit predictable, watching it unfold was still engrossing.


This book had a few questionable moments in regards to content.  One odd thing the characters do is use "cleaned up" versions of swear words.  However, I sort of felt like it was as noticeable as swearing, if not as openly objectionable.  It seemed to draw more attention to words that could have been avoided.  Also, there were a few scenes where sex is described. While it isn't graphic, it doesn't exactly leave much to the imagination either.  I do understand the author's choice to include the scenes - people aboard the Godspeed have a "season," much like animals, and it illustrates their lack of humanity - but still.  It seemed a bit too explicit for some young adult readers.


Overall, I was glad I read this book.  It was creative, exciting, and very well written.  For the right reader, this book is something that is sure to enchant.

W... W... W... Wednesdays 9

W... W... W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer three questions in a blog post:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Though I've been busy at school, I've tried to read this week.  However, as you'll see below, this week I did something I almost never do - abandon a book!

What am I currently reading?

As soon as this post is complete, I am hopping in bed and starting If I Stay by Gayle Forman.  Hopefully the sequel comes throughout the library soon - I've heard it has quite the cliffhanger ending!

What did I recently finish reading?

I almost never abandon books, but this one just did not interest me.  The narration style was completely bizarre, and the story, though promising, was way too weird.  I got stuck at about page 100 after a week of reading, and completely gave up.

What do I think I'll read next?

Sitting right underneath If I Stay is Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.  I absolutely loved her first novel Anna and the French Kiss and have heard this one is even cuter.  Stay tuned!

Does anyone else feel guilty when they abandon a book?  I sort of do, but I am just reminding myself there are too many good books out there to waste my time with something I'm not enjoying.

Top Ten Tuesday 16

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  Each week, we are given a topic on which to make a top ten list.  This week is a freebie week - my favorite sort of week!  I've been trying to come up with a list, and have decided to list ten of the books that have been out for a while, but I still haven't read.  I feel like so often new books get the fanfare, and I continually put older books back on the shelf.  So, presenting:


The Top Ten "Old" Books I SWEAR I Will Read... Eventually...

1.  Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (2004):


This book, the first in a series, was written in 2004.  While it didn't receive the publicity her Hunger Games trilogy did, I have heard it is as good.  One of these days, I will get to it!


2.  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008):


It won the Newbery Award in 2009, and I SWORE then I was going to read it... I even bought it... and it still sits on my shelf. Sigh.

3.  Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (2009):


I have loved every Anderson book I've read, and when I heard my librarian book talk this one, I knew I had to try it.  How I missed its release in 2009, I will never know!


4.  Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (2009):


I've been so interested in this series, but for whatever reason, just haven't picked it up yet.  Maybe this summer?


5.  The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson (2005):


My students have been raving about this series for years - I even have most of it in my class library!  And yet, for whatever reason, I haven't gotten around to reading it.  Given that the first book was published in 2005, I guess I should get on it!

6.  The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (1999):


I absolutely tore through the first two books in this series, The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife.  Then, grad school started, and I got insanely busy, and I never finished.  I feel like the whole series deserves a re-read this summer!

7.  Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle (2009):


I got this book free for a cover review focus group I was in, and thought it looked super cute and fun!  And yet, other books always seem to come before it.  


8.  White Cat by Holly Black (2010):


Another series that has always looked intriguing, but I haven't gotten to yet.  


9.  Gym Candy by Carl Deuker (2007):


This book has captivated many of my reluctant male readers.  Though I'm not typically a fan of sports books, the moral debate presented in this one intrigues me.

10.  Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (2009):


For whatever reason, I've always been fascinated by the premise of this novel - a fantasy twist to WWI just seems so exciting!  Knowing the book  is also in a series (which I always seem to prefer), it seems right up my alley.




There are SO MANY more books I wish I had time to read - and hope to make time for at some point!  But, in the spirit of Top Ten Tuesday, I'll stop here.  Any others that are glaringly missing?

W... W... W... Wednesdays 8

W... W... W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer three questions in a blog post:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

It's been a busy past few weeks, so I haven't gotten to update my blog like I usually like to.  However, my reading hasn't slowed down, so plenty of reviews will be coming!

What am I currently reading?

I am just getting ready to start reading Chime by Franny Billingsley.  It won the National Book Award, which put it on my TBR radar.  So far, reviews of the novel have either been complete "LOVE IT" or "HATE IT" splits, so I am excited to see where I fall!

What did I recently finish reading?

I just TORE through the Across the Universe trilogy's first two books by Beth Revis.  It's rare I read more traditional science fiction, but these two novels were completely engrossing and enjoyable, especially A Million Suns (and I almost NEVER like the second novel better than the first!)  I can't believe I will have to wait for the third installment to be published in 2013!





What do I think I'll read next?

I've been wanting to read If I Stay by Gayle Forman for a long time.  After stalking my school library's online catalogue for what seems like forever, it finally came in.  Needless to say, I immediately snapped it up!

Series Review: The Summer Trilogy by Jenny Han

Images and summary from Goodreads.com:

Belly has always lived for the summertime because it means all her favorite things: swimming, the beach and the Fischer boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. She has spent every summer with them at Cousins Beach for as long as she can remember. She has always been in love with Conrad and finally, one summer, it seems like he might have feelings for her too. But it turns out, so does Jeremiah. As the summers go on, Belly has to choose between two brothers who love her as she comes to the realization that she will have to break one of their hearts.  

This is a series that came highly recommended to me by my librarian and several of my girlie readers.  When I had a long drive up to Ohio for Spring Break, I decided to give the first novel, The Summer I Turned Pretty, an audiobook try.  Before long, I had ripped through the entire series, without stopping.  I can't rave about this series enough!


Part of what makes this book series so great are the fantastic main characters.  Though a few characters come in and out, the primary focus is on Belly Conklin and her two "summer boys," Jeremiah and Conrad Fischer.  Belly is the narrator through most of the books, with guest chapters narrated by the two boys.  Belly is a very realistically drawn teenage girl.  She is silly, insecure, and deeply loyal to the people she holds dear. While she had many moments that made me want to smack her (what teenage girl doesn't make those around her feel that way?), she had an endearing sweetness and humor that kept me ultimately on her side.  As for the two boys, both have redeeming qualities, and qualities  that made me want to scream out loud in frustration.  However, by the end, I was 100% on board with the choice Belly makes, and glad to see a satisfying conclusion for all characters involved.  My favorite characters by far, though, were the two mothers, Laurel (Belly's mom) and Susannah (the boys' mother).  Both moms were unique, exciting, and positive female role models; they were a welcome change from the stereotypical "my mother is awful" mold into which so many teen novels fall.


The plots of these books, while not terribly action packed, were still exciting in that I could NOT wait to see who would end up with Belly!  Of all three novels, the second book (It's Not Summer Without You) dragged the most, but only because I felt it needed to set up the final novel.  One of my favorite elements of the novels was the way Han mixes in Belly's memories of summers past with the current action of the story.  This gave the characters a real sense of personal history, which is absolutely integral to believing their stories.  In order for the reader to become invested in Belly's final choice, the entire progression of her relationship with the Fischers needed some depth - Han accomplished this brilliantly.  I don't want to give too much away.  The twists in these novels are sweet, romantic, but still believable, and the setting is so vividly drawn I couldn't help but getting caught up.   

My favorite part of these novels is they deal with timely adolescent issues - love, friendship, poor choices, even death - in a light, yet sensitive way.  Some of the characters do things I wouldn't want my students doing (drinking, casual sex, etc.), but Han doesn't glorify these choices.  I felt instead these poor decisions led to growth from the characters, which is probably more believable than teenagers who refuse to act out altogether.  While some of the more mature language or situations could offend conservative readers, overall, I wouldn't mind passing this book on to students.

I am genuinely glad I read these books.  Light teenage romances aren't always my thing, but these books were surprisingly fantastic - the kind of books I am almost sad to see end because I hate to leave the characters (I KNOW we've all had books like that!).  For my romantic readers who love a good contemporary novel, these books are a solid hit.

Top Ten Tuesday 15

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is the Top Ten Books I'd Like to See Made into a Movie.  While I am like most bookish folk in that I vastly prefer most novel versions to their film counterparts, it is always exciting to see a director's interpretation of a work.  Some adaptations are awesome (I am still obsessed with The Hunger Games movie), while others are complete flops (I almost cried at The Lightning Thief; it was that terrible).  But, there are plenty of books I would still love to see made into films.


The Top Ten Books I'd Like to See Made into a Movie

1.  Divergent by Veronica Roth:

Kick-butt heroines are in, and I would love to see the Dauntless home base and a post-apocolyptic Chicago on screen.

2.  The Maze Runner by James Dashner:

This is a film with enough appeal for guys and girls, and a lot of opportunity exists for an imaginative director in this setting too.

3.  Entwined by Heather Dixon:

I can just imagine the beautiful costumes, and it would be fun to cast 11 sisters!

4.  Across the Universe by Beth Revis:

This is another setting I think would make an exciting and interesting movie.  Designing the Godspeed would be a lot of fun, and viewers would enjoy unraveling the mystery of the ship.

5.  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan:

I absolutely loved this book, even though it terrified me!  Hopefully, it would hook horror fans - and perhaps they would give the novel a try!

6.  Graceling by Kristin Cashore:

I absolutely adore this book, and the high-action plot would translate well to an exciting movie.

7.  Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould:

This book, while underwhelming as a novel, has real movie potential.  Sixteenth-century Venice would make a beautiful setting, and perhaps the mystery of the Segreta would play out better on the big screen.

8.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:

Who doesn't love an adorable romantic movie?  Especially one set in Paris!

9.  Boneshaker by Cherie Priest:

Steampunk?  Yes!  Zombies?  Yes!  An awesome movie of Sucker Punch styling and action?  Sign me up!

10.  The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han:

Ok, truthfully this whole series would make fantastic movies.  The characters are sweet and believable, and I was very sad when the story ended.