Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

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Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind. 

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. 

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary. 

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.


I am going to warn my readers now, this review might be a bit spoiler-riffic, and full of rants.  So, only read this review if you don't care about having the plot somewhat revealed for you.  I was mildly excited to read this book, as I felt Wither was somewhat unsatisfying and my questions would be answered in the second book.  Whoops - should have read something else.  I suppose I could say that my questions were answered, but only in the most predictable and stagnant way possible.


Okay, so here we are in 2012, an era when YA dystopian fiction with strong heroines is popular - rock on Katniss!  And then there's Rhine; in my head, I re-named the girl "Whine" instead of "Rhine," because other than puke, that's pretty much all she does.  At least I can credit DeStefano for breaking the mold?  Throughout this novel, we are supposed to believe in Rhine's "inner strength," as she thinks about it all the time.  But, I just didn't see her actions in this novel line up with any sort of inner strength.  She ends up (plot details given away):
1.  In a prostitution circus, drugged out and forced to "perform" with Gabriel as customers watch
2.  Traveling around the country, "mysteriously" ill (at least here she somewhat took control)
3.  Vomiting all over herself numerous times, but hiding it from everyone (just stupid, not strong)
4.  Shot up with various drugs
5.  An unwilling victim of medical experiments (but don't worry, she just sits there drugged out and does nothing) 


Ok, so it's not a pretty world she lives in, and there are apparently all sorts of people conspiring behind her back, but really.  Rather than seeing Rhine making a plan and executing it, all I really saw her doing was feeling sick and wishing she could come up with a plan.  At about page 200, I was over it.  And then, even worse, there's Gabriel.  I will be putting his name on the "Characters I Don't Give Two Hoots About" list.  For someone who supposedly gave Rhine the inner strength to leave the mansion, and who stays devotedly by her side (out of love?), his character is REMARKABLY flat.  I know he has green eyes (which look at Rhine with concern... A LOT), and that he lived in an orphanage before being sold to the mansion.  That is all.  If she and Gabriel are supposed to love one another, there is zero chemistry to confirm it.  Plus, (spoiler here), when she and Gabriel get separated, Rhine doesn't even seem to miss him, and instead is just relieved to see some other lost characters (I won't say more). If they are in love, it seems like a pretty wishy-washy one.  I found myself instead cheering for Linden, the wimpy husband she ran away from in the first book.  So sad.


The plot in this novel moves a lot more than the first book, but that's really only due to the numerous changes in setting.  The reader follows Rhine and Gabriel up the east coast of the United States on their way to reunite with Rhine's twin Rowan in Manhattan.  As one can imagine, the two meet various difficulties along the way.  While this seems like an alright premise for the book, there were a few snags in the logic and/or writing that dampened my enjoyment.  To start, I can't get a sense from either of these books about the state of the country.  On one hand, the situation seems so dire all that's left for females to do is hide, go into prostitution, or marry into polygamous relationships designed to breed more children in the hopes a cure will be discovered and save the children before they reach their fatal age.  Ok, a little bleak and full of sex (I'll cover that topic later), but fine.  However, on the other hand, apparently the infrastructure is still held-together enough that there are television broadcasts, truck deliveries of luxury goods like soda and potato chips, hot water and electricity readily available, and food such as oatmeal and maple syrup accessible to most citizens.  Or, medicine is so expensive that Rhine can't get it, but a woman who runs an orphanage can?  Keep in mind, these orphanages are so desperate for money in other parts of the series that they sell children with little compunction.  So which is it?  I felt like there wasn't much attention paid to world-building and keeping it consistent, but instead the future evolves in a way that makes it convenient for moving the series along.  While I want to see Rhine happy and reunited with her brother (after all, as a big sister myself I am always going to cheer for family!), there were so many other weird moments in this book to get over and I just couldn't.  Even worse, the two supposed "twists" at the end of the novel were something that I just assumed had happened in the first.  So, no real excitement until the last line of the book, which does leave off on a cliffhanger.


On the surface, there isn't much content about which a teacher would be concerned.  On the surface.  All sex happens off-page, and there are zero swear words.  But as a female helping other young ladies develop confidence, I have to wonder about the message this series sends overall.  Is the future of womenkind so tied to the nation's that if one collapses, so will the other?  Meaning, if the world goes awry, all us girls will have left is having sex and hoping for men to save us?  Oh, and also, we could become victims of highly unethical medical experiments.  Yay progress?  I just feel like if someone is a female writer, creating books for impressionable female readers (as most teens are), why not choose the empowerment route? Instead, this whole book is completely bleak, and Rhine doesn't overcome it and rise above (which would make the message more tolerable).  And why the preoccupation with sex at all?  There are so many other interesting debates the premise of the novel brings up - for example, how to spend our years alive - but the essential enslavement of women overpowered all of those for me.


The cover of the book is pretty, as was the first, but I think it's deceiving.  The message of the series is anything but, and the writing is nothing to write home about.  I will not be purchasing these books for my classroom anytime soon, and don't plan on passing the series into the hands of readers.  And when 2013 rolls around, I doubt I'll bother reading the third book.  There are too many other exciting, uplifting, or thought-provoking series out there.

Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

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Colby's post-high school plans have long been that he and his best friend Bev would tour with her band, then spend a year in Europe. When Bev announces that she will start college just after the tour, Colby struggles to understand why she changed her mind and what losing her means for his future.


I have been looking forward to the release of this novel since I read LaCour's debut Hold Still over the summer.  Her ability to create believable characters and beautiful writing made me an instant fan.  And as much as I loved her first novel, I'll be honest, I loved the second one even more.


Even though Colby is the narrator in this book, rather than the love interest, he might be my new favorite YA man.  He is creative, loyal, and just the right amount of hung up on Bev to be romantic.  Because I was so staunchly in Colby's corner, though, I probably disliked Bev more than I should have.  Her aloof and secretive nature, especially at the beginning of the novel, soured me a bit.  However, the more I got into the story, the more I started to appreciate Bev; there is a deeper reason why she wounded my guy so badly.  However, by far my two favorite characters were Meg and Alexa, the other members of The Disenchantments, who, along with Bev, hope to be a new riot grrrl band a la Bikini Kill (though Bev's favorite band is Sleater-Kinney.  Worth YouTubing by the way - they are excellent!).  Meg and Alexa are quirky, cute, and well-designed, especially for supporting characters.  


The plot of the novel is driven by the "great journey" theme as The Disenchantments travel up the coast of California, touring in small towns on the band's way to drop Meg off at Lewis and Clark University in Portland.  This trip throws the characters into new experiences, which in turn causes them to have moments of self-discovery, and brings them to new understandings of one another.  While it perhaps is not the most exciting plot in the sense of thrilling, breathtaking suspense, it has a different sort of charm.  Plus, LaCour's writing is some of the best writing I have read in a long time, which keeps me engaged.  Personally, my favorite part of the story was the sub-plot involving Colby's father, uncle, and mother.  The two guys were also in a band, which leads to some touching parallels between the two groups.


Though I would have read this book if it was bound in a brown paper bag, I absolutely ADORE the cover.  The whole "Instagram" photo quality the cover fits perfectly with the art-student, bohemian flavor of the characters.  Content-wise, there isn't a whole lot with which to be concerned.  There is some language, and a few moments involving sex.  Nothing is described explicitly, but it is not exactly left up to the imagination either.  Between this and the more nuanced plot, I would recommend this book for older or more mature readers.


I can only hope that LaCour comes out with a third novel soon.  Without a doubt, she has become one of my favorite rising YA authors, and I can't wait to share this novel with my students.  What a great sophomore read!

Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them both legions of faithful fans.

I was talking with one of my students on Friday in the library, and he told me, "Everyone I know is on a John Green kick, including you."  I didn't really think about it until then, but he is completely right.  I am on a bit of a John Green kick, and am enjoying it immensely.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson did not disappoint!

Obviously, as with any Green novel, the characters' hilarious voices are what makes it so special.  Adding in the collaboration with Levithan just made the characters even more charming and unique.  Though the two Will Graysons are the central characters, my personal favorite was Tiny Cooper, the "original" Will Grayson's gay best friend.  His eternal optimism, even in the face of disappointment (not to mention his fabulous song lyrics) made me cheer for him more than any other character.  However, both Wills were also written with such complexity; I felt like they were real.

The plot of this novel is not filled with a whole lot of action, but more the internal conflicts of the two Wills.  However, the narration is so well done that their personal thoughts and feelings seemed very eventful, even though most of what they are experiencing are "typical" teenage doubts.  Relationships, loyalty, trust, and fear of relying on someone else - I found myself genuinely caring about how the characters felt, and that's what compelled me to keep reading.  However, the humor in the novel certainly didn't hurt!

Content-wise, I will be honest, this book could offend some.  Though I absolutely adored it, I'm not sure I could handle the potential issues having it in my classroom could spark.  Language and plenty of sex references ran throughout the book, but added to what I felt were authentic teen voices.  Furthermore, it does explore the issue of homosexuality, which could be problematic in a more conservative school setting (as mine is).  However, I don't think these things were gratuitous, and literature should represent all types, even if some disagree.  In a larger library setting, this book would be entirely appropriate.  Moreover, for the right student, I think this book could have a profound effect and powerful message:  you are appreciated.

For now, I will be leaving my slight John Green kick as I embark on a few TBR books, and then devouring the Virginia Reader's Choice list.  Though no John Green is on there, I am thrilled that another David Levithan book is - Dash & Lily's Book of Dares.  Can't wait to try my second Levithan novel!

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

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Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.It can.She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.There is.She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.She's wrong.


This is a book that I have been eagerly watching the library shelves for, hoping it would appear.  When it did, all other reading was suspended.  As it turns out, pretty much all other activities were suspended, including sleeping.  I thought this book was that exciting.


To begin, I thought Mara was a fantastic narrator.  Hodkin does a brilliant job of keeping the readers entranced in the mystery of Mara's past, while also giving her a humorous voice.  To me, the humor helped temper the darkness of the plot, as did the high school drama.  The love interest, Noah, is equally exciting and interesting.  While he is rumored to have a dark past too, I couldn't help but smile over his sarcasm and kind-heartedness (though these two traits seem to be disparate, Hodkin made them work for Noah!).  My only complaint would be the way Mara treats Noah for a good portion of the novel.  She is surly and somewhat cold, which got a bit tiring after a while.  But then again, perhaps it was just because I was cheering so intensely for him.


The plot in this novel was much more driven by character development than anything else.  I personally prefer this kind of novel, especially when I know that it is going to be the first in a series.  The slow pace allowed me to try and look for clues to unravel the mystery myself, rather than just having it revealed to me quickly.  I'm not even sure I still fully understand what's happening to Mara, but that only serves to heighten my anticipation for the sequel.  However, this is not the book for the impatient.  Mara's secrets are not revealed until the end, and she spends much of the book in denial.


One strength of this book is the fantastic cover art, which is hard to ignore.  Though it seems shallow, I will openly admit the cover art was largely what drew me to the novel in the first place.  I am hopeful it does the same for potential readers!  Content-wise, there is a lot of discussion about sex, but nothing graphic, and nothing overtly "happens."  Typical of a high school setting, there's also a bit of swearing, but nothing over-the-top.  Certainly nothing that would keep me from passing the book along.


I am so thrilled I found a book I couldn't put down - it was perfect to enjoy along with the unseasonably warm weather.  I can't wait for the sequel, and to share this book with others!


Anyone else excited for the sequel??

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

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Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .


This was a book that I saw on NetGalley and got super-excited to read.  I love nothing more than a creepy dystopian novel, and this one fit the bill!  While it's exploration of society's obsession with youth was interesting, the overall book was a little bit underwhelming.


Personally, I felt that the characters were where this book fell a bit short.  Callie, the protagonist, was entertaining and believable as the narrator, but just didn't strike me as original.  I would have loved to see a bit of an "edge" to her, rather than just carrying the flag for her brother and the good of all youth.  Similarly, the love interest, Blake, was ... blah.  Cute, rich... ehhhhh.  I just wanted a bit more, and it wasn't delivered.  I honestly found myself not caring whether the two of them ended up together, which is never a good sign.  The characters I did love, however, were the various "enders" who were renting youthful bodies.  Their obsession with "living a youthful fantasy" did lead to some chuckle-worthy moments.


The plot in this book was exciting and engaging, but felt a bit too fast-paced.  Perhaps the event-driven plot was why there was so little character development.  I felt like I barely had time to breathe before the next car chase, explosion, or spy mission happened.  While fun to read, it left some holes in other areas which, unfilled, made the whole novel fall a little flat.  However, the ending was AWESOME, and left a cliffhanger that I am eager to see play out!


Content-wise, there is nothing with which a teacher should be concerned.  And honestly, the above whining is just because I am an overly picky reader.  I think the fast pace of the book, easy to understand characters, and suitably creepy premise would all hook my readers.  Plus, who doesn't love an attractive and shiny cover?


Overall, though perhaps not my favorite book, I will be happy to recommend it to my students.  It is the perfect quick read, and potentially a good "starter" for those new to dystopian fiction (couldn't resist a pun... :).

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

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Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? 

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening? 

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.


Typically, contemporary fiction is not one of my go-tos, especially in YA novels.  However, this debut had just the right mix of magical realism and romance to make it completely irresistible.


The main character, Delaney, was extremely well developed.  We get a sense almost immediately of her motivations and desires, and her inner conflict over her new power.  Truthfully, I found myself relating to her on a very personal level, as many of her obsessions and insecurities were my own in high school.  I feel that if I could relate to her that well, then surely other readers could too.  Similarly, Miranda did a noteworthy job of creating Decker and Delaney's parents.  I particularly enjoyed the depth with which she explored the Maxwell family dynamic.  


The plot of the novel was also exciting, and a perfect balance between Delaney's discovery of her power and her navigation of relationships in the aftermath of tragedy.  There were enough exciting and suspenseful parts to keep readers wondering, but not so many that the plot felt overly choppy or contrived.  Likewise, there was plenty of romance and inner monologue to involve the reader in Delaney's personal conflict without seeming slow or angst-ridden.  


Truthfully, the only downside the the novel was that I was left wanting more - it ended so quickly and suddenly!  I would have loved to have seen more detail about Delaney's "power" (as it didn't even seem terribly supernatural to me), as well as her interactions with the mysterious Troy.


In regards to content, this is a book that I would feel comfortable recommending to any high school age reader.  Nothing terribly inappropriate happens, save a few "f-bombs," and some mentions of hooking up and underage drinking.  I have certainly read far edgier novels than this one!  However, I think the cover could sell itself too.  It's absolutely beautiful!


Overall, I was extremely pleased with this book.  I plan on recommending it to my ladies, especially the ones who cannot get enough Sarah Dessen books (and that's quite the crew in my classroom!).  I can't wait to see what other novels Megan Miranda writes!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

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Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.


For whatever reason, this book has been sitting on my mental TBR list, not getting read.  So when I finally decided to check this book out from the library, I was eager to begin.  Unfortunately, after finishing it, all I can say is "meh."


Sadly, the characters in this book struck me as lackluster.  Lena, the protagonist, just seemed like the run-of-the-mill revolutionary anti-government character, wrapped up in a romantic and slightly more timid package.  Now, I imagine that living in a world without love and ruled by fear would render one timid, but still.  Her hesitation lasted too long into the novel for my taste, especially given the massive case of "insta-love" in this book.  Truthfully, Lena's insta-love interest, Alex, was my biggest disappointment of the novel.  I was happy to see Lena fall in love, but other than his slight irreverence, I wasn't really sure what set Alex apart.  His character was left pretty flat, which made it hard to understand Lena's attraction.


Similarly, the plot left a little something to be desired.  There were certainly exciting parts, but the pages in between dragged somewhat.  To be fair, this might be due to my fatigue from grading massive amounts of diagnostic writing prompts (no matter how you slice it, 76 relatively identical essays just aren't exciting), but this book didn't captivate me the way I was hoping.  I found the storyline pretty predictable, and given that I wasn't invested in the love story the way I normally am, I just found myself apathetic.  Even the ending was predictable, and I hate when that happens.


Other than a few language issues, this book is pretty clean, which is a plus in the "teacher-safe" category.  This is the cover of the book I read, but there are several others that are a bit more enticing.  However, the bright blue might attract some curious glances, which could help draw student readers in.


Overall, I would recommend this book for the less discerning dystopian reader.  For ladies (sorry gents, too much mushy stuff in here for most of you) who enjoyed Divergent, Fever, and even The Hunger Games, I would perhaps offer this as something new to try.  However, I will probably be taking Delirium's sequel, Pandemonium, off of my TBR list, which does leave me feeling slightly accomplished.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.


I was thrilled when this book came into our school library.  After devouring Green's Looking for Alaska, I was eager to see what else he had written.  His newest offering is certain to satisfy!


Given the nature of this story, the characters have to be what drives the plot.  The narrator, Hazel, is a fantastic character.  Despite the fact that she is dying, she is humorous, insightful, and extremely compassionate.  Green did a great job making her intelligent and self-deprecating to lighten the otherwise dark mood of the story.  Augustus, or Gus as his family calls him, is one of my favorite YA love interests.  He is funny, intellectual, and 100% romantic.  Though these characters are in a situation that many teenage readers (thankfully!) have not encountered, I found them relatable and engaging the entire story.


The plot is simple, yet interesting.  Again, this was largely due to the characters and the fact that readers are invested in their story from the outset of the novel.  There were just enough twists to keep me guessing, which I also appreciated.  I feel as though I knew somewhat what was going to happen, as it is a novel about teens with cancer, but there were still surprising elements.  Watching Hazel and Gus's romance bloom was pure magic, and by the end of the book, I was sobbing (ask my husband - I woke him up!).


Content-wise, this book is actually pretty tame for a John Green novel.  There is a bit of language, but nothing that other YA books don't have.  There is also some sexuality, but everything occurred a bit more offstage than is typical in a Green book (so I understand, at least).  Certainly, there was nothing in this book that would alarm most readers.


My only (tiny!) beef with this book would be the cover art, as it is not necessarily something that would catch the eye of picky readers.  I think a lot of that could stem from the loyalty of Green's audience.  Most readers will pick up his books simply because they are written by him - and readers can probably assume they'll enjoy!  For unfamiliar readers, though, this book might need a bit of "talking up" to get them to take it home.


Overall, I would say this book is a magical novel, one that is both joyous and heartbreaking to read.  I would recommend this to both guys and girls, as it contains a little bit of something for everyone.  This is a 2012 novel not to be missed!

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

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BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
 
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
 
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
 
Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.


This book has been one that's sat on my bookshelves FOREVER, collecting dust.  I bought it to add to my classroom library, but wanted to preview it first before handing it out to students.  Very glad that I took the time to read it!  It's one that might be tough to sell to students, so having some talking points about it will be helpful.


The characters in this book were fantastically created.  Andi, the protagonist, absolutely broke my heart.  Sadly, I think her extreme guilt and depression over what happened to her brother resonate with teen readers, as so many of them carry burdens they shouldn't.  My heart went out to Andi, which helped excuse some of her oblivious moments or bad behavior.  The other important characters, though many in number, were also created deftly.  I found myself taking a personal interest in them, which is a must when trying to hook readers!


For me personally, the plot was exciting and engaging, but a bit convoluted, especially the portions that are narrated through Alexandrine's diary.  She mixes the timeline up a bit in those, and since the reader is already being transported back in time, it can get a bit confusing.  There were also just A LOT of diary entries - perhaps more than were necessary.  Though I was curious to find out about the Revolution and Alex's story, I was much more interested in Andi's journeys in Paris.  The ending, however, was absolutely WONDERFUL and worth pushing through some of the other overly "twisty" parts to reach.


Andi's narration draws readers in, but for this reason I offer a bit of caution.  She's a very messed up girl.  For some of my little tenderhearts, she might even be too messed up.  I can think of some, however, who have admitted to liking dark books, and for them, Andi is a perfect narrator.  Even in the midst of a serious personal crisis, she does have a fantastic sense of humor, which I appreciated.


One other caveat to this book when it comes to recommendations.  It references music throughout the entire narrative.  Personally, I enjoyed the references, as Andi's thesis (and iPod playlist) is based largely off the work of my favorite band - Radiohead (*dreamy sigh*).  While I'm not sure I'd deem a knowledge of their work and other indie bands (as well as some classics, Led Zeppelin most notably) a necessity to reading the book, it did enhance my enjoyment because I knew to what songs she was referring.  For picky readers, this might be a stumbling block.  Or, as I am going to look at it, a fun conversation starter!  I made a list of a few of the songs that are mentioned several times, and I plan to hand that to kiddos who borrow the book.  They can look the songs up on Youtube and enjoy if they want!  I'm all about spreading the Radiohead... errr, not sure you can call it cheer, but you know what I mean.


So, overall, I would say this book is one that I enjoyed reading, but not one I plan to hand out to just anyone.  It will take a mature reader to follow the plot and comprehend Andi's character.  To some of my more capricious readers, though, I think this book is well-researched and could spark some authentic curiosity.






Any other historical fiction recommendations?  I love the genre, but I have a hard time digging up new titles!

Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Publication Date:  February 28, 2012
Image and summary from Goodreads.com:


Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.




This book is exactly what the summary makes it out to be:  cute, light, and humorous.  While it is not my typical cup of tea (I tend to stay away from the romantic realistic fiction books, as any of my students will tell you after one of my Sarah Dessen diatribes), I did enjoy spending time in Zo Jo's world.


The characters in this book were well-developed enough to put you on their side.  Jo, the protagonist, instantly disarmed me with her humorous voice and passion for the future.  I always admire a female character with goals!  Rushby does an excellent job of creating a dynamic character that evolves throughout the story indirectly - instead of bludgeoning the reader with tidbits about Jo, she shows us Jo's growth.  Ned, the love interest, is also well done.  He had a kindness and vulnerability that was unexpected, but appreciated.  Though both characters were lightly done, and we don't really get into deep territory with them, it was appropriate in this novel.


The plot, though somewhat predictable, had enough surprises in it to keep readers engaged.  Examining celebrity through the eyes of the paparazzi was a fun twist - I've certainly never read a book from that point of view.  It exceeded the expectation of the "boy meets girl, they fall in love, girl renounces her erroneous ways to keep the relationship" pattern that I was expecting.  Jo's actions instead lead her to be someone you can cheer for while avoiding the cliche.


Without a doubt, my favorite part of this novel was the humorous voice given to Jo.  Her self-deprecation is light and funny, and her sarcastic inner monologue kept even heavier situations, like group therapy, appropriately light and fun.  My only beef (and this is probably just because I am a word nerd) was the use of the word "papping."  As in, "Saving money for real photography class has forced me to fall into papping and hounding celebrities."  So... do you say it like popping?  Or, papping, as in Mammy and Pappy?  Just a bizarre word.  Not sure that paparazzi has a verb form.  English nerd rant is complete now.  :)
The cover on this book is also cute and sweet, just like the novel itself.  I think that it would be something that would catch the eye of potential readers, and it certainly matches the content of the novel.  It certainly caused me to take a second look, which is why I requested the title!


Overall, I would recommend this book for any of my chickadees who love realistic, romantic fiction.  While perhaps not the next great American novel, it is fun and engaging - a perfect weekend read with a cup of hot chocolate, or poolside with some sweet tea (and adequate SPF ladies!).  What a fun debut novel!

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:


NEWSOUL 
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. 

NOSOUL 
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? 

HEART 
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.




This is a book that has been hyped all over the blogging and Goodreads community.  When I scored it on NetGalley, I was absolutely thrilled!  Though the book took me a bit to get engrossed, I ended up reading about 75% of it in one day - it was that good.


The characters in this book were extremely well-developed and conceived.  Though they live in a completely fantastical world, I found myself reacting to and empathizing with them as if they were real.  Ana, the protagonist, was very well done.  Though she experiences many insecurities - namely, that she isn't worth anyone's love and compassion - she confronts her problems with bravery and a measure of impulsivity that made the story move.  Rather than pulling a Bella Swan (sorry, Twilight, I still love you!) and letting her feelings of inadequacy hold her back for 20 pages, Ana takes action.  Well, that, or gets mad that someone else won't.  It was refreshing to see a misfit female character move through the story with confidence or at least a compulsion to act.  Sam, the romantic lead, has moved up my list of YA crushes.  He is creative, intelligent, and compassionate.  The way he stood up for Ana in the face of so much adversity made him particularly endearing.  Also, their shared love of music and using that as a place to showcase their growing romance was a detail that I loved.  For once, the two were hesitant to trust their emotions and fall in love - something rarely seen in YA anymore!  To me, that was the best part of the story.  Even though I knew where their relationship was headed, watching them grow together made the novel even more meaningful.


I've seen some places where this story was criticized as slow-moving.  While the beginning might have seemed that way, I think it helps to remember that this book was conceived as part of a trilogy.  Knowing that, I tried to keep in mind that I wasn't going to have all of my questions answered throughout the book.  Instead, I just let myself get immersed in this alternate reality - one that was created brilliantly.  There was just enough conflict, without following the typical "We're happy... oh no!  Lives are threatened!" pattern to which so many books succumb.  Rather than having lots of little plot peaks, this one slowly built to a few monumental moments.  As these moments build, the growing relationship between Ana and Sam, as well as the mysteries surrounding Heart and Ana's existence, slowly get played out to keep the reader engaged.  


Ana's narration was also well done.  As I said above, she is someone who (for good reason!) feels very insecure.  However, these insecurities aren't running constantly through her mind.  Her varying emotions seemed believable, and as they were narrated, I felt like I could feel them with her.  I imagine any teen reader would feel the same.


Though this seems shallow to say, I think one of the real strengths of this book is the cover art.  It is absolutely amazing.  Put that cover in front of any teen girl, and I know she would look twice!  Additionally, it matches the whole butterfly motif that runs through the novel - namely, that butterflies, like Ana, are short-lived and can't be contained.  Just beautiful.


Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone (though namely girls) who enjoys a romantic and intriguing story.  It was beautifully done, and easy to believe.  Romantic, exciting, and mysterious - this book has it all.  Definitely my favorite debut of 2012 so far!


Has anyone else read this book and enjoyed it as much as I have?

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

This book came with mixed reviews to me. I had heard from some of my students that they really liked it, while others said that it was only "alright." That's sort of how I feel about it too - it had a lot of great qualities, but then some that were only "alright."

For one, while the characters (especially those of the sister wives) were interesting, I felt that they were a little flat. Rhine, the protagonist, is certainly someone who has been put into a very depressing situation; so, I feel a little wrong calling her "excessively morose," but that was how she felt to me. Her constant self-reminders to hate her situation, loathe her father-in-law, and distrust her husband became a bit monotonous. Then again, perhaps this was intended to be a glimpse into what would truly be going on in someone's head who has been kidnapped and forced into a marriage - I suppose I couldn't speak to it from personal experience. (Thankfully!) The other character that left me wanting more was Gabriel, the servant-turned-forbidden love. While we see Rhine's attraction to him, I felt that his character could have been developed more. What are his motivations? Why is he living in this house? There were a lot of questions left unanswered about him that had they been answered, I probably would have been "rooting" for him more.

The plot was exciting and mysterious - I tore through this book! However, again, I was left wanting more. There were a lot of things that almost happened, or questions that were almost answered, but not quite. Perhaps it is because this book was conceived as a trilogy from the start? At the risk of giving away too much, and ruining the book for others, I will leave it at that. I know I am looking forward to reading the sequel, just to see where the story continues.

My only big problem with this book was the world building. My personal preference in dystopian fiction is to get some details and backstory as to WHY the world is the way it is. In this novel, though, that explanation is somewhat missing. People die at extremely young ages from a "virus" that somehow came about because of genetic engineering. (Problem here - and perhaps this is just because I am married to a doctor - but a latent virus that hangs out for differing amounts of time depending on gender seemed a bit strange. Genetic mutation maybe?). The other idea that struck me as strange was the marriages that are formed for breeding purposes. If having as many children as possible is the aim, which it seemed to be, why are they killing off or abandoning the girls who aren't selected for these marriages? Is there some sort of genetic screening to which we were not privy? It just seemed to be at cross purposes. On one hand, you have the wealthy men selecting only the most beautiful and unique girls for marriage - I can accept this. On the other, you have demands that as many children as possible are born to save the human race - while sort of disgusting, I can buy that too. But the two ideas just didn't work together the way I thought they would.

Like I said previously, the narration is this book can seem excessively morose. It is absolutely a pretty bleak world to live in, so I didn't exactly expect a perky narrator either. However, there seemed to be a few details on which the narrator harped, and nothing more. At the same time, I bought into her conflicting emotions about her husband and sister wives. Rhine's voice is compelling in that sense for sure.

One BIG plus of this book is the cover, without a doubt. A few of my girls even said that they chose to read this book for that specific reason! I was drawn in by the art too. The whole wedding ring connected to the bird cage really did speak to the themes of the novel, which I appreciated.

So, overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who, like me, enjoys a good dystopian novel and series and is willing to overlook some flaws in order to appreciate the mystery. There were no real content concerns, as long as readers are comfortable with the fact that these women are married solely for the purpose of breeding - obviously, they will be having sex. The sex occurs 100% off-stage, though, and isn't mentioned more than the necessary allusion to it. This book is a great quick read - just don't think too hard about it.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.


First of all, a big thanks goes to The Page Sage for turning me on to this fabulous author. This was a book that I bought on a whim (the book aisle in Wal-Mart, especially when you're supposed to be buying a vacuum cleaner, is a very dangerous place), but I am so glad that I did. It truly touched my heart.

Without a doubt, the characters in this book are the best part of it. Green does a wonderful job of giving his characters little eccentricities that make them seem all the more real - and loveable. Miles "Pudge" Halter's is his love of memorizing famous last words; his roomate, Chip aka "The Colonel" loves milk and vodka cocktails and mooched cigarettes; their friend Takumi is a budding rapper. And of course, Alaska Young has so many, many quirks she manages to become as fascinating to the reader as she is to Miles. What I liked best about Alaska is even though she is the love interest, she is not idealized by Green - or even by Miles, most of the time. The other characters are up front about the fact that she can be selfish, moody, and purposefully cryptic. Making the "love interest" seem like a fresh idea, by having her be so flawed and yet sweet and caring at the same time, gave this "boy meets girl" story a welcome slant.

The plot takes a backseat to the characters in this novel, but was also completely enjoyable. Though options are limited with a boarding school as a setting, Green made the ins and outs of high school life humorous and exciting without being cliche. Although never a prankster myself (I am one of the worst liars in history), the practical jokes pulled in this book cracked me up. Perhaps my only concern as a teacher would be the amount of underage drinking (and smoking, which is nearly constant) in the novel. Though Miles himself rarely partakes, the other characters do quite often - and this frequently becomes an excuse for other mischief. Furthermore, the book is narrated by a teenage boy, and one with a very big crush. Sexuality becomes a part of the story as well.

That being said, Miles' voice makes this story compelling. He is funny, quirky, and introspective. I think that he is someone that both male and female readers can relate to, which is always welcome to teachers looking for books! Though the cover art makes more sense after reading the book, this is probably not one that would sell itself because of it. Once readers are hooked, however, they will definitely fall in love.

Overall, I would say that this book is one that can come with a cautious recommendation. The sex and partying make it questionable for all audiences. Though the sex isn't graphic, it leaves very little to the imagination. The drinking is much more in the forefront, which could also be a concern. For a more mature reader or audience though, this book comes highly recommended. I can't wait to read another of his novels!

Review: Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

I was extremely excited when this book arrived in my inbox. I absolutely adore historical fiction, and anything with a mysterious and romantic twist is sure to pique my interest. Though this book wasn't terrible, I just felt underwhelmed. A fun read for sure, but not one that I will feel compelled to re-read.

I will say that I absolutely adored the protagonist, Laura. Her voice was sweet and inexperienced, but she didn't seem irritatingly naive (despite having spent the majority of her teen years in a convent). When she was agonizing over her impending marriage to Vincenzo, I felt her pain and repulsion. However, I felt that her character, and perhaps those of her father and nurse Faustina, were really the only ones who were truly developed. So, when we are supposed to believe she has fallen in with the Segreta and trusts them with her life, it was a little tough to swallow. Or when she falls in love with the mysterious Venetian painter - very bad case of the Titanics (throwing it all away on a very brief romance) there. These characters didn't feel very real to me, so I guess I wasn't as invested in Laura's interactions with them.

The plot, rather than the characterization, was what drove the novel. Again, though, I felt that it was a little underdeveloped. It was a great story arc, with lots of exciting moments, but those moments were far too short and over too quickly. The mysteries of the painter's identity, her sister's murder, and the true motives of the Segreta are such intriguing topics, yet didn't seem to get the proper time. I would have loved to see the story go on longer, just to develop it more. Plus, the setting had such potential to be breathtaking; the narration lacked a lot of description, though, so the potential wasn't reached.

A strong positive of this narrative was the writing style. I liked that even though it was historical fiction, and the setting is something with which many of us aren't necessarily familiar, the easy voice made it very approachable. Moreover, the covers on these books (all of them - I couldn't figure out which will be the final...) are gorgeous! It was certainly the reason I selected it to read, and I feel that it could intrigue potential readers in the same way. That and the high-interest synopsis could be enough to excite readers.

So, overall, I would recommend this to some of my fans of historical fiction. I don't think the story was strong enough to sell the genre to those who claim to not enjoy it, but for those who want a fast read in a familiar genre, this might just be the thing.