Book Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Vanish: A Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 304
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: Firelight series, Book 2

*spoilers for the first book quite likely*
When Jacinda and her sister and mom return to the pride, she knows things won't be the same.  But it is worse than she imagined.  Her sister is no longer at home with her and her mother is unable to bear the pride's contempt.  Cassian and his cousin Corbin are both paying too much attention to her.  And most of all, Jacinda misses Will.   Will they ever see one another again?  Has she lost her chance at love forever?

Things I Liked:
I still enjoyed the family dynamics, though they kind of took a back seat in this book.  The plot was pretty interesting too, with enough action to keep me reading and wondering just where she was taking her characters and how they would get there.  I still like the idea of Draki and what they are, what they do, their mythos, etc.  It's an intriguing concept.

Things I Didn't Like:
Really, it just doesn't stand out in a crowd of paranormals, despite its unique type of creature.  I didn't really care what happened to Jacinda and I really wasn't fond of either of her love interests.  The plot was fairly exciting, but I just struggled to get through the book.  It will be enjoyed by those who can't get enough paranormal romance, but it just wasn't the book for me.

Read-alikes:
Read the first book, Firelight
Lots of other paranormal romances: Hush, Hush, Twilight, Mortal Instruments, etc

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: none 
mostly it's kissing

v-factor: -> 
a little bit of action, but nothing graphic

Overall rating: ** 

How far into a series you don't enjoy do you go before giving up?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 2 stars , e-book , firelight , paranormal , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: October 2011
ISBN: 9781442426641
Source: Audiobook provided by publisher

 

When Nora wakes up in a cemetary with no memory of the last five months of her life, not only does she feel disoriented, but like she's missing something.  No one wants to give her details on just what happened, though they might not know themselves.  The only things she does know are that her mom is dating Hank Miller - the creepy father of her arch-enemy Marcie Miller - and that she's falling for the hot, mysterious Jev, someone she just might have known before.  Will she remember in time to save herself and her mother from certain disaster?

Things I Liked:
The story is pretty interesting, though a bit complicated (or maybe my brain cells are not functioning at full capacity, who knows?).  The ending was full of surprises and intriguing twists and turns.  I got sheer fluffy entertainment out of this one, that's for sure.  I really liked the narrator, Caitlin Greer; she certainly had the teenage girl voice down.  It was almost obnoxiously real at times, like listening to a teen chat with her buddies (no offense, I'm sure I talk(ed) like that too).  But very accurate and well-done.

Things I Didn't Like:
Oh, where to begin.  Honestly, I did not enjoy the book much at all.  If I hadn't been listening to a review book, I would not have finished it.  I got some enjoyment out of the previous book in the series, Crescendo, but this book just bored me and made me angry.  We spend the whole book listening/watching to Nora try to remember everything she learned in the first two books (like a repeat of it all).  And whining, so much whining.  And falling in love with the jerk Patch all over again (yeah, still don't like him).  She epitomizes to me, the character who is TSTL - too stupid to live.  She was such a fool, continually not caring about her own safety in order to do what she thought was right: I must save this person who is being mugged, even though I'm a small helpless girl, instead of running away and calling for helpt (which would probably have been more helpful than saying "No!  You're hurting him!").  Drove me nuts.  If there is another book in this series (which this ending sort of indicates) I will definitely not be reading it.  I have no interest in knowing where Nora and Patch are headed next.  But, from what I've heard, fans of the series really liked it, so read it if you enjoyed those first two books.

Read-alikes:
The first two in the series: Hush, Hush and Crescendo
Fallen by Lauren Kate or Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
probably a few
 
mrg-factor: XX 
sensuality mainly, some implied stuff

v-factor: ->->
someone's always fighting someone else

Overall rating: ** 

I'm thinking nearly every fallen angel book I've read has been a fail for me - any really good one's I should consider before giving them up entirely?

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Posted in 2 stars , audiobook , hush hush , paranormal , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin

The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication date: August 2011
ISBN: 9780399254116
Source: ARC sent by publicist

Aggie Winchester's life was going along just fine, until everything changes.  Her goth-wearing best friend gets pregnant, and nominated for prom court.  Her principal mother gets cancer.  And her ex-boyfriend keeps trying to get her back.  With all this going on, a prom ballot scandal brings further chaos to Aggie's life.  Can she figure out what went on with the prom voting and still save her relationships?

Things I Liked:
This book kind of sucked me in like a soap opera.  The story was so twisted and drama-laden that I was unable to put it down.  But I guess what I really liked were Aggie's relationships and her self-discovery.  At the beginning, Aggie is dressing and acting like her best friend, even as she's unconsciously aware that isn't who she really is.  She grows in realistic ways and figures out who she wants to be.  I love how the story didn't end up exactly where you expect (in relation to her friends, anyway).  The book had some interesting and unique things going for it that kept me reading.

Things I Didn't Like:
Mostly, I just didn't like it for no reason I can articulate. I never really cared about Aggie or anyone else in the story. I recognized its accurate portrayal of teen prom drama, but also thought the ending was rather unbelievably perfect. Things just resolved themselves and Aggie and her mom's problems were fixed with one long and cheesy chat. I guess this is another reminder that fantasy is my genre of preference.  Obviously this rating and review are quite subjective.  I just didn't care much for the book, though I might have liked it more if I'd read it as a teen.

Read-alikes:
Populazzi by Elise Allen (kinda)
Maybe before i fall by Lauren Oliver (a little)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$%
That would be an f-word or three on every page

mrg-factor: XXX
a few rather explicit situations (sort of everything-but)

v-factor: ->
one fight scene

Overall rating: **

Do you find yourself not liking certain books for no explicable reasons?

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Posted in 2 stars , realistic fiction , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: April 2011
ISBN: 9780312650087
Source: Library

Deuce has spent her life hoping she'll be chosen as a hunter.  When she receives her name and the huntress' marks at fifteen, she is content with her life in an underground home.  But when she's paired with a hunter named Fade and they are sent on an impossible mission, her perspective of the world begins to change.  The freaks that occupy the tunnels between enclaves are changing and her world is about to turn upside down.

Things I Liked:
I enjoyed the glimpse of another possible future.  I thought it was interesting to have a whole society that lives underground in abandoned subway tunnels, though I really didn't understand why they were there.  Deuce's enclave was somewhat predictably not-what-they-say-they-are, which is kind of what you expect in a dystopian book.  I was a bit more intrigued by the second half, which showed the world topside and what was going on there.  An interesting concept and world view.

Things I Didn't Like:
I really didn't find much else to enjoy, though.  I thought it felt a little disjointed, more like the story was all about just describing this crazy future world than about the characters or the story.  There weren't logical connections to me between what happened underground and then where Deuce ended up.  Or how the Freaks came about.  Or what they were.  I couldn't figure out why they were so keen on getting to the library and figuring out what happened to make the world that way, except so that we as the reader would know what happened.  It made the story feel awkward.  I also didn't care much for the characters or the romance.  I felt no connection to anyone and just wasn't that interested in what happened to them.  I think it's a case of an interesting concept, but a story that just didn't work for me.  *Mild spoiler* Oh, and I thought it was a bit odd that the book Deuce finds about half way through the story has an inscription "with love to Gracie from Mary" in the front, but at the end, it turns out to be a library book.  Who gives a book to someone "with love" that they either took from the library or bought after the library discarded it?  A small thing that really bugged this librarian. :) *End mild spoiler*

Read-alikes:
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, nothing too strong

mrg-factor: X
a little bit implied

v-factor: ->->->
definitely some gory fighting action

Overall rating: **

Did this one work for you or not? I think I'm in the minority for this book.

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Posted in 2 stars , dystopian , paranormal , Young Adult

Book Review: The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780312659424
Source: ARC sent by publisher

 

Mason is used to the strange looks and staring that come from his seriously scarred face.  But when he learns that there is more to his past than his mother is telling him, he wonders if he's even odder than he thought.  By chance, he meets a girl who is most definitely different and embarks on a quest to save her from the horrors of her past.  But, will those horrors lead him right back where they started and can he face the secrets he'll learn about the girl and himself?

Things I Liked:
The story kept me reading.  It was entertaining and fast-paced and there was plenty of action that happened.  The book holds some interesting ideas about the future of our society as well, thoughts about how we would face hunger and other destructive influences.  While I think it was a bit (ok, a lot) over the top, still it provided some food for thought.

Things I Didn't Like:
Really, the only thing that kept me reading was the action.  The characters seemed really underdeveloped, especially minor characters - his mother, his friend, even the girl he meets.  It seemed like just the bare bones of a story idea with not much else developed around it.  I probably wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't so short and easy to read.  The writing felt stilted in places, particularly the dialog.  There are other things about it that bother me, but I don't think I'm articulate enough to explain them.  I can see how it will work for other people, but it really didn't work for me.  

Read-alikes:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Unwind by Neal Shusterman

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
one or two

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: **

This is one of those books that really reminded me how different people's opinions of books can be. I saw several very positive reviews and I didn't like it. Is there a book that did this for you?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 2 stars , dystopian , review copy , sci-fi , Young Adult

Book Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: April 2011
ISBN: 9780061962745
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley

 

Melody is set for life - she got a huge pregging contract that provides her with enough money to go to college.  Now, she's just waiting for her sponsor couple to decide who her partner will be.  In a future where teen girls are the only ones who can have children, there are many choices available for them - to go pro, to try for an amateur contract, even to join a religious group and marry to have your own children.  When Melody's twin sister Harmony, raised in one such religious group, shows up on Melody's doorstep, she little expects the dreadful consequences of her presence.

Things I Liked:
This really was a clever and fairly unique premise.  It wasn't unique in that teens are the only ones who can have kids (see Wither), but unique in the implications of that in the future world.  The writing is witty, with lots of clever jokes on pregnancy and childbirth, as well as some thoughtful ideas about what that future might end up like.  McCafferty has created a terrifying future world complete with slang, factions, and profitable companies that still manages to capture a lot of what teens and young adults feel today.  

Things I Didn't Like:
Despite knowing that this is a satire, and a good one at that, it was just not for me.  I didn't like any of the characters, with the slight possible exception of Zen.  The whole thing seemed a little too icky for me, call me a prude, whatever.  I also was annoyed at the religious characters, since I'm a religious person myself and I don't think I'm that weird.  I think I need to find some books that portray religious people in a better light than closed-minded crazy people.  Eh, I'm not very good at explaining what I didn't like, just that it was not a good fit for me.  I will, however, send you to Becky of Becky's Book Reviews thoughts on the book.  A lot of it is how I feel (though somewhat less vehemently).  

Read-alikes:
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
XVI by Julia Karr
Maybe a little like Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines (for its cultural system) 

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
not a lot in number, but quite a few f-bombs

mrg-factor: XXX
lots of talk, though not a lot of actual action

v-factor: none

Overall rating: **

Your thoughts on this book?

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Posted in 2 stars , dystopian , e-book , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN: 9781595143372
Source: Library

Mackie Doyle is allergic to iron, steel, and blood.  He is anything but normal.  But in the town of Gentry, you don't talk about those kinds of things.  You don't talk about the fact that a little girl just died and about the horrible things that have been replacing children for decades.  Those are the kinds of things you accept in exchange for luck and avoiding disaster.  But Mackie doesn't know if he can accept those things anymore.

Things I Liked:
It was a really unique book - it felt original and different and also just plain weird.  The creepy setting and story was perfectly written to inspire spine tingles.  I liked Mackie, the kid who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and who wants to acknowledge what is wrong with his town (well, eventually he does).  There is a lot of good stuff on accepting different kinds of people and also not ignoring things that are important simply because we don't want to talk about them.  Ugly things happen and they matter.  It was a crazy reading experience, but also quite thought-provoking.

Things I Didn't Like: 
The biggest problem I had was that it was too odd for my liking.  The story and sometimes what people said just didn't make sense to me.  I had a hard time getting into the story and relating to the characters because I couldn't figure them out.  I believe this is entirely me and not a reflection of the author or her writing even.  Another minor problem was there seemed to be an abnormal amount of grammar problems - missing words or incorrect choices.  I was pretty surprised it had so many problems; it almost made me feel like I was reading the ARC.  Anyway, overall, I think this is just not the book for me.  Others have really enjoyed it though, so check out what others' had to say.
 
Read-alikes:
A little like Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater 

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
lots, some quite strong

mrg-factor: XX
one or two incidents

v-factor: ->->->
some very disturbing images and gore

Overall rating: **

Am I the only one who didn't get this book?

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Posted in 2 stars , Fantasy , paranormal , Young Adult

Book Review: The Line by Teri Hall

The Line by Teri Hall
Publisher: Dial
Publication date: March 2010
ISBN: 9780803734661
Source: Library

 

Rachel and her mother live in a remote area of the US, right near the Line, the edge of the known world.  The Line has been there as long as Rachel and her mother can remember, separating what they know and where they live from Away.  With a corrupt and controlling government that has taken many of their basic rights, being far from big cities is a good thing for them.  When Rachel finds a message that came from the other side of the Line, she must decide between what is right and what is safe.

Things I Liked:
This book had an intriguing premise, with a government that essentially cuts off everything outside of its borders and restricts the movements of its citizens.  I was intrigued by the history of how the Line came to be and how the rights of the US people were slowly stolen away.  I like the setting of the book and also the way Rachel's relationship with her mother changes over the course of the book.  

Things I Didn't Like:
For the most part, I was unimpressed with the book.  I thought there was too little explanation of how things were and how they got that way.  I found Rachel acted much younger than a teenager in the book.  Her relationship with her mom felt much more like something a tween or younger would feel.  I was quite disappointed with the ending, too.  It felt like there was not any kind of closure to the story.  I can tell there is probably an expected sequel, but there should be some amount of wrapping up in the book.  After all the build up, things went very smoothly at the end, with very little trouble.  I think that the main thing it could have used was more detail.  Basically, it just wasn't for me.  

Read-alikes:
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gone by Michael Grant
Candor by Pam Bachorz

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
very minor details

Overall rating: **

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 2 stars , dystopian , sci-fi , Young Adult

Book Review: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: December 2009
ISBN: 9780061575426
Source: Library

 

Kelley's life has not been the same since she faced the Wild Hunt after Samhain Gate opened.  And ever since she learned she was a faerie princess, daughter of the Winter King and the Autumn Queen.  Now Sonny, her changeling Janus boyfriend, has been sent to faerie to defeat the rest of the Wild Hunt and she is left in the mortal world.  Despite missing him all the time, she manages to get into all kinds of tricky situations involving fae and other frightening creatures who are out to get her.  But, when she ends up back in Faerie, she and Sonny must face a deadly foe who is seeking to destroy them both.

Things I Liked:
I do like the beautiful setting Livingston has created for her Faerie and human worlds.  I love the descriptions and the way she sets up scenes and places so realistically.  Often, I felt and saw and smelled exactly what the characters experienced.  I am a big fan of some of the minor characters like Bob and Jack and Tyff.  I find them interesting and entertaining - admittedly more so than Kelley and Sonny.  They are kind of what kept me reading (well, and there was some pretty good action).  Here's a taste of the setting:

The late April breeze sifting through the cracked-open window bared sharp, chilly teeth, but in spite of that, Kelley's sheets were soaked with sweat, and she felt almost feverish. p 38

Things I Didn't Like:
I wasn't really interested in the story.  Mostly, this was because I felt like it wasn't going anywhere in particular - there seemed to be an awful lot of scenes of Kelley being stupid and chased by bad guys.  Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but I just couldn't follow the plot of this one.  It did pick up at the end, but by then I didn't care as much, so I skimmed through it.  Definitely not as satisfying as the first installment.  I know there are lots of fans who enjoyed it, so be sure to check what others said about it.  It was just cliff-hanger-y enough for me to probably pick up (or read a spoilery review of) the last one. 

Read-alikes:
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
quite a few uses, but mostly milder words

mrg-factor: X
really only kissing and longing to kiss

v-factor: ->->->
there was a lot of fighting and action, not too gory

Overall rating: **

Do plots and characters from multiple books sometimes start to run together in your head?

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Posted in 2 stars , fairy stories , Fantasy , Young Adult

Book Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780312656263
Source: review copy provided by publisher

 

Bethany, Ivy, and Gabriel are not your typical family.  They have been sent on a special mission - an angelic mission - to save the citizens of Venus Cove.  While Gabriel and Ivy have been able to adjust to life on earth and still maintain their angelic aloofness, Bethany finds herself feeling more like a human sometimes than an angel.  Especially when she meets Xavier, a handsome and kind human boy at her school.  But things are about to get a lot more complicated with the arrival of a new student with a dangerous history.

Things I Liked:
The book has a lot of good things going for it.  I enjoyed the religious aspect of these angels, which I've found is missing in a lot of recent teen angel books.  (It seems odd to me to have a book about angels, fallen or not, that never mentions God.)  It was interesting to see the difference between humans and angels in their reactions and feelings.  It's a fast and easy read and I felt a compulsion to finish it and find out what happens to the characters, though I often didn't feel a connection to them.  I thought the interesting parts were the conflict of feelings between angel and human sides, particularly for Bethany since she was the only one susceptible to human feelings.  The thing that I enjoyed the most was how much it reminded me of my own teenage romances (more discussed below).
 
Things I Didn't Like:
I must admit, however, that for the most part I was unimpressed.  The book is too long and I thought that there was a lot extraneous detail that could have been left out.  I think the biggest problem for me, however, was the romance.  Xavier and Bethany essentially fall into eternal and complete love with one another right away.  Their inability to be apart from one another (even for an hour) without physical pain seemed ridiculous.  When I was reading about their relationship, I was reminded of my teenage romantic experiences (and how you think the world will end if you break up).  But it was very over-the-top; so melodramatic that I felt distracted from anything else in the story.  I'm quite positive many teen girls will enjoy it, but I guess I'm too far removed from that experience to enjoy reading about that kind of romance.  I gotta give Adornetto props for writing so well at such a young age - I'm sure she's closer to the teen romance experience and therefore captures it fairly accurately.

Read-alikes:
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a very few (if any)

mrg-factor: X
very light, nothing descriptive

v-factor: ->
a little fighting, again very mild

Overall rating: **

Is it ridiculous to read teenage romance with your adult sensibilities?

It does have a pretty cool trailer going for it though:

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 2 stars , paranormal , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication date: November 2010
ISBN: 9780547330082
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley

 

Teagan Wylltson is content with how her life is going - she's on track to get into a great college and loves her job working with animals.  All that changes when Finn Mac Cumhaill shows up.  Suddenly, a world that only existed in her mother's paintings and story books is coming to life.  Finn is a goblin fighter and Teagan learns the goblins are very real.  Can Teagan fight for her life and the lives of those she loves against something mythical?

Things I Liked:
The book is rich with mythology and strange creatures.  I loved the world of Hamilton brings to life, filled with Irish legends.  Mamieo and Finn and others tell fabulous tales of mythology and then we see them happen in Teagan's life.  I definitely thought these creatures and the myths were the best part of the book.

Things I Didn't Like:
I found that I didn't much care for any of the characters, except possibly Aiden.  I wasn't interested in what happened to Teagan or Finn.  Despite the great myths, there was a little too much going on.  Too many characters and creatures and myths to keep straight.  It became confusing and I didn't really want to spend time figuring things out when I just didn't much care for the story.  The romance didn't really capture my interest either.  Interesting premise and great fantasy details, but I didn't like the execution.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
Also Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X
talking mostly, no actions

v-factor: ->->
some violence, definitely some frightening images

Overall rating: **

What kind of mythology do you love in stories?

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Posted in 2 stars , e-book , Fantasy , paranormal , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Annexed by Sharon Dogar

Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780547501956
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley

 

We are all familiar with the story of Anne Frank and the years she and her family spent in hiding.  This book takes a look at what Peter might have experienced while there.  What was he thinking and feeling being trapped there with everyone as he slowly falls in love with Anne?  Not only that, but his story takes us into what happened after - at the death camps.

Things I Liked:
The second part of the book, the part about the prison camps, was much more powerful to me.  It had a stronger punch, even if it was based on fewer "facts" about Peter.  I did like how Dogar was able to create the atmosphere of suffocation and uselessness of being in hiding and unable to do anything.  How dreadful it was to live there, and yet how they felt bad for hating it because they were alive and technically free.  I thought it was also interesting how they wondered if Anne's depictions of them in her diary was accurate.  I found the book interesting, but not quite the same as the real thing, ie Anne's diary.

Things I Didn't Like:
I found myself a little bit bored with the first part, especially when Peter was feeling sorry for himself or just lying around in bed dreaming of Liese.  Essentially, I didn't much care for the depiction of Peter at all, however accurate it might have been.  I definitely prefer to read Anne's own words, since she's more of a character I like and her vivacious personality was the most interesting part of the first half.  I know lots of other people have enjoyed and loved it, so it could just be my own reactions to the book.  It did definitely made me want to read Anne's diary again.

Read-alikes:
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some

mrg-factor: XX
Peter thinks about girls a lot, but it's pretty discrete

v-factor: ->->
the privations, violence, and plain horror of their inhuman treatment

Overall rating: **

Anybody else read this and enjoyed it as much as or more than Anne's version?

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Posted in 2 stars , e-book , Historical Fiction , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: It Started With a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech

It Started with a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Graphia)
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN: 9780547235585
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley

 

When CG Silverman moves to a new town and a new school, she's determined to be a new person.  When she manages to worm her way into the good graces of the most popular cliche at the school, she must maintain her new persona of rebel and dare devil.  But, she finds lying about her past, her present, and just about everything else is required to maintain all those intricate and complicated relationships she has.  Will she be able to keep all her secrets?

Things I Liked:
The book showed a complicated look at popularity and the kinds of things people will do to be popular.  It was also quite interesting in its depictions of the carelessness we feel toward other peoples' feelings.  CG was not a person I liked or related to at all, especially in the way she treated others, but I did see that I can become just as cavalier with the feelings of other people.  It played kind of a cautionary story for me.

Things I Didn't Like:
I actually really didn't like the characters or story much.  CG is a sarcastic, crass, potty-mouthed jerk, to pretty much everyone throughout.  She toys with people over and over and doesn't even seem to care, until she loses friends.  I really got tired of her.  The story was fairly interesting, but held nothing original or terribly entertaining to me.  When CG does "figure it out," the message is pounded into our heads so obviously that it lacks any kind of subtlety.  In short, I just wasn't impressed.  

Read-alikes:

The Real Real by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Snap by Carol Snow

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
plenty throughout, some strong

mrg-factor: XX
lots of discussion of it, not much actual descriptions

v-factor: none

Overall rating: **

I really liked the cover of this one, but it seems a bit deceptive. It looks light-hearted and even sweet, but totally isn't on the inside. What covers have you seen that seem deceptive?

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Posted in 2 stars , e-book , realistic fiction , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: Libyrinth by Pearl North

Libyrinth by Pearl North
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication date: July 2009
ISBN: 0765320967
Source: Library 

 
In a future time when books are scarce and in danger of extinction, Libyrarians like Haly protect what is left.  Only Haly isn't like all the other Libyrarians - she has a secret.  The Eradicants believe the written word to be evil - even one look at the words is sin.  Instead, they pass knowledge through spoken word and song.  When the two sides gather to battle for possession of the books kept in the Libyrinth, Haly is about to find out just how important her strange hidden talent is.

Things I Liked:
It was a very interesting story idea and I just loved the summaries and blurbs I saw about it.  That is what really drew me to it - a book about future librarians who fight to save the written word from eradication.  A very intriguing idea to me.  I also really enjoyed Haly's comments on what she read from the books.  Some of it was familiar and some was not.  I enjoy a book that talks about books (meta-book?) and that incorporates specific books into the story.  Also the idea that there are two sides waging battle against each other feels just real enough that it seems possible.  I do like that both sides had their strengths and weaknesses - neither one was perfect.  This will probably appeal to librarians and book-lovers for obvious reasons.

I have often wondered why those who read consider themselves superior to those who don't, when it is the Song that is eternal, and the singers of the Song who wield the power of its teachings.  But arrogance is the folly of the literate. p 112

A story is nothing more or less than a sequence of facts, or in the case of fiction, lies, that are imbued with meaning. p 152

Things I Didn't Like:
Really, I just didn't like the execution of the idea.  I was bored and had to put it down multiple times because I was not interested.  I think the divided storyline (it switches back and forth between two characters stories) made it really hard for me to connect with either of them.  It seemed like there was a lot of extraneous information that did not contribute to the story and that I just didn't care about.  I admit that when I got near the end, I skimmed a lot, so it might have picked up in excitement.  

Read-alikes: 
Reminded me a little (the premise did anyway) of Unwind by Neal Shusterman and Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:  
s-factor: ! 
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: XX
some situations, but not very descriptive

v-factor: ->->
there is some pretty heated fighting that takes place

Overall rating: **

Would you be a libyrarian or an eradicant?

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Posted in 2 stars , dystopian , sci-fi , Young Adult