Audiobook Review: Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Front and Center audioTitle: Front and Center

Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Narrator: Natalie Moore

Publisher: Listening Library (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Graphia)

Release Date: April 4th, 2011 (paperback), February 9th, 2010 (audiobook)

Interest: Trilogy continuation

Source: Purchased via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads): After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I’m always in the background—it’s a family joke, actually, that us Schwenk kids could go to school naked on picture day, we’re all so crazy tall. But I mean I was returning to the background of life. Where no one would really notice me or talk about me or even talk to me much except to say things like “Nice shot,” and I could just hang out without too many worries at all.

But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who’s keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway . . .

What’s going to happen if she lets these people down? What’s going to happen when she does? Because let’s face it: there’s no way, on the court or off, that awkward, tongue-tied D.J. Schwenk can manage all this attention. No way at all. Not without a brain transplant. Not without breaking her heart.

Audiobook Review:

I’ve reviewed and mentioned this trilogy before because Natalie Moore *is* D.J.  Any time I think about the Dairy Queen trilogy I can hear Natalie Moore’s voice and I can see D.J. clearly.  Her Wisconsin accent is perfect and her differentiation between characters is great.  I read Dairy Queen to my sophomores, and many of them liked it, but I wonder if more of them would have enjoyed it if I could have used a Wisconsin accent like Moore uses.  Now that I’ve read Dairy Queen in the traditional way, I definitely recommend reading this series by audio.  I can’t say enough positive things about it.

Book Review:

Since Front and Center is the final book in this trilogy, I don’t want to say too much.  D.J. has become one of my favorite characters because she’s so honest and real.  She’s more confident in this final installment, but she’s still unsure of herself as an athlete and a young woman.  Watching her grow into herself was so enjoyable in this book.  This might sound odd, but I’m really proud of her.

I loved D.J.’s and Win’s relationship in Front and Center.  It’s obvious what an impact she made on her brother in The Off Season.  Win and D.J. need support from each other even though neither really wants to admit it.  Win plays a big part at the end of the book and it really warmed my heart.  I’d love to read something from Win’s point of view.

If you enjoy the Stupid Fast trilogy by Geoff Herbach then you’ll enjoy the Dairy Queen trilogy.  After finishing it I’ve decided that Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s trilogy is the female equivalent to Geoff Herbach’s.  D.J. and Felton’s lives parallel each other in terms of family, friends, sports, and relationships.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Audiobook Review: Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

May 19, 2013 by 2 Comments

Where'd You Go, Bernadette LBTitle: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Author: Maria Semple

Narrator: Kathleen Wilhoite

Publisher: Hachette Audio (Little, Brown and Company)

Release Date: April 2nd, 2013 (paperback), August 14th, 2012 (audio)

Interest: ALA Alex Award

Source: Purchased via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads):

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette’s intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world.

Audiobook Review:

The audio for Where’d You Go, Bernadette is thoroughly enjoyable simply because of the narrator, Kathleen Wilhoite.  She is expressive, enthusiastic, and engaging.  I have a hardcover copy of this, but one of my students was reading it when I decided that I wanted to read it as well.  My student still has my copy, and I’m having trouble remembering all of the characters’ names, so I can’t look back to be more specific.  I bring this up because Wilhoite did such a good job reading the characters that Bernadette refers to as “gnats”.  Many of the characters are, in my opinion, extremely dramatic.  I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed those parts as much if I read this traditionally.  The way Wilhoite depicted these dramatic episodes often made me smile and laugh because I could hear just how ridiculous the character was being.

While the audio is entertaining to listen to, it is often hard to follow.  The book is written using a series of emails, documents, letters, etc. which required me to focus more than normal while listening.  I had to pay attention to the speakers, how they were communicating, why this was going on, etc.  That was the most troubling part of the audio.

Book Review:

I loved the audio, but the actual book/story left me with mixed feelings.  It’s been a few weeks since I finished reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette and I honestly don’t know what I think yet.  For over half the book I kept wondering about the point of the story and where it was going.  I finished it and still don’t know.  Did I miss something major?  Am I not smart enough to get it?  Or is it really just a detailed account of a person’s life as a troubled adult?  I’m trying to read more adult fiction to appeal to more of my students, which is part of the reason I read this.  If a student asked me about it, I really wouldn’t know what to say.  I’m looking forward to my student finishing my copy so we can discuss it.

I do understand why the ALA Alex Award panel chose Maria Semple’s novel.  Bee is a great teen character who’s struggling because of her parents.  She’s smart and witty and fun, but she’s also dealing with her parents’ crumbling marriage and her mom’s bizarre episodes.  I know plenty of teens who could relate to Bee.  And ultimately, Bee’s voice becomes one of the most important voices in the entire novel.

The book part of this review is short since I don’t know exactly what to say about it.  I recommend the audio, and if you’ve read this, I would love to chat with you about it.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Review: Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman

May 15, 2013 by 5 Comments

Kindness for WeaknessTitle: Kindness for Weakness

Author: Shawn Goodman

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

Interest: Author / Contemporary / Guy Appeal

Source: ARC received from the author

Summary (From the publisher):

“In the spirit of [Walter Dean Myers’s] Monster meeting  The Catcher in the Rye, Goodman’s masterful story will remain with the reader long after the last page, echoing the raw truth that perhaps a real man is one who is both brave and scared.” —Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray

In an environment where kindness equals weakness, how do those who care survive?

Shawn Goodman will capture your heart with this gritty, honest, and moving story about a boy struggling to learn about friendship, brotherhood, and manhood in a society where violence is the answer to every problem.

Shawn Goodman’s sophomore release, Kindness for Weakness, made me feel an array of emotions: hope, grief, dismay, and more.  I absolutely loved Something Like Hope, so when I featured Kindness for Weakness on Waiting on Wednesday, Shawn offered to send me an ARC of it.  I had requested a copy via NetGalley, and hadn’t received a response yet, so I accepted his kind offer.  Regardless of how I received a copy of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to offer it to my students.

What I like most about Shawn Goodman’s writing is how honest and real it is.  He works with troubled kids as a school psychologist and it’s evident in his writing.  He really understands what teens are going through and how much they suffer.  He understands what a bad home life can do to a teen.  He knows how difficult it is for troubled teens to trust themselves and others.  The characters in Something Like Hope and Kindness for Weakness display this deep understanding.

James is a character I cheered for while reading.  He’s really trying to find his way and learn what it means to be a man, to stand up himself, and how to trust himself and those around him.  His mom is basically absent, her boyfriend Ron is abusive, and his brother isn’t the best role model.  Thankfully James has an encouraging English teacher, but he’s really the only supportive person James has at the beginning of the story.  He has so much potential if only he believed himself and had support outside of school.  James’s character made me think of students I have at school.  He’s a good kid that’s stuck in a bad situation and ultimately makes poor choices because of this.  The reader, fortunately, can see his potential and goodness even if James can’t.

I had a difficult time reading this because of the guards at Morton (the juvenile detention facility).  They are brutal and horrible.  There are some shining characters there like Samson and Mr. Eboue who really make a difference for James and some of the other characters.  I hope the brutality at Morton is an exception and not the rule, but part of me thinks that’s not the case.  I have had students like James and like the other characters in Kindness for Weakness.  They may make bad decisions, but I know they need guidance and someone to believe in them.  I don’t work in a detention facility so I can’t understand what that’s like, but the teacher in me hopes they can and are better than Morton.  The setting Shawn Goodman created in Kindness for Weakness really plays a pivotal role in the book.

I will admit that I had a difficult time keeping all of the characters straight and probably could have done without a couple of them.  Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The last few chapters had me racing to finish, but also cringing at the brutality.  The ending, however, shocked me.  I’m not sure what to think, and even though I was upset, the ending works.  I’m even tempted to read The Sea Wolf by Jack London which plays a strong part in James’s development and the development of the story.

Kindness for Weakness definitely has a place in classrooms and libraries.  I highly recommend reading it and handing it to a teen reader.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

April 24, 2013 by 2 Comments

Beautiful DisasterTitle: Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Publisher: Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)

Release Date: August 14th, 2012 (paperback)

Interest: Student Recommended

Source: Purchased

Summary (From Goodreads): The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire wasn’t on my reading radar until two of my seniors started raving about it.  I was at Target last week, saw a copy that was marked 20% off, and decided on a whim to buy it.  I was hooked as soon as I started reading.

I do, however, have a lot of mixed reactions about it.  Books that fall in the New Adult category are naturally going to be more mature than YA, in my opinion, so that’s why I hesitate sometimes when I read them.  As a mature adult, I can look at Travis and Abby’s relationship and make sense of their relationship and all of the drama.  In Beautiful Disaster, I’m really not as concerned about the sex in the story as I’m concerned about the dynamics of their relationship.  The sex isn’t overly graphic or too prevalent.  My issue is that their relationship is dysfunctional and bordering on dangerous.  Travis isn’t physically abusive, but he is incredibly dependent on Abby and extremely violent around her on an almost regular basis.  My concern is that my students will read this and think that Travis is cute and sweet and the kind of guy they want to date.  And to be honest, he does have many of those characteristics and grows throughout the story.  Abby isn’t always much better.  She toys with Travis and is often wishy-washy which she knows drives him crazy.  They have a really messed up relationship, but it has plenty of moments that shine.  I’m going to add Beautiful Disaster to my classroom library, but I’m going to take my time book talking this and expressing my concerns.  I’ll make sure to discuss it with any of my students that read it because I want to make sure they understand the difference between a stable relationship and a dysfunctional one.

Now I know I harped on Travis and Abby in that last paragraph, but don’t let that make you think I didn’t like them or the book.  There were plenty of times I wanted to scream at both of them.  But there were also plenty of times that I loved seeing them together and cheered them on.  They’re both very flawed characters and their relationship brings their insecurities and flaws to light, but it also helps them grow and mature.  I really felt like I knew them.  At one point, I was so upset about an event in the book that I called my friend, who had already read it, to vent and express my concerns.  I felt attached to Travis and Abby while I was reading.  Jamie McGuire has done a fabulous job write these two characters and their supporting characters as well.  I could easily see and feel everything that was happening in the story.

I do have to point out that Beautiful Disaster is full of DRAMA.  Lots and lots of drama.  Abby and Travis bring most of the drama on themselves, but there’s plenty there that’s outside of their control.  I can’t complain about it too much because it made the story intense and exciting, but towards the end a few things came up that sort of made me shake my head.  I’m not sure some of it was really all that vital to the story at that point.

I’ll definitely be reading Walking Disaster which is told from Travis’s point of view.  I’m not going to lie, I really liked him.  He’s often an idiot, but he grew on me, and I would love to read something from his point of view to better understand him.

If you’ve read either of these books, I’d love to know your thoughts!  I’m curious to know if any other high school teachers have read this and added it to their libraries.  I’d also love to know if I’m off base in regards to my concerns.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Audiobook Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

April 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Prodigy audiobookTitle: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu

Narrators: Steven Kaplan & Mariel Stern

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: January 29th, 2013

Interest: Series

Source: Audiobook purchased via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads): June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Audiobook Review: I really enjoyed listening to Steven Kaplan and Mariel Stern narrate Prodigy by Marie Lu.  I’ve decided that I like male audiobook narrators more than female narrators, and I’m not entirely sure why, but it holds true with Steven Kaplan narrating Day’s parts.  He does a nice job differentiating between the characters, even more so than Mariel Stern did.  I liked Mariel Stern for the part of June because she has almost a lilt to her voice that sounds right for June.  The audiobook is a little over ten hours long, but it felt like it went faster than that.  I didn’t listen to Legend, so I’m not sure how I’ll read the third book in this trilogy.  I liked the audio enough that I’d be happy reading it that way.

Book Review: Prodigy picks up right where Legend left off.  I had a hard time getting into it when I was reading it in the traditional sense, which is why I switched to the audiobook.  I don’t know why I was having a hard time reading it because once I started the audio I was really into the story.

We learn a lot more about June and Day and the world is developed even more.  I liked getting more information about Anden, the Republic, and the Patriots.  I’m actually kind of torn about Anden because I didn’t want to like him, but I really do.  He and June spend more time together in Prodigy and their interactions add a great level of intensity to the story.  June and Day are more a part than together in Prodigy, but it made the scenes where they are together even more enjoyable to read.  There’s lots of angst between them in this book.

I didn’t love Prodigy which makes me feel like the only person in the book world who didn’t love it.  I can’t even put my finger on what it was missing.  A few parts kind of dragged, and it just wasn’t as good as Legend.  The end of book is what really saved it for me.  There’s lots of action and excitement towards the end.  The actual ending, however, just about broke my heart.  I have NO idea what to expect in the last book.  I’m hoping that something will miraculously change so the story ends the way I want it to, but right now, I’m not so sure.  What an emotional ending.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

April 20, 2013 by 1 Comment

Out of the EasyTitle: Out of the Easy

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Publisher: Philomel Books

Release Date: February 12th, 2013

Interest: Historical Fiction / Author

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Ruta Sepetys is a wonderful writer and Out of the Easy is proof that she’s only getting better.  I was completely sucked into Josie’s world and didn’t want to stop reading.  One of the things I love the most about this sophomore release is that even though it’s historical fiction, I felt like I was reading something contemporary.  I typically have a difficult time enjoying historical fiction, and that simply wasn’t the case when I was reading Out of the Easy.

I love that this book is set in 1950s New Orleans.  The atmosphere Ruta Sepetys created is outstanding and made me feel like I was living every moment with Josie.  I don’t know if I’ve ever really considered visiting New Orleans, but I want to now!  I enjoyed how the setting affected the character development and voices of characters other than Josie.  Josie is originally from Detroit and that early mid-west upbringing never really left her.  New Orleans almost felt like another character in the novel.

Speaking of characters, I will admit that I had a difficult time keeping track of such a big cast of characters.  That’s really my own complaint with Out of the Easy because it kept me from getting to know some of them better like I would have appreciated.  I really wanted to get to know Jesse better than I did, and I think I would have if a few characters weren’t as involved in the storyline.

Josie is a smart, witty, and fun character to read.  I don’t envy her life, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her try to rise above it.  She doesn’t want the life her mother leads.  She doesn’t want to continue cleaning up the brothel.  She’s incredibly smart and motivated.  It’s obvious that she has the potential to go places and leave New Orleans behind, but she still has to jump the hurdles that are keeping her from getting what she wants.  I loved the mystery in the story, but I loved wondering if Josie would achieve her goals even more.

I definitely recommend reading Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.  She’s truly a gifted writer and I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: ,

Review: Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting

April 15, 2013 by 1 Comment

Dead SilenceTitle: Dead Silence

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: April 16th, 2013

Interest: Series

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

I think I’ve said this in all of my reviews of The Body Finder series, but I really love it.  They’re fun, suspenseful, and romantic.

I’m not sure if Dead Silence is concluding Kimberly Derting’s series because there isn’t a fifth book listed on Goodreads.  I liked the ending, but it didn’t feel like a series closer.  Maybe there will be a spin-off?  Regardless, I’ve really enjoyed reading about Violet and “watching” her grow as a character.  She really comes into her own in this book.  I feel like she really has a sense of who she is, what her ability/gift can do, and who her true friends are.

One of the reasons I like The Body Finder series so much is because Violet is so independent.  Sure, she leans on her boyfriend Jay quite a bit, but I never get the sense that she needs him.  Violet makes her own decisions and does what she thinks is right.  Many YA heroines look to their male counterpart/love interest for guidance and help, and that simply isn’t the case with Violet.

Kimberly Derting finally gives us more background information about Violet’s ability and the group she’s working with.  I’m not going to say much about this because I don’t want to spoil anything, but the new layer to the story is really interesting and answers so many questions.

Like the other books, we get to read from a killer’s point of view.  And like the other books, it adds an exciting sense of creepiness and suspense.  I didn’t have as many questions about who was behind everything in Dead Silence as I did in previous books, but I still enjoyed it.

If you haven’t picked up this series, I highly recommend that you do.  It’s very popular in my classroom and really enjoyable.

Filed Under: Reviews, Upcoming Releases Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

April 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Eleanor & ParkTitle: Eleanor & Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: February 26th, 2013

Interest: Positive reviews / Historical fiction

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads):

“Bono met his wife in high school,” Park says.
“So did Jerry Lee Lewis,” Eleanor answers.
“I’m not kidding,” he says.
“You should be,” she says, “we’re sixteen.”
“What about Romeo and Juliet?”
“Shallow, confused, then dead.”
”I love you,” Park says.
“Wherefore art thou,” Eleanor answers.
“I’m not kidding,” he says.
“You should be.”

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

I’m really tempted to simply write, “Eleanor & Park is fabulous. You must read it now!” and leave it at that.  I’m not, however, because I really want to gush over everything I love about it.

I felt such an array of emotions while reading Rainbow Rowell’s YA debut.  I laughed plenty of times, and I think I teared up just as many times as I laughed.  Eleanor and Park come alive on the page and I couldn’t help but love them.  There were so many times that I wanted to hug Eleanor.  She needs lots of hugs.  Park is absolutely adorable and so real.  And his parents?!  I ended up loving them big time.

Something that surprised me about Eleanor & Park is that it’s written in third person.  I didn’t even realize it at first because it’s *that* well done.  I never felt like I was reading it as an outsider; I always knew exactly how Eleanor and Park felt.  I’m often turned off by books written in third person because it distracts me.  The characters in third person novels don’t always stick with me, but that’s not the case with Eleanor and Park.  Rainbow Rowell wrote third person the way it should be written.

I love that Eleanor & Park is a love story, but it’s not an overly mushy love story.  It’s a love story that’s sweet and tender.  It’s even bittersweet at times.  But it’s also a story about self-discovery and opening up.  Both and Eleanor and Park are discovering who they are, and they’re discovering it through each other and through their relationship.  Park doesn’t need to be like his friends and who his father wants him to be.  Eleanor discovers what a family really is and how to love herself.  Really, Eleanor & Park is simply perfect and you need to read it.

I have Eleanor & Park labeled as historical fiction since it takes place in 1986.  It’s awful labeling that time period as historical fiction, but for today’s teens, that is historical fiction.  There isn’t a big moment in history taking place in this book, but there are plenty of 80s allusions present that I’m sure many of my students will wonder about.

To sum this up, Eleanor & Park is already a favorite of 2013.  There’s no doubt in my mind about that.  Rainbow Rowell can’t write another YA novel fast enough because I want to read everything she writes.  Thankfully she has some adult/new adult novels out that I can read.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Flash Reviews (21)

April 1, 2013 by 3 Comments

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the UniverseTitle: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased

Summary (From Goodreads):

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Flash Review:  I wish I would have written a full review of this when I finished reading it, but I really just wanted to sit back and enjoy how much I enjoyed it.  Is that weird?  I had never even heard of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe before it received multiple ALA awards this year.  I’m happy it received so many honors because this book deserves attention.  I have a feeling it will really only speak to specific readers, but it still deserves praise and a wide readership.  I’m going to recommend it to John Green fans, which I realize is a broad scope of readers, but I think those who enjoy the verisimilitude in Green’s books will enjoy it in this book.  The conversations between Dante and Aristotle are simple and complex and beautiful.  Their story is beautiful.  I couldn’t put it down, and then trying to immediately put into words all of my feelings when I was done was nearly impossible.  I read it on my Kindle and when I finished I knew I had to find a way to get a copy with all of the medals in my classroom.  So far I’ve only been able to find a copy with the Printz honor medal.  I know I haven’t really “reviewed” this, but I still hope you read it.  It’s going to be a favorite of 2013.

Blood Red RoadTitle: Blood Red Road

Author: Moira Young

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Borrowed from the library

Summary (From Goodreads): Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she’s a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Flash Review:  There are only a few books I chose for my Young Adult Lit II class without reading them first, which I know isn’t best practice, but I chose them based on LOTS of discussion with trusted teachers and librarians.  I haven’t been disappointed in those choices, and Blood Red Road was one of them.  The first thing that caught me off guard while reading was the dialect.  It was harder for me to read than the dialect in The Knife of Never Letting Go.  And the lack of quotation marks around the dialogue made it even harder, but ultimately I loved it.  I’m still not sure why Moira Young chose to skip the quotation marks, but I think it will make for great discussion when we read it in class.  Saba is a pretty awesome heroine; her bravery and overall hardcore attitude often put Katniss to shame.  The summary’s description of Blood Red Road being an “epic love story” isn’t accurate, in my opinion.  There’s a nice love story, but I would never call it epic.  When I think of an epic love story I think of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor or something sweeping like that.  Overall, I would have liked to know Saba more than I did; I felt like I knew Jack and Emmi better than Saba.  This is a book that will appeal to many readers who enjoy action and adventure with a little bit of romance.

Just One DayTitle: Just One Day

Author: Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

Flash Review: It seems like everyone absolutely loved Just One Day.  I gave it three stars on Goodreads, but that’s mostly because of a few scenes at the beginning and some with Dee (a character introduced later in the story) in the middle.  If it weren’t for those few things, I wouldn’t have finished this book.  Allyson is one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever read, which makes me feel like a horrible person for thinking that because she’s depressed.  I think it’s more the reasons why she acts the way she does for over half of the book that bothers me so much.  She knew Willem for one day, hence the title, and is completely hung up on him for months.  Really?  Get over it.  Maybe if I was sixteen or seventeen and reading this I would have felt differently.  The big reason behind her feeling so low is her mother, which is why I feel bad saying she’s so annoying.  I simply wouldn’t call Just One Day romantic.  It’s about soul-searching and discovering yourself.  It borders on New Adult since Allyson is away at college and breaking away from her parents.  If I had gone into reading this prepared for all of that, maybe I would have liked it more.  I wish Gayle Forman would just write from a guy’s point of view because I didn’t think If I Stay was so great either, but I LOVED Where She Went.  I’m hoping I feel the same way about Just One Year which is from Willem’s perspective.

As always, thank you for the Flash Reviews idea, GreenBeanTeenQueen!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Game by Barry Lyga

March 22, 2013 by 3 Comments

GameTitle: Game

Author: Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Release Date: April 16th, 2013

Interest: Series / Author

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jasper (Jazz) Dent, the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer.

When a desperate New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help with a new case, Jazz can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force running scared with no leads. So Jazz and his girlfriend Connie hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

Meanwhile, Jazz’s dad Billy is watching…and waiting.

I need to start off by saying that I enjoyed Game even more than I enjoyed I Hunt Killers.  Barry Lyga has done an excellent job building Jazz’s character and creating an intense and thoroughly enjoyable story.  It’s still gory like I Hunt Killers, so be prepared.

What I liked about Game by Barry Lyga:

  • The mystery and thrill.  The third person narrative switches from Jazz to other characters, but the best is when it focuses on the killer.  I love it when murder mysteries switch to this perspective because it adds an extra amount of intensity and creepiness.
  • Connie.  I enjoyed her character in I Hunt Killers, but I love how much more we get to know her in Game.  She’s smart and witty and really balances Jazz.  And her bigger role in this book adds so much more to the plot.
  • The pacing.  I took my time reading Game because I was enjoying it so much and I started it so far before the release date, but the pacing makes it a fast read.  I usually had to force myself to put it down.  There’s twist after twist in this story, which made it so much fun to read.
  • New characters.  I don’t want to give too much away, but an added character midway through the story kept me on my toes.  I kept second-guessing my thoughts about this character and if there was more to this person than I originally thought.
  • The ending.  What. A. Cliffhanger!  Can I have the third book now please?

What I disliked about Game:

  • There isn’t anything I disliked about Game :)
Filed Under: Reviews, Upcoming Releases Tagged With: , , , , , ,
«Older Posts