Tag Archives: Multiple Points of View

Review: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

16 Apr

The Last Echo coverTitle: The Last Echo, 358 pages

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: Harper (HarperCollins)

Release Date: April 17th, 2012

Interest: Favorite Series

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): In the end, all that’s left is an echo…

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye….

First of all, if you haven’t read this series yet then you shouldn’t read this review, but you SHOULD read The Body Finder pronto!

For those of you who are up to speed with Kimberly Derting’s fabulous series, I positively loved The Last Echo!  It has all of the normal goodies from The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead (mystery, suspense, romance, Jay, etc.), but The Last Echo also feels more mature which fits with where Violet is in her life.  She’s joined Sara Priest and others to help the police find murderers which is a very adult job to take on as a teenager.  This means Violet’s working more closely with Rafe and consequently there’s more tension between those two and also between Jay and Violet.

I like where Kimberly Derting is taking the story and how she’s developing Violet’s character.  Watching Violet trying to navigate through her life as a teen, but also as a teen with a supernatural ability and adult job is really intriguing and has kept me reading the story.  One of the reason I enjoy The Body Finder series so much is because while it has a supernatural element, I feel like I’m still reading something realistic.  Jay isn’t the typical paranormal guy love interest who acts like he’s 30 even though he’s a teenager.  He still rings true for me as a regular teen guy who’s really in love, and just a bit jealous as well.  Violet’s life isn’t exactly normal, but she she still has common worries like other teens her age.  Keeping these characters grounded in the story makes it more believable and entertaining.  I feel like I’m watching Violet grow up and I can’t wait to see where the story takes her in book four.

Of course, while I love the reality, I was completely engrossed in the mystery!  Like always, I had so many predictions and only some were close to accurate.  This “girlfriend collector” is creepy!  As in the past books we get to read sections from his point of view, and when I read those sections I kept making sure my door was locked.  He seems so unsuspecting, but not someone I would want to cross paths with.  The Body Finder had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, but not as much in Desires of the Dead.  I’m happy to report that The Last Echo is very similar to The Body Finder (and then some) in regards to mystery and suspense!

Violet and Jay’s relationship in these books is swoon-worthy.  It didn’t feel quite as steamy in The Last Echo, but it’s becoming more of a relationship of understanding and acceptance while still maintaining a strong sense of romance.  Jay is still always by Violet’s side and supporting her, but the tension with Rafe in the picture and Violet’s new job adds new levels of stress.  Both Jay and Violet are working on trusting each other and working together to be more supportive and understanding.  Jay is still one of my all-time favorite Y.A. crushes.  I won’t say too much more about the relationship because there’s so much left to ponder at the end of Desires of the Dead.

Overall, I am incredibly thankful that HarperCollins sent me this ARC because The Body Finder series is one of my favorites and continues to be.  This book rocked and left me excited for the fourth book!

Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

11 Apr

The List Book CoverTitle: The List, 332 pages

Author: Siobhan Vivian

Publisher: Push (Scholastic)

Release Date: April 1st, 2012

Interest: Multiple POV / Bullying

Source: ARC Received at NCTE Convention

Summary (From Goodreads): An intense look at the rules of high school attraction — and the price that’s paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn’t matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, “pretty” and “ugly.” And it’s also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

I haven’t read any other books by Siobhan Vivian, but she has been on my radar.  When I saw The List at the Scholastic booth at NCTE, I decided that was going to be my first Siobhan Vivian book.  It’s a fast read and one that kept me turning the pages, but I have mixed feelings about it.

What Worked:

  • Siobhan Vivian created some very real characters.  Danielle is one of my favorites because she really came alive on the pages.  She’s voted as the ugliest in her class and dubbed “Dan the Man.”  She’s a gifted swimmer, especially as a freshman.  She has a new boyfriend, and now that the list has been released she fears he won’t see her as beautiful anymore.  I was a swimmer in high school and worried about my body, my shoulders in particular, becoming too masculine.  This wasn’t something that Danielle worried about until the list was released because she was wrapped up in her boyfriend and hoping to make the varsity team.  Her insecurity and everything else that happened as a result of the list really resonated with me.  A few of the other characters stuck with me as well, but Danielle’s character is still on my mind.
  • Even though I think The List would have been a stronger book with fewer characters, the constant switch from character to character made this a fast read with some added mystery.  Most times one character’s section would end at a point of intrigue and then switch to the next character leaving me wanting more from that particular character.  I can see The List being a high interest and popular book in my classroom, especially since a few of my girls in class were already showing interest while I was reading it during SSR.

What Didn’t Work:

  • My biggest issue with Siobhan Vivian’s newest book is that too much was thrown into one book that takes place within a week.  We have bullying, eating disorders, self-esteem issues and more.  These are all important issues to write about, but I was left feeling like Siobhan Vivian wanted to write a book about all of these issues and couldn’t decide on just one.  I think it can be done, and I appreciate what was attempted, but it missed the mark.  Maybe if the book took place for longer than a week I would have bought into this more.  I can see how this list changed how people viewed the characters and how the characters changed because of the list, but some of it was pretty drastic.
  • Another problem I have is that there are so many stereotypes portrayed in The List.  The List features a pretty girl who isn’t very smart, the ugly “freak”, the jock, the mean girl and so on.  Honestly, we get a deeper characterization than some of these stereotypes, but the stereotypes are still present.  The List would have packed more punch with fewer or none of these stereotypes.
  • The ending. I’ve read mixed reviews about the ending of The List, many of which I’ve thought myself.  Personally, I didn’t like the ending because it leaves so many loose ends.  Others appreciate the ending because it’s not realistic to have an ending with closure when the book takes place within a week.  Without spoiling the story, I understand what those reviewers are saying because it makes sense.  My problem is that some of the characters could have had a better ending because their issues weren’t as problematic as others.  On the other hand, one or two of the characters were facing such large problems and suffered so much during the week, I didn’t believe their endings because by the end of their part of the book I had the feeling that their affliction took place over a longer period of time.

Other Reviews:

Reading Everywhere
A Blog About Nothing
Stacked

Student Book Review: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

16 Mar

Personally, I had a hard time getting into The Amulet of Samarkand and never finished it, but plenty of my students enjoy this trilogy.  Today’s student reviewer, Alec, took my Y.A. Lit class because his girlfriend took it and recommended it and because he wanted to enjoy reading more.  When he was deciding on his project, he told me that he really liked reading The Hobbit, so he knew he wanted to read something like that.  Since he felt confident reading fantasy, he asked if he could create his own project and try a variety of genres to see what else he enjoys.  His favorite of the three books is The Amulet of Samarkand, with Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers and Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill in second and third.

Title: The Amulet of Samarkand

Author: Jonathan Strand

Student Reviewer: Alec

Summary (From Goodreads): Nathaniel is a boy magician-in-training, sold to the government by his birth parents at the age of five and sent to live as an apprentice to a master. Powerful magicians rule Britain, and its empire, and Nathaniel is told his is the “ultimate sacrifice” for a “noble destiny.”

If leaving his parents and erasing his past life isn’t tough enough, Nathaniel’s master, Arthur Underwood, is a cold, condescending, and cruel middle-ranking magician in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The boy’s only saving grace is the master’s wife, Martha Underwood, who shows him genuine affection that he rewards with fierce devotion. Nathaniel gets along tolerably well over the years in the Underwood household until the summer before his eleventh birthday. Everything changes when he is publicly humiliated by the ruthless magician Simon Lovelace and betrayed by his cowardly master who does not defend him.

Nathaniel vows revenge. In a Faustian fever, he devours magical texts and hones his magic skills, all the while trying to appear subservient to his master. When he musters the strength to summon the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus to avenge Lovelace by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, the boy magician plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything he could ever imagine.

Student Review:

This book is about a young boy named Nathaniel, who is sold to the government to become a magician’s apprentice. It takes place in London where the government is run by magicians. His master is Arthur Underwood who is very up-tight, cold, and (in Nathaniel’s eyes) very cruel in the ways that he raises him. He steals an amulet from a high ranked magician to get back at him for public humiliation in front of one of his professors. He is also betrayed by his master, Underwood, who doesn’t defend him when Simon Lovelace Comes to get back his Amulet.

I really liked this book. It is the first in the Bartimaeus Trilogy and I plan on reading the other two. It is filled with action and there is always something going on. It is told through Nathaniel’s eyes for the most part. I liked the fact that the magicians don’t actually have any powers. They have to summon some sort of a being. They can summon anything from messenger imps to afrits. Nathaniel summons Bartimaeus and the way it works is that the summoned must listen to and do whatever the magician wants them to do. I love the way that Bartimaeus is constantly nagging with Nathaniel and his sarcastic remarks had me laughing out loud. It is told from the point of view of Nathaniel and Bartimaeus. I liked reading it more when it is being told through Bartimaeus’s eyes. He is constantly shape-shifting and his view on everything is hilarious.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books even a little bit. It takes some time to get used to the world that the book is set in, but if you can get past that it is a very good book. I very much liked this book and plan on reading the entire trilogy.

Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

12 Mar

I Hunt Killers CoverTitle: I Hunt Killers, 368 pages

Author: Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: April 3rd, 2012

Interest: Author / Guy appeal / Mystery

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From the Publisher’s Website):

What if the world’s worst serial killer…was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he’s also the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could–from the criminal’s point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo’s Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret–could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga is an edgy thriller that I really enjoyed.  I love finding YA crime novels because so many of my students enjoy mysteries and Dean Koontz novels.  Many of my Dean Koontz fans have a hard time trying YA, so being able to hand them a couple of good YA mysteries or crime novels is always appreciated.  One thing to keep in mind about I Hunt Killers is that considering the very nature of the book, it’s sometimes very graphic and descriptive.  Jazz has lived a horrific life that I can’t imagine any child experiencing.  His memories and the crime scenes are often gruesome.  I believe in allowing students to self-censor, but knowing my students and having read this book will help me recommend I Hung Killers to the right students.  If you plan on adding Barry Lyga’s newest novel to your library or class library, which I hope you do, I recommend reading it first.

Because of Jazz’s upbringing, and the way his father has practically brain-washed him, Jazz is a complicated character.  He’s incredibly scared of becoming a serial killer, but he’s also sometimes intrigued by the idea of being a serial killer.  These conflicting emotions force him to keep his best friend and girlfriend at a safe distance.  He can imagine how easy it would be to kill both of them, but then he’ll talk himself into believing that some serial killers have feelings and care for others.  Jazz is lucky to have his best friend Howie and his girlfriend Connie because they believe in him and trust him.  Despite Jazz’s internal suffering, I never lost hope in him that he’s ultimately good.  I’m really impressed with his character.

I wasn’t really bothered by the graphic scenes, but I can imagine some of my students having a hard time with them.  Fortunately there really aren’t too many scenes like this depicted.  The tension, however, is almost always present.  It kept me turning the pages because it’s so well done.  I’m really happy Barry Lyga included Howie’s character because he adds the perfect amount of comic relief.  He’s a great side kick character that I kept rooting for.  It doesn’t seem to matter how many dangerous or bad situations he gets into with Jazz, because he never gives up on him.  If it weren’t for Howie, the tension and suspense in I Hunt Killers would probably become overwhelming.

Throughout I Hunt Killers we get the killer’s point of view which added another element of mystery and intrigue to the story.  It reminded me of Kimberly Derting’s The Body Finder series because we also get to read the killers’ point of view.  These two novels would pair well together, although if you’re a fan of The Body Finder because of the romance, it’s important to note that there really isn’t much romance in I Hunt Killers.

Review: Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

31 Jan

Title: Leverage, 425 pages

Author: Joshua C. Cohen

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (Penguin Group)

Released: February 17th, 2011

Interest: Cybils Y.A. Fiction finalist / 2011 Debut Author

Source: Purchased

Summary (From Goodreads): The football field is a battlefield

There’s an extraordinary price for victory at Oregrove High. It is paid on – and off – the football field. And it claims its victims without mercy – including the most innocent bystanders.

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school’s salvation.

Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, Leverage illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.

Joshua C. Cohen is an author to watch!  Leverage is an edgy, emotional, gripping debut.  It will appeal to those who enjoy sports, but it’s about more than sports.  It’s about loyalty, courage, and standing up for what’s right, even when the odds are against you.

Kelly at Stacked has been telling me to read this for months, but I can’t say why I put it off for so long.  I’m actually made at myself for waiting so long to read Leverage.  When I told my students about the Y.A. Cybils finalists, one of my Y.A. Lit students asked if he could read it for his project (sports in Y.A.).  He reported back to me as he was reading it, and eventually another student in class went to our library to get himself a copy.  Once my student finished Leverage, he came into class telling me all about it and preparing me for some of the events/scenes in the novel.  After this interaction with him, I started it right away.  Just like my student, I came into school and kept up our conversation, this time sharing my thoughts about the story.  This kind of interaction/relationship with my students is why I love sharing books with them.

I’m happy one of my older students read Leverage first because it’s a mature read.  I knew something bad was going to happen as the prank war escalated, but even after my student’s warning, I never expected it to get as bad as it did.  Without spoiling the novel, one scene in particular is horrific and haunting.  I had a feeling something like that might happen, but I hoped it wouldn’t.  It’s a graphic scene, so if you’re working with younger students, you  might want to read Leverage first before you hand it to one of them.  Or at the very least, let these readers know that it’s a mature and sometimes graphic novel.  While I was heartbroken after this event, I understand why Cohen included it.  It really sets up the characterization of Danny and Kurt.

I really enjoy novels that switch points of view, because it allows for more understanding of the events in the story.  Kurt and Danny are written so well, that I couldn’t choose which character I preferred more.  Both characters are flawed and motivated by their emotions.  Kurt has a past  no person would wish on another, and Danny is searching for praise and perfection.  Kurt’s goal is to leave his past behind, so he’s working out constantly in hopes for a football scholarship.  Football also allows him to release his anger and frustration.  His helmet helps him speak without a stutter, which makes him feel more powerful and in control.  He can also hide his scars, both physical and emotional.  Danny’s mother died, so now it’s just him and his dad.  His dad doesn’t seem to take Danny’s sport seriously, he sees gymnastics as a hobby.  Danny’s hoping to become captain one day and receive a scholarship, but he also wants his dad’s approval and recognition.  Danny and Kurt may play different sports and be vastly different physically, but both have similar aspirations.  It’s not really until the heartbreaking scene that these two characters come together and work towards justice.  It’s this scene that really shows how flawed Danny and Kurt are, but even while I was yearning for them to do something, I understood their hesitation.  Joshua C. Cohen not only created complex characters, he has written a novel that makes the reader question what he/she would do if placed in Danny or Kurt’s position.  Once you think about this from the character’s perspective, it’s difficult to judge them for their actions and/or inaction.

Leverage isn’t a novel for the faint of heart, because like Kelly told me, it will devastate you.  And while much of the novel is dismal, I knew there would be some hope towards the end.  Although the ending itself, I’m not so sure about.  Parts of it didn’t feel very believable to me, but that might depend on the reader.  If you decide to read Leverage, be prepared for an intense reading experience and an emotional connection to the characters.  Leverage is a story about bullying to the extreme, and it’s one that I highly recommend.

Book Trailer Thursday (46)–After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steve E. Wedel

22 Dec

I’ve read some good reviews for After Obsession, and I haven’t finished Need by Carrie Jones yet, but from what I’ve read so far I know I enjoy her writing.  Carrie was at NCTE signing her books so I finally bought my copy of After Obsession.  I love how eye-catching the cover is, and this trailer is sure to grab some interest as well.  Enjoy!

Summary (From Goodreads):

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can’t stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They’re wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it’s neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It’s Alan’s cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

 

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

 

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

20 Dec

Marie Lu Legend

305 pp.  Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)  2011

Interest: 2011 Debut Author

Source: ARC received at NCTE

Summary (From Goodreads): What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Dystopian YA novels have really taken off in the past couple years.  I really enjoy this genre of YA, but I’ve found myself becoming pickier about which titles I’ll read.  I read multiple positive reviews for Legend and a number of teachers and librarians that I trust recommended it.  Fortunately I received an ARC at NCTE and I’m so thankful I took everyone’s recommendations!

One of the reasons I’m picky about reading dystopian is because it gets overwhelming at times.  Some of the stories become upsetting after a while, that being the nature of the genre, which causes me to need a break or to be picky about the titles I read.  Legend is an excellent example of a dystopian novel, but it’s also a little lighter than some of the others.  Yes, there’s death and the fear of death, but there’s also a balanced mix of humor and romance.

Reading novels told from more than one point of view is always enjoyable for me.  So many of my students are requesting titles written in this way.  Day is our male protagonist and June is our female protagonist.  Day is one of the nation’s most wanted criminals and June is one of the nation’s prodigies.  Our seemingly opposite characters will cross paths after the murder of June’s brother, Metias.  Both characters are fighting for their families and discovering unsettling truths along the way.  Marie Lu did a very good job developing Day and June, so much so that not only did I connect with both of them, I was able to distinguish between their voices despite the differences in font colors for each point of view.

Teen guys and girls will enjoy this novel because even though there’s romance, there’s plenty of action and suspense.  So many scenes had me holding my breath and eager to read more.  I can easily picture teens connecting with Day and June’s loyalty to their family.  June wants to avenge her brother’s death and Day wants to protect his family from the plague.  I can picture readers connecting with June’s sense of patriotism for her country, especially at the beginning of the story.  Our readers that question our government might connect with Day and his actions against the government, especially when they understand his motives.  So many connections can be made with these characters and the universal themes incorporated in the novel.

Legend is a fast-paced, exciting debut with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers begging for the second novel.  Parts of the story were predictable, but that never kept me from fully enjoying it.  Legend is now one of my favorite dystopian novels.

Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

8 Nov

Sara Zarr How to Save a Life

341 pp.  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release: October 2011

Source: ARC received from the publisher

Summary (From Goodreads): Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends–everyone who wants to support her. You can’t lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that’s exactly what it feels like she’s trying to do. And that’s decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it’s like to grow up unwanted–to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one.

Prepare for gushing because this novel is beautiful and amazing.  I’ve been a fan of Sara Zarr since a family friend gave me a copy of Story of a Girl as a college graduation present.  Story of a Girl has remained my favorite up until now.  How to Save a Life is such a strong novel and very different from Zarr’s other novels.

All of Zarr’s novels are strong in story and characters, but there’s a different feel to How to Save a Life.  I finished reading it thinking, “Wow.  This is her stand out, best book yet.”  The two point of views are seamless, dynamic and natural.  I could picture Jill and Mandy perfectly, but I could also picture her mom, Dylan and Ravi with ease as well.  I finished this yesterday and I’m still thinking about Jill and Mandy; I connected with them on such an emotional level.  Mandy is naive and often socially awkward; I often felt awkward for her, especially at the beginning.  She is also understanding, compassionate, and true.  Jill is grief-stricken and sometimes harsh, but she wants to open up and be a new, friendlier Jill.  I couldn’t help but fall for these girls.  So often I was willing them to communicate with one another and with the people around them.  Watching them develop a friendship and begin to trust others was one of the best parts of the novel.  Sara Zarr really did a fantastic job writing these characters.

The story itself is beautifully layered and more than just a story about a girl giving her baby up for adoption.  This is a story about the many ways of dealing with grief.  Jill has isolated herself.  Her friends aren’t easy to get back, her relationship with her boyfriend is strained, and she doesn’t know how to connect with her mother.  The relationship between Jill and her mother, Robin, is believable.  Sometimes these relationships are exaggerated in novels, but I never felt like either of their interactions or reactions were over the top or unbelievable.  And this is a side note, but even though I’ve never met Sara Zarr, I kept picturing her as I read Robin.  Maybe that’s weird, but I did.  Mandy is of course battling the conflicting emotions involved with giving up her baby.  This conflict is made deeper because of her own need for a mother.  Mandy’s mother is absent, cold and simply not what a mother should be.  She’s still connected to her and often recites her advice, but her need for someone like Robin is obvious.  Mandy broke my heart more than once.  I love a book like How to Save a Life because I can offer it to more students considering the rich layers.  I can hand this to a student looking for a book about teen pregnancy, grief, strained relationships with mothers, losing a parent, finding ways to trust again, and I could go on.

Sara Zarr has written a phenomenal book.  I absolutely loved it, and of course that means I’m struggling to write the review.  I hope I’ve found the right words to express the awesome that is this novel.  How to Save a Life is an emotional novel that will warm your heart.

Top Books Read in September

16 Oct

This school year I’m doing something different with my book check-out system.  I’m still using a binder, but now I have it separated by class period; it seems to be a much better system because the kids can find everything easier as they check in and check out books.  Because I’m doing this now, I decided to break up these posts according to grade or class.  Right now I have a few classes of freshmen and one YA Lit class, so I have two different sets.  If I’m really ambitious, maybe I’ll start breaking it down according to guys/girls.  I hope you like the change :)

I’m starting with the most popular books borrowed and read by my freshmen.  This group of freshmen has really become excited about reading, but it took a few vocal kids and some booktalks and book trailers to get them more excited about reading.  Many of them were honest at the beginning of the year and told me they really dislike reading.

Top Book Borrowed & Read in September (3 students):

My freshmen have read over 30 different books.  Not that many of these titles have been read more than once, so instead of trying to break it down, I’m including a variety of the titles they’ve been reading and enjoying.

Various Popular Books Among My Freshmen:


The following books are the most popular among my YA Lit students.  In the month of September, they borrowed and read 54 different titles.

Top Books Borrowed & Read in September (3 students each):

Borrowed 2 Times:

Various Popular Books Among My YA Lit Students:


Flash Reviews (6)

8 Oct

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Source: Purchased

Summary (From Goodreads): Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Flash Review:  I’m a big fan of the Perfect Chemistry trilogy and the Fuentes brothers.  The stories are predictable, but the characters are engaging, the plots move quickly, and the relationships are exciting.  Luis is quite different from his brothers in the sense that he tries to avoid violence and the gang life, which was a nice change of pace from the other two books.  I would have enjoyed Chain Reaction more, however, if it would have been more of its own novel.  What I mean by that is Luis’s story was a mixture of Alex’s story and Carlos’ story.  Just like Alex, Luis and Nikki have chemistry together.  Very much like Carlos, Luis falls for a girl that’s tough around the edges and wary of him.  I felt like I was reading both Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction.  Luis was confronted with many of the same conflicts that his brothers were in their novels.  The story does become , but it’s not until later in the book.  I did enjoy reading it, it just wasn’t a 4 or 5 star novel like the other two.

The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
Source: Purchased

Summary (From Goodreads): In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she’s decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems – only her dad’s about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys, The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.

Flash Review: I need to say first that The Sweetest Thing had me going through all sorts of cravings.  Sheridan is an absolute perfectionist about her cakes, so her descriptions were quite detailed which made my mouth water more times than not.  Christina Mandelski has written a novel that girls who like novels by Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti will enjoy.  Sheridan is a character that a variety of readers can relate to, whether they aspire to be a baker, feel like an outsider, lack a relationship with their mother, or simply want to read a novel and empathize with a character.  While I enjoyed Mandelski’s debut, I did at times find myself irritated with Sheridan.  She is so stubborn about connecting with her mother and not cooperating with her father or friends.  It makes for a layered conflict, but it could have been resolved sooner without hurting the novel.  Still, Sheridan is a character that girls can learn from.  My girls in book club chose this as our first novel, and I’m really looking forward to discussing it with them this week.

 

Thank you for the Flash Reviews idea, GreenBeanTeenQueen :)

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