Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Despite the heavy topic, this was a fun read. The story follows Clay on a night-long adventure as he uncovers why Hannah killed herself, via the tapes she left behind. Right from the beginning, this was a unique and original idea, which made a really nice story. I love the simple message of this book, and how easily it can be understood by reading it.

Switching between Hannah’s narrative and Clay’s responses to them, the writing was a bit jumpy, but rightfully so. The storytelling was done so well in this book. From beginning to end, everything tied in to create Hannah’s story. The way all the characters related, their lives interwoven, was really nice to read.

I found Clay to be a bit bland as a character. Not much was explained about him; he was simply the “good guy” stereotype. This could be both a good and bad thing. On the plus side, it is easy to slip into his shoes. However, that also made him a somewhat disposable character. I can see why he was chosen to tell the story, because he is an unbiased “good guy”, that would allow Hannah’s story to be told without much interruption. While that was nice, and I enjoyed how Hannah’s story really shined through, just imagine how much more amazing this book would have been if it was told through one of the other characters that Hannah mentions in the tapes. It would give the book so much more emotion, I feel, than Clay’s character was able to.

As I said, Hannah, and her story, really was the focal point of this story, and I absolutely loved it. I loved her way of speaking, I loved her as a person. Her character was portrayed really well, making me want to befriend her. Because of this, I felt a stronger connection to her, and really felt for her when the bad things in her life started happening. I sympathized with her a lot, and even though I knew what the ending would be, I still didn’t want it to happen. While their personalities were clear, there was barely any back story to either of the characters. I would have liked to learn more about Hannah’s past, before things got bad. That would have only added to the story and the emotion.

I loved how the two plots conformed to one, as Clay is listening to the tapes at night, following Hannah’s life as he lives his own. Hannah’s story was much stronger, but there were some really sweet little pieces of Clay’s life that peaked through. I really loved the tiny incorporation of The Cather in the Rye into the story. Just prior to its addition, I thought about how Clay and the plot reminded me of it (in the best way, of course). Minus Holden’s bull-headedness, Clay was quite similar to him. Also, I’m a sucker for plots that take place in just a single night.

I have mixed feelings about the ending. One part of me really appreciates how Clay took Hannah’s suicide, and decided to make the best of it, by changing his ways. While another part of me kind of cringes at the fact that Clay now thinks he can save girls’ lives with his “good guy”-ness. Yes, he has the ability to help, but depression is something much more serious than it is portrayed in Clay’s eyes. And I hope that those who read this book will recognize that.

Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed reading this book. It is definitely one I will reread in the future, and I recommend, especially to the young people that this book is written for. It’s really important for kids, and everyone, to realize that how you treat others truly can affect them.

Skinny by Ibi Kaslik

This was a heavy book, the kind that digs its way under your skin and sticks there long after you’ve finished it, leaving you feeling lead-limbed and melancholy. With its gorgeous writing and complex characters, Skinny was far more than I expected it to be.

Based on its simple, Summery cover, and straightforward title, I assumed this book would be a short and sweet story about eating disorder recovery, as told by a teenage girl. Instead, it was the story of two sisters, one about fourteen and the other about twenty-two, both of them having to deal with their confusing lives while Giselle, the older sister, has anorexia.

The way both point of views wove together was beautiful. The writing was poetic and at points jumbled, but I think that was a good way of showing everything that was going on in the girls’ minds. The past mixed with the present, to unravel Giselle’s struggles with her dad and younger sister, Holly. While at the same time, Holly was trying to piece together her own existence. I loved the two sides to this story, and the relationship between the two sisters.

This book held an eerily lovely mood, which reminded me of Francesca Lia Block’s works. The plot was slow going, but in an enjoyable way that allowed me to truly get to know the characters. It was a coming of age story at the same time that it was a book about young adult life. The way Giselle described her eating disorder was very clear and informative.

Although the ending confused me a bit, overall I loved this book, and will definitely pick it up in the future.

Mental Health Awareness Week Readathon | May 2015

This week starts the Mental Health Awareness Week Readathon, which runs from May 11-17. This readathon takes place on Mental Health Awareness Week, and was created by Emma Petfield, in order to spread awareness of mental health through reading. Those participating are using the hashtag #MindfulReads, and Emma created a Goodreads group for this event, as well.

I decided to take part in this readathon because mental health is a big aspect of my life. I have both depression and anxiety, and I know a lot of people that also have various mental health disorders. Spreading awareness of these topics is so crucial because too many people believe that mental disorders aren't even real.

I also think that making a readathon out of this week is a brilliant idea, because often when we don't understand things, we read books to help us understand them. The same can be said about mental health. Reading is so important because it helps us become aware!

I made a whole video about it, including my TBR.

 

 If you don't want to watch my video, here is my TBR for the week.

memoir about depression

deals with eating disorders

main character has OCD

deals with suicide and bullying

deals with suicide

I'll have a wrap-up post at the end of the week, but if you want to follow along with my progress, you can follow my Twitter, Youtube channel, and Goodreads, all of which have links on the left side of my blog page!

I hope you'll join in on this readathon. I'm so excited. I'm about halfway through Skinny already, and I'm loving it!

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

I love how this series has progressed so far. The change of setting in this third book was really nice. So much happens, secrets are revealed and relationships changed. Though not as action packed at the second book, there is a good amount of action and adventure in this one.

I love how the relationships between different characters evolved and grew. While the first half of the book was slow going, and dragged a bit, the second half was spectacular. Betrayals, plot twists and secrets abound. The characters continue to be a driving force to the stories. The humor is really great and realistic. The emotion is so raw at points.

Had the first half gone by quicker, I would give this book a higher rating, but both halves kind of equal each other out. I feel like this could have been the last book in the series, as it ends very nicely. However, I’m glad it’s not because I want to keep reading about these awesome characters.

2015 Spring TBR!

Though Spring has already started in March, I feel like it is now only just beginning. The chill of Winter has subsided, and the warmth of a spring breeze has come to take its place. For some reason, Spring is a very inspiring season for me in terms of reading. The prospect of going outside gets me excited to read some fantasy books, as well as others.

Thus, I thought to show you my Spring TBR pile! Keep in mind that this list is subject to change, as are almost all of my TBR piles. I may or may not read the books listed right away, but I am looking forward to all of them.

The first major books I want to get read are The Mortal Instruments Series, and The Infernal Devices Trilogy. I have already read City of Bones and City of Ashes. I'm currently working on City of Glass. I also have the entire Infernal Devices trilogy coming in the mail, so I'm gonna read those and then continue with the 4th books in TMI series. Please enjoy this collage I made.

I'm also looking forward to reading these books:

There are so many other books I want to read that I simply can't list them all here. These are just some major ones I look forward to reading this spring!

A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovic

 

*Thank you NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book to review!*

Labeled as a ‘YA Gothic Romance’, this book had such a beautiful blend of horror, romance and history. It was enchanting and mysterious, with a lovely, homey feel to it. Though the overall premise of it wasn’t particularly original, it had so many little, unique aspects to it, that set it apart from other books.

With alluring descriptions and a natural feel to the writing, A Magic Dark and Bright read with such ease. It brought to life the details of the settings and made the main character, Amelia, feel very real. As I first started to read this book, I thought it was in the horror genre because of the great creepiness it had. As the romance and paranormal aspects of this book took over, the creepy undertone never faltered, which I absolutely loved. The combination of the town’s history, with the world’s history allowed you to get a good sense of the ghosts and witches in this story. Along with the history, Amelia’s dreams also gave the main ghost in the story a personality and past.

Amelia was a strong main character, though she did have some flaws. After the death of her brother, she is very unsure about dating and relationships. Unfortunately, as she forms a relationship throughout the book, her insecurities do not seem to go away. Aside from that, she has a strong drive and is a great hero, without actually being the one to discover powers, which I found refreshing.

Her best friend, Leah, was kind of annoying, the stereotypical outgoing friend, always pushing the other to do things. While I wasn’t a huge fan of that, Leah does prove to be a good character throughout the book, and isn’t just cast aside as some lame side character. Charlie, Amelia’s love interest, was also a bit of a stereotypical ‘good boy’ character, but he was very pleasant and enjoyable to read about.

The emotion in this book was so powerful. The relationship was adorable and sweet, and even though I’m not a huge fan of romance, I couldn’t help but love this one. It seemed very genuine and came about at a perfect pace. Along with the love, the negative emotions the character’s felt were also very real. I felt so much anger toward Ben every time the characters encountered him.

There were parts of this book that were quite predictable, like being introduced to the next character that was going to die only pages before their death. Same with the growing suspicion of who the bad guy is. But luckily, there were also some nicely original twists and discoveries that made up for those predictable parts.

Almost everything got explained in the end, but there were some things left completely open. I’m hoping the mystery of Amelia’s brother’s death will be explained in the next book, in relation to the paranormal aspects. Although it didn’t seem like a particularly special book at first, it was a very fun, mysterious read. The ending was stunning and shocking, a complete cliffhanger that MUST be solved in the next book. I can honestly say that I threw my Kindle from the shock of that ending. I cannot wait to see where this story goes.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

A fun, smart read, Seraphina gave a unique take on dragons that was both unexpected and interesting. It was a fantasy book unlike others, adding many original aspects to it that showed the intricacy of the world building. The characters were all wonderful, adding so much to the story, even if they were only mentioned a few times. With a beautifully flowing plot, Seraphina was a book I could not put down.

Although the writing had a great pace, there were some things I found difficult about it. There were quite a few unusually complex words, that made the writing hard to understand at times. Along with many made up words, which are explained in the back of the book, there were quite a few words relating to music and clothing that were difficult to figure out without further research. Also, some of the made up words and names had an uncomfortable sound to them, making them sound almost childish.

The main character, Seraphina, was a lovely, interesting girl to read about. Learning about her and the things that set her apart from everyone else was really exciting. However, I found I couldn’t quite connect with her because of the writing. I felt more like I was simply watching her life happen, instead of feeling like I was in her shoes.

The friends (and enemies) Seraphina makes along the course of this book were all great characters. The prince and princess were surprisingly very wise and good-hearted, becoming friends with the main character. Every relationship in this book was hearty and full, each so important to the story. Rachel did an amazing job at making each and every character in this book vital to the story, something that is hard to come by, and honestly I’m really impressed. The romance aspect was left on the sidelines, which I think was also a good move, in that it will be able to develop in the next book.

One of the most well done parts of this book was its original take on dragons. Instead of simply being evil lizard-like creatures, these dragons have the ability to take human form. They have several key personality characteristics, which become a huge part of the book’s premise. The dragons’ inability to feel emotion in their true form is what becomes a big aspect of the story’s conflict. Because for dragons, having emotions is a sickness, a disease that many try to rid themselves of. It is questioned throughout the story, opening many ideas that dabble in philosophy. This was a huge and amazing aspect to the book.

Music was also a large part of the book. Although I have minimal knowledge about music, I loved its role in the story. Every time Seraphina played, the music she made was described in such a beautiful, emotional way. It linked her with her mother, and is ever-present in the story.

The plot twist in this story was so unexpected. It is rare that I have no clue of the plot twist before it happens. That being said, it wasn’t so unbelievable that it didn’t fit. All of a sudden, things started fitting into place as the twist was revealed. I was so surprised and excited to find out who the bad guy really was.

With its few flaws, like its occasionally confusing words, Seraphina was a beautifully executed story, with so much to offer. The world building was so believable and realistic, without the need for excess info-dumping. The characters were all amazing, and the philosophical aspects really made me think. I very much enjoyed this book, and look forward to see what comes next.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

 

Touching on topics like crushes, first loves and sisterly bonds, this was an enjoyable contemporary book that had an equal balance of substance and lightheartedness. It was a nice, easy read that felt really fitting for this time of year- the end of winter and start of spring. It had a lovely homey feeling to it, which is also portrayed well by the cover.

The writing style was slightly different, a combination of past and present tense scenes, which I found really enjoyable. I loved how the two were combined as the main character, Lara Jean, talked about the near and far past, as well as the present. In that way, the girls’ mom becomes part of the story, despite her no longer being alive. I found that many of the chapters started the same way, with either a flashback to when Lara Jean’s mom was alive or when Margo was still at home, or with her waking up to a new day. While I enjoyed the former, the latter got very unoriginal and dull over time.

Lara Jean is the middle child of three girls, which is incorporated into her personality. Unlike her sisters, she is unsure of herself, and often allows others to dictate who she is and how she lives her life. She is a weak person in the beginning, and even though character development was a bit lacking, she does become stronger, more of an individual by the end of the story. Although she is nearly seventeen, I often felt like she was a bit younger, closer to her early teens. She is naive and immature, despite believing herself to be very mature. I kind of like that fact, however, because she is a realistic teen character. I found I could relate her to my teenaged self in several ways. Even her relationship with her younger sister Kitty reminded me of my sister and I at their ages.

I wasn’t expecting so much of the story to be based around Lara Jean and her relationship with her two sisters, Kitty and Margot. However, I was really happy that it was. It gave the book a feeling of realness. Kitty was a magnificent character, very true to a real girl her age. Margot tended to act controlling and distant toward Lara Jean, but then again, she is the oldest girl, left to care for her two younger sisters after their mother’s death.

While I loved the family aspect of this book, I wasn’t as fond of the boy aspect. Naturally, that was a majority of what the book was focussed on. It seemed that Lara Jean put way too much emphasis on that part of her life, feeling like she needed to be with a boy at all times, whether their feelings were true or fake. Her changing feelings for Josh added to the believability of her character. That being said, my feelings also changed for Josh as I read the story. I liked the role he played at first, while he was dating Margo. However, as the book progresses, I found Josh to be almost controlling toward Lara Jean, as if he knew what’s best for her, even though he didn’t. He would make a good friend, if not for his tendency to treat Lara Jean like she’s a kid.

Peter, on the other hand, was a great friend, in my opinion. Through his fake relationship with Lara Jean, their bickering and time spent together, turns their simple acquaintance into a solid friendship. I really enjoyed the little adventures they go on and the things they do together. Although it starts out really stupid and clearly fake, it progresses into a beautiful relationship, even before any actual romance begins.

While Lara Jean’s sisters are great supporting female characters, her one and only girl friend, Chris, was an unneeded, gross character and pretty bad friend overall. Although it’s known that she cares about Lara Jean, Chris shows up at random times, and they only seem to talk about the gossip Chris hears. I honestly don’t see the point in adding her as a character, even when she does prove to be a good friend toward the end of the book.

With a few shocks and surprises in the end, I thought the book had a fairly good conclusion. The more I think about it, the more I appreciate the sudden ending. Things between Lara Jean and her sisters gets squared away, as does her relationship with Josh. However, her relationship with Peter is completely left in the air, which was irritating, even though it made sense. It was a sweet little ending, which could be left open as a standalone book, but as it happens, will lead to a sequel.

I loved the feel of this book, the relationships between the characters, and the inclusion of family in a book that otherwise would solely be about one girl’s relationships with all the boys she’s loved before. I hope to see some more character growth in the next book, as well as some kind of conclusion with Peter. Though, I have to say, I’m most interested in what becomes of Kitty and her new puppy.

I Liked Vampire Before They Were Cool

I was in eighth grade when I discovered my love of vampires. Caught in my Converse and Sharpie stage, I was a wannabe goth girl with black nails and a taste for the bloodsucking creatures that haunted the pages of books. Having grown up loving scary things, I was drawn to said vampires. So, when my eighth grade class was herded to the school library to hear about several different books, I was immediately sucked into the story of Lucy, a girl with diabetes, who believes the first vampires were diabetics. The book was called Sweetblood by Pete Hautman, and I, soon after, took it out of the local library. I hid it in a photo box, like it was some kind of dark secret I had to keep safe, and read its entirety, soaking in every bit of the story as I could.

After Sweetblood, I began visiting the library more often, thoroughly browsing the tiny young adult section. It was there that I also found Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan, which was very exciting, and the first novel I ever finished in a day. I found the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schrieber at Barnes and Noble around this time, as well, the main character, Raven being the perfect goth girl I wished I could be.

Of course, there was Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, whose book I only picked up because we had the same last name. And even though it’s embarrassing to admit how obsessed I was with that book, I can’t deny the fact that it had a huge impact on my barely teenaged self. Because of that book I read so much more, and I wrote my own vampire novel, which sucked very much.

But by then, I was high on reading. I read of not only vampires, but witches and shapeshifters and other bizarre creatures. I also began reading about regular kids, like me. Those visits to the library fortified my love of books. Reading helped me escape when things were tough, but also made my life better by giving me things to think about. They were there through my first move, which scarred me more than any vampire bite could.

When the massive vampire trend took off, I felt like I was at the front of it. I felt proud for liking vampires before they were cool. They were a way of life for me, a shy girl starting high school (and realizing how much I hated it). But even then, I found more books at that school’s library, and I continued reading and I continued writing.

Now, though I read different types of books, my love of reading and writing is stronger than ever because I was once one of those dorky kids who liked vampires. In fact, I still have the books to prove it.

:)=

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Full of action and suspense, City of Ashes was even better than the first book in this series. The characters and plot continue to be this series’s strong points. It was such a fun ride from start to finish, with an ending that naturally left me needing to read the next book.

So much happened in this book, tons of adventure and rescue. More of the backstory is revealed, and Valentine explains more of his story, which was really great. Relationships change and grow between the characters, each of them getting a fair amount of time in the book. The only thing I would have liked to see more of would be Isabelle, but other than that, I can’t complain about anything in this book.

The unpredictability of this book was such an amazing feature. Often, I find I can predict the plot twists in novels, but this book was entirely unpredictable. The suspense, mystery and plot twists were so amazing done. The last fifty pages or so, and all the crazy stuff that happened during that time, was really what bumped this up from a four star book to a five star book for me. I cannot wait to pick up the next book.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Having finally read City of Bones, I only wish I had picked it up sooner. For a while I was hesitant to read it, knowing it was about angels and demons, which I’m not usually interested in. However, this book was so, so good, truly engaging and enjoyable. With its unique twist on angels and demons, and the addition of faeries, it was exactly the type of book that I can’t help but fall for.

The action and adventure in this book was ongoing, while still leaving room for relationships to develop and a dash of humor to be thrown in. The plot was so intriguing, from beginning to end, making this a thrilling and fun read. There were many plot twists, betrayals, and moments of shock, most of which were not at all predictable. Because of its continuing excitement, I flew through this book, despite its size.

The writing was very nice, with beautiful descriptions and a mood that fit the story perfectly. I loved the settings, the combination of grimy abandoned places, and beautifully antiqued architecture. The writing was also very similar to author Holly Black’s, who I’ve heard is good friends with Cassandra Clare. Along with the writing style, the subject matter was also very similar Holly’s books. However, I honestly can’t complain, being that I love Holly’s books as well, and there are some clear differences between the two. If anything, their similar writing style was comforting and very enjoyable.

Something I found Clare does extremely well, is her characters and their relationships with one another. The relationship between Clary and Jace was a perfect example of a pair who doesn’t necessarily get along, but does have romantic interest in one another. The banter between them was funny and refreshing, without going over the top, like some awful book couples I’ve recently read (*cough* Obsidian *cough*). Not just those two, but all of the characters and their regards toward each other was genuine and real. The unrequited love was achingly good, and the friendship between unlikely people grew with this story. I truly loved all of the main characters.

While the world building was great, and many things were left open to continue to the next book, I was still slightly annoyed by the lack of resolution when it came to Valentine. After so many plot twists and secrets revealed, I felt like it lacked just one thing- Valentine’s side of the story. I’m sure this was a writing tactic, in order to continue with the series, so I hope it will be discovered in the next book.

City of Bones was an exciting, funny, and action-filled book. Its characters, setting and plot were all executed beautifully. I am so happy to have finally read it, and I cannot wait to keep reading this series. I highly recommend City of Bones to everyone. So good.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

With its mix of fantasy and dystopian elements, Red Queen was a fun and thrilling read, full of moments that left me in shock. Though parts of it were a bit predictable, the plot twists were executed nicely, and still surprised me even though I knew what was coming. The main character, Mare, made this book that much better. She was such an amazing, strong character that I fully loved reading about, and I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.

The premise of this book seemed simple at first, but it grew into a great weaving of conflicts and lies. It was exciting to see the plot grow, and to find out each little twist to the story. Certain elements of it kept reminding me of other books, which didn’t take away from the plot, but did lack originality in places. For example, right from the beginning I was reminded of the Hunger Games, with Mare’s village and her best friend Kilorn, not to mention the arena. Also the training, and the way the book ended reminded me of Divergent. However, they were relatively subtle similarities that didn’t hurt the story.

I loved the feeling of the setting throughout the book, but especially in Mare’s village. I could really feel the grime and mud, as well as the fragility of the whole village, which is called the Stilts for obvious reasons. That feeling clung on throughout the book, because the whole time, Mare never loses who she is or where she’s come from. She’s a thief, but she’s true and honest, and makes all of her decisions out of the love she has for her people. Through her character, you’re able to truly experience the corrupt system she lives in. You really feel for her, as she makes so many sacrifices in her life.

Cal confused me a bit, but I think that’s only because we couldn’t see directly into his head. He is a strong, complex character, who is faced with so many decisions and challenges. Though he makes mistakes, he always does what he thinks is right, like Mare. Maven continuously seemed younger than his true age. Although he is clearly clever, he definitely has an immaturity to him.
   
While parts of this book hinted a being a dystopian, the fantasy kingdom element of it came out stronger. As Mare is forced into this new world, we watch as she goes through the processes of getting used to it. Toward the beginning of this transition, there were parts that got boring, even though they were necessary. The Houses and the government system, as well as several characters, were very similar to A Game of Thrones, but in a more YA version. Again, while that lacked originality, it was still a welcomed aspect that I enjoyed reading.

The way Mare discovered her power was very unexpected, unlike anything I’ve read before. The romance aspect was subtle, as the book focused more on Mare’s growth and the world’s power struggles. The sudden twist at the very end was so good, as were the small ones toward the beginning of the book.

I highly enjoyed Red Queen. Although it wasn’t perfect, and I wish it didn’t remind me so much of other books, there were a lot of unique, unexpected aspects to it that made it so much fun and exciting to read. Mare was an amazing main character. I understand the all the hype this book has, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out.

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This book. I wanted to hate it. I should have hated it. But somehow, I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few things I did indeed hate about this book, one of them being Daemon, the main character’s love interest. However, despite its several flaws and bad relationship, I enjoyed it. Something about it made me want to keep reading. It was an overall fun book, and each time I put it down I looked forward to picking it back up.

I’ll begin with the elements of this book that I did like. The writing, though simple, was very easy and quick to read. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was pleasant, nonetheless. The main character, Katy, was likable for the most part. She seemed fairly realistic, someone you could easily relate to and be friends with. There is a tiny bit of character growth, but she mostly remained unchanged.

Katy’s character did have her flaws, however. The most obvious one that is focused on throughout the book, is her overwhelming attraction to Daemon, her alien neighbor. I disliked Daemon so much. He is portrayed as a flawlessly attractive guy with perfect abs and piercing eyes. But there is nothing at all attractive or likable about Daemon. He is a straight up asshole. From his first encounter with Katy, he acts ignorant, arrogant and very mean to Katy. Throughout the book he flip-flops from this terrible jerk to a temporarily caring and kind guy. And Katy gets fooled time and time again. She knows what a jerk he is, and yet her intense sexual attraction for him is too overwhelming to ignore. What I don’t understand is how one can be so physically attracted to someone who is such an ass? It isn’t realistic or plausible. Regardless, their relationship is nothing short of being screwed up. Daemon verbally treats Katy like crap and is mentally abusive to her. He blames her for nearly getting potentially raped and killed. And not to spoil anything, but the end of chapter 26 really pissed me off and showed what a true asshole Daemon is.

Aside from Daemon being a terrible person, Obsidian was a somewhat predictable book. It continuously reminded me of Twilight, in more than one aspect. Dee was a pretty nice character, even though she was clearly just a pawn to the main focus of the book- Daemon and Katy’s relationship.

The alien thing was equally disappointing and enjoyable. I wouldn’t call what Daemon and Dee are aliens, as they were far from any definition of the term I can think of. Instead, they were a completely other type of being that I thought was unique and refreshing.

Although the relationship in this book was awful, and its resemblance to Twilight off-putting, I did enjoy reading Obsidian. The well-written main character made it easy to read and enjoy, despite its many downfalls. I likely won’t pick up the next book in the series, as the ending hints toward it being all about Katy and Daemon’s relationship. I’m not sure what all the hype is about for this series, unfortunately.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Despite the emphasis and importance of words that this book brings, I am at a lack for them right now, as I write this review. A page of notes hovers before me, and the book itself, still warm from my intent gaze, sits beside me. Still I can’t find the correct words to start this review. For me, such a book deserves more than this review can offer. Nonetheless, I want to share my opinion, so I suppose I should start by saying that The Book Thief was a nearly flawless story, one I can only wish I had picked up sooner.

Following a young girl named Liesel during Nazi Germany, this is a book about life, as told by Death. Instantly, this unique narrative captured me. I found the straight forward speech of the narrator fitting for such a story. It gave the writing a slightly broken feeling, which is very similar to the way people’s thoughts flow. With the use of colors, the beginning is able to convey such vivid descriptions in very few words. The writing never loses its potency as the story goes on. It is simply gorgeous, easily invoking an accurate mood and setting. Perfectly crafted metaphors add to this as well. The dialogue, though minimal, was also very potent and important.

Despite the starkness of the narration, despite the blatant foreshadowing told in flashes forward and back, it never takes away from the emotion and shock of what happens. The plot continues on at a constant speed. Even though we are interrupted many times along the way, the book reads quite quickly, while still giving the reader enough time to absorb everything.

The lovely and terrible snippets of Liesel’s childhood were woven together to portray a beautiful story of what is was like for her growing up during Nazi Germany. During this time, she forms strong relationships with several important people, who help sculpt her life. All of the characters were really pleasant to read about, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. One of them is her Papa, Hans Hubermann, who is a smart and gentle man that teaches Liesel how to read. He shows his strength throughout the story by constantly questioning the society he exists in, and taking risks to help others. The biggest risk he takes is by helping a young Jewish man named Max. While staying in the Hubermann’s house, Max and Liesel become close friends due to a common interest in reading and writing. Though Max has been through lots of hardship, an innocence and wisdom remains in him, which is shown through his illustrated stories. Along with her personal growth throughout the book, Liesel’s best friend Rudy also grows. During such a time, he is forced to grow up quickly, going from a carefree and wild boy to a caring and watchful young man. The growth of each character was subtle, shown through small, and large, acts throughout the story. Their choices and actions shaped who they became.

There is another relationship Liesel forms which is one of the most important aspects of the book- her relationship with books. From the start, Liesel’s interest in books gives the novel a warm, cozy feeling, which progresses as she learns how to read and steals more books. It inspires me to want to read more, to push the boundaries with writing, and to learn as much as possible. I also found Liesel’s feelings toward books and words very relatable, a sort of love hate relationship with them that I’m sure every reader has felt.

Though slightly dark at times, The Book Thief was a beautifully written book. The addition of Max’s illustrated stories gave the book a needed childlike quality, among its somber plot. With its unpredictable and emotional ending, this book will leave you yearning to keep reading it for much longer than it lasts. I loved everything about this novel, and will undoubtedly pick it up time and time again.

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

I was so glad to finish this book. Between its ridiculous insta-love, and shallow, pointless characters, I found myself skimming through the second half of this book. Having read and loved Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber when I was younger, I really wanted to like this book. And in some ways, I did. However, there were many blatantly awful aspects to it that really had me just wanting to be done with it.

The best thing about this book was the writing. It has the perfect amount of description, and really sets the mood for each different scene. Starting this book was like snuggling up in a cozy blanket and drinking tea. But as I read on, its problems really took a toll on me, making me want to just throw the book at the wall.

It was obvious from the beginning of the book, who the werewolf was going to be- (it’s Brandon). Along with that, many aspects of the book are also extremely predictable. This is aside from the fact that the psychic character, Dr. Meadows, practically reveals the whole plot from the beginning.

There is an extreme lack of character building. The majority of characters, including the main character, were really shallow and kind of stupid. Celeste has absolutely no backbone or sense of self respect. She even refers to herself as one of those people who won’t do something for fear of hurting someone else’s ego or social standing. She never even stands up to her snobby friends or stupid ex-boyfriend, to defend herself or her relationship with Brandon. She is quick to blame herself, and claims she wants to help Brandon, but only seems to focus on what she did wrong. In the story, they come nowhere near ‘curing’ him, and her search for help is pathetic.

The only character I actually saw potential for, was Brandon. He seemed the most normal and real character in the story. Also, admittedly, the main character had potential. If she had perhaps stood up for Brandon near the end and told Nash to lay off, I would have appreciated her more. Instead, she barely mentions that he’s not as bad as her friends expect. Mr. Worthington, the old man Celeste visits sometimes, was probably the best character in the whole book.

Nash is just a dick. Yeah, I’m actually saying that in a review. He is clearly a terrible boyfriend, who doesn’t give Celeste any attention, UNTIL she stops caring about him. And then he does a really stupid thing, that ends up being a major part of the plot, to try to win her back.

Though the lack of character development was very frustrating, the biggest flaw to this book was its insta-love. I have never seen a ‘love’ form so quickly in a book before. Celeste sees Brandon one day at school, later he somehow miraculously saves her from wolves, and boom- she’s in love with him. It’s not just a crush, or lust, she is obsessively in love with him, and even admits that!  They have one encounter after he saves her, and they both are 100% head over heals in love with each other. While Celeste at least explains why she loves him- (his outdoorsy-ness), Brandon literally has no reason to love her back.

I am so done with this book. I feel bad to have to give it such a terrible review because I really liked Ellen’s books when I was younger. And also, as I said, the actual writing is actually quite good. Perhaps this book would be better for a younger person, like a middle schooler. However, I still think calling what Celeste and Brandon have ‘love’ is not at all accurate and a bad example for kids to read. I don’t know how this continues as a series, but I will not be reading the rest to find out.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I was hesitant at first to pick up the second book in the Divergent trilogy, after the first book proved to be unspectacular, unlike it was hyped to be. However, my interest in the dystopian world made me want to hang in with this series a bit longer. And to my pleasant surprise, Insurgent was well worth the read. It filled in most of the holes that the first book left, and ended up being a lot better than Divergent.

The writing, though still somewhat mediocre, did seem a bit better than the first book. Perhaps this is due to the immense character growth and story progression, or simply Roth’s improved writing skills from one book to the next. Regardless, there weren’t quite as many repeated words in small amounts of space as the first book.

The book starts directly where the last one left off, something I really enjoy in a series. The great thing also about Divergent’s end and Insurgent’s beginning, is the slight pause in the plot, that allows the reader to see not only how the world has changed, but also how the main character, Tris, has changed. The character development in this book was absolutely the best part about it. Tris becomes independent, headstrong and selfless, more sure of herself than in Divergent. Her true self is revealed as she matures and grows with the situations she is put in.

The romance between Tris and Four becomes a lot more real in this book. The emotions and struggles are so natural, and you can truly see how their personalities come together, despite clashing. However, the kissing toward the beginning seems a bit excessive.

I was very happy to learn more about the factions and the world in general. The world-building was much better in this book. We learn about every faction, as well as the factionless. In learning about the society they live in, we are also shown its flaws. None of the factions are perfect, or what they seem. Through this, we realize that people are much more complex than they seem to be. People are so vastly different, even people within the same faction. This book makes you question people’s morals and ways of life, as well as their character.

Tris’s emotion and thoughts were very relatable, in my opinion. She thought in a much more straightforward way than in the first book, making her choices seem rational and right. Because of the strong emotions and great character development, this book was much, much better than the first book in the series. With a shocking and thought-changing ending, I am more than excited to pick up the third and final book in the trilogy.

Goddess of the Night by Lynne Ewing

 

I first started reading this series back in middle school and was completely engulfed in the witchy world of the characters. I was lucky enough to find books 1-9 at Goodwill several months ago, and now I’ve decided to reread them to see how I like them now.

The first book of the Daughters of the Moon series was a really fun and quick read. I read it mostly at night, which emphasized the slight creepiness of when Vanessa, the main character, was being followed. The writing was pretty juvenile, including a lot of short, simple sentences. However, when there was description, it was more enjoyable, especially when the girl’s powers were being explained.

The overall storyline was extremely predictable. It is easy to see from the beginning who the bad guy is going to be. The characters were definitely underdeveloped. Vanessa, despite being popular and cool, is a regular, boring girl, with no back story and hardly any personality. The others, though they had a bit more personality, still did not seem very believable. Each character just seemed to be contained of a different cliche high school group.

The way the characters meet was unrealistic. Vanessa acts like Serena is her friend almost instantly, when all she did was go over her house for a psychic reading. They become friends without ever really being friends. Also, the relationship between Vanessa and Michael is very forced. Despite Vanessa telling the reader that she has always liked Michael and that they apparently had something going before the start of the book, it still seemed to develop unnaturally, and there is no concrete reason given as to why Vanessa even likes Michael. Also I like how the character of Stanton developed throughout the story, even though he rarely appeared.

So there were a lot of things wrong with this book, but fortunately, those faults didn’t stop me from liking it. I am a sucker for girls with magic powers, and the lore behind them, especially moon driven powers. Though it is only touched upon in this book, through the character Maggie, I love the Greek mythology aspect of their magic, as well.

I also really liked how Vanessa didn’t take any sexist shit. That’s something I did not notice the first time reading this, but finding them this second time made me appreciate this book even more.

There was definitely a bit of nostalgia going on for me while I was reading this book, which is perhaps why I liked it more than I should have. Regardless, if you are willing to overlook this book’s flaws, it’s worth a read. I definitely recommend it for a younger audience, like middle schoolers. With it’s subtle basis in Greek mythology, and slight feminist undertone, I think this is a great book for young girls. I will be continuing the series, and I’m excited to see if there is any character development.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 I had been thinking about reading it for a while, but I didn’t pick up the book Divergent until after I watched the movie. Although this will not be a review of the movie, the one major thing the film lacked was what finally pushed me to pick up the book. While the story was exciting and entertaining, the one thing I was hoping for never appeared. And because I think that part is so vital to the world building, I unfortunately cannot give this book more than three stars.

I had heard much hype about Divergent, even before it was turned into a movie. Although it sounded pretty cool, the main reason I didn’t pick it up immediately was because its story line sounded bland. Yet another dystopian YA in which a girl tries to overthrow the government, and has a surprising love interest. After reading it now, that is pretty much exactly what it is. However, there is something about it that makes it worth the read. The growth of the main character is a beautiful and surprising aspect of this story. As well as the amazing ending that the movie did not portray nearly as well as the book.

Set in a dystopian world that separates people into factions, the story follows Tris (Beatrice) a teen girl who discovers that she is a Divergent. The character of Tris lacks personality in the beginning, perhaps because she came from the faction Abnegation, the selfless. But as she progresses through the story, she changes. Instead of just standing back and letting things happen to her, she begins to make things happen. She starts off, and continues through most of the book, to be a stereotypical teenage girl, not fully thinking things through and acting on impulse. However, near the end, as the conflicts arise, she shows her true self to be brave and smart.
   
Tris’s relationship with Four, while highly predictable, actually plays out nicely. It isn’t simply lust. It grows as the story does, making it seem much more believable. With the exception of Four, and a few others, most of the other minor characters lack depth. They are made to seem dimensionless. I don’t know if this is to show the meaning of the factions, or if it is simply due to bad writing.

The factions are pretty fun, adding a lot to the story. They really intrigued me, and made me want to learn more about the world. However, this is where the book majorly lacks. Aside from the basic facts about each faction, we never really find out how people in each of them live. Even Dauntless, the most mentioned faction, has many holes in the information we learn about it. This is true with all the others as well, especially Amity. Along with this lack of faction information, we learn little to nothing about the world itself. The city they live in doesn’t even have a name as far as the book tells us. There is simply life in the city, and that’s all there is. Aside from mentioning what’s beyond the city, no one questions it, or wonders how big the country/world even is. As world building is crucial to a dystopian story, I found the lack of it very unfortunate.

Another slight hole in the story was the explanation of the Divergents. Although the main conflict isn’t solely based around the discovery of Tris being a Divergent, it still has a lot to do with it. This makes me wonder how the issue was never really faced head on before. Clearly, Tris is not extraordinary, and people are all extremely complex. So why is it only now that the Divergents are becoming an issue? And how many Divergents are there really?

With the lack of world building being its biggest downfall, another was the writing. Though not awful, it is very simple and unembellished. There is a lot of telling, rather than showing. Through most of the book, the main character’s voice is not very strong. Along with this, there are a lot of cliche lines and repeated words/sayings within a short amount of time. Luckily, the exciting story, and character growth make up for the mediocre writing.

Even with so many flaws, I still found this book to be incredibly entertaining. The training  especially is exciting and fun to read about. I think it’s a story that both girls and boys can enjoy and get into. The romance aspect is kept to a minimum, so as not to be overwhelming. The training and other initiation processes are really cool, adding a lot of action to the story. As well as the action, there is a lot of thinking and life decisions being made by the main character. The end especially brings a lot of contemplation, about what is right, into the story.

The ending was definitely the strongest point of the story. If you are hesitant to read Divergent, read it for the ending. So much happens in such a short amount of time. There is character building with both the main character, and many of the minor characters. We discover so many things about people and the society of this book. Tris’s parents disprove the statement ‘Faction before blood.’ Tris standing up to Marcus truly shows how far she has come as a person. It opens up so many questions and really makes you want to find out what happens next.

The ending of this book was fantastically done, and it only leads into the second book, Insurgent. I have begun reading it, and have discovered that much of the unsaid information about the factions and world are slowly being uncovered in it. So while Divergent was not a spectacular book, it is very entertaining and an enjoyable read. I think it will be worth reading if you’re willing to read the rest of the trilogy, and I plan to do so.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Written with a beautiful simplicity that fills you with deep emotions, Hold Still is a powerful story about a girl dealing with the suicide of her best friend. It progresses slowly in a way that captures the reader and submerges them into this emotional story. With highly realistic characters, and a gorgeous plot, this book was absolutely stunning.

The writing seemed very real, as if narrated directly from a teen girl’s life. Reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson’s writing, it was simple and unembellished, while remaining pungent and unique. The speed of this story was perfect, rising and falling with the changing emotions of the main character, Caitlin. I could feel the heaviness she was feeling at the beginning of the story and throughout it, as well as the lighter feeling of hope as things start to shift and change for the better.

The main character Caitlin came so naturally as I read, that it felt as if I were reading about a friend, instead of a character in a book. Caitlin was also very relatable and realistic, as were the rest of the characters. Toward the beginning there were hints of stereotyping, all of which were diminished through the characters, most specifically Dylan. The characters were awkward and imperfect, like real people. Sometimes they very clearly didn’t know how to respond to certain things, which was a relief to read. Taylor and Jayson and Dylan and Maddie were all genuine people. There was no ridiculous drama or backstabbing, that lots of YA books tend to have.

The plot was solid and emotionally charged. It held a peacefulness to it, despite the story being about a heavy topic. There were several events which touched me and left me smiling. The way things came full circle was smart and elegant, including the way the book got its title.

Though a quick read, the story lingered long after, clinging to my thoughts. It was written simply and sweetly, leaving a powerful impression. I really wish I could keep reading about the lives of these characters afterwards, even though the ending was quite perfect and a fantastic closure. Focussed around a difficult subject, this book was easy to understand for all ages. It got its messages across humbly, making them easy to absorb. I truly adore this book and recommend it to anyone who’s willing to give it a read. I plan on checking out some of LaCour’s other works soon.

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

This books left me with such mixed feelings! In a way, it was a lot like what I excepted- a basic plot about teen girls getting revenge on those who’ve wronged them. However, with very pleasant writing and a nice bunch of characters, it proved to be a better book than I was anticipating.

The writing and plot were both enjoyable and well-paced, giving me a comfortable feeling as I read this book. Though the writing is clearly in the point of view of teenage girls, it doesn’t take away from the subtle beauty it holds, which captivated me as I read.  In fact, I really appreciated the three POVs, ranging from Mary, the most innocent and sweet of the three, to Lillia, who’s just starting to truly taste life, to Kat, who’s more experienced and seasoned in life.

There are a lot of high school stereotypes used, as expected, but they were surprisingly tolerable. Rennie is the stereotypical mean girl, who’s easy to hate. She was one of the most unrealistic characters, but luckily most of the other ones were not so bad. I really enjoyed the use of flashbacks in this book. They were refreshing to read, as the girls remembered the trauma they endured that led them to this point of revenge.

I really liked the way the girls met, and their subtle and sometimes surprising connection to each other. It was exciting as they progressed with their plans for revenge. There were lots of little surprises throughout the book, which were nice and enjoyable.

The biggest downfall of this novel was Mary. Her character started out really nicely, I thought, but continued going downhill until the very end of the book. Aside from her past, her character is very blurry and lacking in personality. Her voice continues to become weaker as the plot moves along. Eventually I got really bored of reading about her.

However, the worst part about her comes at the end, with an event way too similar to the book/movie Carrie occurs. If not for this event, if not for Mary’s untold powers, I would have given this book four stars. The addition of unearthly powers was just too farfetched, and a desperate pull in the wrong direction. I wanted this book to solely focus on real life issues, and the discovery of Mary’s powers ruined that for me.

Unlike Mary, the characters of Lillia and Kat, two former friends, were very strong and believable. Naturally, I disliked Lillia from the start, but grew to like her more and more. She is smart and sensible. If not for the influence of her best friend Rennie, she would be a lot better off. However, because of this, she proves to be a more realistic, flawed character. As well, Kat is fierce and brave, the rebel of the group.

Overall, I liked this book more than expected. It was a nice contemporary YA book, though it did have several weak points, which left me with mixed feelings toward it. I’m unsure if I will pick up the second book or not.