Legend by Marie Lu

Day is a wanted criminal. On the run, Day spends most of his time thinking of schemes to bug the Republic, while keeping his true identity secret. Never far from his thoughts though is his family, who struggle under an oppressive regime. When his youngest brother contracts a new deadly plague, Day desperately breaks into a hospital in order to find a cure, but instead winds up with more than he bargained for. Believing her brother to have been murdered by Day, June chases him down, scenting him out as she has been taught. Yet, Day is not what she expected and the questions he asks, about their society and their lives create a world that June is unsure of.

I have had a fascination with North Korea for a long time, especially in regards to the people who live in a continual state of lies and brainwashing. And don't mistake brainwashing for something as simple as trying to teach children your own agenda. This is an entire society that literally functions off lies. From education to God to how the outside world is, this kind of society exists in a bubble. Having read countless interviews with the people who leave such a world behind, they often have a very difficult time adjusting to life outside. In South Korea, North Koreans are seen as burdensome, often needing government assistance when it comes to education, employment, health care, and mental health care. Of course, what would you be like if you discovered that the president of your country really isn't a god, that your “enemy” countries are actually friendly, that there are rich and poor, that you do not have to rat out your neighbor or live in fear, that no one will send you to a labor camp simply because you did not cry loud enough at a state funeral.

This is the world of Legend. As with a few books I have read lately, chiefly You'll Like it Here (Everybody Does) and Divergent, this is an area of fascination. World's cut off from society and unaware of the outside world. A world that, from the reader's point of view, is so obviously unhinged. The difference for me was that in You'll Like it Here (Everybody Does), the characters were simply bystanders to this strange place. In Divergent, the characters were a part, but were too reactionary and did not see a reason for change, believing their way of life to be perfect. Legend's characters were instigators. Even June, who believes her world to be rosier than reality, is still a character who seeks out truth, if only to satisfy her own curiosity. Day knows there is a better life to be had outside of the Republic, but refuses to join the Patriots for reasons that I imagine would be pointed out in book 2, Prodigy.

This isn't to say that there aren't a few problems with the book, but honestly, after having just finished the angst ridden Insurgent, the world building alone made this books ten times better for me. True, Day and June have almost indistinguishable characterization and abilities, but I think I would rather that than the lovesick Tris any day. Besides, at least the characters in Legend know there is an outside world even if what they have been taught about it is a lie. The Divergent Tris, for all her supposed curiosity, never once even considered a world outside her doors. Weird.

I do have some expectations for book 2, first and foremost being expansive world building that was sorely lacking in this rather small volume, but rest assured, I will be reading that second book. Very soon.

Insurgent Book Review

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

In book two of the Divergent series, we begin right where the last book left off. War is looming. Each faction is being forced to choose a side and haunted by horrors they have seen. Tris Prior is ragged with grief and guilt, mourning her parents, friends, and her very faction. But Tris wants answers. Why did this happen? What was the secret her parents died for? And how can they stop this war before everything falls apart?

I am warning everyone now, there will be a lot of spoilers here. I finished this book three days ago and the more I think about this book, the more problems I have with it. Originally, if I had written this post three days ago, I would have given this book 4 stars despite the major teen-angst. However, I think my star rating may have dropped down to 2 1/2 stars.

As with most teen series these days, the second (and third) begin right where the last one left off. There is little to no recap for those of you who didn't read the book back to back. Thank goodness there is wikipedia and goodreads for those who don't remember all these different characters and factions and politics. However, if there was a character that you connected with in Divergent, do not expect to have the same connection with them in Insurgent because they all change so much.

Insurgent reminded me of Harry Potter #5, riddled with teen angst and one massive death wish. Tris goes from being a hero to a complete head case with more issues than Rolling Stone. There was a heavy focus on Tris and Four's relationship, which, as you can imagine, was grating. Why does it matter that these two love one another when their entire world is falling apart? Four shows his love for Tris over and over again and yet she fights it, ruins it, flaunts it, and then tosses it away.

And what does she toss it away for? Information. In a mind boggling twist of fate, Tris finds herself siding with Marcus, Four's abusive father, in a covert operation to find the one piece of information that forced the Erudite to mind control the entire city. Marcus, a known liar, abuser, and manipulator, somehow convinces the ever-logical Tris that she should trust him and not tell Four a thing, because for some reason Four is now completely untrustworthy, even after sacrificing himself to save her life. Then, Roth drags out the secret until the very end, and I can promise you this, it wasn't that world changing.

Here is a big issue I have had with these books. How can you possibly separate human nature into only five categories? Five? I mean, I have always had issues with Astrology and blood typing, but at least there are more categories than five. No wonder the Erudite rebelled. You stick all the smart people together in one room and I promise, they are going to eventually have a problem. For that matter, the Dauntless are a terrible faction. A group of trigger-happy, undisciplined, extreme sports fanatics who are almost worthless as far as security is concerned. What a terrible way to build a society. Especially one that isn't very old. Someone did not plan this very well at all.

I don't know what is going to happen in the final installment, but I can only hope that Tris is now over her self-deprecating  death wish and can move on into this new factionless world where she will actually have to be a hero rather than just react when bad situations are thrown her way. Please Tris, don't be another reactionary character like Katniss Everdeen. Please.

The Dark Unwinding Book Review

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Katharine Tulman's inheritance is in jeapordy. Her Uncle Tully, long considered eccentric, is now rumored to be squandering the family's money, money that belongs to her cousin and by extension, herself. So Katharine is sent to her Uncle's home to declare him insane and secure the family fortune. What she finds instead is a genius inventor with the mind of a child who employs hundreds of employees rescued from the workhouses of London. For reasons that she cannot begin to explain, Katharine decides to wait to give her assessment and quickly finds herself surrounded by mystery and intrigue.

I slogged through this book, truly hoping that the things I guessed from the very beginning would be different. In the beginning is our heroine Katharine being sent to institutionalize her Uncle, which doesn't bother her as long as she gets some money. Of course, my first questions was, why is she not elligible for marriage? She isn't illegitimate and even without money, surely someone would marry her for her name at least? Once she arrives, she finds an Estate full of people who hate her, fair enough since she will be throwing them out of their homes soon. This is where I began to truly dislike Katharine, both for her selfishness and her characterization.

For reasons I cannot begin to explain, Katharine decides to stay for 30 days, which made the story longer, but also showcased Katharine's selfishness and made it mighty convenient for Kathatine to stumble on the mysteries surrounding her Uncle and the estate.

This book was stilted and confusing. There was one chapter where I literally thought pages were missing. Throughout most of the middle section I began to skim the story, and was rewarded with a predictable ending and a "twist" that fell flat. In the end, I felt like I trudged through a novel with a character who barely redeemed herself.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann Book Review

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman

Set in 1532, Meggy Swann has been sent for by her father. When she arrives though, she finds that she is unwanted, for he has no need of a girl, and a crippled girl at that. Despite a disability that makes it impossible for her to walk without sticks or pain, Meggy begins to make friends and help her father in his great work of transformation.

I have always been a huge fan of Karen Cushman with her strong but time-period correct females with interesting job descriptions. I was also happily surprised by Meggy's disability. Before you read that wrong, I am always excited to see author's writing stories with a special needs character because I think it is important to introduce to children of all sorts. On just this level alone, this book worked for me. Although Meggy is "crippled", the story itself is not about her disability but rather one little girl's search for love and acceptance in a world where both seem so difficult to achieve.

I did find the story to be a little slow at times, leaning heavily on the history and descriptions of London to carry it along. This is a rather small book though, and the slow parts were short, unlike another book that I just read and shall be reviewing next. Alchemy and Meggy Swann is not Cushman's best book, but I think readers will like it just the same.

Fire Book Review

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire is a monster. The only living human monster in the Dells. Equally hated and adored, she has the ability to control minds, but Fire knows firsthand the destruction that can be caused by her monster gifts after watching her father, a monster in more ways than one. When Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, she is asked to help uncover a plot against the King. Her power could save a kingdom, but Fire is afraid that to use her powers may unleash a true monster.

A companion novel to Kristin Cashore's Graceling, readers will recognize some names and places, but make no mistake, this book stands on its own. I was told by more than one reader that they couldn't figure out how this book ties into Graceling, which I found an interesting criticism, because I could definitely see what Cashore was doing and how the two storied interlinked. I found it a very interesting and unique way to introduce back story without a bunch of needless back flashes throughout Graceling.

Fire is a strong female character, but her secrets and fear make her vulnerable in a way that I found both endearing and frustrating. I know it must be difficult to live in the shadow of a father as monstrous as hers and yet, I wanted her to realize sooner that she creates her own destiny. Also, Fire's monster abilities can literally cause men to go made, some wanting to rape her while others fall in love with her. This is only heightened if she is on her monthly menstrual cycle and since the story takes place over a period of months, we are definitely given the nitty gritty on that account.

I liked the back story and the introduction of characters, but in the end I don't think I cared about what would happen to Fire only what would happen to the truly evil child who eventually becomes king of the Dells. I am not upset that I read, but I am really looking forward to the sequel Bitterblue, because it is time to find out what happens.

Picture Books in Review - January through March

As usual, a slew of picture books have been rolling in and as usual, I am ho hum about a large majority of them for various reasons, most being that this picture books are start to seem similar with different illustrators conveying their version with various anthropomorphic animals. So here are a few that piques my interest recently, and perhaps they will grab yours. 

The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) 

by Kathleene Krull, Paul Brewer, and Stacy Innerst

A child's introduction to the Beatles if you will. For the older, or at least more attentive reader, full of great facts and fun pictures.

Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino

So I have a soft spot for robots in kids books. It is probably the sci-fi nerd in me. But this is an adorable book and I can't help but think of some fun crafts that would go along with this one at a storytime.

All Through My Town by Jean Riedey and Leo Timmers

A potpourri of images and quick rhymes make this book a snap to read through and a joy to read again. Never mind that there is a twist ending, well...as twist as a picture book can get.

Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore and Nancy Carpenter

Based on a true story, this is a tale that may have never happened without the help of many good Samaritans. Reminiscent of Make Way for Ducklings, this is a duck tale for the 21st century child.

King of Space by Jonny Duddle

A bit long for a picture book, this is for the older reader, the ones who love the long stories and there is plenty to entertain the eye while a parent reads. 

The Museum by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds

It's Peter H. Reynolds...does it really need an introduction?

Open Very Carefully: A Book With a Bite by Nick Bromley and Nicola O'Byrne

For the adventurous reader, beware. I can totally see my nephew enjoying this one.

RoboMop by Sean Taylor and Edel Rodriguez

So far, my favorite book this year. I absolute love this little Robomop, doomed to clean a bathroom in a basement. But he never loses heart and keeps dreaming and I thought it was fantastic!

The Yellow Tutu by Kirsten Bramsen and Carin Bramsen

Who says tutu's have to be worn around your waist? Why not on your head so you can look like a giant flower? And would you keep wearing it like that if someone made fun of you?

Code Name Verity Book Review

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Julie, code name Verity, has two weeks to live. Two weeks to tell the Germans everything she knows, codes, names, places. In exchange they promise her a swift execution. And so, with painstaking honesty, Julie divulges her secrets.

Code Name Verity was absolutely brilliant. Throughout the first half of the book, I had a difficult time liking Julie. She is selfish, a traitor in the deepest sense of the word, willing to share all in an effort to not be tortured any more. She drags out her story day by day, knowing that with each sentence she is only delaying the inevitable. How is a reader supposed to relate or like a character like this? One that, by her own admission, is going to die in the end?

Then comes the second half, told from the perspective of Maddie, Julie's best friend, and everything changes. Everything. Your opinions of Julie, what she has said and done will be altered for the good. It is difficult to write this review without creating any spoilers and so I will leave it at this: This book was one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. I would not hesitate to recommend it to teens and adults with the full knowledge that they will be reading a truly wonderful book that deserves to be read more than once.

Homesick Book Review

Homesick by Kate Klise

Benny's mother has had enough. After another fight regarding the ever mysterious splinter that is rumored to be a part of "the" cross, she leaves Benny and his father to themselves. Benny's dad has always been a bit of a pack-rat, but now, he is hoarding everything from pizza boxes to old motorcycle parts. As the house begins to fill up, Benny begins to try to convince his dad to get rid of that splinter, because if the splinter is gone surely his mother will return. Meanwhile, a local teach enters their little town into America's Most Charming Small Town contest and the pressure is on to clean up the town and number one on the agenda is Benny's house.

Authentic and poignant, this is a tale about one kid who is forced to become the grown up after his mother leaves and his father's mental health begins to deteriorate. After watching shows like Hoarders, I think we have all become familiar with what it means to be a hoarder, but this story really brings to light  how terrifying and overwhelming it is to be on the inside of those houses.

The end felt a little too happily ever after for my taste, but I think it is important when kids are going through situations like this to know that things can end well, that they are not bound into living the way their parents have chosen to live. This may be especially important when dealing with mental health issues.

Reminiscent of Out of My Mind and Dead End in Norvelt, I think this may be one that a lot of teachers and librarians may want to consider for elementary school readers. Oh and did I mention...there is a tornado?

When Life Gives You O.J. Book Review

When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl

There is only one thing 10-year-old Zelly Fried wants more than anything and that is a dog. Zelly is sure a dog will help her fit in with her new neighbors in Vermont, but her parents don't think she is ready yet. This is when Zelly's grandfather, Ace, hatches a preposterous plan in which Zelly will have a "practice dog", made from an old orange juice jug. She must feed it, walk it, and let it do its business. The only problem is how does someone fit in when they are walking around with an old jug?

When Life Gives You O.J. is really one of your atypical middle grade books. New girl in a new town trying to fit in with an eccentric family member whom the child really doesn't understand until something tragic happens. If this is all there had been in the story I may have just been ho hum about this book, but Perl added some flavor, like adding some salt and pepper onto an otherwise bland food and suddenly, it is good. Maybe not the best thing you have ever eaten, but good.

The flavor of this story is the cultural context, with Zelly's family being Jewish. The addition of various Yiddish words and phrases, stories and traditions peppered throughout gave life to a story that could have been bland into something charming. I also think there are a number of themes that young girls will be able to relate to. There were a few moments where I even found myself flashbacking to my own childhood with horrible sleepovers and rocky friendships.

I know this review doesn't make the book sound wonderful, but I really think that girls between 8-11 are really going to enjoy this one and may learn a few Yiddish words in the process.

Divergent Book Review

Divergent by Veronia Roth

Beatrice Prior lives in a world split into five factions, each one dedicated to upholding and cultivating a particular virtue. The honest Candor, selfless Abnegation, brave Dauntless, peaceful Amity, and intelligent Erudite have been living together in virtual harmony for as long as anyone can remember. Beatrice, who has grown up in Abnegation is thrown for a loop when her test results show that she is Divergent, a term that is so secret that not even she is supposed to know what this means. Despite her fierce love for her family, when the time comes for her to choose which faction she belongs in, Beatrice chooses the brave Dauntless. But not all is at it seems, and Tris (formerly Beatrice) must learn that true bravery requires the use of all the factions, especially if she is going to survive.

My co-workers have been buzzing about this book for quite a while. The books are sold by the truckload. I wasn't resisting reading it, but despite the buzz, no one was actually buzzing about what the book was about, just that Hunger Games fans would love it. This is both a plus and a minus for me. One the one hand, I enjoyed the first book of Hunger Games and really do love dystopian sci-fi. Check out my fan-girl rants about The Maze Runner if you have any question about that. On the other hand, Hunger Games has become the 'it' thing, and every writer is trying to do it with varying levels of success. Because of this I both excited and wary of books that are touted as a you-will-love-this-book-because-you-loved-that-book.

I liked Divergent. Didn't love, but I liked it. The pacing and plot were quick and interesting. Tris is an understandably conflicted character who I expect is going to have some real psychological damage in the  sequel. The love story wasn't too heavy handed although I always find it curious when characters fall for each other without knowing a thing about the other person. I wonder what will hold their relationship together once they get past the difficult times and just have to live? It is possible that I consider these things more now that I am married, but it is no secret that I am highly suspicious of the romance elements in any book.

My favorite part about this book is that it kept me guessing. I didn't know what was going to happen or how the story would unfold. For someone who reads as much as I do, this is rather important because I get bored when I can guess exactly what will happen in a story. (Currently trying to finish The Dark Unwinding and I think it is terrible because I know exactly how things are going to turn out.) It was nice to have characters who were truly tough and unlike Hunger Games had chosen to be part of a group in which they were expected to be. The conflict with the characters was in the competition, but the competition, even when life in death, made the Tris and her friends seem more human. It also made their tormentors more human as well.

Shades of Earth Book Review

-->

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

In this third and final installment of Beth Revis’ riveting sci-fi adventure, Amy and Elder are finally landing on Centauri Earth, having left the Godspeed behind. The new colonists soon realize though that the monsters they were warned of are real and that they may not be the only intelligent life on Centauri Earth. When their people start to be systematically picked off, Amy and Elder must unravel a mystery that may stretch all the way to Sol-Earth.

In a genre where post-apocolyptic novels have stepped in and called themselves science fiction, it is always exciting to find a true sci-fi with spaceships, space travel, and alien worlds. Beth Revis does not pull any of the stops or slow down any of the action in this final installment of her trilogy. There are plenty of deaths, explosions, monsters, and mystery to appease any audrenaline junkie.

Despite my love of this book, I am afraid that the characters did fall a little short for me. Although the plot rolled along at a pace that kept me breathless and wanting more, Amy and Elder’s budding romance felt forced and Amy’s flirtations with the military man Chris, was completely unbelievable. Amy’s wishy washy attitude towards Elder and her parents were sometimes understandable and at other times it defied logic.

That said, I think this is a lovely trilogy to add to my bookshelf and despite a characterization flaw, I found the book to be dead exciting with an interesting mystery that was fun to uncover.

A Year in Review 2012

Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud:

Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett

Let's Go For a Drive by Mo Willems

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Forgive Me I Meant To Do It by Gail Carson Levine

New-To-Me Series That On One Hand I'm Glad To Have Found, But On The Other, I'm Seriously Horrified That I'd Missed Out On Until Now:

Beka Cooper Terrier by Tamora Pierce 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Sequel Happiness:

My Bonny Light Horseman by L.A. Meyer

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Rapture of the Deep by L.A. Meyer

The Wake of the Loreilee Lee by L.A. Meyer

A Hero for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Horten's Incredible Illusions by Lissa Evans

Book That Made Me Crave Food:

Tyler Makes Pancakes by Tyler Florence & Craig Frazier

Most Enjoyable Bad Book:

Forgettable Plot Saved By a Fresh, Honest Voice: 

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Book(s) I Was Most Surprised By:

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Flip by Martyn Bedford 

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Made of Pure Awesome:

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The Theory of Everything by J.J. Johnson

Best Book Hidden Under the Worst Cover:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

More Adorable Than Sparkling Puppies:

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

YA Book Most Likely to be Loved By Adults More Than Actual YAs:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Biggest Disappointment: 

Aliens on a Rampage by Clete Barrett

The Kill Order by James Dashner

Books that Invoked Irrationally Violent Emotions in me:

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jaqueline Woodson

Books I Loved For Their Imperfect Heroines:

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

Best Book For Wimpy Kid Lovers:

Middle School Get Me Outta Here by James Patterson

Best Vampire Book For Twilight-Haters:

On the Day I Died by Candace Fleming

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Favorite Roadtrip Book:

Every Day by David Leviathan

Best Action/Adventure Book:

Chomp by Carl Hiassen

Books that were weird just to be weird:

Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Niz

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini

Sci-fi's that made me think there is still a future for this genre (future, get it):

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Search For WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Books I lent out to people multiple times:

The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by  Dorothy Gilman

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Worst Book of the Year:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Land of Storied: The Wishing Well by Chris Colfer

Have a question about this list. Wonder why I loved or hated a book? Leave a comment...let's discus

You'll Like it Here (Everybody Does) Book Review

You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White

Meggie Blue and her family, consisting her brother David, mother, and Gramps are refugees from another world, living on Earth. But when one of the earthlings catches sight of the families' electric blue hair, a genetic trait of the Chromian species, the Blues are forced to flee, escaping in their space ship. The ship, having followed their instructions to take them somewhere where English is the native tongue and they will be safe, drops them off in Fashion City. From the outside everything appears to be perfect. No disease, no homelessness, no starvation. The Fathers take care of everyone. But the longer they live there, the Blues begin to realize that this parallel Earth may not be as perfect as all the residents say it is.

I shall begin my new round of blogging with a book review for a book I absolutely loved. If there was ever a way for a child, or for that matter an adult, to comprehend the way North Koreans live then it is in this book. Fashion City is part of a closed society, carefully brainwashed for obedience, able to spout government propaganda without thought, and careful to never step out of line. The people live in constant fear, yet they manage to find music, and love, art and color. Nothing can quench the human spirit.

Meggie and David are both very interesting characters, Meggie for her kindness and adaptability and David for his seeming perfection. Yet, Meggie and David would not be nearly so interesting without a wonderful cast of characters. There is the wise and artistic Gramps, their dutiful and intelligent mother, and all the people of Fashion City like Elvis Presley, Gil and his family, and Meggie's best friend Kitty. 

It is rare to find a science fiction book for middle grade readers, and even rarer to find one with a parallel earth, and even rarer to find one that makes such a big statement and yet doesn't feel didactic.

I think many young readers will be easily caught up in this Twilight Zone kind of novel.

A Blogger's Wedding

Ahh, my dear readers, I know you have been wondering what in the world happened to that cool girl who runs that amazing children's book blog. Maybe you haven't been thinking that, but I shall tell you nonetheless. I went and got myself married. Normally, I wouldn't share personal pictures except that in true bibliophile fashion our wedding was book themed. Our centerpieces were books, the wedding favors were handmaid bookmarks, the guest book used library cards, and my bouquet was made with book pages. Now, that I have gotten back into the regular rhythm of life, I will now be returning to my regular scheduled blogging. Expect many reviews in the weeks to come because despite all those wedding preparations, I still managed to read quite a few books.

Quick Reviews from the Underpaid

There is a simple reason why I have not been posting more often folks, and it is this. I currently am working two jobs, retail no less, throughout the holidays. Perhaps longer. I am also planning a wedding in January which means that I have to do things like fill out invitations, apartment hunt, make doctor appointments, and about a million other things.

With all that being said, my reading habit is still chugging away nicely, or at least I am reading more books in a month than most people do in a year. Because I cannot do the full length reviews that I would like to do because of my limited time, I am going to provide you with an abbreviated review for all the books I have read recently in one post.

 Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman

A sequel to Stuck in Neutral, this book picks up right were the first left off. After surviving his father's mercy killing because of simple phone call, Shawn prepares himself for his life ahead. But what kind of life can a guy have when everyone thinks he is a vegetable? Stuck within his own body, unable to tell anyone how smart and funny and annoyed his is, Shawn must accept the life he has and live it as best he can. A tiny book, just like the first, this book still left me with many questions. Shawn has a really great family, his siblings basically acting as if he can understand and interact with him. I wanted more than that though, and definitely more from a sequel. I desperately wanted someone to take Shawn somewhere and for someone to figure out that he is locked in his own body. That some kind of medical science would have figured out a way to make his twitching finger be able to interact with the world. I know this is possible because we wouldn't have The Diving Bell and the Butterfly without such knowledge. Not a bad book, but I didn't really see the point in reading it if nothing new happens.

 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Set in the future, everyone lives, works, and plays in the virtual reality world called the Oasis. When the creator dies, leaving behind a fortune and a hidden Easter Egg within the Oasis, the game is on. But there are some who will do anything to win the game, and Wade Watts quickly learns that some virtual worlds can become very real. Despite a rough first chapter, which is full of authorial intrusions, this is one awesome book. It is perfect for geeks, sci-fi freaks, and anyone who grew up in the 80's.

 

The Navigator and City of Time by Eion McNamee

One day the world around Owen shifts oddly: Time begins to flow backwards, and the world and family he knew disappear. Time can only be set right when the Resisters vanquish their ancient enemies, the Harsh. Time travel is a difficult subject to tackle, and sadly this series really struggled with the concept. Full of holes and logical fallacies, I was left feeling confused, as if the author had simply skipped a couple of sentences. Owen, the main character, is wholly forgettable and flat, and despite some nice action scenes, I was never fully engrossed in the story.

 The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been shipped off to New York City to live with her boring Uncle (Unc to Evie), who runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult"--also known by locals as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies." NYC is one glamor filled thrill from the speakeasies to the movies, that is until a string of occult-based murders comes to light and Evie and her Unc begin to investigate. Evie may be able to help find the killer, but how do you catch a ghost? Set against the backdrop of 1920's New York, The Diviners is a well told, terribly creepy, and poetically spun tale. Libba Bray, although a bit wordy at times, can craft a sentence so that it reads like a song. But beware, not only is this book occultish in the extreme, but it also sometimes reads like a history lesson. I promise you will walk away from this one with a chill and a firm grasp on 1920s vernacular.

 Let's Go For a Drive by Mo Willems

I love this book! This is my favorite Elephant and Piggie book yet! Mo Willems does so much with so few words and these two characters are so expressive. Seriously, buy this one for the child in your life...or the child within.

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

When T-Boom introduces Laurel Daneau to meth, she immediately falls under its spell. Calling it her moon, Laurel quickly sinks into a spiral of addiction in which death seems like the only out. With the help of an artist named Moses and her friend Kaylee, Laurel is able to see beyond the moon, to a place where her ghosts will no longer haunt her. Deeply moving, Woodson immerses her reader into the world of addiction that is so terribly awful and brilliantly hopeful. Never feeling didactic, Kaylee's story impacts on a level that demands understanding and a new way of looking at those suffering from addiction.

Common Trope Traps: A Reader's Guide for Writers

So the title of this post is a little misleading since I am not simply a reader, but also a writer. Yet, it is from the many books I have read over the past few months that fueled the need for such a post. There are, of course, a plethora of cliches and overly misused tropes in all fiction, however the literature for children's books, specifically books geared toward the middle grade and teen crowd have a set all their own. So without further ado, I present:

Eight Overused Tropes in Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction: (in no special order)

1. Redheads
    We all know the ever famous redhead, Anne of Green Gables, but what about these fiery beauties (I'm a readhead so I can say that), makes for such an interesting character trait? My theory is this. Redheads only make  4% of the American population. Therefore if an author wants to create a character that stands out, one who is different, but doesn't want an ethnic minority, they can always use a redhead. Who are the most recent additions to this classification? There is Clary (City of Bones), Amy (Across the Universe), Fire (Fire), Quincie Morris (Tantalize), Bianca Piper (The Duff), Ellie (Angelfire), Eve (Eve). I think you get the point. Interesting note,  besides Ron Weasley, famous wizarding friend of a certain Harry Potter, ginger males are rather rare.

2. Self-Examination by Mirror
    When was the last time you stood in front of the mirror and, in your head, began describing yourself? Your eyes, your nose, hair color, face shape. Anyone? This speaks to me of lazy writing. There are so many deft ways to insert such information, creative and beautiful ways that reveal more than just looks. "When she was little, Lana had wished she could just tell people she was adopted, for everyone in her family had soft honey colored hair, except her. Instead, Lana's jet black hair screamed to the world, my mom had an affair." An example that I hope makes a point.

3. The Awkward Uncoordinated Kid
    I guess the cool kid would be a boring story, right? I mean, every single kid out there can relate to being the awkward uncoordinated kid. The trouble with this is that, although not everyone can be cool and coordinated, they can't all be awkward either. This may be a case of writers writing what they know, because to be honest, of all the writers I know (you guys correct me if I am wrong) many admit to being the socially awkward teenager that has become the staple of every teen flick out there. I myself was the bookworm, and it wasn't until my college years that I discovered rock climbing and hiking. Perhaps for my next book I should consider writing a character who is actually considered cool.

4. Realizing You Are Crying
    What is this wet stuff upon my face? Why does water leak from my eyes? Unless you are a robot or a child who has never cried before, it is biologically strange for a person not to realize they are crying. Yes, the occasional allergy or sneezing fit does hit you unexectadly, but in the middle of a great disaster in which someone dies, would you truly be surprised by tears?

5. The Smile That Doesn't Quite Reach the Eyes
   This is how we know that people are bad or lying, right? Admittedly, I am not the most observant person on the whole, however I wouldn't even know how to go about noticing if someones smile didn't reach their eyes. How can you tell if their eyes aren't smiling? Tyra Banks always goes on and on about this very thing with would-be models, but honestly, I can't tell the different between her "smiling with her eyes" and without. They look the same to me. Also, I would assume that a psychopath would be somewhat good at hiding the fact that they are in fact bad.

6. The Didactic Authorial Intrusion
    I am aware that this has always been an issue, but bear with me here. I am not talking about the authorial intrusion in which the author wants children to learn how to share or not be a bully. No, the didactic authorial insutrusions I refer to go on a much deeper, sometimes even spiritual level. I get that sometimes it is difficult for an author to separate out their political, religious, or philosophical viewpoints from those of their characters, but it is important that the author question their decision to insert a four paragraph mantra about how the character is an atheist, when it has absolutely nothing to do with the story and never comes up again. If a character spends any length of time ruminating on something then one should only hope that this may be important information for the reader to know. If it is important to the story and the character, add it. If not, use facebook for your rantings. That's what everyone else does.

9. The Terribly Abused Child With No Psychological Damage
    Kids are resiliant and human beings are often able to overcome some very terrible ordeals. The more realistic fiction, those dealing with things like death, cancer, war, and disasters never shy away from the knowledge of how terrible those things can be. Yet in the more fantastical worlds, the fact that a character would probably suffer from some serious PTSD due to the life they have lived, is ignored. After seven years of constant death threats, being abused by his relatives, and watching friends die, Harry Potter would definitely be in need of some serious help. On the lighter side, think of it this way. Ariel from The Little Mermaid would probably be considered a hoarder. Charlie Brown is clearly clinically depressed. The story doesn't have to be about mental illness issues, but it wouldn't it be interesting if more authors acknowledged that their characters may need someone to talk to. And for goodness sake...stop sending Harry Potter back to his abusive relatives.

Every Day Book Review

Every Day by David Levithan

Every day for as long as A can remember, it has woken up as a different person, hijacking that persons body and life for 24 hours. A doesn't mind so much anymore, having developed a series of rules in order to not disrupt the lives of the other teens too much. Content to live on as this thing, an it with no true past or future, A meets Rhiannon. One day with Rhiannon though and A can't get enough, willing to break its own rules in order to be with her. But what will happen when A tells her the truth. How can you love someone who is a different person every day?

I admit that I resisted this book. Not being a huge fan of romance and given that the main crux of this story is this girl Rhiannon, I was sure I would hate it. Due to the fascinating concept, I fond the story engaging while I was reading up, however it doesn't stand up under to much scrutiny, especially since the author offered so few answers.

The lives that A lives are fascinating. A drug addict, a pretty girl, an obese boy, a bilingual daughter of an illegal immigrant. A is neither male nor female and has learned how to cope with the eccentricities of this life, and it is this element that makes the book interesting.

Of course, the love story was ridiculous. For some reason that I cannot quite figure out, A is completely smitten with Rhiannon who is not particularly special way, which wouldn't be a big deal except that I am not even sure why A really likes her other than the fact that she is nice. In one day A falls for her so completely, developing a sixteen-year-old worthy crush of the century that, like most teen relationships, is doomed to be short but full of over the top feelings.

Perhaps I sound cynical? And perhaps I am. But after seeing what love is and what love isn't, I find it fascinating that we still pander to the ridiculous romantic notions that encapsulate the romance genre and have made many a friend think that love would somehow be just like in the stories they have read and movies they have seen, leaving very little room for reality.

Lucky for Levithan, this book isn't reality so I guess we will let A get away with its crush. Interesting point, and one you may have noticed throughout this review, A is neither male nor female. I have noticed an overwhelming amount of those on goodreads however, seem to want to call A, 'he'. Talk about a weird concept that is nearly impossible to wrap your head around. 

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone Book Review

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Karou is an artist, blue haired and mysterious to all her friends in Prague. How does she speak so many languages? Where does she go on her errands? And why does she draw monsters in her sketchbook?

What Karou chooses not to tell them is that she is the foster daughter of monsters, raised by Brimstone, a chimera magician who exchanges wishes for teeth. Despite her fear of him and desperate desire to know what Brimstone does with those teeth, Karou is happy with her life until she meets the beautiful, winged Seraphim, Akiva. With her world falling apart around her, Karou must delve into a past she has never known, even if she may come to regret it.


Crafted with hauntingly beautiful prose, Laini Taylor has created a Romeo & Juliet story just as passionate and fearsome as its muse. Taylor has created not just one but two worlds, the first, Prague, familiar and yet different enough for the setting to feel unique. The second, a world full of angels and demons, magic and pain, slowly unfolds throughout the book, and despite it being so alien Taylor deftly handles her world so that it too feels as real and slid as Prague.

When I began this book, I had my reservations and admit to some eye rolling when the "angels" were introduced. After all, isn't that the new thing? Angels and demons becoming almost as popular as vampires and zombies, right? Never mind that these angels, or Serpih, aren't exactly the biblical, winged creatures that tradition would have us believe. As a ardent activist against frivolous romance, I readily admit that although I thought this book was exceptionally well-done, I did find some of the romance cloying. Let me make it clear though, I hate romance stories in my action flicks so obviously a story that is taking its cues from Romeo and Juliet is not going to be that appealing to someone like me.

I would have like there to be a little less flashback/backstory. The final third of the book is almost all flashback and although I recognize its importance, I wished there had been a different way, but this in no way impedes the beauty of the book.

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is dark, sensual, stunning, terrifying, beautiful, and Just wait until you find out what they do with all those teeth.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell Book Review

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer


Alex and Connor have been hearing fairy tales all their lives, but neither ever dreamed that one day they may be a part of them. Sucked into The Land of Stories, Alex and Connor must find a managerie of objects in order to escape. As they travel between kingdoms, the twins encounter witches, goblins, trolls, wolves, princesses, mermaids, and fairies all of which either hinder or help the siblings in their quest.

Ah, celebrity authors. Many celebrities have gone the way of writing children's books. Some like Emma Thompson, Julie Andrews, and Jamie Lee Curtis have written fabulous children's books that have gone well beyond any celebrity. Others like Kristi Yamaguchi, Madonna, and Jay Leno proved that some people, even when they announce they would love to write children's books, should not be allowed to. I am afraid Chris Colfer falls into the second category.

Full of over-used tropes, flat characters, strange POV shifts, terrible similes, an elementary school use of description, incredibly didactic, and a plot that lacked imagination, I feel like I should have put the book down on chapter three but felt confident that the book could only get better. How wrong I was.

Each time Colfer used a simile I found myself cringing. Like this fabulous one, "Mrs. Peters was staring at her as if she had just witnessed a gruesome rural animal give birth." Or this brilliant one, "Alex clambered up the tree faster than any animal she had ever seen in a documentary." There were many others, so many that I began talking to the book. Too often my reading was punctuated with, "You have got to be kidding me."

Alex and Connor have very little character arcs and felt so much like your classic smart kid/slacker stereotypes that it became rather boring. Alex is smart and emotional, a Hermione Granger who is even more unlikable. Far too often Alex ends up thwarting their plans because she feels the need to "experience" The Land of Stories or help the various characters they come across. Connor is the goof-off with a mouth, the comedic punctuation to the end of every line. If Alex isn't busy asking fairies about their feelings, Connor is beside her stupidly protesting having to do something that could very well save them both. At no point did these characters learn or grow.

Perhaps the worst part was the plot itself. Two children, trapped in one world can only return to the other if they find some magical items to make a spell. Instead of being full of danger and intrigue however, the story felt very much like a scavenger hunt. Once it was revealed that there were other ways to travel between the two worlds, all suspense was lost for it was clear that even if they couldn't get the objects, they could and would eventually get home. Never mind that Colfer was already working with a source material that has been done to death. Honestly, if you are going to do a fairy tale mash-up, you have got to do different, ground breaking, or at least funny.

But Chris Colfer wants us all to learn a lesson. That fairy tales all have morals and the supposed mores that we were taught are wrong. What Colfer's interpretation of the classics shows a lack of research and literary analysis. I can't even begin to go down this path of analysis without simply becoming angry at the lack of imagination and depth Colfer managed to rehash.

Here was the thing, there were a few characters who were good and whose stories I thought far more interesting than Alex and Connor's, that being the Evil Queen and Goldilocks. If Colfer had decided to write an entire story from the perspective of Goldilocks, I think it could have been good, because she was the only character with anything deep and emotionally resonant and Colfer may not be a good enough author to see it. His editor should have, but then celebrity authors often get away with far too much than your "regular" authors, the ones of non-celebrity status. Want proof? Look no further than the brilliantly (*sarcasm*) written novel by Snooki.

Drama Book Review

Drama by Raiga Telgemeier

Callie is your regular 7th grade theater junkie, working behind the scenes as a set designer and stage crew on her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi. Even with a limited budget, Callie is determined to create a set worthy of Broadway, complete with a canon that actually fires. If their production is going to succeed though, everyone will have to play a part.

In this second graphic novel for middle graders by Telgemeier tackles the drama world and all that it entails. Callie, with her purple locks and love to work behind the scenes is loveable and loyal. Similar to the autobiographic character that Telgemeier created in Smile, Callie is very much like Raina in a different setting. Being a Drama junkie myself, meaning theater not actual drama, this book felt very close to home.

The trials and tribulations of a 7th grader in the 21st century are not things I am familiar with however. I think this book handled it rather deftly, weaving in middle school crushes, friendships, break-ups, and other societal pressures. Callie has pretty solid self-esteem, but she is as vulnerable as any twelve-year-old.

Of course, as with any good book, there is always a bit of controversy, in Drama it is the topic of homosexuality as Callie becomes good friends with twin brothers, one of whom confesses that he is gay. In my bookstore alone, I have already had two customers complain about this particular aspect of the book as if we have control over whether a book is written or carried within a store, not that I would ever condone censorship of any kind. All that is to say, that those who dislike the image or idea of young adults being attracted to the same sex, they will very much hate this book and all that it represents. For those who encourage such topics, then you will love this one.

Either way, this is a well-done novel and I think it will create much discussion, hopefully of the productive kind.