Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.







Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.






Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.





Was This Book Worth My Time?
Not really. 

In defense of the book, the end of the book was great and full of action, danger, and one twist I didn't see coming.  I might be crazy in predicting that the next book in the series might be better as Kate does not need to spend another 200 pages setting up the story. 

What Bothered Me?
Somewhere between pages 50 and 75 I became really bored with the book.  I felt like it was taking to long to get to the real conflict.  Yeah, I knew that Luce and Daniel knew each other from another life, but I wanted to know how they met, and I also wanted to know why Daniel was avoiding her.  There wasn't must action, and absoutley no danger until the battle at the end.  Frankly, I am glad I did not spend any money on this book. 

Review: Trance by Linda Gerber

Synopsis from the book jacket:
It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling. There is time to take only one breath.  The trance begins.  When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things.  Somone she knows is about to die, and .... she is powerless to stop it.

Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

I was really worried that this book was going to be a lot like Num8ers.  However, I was pleasently surprised that this was not the case.  Although this book has some sadness, the romance between Jake and Ashlyn gives this book the uplift it needs to produce a perfect combination of light and dark. Gerber does a fantastic job of incorporating Ashlyn's trances into her everyday life.  As a reader, we realize how burdensome these trances are for her.  I also liked that Gerber had a valid reason for every single charcter she introduced to her readers.  They all held a big position in helping Ashlyn combat her trances. You will be sucked into a trance as you read this book.  It is an engrossing read.  I read this book in one sitting. 



What bothered me?
Nothing. 

Review: The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Eli and his family have lived in the Compound for six years.  The world they knew is gone.  Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe.  Now, they can't get out.  He won't let them.


Was this book worth my time?
This is a fascinating book.  It is disturbingly good.  What I mean by that is the book introduces ideas that are far from ideas that would be presented in our world.  However, the point in bringing up these ideas is to pose the question, how far would we go to survive?

I liked how this novel was both full of action and mystery.  The protagonist, Eli is on a hunt for the REAL reason why they are stuck in an underground "prison." 

I think this book would be loved by those that liked the Hunger Games mainly because of the unsettling story line of both books. 

What bothered me about the book?
Honestly, I felt like there wasn't a true conflict.  Sure, they escaped from a nuclear explosion, but there anything else.  I was needing something more.  I found it about half way through the book.  After that, I was good to go. :)

Review: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosaline Wiserman

Book description:
Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.



All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.


Was this book worth my time?
Yes

This book is so close to the real-life trials and all out fun that high school brings. I found myself remembering the drama, the gossip, the heartbreaks, and the oddities as I read the book. 

Her characters are true to life, and I think you would be hard-pressed to walk into a school that didn't have the kids that were protrayed in the book. 

My favorite part of the book is the fact that Charlie realizes that she can stand on her own.  I was proud of her, and, honestly, a little jealous that she figured it out so quickly and it took me 4 years of high school to figure it out. 

I'm not usually a fan of "girlie" book about crushes and gossip; however, this is a book that got me because of deeper issues addressed.  I really am glad that I took the time to give this book a shot.  You should too.

The conflicts are real; the drama is real. 


What bothered me about this book?
Nothing

Review: One Survivors by Susan Shaw

Book description:
24 DEAD, 2 SURVIVORS



HOW CAN YOU FIX THAT?


TELL ME HOW!
Anger. Sadness. Rage. Grief. Guilt.


Joey Campbell experiences them all, even though he knows what he should really feel is lucky. Lucky to have survived the fire that burned Village Park High School to the ground. Lucky that his best friend, Maureen, also survived, when no one else in his freshman history class managed to make it out alive.


Writing in a journal provides some solace, but Joey knows that redemption lies with the living. If only the living students and parents didn't blame him for the fire...


Startling, relevant, and honest, Joey's story is simply unforgettable.

 
Was this book worth my time?
Somewhat. 
 
This book is only 199 pages and, thus, was a very short read.  It was a book the holds the reader in suspense in that you really aren't sure what happened on the day of the fire until about half way through the book. 
 
I was pleasantly surprised that the book got drastically better in the second half. Ultimately , this book left me full of joy. 
 
 
What bothered me?
The book is written partly as a novel and partly as Joey's journal entries.  Truthfully, the journal entries at the beginning were most ramblings and a little boring to read.  If the book wasn't so short I would've probably stopped reading.  Luckily, I didin't.  I just wish Shaw had connected her readers to Joey sooner. 

Review: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Book Description:
Restless souls and empty hearts


Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.


Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

This book was such an easy, fast read.  I literally couldn't put it down.  I felt like there wasn't a good place to stop.  The story flows so seamlessly.  It never stops.  It never slows down. 

The free verse is wonderful and perfect for the story. I don't believe that I would've felt the grief that the characters were feeling if it was written in prose. 

It's haunting; it's devestating; it's joyful; it's triumphant. 




What bothered me?
NOTHING! Fabulous book especially for girls who claim they hate to read.  ;)

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Description:
The longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.


The loss.
Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of being human.


The linger.
For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces - wolf and human - with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?






Was this book worth my time?
Yes, but I don't know if I would have been that interested in this book had I not been in love with Shiver. 

I love the idea of a cure for the cure.  I think it adds suspense and mystery to the novel, and I was surprised when I found myself trying to figure out the "cure" along with Cole. 

I also liked that Stiefvater gave Isabel and Cole chapters in the book.  It helps understand both of their emotions and motivations. 

Stiefvater totally set the stage for the next book of the series, and I am ready to see what is in story for the Mercy Falls wolves. 




What bothered me about the book?
I was disappointed that there was not more romance.  I was looking forward to being drawn in to Stiefvater's way of protraying the passion and love between Sam and Grace.  I didn't feel that like I did in Shiver.