The Earthquake Machine

Feb 10, 2012 KatieBookQueen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at The Queen of Teen Fiction:
http://queenofteenfiction.blogspot.com

Read my interview with Mary here:
http://queenofteenfiction.blogspot.co...

The Earthquake Machine is what I call a Roller-coaster read. You have your ups, your downs, your crazy loop de loop and some of those quick twists and turns that you didn’t see coming. The writing is fantastic and the story is completely unique and unforgettable.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of fourteen year old Rhonda, whose life is pretty...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Nazish Ahmed (Nazish Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, own, books-i-read-in-2012, reviews, books-i-got-for-review

I rate this book 3.5 stars.

I just reviewed this on my blog.
To view the full review and other reviews, click here The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry

The first novel review in a long time (I've been doing a lot of manga reviews lately).

Sex: Yes
Gore: There is some, but not too much.
Magic: No
Romance: Yes (She mostly observes while other people are having romance, but she does have her romance, although I didn't see much of the chemistry between her and the guy, I think it was just desire n...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Jade Eby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-and-need-to-read

Originally published at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements

This was the sort of book that after I finished, I had to walk away from for a little while. It’s themes and topics are hard hitting at first, but it’s after you walk away that you start really thinking about what was really going on. You remember scenes and conversations from the book long after you’ve stopped reading it and you try to figure out what the hell you think about it. Not only did the author’s personal story inspire me, but her...more Originally published at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements

This was the sort of book that after I finished, I had to walk away from for a little while. It’s themes and topics are hard hitting at first, but it’s after you walk away that you start really thinking about what was really going on. You remember scenes and conversations from the book long after you’ve stopped reading it and you try to figure out what the hell you think about it. Not only did the author’s personal story inspire me, but her self-publishing story did as well. I had high expectations for this book and I can tell you that it did not disappoint. On the author’s website, there is a disclaimer,

“Mary’s agent didn’t want to send out The Earthquake Machine to editors. The book was perhaps too edgy. Editors would be afraid to take a chance on such a wild ride. And so Mary decided to give readers a chance to find her.”

There are so many things to say about this disclaimer. First…how courageous is she? To be able to understand how different your book is from mainstream fiction and to take a chance on readers finding the book is inspiring. I love that she does not want to conform to what is mainstream or politically correct. And the disclaimer is absolutely true. This book is extremely edgy and I could see many people not understanding how to take this book in or appreciate what Lowry has written. I appreciate that Lowry decided to go a different route with this novel and I’m extremely grateful it fell into my hands.

The Good: The Earthquake Machine is a dirty novel. Really, I’m not lying. It’s dirty in the sense that it gets into your skin, deep down inside, scrubs all the clean out of you and then replaces everything with grit and dirt. Lowry strips away all conventions in this novel. Rhonda is not your typical girl nor will she ever be. It is so difficult to describe her as a character because by the end of the novel I grew to love her, but I was also so confused and appalled by her at points. This novel is about MANY things but a sexual awakening is very much a huge part of this novel. It’s something not a lot of people are comfortable with and this novel does NOT shy away from it. Lowry is unabashedly honest in her portrayal of the way some females discover who they are sexually, mentally and physically. Rhonda goes through an incredible transformation that includes actually living life successfully pretending to be a boy for a while. She cuts her hair, changes to her name to Angel and sets out on an adventure that very rarely exists for anyone, let alone a young teenager. Rhonda/Angel questions everything and I love that about her, especially in terms of religion. She doesn’t deny that it exists for some, but she doesn’t quite agree that it is all that it’s cracked up to be. Her strength and adversity inspire me and her discovery of who she is had me rooting for her the entire time. I think the thing I loved most about this book was the amount of Spanish and Hispanic culture that rippled through. I LOVE the Spanish language and I love Hispanic culture and this book had the perfect amount of Spanish and English within.

The Bad: I noticed on a couple of other reviews, many people felt the same way as I did about the cover. It’s not that it’s a terrible cover…. it’s just that the book is so heavy and so amazing, this cover does not do it justice. I understand why it IS the cover but I speaking from not only a reviewer’s point of view but just a wandering reader, I would not have picked this book up based on the cover. If I hadn’t of received this book for review, I probably wouldn’t have given it a second glance. While terrible and sad, it is unfortunately the sad truth about books. They DO get judge based on their covers and self-publishing authors need to realize that will end up being a HUGE determinate of their sales. When a cover looks and feels professional, people are drawn to it and will feel that the inside of the book will match the outside (which it should!) Other than that, the only other negative I have for the book is that some parts felt a little long winded, like they could have been cut down or cut out a bit.

Overall, I thought this book was a knockout and a truly amazing reading experience. One of the deepest, heaviest books I have read in quite a while. I give it an A!

**I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions are my own and I was not obligated to write a favorable review.(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 13, 2012 Jessica Bronder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rhonda has a tough life. He father owns a big pharmacy and brings home drugs to keep her mother mellow. He only friend is Jesus, the Mexican gardener. When he paints the trees, the homeowners association rallies together and calls INS and has him deported. This along with other things sets Rhonda’s mom off. Her father doesn’t help matters when he challenges her to do the right thing for Rhonda.

Rhonda is asked on a father/daughter vacation with her friends. Other stuff happens on the camping trip...more

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May 19, 2012 McGuffy Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

The teen years are a time of awakening for everyone. Each of us has our own set of circumstances, our own awakening. It is a time of leaving behind childhood, that which was created for you, and evolving into your own self.

The teen years are a time of making choices toward your future, by the steps you take. Consequences begin to have meaning. It is also a time when you become aware of the choices others are making, and the consequences they face, as well.

The Earthquake Machine takes us on Rhond...more

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May 12, 2012 Robyn Hawk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Mary Pauline Lowry offers up an action filled, brilliant debut novel that takes the reader on one WILD ride! ...and she pulls from her varied background to develop her characters and storyline.

The Earthquake Machine is the story of a very unhappy 14 year old Rhonda who "escapes" her painful home life to find the one person in her life that she has been able to rely on...Jesus, the family gardener. Her adventure takes her south of the border and teaches her the value of the people that surround y...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Dana Burgess rated it 3 of 5 stars

As life gets more and more intolerable, Rhonda is left with the feeling there are only two options left - to kill herself or to escape to Mexico and find Jesus. Her choice is to head out on her own and try to find a man named Jesus in Oaxaca State, Mexico. Masquerading as a Mexican boy named Angel, Rhonda crosses Mexico alone in a sort of vision quest.

This book reminded me somewhat of Judy Blume's Are You there God, it's Me Margaret in that there is a lot of very frank discussion about little gi...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Jasmine Villanova rated it 3 of 5 stars

Beneath the Moon and Stars review

This wasn't what I was expecting at all. I didn't really know what it was about when I said I would review it. The first half I didn't like very much. I've never read a book that has a lot of sexuality in it. At some points it made me uncomfortable. But this is one of those book that has real life issues in it. That is something I liked about this.I think the sexuality was a little much but it was also the whole concept of the book . The second half I loved. As s...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Erika rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Title: The Earthquake Machine
Author: Mary Pauline Lowry
Date of Release: September 2011
Number of Pages: 356
Summary from Goodreads:

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jes s. But when the INS deports Jes?'s back to his home...more Title: The Earthquake Machine
Author: Mary Pauline Lowry
Date of Release: September 2011
Number of Pages: 356
Summary from Goodreads:

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jes s. But when the INS deports Jes?'s back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her friend Jes s, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Boquillas, Mexico. There a peyote-addled bartender convinces her she won't be safe traveling alone into the country's interior. So with the bartender's help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jes s. Thus begins a wild adventure that explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish, and adult coming-of-age and Young Adult novels.

Review: This book was brilliant. I mean it took me places emotionally that I have never been before. The wary Lowry wove each line into a piece of artwork was just perfect. This review really isn’t going to do justice to how I feel about The Earthquake Machine. Mary Pauline Lowry has created a novel that will pull on your heartstrings and make you question everything you thought you knew about growing up.

Rhonda was the key character that made me fall in love with the novel. Her development and growth as a dynamic character was pivotal to the plot and I loved the fact that her voice was raw and gritty. I felt like I was walking write next to her every step of the way throughout the book. Lowry does not shy away from developing Rhonda’s identity even when she does make the pivotal switch in the Angel disguise. Not mentioning the fact that Lowry face the topic of sexual awakenings would be a fault to this review. It is one of the things that would make so many people uncomfortable with but the way it is written is done so thoughtfully I had no problem at all with it. I even will go as far to say that I learned things personally in this novel which made me think about so many things that I never would have even had the chance to think about and that would have been a miss on my part.

I can honestly say many things happened in the plot line that I did not see coming. I really liked how unique and original the novel was and how I had never read anything like it before. Lowry is an amazing writer and I know we will see many more books to her name out soon! Rich in emotional intensity Earthquake Machine is a novel I hope many people decide to read.
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Feb 27, 2012 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was blown away by this book. The description and cover do it absolutely no justice whatsoever. At first, I thought it sounded like a random mash of events that couldn’t possibly be woven into a story – at least not one that would affect me the way this has. Boy, was I wrong… I found myself, not reading into all hours of the night, but stopping often to digest what I had just read. I guess I didn’t expect the content to be so edgy with such a young main character, so it caught me a little off g...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Unabridged Bookshelf rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry is a novel of self-discovery, grief, and adventure. The only thing that gives Rhonda peace is sneaking out before dinner to spend time with her gardener, Jesus. At 14, Rhonda’s life turns upside down when the neighbors have Jesus deported shortly before her mother commits suicide. She is now all alone in a house, with a father who cares more about work than being there for his daughter. Her best friends invite her along on a trip to raft the Rio Grand...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Cat rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, review-request

I had high hopes for The Earthquake Machine. The author has lead what seemed an unconventionally interesting life, and the premise of a young girl adventure, a girl learning independence and resourcefulness - in a book for young adults not shying away from topics of violence, sexuality, and spirituality - sounded incredibly promising.

Unfortunately, this novel fell dreadfully short of such expectations. The story was disjointed, confusing, and contrived to the point of unbelievability - and whol...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Stephanier76 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, english, adult, young-adult

http://freak-ya-tastic.blogspot.com/2...

I have to thank the author who gave me a free e-copy of her novel. It's always a real pleasure for me.

This novel is about a young teenager who is fourteen, but I don't think teen will appreciate this book as much as older readers. It's the kind of story that moves you, not only because the character is living tough events, but more because it's a journey. In my opinion it's an initiatory novel with a character looking for her true identity.

The writing sty...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Lainy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Blurb From Goodreads

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jes s. But when the INS deports Jes?'s back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her...more Blurb From Goodreads

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jes s. But when the INS deports Jes?'s back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her friend Jes s, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Boquillas, Mexico. There a peyote-addled bartender convinces her she won't be safe traveling alone into the country's interior. So with the bartender's help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jes s. Thus begins a wild adventure that explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish, and adult coming-of-age and Young Adult novels.

My Review

Rhonda is 14 years old and our main character. Her father she despises, her mother isn't herself mentally and the only person she connects with is their Mexican gardener Jesus. When Rhonda over hears something and tragedy strikes she decides to run away and find Jesus after he has been deported back to Mexico. What follows is a path of self discovery, identity crisis, new relationships and a whole new look at her faith.

I really struggled with this book and it was mainly because there was so much going on in it, it felt like it could have been 50+ different stories as there was so many huge issues and topics. She is 14 years old and experiences two major blows in a short time which causes her to run away. As well as this (and identity issues) there is the whole obsession and hate for the man who ended her childhood. The gift she gets for a elderly lady (also the books namesake) - that I found both weird and unsettling.

Reading about her journey was hard as she is a young girl traveling alone, facing dangerous situations and having to resort to things you wouldn't feel as bad about if it was an adult. A lot of the things I just found hard to swallow, the visions, the attitudes of the gang of carjackers and the husbands response to them.

If you are a deeply religious person you may find some of Rhonda/Angels views outrageous and upsetting. The self discovery and intimacy may also be too much as your reading about a 14 year old girl, however if none of that is an issue for you and you like your stories jam-packed with unconnected situations then you will love this story (it has quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews) but it just wasn't for me. So much action gave me a headache trying to follow it and figure out where it was going next.

I would like to thank the author for giving me the chance to read and review her work but this time for me it is a 2/5.
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Feb 27, 2012 Vanessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaways, e-books, favorites, favorite-writers

So I was lucky enough to win this book in a giveaway held by Amy from Obsessions Of A Bookaholic. Thank you Amy and Mary for allowing me to read The Earthquake Machine!

I LOVED this book. I was so happy to finally read another book with Hispanic culture in it! I was raised Hispanic even though I was born here; my parents were born in Chile. We've had many Mexican friends, and it was so refreshing and nice to read about their beautiful culture. I was entranced by this book from the first page. I k...more So I was lucky enough to win this book in a giveaway held by Amy from Obsessions Of A Bookaholic. Thank you Amy and Mary for allowing me to read The Earthquake Machine!

I LOVED this book. I was so happy to finally read another book with Hispanic culture in it! I was raised Hispanic even though I was born here; my parents were born in Chile. We've had many Mexican friends, and it was so refreshing and nice to read about their beautiful culture. I was entranced by this book from the first page. I knew it was going to be different when I read the description, and my expectations were not only met but surpassed.

Mary hits on so many labels and categories we take for granted in this book. Through Rhonda, the main character, she explores the tightly knit connections between sexism, racism, and classism. She explores gender and gender roles, the patriarchal institution of religion, and how a woman can gain power if she finds her inner voice. In the beginning of the novel, Rhonda is a young fourteen year old, but by the end of the novel she has gone through so many experiences and hardships that it would be foolish to call her a mere girl. She has matured from a doubting girl who is unsure of herself and afraid of the world to a mature person, one who has stepped between that shadowy line of young girl and young woman.

I was very pleased and surprised by the feminist tone of this novel. In this day and age, feminism is still under attack even though sexism continues to hurt women everywhere. One of the things I really admired about this novel was how Mary shows that life can be good or bad on either side of the border, especially for women. Rhonda's father is an excellent example of how a man can suppress a woman, change her drastically to a shell of a person. At the same time, though, Rhonda felt the love and protection of Jesus, who she saw as a brother.

I also commend Mary for her on point Spanish skills! I don't remember seeing any Spanish mistakes, and the dialogue felt natural and real. I could tell she put a lot of effort in making the Spanish just right.

I feel so lucky to have won this book. I hope it gains more attention and receives the popularity it so rightly deserves. It was an amazing, heart breaking journey that made me laugh and smile. It's the type of book that changes you after you've read the last page. (less)

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Mar 07, 2012 Naberius rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hmmm... where do begin? This was a story that was a little unusual, and sometimes a bit extraordinary .... and once I had finished it, my mind kept coming back to it. I kept turning things over and over again in my head --- the main character, the story, some of the supporting characters, the setting. Either way, it all adds up to a fascinating read.

The author's writing style is descriptive, enough so that you can almost imagine where you are, how things taste, how things feel. I think that's a...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Kristine Pratt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kristine by: Mary Pauline Lowry

Shelves: giveaways

I won this book on the Goodreads Giveaway program in exchange for a unbiased review. :)

This is a book that sucked me in. From the moment I met Rhonda I wanted to know what would happen to her. Only 14 she's learned already at the hands of her parents that the world is cruel. Her only refuge is the gardener, Jesus, who is deported back to Mexico. With her life spiraling out of control, she flees to Mexico to find him.

Her journey is at times surreal, but amazing. The cast of characters she meets a...more

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May 05, 2012 Sharayah P. rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the best parts of being a book blogger is being approached to review books for up-and-coming authors. I don’t say yes to every request. In fact, I would venture to guess that I only accept about 20% (or less) of the books I am asked to review. There just isn’t enough time in a day, know’m sayin’?

But during the time that I have been accepting review requests from the authors/publishers themselves, I have had a chance to review a great variety of good books: crime/mystery, young adult, para...more

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Mar 10, 2012 P.E. at Tantalizing Illusions rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

The Earthquake Machine is a one of a kind read. It tackles many hard issues and it's much more raw than the type of book I usually read. I still enjoyed it though. It's the story of a girl finding her place in the world and there's a real journey that changes Rhonda.

What really surprised me was how mature the book was. It wasn't exactly dark, but there was a lot of stuff that you don't usually find in YA. Everything was handled appropriately. I don't think anything was overdone just to shock th...more The Earthquake Machine is a one of a kind read. It tackles many hard issues and it's much more raw than the type of book I usually read. I still enjoyed it though. It's the story of a girl finding her place in the world and there's a real journey that changes Rhonda.

What really surprised me was how mature the book was. It wasn't exactly dark, but there was a lot of stuff that you don't usually find in YA. Everything was handled appropriately. I don't think anything was overdone just to shock the reader. Rhonda's journey was really interesting.

Rhonda was a dynamic character. She really grew up and got stronger after the death of her mother. In the beginning of The Earthquake Machine, she was quiet and compliant. She didn't live the easiest life but she was still very naive in a way. I could believe her character since I know people like her at my school. People that are quiet and unsure of themselves.

Maybe the events that happened weren't the most realistic (this is fiction after all) but the way Rhonda responded to them felt real. I didn't always agree with her decisions but I was raised in a completely different environment. While Rhonda believed that women had no futures, from an early age I wanted to be much more than a housewife. I also cheered for Rhonda when she wanted more and I adored her bravery. The best part of the book was probably how Rhonda was well written. You could easily connect and understand her character.

I live in Canada where we learn French so I completely missed out on understanding the Spanish in the book, especially when Rhonda visits Mexico, but there were enough definitions that I understood everything written. Mexico's culture was a huge part of The Earthquake Machine and I loved it. I don't really know much about Mexico and a lot of what I heard wasn't very positive so I enjoyed learning a bit more about Mexican culture. The freedom, the sense of community and revelry they have is incredible.

One issue I had with the book was that it felt really long at some parts and it had to be read carefully. The writing was great but the book just takes you in so many directions that it feels like the story is really long. So much happens and I guess I'm not used to all that in one book instead of books written in a series model. I wasn't bored per say, but I wasn't always into the book as much as I could be.

The Earthquake Machine is a surprising read that deals with harsh issues in a clear, unpretentious way. Rhonda's journey is inspiring and thought provoking. There is excellent characterization paired with a great plot that results in a very special read. 3.5 stars, since I thought it was really good,

*** & 1/2 *(less)

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Jan 12, 2012 Marg-Lo rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry tells the story of Rhonda, a girl who’s haunted by the discord in her seemingly perfect upper-class family and terrified by the pressures she faces as a tween on the cusp of womanhood. Rhonda’s closest and best friend is the family gardener, a Mexican immigrant named Jesús; her world is turned upside down when Jesús is deported and the chaos in Rhonda’s family reaches a breaking point. Rhonda runs away from home to search for Jesús and to try to escap...more The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry tells the story of Rhonda, a girl who’s haunted by the discord in her seemingly perfect upper-class family and terrified by the pressures she faces as a tween on the cusp of womanhood. Rhonda’s closest and best friend is the family gardener, a Mexican immigrant named Jesús; her world is turned upside down when Jesús is deported and the chaos in Rhonda’s family reaches a breaking point. Rhonda runs away from home to search for Jesús and to try to escape a future that seems all but inevitable: becoming a caged bird like her mother and the other upper-class women she knows. Rhonda’s fantastic journey takes her across the border and deep into the heart of Mexico, where she encounters women at all ages and stages who are, like her, struggling to make their way in a world that privileges men. The Earthquake Machine chronicles the daring adventures and tragic misfortunes that catalyze Rhonda’s coming of age as a strong young woman who refuses to conform to society’s expectations for her.

The Earthquake Machine is a smart, dark, fanciful take on the female Bildungsroman. Lowry’s descriptions of the train wreck of Rhonda’s family and the hardships she faces on the run are unflinching, yet they aren’t meant to present tragic scenes that turn readers into rubberneckers ogling a bloody wreck. Instead, Lowry asks the reader to consider hard questions about sex, gender, and identity, and she posits answers to those questions by showing how Rhonda comes of age as a girl who is comfortable in her own skin and confident in her ability to survive in a world that’s particularly hard on women and girls. What’s more, Lowry’s lush prose, surprising plot twists, and deft literary style contain delightful elements of magical realism that temper the tragedies in The Earthquake Machine and bring warmth and humor to the story. It’s no wonder that Huffington Post reviewer James Moore declares, “The Earthquake Machine moves Lowry into an elite group of young female writers.”

Mary Pauline Lowry’s The Earthquake Machine is a wild ride that you won’t want to get off until you finish it. The Earthquake Machine will rock your world!
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Feb 28, 2012 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Earthquake Machine is not your typical YA novel. In fact it is completely different from anything else I've read, but not in any way is that a bad thing. The author herself describes it as "The book every girl should read, and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read", and I think that is spot on.

The first thing that struck me when I started reading The Earthquake Machine was the writing. Lowry's writing is filled with metaphors, especially in the slightly sexual scenes, and it works so w...more The Earthquake Machine is not your typical YA novel. In fact it is completely different from anything else I've read, but not in any way is that a bad thing. The author herself describes it as "The book every girl should read, and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read", and I think that is spot on.

The first thing that struck me when I started reading The Earthquake Machine was the writing. Lowry's writing is filled with metaphors, especially in the slightly sexual scenes, and it works so well. I can't put my finger on what it is, but there's something about the writing that perfectly portrays the dark and gritty journey Rhonda is on.

Because as much as the story is about Rhonda trying to find Jesús, it is more about her inner journey, trying to discover herself, her sexuality, and what she truly believes in. Rhonda has had a pretty crappy life, with her father always working and ignoring her, and her mother so drugged on prescription medications that she is only a shadow of her former self. The only one Rhonda feels like she can be herself around is their yardman Jesús, and when he is deported Rhonda is left "alone". I think we all know that when you're 14 years old every crisis feels like the end of the world, and so it was very easy to relate to Rhonda's decision to run away from home.

Rhonda probably has the most believable personal growth out of any YA female character I've ever read about. She goes from being this confused, insecure teenager to a confident young woman with faith in both herself and the world around her. Sure, she makes some reckless decisions, she puts herself in danger, she doesn't always think before acting, but she's 14 years old, alone in a foreign country. I really think she did exceptionally well for herself, considering how badly her story could have ended.

This is a hard review for me to write, simply because a week after finishing the book I am still thinking about the book, trying to decide what I really thought about some of the scenes, some of the choices made, some of the conversations between Rhonda and others, and especially much of Rhonda's internal dialogue. The Earthquake Machine poses some important questions about faith, sexuality and finding yourself, and even if Rhonda has found her answers by the end of the book, don't be surprised if you find yourself questioning the same things long after you are done reading.

(Content warning: The Earthquake Machine contains some violence, swearing, drug use and sexual descriptions. Unlike other novels where this feels forced and unnecessary, here it felt like a natural part of the story.)(less)

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Mar 13, 2012 Rebecca McKinnon added it

Okay, I admit it. I've been putting off writing this review. The book wasn't exactly what I expected, but then, I hadn't looked too closely at what it was before I started it. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn't have read it if I'd looked at it more closely. (Doesn't help that I don't care one bit for the cover. Sorry.)

Yes, the book was very well-written. Creative. An adventure. Those are great things, things I love in the stories I read.

However. This just isn't my kind of book. I think I'll leav...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-and-ya

This is a really unusual book, and that’s hard to say about the YA field. I loved the story, its setting, and in particular the voice of its main character. Rhonda feels like an authentic teenager – she’s completely confused, she looks for meaning in everything, yet acts totally on impulse. As a teenager I didn’t do any of the brave, wild things that Rhonda does, but I remember that time where you invest everything with huge emotional meaning, even though the rest of the world doesn’t see it tha...more This is a really unusual book, and that’s hard to say about the YA field. I loved the story, its setting, and in particular the voice of its main character. Rhonda feels like an authentic teenager – she’s completely confused, she looks for meaning in everything, yet acts totally on impulse. As a teenager I didn’t do any of the brave, wild things that Rhonda does, but I remember that time where you invest everything with huge emotional meaning, even though the rest of the world doesn’t see it that way. Rhonda sort of lives in color where the rest of us adults live in black and white.

Rhonda’s travels through Mexico are so vivid -- Lowry calls all of your senses into play as you read this book. She writes about the colors on walls and on the Mexican carvings called alibrijes, the taste of pan dulce, the sounds of different dialects. Lowry really pays attention to the details. The characters Rhonda meets feel larger than life but not like caricatures. As Rhonda travels from town to town, you really feel you’re seeing and experiencing what she does.

Rhonda’s inner turmoil felt brilliant at times and overwhelming at other times. She’s constantly coming to new realizations about herself but then turns around and makes the same mistakes. She questions her identity, her sexuality, her faith so many times in this book that while authentic, it gets a little repetitive.

By way of a warning, this book is pretty sexual and at times hit my discomfort level given that this character is fourteen years old. Still, Rhonda’s confusion and obsession with sexuality, while it overwhelms the narrative at times, is probably still in keeping with what a teenage girl might be feeling. Rhonda lacks any sort of parental guidance, so it’s understandable that sexuality becomes this huge, confusing thing in her life.

This book was action-packed and full of adventure, which is cool in a story about a teenage girl. There are maybe some times the book is a little too adventurous to be realistic (for example, when Rhonda meets up with a band of female banditas) but Lowry never tones down the action because she’s writing about a girl (which I would expect from a woman who is herself a firefighter).

All in all, a very cool read that doesn't feel like YA.
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Apr 05, 2012 Celine I Blog, You Read rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have never crossed a book like this and feel anyone who is a thought-provoking reader and able to read through the gritty turmoil that a character has to go through for self-discovery will want to read Earthquake Machine. Rhonda is a tender young girl with a power keg ready to go off inside. She has to deal with all the ugliness the world has to offer at once that you worry if she’ll come out okay. The gritty life lessons of death, betrayal, sex, and identity will hit poor Rhonda between the e...more

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May 10, 2012 Daniela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

This review was originally posted at The Cozy Armchair.

While labeled and marketed as YA, The Earthquake Machine is far from the usual fare. As a contemporary story that tackles many issues, such as abuse, suicide, exploration of sexuality, etc., I can say that it's not the kind of book you would pick up for a leisurely summer read.

This book demands your attention and take an emotional toll on you. Rhonda has to overcome all sorts of obstacles, some more realistic than others, and she's constantl...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Marybeth (Manhattan Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, i-own

This book was a change from what I usually read, and by change I mean that it didn't just involve an all white cast of characters but had some diversity in them. And I'm not trying to say anything by that, just stating the facts as I see them and what I see myself reading. Which is sad, because I am actually Dominican. Well, Dominican-American, it's complicated, but I was born in New York and so was my mother, yet both my parent's grew up in DR.

So, when I was reading this book I liked seeing a l...more This book was a change from what I usually read, and by change I mean that it didn't just involve an all white cast of characters but had some diversity in them. And I'm not trying to say anything by that, just stating the facts as I see them and what I see myself reading. Which is sad, because I am actually Dominican. Well, Dominican-American, it's complicated, but I was born in New York and so was my mother, yet both my parent's grew up in DR.

So, when I was reading this book I liked seeing a little Hispanic heritage being involved in this novel, because I do want to see more of that out in the world. I think that Lowry was pretty awesome in the way she took up the novel.

Rhonda was such a naive character at the start of the novel and I just felt so bad for her. Her father was an outright monster, her friend's were so clueless I just wanted to punch them. Can someone explain to me why there seems to be a growing trend in which the best friend's of the protagonist are self-centered brainless idiots? I just don't get it. Yet, the girl's do become extremely helpful near the end, which is something that I really liked. So, I can't say they are completely useless.

But, anyways, Rhonda did some amazing development as the novel progressed. Rhonda started out as this little flower and at the end she becomes this exotic flower. She changes so much and I'm happy that it was something that went with the novel. The change was not instant, but took some serious developing and growing. And I also like the author's way of distinguishing Rhonda and Angel, but still keeps their identity.

I know it was bad of me, but I did a little laugh near the end when Rhonda was confronting her father. It was a serious and tense moment, but I just couldn't help it with all of Rhonda's demands. It seemed a little silly to me, but considering everything he put her through I would probably behave the same way. But I'm glad there was at least some closure there and that she got away before she ended up like her mother.

Overall, this book was a little different than what I was expecting and I liked that. It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I got going there was no stopping. Honestly, the four stars are for the slow start that this novel got. I wish that it picked up a little quicker, but at least there were some moments at the start that kept the book alive for me.

If there is a reader looking for something different and a little more diverse, I'd say give this novel a chance. (less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Lan (The Write Obsession) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish-not-my-thing

To be honest, I went into this one without a clear understanding of what the plot was really about. It sounded interesting though so I gave it a go. The Earthquake Machine is well written and has a touch of the psychedelic but I think it's more of an adult book than a YA book which was what I had though it was. I enjoyed reading it as Lowry is one of those authors who has a way of making mundane every day things seem interesting. But in the end the plot meandered too much and I'm too dense to ap...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Joe Ahearn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fiction

The Earthquake Machine firmly subverts almost every convention in YA literature. And that's a good thing. The story is engaging and inventive at every turn and the book's writing and construction are first rate. But this book is not just an interesting story. It takes on gender, sexuality, religion, mysticism, and drug use in ways some may find shocking and uncomfortable and that others will find enormously liberating. Rhonda, the protagonist, is a true hero and the author, Mary Lowry, is braver...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Angela Fristoe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

This book will appeal to some readers, however it just wasn't for me. At all. And the synopsis doesn't really represent what this book is focused on. I was expecting a girl's adventure novel, full of challenges both physically and emotionally. That is not what The Earthquake Machine gives its reader, and I'm finding it really hard to figure out what I want to say about it.

There are positives to the book. Lowry obviously has a wonderful descriptive writing style. She brings to life the setting a...more This book will appeal to some readers, however it just wasn't for me. At all. And the synopsis doesn't really represent what this book is focused on. I was expecting a girl's adventure novel, full of challenges both physically and emotionally. That is not what The Earthquake Machine gives its reader, and I'm finding it really hard to figure out what I want to say about it.

There are positives to the book. Lowry obviously has a wonderful descriptive writing style. She brings to life the setting and really gives the reader an amazing view of Mexico.

That said, I felt really uncomfortable reading a lot of the book, and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable if I knew my teenage niece was reading this book. I'm no prude, and I have no problem with sex, drugs, crude language, and violence in YA novels. They are real parts of many teens' lives. But there is such a focus on detailing the sexual aspects in this book, and combined with the crude language it just felt out of place. I'm not really interested reading a detailed account of a young girl figuring out how to masturbate (on p.5), or finding an 'earthquake machine' that will help her along.

There were so many events that I just didn't buy, because they seemed so unbelievable, especially when they are all combined together. And even those that were believable took a turn into the bizarre, including her obsessive love/hate for a much older man (aka pedophile). I just didn't buy it or most of the other things that happened.

This almost felt like a tirade against all the men in Rhonda's life, and that the whole book was her journey to finding a sexual identity. All of which is fine if I could have only believed that these things could have happened. There were a lot of aspects of a coming-of-age story, but I just don't think it is a YA novel. For a journey of self discovery, The Earthquake machine just left me with a sour taste in my mouth and the feeling that 10 years down the road Rhonda is going to be a bitter, man-bashing, single woman who blames everything wrong with her life on the men around her. (less)

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