The only Printz Honor book that I hadn't heard a word about before the YMA announcement in Jan. Hard to decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one. I...moreThe only Printz Honor book that I hadn't heard a word about before the YMA announcement in Jan. Hard to decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one. I liked the characters and setting a lot, but I was never completely absorbed by this, and it took me a long time to read it. (less)
This book was fine, and definitely a quick read. I learned from reading this that Mormons don't drink caffeine, which I had never heard before. I did...moreThis book was fine, and definitely a quick read. I learned from reading this that Mormons don't drink caffeine, which I had never heard before. I did appreciate that even though all of the characters were Mormon, that it didn't dwell on that, and was mostly a pretty universal story of a girl having trouble getting over a first love and moving on with her life. The structure of the book was odd, in that it moved back and forth in time at the beginning, and then it all started to go forward at some point. I guess this kind of mirrored the way things went for the main character, but it mostly just confused me at the beginning.(less)
Definitely a book to be savored! "...a seed of peace..." Such a beautiful, evocative, inspiring thought that any of us can find at least that (as a st...moreDefinitely a book to be savored! "...a seed of peace..." Such a beautiful, evocative, inspiring thought that any of us can find at least that (as a start), no matter what has happened to us in our lives. This is not your typical novel, and there's not as much of a conventional "story" as even Stork's other two novels. This is more of a meditation, one that I, personally, needed to read over a long period of time. Every time I picked it back up, I was completely absorbed by it again, like I had never stopped reading, even if a month had passed by, and by the end it caught me up and made me pay attention until I was finished. Not a book that will work for everybody, but one that I wish more people would read, as it really strikes at the heart of figuring out what's important for each of us, and making hard choices in the midst of pain. 4 1/2 stars.(less)
I really liked the ending of this, and I love my ARC signed by Nancy Werlin (to "Be who you are."). :) It was a pretty quick read for me, but I found...moreI really liked the ending of this, and I love my ARC signed by Nancy Werlin (to "Be who you are."). :) It was a pretty quick read for me, but I found it slightly excrutiating to read about the awful things that had to be done to Phoebe. I think that may be more about my own mood than about the book, though, and I'd put it on my "toodarkforme" shelf, but I think at another time, it might not have felt quite as dark as it did. Without being too spoiler-y, I'm really glad that things didn't turn out so awful for Phoebe in the end! I really like the idea of using a historical figure, and adding a fantasy element to his life. Around 3 1/2 stars for me, and I'm rounding up.(less)
I'm glad that I wasn't annoyed by the ending, as many other readers have been. It was definitely abrupt, but it made sense to me. This is a quick read...moreI'm glad that I wasn't annoyed by the ending, as many other readers have been. It was definitely abrupt, but it made sense to me. This is a quick read, with great descriptions, and a strong voice. I expected it to get even more horrific than it did, and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I think I partly assumed it would get horrific because the front door of the building, on the cover, looks like a maw to me. The voice seemed kind of "classic YA", but staying in the realm of reality made it a well-done modern survival story (rather than a horror story). I can't think of a better way to say that, but maybe something will come to me when I think about it more. We'll see how long a stint this has on my 2011favorites shelf, but it's definitely a good addition to the YA survival story subgenre. My 13 yr old son (12 at the time he read it) likes this one a lot, too. 3 1/2 stars.
11/3/11: Kicked off of my 2011favorites shelf by ACROSS THE GREAT BARRIER (by Wrede).(less)
Depressing and hard to put down (or look away), sort of in a train wreck/car accident kind of way. There is barely a likeable character in the whole 5...moreDepressing and hard to put down (or look away), sort of in a train wreck/car accident kind of way. There is barely a likeable character in the whole 500+ page book, but I think part of her point is that we all have unlikeable (as well as likeable) parts to us, and that the unlikeable parts tend to stick out for many of us. It seems to me that part of the point of this book is to point out how small town politics and pettiness can have tragic (in this case very literally) consequences for disadvantaged children. Rowling supports a nonprofit organization (Lumos) which helps disadvantaged children, and this book seems like a way to make people see that all human lives are so interconnected that what happens to the least of us happens to us all. A small town is just an extreme example of this. I can't say that I necessarily enjoyed reading Rowling's first adult title, but I did think it was well done and compelling reading, and the very ending is at least somewhat hopeful. (It's always darkest before the dawn?)(less)
I found this by chance at ALA, because the author was signing. I think I bought the hardcover for $5, and I LOVE it! Couldn't put it down. It's one of...moreI found this by chance at ALA, because the author was signing. I think I bought the hardcover for $5, and I LOVE it! Couldn't put it down. It's one of the best graphic novel memoirs that I've read. Maybe 4 1/2 stars, because the parts where the main character's friends talked about her didn't work quite as well for me as I would have liked.(less)
I wanted to like this one more than I did. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and I can't remember a whole lot about it, but it was a pretty quick r...moreI wanted to like this one more than I did. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and I can't remember a whole lot about it, but it was a pretty quick read for me.(less)
I meant to take this on vacation at the end of the month, but I was too tempted to read it right away, and got very caught up. I've also been thinking...moreI meant to take this on vacation at the end of the month, but I was too tempted to read it right away, and got very caught up. I've also been thinking about it a fair amount in the 2 days since I finished it. Somewhere in between 3 1/2 and 4 stars. Didn't realize it was made in to a sitcom until I started reading the GR reviews. (less)
Very sad ending. Excellent in-the-car listen, and I'd definitely listen to the next in the series, or possibly read it. Not great literature by any me...moreVery sad ending. Excellent in-the-car listen, and I'd definitely listen to the next in the series, or possibly read it. Not great literature by any means, but entertaining and emotional with memorable characters. I enjoyed Jem's growth throughout the story.(less)
More like 3 1/2 stars, but this was perfect vacation reading. Definitely took me back to my 20's in NYC. The one I found the most LOL funny was about...moreMore like 3 1/2 stars, but this was perfect vacation reading. Definitely took me back to my 20's in NYC. The one I found the most LOL funny was about being in old friends' weddings, which was a situation that never happened to me, but that I could still relate to. I'd definitely read her next book, which comes out in June.(less)
I really liked the format of this, and I enjoyed the art. I love this kind of "picture book for teens" that's not quite a graphic novel. The story was...moreI really liked the format of this, and I enjoyed the art. I love this kind of "picture book for teens" that's not quite a graphic novel. The story was slightly slow-going for me, and I read whole other books while I was picking it at it, but I never wanted to give up on it. I did think that the ending was well done, even though it didn't strike me as that realistic.(less)
More like 3 1/2 stars. I definitely liked this, but there's something about it that didn't completely work for me. Maybe I'll figure out exactly what...moreMore like 3 1/2 stars. I definitely liked this, but there's something about it that didn't completely work for me. Maybe I'll figure out exactly what it is as I think about it more. I'd also be open to reading again to see if it works better for me on a 2nd reading. Usually a combination of historical fiction and magical realism really does it for me, so maybe it has something to do with the characters. It was certainly readable, though, as I gobbled it up in one sitting. I love the art, which reminds me of the style of Persepolis, but is certainly its own.(less)
Ant (Anthony) escapes the rough streets of East Cleveland (where one of his best friends is shot and killed right in front of him) for a rural Maine p...moreAnt (Anthony) escapes the rough streets of East Cleveland (where one of his best friends is shot and killed right in front of him) for a rural Maine prep school, but runs up against rampant racism both at the school and in the community. 3 1/2 stars, rounded up.(less)
I listened to and enjoyed (if you can "enjoy" a painful story) this in the car. Holly/Solace is a very sad girl, but her story is hopeful at the end,...moreI listened to and enjoyed (if you can "enjoy" a painful story) this in the car. Holly/Solace is a very sad girl, but her story is hopeful at the end, which is very welcome. I thought the peeling away of the layers that covered the most painful parts of her life was extremely well done, and she learns to look for her "solace" in a more healthy way. The road is always a good place to do lots of heavy thinking, I guess even when you're hitchhiking. Dowd's last book, and the 2nd one that I've read. Sad that there won't be any more.(less)
Another sweet, quiet middle grade story by Henkes, this one about disappointment and handling change. Henkes has a real talent for looking through the...moreAnother sweet, quiet middle grade story by Henkes, this one about disappointment and handling change. Henkes has a real talent for looking through the eyes of kids at different ages. This story, set over a few days long family vacation, includes the 10th birthday of the shell-obsessed main character, Alice. 3 1/2 stars.(less)
This represents a vacation day well spent for me. I couldn't put this down, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I love how it moves backward in time, an...moreThis represents a vacation day well spent for me. I couldn't put this down, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I love how it moves backward in time, and how some of the inter-connectedness is so unexpected. I'd read it again just to see how everything is going to play out, and I did go back and read a few of the early passages when I was done. (less)
More like 3 1/2 stars, but I'm in a generous mood, and this was a quick read. Finishing it pool-side at Rehoboth Beach in the winter probably helped,...moreMore like 3 1/2 stars, but I'm in a generous mood, and this was a quick read. Finishing it pool-side at Rehoboth Beach in the winter probably helped, too. I've always enjoyed Sex & the City when I watch it, but I haven't seen nearly all of the shows, since I've only rented them sporadically. I enjoyed reading about Carrie as a teen, but all of the boyfriend and friend drama got slightly old by the end.(less)
I like the idea behind psychic evacuation, and found this to be compelling reading with well-drawn characters. I actually had to go look up psychic ev...moreI like the idea behind psychic evacuation, and found this to be compelling reading with well-drawn characters. I actually had to go look up psychic evacuation online, to see whether there was a website, like the book described (there's not). It's pretty good to have thought of a new twist on the basic body-swapping story, since it's been so over-done. The risk that Alex (in Philip's body) was willing to take at the end was pretty crazy, but made sense in the context of the story. I liked the ending, and don't want to put spoilers in this review, but I would have liked more info about what happened to at least one of the other characters. 3 1/2 stars, and I'm rounding it up.(less)
This is fun and funny exploration of three families blending together through death, divorce, and remarriage. I don't think I laughed out loud, but I...moreThis is fun and funny exploration of three families blending together through death, divorce, and remarriage. I don't think I laughed out loud, but I was definitely amused, mainly by Declan, one of the main characters. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this title features a UU church and talks about the OWL program (with a little bit of romance/relationship talk thrown in to the plot). There are some other spiritual ideas discussed, but not in much depth. A good intro to a teen who hasn't been exposed to much spirituality, though. I really enjoyed the back and forth chapters between the two writers, who fit their parts together seamlessly. I'd definitely read another book done by the two of them. All-around enjoyable characters, ideas, plot, and a quick read, but nothing that I can pinpoint as stand-out special to me. 3 1/2 stars.(less)
I was expecting a little more from this, for some reason. There was nothing really wrong with it, and it may be more me and my continued partial readi...moreI was expecting a little more from this, for some reason. There was nothing really wrong with it, and it may be more me and my continued partial reading slump, but it took me awhile, and it was hard to sink completely in.(less)
I love this world, and I really liked the companion novel, ARIA OF THE SEA, but the story here just wasn't as compelling to me. I did, however, enjoy...moreI love this world, and I really liked the companion novel, ARIA OF THE SEA, but the story here just wasn't as compelling to me. I did, however, enjoy the exploration of bipolar disorder, and the retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" was certainly creative. 3 1/2 stars.(less)
Took me awhile to read this, I think because it's a little thin and focused for me as an adult. I would have loved it at 11 or 12, though, and the poe...moreTook me awhile to read this, I think because it's a little thin and focused for me as an adult. I would have loved it at 11 or 12, though, and the poetry is well done. Very good for what it is, which is a very frank book about a 15 yr old who has sex too carelessly, gets pregnant, and gives her baby up for adoption.(less)
Well done and a quick read, but slightly forgettable. Maybe 3 1/2 stars for enjoyment while reading, but I did read it on vacation which always pumps...moreWell done and a quick read, but slightly forgettable. Maybe 3 1/2 stars for enjoyment while reading, but I did read it on vacation which always pumps up that part of the equation. Might be more interesting as a realistic romance to 12-15 yr olds than it was to me. I do like the idea of "the big crunch" as it relates to the Big Bang, though.(less)
I'm not good with books without likeable characters, so I guess I have to give this book props for being a quick read for me, since I found it to be c...moreI'm not good with books without likeable characters, so I guess I have to give this book props for being a quick read for me, since I found it to be completely devoid of a character to like. If anybody else who's read it liked any of the characters for any reason (other than bravery, I guess), please let me know why you liked him or her. The whole thing was more horrific than I prefer my SF to be. I keep getting excited about these dystopic space travel books, and then being disappointed in them. If you're looking for a quick read, and you don't mind some horror, this isn't bad, just not for me.(less)
Won a Printz Honor, and was a finalist for Batchelder. It's taken me 2 months to get this off of my "currently reading" shelf, even though I did finis...moreWon a Printz Honor, and was a finalist for Batchelder. It's taken me 2 months to get this off of my "currently reading" shelf, even though I did finish it 2 months ago. I guess I've been dragging my heels on a review, and I still am not sure exactly what to say. I thought the writing was definitely good, but I didn't love the harshness and the bleakness (and the jaded-ness) of the story. I think it's just not for everyone. If I was giving stars based on the writing I'd probably have to give 4, but it's only a 3 for enjoyment level for me.(less)
Sweet story about two New Jersey Shore sisters (16 and 15), trying to live life with their alcoholic dad, lack of mom (she died too young for either s...moreSweet story about two New Jersey Shore sisters (16 and 15), trying to live life with their alcoholic dad, lack of mom (she died too young for either sister to have known her), the many friends (and one cousin) who help them survive while their dad is in jail, and the various boys/men in their lives (complete with realistic teen sex scenes). A quick read with just enough heartache to not be heartbreaking.(less)
Loading...
