Quality literature it isn't, but it is definitely entertaining. I feel like this will be a big hit with the teens who just want to pick something shor...moreQuality literature it isn't, but it is definitely entertaining. I feel like this will be a big hit with the teens who just want to pick something short and witty. Additional plus- it makes you feel really, really smart that you weren't the one to Google that. Sometimes, though, I want to explain why it's a legit question, and then I feel ashamed...(less)
Horses and craziness! I was never one of those horse girls who read all those books about girls who rode horses. I was friends with those girls, but I...moreHorses and craziness! I was never one of those horse girls who read all those books about girls who rode horses. I was friends with those girls, but I didn't get it. OK. It's a big, smelly horse that will probably eat your face (I may have been afraid of horses.) Well, Maggie Stiefvater KNOWS ME because she wrote this book about horses that actually try to eat your face off.
I love the rich history of the island in the book, as well as the genuine care the characters felt for these wild, dangerous things. It felt very mythic (stemming from all those folk tales by which it was inspired) but grounded in reality. The characters were also gorgeously portrayed with a very real feeling history between them. (less)
I really liked this book. Teens just coming into their superpowers are the only ones available to go after the mega bad guys. Everyone is still gettin...moreI really liked this book. Teens just coming into their superpowers are the only ones available to go after the mega bad guys. Everyone is still getting to know their powers and each other, so it makes for some interesting battle scenes. However, while I'm all for morally ambiguous heroes (Batman, for crying out loud), there was one particular incident that left a bad taste in my mouth. Now that I know that this is a series (I read it for YALSA Best of the Best and had no indication through the book that I was missing anything), I might go back and see if this incident has some context that I was missing.
However, fans of the superhero genre will get a kick out of the multiple personalities and perspectives in Super Human.(less)
A very fast read with some interesting takes on the post-apocalyptic genre. Nameless until age 15 (because so many die before then), children go throu...moreA very fast read with some interesting takes on the post-apocalyptic genre. Nameless until age 15 (because so many die before then), children go through a ritual cutting ceremony to symbolize their adulthood as well as their new role in society. Six cuts means you're a hunter, and whatever your blood drips on becomes your name. A 2 of spades gives name to Deuce, the best of the young hunters. She is assigned to hunt with Fade, a dangerous outsider who came from the tunnels, because she was "the only one strong enough to survive him".
With zombies, a mole people kind of existence, and sacred care given to any written word (include plastic labels), what's not to love?(less)
**spoiler alert** So, this is a book where I knew my entire perception would hinge on the ending. This was definitely true in 2 ways- 1) I knew that I...more**spoiler alert** So, this is a book where I knew my entire perception would hinge on the ending. This was definitely true in 2 ways- 1) I knew that I would not feel at all satisfied unless there was a definite explanation as to what happened to Gabriel and 2) I knew that I might find it interesting no matter what, but I wouldn't really like it unless Gabriel came home.
I might also add in that what happened to Gabriel definitely needed to tie in all of the freaky side stories that went through the book. I was so nervous that it was all going to have to do with the woodpecker. I envisioned Mr. Crazy Pants coming to town and blowing up the last remaining woodpecker in order to restore the balance in the world or something. However, I felt like that would at least work with the story, as long as #1 and #2 happened.
Luckily, they did, so I can give this book 4 stars. Not everything wrapped up, but I realize that I've matured as a reader because I don't need everything to be all tied up. I just need to know that they have the possibility to turn out OK. Not to say that I'm imagining everything to be happy. Gabriel was kidnapped and locked in a room for months. You will note that the psychologist is all in the present tense, but no one actually goes to see him during the book. This is not a clear cut, everything-is-going-to-be-perfect-now ending, but happiness will be a possibility later on.(less)
I stared at the screen for a while to come up with what I wanted to say about this book. The best I can come up with, for now, is *shrug* "It was okay...moreI stared at the screen for a while to come up with what I wanted to say about this book. The best I can come up with, for now, is *shrug* "It was okay."
I suppose I could come up with something about the characters not feeling authentic, but then there were moments that caught the angsty eloquence I thought I had while I was in high school. Then some situations just felt a little too West Side Story 2: jocks vs. theater nerds. While kids can be cruel, I don't find any that are so narrowly defined in their identities. Still, *shrug* it was okay.(less)
This book was actually adorable, considering all of the skeletons, ghosts, and the boy with the incurable disease. Only a little scary, this would be...moreThis book was actually adorable, considering all of the skeletons, ghosts, and the boy with the incurable disease. Only a little scary, this would be good for middle grade readers. It was fairly predictable, but every once in a while, they had a little surprise. Good stuff.(less)
Ok. I know that I act like I love zombies, but they terrify me. Zombies are scary because they are the most real of all horror creatures (zombie ants...moreOk. I know that I act like I love zombies, but they terrify me. Zombies are scary because they are the most real of all horror creatures (zombie ants are a thing and so are diseases that eat your brain. I can go on and on about the likelihood of non-novel-esque zombies, but that's not the point.)
However, I was intrigued by the second person POV of the book and the very artsy depiction of it all. It took a little getting used to, but I found myself interested throughout. Still, zombies are scary.(less)
I've liked Kaoru Mori since her Emma series in Victorian London, and A Bride's Story lives up to my expectations. It's sweet, interesting, and beautif...moreI've liked Kaoru Mori since her Emma series in Victorian London, and A Bride's Story lives up to my expectations. It's sweet, interesting, and beautifully drawn. It felt refreshing with scenery and a culture that I don't read about often.
This book tells the tale of a 20 year old bride come to live with her 12 year old husband and his family. She was given as a bride simply because she was getting too old to keep at home, but she is trying very hard to make everything work out. She is kind, generous, and very eager to please the women of the household, though there is a little bit of awkwardness since her husband is so much younger than her.
There is a topless scene, but it is brief and fairly innocent. However, it means that this is classified as an adult book at my library, though I would imagine the storyline is just as interesting for teens as adults. (less)
Sometimes I geek out over a book and wonder how I could have ever repressed my social science background. Reading this book has occasioned one of thos...moreSometimes I geek out over a book and wonder how I could have ever repressed my social science background. Reading this book has occasioned one of those epiphanies. I've referenced details from Bootleg at least three times since I started reading it a few days ago and had to pull myself away from Al "Scarface" Capone's Wikipedia page (Yes, I use Wikipedia if I am simply satisfying my own guilty pleasures).
Of course, with the long discussion of the temperance movement before you get to any real details about gangsters and speakeasies, I'm not sure how many teens would take an equal amount of glee in the reading. However, they do jazz it up with descriptions of the crazy-pants women who smashed up saloons in their quest to rid the world of the evils of alcohol. Parents might object to giving a book devoted to alcohol to their kids, but you could probably argue about how it also highlights some of the dangers of alcohol as well as romanticizing the flappers. Plus, Al Capone died of advanced SYPHILIS which is a testament to keeping it in your pants. Win-win, conservative parents. Win-win.(less)
OK, I didn't really know much about the Zodiac Killer before this book, but I'm officially terrified to go to California ever again. The book describe...moreOK, I didn't really know much about the Zodiac Killer before this book, but I'm officially terrified to go to California ever again. The book describes everything in frank detail, but it is really slim. However, that's perfect for the very reluctant readers that have trouble reading, especially with the chillingly compelling reading material.(less)
This book was compelling to read, and I finished it in a few hours. I'm always up for a good adventure story, but I really liked the character growth...moreThis book was compelling to read, and I finished it in a few hours. I'm always up for a good adventure story, but I really liked the character growth of Elisa as well. She starts as the fat, unsure princess and becomes a whole new person by the end. The romance of the book is strange, but I can't say much more without giving too much away. However, I would definitely recommend this for fantasy fans. It almost gave me echoes of Tamora Pierce, so you know it had to be good.(less)
I really, really wanted to love this book, and I thought it was OK. However, with a semi-similar feel to Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall (that I LOVED!!...moreI really, really wanted to love this book, and I thought it was OK. However, with a semi-similar feel to Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall (that I LOVED!!), I was expecting more. I understand that is a mean-girl-getting-a-revelation-of-how-she-really-is-to-people story, but she was just so mean and seemed to understand at least a little bit of how mean she was being. I couldn't get behind the character 100% and didn't buy everything that happened in the post car accident world. Not the fantasy genre stuff, the character development. It felt like there needed to be more to the story, but maybe I just have mean girl issues from my years of being the geeky girl in school.(less)
I really enjoyed Hero. There are not enough gay characters in books where their main issue is not that they're gay (although that did play a major fac...moreI really enjoyed Hero. There are not enough gay characters in books where their main issue is not that they're gay (although that did play a major factor in the story- but not the ONLY factor.) There were a few points that I just wanted to scream, "DEAL WITH YOUR ISSUES!" at Thom and his dad, but I remember what it was like to be a teen and feel ashamed and judged about everything I did, even if it was totally fine.
There were superheroes and interesting characters that made this book fun to read. However, the ending felt off a bit for me. No spoilers, but I expected a great deal of it and wanted more. Of course, I'm just waiting for a book challenge on this one from one particular incident, but it certainly makes the book feel authentic to a teenage boy. (less)
I found myself rooting for Benedict to somehow turn out to be a good guy by the end, but alas, not so much. I empathized with him when politics kept h...moreI found myself rooting for Benedict to somehow turn out to be a good guy by the end, but alas, not so much. I empathized with him when politics kept him back, and I was amazed at how much this man did for the Revolutionary War. Well written and fascinating tale!(less)
Axe Cop was definitely fun. It's written by a 5 year old, and some of the best parts of Axe Cop are where you think about how cool it was to be 5. Whe...moreAxe Cop was definitely fun. It's written by a 5 year old, and some of the best parts of Axe Cop are where you think about how cool it was to be 5. When you're 5, the good guys always make it out OK. Sometimes bad things happen, but there's always another adventure or solution. Also, it's a totally acceptable plot point to have characters that are constantly changing powers in order to solve the crisis of the moment, making them practically invulnerable. In fact, that is awesome. Oh, it's not enough to have a giant T-Rex that flies? Let's give him machine gun arms and call him Wexter.
Of course, this is absurdity to the max because most of it was developed while PLAYING, and absurdity is what playing does best. Growing up, the number of times I had a secret ray gun that could defeat whatever my best friend just explained the villain had are countless, and if that ray gun was accidentally made out of a hotdog, all the better. This is a beautiful testament to imagination and childhood. Also, there's lots of violence.(less)
There were parts that I loved, and parts that hit a little too close to home, especially since I'm at least conversational in most types of geek. Howe...moreThere were parts that I loved, and parts that hit a little too close to home, especially since I'm at least conversational in most types of geek. However, I have been known to raise my nerd flag high (I'm wearing a Harry Potter shirt and tie and Spiderman light-up shoes as I type this), so I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this book.(less)
I actually reread this for YALSA's Best of the Best because I wanted to see if I still really liked it. I definitely did. It was exciting, but it had...moreI actually reread this for YALSA's Best of the Best because I wanted to see if I still really liked it. I definitely did. It was exciting, but it had the emotional tension of feeling insecure plus the emotional manipulation of certain parties. I could see a lot of girls really enjoying this story while relating to the character.(less)
The world is messed up, and a corrupt cop kills Scarlet's innocent boyfriend and sends her to the hospital. No one believes her because they are just...moreThe world is messed up, and a corrupt cop kills Scarlet's innocent boyfriend and sends her to the hospital. No one believes her because they are just punk kids versus the upstanding police officer. Vowing revenge and then revolution, Scarlet decides to fight a war against corruption.
This book is intense and makes you question your faith in the system. If there are no official options for actual justice, what would you do? The story really hit home for me as I work in a neighborhood where people are often judged on how they look and where they come from. While I trust the cops here, what would be the option if I didn't?(less)
Loading...
