Well written and thoughtful, with great character development.
The reasons I did not "really like it" or "love it" are these:
It gives a rosy glow to prWell written and thoughtful, with great character development.
The reasons I did not "really like it" or "love it" are these:
It gives a rosy glow to prison life. The good is greatly exaggerated and the bad is glossed over. This is a minimum security prison, so I get there probably won't be riots. Maybe I am feeling skeptical about men and women sharing the same prison. Or it could be the overly happy ending.
However, great book and a good one to give to a kid who is not ready for the chilling world of the US prison system....more
This book was provided to me through Netgalley for an honest review.
I've not read anything by Rysa Walker before, but I admit to being a sucker for anThis book was provided to me through Netgalley for an honest review.
I've not read anything by Rysa Walker before, but I admit to being a sucker for anything compared to Veronica Mars.
The main character, Anna is strong, as she'd have to be growing up in the foster care system after being abandoned by her family. Anna often becomes possessed by the dead. It's not a gift she can refuse and the ghosts often don't pass on until she has helped them with some unfinished task. This wreaks havoc in her life and in this story, creates a lot of danger for herself and those around her. There's much more to the story-line, but I'll let you experience that for yourself.
At some point, we find out that many other children her age and some people her parents age have different powers stemming from augmentation through an experiment performed by a rogue government agency.
This book will fit well with those who like adventure, conspiracy stories, and ghost stories. It often reminded me of the Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson in tone and story line. It is well put together and although I feel like it is long (could just be the ebook experience), it never let me down or let me get bored....more
This would make a great book group book. There is so much going on, the language and settings are beautiful. It shows one view of immigrant life in NeThis would make a great book group book. There is so much going on, the language and settings are beautiful. It shows one view of immigrant life in New York, what it's like going back to India to visit family. There are flashbacks to guerrilla warfare and family relationships. There's a daughter/niece who is first questioning her sexuality, then realizes that she feels more comfortable as a he and it's really interesting to follow this transition although I have no idea how authentic the voice is....more
This was a fun read. 5 Teens have epic powers, and like most gifts one did't ask for, there are downsides. There's also crime, adventure, and moral coThis was a fun read. 5 Teens have epic powers, and like most gifts one did't ask for, there are downsides. There's also crime, adventure, and moral conundrums.
This book is actually a collaboration between Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti, but the transitions are smooth and I didn't feel a thing.
Great for teens who like action packed modern day fantasy. Reminded me of the TV series Heroes, but localized and only with teens. This will be an easy booktalk once the hold numbers go down....more
This one blew me away. It's long, but I finished in record time because I didn't want to put it down. Those who like Bloody Jack, Peter and the StarcaThis one blew me away. It's long, but I finished in record time because I didn't want to put it down. Those who like Bloody Jack, Peter and the Starcatchers, or Serafina would enjoy The Glass Sentence.
Set in an alternate universe where all the Ages have gotten mixed up in one world, Sophia wants nothing more than to see her parents again. Laws are changing suddenly in New Occident and soon people who don't have papers will not be able to re-enter the Age. This sends explorers scrambling to get out before the curtain comes down and ensures that others who have been gone too long will not be allowed back in.
Something larger is a foot though, and Sophia's uncle goes missing, but not without leaving her clues and a curious pane of glass. What is it for? Sophia has to find out in order to put everything right again.
I had so much fun reading this. The character and story are fun, although not always uplifting. The plot is just complex enough to keep your mind turning but not to lose you on the journey....more
Mal has a lot going on in his life. He's angry that his father left his mother and that she can't deal with it. She drinks and makes him feel guilty aMal has a lot going on in his life. He's angry that his father left his mother and that she can't deal with it. She drinks and makes him feel guilty about thinking about a future where he's not taking care of her. Is his feeling that he was abducted by aliens real, or something to help explain his feeling hollow and helpless?
This is a very fast read. It reminds me a lot of Boy 21 at times. I liked the writing and all the characters, and at times the story felt very real. Recommend to reluctant readers who like adventure, realistic fiction or quirky plots. ...more
James likes to rant against society's consumerist culture. He writes rants for his English teacher, which are included. His teacher is very patient, aJames likes to rant against society's consumerist culture. He writes rants for his English teacher, which are included. His teacher is very patient, and guides James towards more useful forms of writing and praises his creativity. James is in love with his ex girlfriend and alternates between worshiping her and despising her. Destroy All Cars shows a snippet of what it can be like to be a teenage boy....more
Interesting mixture of history and supernatural/historical-fiction--a terra-cotta soldier from Emperor Qin's tomb comes alive for a boy in communist CInteresting mixture of history and supernatural/historical-fiction--a terra-cotta soldier from Emperor Qin's tomb comes alive for a boy in communist China. Sometimes it tried too hard to teach and lost me as a reader. I was dedicated to finishing though and it was a quick read, so I muddled through. I think children ages 6-11 might like it if they are into non-fiction and not against reading a supernatural historical fiction book....more
Written in half prose, half verse, this book looks at a future where girls were becoming scarce in India, so a portion broke off and built a wall to tWritten in half prose, half verse, this book looks at a future where girls were becoming scarce in India, so a portion broke off and built a wall to try to change things. In this future city, girls are exotic birds in a guilded cage and boys must pass a series of tests in order to marry. The rest of the boys are sent to guard the wall or fill menial labor jobs.
It is time for Sudasa to choose a husband. She doesn't want the life that lays beyond. Kiran is one of the contestants and he wants to lose. He has a plan for his future and it's not as a kept husband of a rich family.You can feel the build up to revolution, to escape, as the story progresses.
Those who enjoyed Hunger Games and Divergent will like this quick read. There are pieces of East Indian culture woven in and the test scenes will satisfy those who like adventure....more
Mirroring "Every Day", the story of love between a person floating between bodies with one grounded in a single body, this one by Rhiannon. A loves heMirroring "Every Day", the story of love between a person floating between bodies with one grounded in a single body, this one by Rhiannon. A loves her. Loves her so much that A keeps making the effort to see her even after A has left the body of Rhiannon's boyfriend. A tries to explain, tries to convey his/her feelings for Rhiannon.
Rhiannon knows that her relationship with Justin is not great, but she can't see around it to what could lay beyond. One day, she meets A in Justin's body, and the difference is so sweet. She doesn't know that it's A at first, rather than Justin. She wants it to be Justin and she wants it to continue.
But of course it isn't and it doesn't. And then there are the people who come to her day by day and tell her that they are A, and that they love her. Boys and Girls. How can Rhiannon swallow that? Let alone pursue it as a relationship?
In the sequel to Half Bad, Nathan has been ushered into adulthood by his eccentric father and found his magical gift. He's not sure he'll master the gIn the sequel to Half Bad, Nathan has been ushered into adulthood by his eccentric father and found his magical gift. He's not sure he'll master the gift or if it will master him and hurt the people he cares about. In his quest to cure his friend Gabriel, he promises himself to the rebel alliance that is fighting against the government of the White witches, who seek to control all magic.
Set in modern day Europe, Nathan and Gab jump from place to place, running from or towards danger. Nathan's circumstances and reactions mold him into who he will become--good or evil? Each step has the potential to bring him closer to darkness.
Half Wild is gritty and dark, fast paced and exciting. The decisions Nathan makes are often rushed, but always life changing, the consequences heavy. There is violence, but otherwise ok for younger readers with higher reading ability....more
So good. Hits all the important points of being a teen without seeming to check them off a list. Gabi's voice feels real and her letters really got meSo good. Hits all the important points of being a teen without seeming to check them off a list. Gabi's voice feels real and her letters really got me. There are so many good reasons to read this book....more
Devorah is a strict Hasidic jew and when she is thrown into meeting Jaxon, a black teen boy, when a power outage during a storm strands them in an eleDevorah is a strict Hasidic jew and when she is thrown into meeting Jaxon, a black teen boy, when a power outage during a storm strands them in an elevator, all of her misgivings come to the forefront. Her family does not understand and at first her crisis of faith leads to a lot of turmoil.
I enjoyed learning about the Hasidic faith and about the controversy between blacks and jews in Brooklyn. I loved that the story did not turn out the typical way of teen romance, but each character grew both emotionally and in maturity.
Definitely recommended. Good for teens looking for realistic fiction....more
Detailing the story of two sisters, told from the older sister's point of view. Djelia and Sohane are in a Muslim family, born in France but with anceDetailing the story of two sisters, told from the older sister's point of view. Djelia and Sohane are in a Muslim family, born in France but with ancestral roots in Algeria. Djelia is less interested in religion and its restrictions, where Sohane is exploring her religious expression by wearing a head scarf, which is against the rules of her school and causes her to begin correspondence coarses.
The book is short, beautiful and tragic. Throughout, Sohane is missing her sister, wracked with guilt over not standing up for her when she could have. Each chapter is also short and gives a window into daily life for people living in the French projects and the children of immigrants. It also gives insight into the struggle for children trying to find their own identities in a split world of life in French society and religion at home.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick, fun read that manages to bring in many elements that I care about. Historical fiction set in 1932 Sydney, AuI really enjoyed this book. It's a quick, fun read that manages to bring in many elements that I care about. Historical fiction set in 1932 Sydney, Australia (a new time and place to discover!) in a dirty part of town, during a dirty time in history. Strong female characters foraged out of difficult situations, very different for all of their similarities. Mystery, ghosts, organized crime!
I sincerely enjoyed both main characters. Kelpie is a homeless girl of unidentifiable age who has been shaped by years of solitude and hunger. Dymphna Campbell is the "best girl" of crime boss Glory Nelson and is known as the Angel of Death because of the untimely deaths of her suitors. Both can see ghosts; Kelpie was raised by them and Dymphna has learned to keep them at bay. They meet at the murder scene of one of Dymphna's boyfriends, which sets them on the run all over Sydney from crime bosses and police.
Those who like Boneshaker by Cherie Priest or Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger will enjoy this book. I think it will also appeal to fans of Maureen Johnson's Shades of London books....more
I'm sitting here, basking in the afterglow of the gorgeous story that Rachel Hartman has given us, and I find myself thinking that she must be a saintI'm sitting here, basking in the afterglow of the gorgeous story that Rachel Hartman has given us, and I find myself thinking that she must be a saint herself.
I know the work she went through to make Seraphina the book I enjoyed so much. Pulling it apart and putting it back together; which must be so hard with a beloved creation. This second book feels like a master work, somehow written in less time, managing to be complex, logical, and so completely beautiful.
I don't want to start a new book for fear of losing this feeling.
Dragons, saints, humans, ideology, faith in friendship and love. War and adventure, bravery, humility, mistakes, revelations and penance. The brightness blinds...more
I almost gave up on this book during the build up, but once past that the complex characters and intriguing political issues kept my interest.
Kelsea kI almost gave up on this book during the build up, but once past that the complex characters and intriguing political issues kept my interest.
Kelsea knows only some of the history of the kingdom she is about to rule, learned from her mentors and protectors who hid her away from those who would kill her and take power for themselves. Certain subjects are taboo until she figures them out for herself. Kelsea is a strong female character, a queen who is not beautiful, but is strong and smart. She's not worried about fashion, except how her mother was obsessed with shiny and frivolous things. Her relationship with her guard is dynamic, even if I have a hard time believing their stalwart loyalty to her and her long dead mother. One an unknown entity, the other a shallow and selfish woman.
The taboo subjects and secrecy seem like an unnecessary handicap. The frequent mentions of her not being beautiful seem a little overboard as she wouldn't have a lot to compare herself to growing up, living secluded in the woods with one older woman and man.
It's really the character relationships on the page that hold this book together, along with some smart problem solving of deep political and cultural issues. ...more
I just couldn't get into it. The story felt forced and about a third of the way through I let myself move on.I just couldn't get into it. The story felt forced and about a third of the way through I let myself move on....more
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