Review: Breathe, Annie, Breathe

Miranda Kenneally - Sourcebooks Fire
 

The details:  302 pages, paperback ARC, 2 days to read along munching on jelly beans!

Summary: (From Goodreads) Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.


Review: Before I start in on my review of this book, let me just say that Sourcebooks is amazing. I have visited their booth twice now, once at ALA and once at BEA, and they have the sweetest people working for them. Thank you, Sourcebooks! They also handed out super cute tins with jelly beans inside, to go along with the ARC. How adorable!

Now, I first read a Miranda Kenneally book last winter, when I was accepted for Racing Savannah from Netgalley. I was hooked. So when I saw on my scheduler that Miranda would be signing at BEA 2014, I HAD TO GO. This was probably my number 1 must have (along with Rainbow Rowell's Landline...) I wound up towards the back of the line, but I was perfectly ok with that. Her team handed us our copies while we waited, and I was literally already on page 40 by the time we made it to the actual signing. 

This book talks a lot about running. The main character is currently training, although she never 'was' a runner. I do not know if I liked the book as much as I did because that's EXACTLY where I am, or not. It sure didn't hurt, that's for sure. ;-) I can tell you that this book if anything, pushed me to run more and train harder for my upcoming 10k. (It's hard to become a runner. It seems everyone IS a runner, and no one besides you are a 'newbie' runner. That's something I really enjoyed about B,A,B is that she is NOT a perfect practiced runner. She understands what I'm going through, and vice-versa.)  She understands where I am coming from.

Like all of Miranda's books, this is a YA romance. There is no excplict sex, but there is quite detailed foreplay. This isn't a book I would probably allow in my school library (middle school) but I would keep it behind my desk for those students that I personally know can handle the book/have permission from their parents. (I read my first romance in 7th grade! My mom gave me the book! I was hooked!) 


If you like running, YA, Romance, or fluff sweet books, this is the book for you! Trust me, this book hits the sweet spot. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if you went for a run after! ;-)


Rating: 4 stars
Jenni

Review: Infected

Scott Sigler - Crown Publishing
 

The details:  342 pages, E-book

Summary: (From Goodreads)
Across America a mysterious disease is turning ordinary people into raving, paranoid murderers who inflict brutal horrors on strangers, themselves, and even their own families.
Working under the government’s shroud of secrecy, CIA operative Dew Phillips crisscrosses the country trying in vain to capture a live victim. With only decomposing corpses for clues, CDC epidemiologist Margaret Montoya races to analyze the science behind this deadly contagion. She discovers that these killers all have one thing in common – they’ve been contaminated by a bioengineered parasite, shaped by a complexity far beyond the limits of known science.

Meanwhile Perry Dawsey – a hulking former football star now resigned to life as a cubicle-bound desk jockey – awakens one morning to find several mysterious welts growing on his body. Soon Perry finds himself acting and thinking strangely, hearing voices . . . he is infected. 

The fate of the human race may well depend on the bloody war Perry must wage with his own body, because the parasites want something from him, something that goes beyond mere murder.

Review: I first picked up this series only because it looked interesting at BEA. While I enjoyed BEA, I was worried I would feel a little out of my element. There are a LOT of YA books available, but not many Science-Fiction and/or Fantasy. This was one I picked up there, although I might not have picked it up otherwise.

Sigler created a captivating story that is actually quite horrific on a psychological level.  The pacing was done well, with the suspense actually building up gradually throughout the book. As my wife knows (and now do you) one of my BIGGEST reading turn-offs is when an author goes into too much description for settings and scenery. I don't need a detailed description of a forest for three pages. While Sigler does use accurate descriptions of surroundings, they thankfully were not overly verbose.

Another thing Sigler does an excellent job at is making his characters realistic.  They have current real world problems, including having characters deal with raising a gay child they don't necessarily agree with. As an author, that takes courage to include such a polarizing character dealing with these situations.  There were times I temporarily forget they are fictional and not real accounts. 

One of my only complaints would be that this book starts off with a lot of science terms in describing how the infection starts out. I personally have a background in science and medicine (I am a nuclear pharmacist after all!) and the extra details really made this story stand out and come alive for me.  However, if science is not for you, I can see this book being off-putting. The science jargon does come before the story starts to pick up, and it is well worth the effort.  Yet, be warned that you will be itching and scratching yourself a lot while reading. 

As a side note, I don't often say this: you should absolutely read the afterwords by the author.  It is a touching thanks to his parents, and I was really glad I read it. 

Rating: 5 stars
Bobby

Attachments: Review!

Review: Attachments

Rainbow Rowell- Dutton Adult

The details:  336 pages, 1 week to read.

Summary: (From Goodreads) "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

Review: As you can probably tell from my last post, I really enjoy Rainbow Rowell's books. As an author, Rainbow does an excellent job at showing dept within her characters. They are not mary-sue types, and they tend to grow and mature throughout her books. Attachments is not her best work, but I do feel it is still a book worth mentioning. 

  Attachments caught my attention (other than because of the author) due to the fact it is set around y2k. Sadly, many readers of this book probably do not remember the y2k 'fear' that went around. Personally, my father worked for a large electronic company, so he would only shake his head when y2k was mentioned. He knew it was phooey, but others would not and could not be told otherwise. This seems to be the mindset of our male lead, who is hired to be the company 'snoop' in their new e-mail system.

Ok, can I just say it is creepy thinking about someone READING your e-mails? I work for a school, and while I know certain things are blocked and our internet use IS tracked, the idea of someone physically reading everything just seems creepy. In this book, that leads to our hunk, Lincoln, falling in love with one the e-mail writers.

In this day and age, MANY people say they would love for a man to fall in love blindly. Only knowing what is your truest and deepest 'self.' However, if that were to happen in real life, I don't think many would last beyond the 'get away, stalker!' factor.

With that personal ancedote aside, it's nice to imagine a place where this love story COULD happen. Perhaps there is a cute man who is just beyond your sight, who is deeply and madly in love with you. Not to mention our man Lincoln realizes he is a geeky mama's boy. He himself starts to take care of himself, and grow up. I hate to say it, but I really disliked Lincoln in the beginning of the book. In fact, I didn't start to really enjoy this book until I was 80% done with it!

If you have started this book and never finished, I urge you to give it a try. I also would urge you to pick up Eleanor and Park, no matter how you felt about this book. It should not disappoint you.

*Small spoiler ahead!* *Trigger Warning!*

The biggest problem I had with this book was the fact that one character miscarries her child. I normally steer clear of books with this in it, and I would have liked some warning. I know it's not always feasible to have warnings on books, so I am warning YOU if you need trigger warnings. This one needs one. 

 Rating: 4. (E & P is my favorite Rainbow Rowell, then Fangirl, and lastly this one.)

Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

Katie Alender- Scholastic Press

The details:  296 pages, 2 sittings to read. I received the ARC of this book at ALA Annual 2013.

Summary: (From Goodreads) Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

Review: I recieved this book at ALA, and I was ECSTATIC. I had been looking forward to this one, and it looked sooo promising. Well, let me tell you, it lived up to my expectations. However, my expectations of this book were more for use in my middle grade school than for myself. 

I trully enjoyed this book. I liked the story line, and the 'mystery'. The mystery is a bit underwhelming and easy to guess early on, but the interest was still there. Katie Alender did a good job at creating an easy to read, well flowing book that has just enough mystery to keep any reluctant reader engrossed. 

I loved reading about the catacombs and Versailles, and the descriptions of Paris seemed to come from a true love of the area. However, I was disappointed in the relationships and character development. It's obvious that Collette is pretending and masking who she is, to be friends with the popular girls. She admits she doesn't want to not be seen 'with' them, although she always ditches them. She doesn't fully come across as somone who isn't vapid and shallow, although we are supposed to sympathize with her. She has her bitchy mean-girl moments, and while the book pushes the idea of 'being nice is doing something without wanting something in return' she STILL does things so that she can have the life she wants. It's annoying, how fake this character seems throughout the book. It's also annoying how the book plays up a 'love triangle' when there really is nothing of the sort. (Scholastic Book trailer, I'm look at you!) The love story of the book is pretty minimal, so it can trully interest those looking for an action packed historical fiction. (Ok, again, reluctant middle school readers here.)

However, I also fully enjoyed the book, so if you haven't picked this one up yet, you really should. You shouldn't be disappointedA.
  Rating: Personal 4 stars. For my students: 5 stars. I would recommend this book to my students, especially to some of my reluctant female readers.

Review: Picture Me

Lori Weber-James Lorimer and Company

The details: Will be released in 2014,  168 pages, 1 sitting to read. I received the ARC of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: (From Goodreads) When a well-meaning English teacher has overweight student Krista read aloud a poem about body image titled "Barbie Doll" in class, she ignites a simmering bullying event based on Krista's appearance. Krista's best friend, and witness to the event, Tessa, is suspended for fighting to defend her friend. The girl who bullies Krista seems unaffected by the incident at school and more concerned with what an older guy thinks of her. But as the three characters' paths intersect, their inner lives are revealed. Each emerges as a much more complicated individual than their simple bully, target, and witness labels.

Review: I wanted to like this book. I was really hoping to find a positive story line, to show that bullies are not always mean without reason. I really wanted a book to put on my library shelves that would spark my students interests, to start them on an internal investigation, learning to over-come bullying, understand what makes a bully....
This book falls short. The premise is there, the framework is there, but it doesn't go beyond that. Let me start by saying that I was a victim to extreme bullying, even from teachers. I was an over-weight cheerleader, and that seemed to offend people. I am very overweight now, but when I look back at my middle school years, I was only 20-30 lbs overweight. I was a size 15. I was large, but I felt even larger and ended up with body dysmorphic disorder as well as bulimia. Bullying is a real threat.

When I read the synopsis of this book on Netgalley, I HAD to read it. I was interested in Krista, the overweight girl who is the victim of bullying, due to her weight. However of all the characters, we learn the least about her, and her character development is completely missing.

This book is told through her, her bully, and her friend. This is confusing in the beginning of the book, as I thought the book was being told in third person, of Krista. But it wasn't. It took me a bit of time to realize that it was another character's point of view.

In the beginning, Krista is described as a girl who ignores her weight. She doesn't seem to care about her weight, and ignores the bullies. However, once a picture is taped to her locker, she becomes obsessed with losing weight and taking diet pills, no matter the cost to her health. She ignores her best friend, and becomes practically a hermit, never leaving her bed. By the end of the book, it's hard to be sympathetic to her, even though I have first hand experience of being that girl. I feel like the author did a piss-poor job at fully showing the TRUE danger of this behavior, because of how bitchy she made this character. (No, not every book should have a 'lesson' but this is a dangerous spot to be in.)

We learn more about the bully, and find that she does not have the happy-home-life like she appears to have. Throughout the story we see her fall in with the wrong crowd, and we are alluded to a situation that is unpleasant, and one can assume what happens, HOWEVER. This is where the book ends. There is no closure at all for the bully and the victim. This story just ends. I have a major problem with this. This book's synopsis makes the reader believe we will be reading a story about bullying. Instead, we learn more about the friend, and she is the only character to have any sort of resolution by the end. It left a bad taste in my mouth. 'Oh look, the bully isn't happy, the bullied isn't happy, LETS TALK ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE!' It's obvious while reading that the focus isn't on the bullying or bully at all. It's about the friend and her home life.

This book is misleading and stops in middle of what I felt to be the climax of the story. There are other things I would like to say about this book, but I can't seem to articulate well WHY this book is nothing but disappointing. This is NOT a book I will be purchasing for my school library. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

Rating: 2 stars. Stay away, unless you really really really enjoy punishment.

Re-Alive (Dirt Side Up)

Scott Grimon-Indie Author

The details: First in a trilogy, indie author, 251 pages, 3-4 days to read.

Summary: (From Amazon) Lucca Thompson was just an average kid who had an unfortunate run in with a Buick. Average, that is, until he was brought back to life. Now he’s in a battle against magic, warriors and his own hormones to complete three tasks for a nameless Wizard. Will he win his freedom or go back to pushing daisies?


Review: When most people hear 'Indie Author' they tend to think of people who aren't good enough to catch a publisher, and unfortunately many of these books go unpurchased. When my Wife told me one of her friends wrote a book and that I should read and review it, I was ready for the challenge. See, I almost ALWAYS read indie books. I'm pretty cheap, so being able to read 5 books for the price of one, is pretty awesome. I'm also of the opinion that most indie books are a tad 'different' and edgier then what I find in most main-stream books. (However, there have been several duds, too.)

So as I said, I was ready to accept the challenge. Mind you, this was before I even knew what the book was about. When I did get around to reading the summary, I figured the book would be something I'd enjoy. I was correct in that assumption, but there were also times where I was pleasantly surprised.

For example, the main character was not very accomplished in fighting when the book began. So I believed part of the book would be dedicated to his training, but that was not the case. This book picked up right away into the drama and plot. Along with the story line, Scott Grimon uses witty one-liners and comebacks, that do not seem forced or cheesy. His dialogue feels real and flows naturally. 

Within the plot of the book, I do not want to give much away. This book is the first in a trilogy and while it does a great job as to setting up the full story, it still seemed to be a finished stand-alone. I have read somewhere where someone mention that this book was similar to Harry Potter, and while I see some similarities, I can not say it's truly similar.

This story is about a teenage boy who your 'average Joe' type but ultimately ends up dead. Thankfully, our hero is brought back to life. In order to complete the process, he must complete three tasks. This book follows the first task. This book does not lag in parts, and I never felt like I wanted to rush through any parts. As a gamer, I am easily excited when I find a reference to, or feel like the author draws influences from games I enjoy. As a reader, I am even more excited when those references are done so seamlessly. In Re-Alive are nods to popular culture, including BioShock and Indiana Jones.

I will be watching Scott for the next two books, and any other works he has written. Out of the literally hundreds of self-published books I have read, this is one of the best, and I am surprised that Scott has not been tapped by a publisher yet.

If you enjoy Harry Potter, witty one liners, and fantasy, you really should look for his book on Amazon. Good job, Scott.

Rating: 5 stars (For the record, I feel $1 is underpricing this book. I would actually pay full cover price for this one.)

Dangerous Waters: An Adventure on the Titanic

Gregory Mone - Roaring Brook Press

The Facts:240 pages - Paperback- 1 day

Summary from Goodreads: A stowaway, a stolen book, a murderous villain: an adventure on the most famous shipwreck in history.

 

The great ocean liner Titanic is preparing to cross the Atlantic. On board is a sinister thief bent on stealing a rare book that may be the key to unlocking infinite treasure, a wealthy academic traveling home to America with his rare book collection, and Patrick Waters, a twelve-year-old Irish boy who is certain that his job as a steward on the unsinkable ship will be the adventure of a lifetime. Disguises, capers, and danger abound as the ship makes its way toward that fateful iceberg where Patrick will have to summon all his wits in order to survive.

My Review: I bought this book to add to my school's library from Scholastic. Unfortunately, historical fiction is rarely read in my school and I wanted to find books to draw students into the genre. This book appeared to be all that I could hope for- and it was! 

The stories surrounding the Titanic tend to me popular anyways, but adding the actiony mystery to the mix was a nice touch. Part of the build-up of this book IS the fact that we know the Titanic will sink. While we get caught up in the 'what is going to happen to the characters?!' the story-line does stand on it's own. 

Students will  enjoy the action, the fighting and disguises, and might even become engaged in historical fiction! (Might I add- it does NOT feature a love story!) The historical aspects of this novel are spot on- and gave myself even a greater appreciation for those who worked in the boiler rooms. 

This book took me maybe 2 hours to read, however that while being interrupted by classes. I could not wait to finish the book, and when I did to look up the author to see what other books I could add to our collection. 

If you enjoy Middle Grade books, work with kids, or want to buy HF for a reluctant reader, this would be a great place to start. 

My Rating: 4 stars. The ending moved pretty quickly so I had to re-read a chapter to fully understand who was doing what, but other than that, this book will be a great addition to my library.

Jenni

Review: Gorgeous

Gorgeous-- Paul Rudnick-- Scholastic
The Facts: Signed Hardcover-- 336 pages-- 3 workouts to read

This book was one that I picked up from Scholastic during ALA. This review is my own, and is not biased based on this fact.


Summary: Inner beauty wants out.

When eighteen-year-old Becky Randle’s mother dies, she’s summoned from her Missouri trailer park to meet Tom Kelly, the world’s top designer. He makes her an impossible offer: He’ll create three dresses to transform Becky from a nothing special girl into the most beautiful woman who ever lived.

Becky thinks Tom is a lunatic, or that he’s producing a hidden camera show called World’s Most Gullible Poor People. But she accepts, and she’s remade as Rebecca. When Becky looks in the mirror, she sees herself – an awkward mess of split ends and cankles. But when anyone else looks at Becky, they see pure five-alarm hotness.

Soon Rebecca is on the cover of Vogue, the new Hollywood darling, and dating celebrities. Then Becky meets Prince Gregory, heir to the British throne, and everything starts to crumble. Because Rebecca aside, Becky loves him. But to love her back, Gregory would have to look past the blinding Rebecca to see the real girl inside. And Becky knows there’s not enough magic in the world.

A screamingly defiant, hugely naughty, and impossibly fun free fall past the cat walks, the red carpets, and even the halls of Buckingham Palace, Gorgeous does the impossible: It makes you see yourself clearly for the first time.

My Review: This book combines two of my favorite things: finding inner beauty and ROYALS! While this book is not specific to THE Royal family (you know which one I'm talking about) it's practically a mirror image. And who can't imagine themselves as Rebecca, falling in love with Prince William?

This book caught my curiosity by the cover. Isn't it pretty? I picked up quite a few books at ALA, but I picked this one up after someone on my twitter posted a picture of the first paragraph. I loved it enough that from that paragraph alone, I picked this book next. 

I wasn't disappointed, but to be honest, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The hard part, is that I'm not sure why. I enjoyed this book. I liked the plot, I loved the writing, and I enjoyed the characters. Yet I am still left somewhat disappointed. 

I know this isn't the best review, but as I said, I can't quite put my finger on what it was about this book I didn't like. The magic seemed lacking, and the characters seemed somewhat flat. It was hard to follow at points, as characters moved and time seemed to FLY. The plot line seemed to jump around but yet I don't think any of these elements are what I'm annoyed with. I would recommend this book, but it's not a favorite. My students will enjoy this book, as they seem to have a fascination with any book with a love story. Hopefully this might show them inside beauty is what counts. *cough*doubtful*cough*

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Family Friday #3 ARC Review: The Snatchabook

The Snatchabook - Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty - Sourcebooks

The Facts: This book will be released in October 2013. I received this Advanced Readers Copy through Sourcebooks at ALA Annual 2013

32 pages - paperback (I believe will be released hardcover) - 20 minutes

Summary from Goodreads: Where have all the bedtime stories gone? A delightful addition to the picture book canon about the love of reading

One dark, dark night in Burrow Down, a rabbit named Eliza Brown found a book and settled down...when a Snatchabook flew into town.

It's bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook.

My Review: Oh my goodness! This book is one of my favorites, and I am already reading it often to Taylor. The story is quite simple, and very cute. Everyone's bedtime books are being stolen in the blink of an eye, and Eliza wants to stop it from going on. When she finds out why the books are being stolen by the Snatchabook, she befriends the creature. All books are returned and the rest of the town takes turns nightly including Snatchabook in their bedtime reading routines.

As you can see, this book cam easily demonstrate the power of sharing. Sometimes when people are left out, they will do bad things. Sometimes when people share, people will do nice things. While that is a very simple meaning that can be drawn from the book, it is still a powerful one. The rhyme and rhythm of this book does nothing but justice, creating an easy free-flowing read that helps younger readers to sound out unknown words. The illustrations are beautiful by themselves, creating an adorable animal world, with plenty of visual details that entertained my 6 month old as well as myself.

This is not your run-of-the-mill children's picture book. This one teaches morals, has wonderful illustrations and rhyme, and really remind readers the power and love of a bedtime story.

My Rating: 5 stars, hands down. Go buy this book for your kids or grandkids. It's absolutely wonderful.

Jenni

Review: Beautiful

Beautiful - Amy Reed- Simon Pulse
The "Facts": Paperback, 232 pages, 1 day to finish

 

 (Click the image to link to Goodreads)

 

 

Summary: (From Goodreads) When Cassie moves from the tiny town where she has always lived to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. This is Cassie’s chance to stop being invisible and become the kind of girl who’s worth noticing.

Stepping into her new identity turns out to be easier than Cassie could have ever imagined… one moment, one choice, changes everything.

Cassie’s new existence both thrills and terrifies her. Swept into a world of illicit parties and social landmines, she sheds her virginity, embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, and floats through it all, knowing that she is now called beautiful. She ignores the dangers of her fast-paced life… but she can’t sidestep the secrets and the cruelty.

Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral tinged with violence and abuse, and no one—not even the one person she thought she could trust—can help her now.

 

My Review: Ouch. This book is not pretty. There were many things I disliked about this book, but before I begin let me tell you that when I purchased this book, I also bought Amy Reed's 'Crazy' as well. When I was reading this book, I honestly thought 'Crazy' was describing this book...

 

According to the blurb, it's easy to imagine that this book is about the change in Cassie as she becomes a 'pretty popular' one. Well... it is and it isn't. When the book starts, Cassie has already become 'pretty and popular' at her new school. It takes a bit to realize that this book picks up right away without really introducing the characters.

 

Secondly, the plot gets confusing. It's hard to imagine Cassie being as stupid and naïve as she comes off, and she jumps around a bit. It's hard to follow her train of thought. As soon as you think you've figured her out, she changes. In most cases, this is a good thing: we like to see development and evolvement in characters. For Cassie, it's less of a developing character and more of 'we need to get this plot point out.'

 

To be truthful, I'm not even sure how I would describe the plot to someone. I would say 'read the blurb on the back, but then throw away and idea about the plot like you think you have.'

 

The only good thing about this book? The only reason why I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1? The ending. I actually rather liked the ending, and found it fitting and surprising given the author's tone throughout the rest of the book. However, that is all I will say before I give away any spoilers!

Rating: 2 stars 

*This book contains details and mentions of: underage drinking, drug use and abuse, eating disorders and violence among others. I would recommend reading this book before giving it to someone that you feel might be *iffy* or triggered by these subjects.***


***Can't you tell I'm a school librarian?

Jenni

Review: Confederates Don't Wear Couture

Confederates Don't Wear Couture - Stephanie Kate Strohm - Graphia
The "Facts": Paperback, 240 pages, 3 days to finish

 

 

 

Summary: (From Goodreads) Libby's best friend and fabulous fashion designer, Dev, hatches a plan to jet down South and hawk his period gowns to the wives and girlfriends of Civil War re-enactors. With a pang, Libby abandons her plan to visit her boyfriend, Garrett, in Boston and jumps at the chance to help run "Confederate Couture," and let her inner history nerd loose in a 19th century playground. But Libby and Dev aren't whistling Dixie for long. Between the constant travel from battle ground to dusty battle ground (with no Starbucks in sight, mind you), blistering heat, and a violent ghost set on romantic revenge, they quickly realize Alabama's no sweet home. And the boys. . . well, let's just say Libby's got the North and the South fighting for her attention. Confederates Don't Wear Couture is another hilarious, historical romp from Stephanie Kate Strohm!

Review: I adored almost everything about this book! I first saw this book on another book blog, showcasing the new releases that week. I knew by the cover that I would have to read it. Full discloser: This is the second book in a series, and I have NOT read the first. However, I felt this book sufficiently covered the carry-over plot points quite well, so that this could be read as a stand-alone. I will warn you though, this book includes SEVERAL topics and pop culture references that will date this book. This book more than likely will NOT stay 'current' for much longer, and if you are a school library low on funds, I would not recommend using your money for this title. If you are a lover of books, and NOT a librarian or NOT low on funds, then this book will be very enjoyable!

This is a perfect light and fluffy read, especially if you enjoy historical fiction, or history at all. Stephanie has a decent grasp at how to catch and hold the attention of the reader when discussing historical facts that is quite refreshing. She doesn't over-load the book with them, as this isn't what the book is about, but you still find yourself learning something new every chapter! In fact, I would recommend this book to my students who REFUSE to read anything historical. I think they might find themselves actually entertained by it.

Rating: 3 stars  (I would have rated this book higher if this book wasn't quite as fluffy. I felt the story derailed/spent too much time on the love triangle than I would have preferred, and also for the pop culture references. I liked this book, however I know I would not be able to pass this down to my daughter, as she wouldn't understand most of the references which is what was included in almost every joke!)

*Please note also, this is not a good book to 'finish this chapter'. I think the second chapter ended on something like page 72.


Jenni

Family Friday # 2: Review - The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler - MacMillian Children's Books



The "Facts": Paperback, 32 pages, 20 minutes

Summary: From Goodreads

Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake "and "a hungry gruffalo . . .

Review:

Oh how I love The Gruffalo!  This was one children's book I had never heard of.  When at the bookstore I loved the bright colours on the cover and decided to add it to Emmett's book collection.

I am so glad that I did.

The Gruffalo is about a clever little mouse making his way through the forest.  At the bottom of the food chain, he encounters many animals who see him as lunch!  He develops a clever tale of what he thinks is a mythical creature - a Gruffalo - to keep these predators from eating him!

Then to the mouse's surprise he meets a real gruffalo! Of course the Gruffalo wants to eat the little mouse. 

Little mouse uses his quick thinking and tells the Gruffalo that he is the biggest creature in the forest!  He dares him to follow him through the forest to see.  When all the animals see him coming with the Gruffalo they run and hide.

I love that this story has a nice rhythm to it.  Even though it seems like it may be long for a younger child it is an easy read with a nice flow.

The illustrations are colourful and fun. 

Although the moral of the story may be to advanced for younger children it does teach about the food chain and animals in their habitat.

Rating: 4 stars

Jenn C

Review: If You Find Me

If You Find Me – Emily Murdoch – St. Martin's Griffin

The “Facts”:  Hardcover, 256 pages, 3 days

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads):  There are some things you can’t leave behind… A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

My Review:  Have you ever read a book and finished with appreciation for the author? It's a weird feeling to have this sudden 'I need to thank this author' feeling, especially when you've never met and the book isn't a 'life-changer.' So, why am I appreciative?

This author, Emily Murdoch, gets it. She understands a true character's crisis and keeps the characters real. For example, the main character in this book was raised to believe her father was abusive. She knows her mother allowed and encouraged nightmareish things to happen to her, however when she is 'rescued' and given back to her father, she isn't necessarily happy. This character is not trusting, and still hangs on to her mother. Even though her mother was a bad woman, she was her mother and that was where her loyalty would lay.

Not only that, but her characters show range. They grow, they have flaws, they are not flat and predictable. They feel real. 

This is the story of Carey, and her return to normalcy after being abducted by her mother, living in terrible conditions ferreted away in a camper in a park. This story could have easily drug on. It could have easily been distracted with side-stories, and details. Emily Murdoch was able to tell a story without bogging it down with details or extraneous information. Emily Murdoch is a story-teller, a true craftsman, and I thank her for that. It isn't often I come across a book where I was left satisfied and still wanting more. I thought about this book, days after finishing it. I didn't feel like all questions were answered, and with this topic, it felt right that way.

If you haven't checked out this book yet, I HIGHLY recommend you do so. You won't regret it.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: The Selection

                                       The Selection - Kiera Cass - HarperTeen

The “Facts”:  Paperback 327 Pages - Took about a week to read between tasks

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads): 
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review:

When I picked this book up at the bookstore, it immediately caught my interest. Then a worker told me it was her pick of the month because it had a Bachelor like feel to it. That comparison almost made me put it down because I'm not a fan of the show. I decided to still give it a try, and I am very happy that I did.

America is already one of my favourite female protagonists. She seems strong, but she is also humble and relatable. The caste society really made me sad. There were so many people that were struggling and it seemed like they weren't cared about. 

When the author first introduces Aspen, I was on board with Aspen and America as  a couple. The fact that he was a caste lower than her played on my heart strings and I was rooting for him. Even after she first arrived at the Palace for the Selection, I was still trying to come up with a way for them to be together, then we met Prince Maxon.

Maxon is a such a lovable character and I really started to like his interaction with America. As time went on, I found myself no longer shipping Aspen and America, but now Maxon and America. They are really cute together and they seem to really understand each other. 

There was a pretty big shocker near the end and I cannot wait for the Elite to come out to see what happens!

Rating: 5 stars

Review: Identical

Identical – Ellen Hopkins – Margaret K. McElderry Books 

The “Facts”:  Paperback and Audio Book, 565 pages, approximately 1 week to finish

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads): Do twins begin in the womb?

Or in a better place?

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and that's where their differences begin.

For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.

Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?

My Review: First of all, if you don't know who Ellen Hopkins is, you need to go out and pick up one of her books. I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them. 

Ellen Hopkins is THE must-read author in my library. In fact, I had one of her books go 'missing' this year! I can hardly keep them on the shelves, and Crank was continuously on a wait list. (Seriously, that book came out in 2004!) 

Sadly, I had never picked up any of her books because I wasn't sure I would like a book written in verse. When I first started my job at the school, I figured it was time to step it up, and read what was popular with my students, and I am glad I did.

Identical is one of those books that will stick with you. It will make you think, say 'what?' and haunt you for days after reading it. I STILL find myself thinking about it, when I read this book earlier in the month!

This book is told through the eyes of twins, and focus' mostly on addiction. Addiction to drugs, to love, to that 'safe' feeling. The twins, with their parents, were in a car crash very early in their lives which changed their family dynamic, drastically. One twin is addicted to drugs, and pushed from her parent's love, craves that which is taboo. The other is overly-close with her father, and wants her mother's attention more than anything.

Each sister has at least one secret, one vice. That is the Ellen Hopkin's way. She is not afraid to tackle the big ideas, the taboo ideas, the subjects that leave you with a feeling of senselessness.

Does that explain anything? Probably not. The easiest thing I can say about this book is that it will haunt you, in it's easy to read but striking verse form, and it's unseen twists and jolts. You will either love it, for these reasons, or hate it for the same reasons. For me, this was love. 

Rating: 5 stars

This book deals with many taboo and triggering subjects, such as incest, self-harm, and drug use among others.

Review: Secret Daughter

Secret Daughter – Shilpi Somaya Gowder – Harper Collins

The “Facts”:  Paperback, 339 pages, approximately 4 days to finish

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

Secret Daughter, a first novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, explores powerfully and poignantly the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love through the experiences of two families - one Indian, one American - and the child that binds them together.

A masterful work set partially in the Mumbai slums so vividly portrayed in the hit film Slumdog Millionaire, Secret Daughter recalls the acclaimed novels of Kim Edwards and Thrity Umrigar, yet sparkles with the freshness of a truly exciting new literary voice.

"Moving and thought-provoking and informative and imaginative and beautifully executed.  What a wonderful story!"”--—Mary Jane Clark

"This book is a must for anyone touched by adoption, or India, or the delicate dynamic between adolescent girls and their mothers."”—--Sujata Massey, author of Shimura Trouble

My Review: 

 I read this book for the first time while pregnant.   Based on other reviews I have read that may have prejudiced my personal opinion of the book.  I don't care.  I LOVED this story.   While I didn't relate on a personal level to Kavita, an Indian Mother who secretly sends her second born daughter to an orphanage to escape infanticide at the hands of her husband, I felt for her.  I mourned for her loss.  My heart broke for this woman, over and over again. 

Meanwhile in America another woman, Somer, longs for a child of her own.  Struggling with infertility.  Again, while I couldn't relate, my heart again broke for this woman as I felt my own child kicking inside me.

This novel jumps back and forth from India to America following the lives of these women.  Somers husband is Indian and they adopt Kavita's secret daughter.  This is how their stories intertwine

Daughter, Asha, curious about her heritage goes to live in India with her father's family.  Her Mother, Somer, doesn't understand their culture and this is a difficult spot for her and her spouse's family.

This is a captivating story with an adequate ending.  I would especially recommend this read to women.

Rating: 4 stars

This book deals with many controversial issues prevalent to undeveloped countries.  These topics may offend some readers.

Jenn C

Wedding Night

Wedding Night – Sophie Kinsella – Bantam Press

The “Facts”:  Hardcover, 368 pages, approximately 6 days to finish

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.
 
Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.

My Review:

I had originally picked this book up because it was Ms. Kinsella's newest book. I have never disliked a book by her, and this time was no different. It was a typical Sophie Kinsella book, full of romance, likable characters, a fluffy storyline and fun content.

The book started off with Lottie and her dinner date with Richard. Immediately  I was drawn into the storyline with the fact that she had bought him a ring. She was funny, and I felt bad for her when the proposal she was expecting was a huge flop. 

Shortly after Lottie's breakup occurs, we are introduced to her sister Fliss, who is just as hilarious as her sister. Her sister is having her own problems with her divorce and raising her son. Even though she is preoccupied with her jerk of an ex-husband, she still has her sister's back through the break-up.

When Lottie receives a note from an old flame of hers, she decides to meet up with him eventually. Ben wants to reconnect, and marriage is brought up. Although Lorcan and Fliss do whatever they can, Ben and Lottie are married.

Fliss' next plan is to stop them from consummating their marriage so an annulment is possible. This starts the train of hilariously horrible events that stop the newly married couple from enjoying their wedding night.

Overall, the book was pretty funny. I do have to say that it became a bit far fetched that some of the things would happen. The ending was a tad predictable, but good.

Rating: 4 stars.

This book has some mentioning of sexual activity. It's not very graphic doesn't really describe much at all.