Review: The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Release date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 256
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Source: Publisher
Links: Goodreads

Overall: 3.5 out of 4 stars

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.
The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.
I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.
All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.
From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind.

Review:

I didn't read much about The Vanishing Season before I picked it up, so I had no idea what to expect. It was a beautifully written and mysterious read that I was able to finish in one sitting. While it did leave something to be desired, I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story, the characters, and the writing style.

Maggie and her parents move into an old house in Door County just as winter is arriving and girls are beginning to disappear. Maggie was not your typical teenager. She was quiet, well-behaved, and respectful. She had never had a boyfriend and spent most of her time saving up for college and being home-schooled. A lot changes when she meets the free-spirited Pauline who lives next door. Maggie and Pauline become fast friends, but little do they know how much can change over one frozen winter.

Pauline and Maggie both frustrated me in different ways. Maggie needed to grow a backbone and Pauline needed to stop thinking she deserved everything without working for it. I still felt for them when everything became very dark in Door County and they had to face some serious situations.The mystery angle with all of the missing girls was very creepy and I was always anxious for our two main characters. The ghostly narrator was another unique and mysterious aspect of the book. We also don't find out their identity until the very end. I do wish we got more closure on the criminal aspect-we never really get a full answer of who was responsible. The paranormal side was less in your face, but the ghostly presence definitely played an important role.

The Vanishing Season was very beautifully written; Jodi Lynn Anderson has a way with words that can make almost any story worth reading. There wasn't necessarily a plot to The Vanishing Season, but it is a quick read that drew me in. This book will certainly not be for everyone, but I did like it as a whole, mostly because it was so different from everything else I've been reading lately.

Review: Then You Were Gone by Lauren Strasnick

Then You Were Gone by Lauren Strasnick 

Two years ago, Adrienne’s best friend walked out of her life. One week ago, she left Adrienne a desperate, muffled voicemail. Adrienne never called back.
Now Dakota is missing. She left behind a string of broken hearts, a flurry of rumors, and a suicide note.
Adrienne can’t stop obsessing over what might have happened if she’d answered Dakota’s call. And she’s increasingly convinced that Dakota must still be alive.
Maybe finding and saving Dakota is the only way Adrienne can save herself.
Or maybe it’s too late for them both.

Review:

This is my second book by Lauren Strasnick, the first being Nothing Like You. Each of these books deals with heavy subject matter and Strasnick is a very strong contemporary writer. All of her characters feel extremely real and her writing is fantastic. I was immediately drawn into Then You Were Gone and I was completely engrossed in Adrienne's story. Adrienne is such a complex character and she had a lot on her plate. I'm sure people will find a way to relate to at least one character in this book and even though this was just over 200 pages, we got to see them each develop in various ways. 

Then You Were Gone was a quick read, not only because of the low page count and short chapters, but because of the fast-paced plot. Adrienne's childhood friend went missing after leaving her a voicemail, and Adrienne is left trying to piece together what happened to Dakota. Adrienne learns a lot not only about Dakota, but about herself, as well. Adrienne doesn't always make the best decisions, but she is very determined and independent throughout the book. 

Every chapter left me wanting to read more because Adrienne was discovering something new or figuring out a new clue about what Dakota's life was really like. Strasnick tackled a variety of issues in Then You Were Gone and she seems to truly understand teenagers. Strasnick did not try and make Adrienne something that she wasn't and it made her a very believable and realistic character. 

I liked the mystery angle of Then You Were Gone, but I felt like everything was leading up to a big revelation which never happened. Things felt a bit abrupt and I was hoping for something more. Still, everything was wrapped up and there were no loose ends. 

All in all, Then You Were Gone was an intriguing third novel by Lauren Strasnick. While the ending left me a little disappointed, I liked the grittiness of the novel and how developed the characters were. If you're a fan of darker contemporary reads, I definitely recommend this one and I am eager to see what Strasnick writes next. 

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

January 8, 2013/Simon Pulse/224 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: Nothing Like You, Her and Me and You
Links: Author Website/Goodreads 

Mini-Reviews: Where It Began and Incarnate

I have several books that have been sitting on my "need-to-review" list for quite awhile now and rather than writing full reviews for all of them I thought I'd write shorter, mini-reviews to give a brief overview of my thoughts on the books. This first set of mini-reviews will focus on Where It Began and Incarnate. 

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Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler 

Sometimes the end is just the beginning.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving—and without a single memory of the accident that landed her there. But what she can recall, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the crash.
As Gabby describes her transformation from Invisible Girl to Trendy Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why has Gabby been left to take the fall?
As she peels back the layers of her life, Gabby begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex... and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

Mini-Review:

Have you ever read a book where you just couldn't find the words to describe it? This was the case for me and Where It Began. I read it quite awhile ago and kept struggling to figure out what to say in my review. So, I'm going to stick with a mini-review. Where It Began is a beautifully written young adult debut that will definitely appeal to fans of contemporary fiction and possibly bring new fans to the genre. I loved the way Ann wrote this book, from the short chapters to the three sections, it made the book more intriguing to read and added to the overall affect of the story. Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, but was hooked immediately. Where It Began begins with a bang and immediately draws the reader in. I loved the mystery angle and the ending was one of those that makes your mouth drop open with surprise. The plot was very original and captivating and Gabby's narration made the book that much better. I didn't always connect with her and of course she frustrated me at times, but she was a real teenager and I felt for her because of all she had been through. All in all, I really enjoyed this YA debut and am looking forward to seeing what's next for Ann Redisch Stampler. 

Overall: 4  out of 5 stars

March 6, 2012/Simon Pulse/369 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher/Author (ARC)

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Incarnate by Jodi Meadows 

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Mini-Review:

Another book that I read a little while ago and never wrote a full review for! Anyway, Incarnate was a book I was anticipating for a long time and I was thrilled to receive a review copy. While I was a little disappointed in it, I think the concept was very original and compelling. In a sea of dystopian novels, Incarnate was a unique look at a utopian future. The idea of reincarnation and souls was something that really drew me to the book; I wanted to see just how Jodi was going to tackle it. I never fully got the answers to all of my questions, but I have to say I was always anxious to learn more about the world Ana lives in. Ana, the main character, was someone I liked, but was often frustrated with. I understand her confusion and felt for her, but I also wish she was more independent. Going into this, I was expecting much more complicated plot twists and action, but Incarnate focused more on the romance. Ana and Sam had a slow-moving relationship that really allowed the reader to get to know Sam and understand his past. Although sometimes I wondered how exactly the reincarnation thing worked, I think this book focused more on providing a foundation for the two main characters and hopefully the next book will provide more answers. I took a little longer to read this than I would have hoped because certain parts got a little slow, but I did enjoy the book and am interested in seeing what will happen in the sequel. Jodi Meadows certainly has a creative imagination and her writing style is great. While this might not have been exactly what I was anticipating, it was still a book that showed promise and I am looking forward to checking out Asunder when it comes out in January. 

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

January 31, 2012/Katherine Tegen Books/374 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books in this series: Asunder (2013)

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Look for more Mini-Reviews soon! 

Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

The List by Siobhan Vivian 

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.
It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.
This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

Review: 

Contemporary  fiction is one of my favorite genres and I have been anticipating The List for quite some time. I have yet to read anything by Siobhan Vivian, and I figured this was a good place to start. The List had a unique premise and caught my attention right away. The idea of a list naming girls in each grade as "ugliest" or "prettiest" was fresh and intriguing. I could not imagine having this actual happen, but it made for an entertaining read that showed just how much a piece of paper can change someone's life. 

The List had an extremely unique premise and I was eager to see how Siobhan would handle the subject. How awful it would be to be named the ugliest! And imagine the repercussions of being named prettiest! All of the characters handled the "honor" differently and it was interesting to see what their reaction was and how the rest of the school viewed them afterwards. Since there were eight girls on the list and the book alternated between all of their points-of-view, things got a little confusing at times. I am glad I got to see into the head of each of the girls and see how they took the news, but at times I got lost with who was who. 

I really liked the way Siobhan told the story and she dealt with some heavy issues. Even though some girls were named prettiest, this did not mean things were perfect for them from then on. Each girl was dealing with her own personal issues and had to face their friends and family after the list went up. The book took place over a short period of time and, I felt, ended rather abruptly. I wish I could have seen where things were going for each of the girls.

Siobhan Vivian is a great writer and she tied in a variety of plot twists to keep things moving and I was constantly wondering who the writer of the list was and what was going to happen in the end. It had a bit of mystery-edge to it, which I enjoyed, and my heart went out to the girls who had to deal with having their names on the list, because things were never easy for them as a result. 

All in all, while The List didn't completely live up to my expectations, I still really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more by Siobhan Vivian in the future. 

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

April 1, 2012/Push/332 Pages/Young Adult 

Source: Publisher

Other books by this author: Same Difference, Not That Kind of Girl 

Review: Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her: evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

Review: 

Pretty Crooked has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year. A modern Robin Hood retelling with a female main character? Sign me up! While this didn't entirely live up to my expectations, I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Willa was a very likable main character. Her life has never been easy- she and her mom are always on the move and she has not been able to put down solid roots in years. When her mother sells some of her paintings and is able to get Willa a spot at the prestigious Valley Prep school, Willa's life will never be the same. She meets the "Glitterati"- Valley Prep's version of the Plastics- and is soon taken under their wings. As much as Willa enjoys being popular and spending time with the most popular girls in school, she soon learns there is much more to them than meets the eye when three new scholarship girls arrive at the school. These girls are not well off and Willa wants nothing more than to help them.

The Robin Hood aspect of the plot was very entertaining and I was always anxious to see how things would work out for Willa. She stole things from her rich peers and secretly gifted them to the scholarship girls. Willa meant well, but I never truly grasped her motivation for doing this. As anyone who is familiar with Robin Hood knows, Robin Hood steals from the rich to give to the poor, and that's what Willa does. I always like reading books involving rule-breaking and sneaking around (like Ally Carter's books) and Willa had to learn a lot about breaking and entering, lock-picking, etc to accomplish what she wanted to do.

Pretty Crooked's plot moved swiftly and I was never bored. Plot twists were in every chapter and there are still some things I have questions about- questions I am excited to see answered in the sequel!

Aidan, the romantic interest, was a great guy. I wasn't sure about him at first, but the more I read about him, the more I liked him. He wasn't the typical prep school guy and his rebellious streak made him that much more appealing. Other than Willa, he stood out the most, the rest of the secondary characters were not nearly as developed.

Pretty Crooked was a satisfying debut with an entertaining premise and a fantastic main character. I wish the ending wasn't so abrupt and although I didn't always connect with the plot, I enjoyed the read nonetheless. Elisa Ludwig will surely only grow as a writer and I'm eager to see what happens in Pretty Sly. I also have to add, there is just something about this cover that I adore. So cute! I recommend giving this a shot if you're a fan of contemporary YA and it left me eager to rewatch my Disney-version of Robin Hood DVD ;)

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

March 13, 2012/Katherine Tegen Books/358 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Netgally

Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

Review:  

Sometimes I just need a fun, light, contemporary read and that is just what Shooting Stars was. Allison Rushby's newest young adult release was an entertaining read that left me eager to grab my camera and scamper off to Hollywood and try to get some great shots. The title is a perfect fit for this book, I love how creative it is. I enjoyed this book and while it was at times predictable, I still found myself smiling at the end. Shooting Stars will certainly appeal to a wide-range of readers and this copy (which I borrowed from my teacher) has rarely been on the shelf for long.

To begin with, Josephine Foster is a spitfire character. The daughter of an Australian paparazzo father and Japanese mother, Jo hasn't led an easy life. Her mother is gone and she has been raised by her father who is rarely home, but when he is he is usually sending her out to snap pictures related to his latest tip. Zo Jo has been a successful pap so far and enjoys what she does, especially the cash benefits.

I have to admit one of my guilty pleasures is gobbling down the latest US Weekly or In Touch magazine. I love looking at pictures of "celebs in the wild" or dressed to the nines. It's a lot of fun and it was great to see how things are for those actually snapping the pictures. Paps are usually portrayed very negatively, so Jo's story told the other side of things. I think it would be fun, for at least a day, to run around LA following different tips of celebrities on the move. Of course the book did not just focus on Jo's photography.

When Jo gets a huge job- go to a private rehab retreat in Massachusetts and find out why teen superstar Ned Harnett is really there- she has no idea what is going to happen. It was a lot of fun seeing how Jo navigated the center and learned a lot not only about the other people at the center, but about herself.

I liked getting to know the different characters in the book, although they weren't as developed as I would have hoped. Jo was a great main character and I definitely connected with her, but some of the others fell a little flat.

The plot was predictable at times, but there were some big, unexpected twists towards the middle of the book that kept me that much more invested in the story. The romance was sweet and although I never entirely felt the "spark", they were a cute couple.

Shooting Stars was just the book I was looking for and while it was not as fantastic as I might have hoped, it was still a fun read that I will recommend.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

February 28, 2012/Walker Childrens/272 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Borrowed from teacher (ARC)

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda 

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine -despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?
Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Review: 

Fracture was a unique and captivating debut that will definitely appeal to a variety of readers. The first few chapters had me gripping the book and anxious to read on. I loved the premise of the book and how Megan Miranda was obviously knowledgeable on the subject of brain damage. Delaney was also a likable character. While I did like Fracture, it, unfortunately, did not live up to my expectations. I think I went in with such high hopes, that the few complications I had with the novel made me like it less than I would have if it hadn't been compared to some of my personal favorites like Before I Fall. 

Delaney Maxwell should have died after spending eleven minutes under the ice. But she doesn't die. This was such a unique idea for a book and it drew me in right away. I just had to know what was going to happen to Delaney and why she was a medical miracle. Delaney herself doesn't entirely understand what's going on and she is a seemingly new person after waking up from her coma. I did care for Delaney and she was a strong and independent protagonist. Her determination to do what was right was clear from the start and I can't imagine dealing with what she was. 

As I mentioned before, the first few chapters were fantastic and gave me such a good feeling about this book- I was certain I was going to love it! The more I read though, the weirder things got. I was confused about several plot points and the introduction of Troy was a little creepy. I knew something was off about him and the more involved Delaney got with him the more I wanted to shake her shoulders! I did like Decker though, and I enjoyed seeing how Delaney and Decker's histories intertwined. They had grown up together and he was a great friend, plus a hero for saving Delaney from the ice.

I had originally thought this was a purely contemporary novel, but there was a paranormal twist, something I wish was explained a little more. Fracture had a lot of intriguing sub-plots that kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen. This was a spooky and unique read that will definitely hook readers from the first page. 

Although Fracture didn't entirely live up to my expectations, it was a solid debut, and I definitely recommend giving it a shot. While some parts disappointed me and I wish there was more explanation in other areas, I am glad I had the chance to read Fracture! I'm certain Megan Miranda will only grow as a writer and I can't wait to see what unique concept she comes up with for her next book!

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

January 17, 2012/Walker & Company/272 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

Review:

Catching Jordan was a spunky and entertaining debut novel from Miranda Kenneally. The main character was sarcastic and real, I loved Jordan and would definitely like to befriend her in real life. Sports books have never been my favorite, except for Keri Mikulski's Pretty Tough series. Catching Jordan once again proved me wrong and I ended up learning a lot about football. What I liked best about Catching Jordan was that it was much more than a book about football. It dealt with many more issues and there were several sub-plots going on. I'm so glad I took the jump and read Catching Jordan because it was a great contemporary read filled with girl power that will appeal to both male and female readers. 

Jordan Woods is not your average high school quarterback. Why? Because she's a girl. I loved the premise of Catching Jordan. It's not very often that you see a female football player and I liked seeing how strong and determined Jordan was. She didn't take crap from anyone and would do anything to make sure she could reach her goals. Jordan was a force to be reckoned with and all she wanted to do was play ball in college. I liked Jordan a lot because she was so brave and snarky. Her personality was great and I was rooting for her from the start.

There were quite a few key characters in Catching Jordan and I only wish we got to see more of them. All of the guys on the football team had Jordan's back and I enjoyed getting to know them. Although I wish Carter, JJ, and the rest were more developed. Henry, Jordan's best friend, was one of my favorite characters in the book. He was such a unique guy and always had Jordan's back. Jordan was lucky she had her friends because she often had a lot of drama at home. I felt for her because her father, an NFL player, didn't always support her dreams, and that was tough. Luckily, her mother was always there for her.

There was romance as well and I was very happy with how things turned out! I don't want to spoil anything, so you'll just have to read the book to find out! ;)

Catching Jordan had a highly original plot that kept me hooked from the first page. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next, and even though some parts stalled, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut. Kenneally truly knows how to get inside the head of a teenager and this made Catching Jordan much more realistic.

I can't wait to read Miranda's next release, Playing Parker, and to start recommending Catching Jordan to my friends. This was a fun and original contemporary read and, while at times predictable, I enjoyed it overall. Go Jordan!

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

December 1, 2011/Sourcebooks Fire/288 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Author (ARC)

Review: Fury by Elizabeth Miles (and Giveaway!)

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

Review:

Fury is one of those books that I felt had so much potential but just didn't live up to it. I loved the premise and, of course, the cover is gorgeous. I think one of the biggest things that makes or breaks a book for me is the characters. As soon as I feel a disconnect with them I lose touch with the book. Of course, I did still like Fury, it just wasn't the powerful and fantastic read I was hoping for.

Greek mythology has always fascinated me and so when I heard this book involved Furies I was hooked. Elizabeth Miles definitely did her research on these frightening beings and I loved their involvement in the story. The tagline "Sometimes sorry isn't enough..." couldn't be more true in the case of Fury. It's the middle of a chilling winter in Maine and Em and Chase have made terrible mistakes. Em has hooked up with her best friends boyfriend and Chase has done something terrible to an old friend he regrets more than anything. As their guilt continues to pile up, Chase and Em are about to discover that the worst is to come. Because three mysterious girls have just arrived in Ascension, Maine to make two people pay. Two people they think deserve it most- Em and Chase.

As I mentioned before, I never really liked Em or Chase. Of course they weren't meant to be entirely likable, but still I wished I felt more of a connection with them. There were several secondary characters that I liked, though (JD, for one). Of the two, Em made the biggest impact on me. She did start to change for the better as the book progressed and I think she learned a lot over the course of the novel.

The premise was extremely unique and unlike anything I have read before. Plot wise, this book was a winner. Packed full of endless twists and surprises, I enjoyed all the intrigue and suspense. While it may not seem like it will be at first, by the end of Fury I was 100% creeped out. Things just get more and more creepy as the book progressed and I looked behind me and out the window a few times while reading. I wish these things started happening earlier on, though. The first half of the book was a little slow and I wish the Furies had appeared sooner. But, overall, I liked how fast paced the plot was and how it threw a lot of curve balls that kept me guessing.

Elizabeth Miles has a nice writing style and several of the passages were very beautifully written. I liked seeing the story develop and trying to figure out how things would end up.

Although I didn't enjoy Fury as much as I had hoped I would, this was a solid debut. The ending definitely left me eager to read the sequel and I'm interested in seeing what's going to happen next.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

August 30, 2011/Simon Pulse/352 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher (ARC)

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I'm also excited to be hosting a giveaway for a signed, finished copy of Fury by Elizabeth Miles.

Fill out THIS FORM to be entered!

US Only. Ends September 12. Good luck!

Review: family by Micol Ostow

family by Micol Ostow

i have always been broken.
i could have. died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.
Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Review:

Before reading family I hadn't been too familiar with the history of Charles Manson and his cult. I had a vague idea of what it was about, but by reading this it opened my eyes to the horrifying truth of what happened in 1969. This was a fictionalized version of the Manson Family murders, but it still had some basic similarities. family was written in verse, which I think worked purely because this novel relied so much on emotions and random thoughts. The characters were never fully developed and we didn't get to see everything that was going on. family was still an incredibly intense and gritty novel, and Micol Ostow didn't hold back in saying what needed to be said.

The main character, Mel, has lived a hard and painful life. She escapes to San Francisco, only to meet up with Henry. Mel immediately falls for Henry's words and empty promises. He guarantees she will be loved and welcomed into his "family", and become a part of them right away. But Henry's family is not what Mel could have expected. It is actually a cult, filled with brainwashed people who share everything and all live under Henry's order and guidance. This group of people are all broken in some way, and they have joined Henry to repair themselves and find people who will love and help them. But joining with Henry does have its consequences and Mel will be faced with some difficult choices.

Since this was written in episodic verse, we never really got to know the characters that well. While a fair amount were introduced by name, the reader only really gets to know Mel and Henry. While Mel was our main character, I could never relate to her or understand her actions. Couldn't she see that joining Henry's group would only lead to trouble? And that there were other people in the world who would help and respect her if she only looked harder? Mel was very easily swayed by Henry and she soon fell victim to his words and promises. At times I just wanted to shake her shoulders and make her see that she was only digging herself into a hole that would be impossible to escape from. Henry was a frightening figure and it was scary how quickly he built up this cult and had them all in the palm of his hand.

family was a fast paced read, not only because it was written in verse, but because I just had to know how everything turned out. The ending was a huge twist, but I felt it was a bit rushed. This was an incredibly important part of the book and it was over very fast. I definitely would have liked to see things wrapped up a bit better.

All in all, family was an impressive novel, but at times I felt disconnected from the story and the characters. I definitely recommend giving this a read and it inspired me to do more research on the Manson Family. I liked how this was written in verse, and while the ending was a bit abrupt, the story was well orchestrated and I'm looking forward to reading more by Micol Ostow.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

April 26, 2011/Egmont USA/384 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Review: Meridian by Amber Kizer

Meridian by Amber Kizer

Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.

Review:

Paranormal novels are some of my favorites and while Meridian hasn’t made my 5-star list, it was certainly a solid and unique paranormal debut.

Meridian’s life has never been normal. Ever since she was little dead animals have found her. She never knew why they came to her to die or why she was so different from everyone else. Until her sixteenth birthday when her family sends her off to live with her Auntie in Colorado. From Auntie Meridian learns the truth- she is a Fenestra. A link between the living and the dead. Soon Meridian is uncovering more and more about her ability and the history of other Fenestras. She also learns that the dangerous Alternocti are after her and Auntie and she must do what she can to protect both herself and those around her.

The plot was definitely fast paced and we learn a lot about the Fenestras in what seemed, to me, a not very detailed way. I really wished that Meridian’s power was better explained and I wanted to know more about the Fenestras and the history behind them all. There was a lot of action though and plot twists that kept the story moving. I liked the secondary characters a lot. From Custos to Auntie to Tens, each of them played a vital role in the story and helped Meridian a lot. There were several other characters introduced, but none stuck out to me in the way those three did.

Our protagonist, Meridian, was a very complex girl. She had to understand a lot about herself and her powers very fast, and she was forced to make some hard choices. While Meridian was an intriguing character, I didn’t always connect with her. Her bravery shown throughout though and she did help a lot of people find the peace they needed, even though I didn’t always understand why the dead needed Fenestras. Tens relationship with Meridian was another thing I liked. It developed over the course of the whole story and wasn’t rushed at all. He was such a strong, independent guy and they never were fake around each other.

Meridian’s concept was something fresh and different and Fenestras are certainly something new. While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I had hoped, it was still a promising start to a series, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for Tens and Meridian in Wildcat Fireflies.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

August 11, 2009/Delacorte BFYR/305 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Bought

Other books in the series: Wildcat Fireflies

Review: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

Review:

Memento Nora was a unique and twisted dystopian novel that I flew through in a couple of hours. The concept behind Memento Nora was very different from other dystopians and it was surprising to see how alike, yet so different, Nora's society was to our own. There are random bombings, organized social structure, and a pill you can take to forget, yet they also have bookstores, regularly attend school, and have a police force.

The novel was told in alternating perspectives of our three main characters- Nora, Micah, and Winter. Nora was very different from the other two. She was a popular, good student, with a well off family, and she was previously sheltered from some of the harsh truths of her society. When she is taken to the Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic after witnessing a bombing while shopping, she meets Micah for the first time. From there, her world begins to spin out of control. She spits out the forgetting pill, keeping her own memories as well as a secret her mother revealed before taking her own pill. I liked how Nora was strong enough to take her life into her own hands, but I think it came on a little fast. It was intriguing to read about the comic she begins with Micah and Winter; to see how they put keeping their memories and the things they discovered to good use, though.

While the book mainly focused on Nora and how she coped with everything that was happening- both with her family, friends, school, and the outside world- Micah and Winter each played a part as well. They were both interesting characters. The "rebels" of the school so to speak. I liked watching their relationships with Nora develop and seeing how brave they were in the face of danger.

There were quite a few secondary characters that tied into the story and either helped out the trio or brought them harm. A mystery was spun into the plot as well and all isn't revealed until the end. I liked how it kept me guessing and I was on edge throughout, hoping for the best for everyone.

The plot line was overall very well orchestrated and the ending was a huge cliffhanger. I think this could have been even better if it was a tiny bit longer. I didn't fully get to know and understand the three characters and some of their actions seemed a bit rushed. In all, I'm glad I picked up Angie's debut and fans of dystopian novels about teens making a difference will be all over this. The Forgetting Curve is definitely on my 2012 wishlist!

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

April, 2011/Marshall Cavendish Children's Books/184 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Published (Hardcover)

Other books in the series: The Forgetting Curve (2012)

Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation—and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much.

It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment.

Review:

I remember reading a few of Frances's novels when I was younger (including The Secret Language of Girls) and really enjoying them. They were sweet and fun coming-of-age stories just like Ten Miles Past Normal. If you're looking for an endearing and entertaining read about a normal girl just trying to find out who she is, albeit with a few bumps along the way, this is definitely the book for you. Janie was a delightful main character who I was always rooting for and her adventures on the farm and in school were a delight to read about.

When Janie Gorman was just a happy, bouncy youngster she convinced her parents that it would be a great idea to move to a farm. How many parents would actually agree to that and take the plunge? Unfortunately for future-Janie, the senior Gorman's were just as enthusiastic about the project and Janie and her younger sister Avery soon found themselves growing up on a small goat farm. I enjoyed reading about Janie's different farm chores and how much she cared for their three goats. It must have been hard for her because the kids at her school weren't very understanding of the fact that sometimes she didn't have time to pluck all the hay out of her hair or notice the goat poop stuck to the bottom of her flat. Freshman year if hard enough and to add the fact that you don't ever get to see your friends and are harassed on the bus just makes things ten times worse.

Luckily, as the novel progresses, Janie begins to find her niche in the great jungle known as high school. She befriends a fellow outcast in the library and she learns to play the bass and joins the school's Jam Band. All of the characters introduced in Ten Miles Past Normal were unique and interesting. Janie's best friend Sarah with her radical ideas about changing the world; Sarah's older sister, Emma, who Janie and Sarah idolized; Monster, the tall and sweet guy who helped Janie learn to play the bass; and more.

The plot was a bit sporadic but it managed to tie in a variety of different plot lines that made the story that much better. I especially liked reading about the people Janie met who had fought against racial discrimination and made a difference in their community. Janie's story was a delightful coming-of-age tale that proved being normal isn't always the best way to be.

Overall, Ten Miles Past Normal is perfect for reading on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's fun and light and full of heart. While at times a bit random, this new release by Dowell will sure to capture a lot of middle grade-young adult readers.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

March 22, 2011/Atheneum/225 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (Galley Grab)