Uglies

by Scott Westerfeld
published: Simon Pulse, 2005
pages: 425

Tally Youngblood wants to be pretty and when she turns sixteen she will get to do just that.  She'll have the operation and move to paradise, where everyone will be beautiful.  However, her new friend Shay has no interest in becoming pretty. She wants to run away and stay ugly forever.  But Shay doesn't want to do it alone though, she wants Tally to come with her.  Tally has to make a life altering decision, either way there will be major consequences.

This book didn't immediately captivate me like I hoped it would.  I liked the concept of the book and thought it was interesting but the plot didn't seem to take off until the book was well over half way through.  I knew I wanted to finish the book, but I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to continue on the series.  It wasn't until the last 50 pages or so that I decided I wanted to know what was going to happen in the next couple of books.

This is the kind of book that I would have loved if I had read it in high school.  The characters are compelling and Tally deals with pressure from multiple sides, which most teenagers deal with at some point.  She is relatable and interesting; I found myself routing for her at every opportunity.  Shay on the other-hand is just as compelling, but more impulsive.  She doesn't always think about the consequences of her actions, but is fiercely loyal.

I do like the writing in this story.  Scott Westerfeld has a unique way of getting to the heart of the characters and their conflicts with vibrant dialogue and descriptions of the dystopian world in which they live.  I'll be interested in reading more of Westerfeld's work.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"With a beginning and ending that pack hefty punches, this introduction to a dystopic future promises an exciting series."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and disturbing commentary on our current public policies.  Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

"This book, the first in a trilogy, asks engaging questions about the meaning of beauty, individuality, and betrayal.  Highly recommended for SF fans or anyone who likes a good, thoughtful adventure."
    --Kliatt, starred review

A Full House Reading Challenge 2015 Book!
A TBR Pile Challenge 2015 book.
An Alphabet Soup Challenge 2015 book. 

Catering To Nobody

by Diane Mott Davidson
published: Bantam, 2002 (Originally 1990)
pages: 301

Goldy's catering company is how she makes ends meet since her divorce.  She just didn't expect to be catering a funeral reception.  When her ex father-in-law is poisoned, Goldy's catering company is put in to question and shut down until the culprit is found.  She takes it upon herself to help the police along because holiday season's coming up and there no way she and her son can live without it.  Things get a little messy when she starts in piece together a story that may reveal a deeper conspiracy.

My favorite thing about this book is that Goldy gives us some of the recipes she uses during her catering in the novel.  The readers get the opportunity to experience the food in the novel and have another sensory option.  They looked really good, in fact, I'm going to try some of them soon.

I was fifty-fifty on the characters.  Some I really liked and some I wanted to smack around.  Goldy's son was almost unbearable.  I get that he's grieving and finding ways to channel his emotions, but it doesn't seem like he respects Goldy at all.  It's infuriating.  I know that I wouldn't let a kid speak to me the way he does, and I know that if I ever spoke to my parents that way, I would have been dead.  It's obvious that they love each other but that family dynamic is just irritating.

Tom Schultz is probably my favorite character in the entire book.  He's the police officer on the case; his concern and interest in Goldy is sweet.  However, it doesn't take away from his job, which is to figure out who caused the poisoning.  He's got a great sense of humor and knows how to play a crowd.

The pacing of this book was a little bit off.  It took me quite a bit to get through this book.  My interest in the story wavered, there were times when I was completely engrossed in the characters and the plot and there were other times when I was figuratively banging my head against the wall.  It became a task to finish this book.  The ending was very good; none of my guess work panned out but I was pleasantly surprised by the big reveal.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Hearty fare for those who like their murder with a bit of nosh on the side."
     --Publishers Weekly

"A medley of murder, mayhem, and melted chocolate."
     --New York Post

"Diane Mott Davidson's culinary mysteries can be hazardous to your waistline.
     --People

An Eclectic Reader 2015 Challenge book! 

Doll Bones

by Holly Black
published: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2013
pages: 247

Zach, Pippa and Alice love to play in their imaginary world with their action figures and dolls.  They've known each other forever and have been playing their game for as long as they can remember.  But when Zach's dad throws out all of his action figures and declares him too old to being playing with dolls, their game comes to a screeching halt.  Zach, being angry and confused, refuses to play or to explain why he stopped.  It isn't until the girls show up claiming they need to return a haunted doll to it's rightful place that Zach starts to look at his life and make his own decisions.

This book is really cool.  The imagination of these three kids are amazing.  I love the system they use to play.  All three create a story they play out with their characters, who almost seem real. They are allowed to ask each other questions about the characters outside of play time, which is really interesting because it allows them to further develop their own characters as well as give hints about themselves.  It is a really cool characterization device that's used throughout the story.

Zach was a great character.  He struggles to figure out where he belongs in school and with his friends.  He likes playing the game with Pippa and Alice, but feel like he should like hanging out with the basketball team more.  Part of this comes from his relationship with his father.  The dynamic between these characters created tension that was needed to move the story along.  Alice and Pippa also great contrasting characters that feed off of one another.

The road trip in this book is what really kept the book from being slow paced.  It takes us to different settings and gets the kids into all kinds of mischief and trouble.  I always love a well placed road trip and this one is no exception.

Holly Black does a great job at creating an eerie environment to tell this chilling but fun tale.  It was an enjoyable read.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Every encounter redraws the blurry lines between childishness and maturity, truth and lies, secrecy and honesty, magic and madness.  Spooky, melancholy, elegiac, and ultimately hopeful; a small gem."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"Compelling, chill-at-the-nape tale with dynamics and emotional depth... The novel's eerie vibe and eek-worthy plot may keep readers turning pages into the wee hours, but it's the vivid characters and skillfully developed themes of identity, friendship and loss that linger long in the mind."
   --The Washington Post

"A darn good adventure."
     --Publishers Weekly

A 2015 Newbery Reading Challenge book.

The Isle of the Lost

by Melissa de la Cruz
published: Disney Hyperion, 2015
pages: 311

Mal's been living on the same magic-less island her entire life.  Her mother along with all the other villains were exiled there 20 years ago.  All Mal wants to do is make her mother proud but it's hard when her mother is Maleficent, the evilest villain on the island.  She wants to be just like her mother, or so she's trying to make herself believe.  Mal decides to join forces with some other villain kids to go after her mother's staff.  Will this be the villainous act that will finally get her mother's attention?

I enjoy reading this book.  I liked the characters, specifically Mal and Carlos.  Carlos was instantly one of my favorites because he seemed like the underdog of the group, the oddball if you will.  He has a specific set of technological talents that most people look to as a waste of time.  He doesn't have a lot of confidence or any friends really, but he is possibly the most resourceful one of the group.  I love that he gets a chance to shine.

Mal struggles with wanting to make her mother proud and knowing that she doesn't necessarily want to do and be just like her mother.  She knows that what she should want to be.  The battle of good and evil is most evident within herself.  The inner struggle leads to some good character development which is always welcome.

I sort of felt like the adventure they went on didn't take up enough of the book.  It went by quickly and the climax of the story was a bit anti-climatic.  I wasn't satisfied at all and maybe that was because the book is meant to be a direct prequel to the movie.  I was a little cautious about that when I found out about the book.  The book just felt like a giant preamble to the real action that was supposed to happen in the form of a movie.  The ending emphasized that point for me.  It ends in the middle of things, which I've never been a huge fan of anyway.

The thing I liked most about this book was the characters.  I liked learning about the sons and daughters of the villains of all my favorite childhood stories.  I thought that was really cool.  This may not have been my favorite book, but Melissa de la Cruz definitely made me reminiscent of my childhood.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Disney lovers and fairy-tale alike will need to get their hands on this book."
     --School Library Journal

What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriarty
published: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, 2011 (originally 2009)
pages: 423 pages

What happens when Alice falls off her bike during a workout session?  *Spoiler alert* she loses that last ten years of her life.  She faints as a 39-year-old with three children, going through a particularly rough divorce and wakes up as a 29-year-old who is madly in love with her husband and thinks she's pregnant with their first child.  Alice has to navigate her new life as her old self.  She begins to see just how much ten years can change a person and she notices that it's not always change for the better.  The missing ten years might just be a blessing in disguise.

I loved the idea of this book right off the bat; a woman forgetting the last 10 years of her life.  She gets a do-over.  Something so many people want but never actually get.  Alice gets the chance to look at her life objectively and decide to change the things she doesn't like.  It's a different kind of time-travel.

The very beginning was good because it immediately captures the attention of the reader.  The accident happens and everyone is confused because Alice is confused.  At first, the reader only gets Alice's side of the story, so we know what she knows and it's not a lot.

The book has three narrators: Alice, Alice's pseudo grandmother - Frannie, and Alice's sister - Elisabeth.  Alice narrates the story, Frannie writes letters to her fiance, and Elisabeth writes a journal as suggested by her therapist.  I like there three different distinct narrations.  I was never confused as to who was speaking and I thought it was great that the modes of storytelling were different for each character as well.

The pacing of the book was quite slow for my taste, although it did pick up near the end.  Aside from the initial shock of memory loss at the beginning, it dragged.  It felt like Alice was dealing with the same issues over and over again.  I'm sure I would have liked this book a whole lot more if the pacing hadn't been so slow.  I will say the end/epilogue was fantastic.  I really enjoy that section of the book.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Funny and knowing... [about] what we choose to remember, and fight to forget."
     --O Magazine

"The gripping story of a woman who wakes up with a bump on her head and no knowledge of the past ten years...an acutely observed romantic comedy that is both thought-provoking and funny."
     --Marie Claire

"The affecting tale of Alice's chance for a ten-year do-over."
     --The New York Times

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

by Kate DiCamillo
published: Candlewick Press, 2013
pages: 232

Flora is a self-proclaimed cynic living an unassuming cynical life with a mother who is more interested in her romance novels than her daughter.  Flora's life is dull, until she observe her neighbor accidentally vacuum up a squirrel.  From that moment on, Flora's life takes a turn for the unexpected.  She befriends a superhero squirrel and sniffs out the arch-nemesis in their story.  Together Flora and Ulysses will save the world.

I liked the comic book, superhero feel of the story which was helped by the periodic illustrated panels.  Flora, the cynical 10-year-old main character, lived her life in a comic book style.  She'd see words written above people she interacted with much like the words in the panels of the comics she read.  Incandesto is her superhero of choice and she compared everything in her life to that of Incandesto's life and modeled her actions off of his.

Ulysses is a very interesting character, especially since he is a squirrel.  He's a super hero squirrel with an origin story that's bizarre and unique.  He discovers his abilities right along with Flora.  What he decides he wants to do with them is vastly different than what everyone else wants him to do.  He's an adorable character.

Kate DiCamillo hits on hard topics in all of her novels and Flora and Ulysses is no exception.  The characters deal with love, grief, angry, loss, divorce, loneliness and so much more.  She does an excellent job of explaining these in a way that children will understand without oversimplifying them.

This book is not my favorite Kate DiCamillo book, that title is still held by Tale of Despereaux, but it was enjoyable and entertaining all the same.

Stars: 3/5 

Praise:

"Original, touching and 0h-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl."
     --Kirkus Review

"Despite supremely quirky characters and dialogue worthy of an SAT prep class, there's real emotion at the heart of this story involving two kids who have been failed by the most important people in their lives: their parents.
     --Publishers Weekly

"In "Flora and Ulysses," longtime fans will find a happy marriage of Mercy Watson's warmth and wackiness and Edward Tulane's gentle life lessons.  In Flora, they will find a girl worth knowing, and one they will remember.
     --The New York Time Book Review

A 2015 Newbery Reading Challenge Book.
A 2015 Full House Reading Challenge Book. 

Sisters Red

by Jackson Pearce
published: Little Brown Books, 2012 (originally 2010)
pages: 352

The March sisters are bound together by love, fate, and the Fenris, werewolves of a very malevolent nature.  Scarlett has an obsession with ridding the world of these God-forsaken creatures, making it save for everyone, but especially her sister.  Rosie hunts because she has to, but her interest lies in discovering new things, living life to the fullest.  Neither are tested by their true passions until Scarlett's old hunting partner comes back to town and they all set out to take down the Fenris once and for all.

I haven't read a lot of urban fantasy but I thought this story had a strong anchor in how the fantasy elements met the real world.  I loved the supernatural villains, the Fenris.  They were creepy and slimy, great evil characters.  I loved how they preyed on girls in the book.  I thought that was very interesting and clever.

I had a couple issues with this book, but the one that bothered me the most was the fact that I saw the big plot twist from a mile away.  I called it like 50 or so pages in jokingly, but then I realized shortly after that the story was going in exactly that direction.  I don't pick up on clues like that very easily, so I was a bit disappointed that I figured it out so soon in the story.  It didn't stop me from finishing the book, but I wish there had been a little bit of the plot twist that I didn't know from guessing.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance in this book.  I thought it was played very well in the beginning.  Boy notices girl, girl notices boy.  They dance around the idea of them as a couple for a while.  But in the time frame that the book takes place it's only a couple of weeks and it surprised me how fiercely they loved each other.  It seemed slightly out of sync with the rest of the book.  Plus, I thought there was going to be this really awkward love triangle, so I was on the fence about the romance anyway.

I liked Scarlett and Rosie, two very different characters and yet they were very similar somethings.  The story was told from their points of view, so it was cool to see the same situation through their eyes.  They had very different opinions about how life should be lived and the responsibility they have to people around them.

This is the first Jackson Pearce book I've read, but it won't be the last.  I'm interested to see how she has adapted other fairytales in her other books.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"This well-written, high-action adventure grabs readers and never lets go...A satisfying read with a fantastic cover."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

"Unfolds with steadily increasing tension and unexpected twists to a shocking climax...may well appeal to Melissa Marr's readers and teens who like their fantasy on the gritty side."
     --Kirkus Review

"[Sisters Red is] a sweet and terrifying story I  couldn't put down.  I would like to apply for the role of March sister number three, please."
     --A. S. Kings, author of The Dust of 100 Dogs

A 2015 TBR Pile Challenge Book.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

by Sarah Strohmeyer
published: Balzer + Bray
pages: 320

When Zoe and her cousin, Jess, get an internship working at Fairyland, they are extremely excited for the chance to act as princesses all summer.  However, Zoe is assigned to be the personal assistant to "The Queen", which she quickly realizes expects the impossible.  On top of that, her fellow interns are competing for the $25,000 Do & Dream grant.  This makes for an interesting summer of mischief and and cut throat competition.  How will Zoe survive?

This book is the embodiment of my childhood dream of working at Disney World for a summer.  It was so fun to read about the chaos that went on behind the scenes of Fairyland.  (Yes, I did enjoy some of the eye rolling teenage angst.)  Imagine living among 50 other high school seniors that are vying for the $25,000 scholarship.  Things get a bit crazy.

The characters were possibly the best part of this novel.  Zoe's humor and wit shine through in her interactions with everyone but specifically Ian, who has a great sense of humor.  I found myself laughing often at what he was saying.  The Queen was so absurd, I kind of enjoyed her.  She wasn't evil by any means, her demands were so outrageous I probably would have snapped but Zoe keeps her cool.

Sarah Strohmeyer has created an entertaining story that made me smile quite a bit while reading.  I will be checking out her other works!

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Strohmeyer's humorous details about the park itself (royal characters get better quarters than 'Ordinary Cast Members,' and princes are given exclusive accoess to a pheromone-rich cologne) provide a lively, unconventional backdrop."
     --Publishers Weekly

"For fans of roms-coms everywhere."
     --ALA Booklist

"This clever, happily-ever-after story will charm fans of Meg Cabot and make new ones of Strohmeyer."
      --School Library Journal

A Full House Reading Challenge 2015 Book

Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline
published: William Morrow, 2013
pages: 278

Molly is nearly 18-years-old and has pushed all the button in the foster care system.  She's on her last chance when she meet Vivian, a 91-year-old with spunk and a secretive past.  When Vivian agrees to help Molly with her community service hours, neither of them realize that their lives might not be as different as they first expect or that they would become friends.

At the beginning of the book, I found myself caring more about Molly's story in 2011 than the Niamh's story in 1929.  However, somewhere in the middle I the pace picked up and I started caring more about what happened to Niamh.  I found myself flipping through the book to find more Niamh chapters before continuing.

Part of that interest lies in the history behind the orphan trains.  I didn't know that these existed in American history and frankly it's sad.  Those in charge thought that they were helping children find a new home.  It might have made sense then, but it's a very flawed system that makes my heart ache for the kids.  That seems like a parallel was trying to be drawn from the orphan trains to the current foster care system and how they may not be as different as they would seem.

The writing isn't the best quality, but the story was engaging enough so that I didn't bother me much.  One thing I did like about the writing style was the use of different points of view. Molly's story is being told it's in third person and Niamh's story is being told it's in first person.  Just that little almost unnoticeable difference let's you know whose story is really being told.

Christina Baker Kline weaves a story of two women with similar pasts into an engaging story that left me feeling emotional and teary eyed.  Thank you for this book.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Kline draws a dramatic, emotional story from a neglected corner of American history."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"A compelling story about loss, adaptability, and courage... With compassion and delicacy Kline presents a little-known chapter of American history and draws comparisons with the modern-day foster care system."
     --Library Journal

"Absorbing...a heartfelt page-turner about two women finding a sense of home...Kline lets us live the characters' experiences vividly through their skin...The growth from instinct to conscious understanding to partnership between the two is the foundation for a moving tale."
     --Publishers Weekly

Orange is the New Black

by Piper Kerman
published: Spiegel and Grau, 2010
pages: 298

When Piper was 22-years-old, she was young, reckless and in love and that's what got her into trouble.  Ten years later, with a boyfriend, a career and a loving family, her past caught up to her.   Piper was named in a drug ring bust and sentenced to 15 months in prison.  With this true story, we get a look into the lives of women in prison, why they're locked up and what happens to them.

The social commentary about prisons in general, but specifically women's prisons in America.  I really have no knowledge of how prisons work other than what I see in movies and fictional books, which is really nothing to go on.  This is my first real insight the prison system and it was not pretty.  I obviously didn't think it was going to be peaches and cream but what I learned about prisons astonished me.  There are so many systematic problems about the prisons in the United States that come to light in this book.

The cast of characters in this book are great.  The humor and whit of these women is amazing, especially for their circumstances. The most interesting part is that they are all in real people, some of the defining traits different but they are most definitely real.  I love that Piper dedicated her book to one of the women she met in prison.

I think about all those women who are in prison because of one decision and how society as a whole seems to forget that they are people with families and lives.  It's appalling, and very uncomfortable to read.  It makes me want to know how to help these women find a voice, show importance.  In the back of some editions of the book, there are different opportunities to get involved.  I have plans to make good on those resources.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Fascinating...The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can't unbind."
     --People 

"Moving...transcends the memoir genre's usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you."
     --USA Today

"It's a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one-both for the reader and for Kerman."
     --Newsweek.com

An Alphabet Soup Book.

Every Day

by David Levithan
published: Knopf, 2012
pages: 322

A wakes up everyday in a different body and lives their life for a day and then goes to bed.  That's how he's lived life and he's come to terms with it.  Until one day A wakes up in a body and Rhiannon.  After that, all the rules he's lived his life by change.   A makes decision to find a way to be with her every day for the rest of his life, but it's not as easy as he hopes.

The concept is incredibly unique and unlike anything I'd ever heard of.  The idea of this book is great. I loved thinking about the possibilities of someone jumping from body to body each day, dealing with whatever comes their way.  It's a cool concept but it's also slightly unnerving.  A's been hopping around since as long as he can remember, what an isolated and lonely life to live.

One thing I particularly liked about A was that while he inhabited each body, he tried to keep their life on path, for the most part.  A didn't go around doing whatever he wanted, he generally lived their lives the way the would have, and in some cases may have made decisions that they wouldn't have made themselves, to help.  A could have been the kind of person to take advantage of the day to day life, but he isn't.  (Although, he forgets for a while.)

I found myself being very frustrated with several of the characters because of their indecision and their judgement.  I did not like the obsessive nature in which A goes about figuring out how far he is from Rhiannon every day and whether or not it would cause too much a problem to see her.  I wanted everything to work out, but at the same time it was unsettling to think that A essentially used other people for his own purposes, something that before Rhiannon he tried very hard not to do.  There's no way around it because doesn't have his own body, but it's weird.  Unless A found a way to stay, he and Rhiannon would never figure it out.

However, I loved the ending of this book.  It was very poetic, apropos, in the true to the storytelling of David Levithan. A story like this needed a good ending and Levithan gave it one.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Fresh, unique, funny and achingly honest...I didn't just read this book-I inhaled it."
     --Jodi Picoult

"Levithan's self-conscious, analytical style marries perfectly with the plot.  His musings on love, longing and human nature knit seamlessly with A's journey....An awe-inspiring, thought-provoking reminder that love reachers beyond physical appearances or gender."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"An irrisistible premise...Those familiar with Levithan's earlier work will not be a bit surprised to learn that his latest is beautifully written...a study in style, an exercise in imagination, and an opportunity for readers themselves to occupy another life, that of A himself."
     --Booklist

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott
published: Scholastic, 1995 (Originally 1869)
pages: 562

Life for the March women isn't splendid and frivolous like those that possess great fortune.  Their father is off at war and they must work to keep food on the table and their lives comfortable.  Most of the time they don't mind this, but there are moments when they wish their lives easier.  Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy must navigate growing up with grace and elegance in an ever changing world where hardships and heartaches await them.  Their story is one of love and friendship between four sisters.

The reader watches as four sisters grow up together, experience joy and sorrow together, and ultimately find comfort and happiness together.  This truly is a coming of age story, but not just for one character.  The reader gets to enjoy an entire cast of characters growing and learning and coming into their own.  Meg, the sweet motherly oldest sister, Jo, the wild worldly tomboy, Beth, the kind compassionate angel, and Amy, the young bold socialite.  Each girl's personality incredibly different but complementary to their siblings.  Of course, you must not forget Laurie the boy next door and Jo's best friend.  There are quite a few characters to love in this story and few to really dislike, but each significant in their own way.

This story may be lovely but it is long.  There were points in the story that I skimmed a bit because the pacing was incredibly slow.  I was anxious to learn more about Jo and less concerned about Amy at times and Meg sort of disappeared at a certain point in the story.  Beth is all around one of my favorite characters, loyal and true to whom she loves and cares for.  One of my favorite examples of Beth's character is the little invalid doll she nurses throughout her story.  She feeds and cares for her and takes her on walks; the tender thoughts she has for a doll carries over into her interactions with the other characters and make her beloved.

This story captured my heart, it is no wonder that people are still reading this book almost 150 years later.

Stars: 3/5

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

by Jesse Andrews
published: Amulet Books, 2012
pages: 295

Greg Gaines is a man of little talent but his most impressive one is his ability to slide through life unnoticed and carefree.  Except that he does care quite a bit about what everyone thinks, which is why he has his life down to a science until his mom throws a wrench into it.  After finding out Rachel is diagnosed with Leukemia, he feels obligated to rekindle a friendship with her.  Along with Earl, Greg's only real friend, he makes it his mission to cheer her up but this requires him to break his previously anonymous high school lifestyle.

The cover of this book is a major reason I picked up the book; it's so colorful and the puppet strings are a really cool feature.  It's not exactly the cover you'd expect from a book about cancer, which I think is why it's so enticing.

The book we read is one that is written by Greg and we are reminded several times that he is not a writer, he is a retired film maker which is why the book sucks.  There are sections that read like a script which I like quite a bit because it reveals bits of Greg that we can't see elsewhere.

My biggest issue with this book is that I didn't really care for Greg.  I thought him annoying and much too obnoxious.  With his desire to schmooze everybody and his confessions about how he feels toward Rachel and Earl.  I wanted to like this book more than I did but I just don't.  This book became a victim of the perils of the hype.

More than anything I enjoyed this book because it made me laugh.  It had me giggling next to strangers on an airplane.  The humor is quirky and despite itself insightful.  It's the kind of humor that I would not expect in a book that deals with such a heavy topic.  That's why it comes off so well, the humor combined with Greg and Earl.

Jesse Andrews definitely has a thing going with this book.  It might not be my cup of tea but I would definitely give any of his future books a chance.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Compulsively readable, inevitably bawdy, and very funny."
     --Ron Koertge, author of Stoner & Spaz

"Believable and sympathetic... [Begging] comparisons to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, it stands on its own in inventiveness, humor and heart."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This is one funny book... What's crazy is how moving it becomes in spite of itself."
     --Booklist, starred review

Gathering Blue

by Lois Lowry
published: Ember, 2006
pages: 240

Kira should have been taken to the fields and left to die when she was born, but her mother refused to let their village do that.  Now, Kira is left to fend for herself in a society that still believes that she doesn't belong. An almost magical talent with weaving keeps her alive as she struggles with responsibilities and truth.  She discovers things that will change her life forever.

There are some very interesting things about the society that Kira lives in and one of them is how they are named.  Each person starts off with a one syllable name and as they get older a syllable is added on to it.  It's a way that the society represents age and wisdom, which I find fascinating.  There is mention that not many people live to four syllable names so it makes me wonder when exactly syllables are added.

The characters are very interesting and distinct.  I became particularly attached the the young Matt who viewed Kira as an older sister and wanted her affection.  He is sly and cunning, deceiving to get his way when necessary.  He is a product of his circumstances but also has a pure heart, which is made obvious by what he does for Kira.

This book is seemingly unrelated to The Giver, which is the first in this series.  But there are small vague references that connect the two together.  It's fun looking for them and seeing familiar characters and places referenced.  I wondered how everything connected and at the end of this book I'm still left wondering.  At this point it feels more like a companion book rather that a sequel.

Lois Lowry's got something good in the works.  The themes of this book are very similar to those of The Giver.  She is distinctly trying to make readers aware of a very plausible future as a warning.  This world is both good and evil and Lowry's writing makes me want to continue to see which one wins out, if one does in the end.

Stars 3/5 stars

Praise:

"Lowry returns to the metaphorical future world of her Newbery-winning The Giver... Plenty of material for thought and discussion here, plus a touch of magic and a tantalizing hint about the previous book's famously ambiguous ending."
     --Kirkus Review

"Lowry is a master at creating worlds, both real and imagined, and this incarnation of our civilization some time in the future is one of her strongest creations."
     --Booklist, starred review

Allegiant

 by Veronica Roth
Published: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 526

In this conclusion, Tris and Tobias discover the hazy and disturbing truth about their home and the factions that once defined them.  They go beyond the fence in hopes of a more peaceful life without the deceit and violence.  What the find isn't exactly what they are looking for.  Tris finds herself thrown into another political nightmare trying to decide whom to trust.  The horrify truth that she and Tobias uncover about the outside world, leads them to consider human complexity and the power of love and sacrifice as they had never before.

Okay, so my irritation with the last book is alleviated.  All of my concern for the lack of explanation in Insurgent is addressed in Allegiant.  (If you recall, I was particularly irritated that Tris never thought about anything beyond Chicago.)  We get that explanation and much more.  I still feel like there are some unanswered questions, but I'm much more satisfied than I ever thought I'd be with this book.

That being said, I still have a huge problem with this book.  When someone writes a book, I feel like they enter a contract with the reader to tell their story as honestly as possible - that includes consistency.  When I started reading and saw that we got Tobias' point of view in this book, I was irritated.  I spent the first two books of this trilogy hearing only Tris' point of view and switching it up constantly confused and annoyed me.  Changing the format is one of my biggest pet peeves in a book.  I realize that it was necessary, I get it but when I was constantly forgetting who's head I was in.  They seemed too similar to be separate people's perspectives.  I was constantly being pulled out of the story.

On a brighter note, I'm not sure why so many people hate the ending of this book.  I'm okay with it.  It was the only way it could have ended, as far as I'm concerned.  It's not wonderful, but it is true. Veronica Roth ended this series in no other way possible and has done certain justice to the trilogy.

Stars: 3/5 

Praise:

"Roth's plotting is...intelligent and complex.  Dangers, suspicion, and tension lurk around every corner, and the chemistry between Tris and Tobias remains heart-poundingly real.  This final installment will capture and hold attention until the divisive final battle has been waged."
     --Publishers Weekly

"A surprise ending that is gutsier and much less predictable than the rest of the series would lead one to expect."
     --Los Angeles Times

" The tragic conclusion, although shocking, is thematically consistent; the bittersweet epilogue offers a poignant hope."
     --Kirkus Reviews

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth
published: Katherine Tegen Books, 2012
pages: 525

Tris finds herself drowning in war and conspiracy that leaves her dealing with guilt, grief, loyalty, and forgivenss.  While Tobias and Tris must figure out who to trust, Tris also struggles with her divergence and what that truly means.  It's time to make choices that won't be easily undone and trusting her instincts might just be the reason Tris has something to lose.  She is determined to stop Jeanine, the head of Erudite, from causing even more damage.  However, she must wrestle with the idea that Jeanine might not be the worst of what's to come.

I want so badly to love this series because I loved the first book.  I loved the characters and the interesting concepts that were introduced.  I love the way the first book made me think and the way the characters were separated into groups based on how they thought.  All of that builds for a good book series, but sadly this book just made me mad.  Don't get me wrong there were definitely redeeming factors about it, but I felt like I spent 75% of my time and effort angry at Tris and Four.  It felt like most of the effort of this book went to developing their relationship rather than revealing important information about the world in which they live.

There were important and interesting facts that should have been introduced earlier in the book, that would have kept me engaged and interested.  I would have loved to hear more about this supposedly soldier-guarded black gates before the last 15 pages.  Mentioning them earlier in the series would have given me more reason to be intrigued by this world.  Instead, I found myself wondering about halfway through this book, what about the rest of the world.  Is Chicago the only place left, are they isolated for a reason?  I would have loved some indication that maybe Tris had thoughts like these too.  (I imagine she can think complexly about the world to wonder things like this at some point in her 16 years of existence.)

The pace of the book was excellent, so even though I was not pleased with how much information was being withheld, it didn't take away from the overall pace of the story.  In fact, the ending compelled me to dive into the next book.  If Veronica Roth were only good at one thing (she's not she's very good at several things), it would be cliff hangers.  She's hooked me enough to finish the series whether or not I think its imbalanced with actual conflict and romantic annoyances.  I will be reading in anticipation of what lies outside Tris' small world and what the big picture looks like.  Veronica Roth has a very interesting concept, I just hope the execution will match the potential.

3/5 Stars

Praise:

"In this addictive sequel to the acclaimed Divergent, a bleak post-apocalyptic Chicago collapses into all-out civil war.  Another spectacular cliffhanger.  Anyone who read the first book was dying for this one months ago; they'll hardly be able to wait for the concluding volume."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"Insurgent explores several critical themes, including the importance of family and crippling power of grief at its loss.  A very good read."
     --School Library Journal

Mary Poppins

by P.L. Travers
published: Peter Davies, 1956 (originally 1934)
pages 206

Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way and her skills as a nanny prove just that to the Banks children: Jane, Michael, John and Barbara.  She is kind but stern and never sees anything out of the ordinary.  As a matter of fact, every time the children try to explain to her that she might be, she doesn't know what they are talking about. Mary Poppins and the Banks children go on many adventures and meet some interesting people, this book is one of those stories.

The world might be smitten with Mary Poppins, but I can't seem to completely wrap my head around this original version of her.  Sure she is memorizing and adventurous, but she also seem uncharacteristically harsh.  When I imagined Mary Poppins, I remembered her being incredibly kind and sweet, but I might just be confusing that idea with not having a backbone.  I do know that Jane and Michael Banks needed a rather firm nanny, what with all the running away and everything.  Still, I'm a little disappointed that the Mary Poppins in my head does not match the original make.

Other the other hand, the adventures had were quite entertaining and very intriguing.  I loved that some of the adventures did not center around Jane and Michael at all.  A couple happened on Mary Poppin's off day and one occurred with a dog.  There's a story of a dancing cow and one of the stars in the sky.  I think they were all creatively crafted and enjoyable to read.

One thing I did find interesting was the fact that Jane and Michael Banks have younger siblings, twins: John and Barbara.  While most of the book revolved around Mary and the eldest Banks children, the twins get their own chapter.  This story was one of my favorite.  I thought it was quite funny and adorable to see what kind of mischief the twins get up to and to whom they talk.

It'll be some time before I get to another Mary Poppins book, but I might just pick another one up.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"When Mary Poppins is about, her young charges never tell where the real world merges into make-believe.  Neither can the reader, and that is one of the hallmarks of good fantasy."
     -- The New York Times

There is an extraordinary charm about these books...They are whimsical, sentimental [and] also funny, imaginative, poetical and genuinely creative."
     --The New York Evening Post

Fever 1793

by Laurie Halse Anderson
published: Simon and Schuster, 2000
pages: 272

Mattie Cook was focused on one thing when the rumor of the fever hit: growing her family's business.  The coffee shop was situated far from the docks and the mosquitos, the seeming source of the fever. Only dock workers and others close to the docks became infected. But when the death count begins to rise and the fever spreads, people begin to evacuate Philadelphia. Mattie and her family have to make a decision to flee or to stay and take their chances. With their choice, they begin a new fight - one for their survival.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is that the story was centered on an event that actually occurred in history.  Even though most of the characters are fictional, some of them were real people trying to survive in a real yellow fever epidemic.  I find it fascinating how the world of fiction and reality collide so well in this story.

It took me a while to get into the plot of the book. I was not completely engaged until about a hundred pages into the book, which I think is quite a bit of the story for a 272 page book. I held on because I love Laurie Halse Anderson as an author and I have always enjoyed her books. That and it's a prize winning book which made me think there was something to the story that I hadn't figured out yet.

I was not drawn to the characters in this book very much, but I did really enjoy Grandfather. I thought he had the right mix of wisdom and spunk that kept Mattie going when she could have very easily given up on her journey.  I think she saw the spunk in her grandfather which allowed her stubbornness work to her advantage in parts of the book. When everything felt lost, she was able to keep going.  While I admire that, I didn't connect with her on a personal level.

The story was intriguing and I am glad I read this book, but I definitely liked some of Laurie Halse Anderson's other books better.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"The plot rages like the epidemic itself."
     --The New York Times Book Review

"Readers will be drawn in by the characters and will emerge with a sharp and graphic picture of another world."
     --School Library Journal

"A gripping story about living morally under the shadow of rampant death."
     --The New York Times Book Review

"A vivid work, rich with well-drawn characters."
     --VOYA

The Madness Underneath

by Maureen Johnson
published: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2013
pages: 290

After the attack, Rory finds herself back at Wexford Academy as an experimental transition into normal life.  However, immediately following her return, she begins to learn about new mysterious deaths around campus. With her new power, the Shades need Rory more than ever and she knows it.  But when all the stress of being behind in school and tracking ghosts get to her she turns to a therapist, who may not be all that she says she is.

My main issue with this book is it felt less like it's own cohesive story and more like 290 pages of set up for the next book.  While that isn't necessarily the problem, it becomes one when the plot doesn't really stand well on it's own.  It's spooky and intense and at the same time witty and humorous, but I felt like this book was more character development for Rory than it was story for us.  I wish that it had been a bit more difficult to wrap up the mysteries that were presented to us in the beginning of the book.  But I also have this feeling that they were easy to wrap up because of something that will be explained in the next book.  There were a lot of unanswered questions and suspiciously easy cases in this novel.  My hope is that this next book will relieve my disappointment.

On the character development side of things, it was great.  I loved getting to know more about our witty, smart-ass heroine.  Even though it felt a little self-involved at some points, it's reasonable.  I mean let's be honest, if I were in her shoes I would be self-involved too.  There's also some character and relational development with Stephen, Boo and Callum.  Although, Rory's Wexford friends seem to take a backseat in this novel, the new characters and issues that pop up in this story make up for it.

There is a twist at the end of the book and I did not see coming.  I have not decided yet if I like it.  It didn't seem force, it felt very natural to the story, I just don't know if I personally like it.  Like I said before, it depends on what happens in the third book whether or not this twist is justified.

There's a lot riding on the next book in this series.  I hope it brings me everything, or at least enough of what I want.  Maureen Johnson will never cease to find and expose humor in the most intense situations, and that one of the reasons I love her writing.  I look forward to, hopefully, the most epic of endings.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Creepy, clever and ambiguous second volume in the Shades of London series...As always, Johnson wield words with a supple facility that keeps those pages turning.  The London minutiae are utterly engaging, the villains satisfyingly weird and numerous.  And there is kissing."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"Rory's internal monologue sparkles with the wit that Johnson's fans (and most of Twitter) will recognize, which is plenty entertaining.  The second half will satisfy readers' craving for what they came for - Rory's investigation of London's latest ghost crimes - while laying tragic groundwork for the next book."
     --Publisher's Weekly

"Johnson's sharp wit is ever-present, and her heroine is the perfect blend of snark and teen anxiety."
     --School Library Journal

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

published: Knopf Books, 2006

Pages: 183

When Norah accepts Nick's request to be his five-minute girlfriend, she doesn't know what she is getting herself into. She doesn't know that this particular Nick is still lovesick over his three-weeks-three-days ex-girlfriend who just so happens to be the girl for whom she has a deep-seeded hatred. And she also doesn't understand why she is responsible for her drunk best friend's safety every time they go into Manhattan. All she wants is to have a good time, and is it too much to ask for that night to be tonight?

I find myself thinking that my 14-year-old self would have loved this book. It has everything I liked at that stage of life: music, romance, adventure and teenage rebellion.  Now, it has just a tad too much needless swearing for my taste. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, but maybe I would have liked it more with a little less tastelessness. (Although, I do get that some teens speak like that so it's natural for the characters as well.)

One of the things I really liked about this book is that it's told from two different points of view: Nick and Norah's.  Their thoughts let us know so much more about them than their actions.  We know more about both characters than they know about each other and that's something I always love. Norah specifically drew me in with her unsure inner-thoughts and tough, bad-ass demeanor.  She very clearly is three dimensional and realistic. 

David Levithan and Rachel Cohn definitely have writing chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed how their writing weaves together to create a story through two very different people. What they learn about each other, they also learn about themselves. The combination of these two things made me like this book. 

Starts: 3/5

Praise:

"Electric sexy...and genuinely poignant, this is a compelling story of the risks and thrills of burgeoning intimacy."
     --The Bulletin, starred review

"This compulsively readable novel's... energy comes from the rapid-fire repartee between the leads.  Readers will likely enjoy the ride, even if it is obvious where these two are headed."
     --Publishers Weekly

"The wattage goes way up as two of the bright lights of contemporary writing for teens come together for an incandescent he said/she said night of storytelling."
     --Kirkus Reviews