Review: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Here's what my friends and I thought of Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. The Young Adult at Heart digital book club!

Review: The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong

Publisher:Doubleday Canada
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Rating: 1 star
Riley Vasquez is haunted by the brutal murder of the couple she was babysitting for.

Max Cross is suffering under the shadow of a life-altering diagnosis he doesn’t dare reveal.

The last thing either of them wants is to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp alongside five other teens with “issues.” But that’s exactly where they are when three masked men burst in to take the group hostage.

The building has no windows. The exits are sealed shut. Their phones are gone. And their captors are on a killing spree.

Riley and Max know that if they can’t get out, they’ll be next—but they’re about to discover that even escape doesn’t equal freedom.(Goodreads)

I love Kelley Armstrong. I've read her entire Women of the Otherworld series and her two YA trilogies that take place in the same world and I devoured them. But I couldn't even make it to page 100. This book was ridiculous. The kids kept saying the same thing over and over they was so much silly internal monologue that I didn't know what to do. I didn't feel sorry for anyone. I had no sympathy for any of these characters and without that, why both reading the book.

Snaps on the main character being Latina though!





I quit. But don't worry Kelly, I still love you.

Review: Monument 14: Sky on Fire

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . 

Talk about a series that came out of no where. I had never heard of the Monument 14 books and I read through the second one like wildfire. It's so hard to say anything without spoilers, but I'm going to try. This book bounces between Alex's POV and Dean's. This book takes the kids through the world after the plant explosion where gangs of people have banded together to turn on each other. While reading the book it almost felt like the apocalypses. Neighborhood were abandoned,and people were in a complete state of panic. I loved reading about Alex and Dean's journey that I can't say much more about without spoilers, except if society falls apart tomorrow, I'm convinced I'll be just fine after all of the Dystopian books I've read!

Read the book people!

Review: Say What You Will

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Rating: 4 stars

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

This book is beautiful, moving, and if I was the crying type, I sure it would have happened more than once. Amy has, cerebral palsy and Matthew and a pretty severe case of OCD. After Amy writes a paper claiming that she loves her life exactly the way it is, and has no regrets, and considers herself luckier than her classmates despite her CP, Matthew speaks up for the first time stating that he thinks she’s making it up. There’s no way she can know what it’s like navigating friends, relationships, and confidence issues if she’s never been exposed to them. This statement makes Amy think that he’s probably right. She should be exposed to creating relationships with people her own age, something she’s never done before, but will have to do when she leaves for college the next year. Amy convinces her parents to hire student to aid her throughout the school day and introduce her to her peers, as opposed to adults. Although throughout the book, Amy develops relationship with all of her peer helpers, she’s becomes closest to Matthew. Not only does she appreciate that he’s the only person, other than her mother, who’s even told her something that she might not want to hear (being a disabled girl) but she also notices his OCD behavior and likes that for once, she can help someone else, instead of only needing help.
There was a lot of emotion in this book. I've noticed in reviews that most people didn't connect with Matthew, or like him as much as Amy, but I have to say, I had the opposite reaction. My heart broke for the challenges that Amy faced (and I kind of hated her mother, I understood her, but I still hated her) and I feel like she’s a character to look up to. That being said, Amy has had CP for her entire life, she’s had to fight and struggle her entire life, for what she’s obtained, Matthew however, didn't even know he had OCD until Amy pointed it out to him. He knew that was he was different from his peers and that he’d changed somewhere between Middle School and High School, but for the longest time he couldn't see what the problem actually was. I can’t imagine, developing a disorder like that at such a critical time in my life. The thought is almost too much to handle. My heart broke for Amy, but my heart smushed for Matthew. His character development through the book was AMAZING. It was like he was a completely different person, but he knew that he still had a long road ahead of him, and he took active steps to better his future. Snaps to that. It’s hard to do as an adult, let alone as a kid with a disorder that can literally ruin your entire life. I loved him.

That being said, I had a few issues with Amy. I though she was a great character and well written. I can’t being to comprehend what it’s like to have CP but her character was written in a way that help real to me, she had this disorder, but she didn't let it define her. Awesome. Great. There were times though, where I was furious at how she treated Matthew. No he wasn't physically disabled, but he had some very serious mental problems, problems, that Amy knew about. I thought her actions after prom were ridiculous, and I still can’t figure out why it happened. Sanjay lied and told her that Matthew left the prom without her. Up to this point, Amy has been written as a character who steps up and speaks her mind, and she completely shut him out because she was being selfish and childish, you’re 18 and going to an Ivy League school for goodness sake.
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Then let’s talk about the sex… Amy decided that it would be a good idea to have sex so that she would know what to do when she was with someone she really cared about. I can’t get behind that. It doesn't make sense. Nope, I don’t get it. I also don’t understand how she could do something that would so clearly hurt Matthew, and then try to defend that decision, she should have been screaming “I’m Sorry” not trying to defend her actions. She liked Matthew, she obviously liked her. He was just as inexperienced as she was, they could have learned together. There should have been little to no pressure here. It was really the only part of the book that made me blanch. I had to kind of force myself to forget about it and move on. 

I adored everything else though!

Review: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication: July 15, 2014
Rating:3/5

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

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

Annie is running a marathon in honor of her boyfriend who died in a car accident (he was planning to run the marathon that she's decided to run). She hated running initially but the strict training schedule has brought order to her life that was slowly falling apart while she grieved for him. During one of her running sessions Annie met Jeremiah and was instantly intrigued and almost immediately felt guilty because of it.

I liked this book. Annie was a great character and broke my heart. She did what many people do, she met a guy, they began a relationship, and other relationships fell by the waist side, she never made many friends in high school, or joined any clubs because her boyfriend was her whole life, she when he died, Annie seemed to have nothing left until she began training for the marathon. Annie has great character development, we watched her slowly consider letting Jeremiah into her life, we watched her try to build up friendships and prepare for college. We watched as Annie repaired her relationship with her mom, and start her life in college. I could hardly find anything to complain about where Annie was concerned. I do wish there was more substance to Jeremiah though. He was an adrenalin junkie but I never really understood why. The author seemed to have a pretty good outline of Jeremiah (his personality was pretty in tact) but some of the substance seemed to me missing.

Overall I liked this book and would consider reading more by the author.

Well done.

Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Children
Publication Date: July 1, 2009
Rating: 4/5

Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat, returns with a wondrous story of happiness, family, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless adventure story in the classic tradition of The Wizard of Oz.

In the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli’s mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest. (Goodreads)
 
This was another book for my Junior Book Club at the library. I could kick myself for waiting so long to read this book. I've always loved reading and hearing Folktales. This book is about a girl names Minli who's trying to find the Man on the Moon so that he can help her bring her family fortune. Along the way we, the readers, are told many different foltakes. We learn about the story of Fruitless Mountain, the story of Dragon, a friend that Minli makes along the way, the story of the Goldfish man, and so many more. I loved the Folktales that were peppered through the book. As Minli and Dragon traveled to meet The Old Man of the Moon, we were able to see Minli learn the different lessons that the people she encountered taught her. Therefor it was really no surprise when she made the decision that she made when she finally reached her destination.

I also appreciated the chapters that showed us Minli's parents as they waited for her to come back. One of the top complaints of YA or Middle Grade book is the lack of parental involvement, and when Minli's mom realized that it may have been her fault that her daughter left home in search of a fortune. It was such a touching moment to me.

This book was kind of an "soft" epic adventure. We were with Minli every step of the way as she tried to improve the quality of life for her village and her family, and watching her learn from the people she encountered, was really something special.

This is a great book, very appropriate for the age range and I suggest it to everyone!

Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books

Publication Date: April 1, 2010

Rating: 3/5

It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever. (Goodreads)

So, the first Pfeffer book was about how Miranda and her family were adjusting to the world tragedy that the movement of the moon caused, the second book was about how Alex and his family was adjusting. This third book takes place from Miranda’s POV, but Alex is there as well. Miranda and her family are continuing to do what they can to survive in their home. Her brothers leave to go catch fish to salt for the family and her older brother randomly comes back with a girl he’d met the previous day and claims in now his wife (this was my first problem). I just couldn’t get behind it… I honestly don’t know what else to say on that particular subject. Next Miranda’s father, step mother, and new baby brother show up with three more people, two of which being Alex and his sister Julie. That’s fine and dandy, but we don’t learn enough about that happened between the end of Alex’s book and the beginning of this one. They somehow made it to Carlos who told Alex to send Julie to a convent, and somehow met up with Miranda’s dad. That’s about all they give us. I guess I didn’t feel very satisfied. At first Miranda doesn’t care for Alex, then she kind of has a little crush on him (sort of…), then she’s in love with him and he’s in love with her. I promise you, that’s exactly how it happened. I obviously wasn’t a big fan. I gave the book three stars because I still like the idea of what the world would be like if a meteor truly did knock the moon closer to Earth, but in addition to liking a book that’s plot driven, I have to be able to connect to the characters, and sadly, I just don’t care that much about Alex and Miranda.

Review: All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: September 26, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last. (Goodreads)

Overall I liked this book. It's very strange because it's not normally the type of book that I would have been interested in, if I'd had all the details, but I'm still glad I read it.

Judith was kidnapped, when she was returned to her family, her tongue had been cut out and she was officially the town pariah, even among her own mother. Although it's possible for Judith to speak, she doesn't because not only has her mother forbidden it, but because it's now a constant struggle. While we, the readers, are inside Judith's mind we learn of her childhood crush on a boy, now man, named Lucas, and we also learn that (view spoiler). Needless to say, it's makes their situation strange. Just before Judith was taken, another girl disappeared and later turned up dead. The father of that dead girl resents Judith for returning and we know that he's going to cause problems for her.

So I had no idea this book was period, it didn't take me long to figure it out, but when I did, I'd assumed it was a flashback or something and eventually we'd speed up to modern time, we didn't. I have to say I wasn't mad about it. It actually made the story more interesting. It was deplorable the way Judith was treated, and all because they'd assumed a man had sexually violated her. Today, she would have received comfort and counseling, and everyone she encountered would have told her it wasn't her fault, but sadly, in the past, a girls virtue was all she had. Because she was "mute" people in the town thought they could speak to her as if she was nothing more than dirt under their shoe, the speech wasn't as crude as it would have been today, but it was still there.

One of the interesting things about this book was that it was a mystery, there were things we didn't know, but the mystery was unraveled slowly, I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat (which is what I personally prefer), but I still wanted to know, I appreciate that the author was able to accomplish that. Would I read the book again? No. but was it worth the read? Sure.

Review: A Song for Bijou by Josh Farrar

Publisher: Walker Children's
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Rating: 4/5

Life for Alex Schrader has never involved girls. He goes to an all-boys prep school and spends most of his time goofing around with his friends. But all that changes the first time he meets Bijou Doucet, a Haitian girl recently relocated to Brooklyn after the earthquake-and he is determined to win her heart. For Bijou, change is the only constant, and she's surprised every day by how different life is in America, especially when a boy asks her out. Alex quickly learns that there are rules when it comes to girls-both in Haitian culture and with his own friends. And Bijou soon learns that she doesn't have to let go of her roots to find joy in her new life.

Told in alternating viewpoints against the vibrant backdrop of Haitian-American culture, Alex and Bijou take their first tender steps toward love in this heartwarming story. (Goodreads)

I saw the cover and I had to see what was going on here.

Alex is a seventh grade boy who attends an all boys catholic school, and has discovered girls. He's a little obsessed. When he sees a new girl dressed in the uniform of his sister school, he's totally overcome and MUST get to know her. He learns from his friends that her name is Bijou and she's from Haiti. In this book we watch as two kids with different background, customs, and experiences work against the odds to form a friendship.

Tweens who read this book will see reflections of their own lives. Alex has two best friends Ira and Nomura, however Ira isn't maturing at the same speed as his two best friends and is being left behind. Alex and Bijou are lying and breaking rules to see each other. This book portrays children taking their first steps into the complicated teen world.

This book did a great job of that portrayal. Two thumbs up Josh Farrar.

View all my reviews

Review: Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pub Date: June 5, 2012

Format: Book

Source: Library

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult

"Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart." (Goodreads)

3.9/ 4 Stars.

Teenagers and small children locked in something that's the equivalent of a Walmart as the world ends around them. If that's not the makings of a good story I'm not sure what is.

Having just finished this book, it's kind of similar to the Maze Runner (Minho I love you!!). The children are forced to do whatever they have to, to survive. They elect someone as the leader, and that leader provides tasks to the other occupants with the hopes that things run as smoothly as possible.

I like this book because I think there is a very well though out foundation for the rest of the story. The environment is in, what looks like mortal peril, and there were chemicals released into the air that will either drive you insane, or just flat out kill you. Poor kids.

Snaps to having actual children in the book. It reminds me or Michael Grants Gone, a situation that was already almost impossible to deal with, becomes that's much more complicated when there are six year old's to look after. I think it gives the book a realistic feel.

My only qualms about the book were some of the language choices. I feel we just missed the mark when it came to the dialect of the teens. I can't give you specifics, but something was just... off. I'd be mid page, and someone would say something, and I would think, "that doesn't sound right." It wasn't the biggest deal in the world, but alas, there it was.

I also found myself annoyed with Dean, maybe it's because I'm so tired of guys liking these pretty popular girls for superficial reasons, but it's cool because we made up for it with Niko's crush on Josie. Adorbs. I though the teens were portrayed very accurately. I work in a library on the youth floor, I spend my afternoons listening to teens talking to each other about anything and everything. Laybourne did a pretty good job creating these different personalities as frustrating as they were sometimes.

I liked the book, I'm going to read the second one, and I get the feeling my ratings of the book will increase as I read farther into the series.

Chasing Wishes by Nadia Simonenko- Review

 

"I wish I didn't have to go home. I wish I was someone else—someone with a future..."

For sixteen-year-old Nina Torres, it feels as if life is nothing but a dead end. Despised by her rich classmates and afraid that she'll become just like her drug-addicted mother, Nina's future seems to get dimmer every day.

There is one bright spot in her life though...

Sitting beside her one night, the only person in the world who cares about her makes a promise. No matter what happens—no matter how much Isaac's wealthy family disapproves—he and his girlfriend Nina will be together forever.

Fate plays a cruel trick on Nina, though, and a visit from Child Protective Services the next morning turns Nina Torres into Irene Hartley, a woman with a future but who will never see her beloved Isaac again.

Nine years later, a blind and incredibly handsome young entrepreneur hires Irene to be his personal assistant. Terrence Radcliffe reminds her so much of Isaac that she can hardly believe her eyes, and she's falling for him fast. Irene knows that fairy tales don't come true, but she allows herself one last wish. She wishes that she could finally say goodbye to Isaac and let herself take a chance on Terrence.

What she doesn't know is that Terrence is also searching for someone: a shooting star who streaked through his life nine years ago, and he won't give up until he finds her...

Chasing Wishes is a powerful contemporary tale of lost love and wishes come true, recommended for ages 17+ due to adult content. (goodreads.com)

So this is my first New Adult book review and I have to say it was a pretty good book. Let me start by prefacing that most of this book takes place in the area that I grew up in so when they reference Christopher's bar and Sailor's that was literally right up my alley, so that was pretty cool (although I'm pretty sure there was mention of a restaurant that doesn't actually exist there).

I'm a big fan of the characters that Simonenko has created for us. Nina, is from the wrong side of the tracks and her life is just... horrible. Her mother is a drug addict and a prostitute, and sometimes operates in her home with Nina trapped in her room with no choice but to listen. Her classmates and teachers not only hate her because of her lack of wealth, they also trow racial slurs around like it's nothing. Isaac is the only person in the school who treats her with any respect or decency. It's enough to break someones heart.

My favorite part of getting to know these characters was the way Simonenko went about connect us to them. She didn't just say "Nina was poor and her mom was a drug addict" she gave us flashbacks, lets us live Nina's past with her, it made all the difference.

I only had one little hiccup, and I can't say it without spoiling a little bit so I'm just going to do it. I looked at a picture of me from when I was sixteen, and I looked at a picture of me now. I can't quite buy that she didn't know that Terrence was Isaac. In mu opinion as soon as she found out that he had only be blind for five years she should have put it together. It also bother me (just a tiny but) that Isaac/ Terrence would constantly listen to the tape of Nina/ Irene's voice and not realize who she was, but I understood that a little more. In his mind she was blonde because when she was first described to him she was wearing a blond wig. However when he found out that she was Latino, he connected all of the dots. I just feel like Nina/ Irene should have figure it out sooner. Other than that this was a pretty good story.

I give it 3.75 stars.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan- Review

 

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him? (goodreads.com)

So this is an older book and it emerged on my radar when I was looking for an author to do another Skype chat at my library. Although we had a small group last years chat with Marissa Meyer was great. So I found a list of authors who'll do Skype chats for free (theoretically) and I went down the list to see what names I recognized. I hadn't read any of Brennan's books but I knew that I knew the name for some reason, so I bought this book on my Nook and I wasn't dissapointed.

First, I really like that the book took place in England, I felt like it gave the town a cloak of mystery, but I have to say that my favorite part of this book was the dialogue. My speech patterns and those of Kami as basically identical (which may not be a great thing because she's like 16 and I'm about a decade older than that). I've read books that I've liked but there has always been something off about the character like their annoying habit of trying to save the world alone, or throw themselves in the face of danger, or their too helpless, or too fearless. Basically I just can't imagine a real person doing what they characters in the book did. That's wasn't a problem in this book. Kami and her friends could have been any group of teens that walked into my library, minus the mind reading thing.

The story was quickly paced and there was just enough suspense to keep you reading, but not too much that you said "Screw it" and went to read spoilers on Goodreads. I don't want to give to much away, so I'm just going to say read it, it's not like it's going to take you very long. 

Minor irritations... Kami, I really think you made the wrong decision. I understand how difficult it probably was being around Jared, but I think you too it too far. For the love of all that matters in this world, open up you mouth and communicate with the man. (That's what I would have said to her if I was in the book... but I wasn't.)

I look forward to reading the second book but I was so worked up over and slightly annoyed by how the first one ended that I don't know when I'm going to be able to manage it.

Manga Monday #2 Bunndy Dop Vol. 1

Going home for his grandfather's funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won't this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi's love life?! (goodreads.com)

My anime club kids have been telling me to read this series since they came in, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to get started on them. So far I give Bunny Drop two thumbs up. Bunny Drop sets its self up for some for a few funny moments with a single guy, stagnant in life, taking in a six year old girl who's technically his aunt. He knows nothing about children or how to balance work and day care, not to mention the issue of who this little girls mother is.

Because this is the first book in the series we watch as Daikichi tries to get Rin settled, he watches other mom's to figure out her clothing size, the stumble through having accidents, at night, in bed, and he's even in the process of switching up his work schedule to so Rin can go to the local day care.

There are or course some slip ups, and Daikichi is learning a few new tricks to help adapt to his new life with Rin, but I really look forward to reading about their other adventures.

4 stars

UnRemembered by Jessica Brody- Review

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten. (goodreads.com)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but it was pretty good. It was interesting to watch Sera (AKA Violet) character development because she fought so hard against it. Sera just wanted to find her family, and get her memories back, although she knew that she wasn't like other girls her age, she hoped that once her memories returned she would (somehow) return to "normal". When Zen shows up claiming that she's in danger, and that she isn't who she thinks she is, Sera goes through a serious rebellious phase, even as she begins to find proof that Zen really is from her past, she holds out until the very last second.

If I were to suggest this book to someone it would probably be a reluctant reader because it's a quick read, and there's just enough action, and there are just enough questions to keep you turning the page. In my opinion, however, I didn't really connect with Sera and Zen, (I mean I did, but not enough). I'm a fan of books that move quickly but I think this was just too much.

Overall I give this book 3 stars because although it didn't appeal to me, I can see how teens would like it. I'm hoping I like the second book better.

Manga Monday #1 Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 1

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the 'Host Club', a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.(goodreads.com)

 My guilty pleasure! We have a middle class girl (but no one knows she a girl at first) who becomes indebted to the Host Club after knocking over a vase. The Host Club members have Haruhi working as an "errand boy" at first, picking up coffee, and acting as a waiter, but when Haruhi turns out to be a charmer with the ladies, her position in the Host Club changes and she becomes a host herself, which would be fine except all of the girls think she's a boy.

We begin to get a feel for the other members of the Host Club and their off the wall personalities, and some future plot lines. Our characters are:
Haruhi
Tamaki
Kyoya
Hikaru and Kaoru
Honey
Mori

Each character is so vastly different and eccentric I can't wait to see where this series goes. (Well I've watched the show so I have some idea, but I can already tell there are things in the Manga that aren't in the Anime.)

Dangerous by Shannon Hale- Review

Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation.

From NY Times bestselling author Shannon Hale comes a novel that asks, How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else? (goodreads.com)

I was approved to read this book through Netgalley and it's my first Shannon Hale book (I know, I'm kind of ashamed of me) and I wasn't disappointed. Right off the bat, two of my favorite aspects of this story were that Maisie is not only Hispanic, but she's missing an arm. There are a ton of posts about how there aren't enough minority protagonists, and how their aren't enough protagonist with disabilities, this book has both!

This is the second alien book I've read this year (the first was The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey), normally I avoid them like the plague because they never do it for me, I find it hard to suspend my disbelief most of the time, I had no problems with this book. I love that all of this began with Space Camp, although I will admit what I would have liked a bit more detail about the challenges there. Although Maisie isn't the type of character to let her disability slow her down, I feel like there had to have been difficulties completing the space camp challenges, but they were sort of glossed over.

The story with the aliens and the tokens were so cool, it reminded me of Captain Planet or something like that. I'll have to say that I'm on the fence about

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi- Review

Happy Holiday's to everyone again. I hope you all had a great Christmas. So while I was sitting around visiting my parents and waiting for them to finish cooking (I'm not exactly useful in the kitchen) I finished Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. Here we go.


 Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (goodreads.com)

I feel like I own Tahereh Mafi an apology because I don't know what I was doing that kept me from reading (AKA audiobooking) this book. It was fantastic from start to finish. I love the the crossing out of lines, I love listening (because I did audiobook it) listening to Juliette's inner monologue, and I love her character development. Juliette goes from a mousy prisoner with very little left to live for, to a woman who has gained the self confidence and self worth to do what she has to to survive, and accept herself.Two thumbs up Tahereh. I love that the supporting characters are more than just background, I love that although the romance in this book is awesome, there's more to their relationship and the book than "boy meets girl". I love everything!!

Unravel Me, here I come!

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott- Review

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love? (goodreads.com)

I got this book from Netgalley and I've never read a story with a plot line like this. Emma's mother died while pregnant with her half brother. Emma's step-father Dan decided to keeps Emma's mom's body breathing while his son grew to term. Emma is furious, she's convinced that not only didn't her mom want the baby in the first place (she did it for Dan), but she was terrified of being pregnant, she was terrified of what the baby was doing to her body. Emma does everything possible to make Dan's life miserable. Where once there was a great relationship between step-father and step-daughter, there was nothing left but contempt. Emma has begun to fail her classes, and although she has managed to keep a relationship with her best friend, Emma knows that she will never been as she was before. There is so much emotion in this book it's almost too much to handle. My heart goes out to Emma, she has to go to a hospital and talk to her mother who she knows will be allowed to die after giving birth to her brother, I can't imagine how much harder it's going to be when she has to bury her mother. I also understand Dan's need to save his son. Luckily Emma connects with the resident bad boy Caleb who isn't as bad and heartless as we originally believe.

I couldn't ask for a better story, and I couldn't ask for a better ending, although I wished for nothing more than for Emma and Dan to repair their relationship and live happily ever after with the new baby, I knew it couldn't be that easy. Both Emma and Dan had a lot of demons to battle. I love the ending, it was sad and beautiful at the same time.

I give this story two thumbs up!!

Pawn- Review

 For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand. (goodreads.com)

This was a great book, I'm glad I ordered it for my library. I love the character of Kitty, my heart broke for her as she tried to make the best of the worst of a very bad situation. Kitty's face and body have been taken from her, and she has two options, act as Lila Hart and do the bidding of the head of the family, Augusta, or die. Kitty must outwit a family of deceivers, and backstabbers, if she want to survive and keep her boyfriend Benjy safe. 

The Hart family is full of secrets and so is this book, from beginning to end I was hooked. Kitty is a fantastic character who really comes into her own and learns what she's made of as she comes to realize that she's more than the number tattooed across the back of her neck, and if she's willing to risk it, she might be able to do more for she people, than anyone from the Hart family ever could.

The Hart family is a big problem, I don't even know where to begin, Daxton, worst human being ever, hands down. Augusta was a weird one, she seemed to hate everyone except Greyson, but why? Why did she choose Greyson to love above the rest, maybe it was because he was so passive, I don't know. Despite all of her hatred, she almost seemed to truly believe that she was doing what was best for her country (you know, shooting people on sight, sending them to Elsewhere, and creating replacements for anyone who she still had use for). 

Part of the reason I liked the book so much was because I did all of this extra thinking about the characters, and there were a few twist that I really didn't see coming (although there were a few that I was able to guess).

This is a must read for everyone, the only part that sucks a little... I have to wait until next November to read book 2 :(

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

 

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight. (goodreads.com)

I was definitely a fan of this book. I love the scene that were written in script and the way Greg retold the failed girl encounters of his childhood. When reading this book it truly felt as if Greg was sitting there telling me this story. I really appreciated how Greg compared his story to what we may have expected from reading other stories with similar story lines. He told us that this wasn't going to be a story where he fell in love with the girl who had cancer and she was miraculously cured, he told us that this wasn't going to be a story where the girl died but left her mark of the lives of others. Greg's way of telling his story was almost perfect because the reality of life is that not every story has a beautiful ending, but you just have to live with it.

I will say that at times I felt like Greg was a little on the immature side for a high school senior and it did pull me from the story sometimes. Other than that, I was pretty happy. I give this somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, lets go with 3.75