Tag Archives: realistic
Are You Still There
Juvenile Fiction
AW Teen
September 1, 2015
288
Gabriella Mallory, AP student and perfect-daughter-in-training, stands barefoot on a public toilet for three hours while her school is on lockdown. Someone has planted a bomb and she is hiding. The bomb is defused but the would-be-bomber is still at large. And everyone at Central High School is a suspect. The school starts a top-secret crisis help line and Gabi is invited to join. When she does, she is drawn into a suspenseful game of cat and mouse with the bomber, who has unfinished business. He leaves threatening notes on campus. He makes threatening calls to the help line. And then he begins targeting Gabi directly. Is it because her father is the lead police detective on the case? Is the bomber one of her new friends. Could it be her new boyfriend with his complicated past? As the story unfolds, Gabi knows she is somehow connected to the bomber. Even worse she is part of his plan. Can Gabi reach out and stop him? Or will she be too late?
Review:
“Are You Still There” is not what I would call enjoyable, but it is definitely important and timely. It deals with bullying and school violence, so at its core is unsettling, but also a book that should be read.
The story centers are Gabi and her family, all of whom have their strengths and weaknesses. At first, Gabi borders on the unlikable due to her judgmental nature and somewhat “holier-than-thou” attitude in regard to grades and volunteer work. It becomes clear rather quickly that she is simply clueless. She is eventually paired with a diverse group of students who expand each other’s self-awareness. All of the new friends she makes are interesting, go beyond their stereotypes, and add to the plot. I really liked the way Gabi grew, and helped others to grow, throughout the story.
As mentioned in the introduction, the story centers around bullying and violence. It also raises awareness on how we perceive ourselves and others. The most important message to take away is “If you can do or say something to help, do it. Don’t ever just sit back and watch.” Gabi makes some mistakes, and the author does not shy away from pointing out the consequences of those mistakes. There are also things beyond her control, and those are also presented unflinchingly. Nothing in “Are You Still There” is sugar-coated, nor should it be.
I highly recommend “Are You Still There” as a book that presents real issues to young adults without patronizing them. It would be a good book for parents to read and discuss with their child. Communication is so important, and I believe this book will present many opportunities for it.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Minor Sexual Situations, Language, Underage Drinking, Violence
Coming of Age at the End of Days
Fiction
Atlantic Monthly Press
2015-08-04
240
Alice LaPlante's acclaimed psychological thrillers are distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense. Her new novel is an affecting foray deeper into the creases of family life—and the light-and-dark battle of faith—as LaPlante delves into the barbed psyche of a teenager whose misguided convictions bear irrevocable consequences. Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, as a young girl she quickly learned how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But when, at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life, she loses her sense of self and purpose. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. They're active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna's life—her family, her home, her very identity—will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to center with the help of unlikely friends. An intimate story of destruction and renewal, New York Times bestselling author LaPlante delivers a haunting exploration of family legacies, devotion, and tangled relationships.
Review:
“Coming of Age at the End of Days” is a book about depression, other unspecified illnesses, loss, cults, religion as a whole, and what it means to be growing up in the midst of all of these things. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution left something to be desired.
The character development was actually very extensive. However, the main character, Anne, was an extremely unsympathetic character. Depression is involved, along with some other unspecified medical issues that may or may not also be physical. None of that is ever clarified, but there are definitely clues that something else is going on. The problem is that these things are presented, along with her home life, as reasons for why she acts the way she does. While it is true in some of the instances, even if she were completely healthy with a perfect life she would still be the sort of person who is the walking equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. It’s difficult to become lost in a story when you don’t care much about the main character.
The premise of mental illness and how cults exploit it to gain followers was promising, but the first two-thirds of the book dragged so much that the interesting parts were lost in a sea of banality. I would have liked to see more details of the cult itself. The last third of the book moved well and was enjoyable, but it required quite a bit of suspension of disbelief to go with it. The ultimate conclusion felt as though it were an afterthought.
I gave “Coming of Age at the End of Days” three stars because technically the characters and plot are sound. It’s the end product that needed some trimming. Alice LaPlante is a very talented author, but this is definitely not her best work. I’d give it a pass unless you’re a diehard fan.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Graphic Imagery, Violence, Self-Harm, Brief Mention of Underage Drinking
The Kiss
The Kiss
Hatchette Children's
July 2, 2015
352
'Aphrodite kissed a mortal once by the light of this moon, many thousands of years ago. It drove him crazy. The next person that he kissed - boum. The craziness travelled like this from person to person. It travelled through time. Everywhere - boum! Tu comprends?'
'Where did it end up?' I whisper. His lips are on my cheek now.
'It ended with me. And now I am going to pass it to you. You will like that, mermaid?'
Imagine the perfect kiss. A legendary kiss that makes people crazy with love. Imagine a summer's night, on a moonlit beach in the South of France, as French boy Laurent kisses 16-year-old Delilah after the best chat-up line she's ever heard.
BOOM!
Delilah is pretty sure the Kiss is fiction, despite her head-spinning holiday fling. But with all the sudden crushes, break-ups and melt-downs happening back at home, the Kiss starts looking a little too real for comfort. If only Delilah could keep track of where it's gone ...
Who knew one kiss could cause this much trouble?
A hilarious rom-com that will delight Geek Girls everywhere!
Review:
I’ll get this out of the way at the beginning: “The Kiss” is filled with many of the bad boy romance tropes and instalove. However, it is still a fun and cute read.
When I first started it, I was absolutely positive that I would find a way to jump through the pages and strangle Delilah, the main character. At the beginning she is judgy and full of herself; not at all concerned with others unless it is in regards to how it affects her. Also, she is a mega control freak. That being said, stick with it. The problems provide an excellent opportunity for growth, and the author sees that opportunity through. The other characters are endearing in their own way, and I particularly liked Jem. He is given an interesting backstory that isn’t completely predictable.
I recommend “The Kiss” for those looking for a quick and light read. The plot can be predictable, but as I said above, it is fun. It’s the sort of thing you can get lost in for a few hours. In fact, it’s the perfect beach read or palette cleanser.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Drug and Alcohol Use
Everything, Everything
Everything Everything
Delacorte Press
September 1, 2015
Hardcover
320
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Review:
What I liked about “Everything, Everything” is perfectly summed up by the title: Everything. It’s a wonderful and unique book that pulls at your heartstrings, makes you think about the nature of life, and also makes you laugh.
Madeline is a girl with SCID, commonly known as bubble baby disease, who has lived a life with little human contact and a world contained entirely within her home. Olly is the boy-next-door who manages to break through her emotional barriers. The romance is sweet and inspires a wide-range of “feels”. Madeline and Olly are both exceptionally well-developed, which is an amazing achievement given the limited confines of her life and their interactions.
Not many of the technicalities of SCID are explored in the book, but given that it is all Madeline knows, and it drives the plot instead of being the plot, I believe it is handled perfectly. I can’t go into too much depth without giving away important pieces of the plot, but please do not think “The Fault in Our Stars”. This is not at all like that, in spite of the presence of a disease. Stick with it, and you will see that the inevitable comparisons some will make do not prove to be true. “Everything, Everything” is a wonderful book in its own right and should be read as such.
I can’t write the review without mentioning how much I love the non-traditional manner in which the story is told. There are charts, graphs, journal entries, instant messages, doctor reports, drawings, and much more sprinkled throughout that all serve as an integral part of the story. It’s a refreshing break from the ordinary.
Also, and this is very important, the main character is of mixed-race. I wish there were more books out there featuring diverse characters, but “Everything, Everything” is an excellent addition to the collection and should serve as an example to other writers that it can and should be more common. We need more diverse books!
To sum it all up, I highly recommend “Everything, Everything” to everyone 7th grade and above, including adults. It reads quickly and is sure to be a hit for reluctant readers. Five enthusiastic stars!
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Language, Sexual Situations, Domestic Violence
Jesse’s Girl
Juvenile Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
2015-07-07
304
On Career Shadow Day, Maya gets paired with pop star Jesse Scott who rose to fame at a young age and has no real friends, and although the last thing Maya wants is to be reminded of how music broke her heart, she and Jesse might be just what the other needs, but can they open up enough to become real friends--or even something more?
Review:
I read a lot of young adult and new adult romances for review, but seldom are they as realistic as “Jesse’s Girl”. Also, I rarely melt into a puddle from the sheer amount of cute contained in a book like I did with this one.
Yes, there are some of the typical rock star romance tropes found in the book, but those are not excessive. The characters are very well-developed, with flaws and all. There are no perfect Mary Sues or book boyfriends here. Maya and Jesse are written as real people, and in spite of the celebrity status of Jesse, he is written as relatable without making it seem like his job does not affect things.
Also, and I cannot say this enough: this is not an instalove story. Friendship comes first, and the rest plays out over months, not days. There are very real obstacles that stand in their way because of their differences in personalities and in lifestyles. These obstacles are actually worked through and not presented as nonexistent or overcome by the sheer force of love.
“Jesse’s Girl” is a great read for anyone looking for a light romance that also has some substance. It’s a breath of fresh air in a crowded genre.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Brief Mentions of Underage Drinking
All It Takes
All It Takes
Amazon Digital Services
June 30, 2015
Ebook
195
Nineteen-year-old Star Collins never intended to return to her hometown, Avenue. That part of her life ended when she was nine years old, and child services took her away from her hoarder mother. Her mother chose her stuff over her daughter. That part of her life was supposed to be in the past.
But her mother has just passed away and Star finds herself giving up her summer to quietly clean out her old home. She just wants to sell it and move on with her life. However, things aren't going the way she planned. With her dyed-black hair and tattoos, she's attracting almost as much attention from the small town residents as Ash Winthrope, the guy who was just released from prison.
All Ash wants is a chance to start over. He screwed up and he knows it, he's going to have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life. But he's stuck in Avenue until his parole ends, and no one, not even his own parents, wants anything to do with him. Nearly out of money and completely out of options, Ash takes the only job he can, helping Star haul stuff out of her mother's house.
Neither of them expects anything to happen between them, or for their lives to change. But sometimes meeting the right person is all it takes.
Review:
“All It Takes” is a story about a young woman named Star, who has just lost her mother, and a young man named Ash, who has recently been released from prison for manslaughter. Both outcasts in a small town, they end up working together, and the story builds from there.
The story itself is at turns tragic and cute and romantic. There are some difficult issues raised about drug use, hoarding (I need to clean out all of our closets now), the foster care system, and how people treat one another. The characters themselves are rough around the edges while also endearing, and up until the end the pacing was steady ,and the writing lends itself to a quick read.
Unfortunately, in spite of all of the opportunities to explore such deep issues, there was a real lack of depth. The characters had many qualities, but they were barely touched upon in lieu of each of them thinking how hot the other looked. Constantly. The alternating viewpoints were a bit of a problem for me, as Star was much more realistically written than Ash. I have no issue with strong language, but it was beyond excessive in Ash’s thoughts and dialogue. Finally, the pace was thrown off at the very end and felt rushed.
All of that being said, “All It Takes” is not a bad book, I just wish it had been less superficial. If you’re looking for a good romance to read at the beach, give it a try.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Strong Language, Sexual Situations, Talk of Drug Abuse
Modern Monsters
Juvenile Fiction
Entangled: Teen
2015-06-02
352
Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He's the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went... And wished he hadn't. Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler's life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon. But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life...
Review:
It has taken me some time to process “Modern Monsters” and decide how best to review it, as I have very conflicting feelings on the book. I wish there were a 3 1/2 star option, but had to settle on 3 since it is not a full 4, in my opinion.
Kelley York needs to be commended on tackling such difficult subject matter and managing to do so from a seldom examined side. Without lessening the traumatic impact of the rape on the victim, she examines the side of the person accused of the rape. How does it feel going through the system? What if you are innocent? Is there a specific profile that can make it easier to identify rapists? All of those questions are tackled, while also including a subplot that shows the consequences on the family, past and present, of a rape victim. It is a crime and violation that goes much further than devastating one life, and it was handled with unflinching reality.
The main character, Vic, is thoroughly developed and has multiple layers that are slowly revealed throughout the course of the book. The various relationships in his life were also solidly established with every secondary character being more than a one-dimensional “prop”. My only issue with the characters is that at times the dialogue was stilted and not very realistic. It was jarring and pulled me out of the story quite a few times.
As far as plot, it is a difficult one to read, as it should be. All of what I wrote above is true and makes it a worthwhile read. In fact, I’m impressed that it took such difficult subjects and made them resound on a reading level that any middle grader could understand. I just wish the conclusion were not quite so predictable. That took away from the suspense, which ultimately led to there being a bit less of an emotional impact than there otherwise would have been.
Overall, in spite of the couple of things I did not enjoy, I still recommend “Modern Monsters”, especially to those with 7th-9th graders in their lives. If you read it together it will make an excellent starting point for very important, but difficult, conversations.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Mild Sexual Situations, Discussion of Rape (nothing graphic), Underage Drinking
If You’re Lucky
Juvenile Fiction
Algonquin Books
2015-10-20
288
Is Georgia's mind playing tricks on her, or is the entire town walking into the arms of a killer who has everyone but her fooled? When seventeen-year-old Georgia's brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky's death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn't have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky's best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky's father, charming Lucky's mother, dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: did Fin murder Lucky in order to take over his whole life? Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky's death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. Georgia is certain she's getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she's saying. As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia's descent into madness is causing her to see things that don't exist-or to see a deadly truth that no one else can. "A remarkable page-turner . . . Keep[s] readers wondering, twist by twist, if Georgia's universe will simply burst apart." --Andrew Smith, author of "Grasshopper Jungle"
Review:
In what is a rarity in young adult books, the topic of schizophrenia is tackled head-on in “If You’re Lucky”, a taut thriller that leaves the readers as confused as the narrator as to what is real and what is not.
Georgia, the main character, is a teenager with paranoid schizophrenia who is dealing with the loss of her brother Lucky, the town’s golden boy. One of his best friends shows up to the memorial and creates a whirlwind of emotions for her. Georgia is an extremely well-developed character, and her descent into a schizophrenic episode is written beautifully. It truly feels as though you are trying to navigate the world through the distortion in her mind. This adds a great deal of twists and turns to the mystery of what happened to Lucky. The rest of the characters are also well-developed and relatable, with my favorite being Fin. I won’t say anything else about him because it may ruin some of the reading experience.
I loved the plot and found it to be the perfect mix of thriller and standard mystery. At some points I literally had goosebumps from the creepiness. However, the reason for me giving three stars instead of four is because of the plot. It seemed to begin slowly, and while the entire book is well-written, I didn’t realize I was actually into it until I was about a third of the way through. This points to a slight problem with the pacing. It would have been nice to add a bit of “oomph” to the setup.
In spite of the slight pacing problem, I still wholeheartedly recommend “If You’re Lucky” to those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers. There is some adult content, but it is still a safe choice for middle schoolers and up as long as they’re not opposed to things that can be disturbing.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Brief Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Drinking
Faking Perfect
Juvenile Fiction
K-Teen
2015-06-30
272
When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High's resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules: 1. Avoid her at school. 2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together. 3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben. Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?
Review:
It took me a bit to gather my thoughts on “Faking Perfect”, because the plot is a timely look at the struggles of family and high school, but there were some flaws. It was by no means a bad book, but the lack of character-depth took away from what could have been an otherwise great book.
Lexi Shaw is a teen who, unfortunately, has an all-too-common family life of a father who is not involved in her life and a present, but emotionally distant, mother. The ways she copes are trying to fit in with the popular crowd mixed with self-destructive behaviors. The character of Lexi is actually extremely well-developed, with clear motivations for her actions and self-awareness presented through her inner monologues that gives readers a clear insight into her thoughts and feelings. The problem comes with the secondary characters. There are cursory descriptions of them that gives some clues to the people they are, but nothing below the surface is touched upon through Lexi’s thoughts or interactions with them. This is quite sad, as many of them have the promise to be deep and interesting, but the lack of exploration into their lives left many of them relegated to the world of tropes and caricatures.
As I said in the introduction, the plot of “Faking Perfect” is a good and timely one, filled with important life-lessons. Who among us has not felt the need to act differently in order to impress our friends? How many readers know too well the feelings of being neglected by their parents? These things are addressed in a compelling way, along with other issues that occur in high school such as teen pregnancy, popularity, and the warped perceptions people often have of others based on rumors or personal bias.
Overall, if you are able to overlook the character development issues, “Faking Perfect” is a good book, especially if you are looking for a palette cleanser of sorts. The writing is well-done and the themes explored make it worthwhile.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Drug Use, Underage Drinking
Delicate Monsters
Delicate Monsters
St. Martin's Griffin
June 9, 2015
Hardcover
240
When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family's California vineyard estate. Here, she's meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she's meant to do a lot of things. But it's hard. She's bored. And when Sadie's bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.
Emerson Tate's a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That's why Emerson's not happy Sadie's back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won't ever let him.
Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That's what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past.
But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it's all of theirs.
Delicate Monsters is Stephanie Kuehn at her finest.
Review:
Let me begin by saying that I have absolutely no problem with reading dark and twisted things, nor do I condone censorship. Please keep that in mind as you read my review of “Delicate Monsters”.
I would have given “Delicate Monsters” one star, as opposed to two, had it not been a story with potential. It didn’t live up to it, but I reserve the ones that are a mess from the start.
The book’s downfall is the misleading description. Yes, everything in the description is accurate, but considering the graphic content that involves everything from animal abuse to necrophilia, it does seem like there should be a bit more warning in the summary. It’s like if you bought a ticket to see the old “Poltergeist” and ended up seeing a marathon of all of the “Saw” films.
Additionally, it seems grossly miscategorized as young adult, and I can already imagine the shock of librarians working with a limited budget ordering “Delicate Monster” based on the description, publisher, and author popularity only to end up with some severely traumatized readers. With the rampant underfunding of libraries these days, librarians have to make difficult decisions that often lead to ordering books that appeal to the widest audience possible, and I do not think they will find it here.
In terms of the book itself, the characters are not meant to be likable, but the way they are written leaves them flat. While what is going on and how it will end is evident early in the book, the plot could have delivered a much more exciting journey than it did. Somehow a book about a sociopath and a psychopath was boring. Those subjects are typically fascinating. It was unsettling that their actions didn’t resonate within the story (only in the disgust of the reader), because it almost felt like the author had no opinion one way or the other as to the morality of their actions. I’m going to assume that is not the case, as Stephanie Kuehn seems like a lovely person.
I cannot recommend “Delicate Monsters” to anyone, regardless of age. It was gratuitously graphic with a misleading summary, apathetic characters, and a lackluster plot.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Graphic Sexual Situations, Heavy Violence, Animal Abuse, Animal Death, Necrophilia
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