Categotry Archives: Realistic
Lily and the Octopus
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
June 7, 2016
320
Combining the emotional depth of "The Art of Racing in the Rain" with the magical spirit of "The Life of Pi," "Lily and the Octopus "is an epic adventure of the heart. When you sit down with "Lily and the Octopus," you will be taken on an unforgettable ride. The magic of this novel is in the read, and we don t want to spoil it by giving away too many details. We can tell you that this is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can t live without. For Ted Flask, that someone special is his aging companion Lily, who happens to be a dog. "Lily and the Octopus "reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all. Remember the last book you told someone they "had "to read? "Lily and the Octopus" is the next one."
Review:
Friends, let me tell you right now, if you are a dog or an animal lover you are going to flat-out ugly cry over “Lily and the Octopus.”
I mean snot running down your face, inconsolable, nothing-will-ever-be-ok-again sobbing.
The other thing I will tell you is that you will be so, so glad you read it. It’s a beautiful work of literary fiction about the nature of life and love told with a lot of humor and sadness. As the description says, the joy of this particular book is in the reading of it. A summary will not actually convey what it’s all really about, and aside from the crying, I think everyone will take something different away from it. This is definitely one of those novels that is colored by what the reader brings to the table.
What “Lily and the Octopus” gave me was the memory of the pain of loss, but most importantly, the memory of love and it all being worth it. Animals and humans alike, they’re worth it in the end.
I can’t recommend it enough.
This unbiased review is based upon a copy of the book won through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
Content Warning:
As this is an adult book, there are no content warnings.
Summer of Sloane
Summer of Sloane
Disney-Hyperion
May 3, 2016
Hardcover
304
Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she'd be spending at her mom's home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there's no reason Sloane shouldn't enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn't always play by the rules, she knows he's the perfect distraction from everything that's so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn't nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane's carefree summer might not be as easy to come by as she'd hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.
Review:
“Summer of Sloane” is the perfect choice for those looking for a beach read that is fun with a side of seriousness.
Sloane is a character put into a very difficult situation through no fault of her own, and the way she works through it feels very natural and realistic. She’s someone who is easy to like, something that is not always easily found in young adult romances. All of the supporting characters added to the story and were well-developed. Most are the sorts of friends anyone would want to have. You’ll know the ones you definitely do not want when you read it.
I loved the pacing and the writing. It flowed steadily and the narration really sucked me into Sloane’s world. Not an easy feat since I have never been to Hawaii and probably never will get to go. I felt like I was sitting around a bonfire with my friends a good amount of the time. None of the conversation felt stilted or forced, and the writer gave each character a unique voice. There are also some very important life lessons thrown in that don’t seem at all preachy. It strikes a nice balance.
“Summer of Sloane” is a good book for anyone looking for a teen romance with a little bite. It’s also a cheap summer getaway to paradise.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Drinking
Breaking Cat News
Breaking Cat News
Andrews McMeel Publishing
May 10, 2016
Paperback
128
This just in: Three adorable house cats are reporting the most hilarious breaking news! Based on author/illustrator Georgia Dunn’s real life pets, Elvis, Lupin, and Puck strap on neckties and pick up microphones to provide the most up-to-date relevant news stories (at least according to them).
Cats reporting on the news that matters to cats with stories such as The Vacuum Cleaner Is Back!, The Woman Is Cooking Bacon!, and The Ceiling Cats Are Everywhere Tonight! Cynical, no nonsense Elvis and shy, sweet, sensitive Puck are the reporter kitties in the field, while the adventurous jokester Lupin serves as anchor cat. Together they break headlines on the food bowl, new plants, mysterious red dots, strange cats in the yard, and all the daily happenings in their home.
Review:
Oh how I loved “Breaking Cat News.” I still have a smile on my face just thinking about it and am going to buy a physical copy the next time I am in a bookstore. Any cat lover is sure to see their own cats in the news team, and it will make a perfect gift for anyone in your life that needs some cheering up. It’s also appropriate for children and is sure to get everyone laughing together. Highly recommended!
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Square Root of Summer
The Square Root of Summer
Roaring Brook Press
May 3, 2016
Hardcover
304
This is what it means to love someone. This is what it means to grieve someone. It's a little bit like a black hole. It's a little bit like infinity.
Gottie H. Oppenheimer is losing time. Literally. When the fabric of the universe around her seaside town begins to fray, she's hurtled through wormholes to her past:
To last summer, when her grandfather Grey died. To the afternoon she fell in love with Jason, who wouldn't even hold her hand at the funeral. To the day her best friend Thomas moved away and left her behind with a scar on her hand and a black hole in her memory.
Although Grey is still gone, Jason and Thomas are back, and Gottie's past, present, and future are about to collide―and someone's heart is about to be broken.
With time travel, quantum physics, and sweeping romance, The Square Root of Summer is an exponentially enthralling story about love, loss, and trying to figure it all out, from stunning debut YA voice, Harriet Reuter Hapgood.
Review:
Actual Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
“The Square Root of Summer” is the perfect example of why there needs to be a half star option for rating books. It is definitely better than a three, but the one major flaw keeps it from being a four.
Gottie and her family are wonderful and quirky characters, especially her grandfather Grey. I would love a book just focusing on him in all of his glory. They provide the perfect cast of characters for the theme of heartbreak coming in all kinds of forms, and the only way to deal is to tackle them head-on. Gottie is not the only one having problems with this, and it’s interesting to see how everyone handles their losses. I do have to say I think her friends and brother were more than a little hard on her, but that isn’t unrealistic for teenagers experiencing all kinds of losses and changes. This part of the story is five stars.
The problem is the physics aspect of the time travel thread. I loved the time travel itself, but physics was never my strong suit, and even though the author did her best to make it make sense it ended up leaving my brain in a puddle. Some parts were easy, and I did learn quite a few new things, but I believe the science was over-explained. Being so lost made that part turn into an indecipherable mess by the end.
I still would recommend “The Square Root of Summer” to older young adults and adults. It is worth it for the story of loss and the wonderful Grey. I do think if you’re inclined to math and science you will get more out of it than I did.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations
Anything You Want
Anything You Want
Sourcebooks Fire
May 3, 2016
320
Taco's mom always said, "Today is the best day of your life, and tomorrow will be even better." That was hard to believe the day she died of cancer and when Taco's dad had to move up north for work, but he sure did believe it when Maggie Corrigan agreed to go with him to junior prom. Taco loves Maggie-even more than the tacos that earned him his nickname. And she loves him right back.
Except, all that love? It gets Maggie pregnant. Everyone else may be freaking out, but Taco can't wait to have a real family again. He just has to figure out what it means to be dad and how to pass calculus. And then there's getting Maggie's parents to like him. Because it's would be so much easier for them to be together if he didn't have to climb the side of the Corrigan's house to see her...
Review:
I’m going to put it right out there. I really disliked “Anything You Want.” Had it not been for the ending this would be a one star review.
Taco, our main character, is dealing with the loss of his mom, an absent dad, an alcoholic brother, and now an unexpected pregnancy with his girlfriend. Now, I actually read the author defending Taco as an incurable optimist. My dislike for Taco is not due to that, or the fact that he’s not the smartest item on the menu, but because the way he is written is absolutely annoying. There can’t be someone that clueless and still function in life. I was legitimately concerned he was unable to even consent to sex. He’s naive to the point that you wonder if he was raised away from society, including magazines and television. The slang he used grated on my last nerve.
I’m going to stop myself there. Suffice it to say, I can’t recommend “Anything You Want” to anyone.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations
The Last Boy and Girl in the World
Juvenile Fiction
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
April 26, 2016
320
From the critically acclaimed author of The List comes a stunning new novel about a girl who must say goodbye to everything she knows after a storm wreaks havoc on her hometown. Aberdeen is drowning. Keeley Hewitt always has a joke to crack. Except there is nothing funny about her life right now. Her hometown of Aberdeen has always been known for flooding, but after one last terrible storm, the entire town has been told they must evacuate by the end of the summer…for good. How will she say goodbye to everything and everyone she has ever known? Most of the Aberdeen residents happily take the generous payout and look forward to starting over someplace new. But Keeley’s dad isn’t swayed by the overtures of officials or the sheriff’s threats. He refuses to evacuate their family, and Keeley goes from being the funny girl in school, to the last girl in Aberdeen. As the town empties out, two boys compete for her heart. One is a boy she’s had a crush on forever, and the other is one she thinks she could fall in love with. But the water is rising higher and higher, and Keeley is faced with losing everything she’s ever known, and the promise of things she’s only ever wished for…
Review:
2 stars for the main character
4 stars for the plot
I’m going to average out the stars to three on “The Last Boy and Girl in the World” because that is the only fair way to deal with what felt like two separate books.
The story itself is beautiful and haunting. The feeling of love of your hometown and the shock of losing it overnight is described very well. It also points out what can happen when greed and government corruption go up against the poor. Add to it a flawed family that is very relatable and you have a perfect book, right? No.
Keeley, the narrator, almost ruins the entire thing. I’ve never read a character that could be so insecure and yet think so highly of herself in terms of how she’s viewed by her friends, family, and even teachers. Even when confronted with how they really feel she doesn’t get it. In fact, I’m shocked she even managed to have friends. That would have been ok if there had been a character growth arc, but there wasn’t. She suddenly grew up in the last couple of chapters and her relationship with one character is inexplicably fixed even after not seeing one another for months. It felt crammed in as an afterthought.
If you read the book description and “The Last Boy and Girl in the World” sounds interesting to you, then give it a shot. The writing is good, but it just wasn’t for me.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Underage Drinking
The Art of Not Breathing
The Art of Not Breathing
April 1, 2016
368
Since her twin brother, Eddie, drowned five years ago, sixteen-year-old Elsie Main has tried to remember what really happened that fateful day on the beach. One minute Eddie was there, and the next he was gone. Seventeen-year-old Tay McKenzie is a cute and mysterious boy that Elsie meets in her favorite boathouse hangout. When Tay introduces Elsie to the world of freediving, she vows to find the answers she seeks at the bottom of the sea.
Review:
“The Art of Not Breathing” is far from your typical YA book. In fact, I found it quite odd. That isn’t actually a bad thing considering that our narrator, Elsie, is different from the norm herself.
This is one of those books that mentioning much of it will spoil the whole thing. I can say the Elsie is dealing with the drowning death of her twin brother when they were eleven and a very, very broken family. Her life is extremely painful and the author spares no feelings in describing the stark reality of everything that she is living through.
On top of her home life, she is dealing with a bullying at school. In fact, there is one scene that describes the most brutal bullying situation I have ever read. It was bad enough that I had to put the book down for a bit. One other thing that may trigger readers is that her brother has a severe eating disorder. I applaud the author for her frank description of what it does to him, but I want to warn everyone that it is graphic.
I recommend “The Art of Breathing” to anyone looking for a good contemporary read that unflinchingly examines broken families, the lies they tell, bullying, and eating disorders. There is romance, but if you’re looking for something lighthearted in that genre I’d suggest you look elsewhere.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Sexual Situations, Underage Drug and Alcohol Use, Bullying, Eating Disorders
OCDaniel
Juvenile Fiction
Simon and Schuster
April 12, 2016
304
A thirteen-year-old boy's life revolves around hiding his obsessive compulsive disorder until a girl at school, who is unkindly nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him for the first time and he gets a mysterious note that changes everything.
Review:
I wish there were more stars to give to “OCDaniel.” It’s a wonderful and emotional read that I think any middle or high schooler (or adult) will enjoy.
Daniel is 13 years old and has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but he doesn’t know what it is. Written in the first person, he tells how his rituals affect his life and when the first symptoms began. While OCD is the main subject, Daniel also describes feeling like an inferior sibling and being bullied for other reasons, making it a good look inside the overall hell we know as middle school. There is a bonus mystery to be solved to add even more reason to keep turning the pages.
I’m going to get personal for a moment. I have OCD, but it is the result of a bad accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury. This book had me absolutely sobbing during many of the chapters. The descriptions of the torment were almost too realistic. OCD is bad enough as an adult, but to go through it as a kid must be horrible. I hope those who have it, whether or not they know what it is, are able to find this book. It has the potential to help many people.
“OCDaniel” is a book I recommend to anyone, even younger children who are able to read at a middle grade level. It’s a fast read, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. There are many opportunities for discussion for parents or teachers who wish to read it with their children or class.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Brief Mention of Suicide, Bullying
Defender
Wendy Lamb Books
April 12, 2016
240
Seventeen-year-old Tyne and her boyfriend Stick investigate a decades-old murder after she finds the body of a girl in the basement wall of her apartment building.
Review:
“Defender” is a gritty mystery set in a downtrodden urban area of Toronto.
While I felt that the varied races of the characters and the realistic feel of the location were unique, there was something off about it all that I can’t quite put my finger on. It didn’t all come together in a way that could have taken it from okay to great. There were a lot of subplots occurring, and that may have been a barrier in keeping the story cohesive.
The mystery contained in the story was a good one with an ending I really appreciated. The look into the very real problems with the foster care system and the difficulty of being able to escape poverty were eye-opening. Many readers are sure to find characters they can relate to, which for many may be a rare occurrence.
“Defender” has its good and bad points, and I encourage those who are interested to give it a try. There is quite a bit of disturbing imagery, so those buying for younger or sensitive readers should keep that in mind.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Violence, Disturbing Imagery
The Midnight Watch
Fiction
Macmillan
April 5, 2016
336
As the Titanic and her passengers sank slowly into the Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg late in the evening of April 14, 1912, a nearby ship looked on. Second Officer Herbert Stone, in charge of the midnight watch on the SS Californian sitting idly a few miles north, saw the distress rockets that the Titanic fired. He alerted the captain, Stanley Lord, who was sleeping in the chartroom below, but Lord did not come to the bridge. Eight rockets were fired during the dark hours of the midnight watch, and eight rockets were ignored. The next morning, the Titanic was at the bottom of the sea and more than 1,500 people were dead. When they learned of the extent of the tragedy, Lord and Stone did everything they could to hide their role in the disaster, but pursued by newspapermen, lawyers, and political leaders in America and England, their terrible secret was eventually revealed. The Midnight Watch is a fictional telling of what may have occurred that night on the SS Californian, and the resulting desperation of Officer Stone and Captain Lord in the aftermath of their inaction. Told not only from the perspective of the SS Californian crew, but also through the eyes of a family of third-class passengers who perished in the disaster, the narrative is drawn together by Steadman, a tenacious Boston journalist who does not rest until the truth is found. David Dyer's The Midnight Watch is a powerful and dramatic debut novel--the result of many years of research in Liverpool, London, New York, and Boston, and informed by the author's own experiences as a ship's officer and a lawyer.
Review:
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the story of the Titanic disaster. I believe this can be said of many who grew up to become historians or develop a lifelong love of history. “The Midnight Watch” is a well-researched novel about the Californian, the ship that watched as the Titanic sank.
It’s almost inexplicable why there has been so little written about the events on the ship. The actions of her crew, or more correctly inactions, arguably changed the fate of over 1500 souls. The author has obviously spent a good amount of time researching using primary sources and piecing together a good narrative of what most likely happened. What I enjoyed the most was the actual sinking was a very minor part. The aftermath and inquiries were the main focus, and that is something also rarely focused on.
An extra layer of the story is created through the use of a fictional journalist for a Boston paper named Steadman. His pursuit of the truth provided a way to present the aftermath in a way which did not read like a dull history text. I especially appreciated the look into how journalism worked in those days, as well as the beginnings of the women’s rights movement. It was fascinating. Unfortunately, the character himself was someone I found a bit unbearable. That’s the reason for four stars as opposed to five.
The crowning jewel of “The Midnight Watch” is a short story included at the end entitled “Eight White Rockets.” There is one section for each rocket. It follows the Sage family, consisting of 9 children and their parents, during the sinking. This was a real family and details of their lives are sprinkled throughout the story. The treatment of third class passengers goes a long way toward explaining how so many children perished. The story also tells about what was happening on the Californian during the same time frame of each rocket. It gave me chills, and I still cannot stop thinking of those children and what might have been.
I highly recommend “The Midnight Watch” to anyone middle grade and up who has a fascination with the Titanic and wants a deeper understanding of what happened on that fateful night.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Sexual Situations, Language, Lots of Death
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