Categotry Archives: Reviews
Illuminae
The Illuminae Files, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Alfred a Knopf Incorporated
October 20, 2015
608
"The planet Kerenza is attacked, and Kady and Ezra find themselves on a space fleet fleeing the enemy, while their ship's artificial intelligence system and a deadly plague may be the end of them all"--
Review:
“Illuminae” is a book like none other I have ever read. It felt like I was watching a documentary while playing a video game, with the occasional break to notice I was actually reading a book.
I don’t even know how to write about it without spoiling it, because even the format in which the story is told seems like it would be better as a surprise. There is romance, a lot of humor, some crazy space stuff, a conspiracy, viruses, etc. If you can think of it, it is probably in the book.
The beginning is a little slow, but once you get used to the unusual format the pace begins to pick up. By the end it feels like you just started reading. I really do wish I could say more, but I hate spoiling something so darn fun. And trust me, if nothing else, this book is fun.
I highly recommend “Illuminae” for upper middle readers and up, especially those with a love of video games (hint: Portal) and science fiction. The quick-read format makes it an excellent choice for reluctant readers.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Sexual Situations, Violence, Creepy Stuff
The Half-Life of Planets
Juvenile Fiction
Open Road Integrated Media
April 7, 2015
248
“A smart and unusual romance just about right for fans of John Green.” —Booklist Liana’s decided to boycott kissing this summer, hoping to lose her reputation and focus on planetary science. Hank has near-encyclopedic knowledge of music and Asperger’s syndrome. When they meet by chance in a hospital restroom, neither one realizes that their friendship will change everything. If Liana’s experiment goes as planned, she’ll learn to open up, using her mouth for talking instead of kissing. But Hank’s never been kissed and thinks Liana might be the one to show him . . . if he can stop spewing music trivia long enough to let her.
Review:
“The Half-Life of Planets” is a book I have mixed-feelings about. On the one hand, it is a really great portrayal of the thought processes of someone with Asperger’s and their first experiences with the opposite sex. On the other hand, it seemed quite a bit over-simplified in terms of how the neurotypical half of the relationship reacted to their own circumstances.
Hank is a boy with Asperger’s and a very complicated home situation. Lianna has quite a few things going on in her own life and has some self-esteem issues related to her family life. I love the way that Hank is written, along with the authors not excusing some of the mistakes he makes by chalking it up to Asperger’s. I believe quite a few middle-grade aspies will love reading about such a relatable character, and I also believe that it will be quite an eye-opener for those who may know someone on the spectrum but not closely.
Lianna, on the other hand, seemed to handle things unrealistically at the end. I don’t mean her interactions with Hank, though those are understandably awkward. She does quite a few over-the top things that seem to just be swept easily under the rug at the end in favor of a nice, tidy ending.
In spite of my thoughts on Lianna, I still recommend “The Half-Life of Planets” for readers 7th-9th grades. There are a lot of valuable insights to be found in the book. However, I think it will lose the interest of older readers.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat
Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat
Ballantine Books
October 13, 2015
Hardcover
224
For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece.
When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches
In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mann’s naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who can’t take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (“Joyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.”). And on her nice list . . . well, she’s working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include:
• You Can Keep Your Cookies, I’m Just Here for the Booze
• Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out?
• Why You Won’t Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party
From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Mother’s Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she can’t get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year.
Review:
“Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat” is a memoir in essays about Christmas and other holidays. It will make you laugh, cry, cringe, feel sorry for the author, and ultimately, make you feel nostalgia.
Most of the stories had me actually laughing out loud. Some of them made me snort. Quite a few of them left me wondering if we may be related. The point is: We have all been in her shoes, and we have also all been in the shoes of one of the other poor souls. No holiday is perfect, but it’s the funny stories of things gone that leave us longing for more. It’s this very fact that makes the book much more than a collection of funny stories. It has heart, and it is bound to touch the hearts of everyone with a fondness for holidays and families, in spite of all of the hassle they bring.
“Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat” is well-written and a quick read. Sitting down with it will be a perfect break from the upcoming holiday rush. Also, it will make a great not-so-subtle gift for all of the “holiday overachievers” in your life. (Watch me get three copies.)
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Heartache and Other Natural Shocks
Juvenile Fiction
October 13, 2015
384
When fifteen-year-old Julia Epstein and her Anglophone family flee Montreal in October 1970, she struggles to adjust to a new life in the suburban wasteland of North York, Toronto. Next door lives Carla Cabrielli, who works her "assets" and knows how to get what she wants. Julia and Carla get on a collision course, not only for the same role in the school production of "Hamlet," but also for the leading man - sword-wielding bad boy and sex magnet, Ian Slater. "Heartache and Other Natural Shocks" explores teen rivalry. When events take a dangerous turn, both Julia and Carla become vulnerable to deception and betrayal. Full of unexpected twist and turns, Glenda Leznoff's unique novel marks the debut of an important new voice in young-adult fiction.
Review:
“Heartache and Other Natural Shocks” is a coming-of-age story that is very deep and original. With a tone of dark realism, it is far from what I was expecting, and most definitely not a typical realistic fiction young adult novel.
The story is told between the alternating points-of-view of Julia Epstein and Carla Cabrielli. Julia has just been forced to relocate from Quebec to Toronto due to the political climate in 1971 Quebec. She’s a deep and flawed character, who is smart for her age but also naive when it comes to the things going on around her. She is also Jewish, and I seldom find Jewish protagonists, so I am always glad when I do. Carla is the stereotypical mean-girl on the surface, but reading between her words there is much more to be found in her character. The secondary characters, including the adults, are also all well-developed and engaging.
The author did an excellent job of establishing a sense of time and place without making it the primary focus of any particular scene. It was interesting to read about the political upheaval present in 1970s Quebec, which is a subject I have only come across briefly before. As for the rest of the plot, it is slow but engaging and does an excellent job of showing that the years may change but problems stay the same. Bullies will always exist, and the shock of parental failures will never lessen.
“Heartaches and Other Natural Shocks” is not going to be for everyone. It’s dark and depressing, so if you want a feel good book, pass it by. For those in high school and above looking for a thought-provoking read, and who don’t mind the darkness, I highly recommend it.
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 and Alcohol Abuse, Ethnic, Homophobic, and Sexual Slurs
The Storm
Juvenile Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
October 1, 2015
336
Three months after the killer rain first fell, Ruby is beginning to realise her father might be dead, and that she cannot survive alone. When a chance encounter lands her back in the army camp, Ruby thinks she is safe - at a price. Being forced to live with Darius Spratt is bad enough, but if Ruby wants to stay she must keep her eyes - and her mouth - shut. When she realizes what is going on - the army is trying to find a cure by experimenting on human subjects - Ruby flips out and makes an even more shocking discovery: she's not useless at all. She is immune to the killer in the rain.
Review:
“The Storm” is the sequel to “H2O”, the apocalyptic novel about killer rain.
Ruby is the same as she was in “H2O”, complete with microscopic steps toward personal growth. Many of the other eclectic characters also make reappearances, with their stories further expanded upon. This was the best part of “The Storm”.
Unfortunately, the rest of it seemed to lack cohesion. The story was enjoyable, but seemed to skip around, with the most important parts cut short. Some of it made no sense at all. The ending was rushed and felt like it should have been an entirely separate book. Additionally, there was another case of “Emotional Blackmail” present, bringing in something that was wedged into the plot just to force an emotional reaction from the reader.
If you read and enjoyed “H2O”, then I do recommend you read “The Storm” to find out how it all ends, but be prepared for some frustration. I hope there is a third, because I have seen the potential of the story and the author’s talent, and it would be a shame for it to end this way.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence, Gore
H2O
H2O, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
October 7, 2014
330
When a strange rain falls bearing a fatal, contagious disease, Ruby finds herself alone with the only drinkable water quickly running out.
Review:
“H2O” is an apocalyptic thriller centering around the premise of deadly rain, and I found it quite enjoyable. For maximum scare factor, be sure to read it during a rainstorm, as I accidentally did.
Ruby, the main character, is pretty much a mean girl everyone knew in high school. Of course, she doesn’t actually realize that she is mean. I’ve read some complaints about her character and, while I agree that she is not always pleasant, she is realistic. She just turned fifteen and from her own story she was never overly mature for her age. The rain didn’t suddenly make her smarter, more likable, or super brave. I appreciate the author keeping it real in that way. She does have some admirable qualities, and she also realizes some mistakes she has made along the way. It’s definitely a love/hate situation with her.
Along with Ruby, there are many intriguing characters met along the way. As it is a disaster situation, most of them are not in the story for long, but I believe that is the way things would be in such a situation. Not every story will get a resolution.
I absolutely loved the premise of the killer rain. The panic and breakdown in society from the fear of the environment and limited supply of water is a terrifying thought, and the author did an excellent job of writing that. She also did a good job of invoking the pain and sadness of so much loss of life, which is the basis of my one complaint. There is one chapter that is totally unnecessary and what I would call emotional blackmail. I won’t spoil what happens, but while heartbreaking, it did not need to be present, as the author had already given multiple reasons for the reader’s heart to be broken that were actually cohesive with the plot. Contriving situations to evoke an emotional response from the reader is one of my pet peeves, as it seems there is no trust put in the reader to pick up all of the emotions already present. I would have dropped it an entire star had I not loved the rest of the book so much, but I still feel the need to point that out here.
In short, if you love a good natural disaster novel and don’t mind having your heart broken, “H2O” is a wonderful choice for upper middle graders and up.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Situations:
Mild Sexual Situations, Violence, Gore, Underage Drug and alcohol Abuse
Awake
Juvenile Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
August 4, 2015
336
"A car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past. When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett's past, and he's determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents. And they want her back"--
Review:
“Awake” has a very promising, creepy plot revolving around a girl with four years of missing memories and a cult. Unfortunately, I found it somewhat lacking in certain areas.
Scarlett and Noah are the main characters, and the story is told using both points of view. Neither character came across as particularly well-developed, but I actually enjoyed Noah quite a bit anyway and wish more time was devoted to developing him. Scarlett, on the other hand, was not likable at all. She is presented as well-loved and desired in some way by all of those around her, and I can’t help but wonder if there is something wrong with the water causing them to hallucinate these qualities. Add to it an instalove situation and my irritation with her became unbearable.
The thing that redeems the book and fulfills the creepy promise made in the summary is the cult itself. I would have loved to learn more about it from other perspectives. The author does an excellent job of presenting why people may be lured into it initially, which is not easy to do considering the reader already knows they are not completely (or even remotely) sane. If there were more stories written about them, I would be happy to read them.
Overall, “Awake” was not a book for me, but it is a quick and easy read. I won’t discourage anyone who likes books about fringe beliefs or who doesn’t mind instalove from giving it a try, because many readers will enjoy it.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Child Abuse, Underage Drinking
The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace)
Prisoners of Peace, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
September 22, 2015
384
In the future, the UN has brought back an ancient way to keep the peace. The children of world leaders are held hostage—if a war begins, they pay with their lives. Greta is the Crown Princess of the Pan Polar Confederacy, a superpower formed of modern-day Canada. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. The hostages are Talis’s strategy to keep the peace: if her country enters a war, Greta dies. The system has worked for centuries. Parents don’t want to see their children murdered. Greta will be free if she can make it to her eighteenth birthday. Until then she is prepared to die with dignity, if necessary. But everything changes when Elian arrives at the Precepture. He’s a hostage from a new American alliance, and he defies the machines that control every part of their lives—and is severely punished for it. Greta is furious that Elian has disrupted their quiet, structured world. But slowly, his rebellion opens her eyes to the brutality of the rules they live under, and to the subtle resistance of her companions. And Greta discovers her own quiet power. Then Elian’s country declares war on Greta’s and invades the prefecture, taking the hostages hostage. Now the great Talis is furious, and coming himself to mete out punishment. Which surely means that Greta and Elian will be killed...unless Greta can think of a way to save them.
Review:
I absolutely loved “The Scorpion Rules”. It’s a wonderful addition to the YA dystopian genre.
The first thing that made me love it is the diversity. Racial diversity is merely the beginning. There is cultural diversity and religious diversity, including a Jewish protagonist, which is something rarely seen. And to take things to an entirely different level, there is sexual diversity, including a female bisexual main character. I don’t think I have ever read that in a young adult dystopian novel, and I was quite literally bouncing with the excitement of it. Absolutely none of it felt forced or gratuitous. Well done.
Then we have the villain. I think he may be my favorite villain ever. He’s hilarious while being really, truly evil. This is not someone (something?) you would want as your enemy. I also enjoyed the other characters and their development. Some of them may seem flat at first, but their traits unfold slowly and organically. Greta is an unreliable narrator on the level of Katniss, and it is fun to go along with her on her journey of awareness. Elian, well, I’ll let you find out about him for yourself.
Finally, the book brings up some incredible points about the nature of humans, society, wars, and the climate. It is quite heavy on the philosophy, and yet it is also hilarious. Some parts had me laughing so hard it was difficult to catch my breath. The author has a good sense of comedic timing.
Overall, I recommend “The Scorpion Rules” for anyone eighth grade and up who loves a good dystopian novel. The flow and humor make it a good choice for the reluctant reader, as well.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
When It Was Just A Game: Remembering the First Super Bowl
HISTORY
Taylor Trade Pub
September 9, 2015
252
The first Super Bowl in 1967 was actually called The World Championship Game, and pitted the upstart American Football League, represented by the Kansas City Chiefs, against the National Football League, represented by the Green Bay Packers. This book consists of oral interviews with many of the surviving players and/or their children, as well as the recently discovered unpublished memoirs of Chiefs coach Hank Stram.
Review:
As a diehard Packers fan (I bleed green and gold), I’m not entirely sure I can be completely unbiased in reviewing “When It Was Just A Game”. What can ever be better than a comprehensive history of the first Super Bowl?
The book is an excellent resource that covers almost every facet of what went into the epic 1967 game between the Packers and the Chiefs. It’s packed with facts and direct quotes from people ranging from the players to the fans and everyone in between. Not the least of it is from the recently deceased legend Frank Gifford. Reading how it was at the beginning of what has become such a large event is a good reminder of what the game is meant to be at the start of this new NFL season.
“When It Was Just A Game” is the perfect gift for any football fan you may have on your holiday list. It’s a must-have for any Packers fans out there. GO PACK GO!
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Dead House
The Dead House
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
September 15, 2015
Hardcover
432
Welcome to the Dead House.
Three students: dead.
Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.
Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."
Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.
Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.
Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.
Review:
“The Dead House” is a wonderfully inventive and creepy book centered around a girl who may or may not suffer from dissociative identity disorder. Part mystery and part horror, it is one of the best psychological young adult thrillers I have read in a long time.
The thing I most loved about the book is the way in which the story is told. There are journal entries, therapy transcripts, police interrogations, transcripts of video footage, and news articles. Since none of these are told from the point of view of someone who knows the full story, it places the reader in the role of a detective. All of the evidence is laid out to be examined. I found it very fun to try to decipher it all, even if it did lead to a sleepless night.
The main character(s), Kaitlyn and Carly, are wonderful and complicated. You can literally feel their fear and confusion in the diary entries. It’s actually quite disturbing. In a good way, of course. My only complaint is that the secondary characters seemed a little too flat. I liked them, but would have preferred to know a bit more about them.
Overall, “The Dead House” is a quick and engaging read that is sure to appeal to horror and thriller lovers from ages 14 and up. Its fast pacing makes it an excellent recommendation for reluctant readers. Highly recommended! Just be sure to keep the lights on.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence
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