Tag Archives: young adult
Infinity
The Infinity Division, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Entangled: Teen
November 1, 2016
320
There are three things Kori knows for sure about her life: One: Her army general dad is insanely overprotective. Two: The guy he sent to watch her, Cade, is way too good-looking. Three: Everything she knew was a lie. Now there are three things Kori never knew about her life: One: There’s a device that allows her to jump dimensions. Two: Cade’s got a lethal secret. Three: Someone wants her dead.
Review:
I loved “Infinity.” It is a quick read with an interesting premise that still manages to pack in some heartbreak.
All of the character interactions and backstories were amazing, with the premise of inter-dimensional travel making it possible to develop them on many extra levels. The science was explained just enough to feel plausible without making my eyes glaze over. I can’t even begin to explain how perfect and psychotic the villain of the story is. I read it all in one sitting.
“Infinity” is a great read for anyone who enjoys some science fiction mixed with reality and a dose of romance.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Some Bloody Imagery
Glitter
Glitter Duology, Book 1
JUVENILE FICTION
Random House Books for Young Readers
October 25, 2016
384
"A teenager living in an alternate-history futuristic Versailles must escape its walls by selling a happy-enducing makeup called Glitter"--
Review:
“Glitter” is definitely a unique book that will appeal to many. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
The world is fascinating and the characters are diverse. The author did not do an info dump about it all, which was both appreciated and frustrating. By frustrating, I mean it seemed to go too long before anything at all was explained. It read slowly for me, but overall was well-written, and I believe many will fall in love with the story.
“Glitter” is a book I can neither recommend nor warn against. My suggestion is to try it yourself if it sounds like something that may appeal to you.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warnings:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Smoking, Underage Drinking, drug abuse
Dead Girls Society
Dead Girls Society
Delacorte Press
November 8, 2016
Hardcover
304
You are cordially invited to participate in a game of thrills and dares. Tell no one, and come alone. If you dare.
Hope is sick of everyone treating her like she’s breakable. Sure, she has cystic fibrosis (basically really bad lungs), but she’s tired of being babied by her mom and her overprotective best friend, Ethan, not to mention worrying about paying for her expensive medication and how she’s going to afford college.And she’s bored with life in her run-down New Orleans suburb.
When an invitation arrives from a mysterious group that calls itself the Society, Hope jumps at the chance for some excitement. This could be her ticket out. All she has to do is complete a few dares and she just might win some real money.
But the Society isn’t all that it seems . . . and soon Hope finds that playing the game isn’t a choice—it’s a requirement.
Review:
“Dead Girls Society” is a young adult thriller that delivers on its promise of suspense.
The main character, Hope, has cystic fibrosis and an extremely over-protective mother. Those things lead her to be sucked into a deadly game of truth or dare. All of the secondary characters are diverse, have their own reasons for playing the game, and are interesting and well-developed. The plot is tense and moves quickly. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, as well as up way past their bedtime.
“Dead Girls Society” is a good read for young adults and adults who enjoy a good thriller.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Brief Sexual Situations, Violence, Some Gore
Labyrinth Lost
Brooklyn Brujas, Book 1
Sourcebooks Fire
September 1, 2016
336
"Alex is a bruja and the most powerful witch in her family. But she's hated magic ever since it made her father disappear into thin air. When a curse she performs to rid herself of magic backfires and her family vanishes, she must travel to Los Lagos, a land in-between as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland, to get her family back"--
Review:
“Labyrinth Lost” is a fun adventure revolving around a bruja and her friends.
I loved the rich world that the author built-in the alternate dimension Alex and her friends found themselves in. It was imaginative and seemed to pop right off of the page. The plot moved quickly, making it a very quick read. My only problem is that there is one plot point well-developed throughout the book with a sudden twist that made zero sense thrown in at the end. I get wanting the element of surprise, but the author should have given at least a bit of development to the twist if that is where she wanted to go. As written, it seemed like an afterthought. I wish I could further explain but don’t want to give away any spoilers.
“Labyrinth Lost” is a good start to a series about magic and adventure. I recommend it to anyone upper middle school and up looking for a fun, fast read.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Drinking
The Weight of Zero
Juvenile Fiction
Delacorte Press
October 11, 2016
400
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine's bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt. Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. It's only a matter of time. And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list. The bucket list, the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment all begin to lessen Catherine's sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it. This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love--maternal, romantic, and platonic--affect a young woman's struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment.
Review:
“The Weight of Zero” is an accurate portrayal of what life with mental illness is like for teenagers.
Catherine, the main character, has bipolar disorder. Her struggle to accept it and find a way to live with it is the driving plot of the book. There are no miracle cures and romance won’t “cure” her. It is easily one of the most accurate portrayals of mental illness in YA literature that I have ever read. It’s also a very easy read in spite of the grit.
I recommend “The Weight of Zero” for anyone looking for a realistic portrayal of mental illness. It would be a good discussion starter between parents and their children, as well.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Suicidal Thoughts
Lucy and Linh
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
September 6, 2016
352
Lucy is a bit of a pushover, but she’s ambitious and smart, and she has just received the opportunity of a lifetime: a scholarship to a prestigious school, and a ticket out of her broken-down suburb. Though she’s worried she will stick out like badly cut bangs among the razor-straight students, she is soon welcomed into the Cabinet, the supremely popular trio who wield influence over classmates and teachers alike.
Linh is blunt, strong-willed, and fearless—everything Lucy once loved about herself. She is also Lucy’s last solid link to her life before private school, but she is growing tired of being eclipsed by the glamour of the Cabinet.
As Lucy floats further away from the world she once knew, her connection to Linh—and to her old life—threatens to snap. Sharp and honest, Alice Pung’s novel examines what it means to grow into the person you want to be without leaving yourself behind.
Originally published in Australia by Black Inc. in 2014 under title: Laurinda.
Review:
I think that my intense dislike of “Lucy and Linh” may be a case of it being “it’s not you, it’s me.” For that reason I bumped up the stars from two to three.
I really did want to like the book. The story of a poor immigrant trying to assimilate in a private school full of spoiled rich girls seemed interesting. Not to mention, a diverse book! It seemed so full of promise. In reality, I found myself with an almost immediate dislike of Lucy that only increased as I kept reading. It didn’t help that the plot seemed to move at a crawl.
I’m going to stop there because I believe some readers may really enjoy “Lucy and Linh,” and I don’t want to discourage anyone who reads the description and wants to give it a try from picking it up. In short: Your Mileage May Vary.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Very Minor Sexual Talk, Bullying, Racial Slurs
The Lost and the Found
JUVENILE FICTION
Crown Books For Young Readers
September 13, 2016
368
THE LOST
When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Since then, Faith’s childhood has revolved around her sister’s disappearance—from her parents’ broken marriage and the constant media attention, to dealing with so-called friends who only ever want to talk about her missing sister.
THE FOUND
Now, thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the front yard of the Logans’ old house, disoriented and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Can her sister finally be back? Faith always dreamed of her sister coming home; she just never believed it would happen. But soon a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated from her family and paranoid about her sister’s motives. Before long, Faith begins to wonder if it’s the abduction that’s changed her sister, or if it’s something else. . . .
Originally published in the United Kingdom by Quercus in 2015.
Review:
“The Lost and the Found” is a contemporary thriller about a kidnapped girl coming home that managed to hold my attention and keep me flipping the pages until it was finished.
The story of Faith and her sister Laurel, who was kidnapped at age 6, revolves around Faith’s feelings after her sister returns home. I found it interesting to think about how a sibling would feel given the situation. Faith was both likable and frustrating in the ways that any teenager can be, and it felt like her reactions would be common in the situation. The book had a steady pace that built up to a conclusion that was both predictable and not predictable. I only had one problem, and that was with a resolution to a subplot that seemed completely out-of-character and rushed, as though it were an afterthought.
“The Lost and the Found” will be of interest to older young adults and adults who enjoy a quick reading contemporary thriller that has some substance and bite.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Somewhat Graphic Sexual Situations, Violence, Sexual Abuse
The Cabin
Sourcebooks Fire
September 6, 2016
Paperback
336
A New York Times Bestseller!
There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new young adult thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar, a New York Times Bestseller, and Awake
They think they're invincible.
They think they can do and say whatever they want.
They think there are no consequences.
They've left me no choice.
It's time for them to pay for their sins.
A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can't wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead-murdered.
With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn't telling the truth. And Mackenzie's first mistake? Assuming the killing is over...
Review:
“The Cabin” was a solid four-star thriller up until the very end. That doesn’t stop it from being enjoyable in a B horror movie sort of way.
The characters are the stereotypical mix that you come to expect from horror movies and fun, fast reading thrillers. There were some plot surprises and enough creepy things to give you some chills. Just. The ending. I can’t quite forgive that one.
Overall, “The Cabin” is a fun read for the Halloween season or any other time you’re feeling like a fun and breezy thriller.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
My Own Dear Brother
Bloomsbury USA
October 11, 2016
Hardcover
464
It is 1944, and war has taken the men in Nazi-controlled Austria to the front line. For thirteen-year-old Ursula Hildesheim, life in the village of Felddorf remains almost as it was: bullied by her schoolmates, enlisted in endless chores by her mother and sister, thieving, and running wild with her adored older brother, Anton.
But then Russian prisoners escape from the local concentration camp, her mother starts an affair with a married man, her only friend goes missing, and her brother's allegiance to the Hitler Youth emerges in shocking ways--and Ursula finds herself alone, disturbed by dark memories, and surrounded by threat.
In this new world of conflict, Ursula discovers a bravery she has never known before and is forced to recognize that danger comes not only from the enemy at the door but from the enemy within.
My Own Dear Brother is a remarkable coming-of-age story and an unflinching study of both cruelty and courage. Rich in folklore, it introduces a daring young heroine and a powerful new literary voice.
Review:
I’m not even sure how to express my feelings toward “My Own Dear Brother.” It is easily one of the best and most educational young adult books about World War II and the Holocaust that I have ever read – and I have read A LOT.
Perhaps what makes it so unforgettable is the focus on what is so often overlooked in fictional literature about the time period. It focuses on the lives of those in countries controlled by Nazi Germany, in this case Austria, as well as what was done to those suffering various forms of disabilities. Every day life is explored, including the Nazi Youth, fears of local residents of “The Party,” and the divisions found even amongst close-knit families.
Ursula and her family and friends, as well as many of the townspeople, are so thoroughly developed that it felt as though I knew them. Their struggles, pain, and laughter felt real. The plot is steady, but takes the time to meander and really show how things were. Nothing was black and white or simplified. Beware though, this is not for the faint of heart. As can be reasonably expected, there are racial slurs, brutality, and a total disrespect for human life. There is also an animal death that is extremely crucial to the plot.
I cannot recommend “My Own Dear Brother” enough to those who enjoy reading about history and learning new points of view. It’s best for high schoolers and adults and would be a valuable asset in classrooms.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Racial Slurs, Domestic Violence, Disturbing Themes, Animal Abuse
Girl in Pieces
JUVENILE FICTION
Delacorte Press
August 30, 2016
416
As she struggles to recover and survive, seventeen-year-old homeless Charlotte "Charlie" Davis cuts herself to dull the pain of abandonment and abuse.
Review:
I’m not even going to try to properly review “Girl in Pieces” aside from saying that it is a difficult read about such topics as mental illness, cutting, horrific abuse, and homelessness. It’s all presented in a type of journal format and leaves the reader feeling unsettled – as it should. This novel would make a good jumping point for conversations between parents and teenagers.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Cutting, Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse
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