Update: 6/2018 this has been a heck of a ride and I enjoyed every single moment the second time around
Here is my full review on my blog! Update: 6/2018 this has been a heck of a ride and I enjoyed every single moment the second time around
Here is my full review on my blog!
This book was completely and utterly as amazing as the first time that I read it. I really really enjoyed reading and cannot wait to get into the other books including the novella Mitosis. This just made me super excited for Calamity coming next month! I definitely will have a full review on blog posted very soon....more
Holllyyyyyyy Crap that book was good. I did not expect it to be that good and it was. I'm actually speechless. haha
2022 Update: I've been going througHolllyyyyyyy Crap that book was good. I did not expect it to be that good and it was. I'm actually speechless. haha
2022 Update: I've been going through a small phase of reading old YA books and I remember reading this one 8 years ago so I decided to give it another read. It didn't hold up as much as I thought that it would, but it was fun doing a re-read. Hex Hall follows Sophie who is sent to a reform school after she makes quite a bit of a mess at her high school prom. While there, Sophie learns more about her magical abilities, the community, and the other students.
What Worked: As I remembered from the first time that I read this book, Hex Hall is fast paced and easy to digest. I'm a sucker for a plot driven book and Hawkins definitely doesn't disappoint with this first book in the trilogy. Then there are the twists and turns. Of course, I was bound to forget everything that I read the first go round; however, I was shocked to find how much I still wasn't able to figure out the conclusion to the story. Hawkins crafts the story in a way that will have readers leading to one conclusion while building an entire narrative that leads the story in an opposite direction. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how everything including Sophie's own ancestry played a role in the development of the book.
What Didn't Work: Alas, there is something about older YA books that don't always hold up. We have this saying at the library that YA books don't have much "staying power." This means that over time, they are incapable of captivating audiences in the same way that they did during their initial release. The same could be said of Hex Hall. While I enjoyed the plot driven narrative and it's fast pace, it falls into the problem of not having dynamic/interesting characters. The world building and the action were fun, but I found myself unable to connect with Sophie or any of the side characters. That being said, I am much older and an adult that is reading a book that was not written for me. I just think that with the plot being the center of the story, Hawkins lost steam with the character development.
Overall, this was a solid read. I definitely understand why I enjoyed it so much 8 years ago. It doesn't hold up, but it had all the perfect elements to perform well when it was released in 2012. I haven't decided whether I'll reread the rest of the series, but it's something that I'm strongly considering. ...more
4.5 stars. It was a really good book. Didn't quite meet the 5 star requirement, but it was beautifully written and I loved the concept and idea of get4.5 stars. It was a really good book. Didn't quite meet the 5 star requirement, but it was beautifully written and I loved the concept and idea of getting the chance to save one's marriage. ...more
3.5 stars. I literally read this book in one sitting. It wasn't the worst book but it wasn't the best. I felt like there was a slight absence of plot 3.5 stars. I literally read this book in one sitting. It wasn't the worst book but it wasn't the best. I felt like there was a slight absence of plot but I guess I may need to check the rest of the trilogy to get more the story. ...more
I absolutely loved this book. Quite often most books I read in relation to WWII deal with the perspective of those that suffered from the atrocities oI absolutely loved this book. Quite often most books I read in relation to WWII deal with the perspective of those that suffered from the atrocities of the concentration camps; however, it completely blew my mind to have to opportunity to read something from the perspective of the Hitler Youth. I've studied this group in various collegiate courses and from watching different documentaries, but this truly provided me with a insightful experience.
It was not only rewarding to gain a different perspective from those living in Germany at this time, but it was also rewarding to see and understand the power of the human spirit. Our main protagonist taught me that despite the situation or the people involved everyone deserves insight to the truth and only the truly courageous are willing to step up and do what's right to privy everyone with the factual information. I never realized until finishing this book that in situations like those faced by Germany the truth came with a price, a price so grave that so very few were willing to pay. He possessed the courage, faith, and determination that so very few of us encounter. ...more
The main character annoyed me at times but it was still a pretty good book. I didn't realize the movie was so different like completely different. The main character annoyed me at times but it was still a pretty good book. I didn't realize the movie was so different like completely different. ...more
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