As of late, I’ve been reading more and more YA books about mental illness and I truly t As of late, I’ve been reading more and more YA books about mental illness and I truly think that this is a subject that isn’t widely publicized enough. Challenger Deep is a beyond heartbreaking novel and I’ll even go as far as saying it’s perfect, a word that I don’t toss around lightly. Neal Shusterman has written numerous fantasy novels, but CD shows that what he really excels at is invoking readers� emotions and writing books with heart. This is easily one of the most important novels ever written and Challenger Deep just might be Schusterman’s magnum opus.
Caden Bosch is drowning in himself and he’s losing sight of what’s real and what’s just in his head. He thinks classmates are trying to kill him, that nothing makes sense anymore and that the world is going to swallow him whole. Readers are brought aboard a pirate ship on a journey to the Challenger Deep and this is a trip they’ll never forget.
Neal Shusterman expertly balances Caden’s reality and the world he’s created, making readers question what’s really going on. This novel has a healthy dose of the real world and the fantastical one, both of which were finely crafted and imagined. I found myself immersed in both sides of the story and I enjoyed seeing how the two worlds were interwoven into each other.
Schizophrenia is something that’s real and it’s a disease that most of us are clueless about it. Neal Schusterman does an excellent job of shedding light on this terrible disease without unloading a textbook worth of info on readers. Caden Bosch’s character truly captures the fear, the unknowing and the danger that comes with schizophrenia, making Challenger Deep a difficult book to read.
Neal Schusterman’s son, Brendan has schizophrenia and this novel includes drawings his son made during schizophrenic episodes. There is so much depth in this novel and I haven’t seen mental illness captured in a way that has felt so raw and horrifying ever. This novel turns schizophrenia from something alien into a personal demon that’s frighteningly easy to understand.
This is not an “issue� book, it’s a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Challenger Deep shows the struggles that those with mental illness deal with on a daily basis without stigmatizing it. As informative as this book is about schizophrenia, this book is about Caden and not his disease. Caden is not defined by his disease ever and he’s never shown as someone who’s anything lesser because of his mental illness. Though Caden’s family doesn’t quite understand him, I’m truly glad this novel shows how important a support system can be for those in the Challenger Deep.
I’ll admit it, this novel made me bawl. I found myself so involved in this book and in the life of Caden that I couldn’t help but cry and cry for him. I cried for him because no one seemed to understand how he was drowning, not even himself. To say this book is powerful feels like an understatement because every words booms with importance and it should be treated as something sacred. This book could save lives, it could be the lifesaver that readers can cling to as they fight the currents of the world.
Read Challenger Deep and give it to friends, family members and co-workers, you never know who might be in need of help. This book should be in every school and library because it’s a beacon of hope that so many could benefit from. I can’t praise this book enough or stress how necessary of a read it truly is....more
Seen at We Are The Ants is one of the craziest books I’ve ever read and it manages to be both a brutally honest coming-of-age tale andSeen at We Are The Ants is one of the craziest books I’ve ever read and it manages to be both a brutally honest coming-of-age tale and an odd alien invasion tale. Shaun David Hutchinson interweaves the best aspects of contemporary and sci-fi literature to create one of the most satisfying books I’ve read in years. There’s something so undeniably perfect about this book and I found myself reading this book into the early hours of the morning. When I finally finished this book, I wanted to hug Hutchinson and thank him for writing this all-too-important book.
This could be the end of the world. Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens and they have given him the choice whether or not to avert the apocalypse. All he has to do is press a big red button, but Henry isn’t sure he wants life to go on. His boyfriend Jesse has committed suicide, his grandmother has dementia and he’s bullied at school. Maybe it would just be easier to let everything end�
The life-threatening desperation that Henry feels is extremely clear and I felt my heart break for him constantly. It was hard on me emotionally to read about Henry’s mourning of Jesse because it struck a chord within me. At times, I debated whether or not to put the book aside briefly to compose my emotions because I was just verklempt. I loved Henry so much and his character is easily one of the best depictions of an individual struggling with depression.
I really hoped that he would find the strength in himself to live and carry on. I wanted to just jump into the book and be there for Henry, but I’m glad he had Diego. Diego helps Henry find a will to live and I shipped them so hard because they were adorable together. In some YA books, the romance becomes a cure-all for the character’s depression or mental illness, but that’s not the case. Diego does not fix Henry, but allows him to confront his inner demons and seek the proper help that he needs.
As a work of science fiction, We Are The Ants is a superb, high-stakes adventure. Even though the abductions are frequent, each one manages to be engaging and entertaining. The stakes get higher with each and every abduction and so, readers constantly have an impetus to keep on reading. Not only that, but these aliens are the weirdest, most effed up creatures I’ve seen in YA.
We Are The Ants is Shaun Hutchinson’s best book yet: it’s brilliant, subversive and oh my god, you all need it. If you loved Challenger Deep or Grasshopper Jungle, this novel will totally be up your alley. I will never stop praising We Are The Ants and with good reason, it’s epic in scope and absolutely extraordinary....more
(Don't You) Forget About Me is an unforgettable novel that will haunt readers long after they' (Don't You) Forget About Me is an unforgettable novel that will haunt readers long after they're finished; Quinn has written a deliciously creepy novel that fans of Neil Gaiman will devour. It's so difficult to find good horror YA novels, but Kate Karyus Quinn has alleviated my concern with DYFAM. It takes a lot to scare me as a reader (the first time I read a Stephen King horror novel, I complained how it wasn't creepy enough), but Quinn's novel was a chilling novel that is genuinely terrifying. DYFAM is such a strange novel, but it's an uniquely told gem that readers will be frightened by.
What if your life was so terrible that you need to forget yourself? Skylar's mind is jumbled due to the fact that she is addicted to a purple drug that erases memories; she is trying to run away from the haunting memories of her sister through the Forget Me Not drug. Skylar lives in a terrifying paradise called Gardnerville where no one dies or get sicks, but the teens go insane every 4 years and commit life-threatening actions. During 4th years, it's not uncommon for teens to go on murder rampages and so, the town's reformatory is filled with teens.
DYFAM is told in a non-linear format and much of the story is told through the use of flash-backs. With each flashback, Quinn gives readers a taste for what really happened to Skylar and Piper. Each flashback was masterfully executed because they really drew me in and helped create an aura of mystery, while subtly giving readers hints. This novel is a puzzle; at first, I was totally confused but the more I worked at it, things started to come together in a bloody brilliant manner.
Gardnerville was something so vicious and amazing; I loved how Quinn showed that everything comes with a price. The setting is so intimidating and eerie that it feels like its own character in this novel and in a way, Gardnerville is much more than just a setting. Gardnerville feels alive and I could feel the thumping of its black heart with each turn of the page. This is a setting that readers will love visiting and at the same time, they will be instilled with an irrevocable fear of Gardnerville.
Piper isn't the main character of DYFAM, but she is easily my favorite character in this novel. There are so many differents angles to Piper's character and her character undergoes so many transformations throughout this story. There is a grand difference between the Piper in each flashback, but in every scene that she makes an appearance in, Piper shines and steals the scene. Piper is dangerous, reckless, but I was drawn to her like a fly to a flame and I couldn't tear myself from any scenes in which Piper was prominently featured. She is a magnetic character and there's denying that Quinn developed her character intricately with an eye for details.
(Don't You) Forget About Me is a novel that will surprise readers with its shocking and mindblowing plot. This book will mess with your mind in the best of ways to the point where you will have no clue what will happen next except that it won't be pretty. DYFAM doesn't give readers the ending they expect, but it does give them the ending they deserve -- a brutal, justified conclusion that concludes this novel's storyline with a bang.
DYFAM is a brutal, creepy novel that is best read in broadlight for readers' sake; this isn't straight horror by any means, but it's just so wonderfully messed up and crazy. I need more YA stand-alones like DYFAM and it proves that not every book needs to be apart of a series. I immediately wanted to seek out Another Little Piece after reading DYFAM and I have decided to read it sooner rather than later. I am obsessed with DYFAM and this is one of my favorite novels of the year by far....more
Andrew Smith's novels always fill me with intense feeling of wonder and happiness; 100 Sideway Andrew Smith's novels always fill me with intense feeling of wonder and happiness; 100 Sideway Miles made me want to scream my love for it from the rooftops because it's just that good. This isn't your average coming-of-age story, it's so much better (but if you've read anything by Smith, this isn't news to you). 100 Sideway Miles is a wonderfully strange novel that will make readers laugh and fill them with so many raw, irrepressible emotions.
I'm not going to summarize this book because this is a book that you need to explore for yourself. There was something so satisfying about just delving into this novel and knowing so little about the plot. This is a book about a boy trying to find himself, while trying to escape from the constraints of his father. Finn Easton doesn't just want to be that boy from his father's book, he wants to be himself -- whoever that might be.
Andrew Smith channels his inner teenage boy and Finn's voice is so on point and authentic that it feels so familiar to my angsty, adolescent self. This is a story about a boy transitioning to adulthood, but Smith makes this book so approachable and real, he doesn't skip any of the awkward moments that novels and films usually gloss over. 100 Sideway Miles will remind older readers what it means to grow up, both the difficult and amazing aspects, and what it feels to fall in love for the first time. Smith has written a truly amazing coming-of-age tale, readers will feel the passion and sincerity of this book reverberating right off the page.
The characters that Andrew Smith has written in 100 Sideway Miles feel even more real and tangible than most people that I know. There aren't just blobs of ink; Finn, Cade and Julia are three of the most realistic characters that Smith has ever written about and it's not surprising that I felt a connection to this trio. Finn and Cade are true teeangers and they get into such ridiculously entertaining adventures that readers will wish they could join this duo on their road trip.
Finn feels that horrible feeling of being trapped in his adolescence and Smith makes this even more horrifying with the inclusion of Finn's father's novel. All those feelings that Finn feels throughout the novel are so perfectly bottled in this novel and this is a novel that all teenagers need to read to know that what they're feeling isn't exclusive -- that someone else is feeling those awkward growing pains.
I applaud Smith for writing a book about a character with a disability because finding books about disabled characters is extremely difficult. Finn has epilepsy and he's extremely prone to having seizures that make him black out and piss himself. Something that I found amazing was that Smith doesn't ever make Finn "special" or "different", he shows how normal epilepsy is and never tries to make readers feel bad for Finn because of the disease.
Andrew Smith always writes that book, the one you spend all night reading and that you can never stop talking about, even weeks after finishing. 100 Sideway Miles is the book to read; I found myself in this book and I have a feeling that countless readers will empathize with Finn's struggles. No author can capture the beauty and awkwardness that comes with adolescence like Andrew Smith does. ...more
Grasshopper Jungle is the strangest book I've ever read. At the surface, it's a book about a boy whose town
Grasshopper Jungle is the strangest book I've ever read. At the surface, it's a book about a boy whose town gets invaded by giant horny grasshoppers, but it's truly so much more. This is a hilarious, coming-of-age story about self-discovery and the human condition. I've never read a book where an author has captured the strange, alien feelings that come with being a teenager better. Andrew Smith gets it, he understands that being a teenager is confusing and at times, that it feels like the world is crumbling beneath your feet. Don't mistake this for your average coming-of-age story, Grasshopper Jungle is anything but average.
Austin Szerba is a historian, he takes it upon himself to record nearly everything that takes place in his small Iowan town. Austin provides readers with a honest and realistic teenage voice that guides readers through all of the confusing hormones and what-not of being a teenager. Readers will find themselves learning about Austin's inexplicable attraction to both his best-friend, Robby and his girlfriend, Shann. Austin is trying to figure out whether he's bisexual or not, whether the feelings inside him are what's he's supposed to be feeling. The idea of not knowing who you are inside is truly a universal struggle for teenagers and Smith portrays these internal struggles in their true, palpable form. Almost everyone has struggled with their identity at one point in their lives and Smith makes readers feel as if they're not alone in their struggle to find themselves.
One of the things I love about Grasshopper Jungle is that every single detail is important and Andrew Smith values each and every word. Because Grasshopper Jungle is a history of Austin's life, everything seems to be connected in some way shape or form. Even the smallest details seem to seamlessly connect to multiple plot events, making Grasshopper Jungle an ingenious novel. It's remarkable to see how one little event can unknowingly set off a highly unlikely chain of events. Austin's history meanders and explores topics that might seem irrelevant, these details are crucial to the plot and always managed to resurface. Nothing is ever meaningless and there is truly no fluff in Grasshopper Jungle, every single syllable feels as if it's crucial to the storyline.
Austin Szerba is real. His character has been carefully shaped and crafted to the point where I felt that Szerba's character was absolutely realistic. Szerba is a teenage guy and that means that he has sex on his mind often. Some readers will probably think that the constant mention of sex and erections is gratuitous, but personally these references are 100% necessary. Teenage boys think about sex often and sometimes it seems like that's the only thing on their mind at times. No matter how much people try to censor books that mention sex and masturbation, it's not going to go away. Literature should reflect on issues that people actually deal with on a daily basis and for teenage boys that means their sexuality. Grasshopper Jungle handles Austin's sexuality in an extremely realistic and appropriate manner, this book perfectly displays all of the lingering doubt and confusion in his head. Readers will understand what Austin's going through because Smith easily allows readers to identify with him on a personal level. On a less serious level, Austin's character is one of the most hilarious characters I've ever read about and I couldn't stop laughing while reading Grasshopper Jungle.
Grasshopper Jungle is extremely well-written and it's one of the most important books I've ever read. I truly believe that this is an essential books for teens to read because so many of the themes are truly universal and everlasting. After reading Grasshopper Jungle, the words real dynamo, corn, and silos have take a new meaning and I will never look at those words in the same mundane way ever again. The best way to read Grasshopper Jungle is definitely with a friend or a book-club because there were so many times when I needed to discuss this book with someone and it was painful knowing I couldn't discuss it with any of my friends. Grasshopper Jungle is a brilliant novel that will definitely cause a fair share of controversy, but at the same time I know it's a novel that will stick with readers long after reading the final sentence. ...more
Few books have captured me like Falling Into Place did, I knew immediately after reading the opening chapter that this would be Few books have captured me like Falling Into Place did, I knew immediately after reading the opening chapter that this would be a book that I would love. Amy Zhang has written such a true, poignant novel about what it means to love and be loved. There is nothing average about this novel and FiP is one of the best debuts I’ve ever read � it’s quite obvious to me that Zhang is a masterful writer.
Amy Zhang shows readers how there is no such thing as a coincidence in life and how every single moment creates a ripple in time. Even the most harmless of activities can make a huge impact on someone’s life and change who they are as a person. Moments that may have seemed insignificant at the beginning of Falling Into Place quickly became instrumental and the beauty in this novel lies in the details. Each snapshot paints a picture of who Liz Emerson truly is and helped me see her character in a new light. I feel that this is a novel that I need to reread because I feel as though there are subtle, yet important details and clues about Liz that I may have miss upon reading this book initially.
Falling Into Place is a morose novel about a girl getting ready to take her own life and what lead to this mess. Zhang shows so many different angles of Liz Emerson � we get to see both the good and ugly moments in her life that helped shaped her into the girl who crashed her Mercedes. Despite all of the terrible acts that Liz commits throughout the novel, I still felt a strong connection with her and still sympathized with her plights. I understood Liz, all of the rage and confusion that she felt and her character was translated onto the page with such precision.
I’m beyond impressed with this novel and it’s not just because Zhang is still a high schooler. Falling Into Place is filled with such wisdom and deep messages that it’s obvious to me that Zhang is an old soul and that she possesses knowledge about growing up that some adults aren’t even aware of. This is the type of thought-provoking novel that will leave readers� minds racing a mile a minute as they process their lives so far.
The narrator of Falling Into Place was such a brilliant choice and Zhang reveals the narrator oh so tactfully. I missed who the narrator was originally, but it wasn’t until I started to discuss this book with a friend (thanks Blythe at Finding Bliss In Books!) that all the pieces started to come together. I definitely recommend reading this novel straight through and then, rereading the snapshot chapters to get the fullest reading experience out of Falling Into Place. I’ve never seen such a bold, imaginative choice for the narrator and I can’t help but praise Zhang for being so clever. I’m not sure if many readers will catch who the narrator is and I think the reveal of the narrator should’ve been a bit more obvious.
The ending of FiP divided me so much; one on hand I loved the way things were tied up, but at the same time it didn’t feel true to the rest of this novel. I felt as if things were building up to a different ending the whole time based on foreshadowing and subtle hints. The ending to this book was great, but just didn’t feel like the ending that readers deserved or the ending that this book was working up to.
Falling Into Place is an ingenious debut novel that will blow readers� minds with its clever non-linear storytelling and narration. Zhang is definitely one of the best contemporary writers that I’ve read in years and she told a story with such a brutally honest depiction of teenagers. I will reread this book again in the future and Falling Into Place easily takes the cake for being one of my favorites of 2014. This is a novel that I will recommend to anyone and everyone because there was something so touching and authentic about Falling Into Place....more
Faking Normal is one of those rare books that's life-changing; reading Courtney C. Stevens'd debut left a huge impact on Faking Normal is one of those rare books that's life-changing; reading Courtney C. Stevens'd debut left a huge impact on me and I'm definitely not the same person that I was when I started this novel. Faking Normal is a book that deals with such a taboo topic, but at the same time, it's more than that. Don't pass off Faking Normal as just another contemporary "issues" book! This is an essential book about finding the courage to deal with the past and piecing ourselves about together after a traumatic experience.
I'm not a huge fan of contemporary literature by any means, but Faking Normal is a book that I can't praise enough. This is a novel that isn't just a "good read"; Faking Normal deals with so many issues that are so commonplace in society and yet, the media refuses to acknowledge these universal struggles. The issues that Stevens deals with aren't going away any time soon and these issues need to be addressed in a proper fashion. Courtney C. Stevens's novel will change lives, it will help those who are victimized find the courage to speak up and show these victims that they are not alone in this world.
Even those who aren't victims of society will still be able to find solace in Faking Normal because it deals with real issues that average people deal with on a daily basis. Have you ever been a bystander? Have you ever been in a situation where you were too scared to speak up and let your voice be heard? Faking Normal is a honest and brutal depiction of a girl trying to open up to the world about being raped, but it is truly so much more. Faking Normal is a must-read for older-teens and adults everywhere because there is just so much wisdom and so many important life lessons that readers should take to heart.
Alexi and Bodee both suffer from a troubled past, but the thing is that Courtney C. Stevens doesn't want readers to pity them--she wants readers to understand what's like to be uncomfortable in your skin. Alexi and Bodee are both real, genuine characters who readers will root for from start to finish. I easily empathized with both characters and I desperately yearned for the duo to overcome their troubled pasts and find the strength to open up to the world.
Alexi and Bodee aren't the conventional, stereotypical characters that are usually found in YA novels, these two characters are completely and utterly special. I personally believe that so many YA books misrepresent teenagers and what being a teenager is actually like. Most YA books focus on a teenage archetype and the Alexis and the Bodees in this world aren't given the proper representation in books. There are so many Alexis and Bodees in this world, teenagers who don't fit into what's supposedly considered "normal" for teenagers and they need to have a voice, they can't just be ignored. We truly need more characters like Bodee and Alexi in YA and I really appreciate Stevens's ingenuity in including diverse main characters. I loved Bodee's introverted, awkward teenage persona and I truly believe his character is one of the most accurate depictions of what being a teenager is actually like.
Faking Normal benefits from an extremely strong plot and Courtney C. Stevens's excellent prose. I loved watching Bodee and Alexi slowly form a relationship and find strength in each other. Their relationship was extremely well-done and I truly believe that they are an absolutely perfect couple. The mystery components of Faking Normal are well-paced and these sections had so many twists that shocked me. As I said countless times before, Faking Normal shines brightest when it delivers an emotional, heartbreaking tale. Stevens writes with so much passion that it's so easy to get caught up in the cavalcade of emotions and to turn into a sobbing mess. When I reached the ending of Faking Normal, I couldn't stop crying and even as I type up this review, I feel tears pin-pricking my eyes.
Faking Normal is easily one of the best novels I've ever read and I guarantee that this book will still hold a permanent home on my bookshelf twenty years from now. I will definitely be re-reading Faking Normal in the future, this time I'll be more emotionally prepared and I'll have two boxes of tissues on hand....more
Steelheart was definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2013 by far. I mean c'mon, w Steelheart was definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2013 by far. I mean c'mon, who doesn't love superheroes? Anyway Steelheart is as amazing as I imagined it would be, if not better. Steelheart is a book that is super in just every possible way. Steelheart will make your heart pound, it will make you squee with delight, and most importantly it will make yearn the sequel. This is definitely one of the best YA novels I've read recently to say the least.
I wasn't feeling the major love towards Steelheart when I initially because for some reason it wasn't really clicking with me. I decided to restart it a few days later and it was the perfect book for the occasion. I desperately needed to know what would happen next and I tried to read Steelheart whenever I had the chance. I was completely and utterly addicted to Steelheart, this is the YA novel I've been waiting for so long. I remember saying in the past that I need a YA superhero novel and woah, Steelheart is that book.
The superheroes aren't so super after all, these superheroes are called Epics, and they have enslaved the human population. These superheroes are terrifying and yet I couldn't stop geeking out and gloating over them. I love how Sanderson focuses so much on villains in Steelheart, because this is a perspective we usually do not see in the media. Super heroes are always the one saving damsels in distresses and it was awesome to see them causing havoc for a change.
I can definitely see why Sanderson's books have become extremely popular with readers across the globe. Sanderson knows how to craft an addicting story with just enough humor, suspense, and action. There is truly never a dull moment in Steelheart and I was extremely invested in the story.
David is just the sort of protagonist I can relate to because in many ways he's very similar to me personality wise. He's extremely awkward, nerdy, and he isn't the best at handling situations with the opposite sex. David is very passionate about known everything about the Epics and I really admired his determination to learn every little detail about them. David tries to make comparisons to describe situations, but most of the time they were off-kilter and made me laugh. YA really needs more unconventional characters like David!
Steelheart has one of the best beginnings I've read to date because it catches readers' attention immediately. Once you start Steelheart, there's no letting it go. This is the kind of book that will make laundry and chores pile up in your house until you finish. Steelheart is just what I needed to read and it definitely delivered. If Sanderson's other books are as epic as Steelheart, I'll definitely have a new favorite author. ...more
I'm at a loss for words when trying to describe my feels for Panic, I have so many feelings regarding this I'm at a loss for words when trying to describe my feels for Panic, I have so many feelings regarding this book. Panic by Lauren Oliver is powerful, thought-provoking, and unbelievably entertaining; if you could only read one contemporary novel this year, let it be Panic. There is just so much to love about Panic and this is definitely Lauren Oliver's perfect return to her contemporary roots. Panic is an amazing novel that will leave readers utterly speechless.
Lauren Oliver truly understands the lengths people will resort to escape their lives and start afresh. Panic is about the desperation, the need for the $60,000 prize that will change the winner's life forever. Each character has their own unique drive to win and the stakes are incredibly high. I loved how Oliver manages to weave each character a back-story that is truly heartbreaking and touching. I really felt for each of the characters and I loved what Oliver brought to the table with each character.
I personally believe that the highlight of Panic is Oliver's extremely life-like characters. Even if all the characters aren't extremely likeable, the reader is definitely able to understand their predicaments. Heather is a superb protagonist. She's vulnerable, self-conscious, jealous at times, and yet she uses her weaknesses to give herself strength. Heather doesn't have to bring down a dystopian gov't or use a bow and arrow to make me really admire her. It's the raw, natural strength that Heather echoes even when she's feeling low that truly makes Heather extraordinary. I know a lot of people will think that the reason why Heather joins Panic is cliche, but I found it to be a realistic plot choice. I really think that people are truly too quick to dismiss something as cliche because people often perpetuate cliches more often than we think.
Panic is the kind of novel that never truly ends because it really raised so many questions in my mind. This is a novel that is so relevant in society today and for some readers, it can be lifechanging. Panic isn't a myth. It isn't just a game. This is a story that isn't a stranger to most people because it's real, honest and brutal. There are Dodges and Heathers all around this world and their stories need to be told and brought to light. Lauren Oliver's Panic is a powerful novel that really hits home hard and is by far one of the best contemporary novels out there.
Not only is Panic an important, powerful book, it's also an extremely gripping and well-written tale. I love Oliver's prose; Lauren Oliver writes in such a lyrical, gorgeous manner that makes the writer in me extremely envious. I really wish I could string sentences together in such a beautiful, coherent manner. Oliver really knows how to create suspense and thrilling action scenes as well as heartbreaking, tear-jerking scenes. Each Panic event was more exciting than it's predecessor and by the end of Panic, I was speechless. The last Panic event really ends on a bang and was truly epic. The novel doesn't end after the last event and so the last scene bothered me a bit because it felt like it was wrapped up too quickly.
When reading Panic, it's easy to see why Lauren Oliver has become one of the most popular YA authors. She's a superb writer and she really understands her audience and what they want to read. Panic really lit a spark within me and has instantly converted me into a fan of Oliver. I can't wait to read Rooms, Oliver's adult debut and I have a feeling it's going to be amazing. Can we just fast forward to Fall '14 so we can all read Rooms? ...more
This book was absolutely fantastic! I finished it in pretty much one sitting and I couldn't bear to tear myself from it. This book was absolutely fantastic! I finished it in pretty much one sitting and I couldn't bear to tear myself from it. ...more
Charm & Strange is this mysterious enigma where everything slowly, and brilliantly falls i Charm & Strange is this mysterious enigma where everything slowly, and brilliantly falls into place. I couldn't stop reading Charm & Strange at all and I actually read it in one sitting! I kept telling myself that I had to go to sleep but I just couldn't stop reading. This is going to be an extremely hard book to review without giving anything away.
It was actually kind of scary to read Charm & Strange due to all the emotions it unlocked within me. I've never had depression yet I instantly connected with Andrew and I definitely understood what he was going through. I understood exactly how Andrew was feeling, all those dark feelings swirling around inside of you, threatening to escape. Stephanie Kuehn managed to include so much raw emotion and feeling into Andrew.
Andrew may be a fictional character but he exists because there is a little bit of Andrew inside of everyone. Everyone experiences bad times and dark feelings that you just don't know how to express. Thank you, Stephanie Kuehn for bringing light to horrors that everyone deals with at some point in their life. Stephanie Kuehn has created the most realistic, complex characters that I have ever seen in all of literature. Her characters are the type that don't just live on the page, these are characters that you will keep with you in your mind. You won't be able to forget the characters Kuehn created and you'll be thinking about them long after you finish reading.
Charm & Strange is beautifully written in such an unique, heart-breaking way. This book will fill you with so much emotion that you didn't even know that it was building up inside of you. I loved the literary techniques Kuehn utilized in this book and they were so essential in making Charm & Strange, a hauntingly realistic book. At the end of this book, I couldn't help myself any longer and I just broke down in tears. Do yourself a favor and pick up Charm & Strange, (Note: I'm not responsible if this book shatters your heart into a million pieces and you're an emotional wreck afterwards.) Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. ...more
Eleanor & Park is a whirlwind of a novel, it is packed with raw emotion and beauty in each and every page. It's been way too long since I enjoyed a c Eleanor & Park is a whirlwind of a novel, it is packed with raw emotion and beauty in each and every page. It's been way too long since I enjoyed a contemporary novel and I was beginning to think maybe I wasn't cut out to read the genre. E&P restored my faith that there is still life left in Contemporary fic and that it could still wow me! I heard how powerful and emotional this novel was, but nothing could prepare me for what Rainbow Rowell had in store for me.
Eleanor & Park is a deep, heartbreaking, and so painstakingly real of what it means to fall in love. Both Eleanor & Park aren't the typical stock characters that are so commonly found in YA lit. For one, Eleanor is kind of overweight and she has extremely curly red hair. Park is half Korean and he's a pretty sensitive guy who isn't afraid to experiment with who he is. Rowell's characters are groundbreaking because they are unlike any other characters I have ever seen.
Eleanor & Park don't just deviate from the norm, they are proud to be unique and standout from the crowd. It was interesting to see their relationship progress from the awkward bus scene in the beginning to the heart wrenching conclusion. Watching the pair slowly, slowly learn what it means to be in love was just something else and I quickly fell in love with both of them. It's nearly impossible not to fall in love with E&P because they are such a wonderful couple and they complemented each other.
Besides being a heartbreaking romance, Eleanor & Park is a deep and profound read. Rowell explores parental abuse, gender roles, and being different. I loved how unconventional and unique E&P's relationship was. This book is heartbreaking, you will definitely need several tissues while reading this book. It's not just the ending that's heartwrenching, I found Eleanor's siblings so upsetting. Maybe I'm just unrealistic, but why have kids, if you're not going to treat them well? I kind of hated Eleanor's mom, but at the same time I felt so bad for her. I was so annoyed how she didn't stand up to her husband and tolerated him. Seriously, I know it's hard but you need to be strong for your kids and protect them.
Overall, Eleanor & Park has the perfect amount of adorable, fluffy romance and heartbreaking, thought-provoking moments. You will fall in love with E&P, and you will, without a doubt, root for them from the very beginning. Rowell is an expert at making complex, lovable characters and these characters gave me hope that maybe true love can exist!
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Thank you, Rainbow Rowell, for renewing my faith in Contemporary-Lit! I will definitely read Attachments and I'm so excited for Fangirl! The ending of this book was so fitting and perfect but I am still debating whether I should be crying in a corner or singing 80's love ballads. I'd highly, highly recommend reading Eleanor & Park and no review could do this beautiful book justice. Eleanor & Park is a beautiful, bittersweet book that perfectly captures first love and will make you swoon and cry all within a few pages. ...more
Ready Player One has been on my "to-read" list for awhile. Why did I wait so long to read this book? I'm totall Ready Player One has been on my "to-read" list for awhile. Why did I wait so long to read this book? I'm totally convinced that Ernest Cline wrote Ready Player One for me specifically because it had everything I love in a book. Basically Ready Player One was the perfect book for me.
You can't call yourself nerdy unless you've read Ready Player One because this book is a nerd's heaven. I loved all of the video game, and 80's movie references that Cline included in this book. Even though I wasn't alive during the 80's, I still really appreciated the pop culture references included in this book. This book brought back so many fond memories from my childhood.
Cline created such a vivid and spectacular world that I could easily picture. Though this book was sci-fi, I feel like the events in this book could happen. The world has made so many advances, it would surprise me if something like OASIS was invented. I would love to use the OASIS in moderation, I fear that I would become addicted to the OASIS. It probably would be better if OASIS was never invented because people would lose sense of reality.
Ready Player One is an extremely entertaining and fun book. I know that this book has been optioned to become a movie and that is terrific news. Warner Brothers better not mess this movie up, seriously this movie needs to be true to the book. It's definitely going to be hard to squeeze all of the plot elements into a movie but I have faith that the movie will turn out spectacular.
Ready Player One is by far one of the best dystopian books I've ever. This book was unlike anything I've ever read before. I can't wait to read Armada, the movie rights have been already sold to Universal Pictures. I can't recommend Ready Player One enough!...more
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