Review & Giveaway: OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

Amy Fellner Dominy's website here // $10.79 from {amazon}  
Publisher: Walker & Company (May 10, 2011)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Summary: 

Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moley.

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

My Thoughts: I didn’t start OyMG with sky-high expectations, or with any, really. Hot boy competition and learning self-confidence? Light read, check. But don’t let the brief, innocent summary deceive you; even while swaddled in layers of fluff and goodness, OyMG teaches meaningful lessons in self-identity and self-discovery that, days after reading it, still linger pleasantly in the back of my mind.

In a society that so freely advocates equality, it’s sometimes easy to think of racial and religious discrimination as things of the past. Yet while no longer at the Nazi-level, prejudice still exists, and that’s what Amy Dominy capitalizes on in her debut novel. In OyMG, a seemingly insignificant prejudice against Jews leads to so much more: family splintering, teen relationship troubles, and the required internal struggle. It’s not soap opera drama and rivers of tears; rather, the magic lies in how this small prejudice slowly and subtly infiltrates Ellie’s life, growing from a little check-box on a pink scholarship application to a huge family affair.

Although the underlying religious tension carries the plot, OyMG is made awesome by Ellie’s strong voice and genuine main characters. Ellie and I are different on so many levels: she’s a debater while I can barely speak in public, she’s Jewish while I’m atheist, and so much more. Yet I could definitely relate as she struggled to define herself by her own standards. She’s like the best friend I never had who could chew out someone’s butt if she chose to – and quite literally. Her debate skills are sharp and she’s not afraid to use them, whether to intelligently flirt with dreamy Devon or to win herself a scholarship.

My only issue with Ellie (and my only issue in the entire book) was the discrepancy I saw between her age and her deep insight. As in, think (the movie, but I’m using it as a saying) “13 going on 30.” While her actions revealed the naivety of a young teen, Ellie’s intelligence, rhetoric skill, and collected aura all belied the fact that she was an incoming ninth grader. Half the time I forgot she’s only about 13 and was subsequently frustrated when she didn’t show the maturity I expect in someone older.* But if that’s what eighth/ninth graders are like these days, they are debate-refined beasts.

That’s not to forget Devon, who’s (a) pretty beast himself. He can match Ellie’s sass, no problem, as well as any physical expectations. Yet my second favorite character has to be Zeydeh, Ellie’s grandfather, who happens to be utterly fabulous. He’s like the blue flamingo in the room that you just can’t ignore because it’s unique, stubbornly ostentatious, and cares more about taking a dump than what other people think of him. It’s obvious Zeydeh cares deeply for Ellie as he introduces a whole new Jewish twist on tough love, and he’s such a macho cutie. The man has personality, and that’s hard to find in a light read.

Outside of Ellie and Zeydeh, the other characters, though not particularly standout, are still enjoyable and real. However, the book’s brilliance lies in how Amy Dominy is able to make such a fun, unassuming novel so meaningful and relatable. While almost unbearably cute (think Sean Griswold’s Head cute), OyMG really leaves a lasting impression on why we should always say “no” to discrimination and the importance of family. (/cue content sighs please.) In fact, if offered to me a few years back, reading OyMG would probably have been way more effective in reinforcing these lessons than any Martin Luther King speech my middle school forced us to watch. As inspirational as MLK’s speeches are, it was hard for my younger brain to personally connect and sympathize with a small, poetic (aka hard to understand) figure on a black-and-white screen.

With its young voice, clean humor, and relatable characters, OyMG is a feel-good, modern take on an age-old issue that’s depth shouldn’t be overlooked just because of a cute cover and a tad cliché summary.

Liked: Ellie & Zeydeh, nicely-paced plot, solid lessons, fuzzy feelings
Disliked: meh, Ellie's age wasn't that believable for me, but I suppose the plot wouldn't have worked so well otherwise.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Bottom Line: OyMG is a lovable read that skillfully mixes the harshness of reality with the drama of teen life. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light yet substantial read, or for a fun book to instill moral values in children (of whatever relation)**. Really, anyone, as OyMG isn't about religion per se as much as it is about discrimination as a whole. And Zeydeh is so darn sassy. Amazing debut!

Cover: Not stunning, but I think it matches the feel of the book perfectly and it has all the important components: mic, medal, Christian cross, etc. Though I imagined Ellie with curlier/frizzier hair...

* I seem to often have issues with naïve main characters, but I’m impatient and working on it, sigh.  
** I abused the parentheses button in this review, sorry. *pats my ( ) keys* 

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GIVEAWAY 
Courtesy of Bloomsbury Walker & Co., I have one finished copy of OyMG to giveaway to a lucky reader! :)

Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. only
• Contest ends Friday, May 27th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Lindsey Leavitt's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 1, 2011) 
Hardcover: 288 pages
Source: Publisher 
Summary:

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

Rating: View my rating system.




My Thoughts: When I think Sean Griswold's Head, I think cuteness wrapped in a bundle -- or, technically, between two hard covers and a couple hundred sheets of paper. It has it all: the nicest boy, the touching family trauma, and the inspirational self-discovery. Yet as cliché as those aspects may sound, Lindsey Leavitt adds her own spin with an authentic teenage voice and, of course, one very attractive male head. Overall, Sean Griswold's Head had me going "awww" at times from both romance and familial bonding, and I can honestly say the ending had me going banging my head a few times on my reading surface (which was, thankfully, a bed) out of sheer adorableness.

The only, and I repeat only, bothersome aspect for me was Payton's borderline annoying naivety. I could definitely see where she was coming from in having to deal with her father's MS and then with the fact that her parents hid the illness from her, but her reaction and avoidance seemed a little excessive. Yes, aversion is assured and a few tantrums granted, but for that long a time period... hm. And in the romance and friend departments, a couple times I just wanted to scream, "Can't you see the good thing right under your nose?!!!" Alas, all in the name of self-discovery, I suppose.

That being said, I still greatly admire Payton's strength and spunk. She definitely goes through some difficult times, and she falters, yet never backs down. Looking back, I can clearly track her growth throughout the book, from a girl who prided herself on her independence at the beginning to one who actually valued herself at the end. Even for a romance junkie like me, Lindsey Leavitt really conveys how beautiful self-acceptance can be, and does it all in Payton's snarky, genuine, and surprisingly relateable voice.

Me being me, how could I end this without mentioning Sean? Perfect, perfect Sean. Normally, that would be another strike on the negatives under the category of "unrealistic, untouchable," but Sean is just so darn lovable. Not only does he have the cute looks completely nailed, he teaches Payton to look past appearances, he bikes (I mean, gosh, who does that? Lindsey Leavitt has just introduced a prodigy here.), he's sweetly sensitive, and all-in-all, he's exactly what Payton needs. Whoever said "nice guys finish last?" For the record, I literally think "Sean" and biker shorts -- but that's a good thing, trust me.

Romance: PG - parent guidance suggested, but just a few kisses.
Cover: 3.5 -- I love how there's the little stick figure biker in the lower right, though I don't know why, the guy model's just not doing it for me. Maybe because that's not really how I imagine Sean in my mind?

Bottom Line: Sean Griswold's Head sends some mushy lessons about family, friends, and love -- but all the right ones. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light but heart-warming read that is guaranteed to leave an involuntary smile on your face. :)

Review: Albatross by Josie Bloss

Albatross by Josie Bloss

Josie Bloss's website here // $9.95 from {amazon}

Publisher: Flux; 1 edition (February 1, 2010)

Paperback: 240 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

What's so cool about nice guys?

Everyone at Tess's new school warns her that Micah is bad news—a heartbreaker. But she can't ignore her attraction to this brooding, brilliant, friendless emo hottie who can turn on the charm—or heart-shredding scorn—at a moment's notice. Starting over in a new town after her parents' split isn't easy for Tess, and Micah feels like her first real connection. But what happens when their bond suddenly feels like shackles? And Micah starts to remind Tess of her freakishly controlling father?

With Albatross, Josie Bloss takes her storytelling in a new direction by exploring the dark side of relationships.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I WANT TO SLAP MICAH SO BAD. Think jerk, think Micah. He epitomes all things high school, aka horrible, always degrading Tess, being prejudiced against others, and... UGH. But I suppose that annoyance - or hatred, even? - attests to the high quality of this book in that a guy like Micah is exactly what Josie Bloss wants. Especially now, when there are so many stirrings in the blogosphere regarding abusive and obsessive relationships, Micah fits right in with his intelligent-coffee-shop (the kind with the black notebook, mussed up hair, and glasses) appearance and condescending, egotistic, cocky, malevolent... you get the idea, rotting interior. Kudos to Josie Bloss, though I came this close to slapping the book a few times. Sorry, my beautiful Albatross for tapping you so hard in frustration.

... Now if Micah would get off that Godzilla-height high horse.

... *sends fierce hate through ESP*

ANYWAYS, as much as I dislike Micah, I actually have to attribute part of that frustration with Tess. She realizes that Micah isn't quite the guy he appears to be early on but decides to brush it all aside. In fact, even later when Micah bites her, it takes Tess time to realize that, maybe, oh! Biting isn't right?! Ultimately, I don't know whether my aggrivation should be counted as a success or flaw on Josie Bloss's part, but the fact remains that both of the two main characters were annoying, one intentially so. Micah is the typical guy you throw out with the trash, but as for Tess... I just don't know. Her past situation with her controlling father makes it more understandable, but, please, instead of bottling up your anger, say something.

On the other hand, when Tess finally does find that special "voice" telling her that Micah is, yes, a jerk, I cheered for her. Josie Bloss definitely addresses the serious issue of mental abbuse, which is often overlooked for the more evident physical abuse. She cuts to the chase and depicts with disturbing clarity the possibility of this horrible abuse occuring right under the nose of other oblivious persons: at school, at home, anywhere. As long as there is a an abuser and a victim, Daisy and Tess, abuse happens. Abuse isn't just in underprivileged families and the abusers aren't just middle-aged married men. Tess's submissiveness and self-degradation to please Micah can come off as annoying and weak, but unfortuantely, that desire to "measure up" can be all to true. Tess has been told off so much by her father, I feel that when Micah emphasized her inferiority, there's a portion of Tess that believes him - and that breaks my heart. So although no particular aspect packed a "wow" factor for me, I admire Bloss's clarity in conveying and stressing her point.  

The progression of the storyline was fairly standard, and what I more enjoyed was seeing how Micah and Tess's particular relationship played out. It was a quite repetitive, but that was mostly due to the cyclical nature of abuse: the insults, the break-up, the endearing make-up, the insults, etc. and there are different people and events thrown here and there to spice things up. Though there is a semi-unexpected twist at the end that I probably should have been expecting since "idiots now, idiots tomorrow, idiots forever!"* Given the subject matter, I found the ending satisfactory and sweet without being overly gushy or "happy." Life is hard and there's not always that happily ever after, but you're in control of your life and you're the one who can make it better. And that's what Tess proves.

Romance: Abusive. Not much to say here.
Cover: 2.5 -- It's pretty, but a it just doesn't hold any special appeal. The main girl also isn't quite how envisioned the semi-reserved, laid-back Tess that isn't very concerned with her appearance most days...
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 4.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Albatross is a clear portrayal of the gross and demented nature of mental abuse and teaches solid lessons about independence and self-identity that all girls, and boys, should know. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a non-graphic depiction of the cruelty and manipulation involved in abuse and, overall, a fairly quick read with some substance. In honor of Shakespeare's birthday, I part with these wise words for Micah, "I scorn you, scurvy companion. What, you poor, base, rascally, cheating, lack-linen mate! Away, you mouldy rogue, away!" (Shakespeare, Henry IV Part 2, 2.4)

*note on "idiots today, idiots...!" - Sorry about that, agh! I've been studying too much AP U.S. History and George Wallace's segregation spiel!!! *knocks useless history information out of my head*

Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi
Swati Avasthi's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)
Hardcover: 288 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.
At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split — how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.

Rating: View my rating system. 
 


My Thoughts: Split was a touching reminder that family is always, always a point your universe centers around, regardless of whether that’s good or bad. I’ll honestly admit that I love the short summary of Split; “re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist, $3.84, and a secret” is genius and definitely hooked me from page -1. So before you put this book down because of the cover (I’m not going to lie, the cover is not attractive), do yourself a favor and read the summary. Please. It might not be for you, but the perhaps sub-par appearance hides a beautiful debut.

The summary is exactly what this book is about, Jace Witherspoon, a teenage boy, running from his abusive father. Jace has always been part of a broken and fragmented family; his mother takes the abuse, his brother ran away years ago, and he has never felt valued by any of his family members. The plot really picks up from there, and we see Jace established as a perceptive, intuitive boy who, in some ways, is mature beyond his years whereas, in others, he’s very much a teenager that’s struggling to find personal identity and niche in his unique family. Other than the occasional anger management struggles, which are understandable considering his upbringing, and his mischievous streak, Jace is the perfect boy; he’s athletic, cute, considerate, understanding, and sweet. That's not to say he doesn't come with all the negatives of many teenage boys, but the balance is perfect in that his flaws - and he definitely has some - aren’t overwhelming enough to rule out his good points while still adding that extra realistic touch. My favorite part is that Jace’s voice is spot-on to the angst-y teenager he is, and I found myself quickly drawn into his story. I won’t be absolutely obsessing over Jace anytime soon to the point of Alex (Perfect Chemistry), but he’s definitely a more realistic definition of an "ideal" guy.

As for the premise as a whole, I think Swati Avasthi did a wonderful job tackling the abusive relationship. As I read, I started to see Jace's father as not entirely evil and, in fact, maybe in some ways nice... but just when I would start seeing the other side of things, Swati really had a knack for reminding me that, yes, Jace’s father is abusive. He nails his wife’s hands to the wall. Literally. (I think that almost made me gag, but it's memorable.) Setting aside the extent to how repulsive and disgusting some of Jace’s father’s actions are, Swati made it clear that abusive is not an exclusive term; just because someone is labeled “abusive,” he/she is still a person that has his/her own feelings and desires. I’m by no means advocating abuse, but twisted (let’s say very, very twisted) desires are still desires. Jace is also labeled “broken,” “abused,” etc. by his brother and brother’s girlfriend, Mirriam. I really saw how these labels played into Jace’s definition as a person and how much he had to fight to prove to them that, again, he’s a person that can’t just be categorized as something to be objectively studied, properly aided, then efficiently discarded. Split really enforced that as much as we say labels are “bad,” shouldn’t be used, and prejudiced, that doesn’t stop people from automatically labeling others. I’m not going as far to say we incorrectly label others all the time, but they’re not all inclusive and all exclusive, which can be hard to remember, especially when dealing with “victims” and “perpetuators.”

My largest complaint with Split is that I would have liked to see more of some secondary characters. There was enough information to be enjoyable, but not enough that I felt like I could truly relate and sympathize with them. Theb there were some I simply found interesting and wanted to see appear more often. The only one that really annoyed me at times was Christian, Jace's brother, who would at times seem helpful and understanding, then do a 180 degree turnabout be unwilling to understand what Jace was going through; ugh, fickleness does not become him. In general, the secondary characters were by no means a major detractor, but it could have made the book even better for me. Then, of course, we approach the ending... it was good though in that the door to the future was open just right; it's not the fairytale ending but a hopeful beginning. A couple unexpected but logical twists made it interesting, and my heart was weeping on Jace's behalf until the very last few pages. A very clean, simple, and effective ending that wrapped up Split perfectly.

Overall, I strongly applaud Swati Avasthi for her fantastic, memorable debut and will be watching out for her works in the future!

Romance: Kissing... I really didn't feel like the romance was a major part of the book, though it was still very much there. Instead, the romance felt like it was a smaller part of the whole concept. There is a bit of kissing though.
Cover: 1.5 -- I guess I can see where the keys come from, but this cover just doesn't work for me. It's definitely not one I would pick up at first glance from the book store.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 4.5
Plot: 5.0

Bottom Line: Memorable. Intricate. Real. Fans of young adult books dealing with what can be deemed as "deeper" issues or concepts, Split is a book for you.

(Changed format of "bottom line;" what do you think?)

Thank you to Goodreads First Reads for providing me with a copy!

Review: Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Susanne Dunlap's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 2, 2010)

Hardcover: 352 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

“Will I never see you again either?” I asked, feeling as though I was about to jump off a high mountain peak and hope to land without hurting myself. That’s how impossible everything seemed at that moment, no matter what I did.

“Perhaps we will meet again,” Sasha said, softening his voice. “But you must see that it does not matter. You have so much ahead of you. It’s your choice now. Choose the future! Choose life!”

For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia’s last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family’s future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?

Inspired by the mysteries that have long surrounded the last days of the Romanov family, Susanne Dunlap’s new novel is a haunting vision of the life—and love story—of Russia’s last princess.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: Anastasia's Secret is a beautiful, historic tale of a young girl growing up and dealing with love and loss. The only difference is that, in this case, the young girl is the Grand Duchess of the Soviet Union, who's increasingly exiled as the rebels take over the Soviet Union. But despite Anastasia's lofty position, Susanne Dunlap makes her feel like any other girl: lonely, confused, a little lost, insecure, and yearning for love and family.

As revealed in her earlier guest post, Susanne Dunlap definitely did her research, and it shows in the vivid backdrop of Anastasia's Secret. I can't guarantee that all depictions are accurate, but they seem true to the time and quickly reeled me into the rapidly changing political climate of the early 20th century Soviet Union. My complaint is that I felt many of the characters were defined by how Anastasia perceived them rather than by their actions, though they're interesting add-ons that walk on-and-off the stage as Anastasia holds the spotlight.

Anastasia herself immediately caught me as well with her blunt, straight-forward voice coupled with all the innocence of a sheltered princess. Anastasia's the oddball of her talented siblings - don't we all feel that way? - and struggles to find her purpose and identity, endearing herself to me like a close friend. I admire Susanne Dunlap's interpretation of Anastasia as vulnerable but willing to be strong for her family, but though I applauded her open-minded and curious approach to topics, I was often annoyed by her continued naivety and lack of action. Despite Anastasia's development from a small girl to a young woman, I didn't see much change in her passive, idealist approach to her circumstances, always relying on others to find a solution for her. So please pass me a small hammer so I may knock the sharp nail of reality into her head.

The solider whom Anastasia counts upon most is Sasha, a supposedly handsome soldier approximately ten years her senior. However, in times of war, what matters most is the emotional connection they experience, and their age difference sort of fell by the wayside. Their romance is exactly what Sasha and Anastasia need through their hardships, though I got a sense that a portion of their relationship was derived from desperation rather than affection; Sasha needs a warm, comforting body while Anastasia needs someone to actually tell her everything will be okay. As for Sasha, I still feel like I barely know him. Yes, he's always there and provides the side of reality and logic that Anastasia lacks, but who exactly is he? I'm not sure. But overall, the romance was an intriguing aspect that held my attention throughout the book and, surprisingly, probably accounts for about one-third of Anastasia's Secret.

At times, the romance and relocating became repetitive and monotonous, but the differing occurrences and descriptions kept me from skipping other sections or putting the book down. Anastasia's Secret progresses at a moderate pace, and I'm happy with the epiphany Anastasia experiences at the end, though the wrap-up felt rushed considering the long journey there. But the ending is bittersweet in that we know Anastasia's inevitable fate...

Romance: A large part of the book, and a few instance of sex. I mentioned it already above, and there's nothing explicit.
Cover: 2.5 -- Sort of standard, but the model is gorgeous and looks very Russian. Not exactly how I imagined Anastasia, but I can see it, I suppose...
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Anastasia's Secret is a rich, relatable story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov that fascinates me as an avid historical YA novel reader. The book itself was solid, though I more enjoyed Susanne Dunlap's take on the journey from a young princess who still has everything she could ever want to an older, more mature young woman that can now fully understand the deep connections of family and love. Susanne Dunlap definitely knows how to write historical fiction, and I give her kudos for somehow being able to pull so much from a tragic princess's exile. (After all, how much can really happen when you're confined and watched over 24/7?)

Thank you to Anna from Bloomsbury for the review copy!

Review: In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Loretta Ellsworth's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (February 2, 2010)
Hardcover: 244 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

A touching novel of last regrets and second chances in the tradition of Lurlene McDaniel and Gabrielle Zevin.

When a small mistake costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife, Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done differently, through her still-beating heart.

When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterwards when she starts to feel different — dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy —her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan’s life,meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.

Told in alternating viewpoints, In a Heartbeat tells the emotional and compelling story of two girls sharing one heart.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: In a Heartbeat has a premise that caught me right off the bat, and it definitely didn't fail to disappoint. I loved the concept of exploring the life post-heart transplant, and though the book doesn't contain any I-need-a-bucket-to-cry-in moments, it has that bittersweet element that made me go "aww." :)

First, we have Amelia, the sickly but otherwise perfect daughter. She's defiant, scared, brave, vulnerable, and realistically innocent. Then there's Eagen, who's everything Amelia's not: athletic, blissfully normal, with an adoring and hot boyfriend, and on the fast track to a good college and a shining ice skating career. But when Eagen incorrectly judges a skating jump, she hits her head and dies, donating her heart to Amelia. From there begins the story of Amelia's quest to find Eagen's family and Eagen's own acceptance of her death.

When Eagen dies, she wakes in this vast, gray "in between" state where she relives her fondest memories. Poor, poor isolated girl with so much more potential, but life's life; there's the good and the bad, and Loretta Ellsworth finds a bittersweet ending that consolidates the two. I'm usually not a big flashback fan, but it was easy to get caught up in Eagen's memories, especially since she was so obnoxiously cute. Unfortunately, Eagen is also a prime example of how you can have so much but not realize it until you lose it. I didn't want her to die, but Loretta Ellsworth did such a great job of developing the story that I felt like the ending was what Eagen needed  rather than living on. I don't believe in any form of god, but is there such a thing as fate? After reading Eagen's story, maybe.

As for Amelia... girl, she was no Eagen. I still feel like I still don't really know Amelia, and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's partially because our relationship just didn't "click," while the other, possibly larger part is that Eagen and Amelia's personality seem extremely similar. Even pre-transplant. There were some superficial characteristics that set them apart, such as Eagen talking back to her mom and liking purple, but they both seemed defiant, strong, and vulnerable. The only real difference for me was that Eagen's personality and voice were even stronger, outshining Amelia's (and that's saying something because I have a small corner in my heart that wants to kill Eagen again for being so beautiful and talented). In fact, if the structure was the same and they had no titles, I might confuse the two girls. I don't have any hard feelings for Amelia, she just wasn't distinct.

Overall, I found Loretta Ellsworth's interpretation of a heart transplant interesting, especially because it was told from both sides, the heart recipient and donor. Though a bit similar, the two girls' voices were still enjoyable and realistic, and I loved going along with them on their quests for self-discovery. The only real negative aspect was that though I felt Eagan's story was complete, I really wanted to more about Amelia; more closure please!

Romance: A little kissing. Just a little bit of romance thrown in for that icing on the cake. It goes into Eagan's past relationship with her boyfriend, and I'm glad to say there is some stress on talking and sharing emotions rather than simply making out. Yes for intellectuals!
Cover: 3.5. Pretty, but it's neither stunning nor extremely suited to the book.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: In a Heartbeat has an interesting premise and relatable voices that made this book enjoyable, though it didn't necessarily wow me. If you're looking for a bittersweet, touching read without needing to get the tissues, I'd definitely recommend trying out In a Heartbeat. :)

Blog Tour Review: The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

Jillian Cantor's website here // $11.46  from {amazon}

Publisher: HarperTeen (February 9, 2010)

Hardcover: 352 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: The Life of Glass is a beautiful read about family, loss, and love. It's not one of those kind of books that immediately grabs you and makes you feel like you need to read it right there, right now but one that slowly grows on you and makes you go "wow" when you look back. The Life of Glass is a sweet reminder that even when everything can seem like it's falling apart, what matters most will always be there - or at least for a million years, how long it takes a piece of glass to decay.

Jillian Cantor begins by introducing Melissa, paraphrasing her father's death and her relationship with her best guy friend, Brian, pre-high school. I didn't really have any feelings for Melissa at first, but I soon found myself connecting to what I had earlier overlooked: Melissa's normalcy. I can't say I've been in her exact situations before, but Melissa's young, relatable feelings and aspirations quickly drew me in. She's resilient and has her head firmly on her shoulders; yes, she occasionally shows some teenage immaturity but not in a way that immediately drove me off. I clearly saw Melissa's growth from a naive young girl to a more mature, open-minded teen, and I applauded her every step of the way. I'm not going to lie and say I supported everything she thought and did, but mistakes are a part of growing up and I definitely saw how she learned from each expierience. She's not an angel, and who is really?

As for plot, The Life of Glass's story is intricate and very well-connected. I mentioned earlier the three basic components that Jillian Cantor addresses: family, love, and loss. Jillian introduces many subplots, but one situation always flowed smoothly into the next; I never felt like Jillian Cantor had to throw in some unlikely, inexplicable circumstance to force Melissa home to "coincidently" see her sister's friend and fall in love him. The situations themselves are a bit stereotypical, but that's actually a positive aspect in that they're relatable and simply plain normal. Jillian Cantor skillfully weaves messages about dealing with changing relationships and handling loss, and though The Life of Glass is not a tear-jerker by any means, there were definitely times that my heart semi-broke and times it wanted to jump with joy.

A special area of sweetness is Ryan. He sounds exactly like the type of boy-down-the-street that's always there for you when you're younger then grows into this cute, lanky more-than-a-friend when you're older. Ryan's got the shyness, weakness (asthma), sensitivity, and blue eyes down pat, and I don't know what more to expect. He has his mistakes here and there, but what can I say? - he's just a teenage boy. *cue eye roll* The only semi-complaint is just that I wanted to see more of Ryan. I got a pretty good inkling of who he is, but he would dissapear for large chunks at a time when I just wanted to see more, more, more.

And, last side note, the short 2-page long love stories that "Melissa" wrote throughout the book were adorable. They follow her growing maturity through the book and were a sweet reminder of what dreams are for... what are dreams for? Hope. ♥

Romance: Discovering love. A book of first love, and there is a little under-the-shirt action, but only for about two paragraphs.

Cover: 4.0 -- I love how the glass is shattered but pieced back together, sort of like Melissa's life.
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 5.0
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: The Life of Glass is a beautiful coming-of-age story that's, frankly, spot-on. The jealous friends, insecurity, sister bonding -- wait, am I talking about my own life here? All-in-all, The Life of Glass is definitely a book I'll be re-reading when I need a little push to keep going, and I look forward to reading Jillian Cantor's books in the future!

Source: Thank you to Barbara from Blue Slip Media! Recieved on behalf of the blog tour.

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Whew, moving on from the review. First off, congrats to Jillian since The Life of Glass comes out TODAY! Yes, you heard me right, that means you can go out and buy it - go, go, go! :D

Second on the agenda...

THE LIFE OF GLASS GIVEAWAY

Enter to win free copies of Jillian Cantor's books and cool prizes! One grand prize winner will receive two glass spirit stones (one for you, one for a friend) from Arizona, where THE LIFE OF GLASS is set, along with an autographed copy of each of Jillian's novels: THE LIFE OF GLASS and THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS. Two lucky runners-up will receive a signed copy of THE LIFE OF GLASS. To be eligible, send an email to contests@jilliancantor.com with the subject line "The Life of Glass Giveaway". All e-mail entries must be received by midnight (PST) on February 14, 2010. The winners will be selected at random on February 15, 2010. Be sure to include your name and e-mail address with your entry (If you're under age 13, give your parent's contact info). One entry per person. Jillian Cantor's complete blog tour schedule can be found at http://www.jilliancantor.com/. Good luck!

The next stop is at The Undercover Book Lover, and you can find all the stops here. They're truly worth checking out, and I'll cross my fingers for your chance to read The Life of Glass too!

Review: Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

Anne Spollen's website here // $9.95 from {amazon}

Publisher: Flux (February 1, 2010)

Paperback: 216 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

Elizah Rayne is nothing like other fourteen-year-old girls. More interested in bird bones than people, she wraps herself in silence. Trying to escape the shadow of her gambler father, Elizah and her mother move into an old house that borders a cemetery. All her mother wants is for them to have "normal" lives. But that becomes impossible for Elizah when she finds a human jawbone by the river and meets Nathaniel, a strangely hypnotic and mysterious boy who draws Elizah into his world.

Only by forgetting everything she knows can Elizah understand the truth about Nathaniel—and discover an unimaginable secret.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I hate to give such a negative review, but the truth is I just didn’t “get” this book. I didn’t understand the role of the characters, the characters themselves, etc. and I still don’t even understand the plot. I had a hard time convincing myself to continue reading, and though I really, really wanted to love Light Beneath Ferns, that just didn’t happen.

I went in expecting chilling, supernatural story, and I admit that partially proved true. Or should I say: the promise of a supernatural plot was almost the only thing that kept from completely setting this book down. The beginning started off slow, and I continued reading in hopes that Anne Spollen would eventually reveal some big secret that would explain everything or churn out an unexpected plot twist. But I kept waiting and waiting and waiting... and waiting, you get the drill. The story constantly alternates between the supernatural aspects and Elizah’s social life, and the changing focus never really allowed time to go in-depth with the supernatural storyline. My main problem with the plot was that everything that happened just happened. No explanation, no reason; it's just there – period. I read the entire book feeling like I was missing some crucial piece of information, and that vital piece never revealed itself. The ghost plot felt generic and, quite frankly, boring, especially considering I could correctly predict almost everything from the very beginning. I can see the supernatural aspects being further expanded on in the future, but it just never reached its full potential in Light Beneath Ferns.

As for Elizah, she's simply an enigma I cannot figure out. The introduction portrayed her as slightly eccentric and unique, and I expected to find an intriguing, independent heroine. Unfortunately, I soon found that wasn’t the case. Or I should say I *think* Elizah was neither strong nor special, because I honestly don’t understand her. I felt like Anne Spollen wanted to create an unique character, but in trying too hard, Elizah's personality fell flat. Elizah is the typical, sarcastic teen when with her mother and quiet and brooding by herself and with others – making me question: who is she really? Elizah claims she just wants to be silent, but why? I can understand wanting to be solitary, but Elizah has this almost "need" to be alone, a desire I never saw a solid basis for. Because she just “feels” like she has to? It was extremely annoying to see Elizah push everyone away, even her friendly classmates that were always there to support her. I can understand kindly brushing someone off or just being up-front about it, but not only is Elizah unassertive, she also rudely ignores them and gives off a feeling of superiority. Maybe she’s supposed to be “above” high school and adolescence, but her behavior didn't give me that impression about her maturity.

Romance-wise, there was definitely something there, but, again, it seemed so stereotypical. First we have Nathaniel, the mysterious, enticing boy that Elizah finds herself thinking about 24/7. I’m not going to lie, I would probably follow him too, but I didn’t see any foundation for their attraction. It seemed like they fell in “love” too fast, and the only time I really liked Elizah was when she asked Nathaniel where he planned on taking her instead of mindlessly following him. Elizah finally displayed some admirable resolve... or at least until Nathaniel was like “do you want to come or not” and Elizah just dropped it – what? She's not afraid of someone who, at that time, was practically a stranger? Though I didn’t like her obsession (sorry) with Nathaniel that much, I liked Elizah’s relationship with Kyle, Nathaniel's basketball-star-and-most-popular-guy-in-school competitor, even less. She obviously didn’t like him and considering how independent and defiant she was with her mother, why couldn’t she tell him she wasn’t interested instead of leading him on? I felt all of the other characters were generic as well, particularly Elizah’s well-meaning mother that just wants to fit into their new community but is constantly being discouraged by Elizah. *sniffle*

Despite all the flaws I saw in this book, again, there is definitely hidden potential here. Anne Spollen’s writing flows easily, and she subtly scatters beautiful imagery throughout the book. Though I mostly missed the concept as a whole, a number of less-known or less significant details sparked my interest that Anne Spollen skillfully tied into the plot. Light Beneath Ferns also integrates some solid lessons with Elizah’s broken family, and despite my mountain of complaints with Elizah, I admire her wit and resilience. And can I add that I like the name "Elizah Rayne?" :)

Romance: Mysterious and tentative. I didn't necessarily like the characters involved in the romance, but we're talking about first love here and with Nathaniel? Very mysterious.
Cover: 4.5 -- A little monotone, but very, very pretty. It fits the mood perfectly, and it's soft.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 1.0
Plot: 1.0 - The plot felt like an introduction; there's an interesting setting, but nothing really happens.

Bottom Line: If you haven't noticed the numerous question marks in my review, Light Beneath Ferns constantly made me wonder "why, why, why?" I didn't feel myself connecting with any of the characters, and, overall, there was nothing in the book that stood out to me as extremely original or a step-up from the usual ghost story. If ghosts strongly appeal to you, you might want to give this book a spin, but though I might still try Anne Spollen's books in the future for her lyrical writing, I won't be be first in-line buying her books anytime soon.

Source: Thank you to Tricia from Flux!

Review: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Kristin Walker's website here // $9.99 from {amazon}

Publisher: Razorbill (February 4, 2010)

Paperback: 288 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: A Match Made in High School has the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders, and that slightly overweight guy friend, aka all the cliches - in a funny and endearing way. The story is light, fluffy, and entertaining, and I was surprised by how clear the messages come across from author to reader.

The primary reason I wanted to read A Match Made in High School was the plot. I knew I had to somehow get a copy into my hands the moment I read the premise because it was just. so. cute. *runs around like the brainless chicken I am* I'm a high school student myself, and it definitely got me thinking about what it would be like if my school adapted a marriage course, a class known in the book as "Trying the Knot." The possibilities are endless, and A Match Made in High School did not disappoint. The system mimics a "marriage" by assigning varying income factors, necessitating a job, randomly throwing out obstacles such as pregnancies, and more. Most importantly, of course, there's the marriage partner. Does it sound intriguing? Yes. Does it sound like trouble? Definitely. I loved going on the high school highway with Fiona as she tried to navigate the marriage course and the rocky road of her romance. Then sprinkle in a little bit of your brooding crush being paired up with your partner's cheerleader girlfriend? I sense some major "fun" in the horizon.

The main and only reason I didn't give A Match Made in High School a better rating is Fiona's ignorance and, therefore, my annoyance with her. Fiona is that typical outcast with that one best friend, but she also enjoys biting cheerleaders and jocks back with her rapier wit. I appluad Fiona's refusal to retreat in the face of adversy, but unfortunately, that low social standing coupled with that defiant behavior is extremely rare, if it even exists. How plausible Fiona's character was didn't really factor into the book though, and I still found myself being able to relate to most of Fiona's very teenage feelings and thoughts. The real problem that bothered me was how self-centered and naive Fiona was, gah. I wanted to literally grab her head and turn it in the right direction, showing her exactly what was under her nose and waiting to be noticed. Not exactly pleasant. I understand that Fiona needed to experience some sort of development from Point A to Point B, and I clearly saw her progression, but did she have to be so ignorant to that extent? Thankfully, it just meant I didn't have to like Fiona for about 1/4 of the book, and I did like the independent but considerate girl Fiona grew into at the end. Overall, I admire Fiona's independence and resiliency and sprinkled with a bit of naivety and a whole lot of sarcasm, it made Fiona appear like just another teenage girl, just one less concerned with other's opinions than most.

And that brings me to what I loved about A Match Made in High School: Fiona's voice. I just explained my conflicting feelings regarding Fiona, but I can definitively say that she's sarcastic and simply a teen. Kristin Walker does a great job getting into the mind of a teen girl, and it felt like I was following some exciting drama with a friend rather than reading a book. There are some interesting and awesome displays of teenage immaturity (yes, I'm a hypocrite) and many cute and funny moments. Creating a voodoo bracelet and calling upon spirits to curse Sam's friend? Good times, good times, girl. Fiona's sarcasm never failed to amuse me and made me think "man, I wish I could think of such a good comeback that quickly." I can say for sure that I was never bored, and it's practically a rule that I have to fall for a book with such a sarcastic, hilarious narrator.

A Match Made in High School isn't all about romance though, and it clearly conveys some solid, fundamental lessons about family and friendship. All's well that ends well, and the ending is sort of expected, but sweet nonetheless.

Romance: Nothing physical, but definitely relationship issues. Marriage course = I forsee many romantic conflicts. Many delusions, coming to accept people for who they are, etc. and nothing  particular serious.
Cover: 4.0 - I think it's adorable, and it really helped me picture what some of the characters might look like.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.0 + .25 creativity points

Bottom Line: A Match Made in High School was a quick, easy, and hilarious read with a light sprinkling of romance, friendships, and family conflicts. The plot had me hooked from square one, and though the characters were stereotypical, Kristen Walker managed to create unique personalities within the cliches. Kristin introduces a fresh and witty voice to the YA family, and I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a fluffy, fun read with some insightful tidbits thrown in. Congrats to Kristin on a solid debut, and I'll be watching out for her books in the future!

Source: Thank you to Gillian from Razorbill!

Review: Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu

Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu

C.J. Omololu's website here // $11.46 from {amazon}

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (February 2, 2010)

Hardcover: 224 pages 

Summary: from {goodreads}

Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.

For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to -- nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal.

When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children -- they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue.

With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: Dirty Little Secrets was a riveting, inside-look into the life of hoarders. Or, more accurately, the youngest daughter of a hoarder. Lucy's story was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time, and I definitely loved the unique premise of this book.

It's not every day you come across a girl that can have her mom die on her and think rationally, aka Lucy. Lucy is strong and independent yet extremely vulnerable, exactly the type of heroine you can immediately relate to and sympathize for. Her strength lies in the fact that she acknowledges her emotions, regardless of how embarrassing or insentive she knows they are. Don't miscontrue that statement - I'm not saying Lucy is heartless, but she realizes that she probably deosn't feel as strongly about her mother's death as she knows she should. However, should Lucy feel strongly about her mother's death? The relationship between Lucy and her mother was intricate and impossible to pinpoint it down into a specific word or phrase. How can you love a woman that effectively isolated and constantly blamed you? A woman that made your life hard and miserable? But Cynthia J. Omololu reveals the duality of Lucy's mother as both a hoarder but also a parent, and I really found myself questioning the mother-daughter relationship. After reading the book, I can definitively see Lucy's mother as an actual person, though I'm still not decided on whether or not she loved Lucy. But that's the beauty of it, no?

A majority of Dirty Little Secrets is told in well-integrated, short flashbacks, and if you're wary of those kind of formats, I'm going to say that so am I. Flashbacks usually throw me off, and I was surprised at how well they fit into the story. In fact, Dirty Little Secrets actually had an entirely different structure than I was expecting; instead of going far forward to find out what happens after Lucy's mother dies, the entire story takes place within the next 24 hours, where Lucy reminisces about her mother and wavers between what she should do about her situation. The flashbacks effectively develop their relationship and the triggers for them made the transition very smooth, though I can't say the same about when the flashback ended. Cynthia Omololu would often end them by saying something along the lines of "but that was not my case" and it got a bit redundant after a while.

There are two reasons this book isn't getting a 5-star: 1) a tad too long and repetitive in the beginning and middle and 2) the ending. "I Love Lucy" and all, but I was really anxious to see when the other characters would come in. Lucy's crush and best friend are spotlighted at the beginning, but they then dissapear until about the last 30 pages, which the most action in the entire book. (I admit I'm an action girl though.) I was also constantly waiting and waiting and waiting for Lucy to realize the futility of her actions. She would after a while, but still! - I'm going to accredit her slight slowness to aftershock and panic from her mother's death. I've talked to Cynthia Omololu and she did say it's part of the point of the book, how Lucy doesn't realize her existing support system, but it's a little annoying nonetheless. Moving on to the ending, it was satisfying and one I definitely did not see coming, but my problem was that I felt everything wrapped up so quickly. The quality was the same, but the ending really left me hanging; I want moooorre. It's not an issue, though the ending made me question Lucy's sanity. Cynthia Omololu developed her conflict well enough that I could justify Lucy's actions, but, ah, so surprising! Or rather, insane. It speaks volumes that I am not sending Lucy to the looney bin right now.

A notable aspect was even when I felt the plot was a bit slow, Lucy's sarcasm always kept me interested. And I find sarcasm one of the most entertaining and hilarious things ever. :)

"I prayed there werem't anny maggots, because I wasn't sure how I would explain those away. High school science experiment? Surburban 4-H?"

- Lucy, pg.128

Romance: A small portion, but cute. Basically the last 30 pages consists of Lucy and her love interest talking and kissing a bit. They fall for each other very fast, but he's the sweetest guy ever and plays a very important role in Lucy's final decision.
Cover: 4.5 - I actually really love this cover. The colors are simple, but Lucy looks very much like how I would imagine her and the window definitely shows the signs of hoarding. Gorgeous!
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 4.0 - Interesting cast, but more background would be nice.
Plot: 4.5 + .25 creativity points

Bottom Line: Gritty, realistic, and disturbing, Dirty Little Secrets is an intricate story that leaves you musing about the possibilities long after the book has ended. I found myself sympathizing with Lucy even when I didn't agree with her actions, and the unique premise of this book really gave me a wake-up call as to the complications and suffering associated with hoarding. Overall, an outstanding debut, and I'll definitely be looking out for books from Cynthia Jaynes Omololu in the future!

Source: Thank you to Anna from Bloomsbury Children's Books!

Review: The Mark by Jen Nadol

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Jen Nadol's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 19, 2010)

Hardcover: 240 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I really wanted to like this one more. Really. But though The Mark was enjoyable to some extent, it just didn't suck me in the way I was hoping it would. However, The Mark does pose a very interesting question: if you know someone's going to die within 24 hours, what do you do? And as a side note, don't go in expecting an action-filled or even a fast-paced read because you won't be able to appreciate The Mark for the gradually developing and thought-probing story it is.

I'm going to divert from the norm here and start off with the positive. I really liked Jen Nadol's concept, though I do find it a bit ironic that a death is foreshadowed by light. It's nothing extremely weird, and in fact, it sort of makes me feel happier about the idea of death - it's not darkness, it's light. I clearly saw Cassie's internal debate between tell and don't-tell, and though I had my own opinion from the very beginning, I could understand her struggle and cheered when she reached her "larger insight." Lucas definitely played devil's advocate for Cassie, and I groaned every time she succumbed to what I knew, knew!, wouldn't yield pleasant results. That being said, Cassie isn't an extremely weak character, she's just naive (which can get annoying, though not majorly so) and a teenage girl with some believable flaws.

I mentioned Lucas, and I never, ever liked him. *wants to bash him a few times with a rock pebble*
...
Okay, so maybe I had a minor crush on him the first time he was described as the intellectual-coffee-shop-cute type, but my mind was waving player alert; I swear! Once I started getting around that, I found Lucas had an annoyingly strong sense of morality and mistrust and that, to put it simply, made him a jerk. I think he was mainly placed as an obstacle for Cassie, though, ugh, he was just so predictable and unlikable. As for the other characters, with the exclusion of Cassie, I had neutral feelings for. Cassie was brought to the forefront in The Mark, and the secondary characters faded into the background. There were mentions here-and-there, but the other characters would basically come in for some time, play their part when convenient, then leave. Like Lucas, they were more like obstacles and aids rather than characters with clearly defined personalities and motivations. The brief appearances were bad in that I didn't feel like there was enough support, but good because it set-up for a sequel.

Overall, I think what really determines how much you'll like The Mark is how much you like the focus of the book, which is ALL on Cassie. On the plus side, I really got an in-depth view of her, and I liked the varying philosophies Jen Nadol brought up. On the other hand, there were some very predictable parts and the middle section got monotonous; there was the introduction, a lull, then multiple surprising revelations at the end. My final verdict: interesting, but nothing in particular stood out or really captured my attention.

Romance: PG with a bit of emotional exploration. Into an apartment at night... then it skips to the morning. There's more focus on what relationships mean to Cassie and relatively little in the romance area.
Cover: 4.0 -Love the cover, though the blurbs don't really come into play until much, much later in the book.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 2.5
Plot: 3.0

Bottom Line: The Mark was an enjoyable book, though there was never an extremely exciting or loveable part that made me feel fully invested in the story. It wasn't extremely thought provoking, but it was definitely thought probing and had an interesting mix of depth and simple teenage issues. In general, a good start for debut author Jen Nadol, and I'll be looking forward to where she takes this unique premise that will hopefully only improve from here on out. If you're looking for something that's light yet will keep your mind on its figurative toes, I recommend trying out The Mark.

Source: Bloomsbury Chilren's Books