Review: Numbers by Rachel Ward

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward's website here // $12.23 from {amazon}

Publisher: The Chicken House (February 1, 2010)

Hardcover: 336 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: The first thing I want to clear up: what made me interested in Numbers was the plot summary, though the book itself was much different from my expectations. I had the impression that the book would be Jem running in circles to prevent a potential terrorist attack - but no, hold that thought. Instead, the terrorist attack takes place very early in the book and the following 300 or so pages depict Jem and her new friend, Spider's journey as they run from the scene of the crime and are chased by police for interrogation. Unexpected? Yes. Just as intense? Definitely.

The idea, being able to foretell death, behind Numbers wasn't exactly new, but Rachel Ward adds a fresh voice to an older concept. She doesn't smooth down the rough edges of reality and instead manages to find the beauty in the ordinary, daily occurrences that we often take for granted. I loved the gritty descriptions, though I felt the writing was slightly bogged down by the cursing. The plot itself was fast-paced and action-packed, though there were a few parts that had me wondering what exactly the characters were thinking... but, I digress, perhaps their brains shut off for five minutes.

My main problem with Numbers lies with Spider and Jem. They're rough and occasionally nasty, and I give props to Rachel Ward for being able to make two people who, by societal values, would be characterized as troublemakers or good-for-nothings and actually make them semi-likeable. Spider had a stubbornness and optimism that I admired, but he also had this naivety that annoyed me; though his innocent perception of drugs and stealing can perhaps be seen as a reflection of some misguided teens today. As for Jem, I don't think I have to say more beyond she-can-see-deaths-and-doesn't-go-crazy to prove her strength, but her constant whining and, at times, irrationality irked me. Especially at the end, ugh. Overall though, the characters were fine, and what I enjoyed more were the sarcastic dialogue and changing relationship between the two. The dialogue was spot-on in expressing the two's personalities, slang and all, and it was sweet seeing Jem's vulnerability peek through as she gradually opened up to Spider.

In general, I felt Rachel Ward's exploration of this seeing death concept was solid, though not exceptional. There are enough elements to satisfy the light psychological reader, but I would say to read a book like The Mark by Jen Nadol over Numbers if you're looking for a more psychological read at the expense of some action.

Romance: Emotional, but one instance of sex. There is sex, but it's very broad and basically follows the process of naked, love, then happiness. Given the book's young adult label, I don't think any additional censorship is necessary.
Cover: 3.0 -- A little bit too bland for me, and I feel like the eye could have benefitted from better placement or blending. It does set the slightly creepy tone for the book though.
Writing: 4.0
Characters:  3.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Numbers was a fast-paced read that offers both an interesting premise and a realistic, fresh teen voice from debut author Rachel Ward. I would recommend Numbers to anyone looking for a gritty teen adventure with a bit of a psychological twist, and congrats to Rachel on a solid debut!

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: 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: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Courtney Summer's website here // $9.99 from {amazon}

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (January 5, 2010)
Paperback: 256 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

Rating:

View my rating system.

My Thoughts: Let me begin by finishing the title: Some Girls Are... absolute cold-hearted, backstabbing bitches. And, man, I like it that way. ;)

Regina is a former member of The Fearsome Fivesome, a group both revered and feared at her high school. But when she gets accused of sleeping with her best friend Anna, their group leader's boyfriend, Regina quickly gets booted out and publicly humiliated. But is Regina the type of girl to back down and admit defeat? N-o. That rumor just marks the beginning of a vicious cycle of spite and revenge, and I was surprised at how deep their hatred ran. These girls aren't just cunning, they're mean in every sense of the word. In their world, a prank isn't a victory unless it involves pain and fear. And Courtney Summers doesn't spare Regina from stopping to such lows; Regina would pull a horrible stunt and laugh in a second - ouch.

But as despicable as that might sound, I actually liked Regina and not in the love-to-hate way. I could definitely see her progression from egotistic and self-centered to not exactly a nice girl, but one that also places others into consideration. What I really love is how Courtney Summers manages to make Regina's devlopment believable by preserving her defining mean streak. Not exactly an endearing quality, but everyone has flaws and no one, not even Regina, can do a 360 on his/her personality in a couple weeks. I'm not going to lie, at times I was frustrated and annoyed with Regina, but that all felt like part of the experience. Without all the confusion, occasional malevolence, and little peeks of warmth and yearning, it just wouldn't be Regina.

I know I'm probably sounding like a complete hypocrite with my review, but it's hard to put exactly how I felt about this book into words. I constantly questioned Regina throughout the book; there are times where I want to strangle her and times I want to cheer for her - all that makes this book good. And I didn't even hate her or any of her supposed "friends" for all the crap they pulled. In a way, I could understand it. How? I don't know, but Courtney Summers manages to pull it off.  Yes, though Some Girls Are is a stretch of the high school heirarchy, there is teasing and bullying but (at least in my experience) not to the level in the book, it was still completely riveting.

Parting with a nugget of not-so-awesome wisdom to remember: "bitch" should not be only considered as a noun; it can't fully describe a person. It's simply an adjective to describe what some. girls. are.

Romance: A rocky road, but sweet. There's some kissing, and it plays a major part in Regina's development. The guy is sensitive and adorable, and I'm going to leave it at it's hard being a boyfriend for someone like Regina...
Cover: 3.5 - While it's bold and actually quite reflective of the book (you'll get the red locker when you read), it didn't automatically catch my eye and make me yearn to read it; some other bloggers' awesome reviews did.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 5.0
Plot: 4.0  (I felt that it reached a bit of a standstill at times.) 

Bottom Line: I thought Cracked Up to Be was good, but Some Girls Are was awesome; it left me with a larger feeling of "wow" when I was finished reading. Looking for read that explores the down-and-dirty side of high school and the complexity of teenage emotions? Read Some Girls Are, and I'm pretty sure you won't be dissapointed. I'll never look at the "popular group" the same again, that's for sure.

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Simone Elkele's website here // $9.99 from {amazon}.

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (December 23, 2008)

Paperback: 368 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Rating:

My Thoughts: My new religion? Worshiping Simone Elkeles. Perfect Chemistry is the traditional story of love on two sides of the track: the rich girl, Brittany Ellis, and the guy from the slums, Alex Fuentes, but Simone Elkeles retells the classic tales with a riveting voice that kept me from putting this book down. I wanted a love story, and I got one. Perfect Chemistry caught me right of the bat with its real characters, heartbreak, and, yes, intense chemistry.

What really set apart Perfect Chemistry was the authenticity of the narration and characters. Technically, Brittany and Alex are "ideals" in that they represent the extremely caring but gorgeous girl and the poor guy striving to make something of his life. However, Simone Elkeles develops them into two unique people - distinct voices, perspectives, desires, and dreams; the greatness comes not in the originality, but in the modern approach to this age-old plot. If anything, my financial situation is a lot like Brittany's, but I immediately found myself drawn to Alex. I sympathized with his evident conflict between duty to his family and personal aspirations and loved his cocky, sexy front - though that's exactly what it was, a front. Alex does have that raw, bitter edge, but he could also make the sweetest boyfriend ever. But what I really want to convey more than anything is the fact that the characters were real. The dialogue is spot-on, complete with innuendos and endearing love confessions, the characters' thoughts seem entirely plausible, and there is a clear progression from fear and contempt to true love. I still can't fully express how much I loved the characters, but what I can express is how amazing it is to not read another story where the characters fall in love so quickly to the extent that it feels like they "pretend" to hate each other.

But love's not always a smooth road, and Brittany and Alex prove that. Perfect Chemistry is just that, the perfect chemistry you can have with that one special person, and the two both struggle to reconcile themselves to their new, intense feelings. I loved how much Brittany and Alex changed each other, and Simone Elkeles knows how to throw in some comic relief at just the right time. The bathroom scene with Paco? Priceless; it still cracks me up everytime I read it. The only concern I have with this total character immersion is what other readers thought about the smatterings of Spanish. I take Spanish classes, so I know what Alex and his relatives were saying, but I wonder if it'll come easily to others that aren't acquaintanced with Spanish. There's context, but not much. The only other possible complaint I have is that the ending seemed rushed and wrapped up a bit too quickly, though that's partly because I didn't want Perfect Chemistry to end. Overall, the final scene was cute and left me with a smile on my face.

Romance: Sweet, flirtatious, and intense. Sensitive, gorgeous girl + Struggling, hot guy = perfect chemistry.
Cover: 4.0 -- Simple but I like the contrast, and it helped me envision Brittany and Alex. :)
Writing: 5.0
Characters: 5.0
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: If you still do not grasp how much I loved Perfect Chemistry by now, let me say it again: I LOVED PERFECT CHEMISTRY. The chemistry was truly perfect, and it came with all the delicious boys conflict of first real love. The plot's not very original, but the amazing characters and Simone Elkeles manages to tailor it, iron it, and make it hers. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a sweet romance minus all the tears. As for the sequel, Rules of Attraction, coming in April, I'm definitely pre-ordering it! :D

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 6, 2009)

Hardcover: 384 pages

Price: $9.93 from {amazon}

Summary: from {goodreads}

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is black. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl springs up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

Rating:

Review: I had very high expectations for The Maze Runner, considering all the rave reviews I’ve read about it, and while The Maze Runner met some of those standards, I’m still a little disappointed with the book as a whole. While great, I wouldn’t say I fell in love with The Maze Runner nor was I aching to devour it as a crawler would (those who've read the book might get my reference). Granted, I finished it within a couple hours, and I have to agree with a good number of reviews that the setting was definitely amazing.

The Good: Read The Maze Runner’s premise, and it’s pretty self-evident how original the concept is. It was my first time reading about a seemingly unsolvable maze and a group of boys continually pitted against it and there were tons of interesting spices (aka plot twists, action) incrementally thrown in to keep everything fresh. I think James Dashner’s interpretation of human nature was spot-on in most, if not all, instances. He does a fantastic job giving parallels to society and describing what would develop in the absence of authority and order. Each of the boys represented how a certain type of person would fare in such a survival-driven world, and it was interesting seeing how they would interact with each other. Paradise without parents? Think Lord of the Flies here, and conclude that maybe not. Overall, very realistic and believable.

Now for language. While James Dashner’s writing is fairly simplistic and definitely easy to comprehend, the descriptions of some ailments and creatures made me go “wow.” As in those crawlers in the maze are some seriously scary stuff. Again, great concepts here, and James Dashner has a very concise way with words that let me easily, quickly, and vividly envision all the unique aspects that made The Maze Runner what it is. Without those creepy blades, various hooks, and sharp syringes stinking out of the crawlers' slimy bodies, would I be reading the acclaimed The Maze Runner? The answer is: no, definitely not.

The Not-So-Great: I had problems connecting to Thomas at the beginning. He has these weird, unexplainable urges that I wish he would just wait for the right moment to say SOMETHING about, instead of sort of hinting at things at the wrong time and to the wrong people. I knew that it was simply a matter of time before Thomas proved his self-worth, but, really, as I waited I became extremely frustrated with his weak attempts. And though I eventually grew to like this “hero,” it definitely took me a while.

And you might not want to read this sentence if you haven’t read the book yet (!!), but the ending and the scientific experiment part seem like they have a few parallels to Maximum Ride… Not that that’s a bad thing, especially since The Maze Runner definitely has it's own characteristics that set it apart, but in the scientific experiment area, Maximum Ride is definitely going to be a hard one to trump.

Romance: Very, very mild to none. There are the beginnings of a romance between Thomas and mystery girl, and, trust me, I'm not ruining anything here since she's the only girl (unless you expected Thomas to be gay? Then I'm extremely sorry.). But, in general, nada - no kiss, no hug, just some vague words hinting at a "romantic relationship." Yes, be awed by my amazing equivocating.
Cover: 3.0 - nice, but not exactly how envisioned the Maze...
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 4.0
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: The Maze Runner boasts an original concept with great insights into human nature and an extremely vivid setting. While technically it was great, it lacked that “so-awesome-it-leaves-me-speechless” factor, partly because it suffered on the character reliability side (to my little sensitive heart). However, overall, I would definitely recommend The Maze Runner to ones who enjoy the survivalist/apocalyptic aspect and it comes as a highly recommended read to any young adult genre readers!

Review: Willow by Julia Hoban

Publisher: Dial (April 2, 2009)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Price: $11.55 from {amazon}

Summary: from {goodreads}

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy—one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

Rating:

Review: I don't really feel like there's much to say about this one. The summary basically sums everything up: Willow's the new girl that managed to "kill" her parents, she has a hard time adjusting so she starts cutting, then she meets this guy called Guy (wonder what his parents were thinking) that just manages to get her. It's told in third person, which was pretty awkward at first; think: "Willow does not like her home. Willow is sad. She is lonely." Not a direct quote of course, but the sentences are very choppy and sounded a bit elementary to me at the beginning. However, I got used to it and managed to enjoy the story, so while the writing wasn't exactly a plus, it wasn't necesssarily a bad thing either.

As for Willow herself, I had some problems with her at times. I thought Julia Hoban did a nice job conveying Willow's feelings and what exactly made her cut herself. Definitely interesting to see how the "cutter mindset" was interpreted and how that played out throughout the book. I did feel a bit of disconnect at times, and that maybe not only was Willow a bit depressed, but also a little bipolar... As in, sometimes she would seem fine and then she'd do something totally unexpected. And towards the beginning, I felt Willow was way too judgemental and put herself down a lot, but I could definitely see improvement as she met Guy and their relationship progressed. As for Guy, he was so sweet and understanding, it was unbelievable. And "unbelieveable" as in both the ying and the yang. His sensitivity made me love him, but it was also a little like I can't imagine anyone who'd be quite that caring. That being said, he and Willow seemed perfect together; he knew how to deal with her and said the cutest things.

For people that are squeamish (I know I am a lot squeamish when it comes to blood), the cutting scenes weren't that bad. There were a few parts where I had to cover my mouth, but again I'm extremely wimpy here. If you can handle a razor, a little bit of blood, and some vague descriptions of pain, I'm sure you'll be fine. That can actually apply to the whole book; Willow just grazed the tip of the iceburg of all those raw feelings and disorders, so I'd definitely say this is one for people that want to have a little more emotional read, but don't want to deal with all of reality's hidden dark monsters. Don't want to believe in the monster underneath the depression bed? Read Willow. Though Willow didn't delve that deeply into disorders, it still was a fairly realistic book that didn't have the typical perfect ending. And, in the end, I was happy for Willow and the road she's heading down.

Romance: Sweet, light romance. While Guy was the major turning point for Willow, there wasn't much phsyical contact. There might be one instance of sex and perhaps two instances of kissing, but really not much here. It's a lot more concentrated on the feelings versus the physical manifestation, which I can appreciate.
Cover: 3.5
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 4.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: So maybe I had a few faults with Willow, and maybe the book Willow wasn't the turn of the century, but in the end I was able to get over the minor problems I had with it and enjoy the book. Despite my complaints, I still like Willow as a person and her compelling voice; though I can't say I've cut myself before, she still felt relateable and someone real. Overall, Willow was an enjoyable read that I'd recommend to anyone looking for something a little realistic and deeper than a chick-lit that they can immerse him/herself in for a couple hours.

Review: Gorgeous by Rachel Vail

Publisher: HarperTeen (May 26, 2009)

Paperback: 288 pages
Price: $12.74 from Amazon
Summary:

She's looking good . . . but Allison Avery can't believe it. Growing up with beautiful, blond sisters, Allison has always been the dark-haired, "interesting-looking" Avery. So when the devil shows up and offers to make her gorgeous, Allison jumps at the chance to finally get noticed. But there's one tiny catch, and it's not her soul: The devil wants her cell phone.

Though her deal with the devil seems like a good idea at the time, Allison soon realizes that being gorgeous isn't as easy as it looks. Are her new friends and boyfriend for real, or do they just like her pretty face? Allison can't trust anyone anymore, and her possessed phone and her family's financial crisis aren't making things any easier. Plus, when she finds out that she might be America's next teen model, all hell breaks loose. Allison may be losing control, but how far is she willing to go to stay gorgeous forever?
Following the critically acclaimed Lucky, Rachel Vail continues her poignant sisterhood trilogy with the rebellious middle Avery sister, Allison. Fiery, sarcastic, and just plain fun, gorgeous captures the heartbreak and hilarity in one girl's attempt to have it all.

Rating:

Review: Well. Let me start off by saying that Gorgeous wasn't exactly what I expected from the summary.

Hm...

Gorgeous was, admittedly, a fairly enjoyable read. It's the average chick-lit: shy girl, hot guy, girl gets guy (maybe, not going to ruin the book now, would I?). There's the sterotypical high school cliches and, for the most part, the dialogue and sentiments of the teenage characters were spot-on. Rachel Vail also manages to insert some good messages about self-esteem, family, friends, and appearances. Just want to point out that I thought it was cute how Allison and her crush flirted by talking to each other through their cell phones even when standing next to each other! Perhaps a bit awkard in real life (not that I've tried it), but adorable and adolescence-y nonetheless. 

Unfortunately, there were a lot of points that didn't really boost my impression of this book. First off, there's Allison, who's always important since she's the main girl here. I actually found myself relating more to one of her friends, Roxie, and Roxie isn't even there about a third of the time! I had neutral feelings about Allison at the beginning; she was just one of those girls that wanted to fit in like everyone else. But when she does manage to "fit in," she develops a I-art-better-than-thou attitude which doesn't exactly convey the message that self-assurance will lead to a independent, kind person. But contradictory toward her snooty behavior, her self-esteem is way low, even at the end, and especially for a girl who has the potential to be Amreica's next teen model, which might have been cute for the first 50 pages, but that girl needs some self-confidence! And I'm not just talking about in the last couple pages. The other characters, with the exception of truly independent Roxie, also fell flat for me; it was basically a one-way personality for all of the other characters.

The other main thing that bugged me was the confusing devil-and-phone concept. I had a preconception of what the idea was going to be like and during the course of the book, I thought I was right and I thought I got it, the whole posess-the-phone deal, but then the end comes and everything I thought before was wrong. What?! I'm still trying to understand some impossibilities that turned out not to be so impossible after all...

Bottom Line: Even though there were major flaws in character and plot, Gorgeous, overall, was a mildly enjoyable read for me. I didn't necessarily like the characters, but I also didn't have a strong aversion to them, and I think that and the fact that I didn't go in with high expectations allowed me to still sort of enjoy the book for what it is: very light chick-lit. The concept had potential, but I don't think Rachel Vail was able to manipulate the devil's deal to her full advantage. I won't be re-reading this one, but who knows? Maybe Gorgeous will be your kind of read when you're in for some fluffy padding, but some fluff that still delivers a good message about relationships and self-confidence.

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (May 5, 2009)

Hardcover: 288 pages
Price: $11.55 from Amazon
Summary:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Rating:

Review: I don't even know why I was reluctant to read this book in the first place. I was stopping by the library and saw this book, and was like "woah! I know that one" but just felt like it wasn't going to be worth it. (Probably because of the let down I had from Sarah Dessen's, who's one of my favorite young adult romance authors, Lock and Key.) I turned my back and some old lady snatches it for her granddaughter! I always get a little competitive, so I think that's what finally got me to read The Summer I Turned Pretty. And I'm so glad I did. :)

This was my first book by Jenny Han, and I'm happy to say that it definitely lived up to any expectations I had! The dialogue was relaistic and witty, and I found myself  appreciating some good jokes and playful conversations. It was exactly like the easy-flowing conversations I have with my friends, except perhaps with better insults. There were also tons of those hard-to-explain, special memories, like singing in the car with your mom full volume. I would say about half of those memories are told as flashbacks, which worked, but it took me a while to realize that underneath the chapter title it said "AGE __."

The major objections I have are about characters, yet again. Belly, the main girl, is sort of too whiny for my tastes. The other characters' do tease her about pouting, but I think that's meant to contrast the smaller Belly and the grown up one. However, I really didn't find that much of a difference because Belly often says "shut up," instead of firing back insults. I'll admit I even use "shut up" frequently, but not at every insult like Belly seems to do. And when Belly finally decides to nervously reveal her love, when her love interest says he's not interested, she insists that she knows he is! Woah, slow down there, what happened to the timid Belly?

Still on the topic about characters, this issue deserves its own new paragraph. The love Belly chooses at the end. I just didn't feel like it was the right one. She has three guys vying after her: two extremely kind, caring, sweet, and sensitive; the other very moody and aloof. The claims Belly makes about the guy she ultimately chooses I just didn't see present in the book. But I'll happily take the leftovers!

Bottom Line: The Summer I Turned Pretty was everything a summer should be: hot boys, bonfire parties, first loves, broken hearts, old memories, and more. It was exactly the kind of carefree, seperate summer world that I (theoretically) wish I could have. The writing is smooth and captures the essence of teenage years, and the hard transition to adulthood. While Belly didn't exactly chalk up to my standards in parts of her behavior and her at times shallow judgement of people, there were definitely a lot of teenage angst there that I can relate with. Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty was a fun, ligh read and a great introduction to Jenny Han's books, and I'll be looking out for more!

And just as an extra: I've had this song stuck in my head for a few days, but The Summer I Turned Pretty just brings it up again. Enjoy!

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2009)
Harcover: 400 Pages
Price: $11.46 from Amazon
Summary: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Rating:

 

Review: I don’t know what to say about this book except that I. LOVED. IT. I’ve seen both sides to the argument concerning Shiver, and I think it’s pretty much you love it or you don’t, there’s not much in between. That’s only my view of it, but I can definitely see why.

Reason to love and save forever on your shelf: the story is beautiful. There is that lonely, waiting wolf with the yellow eyes in the woods, then the yellow-eyed boy with the sad smile who’s been waiting six years for the girl. I thought the book was very romantic, and I loved how the author developed Sam and Grace’s relationship and she made me love Grace and Sam themselves too. The concept was great and the execution was perfect. Sam and Grace’s points of view were put together well, and their experiences were bittersweet. I actually ended up crying a little right before the the end, but the story was definitely worth it.

Reason to dislike: the questions I was left with. A minor complaint I have is that I still had a couple questions at the end, but the engaging story was enough to cover those for me. The biggest problem I had was that the cure seemed pretty obvious for me, and I didn’t see why Sam and/or Grace didn’t realize it earlier. I’m guessing it was to allow time for the relationship to develop, but it still annoyed me a little. Another issue I’ve seen is language, so I’m going to touch on that really quickly. I, personally, loved the author’s language. I thought was flowing and descriptive and was a nice touch to the already beautiful story. It very rarely appeared to be too flowery for me, but I’ve read that it detracts from some people’s reading experiences.

And as an extra note, I liked the ending! It was pretty open-ended and left me wondering what was going to happen in the future, but it still gave me a sense of closure and I put this book down with a smile on my face.

Bottom Line: Again, restatement: I. LOVED. SHIVER. With well-developed characters and such a bittersweet, romantic story, I couldn’t help but sit down and devour the book in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book to those that are big fans the paranormal and “intense relationships” (ie. Twilight) since the book is basically all about Sam and Grace’s relationship. Shiver left me wanting more, and I’m definitely going to pre-order the sequel, Linger, before it comes out in Fall 2010! That is, if I can shiver my way through this winter...

Review: All We Know of Heaven by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Publisher: Harper Teen (April 29, 2008)

Hardcover: 320 pages
Price: $13.32 from Amazon

Summary: Bridget Flannery and Maureen O'Malley have been BFFs since forever. Then a brief moment of inattention on an icy road leaves one girl dead and the other in a coma, battered beyond recognition. Family and friends mourn one friend's loss and pray for the other's recovery. Then the doctors discover they have made a terrible mistake. The girl who lived is the one who everyone thought had died.

Rating:

Review: All We Know of Heaven is from the list of 2009 Black-eyed Susan Book Award Nominees, and I can definitely see why it got on there! I picked it up because the premise sounded interesting, though I usually don’t read this type of “sad” books because I hate crying. However, surprisingly, I didn’t shed a tear.

The main reason I didn’t cry is probably because of the surviving girl’s romantic interest. He apparently shows his devotion through waiting at her bedside while she’s in a coma, which was admirable, but my feelings for him quickly changed as the story progressed. It was very hard to sympathize with him as he cheated and made out with other girls, though I understand it’s probably insanely difficult to deal with a situation similar to the one in the book. Basically, I just didn’t feel that Jacquelyn Mitchard was able to prove the guy’s supposed “love” for the girl.

The book is split into three parts and the relationship mainly comes into play in the second and third sections. So while I started getting bored towards the end of the book, I did like the author’s take in the first part, when the girl is in the coma. It took a little bit getting used to, but it was interesting to see the experience of being in a coma from Mitchard’s perspective. And I could definitely tell that some medical knowledge was needed, so appreciation for research in the field here.

The ending felt unreal. Yes, it was the happily-ever-after, but there wasn’t exactly a lot leading up to it. I still liked the author’s investigation of love, hope, loss, and determination; the ending just threw me off a bit.

Bottom Line: All We Know of Heaven is a good book that explores teen love, the struggle to overcome hardships, and how people deal with loss of loved ones and things they take for granted. Admittedly, I had some trouble connecting with the main girl’s love interest and their relationship seemed sort of unrealistic to me, but I definitely felt and rooted for the main girl. This book offers interesting insight into humans; it was the relationship that killed it for me.

Review: Vamped by Lucienne Diver

Publisher: Flux; 1 edition (May 1, 2009)

Paperback: 240 pages

Price: $9.95 from Amazon

Summary: Gina Covello's Perks and Pitfalls of Vamp Life:

1. Hello?! Eternal youth and beauty!

2. Free. Designer. Clothes.

3. My hot new boyfriend Bobby went from chess dud to vamp stud.
4. No reflection! First order of business: turn my own stylist to stop the downward spiral from chic to eek.

5. Vampire vixen Mellisande has taken an interest in my boyfriend, and is now transforming the entire high school into her own personal vampire army. If anyone's going to start their own undead entourage it should be me.

 I guess I'll just have to save everyone from fashion disasters and other fates worse than death.

Rating:

Review:

The Bad: First off, don't be deceived by the summary. I know it says "free designer clothes" and her having a "personal stylist," but they're not present much. This book is more of how Gina deals with the vampire problem with girly comments on the side. Not exactly original, but it's there.

The beginning really had me confused. The first thing you know, a girl, Gina, is waking up in a coffin and manages to figure out she's a vampire in a matter of minutes. She doesn't feel like a "flesh-eating" zombie, so duh! she has to be a vampire. She's been dead for about three days according to the "legends," which I'm not sure how she heard in her burried coffin, and is expecting Bobby, the hot guy she was making out with at the prom, to come through some mysterious communication. All in all, a very confusing beginning.

There are a lot of other mystifying scenarios and shallow conclusions, like how Gina knows the antagonist, Mellisande, is evil just by looking at her. I understand that the point of the book is to show how a "typical" girly teenager deals with vampire-dom, but I often found Gina's comments annoying. I felt like she had to complain about a manicure or shampoo every two pages! And her conclusions always had to be explained, some of which I think the author could have just left to common sense. I liked Gina's character better near the end, when she suddenly turns cold-hearted in the face of battle. You can tell I like strong, butt-kicking heroines. (:

The Good: There is a boogeyman in Vamped. That's not something you see everyday in paranormal books. He's creepy, he's gross, but he could possibly be one of my favorite characters in the book for making Gina squirm in fear.

Strong teenage voice. I really felt like the conversations and observations were from the view of a teenager, albiet an whiny, girly one, but a teenager all the same. And, like always, I like references to other things, so the Spiderman reference was appreciated. I can truthfully say I didn't get bored, but the book is very fast-paced. The whole story spans only a few days, and almost every minute is jam-packed with action or information.

Bottom Line: I borrowed this book, and let's just say I'm glad I did; I definitely would not be spending my money on this. Vamped isn't a horrible book, but it's one that I will never re-read, mainly because I found Gina too girly and spoiled.  Go ahead and read if  you want, but don't expect anything phenomenal or even great, especially with a leading guy named  Bobby (sorry, name fetish here).