Young Adult Books

Jun 17

Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary: Freedom is not as sweet as Trella thought it would be. As she struggles with the expectations that she continue to lead Inside when all she wants to do is explore and get to know Riley, disaster strikes. There is something Outside. And it wants In.

I’m always a bit hesitant when it comes to a sequel, especially if I really enjoyed the first book. I was a bit worried that Outside In would not live up to my expectations. But Maria V. Snyder has delivered just like she always does.

It quickly becomes evident that the lessons Trella learned in the first book, Inside Out, have been forgotten, as often happens to real people – we change in the heat of the moment but once everything stabilizes, it is easy to fall back into your old routine. But despite her reverting to her old ways, the plot is anything but routine. As the story unfolds, we are thrown into a believable fantasy/sci-fi world full of intrigue and suspense.

The characters we fell in love with in Inside Out continue to grow, with greater depth added to their personalities and new, realistic motives thrown into the mix. In addition, we are introduced to a new enemy and a new level to the history of the world of Inside.

A great sequel and a wonderful addition to Maria V. Snyder’s resume.

Jun 12

I stumbled across Mary Stewart in 9th grade, and she quickly became one of my favorite authors. Born in 1916, she wrote the majority of her books in the 1960s and 1970s, most of which were out-of-print until just recently when Hodder and Stoughton decided to re-release her books with newly redesigned covers to boot.

To celebrate summer, I will be giving away three of these re-released books. The first giveaway starts today and is for one copy of Mary Stewart’s Nine Coaches Waiting. *Open to U.S. residents only.

Review of Nine Coaches Waiting

Nine Coaches Waiting, by Mary Stewart

Rating: 5 out of 5

When Linda Martin is offered a position as governess at Chateau Valmy in the French Alps, it seems like the dream job for the homeless orphan. But when Linda’s charge narrowly escapes a bullet, Linda begins to suspect that things may not be all that they seem and the glamorous life she hoped for is snatched away as she questions the true nature of her employers and their handsome son.

This is the first Mary Stewart’s book I read, and I loved every moment of it. Stewart transports the reader into a world of 1950s glamor in the heart of the French Alps, with handsome gentlemen, cutthroat gentry, and a healthy dash of a heroine in distress who knows how to handle herself under pressure.

Nine Coaches Waiting recalls the wonderful story-telling abilities of Agatha Christie while bringing the reader back to a time when gentry and class were very much integrated into daily life. The suspense builds from the very beginning through the setting that Mary Stewart expertly paints across the pages and doesn’t dissipate, leaving you guessing until the very end. This is a wonderful, fun read and the new cover is the perfect compliment to the charming tale.

If you enjoyed the romance of Anna and the French Kiss, the mystery of Prisoners in the Palace, and are a fan of 1950s gallantry, this book is for you.

Book Giveaway

To enter, please fill out the form below to be entered into the giveaway. The giveaway will close at 11:59 on June 22. The winner will be selected at random and notified via email.

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*Disclosure: The publishers provided me with a copy of this book after I expressed an interest in the author. I was not compensated for this review and the opinions expressed are my own.

May 20

The Duff, by Kody Keplinger

Rating: 4 out of 5

(Summary from Goodreads) Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I won a copy of this book several months ago (sometime around October 2010) from Adventures in Children’s Publishing and because I had a difficult time getting into it, I only just finished reading the book. But let me say, I’m glad I stuck with it.

Keplinger wrote this book as a young adult and she has proved that age does not matter when it comes to whether or not someone can write. What I also noticed about the book is Keplinger’s willingness to address issues a lot of YA authors shy away from, like promiscuity, abuse, and excessive drinking. Whether this was in spite of her age or because of it, I can’t say, but at times it read more like adult chick lit than YA. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you are searching for a tamer, more traditional YA, this may not be the book for you.

What I really enjoyed about Keplinger’s book was that she did not lean on the stereotypes – there were no ridiculous bullies, the lines of the cliques were blurry, and the cheerleaders were not evil. It was more like the high school I remember fthan the high schools I’ve seen portrayed in the pages of books as of late. I found this refreshing.

I also found there to be an honesty to Bianca and how she viewed herself. Painted on the pages was the pain, uncertainty, and insecurities felt by most high school girls (and, if we’re being honest here, most women). It was really easy to relate to this part of Bianca even if I found it difficult to relate to some other parts of her character (to remain undisclosed so as not to reveal any spoilers).

All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable read that touched on some difficult issues, all of which were handled gracefully. I think audiences young and old will enjoy The Duff. And keep your eyes out for Keplinger’s next book, Shut Out, expected for release September 2011.

May 13

Numbers, by Rachel Ward

Rating: 5 out of 5

(Summary taken 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!

I loved this book. My one complaint is that the back cover copy is slightly deceptive. I thought I was getting something different than what I got. Of course, it’s probably a good thing that it was different from what I expected because had I known what it was really about, I probably wouldn’t have read it and I would have missed out on a great book.

In reading the summary of Numbers, I expected more of a dystopia/paranormal type book. In actuality, with the exception of the main character, Jem’s, ability to know when people will die just by looking at them, this book was extremely realistic. Throughout the pages of Numbers, Rachel Ward weaves together what seemed like a very realistic insight into life in the slums of London, exposing the reader to the harsh realities of the lower class, a class you cannot hope to escape once you’ve landed there.

Jem is painted in a very real, honest way, with real flaws, real strengths, and an authentic voice. Jem grows throughout the book, but in a more subtle, realistic way than you might find in other books. I think it takes real talent to make something so far-fetched as being able to know when people will die come out seeming so real. Hats off to Rachel Ward and I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Chaos.

May 06

Virals, by Kathy Reichs

Rating: 2 out of 5

(Summary taken from GoodReads) Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their new-found physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they’re a pack. They are Virals.

Based off of the book’s description, Virals seemed like it would be an intriguing, good read. I found it refreshing to find a werewolf book with a scientific take on the mythological creature. Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations.

I praise Reichs for coming up with a scientific explanation for the changes that the teen friends undergo, but the book read as though it were several books spliced into one. The lack of cohesion left me confused as a reader. I felt like I was reading at least 3 different plots – sci-fi paranormal, mystery murder, and awkward teen vs. mean girls. While these could all go together, the way these plot elements played out in Virals seemed awkward and disjointed.

A great setting cannot salvage a not-so-great plot

The book was set on an isolated island with monkeys and cute wolf dogs. The setting could have contributed in a big way to the plot, but I didn’t feel that Reichs explored the possibilities as much as I would have liked, sticking to the expected possibilities while ignoring the unexpected.

I also felt like the middle section of the book was a bit drawn out. It took an extremely long time for the teens transformations to be complete. This dragged down the story. We didn’t get much insight to the characters during this long section and it didn’t contribute very much to the overall story.

The Evil Popular Girl cliche

The book also contained evil rich girls that felt like a cliche. There was no motivation for their mean behavior. Maybe I went to a tame high school, but I just don’t think this stereotype holds true. No one at my school was mean just for the sake of being mean and I was a poor girl at a wealthy private school in the south, same as Tory.

All in all, I was left feeling lukewarm about Virals. Whereas the book description suggested a fast-paced, exciting read, I found the story slow and disjointed. It was an interesting concept, but fell a bit short for me. It’s worth reading if you have nothing else on your list, but I’d recommend saving your money and getting it from the library.

Apr 15

Lure, by Stephanie Jenkins

Rating: 5 out of 5

(summary taken in part from GoodReads) Charlotte Brewer is sure she’s crazy when she hears singing drifting from the ocean-normal people don’t have arias playing on repeat in their head. When she gets wasted at a party and investigates the ethereal tune, she almost drowns. Charlotte comes to with an overwhelming thirst for salt water, an inability to get injured, and a heartbeat of only seven beats a minute. She also keeps waking up by the sea with no memory of getting there and dead men wash up hours later.

As Charlotte attempts to adjust to the changes, while also trying to cope with the loss of her mother and her growing infatuation with a boy she knows is all wrong for her, she meets Lorelei, a siren. Lorelei reveals she saved her from drowning with the “Siren’s Kiss” which turned Charlotte into a siren. Her role as a siren is simple: guide the souls of the dead at sea. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it sounds, and Charlotte soon learns that there are is a Godess that is not too happy with the existence of sirens and is willing to stop at nothing to wipe out their kind. Can Charlotte break the siren’s curse in time to save her soul?

First, I want to thank Annie Elfresh, blogger of Reading, Writing, and Waiting, for introducing me to this book and providing me with a free copy. If you haven’t visited her blog, you should. She provides some great book reviews/reading suggestions. Plus her blog has a really fun design.

It took a few pages for me to get into this book because I’m not usually into main characters like Charlotte – snarky and into wild parties – but as I got to know Charlotte, I realized there was depth to her. Plus, as a New England resident, I saw that her salty demenour (no pun intended) matched that of several New England girls I know.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t know much about it – just that it was an urban fantasy. And I’ve got to say, knowing little made it an exciting, unexpected read. There were some nice twists and there was a refreshing originality to the plot. Despite my initial reservations regarding Charlotte, I could not put the book down. Jenkins weaves an engaging tale and I wanted to see how it would end.

There are two potential love interests in the book – one the dark-haired Matt, the other blond, Golden Boy Wyatt. While we see this juxtaposition in many YA books, the love interests in Lure do not feel stale. Each brings something new to the table (and something swoon worthy). There were times when I wanted each of them to come out on top, which I think is a key ingredient for a successful literary love triangle.

Even though we are all familiar with stories that mixed ancient Gods with modern day life thanks to the Percy Jackson books, this book is so different from that series that there is really no comparison. It comes closer to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series thought the love story part reminded me a bit of Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss. If you loved the Mortal Instrument series and are looking for something along those lines, if you enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss but are looking for a gateway book into urban fantasy, or if you are tired of books about vampires and werewolves but love paranormal, this just might be the next book for you. And the best thing about this book – you will be supporting a self-published author.

Apr 01

Inside Out, by Maria V. Snyder

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

(Summary from GoodReads)

Keep Your Head Down. Don’t Get Noticed. Or Else.

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I’ve got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

I’m a big fan of Maria V. Snyder. I loved the Study Series and was a bit shocked when I learned about this series because the worlds are so very different. Whereas the world in the Study Series lives in the realm of fantasy books, Inside Out is more in line with sci-fi. Despite the different genres, Snyder has succeeded yet again in creating a rich world full of characters you quickly fall in love with.

The book is pretty faced-paced. I read it in one weekend. Had I not been in the middle of a move, I probably would have read it in one sitting. Right from the beginning of the book, you sense the urgency of the story as Trella wakes up to the rush of water and only just escapes the pipe she was sleeping in. And from then on, the movement of the book continues. Although the setting is more or less static – a giant metal structure with thousands of people enclosed inside – you never feel that the narration is constrained.

The world of Inside that Snyder has created is intriguing and very detailed, not that I would expect anything less from her. She manages to turn this small world into a complex system, turning something as mundane as the pipe system into a key feature of the environment.

Her characters are also complex and interesting, each with their own series of flaws, including Trella who not only has many flaws, but comes to understand them and grow as the story progresses. And laced through it all are series of betrayals, but you cannot hold them against the characters because once you understand the motivation behind their betrayals, you realize that they are only human, acting as any human would. Snyder’s ability to make her characters human is one of the things I most enjoy about her books and I think she shows growth as a writer in this area when compared to the Study series (not that the Study series was lacking in this department).

While on the subject of character, Inside Out is told in first person, and I’d say that Snyder has done an excellent job capturing the voice of Trella. I really felt I knew who she was and nothing sounded out of place. If looking for a good example of first person narration, you should definitely give this book a read.

My only complaint, a complaint I have with a lot of books, is that elements of the ending became a bit confusing. Fight scenes prove time and time again to be difficult to write. But with this being the only real weakness of the book, I’d say Maria V. Snyder has created a successful, well-written book definitely worth reading.

As a side note, Inside Out had some similarities with Across the Universe. If you enjoyed Across the Universe, you should give Inside Out a read. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Mar 25

Prisoners in the Palace, by Michaela MacColl

Rating: 5 out of 5

(Summary from GoodReads)

London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza’s dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady’s maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant’s world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.

First, I want to thank YA Book Shelf for turning me onto this book (and holding a giveaway which I won). You should check out the blog to see Melissa’s review of the book and an interview with Michaela MacColl. While you’re there, you may want to check out other book reviews/interviews on the blog. It’s a great place to go to learn about books you may have overlooked in the bookstore.

I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction can be tricky. You need to provide enough historically accurate information and detail to be true to the time period, but you also want to be able to add in some creative liberties. It is really a fine balance to get just the right mix while keeping the story engaging and fun to read. I think MacColl has achieved this balance beautifully.

The main details of Victoria’s childhood are more or less accurate. The main character, Liza, is fictional. But MacColl has drawn Liza based on historical realities – specifically the options available to a penniless orphan, regardless of her birth. By showing us Victoria as a child, the future queen of England is transformed into a vulnerable human being, not the untouchable Queen we are more likely to think of her as without the help of this book.

MacColl turns all of her characters into complex people. You could argue that this is because most of them are based off of real people, but sometimes it is harder to make a real person seem real because you have to get behind the person they are on the surface and show who they are underneath the facade. Through doing this, MacColl also exposes many of the harsh realities of life in the 1830s.

I would say that the one thing you often see in historical novels that was missing from this one was a lot of description about the clothing and architecture. But in truth, I don’t think the book lost anything by having a limited amount of these elements. Sometimes I find that historical novels tend to go into too much detail about clothing and architecture and furnishings instead of focusing on the story. MacColl makes you aware of the time period through the social classes, speech, and plot elements, not through pages and pages of description, and I found this refreshing.

The final thing this book does that I love is that it has made me want to learn more about Queen Victoria. I think that is a sign of a successful historical novel – when you are dying to learn more. If you know nothing about Victoria, know tons about her but want to know more, love historical fiction, want to learn about history without feeling like you are learning, or just looking for a good read, then I recommend giving this book a shot. It is a fast, exciting read and truly is a novel of intrigue and romance.

Mar 18

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

To avoid the wars that plagued the pre-cured world, the government in Delirium has come up with a cure for the ultimate disease, love. And Lena Holoway, a 17-old girl living in Portland, Maine, is eagerly counting down the days until she is cured. But then as she enters the summer before her cure, a series of events cause Lena to start questioning not only the strict rules of her society, but, as she becomes infected by love, even the cure itself.

If you loved Matched, you should definitely check out Delirium. Like Cassia’s world in Matched, the government in Delirium chooses your mate, the number of children you will have, your job, basically every facet of your life. Unlike Cassia’s world, the government in Delirium goes one step further. They remove the ability to love, and with the removal of this emotion, they gain even more control of their citizens. With the loss of love, you also lose part of your identity.

When you think of the initial idea behind this book, it seems like it could become a bit trite. But as the story evolves, you find yourself drawn into this world, empathizing with the characters, feeling their pain and their ultimate loss. Oliver has taken a seemingly simplistic concept and created a rich work.

Her characters are equally rich. They are each motivated by their own complex issues. As you learn more about each character, you discover their true depth, and you want to see them succeed.

The writing was also a pleasure to read. Oliver’s use of imagery was magical, creating rich descriptions in ways I never could have thought of, but which so perfectly described things. It was like candy for my senses.

This book is a must read, especially for fans of Matched. As a bonus, while not as dark, Delirium, is also a great void-filler for those Hunger Games fans out there still feeling empty by the ending of the Hunger Games Trilogy.

Mar 11

XVI, by Julia Karr

Rating: 5 out of 5

(summary from GoodReads) Nina Oberon’s life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she’ll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a “sex-teen” is Nina’s worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina’s mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother’s killer.

Let me start by saying that I LOVED this book. I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. That’s right. Instead of enjoying the comfortable, fully reclinable, first class seat I got upgraded to on my flight to Rome, I taped my eyelids open and devoured this book. And I didn’t even care that this meant I would have nothing else to read the entire trip or that I would start my trip half-asleep. Nothing mattered except finishing the book and finding out what was going to happen.

Karr has created a dystopian society that seems completely plausible. While some of the elements in Suzanne Collins’ world from the Hunger Games trilogy seemed a bit far-fetched, the sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian elements of Karr’s world seemed very likely. Children had tracking devices installed in them at birth; listening devices were used to hear conversations; society was split into tiers; and women were treated as goods, something that has never fully left our society and could very easily come back.

As a book for teens, I applaud Karr’s courage. Sex in YA books is controversial, especially when the main subject of the book is sex. But the way Karr explores this theme is thoughtful. She does not come out and say teenagers should be sexually active. In fact, Nina is horrified at the thought and the characters who are past 16 but have chosen abstinence are applauded. Karr seems to be encouraging more the necessity in thinking through your actions, rather than chiding or encouraging sexual behavior, an important lesson for teens.

Of course, the book is not just about sex. It is full of mystery, corruption, romance, and suspense. Karr creates captivating characters, including Sandy, Nina’s ignorant, but lovable, best friend. The reader cares for the characters and wants to see them come out on top, an element that is almost always necessary for a successful book. And when coupled with her impeccable world building, this really is a must read.

If you are overly sensitive to discussions of sex, this may not be the best book for you, but I challenge you to give it a shot anyway. And if you are not overly sensitive to sex in books, definitely give this a read. You won’t regret it.

P.S. This is a great crossover book too, meaning adults should not be ashamed to get caught reading it.

Page 2

Book Review Friday – Outside In

Mary Stewart Book Giveaway – Nine Coaches Waiting

Review of Nine Coaches Waiting

Book Giveaway

Book Review Friday – The Duff

Book Review Friday – Numbers

Book Review Friday – Virals

A great setting cannot salvage a not-so-great plot

The Evil Popular Girl cliche

Book Review Friday – Lure

Book Review Friday – Inside Out

Book Review Friday – Prisoners in the Palace

Book Review Friday – Delirium

Book Review Friday – XVI