Review: Monument 14 - Emmy Laybourne

Where I got it: ARC from publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 3.5 stars (The characters look really computer animated, but besides that it's not bad.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Page Count: 294 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Dean said goodbye to his mother and brother and rushed to get on his bus, just like every other day. Then it started to hail. His bus driver lost control of the bus in this sudden storm and crashed into a pole. Meanwhile, through the bus window, Dean sees his brothers bus crash into the front of a Greenway store. Little does Dean know that this store will serve as a sanctuary for the survivors between the two buses for the next few weeks. Things are happening in the world, and there is no stopping them; there is only survival.

I seem to keep reading books I didn't know were the beginnings of series. So I finish this with some pretty big feelings of disappointment, but then Goodreads is like "Bitch please this is book one" and then I sigh, because of course it is. Not that I have anything against series, there just seems to be an abundance of them. Now that I've ranted about something that has little to do with the actual content of this book, let's get to it.

So first I'm just going to point out something that nearly discouraged me from continuing to read this book. There were a couple of lines that made me go "What!? Who talks like that?". For example: "Jake bent down and got up in her grill." and "And he sure did grab himself a table leg."Those lines both made me cringe a little, luckily they were in the beginning of the book and I decided to persist. I don't think there were any more horrific lines like these, but if there were the story was so good I didn't notice.

It was interesting to have this novel written like a sort of journal of the events as they unfold. Dean was a pretty like-able character, even if at times he was quite strange or dark. It seems tricky to pen a character that people can like but also be a bit weary of. There are plenty of those types in this novel. I don't want to talk about too many of those characters, because it's a bit spoilery. However, I did really appreciate the characters in this novel, they all made the novel unfold in an excellent sensical way.

Another thing I really loved was the disasters. You had some typical ones, but then there were some I never even think about. There are so many things that can go wrong if even one thing crashes. This novel was set in 2024 I believe, so not too distant future. Really, it could have been set tomorrow and things would have been about the same. I see why the author set it ahead and it worked. It's terrifying to think of how bad off we would be if something of this magnitude happened globally. I mean, terrible things have hit certain areas, but we haven't (knock on wood) had anything with such a global devastation.

I ended up really enjoying this book, but hated the ending. Now that I know it's the first book in a series, the ending isn't quite as bad though. If you like survival/dystopian type stories, make sure you check this one out. I can't wait to see what happens with everyone next!

First Line:
"Your mother hollers that you're going to miss the bus."

Favorite Lines:
"One more lady was dead. Add her to the millions dead outside and she figured pretty small. But to us, she was big."

Review: Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Where I got it: My collection
Rating: 5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Interesting, and carried on throughout the novel which I appreciate.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 14, 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Page Count: 313 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

August was born different. His face didn't form the same way as everyone else's. This left him with eyes to low, ears that aren't quite right, no lower jaw and other things. His brain works fine though and his emotions work too. People don't know how to react around him. Even after countless surgeries to make his face useable, he still doesn't look like everyone else. August is used to it though, the stares. He doesn't like it, but he doesn't have much of a choice, it hasn't been to terrible...yet. Now his parents think it's time for him to go to school. His mom has no more left to teach him, and he needs to learn how to deal with other people. At first August is hesitant, the life he has now is pretty okay why would he want to change that? August should know best of all though, that sometimes change can be good.

August was mature for his age, but only about his appearance. In other ways he seemed like a typical ten-year-old boy. I can't really picture what August must look like, but I would definitely want to be his friend (except I'm not a big Star Wars fan). He has a great sense of humor and is in general a pretty cool kid. I enjoyed that we got to see different perspectives in this novel. It starts and ends with August, but in the middle we get to hear from his sister Via, her boyfriend, her old friend, and a couple of August's school mates. It was nice to get to hear their side of the story too, it made August's character even more developed and lovable. It was also nice just to see what was going on surrounding August, that he may ave not told us, or may have not even known about. I really liked the illustrations at the beginning of each new perspective too.

This was a truly inspirational and touching story about a boy trying to grow up without too much ordeal. August realizes he looks different, but he doesn't feel different and he wants people to just adjust to him. I really liked the friendships he made, it's always nice reading about people who show genuine kindness. I also really enjoyed his teacher's precepts, and the ones that the kids sent in at the end of the novel. They completely matched with the kid who wrote them. I thought this was a good little lesson in itself to include within the novel.

A great novel for anyone who has ever been stared at because they look a little different. Anyone who has had cooties, or in general was teased for something they had no control over, should read this book. Wonder is a great novel for kids to read and hopefully it will help them remember that all people have feelings. It's a great book for adults too, because as you will see in this novel it's not only children that can behave poorly.

First Line:
"I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid."

Favorite Lines:
"My name is August, by the way. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."

Review: Struck - Jennifer Bosworth

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Fitting but not very eye-catching.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Page Count: 373 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Mia has been struck by lightning more times than you could imagine. It's in her blood and she can feel when a storm is coming. Her family had to flee from their home town because of an accident involving Mia, a storm and some bystanders. So now they are in Los Angeles. An earthquake has devastated their new city though and the displaced are wandering the streets. Mia's mother is still recovering, mentally, from being trapped for a few days during the earthquake. There are some strange groups popping up now though. They are amassing followers for two different sides of the fight. There are the Prophet's people who are doing God's will and then the Seekers who are trying to stop the Prophet's insanity. There is another side though, that Mia desperately wants to choose, but it may be out of her hands, especially since she doesn't know who she can trust.

I dislike that the description claims Mia is a lightning addict. She does not seem addicted to it at all, she is simply a lightning rod. It would have been an interesting element to see Mia more drawn to the storms then she seemed to be. This book was a pretty slow read. It seems like a story about lightning would be fast-paced and exciting, but this seemed to just meander around. I did love all the story elements though. Good versus evil, twists and turns, secret identities...all good stuff. I loved Jeremy too, he was a very interesting character and I liked how things turned out with him. THE PROPHET! Oh man, he is all kinds of crazy-power-hungry. His whole personality is creepy, I would never want to meet him in real life. Spewing about the power of God and forming a cult following, those things just creep me out. About two thirds of the way through the book, the action starts to pick up, mounting to a climax...that fizzles. What a lackluster finale seriously.

» Click to show Spoiler « 

I mean really?!?!? Mia just sort of blacks out. THAT is the big conclusion. The storm rages, Mia is struck and then...

I was just pretty disappointed from the finish, I just expected more I guess. I'm quite curious to see how the next book is tackled. There wasn't any real cliffhanger here, so I'll be curious to see what the next story is about. Like I said, the meat of the story was good, but the execution could use some work. It might just not be my style, but I will definitely read more by Jennifer Bosworth.

First Line:
"When you've been struck by lightning as many times as I have, you start to expect the worst pretty much all the time."

Favorite Line:
"Jeremy had awakened her with a kiss and a nightmare."

Review: Wonder Show - Hannah Barnaby

Where I got it: ARC from AmazonVine

Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Interesting. Certainly lets you know it's about a circus. I enjoy the muted colors, it gives it a 1930's feel.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: March 20, 2012

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Page Count: 274 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Step right up and see the sights at the incredible WONDER SHOW! You won't believe your eyes about what you find inside. A girl with no arms? Two people joined together? A wayward young girl trying to find her family again? Yes, yes and yes! Portia's father said he'd be right back, but years later she's still with her aunt...waiting. Her aunt ships her off to McGreavey’s Home for Wayward Girls, which is not as nice as it sounds(especially the owner, Mister). Lots of terrible things happen around Portia, so she decides to find her father. After a circus card flies out of a truck, she sets off to join the circus. It's really the Wonder Show she ends up with, which makes her an oddity. She's one of the few "normal" people there. How long does she have before Mister come looking for her though? And, how will she find her father's face among the hordes of circus-goers? She'll have to make friends where she is and hope that soon things will be as they should be.

This was certainly an interesting book. Even a couple of days after finishing it I'm left with mixed feelings. It was very well-written, there is no doubt about that. The story was highly engaging and lots of twists and turns and a fantastic ending, but I don't know that I loved it. I enjoyed it though. Portia was an interesting girl, who's life took a lot of unexpected turns. Her father left and she never really knew her mother. She end's up at McGreavey's and does befriend some girls, but misfortune befalls one of them and Portia doesn't know if she can handle being there anymore waiting for her father.
I really enjoyed all the characters, and how the "freaks" in the show were based off of real performers from back in the day. Some of the characters you end up getting to know a bit better than others, but in the end I felt like you never really knew any of them at all. If there are more books about Portia, I think you could see a stronger bond forming between her and the others, but relationships take time. The bond is strong, but not deep. It's a side effect of people running from their pasts. No one wants to share their secrets, so it takes a bit longer to get to know them.
It was also interesting seeing the sideshow side of things versus the main circus hub-bub. It was a different take on a circus story. The story is mostly in third person following Portia around, but some chapters are first person narratives from various characters. I really liked how well this worked for the story. It gave you a better view of all the goings-on. This is a book that drives off the beaten-path a bit and is a great read. There's lots of themes going on throughout, most of all finding "home". Portia feels wayward, because she just doesn't know where she fits in, no one seems to want her. Definitely check this out if you're in the mood for a good story that's a little different than the typical YA fare.

First Line:
"Wayward can mean a lot of things."

Favorite Lines:
"Three steps down the back stairs was the door, which had become so familiar to her that Portia knew every nick and imperfection in its face. She opened it carefully, to keep its voice from sounding."

Review: May B. - Caroline Starr Rose

Where I got it: Library

Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (It is a very interesting style. I quite like it. It does look like a middle grade read.)
Genre: Middle Grade

Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

Page Count: 228 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

May's father decides that May needs to help the family out. The harvest was great this year, and they need some extra money. He takes her fifteen miles west out in the prairie to help a new couple settle into prairie life. Unfortunately the wife is less than willing to accept the quite loneliness of the great west. Soon the wife, Mrs. Oblinger, takes off to head back home. Mr. Oblinger, upon finding out races into town to try and stop her. May is left alone to get supper ready. Night comes and goes, and then another, and then another and May thinks they might not ever come back. A month or so passes and May is still completely alone. She has no way of telling her family what has happened and she has no way of getting home. Then the blizzard comes and May isn't prepared. She's trapped inside the home with no escape, and no one coming to get her for a while yet.

This was a nice story about a lot of things. May has dyslexia and struggles greatly with it, since she is very into her schooling. She has a cruel teacher who doesn't help her at all. Then, May is left to fend for herself and try to survive the harsh winter. I can't imagine how lonely and crazy I would go being trapped in a tiny house, with barely enough food and clothing to survive. May handled things fairly well though. Fans of Hatchet may enjoy this one. A good survival story with an interesting character. It is great for younger readers, a bit a fear but no violence. I was also thrilled to find this novel is written in verse. It's such a great format to convey intense emotional duress. This was a great debut and I'll be very interested to see more by Caroline Starr Rose.

First Line:
"I won't go."

Favorite Line:
"There are tracks
on the edge of the moonlit garden."

Review: When the Sea is Rising Red - Cat Hellisen

Where I got it: ARC from publisher

Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 5 stars (Beautiful.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Page Count: 296 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

Felicita's friend, Ilven, takes the leap. She kills herself rather than face her arranged marriage. This stirs something in Felicita, especially since soon after she is to be betrothed to some man she's never met. She fakes her own death and goes to live with the riffraff of Old Town. At first she regrets her decision. She had to give up luxury and Scriv, a magical drug that enhances her magical abilities. On the streets she's cold and dirty and common. It is better than being a slave to a husband she will never love though. Except, she falls in with a rough but caring crowd, with a leader that has revenge on his mind. Felicita has a hard time keeping her identity under wraps and struggles to find her places among all the chaos that follows her friend's suicide.

This was quite an enjoyable novel. According to Cat it's a "secondary world fantasy" novel. I was trying to figure out what time period it fit in, but that cleared it up and made it even better. It had sort of a historical feel, but with a lot of modern ideas thrown in. Felicita is a member of the high house, but as a women has no real rights. She is reduced to a pawn for her brother to use on his whim. I really appreciate how conflicted Felicita was when she ran away. She was constantly wondering if she made the right decision, wondering whether she should just turn back and face the consequences from her family. Felicita was a very well crafted character, very confused and feeling alone. The jump-rope rhymes in here were very fun and terrible at the same time. I liked them a lot. I also really appreciated the relationships in the novel. Some were same-sex relationships, and there was no shock value to them at all. There was no tension with the characters involved beyond typical relationship tension. I would love to see this happening more and more in novels, because THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! It will be great when in real life, people can go about their business, and no one will think it odd. I liked the crew Felicita ends up falling in with. They are a unique bunch and it was hard to imagine them so young and so strong. Felicita also takes up with a Bat(what they call vampires) which is a little bit of a strange part in the storyline. He's mostly just the mysterious stranger who appears when help is needed. I didn't feel he was crucial to the storyline, more so just something that was added in for the author's fancy. The book was also a bit slow at times. There  were just points when things were going at a normal life pace, no fast excitement and adventure. I enjoyed the supernatural aspects of this novel though. It was interesting to see the myths woven around the town. The Red Tide and all of those types of things were very interesting. The ending was a bit strange. I don't want to spoil anything, but I just didn't expect Felicita to make the decision she did. I sort of know why she did, but it seems a little out of character for her. It would be really interesting to see if there's a sequel for this. The novel ended, but definitely left room for more to come. Check this one out, and keep an eye out for more novels by Cat Hellisen. 

First Line:

"She's not here."

Favorite Line:
"Pelim will fall and Pelim will fall.
The heir must answer the witch's call."

Review: Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review

Rating: 5 stars  

Cover Rating: 5 stars (Gorgeous. )
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Page Count: 326 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

Cate and her sisters are witches. Their mother was a witch too. Now that she's dead though, Cate is tasked with looking after her sisters and keeping their eccentricities a secret. You see, people don't like witches, they are considered wicked and are sent away...or worse. Cate's mother did not leave her very much advice on how to go on, she said no one could be trusted not even their father. Cate also has to worry about coming of age. If she doesn't pick a husband or choose to go into the Sisterhood, the Council will choose for her. With all this on Cate's shoulders it would be nice for her to have an ally. Someone who could know her secret and help her and her sisters stay safe.

I love historical fiction about witches, so this book had caught my eye right away. Look at that cover too, so I had high hopes going into this one. Luckily I was not disappointed. Jessica Spotswood crafted wonderful characters and an interesting town for them all to live in. Cate is an interesting character. I would have loved her if it wasn't for her appalling disregard for books. She talks about being in a bookstore as a horrid thing. Besides her lack of books in her life though, Cate was a good strong character. I really appreciated that she wasn't the perfect heroine. She was bossy, a bit clumsy and very much in love. Love does make strange things happen. Paul does seem like the perfect choice, he seems quite dashing. Love does not always take one where they intend to be taken though. Cate's sisters were also swell. They interacted and bickered just like siblings. Trying to keep magic a secret can be no easy task. This book was a bit slow going at times, but the content kept me constantly craving more. There were surprises and new information around every corner, and Cate was trying to figure it all out, while handling the entire household. I can understand how she can be so upset with her mother. She really didn't do a good job preparing the girls to be on their own. She left them with no allies and no one they could count on at all. She kept so many secrets from them, that seem more harmful than beneficial. There are people out to get them and Cate and her sisters had no idea. There were a few people who surprised me quite a bit. I would recommend that anyone who likes a good old-fashioned witch novel should pick this up. It is one of the best ones I've read.

First Line:
"Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better."

Favorite Lines:
"'...I just don't have the time to read anymore.'
'That's the saddest thing I've heard all day,' Finn says, swiping his hands through his messy hair. 'Reading is the perfect escape for whatever ails you.'"

Review: Harbinger - Sara Wilson Etienne

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review

Rating: 4 stars  

Cover Rating: 3.5 stars (There's something I don't like about it, but I'm not quite sure what. I like the tarot card layout of it though.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 2, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Page Count: 308 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

Faye doesn't want to stay at Holbrook. She doesn't want to be part of the "Holbrook Family". Faye doesn't have a choice. Her father her brings her "just to look around", but ends up leaving Faye there. Things aren't as shiny happy as they seem on the outside. Faye's nightmares start picking up force, and when her and her roommate wake up on the floor covered in red and lying on a drawing of some symbol, things start to get crazy. Faye doesn't know what's going on with her and the rest of the group, but she's starting to find some clues, even if they seem a bit weird and vague. Kel is trying to help her solve the mystery too but with so much at stake, Faye doesn't know if she can trust anyone.

This book went places I never would have imagined. I was not expecting the paranormal aspect of it. I guess I just didn't read the description well enough, but there was quite a good deal of the supernatural. It was fantastic though. There were some interesting twists in the novel, some predictable and some not. When I went into it, I thought I had it all figured out. I imagined it was just going to be a psychological story, where she doesn't remember her childhood and the evils that happened. It was so much more intense and wild than that though. It did start off a bit slow for me. There were some exciting things happening right off the bat, but it wasn't until the second half of the book that I was truly engrossed. Faye was an interesting character. She was very strong and level-headed, despite her bouts of crazy. The whole group she was with were strong, especially as a unit. I really loved Damion, he acted exactly how the smarter people would. Just going with the flow so you can get the heck out of there. It's the smart and safe choice, but a hard choice if you're stubborn. I'm not sure how I feel about the relationship between Kel and Faye. It was a bit lackluster for me. Even with the supernatural explanations, it just didn't work for me. They seemed like they could be good friends, but not lovers. I also wish the Big Brother aspect was played up a little bit more. Dr. Mordoch at times, seemed ubiquitous but there were lots of times where the kids easily slipped through the cracks.  I was reminded a bit of Trickster's Girl while I was reading this, so if you loved that grab this one. This was a wonderful mystery, paranormal, chaos, dystopian, Big Brother mash-up.

First Line:
"My nose prickled with the stench of dead flowers and mildew."

Favorite Lines:

"The air was foul. Like rotting fish and death."