REVIEW--Since You've Been Gone

There are some authors that I just can't keep on the shelf in my library, and Morgan Matson is definitely one of them!  Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is NEVER in the library because word is always spreading about it.  But I recently read Since You've Been Gone and think it is my new favorite Matson book!  Check out my review!

• Realistic/Romance
• Standalone book

The Gist:
Emily and Sloane are a package deal.  But anyone will tell you that Emily rides on Sloane's coattails...everyone notices Sloane and then notices Emily behind her.  When Sloane and her parents disappear, Emily feels completely lost.  But then Emily finds a list of tasks that Sloane has left for her and she believes that if she completes the list, she will find where Sloane and her family went.  But the tasks aren't easy.  Skinny dipping?  Kissing a stranger?

What I Loved:

• The characters!  Frank, Collins, Dawn, Emily--there was so much depth to all of them.
• I loved the organization/chronology of the book.  The chapters are organized by tasks with various flashbacks thrown in.
• All of the characters were fully explored.  There were no "weak" characters.
• I was completely wrapped up in the plot.
• At first I didn't like Sloane, but her character pulled through for me by the end. 

What I Didn't Love:

• The title...Kelly Clarkson, anyone?

A really enjoyable read for me--so much to love in this one!  I don't always enjoy realistic but this one really grabbed me--5 stars for me!  And tomorrow I'm sharing a fancy pants outfit that Emily might have worn to a gala!

REVIEW--Hollow City

YOU GUYS.  I got back from Y'ALLFest yesterday and it was amazing!  I loved every single second of it!  Overall I met 38 authors and got signatures from all--that's huge!  I'll be making a video recap for you, so watch for that on my YouTube channel.

Today I'm reviewing Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, the second book in the Miss Peregrine series.  I absolutely love this series!  It's killing me that I haven't read the third book in the series yet, but I'm waiting until I'm done teaching Hollow City in an English class (I don't want to get the two confused).  So let's get more into the specifics--

• Fantasy
• Second book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series

The Gist:
Following the events of the first book in the series, the peculiar children leave for London with Miss Peregrine stuck in the form of a bird.  They need to find help for Miss Peregrine, themselves, the other ymbrynes, and the rest of the peculiar world.  

What I Loved:

• You get to see the minor characters in larger roles in this book.  I loved seeing their personalities and back stories, especially Bronwyn, Enoch, Hugh, and Millard.
• Speaking of Millard, I LOVE him!  The soft side of him really came through in this book.
• The ending!!!!  What a shock!
• There are crazy action scenes just full of suspense.  I kept wondering how in the world they would make it through certain scenes.

What I Didn't Love:

• There was a slow start to the book.  My friends and I have been telling our students that you just have to "get across the water."  That's when the momentum picks up.
• I miss that the photos in this book weren't photos that Jacob found; they were photos that just showed what Jacob was seeing in the moment.  It took away a little bit of the magic of the photographs. 

It's hard to list anything I didn't love in this book, because it really was a fun, suspenseful, crazy read! 

Have you read Library of Souls yet?  What did you think?

REVIEW--Shadow and Bone

My friend Emily (from The Gnoming Librarian) has told me over and over to read Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.  I'm not sure what was stopping me--too many books on my TBR list, maybe?--but now I regret waiting so long!  What a fun read!  Let's jump into the review!

• Fantasy
• Book One in The Grisha series

The Gist:
Mal and Alina are orphans.  And they're normal, which means they serve in various roles in the military while the powerful Grisha use their magical skills to serve the King and the Darkling. 
As they try to cross the Fold, a dark and very dangerous area roaming with human-eating Volcra, Mal is hurt and Alina shockingly saves him.  She saves him with a power that only Grisha have.  Which means Alina is a Grisha after all.  And everyone wants to use her power for their good.

What I Loved:

• This book was so unique.  I loved the characters, the plot, the mystery.  The bad guys and good guys are all so good in their parts.  I was totally invested.
• Who can be trusted is unknown and often changes.  I loved not knowing what to expect.
• Mal and Alina's relationship is believable and beautiful.  Love them both.
• There were big, intense moments that I couldn't predict.  So exciting!

What I Didn't Love:

• I didn't really understand the function of the priest/spiritual adviser--whether he could be trusted or not was unclear.
• How exactly Alina worked her powers was a little confusing.

My favorite line:
"There's nothing wrong with being a mapmaker."
"Of course not.  And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either.  Unless you were born to be a hawk."

I loved this book!  Quick, exciting, and just plain fun!  I can't wait to see where the series leads.

An outfit fit for the Grisha tomorrow--see you then!

REVIEW--Inhuman

You guys.  If you loved The Hunger Games or Divergent, you HAVE to read this book.  I just randomly picked it up for a teacher friend and he came back raving about it.  And then I read it.  And oh my word I LOVED it!

So let me tell you why!

 

• Book one in the Fetch series
• Dystopian

The Gist:
Lane lives in a futuristic America that has been overtaken by a really bad virus.  Like if you get bit by an animal and get the virus, you eventually turn into that animal.  So a wall has been built to protect the west side of the country from the eastern, mutated side.  And Lane feels completely safe on her west side.  Until, that is, she is taken into custody and told that her ever-careful father is actually a Fetch, someone who illegally crosses the border to transfer materials.  To save herself and her father, Lane must complete his final Fetch task...but how will a Western girl ever survive The Savage Zone in the East?

What I Loved:

• Everson!  Rafe!  I love them both!  I just don't know who I want Lane to choose.
• The cliffhanger ending with Rafe--oh my goodness!!!!  What will happen to him?!
• This book is dystopian, yes, but it is SO UNIQUE compared to all the others out right now.  No factions/districts/etc.
• The ending is SO EXCITING.  I couldn't stop reading the final few chapters.
• The Tiger-Man, the lionesses--I loved their unpredictability (as is the case with animals).
• The villains were just so so good.

What I Didn't Love:

• In Lane's second interaction with the Tiger-Man, I felt like Rafe and Everson should've known better than to let her go outside alone.  I saw that coming a mile away.
• The cover.  It could be so much more.

I absolutely adored this book and am dying for Kat Falls to finish the sequel!  Supposedly it's supposed to be published in 2015, but Goodreads doesn't even have a title for it.  I'm dying!

I said recently in my MidYear Book Freakout video that Extraordinary Means is my favorite read of the year, but this book might just tie it.

REVIEW: I Was Here

What a weekend!  It started with the MOST BEAUTIFUL wedding of some friends of ours.  Beautiful because of the decorations, sure, but mostly because of the bride and groom.  We love these two and consider them such close friends.  Can't wait to hang out now as married friends!  (I cried through their ceremony's procession. I didn't even cry at my own wedding!

And then the weekend took a crazy dramatic turn...I think I got some poison ivy on my chin that spread over my entire face Sunday morning.  We're talking one eye practically puffed up so much that it wanted to close, major itching...bleh.  Thank goodness for MedChecks open on weekends!

Today I'm reviewing I Was Here by Gayle Forman.  I LOVE Gayle Forman--her books If I Stay and Just One Day are some of my favorite romance/realistic books.  I become so drawn into her characters and story lines.  So let's jump into this one!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Cody and Meg were best friends; in fact, Meg's family practically helped raise Cody.  So when Meg commits suicide during her freshman year of college, Cody is shocked and devastated.  When Cody goes to Meg's college house to collect her things, she learns that Meg was hiding a lot...and that someone may have helped her with her death.

What I Loved:

• The characters.  Like I said, I love Gayle Forman's characters, and these characters are so real.  I can picture them all--relationships aren't perfect and people often show their true colors.  And those features are definitely a part of this book.
• Bradford especially was SO real.  His scene may not have had a climactic ending, but I can totally see him as a real person.
• This book is a true look at grief, especially an unexpected death.  Well-done in portraying the characters' various reactions.
• Cody's eventual revelation of her mother, Tricia, was nicely done.

What I Didn't Love:

• In one scene, Cody fearfully asks permission from a homeowner to use their WiFi while cleaning their home, and the homeowner seems a little disturbed by it.  I don't find this too realistic--no one really cares if you use their WiFi, even if you're "at work."

My favorite quote:

"Alice..returns with a cup of coffee for me, which she announces is free-range and fair-trade and shade-farmed in Malawi, and I nod along as if my coffee needs to go beyond hot and caffeinated."

I just loved this book--yes, it's about suicide and grief but it was so well-written that I found myself reading it so quickly.  An easy five stars for me!

An outfit based on Cody coming up!  

REVIEW: The Beginning of Everything and The Start of Robyn Schneider Week!

YOU GUYS.  This week is going to be SO FUN on the blog!  If you watched my June TBR video, you saw that I LOVE Robyn Schneider.  Her books are witty and clever AND she's a YouTube beauty guru...so we were obviously meant to be best friends.

I got to meet and interview Robyn a little over a week ago while she was touring for her newest book, Extraordinary Means.  And I love her even more after meeting her!  So I decided to make this "Robyn Schneider Week" on the blog!  I will review both of her books, show off some outfits I designed for both of them, and post my interview with Robyn.

So let's jump right in!

Today's post is a review of The Beginning of Everything, Robyn's first book.  I picked it up on a whim and was SOLD by page 3.  Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2015.  Even one of my school's English teachers, who coaches football and prides himself on being manly, told me he "freakin' loved it."  Yes, it's just that good.  So let's get reviewing!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:
Ezra Faulkner seems to have it all--at the end of his junior year he is a star tennis player and a front-runner for Homecoming King and has a popular girlfriend.  But when he catches his girlfriend in the act of cheating and leaves a party hurriedly, he is hit by another car and has his life changed forever.  Now a bit crippled and unable to play tennis, he loses his so-called friends and popularity status.  And on the first day of his senior year, Ezra finds himself completely starting over.  But when he meets Cassidy Thorpe, a girl unlike any others, he realizes that this may just be his chance in re-identifying himself.

What I Loved:

• First of all, Schneider's dedication to her parents at the beginning of the book is witty and adorable.  Completely sets the pace for the book (and when do dedications ever do that?).
• The first three pages just got me...Poor Toby at Disneyland on his birthday!!!
• And speaking of the first three pages, the cover is genius!  Love love love it!
• I want to be friends with Toby, Phoebe, Austin, and the rest.  The characterization was fantastic.
• I thought I had figured out the twist involving Cassidy, and I was disappointed that I had it solved.  And then I learned that I DIDN'T have it figured out.  

What I Didn't Love:

• There's a bit of a plot hole towards the end.  Did no one ever look for the person who hit Ezra in the accident?  No police reports/investigations?  I feel like that would have been a curiosity.

My Favorite Quotes:

"That everyone's life, no matter how unremarkable, has a moment when it will become extraordinary--a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen."

"The funny thing about gold is how quickly it can tarnish."

"We're taking the road beyond the road less traveled, and being on time will make all the difference."

Gosh, I just loved this book.  Witty, heart-wrenching, mysterious.  Five stars from me!

Tomorrow you'll see an outfit for EZRA--yep, a guy's outfit!  Inspired by his joining the debate team.  So come back and check it out!

REVIEW: The 100

Happy Monday!  A new week and it's going to be a warm one here in Indiana!

Today's review is of The 100 by Kass Morgan, a book that I read so quickly--I was enthralled with each of the characters and couldn't wait to see where the story took me.  You may know it by the CW TV show of the same name (although I hear it's very different from the book!).  So let's jump right in!

 

• First book in The Hundred series
• Dystopian

The Gist:
A nuclear war on Earth completely devastated the planet, so for centuries people have lived in spaceships above it and its radioactive surface.  Scientists, though, believe that Earth may be inhabitable now, so to test it they send 100 juvenile delinquents down.  If they delinquents survive, the rest of the people will join them.  If they don't survive, well then they've only lost the "bad" kids.  But while some delinquents gladly join the trip to Earth, others will fight to stay in space.

What I Loved:

• The book is told from a variety of points of view, and this made the book so engrossing!  I was hooked into every character's story, especially Glass's for some reason.  Seeing the various ways that the characters felt about their situation and the trip to Earth was fascinating.
• Speaking of Glass, I'm glad that the book isn't only told from the points of view of teens going to Earth.  I liked having the perspective of life back on the spaceship with Glass and her old friends.
• A lovely combination of dystopian and sci fi...you've got the corrupt government, the caste system, the forbidden love...and a mixture of spaceships.
• I also love the mystery of whether or not the rest of the space citizens will come down to Earth.  There's such a mystery surrounding the government's plans.

What I Didn't Love:

• It's a little unbelievable to me that the people haven't been able to use all their technology to track what's happening on Earth...for 3 centuries.  

I know many people have talked about how much they love the CW show and how it isn't like the book at all...it's never easy to compare books and media, so I'm glad I read this before seeing any episodes!

A super fun read for me--I just loved it!

I'll definitely be designing an outfit for Clark...and since I haven't seen the TV show, she may not look anything like the show's version!

And I'll be posting an outfit this week from date night last week--Luke and I went to the symphony!  It's so lovely!

REVIEW: Belzhar

Wow, it's Thursday already!  This week is flying by (no complaining here) and on this rainy Indiana day I have a FANTASTIC book to encourage you to cuddle up with.

Today's review is on Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer, a little-realistic, mostly-fantasy book that will keep you curious and committed to the last page.  So let's jump in!

 

• Standalone novel
• Fantasy

The Gist:
Jam fell in love with Reeve, a foreign exchange student with the most adorable accent.  And then he tragically (and mysteriously) died, leaving Jam in a complete pit of mourning and despair.  In fact, her despair is so bad that her parents send her to The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school for students who need closer attention to help them handle their emotional state.
Jam doesn't care much for the teachers or other students, but when she gets registered in an exclusive English class called Special Topics, everything changes.  Studying Sylvia Plath for the semester, the class receives journals that take them to Belzhar, a land where they can each interact with the source of their problems.  And Jam gets to see Reeve again, talk with him, and feel his arms around her.
But Belzhar can only last for so long before Jam has to start talking about his death... 

What I Loved:

• I loved the setting, the situation, the characters.  I can definitely see a camp-like school exist to help students with emotional problems (maybe not ones with magical journals...) so I was invested into the story early-on.
• There were multiple student situations flowing through the book; you find out why Jam's classmates are at The Wooden Barn, and it just adds so much depth to issues students may be dealing with today.
• The twist at the end--oh man! Added a whole other layer to Jam and really up'd the WOW factor for me.
• I was definitely satisfied with the book's ending.  

What I Didn't Love:

• The cover.  While I like the look of everything that Jam would have packed in her room, the cover looks a little 1950s.  Yes, I know there are headphones on the cover but the black-and-white feature dates it too far back.
• The word "Belzhar" itself was a little cheesy.   

I'm giving this 5 stars!  I just loved it--it was unique, kept me engaged, and tied up loose ends.  Well done, Wolitzer!

I'll have an outfit designed for Jam tomorrow--see you then!

REVIEW: Panic

Happy Monday, everyone!  We got COVERED in snow this weekend in Indiana, but that gave my family a chance to watch movies, eat chicken soup, and just nap around...it was perfect!

Today's review is on Lauren Oliver's book Panic.  I listened to this book on my way home from YALLFEST and was able to listen to it all within that setting.  And what an experience that was--I was gripping the steering wheel so tightly during a tiger scene (yes, there are tigers!)!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's jump into the review:

 

• Standalone novel
• Realistic

The Gist:
In the town of Carp, graduating seniors join in a thrilling game of Panic.  The game started since there's nothing else to do in Carp, but has grown to be a much-anticipated and even deadly part of summer.  Here's how it works: graduating seniors who join the game complete very dangerous, terrifying tasks.  If they finish the task, they move on to the next round.  If they refuse to compete or fail, they are out of the game (if they aren't killed in the process).  The winner receives $50,000.
Heather wasn't expecting to play the game...but when she sees her recent ex-boyfriend pawing his new girlfriend, she impulsively joins the game.  She joins Dodge, a player who is out for revenge, and other friends in a game that will prove to be completely life-changing...and life-threatening.

What I Loved:

• I love reading about games and challenges and reality show-like dares (my favorite childhood book is The Westing Game).  And that's completely what this book is about.  The challenges are fun to read (and thrilling and terrifying as well!) and are unpredictable.
• Even though this is a book about a death-defying game, it's also all about relationships.  I loved getting into the deep stories of Heather and Dodge.  With this being a 400+ page book, it was nice to have a mix of the nail-biting with the relationships.
• The ending!  Everything wrapped up in a very surprising way for me.  This was the part that got me so impressed with Oliver's writing.
• There are some big issues (especially teen issues) in the book that made me feel like the read was worth my time.  Issues like family troubles, revenge, a secret crush, and secrets in general.  And like I said, they all wrapped up so well for as much as what was going on.

What I Didn't Love:

• Ok, so it was a little unbelievable.  This game could not be pulled off year after year with teenagers, at least not the teenagers that I'm used to working with everyday.  Teens can't keep secrets and this game is a complete secret every summer.  It was fun to think it could happen, though!
• The cover--I think it's a cool cover but I really don't think it fits the book that well. 

Such a fun read and so fun to read with my friend Emily on the way home from South Carolina!

Yep, 5 stars!  I know, that doesn't happen very often.  But so so good!

REVIEW--We Are the Goldens

Hey, readers and fashionistas!  I'm excited about today's book review--I loved this book because it was such a surprise for me.  I expected controversy and edginess, and I got a deep-thinking and realistic portrayal of a sister's internal struggle.  So good!

Today's review is on Dana Reinhardt's newest book, We Are the Goldens.  I had read her book The Things a Brother Knows and really enjoyed it, so this was an easy grab for me.  But I LOVED it.  Let me explain why:

•  Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Layla and Nell are the Goldens.  And Nell absolutely adores her sister.  Loves living a few years behind her and looking up to her.  But Nell notices that Layla is more distant than normal, uninterested in normal high school things, and unconcerned with school gossip.  And then she learns of Layla's big secret.  A secret that could change their family's life forever.  A secret that haunts Nell's every moment.

What I Loved:

• The point of view of the book--it's second person, which is so rarely seen in fiction.  Nell is speaking to Layla throughout the book, giving her behind-the-scenes info on the decisions she's made.  So effective since this book is all about looking at a situation through Nell's eyes.
• Even though I wanted major action to happen in the end, I'm glad it didn't.  It just didn't need it.  This book is about Nell even more than it is about Layla.
• This book is so gosh darn realistic...and that's all I can say about that since I work in education.
• I didn't think the adults were weak in this book.  The parents cared about their girls and appeared to be very realistic as divorced parents.

What I Didn't Love:

• The cover. Just doesn't work for me.
• Even though I loved the ending, my students won't like it.  I'll have to convince them why it's the best choice. 

Favorite quote: "They had three times the pool to choose from when putting together their team, so of course they were better than us.  Plus it was a Jesuit school, so they probably had God on their side to boot."

Such a great book--I highly recommend it!

Yep, 5 heels for me!

I'll be designing a Nell-inspired outfit soon!  I'm headed to YA'LL Fest tomorrow...can't wait to tell you all about it!

REVIEW--The Loners

I have been booktalking all day...you know, I've been describing books to students to help them pick out something that they'll like.  And it was so. much. fun.  I love that "oh wow!" moment when I tell them something special about a book or surprise them when something they know they'll love.  And speaking of a book that I love...

Let's talk about The Loners.  It's the first in a series called Quarantine, and wow!  Just wow!  One of the most action-packed, surprising, and even violent books that I've read in a while.  Let's jump right in!

 

• First in the Quarantine series
• Dystopian

The Gist:
On the first day of school, David is mostly concerned with making sure his brother, Will, has a good day as a new freshman.  Oh, and he's trying to avoid the football team who thinks he deserted them (which he kind of did) and his ex-girlfriend who left him for a teammate.  But there won't be any avoidance for long, because a virus hits the school, killing off all the adults and putting the building under military quarantine.  And for over a year now, David and his entire school's student body have been trapped inside, fighting for food, power, and their lives.  And for David and Will, who have no outside friends, they have to fight the most.

What I Loved:

• Oh my goodness!  This was such a fast-paced, action-packed, shocking, exhilarating,  crazy read!  I kept thinking "how will they ever get out of this?!" and was constantly surprised by the characters and their actions.  
• This book takes Lord of the Flies to a whole new level, and I know my students will eat it up!  The fight for power and the strength in alliances speak VOLUMES in this book.
• So much thought went in to how students of all backgrounds would react to such a crisis.  From where they station themselves to how they make use of their time, they were grouped in fairly accurate ways. 

What I Didn't Love:

• Once the virus hits, the military quarantines the school within minutes, and I found this immediate reaction to be highly unlikely.  And the military seemed so cold against the students, only dropping down food.  Wouldn't they have wanted to establish a communicative effort?  Work to reunite conversation between families?
• And speaking of this virus, the fact that it hit everyone at once is also so unlikely.  I can see it spreading, sure, but a kid runs into the building and then all of a sudden everyone has it? 

Despite having a few things I didn't like, I LOVED this book.  So creative and creepy all at the same time!  I'll definitely be jumping on the sequel!  And I'll also be designing an outfit based on one of the student groups.  Now go read The Loners!

REVIEW--If I Lie

Wow, it's been a week...how did that happen??!  I won't even give you excuses but I'm happy to be back with a new review...especially this review!  It's If I Lie by Corrine Jackson, a book that I had to read for a committee and honestly thought I would dislike--it just didn't seem to grab me from the excerpt--but boy did I love it!  So let's jump right in:

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Quinn seemed to have it all--a handsome and beloved boyfriend, Carey, a spot in the popular crowd, and the respect of her peers.  This even increases when Carey goes off to Afghanistan to fight for the U.S., making him a hometown hero and Quinn the sweet girl waiting for him at home.  But when a photo of Quinn--half-naked with ANOTHER guy--leaks to the town, everyone turns on her.  Because how dare she cheat on her boyfriend, a soldier who is risking his life for her freedom?  And when Carey goes MIA during a mission, Quinn finds herself completely alone and bullied.

What I Loved:

• Realistic fiction can sometimes take awhile for me to get through because there often just isn't enough action for me, but this book was a page-turner.  I was really interested in how Quinn's story was going to turn out.
• I loved Quinn's relationship with George, a war veteran living in an assistance community.  Their friendship brought needed humor into the book and gave readers a look at how we can remember the stories of our veterans.
• This gave us a realistic look at cyber-bullying and how easy it is to follow the crowd.  Quinn is practically a pariah after the photo of her circulates and it's fascinating to see how everyone treats her.
• The flashbacks throughout the book were really well done.  Sometimes flashbacks drive me crazy, especially when I'm involved in a story, but Quinn remembering her mother added so much to her and Carey's characters.

What I Didn't Love:

• Ok, even though I found the bullying to be realistic, the fact that EVERYONE turned against Quinn--even her own father--was not.  No one gave her any credit, and they didn't even know the whole story!  I've been in situations before where students have done some HORRIBLE things, and there are always staff members/students who give them a break.  There was little grace in this book.
• We learn early on that Quinn is actually keeping a secret for Carey, and even though that secret is also revealed early, I guessed it right off the bat.  A little predictable.

It's hard for me to say what I didn't love, because I genuinely loved this book.  Kept me engaged and turning pages!  5 heels from me!

I'll be back with an outfit perfect for a military girlfriend...hmmm, what could I mean by that?!

Have you read If I Lie?  What did you think?

REVIEW--Into the Still Blue

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Previously this year I reviewed Under the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi...GREAT books in the Under the Never Sky trilogy.  I recently read the third and final book--Into the Still Blue and can't wait to review it!  So here we go:

 

•  Third book in the Under the Never Sky series
• Dystopian

The Gist:
When we left Aria and Perry, they realized that Sable and Hess had joined forces to kidnap Cinder and force him to take them to the Still Blue.  That would mean safety for them and their people, possibly death for Cinder, and hopelessness for Aria and Perry and their newly-mixed tribe of Dwellers and the Tides.  So Aria and Perry know they must rescue Cinder and find their own way to the Still Blue before the Aether storms destroy them all.   But that means a mission of complete danger, betrayal, and decisions...and Sable and Hess aren't giving up with out a major fight.

What I Loved:

• Sable and Hess were FANTASTIC villains.  I seriously didn't know how Aria and Perry would surpass them because of their strength in all things evil.  Especially Sable.  One dangerous guy.
• I loved all the characters and how they returned to be important to the plot--Roar (Oh I LOVE Roar!), Brooke, Soren, etc.  
• I wasn't expecting for Aria to have any conclusion about the identity of her father--I was happy to see that and it was nicely done.  I liked the dual side to his character, too.
• Action-packed scenes, bouts of violence--it all had me turning the page quickly.  I was engrossed!

What I Didn't Love:

• I still miss the cannibals from Book One.  And they're not in this book...isn't it sad and creepy that I miss the cannibals?  I just found them intriguing.  

My favorite quote:  "You're out to hurt at least a few people.  I'm sure of that.  What I'm trying to figure out is how wide you're casting the net."

I never say this about final books in a series, but I think this one was my favorite!  Sad to see it end, actually.  Aria and Perry are a great match, which leave Roar single for me (wait!  I'm married...and oh yeah, Roar isn't real).

It's been awhile since I've had a 5-star review!

I'll be back with a new outfit (inspired by this book of course!).  See you then!

REVIEW--Between Shades of Gray

Well, by now you know how much I love Ruta Sepetys and her books.  So of course I had to post a review today on Between Shades of Gray, her first novel.  It demonstrates what Ruta masters--taking a part of history that we're just not overly familiar with and bringing it to light (in a very addicting way!).  So let's jump right into it!

 

• Standalone novel
• Historical fiction

The Gist:

Lina is a 15-year-old Lithuanian girl.  In the midst of WWII, Lina's father (a professor) is arrested by the Soviets and sent off to a Soviet prison.  Shortly thereafter, Lina, her mother, and her 11-year-old brother Jonas are sent to railway cars and a compound.  They are then sent to Siberia.  And all simply because they are Lithuanian.

Lina finds freedom and strength in her artwork and hopes that it will find its way to her father and bring their family together again.

What I Loved:

• I DEVOURED this book.  I have never read a book that was so heart-wrenching and yet so addictive.  A book that you don't want to keep reading because of Lina's awful situation, but you can't stop reading because Sepetys is such a great author.
• Such a raw novel, and the emotions of the various characters were all over the place--bitter, hopeful, sacrificial, selfish.
• The short chapters gave me a chance to process the plotline.
• The scenes of the Lithuanians singing together--what a sign of hope!
• The perfect placements of flashbacks.  Sometimes flashbacks drive me crazy because they take away from the current story I want to keep reading, but these flashbacks gave me the background that I needed.
• Sentences just left me stunned.  It was actually hard to pick my favorite line from the book because I loved so many!  Like the very first line of the book--"They took me in my nightgown."  Sepetys had me from the first line!

What I Didn't Love:

• The title.  Even though Sepetys probably didn't have much say in the title, with this being her first novel, she will have this book forever compared with Fifty Shades of Gray.  Although maybe that helped her initial sales?  Whenever I booktalk this book, students always ask right away if it's Fifty Shades for teens.  My response?  It's so much better than that!
• Maybe it's because I don't fully understand the situation of the Lithuanians, but I found it surprising--and almost unbelievable--that they could send letters through the local post office.  Were they really given this freedom?  And they could receive letters, too?  Seemed out-of-character for the Soviet guards, but maybe it did happen...  

 My favorite line: "The bald man stared blankly, and for once, said nothing."  If you read this book, I think you'll understand why this is such a great line!

So please--read, read, read this book!  And then come back and tell me your thoughts!

 

 Not a surprise that I give it 5 heels, huh?

I'll be back tomorrow with a fun Top Ten topic, and then I'll design an outfit for Lina on Wednesday!

 

REVIEW--The Last Dragonslayer

Happy Halloween!!!!  I have to admit--it doesn't really feel like Halloween to me.  Our city's trick-or-treating got moved to tomorrow night due to weather, so I'll probably feel the Halloween spirit more then.

But today's review is on a book that I thought could inspire a great Halloween costume--The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde.  Doesn't a dragon make a GREAT costume?!

This book is the first in The Last Dragonslayer series; the second in the series just recently came out in the U.S., so I'm sure I'll be reviewing that one soon!  I loved this book!  It was so different than most fantasy books I read, but if you know much about Jasper Fforde, this was right up his alley!

 

• First book in The Last Dragonslayer series
• Fantasy

The Gist:

Jennifer Strange, our protagonist, lives in the Ununited Kingdom.  In this kingdom, magic used to be huge but is now fading away (Have a flying carpet?  That used to be an exciting part of magic but now means you're a pizza delivery boy).  Jennifer manages a magic agency to help the few magic-users find work.

She hears a Prophecy that the Last Dragonslayer will kill the final dragon that exists; and once this is done, everyone will be clamoring to claim the land left by the dragon.  If this isn't crazy enough, Jennifer finds herself caught up in the Prophecy.

What I Loved:

• This book was SO FUNNY!  Seriously--Laugh Out Loud funny!
• This is such a unique, unexpected, and quirky world with crazy world-building.  So Jasper Fforde!
• The book introduces us to some new characters that I've never seen before.  Like a Quarkbeast--what in the world does a Quarkbeast look like?!
• The characters are so loveable, especially Jennifer and Tiger.  I'm just rooting for them all the way.
• A very well-paced novel.  Moved at just the right speed for me so that I was constantly entertained.
• The themes of greed, destiny, and staying true to yourself were so well portrayed!

What I Didn't Love:

• There was a lot to take in at times--a lot of characters, positions, titles, etc.  If you're not used to fantasy, this could be a little overwhelming.
• The difference between "Big Magic" and "Old Magic" (and even their definitions in general) was a bit hard to understand.

My favorite quote:  
"But still money was short, and he was forced to do the one thing that sorcerers should never do.  An act of such gross betrayal to his art that if it were made common knowledge, his reputation would be destroyed forever, and he would die a broken man, humiliated and shunned by his peers."
"You mean ---?"
"Right.  He did children's parties."

 

I just loved this book!   A super-fun read that is about an eighth grade reading level.  Pick it up--you'll love it, too!