Double Feature Review: The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech AND The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbit

Anyone out there still read my poor, sad, neglected blog? :)
These books don't really have much to do with each other, both just middle grade and I didn't have tons to say about them.

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 2012
Source: Review copy from publisher
For: Review

Summary (from goodreads):

Young Naomi Deane is brimming with curiosity and her best friend, Lizzie Scatterding, could talk the ears off a cornfield. Naomi has a knack for being around when trouble happens. She knows all the peculiar people in town—like Crazy Cora and Witch Wiggins. But then, one day, a boy drops out of a tree. Just like that. A strangely charming Finn boy. And then the Dingle Dangle man appears, asking all kinds of questions. Curious surprises are revealed—three locked trunks, a pair of rooks, a crooked bridge, and that boy—and soon Naomi and Lizzie find their lives changed forever.

My Thoughts:I was enjoying this as I read along, liking the characters and a little bit the story, but by the time I got to the end, I was wondering what this book was really about. I am still not sure. It seemed a little bit meandering and pointless. I guess I just didn't get it. Kind of a fun story with quirky characters, but didn't see much point to the plot.

Read-alikes:
Can't think of any

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: **
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The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbit
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: January 2012

Source: Review copy from publisher
For: Review
Series: Maya and Valko, Book 1

Summary (from goodreads):

Twelve-year-old Maya is miserable when she has to move from California to Paris. Not speaking French at a school full of snobby French girls is bad enough, but Maya believes there is something sinister going on in her new city. A purple-eyed man follows Maya and her younger brother, James. Statues seem to have Maya’s face. And an eerie cabinet filled with mysterious colored bottles calls to her.
When James becomes the target of dark forces, Maya decides she must answer the call of the Cabinet of Earths, despite the danger.

My Thoughts: I thought this one had a fun and kind of unique, quirky plot. It was a bit aggravating to begin with - I kind of despise the whole discover strange things a tiny, confusing piece at a time plot. Anyway, it felt different than many of the middle grade fantasies I've read. That being said, I was not very intrigued and found it hard to keep reading. No particular reason I can pinpoint, just wasn't that thrilled. Guess there's no reason for me to pick up the sequels.

Read-alikes:
Maybe a bit like the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

Book Review: Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Hello again, blogging world! Sorry for the radio silence - life gets in a way a lot lately. Plus, I pretty much single handedly planned girls camp (a youth camp for my church for girls aged 12-18). It was crazy times. And blogging is really falling by the wayside. But here! Have a random book review!

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: March 2015
Pages: 368
Source: e-book from library
For: I heard good things and those shiny award stickers didn't hurt

Summary (from goodreads):

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

My thoughts:
I got really sucked into this story - right from the start. It's amazingly written, with gorgeous lyrical writing and there's some serious suspense going on. It also has a lot of surprising elements, though I did go in knowing there was an element of magical realism/fantasy. I liked figuring things out one little bit at a time and wondering if I'd been imagining it wrong all along. And I liked it. Worth the read, I think, despite some rather disturbing and adult-ish things.

Read-alikes:
Uh, drawing a blank here

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
there is some in there (no f-bombs, that I recall)

mrg-factor: X
some stuff

v-factor: ->->
it's been a while, but I think some intense stuff happens :)

Overall rating: ****

Book Review: The Swap by Megan Shull

A Karissa Review

 The Swap by Megan Shull
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication date: August 2014
Pages: 400

Summary from GoodReads:

YOU BE ME...AND I'LL BE YOU.”

Ellie spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. Jack spent it training in “The Cage” with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they’re both ready for a change. And just as Jack’s thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie’s wishing she could be anyone but herself.

Then, BAM! They swap lives—and bodies!

Now Jack’s fending off mean girls at sleepover parties while Ellie’s reigning as the Prince of Thatcher Middle School. As their crazy weekend races on—and their feelings for each other grow—Ellie and Jack begin to realize that maybe the best way to learn how to be yourself is to spend a little time being someone else.

Things I Liked:

I picked this up just because it was new, but I didn’t expect much from it. I was pleasantly surprised – it’s a light read, but still goes deep in some parts. I really, really liked it. It deals with kinda the stereotypical mean girls and jr. high mumbo jumbo, but it does it well. Plus, adding the wrinkle of a boy being in the girl’s body is fun. (In fact, one of my favorite parts is, soon after they switch, Ellie has to go to the bathroom, but doesn’t exactly know how to do so as a boy – Jack’s coaching made me laugh out loud.)

I really liked the ending, as the characters were strong for each other in a way they couldn’t be for themselves.

Now, if Disney did this as a teen flick, they’d totally ruin it and do this Lindsey Lohan kinda thing to it, so this is one book I hope they don’t turn into a movie.

Things I Didn't Like:
I initially didn’t like the stereotypical stuff, but as I said, it goes further, so it turned out okay.

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none
sorta – there is a small kissing scene, and a “teen boy” part – but both not dwelt on

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***.5

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Mini Reviews 14

Time to play catch up on 2014 books and a whole slew of mini reviews are headed your way.  Enjoy?


Switched by Amanda Hocking

Summary: 
Wendy hasn't had an easy life, what with her mother trying to kill her when she was six.  But, things are about to get way more complicated when a mysterious guy comes to take her "home." She's a changeling and now she's thrown into a whole new magical world that she has no idea how to navigate.

My Thoughts:
Blech, blah, ugh.  If this hadn't been for a book group, I would have chucked it long and hard.  I did not enjoy the writing (a rather kind way of putting it), the characters made me crazy, the story was derivative, and I just didn't care what happened.  After having a book club member who loved it tell me what happens in the rest of the series, I'm soooooo glad I didn't bother reading more.  Save yourself from this book. (Whew, sorry that was such a nasty review - I had a pretty strong reaction. Lots of other people really like this series, so read some other opinions before writing it off completely :)
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House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini
Summary:
When Cordelia, Brendan, and Eleanor move into a mysterious new mansion, they expect to have adventures. Just not to be thrown into a world full of warriors, pirates, and evil queens. Now they have to figure out just where they are and how they will get home again.

My Thoughts:
I had a lovely friend recommend this to me. I still like that friend. I did not like this book. Almost in the first three chapters I wanted to stop reading, but made myself continue so that I could return it and tell her I finished. The writing left much to be desired. Every other sentence had a product drop (this will age the book very quickly) and I couldn't bring myself to care about characters who didn't have much in the way of personality. Also, the plot was very convoluted, all over the place, and not entirely sure where it was going. Not worth the time spent reading it, I felt.
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What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Summary:
During an ordinary day at the gym, Alice falls and suffers some memory loss - as in the last ten years of her life. Alice only remembers being in love with her husband, expecting her first child, and loving where she was at in life. She is forced to face the truth of her 10 years older life - getting divorced, three children, and completely different from who she was before. So, which Alice is she?

My Thoughts:
Hey, I actually enjoyed this one :). I bet you thought this whole post would be full of negative reviews. Anyway, we read this for book group as well and I found it really fascinating. What I liked most wasn't even the story or characters, it was the idea of looking back at myself ten years ago and wondering if I would like who I am now. We change in such subtle ways we might not notice until we are somewhere completely different. Also, because of my personal experiences with infertility, I was dying for more of Elizabeth's story. Thought-provoking.
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Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Summary:
This tells the story of Louis Zamperini, former Olympian runner who gets caught up World War II as an airman. His incredible story of survival of a plane crash, days adrift at sea, and as a prisoner of war will enthrall and horrify. But his survival and how he deals with all of it, will inspire.

My Thoughts:
This is a powerful story. I love how detailed and very well-researched this book was. As I was reading, I kept thinking Louis' life couldn't get any more horrifying. And then it would. It always seems like I read fiction because it is more interesting than real life. This disproves that 1000 times over. Near the end, I was super depressed, because he really just struggles so much and against such terrible odds. And then he finally comes home and he has to deal with the emotional and physical toll that being imprisoned and tortured left on him. But the most beautiful part of all is what the title suggests. He was unbroken. It's a tough read, but if you get to the end, you will see your life in a whole new way.
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Matilda by Roald Dahl

Summary:
Matilda is pretty much a genius, but brushed off by her uninterested parents. She hoped school would be different, but Ms. Trunchbull the evil school mistress is determined to squelch any fire of Matilda's spirit. But Matilda is determined to fight back.

My Thoughts:
I'd never read this book as a kid and I really enjoyed watching Matilda discover herself and deal with the difficult family she had. I was a bit surprised at how there doesn't seem to be much of a story, though. It was much more simplistic and convenient (particularly the very end) to be believable. I'm quite sure I'd have loved it as a kid, but reading it as an adult, I found it just a bit ridiculous.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray

A Karissa Review

Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray
Publisher: Crown
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 256

Summary from goodreads:

A mom in her early fifties, Clover knows she no longer turns heads the way she used to, and she's only really missed when dinner isn't on the table on time. Then Clover wakes up one morning to discover she's invisible--truly invisible. She panics even more when her family doesn't notice a thing. Her best friend immediately observes the change, which relieves Clover immensely--she's not losing her mind after all! But she is crushed by the realization that neither her husband nor her children ever truly look at her. She was invisible even before she knew it. Clover discovers that there are others like her, women of a certain age who seem to have disappeared. As she uses her invisibility to get to know her family and her town better, Clover leads the way in helping invisible women become recognized and appreciated no matter what their role.

What I Liked:
I loved, loved, loved this book. I loved the premise, and the way it deals with it on a literal and figurative level. For those of us of a “certain age,” well, we can really relate. At my library, I recommend this book to any of my patrons willing to admit they are over 40. Not only is the story clever and well written, there’s some fun humor in here. Here’s a teaser – She finds a meeting of other “affected” women, but they meet in empty hotel conference rooms. To make the room seem “empty” none of the invisible women wear clothes. (They are invisible, their clothes aren’t.) Her first encounter with this situation prompts my very favorite line of the book. I only sample adult fiction through Reader’s Digest Condensed books, because I really hate the language, sex, and blecgh you find in them. And RD takes all that out. So I read this book through RD first, and loved it so much, I went to a book store and rifled through the actual book to see if it was okay to recommend to others. And it is! It’s totally clean! (Except, maybe, for mental images of an invisible naked 50 year old woman...)

What I Didn’t Like:
The ending seemed plausible, but maybe too quickly wrapped up….

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: September 2013
Pages: 416
Source: e-book from Library
For: Fun
Series: Raven Cycle, Book 2

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first book*

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same.

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life.

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Things I Liked:
This is kind of a strange and unique story.  I love how fascinating it is to see the different characters, all of whom are very detailed and real.  They have interesting interactions and they make decisions that seem in character and they deal with the real consequences.  But also, there's magic and it is woven very neatly into the real world.  Very well written and compelling in its ideas.  I'll read more.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, I didn't much care for anyone in the story this time.  I do like Gansey more than I did before and I felt real compassion for Adam and all he dealt with.  I still hate Ronan and didn't much care for Blue either.  I felt like there was a lot of really vague stuff going on in this one.  Nothing seemed clear or made much sense.  A lot of weird things happened and I kept waiting for Stiefvater to explain, but I was left pretty much wanting.  I don't know if it's my distracted reading, but I thought it was not clear enough for me.  I don't quite grasp how the magic works in her world.  I want to, though.  Also, there was just a touch too much f-bomb dropping for my taste.

Read-alikes:
It reminded me of Stiefvater's Lament and Ballad
It reads kind of like an Arthurian legend

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
plenty of f-bombs throughout

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
quite a lot of violence, but not really on page, it just felt very violent

Overall rating: *** or ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Retell Me a Story Book Review: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

It's the last day of Retell Me a Story fun! In case you've missed out on anything, check out all the previous posts:
- Welcome and giveaway post,
- A guest post from Nikki of BookPairing on The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood,
- A list of new and upcoming retellings,
- A guest post from author Diane Zahler on fairy tale mixers,
- A review of one of Diane's fairy tale retellings, The Thirteenth Princess,
- A fun Robin Hood guest post by Suey of It's All About Books,
- A guest post by author Marissa Meyer on fairy tale scavenger hunts,
- A review of a fairy tale mash-up, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis,
- A guest post by Angie of Angieville on classic retellings
- A review of The Turning by Francine Prose, a retelling of The Turn of the Screw
- A guest post where author April Lindner answers my questions about classic retellings
- A review of Catherine by April Lindner, a retelling of Wuthering Heights
- A guest post from Jessica of Books: A True Story on taking fairy tales to new places

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 192
Source: ARC sent from publisher
For: Review

Roo has spent most of her life hiding - from the bad things her parents were doing. But when she suddenly finds herself orphaned and taken to live with an uncle she's never heard of, she begins to find that hiding isn't always the solution. In her strange and spooky new home, she secrets and places that will change her as much as she changes them.

Things I Liked:
I had a lot of fun thinking about the ways this one relates to The Secret Garden.  If I hadn't just reread that classic last year, I probably would have done it for my Classic Double Challenge this year.  I loved the way Roo's life was updated and modernized from Mary's (although I'm not sure "loved" is the best word for it, since her parents were drug dealers and got murdered).  It was just as rewarding to watch Roo come out of hiding and connect with people, like Violet and Jack as well as her cousin.  It managed to capture some of that sweetness, as well as some of the mysterious atmosphere of the unique setting, though this time it was an isolated island.  Fun and satisfying.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a bit more.  It felt like most of the book was spent introducing Roo and all her problems, leaving the resolution and transformation of her cousin and the garden was very rushed.  The ending was neat and short and I wanted more of the magic and wonder I remember from the original.

Read-alikes:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not exactly violence, but her before life was definitely not pretty

Overall rating: ***

What beloved childhood classic would you like to see updated?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Publisher: Bantam
Publication date: 2007
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Book Group

Claire Waverly has stayed in Bascom since the day her mother brought them home and she's made a name for herself as a caterer with unusually powerful food. Sydney left Bascom right out of high school and hasn't missed being called a Waverly or a witch at all. But, when Sydney unexpectedly returns bringing her young daughter, Claire tries to find room in her heart for them and Sydney must come to terms with who she is.

Things I Liked:
The best part of this book is the touch of magical realism.  The magic winds its way throughout and manifests in humorous and unexpected places.  The quirky characters were also a delight, particularly Evenelle.  These two elements, the magic and the (supporting) characters were what made the read enjoyable to me.  I wasn't particularly fond of either Sydney or Claire, but I think their relationship and how it changes was interesting.  The book has a nice charm to it as well and is quite easy to read making it a fun beach read.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was not as enamoured of the story and main characters as I expected (my book group members raved about it).  They all seemed to act in set ways because that's just How They Are.  Also, the writing was not spectacular and I thought that things were not quite as developed as they could have been (both characters and plot).  I expected a little bit more than I got, I think, but it was a fun story and would make a great film.

Read-alikes:
Other Sarah Addison Allen books will doubtless have that same magical realism
Reminded me a little of Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
regularly with a few f-bombs tossed in

mrg-factor:XXX
a number of rather descriptive instances

v-factor: none

Overall rating:***

Do you have a favorite Sarah Addison Allen book?  Should I give her books another try?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd)
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 224
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review (and Cybils)

When Conor wakes up one night with a monster outside his window, he isn't afraid.  He expected a monster, ever since his mom started her cancer treatments.  But this monster is different, and he wants something painful from Conor.  Will Conor be able to face this monster that pushes his understanding of himself and his mother beyond what he is comfortable with?

Things I Liked:
This is a thoughtful and tough little book.  I liked the combination of realistic situations and real tragedy as well as a sort of fantasy element.  I think this book is one that I'd definitely label magical realism.  I was interested in the monster - what it was, what it represented, why it was there, what it was doing, etc.  I think the idea of it and the things we slowly understand about it make the book compelling.  But really, it is the ideas and the hard look at what life is like when you have a terminally ill family member that make this unforgettable.  I liked how it wasn't glossed over, how Conor made mistakes and the struggles he has fitting his home life and his school life together.  The issues he faces and the personal demons are so realistic they will make you cry.  A lot.  Beautiful story, beautifully told.  I first read the book on my kindle (thank you NetGalley), but hated the format for the illustrations (which was more like a non-format).  I did finally check it out from the library and got to appreciate fully the beauty of those illustrations.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, I found some of the details of the monster's story a bit distracting from Conor's story.  There were some really complex and abstract concepts thrown around in relation to Conor and I am quite sure I didn't fully grasp them.  I kind of wanted something I could nail down and understand.  And I really questioned the kid-appeal of this one for the Cybils.  I just couldn't see a general interest in such a dark and sometimes quite depressing book.  Something that I can't quite put my finger on is holding me back from giving this one five stars.  But I absolutely recommend it.

Read-alikes:
This one is pretty unique, maybe a little like Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
one or two

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
not so much violent as raw and a bit scary in places

Overall rating: **** 

What did you love about this book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Mini Reviews 5: (Mostly) Audio Fun

Here we are again! I'm starting to love these minis. They are lots of fun to write and I feel less pressure when I do write them. Three of the five were audiobooks, so I figured the title was (mostly) accurate. Enjoy!


In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1990
Pages: 256
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Song of the Lioness, Book 2

Alanna's further adventures, as squire to Prince Jonathan, become even more dangerous as she continues to masquerade as a boy.  A dangerous and powerful magician is out to get not only her but those she cares about.

My thoughts: I loved watching Alanna grow into herself, accept herself as a woman, and learn to love.  She is still the same person, which I think is fabulous, but she has new parts to herself and has grown even more.  I thought it covered a lot of time in a very short book.  Which isn't bad, but it just seems like a lot happens and happens quickly.  I was also rather surprised at the direction it took. I figured the stuff that happened at the end would only come at the end of the entire series.  I'm happy to be wrong and look forward to seeing where the next books take me!  This was another audiobook and I still love the narrator.  She portrays Alanna so well and does a few accents to help me keep the characters separate.  I love the characters and the setting and just everything about this series.  This is my kind of story.  
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The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley, adapted by Yuri Rasovsky
Publisher: Zorro Productions and Blackstone Audio
Publication date: April 2011
Source: Audiobook won from Devourer of Books
For: Fun
Series: There are lots of Zorro books

Don Diego, a foolish and weak but rich young man, is being forced into taking a wife by his father.  He attempts to woo the smart and independent Lolita Pulido.  But her heart belongs to the dashing, daring, brave Zorro, a masked menace to the corrupt officials in the town. 

My thoughts: This was a good old fashioned, swashbuckling story.  I love Zorro stories (though I've never read one, so I'm basing it on the movie), but this one was just perfect, complete with do-gooder outlaw, beautiful lady, and corrupt leaders.  While the story is a bit simplistic, black and white, and just plain obvious, I think it is meant to be that way.  And it still is charming.  I really liked the full cast narration (Val Kilmer was not hard to listen to).  The accents and the voices and the sound effects made the story truly come to life. 
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1962
Pages: 280
Source: audiobook from the library
For: Reread (for 50th Anniversary post)
Series: A Wrinkle in Time Quartet, Book 1

Meg does not fit in anywhere in her life, at school and even at home.  She's always fighting people and in trouble.  But when she gets a chance to find her father who's disappeared and to travel with some unusual new friends, she jumps at the chance.  And life will never be the same for her and her family.

My thoughts: I've already talked about much that I liked in my post about sharing this book.  But, I love the characters and the epic journey feel of the story.  I loved how broad and how huge its scope is - travel in space and how time and science play a huge part of it.  But I also love the religious aspects.  I know many people don't, but I am a religious person and found those parts added a layer and meaning to the book that resonated with me.  And yet, the book is still very strange, odd, and confusing even.  I wish I'd read it as a child.  My biggest complaint on this reread (er, relisten?) was that it was read by the author.  While this added another aspect of passion and meaning, I found her voice very annoying.  And I absolutely loathed Mrs. Which's voice, which had a strange echoing effect that bothered me to no end.  Definitely listen to one not narrated by the author.  She wrote interesting books, but she was not a good narrator.
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Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 272
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review

Izzie is content with her life, she has a sweet boyfriend and a great best friend.  But life gets turned upside down when an interesting new guy, Tristan, shows up and a mix up in magical potions leaves her feeling confused.  Even more distressing is the strange creatures that begin stalking Izzie.  Will she figure out her feelings for Mark and Tris or will she be destroyed by monsters before she gets the chance?

My thoughts:
To be honest, I've seen nothing but loathing surrounding this book. Perhaps it was best that I had low expectations.  I liked how Izzie fought the idea of being attracted to someone based only on some stupid potion.  She didn't want to have that choice taken from her, but she was also a huge jerk both to Mark and Tristan.  Izzie had some interesting things about her, but much of her was just annoying.  I was glad that she changed and grew in many ways over the course of the book, but I just didn't enjoy reading it.  None of the parts seemed to mix together well.  It felt disjointed like its parts didn't quite fit together.  And I was disappointed that it seemed to lack Harrison's unique style and writing.  I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters.  Tris and Mark were just not interesting.  The quick exchanging of affections that occurs is unreal (though possibly intentional).  The whole thing felt like it was unpolished (mind you, it was an ARC, but even for an ARC, it felt that way).  The bones of the original story were there and fairly interesting, but it just didn't play out well.
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Frost by Marianna Baer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 400
Source: Library
For: Fun

When Leena finds out she has a new roommate foisted on her during senior year, she is anything but happy.  But when it turns out to be Celeste, she is livid.  Celeste is eccentric, loud, complaining.  And Leena was sure this year would be perfect, since she and her friends are staying in Frost House, an adorable little house set off by itself in the woods.  But when strange unnerving things begin to happen to Celeste, Leena may discover there is more going on at Frost House than she could have imagined.  Or did she imagine it?

My thoughts: This book was very, very creepy.  The atmosphere, the small details all building on one another, all these elements made the whole thing completely horrifying (as it was supposed to).  I also really liked the teenage-ness of the characters, especially, the slow building picture of what Leena really is like, what she does.  She isn't even sure who she is herself.  There is also a Gothic undertone to the whole story that made it even more spooky and thrilling.  I was sufficiently terrified into avoiding my closet for a time.  And I have to admit, it is definitely not my kind of book.  I don't like being freaked out, and I don't like disturbing stories.  It was just not the kind of book I usually enjoy and not one I recommend, unless this is your kind of story.  But, it's a great psychological thriller for those aching to be terrorized by the mind.

Any thoughts on these books?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: October 2011
ISBN: 9780062014511
Source: Library

Liesl has been imprisoned in the attic for months, thanks to her cruel stepmother.  But, when the ghost Po appears and helps her make a great escape, she embarks on a journey to a place she once knew.  Will, the alchemist's apprentice, has only seen Liesl from afar, but he already wonders if they will be friends.  An accidental mixup leads their two lives together in unexpected and unusual ways.

Things I Liked:
I loved the magical and wonderful setting.  Despite a world without color and sun and warmth, the characters blaze from every page.  Leisl and Po and Will may start out sad and lonely and pitiable, but they each seek and find what they need to change and be happier.  I think that mostly, this story will please those who want a sweet, fairy-tale-ish journey that transforms a dreary world into someplace vibrant.  Hand this one to your magic-loving tweens.  Of course, it comes with Oliver's signature gorgeous descriptive writing too:

Now she remembered.  And so she squeezed her eyes tight and climbed down the tower of months she had been in the attic, reaching back adn back into the rooms of her memory that were dusty and so dim she could catch only little, flickering glances of things. p 42-43

She repeated the word ineffable clearly, three times, in her head, lingering over the gentle slope of the double fs, like the soft peaks of the whipped cream she remembered from her early childhood, and this made her feel slightly better. p 44

Things I Didn't Like:
Po's "it" thing bugged me the most (neither girl nor boy, thus "it" throughout).  But not enough to make me stop reading.  In places it had some This Is The Theme going on and the ending was practically tied up with a bow (but not in a way that ruins it, somehow).  Overall, though, a fun read.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
a little bit, nothing terribly frightening

Overall rating: ****

Were you a ghost story reader as a kid?  I think I avoided them, mostly cause I thought they were all "scary" (though this isn't really).

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: September 2009
ISBN: 9781606840061
Source: Library

Tristan Benway, butler to the Bellweathers, has decided it's time to find a new position.  He's put up with dangerous animals inhabiting the lighthouse, tricks and antics from the obnoxiously loud triplets, and good deeds gone awry from their sister.  After all, there is only so much a respectable man can handle from this zany and incorrigible family, right?

Things I Liked:
This was a sweet, quirky, awesomely crazy middle grade read.  I adore the Bellweather family, complete with evil up-to-no-good whispering triplets, saving humanity sister, and endangered-dangerous-animal-lover brother.  This book inspired much laughter and made me want to be a kid again so I could love it properly.  A delightful romp that will make you think your family is very normal, even if the butler doesn't think so.  I loved this

Wanted: One gentleman possessed of nerves of steel and impeccable  organizational skills.  Applicant must know how to set a formal dining table as well as the best method of large-animal sedation.  Lunatic-asylum experience is helpful.  Interested parties please reply to Tristan Benway c/o Lighthouse on the Hill. p 68-69

Things I Didn't Like:
You know, I'm just going to stick with I loved every minute.  Sometimes being an adult can really be a drawback when enjoying a nice wacky kids book.  Hand this to your middle graders who like a bit of silliness.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Savvy and Scumble by Ingrid Law
Also a bit like the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none
(unless being snapped at by an endangered albino alligator counts...)

Overall rating: *****

What's your favorite quirky kid book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: April 2010
ISBN: 9780439269704
Source: Library

 

Neftali is definitely a dreamer.  He is always being distracted by the beautiful things he sees around him - a leaf, a beetle, a pinecone.  He loves to think about them and wonder at their beauty and even to write what they inspire in him.  But his father is not satisfied with this.  He wants his son to grow up and be successful.  It is not possible to do that with your head in the clouds.  Will Neftali be able to please his father and himself or will he have to sacrifice one of them?

Things I Liked:
This book was so whimsical and, well, dreamy!  I loved the magical feeling that Ryan infuses throughout the story.  Neftali's daydreams and beautiful collections bring interest and fun to an otherwise very painful story.  This story was so sad, but also hopeful.  It was heart-breaking to watch the interactions with his father and how Neftali seems never to please him, despite his sincere desire to be loved.  The writing very much reflects the whimsical and magical feeling, being both poetic and simple.  An interesting look at just what Pablo Neruda's childhood might have been like.  Some favorite parts:

His mind wandered: To the monster storm raging outside, which startled the roof.  To the distant rumble of the dragon volcano, Mount Llaima, which made the floors hiccup.  To the makeshift walls of his timid house, trembling and cowering from the roar of passing trains.  To the haphazard design of the room with incomplete stairs, which might have led to a castle on another floor, but had long been deserted in the middle of construction. p 15 

How could he be absentminded when his head was so crowded with thoughts? p 73

Neftali felt the river breathing beneath him, as if keeping time to the slow and sorrowful tune.  His heart filled with the beauty and the peacefulness of it all.  He felt as if he were on the brink of something magnificent.  p 148

The rhythm of his rain-soaked childhood became a sequence of words.  His memories of the understory of the great forest burst into lyrical phrases, as resinous as the sap of a pinecone, as crisp as the shell of a beetle.  Sentences grew long, then pulled up short, taking on the tempo of the waves upon the shore, or swayed gently, like the plaintive song of a lone harmonica. p 344

Things I Didn't Like:
I really think this is not going to have wide kid appeal.  I had a hard time finishing it because it was just so strange at times.  I definitely think it would have helped if I'd read some of Neruda's poetry or was more interested in him.  The story is interrupted by fanciful imaginings and philosophical questions so often that I wonder if kids will lose interest. It will definitely take a special kind of child for this one.  

Read-alikes:
Nothing comes to mind, except maybe The Magician's Elephant by Kate Dicamillo

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
more cruelty than true violence

Overall rating: ***

Anybody a big advocate for this title? I'd love to hear others' thoughts.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Keeper by Kathi Appelt

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Keeper by Kathi Appelt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9781416950608
Source: ARC provided by publisher

 

Keeper was betting on the blue moon day to be one of the best in her life.  But, when things don't go at all as planned, she sets off on an adventure to find her mermaid mother, who will make everything ok again.  But, when her small boat is sucked out to sea instead, she will find herself even more alone than she thought and wondering just where her mother could be.  Will she find what she's looking for?

Things I Liked:
This was a sweet and imaginative story.  Keeper is a fun character and I loved watching the story of her disastrous day play out a little at a time.  I remember feeling like the end of the world came every time you did something wrong and your parents were angry.  The magical realism elements and fantasy were fun too - I liked hearing things from the "beasts" point of view and also the don't-know-if-it's-true-or-not mermaid parts.  Appelt does a nice job of combining real stories with just enough magic to make us wonder what is true and what's fantasy.  She has such a distinctive style and voice that reminds you of just how a child might think and speak.  It is a little like the voice in Savvy and The Girl Who Could Fly.  Here are some favorite parts:

Over the years BD had found a while host of missing objects - the odd sock, a misplaced spoon, the tiny key to the lock on Keeper's diary, one of Signe's peace-sign earrings, loose pages of homework.  He also found other things, things that weren't missing until he found them, like one-of-a-kind seashells and tiny abandoned puppies, including Too, who was adopted by Dogie, their next-door neighbor.  He even found shooting stars and stripey geckos, things that came and went.  But right now BD wasn't so much a finder dog as a worry dog.  p 31 of ARC

Now a fear as deep as the ocean zipped through Keeper's body, her biggest fear ever, one so deep, she knew not to ever, ever say it out loud, not ever.  And then today, it had crawled out of her like an ugly toad: If a girl's own mother can swim away, what would keep everyone else from leaving too, especially if that same girl caused so much trouble?  p 105 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I think the part that didn't work so well for me was all the stories going on at once.  There was a lot of skipping around in perspective and place and time.  I didn't care very much for the adults' stories and thought some of them were a little extraneous and didn't really move Keeper's story forward.  Also, the present story's action felt like it was moving so slowly that I got bored sometimes too.  I think kids who love longer fantasy or magical realism books might like it, but it might turn off others who are looking for a little more action. 

Read-alikes:
Savvy by Ingrid Law
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

Any thoughts about magical realism?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Retro Friday Book Review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Publisher: many
Publication date: 1910/1911
ISBN: many
Source: audio download from library

When Mary Lennox is sent to England to live with her uncle, she finds everything is very different than what it was in India.  She has no servants to wait on her hand and foot and no one cares if she is lonely or sad.  When she discovers a secret garden, she finds an outlet for her anger and begins to transform just as the plants do from winter to spring.  She also helps her cousin, Colin, to change from a sickly, weak and spoiled little boy to a strong healthy one. 

Things I Liked:
I'd forgotten just how magical this book was.  My husband and I listened to it on a road trip and it really is delightful.  Even my husband laughed and enjoyed the story.  We especially loved the accents and voices that Josephine Bailey used (top notch, really, she was great).  The story sucks you in and the magic of the secret garden seems so real.  I loved listening again to how Mary changed and then helped to change Colin and he helped to change his father.  A beautiful story of growing up and the magic of nature.  Seriously, I felt so nostalgic listening to this, remembering adoring this story when I was younger.  I can't wait until I have kids I can introduce to this story for the first time.

Things I Didn't Like:
Not much I can think of.  A great story that still has remarkable appeal for kids today (and adults, apparently).

Read-alikes:
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
And really a hundred other classic children's stories, simply for nostalgia

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

What's a book you loved as a child that you still love as an adult?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage