Paper Valentine

  I had been meaning to read a book by Breena Yovanoff for quite some time, but didn't get a chance to do so until now. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley, I was able to read an advanced reader's copy of Yovanoff's latest release, Paper Valentine, a subtle book of love and death. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but I was left somewhat unsatisfied.

Description (from Goodreads): The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls. For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.
  With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Review: The sleepy, small-town community Hannah Wagnor grew up in used to feel safe, but now, during a record-breaking July heat wave, a serial killer is targeting young girls. Like her setting, Hannah use to be a happy go-lucky girl but she has been hiding her depression since her best friend Lillian's death six months earlier. Hannah goes through the motions of daily life with a happy, superficial outlook such as dressing in bright colors and smiling when she's filled with sadness inside. She is constantly haunted by Lillian's ghost at her side and hears Lillian's running commentary of all the choices she makes from her clothes to her classmates. As more bodies are discovered, Hannah begins to see more ghosts-those of the murdered girls and begins to feel responsible to catch the serial killer. Investigating the deaths, she begins to wonder how much she really knows about Finny Boone, the cute bad boy she's has a crush on forever but is only just beginning to understand.
  The narrative tone of Paper Valentine is very detached and numb just like our heroine. Hannah's depression is believable. Her insecurities are tangible and the realizations of how Lillian truly was as a person is startlingly and insightful. The friendship between Hannah and Lillian is what I remember the most from this book. Lillian is the leader, obsessed about finding perfection, and slowly kills herself with anorexia. Hannah is the follower, who blindly trusts Lillian and is afraid to speak openly about her own opinions and desires. With the loss of Lillian,  Hannah has also lost her own self of identity. As the story progresses, we see Hannah thaw but it is inconsistent to her actions. For instance, Hannah has always been the dependable, responsible older sister who keeps her sisters safe, a quality that I greatly admire. When she begins to embrace her emotions, however, she starts a romance with the shady, distant, and mysterious Finny Boone at the cost of leaving her younger sisters alone with a serial killer running around their town. Of course I understood that Finny isn't what he appears to be and has a painful past, but there more than enough warning bells that went off that would make Hannah think twice before running around with him in dark places alone. To say the least, I was a bit perplexed of what to make our heroine and her choices.
  Paper Valentine has an overambitious story that bounces from important and big topics such as guilt, depression, and eating disorders to child abuse, foster families, serial murder, and mean girls. The book takes on so many issues that the characters and plot remain underdeveloped. Though the book seems to be marketed as a supernatural/paranormal murder mystery, the murders just hang in the periphery of the characters. There were quite a few times while reading the book that I forgot the murders even existed. Though there are some creepy moments in the book, the murderer, once revealed, seems random and lacks real motive, and his ultimate confession to Hannah felt underwhelming and anticlimactic. It seems as if the clues to discover the murderer were far more important than any insight into the psychology of a murderer or the fate of the ghosts in the end. Though it is engrossing at times, Paper Valentine moves at a slow pace and leaves too many loose ends, too many questions unanswered.
 Paper Valentine is not my last book by the author and I do look forward to reading her earlier books as well as future releases.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and disturbing images. Recommended for Grades

If you like this book try: Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott, Velveteen by Daniel Marks,  The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

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Challenged: Julie of the Wolves

  I've gotten a great response from reviewing challenged books and though I'm not participating in any banned/challenged books this year, I do plan on continuing reviewing these books as I think it's important information to know. I am even considering making it my own meme/feature for my blog. What do you think?

Description: While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.

Review: During my younger reluctant reading days, I was handed a copy of Julie of the Wolves to read since I absolutely loved and adored Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins and was hoping to read a similar story. I did not finish Julie of the Wolves because the plot moved too slowly for me and I couldn't connect with Julie at all.
  Now after several years I tried Julie of Wolves again since it is one of the most frequently and prominent children's book that has challenged. Looking at the reasons listed for the challenges, I quickly realized that this book is one that I ought to know about.
  Though I still find the plot pacing to be very slow and found the protagonist to be a bit aloof, I immediately drawn into her desperate situation. In the first half of the book, she is alone and struggles to befriend a pack of wolves in the snowy backdrop of Alaska in the hopes that the wolves would give her food and their protection. She spends a lot of trying to understand the wolves' behavior in efforts to communicate with them. Slowly, the wolves become somewhat comfortable around her. Soon the wolves become an allegory of her troubling family situations.
  Julie of the Wolves is a many layered adventure story that also brushes upon colonialism and self discovery just to name a few. For example Julie's real name is Miyax but she is called Julie when she goes to school where she learns how to read and write English. Miyax is torn between abandoning her "old" Eskimo customs and culture in order to become more "civilized" in the modern world of the white-man “gussak". Though she enjoys and is successful at learning English, she is taken out of school because she has become a marriageable age. Troubling home situation after another, Miyax runs away into the Alaskan wilderness and must decide for herself what life she wants to lead. Although the climax and the ultimate ending of the story seem troubling, bleak, and unsatisfying, it speaks of  Miyax's maturity and her newly gained independence.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Why it was challenged: Julie of the Wolves is listed at #32 on the ALA's most frequently challenged books 1990-1999 and #91 on the 2000-2009  list. The reasons for the book challenged are: references to alcoholism, divorce, abuse  (therefore, anti-family), for sexual content, offensive language, violence and being unsuited to age group. Source: Marshall Library and MVCC library guide.

Words of Caution: There are allusions to adult alcoholism and a glimpse of domestic abuse. Recommended for Grades 7 and up. The most notable scene which the challenges are referring to is that of Miyax's marriage to Daniel, a boy who is described as "mentally slow" and that of her in-laws. Daniel's father is an alcoholic and we learn that Eskimos have a low tolerance to alcohol. Daniel's father becomes an angry drunk and hits his wife. The readers don't see this happening but we hear it from one of Miyax's friends. Meanwhile Daniel storms home and is angry that people from his village are making fun of him that he can't please his wife. In a fit, Daniel pushes Miyax down and rips her shirt. Many readers have construed this small scene as rape, but when I read this scene I didn't find any contextual clues to suggest this. Not to condone his behavior, Daniel jumps up and says "he can" and soon leaves. The author has said that she needed a very urgent and important event happen to Julie in order to motivate her to leave her situation and find her own life as family is extremely important to the Eskimo culture.

If you like this book try: Julie (Julie of the Wolves #2) by Jean Craighead George, Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

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What's Left of Me (Hybrid Trilogy #1)

   I have been really curious about Kat Zhang's debut novel, What's Left of Me, when I saw several bloggers post about this book for their Waiting on Wednesday meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. With some many dystopians feeling like derivatives of the Hunger Games series, I had hoped this book would be much more unique and for the most part it delivers. 

Description (from the publisher): Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else-- two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't. For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-- hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet-- for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Review: Everyone is born as a hybrid: two souls occupying one body. Only, in futuristic America, it's illegal to remain a hybrid. The dominant soul is supposed to take over, and the recessive, weaker one, is supposed to disappear, usually by the time the child is six. Even though Addie was the stronger soul, Eva held on. Despite the fact that she could no longer move or speak to anyone but Addie, Eva didn't go away and is very much present. Now that they are teens, Addie and Eva have adopted rules of behavior in order to survive: don't stand out, don't be exceptional, blend in at all costs that is until the girls become friends with Hally and her brother, Devon, who are also undercover hybrids. The siblings are able to show the sisters that Eva can reemerge and have her freedom, but it will be costly. Eva's freedom comes at high price: imprisonment in a hospital that wants to "cure" kids of being hybrids and where patients who "go home" are never heard from again.
  What's Left of Me is a uniquely imagined dystopian novel that has lots of potentials and for the most part doesn't fall short in the execution. Zhang's prose is lovely, and the plot moves at a steady pace as the sisters being to realize the troubles they find themselves into at the hospital. I liked how the dystopian America that Zhang has created touches upon important topics and controversies that we are currently facing today such as xenophobia, identity, ethics, and choice. We don't know much about the America that Addie and Eva live in besides the fact that hybrids have been forbidden for decades and "settling"-allowing the dominant soul to assert itself- is mandatory. The mystery about why their society is so desperate to "fix" hybrids is what compelled me to continue reading. An abundance of questions remain, even after Zhang's well-orchestrated nail-biter of an ending which thankfully isn't a cliffhanger. 
 Although I liked the characters and enjoyed the unique premise, the reason why I gave this book three and half stars instead of four is that I wanted all the hybrids to have a very strong, individual personality so I could tell the two sisters apart without having the characters constantly identifying themselves. Though the book is narrated by Eva, I found the exchange between her and her sister and their personalities to be very subtle. There is also a budding romance which I wished was developed a little bit more, but I think that will change in the next installment of the series. It is easy to place What's Left of Me with other dystopians novels that are now released, but I think the premise will grab many readers. I do plan on continuing this series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are few disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: The Host by Stephenie Meyer, Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kelsey

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Mini-reviews of Middle Eastern Reads

 I recently read a slew of Middle Eastern books on a variety of topics. I like how this reading challenge pushes me to read about countries that are beyond the U.S. and Europe. I hope to continue to read from a broader spectrum next year. 

Description: Samir, a Palestinian boy, is sent for surgery to an Israeli hospital where he has two otherworldly experiences, making friends with an Israeli boy, Yonatan, and playing a computer game together about a trip to Mars, during which Samir finds peace about his brother's death in the war.

Review: Samir and Yonatan is a compelling read. It is written by an Israeli author who writes about the budding friendship between two boys, a Palestinian and an Israeli. There are no definite sides of right and wrong given to the Palestianian-Israeli conflict. In fact most of the plot takes place in a some what neutral territory of a hospital in Israel. The author strives and succeeds in showing how not all people from both sides of the border are evil and that tolerance can be achieved. Though not the best written book, I really enjoyed the message and recommend it for younger readers.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images as well as scenes where tweens are experimenting with cigarettes. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valérie Zenatti, Enemy Territory by Sharon E. McKay

Description: Living in the midst of civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, Zeina and her brother face an evening of apprehension when their parents do not return from a visit to the other side of the city.

Review: Game for Swallows gives us a look into one ordinary day of war torn Lebanon in the 1980s. Zeina and her little brother are waiting in the foyer of their apartment for their parents to return from visiting their grandmother in West Beirut. Bombings and sniper fire intensify in their neighborhood, and their neighbors huddle with them in what is the safest location of their building. As the neighbors arrive, Zeina gives us back stories of her neighbors and how the war has touched their lives. As the shootings and bombings continue, many neighbors are planning contingency plans if their country's condition doesn't improve. While the drawings may remind some readers of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (which I highly recommend reading if you haven't already done so), I felt wanting more from the graphic novel. I would have liked more historical information in order to really feel all the emotions that the characters feel throughout the story. I also wanted to know more about these people too.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman and David Polonsky
 

Description: Set in the aftermath of Iran's fraudulent elections of 2009, Zahra's Paradise is the fictional story of the search for Mehdi, a young protestor who has vanished into an extrajudicial twilight zone. What's keeping his memory from being obliterated is not the law. It is the grit and guts of his mother, who refuses to surrender her son to fate, and the tenacity of his brother, a blogger, who fuses tradition and technology to explore and explode the void in which Mehdi has vanished.

Review: Zahra's Paradise was an eye opening reading experience. Part political criticism on the lack of citizen's rights to assemble and freedom of speech and part a harrowing struggle of a finding a loved one in the midst of chaos and riots of 2009. The artwork on these pages is stunning, showing the machinations of the corrupt government as well as traces of the beauty and poetry of Iranian life. An array of diverse and carefully drawn characters help and hinder the search for young Mehdi, everyone from a taxi driver to the daughter of a former disgraced general, a print shop owner to shady government officials. Small acts of heroism bring hope to this family, but they also bring consequences. I was really surprised to find out that this story is fictional and not nonfiction, which I had expected it to be.I would recommend this graphic novel to those interested in Iran and the Middle East.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is language, nudity, sex, and scenes of implied rape. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Students for a Democratic Society by Harvey Pekar

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Manga Monday: Vampire Knight Vol. 15

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Vampire Knight is one of my favorite manga series. Getting each new volume of the manga is like watching a new episode of your favorite TV show. Unfortunately, the plot of the manga can be confusing at times, especially when the volumes have a long break between them and the publishers don't write a really good summary of the series as a recap for its readers.

Description: With Kaname missing, Yuki must now step in as acting head of her clan to maintain the fragile peace between the human and vampire societies. Will she be able to regain the trust of the vampire aristocrats, much less Aido?

Review: Volume 15 of Vampire Knight immediately picks up where volume 14 ended. Kaname has murdered two pureblood vampire aristocrats for mysterious reasons and now he is nowhere to be found. The Vampire Hunter society has arrested Yuki in hopes of finding out information about Kaname. Yuki, like the rest of us, has no idea what Kaname intends to do nor does she have any clue about his whereabouts.
I found this volume to be a bit confusing, but I did enjoy watching Yuki stand up on her own two feet. With Kaname absent, she now has to take the responsibility in leading the vampires, tame their frantic aristocrats, and reinstate the peace alliance between vampires, vampire hunters, and humans. Yuki struggles on how to lead her people. She is not a natural leader nor charismatic, but her compassion and her human experiences give her an edge. Unlike Kaname who has ruled with an iron fist, Yuki gives her followers an option and they almost always obey because they know she is right. As her first move as leader, Yuki wants to rebuild a school where Day and Night Classes once again take place. Though the idea of recreating a school may seem an odd move at first, it does reassure the vampires that an organized, structured framework can once again be placed.
  Hino once again teases the readers about the ambiguous relationship between Yuki and Zero, who were once best friends and had the potential to become much more. Though Zero claims to not want anything to do with Yuki, he is always found in her periphery. His hatred of vampires is tangible and understandable given his dark past. He is deteriorating quickly, which he can't hide from Yuki. Similarly, Yuki tries to hold on to her humanity and suppresses her urge to drink from humans in order to be a role model of how she would like her vampires to behave, but Zero knows how difficult it is for her.
  With the exception of the last few panels featuring Yuki and Zero, I was a bit disappointed with Hino's artwork. There was quite a lot of shading and quite a few panels broken within one another. It was a bit hard  trying to figure out what was happening. Also there were quite a few new characters mentioned in this volume that I'm pretty sure weren't there before and I'm really hoping their introduction would be made clearer in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some violence and mild language. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Vampire Knight Volume 16 by Matsuri Hino, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji, Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori

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Stormdancer (The Lotus Wars #1)

 Stormdancer, the first book in the Lotus War series and Jay Kristoff's debut novel, has garnered many starred reviews from review journals. The reaction from readers has been all over the spectrum from the worst book to the favorite book read in 2012. For me, Stormdancer falls somewhere in the middle of those polar opposites.

Description (from the publisher): A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun's hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he'd rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Review: I really wanted to love Stormdancer. It had everything that I was looking for in a great read: a fantastic world, a wholly original story, and a strong female protagonist who I could root for throughout the book. Unfortunately, it took a lot of patience and setting the book aside, forgetting about it and then picking it up to actually find the compelling aspects of the story.
  Stormdancer is a laborious read. The first half of the book is seeped in fantastic world building. Shima Imperium is a kingdom inspired by feudal Japan. It is a unique society woven from Japanese culture and history along with the author's imagination of steampunk machinery. Living standards are rough. Pollution and drug addiction, both of which runs the empire, proliferate under the rule of a corrupt shogun who seeks to win an admittedly nebulous war. I loved the world building in Stormdancer up to a certain point. Everything is described in minute detail from the story's setting to the clothes that people wear to the types of weapons warriors carry, which slows down the story's pace to a mere crawl. I had to bookmark the glossary, found in the back of the book and a hint that was pointed out to me by some friends, so I could figure out what words, deities, etc meant as there is hardly any context given to them in the text. Many times I would find Japanese words that are used frequently in the story but are never defined. I also found some words that aren't Japanese at all, which I had to look up. I wish the glossary was thoroughly created so it could help alleviate my frustrations with the book. For the most part, I think my experiences reading manga kind of helped build a vague foundation of Shima Imperium, but I still had to wrap my head around the world. The story is told mainly through third person narrative and finally picks up the slow pace when it turns its attention on the various characters in the story.
  Our protagonist, Yukiko is a strong willed teen forced to take care of her father at a tender age of 16. Yukiko has an antagonistic relationship with her father, a once revered warrior who now spends his time in a drug induced state in order to forget the horrors of his past. Through small glimpses of flashbacks, we are lead to believe that her father is the person responsible of driving her mother and brother away. We instantly feel Yukiko's isolation and anger. We become protective of her, but her survival and perceptive skills assure us that she can do fine on her own. Though she is aware of the flaws of her society, she isn't sure of the corruption's inception and extent nor does she know what her life is outside of keeping a watchful eye on her father. She is gifted (or cursed?) with an ability which the shogun's guild would punish with death if it is discovered: She can commune with animals. Her courage, fears, and skills are put to test when the Emperor commissions Yukiko's father and his crew to catch an elusive arashitora, a creature part-eagle and part-tiger. Yukiko's quest to survive becomes more challenging. Failure to find the arashitora means the end for Yukiko and her father. Indeed, death looms around every corner as Yukiko meets defectors, rebels and others too scared to oppose the shogun. After discovering startling truths about her family, she quickly becomes the face of rebellion.
  While Yukiko is a fabulous character whom I would love to know more, her character growth isn't smooth. It starts and stops when additional world building weeds itself in between. There were many times when I had to skim over the descriptions in order to keep my momentum going. I loved the moments where Yukiko and the arashitora form a special bond that grows at a realistic pace. Important themes central to the characters' motivations and key character relationships are surprisingly summed up in just few sentences, which left me completely unsatisfied. The book ends just when I found myself getting comfortable with the story.
  By the time I was finished with the book, I felt like I completed an arduous task, however, I didn't feel the satisfactions of completing it. While there is no dangerous cliffhangers lingering, there are plenty of unanswered questions.  I'm still conflicted about recommending this book and I'm not sure if I'll be continuing the series, especially if the dense and overwhelming world building continues. Stormdancer perhaps is one of those few books that might work better on film or even a graphic novel as its  visuals are incredibly important to the story. It's just too bad that the great characters have to take a back seat. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, allusion to a few sex scenes, and strong violence. Recommended for strong Grade 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve, Eon by Alison Goodman, Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

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Halloween Picture Books (Part 3 of 3)

  Happy Halloween Everyone! I've been reading a few Halloween themed picture books to get into the spirit.   Be sure to check out part 1 and part 2 for books you may want to read next year with your little ones! Today I'll be reviewing Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting, The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin by Margaret Wise Brown, Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth, and Night Fright Flight by Laura Kraus Melmed.

Description: A band of trick-or-treaters and a mother cat and her kittens spend a very scary Halloween.

Review: This book is a treat! A suspenseful mystery with enough creepy moments to keep the young kids interested. Two sets of stark green eyes begin Bunting's teasingly scary poem describing a parade of creatures that moves down the path on Halloween night. More mysterious sets of green eyes appear nervously and we get to hear more voices as they view the creepy pedestrians. It turns out the anxious watchers appear to belong to a mother cat and her kittens, who, when the monsters trick-or-treaters in costume are gone, prowl the night for their own brand of fun. Deep, dark nighttime backdrops make the bursts of color in costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, and candle-lit faces especially vibrant. The scenes play out across double spreads that adeptly lead the eye from left to right. This book would make a great read-aloud on Halloween.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K to Grade 2

If you like this book try: Bone Soup by Cambria Evans (best suited for Grades 1-2), The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, The Three Bears' Halloween by Kathy Duval

Description: A little pumpkin dreams of the day when he will be a big, fierce, yellow pumpkin who frightens away the field mice as the scarecrow does.

Review: This book is better suited for younger children who are just beginning to grasp the basic concepts of Halloween. Seasonal changes are discussed as well as baby steps to suspenseful moments are well plotted throughout the story as the simple pumpkin transforms in a spooky one. Older readers, however, will find this book a bit boring and would want their stories with larger doses of fright.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades Preschool to Grades 1.

If you like this book try: The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll, Pumpkin Heads! by Wendell Minor



Description: On Halloween night, Stillwater the giant panda tells Karl, Addy, and Michael a spooky and unusual story. Based on a Zen koan.

Review: I've not heard of the Zen picture book series by this author so I had no idea what to expect in reading this book. While I did get the anticipated ghost story which was unique, I was left scratching my head. I later realized that there is an author's note explaining a Zen koan. A koan is a spiritual riddle. While I would not choose this one as a read-aloud because the ghost story doesn't have much oomph and action to keep readers entertained, I do think this would be a good choice in reading about ghost stories from Eastern culture as well as learning about Zen Buddhism and philosophy. Though filled with gorgeous colors and illustrations, this book may be a bit too cerebral for younger children and would be better appreciated by older readers.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 6 and  up.

If you like this book try: The Three Questions by Jon Muth, Zen Ties by Jon Muth, and Zen Shorts by Jon Muth


Description: On her way to Halloween trick-or-treating, a witch makes room on her broom for a group of fiendish friends.

Review: If you are looking for scary but not too scary for 3-4 year olds, Fright Night Flight is a good choice. The rhyming text is really fun. The full-spread illustrations are rich with color and amusing detail, which will draw their attention while they listen to the story. You could ask them questions about who the witch will pick up next. The classic scary characters such as the vampire and werewolf are drawn in a nonthreatening cartoon style that will not scare young children.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Preschool to Grade 1.

If you like this book try: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler and In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting

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Halloween Picture Books (Part 2 of 3)

   One more day left until Halloween! What better way to excite the little ones about the holiday than to read them Halloween themed picture books? I've got several picture books ready to review. This is my second installment of Halloween picture book themes. Be sure to check out part 1 and stay tuned for part 3 tomorrow! Today I'll be reviewing Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann, Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi, The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo, and Sheep Trick or Treat by Nancy Shaw.

Description: Although devastated when his pet dog dies, a young boy goes trick-or-treating and receives a timely visit from an old friend during a scary encounter with graveyard skeletons.

Review: Bone Dog is a bittersweet read about friendship, loss, and slightly spooky Halloween story with a humorous twist. The book begins on a sad note when Gus's dog, Ella, tells her owner that she is getting old and may not last long, but she will always be with him because promises under a full moon can't be broken. Days pass and we realize that Ella is no longer. Gus doesn't feel like participating Halloween this year but he begrudgingly dresses as a skeleton for trick-or-treating. A shortcut through the graveyard results in being surrounded by nefarious, real-life skeletons until ghost Ella comes to the rescue, howling so as to summon a legion of living dogs to chase down the skeletons. I really enjoyed this book that has many layers built around the Halloween theme. Most of the important action takes place off the page, but the illustrations, tones, and colors effectively alerts the reader of what is going on. Thick-lined illustrations filled with autumn colors give this a true Halloween feel, but I loved the three wordless two-page spreads in which the skeletons run, the dogs give chase, and a single mutt struts back, bone in mouth, which gives the book a little lightness in the story. Several moments border on frightening so be sure to peruse the book to see if it's safe for your little ones. Some may call the book morbid, but Bone Dog is a tender story of love and friendship that transcends all bounds.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Sammy in the Sky by Barbara Walsh, A Dog Like Jack by DyAnne DiSalvo



Description: Bella Legrossi and Boris Kleanitoff, the messiest and cleanest monsters in Booville respectively, do nothing but argue until the night of Harry Beastie's Halloween party.

Review: With Boris and Bella, I think I may have found a Halloween favorite read! Bella Lagrossi is the dirtiest and messiest monster in Booville. Her neighbor, Boris Kleanitoff, is the complete opposite, a complete neat freak with nothing out of place. Naturally, Boris and Bella are not the best of neighbors. To celebrate Halloween, each decides to have a Halloween party, but no one will come. They find a common enemy, Henry Beastie, who's throwing a party of his own. All their mutual monsters are going there; no one wants to go to a party at a house so dirty--or so clean. An infuriated Bella and Boris head off individually to give Harry a piece of their minds, but they wind up together, on the dance floor, and then holding hands in the moonlight. While Halloween is clearly the back drop of this story, there is more of a story here as Boris and Bella learn there are good parts of their personalities and learn to compromise. The story is fun and the illustrations are along the lines of the Addams Family (I had the theme song of that show running through my head while reading the book). There is also some really nice word-plays through the narrative. I think this is one of the few books that could be read and enjoyed on any day.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 1 and up.

If you like this book try: Monster Mess by Margery Cuyler, Cinderhazel by Deborah Nourse Lattimore


Description: The brave and trusty Halloween Kid saves trick-or-treaters from a crowd of sweet-stealing Goodie Goblins.

Review: The Halloween Kid is a weird yet entertaining mash up between the classic Western and the spooky night of Halloween. When tricks interfere with treats on a suburban street, it's up to the Halloween Kid to save the night. With his trusty stick horse, mysterious Lone Ranger mask, and contagious catchphrase, Yee-Ha-lloween! he is able to foil all the monsters such as the TP-crazy mummies, pumpkin-sucking vampires, and tropical werewolves, but when Goodie Goblins who steals all the candies from the children The Halloween Kid has a real challenge. It's the Kid himself who needs saving, and the neighborhood teams up to do just that, proving that even heroes can use some help now and then. The orange, yellow, and black digitally-enhanced art sets the 1950s-flavored scene, and the cowboy lingo adds even more fun when reading this one aloud. I kind of wished it comes with an audio cd as I don't have the western style of talking down pat.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K-2.

If you like this book try: Halloween Mice! by Bethany Roberts, Spooky Hour by Timothy Mitton



Description: When sheep dress up to go trick-or-treating at a nearby farm, their costumes scare away some wolves lurking in the woods.

Review: I have to say this book was my least favorite in the bunch that I reviewed today. The illustrations are okay, a bit shadowy and not that large to share in a big reading group. The text is a bit blah with some forced rhymes and it doesn't really match up to the pictures. It's hard to get excited about this story because it isn't very interesting and it doesn't really stand out with all the other Halloween books out there.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K-2.

If you like this book try: Here They Come by David Costello, Shake D'em Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa

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What She Left Behind

    Suspenseful and chilling are the two words that best describes Tracey Bilen's debut novel, What She Left Behind. Readers looking for a character driven thriller may be disappointed, but those seeking for a page-turning plot What She Left Behind will fit your needs.

Description (from Goodreads): “Don’t even think of leaving… I will find you,” he whispered. “Guaranteed.”

Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it.
  With each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both

Review: When we begin What She Left Behind, Sara and her mother are plotting to leave their town in a desperate attempt to escape from Sara's abusive father. They both agree to pack their bags with only their necessities and meet at the local Dairy Dream as planned, but her mother never shows up. Although her father claims she's on a business trip, Sara fears that something is terribly wrong. With her own growing anxiety and fears coupled with witnessing her father's increasingly erratic behavior, Sara puts on an exterior that says everything is okay until she can assemble enough clues to find her mother.
 Sara does a decent job in trying to be normal. She allows herself to get a bit sidetracked by getting involved in a budding romance with the high school football star. I was fine with the hint of romance in the book as it wasn't unnecessarily thrown in, but served a purpose. Sara's mother's disappearance follows her like a shadow so the light romance enables her to have just a few moments of lightness in her dark, dreary life. Despite the momentary smiles we witness during these moments of reprieve, we continuously feel Sara's isolation and confinement, which are clearly expressed in her free-writing assignments and internal dialogue.
  I often times wondered why Sara doesn't seek out help from the domestic abuse, but then I chillingly remembered that Sara's abusive father is a well known and liked retired cop in her small rural town, which means there is hardly anyone would either believe her or much worse, report back to her father. With the clock counting down, however, Sara has no choice in letting some people help her.
  Though I thought Sara was pretty likable, her father is repulsive but there is a very small part of me that felt sorry for him. We don't get too much information about her father, but we do know that he was traumatized by an incident on the job. He has also clearly suffers from mental illness which may have been sparked by the sudden death of Matt, Sara's brother. Sara's father has become delusional and acts as if Matt is still alive.  With a suspenseful plot and short chapters, Bilen effectively thrills the reader until the very last page and would be a good choice for high school reluctant readers. The ending reveals a chilling picture of domestic violence.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: The book contains strong violence and some language. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.  

If you like this book try: Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught

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Await Your Reply

  Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon is not a book I would have probably chosen on my own, but I have seen it on several library's summer reading suggestions. I did pick the book up as it selected by a member of the book club I recently joined.

Description (from the publisher): The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways - and with unexpected consequences - in acclaimed author Dan Chaon's gripping, brilliantly written new novel. Longing to get on with his life, Miles Cheshire nevertheless can't stop searching for his troubled twin brother, Hayden, who has been missing for ten years. Hayden has covered his tracks skillfully, moving stealthily from place to place, managing along the way to hold down various jobs and seem, to the people he meets, entirely normal. But some version of the truth is always concealed. A few days after graduating from high school, Lucy Lattimore sneaks away from the small town of Pompey, Ohio, with her charismatic former history teacher. They arrive in Nebraska, in the middle of nowhere, at a long-deserted motel next to a dried-up reservoir, to figure out the next move on their path to a new life. But soon Lucy begins to feel quietly uneasy. My whole life is a lie, thinks Ryan Schuyler, who has recently learned some shocking news. In response, he walks off the Northwestern University campus, hops on a bus, and breaks loose from his existence, which suddenly seems abstract and tenuous. Presumed dead, Ryan decides to remake himself - through unconventional and precarious means

Review: When I started Await Your Reply, I wasn't sure if I would like it. The disjointed narrative structure took a while to get use to, especially when I found myself rereading certain sections over and over again with a sinking feeling that I must have missed something because the transition to other characters were whiplash fast. It's not until reflecting on the story and having an insightful book discussion did I seem to actually digest the story.
  Await Your Reply may be set up like your ordinary suspense/thriller read, but it was unexpectedly philosophical which was a nice surprise and added a complex layer to the story. The book's central theme of the mutability of identity, which Dan Chaon explores through three seemingly (at first) unrelated narratives is absorbing. To narrow this broad theme a bit further is analyzing the extent of how identity is influenced, reinforced, or even granted to a person by others - especially those others whom we consider authority figures. Can a soul have more than one identity? Don't we all have multiple personalities if we put in different social situations? If so, can the personalities be completely separate?
  In a way the three stories in Await Your Reply are each examining the dangers of relying to heavily on others for one's sense of self. If you define yourself as a function of someone else, what happens when that someone else is not who you think they are? What if they disappear from your life and you have to go back to square one? Ryan, whom we meet in a gruesome introduction, has just met a man claiming to be his real father and so estranges himself from his newly-discovered-to-be-adoptive parents. Lucy is unable to cope with the death of her parents, abandons her sister, and runs away with a high school teacher in hopes of starting a new life full of possibilities  And Miles is lost and struggling to find his metaphorical phantom limb, his missing twin brother, who he's realizing has become insane. The characters, some invoking sympathies while others make us pensive, appalled, are constantly awaiting the reply of the other - the real father, the older lover, the missing twin brother to help make them whole  because they cannot close the loop on their own selves until that feedback is received.
  I enjoyed the deeper aspect of the book, while I wasn't too thrilled with the suspense part of the book. The first have of the book is extremely slow and that's where the philosophical portion takes root. The second half is more plot heavy and moves quickly. Unfortunately, the author doesn't spend much time showing the intimacy of the different relationships posed in the book, which I think could have added more depth to the story. Out of the three story threads presented, the Miles/Hayden tale was the most enjoyable to me, but I couldn't really figure out the timeline of those events as it jumped around quite a lot. The Lucy/George tale had a hint of Lolita in the story, but didn't the relationship didn't really do much as you couldn't really see the chemistry between these two supposed romantic couples. I felt that the Ryan/Jay story suffered a bit from not really have a lot for the characters to do, but kept suspense in the novel as their stories seemed to always end on cliffhangers until we returned to these characters.
  If you're looking for a meaty suspense read, I would give Await Your Reply a try. The plot twist and how these three different story lines converge is interesting though it might take patience to get there. Overall, I enjoyed it much more than I originally thought.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Strong language, suggestions of sex, and strong violence. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb, Blame by Michelle Huneven, American Rust by Philipp Meyer 

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Adult Minireviews: The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1), The Abandoned (Graveyard Queen), and Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5)

  In the spirit of the Something Wicked blogging event, I wanted to share with you some adult mini-reviews that about things that go bump in the night and that may be featured during this month. Today I'll be reviewing The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1), The Abandoned (Graveyard Queen), and Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5).

Description (from Goodreads): In 1870, monsters rise up and conquer the northern lands. As great cities are swallowed up by carnage and disease, landowners and other elite flee south to escape their blood-thirsty wrath. One hundred fifty years later, the great divide still exists; fangs on one side of the border, worried defenders on the other. This fragile equilibrium is threatened, then crumbles after a single young princess becomes almost hopelessly lost in the hostile territory. At first, she has only one defender—a mysterious Greyfriar who roams freely in dangerous vampire regions.

Review: I thought I'd try this book out after reading some great reviews from fellow bloggers. For the most part, I really did enjoy The Greyfriar, but I did have to find my rhythm in reading the story. There is a large cast of characters that I had trouble at first getting straight as they entered and excited very quickly. The plot had enough action to keep me occupied, but it is the slow burn relationship between the young, fiesty, and strong willed princess, Adele, and the mysterious Greyfriar that caught my attention. Readers looking for strong steampunk elements may be disappointed with this book as it's very lightly featured, but I'm guessing that these elements will become stronger in the next book of the series. By the end of the book, I wanted to know more about the world that the authors created and the characters. I'm looking forward to continuing this series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, language, and disturbing images. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2), Boneshaker by Cherie Priest


Description (from Goodreads): There are rules for dealing with ghosts. Too bad Ree Hutchins doesn't know them. When her favorite patient at a private mental hospital passes away, psychology student Ree Hutchins mourns the elderly woman's death. But more unsettling is her growing suspicion that something unnatural is shadowing her.
   Amateur ghost hunter Hayden Priest believes Ree is being haunted. Even Amelia Gray, known in Charleston as The Graveyard Queen, senses a gathering darkness. Driven by a force she doesn't understand, Ree is compelled to uncover an old secret and put abandoned souls to rest--before she is locked away forever....

Review: The Abandoned is a prequel novella to the Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens. The novella can easily be read independently from the series. While it contains the similar style of her paranormal mysteries, this novella left something more to be desired. While only less than 100 pages, Stevens takes her time to plan out her plot but I couldn't connect with the characters introduced in this novella. I think part of the problem is that I liked Amelia right from the start, but I didn't really think that Ree had enough of a personality to make her a three dimensional character. The plot was decent but I thought the ending and resolution of the ending was just too quick. I would recommend picking up this novella to give you a sense of what things you could expect from the author, but you want to fully immerse in the awesome paranormal mystery storyline you can go straight to reading The Restorer, the first book in the Graveyward Queen series.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, a small sex scene, and disturbing images. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting, Clarity by Kim Harrington, The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens.


Description: Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, must answer a mystifying summons to Egypt from the world's oldest vampire. Meanwhile back in London, beta werewolf Professor Lyall and Biffy find investigating nefarious goings-on. 

Review: Timeless may not be the best book in the Parasol Protectorate series, but I really enjoyed the conclusion of this series. Not high brow or serious by any means, Timeless reminded me why I loved this series. Full of witty and tongue-in cheek British humor, a great setting, and characters that are more like friends you would love to take out to lunch or dinner. While I didn't really care that much for the plot where Alexia was concerned, I was a bit more involved with the murder investigation that Professor Lyall and Biffy unexpectedly find themselves in. There were a few new surprises which I didn't see coming, but the highlight of this book for me is the introduction of Prudence, the little darling toddler who stole the show. While I'm sorry to see Alexia and the gang go, I can't wait to read the spin off series of the same world featuring Prudence as a young adult.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, allusions to sex scenes, and some violence. Recommended for teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Philippa Ballantine, The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow, Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape.

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Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 14

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness.

Description: As Blast gears up for their major label debut, their fan club starts mobilizing. Led by the chic Shion, these ladies are serious fans who won't let anyone mess with their band. But the fan club has it out for Misato, a maverick fan who has gotten too close to Nana. What will they say when they find out Misato is applying for a job with Blast?!

Review: Volume 14 was a disappointing read. There was a lack of organization and jarring transitions between the different story lines. We get a glimpse at the rabid Blast fan base as hoards of groupies wait and crowd a hotel waiting for their favorite band to show up. This story line really did nothing for me and I didn't think it added much to the overall story arc of Nana too. I was a bit confused as to why Yazama added it.
   As you probably notice if you're following my reviews of Nana thus far, happiness is very temporary in this series. It seems as if the characters are desperately scrambling to stay a float and trying not to get disappointed when they don't meet their sky high expectations. We do get this familiar melancholy current when we learn something crucial about Ren, particularly his current relationship with Nana and his past with Reira.
  Ren and Nana O. have many similarities, which be why they are so drawn to one another. Nana O. was abandoned at a young age and Ren grew up in an orphanage. Both use music as their lifeline and identity. Now Ren seems like he is losing everything. He opens up to Reira how insecure he feels around Yasu, his best friend and from my perspective how Ren wanted his life to be. What is admirable about Yasu is that he is isn't a very emotional person-that is he thinks things through logically and calmly. He does things on his own terms, not because he is pressured to do so unlike Ren. For Ren, his band Trapnest is slowly suffocating him and making him numb. So numb that he has taken to cocaine to make him feel something.
   Ren and Reira take a ride to get away from the band for an afternoon. They both recall memories of when they first met, which I believe this takes place before Ren and Nana O. meet. I wasn't surprised to find out that Ren had a crush on Reira. Reira is an attractive girl with a great voice and a nice personality. What surprised me is how Ren described Yasu pursuing Reira and how he wished he could do the same for Nana O. It's clear that both Ren and Yasu wanted Reira, but Yasu went after Reira and made it happen. Presently, Ren has Nana O., his proposal of marriage is what binds her to him, but Ren is still afraid of Yasu who he has always known carried a torch for Nana O. for as long as they could both remember.
  What frustrates me about Ren is that he has made himself to be the unwanted loser and be more codependent then he has ever been before. He definitely is a drifter and can leave the band. He does mention that he would want Nana O. to leave Blast and be with him. don't understand what stops him from leaving Trapnest. It's hard to know what he wants because he emotionally shuts down and refuses to talk.
  Meanwhile the paparazzi spy Ren and Reira together in hugs and other poses that look like they are having an affair if you didn't know what was happening. Those photos are then given to Nana O. as a "present" by the tabloid company and I'm sure all hell is going to break loose in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Drug use, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 15 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

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Hemlock (Hemlock #1)

 I've been really curious about Hemlock ever since I found out it was about a murder mystery featuring werewolves. I've read a few good paranormal mysteries and hoped that I could add Hemlock to that last too. Despite a few troubled spots, I would add it to that list.

Description (from the Publisher): MacKenzie and Amy were best friends, until Amy was murdered. Not only is Mac being haunted by Amy in her dreams, an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to track down Amy's suspected killer: a lone, white werewolf.

Review: Ever since a white werewolf killed Mackenzie's best friend, Amy, she's been having vivid and extremely disturbing nightmares. Amy's obscenely rich boyfriend, Jason, has gone off the deep end. He has completely shut down, succombed to alcohol as a way to get numb, and is continually seeking fights to alleive his aggresion. And their other friend, Kyle, who use to be carefree is now scarcely seen.
Mac, Kyle, Jason, and Amy were inseparable best friends, but after Amy's death they each feel guilty for the death of their best friend and hold themselves responsible. To make it up to Amy, they each are determined to find her killer though they might have different ideas to go about solving the murder mystery. For example, Jason turns to the Trackers, a furvent anti-werewolf vigilante group, who have come to Hemlock to round up anyone with Lupine Syndrome (which is how one transforms to a werewolf) to be permanently interned in a government-run "rehabilitation camp."  You would think that Mackenzie would fully throw her support behind the Trackers, however she knows that not all werewolves are bad in fact one adult affected by the disease cared for her while her dead-beat dad abandoned her. be The symbolism between werewolf hunt and war propaganda is made very clear.
  Despite likeable characters, attuned dialogues that doesn't scream teen-speak and pretty good set up for a murder mystery plot, the book seems to abandon its genre in favor of your typical paranormal romance. Mac is the center of a love triangle though she seems to favor one love interest over the other. For me, the romance was a bit lackluster. Apparently both Kyle and Jason have been in love with Mac for a very long time, but I feel like that came across. There was no tension between any of these characters as Mac was pretty adamant that both of these guys were friends. I have to say though I'm a Kyle girl. Jason just seemed to try too hard.
  While the murderer is identified through a series of events that lead to a predictable confrontation, I was really upset that nothing came of it. Normally when you read a murder mystery, the story arc completes with the culprit identified, trialed, and jailed but Hemlock leaves this door open along with other storylines to the next volume in the planned trilogy.
  For the most part, I would have to say that I enjoyed Hemlock, look forward to see what happens next, and would recommend it, but I would first see if your library has the book before purchasing it at a bookstore.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, disturbing and violent images, and crude humor. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

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Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 9

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I've really been enjoying Nana, the widely popular manga series.

Description (from Goodreads): Trapnest's bassist and Nana K. are getting married, but it's far from a joyous announcement. Nobu and Nana are devastated, and even the bassist's bandmates take the news hard. Will Nana K. ever get her happily ever after?

Review: Volume 9 is not as emotionally explosive as the previous volume and works as a place holder as the characters try to sort out the shocking news about Nana K. Things are slowly spiraling out of control. The d-bag bassist has taken over Nana K.'s decisions and decides that Nana K. will move out of the apartment she shares with Nana O. Thus the once quirky relationship that helped support both Nanas is now broken. Nana O. takes the "break up" close to heart and even suffers from a panic attack.
  Things get worse for Nana O. as Blast finds out that their dream of signing up with a label is actually far from their reality. The music company isn't sure how sell-able the band will be and thus defers from making their decision. The band must reconsider what they are able to give up in order to obtain the label.  
  Meanwhile, Trapnest is blind-sided by the bassist's sudden marriage. To help avoid scandal and a paparazzi blitz, the wedding will be announced to the public, however, Ren is cautioned to be careful when meeting Nana O. in fear of bad publicity. Hypocritical, no? We also find out that Reira, for some reason that I can't understand, has strong feelings for the bassist. How many people can love this jerk? What do they see in him? I just don't understand.


Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 10 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

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Mini Childrens Reviews: Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Familiars, and Dark Life

  School registration is currently in full force. Thankfully, I survived the first day.  I've read and finished quite a number of children's books. My reviews of these books are starting to pile up so I thought I would do a few pithy mini-reviews for you. All of these books are found on this year's Illinois School Library Media Association's (ISLMA) Bluestem Reading Award and Rebecca Caudill. For the full list of books nominated by school librarians, teachers, and students, click here for Bluestem Awards and click here for Rebecca Caudill Awards. Today I'll be reviewing The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger, Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein, and Dark Life by Kat Falls.

Description (from the Publisher): Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.

Review:  Tommy and his friends think that Dwight is a weirdo who's always talking about robots or spiders or something. In true Dwight fashion, he shows up at school one day with his latest creation, a little origami Yoda finger puppet. Origami Yoda is not like Dwight at all as it doles out bits of wisdom to Tommy and his friends. The mystery of the book is whether the Yoda is just Dwight talking in a funny voice or if it actually has mystical powers. Told from a collection of stories gathered by Tommy and told by kids who either believe or don't in Origami Yoda. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is a quirky, fast paced book that sure to please many Star War fans.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: Mild boy humor, but otherwise relatively clean. Recommended for Grades 3-6.

If you like this book try: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger


Description (from the Publisher): When a scrappy alley cat named Aldwyn passes himself off as a magical animal companion to Jack, a young wizard in training, Aldwyn and his fellow "familiars," a know-it-all blue jay and bumbling tree frog, must save the kingdom after the evil queen of Vastia kidnaps Jack and two other wizards.

Review: The Familiars is a great choice for young readers who may be too young for Harry Potter. Just imagine Harry Potter and other popular fantasy series where the animals or familiars take center stage. The book contains your usual trope of a children's fantasy book. Characters who are trying to prove themselves and gaining self confidence as well as coming together to fit a big evil.  The consistently suspenseful narrative moves quickly and is full of twists and turns. The great combination of action and humor will keep readers' attention. For me, I don't really take an interest in animal driven stories, but I do several kids who would eagerly line up and read this one.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3 to 7.

If you like this book try: Secrets of the Crown (Familiars #2) by Adam Jay Epstein, Warriors series by Erin Hunter


Description (from the Publisher): When fifteen-year-old Ty, who has always lived on the ocean floor, joins Topside girl Gemma in the frontier's underworld to seek and stop outlaws who threaten his home, they learn that the government may pose an even greater threat.

Review: Dark Life is essentially your typical western that takes place in the ocean. Sixteen-year-old Ty is the first child born to the pioneers who live in the depths of the ocean. He has little to no patience for topsiders (aka land dwellers) until he meets feisty Gemma, who immediately enlists his help to locate her missing older brother. The heroes and villains are fairly easy to detect and the plot was too predictable for me, but those who are interested in marine life and what would it be like living under the sea would find this book worthwhile.

Words of Caution: PG violence otherwise pretty clean. Recommended for strong Grade 5 readers and up.  

If you like this book try: Riptide by Kat Falls, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi, Stuck on Earth by David Klass

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Let's Pretend This Never Happened

  After reading a few serious books, I wanted something light and funny. I've gotten lots of good reviews of Let's Pretend This Never Happened from both coworkers and library patrons alike. I decided to give it a shot and for the most part I did enjoy it.

Description (from Goodreads): Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor.

Review: If you're looking for something funny or just a reassurance that maybe you're really not that weird then Let's Pretend This Never Happened is for you. If you, however, are looking for something with a bit more depth than a few chuckles here and there, this book will disappoint you.
  Jenny Lawson is definitely funny and I can definitely see her humorist wings growing. As a writer, however, she needs to stay focused. Let's Pretend This Never Happened is pretty much composed of tangents that are not linear nor really take any shape. For instance, there are footnotes and those footnotes have footnotes, but the footnotes don't really have much to do with the narrative but just a parenthetical that happens to be there. The lack of structure makes me think that the book wasn't edited to closely or that the editors chose to have Lawson's voice go unhindered due to her already large popularity (she has one of the biggest blogs on the internet called The Bloggess that has over a million page views on a daily basis). I did think there were chapters that were filler and I skimmed them without missing much. I would recommend jumping around and reading selective chapters instead of reading it straight through.
  Most of the book is read as if Lawson is constantly onstage and having to dish out a punchline all the time. I'll admit that majority of the punchlines were funny and amusing, but after a while it got really old and I found myself getting a little bored. My favorite parts of the book moves beyond the comedy and gets a bit personal as Lawson discusses poignant issues such as her pregnancy troubles and dealing with her anxiety. I do know that Lawson plans on exploring these issues in her next book, which would make the reading experience a bit more rewarding.
  While not mind blowing or expertly written, Let's Pretend This Never Happened is an amusing read that I would recommend for readers looking for a light and fun book. I do see Lawson's talent and I plan on reading more from her in the future.   

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Strong language, drug use mentioned, and crude humor. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley, I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee, Half Empty by David Rakoff, Naked by David Sedaris

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Three Girls and Their Brother

 How many people can you name that have had 15 minutes of fame and then disappeared into obscurity? Or rather how many celebs can you think of that are popular only because someone on their family tree is well known? Can you name a celeb who's world was turned topsy turvy after they gaining fame? Theresa Rebeck's Three Girls and Their Brother gives the reader a backstage pass to the seedy world of the entertainment business where sharks and prey are abundantly available.

Description: Now that it’s all over, everybody is saying it was the picture–that stupid picture was behind every disaster. . . .They may be the granddaughters of a famous literary critic, but what really starts it all is Daria, Polly, and Amelia Heller’s stunning red hair. Out of the blue one day, The New Yorker calls and says that they want to feature the girls in a glamorous spread shot by a world-famous photographer, and before long these three beautiful nobodies from Brooklyn have been proclaimed the new “It” girls.
   But with no parental guidance–Mom’s a former beauty queen living vicariously through her daughters, and Dad is nowhere to be found–the three girls find themselves easy prey for the sharks and piranhas of show business. Posing in every hot fashion magazine, tangling with snarling fashonistas and soulless agents, skipping school and hitting A-list parties, the sisters are caught up in a whirlwind rise to fame that quickly spirals out of control.
   When Amelia, the youngest of the three–who never really wanted to be a model in the first place–appears in an Off-Broadway play, the balance of power shifts, all the pent-up resentment and pressure comes to a head, and the girls’ quiet, neglected brother reaches a critical point of virtual breakdown. And against the odds, even as the struggle for fame threatens to tear the family apart, the Hellers begin to see that despite the jealousy, greed, and uncertainty that have come to define their relationships, in the celebrity world of viciousness and betrayal, all they really have is one another.

Review: I was looking through the Alex Award book lists trying to figure out what book to read next for this reading challenge and I stumbled up Three Girls and Their Brother. I had never heard of the book and author before, but the synopsis caught my eye and I thought I would try it.
  Straddling the line of dark comedy and satire, Three Girls and Their Brother takes us backstage to the caprious entertainment industry where fame and luck sometimes intertwine and not always in the best interest of the person involved. The New Yorker does a piece on the Hellers, grandchildren of a late literary critic who are riding the coat tails of his popular and just so happen to be ravishingly beautiful. After a single photo shoot, the three teenaged sisters, ranging from 14 to 18 years old, modeling party girl careers are off to a careening start. 
 The book is told through each of the sibling's point of view, which allows us to get a closer look into this dysfunctional family and to help dicepher was is true and fantasy when fickle fame appears. The siblings are practically the only family unit as the looney mom and distant father appear on the outter fringes of the siblings' lives.
  Out of all the point of views, I really enjoyed reading from Philip, the brother who is 15 and seen as the 'plain one'. He narrates the first part, dubiously chronicling how their former Miss America mother blithely yanks the girls out of school and throws them to the jackals of publicity. It is through Philip's point of view that we remain grounded and witness how fast and easily fame takes a toll on a family that is already distant. Ironically, out all of the siblings Philip is the most sensible one but he gets shipped out to live with his distant father and stepmother for being unruly.
  My next favorite point of view was from the youngest sibling, Amelia, explains how one photoshoot became a juicy scandal for tabloids and celebrity magazines and how acting instead of modeling may be her true calling. Like Philip, Amelia's point of view points out the cut-throat aspect of the entertainment industry whether it's Hollywood or Broadway, the danger is the same- someone is always trying to steal your thunder and use you to their benefits.
  I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the Showtime TV show Entourage as it covers similar themes.  Funny and searing, Three Girls and Their Brother is an enjoyable read where you are glad that you are not a celebrity and may make you think twice about ever wanting fame.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Strong language, underage drinking, and sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell, Celebrities in Disgrace by Elizabeth Searle

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Good as Lily

Just a quick note: I will be on vacation when this review posts. I may not or may not have internet access during vacation, but I will play catch-up with your blogs and comments when I get back. 

 Most stories that I've read are generally about people competing with others, but Derek Kirk Kim asks us a different question: what if the person you're trying to up is actually yourself? What kind of person do you want to be and if you saw future self, how would you embrace yourself? All of these philosophical questions and more are discussed in the part coming of age/fantasy, romantic comedy graphic novel called Good As Lily.

Description: Following a strange mishap on her 18th birthday, Grace Kwon is confronted with herself at three different periods in her life. The timing couldn't be worse as Grace and her friends desperately try to save a crumbling school play. Will her other selves wreak havoc on her present life or illuminate her uncertain future?


Review: Grace Kwon's friends throw her a surprise 18th birthday party with a picnic in the park. There they meet a strange vendor who refuses to sell them ice cream, but sells them a pig-shaped pinata instead. When it finally breaks after falling on Grace's head, she learns that it's empty much to her disappointment. Later that night, when she returns to the park, she meets a little girl, a young woman, and an old woman who look eerily like her. It turns out that all of them are named Grace Kwon at different parts of her life, a six year old toddler, a woman in her twenties, and an elderly woman. Now Grace must deal not only with the philosophical concept of encountering her past and future selves, but also with the day-to-day chaos that they create. Each of Grace's selves are dealt well for the most part as the child stealing snacks, the senior citizen smoking cigarettes, and the young woman hitting on Grace's drama teacher. I would have liked the three selves interact more with Grace herself but they are kept at a distance. Grace, the teen, is naturally confused and exhausted seeing her past and future go out of control. The black-and-white pictures are simply drawn, but manage to convey all the emotional highs and lows of this story. The title refers to a subplot so small that readers might not recognize the reference until they've finished the book and taken some time to digest it. Part coming of age, part magical realism, and part romance, Good as Lily has different things to offer different readers.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some sexual innuendos in the book. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

 If you like this book try: Same Difference by Derek Kirk Kim

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Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega #2)

Just a quick note: I will be on vacation when this review posts. I may not or may not have internet access during vacation, but I will play catch-up with your blogs and comments when I get back. 

  I'm really enjoying the Mercy Thompson spin-off series, Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs. While it's hard not to compare these two series together, the Alpha and Omega series explores the aspect of romantic relationships particularly of the main pair, Charles and Anna, much more than the paranormal politics in the Mercy books. I do highly recommend reading both series.


Description: Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son- and enforcer- of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either.
Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan- and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all- or risk losing everything.

Review: Hunting Ground takes place a month after Cry Wolf. Charles and Anna are officially married as they accepted their wolves counterparts to be mated. Though they have a mating bond, their relationship needs work as both characters learn to trust one another and themselves. As I mentioned in my review of Cry Wolf, I love that Anna's and Charle's relationship is a work in progress. Despite them being paranormal creatures, their relationship makes them more human and familiar. Briggs does a great job in demonstrating how difficult it is for Anna and Charles to open themselves up as we get to be in both Anna’s and Charles’ heads and experience their doubts, fears and deep need for one another. Their ability to see one another for what they truly are, is what makes their relationship so special.
  I know many readers were a bit put off by the plot in Cry Wolf, but it didn't bother me as I was so entranced by the characters. Unlike many readers who enjoyed the mystery part of Hunting Ground, I found myself a bit annoyed with it. I thought Briggs took much time to introduce us to many different international werewolf packs mentioned in the book. While I did find a few of them piqued my interest, I got a little bored. I also thought the villain and the good guys were apparent to me in the book as well as the incorporation of Arthurian lore, while an interesting angle, appeared to be a bit forced. Despite these issues, I did enjoy the book and I absolutely love the idea of Anna, who appears to be fragile like the book covers indicate, is completely the opposite and continually saves the day with staying true to herself. She, like her mate, is a force of nature. I’m anxiously awaiting the third novel, Fair Game, which seems to be most people's favorite book of the series thus far. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, and suggestions of sex in the book. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (Alpha and Omega #3), Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

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My Life Next Door

  Huntley Fitpatrick's debut novel, My Life Next Door, is a hotly anticipated summer read. It promises romance, summer fun, and lovable characters that you wish could stay longer with you after you finished the book. For the most part, the book delivers on all of these aspects. Though I did have a few issues with the book, it's definitely a book that I would be recommending for those in search for a good summer romance novel.

  Description (from Goodreads): The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

Review: I absolutely loved the first half of My Life Next Door. In the first chapter we see the juxtaposition between warm and distant, normal and abnormal. The Garrets and Reeds live in proximity to one another; however, socially there are as far from each other as the North and South Pole.
   The Garrets radiate warmth, bringing smiles to our faces as we see a large family getting along with one another. We recognize our own family quirks and idiosyncrasies with theirs. Though personally, I do find ten kids a bit difficult to manage (I come from a family of four siblings plus me) and openly breast feeding in public a little weird, but that's what give them their charm. They are real, genuine inside and outside of the house. Like many of us, they also share common household issues. They are not ashamed of who they are despite the names their neighbors call them behind their backs.   
   On the complete opposite side of the spectrum are the Reeds, run by a single mom with political ambitions with her two daughters. The Reeds give off a stiff, sterile impression. Their house is museum-like, staged, and perfectly clean. It's as if their family is constantly "on", trying to fit the mold of what a perfect family should be. Just picture any political ad for a politician that showcases their family and you pretty much have the Reeds. Out of these two families, it's no wonder that Samantha chose the Garrets over her own family. I would too.
  The biggest strength of My Life Next Door is establishing the various characters in the book and developing their relationships with one another. Each character has their own unique voice and personality. We aren't just told in the narrative that these characters become close, but we are shown their strong bonds as they share small but mundane moments with one another such as fixing a car and babysitting.
  Due to the strong bonds already established, Samantha and Jase's relationship start out and progress naturally. Huzzah for no insta-love! The romance is incredibly sweet and guaranteed to make you smile and sigh. I loved Samantha and Jase as a couple. They are adorable without being obnoxious and clingy. They both complimented each other so well. Both are struggling to find their own identities, overcome the pressure of meeting other people's expectations of themselves, and develop self confidence amongst other things. I will say that Samantha at times bugged me, especially when she tried to keep Jase as her dirty little secret but knowing her relationship with her mom, I can understand why but I still don't agree with her actions. 
  My main issue with the book is the second half where the conflict is introduced. I got the impression that the conflict was pinned on at the end and the story lost a bit of its steam for me. The issue instead of being shocking, which I think is what the author was going for, came across to me as anti-climatic and resolved too quickly. I would have liked the problem to slowly build a bit more in the first half and then come to the book's climax, which I think would give the book a bit more of an emotional punch, which is why I gave the book it's 3.5 stars rating. If you're looking for a good summer read to unwind and put a smile on your face, be sure to check out My Life Next Door. Despite my issue with the second half, I definitely think it's worth picking up and reading.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Strong language, implied drug usage, candid discussion of sex, and a small non-explicit sex scene. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott, Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti, Summer series by Jenny Han.

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