Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2)

  I have been in a book rut for quite some time. I've started and dropped at least five books, all of which failed to grab my attention. When I came across Stealing Parker, I read it from front to back in a matter of a couple of days. Readers who enjoy YA contemporary romance or a well written, realistic romance should definitely pick up the book. Many thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy.

Description (from Goodreads): Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.
  Now Parker wants a new life. So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty? But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Review: Stealing Parker is a companion novel to Catching Jordan, a book I thoroughly enjoyed in 2011. There are many similarities between both books. They are both set in a small town of Hundred Oaks, Tennessee and feature characters who love sports. Realistic and witty dialogue coupled with endearing characters, and a tightly packed plot makes these books highly enjoyable and readable.
  Parker is our heroine and narrator. She is the high-school valedictorian and a star softball player. Her life is thrown into chaos when her mother suddenly leaves the family to move in with her girlfriend. Ostracized and bullied by many of her friends and her church members, Parker is constantly trying to prove that she is not like her mother. She quits her favorite sport, loses weight due to the "butch" label rumors. She is even taken to making out with random guys in a heartbreaking effort to prove to her point. I liked how Parker remained on the cusp of adolescence and adulthood, which is highlighted by the countdown of her 18th birthday on each chapter. Though she runs the house like an adult, she is still painfully self-aware of how others see her. For example, once she consciously knows how the hurts the boys she has playfully made-out with she stops this behavior.
  Parker's family drama cages her and prevents her from opening up to anyone, afraid that they may use her vulnerabilities as arsenal to her, which was viciously made clear by her best friend. Alone, abandoned, and hurt, Parker seeks solace from her best friend Drew and yearns for someone to understand her.  She thinks she has found the answer when she meets Brian, a hot 23-year-old assistant coach at her school. Brian seems to be a kindred spirit and is wounded by pains of his own. Though forbidden, things progress between Parker and Brian at a steady pass soon become physical. Brian seems more interested in trying to convince her to have sex than in talking. Mixed in with all this confusion is a budding and sweet romance with a longtime acquaintance, but her best friend Drew finally comes out to her and drunkenly confesses a secret crush on him. All of this drama forces Parker to identify what is most important to her and how to unload the burden of being someone else besides herself. The self-evaluation process realistically plays out. Parker begins the journey and we are left with the strong belief that her growth will continue. She doesn't have all the answers, but we can rest assure that she knows how to make the right decisions.
  Kenneally addresses important and hard hitting issues such as sexuality, religion, self-discovery, and self-love, but it never felt heavy handed to me. Like the themes themselves, the characters aren't one dimensional and leave food for thought once you finished reading the book. I really liked Parker's confessions or letters she wrote to God, revealing her most inner thoughts and emotions. It drew me closer to her as a reader. While I would have liked Parker spend more time with her mother and work out their issues, I do like how there is a starting place to mend their broken bond.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Some language, crude humor, and strong sexual content (i.e. bases 1-3 are covered). Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Murdock, Catching Jordan

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Vessel

 Ever since I've seen the beautiful cover of Vessel and read the intriguing premise of the book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the book. Often times beautiful book covers had led me astray, but Vessel did not. Brilliantly riveting and completely unique, Vessel, is one of my favorite fantasy reads from 2012.

Description (from Goodreads): Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana’s body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But Liyana’s goddess never comes. Abandoned by her angry tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her.
   Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. For the desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god’s help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god’s tale.
  The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice: She must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate—or a human girl can muster some magic of her own.

Review:  On the surface, Vessel is a fantasy novel about a girl whose destiny is thwarted and must now find  her own way to help her people, but it can also be read as a parable about one's rite of passage to adulthood. Liyana, like everyone else in her clan, has accepted her tribe's way of life, their beliefs and traditions. She fully accepts her responsibilities of becoming a vessel allowing her goddess to possess her body in order to save the lives of her clan from the Great Drought that has plagued their land. Though she does not want to die, Liyana is fully aware that her one sacrifice can save many and isn't that a good reason enough? Despite a flawless summoning dance with a pure heart and intention, the goddess Bayla doesn't come as expected and thus puts everything that Liyana has been taught and told into question for the first time.
  The world building of Liyana's world is astounding. I applaud the author for going outside of the Euro-centric box for the setting of her novel. The idea of gods using human bodies as their vessels may be completely off putting, but Durst crafts compelling folktales that not only enhance her premise but draws you into her story. Take for example how the idea of Vessels came to be: A thousands of years ago, the people of the turtle made the desert their home and divided into several clans. As you can image living in a desert isn't very easy and many people died in the harsh climate. Those souls of the first dead wandered around our world until they found the Dreaming, i.e. the afterlife, where they remained and could not rest in peace because they saw how their people suffered in the desert. And so the souls of the dead ancestors, using the magic of the Dreaming, created the Gods – one for each clan. And now, every hundred years they send the Gods’ souls to walk around their people so they can help them survive and the only way for the gods can come to their clan is through the bodies of a vessel, a person who has connections to the Dreaming and to magic. It is this set up that makes us understand why it is extremely vital that these vessels must believe that the desert clans cannot survive without the magic of their Gods and they must die so that the clans can carry on living, but can these statements be upheld?

 As the story progresses, we not only discover why the gods are absent, but also meet vessels and of course the gods themselves. The vessels themselves are of various faiths: there are those who are blind followers, devout believers of their Gods, and even those who do not want to die or even care about their Gods. The Gods are also depicted in a similar fashion, some are benevolent while others who see their vessels as just an object to be possessed. Although we get to see a lot of the various gods throughout the story, the better developed deity is Korbyn who balances the desires of the gods and the vessels quite nicely. I found myself fascinated with these characters and I couldn't help but wonder if the gods even needed the bodies of the vessel to work their magic? Aren't gods suppose to have unlimited power? 

  The premise of Vessel lends itself to great discussions about tradition, faith, destiny and survival. The presence of the Emperor, a young, charismatic leader, brings a bit of politics to the table as well: should all the peoples unite against a common enemy? Or should they fight for their independence no matter what? What sacrifices are you willing to make as a leader and to whose benefit? There is no easy solution to these questions and as such none is presented here.
  There is also an incredible amount of importance given to stories and storytelling within this world. The tales refer back to how we use myths and stories to make sense of our world, but are they suppose to be taken as truths or lessons? And if so, what lessons are you suppose draw from them?

    In addition to the incredible premise and masterful world building, the characters are phenomenal: our protagonist Liyana, the big-hearted trickster god Korbyn, the other vessels Pia, Fennick, Raan, and the mysterious Emperor himself. Liyana is a heroine that I instantly loved and it was so hard to see her being tested constantly in so many ways throughout the book. Right from the start, she is abandoned by her clan (but given the tools to survive by her loving family) and abandoned by her goddess. Though it was very easy for her to given up hope and accept her fate, she fights to stay alive. Even when she is joined by the trickster god Korbyn, Liyana remains calm and in control, grounded in her own sense of self and always remembering her job as a vessel. While some readers disliked Liyana for being so practical, I loved this about her. I'm so tired of reading heroines who make stupid decisions to put themselves in harm or who are recklessly impulsive. Liyana thinks things through, evaluating different situations and then takes logical steps. I also loved how her perceptions of both her world and herself change over the course of the novel. The once fatalistic Liyana now clings stubbornly to her desire to live along with coming to terms of her faith.

  The other vessels are brought to life and given depth. Fennick is the stubborn and brawny warrior with a heart of gold. Pia is the beautiful and ironically blind songstress who is a spoiled princess at first, but a true pure and perceptive soul.  Korbyn is the beguiling trickster who never fails to charm us with his charismatic personality and who also comes to care for Liyana as more than just the vessel for his beloved Bayla. Raan is the fiesty and the realist of the group and serves as the catalyst to Liyana's own personal growth. Raan is the only one that voices her defiance of being a vessel, who questions why she must die and plays an important role during the book's pivotal climax. The mysterious Emperor is an interesting leader who is a foil to Liyana's own leadership skills. While I did like learning about the Emperor, I wished he was a bit more fleshed out which prevented me from giving this book a five star rating. 

   Like the plotting, the romance of Vessel is complicated yet satisfying as feelings and relationships shift throughout the story. While the romance angle is present, it does not overwhelm Liyana's important journey. Thankfully, she remains a level headed, intelligent heroine who doesn't give up her senses because of a good looking boy. The pace of the book gradually increases as you learn more about Liyana's world and her true limitations. If you put aside the fantastical premise, Liyana's eye-opening journey, both literal and metaphorical, is something that any reader can identify. Vessel is a fabulous book that wraps up nicely in the end, leaving us a bit disappointed about not being able to revisit Durst's wholly original and utterly memorable world.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

If you like this book try: Seven Kingdom series by Kristin Cashore, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

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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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Such Wicked Intent (Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #2)

  Are you looking for a gothic,ghostly read that isn't overly scary for you? Then I would suggest picking up Kenneth Oppel's new series called the Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, which is a re-imagined origin story of Shelly's anti-hero. Such Wicked Intent is the perfect read for this Halloween season.

Description (from the publisher): When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again—just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed. If only these things were not so tempting.

When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor’s twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

Review: Such Wicked Intent begins three weeks after the events of This Dark Endeavor took place. We find Victor and his family in mourning for their terrible loss. He rejects alchemy and complies with his father to burn down the Dark Library where he first heard of the Elixir of life. All of the books in the library burn with the exception of one. Soon visits to a spirit world and discovery of an ancient text on the wall of a cavern beneath the chateau revive Victor’s hopes, leading him to attempt creation of a replica body for Konrad’s spirit to inhabit. Of course the traveling back and forth from the spirit world has consequences, but that doesn't stop Victor's obsession nor does it quell Elizabeth's yearning to hold her fiance once again.
  This Dark Endeavor presented us with a love-triangle with Konrad and Victor pitted against one another for their affections for Elizabeth. Such Wicked Intent now turns the triangle into a square by adding another pursuer of Elizabeth's heart which complicates matters, as does Victor’s growing obsession with power. How far is he willing to go to bring his brother back to life? Does he really want to re-animate his brother? And for whom? What else could he learn from the spirit world? Oppel fleshes out these questions through Victor’s internal moral quandaries and continued scheming.
  I loved the vivid descriptive language found in the book and the further character development of the main characters. I like how Oppel uses Elizabeth, the symbol of passivity as well as Victorian female virtue in the original novel, as a three dimensional person who has her own selfish desires despite her tireless efforts to stay true to societal's conventions in his story. The conflict of interests among all of the characters keep the narrative intense and engaging. The reoccurring theme of science versus religion is done very well without being too heavy handed. While the dark supernatural powers and the back-and-forth travel to the spirit world aren't necessarily plausible, however, Oppel's great storytelling skills doesn't make us seem to notice. Plus, there isn't really much of an explanation in the original Frankenstein of what mixture of science and magic Victor exactly used to create his monster.
  Though Victor learns an important lesson at the end of this book, there is still the curiosity and the drive to see how far humans can go with science in the back of his mind that is not only very chilling but in a morbid way excites us to learn what boundaries he will cross next.

Curriculum Connection: Use to accompany the original novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Mild PG language, an attempt at sexual assault, and some disturbing images. Recommended for strong Grades 6 and up particularly for those who enjoy historical fiction, horror, and adventure with a minor romance subplot.

If you like this book try: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Death Note manga series by Tsugumi Oba, Clay by David Almond, Prodigal son by Dean Kootz (an adult book with YA appeal)

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Karma: A Novel in Verse

  I had originally planned on reading and reviewing Cathy Ostlere's debut novel, Karma, for my Southeast Asian Reading Challenge last year. Due to some glitches and a very busy schedule towards the end of 2011, I wasn't able to get to Karma until now. If you're looking for a great read about India, be sure to pick up Karma as it embraces the light and dark aspect of the nation's history. For full disclosure, I was provided a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest opinion. 

Description (from the publisher): It is 1984, and fifteen-year-old Maya is on her way to India with her father. She carries with her the ashes of her mother, who has recently committed suicide, and arrives in Delhi on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi s assassination - one of the bloodiest riots in the country s history. Then Maya is separated from her father and must rely upon the help of a mysterious, kindhearted boy, Sandeep, to safely reunite them. But as her love for Sandeep begins to blossom, Maya will have to face the truth about her painful adolescence . . . if she's ever to imagine her future.

Review: After reading a slew of mediocre reads, Karma felt completely original and the captivating story sucked me in right way. This epic tale unfolds through the pages of alternating diaries from October 28th through December 16th, 1984. The deceptive simplicity of the passages contains many layers with its few words, unveiling a sometimes painful history, both personal and on a national level, beneath the story's surface.
   Fifteen-year-old Maya, half Hindu/half Sikh, has lived her entire life in rural Canada. Her family's religion and ethnicity set them apart from their community, but also from one another. Naming Maya signifies the tension between her parents, lovers who gave up their families, pride, etc for each other, but who have lived in different states of mourning and regret ever since. Her father insists on calling her a Sikh name, Jiva or "life," yet her mother defiantly calls her a Hindu name, Maya or "illusion," as an insult to her Sikh father. Maya begins her story in the typical fashion of a coming of age tale detailing her plight of fitting in with her surroundings.
 Heartache and loss lead Maya and her father back to India at the time of Indira Gandhi's assassination. You may or may not know but on October 31, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in her garden by two of her Sikh bodyguards as revenge for the attack on the Sikh's holy "Golden Temple." This in turn led to riots where many (the numbers are not very clear) Sikhs were brutally murdered by Hindus to avenge Gandhi's death.
  Karma takes place during the riots where the city erupts in chaos. Through a sequence of horrifying events, father and daughter are separated, and Maya is left alone in a violent foreign country where she must rely on the help of strangers to reach safety. Maya's sense of otherness escalates dramatically as she is forced to consider it on virtually every aspect of her life as well as on a larger, broader scale. In her journal, she pours her uncertainties and her fears especially of never returning to her once mundane, peaceful world in Canada. She records the atrocities she has witnessed and her guilt of not helping those around her. 
   The middle diary belongs to blunt yet charming Sandeep, with whom Maya experiences love, tragedy, ancestry, and loyalty at an intimate yet physically innocent level. Sandeep is the balm of Maya's wounds yet he himself isn't immune by the riots. He too suffers from pain and it was interesting to compare how these two characters approached pain and sorrow differently. I loved how the romance between Maya and Sandeep quietly bloomed and didn't overtake the important introspection from the book. Their romance, which may or may not be doomed depending how you look at it, offers hope, even in its slightest glimmer.
  Despite its tome like appearance, Karma reads fairly quickly. The book's pace and tension compelled me to read quickly, but I did have to stop and reread a few passages to really appreciate the richness of the language, imagery, and the subtle meanings behind the surface of the words. Ostlere uses the verse format to her best ability in relaying an important story with just the right amount of words and emotions. There is nothing superfluous in the book. The various themes such as shame, retribution, war, religious fanaticism, the will to live, suffering, suicide, ignorance, not fitting in, love, loss, grief, second chances, and many more left me thinking for quite sometime after I finished the book. Part coming of age, part historical fiction, part self discovery, and part romance, Karma has something to offer for various readers. I'd highly recommend picking this one up in you are at all curious about India or Indian history/culture.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Curriculum Connection: Asian Studies

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, disturbing rioting scenes, language, and crude humor. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth, Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

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The Summer of No Regrets + Giveaway

  Whether we like it or not, celebrity watch has become part of our lives. TV shows, magazines, brand endorsements can be found virtually everywhere. At times we watch people reach fame and admire them from a high pedestal. We can't help but watch (maybe even gleefully) them fall, crash, and burn. How do we easily forget that celebs are humans just like us? What would happen if we were to fall in love with one of them and not know of their celebrity status? These are the questions that are explored in The Summer of No Regrets, Katherine Grace Bond's latest release.

Description (from Goodreads): The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she's never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he's Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie's fantasy to be true.
  As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn't sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?

Review: The Summer of No Regrets is a breezy, enjoyable summer read. Though the book seems to be steeped into fantasy more than realistic fiction, it was a fun story with some interesting characters. Readers searching something with a little more depth may be disappointed in the book.
   Brigitta is a likable heroine. She is not of those girls who feel she isn't pretty or special, but actually turns out to be very beautiful or popular beyond belief to everyone except her. Brigitta is painfully shy and socially awkward girl. She has been home schooled by her counterculture parents and isn't up to speed with the current pop culture most of the time. She has little to no friends due to her 'strange' hobbies. Though Brigitta is completely oblivious most of the time to the events around her, I did like that she was more concerned of serious issues such as exploring spirituality and animal rights. Her guilty pleasure of reading tabloids and celebrity magazines was cute. Brigitta's naivety allowed her to get swept away by Luke really quickly, but I think that is what drew Luke to her. 
  Unlike the homely Brigitta, Luke is your mysterious, brooding romantic love interest. For a romance novel, I was actually surprised how little he spoke and was present in the book. Despite his drop dead good looks, he was sweet, kind, and didn't have any malicious intentions towards Brigitta. Though the book focused on whether or not Luke was the famed, bad boy heartthrob actor, I was actually interested in seeing him as a person. I wished the author spent more time describing Luke 'the person' instead of Luke the 'possible actor in disguise'. 
  The book is a quick read and can be finished in a day. I really liked Brigitta's blog posts about spirituality and the questions surrounding how celebrity obsessed we can be. Though religion is a big theme in the book, I didn't find it preachy but enlightening as Brigitta is trying to find the right faith for her. There was a bit of a superfluous subplot about the cougar cubs in the book which kind of derailed the story and in my opinion, really didn't add much to the plot or the characters, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. I'd definitely would recommend this book especially if you liked the movie Notting Hill.  

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and crude humor. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

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Manga Monday: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 3

  I will say that Mondays are not my favorite day of the week. It's hard to get your mindset back on track after a relaxing weekend. I do, however, look forward to sharing my excitement reading manga with other bloggers and finding out new series to try. Thanks to Alison over at Alison Can Read for her meme of Manga Mondays.

 Description: Featured on the manga's cover -Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) Leader of France during the first French Empire. Became known as a hero for his victories as a general and went on to seize absolute control of the state in a coup d'état. As emperor, Napoleon's rule spanned almost all of Europe, but opposition to his rule grew widespread after his army suffered a bitter defeat by the cruel Russian winter, leading to his eventual seizure and exile. Even then, Napoleon managed to return to power for a time, only to be exiled once again. He died on Saint Helena Island. 

Review: Volume 3 of Afterschool Charisma digs a little deeper into the psychological aspects of cloning. When clone President Kennedy was assassinated, clones began to seriously think about their own fates. A few dared to question their purpose while some tried to commit suicide because they couldn't handle the pressure and great expectations to be just like their clones. Unlike his clone friends, Shiro Kamiya, the sole human student at St Kleio's Academy, a private and heavily guarded boarding school attended by the clones of historical figures, he never thought twice about his identity. He was absolutely sure about his own humanity until he suddenly meets an older research assistant who looks like his doppelganger. Was Shiro a clone all along? If so, why was he raised as a human all along?  As you can tell, I had a zillion questions flying at me at once after this shocker, but things get much more complicated.
   While Shiro is having an identity crisis, the clones are working on their last minute preparations for their big presentations. The biggest show stopper is testing the power of the Almighty Dolly, by saving Joan of Arc from burning at the stake. The tension builds as Rasputin and his followers recreate Joan of Arc's death sentence and escalates as assassins burst onto the scene to kill all of St Kleio clones. While the assassins don't really talk much in this volume, you can't help but notice that they look really familiar. 
   Afterschool Charisma is a series that will give you brain cramps after you are done, which to me isn't a bad thing. My questions are usually an indication of how much I'm invested in the story and the characters. I enjoy being in the dark and not having all the answers as I try to come up with my own solution and then discover interesting twists that I didn't expect. This volume has definitely a lot more action and kept me flipping the pages.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Rated T+ for mature themes, violence, some language, and brief nudity. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 4 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko

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Manga Monday: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 2

  I will say that Mondays are not my favorite day of the week. It's hard to get your mindset back on track after a relaxing weekend. I do, however, look forward to sharing my excitement reading manga with other bloggers and finding out new series to try. Thanks to Alison over at Alison Can Read for her meme of Manga Mondays.


Description (from Goodreads): JOAN OF ARC (1412-1431)
A patriotic young French maiden. After beginning to hear voices at the age of 13, Joan led the French army in the liberation of Orleans in the Hundred Years' War against Britain. But not long afterward, she was convicted of heresy by a religious tribunal and burned to death at the stake.

Review: Afterschool Charisma is one of those books that leave you with more questions than answers. If it was a print book, I would be extremely frustrated and abandoned it by now, but as a manga format I think this approach works well mainly because the visuals builds the suspense, a sense of foreboding, and even hints at the answers. 
  Unfortunately, the description I could find only gives you information about Joan of Arc, which is very important in this volume, but it doesn't tell you much about the plot of the book. There were a lot of interesting subplots in this book, some of which came out of nowhere and others that I had suspected.
  Shiro has been given two major responsibilities. His first duty is to play host to the mysterious head of the school, Mr. Rockwells. We aren't given much information about Mr. Rockewells, who seems to be very important to the academy though it isn't clear on what exact position he holds. He appears to be reckless, has adopted a young girl, and has no respect for the clones. He’s in town for the festival where the clones show off their yearly projects. Shiro's second duty is to be on suicidal watch after a clone attempts to commit suicide. 
  While Shiro is doing his best to balance his time and attention between his two duties, there is a strong religious storyline that caught my attention. Since the assassination of clone President Kennedy, the clones have been concerned about their safety. A cult ran by clone Rasputin have raised a beanie-baby like sheep cleverly named the almighty dolly as a their protector since they have no family or god of their own. It's been said that the almighty dolly will protect the clone's life as well as separate their ties with their original's lives. Along with the religious overtone, there is a hint that the  the dolls might be used for spying on the clones. Of course to really drive the significance of the almighty dolly home, there has to be a demonstration of its power. Joan of Arc has been chosen by Rasputin to be ‘symbolically burnt at the stake’. I don't think you have to read the next volume of this manga to see what happens next. There is lots to think about this manga once you are finished. 
 As a note, I will say that this manga isn't as fast paced as other books go. The plot subtly grows and gets more complex with each volume. I will make your head spin and keep you guessing until you can get the next volume in your hands.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Rated T+ for nudity, language, and violence in this volume. Recommended for mature teens and up. 


If you like this book try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 3 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko  

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Blood Lie

  There are some events in history and in our lives that we can't wrap our heads around. One of the puzzling things for me is understanding why humans hurt one another. Where does the hatred come from and how does it start? Shirley Vernick's novel The Blood Lie zeroes in a dark period in American history where ignorance and prejudice collide.


Description (from the publisher): September 22, 1928, Massena, New York. Jack Pool's sixteenth birthday. He's been restless lately, especially during this season of more-times-at-the-synagogue than you can shake a stick at. If it wasn't Rosh Hashanah, then it was Yom Kippur, and if it wasn't Yom Kippur, it was the Sabbath. But temple's good for some things. It gives him lots of time to daydream about a beautiful but inaccessible Gentile girl named Emaline. And if she isn't on his mind, then he's thinking about his music and imagining himself playing the cello with the New York Philharmonic. Yup, music is definitely his ticket out of this remote whistle-stop town--he doesn't want to be stuck here one more minute. But he doesn't realize exactly how stuck he is until Emaline's little sister Daisy goes missing and he and his family are accused of killing her for a blood sacrifice.

Review: The Blood Lie is a very slim novel that packs a lot of information and food for thought in less than 150 pages. The reader is taken back to 1928. Unlike the glitz and the glamor of the flappers, mobsters of the Jazz Age, our setting is a quiet, provincial Massena, New York. Jack Poole is 16 and  wants nothing more than to leave his small, insular upstate town to study music in Syracuse. Not only is Jack's dream, but also a welcoming distraction from his forbidden crush, Emaline, a girl he can never be with because he is Jewish and she is Christian.
  With the exception of Emaline's family who accepts the Poole's as friends and looks beyond their different religious affiliations, the town simmers in anti-Semitism. The depth and strength of the town's prejudice is revealed when Emaline's sister, Daisy, goes missing and presumed dead. When a libel starts that Jews use human sacrifice as part of their Yom Kippur celebrations, Jack is accused of Daisy's murder as he was last seen with the child. Investigators assume that Yom Kippur involves human sacrifice and the use of children's blood for religious ceremonies is correct and starts to target the Jewish community. Vesnick does a good job in keeping the reader in suspense about Daisy. We are given several scenes of a search team trying to find her but come up empty. The plot twist does come in much later as the mob hysteria grows to a feverish pitch.
  I found the plot twist improbable, but I was fascinated to read in the afterword that the book is closely based on an incident that occurred in the author's hometown of Massena, NY., which proves the often saying that life is indeed stranger than fiction. The dialogue and details about the characters' social world are given importance and seem carefully researched. Though the setting and period may seem distant to us, we can identify with the characters' universal desires and feelings.
  My main issue with The Blood Lie is its brevity. The action is extremely compressed, which makes for a fast but unsatisfying. The novel is clearly plot driven and doesn't give us enough time nor space to get a deeper, more-nuanced knowledge of the characters. I also had a problem with some of the Hebrew words, which weren't translated. I had hoped there was a glossary that was included in the book, but there wasn't. Still, Vernick reminds us how terrifying intolerance, prejudice, and ignorance can be.

Curriculum Connection: Social Studies, Religious studies

 
Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some violent images mentioned in the book and some language. I would be comfortable in recommending it to Grades 8 and up.


If you like this book try: Witness by Karen Hesse

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Guest Post: Marilyn Yu

  Today, I would like to welcome author Marilyn Yu to talk about her new paranormal book called Relations Suck: The Story of Eva and Dries. In the book Marilyn explores the concept of a creating a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) religion. I was intriguied by the concept and asked if Marilyn would discuss her thought process behind her concept and tells us about her book. Thanks to Marilyn for stopping by!

Creating a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) religion

First I'll start with my very, brief definition of religion. I see religions as shared belief systems that provide guidance for living and tools to keep one's values and actions aligned. Historically religions evolved as all other parts of life evolved –  whether due to people migrating to new places, learning new things, incorporating new technology, etc. Our current dominant religions seem to have stopped evolving. Many no longer constructively direct our cultural evolution. Some, I would even go so far as to say, are quite divisive and destructive. I would like to promote constructive cultural evolution, so I want to encourage people to apply their critical thinking and creativity to religion. I have found that most people understand things better if they have an example. So I am creating a religion as an example, hoping that it will inspire and empower others to rethink tradition and adapt religion to our times.

We live in a time when advances in technology are opening up traditional boundaries and we need our belief systems to help us learn to live cooperatively. The character I've created is named Eva. She is an update of the femme fatale archetype.  Her story is one of personal exploration and a struggle for self-determination. Her journey leads her to find compassion – compassion for those around her, the world, and eventually for herself. The idea for Eva's character started with me, but there are many people involved in creating her mythology. This is important because religions are shared dreams, so in order to create one, it needs to be relevant to more people than just me.

Eva is Coptic and born in Cairo in the early 14th century. Her life changes drastically when Eva gets the plague. In an effort to save her, her parents allow Eva to be turned into a vampire. For her protection, Eva is sent to a live in a convent in the desert. Here Eva learns a new way of life and finds a new family. Eventually both her biological and surrogate families die and Eva is cast out of the convent. From here Eva's path takes her to Europe and the Americas. Her way is fraught with pestilence, betrayal, violence, and greed mixed with tenderness, friendship, and appreciation. Through a life that spans many lifetimes, Eva learns acceptance and compassion. She transforms fear and awe into serenity and love.

Now, creating a religion can be a bit involved and may not be for everyone, but everyone can at least customize one. I have a few ideas to get you started:

1. Reflect on what you value and believe in. How did you come to those things? How have your values and beliefs evolved over time?
2. Examine how your values and beliefs are manifest in your life. How do they inform what you do?
3. Identify the tools or practices you use to keep your values and actions aligned.
4. Analyze your tools and practices. What works and what doesn't. How can you make them more effective?
5. Keep an open mind. Life is a work in progress and provides us with constant feedback. Remember to take the feedback just as feedback and move forward.

Discover a fable about the friendship and destiny of two timeless characters: Eva, a creative vampire who likes people, and Dries, a traveling spider who disdains web-spinning. “Relations that Suck” is a piece of art in book form that bridges the worlds of fine art, fashion, and writing. It portrays the tragedies of denial and guilt in thirty-five dramatic photographs accompanied by a poetically heartbreaking narrative. 


Thanks again Marilyn for stopping by. What do you think? Have you ever heard of DIY religion before? Readers, if you like to learn more about Marilyn and preview the first two chapters of Relations that Suck, please visit her website.

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The Butterfly Mosque

  I had a wonderful time participating in the Middle East Reading Challenge hosted by Helen at Helen's Book Blog. I just wished that I registered much earlier so I could have fit in more books, however, I do plan on reading more books in this region. I've learned so much. I read G. Willow Wilson's memoir titled The Butterfly Mosque as my last entry for this reading challenge.


Description: The author describes her conversion to Islam and journey to Egypt where she taught English, learned about the Middle Eastern culture, and fell in love with an Egyptian man. 


Review: The Butterfly Mosque is a satisfying, well written memoir that is equally a romance and travelogue. When I started The Butterfly Mosque, I didn't know what to expect. I had never read a book about someone converting to a religion, especially Islam. After an illness forces her to face her own mortality at age 18, Wilson, the child of two atheists, finds herself in search of religion. The faith fits her needs is Islam, but post 9/11 she faces difficulties embracing it fully, feeling as if she is betraying her country, etc. However her interest in studying Islam, Arabic, and learning about the Middle East continues to grow. When she is given the opportunity to move to Cairo and teach at an English-language school that she is able to immerse herself in the religion she has come to love and become a Muslim.
  Her experiences at Cairo are eye opening and fascinating, especially with those of us who know absolutely nothing of the Egyptian culture. When she falls in love with Omar, an Egyptian physics teacher, Wilson becomes increasingly open about her faith. She openly claims Islam despite the fears that her friends and family will not accept her. Though Wilson finds herself warmly welcomed Omar's family, adjusting to life in Egypt takes time and patience. Despite speaking Arabic, following the social mores, and being an observing Muslim, Wilson isn't fully embraced by the Cairo dwellers and will probably always be known as the foreigner.
  Wilson avoids preaching how to be the "right" Muslim, keeping faith personal and instead focuses on the stereotypes of Arabs, particularly of the religious fundamentalists, and breaks them as she learns more about the religion, talks with natives, observes the society around her. As Wilson lives in Cairo, she also makes note how the different genders interact. Women's rights are most discussed, though at times the problematic issues are a bit glossed over. Still I found the memoir an enjoyable and approaching read and would recommend it to others. 


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language in the book. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed or The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali

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Island of Animals

  For centuries fable stories were created in order to teach children and adults life lessons. If fables are done right, the lesson is so cleverly incorporated in the story and subconsciously take root in your brain. You tend to get wrapped up in the story's plot that you unknowingly process the moral. My dad gave me his review copy of Island of Animals which is based on a famous 10th century Islamic philosophical text. He told me it would be great for kids and that I had to read it. Unlike the last book he recommended to me, he actually read this one and we had a lively discussion after I finished the book.

Description: A fabulous island is inhabited only by animals and Djinn, a race of invisible beings, until the day a great storm shipwrecks men upon its shores. Soon men begin to use the animals living there for their own needs, but the animals rebel, taking their case to the Djinn. The King of the Djinn listens to testimony from both men and animals, and ultimately decides who is superior.

Review: I don't like preachy books that forces messages down your throat when you read. I like to think critically about all the books that I read. To be honest, I was a bit hesitate to read the Island of Animals and was wondering if it would be an appropriate book to include in a public library or school setting. With that idea in mind, I decided to read the book and really enjoyed it.
  The Island of Animals is based on a famous 10th century Islamic philosophical text written in Basra, Iraq. Basra was known in the Islamic Empire as the "Venice of Middle East". This fable incorporates both the question of animal rights along with key Islamic teachings. Islam teaches that man is responsible for animals and should always treat them with respect. This concept is illustrated in the fable as man take control over the animals on an island that is only inhabited by animals and Djinn. The animals tired of the injustices they face, demand their voices to be heard. The Djinn advises both animals and man to chose a representative to best testify their needs and arguments. Though much of the book is focused on the case, I couldn't help but side with the animals more than the humans especially when man's pride and greed are concerned. Moving and educational, this fable is accompanied by superbly detailed black-and-white illustrations that are characteristic of Arabic art. The Island of Animals has a great and thorough introduction to help the reader understand the context of the story. It could be read as a basic story supporting animal rights and it can also be used as a guide in highlighting the basic tenets of the Islamic faith.
  As for adding this book in a library, I wouldn't have any hesitations as long as other fables representing other faiths are present. I think it would be really cool to compare and contrast other religious fables but that's just me. The Island of Animals is a great example of classic Islamic literature and one that I recommend with no hesitation to children and adults. 

Rating: 4 stars

Curriculum Connection: Islamic Studies, Social Studies


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


If you like this book try: The Rose Garden by Saadi

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Finding Nouf

  Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferrais has been in my to be pile read for quite sometime. The book is a mystery set in Saudi Arabia and was listed as an Alex Award in 2009, both of which piqued my interest. What really made me want to read this book, however, is learning how a male and a female detective are going to work together to a solve a mystery when their society imposes such strict restrictions on the interaction of the opposite sex.

Description: When Nouf, the daughter of a wealthy family, goes missing the family calls upon desert guide Nayir ash-Sharqi to investigate her disappearance. Her body is found in the desert and the cause of death is cited as death from drowning; however, Nayir isn't fully convinced because newly discovered evidence points to murder. Nayir teams up with a female lab worker named Katya Hijazi to find out what really happened to Nouf.

Review: I've read several reviews of Finding Nouf when it first came out. Some have herald it as a "CSI" meets the bestselling memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran, both of which I don't really care for and didn't really didn't excite me at first. While it is a mystery, Finding Nouf is also a cultural study of modern day Saudi Arabia. Ferrais who was once married to a man from Saudi Arabia and has lived there from sometime, has  has created the first devoutly Muslim sleuth, Nayir ash-Sharqi.
 As I was reading Finding Nouf, I was pleased that the author keeps a balanced viewpoint of the contemporary Islamic state. While she is critical of the strict gender laws placed up on the citizens, she also provides enough information to discuss why these laws were initially placed. Although the mystery is tightly woven and kept me on my toes, I was more riveted with the two detectives. Nayir, Palestinian born, is a desert guide to Jeddah’s elite. When he is approached by a wealthy client to investigate a case of a missing person, he agrees to play private investigator. I liked Nayir because he was intelligent, religious and genuine though a bit too traditional. By traditional I mean that Nayir restricts his interactions with women whenever he can. He won't look at them in the eye or speak directly to them, not because he feels the opposite sex is inferior but rather to uphold his prized value of modesty. As Nayir learns more about who Nouf is through his investigation, he begins to understand that ideas that were initially placed to enrich the lives of all citizens in Saudi Arabia doesn't really work in the modern society, which is not to say that the values are wrong just that they should be interpreted with the lens of the 21st century. His worldview and personal opinions are further stretched by Katya, a female forensics technician connected to the victim’s family.
   Katya is a modern woman who fought for her right to get an education and a job. She walks that thin line between tradition and modernity yet stays to true to her own beliefs. Her voice alternates with Nayir’s as they defy legal and spiritual precepts to cooperate on the case. Katya and Nayir's chemistry is unique in that there isn't much sexual tension which commonly happens in most mystery novels. They are of the same mind and desire the same things in life. My favorite part of the novel is when Katya and Nayir are having a frank discussion during lunch when they show each other their true vulnerable selfs.

  As I mentioned early, the mystery is quite good but without the engrossing characters it does falter. Clues are given in bits and pieces and the slow pace of the novel may not hold up interest for many readers who are looking for a quick read, but those are who curious about taking a sneak peak in a society that often called 'exotic' should be satisfied. I do know that these characters appear in another mystery together called the City of Veils, which I plan to read soon, but I hope there will be many more.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are allusion to sex in the book along with some language. Although the book is marketed to adults, teens interested in learning about another culture along with mystery will enjoy this book.


If you like this book try: City of Veils by Zoe Ferrais

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Cornucopia of Dystopia Book Review: Bumped

  Teenage sexuality has always been a hot issue. We seem to be in two extremes on the issue with abstinence only classes, chastity balls, and the hugely popular television shows such as Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant. Books on sex education are frequently banned and/or challenged in our libraries. Programs such as planned parenthood have also recently came under attack by the government. What would happen if in the distant future where only teens can give birth? What if unprotected sex is a societal obligation? What would that world look like and are we really that far from this fictional world? These are the questions that floated in my mind as I read Megan McCafferty's young adult dystopian novel called Bumped. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an advanced reader's copy of the book in order for me to do an honest review.

Description (from Amazon): When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.
    Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.
    Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
    When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review: Bumped is the most disturbing book I've read so far this year. I can't tell you how many times my jaw dropped while reading this book. What terrified me isn't the writing of the book, which I thought was brilliant and innovative, but rather the world that McCafferty created isn't too far from where we are now. It is a biological fact for women that after a certain age, the probability of having a baby is slim. In McCafferty's world, everyone under age 18 is either a liability or a commodity. Years ago people were infected by HPSV, the Human Progessive Sterility Virus, where people were infected are sterile by the time their bodies reach full maturity. HIV and STDs doesn't exist in Bumped. So the only way the population can grow is for teen girls to become pregnant. Consequently, the lives of these girls are bombarded by parents who train their daughters to be the best candidate and by couples who lure them with luxurious offers in order to get the baby.
   Bumped is told through the first-person perspectives of identical twins Melody Mayflower and Harmony Smith, who were once separated at birth and adopted by two extremely different families.  Melody has been raised as a prized commodity. She is a high-achieving student, a terrific soccer player, and loves to play the guitar. Her exceptional genes and traits make her a high ranked candidate on the fertility circuit.  Unlike Melody, Harmony was placed with a devout, religious couple who brought up to live by God's words. Where Melody tries to stay afloat and maintain her brand, Harmony is on a religious mission to save her sister.  While both characters seem one dimensional at first, they begin to grow and take form, which is very similar to the pattern of a woman's pregnancy. Each section of the story introduces characters, establishes the world, and adds layers of introspection and epiphanies. The story flows nicely and is well paced despite the constant flipping back and forth perspectives. Through each chapter, the girls become alive as we step inside their shoes, experience their emotions, insecurities, and confusions.The last section of the book, cleverly named rebirth, gives us a completely different Melody and Harmony from we first met them. Adding a voice of reason and clarity is Melody's best friend Zen, who seems to cut through the superficiality plaguing their world and really sees what their world really is. His is incredibly funny and warm, which gives us hope that their society is capable of change.  
   Reading Bumped was a surreal experience. I was horrified and shocked, but I could not stop reading nor talking about it to my friends. While free love is covered in some dystopian novels, I couldn't believe how the adults in this book behaved. It is not so much the teens, but rather the adults who are so focused on not only getting a child, but on having the perfect child birthed for them and rearing their sons and daughters to be the ideal candidate. Forget about genetic engineering which takes too long and not deemed "natural", teens are sought with specific traits and an entire industry is created to fulfill this request. Contraceptions and 'making love' are illegal. The products that stores thrust at these girls to promote pregnancy such as garments that show how you would look if you are 6 months pregnant and pills that leave Viagra in the dust, are overwhelming and begin when teens barely hit puberty. Agents scout girls and sign them up in matter of seconds. Girls are under constant pressure to keep themselves marketable until their optimal sex partner has all the specifications their paying couple desires. Though Melody was geared to actively participate in this baby making industry, Harmony faces the similar situation but it under the guise of a religious obligation. Whether controlled by religion or helping the population to grow, teen girls are raised as a profit regardless of their upbringing, where, essentially, legalized prostitution has become a way of life. The only people who do not seem to have ownership of their body or have any say in the matter of the child they conceived are the girls themselves. Those who refuse to take an active role in the industry are ostracized and basically commit social suicide.  
   Women who are treated as objects and solely used for procreation isn't new in the dystopian genre. What frightened me the most about Bumped is how familiar the world is: everything is highly sexualized from clothing to music to how everyone talks. McCafferety doesn't ease you into her world, but you rather plunge in from the beginning with little understanding of what the characters are talking about. You do quickly float and find your rhythm as details are uncovered. I found myself at home with Melody's chapter because she immediately comes across as an ordinary teen girl who complains about her friends, school, and likes to shop at the mall. She just so happens to talk as if she just landed the best deal of a full ride scholarship to college, a brand new BMW, and an all paid for cosmetic surgery and all she has to do is just sleep with a guy and pop out a baby. This is exactly how the girls in Bumped talk. The book's humor is deliciously dark and satirical. There are many times where I found myself laughing because, really that's all that you can do in this situation, and then immediately feel guilty for laughing-mainly because the subject matter isn't really funny once it settles in your brain and you slowly begin to process it.
   I thought about Bumped long after I finished reading it. I talked about the book to several people, who are now anxiously awaiting it's April 26th release date. I will say, however, that the book is not for everyone. It might be one that people either love or hate, but it is undeniable that it will be talked about for a very long time. There are several themes that will spark great discussion such as the media's hypocritical viewpoints of
sexuality, in particular teen sexuality, pregnancy, the increasingly blurry lines of where reality and celebrity meet and end. It also touches upon our crazy need to design the perfect person. All of these issues are current in our society, which is what makes a book like Bumped so important because it deliberately makes us feel uncomfortable and forces us to think about things that we would like to push in the back our minds.
  Bumped is a fascinating, page turning, and head spinning novel and by far my favorite book in the Cornucopia of Dystopia blog tour. The ending leaves the door wide open for the next installment of this story, which I believe is in the works, and I can't wait to read it. 

Rating: 4.5 stars


Words of Caution: Since this is book centers around sexuality, there is strong sexual content. There are sexual innuendos and euphemisms throughout the novel. There is also allusions to sex and some language. Recommended for high school students and adults only.


If you like this book try: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Anthem by Ann Ryand, The Handsmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, or Wither by Stephanie DeStefano

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The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf

  The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf by Mohja Kahf was recommended to me by my dad or more accurately-one of my dad's student had recommended it to him, but since my dad doesn't read "novels", he passed it on to me. I wasn't in the mood to read a preachy book and thus had the title sitting on my shelf for about five years until I put in my list of top 10 books I resolved to read in 2011. I'm glad that I can finally pull it off from my bookshelf, but I can't seem to shake off my frustration with the title.

Description: Khadra Shamy recalls what it was like growing up as a Syrian Muslim American during the 1970s in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her devout parents raise Khadra and her older brother, Eyad, to be observant of Islamic customs. As Khadra grows older, she reaches a cultural crossroad that forces her to question what it means to be "Muslim", "Syrian" or "American."

Review: The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf is a very ambitious novel that seems to tackle all the important complex issues tied to identity: religion, race, and politics. For Muslim Americans (such as me), the book forces them to see the rising problems in the Islamic community that are still relevant today. For those who are not familiar with Islam, the book is an eye opening experience of looking at America from a "foreigner's" point of view. Regardless from what perspective you are reading the book, it is undeniable that the issues it brings up is important, timely, and much needed, however; I can't honestly recommend it without some reservations.
 I had a really hard time reading this book. It's not that the language or themes were beyond my comprehension, but rather I found the writing and editing to be so poorly done. The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf has no plot, at least in the way we traditionally think of plot (beginning, middle, end or events leading to a climax and a resolution- depending on how you define plot). The prologue establishes our protagonist, Khadra, on a trip back home to Indianapolis, Indiana for a project she has to do for work. She has some trepidations in coming back home. The book immediately goes back in time to her childhood through adulthood with abrupt transitions to the present. There are large plot holes in the novel, particularly with the books timeline. In fact by the last few chapters of the story, I completely forgot Khadra was on a trip at all because I didn't know what she was doing in the present.
  In addition to the plot holes, there is an inconsistency with the translations of important Arabic phrases that are used throughout the book. While I have background knowledge of Islam, I did not have a problem understanding the terms, however, those who are not familiar with the Islamic faith could easily get confused and miss out its significance. I don't consider myself a lazy reader who is not willing to look up information in order to understand a book nor do I feel that an author needs to spoon feed me the information in order to enjoy his/her novel, but I do strongly believe there needs to be some context in which phrases are used. The author doesn't give any context clues nor a glossary, but only a haphazardly thrown bibliography of books that influenced her writing.
  Along with the book's disorganization, I did not feel there was any character growth for the characters. Kahf throws in characters right and left as if she's a chef preparing a complex dish. Characters disappear without leaving any impression on the reader. I didn't like Khadra at all. For the first half of the book, I found her to be insulting and condescending. She sees religion in its most puritanical form and those who don't follow her rules are deemed as unobservant and are "going to hell". While the book is a coming of age novel and most novels in this genre show the protagonist question authority and go on a quest to find their own identity, Khadra does neither for the first 300 pages. She follows the beliefs that her parents taught her blindly and absolutely. It is not until her trip to a politically charged Syria, does she reconsider her beliefs and only then her epiphany is only about 5 pages, which I found very hard to digest and believe.
 While the book addresses important issues such as gender equality, how one interprets religion, and tolerance, it superficially addresses them. One can argue that the book isn't really a novel with a message, but rather an expository piece that shows how fractured the Muslim community is in terms of what constitutes a Muslim identity and what is the correct way to interpret Islam in the 21st century. In that case, I can't help but think the book succeeds in this aspect only by the stereotypes it presents to the reader. 
 I appreciate the author's attempt in exploring the identity of a Muslim American, which has been routinely questioned by those who are first generation Muslim Americans (including myself). For most of us, our parents have raised us to follow Islam and the Islamic code the way they have been taught by their elders, however, things get murky when you live in a secular society like America (and that's not always a bad thing). Books like The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf that explores the identity crisis of Muslim Americans are desperately needed and I think book is in the right direction. Some readers may think the book is poignant and a great choice for book discussions, but it's definitely not for me.


Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language in the book including racial slurs. There is also allusions to rape and murder. Recommended to mature teens and adults only. For those readers who are unfamiliar with Islam, I would highly suggest you read some introductory materials to gain some background knowledge first before reading this book.

If you like this book try: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

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Silas Marner

  As you all are probably aware, Chicago was hit with a blizzard. I currently have about 2.5 feet of snow at home. I can't tell you where my driveway ends and where the road begins, but I'm very thankful to have electricity, a warm house, and my family close at home. Now that I had today as a snow day and one tomorrow too, I hope to catch up with my reading. Today I finished Silas Marner by George Eliot for my first book of the Victorian Literature Challenge. I first stumbled upon George Eliot during sophomore year in high school where I picked up her The Mill on a Floss for independent reading. I remember loving the story and wanting to read another book by the author, but never had the chance until now.

Description: The people of Raveloe always thought there was something strange about Silas Marner. With his bent back, strange eyes, and his tendency to have cataleptic fits, Silas was always in the background until he is wrongly accused of a heinous theft. Shattered and shaken by this incident, he exiles himself from the world until he finds redemption through his love for an abandoned child who mysteriously appears one day at his isolated cottage. When the child's parentage is revealed, will Silas lose his only comfort from life once again?

Review: Silas Marner is probably the shortest, most straight-forward Victorian novel that I've read so far. Right from its very first page, readers are transported to the pastoral English countryside of the early 19th century. Raveloe, the setting of the novel, is far away from the large towns and roads. It is an isolated community that seems to be unaware of the advancement of the Industrial Revolution. It represents what England has lost since the revolution. 
  Despite his miser appearance, Silas Marner is actually a very sweet, simple, and honest man. Since he is a weaver by profession and has a working knowledge of medicinal herbs that causes him to have fits (and claimed by many town folks to have supernatural powers), he has always been on the fringe of his society which allows Eliot to use him to explore the themes of community, religion, and family which are important themes in all of her novels. Due to his innocent nature, we are outraged when Silas is falsely accused of theft. We demand justice and are sickened when it is not given to him. Like Silas, our very own faith is shattered and we long to seek comfort in something. For Silas, it is monetary money which he counts every night.
  Unfortunately for Silas, his world is once again shaken one wintry night when his money disappears. Though he is distraught about his wealth gone, it only seems temporary when he finds a lonely baby girl who has been left on his door step. He quickly becomes attached to the girl, who he names Eppie, and she becomes his world. Silas' love for Eppie is genuine and unselfish. He finds redemption and his faith is restored by her; however, Eppie's love for Silas is tested when she finds out who her real parents are and are given the opportunity to live in comfort. The relationship between Silas and Eppie is what makes this novel a truly sweet and sad story.
  Unlike many novels that I've read so far this year, the main characters in the novel are quite passive. The only active character seems to be destiny, who judges and serves punishment or reward as they seem fit. Like many Victorian novelists, morality and order are very important in society. We are reminded that who we are determines not only what we do, but also what is done to us.
  If you are thinking about reading a Victorian novel or even a novel by George Eliot, I would highly recommend Silas Marner. It's clear, medium paced plot, numerous themes and symbolism, would make it a great selection for a book club or even a sneak peak into Victorian society.


Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: Eppie's biological mother was an opium addict. There are also some alcohol references in the book. Recommended for high school and adults.

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