Adult Mini-reviews: House on Mango Street, The Coast of Chicago, Nine Stories

Another slew of mini-reviews coming your way! Today is the adult edition of books that have been sitting on my bookshelf for too long and I've finally read them last year as part of the Off the Shelve Reading Challenge. Today I will be reviewing: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, The Coast of Chicago by Stuart Dybek, and Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger.


Description: Told in a series of vignettes stunning for their eloquence, this vignette is Sandra Cisneros's greatly admired story of a young girl's growing up in the Latino section of Chicago.

Review: The House on Mango Street was chosen for the One Book, One Chicago program a couple of years ago. It is also used in two English classes at my high school. For these reasons alone, I purchased a copy but never actually sat down to read it. The book is very short and consists entirely of vignettes from the author's childhood in a poor section of Chicago. The writing is beautiful and spare. In just a short of space, no vignette is longer that 2 or 3 pages, we get a vivid image of her family, her neighborhood, and her neighbors. We also get a chance to see our world through a different type of racial lens. It really reminded me of my younger years living in a Chicago high rise apartment. The author carefully picks and chooses her words that are potent and evocative rather than exhaustively descriptive. Would high schoolers appreciate the book's message? It's hard to tell if they would appreciate the nostalgia of childhood, but I think they would definitely could relate to Esperanza's, the narrator of the story, desire to seek freedom and explore the outside world. 


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some allusions to sex, drug use, and violence in the book that happen off the page. For this reason, I think it is suitable for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Carmelo by Sandra Cisneros or How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent by Julia Alvarez


Description: A closer look at the bizarre mysteries of everyday life in Chicago's gritty ethnic enclaves during the 1960s and 1970s.

Review: The Coast of Chicago is another book used in my high school's English curriculum that I have not read before. I liked how this book was told from different parts of Chicago with a colorful cast of characters from different ethnicity, age, and gender. The book is composed of alternating long and short stories as the author recalls his old ethnic neighborhood, his early romances, and recounts a freaky urban legend about a young woman's body frozen in a block of ice. Each character stands on their own and you can feel the various emotions that they are going through. I actually preferred the short chapters that goes straight to the punch rather than the meandering longer stories which can be a bit much. Regardless, you can still pick out the important messages and themes in all of them.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, and allusions to sex in the book. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.

If you like this book try: Chicago: City on the Make by Nelson Algren, Never  A City So Real: A Walk in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz


Description: Since the publication of The Catcher in the Rye in 1951, the works of J.D. Salinger have been acclaimed for their humor, intensity, and their lack of phoniness. A collection of short fiction, Nine Stories contains works with those qualities that make Salinger such a well-loved author.

Review: The Catcher in the Rye had a huge impact on my life and it's a book that I never get tired of re-reading. I was afraid that I picked up another book from Salinger, it would diminish my love for Holden Caufield but I'm glad that I was wrong. Nine Stories was a mixed bag for me. I didn't love all of the stories and some of them just went over my head to be honest. The stories are varied ranging from a soldier struggling with post traumatic stress disorder after returning to war in the amazing, haunting, and gut wrenching "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" to the remarkable thought process of a child genius whom everyone thinks is sick in "Teddy". What I remember most of Salinger's writing is his uncanny ability to creating characters who mirror our problems and frustrations in trying to find a resolution.


Rating: 3.5 stars


Words of Caution: There is some language, some strong description of war violence, and other mature adult topics. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.


If you like this book try: What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver, Self Help by Loorie Moore

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YA Mini-reviews: The Name of the Star, Raw Blue, and Moonglass

  I read a bunch of books during the last half of December and wanted to do a few reviews before I get to the reviews of this year. I will be reviewing The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar, and Moonglass by Jessi Kirby in this post. I apologize in advance if you've been waiting a long time to read these reviews.


Description (from Goodreads): The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
   Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.


Review: I was really disappointed with The Name of the Star, the first book in the Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson due to my high expectations for the book. I really like Maureen Johnson's contemporary books and her funny, quirky characters so I was a bit confused with her latest venture into a supernatural/paranormal series. While the book has a great premise, it lacked all the trademarks of a Johnson book such as great characterization and likable characters. I didn't find anything memorable about it. With the exception of the great and creepy presence of the Ripper himself, there wasn't much to look forward to. I figured out the twist, though it was clever, and knew how it ended. I think I will pick up the other books in this series, but I won't be rushing to read them.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and some graphic violence. Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves (to be released in April 2012)

Description (from Goodreads): Carly has dropped out of uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at schoolies week.
   And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail. When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she let the past bury her? Or can she let go of her anger and shame, and find the courage to be happy?

Review: Several of my awesome blogger buddies did a Kirsty Eagar Appreciation Week and have adored this book. Many thanks to Missie, The Unread Reader, for allowing me to borrow her book so I can read and review Raw Blue. Powerful, unflinching, realistic, and simplistically yet beautifully told. Raw Blue lives up to its perfect title hitting us in the gut with a horrible incident of rape that immediately puts us out of our comfort zone. Though the event has happened in the past and there isn't graphic detail description of it, it is crystal clear that Carly is still suffering through the consequences of shame, guilt, and anger. She has built a wall around herself and accepting the simple tokens of kindness around her is a huge step. Though a lot of the surfing background went over my head, I really enjoyed the story of Carly and Ryan. Both are realistically drawn, showing and balancing their good and bad sides, which is refreshing and honest. While the romance doesn't counterbalance Carly's darkness, it does provide her and the reader some hope that she will be okay in the future.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language and a few small sex scenes in the book. Due to the mature content of the book, I would recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Pipers Son by Melina Marchetta, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen


Description (from Goodreads): Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.
   While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Review: I picked up Jessi Kirby's debut novel Moonglass after reading some pretty good reviews about the book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same as other bloggers. I felt like I read this book before with better characters and prose that made me feel some type of emotion. Moonglass is the story of Anna coming to terms with her mother's suicide. I didn't hate or love Anna, but I found her to be two different people at different parts of the book. At one moment, she is depressed, feels guilty of her mother's death and in the next moment she seems to be more worried about catching Tyler's, sweet and handsome lifeguard, attention. Speaking of romance, it is just a subplot that really goes no where besides the flirty glances and dialogue here and there. The book's climax is pretty obvious and the pacing is very slow. I had to put the book down numerous times and nothing stuck with me after I finished it.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and a scene of underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try:  Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

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Saving June

 Ever since I read Nic's review of Saving June by Hannah Harrington, I had my eye on the book. When the opportunity to join the Saving June book tour arrived, I jumped at the chance to read it. Saving June is another good addition to the ongoing list of books that discuss grief in YA.

Description: Harper Scott's life changes forever after her sister, June, commits suicide. Harper discovers that her sister always wanted to go to California and so to honor her sister's memory, Harper and her best friend embark on an impromptu road trip. Things take an interesting turn when a mysterious boy who seems to have known June better than anyone knew insists on joining Harper and her best friend on their trip.

Review: I can't exactly pinpoint why I couldn't connect with this book. It's possible that I've read this type of book before and can't really pick out from the crowd. Generally, I don't mind a "sad book" as long as it stirs some kind of an emotion in me, but I really didn't feel anything while reading Saving June mainly because it didn't have enough depth for me.
  Harper is sixteen years old and she’s just lost her older, perfect, over-achieving sister June. Like many people, Harper only knew the exterior image of June but she's come too late to realize that really her sister had a hidden sadness that no one really understood. When Harper finds a mysterious mix CD in June’s room, it leads her to Jake, an eighteen year old music lover who has a knack for classic rock. As Harper begins to understand her sister, she hatches a wild plan to fulfill June’s last dream: to go to California.
   I had a hard time conjuring up a picture of Harper in my mind. She’s a girl who rebels in a knee-jerk reaction to her sister’s perfection. It's possible that Harper only acts that way because that's what is expected of her. She doesn’t have any deeply held beliefs or even her own taste in music. She came across as a sponge absorbing personalities of others but with no identity of her own. To me, I found her to be deeply insecure and have low self worth, which would have been fine if the author chose to explore this part of her character more. As a reader, we are repeatedly told how strong, stubborn, and so much healthier than her sister, but I didn't see it.
   Saving June is suppose to be Harper's journey through grief and self discovery, yet the book seems to be going into two different directions. The grief plot line is strong in the first few chapters of the book. I thought the opening scenes of June's funeral was well done. As the book continues and the plan is hatched to go to California, however, Harper's grief becomes secondary (more like in the background) to the love story angle featuring Jake. 
 Harper's grief didn't ring true to me. We see her run and collapse in tears many times. If she didn’t didn't this, I wouldn't have known if she is still grieving. And if she didn’t engage in reckless behavior such as drinking, smoking, and joining mosh pits, I wouldn't have known that she is full of angst. The author had a lot of opportunities to depict emotional catharsis, but they are either ignored completely or magically solved.
  Needless to say, the grieving plot line fell completely flat for me. Thankfully, the romance between Harper and Jake held my attention. Their relationship grows steadily as they spend more time with one another and for the most part, I thought it what was somewhat realistic. I like the fact that Jake wasn't perfect. He too has some family baggage, which I wished the author explored more. His passion for music came out strong in the book too and I think all music lovers could easily relate to him. There were two things that bothered me about Jake. The first is that he's suppose to be this walking encyclopedia of music, but it seems as if he only listens to Top 40 classic rock. I mean who hasn't heard of The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, or Janis Jopin before? The second is that I really wanted to hand this guy Nicorette gum or at least breath freshner because he smokes like a fiend. I couldn't help but get squirrely every time he and Harper kissed. Personally, I don't find smoking guys attractive.
  Overall while I didn't hate this book, I thought it was okay in general. I laughed in a few places, I enjoyed a few quotes in the book, and there were swoony moments between Harper and Jake. I didn't have too much trouble finishing it. I would recommend this book to those who want to read about grief, death, and music without being overly heavy. 
 Again, I think my problem of the book could be me. If you're still on the fence about reading this one, I would definitely read another reviews on the Saving June blog tour. I know many others really enjoyed the book and couldn't get enough and I may be the only one who had a difficult time getting this book under my skin so take my review with a grain of salt.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, underage drinking and drug usage, as well as a semi-explicit sex scene. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.


If you like this book try: Hold Still by Nina LaCour, The Sky is Everywhere by Janet Nelson

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Lost in the system

  I had originally planned on reading America by E.R. Frank for this year's Banned Books Week. Unfortunately, I couldn't get to it on time, but I left it in my to be read soon pile and I'm glad that I did. America reminded me of stories and people that I knew while growing up in the inner city of Chicago. Kids who lost their innocence too quickly and had to become grown ups in order to survive. Kids who were lost, but instead of being found, found their place in jail or worse.

Description: America is a runaway boy who is being treated at Ridgeway, a New York hospital that specializes in rehab and mental health. After many years at the hospital, America finds himself opening up to one of the doctors on staff and revealing things about himself that he had always vowed to keep secret.

Review: America is a gritty, raw, real, and emotionally heartbreaking story. The story begins with a teenage America in a treatment facility after a failed suicide attempt. It alternates between the present mostly his therapy sessions with Dr. B. and the past. At first, the shift from present to past confused me mainly because the flashbacks were at bit unclear in the prologue. It finally cleared up as the chapters were clearly labeled "Then" and "Now".
    Born to a crack addict mother, America was raised by kindly Mrs. Harper, the nanny of a rich white foster family who gave him up due to his mixed race. The weekend before he starts kindergarten, he visits his birth mother in New York City, who abandons him in a seedy apartment with his two younger stepbrothers. He soon learns how to curse, steal, and be "bad" in order to avoid the wrath of his brothers and to prove his worth. One of the most heartbreaking scenes from America shows America desperately trying to find a phone to contact Mrs. Harper and writing her phone number everywhere so that he won't forget it.
   When the police find him years later and return him to Mrs. Harper, he's behind in school, swears constantly and has internalized the belief that he's bad. America is not a perfect character as he constantly reminds himself and the reader, but we can see that he is intelligent, artistic, and sweet.
 The novel is composed of America's gradual progress through therapy and it is very well done. America doesn't open up right away, but do to Mr. B's persistence and genuine concern for his patient he eventually does. The obstacles that he faced in his life are insurmountable, but unfortunately not far from what we read or see daily in our newspapers. Frank's ability to capture so much emotion in America's stream of consciousness and dreams makes this book remarkable and memorable. Like many gritty novels such as Push by Sapphire or any of Ellen Hopkins's works, there is no happy ending, but a long road of recovery. America is the story of forgiveness both of oneself and of others. . For example, when America works up the courage to visit Mrs. Harper in the nursing home, her walls are covered with angels she painted to look like him. A powerful, cathartic story told with brutal honesty and an unflinching look of how children get lost in the system that was created in order to protect them. It is also one of forgiveness both of oneself and of others.


Rating: 4.5 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language throughout the book. Many scenes of underage drinking and drug use. There are also allusions to sexual abuse. I would recommend this book for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Push by Sapphire, Impulse by Ellen Hopkins, Identity by Ellen Hopkins, or Wrecked by E.R. Frank, Jude by Kate Morgenroth

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Hidden Agony

   In my Jumped book review, I discussed how one of the main characters worked as an enabler to a bullying incident. Now, let's take a look at the victim's perspective by reviewing Julie Ann Peters' haunting and gut wrenching novel "By the time you read this, I'll be dead".

Description: Daelyn Rice who has been bullied throughout her entire life by the kids in her school. Her parents have moved her from school to school in hopes of Daelyn starting over. Instead of listening to their daughter, Daelyn resorts to suicide as an answer to the abuse she is suffering. She has more than once attempted suicide unsuccessfully, but plans to kill herself for once and for all by registering on an suicide website called "Through-the-light" where she hopes to gain the right information. Meanwhile Daelyn befriends an unusual boy named Santana, who is also dealing with suffering, tries to draw her out of her troubles. Is Santana successful and will Daelyn live to see another day?

Review: Although "By the time you will read this, I'll be dead" is a very slim book at a 198 pgs, it took me a long time to finish it. It's not that I didn't like it, but it Daelyn's pain was so intense and the way her mind works was so morbid that I had to step away for a little bit at a time. Peters does an excellent job in explaining the monotony of Daelyn's life, how her parents talk at her and not to her, and a little ray of hope or promise by introducing Santana. Daelyn is mute for majority of the book, due to the latest botched suicide attempt. Her silence speaks louder than words. She speaks of the horrors she has endured by typing them in on "Through-the-light" forum board. Though most don't read her comments, the act itself is cathartic. Though Daelyn is a sympathetic character, readers must understand that she is emotionally damaged, single-minded in her goal and an unreliable narrator.
    "By the time you read this, I'll be dead" is one of those books that parents should read with their children and the talk should generate lots of questions, especially whether or not Daelyn was an all too willing victim to bullying. We need to be reminded that words are heavier than sticks and stones. They do break bones and shatter individuals. Note: A reader's guide, research on bullying, and lists of suicide warning signs, hotlines, and websites are appended.
     I've read lots of reviews where readers were turned off by the ending of this book, but I thought the book could not have ended in any other way. I like to believe that Daelyn's has changed, but you let me know what you think when you finish "By the time you read this, I'll be dead."

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: The methods of suicide appear in this book. Unfortunately, these methods can also be found easily on the Internet. I urge parents to read this book with their children. There is some language throughout the book.

If you like this book, try: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

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