Wicked Games by Sean Olin

Wicked Games by Sean Olin

2014, Katherine Tegen Books

Series: Book 1 of Wicked Games

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Synopsis: To all the locals in the small beach town of Dream Point, Carter and Lilah seem like the perfect It Couple-but their relationship is about to brutally unravel before everyone's eyes.

Carter has always been a good guy, and while Lilah has a troubled past, she's been a loyal girlfriend for the last four years. When smart, sexy Jules enters the picture at a senior-year bash, Carter succumbs to temptation. And when Lilah catches wind of his betrayal, she decides that Jules needs to pay.

By the end of the summer, the line between right and wrong will be blurred beyond recognition. Blood will be shed. Nothing in Dream Point will ever be the same.

The Good: I loved that Wicked Games pulled no punches. Lilah is mentally ill and goes off the deep end in a skincrawling fashion. She takes every scorned woman impulse and just goes with it, consequences be damned. Carter is obviously torn between caring for Lilah and wanting to escape her choke him with her love impulses. Carter makes stupid mistakes while dealing with a mentally unstable person and things escalate in a terrifying fashion. Lilah was scary, like really genuinely scary.

The Bad: Some of Carter's mistakes were understandable, but others were unrealistic and obviously used for plot progression only. His complete denial of possible danger towards the end of the book is absolutely impossible given what he's experienced up to that point.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic by Lauren Oliver

2014, HarperCollins

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Synopsis: Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

The Good: Panic was an exciting read. It made sense in a way that I think will connect with a lot of people. Kids living in a small, go-nowhere town pool money and compete in a dangerous contest for a chance to get out and have a different life. The characters were really interesting and I had a hard time putting the book down. I just had to know what was coming next and how everything was going to work out.

The Bad: I love a good epilogue and the last chapter is pretty much that. Two months or so in the future, we see how the characters are doing. What lost me was the extremely heavy-handed moral of the story blatantly written out in the last few paragraphs. If the book had ended two pages sooner, it would have been perfect. That last bit completely rubbed me the wrong way.

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

The Forsyte Sage by John Galsworthy

1999, Oxford University Press

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Synopsis: The three novels which make up The Forsyte Saga chronicle the ebbing social power of the commercial upper-middle class Forsyte family between 1886 and 1920. Galsworthy's masterly narrative examines not only their fortunes but also the wider developments within society, particularly the changing position of women. This is the only critical edition of the work available, with Notes that explain contemporary artistic and literary allusions and define the slang of the time.

The Good: The Forsyte Saga is wonderfully written and contains beautifully fleshed out characters. This story is a true epic in every sense. Spanning over 35 years in the lives of the Forsyte family, this Saga is akin to a long-running and better written soap opera. For those who are interested in society set in the late 1800 / early 1900 era, this may well be the perfect book.

The Bad: The time period was a bit of a downer for me. The book was beautiful and entertaining as it was written, but my problem with the book is more my personal preference than anything else.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

2007, St. Martin's Press

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Synopsis: Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society.

The Good: The Red Tent blew me away. I actively avoid religiously themed books and I don't have an overwhelming love of historical fiction. That said, The Red Tent amazed me in ways I couldn't have imagined. It mesmerized me. The woman-centric storyline drew me in and made me look at things in a new light. You don't have to be religious to enjoy this book (believe me). When read as a purely fictional novel set in the past with feminist overtones, it's one hell of a good read.

The Bad: Not a thing.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

2002, Penguin Books

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Synopsis: The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simple-minded man, calming him and helping to rein in his immense physical strength.

The Good: The story is classic and the writing is easy to get though.

The Bad: This was definitely the case of the movie being better than the book. I saw the Gary Sinise version in high school and I remember the visual portrayal being a lot more entertaining that the writing here. For a short book, not much happens and it what does happen is very slow paced.

The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

1979, Bantam

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Synopsis: Lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side in Victorian London—and Edward Pierce easily navigates both worlds. Rich, handsome, and ingenious, he charms the city's most prominent citizens even as he plots the crime of his century, the daring theft of a fortune in gold. But even Pierce could not predict the consequences of an extraordinary robbery that targets the pride of England's industrial era: the mighty steam locomotive.

The Good: Really, just nothing stood out as good here.

The Bad: Michael Crichton was a genius when it came to science fiction thrillers. Historically based thrillers, not so much. While he seems to have had a clear idea of how the robbery came about, it was completely lost on me. Trains, bandits, Victorian London, true crime, none of it worked for me. The book was fast paced, but felt glossier than it should have given the time period. It felt like I was reading a movie or something, but a poorly cast one.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Persuasion by Jane Austen

1999, Tor Classics

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Synopsis: When Anne Elliot falls in love with a handsome and charming young man, she must make a wrenching decision. The man she loves is perfect in every way...except one: he lacks the wealth and social status that would make him a suitable match for Anne. At least, that is what friends and family persuade Anne to believe. So Anne breaks off the match and sends Wentworth away. But she can't help wondering: Did I do the right thing?

It is a question that will haunt her for years until, unexpectedly, Wentworth returns. His circumstances have improved greatly.

But is it too late for Anne?

The Good: I was interested enough in the plot to want to finish the book and understand what happened.

The Bad: Persuasion kept putting me to sleep. So, after weeks of fighting it, I made it the book I would read before bed. Two pages and I was out like a light. Of course, that made progress basically non-existent and it was virtually impossible to keep the characters distinguished from one another. About a little less than three-quarters of the way through, I gave up. Put the book down. Googled the cliff's notes. Got the general gist of what was going on that I, for the life of me, could not grasp. And thanked heaven above that I had to read Emma in high school and not Persuasion.

The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry

The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry

2012, William Morrow Paperbacks

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Synopsis: Four of the five daughters of England's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were regal, genteel, and everything a princess should be. But one was rebellious, scandalous, and untamed.

This is her story. . . .

To the court and subjects of Queen Victoria, young Princess Louise—later the Duchess of Argyll—was the "Wild One." Proud and impetuous, she fought the constraints placed on her and her brothers and sisters, dreamed of becoming an artist, and broke with a three-hundred-year-old tradition by marrying outside of the privileged circle of European royals. Some said she wed for love. Others whispered of a scandal covered up by the Crown. It will take a handsome American, recruited by the queen's elite Secret Service, to discover the truth. But even as Stephen Byrne—code name the Raven—vows to risk his life to protect the royal family from violent Irish radicals, he tempts Louise with a forbidden love that could prove just as dangerous.

In the vein of Philippa Gregory, Mary Hart Perry tells the riveting story of an extraordinary woman—a princess who refused to give up on her dreams, including her right to true love.

The Good: Royals were definitely scandalous back in their days, and Princess Louise is a prime example of that. Headstrong and unrestrained, her belief that women should have similar opportunities as men had took her places she most likely never dreamed it would. At its core, this is the story of Louise struggling against her past, her mother the Queen, and her husband to find real love and happiness. It's not always pretty. It's painful and realistic and all the better for it.

The Bad: Louise's naivety, post-scandal, was just aggravating. She's strong and admirable, yet as soon as she realizes she's trapped in a sexless marriage, she's seeking out a boy from the past like a desperate drunk girl at last call. She's supposed to be worldly, but becomes a simpering fool about this boy who disappeared, unable to believe he could have ever left her by choice. It was seriously irritating and made Louise very unlikeable at times.

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

2012, Hyperion Book CH

Series: Book 5 of Gallagher Girls

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Synopsis: The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

Why read: Love the series.

What impressed me: An amnesia plot line that I actually adore. I usually hate this scenario, but it completely worked for Out of Sight, Out of Time. Finding out what happened during Cammie's time away from Gallagher Academy, right along with her, was great. Especially since she knew who she was now and was surprised at the past right with you. Her disappearance and subsequent adventures effect all that she knows, her love life, family and friends, so watching her see those unknown secrets laid bare was totally great.

What disappointed me: Not a thing.

Recommended: Absolutely. Another great addition to the Gallagher Girl series.

Continue series: Definitely. This series is just too intriguing not to.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

2012, Viking Juvenile

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Synopsis: In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free-- and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: I loved the idea of reading about King Henry VIII's romantic relationships from a young adult viewpoint, especially since many of his women were teenagers. The voice was authentic for the age group.

What disappointed me: Being written for the YA crowd, the constant scandal and debauchery that surrounds King Henry VIII was severely less than in adult books. Gilt was definitely the tamest King Henry book I've ever read. And while I liked the idea of a YA focus, back in King Henry's day, women married much younger than they do today, so one assumes the girls would have matured earlier and wouldn't have felt like a gaggle of high schoolers.

Recommended: Gilt can be an interesting introduction to the King Henry histories, but I would recommend readers choosing a more adult book for the full effect.

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

2011, Sourcebooks Fire

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Synopsis: High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to "Seventeen" wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood.

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: I liked the concept of this book, celebrities in a Survivor-like situation, due to a plane crash. And I actually really enjoyed that each of the celebrities was a cliched stereotype easily compared to different real life celebrities.

What disappointed me: Francesca was utterly unlikeable. She was naive, boy-crazy and inconsistent in both thought and action. It was completely unbelievable that she would win this contest with an essay that contained lies that would have been checked up on. The entire situation surrounding the eventual rescue of the crash survivors was ludicrous and took away from the realism the character's growth created.

Recommended: Not especially. There are better books with similar themes and circumstances. Skip this and read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

2011, Berkley Trade

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Synopsis: The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls, once a haven for unwed mothers, is now a bed-and-breakfast that houses three generations of women-and their many secrets...

In the early 1960s, Ruby, a spunky unwed teen mother was wooed and won over by the founder of the McCloud Home. Now, forty years later, the historic property has been converted into an inn that Ruby runs with one of her daughters, Jill. When Jill's fourteen-year-old daughter begins to search for the identity of her father, she sets in motion events that will test the bonds that bind mothers, daughters, and sisters.

Jill unwittingly aids the forces of upheaval when she agrees to host the wake of the town matriarch. As the guests-including the matriarch's handsome nephew and Jill's vivacious, irresponsible sister Jocelyn-return to the small town, the convergence of people and memories uncovers rivalries, sparks romance, recalls heartbreak, and reveals a shocking family secret, one that could separate the McCloud women forever or lead them to the renewal of their powerful, enduring connection.

Why read: Picked up a copy at BEA

What impressed me: The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls completely took me by surprise. It was both fun, serious and even occasionally a bit scandalous. I loved the way the perspectives shifted between the women, Ruby in the past, Jill both past and present and Fee totally in the now. The mystery element really threw me through a loop in the best possible way. More than anything else, The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls is a touching, secret filled story of three women finding their way in a judgmental world. I loved every word.

What disappointed me: Absolutely nothing. Just perfect.

Recommended: Highly. The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls is women's fiction, with some romance and a bit of mystery peppered in. It's engaging and very hard to put down.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Book Details
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Paperback, 544 Pages
2009, Random House Trade Paperbacks
ISBN: 0812974158

Synopsis
It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of her family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how both she and her mother became plural wives. Yet soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death. And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love, family, and faith.

Review
I truly enjoyed The 19th Wife. It had a fantastic mix of factual history, historical fiction and present day mystery that will delight newcomers to fiction with polygamous themes. The book explains the origins of the Latter Day Saints, how polygamy came to be included in the Firsts religious practices and how it has progressed in modern times without ever crossing the line into reading like a textbook or condemning the past.

The 19th Wife is a long book packed with information. It reads easily, however, taking the reader through the past and into a murder mystery present. This mixing of past and present, fact and fiction, is perfectly done. It educates factually, while entertaining with both a fictitious look at the past and a modern murder that's quite twisty and unexpected.

What I'm most impressed with is how the author handled the subject matter. Delving deeply into polygamy, its roots and its psychological effect on the families who practice it, David Ebershoff manages to keep the tone balanced. You could never infer his personal opinion on the topic, which makes the book that much more meaningful.

The 19th Wife is well researched, well written and completely engrossing. This is definitely the book to check out if you've ever been interested in reading fiction about religiously promoted polygamy.

Rating

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David Ebershoff's
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Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

2011, Scholastic Press

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Synopsis: Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Why read: Received from Amazon Vine

What impressed me: Everything about this novel impressed me. The realism was painful. I grew up when people were first getting access to the internet in their homes. I remember, back before anyone thought to warn us about internet predators, logging on to chat rooms and having the conversations become confusingly dirty as soon as I mentioned I was 13. And even today, with all of the warnings given to teens about the dangers of the internet, Want to Go Private? makes it very easy to see how a young girl might get swept up in something scary when she's not looking for it. Nothing was held back in this novel. It was raw, honest and terrifying in how easily things progressed.

What disappointed me: Absolutely nothing!

Recommended: Every parent and any teen still living under the assumption that something like the internet is a safe place.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

1992, Dell

Series: Book 1 of Outlander

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Synopsis: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Why read: Reading with Tequila Book Club selection

What impressed me: I had no idea what Outlander was about when I started the book and it really impressed me. A great mix of time travel, historical fiction and romance. I loved Claire and Jamie's relationship and how it progressed. I also really enjoyed Claire's struggling with her feelings for Jamie while trying to remain true to her husband two hundred years in the future.

What disappointed me: I didn't always understand what was going on, because the book was based both in the past and in Scotland. Certain actions, phrases and customs went over my head, but for the most part, it really put you in the time and place of the story.

Recommended: Fans of romance and historical fiction.

Continue series: Yes, but it will take a while. These books are huge.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Book Details
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Paperback, 368 Pages
2009, Point
ISBN: 9780545096324
Series: Book 1 of Scarlett

Synopsis
Her new summer job comes with baggage.

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

Review
Suite Scarlett is a novel that gives off the feeling of perky innocence. The main character, Scarlett Martin, is so easy to like that you're immediately swept up in her wholesome personality. Suite Scarlett strays very far from my usual young adult tastes for paranormal or scandalous books and at times I found myself wondering where the big conflict in the plot was. Of course, Suite Scarlett is realistic fiction, and therefore the big conflict was all those little things along the way - her potential romance, her money troubles, her family life, etc. Once I stopped expecting something over-the-top, I found Suite Scarlett to be a surprisingly fun, feel-good book.

Scarlett lives in a hotel owned by her family. Far from rich, the Martin children maintain outside jobs and also take on a suite in which they act as a personal concierge. Fifteen-year-old Scarlett is a sweetheart. She truly cares about her family and often puts her own wants and needs behind theirs. In Suite Scarlett, she experiences working for her first guest, the potential for a first romance, and the realization that the hotel is failing.

Eighteen year old Eric comes into Scarlett's life through her brother Spencer. I loved Eric, all the while being constantly suspicious of him. He was just such a perfect character, and such a perfect person for Scarlett to be attracted to, that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Scarlett's guest, Mrs. Amberson, is a hugely quirky character. She adds most of the excitement to the book. Her constant flights of fancy can become grating at times, but there is no denying that she is absolutely essential to Scarlett's experiences over the course of the summer.

Suite Scarlett completely surprised me with its good-natured reality. It was a wonderful story which I will definitely be continuing with Scarlett Fever.

Rating

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Maureen Johnson's
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Book Details
Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner
Hardcover, 390 Pages
2010, Viking Juvenile
ISBN: 0670012459

Synopsis
It's 1910, and thirteen-year-old Raisa has just traveled alone from a small Polish shtetl all the way to New York City. It's overwhelming, awe-inspiring, and even dangerous, especially when she discovers that her sister has disappeared and she must now fend for herself. She finds work in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sewing bodices on the popular shirtwaists. Raisa makes friends and even-dare she admit it?- falls in love. But then 1911 dawns, and one March day a spark ignites in the factory. One of the city's most harrowing tragedies unfolds, and Raisa's life is forever changed. . . .

One hundred years after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, this moving young adult novel gives life to the tragedy and hope of this transformative event in American history.

Review
Threads and Flames should have been terrible. I mean, an immigrant who sews? A factory that catches fire? Not my type of book at all.

To my complete surprise, I was sucked in almost immediately. Raisa is a strong character that you want to root for. Her struggle in coming to America, and trying to make a life for herself while also searching for her sister was just totally enthralling. The story is written in a way that you feel as though you are seeing this new, strange world with Raisa for the very first time.

Threads and Flames shines light on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, an event I'd imagine most people of my generation and younger haven't heard much about. More than the horror of what those workers experienced, it was an educational look at working conditions in the early 1900s.

Raisa's experiences throughout Threads and Flames are highly emotional ones and the feeling really shine through the writing. Beyond being entertained and educated, I was emotionally invested in what happened to Raisa. I felt for her, was scared for her, rejoiced for her and ultimately fell in love with her and this story. Threads and Flames is a novel that will change the way you think about the world.

Rating

Links

Esther Friesner's
Website

Book Details
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Hardcover, 416 Pages
2007, Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439918480

Synopsis
The year is 490 AD. Fiery 16-year-old Elaine of Ascolat, the daughter of one of King Arthur's supporters, lives with her father on Arthur's base camp, the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Elaine's only girl companion is the mysterious Morgan, Arthur's older sister, but Elaine cannot tell Morgan her deepest secret: She is in love with Lancelot, Arthur's second-in-command. However, when yet another girl -- the lovely Gwynivere-- joins their world, Elaine is confronted with startling emotions of jealousy and rivalry. But can her love for Lancelot survive the birth of an empire?

Review
I love Arthurian legend and usually take great pleasure reading books based on the subject. Song of the Sparrow gives readers a look at Arthur, Lancelot, Gwynivere and other well known characters in their pre-Camelot days from Elaine of Ascolat's view. Elaine, as the author points out in a note at the end of the book, is a much lesser known character than the others and the choice of making her the main character confused me.

Elaine is a dynamic lead in the book, wholly her own character and quite memorable. Her influence on Arthur and many of his knights is strong, making her sort of hard to believe. Plucking a obscure woman from myth and making her that hugely important in what led to the creation of Camelot irked me.

Song of the Sparrow is written in verse, which will annoy some readers. While the story is entertaining and creative, the structure of the novel feels like a cop-out. Song of the Sparrow is essentially a short story, only appearing to be novel length due to each line of text only containing an average of three to five words. While verse novels can be elegantly crafted in the right context, Song of the Sparrow's words read like a prose novel. The story didn't fit the style it was told in.

I enjoyed the story in Song of the Sparrow, but had trouble getting past the writing style and Elaine's influence on the men. The book was creative and entertaining, but didn't completely work for me.

Rating

Links

Lisa Ann Sandell's
Website

My decision:
Choosing between Threads and Flames and Song of the Sparrows was an easy decision. One book took things I couldn't even pretend to be interested in and made me care deeply and passionately about them. The other took something I loved and made it less exciting and harder to read than it should have been. Threads and Flames was the clear winner for me.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Book Details
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
Hardcover, 368 Pages
2011, HarperTeen
ISBN: 0061701246

Synopsis

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

Review
Contemporary YA isn't always my thing, but I loved Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) with a fiery passion. Sarah Mylnowski's writing is real - as wonderful and messed up and loving and heartbreaking as life always is. Mlynowski pulls no punches, allowing for real life consequences to follow common decisions and effect her characters in realistic ways, all while remaining highly entertaining.

Ten Things We Did's chapter structure follows the list of the ten things April and Vi do that may or may not have been the best decisions. Each choice leads them down the path to where they ultimately end up and all are relateable decisions. They lie to their parents. They play I Never. They skip school. They throw a crazy party. They lose their virginity. All are decisions teens are making in their own lives. Sometimes the result is funny. Sometimes the result is awkward. But always, the result is somewhere between possible and probable.

April is a great character and plays off of Vi nicely. While the two live together, April's boyfriend worries that she's becoming to much like Vi, but in reality Vi's influence helps April become who she truly is - beyond her family, her boyfriend or her friends. Much of what April does may seem wrong, but her decisions shape her into who she becomes. Life isn't always clear cut. It's messy and April's experiences perfectly showcase that messy may not be fun, but it isn't the end of the world either.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) is a wonderful novel. It's hilarious with just the right amount of uncomfortable mixed in. It was absolutely delightful to read and I'm be looking forward to reading more from Sarah Mlynowski in the future.

Rating

Links

Sarah Mlynowski's
Website
Twitter
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Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Book Details
Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
Hardcover, 320 Pages
2011, Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 0061960470
Series: Book 2 of The Ivy

Synopsis
Gregory or Clint? Clint or Gregory? Matt, anyone? And what is Lexi up to . . .exactly? When we last saw Callie Andrews, she was caught on the horns of a dilemma. Lexi was threatening to expose all of her safely guarded, deeply buried secrets from high school, and Callie had just hooked up with bad-boy Gregory--despite the fact that she had a perfect (sort of) boyfriend and her BFF Vanessa had claimed (sort of) Gregory as her own. Yow. Entertaining, hilarious, addictive, scandalous, sexy, and smart, The Ivy series is an insider's look at freshman life at Harvard University. This isn't high school anymore!

Review
I absolutely loved The Ivy. Oh, the scandals, the frenemies, the boys, the binge drinking, and the occasional classes. How utterly wonderful. Secrets starts up right where The Ivy left off and continued the drama-filled prestigious college experience I loved. The story progressed nicely in The Ivy, but it was clearly a middle of the series sequel. The plot continued as expected, but nothing shockingly huge occurred.

Misunderstandings, both accidental and those caused with malicious intent, were definitely the theme of Secrets. Callie's relationships with both Gregory and Vanessa in this book were one constant misunderstanding after another. While it kept Callie constantly unsure of herself and where she stood with each of them, it often times caused me to wonder why no one ever seemed to talk to each other. Not just Callie and Gregory or Callie and Vanessa, but all the other characters as well. Does no one at this school gossip about their friends behind their backs in the normal curious manner? It seemed as though the only time anyone spoke of anyone else's situation it was usually mean-spirited, such as Vanessa purposely giving Gregory false information about Callie's feelings. It worked for the plot, but I can't imagine it playing out this way in real life.

Callie's incessant need to keep things from Clint became grating in Secrets. Seriously, just tell him about the video already. It really isn't a big deal. And why would she possibly continue to hide what Lexie's doing to her? Where is the benefit in that? I understood the motivation in The Ivy, as Callie was flustered having just had all of these things happen, but by Secrets, she really should have come to terms with events and gotten over whatever misplaced embarrassment she was holding on to.

I wished more new things were infused into Secrets. As I said earlier, the story progressed well, but there was nothing that made this book stand out from The Ivy. It felt as though it was missing the big, main event that would have made the novel outstanding. As it is, it's fun and entertaining, but can't compare to The Ivy.

As I understand it, there are two more books planned for this series. I can't imagine where the story will go from here. While nothing is completely wrapped up by the end of Secrets, it doesn't really hint at what's to come. While I liked Secrets, I'm hoping the future book will be scandalous, shocking, and able to stand alone.

Rating

Links

Lauren Kunze's
Twitter

Rina Onur's
Twitter

Notes from the Blender by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin

Book Details
Notes from the Blender by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
Hardcover, 240 Pages
2011, EgmontUSA
ISBN: 1606841408

Synopsis
Declan loves death metal--particularly from Finland.  And video games--violent ones.  And internet porn--any kind, really.  He goes to school with Neilly Foster and spends most of his classroom time wondering what it might be like to know her, to talk to her, maybe even to graze against her sweater in the hallway.  Neilly is an accomplished gymnast, naturally beautiful, and a constant presence at all the best parties (to which Declan is never invited).  She's the queen of cool, the princess of poker face, and her rule is uncontested-- or it was until today, when she's dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her former BFF Lulu, and then informed she's getting a new brother--of the freaky fellow classmate variety.  Declan's dad is marrying Neilly's mom.  Soon.  Which means they'll be moving in together.  

Review
Notes from the Blender is written in such a way that the main characters, Declan and Neilly, seem to be speaking directly to you. The conversational tone gives the feeling that they're sharing their most honest feelings with the reader. It's very easy to get sucked into Notes from the Blender. The alternating points of view, from Declan to Neilly, chapter by chapter, do well to show each side of simultaneous events. The book is almost painfully honest in some parts, to the point that some readers may be wishing for a little less TMI.

Declan is an outcast. His long time crush, Neilly, is one of the most popular girls in school. He's resigned himself to lusting after her from afar. That is until Declan's dad announces he's knocked up Neilly's mom and they're going to be married. Now he has to deal with a potential new mom, when all he wants is the one who died, and the girl he wants sleeping just down the hall. Neilly's not exactly thrilled either. She's dealt with mockingly snide comments ever since her dad left her mom for another man, but finding her mom half-naked with some strange man who then announces they're getting married is not the change she's been hoping for.

Most of the painful honesty comes from Declan. While Neilly finds herself preoccupied with teenage romantic drama of her own, Declan just obsesses about sex. Porn and masturbation are mentioned frequently, which may turn off both teen girls and their parents. I though it was a wonderfully refreshing look at a teen boy, but at the same time it skeeved me out a little.

Declan and Neilly take to each other well, fast becoming friends and eventual step-siblings. I probably would have enjoyed the book even more if they had railed against each other occasionally, but their friendship did much to move the story along. Notes from a Blender is both funny and emotional. It's a great look at the fears and changes that come along unexpectedly when blending a family.

Rating

Links

Trish Cook's
Website

Brendan Halpin's
Website
Twitter