All the Books.

"An intriguing, page turner that picks up right where the first book left off and never lets the reader go."  5 Stars Pros: The deception of some of the characters is truly gut wrenching, you want to believe that they're good then Ness just takes that theory and turns it on its head, it really keeps the suspense up/All the interwoven intricacies of each characters journey and how everything fits together perfectly Cons: Mayor Prentiss, though undeniably evil, began to be a bit stereotypical villain at the end, monologuing, claiming that he and Todd would be great together, very Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker, "rule the galaxy together as Father and Son" feel, felt unoriginal and forced by the end of it. Full Review: Starting off right where The Knife of Never Letting Go  leaves off, Todd wakes to find himself in New Prentisstown with David Prentiss as the new President. The man is all lies and smiles and Todd doesn't know what to do or if he can trust him

"Set in a world where there is no hunger, no disease, no war, it is paradise but one truth remains, people must die. And that is why the Scythedom exists. Shusterman proves himself a master storyteller, keeping the reader riveted from beginning to end."  5 Stars.  Pros: Unique, unsettling and unique idea/The Gleaning Journals of the different Scythes was an interesting look into the thoughts and feelings of those chosen for a life of death. Cons: My one gripe was though there was some character growth, Citra and Rowan, at times, felt like your average, run of the mill, YA Fiction teenagers, stuck in a world where they feel out of place and then are thrust into horrifying circumstances, they just felt a little flat at times and their relationship doubly so. Full Review:  From the man who brought you the idea behind Unwind (people choosing to retroactively abort someone once they turn 18) Scythe is another dark and twisted novel but one that is just as engrossing as t

"A suspenseful, page turner that left me guessing every second of the way." 4 Stars. Pros: Quick, easy, entertaining read/Author is great at keeping the reader guessing/The ending, though a little saccharine, was a good wrap up. Cons: Sometimes there were a lot of characters to keep straight but for the most part,the three protagonists, Madeline, Celeste and Jane were in the forefront/Though it's a murder mystery, the ending itself seemed a bit too "perfect", everything's all wrapped up with a nice bow, in a way it felt rushed, like the author was just trying to tie up all the loose ends. Full Review What's more harrowing than being a Mother of a Kindergarten student? Apparently not much, according to Liane Moriarty's characters in Big Little Lies. All the action takes place on Pirriwee Peninsula, an idyllic, ocean side landscape off the coast of Australia. And right off the bat, we know this little town is not as pristine and p

"If you've ever felt that the ability to hear other peoples thoughts would be enlightening, this book takes that idea and destroys it. In a town where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts, Todd Hewitt discovers a secret, one that turns his entire world, his entire life, upside down. It's an intense, edge of your seat thriller that grabs you from the first page and never lets you go." Pros: It’s obvious that New World and Prentisstown are settlement’s from space travelers, though Todd’s life is one is simple farm work. Ness keeps the reader hooked by giving away small clues that Prentisstown is not as rural as it seems nor even on the planet Earth by mentioning the twin moons in the night sky and other subtle hints/ How Ness really packs on the suspense by letting the reader know that turning into a man in Prentisstown is a very bad thing but he doesn’t outright say why, the reader is always guessing. Cons: Though it’s understood that Todd is not

"A good start to a series that introduces kids to mythological figures such as Zeus, Chiron etc but at the same time there was a lot of violence. It seemed a bit excessive for a book geared towards younger readers."  4 Stars. Pros: A good start to the series, the ending definitely left the reader curious for more/The use of things such as an Oracle, an ancient Prophecy, it was fun, like reading the myth of Hercules only in language that any layman could understand. Cons : Having seen the movie first, the way they had them complete the quest seemed to make a lot more sense while in the book, things felt rushed at the end, kind of like Riordan remembered halfway through writing that he had set a deadline for himself and was rushing to meet it. It just felt odd. Full Review Percy (Perseus) Jackson is a troubled tween. He's been kicked out of six boarding schools in the past six years and he is convinced that none of what happens to him is his fault; bad luck just seems

“The final book in the Lorien Legacies Series though the end was a bit saccharine, “the world is better with friends” but dark/gritty parts were intermixed enough to make it a well rounded wrap up.” 4 Stars Pros: If only briefly, we get to see all the remaining OG (Original Garde) in one way or another/Lore did a good job in touching upon every aspect and wrapping the series up nicely/Characters that were never given a shot or enough meat on their bones played important/critical parts in this novel. Cons: The complete change in character of Taylor Cook from mousy, nervous, shy Healer to round em all up, pep talk Hero seemed sudden and well, out of character/It would have been interesting to see all remaining OG interact for at least one moment.   Full Review If you’ve followed the “I am Number Four Series” from the beginning, like I have, this was a pretty good conclusion. All the Original Garde that remain (Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and “10”) all show up in

“An interesting autobiography set in a time where the world was very, very different. But it is mired down with far too many people to try and keep track of. Though the reign of Caligula is as entertaining as it is horrifying." 2 Stars.  Pros: Interesting to see the world at a time where Rome was the ultimate power/The Character of Claudius is far smarter than anyone dares to think and so they never take him as a threat, much to his benefit/Caligula’s madness is both entertaining and terrifying. Cons: Far too many people to keep track of, all the descendents of Julius Cesar and downward, on and on to infinity, it was far too difficult to keep track of Full Review From the very beginning it’s obvious that Claudius does not think highly of himself, nor does anyone else. Ever since birth he has been thought of as a halfwit, feeble minded and feel bodied, a shame to his family. And though he struggles physically, mentally he is as sharp as a tack and doesn’t miss a b

"A tale so interwoven and complex but so very simple at its core; it leaves the reader fulfilled and thoughtful. It is a story about being human, making mistakes and trying to find your own identity in a small town where the only thing that really exists is Hockey."  5 Stars Pros: Fast paced/Intriguing/Filled with scenes of heart wrenching emotion both good and bad, a true study of what it is to be human/Leaves the reader eager to read the sequel.  Cons: At first there were so many characters that it was hard to keep everyone straight but once the story gained momentum everything fell into place. Full Review In Beartown, there is one constant. One thing that brings the people together, win or lose, good or bad and that is Hockey. And this year, their Junior team is set to play a semi-final match, something that hasn't happened in twenty years. Tensions are at an all time high and when the members of the Junior Team are basically celebrities in their own town, they

A harsh but necessary tale about returning to your home town and realizing that the people you idolized in childhood are in fact, flawed. It was a well rounded, if somewhat depressing wrap up to Lee’s series set in Maycomb County. 5 Stars Pros: Jean Louise or “Scout” is a spitfire, free thinking, spirited young woman who any woman with a mind and opinion of her own can relate to/The returning characters that are so well known in To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus, Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia are there as well as a few new characters such as Henry Clinton and Dr. Finch, Scout’s Uncle, who is a voice of reason during a troubling, difficult time for her Cons: The harsh truth of the fact that the South during the Civil Rights movement/segregation was not a nice place to be, it’s not necessarily a con but more a depressing fact of American History/The sudden and untimely death of Jem, it felt like Lee had no room for the character so she just threw him off and away Full Review Jea

"A quick, entertaining and unsettling read that keeps the reader guessing right to the very end. Everything is interconnected and interwoven and Roux does a good job in keeping the reader guessing."  4 Stars Pros: Quick, easy read/Definitely has a good, creepy, unsettling vibe right off the bat/The mystery behind Daniel’s origins is intriguing and telling, leaving the reader to wonder why it is he feels so connected to this place. Cons: The characters were pretty one dimensional, you run of the mill, emotional teenager stereotypes but it didn’t take away from the book too much/Daniel and Abby’s relationship felt forced and awkward Full Review: Similar to Ransom Riggs Peculiar Children Series, Roux uses old photographs to help aid the reader in envisioning the surroundings. Though some of these seem photo-shopped they still add to the creep factor of the novel overall. Daniel Crawford, shy, smart, socially awkward is attending a Summer Course/College

“A tale that could have been mesmerizing if it wasn’t so mired down in Louis’ self-hatred and the general lack of any redeeming quality in any of the other characters.” 2 Stars Pros: Rice gives an interesting view of the Vampire mythos, what can and cannot harm them etc/The description of their heightened senses was interesting.  Cons: Not one character seemed to have anything redeeming about them, except for Louis and his stubborn hold on his “humanity” but that also gave rise to his utter self-loathing which became absolutely insufferable/How the characters just fell in love so easily, there was really no reason for it, no real backstory, it was all just a little unsettling and weird. Full Review Louis is already the owner of a prosperous plantation in New Orleans when he is turned into a Vampire by the mysterious Lestat. Lestat’s reason for this is that he wants Louis’ plantation and so he more or less, gets what he wants. Louis struggles with the idea of being a Vam

"What is sure to be a delightful story for children is lackluster and dull when read in adulthood."  2 Stars Pros: Extremely easy to read/Simple to follow/The moral of the story is that you don't have to go out looking for brains/a heart/courage etc, it's within you all along. Cons: Even though it was a story meant for children, the characters had no depth, they were extremely one dimensional, but again, it's meant for children so, it can't be too complicated. Full Review:  The story of Dorothy and her magical trip to the land of Oz all starts during a Cyclone in Kansas. Toto, her mischievous but loyal dog, runs to hide under the bed and Dorothy runs after him instead of getting to the storm cellar. The cyclone then picks up the house and whisks it away to the mysterious land of Oz. Upon entering the land, she finds it lush and beautiful, much different than drab, gray Kansas. She is approached by the Munchkins and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North,

"A frightening chronicle of one of the worst times in human history told from the eyes of a girl who is forced to grow up in a terrible situation and who must learn independence and self reliance in the most unusual circumstances."  4 Stars Pros: Every girl who has gone through puberty can relate to the inner turmoil of Anne's thoughts and feelings/We see Anne's struggle to both be seen as an adult and her wish still have the carefree life of a child/ Cons: Everything is, of course, one sided, as it is all told from Anne's point of view. We only know her thoughts on the situation and no one else's/Some of the characters are a bit jumbled and confusing. People that Anne has probably known her whole life but to the reader, they are strangers, again though, it's a Diary, I'm sure she had no intention of writing to an audience. Full Review: Otto Frank and his family, his wife and two daughters went into hiding to try and escape the persecution of t

"At first, a dense, complicated, hard to get through "tome" that transforms into a truly inspiring, heartbreaking meditation on life, Faith, predestination and how the people in our lives mean so much."  5 Stars Pros:  A truly unique coming of age story with memorable characters/Owen Meany in and of himself is larger than life in every aspect but for his physical appearance/The scenes of New Hampshire are truly vivid and for someone who has spent her entire life in New England, I could see everything with crystal clarity/The mystery behind the identity of Johnny's Father is what keeps the novel moving forward, also the idea of how every action leads to the next, that everything is intertwined, was interesting. Cons:  The idea that Owen Meany is always right and far above and removed from the average human, though that was the authors intent/The Owen Meany flame text (all capital letters) took some getting used to/Johnny's opinions of current events, for t

"A frighteningly relate-able  story of one man's breakdown into a life of crime due to desperation, isolation and the many stresses of the world."  4 Stars Pros: Easy to read and follow, Willard's moral collapse was not surprising/Unnerving in its easy to understand chain of events, it seems that anyone can snap if put under enough pressure/Willard himself was a timid, unassuming man and someone that I think anyone can easily relate to, which makes his descent into criminality all the more stomach churning. Cons: The ending was very abrupt but at the same time that it was startling and brutal, it was a good ending/Willard's undeniably misogynistic view of the world, how his romantic interest has no other name than "the girl." Full Review:  We are introduced to Willard, an unassuming, timid, quiet man who lives with his Mother, who informs him that there are Rats in the Garden and his mother expects him to take care of the problem. He is reluctan

"An epic tale with magic, mystery, love and everything in between that people of all ages can appreciate."  5 Stars Pros: An interesting mix between the two worlds of the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre/The character Mogget (a sarcastic, talking cat is just a plus in any book) and Sabriel's vulnerability; even though she's inherited her Father's title, it's a heavy burden and she's still just a young girl. Her struggle is understandable and the reader feels for her. Cons: The mystery behind certain things, such as the creating of the Charter, but that's obviously to keep the reader interested and wanting to continue with the series, though it can be frustrating when not all the pieces of the puzzle fit together/The antagonist, Kerrigor. It would have been nice to have seen him in human form and not just as a malevolent beast, to understand that he once had some small shred of humanity. Full Review:  Sabriel is in her last year of boarding school a