The Sweet Relief of Missing Children

9/10 stars.

I fell in love with this book after going to one of Sarah's readings. She read the first chapter, and though I had arrived with the intent of purchasing the book, the read-aloud of the first chapter simply affirmed my original intent.

And so I bought the book.

The rest of the story is just as wonderful and even improves upon that first chapter.

I loved her description of characters. The writing was so powerful that I very nearly jumped and cried at points. The way some portions of the book were written are exactly the type of writing that I adore! I cannot fully explain both my adoration and admiration for this story- one that is so heart-breaking and at the same time so wonderfully and beautifully crafted.

Lenora (one of the main characters) has been added to an ever-growing list of my favorite fictional characters.

The cover is also GORGEOUS. I love how there is a photograph, but it is mysterious and intriguing rather than face-on. It adds another layer of mystery to the story.

Sweetly

8/10 stars.

Sweetly is a modern telling of Hansel and Gretel, yet it is also quite different from the classic story. I liked the development of the characters, especially Gretchen and Sophia. Gretchen even organizes her books the exact same way that I do (she organizes them by the color of the covers).  Hansel and Gretel was and still is one of my favorite fairy tales, and so I was elated when I saw how closely Sweetly resembled it. There were moments when this book caught me off-guard (in a good way!), and moments where events I couldn’t have predicted happened.

Books that mirror other classic works always intrigue me, and this one was done well. While there are parts that are almost identical to Hansel and Gretel,  Sweetly is a book all its own. It has love, mystery, and much more. Since it is in a first person point of view, told by Gretchen, we really understand everything she feels, including the guilt of her sister disappearing 12 years ago.

I would have been interested to hear some parts of the story from Sophia's point of view, and Ansel's as well. I think that it would be interesting to see what they were thinking at certain moments in the story, though Gretchen's narration was wonderful!

The description of the candies in the chocolatier shop were lovely as well, I could really imagine Sophia, Gretchen, and Ansel making all of the magical chocolates. 

If you like Hansel and Gretel, this book is a must read! If you don't, you ought to give it a try anyways, though I would recommend that the reader be at least 13 or 14.

Amaryllis in Blueberry

9/10 stars.

The main reaction I received while carrying Amaryllis in Blueberry around was "Well, isn't that just like The Poisonwood Bible? (another great book, by the way!!)
I'll say this: Yes, Amaryllis in Blueberry does share semblance to TPB, however they are each wonderful novels in their own right.

Amaryllis kept me going, and I was especially happy when I discovered [MINOR SPOILERS] that Amaryllis has synesthesia, a disease that I am utterly fascinated by.

Back to the review... the cover alone is worthy of nine stars, and the story behind the cover is well worth opening up that front flap. This novel is told through about seven points of view, but is done so in a way that the reader can still easily understand all of the goings-on. Each of the daughters had a distinct personality, even though three of the four had the same first name- Mary. However, each of these girls is known by her second name: Grace, Catherine/Catie, and Tessa (oldest to youngest). Amaryllis, also know as Yllis is different in both name and personality, and this the reader is easily drawn to her. She is also the only character to tell her story in first person.

Yllis is my favorite character in the novel, for her insightfulness, vivacity and simply how ALIVE she is. This story has mystery in it as well as being a family story, and one of life in the seventies, the story takes place during 1976, with one flashback to 1956.

After finishing Amaryllis in Blueberry, I wanted to know about what happens to everyone after. I fell so in love with these characters, as Christina Meldrum brings them all so alive, even the ones I did not like, I wanted to hear more about, to know what happened with their lives.

A great read, no matter whether or not you have read The Poisonwood Bible.


The two books are very different, and each wonderful in their own way.

From Bad to Cursed

9/10 stars!

I got this book as an ARC in a local bookstore of mine.

My reaction when I saw that they had it was quite literally "Oh. OH. Oh my gosh. Oh wow." Followed by excessive smiling and hugging of the book to my chest. 

HERE you can read my review of Bad Girls Don’t Die, the first book.

Alexis has run into the supernatural yet again, just when she thought everything was going to be okay. My dad's reaction when I read him the back-cover description was "What is up with her town?" I giggled in response to this, but it is funny how Alexis' (the main character) town seems to have some sort of magnetic appeal for the supernatural. 

There is something about Katie Alender's writing that causes me to stop breathing while I read her books. Unfailingly it happened once again with this book. Perhaps three times or more!

If one dislikes creepy books, then they ought to read this with caution, for there are moments of disturbing revelations and scary events. It is still a wonderful book though, and all who believe themselves to be in the appropriate age group should give it a shot.

So, in summary... 

What did I like about this book? I think the question ought to be phrased more along the lines of what didn’t I like? This book will keep you up, not wanting to put it down, wondering what would happen next. 

These Things Hidden

9/10 stars.

This book. OH MY GOD.

Here is another case of why I need to just buy books if I feel as though I want to read them. I must've looked at this book five different times before choosing to buy it. I'm so glad that I did decide to buy it. I've read her first novel, The Weight of Silence and enjoyed it quite a lot. This book was something completely new. It is a mystery, and one that turns and twists many times, so unexpectedly. I was reading it in the car while my dad and I were going to do driving lessons, and when we arrived I was so close to the ending and I did not want to put it down! Sadly, I had to. I finished it on the way home though.

These Things Hidden tells the story of a 21-year old named Allison who was convicted for a crime that the reader is unaware of at the beginning. The story is told from four points of view, and while I do not always like this style of writing, Gudenkauf did a good job of blending together the different perspectives, and all of the perspectives were extremely important in order to have the story be able to play out in the way that it did.

At times this book had be holding my breath, and at times I wanted to scream "NO!". I was entranced by the different characters, and I like how Gudenkauf has some of the characters talk in first person, whereas with others they are talked about in third person. I believe that this shifting is effective based on how they play into the story. The two sisters speak in first person, whereas the other two women are spoken of in the third person.

Well worth the read if you need a new and interesting mystery. Though this is not for those extremely faint of heart, as it does cover some disturbing topics.

I would also like to comment on the cover. I love this cover so much, and if you read the book you can see how symbolic the cover is as well.

Never Let Me Go

10/10 stars

I would have to say that Never Let Me Go is honestly one of the books that I adore most. There is nothing that I can critique about this book. Nothing. The story is woven together in such a beautiful way, and for reasons I cannot post here [spoilers], this book made me cry. The three main characters: Cathy H, Ruth, and Tommy are such unique individuals, and I truly feel as though I went through their lives with them. 

This book can best be categorized as Science Fiction, though that does not quite fit it. It does not take place in the far future, rather, it takes place in an alternate past. Never Let Me Go is a book that truly surprises the reader at many different places. It is anything but a simple tale, though it does have classic themes of love, loss, and friendship. 

The reader gets to see Cathy, Ruth, and Tommy grow up, from their early school-days at Hailsham to their adult lives. Though this book is "Sci-Fi" to some degree, it is very easy to imagine events like this happening, to the point where one takes extra time paying attention to people on the street, wondering exactly what their story is, wondering who they really are.

 

This is the movie's trailer.

(On a side note, I've also seen the movie and I must say, it was quite wonderful, I was so happy as to how well they kept with the book, and in my opinion the actors were chosen BRILLIANTLY).

So Shelly

9/10 stars!


So Shelly by Ty Roth is a fascinating work of literature. It takes authors John Keats, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley and turns them into modern teenagers. This is not an easy task, however Roth turns their respective lives right into the lives of teens today. For anyone interested in the lives of these famous authors, So Shelly is a good read. For anyone who wants a clever romance, So Shelly is just that. Even if one has not read any of the works by these authors, he or she will still be able to enjoy So Shelly, for it stands on its own.

This book is out now,  and it is certainly worth the read! I for one do not always enjoy books aimed at teenagers now, as I tend to go through most all of them within two hours, however, So Shelly took me by surprise. I enjoyed it to the extent that, while writing this review, the thoughts going through my head are "Okay, I need to find a biography on these three authors/ read more of their stuff." and "I want to write a book that transplants historical figures into modern times."

This is the type of book that continuously holds your interest, until the very last page.

I read this book back in December. (Yes, I'm aware that I have been dead awful with writing reviews. I would promise to write more, but I don't know if I can. I will try my hardest to get at LEAST three reviews done a month. Goodness knows I read enough for that!)

Vesper

7.8/10 stars

Vesper is quite the interesting novel. At first I was not grabbed by the story, but as it progressed, I became intrigued. The story centers around a girl named Emily Webb, a girl who has never done anything bad in her entire life; yet, the first night she acts out of character, another girl is killed, a girl who is also named Emily. The Emily who is still alive begins to wonder what is happening, as do the readers. Why is she suddenly different? Why are more people ending up dead? Most of all: is she even human anymore?

Though I did enjoy this novel, it was not my absolute favorite. The mystery is kept going quite well though, with a few unexpected turns. Amidst all of the predictable teen mysteries nowadays, this was a nice relief.

So, though this book was not my favorite, it is worth picking up if you want semi-sci-fi mystery love story. 

The Mockingbirds

8.5/10 stars!

The Mockingbirds is an amazing story of finding life after a horrible act. Alex, a junior at Themis Academy is date-raped, and the story is about what happens after. A secret group at the school, called the Mockingbirds helps her: a group that fights for justice, something that the “perfect” school refuses to do. With references to To Kill a Mockingbird, and good writing, The Mockingbirds is not your typical High School Story. It’s so much more: so much deeper, so much more realistic. If you like Speak, or other books like that, you will love The Mockingbirds.

To go into more depth, one could say that The Mockingbirds is pure inspiration to anyone who has gone through a troubled time in his or her life. Even if one was not raped, he or she could have experienced all sorts of things that he or she felt unsure and confused about. They might have felt as though whatever happened was their fault, even if it was not at all.

I did receive this book as an ARC, but it is now out in stores! (I ought to get on my plan to review more often...)

You should go and purchase it! It is a wonderful story, with a beautiful and hopeful message.

The Last Summer of Louisa May Alcott

Okay, once again I have failed, and not updated the reviews in MONTHS.

I REALLY promise to update more regularly, from now on.
I won't review every book I read, since I read so many, but I do have quite a few ideas of what to review for the next few weeks.

So,  onto the review!

9/10 stars.

The Last Summer of Louisa May Alcott, or as it will be called in the future TLSOLMA, was really, honestly, just plain lovely. I actually went to a reading of this, and when Kelly read a few pages, I turned to my dad, and asked if I could get it.
He said yes. And so I joyfully picked up my copy, and went to get it signed. Kelly herself is so sweet, and she loves LMA, who I love as well. (I've been to LMA's house three times at the least).
The book made LMA out to be exactly as I really feel she would've been, not to mention including other authors from that time period whom were friends with Miss Alcott.
LMA was a truly amazing women, and the book just accentuates that, which I think is utterly wonderful.

I need to get back into reading more historical fiction, this book reminded me how much I love it.
Anyone who has read Little Women will adore this work, it should be in every household, sitting right next to a copy of Little Women. I, for one hope Kelly writes more, because she has talent!

Want to do an Emily Dickinson novel next Kelly? (kidding, though it would be quite awesome!)

Hold Still

SORRY, this was from February!

9/10 stars!

First of all, sorry I have been gone for so long!! A new years resolution of mine is to have at least on review per week! Now on to the review...

Another book I looked at in various stores for sometime, and just before New Year's Eve, my mom and I were at a local bookstore, and she said I could pick a book. I chose "Hold Still." I do not have any regrets with my choice. :) The book is so well written, so nice and fresh. Nina does a brilliant job of a high schoolers voice, Caitlin's  voice is one I can completely relate to.
Though this is a book for teens, it does have illustrations. They are so wonderfully done! Simple, yet so very meaningful!
Hold Still- the title itself has so much possibility for wonder. And the book does not disappoint at all! There was not one point at which I thought of plot changes that would enhance the story. Caitlin loves photography, and I do as well, so that was another way with which I could identify to her.
Just pure wow. I am glad I decided to buy this story. I have, once again fallen in love with the characters. As I said before, they are so very real, I can imagine being friends with some of them!

Thanks Nina, and I hope you write thousands more books.

Beautiful Malice

8.5/10 stars.

This book is one I got as a galley, (pre-published). It has already been released in Australia, and comes to America July 13th, 2010.
I was astonished by this book. The cover (American one) creeped me out a bit, but, as I enjoy creepy novels, I had to read it!
The novel is told during three times. Before, During and After, as I categorized them. It starts with After, saying "I did not attend Alice's funeral..."
This book gripped me.  A book has not done that to me in a long while. When I was reading, I was oblivious to other goings-on around me. Just, wow.
This novel is Rebecca James' first, and I, for one hope it will not be her last. The characters were so real, Alice made me cringe, and Katie/Katherine drew in my sympathies. Usually I do not love books that jump around in their timelines, but for Beautiful Malice it worked perfectly with the story.
Whilst I was reading the novel, my dad asked me what it was about, and I found myself at a complete loss for words. Not because the book was bad, no, it is far from that, but because it is unique, and there were surprises that I did not predict, which is ALWAYS a nice thing. I like surprises in literature. Far too often I come across a novel that I can predict the entire plot. (**Note: This is NOT applicable to any book I've reviewed on here as of now.**) If I could summarize the book in a few words:
Lies. Love. Friendship.
Now, from those words it may sound like a soap opera. It is not, it is deep.

I loved Beautiful Malice, and would recommend it to friends, and anyone who is looking for an interesting read.

Trailer!

I made this, it is for The Murderer's Daughters, which is now out!!!


LINK!!!
Because it would not embed properly, please check it out!

The Murderer's Daughters! ♥

This book. Oh my goodness!! I loved it. I got an ARC (advanced review copy) of it, from Larramie at The Divining Wand, and I cannot thank her enough.

This book, from the first sentence, pulls you in: "I wasn't surprised when Mama asked me to save her life." Right away you are swept into the lives of Lulu and Merry, sisters who must go through life after experiencing a horrible act when they were ten and six, respectively. Lulu goes into denial, Merry continues with her life as she believes that it should be. I just want to hug them, the poor children who have to care for one another at such a young age. When I finished the book I wanted more! Not because the ending was insufficient (it was anything but), but because I wanted to know more. I was so sad to see it end. I love characters, I hate some (because you need to, in a way), and some I just want to give a big hug to!! I use two exclamation points, something that I hardly ever do as it is improper grammar, but this book deserves both of the points.

I am still getting over the fact that this book is over, I keep on thinking... 'but it cannot be... no!' I love this book with all my heart. There were some points in it (which I will not explain, as it gives stuff away), but there were a few points where I literally stopped breathing until that section was over. Thank you Randy! This is brilliant! :) I love the names in the story as well: Louise, Ruby, Cassandra, and all the others, they all manage to fit the characters perfectly!

I could go on for quite a long time about what is so great about this book, but then I'd have to explain for pages. So, instead in January 2010 go out and buy it!! (there go those exclamation points again...)

--Bookie ♥

:)

Books that Haunt Me

Inspired from Randy Susan Meyers's blog, Word Love, I am making a list of ten books that haunt me.

1. The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers herself. Though I am not even done with this, it is sad and amazing. A review will be up soon. It is so amazing.
2. Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon. Terrifying, and it is falling apart now, I have read it at LEAST seven times. Her other books are haunting as well. This one made me cry and scream "NO!" as I was reading.
3. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Makes me cry each time I read it. 
4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. So sad and beautiful, a definite favorite as well as one that will haunt me for my entire life. 
5. Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Let's see, the last time I read it... seventh grade? Scary and depressing book. Amazing as well though.
6. Family History by Dani Shapiro. Oh wow. This book scared me and, like many others made me nearly cry. Though sometimes I forget the characters names, I always remember the story, down to some details that seem unimportant.
7. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender. Scary? YES. Amazing? YES. This book had my checking my room for ghosts and such, it makes me look at my photos a little longer than usual. 
8. The Candy Darlings by Christine Walde. How on earth could I forget this? I have read it so many times I can practically recite it from memory. And it hardly gets publicity. I ADORE it, and it is creepy to the max.
9. Ghost Girl by Torey Hayden. Non Ficton, and so disturbing but also amazing and compelling. I still always think of Jadie. 
10. The Reader  by Bernhard Schlink. Oh my gosh. So sad, like most of these books are. Compelling, disturbing... makes you feels sympathetic for someone that most people do not feel sympathy for.

--Bookie

♥

I am back! (and reviewing!)

So, today was PSATs. They went well. (or so I hope)

(:

And now! BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE!

Another amazing novel. So far all my reviews on here have been raves, and this book deserves no less.

This one has a story that goes with it as well. Like with Looking for JJ I went to Barnes and Noble many times before choosing it. The reason for this was because I usually do not buy hardcover books.

I am VERY glad to have purchased it. The story grabs you in, from the first sentence up until the shocking and creepy ending. Alexis is so real, as are all the rest of the characters. The description Alexis gives of taking photos was beautiful. Being a photographer myself, it is nice to see such detail paid to something that usually gets overlooked.

Now, most books do not scare me. But, as I was reading this one it gave my the jitters, and I found myself looking around my room to make sure no one else was there. Thanks Katie for creating a book that actually scared me! :)

Another WONDERFUL thing about this book is I could not guess what happened next, another nice treat that I do not often come across with mystery novels. The suspense kept me wanting to read more and more, desperate to find out what happened next to Alexis, Kasey and those around them.

Brilliant novel. Creepy, detailed, and fast-paced.

Katie is writing a sequel to BGDD, and also a third one in order to make it a trilogy. Though these will not be released for another year or so, I cannot wait!

There will be...

a brief hiatus until my PSATs are over. Yes I am taking them this year. So, after October 17th there will be many more reviews, and a special surprise. I will check in every now and then so any questions? Ask me. :)

Reviews to come:

• Bad Girls Don't Die
• The Candy Darlings (which I have already read)

See you guys soon!

-- Bookie

"Looking for JJ" Review

So, I read a lot. I enjoy it, whether for school or pleasure. In 2007 I believe, I was at Barnes and Noble and I saw the book "Looking for JJ." I begged my mom for it, and finally, after going back three or so more times we bought it. I opened it up to the first page and after that I could hardly put it down.

It is the story of a girl, Alice Tully who is hiding from something that happened years before. She killed her best friend, Michelle. Her mother never payed much attention to her, instead she was constantly modeling and bringing around boyfriends. They moved to the new town where Alice (JJ) met her friend. JJ had a special model doll, Macy who was her only real friend.

At first you do not know that Alice is, in fact Jennifer, known as JJ. It is revealed in flashbacks she has throughout the novel. Jennifer has to face many difficulties, and she is stretched to the limits of her sanity, and only as a ten year old. Some of her other neighbors, two boys who are Michelle's brothers tease Jennifer about her mother and her.

There is not one part when I thought to myself "Oh boy, this is boring." It was fast-paced and interesting.

Alice, JJ, whomever she is really is an unforgettable girl, as are Michelle, Lucy and the other characters.

4.5/5
♥

Random Book Questions

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Yep. Anything yummy.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?
NO! It horrifies me.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
Bookmarks!

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Both, though fiction is preferred.

Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hardcopy!

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point? 
Depends on the book. Some are impossible to put down.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Sometimes I do.

What are you currently reading?
Anna Karenina.

What is the last book you bought?
Girl Trouble by Holly Goddard Jones

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
Usually one, sometimes more.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Afternoon anywhere.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Depends on the book.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Little Black Lies, Island of Lost Girls, Lolita, The Bell Jar. More as well.
Authors: Tish Cohen. :)

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Sadly, they are not very organized.

I love to read.

... and read. I read whenever possible, and for fun. I read nearly anything. I recently got an advanced copy of "Little Black Lies" by Tish Cohen in the mail, and I loved it with all my heart. I wrote a short review which she loved herself.

"I would like to say that it is brilliantly crafted with another set of unforgettable characters. More realistic than most novels about High School, and the only thing lacking was faults. It was perfect for a teen readers and I would recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone who asked for a book suggestion. Write more, I cannot wait for what comes next. A favorite book, already getting others to read it. Thanks for sharing your mind with us."

She is amazing. :)