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!)