What She Left Behind is a great mystery that I’m sure will hook some of my reluctant readers. It has fairly sFlash Review originally posted at YA Love
What She Left Behind is a great mystery that I’m sure will hook some of my reluctant readers. It has fairly short chapters which keep the story paced well and will appeal to many of my students. So many of them won’t stop reading until they read the end of the chapter, so I’ll sometimes spot them flipping through a book before they read it to see how long the chapters are.
The beginning of Tracy Bilen’s debut is gripping as Sara remembers threats her father made towards her mother; it’s obvious right away that this is a violent home. I was tense through the beginning and Sara and her mother plan their escape and when Sara suddenly finds herself without her mother. The fact that Sara’s dad won’t recognize her brother’s death is even worse and adds more tension to the story.
My one issue with this story is that I needed a little more action or build up in the middle of the book. The beginning caught my attention right away and the ending is even more intense, but the middle dragged a bit. I’m not sure what would make it better, to be honest. Maybe the relationship between Sara and Alex could be stronger. Even though the middle was a bit slow for me, I think my students will really like this.
Since I know many of the people reading my blog are teachers and librarians, you’ll be happy to know that What She Left Behind is in paperback. I know I always appreciate being able to buy a new release in paperback; my bank account appreciates it, too :) ...more
For some reason I’m having a tough time writing this review like normal, so I’m going to try a bullet list reviewReview originally posted at Y.A. Love
For some reason I’m having a tough time writing this review like normal, so I’m going to try a bullet list review today featuring what worked and didn’t work for me.
What Worked for Me:
I like the dynamics in Claire and Loann’s relationship. It’s easy to identify with Loann and understand how disconnected from Claire she’s become. In the beginning of Never Enough it’s hard to say whether Claire feels this way as well, but Loann feels it. She feels awkward and ugly in comparison to Loann, and like she isn’t interesting enough to spend time with Claire and her friends. Claire is set up as this perfect doll who can do no wrong. It’s obvious that Claire isn’t perfect, especially based on the summary, but she’s found a way to deceive those around her. This deception is one of the biggest reasons why Claire and Loann struggle with their relationship because Loann finds that she can’t trust her sister. Loann’s always looked up to Claire, even when her family and friends are constantly comparing her to Claire. They share a tight bond which falters as the story progresses. I like Marcus’s character. He brings out a different side of Loann; he brings out her more confident side. She’s not always confident around Marcus, but she discovers that she can be more than Loann’s sister when she’s around him. As their friendship grows, Loann begins to detach herself from Loann’s shadow, even though she’s still constantly thinking about her and comparing herself to Claire. This is when Loann finds photography and independence. She feels comfortable around Marcus and can be herself. Even though it’s difficult for Loann to stop comparing herself to her sister, the reader can see her character growing and finding herself. When looking for a book dealing with eating disorders, Never Enough doesn’t fall into that usual category since we’re not in the shoes of the character dealing with the actual eating disorder. We’re watching everything through a bystander’s, Loann’s, eyes. We see how it affects her and her relationship with her sister. Denise Jaden has written a book that those who have a friend or relative battling with an eating disorder can read and connect with.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The pacing and length are off in Never Enough. I had read almost 200 pages and was left wondering when the real conflicts in the story were going to develop. At this point there had been hints about Claire’s eating disorder and a lot of story set up, but nothing major was going on. There is one big development between Loann and another character that shocked me, but that was about it. I wish that either the story moved faster, or that there were less side stories tied in (Marcus’s home life, Loann’s parents’ marriage faltering, etc.) I will say, however, that by the end of the book I could see what Denise Jaden was doing by writing the story this way and I appreciated it. I’m worried, though, that my students might not stick with the book because of the “slow parts” as they would say. Never Enough would probably work better for me if it were about 100 pages shorter. ...more
Bittersweet is now my favorite of Sarah Ockler's three novels. It's the perfect blend of romance, coming of age, and all around fantastic contemporaryBittersweet is now my favorite of Sarah Ockler's three novels. It's the perfect blend of romance, coming of age, and all around fantastic contemporary fiction. Hudson is trying to balance helping her single mom run a diner, taking care of her little brother, becoming a figure skater once again, and deciding between two attractive hockey players. Make sure to add on keeping a friendship alive, baking cupcakes to support the diner, and training a bunch of hockey players and you have some difficult situations taking place. Hudson is a likeable character that teens will relate to for a variety of reasons, especially if they want to do it all without having to give anything up. Even though Hudson makes some errors in judgment, I couldn't help but root for her and hope she eventually made the right or best choice. She's the kind of girl who doesn't want to let anyone down, especially her loved ones, so you have to admire her for that. And of course I can't write about Bittersweet without mentioning the cupcakes. I wish I had a recipe for every one because I want to make them ALL!...more
Have you ever started reading a book and knew right away that you were going to love every single page? That’s hoReview originally posted at Y.A. Love
Have you ever started reading a book and knew right away that you were going to love every single page? That’s how I felt when I started reading In Honor by Jessi Kirby. I can’t explain what about a book wins me over when I have this experience, but I’m happy about it nonetheless. I felt similarly when I read Jessi Kirby’s debut Moonglass as well. Her writing draws me in and doesn’t let go until I’ve finished her book.
I love that In Honor starts with Honor describing taps being played and the 21-gun salute. If you’ve been to a funeral when taps has been played and the salute is given, then it’s easy to relive it while reading someone’s experience. It’s an emotional experience which becomes an emotional reading experience. I don’t have an immediate family member serving, but I have former students serving, I have cousins serving, I’ve had friends serving. I may not know what it feels like to lose a brother in the war, but I can certainly empathize with Honor and Rusty as they navigate through their grief. In Honor is an emotional read, but it’s balanced with love, hope, and humor that many readers will appreciate.
The road trip setting gives In Honor a lighter mood despite the circumstances which I really appreciated because it made the emotional scenes even more powerful. Road trip books are entertaining because characters are forced to interact with one another, given the close quarters, which provides more character development and insight. Honor pretty much wears her heart on her sleeve, but Rusty is harder to read. Honor and Rusty don’t get along very well and the tension is palpable, but there’s something just beneath the surface that lets the reader know that there’s more to Rusty than meets the eye. Besides the fact that I had a character crush on him, I really enjoyed watching his character grow and discovering his secrets as their journey to California progressed. He and Honor are learning more about each other, but they’re also learning about themselves through this entire ordeal.
I don’t know if this makes sense, but reading In Honor made me wish I could either live in Texas or at least visit Texas. I love living in Michigan, so maybe I just wish I could have gone to Texas years ago and met a cute guy like Rusty? I don’t know, but the whole southern atmosphere described was alluring. I have been to Sedona (a pit stop Honor and Rusty have to make), so I know how beautiful it is and really want to make a return visit. More than anything, I think this awkward paragraph just goes to show how well Jessi Kirby created the atmosphere and setting of In Honor. So many elements of this book won me over and made me feel like I was there with Honor and Rusty.
If you take anything from this review, know this: In Honor is a book that will resonate with readers. The characters are dynamic and true and ones you’ll wish you could meet in real life. Jessi Kirby wrote a wonderful debut, but her sophomore novel, In Honor, is even better. Without a doubt, In Honor will be extremely popular in my classroom and I really hope you read it....more
My students and I are big fans of Lisa McMann, so whenever she publishes a book I read it without question. I was especially excited to read Dead to YMy students and I are big fans of Lisa McMann, so whenever she publishes a book I read it without question. I was especially excited to read Dead to You because it’s a contemporary thriller. Also, I let one of my students read my ARC before I did so she could use it for her author study of Lisa McMann. My student adored it and couldn’t stop gushing.
Dead to You, like many of Lisa McMann’s novels, is an engaging page-turner. I have three classes of freshmen in a row, and I started Dead to You during SSR in my first section. By the end of SSR in the final class, I was almost 100 pages in! I may have given my kids 20 minutes of SSR time that day, but if you’ve read this book or when you do, you’ll understand why each class was given an extra 5 minutes. Anyway, that’s a pretty big chunk of reading done in a short amount of time, but that almost always happens when I’m reading one of Lisa McMann’s books. I’m always so engrossed and connected to the story. My students typically feel the same way which is why her books are so popular in my classroom. And to be honest, Dead to You had me hooked sooner than any of her other novels.
I can’t relate with Ethan and his family because fortunately I haven’t been in his situation, and I don’t know anyone who has. I was still able to empathize with him and those around him. We see this kind of reunion on the news, but we rarely see the day-to-day life and adjustments everyone goes through. Lisa McMann gives us this insight and it’s brutal at times. Ethan’s brother doesn’t trust him, Ethan can’t remember anything before the kidnapping, his mother is constantly crying and worrying, and his little sister–the replacement child–is innocent and surprisingly accepting of Ethan. Watching Ethan trying to adjust and remember is often heartbreaking because it’s obvious how badly he wants it. His blocked memory and old habits get in his way though. It’s his vulnerable, secretive side left me wondering about his past and why he can’t remember anything.
For much of Dead to You I kept waiting for something big to happen. Was a big secret going to be unveiled? Were they going to track down the kidnapper? Questions like these kept running through my mind as I raced through this book. There’s foreshadowing that fits with the ending, and my mind went there from time to time, but I didn’t really think it would turn out that way. While reading Dead to You, I was sure it was going to be a 5-star read, but the ending just blew up in my face. We get this climatic scene, and it’s a great scene, but then that’s it. I wanted to turn more pages. I expected to turn more pages. But there aren’t more pages available to turn. The ending left me disappointed; it feels unfinished. Of course I’m happy I read Lisa McMann’s newest novel, and I look forward to recommending it to my students, but I wish I had more at the end....more
Plain and simple, Boy21 is a GREAT book. I was on the search for a quality read aloud for my freshmen English classes, so I picked up Boy21 on a whim. I wanted to read it anyway, but I kept thinking about my 3rd hour freshmen class that’s primarily boys who don’t enjoy reading. Boy21 seemed like the perfect fit for them, so I went with my hunch and started reading it. As soon as I read the first couple chapters I knew I made the right decision.
Finley’s voice really stands out on the page, which is ironic considering he doesn’t like to talk much. He actually reminds me a little bit of Lucky Linderman from Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. Both Lucky and Finley have a sort of innocence about them. They both have trouble speaking up for themselves, and they also want what’s best for those around them. Just like Lucky, Finley is an admirable character.
One of the reasons I like Finley is because he’s so loyal to his friends, coach, and family. When his coach approaches him about helping Boy21 (Russ), Finley doesn’t hesitate to offer his help. He trusts his coach, so even though he worries that Russ could take his starting position on the basketball team, he still tries to make friends with Russ. Russ has an obsession with space and refers to himself as Boy21, but he and Finley pair up well. They’re both amazing basketball players, even though Russ doesn’t show this right away, and they both deal with unfair treatment. They’re both treated poorly for different reasons, much of which is based on race and rivalry, but it still serves as a bond. After a startling and tragic turn of events, Finley really grows as a character. His loyalties are tested and he begins to doubt what’s truly important in his life. He begins to question his life, where it’s going–if anywhere–and what really happened years ago that caused him to be such a quiet, good kid. I love being able to witness this kind of characterization, which is one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed Matthew Quick’s novel so much.
Boy21 by Matthew Quick is a novel that appeals to a variety of readers. My basketball players and sports fiction fans will enjoy the basketball scenes and references in Boy21. My fans of great contemporary realistic fiction will recognize what a superb example this is of that genre. Readers will connect with Finley, Erin, and Russ. They’ll feel the tension and suspense, they’ll laugh out loud, and they might even cry (I did)....more
This year has been a big year for war-related contemporary YA. When I found out about Corrine Jackson’s debut, If I Lie, I knew I had to read it and IThis year has been a big year for war-related contemporary YA. When I found out about Corrine Jackson’s debut, If I Lie, I knew I had to read it and I’m really glad I did.
I don’t know what it is about serious contemporary YA novels, but I love them. I’ve realized that my class library is full of them. If I Lie is serious and emotional, but there’s a nice mix of humor and warmth as well. Jackson covers some heavy issues like varyious forms of bullying. Quinn’s turned into a pariah and deemed a traitor after a compromising picture of her cheating on her boyfriend is spread across the Internet. The cyber bullying is a primary focus, but it’s present enough to give a reader pause. Quinn is bullied constantly. Her locker is violated, her friends have abandoned her, and she’s called names over and over again. I was shocked that she handles it as well as she does. I would hope that a military town would act differently, but in this war-ridden climate it’s easy to believe what happens to Quinn. Most of the humor comes from Quinn’s interactions with the war veteran, George, she spends time with. I loved his character because he’s really caring but he’s sharp and witty too.
After around 50 pages or so I started wondering where the story was going to take me. Corrine Jackson sets it up so we discover the big secret early on, but the full picture and background of it is broken up throughout the story. Once I realized that was happening I understood the pacing better and enjoyed it. Besides bullying, Quinn’s life is paralleled with her mother’s life. Her mom faced a similar situation as Quinn which haunts Quinn regularly. She feels like she’s lived up to the town’s expectations that she’d be just like her mother. So along with flashbacks to before the picture was taken and spread around town, we get flashbacks to when Quinn was still with her mother and what happened at home. The flashbacks are written well and easy to identify when reading. I’m picky about that when I read a book like If I Lie.
Readers who enjoy Courtney Summers or books like Speak will most likely enjoy If I Lie. It’s a quick read full of heart with a main character who, despite what everyone around town thinks, is incredibly loyal. I predict it will be popular in my classroom since there’s so much students can relate to. Readers who have tough relationships with their parents will connect with this. Readers who have been subject to bullying and gossip will connect with this. Readers who have fallen for the wrong person will connect with this. If I Lie is a strong contemporary debut and I look forward to reading more of Corrine Jackson’s work....more
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