Review: Ugly to Start With

Title: Ugly to Start With Author: John Michael Cummings
Pages: 168 Genre: Young-Adult
Subgenre: Historical Fiction
The life of Jason Stevens is told through 13 short stories that can be read all together as a novel or each one by themselves and still get a good story, either way. Jason lives in the small, historic town of Harper's Ferry in West Virginia during the 1970's when life was determined by one's wealth, skin color, and town gossip. Each story shows a different moment in Jason's life when something , even if it's just something little, changes about him or his life. Jason wants to be an artist, but surviving your teen years in Harper's Ferry, especially when your father is the most-hated, racist, stubborn man in the whole region, is none too easy.
Ugly to Start With is real, raw and smart. The unique short story format focuses on Jason's change, rather than a set plot and plays to its own advantage, giving the already interesting story an edge. Every one of the stories brought me a little bit more of Jason and a little bit more of the dynamic and old-fashioned Harper's Ferry. At times it made me laugh as Jason would describe the strange traditions of Harper's Ferry. Other times it would bring me to the brink of tears or send a wave of pity through me. The whole time I was amazed (and maybe even a little shocked) at how deep the author went into and how real the whole community of Harper's Ferry seemed. I could just imagine these characters gossiping in their kitchens or barely making a living. It just seems impossible to not feel like these characters are something more than just people in a good story. The characters were definitely what made this book so good. Ugly to Start With navigated through risky topics, but did so very well using a great cast of characters.

Cover:I love this cover. The whole packaging of the book is gorgeous, to be honest! This cover could not be more perfect for Ugly to Start With.

Level of Romance: Medium? A little? I'm not really sure how to categorize this one because it really depends on which story is read. Jason is trying to find himself and I guess one could say it takes some romantic experiences to get there.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Warning: This book contains some mature themes that, in my opinion, require a mature reader. Recommended for ages 15+

Review: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

If you want a break from paranormal novels, why not read a short story by your favorite author in Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions? This lovely anthology filled with all sorts of paranormal beings certainly doesn't disappoint! From vampires to angels to ghosts, 16 popular authors of the young adult genre write short stories according to the theme of paranormal diversions (or journeys) in this anthology. Some authors chose to write stories set in the same worlds as their previously published books, like Jackson Pearce, Melissa Marr, and Carrie Ryan. Others, like Allie Condie and Claudia Gray decided to give the readers something completely new. I didn't find the stories that were related back to another book to contain spoilers that the internet couldn't easily ruin for you or isn't already common knowledge. If anything, I think these short stories are something like samples for what you would find in those worlds and what to expect from the characters. I discovered new worlds and new authors that I have heard so much about but never actually picked up their works. Each story was amazing and unique, but still kept to the theme. Sincerely, this was a quick read, even though it is over 400 pages long.

Cover:
I'm honestly not the biggest fan of this cover. I like the red hue of it and the dirt road lined with trees is just gorgeous. But I don't feel like this cover really expresses what the whole book is about or really what the theme is.
Level of Romance: It varies depending on the story, but most of them do have a romantic secondary theme.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: All That Matters by Youseph Tanha

“Ethan Wright is just like any other high school kid that is one day lucky enough to meet the girl of his dreams. Throughout the course of high school the young couple learn to cope with incredibly difficult odds to discover all that matters.’All That Matters’ is a novella about love and life and all that the heart can endure. With memorable characters and a deep story you will find it difficult to put this book down.”
(Source: http://www.YousephTanha.com/ )
Raw, real, and a little gritty this book shows a true struggle in life.
Really describes what going into high school is like in a small town. I loved it. Ethan is a teen boy that falls for a pretty girl in his tech class. I loved Ethan. He is such a sweet guy and endures a lot for Amanda, the girl of his dreams. Despite the fact that the book covers the heavy topic of cancer, the book isn’t really depressing. If anything, it is inspiring and hopeful showing how much a relationship can be stretched. It's a great love story told from the boy's point of view. I haven’t read a book that is so honest about what a high school student experiences in a long time. “All that Matters” shows Ethan, a normal high school guy, go through the normal high school events, like first love and finding true passion. In a word, I would call this book “real”. I loved this book, from the characters to the storyline to the setting in a small town.
Pages: 98
Chapters:16
Level of Romance: The story kinda revolves around Ethan’s love for Amanda. There is some sexual content.
Rating: Favorite!
 Buy this book here: Amazon

Review: The Boys of Summer by Richard Denney

  The Boys of Summer( Book one: Secrets)
Declan Ambrose is an openly gay vampire in love with a human...whom he's never met. Sent on a mission by his coven's leader, Victor, to retieve a bracelet from Riley Morgan. Riley is a teen boy with an awful fate and Declan is determined to save him from it. As for his mission, his love for Riley may hinder Declan's progress in that.
   I didn't enjoy this novella as well as I did the rest of Richard's works. I'm not sure what it was, but I didn't like Declan and reading this book, told through the point of view of his eyes, was hard. Honestly, Declan's motives are a little blurred makig his whole character less than believable. On the other hand, I loved Riley. He is my favorite character of Richard's to date. He is the character torn between love and what he must do. But it doesn't feel fake, which I love. I really hope to see more from him. The storyline was good and it definitely kept me guessing and engaged. Overall, absolutely worth the read .
Level of Romance: Just count on a lovesick vampire narrating the story. His thoughts are enough to spice it up.
Rating: Like
Buy it here
Pages (on the kindle): 66
Chapters: 6
Source: Amazon
Edition: Kindle e-Book
Release Date: August 2nd, 2011

Review: Violet Fury by Richard Denney

Bethany Cates is having weird dreams. Ones that play in her mind like a movie that she is the star of. Only in her dreams, she's not really herself. She's called Sarah and she's got  some problems. Bethany has to find some answers, especially after the people from her dreams start showing up in real life. Those answers may be rooted in the history of Crest View, the new town she lives in, or even in the depths of herself.
I love it. I was captivated and couldn't put it down until the very end. It was short and sweet and to the point.It has all the elements of a full length novel in under one hundred pages. It brings a different creature to the table of paranormal and I'm excited for the sequel which is supposed to be released in 2012.
Level of Romance: Directly, none. In a round-about kind of way, a minuscule amount.
Rating: Favorite

Review: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Georgia Nicolson is a fourteen year old, British girl who's family is unwilling to recognize that she is on the brink of womanhood -- or at least, that's how she sees it. She's experiencing the transition into adulthood in all it's awkward glory with bras and pimples and insecurities. She chronicles all her escapades in her diary ( she makes entries a lot -- sometimes every five minutes!) and that is what this book is: Georgia's diary. Readers hear about her cat, Angus who is half domestic tabby, half Scottish wildcat, and all around crazy; her attempts to make her appearance perfect with cosmetics and other drastic means; and all her boy-stalking, boy-trapping, or generally boy-crazed moments. Covering the course of twelve months, readers will take on one wild year with Georgia Nicolson.
   While at times I found Georgia hilarious, most of the time she seemed superficial and down-right offensive. For instance she makes several references to having to become a lesbian because she is so ugly and can't get a boyfriend. Who ever made the rule that lesbians have to be ugly and only turn to liking girls when they can't get a guy? So when Georgia isn't insulting the gay community, she's hinting at suicide. If things don't go her way or if something absolutely riveting isn't occurring in her life, she says things like, "there is no reason to live", and " I might as well kill myself". Such comments are not funny and are simply over dramatic. They are positively silly to say, considering she is a privileged teen girl from a relatively well-off family. But I will agree that she did have her witty and genuinely funny moments that managed to entice a laugh of of me. The plot moved along nicely. The conflicts seemed real ( and life shattering) to Georgia. My edition was great and had a glossary of British words and phrases so American readers, like myself, could understand Georgia a little better. Honestly, half the time I don't even think Georgia could understand herself. Overall, it is a quick read that s relatively light. Best for when you are feeling a little silly.
Level of Romance: Kissing is talked about and done quite a bit( an estimated 75% of total content). And Georgia is chasing a boy (or maybe just the concept of a boyfriend).
Rating: Okay

ISBN: 0064472272
Edition: Paperback with glossary of British phrases
Source: Public Library
Genre: Young Adult/ Teen
Sub-genre: Realistic/Contemporary/ Chick Lit
Pages: 234         Chapters: 12 chapters labeled as months
 Publication Date: June 1st 1999
Publisher: HarperTempest (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Series: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Book One

Review:Godless by Pete Hautman

ISBN:1416908161
Edition: Paperback with Reading Group Guide
Source: Purchased from local bookstore @ $8.99 US
Pages: 198
Chapters: 31
Genre: Young Adult
Sub-Genre: Realistic/Contemporary
Release/Publication date:October 25th 2005
Publisher:Simon and Schuster for Young Readers
Series: N/A
After gettign beat up by the town bully, Jason Bock has a "religious experience". While lying on the ground recovering from getting punched hard in the face, he looks up to see the town's water tower, illuminated by the sun in a heavenly way. That gets him thinking "water is life" and Jason invents a new religion worshipping the water tower. He calls it the "Church if the Ten-legged God" (because the tower has ten legs) and it's followers are called "Chutengodians". Jason gathers a strange band of worshippers for the religion: there's his best friend, Shin who is a snail farming, overall nerdy guy; the attractive Magda Price whom Jason has a crush on; the violent, unpredictable bully named Henry Stagg (yup the same one who beat up Jason at the beginning of the book); and Daniel, the local pastor's son. As each member struggles to leave their mark on the religion, Jason realizes that it's a lot harder to control a religion than it looks. But he has to gain the reins fast before the first Chutengodian ceremony high atop the water tower goes horribly awry.
I loved every page of this book. The characters were all so vivid and unique but still meshed together naturally. The writing style is laid back and witty. Jason is the narrator and he is usually sarcastic and sometimes humorously awkward with people. This book shows the ways a religion can affect people in different ways and on a smaller scale how religions are changed by its followers. Shin gets an obsession while Jason struggles to keep the religion pure and as what he envisioned. Also it represents the hard times and ridicule a new religion goes through. I think Godless is an allegory of the struggles in the history of actual religions disguised as an amusing story. That said, I like (love really) that Jason feels like a teenager in voice and in actions. Being a teen I know that we are stubborn, especially whe it comes to adults tryign to change our minds. I feel that aspect in Jason instead of the usual teen-suddenly-becomes-reasonable-after-life changing-experience-crap. Huzzah for stubborn teenagers!
Level of Romance: None really
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review:3 Willows by Ann Brashares

ISBN:0385736762
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Public Library
Pages: 318      Chapters: 26
Genre:Young Adult Sub-Genre:Realistic/Contemporary
Release/Publication Date:January 13th 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Series:N/A
 Ama is a brainiac shipped off to an outdoorsy camp, even though she only wants to be reasearching in an air-conditioned library. Jo is staying in her parents beach house for the summer with a job at a local restauant. She wasn't expecting har parents surprise, nor was she counting on meeting the super-cute boy. Polly is trying not to miss her friends this summer. Her solution: aim for the glamourous life and never look back...but is she cut out for it?
     Honestly, I underestimated this book. I truly believed that this would be a crappy replica of the Sister fo the Traveling Pants. I won't lie. I'm happy to say I was very wrong. While the beginning was a little slow, it didn't take long for the pace to pick up. Just like the first sisterhood, the friends spend the summer away from each other, but unlike the first sisterhood it isn't really their first time apart. I find it fascinating that there are references to the first sisterhood, but at times it feels like too much effort was put in to make the new sisterhood seem different from the traveling pants girls. Readers don't need previous knowledge of the traveling pants and its sisterhood to follow the story. I'm surprised that such a relatively short story can cover heavier topics like divorce, body image, accepting what you can't control and so many more without seeming jam-packed and stuffed in an awkward, walking advertisement kind of way. This will sound a bit cliche, but this book was the first on this type to actually engage me until the end. I actually wasn't expecting it from this book. But the characters, their issues and their friendship all felt so real to me. It all reminded me of my own friendships.
I was sincerely impressed by this book and think with Ann Brashares other larger-than-life series( The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) casting a giant shadow over this one, it's not getting enough attention. I'd recommend it again and again.
Level of Romance: In a shallow kind of first love way, I'd say a solid almost one third of the book has it.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Video Review: Ella Mental and the Good Sense Guide by Amber Deckers

This is what happens when my mother makes me clean...
I hope you enjoyed this. Here are the stats on this book:
    Pages: 231
    Chapters: 21
   Edition featured in Video: Mass Market Paperback
  Rating: 4 out of 5

Can't Get There from Here by Todd Strasser

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


198 pages, young adult, 30 chapters



Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Her street name is Maybe. She lives with a tribe of homeless teens — runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger.



With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn't believe Tears's stepfather abuses her. As the other kids start to disappear — victims of violence, addiction, and exposure — Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets...if it's not already too late."



As you read about the woes of Maybe and all the members of her street family, it's hard not to appreciate what you have. She goes from sleeping in doorways, to squatting in construction sites, to sleeping under a bridge, knowing she won't have a bed to rest in. When her family slowly starts to dwindle, you can feel the hopelessness of her situation. A really great and quick read that might put the dangers of NYC into perspective.

Level of Romance :None, the characters are much too busy trying to survive until tomorrow.

Rating: 5 out of 5







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Review: Monster High by Lisi Harrison

As I am unable to come up with a good synopsis of my own, here's the one from Goodreads:

   "They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Merston High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normie" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.
She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normie be trusted with her big secret?"
    I'm not gonna lie: I only picked up this book because when I saw a vampire Barbie (Draculaura) in Walmart, I was blown away. No, that is not an exaggeration. It was like someone had finally answered my dreams. And then I found out there was a book and I had to read it, even if I knew it wasn't gonna be amazing....boy, was I surprised. It turns out that the plot has a fast start and a gripping, page-turning awesome that no one could have expected. The characters are ones you'll come to love. With a great lead in to the next book, but still a satisfying ending, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the next book!
              256 pages, young adult
    Level of Romance: Isn't high school always about romance?
    Rating : 5 out of 5

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

                                                                                                                                              Lia and Cassie are best friends competing to be the thinnest. Then Cassie loses, not just the game, but her life and Lia is left with a haunting memory of her friend and a guilt that she can't get over. Lia struggles on a painful journey of recovery and the loss. Told in first person point of view, this sometimes graphic young adult novel has 278 pages. The main focus of the novel is Lia's eating disorder. Alright, it's basically the only conflict other than Cassie's death, but they're actually related so...no subplots, just all Lia's problems all the time. Which wasn't a bad thing...until her problems got boring. I liked her hallucinations though. her constant visions of Cassie were interesting and it'll leave you wondering if this is a ghost novel or is Lia just crazy. My favorite characters are Elijah, a strange hippie-esque guy Lia meets, and Cassie's ghost. They are both sarcastic and call for funny, sometimes lighter moments in such a dark and painful novel. I had to force myself to drudge through this when I reached the halfway mark and still nothing moving had actually occured. Not only that, but it took me a long time to get into the book because of the strange way Lia thinks and the lack of expostion until much farther in. Despite all that, the ending came through with a quick series of events that definitely put the novel back on track for me. The actual last chapter, which is something like an epilogue didn't jive with me, but I suppose it was necessary.  The language was lyrical and beautiful, something I enjoyed, although it did bring the reader out of the story and makes it a little hard to get back to focusing, but still, a plus point for the novel and the strike-out text helped to show the way Lia's brain works. For example there will be a sentence like this:

                       I am so hungry

followed by a sentence like this:

                   I don't need a muffin

     Wintergirls discusses the issue that is so common now; eating disorders. A scary problem, after reading this you'll want to eat and spill your feeling all over the floor. It's painful to read and the emotions are there, but a reader can be easily distracted or frustrated by the format and sometimes dull situation of it all. Worth the read if you dig on drowning in the problems of others.

Level of Romance: Lia doesn't have time for romance with the ghost of her best friend haunting her, too many family problems to count on her fingers and toes, and an eating disorder that's slowly killing her.  

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review: Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

   Liz is Photogirl; able to sum up everyone in a nickname and knows that what she sees through her camera lens is truth. She loses her best friend, Kate, after Kate accuses Liz's older brother, Mike, of a crime. Liz can't see the big picture anymore like the old Photogirl, the one who was "foreverbest" with the Mistress of Modern Dance(Kate) used to. Told in free verse, the hardcover edition of this 2011 young adult  debut has 288 pages.
    I went through stages in my liking of this book. I was excited to read it, went into reading it with a lot of hope. But when I, as an attentive reader, was able to figure out the secret some 50 pages before Liz, the narrator was able to, I began to grumble and the hope of a good verse novel died. As I drudged through, I grew to love it again. The characters and events felt so real; the emotions searing. Liz's journey from having a great life to having nothing and her reaction and coping with that was amazing, flawless even. There was family tension, character growth, and a great resolution. unlike some verse novels, the events are chronologically ordered and make sense, with a minimal of random side stories from the past and the such. Once you get over the whole secret thing, the novel actually becomes quite gripping.
   Level of Romance: None; it's mostly about the family tension and Liz's burdens of the situation as well as how she deals with it.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
"Meet Jenna Boller, star employee at Gladstone s Shoe Store in Chicago. Standing a gawky 5'11'' at 16 years old, Jenna is the kind of girl most likely to stand out in the crowd - for all the wrong reasons. But that doesn t stop Madeline Gladstone, the president of Gladstone's Shoes 176 outlets in 37 states, from hiring Jenna to drive her cross country in a last ditch effort to stop Elden Gladstone from taking over his mother's company and turning a quality business into a shop-and-schlock empire. Now Jenna Boller shoe salesperson is about to become a shoe-store spy as she joins her crusty old employer for an eye-opening adventure that will teach them both the rules of the road - and the rules of life. "

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis from Goodreads:
  "For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life."
     This is one of those books that some people love, while others hate it. I personally, am somewheres in between. I liked Nora as a character, she is kind of awkward and uptight. I especially liked her interaction with her best friend Vee and Patch. The volleying of borderline-inappropriate and suggestive comments is too funny. Another thing that is great is that there is a mystery other than Patch. In other words, the plot has more motivation than just find out the bad boy's secret. Not only this, but the book keeps you guessing. I couldn't have guessed the culprit, mostly because the events were jam-packed into the story. never giving me a chance to think about it. Out of the 391 pages and 30 chapters of the paperback edition of this paranormal young adult book, I only have one problem. Some of the evnets and decisions the characters make don't really make sense. In fact, they left me screaming. "Why the Hell would anyone do that!!!!????". It's not a good sign when you question the character's motives...
    I would recommend this book to fans of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey because of the frustrating denial of attractions the characters carry out through this book, like in Beth's vampire novel.
   Level of Romance:  Hot bad boy and a goody-two-shoes girl = mild romance.
 Rating: 4 out of 5
  

Review: Soldier X by Don Wulffson

     Professor Erik Brandt went threw World War II. His students always tell him that he was so brave to fight against the fierce and bad Nazis. Little do they know that he was one. Soldier X is the chronical of his time on the front and all the unfortunate things he encounters while there.
      A middle-grade Historical Fiction novel, this story is broken up into three parts; one for each if Erik’s different states in the war. The paperback edition is 226 pages and 33 chapters, this book is a simple war novel. I liked the plot and how it was divided up into three parts. The characters were nice, they had real emotions, but little background. There wasn’t a lot of room in the war to have a background though... The plot was a little predictable, like most middle grade war books, but it was my favorite part of the book,  nonetheless.
  Level of Romance: Some, but not overwhelmingly so. This book is aimed at middle grade boys, so it’s not like mushy, but when a sixteen year old is pushed into war, he’s gotta have a soft spot for a pretty girl.  
Rating: 4 out of 4

Review: Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

Book Two in the Killer Unicorns Series and sequel to Rampant

Warning: The very synopsis of this book will spoil the events of Rampant. If you want to be surprised, stop reading. Don't say I never warned you...

Review: Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

        "Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns... Real unicorns are venomous man-eating monsters with razor-sharp horns. Fortuantely, they've been extinct for a hundrd and fifty years.Or Not"
    Astrid had always believed her mother insane, what with her eccentric stories about killer unicorns and the virginal hunters that kill them. But when her boyfriend is attacked by a unicorn, Astrid has no choice but to believe in her mother and all the crazy stories-- or realize she herself has succumbed to the delusion. Having ruined her chance of going to prom, Astrid is all to happy to hear her mother is sending her away to Rome. Ancient cloisters lie there, which unicorn hunters have used for centuries. But the cloisters what they seem. Unicorns lurk outside it's walls, waiting for the girls to leave and attack; the girls she trains with have hidden secrets that could save or destroy them and--oh yeah, Astrid is growing dangerously attracted to a handsome Art student.

Review: The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Released: February 22nd 2011

"There are Seventeen madhouses in Lovecraft. I've visited all of them."
     Aoife Grayson is counting down the days until her sixteenth birthday; the day that, according to family tradition, she will go mad, just as her mother and brother before her. In the city of Lovecraft, the necrovirus is to blame for the madness,  the dangerous and terrifying creatures that lurk in the night and just about everything else considered Heretical. The Proctors rule, burning Heretics (those who believe in or conduct witchcraft) and ensuring the great Engine, the heart of the city that churns beneath Lovecraft's streets, is in perfect working order and that no one escapes the "safety" of the city. But after Aoife receives a mysterious message from her bother, Conrad, she plans to do just that: escape Lovecraft and find Conrad before the necrovirus claims her mind and her future.

Review: Orchards by Holly Thompson

Release Date: February 22nd, 2011
     Kana is sent to live in Japan for the summer with her family there after one of her classmates, Ruth, commits suicide. During the school year, her and her "cliquey friends" had said some careless things about Ruth. Her parents hope this trip will force Kana to reflect on her behavior as she labors for hours in the hot, Japanese sun, tending to her family's mikan orange groves. With her half-Japanese, half-Jewish American heritage , Kana learns how hard it is to fit in as she is criticized by her extremely traditional grandmother, who never approved of Kana's American father. Kana begins to really understand and process the damage she and her friends have done, registering the pain and guilt for what it is. When more bad news reaches her, Kana wonders how can she mend herself and those around her. Told in an easy-flowing verse with a first person narrative and accompanied by cute illustrations, Orchards is sure to open every one's eyes to what a few thoughtless words can do.