The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Review

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

Illustrator: Ana Juan

Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.  With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

Review: First of all this book has the cutest pictures scattered throughout the book! While there aren’t many of them they add so much to the story by letting you see/comprehend the mysterious creatures in the book!
This is definitely a middle grade book, but I think it can be appreciated and enjoyed by people of all ages. I also think boys will enjoy it because its not an overtly “girl” book. I have to agree with the synopsis, this is a good book for fans of Alice in Wonderland because it has that same charm as well as a strange host of characters that join September along the way.
The only small problem I had with this book was I found myself having to remind myself who all the characters were. Maybe because September and Saturday’s names are so similar? I don’t know… but besides that I really, really enjoyed it!
A cute book filled with child-like wonder and an adventure that will keep you guessing!

Island Sting

Title: Island Sting

Author:  Bonnie J. Doerr

Publisher: Leap Books

Release Date:  Jan 6, 2010

Received From:  Teen Book Scene

Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting thugs...

When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge, she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans?

Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.

I don't really have a lot to say about this book except that it was a cute idea. I loved the idea especially with the world becoming so "green" Kenzie and Angelo were fun characters and I loved how Kenzie took over because that totally would have been me!

I think this book was nice because it was a fun way to introduce to kids that there are bad people who will do bad things, but showed that they could do something about it!

 

Threads and Flames

Title: Threads and Flames

Author: Esther Friesner

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: November 25, 2010

Received From: Publisher

Summary:

It's 1910, and thirteen-year-old Raisa has just traveled alone from a small Polish shtetl all the way to New York City. It's overwhelming, awe-inspiring, and even dangerous, especially when she discovers that her sister has disappeared and she must now fend for herself. She finds work in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sewing bodices on the popular shirtwaists. Raisa makes friends and even—dare she admit it?— falls in love. But then 1911 dawns, and one March day a spark ignites in the factory. One of the city's most harrowing tragedies unfolds, and Raisa's life is forever changed. . . .

One hundred years after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, this moving young adult novel gives life to the tragedy and hope of this transformative event in American history.

Review:

I love historical fiction and I loved Esther’s Nobody’s Princess series so I was really excited to get the chance to read this book!

Raisa was  a really interesting character, she was strong willed and has so much determination. I loved reading about her determination to succeed no matter what the odds.

I liked how Esther took such a devastating event that many people had probably never heard of, and made it accessible to the generation of today.

One problem I had with the novel was the fact that it ended really nicely. I was happy for Raisa but I did not feel like that was realistic I wish she had gotten some of the things she wanted but maybe not all so the ending would seem more real.

Overall this was a poignant tale of never giving up!

Make sure to check out my guest post with Esther tomorrow!

 

The Karma Club

Title:  The Karma Club

Author:  Jessica Brody

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date:  April 22, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.
But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.
Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground.

 I was really excited about this book based on the book trailer, but I am sorry to say that it fell short for me.
The characters were really shallow and dull, and the story did not make any sense.

Maddy and her friends act like it is karma's fault when bad things happen to them but in most cases it was their own fault, and if they had not done certain things their lives, for the most part, would have been perfectly fine.

The good thing about this book was that it had a good lesson. Don't mess with other people! It will only get you hurt, otherwise I did not like this book.

Here is the book trailer so you can make your own assumptions:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

Title:  I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

Author:  Erin McCahan

Publisher:  Arthur A. Levine Books

Release Date:  June 1, 2010

Received From:  ATWT and Publisher in return for an honest review

Here Comes the Bride -- If She Can Pass Chemistry.

Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother with a small personality complex. Bronwen knows she must have been switched at birth, and she can't wait to get away from her "family" for good. Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants -- and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

I first read I Now Pronounce You Someone Else a couple months ago and I loved it. But I was not entirely sure why so I put off writing my review, but when I got the chance to read it again for a blog tour I jumped at the chance!

I read this book in one day! The plot flowed beautifully and the characters were hilarious! I loved Bronwen because she is very similar to how I see myself. Bronwen and Jared grew a lot in this book which I really appreciated, it was nice to see characters grow in realistic ways and not because some bad guy or thing was coming to get them. It was very refreshing. The characters in this book are very believable because they have real personalities and real problems that many of us deal with ourselves.

Bronwen's relationship with Jared was very realistic in my opinion. While many people don't have a relationship that moves that quickly some people do and I think this book is a good reminder to cherish and move slow with your relationships. This book was not only about Bronwen's relationship with Jared but also with her mother, her stepfather, and her brother (who she calls Jesus) I enjoyed reading about a character with a real family dynamic that was not unnaturally shaped.

PROS

• Great family dynamic
• Good Lesson
• Good Plot
• Realistic problems
• Great Characters

CONS

• Needs another book!!!!!

So I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to girls of all ages!

See what Jennie of Random Chalk Talk thought of the book!

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Title:  The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Author:  Robin Benway

Publisher:  Razorbill

Release Date:  August 3, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Three sisters, three extraordinary, life-changing powers!

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that wou...more Three sisters, three extraordinary, life-changing powers!

Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

This is Robin's sophomore novel. Her first book Audry wait was amazing and loved by all! So I was really excited to read this book. But even though there is a great premise I felt that this book fell kind of flat.

I expected more world saving I guess. The story is basically about 3 sisters who learn that the most important thing is each other, and the plot is only thickened a little by the powers.

That being said each of the girl's were there own character, and they were very different, which I appreciated. Their relationships with each other and with the other characters were real and believable. Basically the characters kept me going in this novel, without that I would have hated this book, but because of the characters it made the book tolerable.

My Invisible Boyfriend and My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours

Title:  My Invisible Boyfriend (MIB)

Author:  Susie Day

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Release Date:  April 1, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motor...more Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motorcycle-riding, poetry reading bad boy. *swoon* Heidi's friends are so impressed they start emailing Heidi's fake boyfriend with their problems . . . including their problems with Heidi.
As if that weren't bad enough, a delicious and possibly single person called "A Real Boy" emails Heidi to say he knows the truth. Can Heidi escape from her world wide web of lies? Or will her chance at romance disappear faster than you can type gtg?

Title:  My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours (MFB)

Author:  Kristina Springer

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date:  August 31, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Seventh grade was supposed to be fun, but Tori is having major drama with her BFF, Sienna. Sienna changed a lot over the summer on the first day of school she’s tan, confident, and full of stories about her new dreamy boyfriend. Tori knows that she’s totally making this guy up. So Tori invents her own fake boyfriend, who is better than Sienna’s in every way. Things are going great unless you count the whole lying-to-your-best-friend thing until everyone insists Tori and Sienna bring their boyfriends to the back-to-school dance.

I decided to review these two books together because they are so very similar, while one is a YA novel and the other is a MG novel there are many similarities and differences.

Similarities:

• Both deal with fake boyfriends made up because the MC feel jealous or like everyone has a boyfriend except them.
• Both fake boyfriends are perfect (I mean really, go big or go home) 
• Each of the girls get into huge trouble because of their fake boyfriends.
• Both of the books have strong characters.

Differences:

• MIB has a stronger plot, there are more twists and turns but that may be because it is a YA novel. Also there is the added intrigue of the mysterious letters from "A Real Boy." Also Heidi has a gingerbread man/ favorite TV star, that she talks to so it is more like a real boyfriend. 
• MFB deal primarily with the morals of lying to your friend about your fake boyfriend, even though Tori is convinced that Sienna also has a fake boyfriend she feels really bad about lying to her and so the rest of the book is focused on that.
• MFB deals more with friendship while MIB deals more with the logistics of having a fake boyfriend as well as the pitfalls in possibly having a real relationship.

In Conclusion:

• Both books are really good, and you can tell which one is YA and which is MG. Each book has their strengths and weaknesses.
• MIB has a better plot while MFB has more of  a moral to the story which is conducive to their various audiences. Both books were funny and I recommend them both!

MIB




MFB

(Has an adorable cover!)

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Title:  Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Author:  Morgan Matson

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Childrens

Release Date:  May 4, 2010

Received From:  Big Honcho Media

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

So who loves a good road trip book? Raise your hands... yes I see you, well I love road trip books, maybe because I have never been on a road trip. But Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was a honest to goodness genuine road trip book, where they go harem scarem wherever sounds interesting.


Ok, so maybe I especially loved this book because it was a road trip book, but I also loved the motives for going on the road trip and why they went where they went. Also there were lists and receipts throughout the book which added to the reality factor of actually being on the trip with Amy and Roger.


While neither of them at the beginning have any goal but to get to Connecticut, the story blossoms into a story of self-discovery and forgiveness, as well as moving on and not letting the past destroy your life. Amy and Roger's relationship was cool and they acted like two people who did not really know each other would act when stuffed into a car alone. I really enjoyed their banter and dialogue.


One small problem I had with the book was that the middle was kind of slow, but overall it was a fabulous book!

Do you want to win a copy of this book? Check out my giveaway!

4.5/5

The Beautiful Between

Title: The Beautiful Between

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Knopf Books

Release Date: May 11, 2010

Received From:  ATWT


If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.


If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Based on the summary of this book I was expecting a fairy-tale retelling which i love, but that is not what this book was at all. It is more about a girl struggling with high school, and her father's death which she knows nothing about. It is a story about an unlikely friendship, where each party gives and takes a little, but both are better for it.

This book was not just your typical high school story, there are also elements mixed in that make it an even deeper story. I think that this book had a lot of good messages in it, that did not particularly touch me, but I think they would touch others.

Overall a pretty good book but the summary is very misleading.

4/5

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Harmonic Feedback

Title: Harmonic Feedback

Author: Tara Kelly

Publisher: Henry Holt

Release Date: May 25, 2010

Received From:  ATWT


Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

I enjoyed this book, because I felt that many different people could relate to Drea, and her problems, big, and small. I can relate with having trouble making friends as can a lot of people, so it was nice to have a character I could semi-relate to. 


This book had some very harsh issues in it. Things that i think are very important, and should be discussed in YA literature, even more than they are, so I commend Tara Kelly for addressing those issues. I enjoyed all of the different types of characters that were in the novel, there were not too many people who were "stereotypical" which was nice. 


The plot moved forward pretty well, but it was kind of slow in the middle, and at times was a tiny bit confusing, but overall this book was a really good debut and I cannot wait to see Tara grow as a writer!


4/5

A Match Made In High School (Repost)

Title: A Match Made In High School

Author:  Kristin Walker

Publisher:  Razorbill

Release Date:  February 4, 2010

Received From:  Around the World Tours


When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Oh my gosh this book was hilarious! Warning don't read in public or everyone will think you are insane. The banter that goes on in between Fiona and Todd, is so funny.

Besides that this book was really good, the characters were all very different and had their own distinct personalities, the plot was interesting while somewhat predictable, there were some parts that I was definitely not expecting. I really appreciated the message that was portrayed in this book, while not being too pushy.

Again this book was hilarious and dealt with some real life issues that really make the story relate-able, I mean who hasn't been stuck with an unwanted project partner? This is a great Debut and I cannot wait for more from this talented author! And the cover is beautiful!

5/5

Fat Cat

Title: Fat Cat

Author: Robin Brande

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Received From:  Library


You are what you eat. . . .

Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This was a really powerful book. I felt that Robin poured herself into this novel, because you can't write a book about such a personal issue without having some back story. Maybe I am wrong but that is the impression I got.


Cat is a like-able character she is funny and unlike many other fat book main characters she does not really look down on herself. Because I am scientifically minded as well I enjoyed how she made changing her life into an experiment. All of the nutrition advice, while sometimes being too much, was informative, and interesting. This book really inspired me to get up and eat healthier.


Besides the nutrition aspect, the love story was really cute, while sometimes being obvious, i really loved Matt, and her other friends were so wonderful. I would love to be friends with any of these characters.


I enjoyed this book, it made me look at my eating choices through a good plot, and a cute love story. One of my favorite books I read in 2009.


5/5

Of All the Stupid Things

Title: Of All the Stupid Things

Author: Alexandra Diaz

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: December 22, 2009

Received From:  Around the World Tours


It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world? 

I enjoy reading books that are told from all different perspectives, so my view is not so jaded by 1 person's opinion. So I really liked that about this book. Many YA books are now dealing with same-sex relationships and while I don't do that, I appreciate this new level of YA lit.

This book had a good premise, maybe a little overdone, but the same-sex relationship part really saved it from being just another breakup book. Some of the characters were a little stereotypical but they were not really whiny which I appreciated. While the middle was really kind of boring this was a pretty good debut and I cannot wait for more from this author.

This is not by any means the best book I have read but it was ok, I recommend it for anyone who is struggling to find themselves because the main character does a lot of finding herself and not letting others' judgment cloud her decisions.

3.5/5

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend. 

If you have not read any of Sarah Dessen's books then you need to experience them. All of them are poignant, and have real themes. All of her characters are believable and lovable. Some of my first literary crushes are from Sarah Dessen.

Along for the Ride was the same. Auden, and Eli develop such a great relationship that makes you want one like it. Auden is dealing with real problems, and she is struggling like a real girl. She is very relate able and I want her to be my best friend. And I want Eli as my boyfriend!

The plot moved very quickly and was beautifully written. If you have never read a Sarah Dessen book why not start with this gem? Overall a fabulous book just like all of her other books!


5/5

The Naughty List* by Suzanne Young

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it? 

This series is a really cute idea. It is very original and different. The cover is gorgeous and really plays to the story of the novel.

Tessa starts out as being perfect but then she turns into a normal girl which I really appreciated. Aiden was a little too fake for me but overall the characters were interesting. I wish I had gotten to know the "clients" better, I think the story would have been more captivating if so. I enjoyed the little bit of sleuthing that was in the book but I found myself longing for more. Beyond that it was a cute book and very different! I cannot wait for the next one!

*ARC, Comes out February 4, 2010
3.5/5

**Part of Around the World Tours!

Beastly by Alex Flinn

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

This book came out a long time ago and I always wondered what it was about so I picked it up. I have always live the story of Beauty and the Beast so I was intrigued to find out that there was a retelling of the book from the beast's point of view.

This book was very heart wrenching in my opinion because you see Kyle getting kicked out of his home and his life and being completely left alone except for a maid and his blind tutor. This book really opened up my eyes to what the experience would have been like for the Beast, not just Beauty.

The only problem I had with this book was that he was really, really whiny throughout most of the book which I guess was warranted some of the time but not all of the time. Overall a good book!

4/5

(Make sure to check out the movie coming out in 2010!)

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life--dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge--he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues--and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

So all of the books I have read by John Green are really good. This was no exception, the characters were well built and the plot was executed well.

One of the things that tells me that John Green's books are good is the fact that I personally have a harder time reading book where the narrator is a guy. I don't know why but that is just the way it works out. But when I pick up a John Green novel I don't think about the fact that the book has a guy narrator, I am just pulled into the story and cannot look back.

Ok on to the story, Quentin and his friends are very believable people that don't all exactly fall into a stereotypical mold which is hard to do in writing.

The only small problem I had with this book was the ending was a real letdown in my opinion maybe because it was so built up that I wanted more I don't know but I felt unsatisfied with the ending, but maybe that was the author's intention. I don't know, other than that I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!

(visit John Green's Website/blog at www.sparksflyup.com)

4/5

Rash

Summary

Consumption of alcohol: Illegal.

Football and other "violent" sports: Illegal.

Ownership of guns, chain saws, and/or large dogs: Illegal.

Body piercings, tattoos: Illegal.

It's late in the twenty-first century, and the United Safer States of America (USSA) has become a nation obsessed with safety. For Bo Marsten, a teenager who grew up in the USSA, it's all good. He knows the harsh laws were created to protect the people. But when Bo's temper flares out of control and he's sentenced to three years of manual labor, he's not so down with the law anymore.

Bo's forced to live and work in a factory in the Canadian tundra. The warden running the place is totally out of his mind, and cares little for his inmates' safety. Bo will have to decide what's worse: a society that locks people up for road rage, or a prison where the wrong move could make you polar bear food.

Review

I had never heard about this book but I picked it up because the cover intrigued me. It was ok, I thought it was going to be better because of the description. Even though it was not one of my favorites it was interesting, inventive, and had a good lesson behind it. Through Bo's stint in prison the readers learn about the importance of following the rules and that sometimes even if the rules seem ridiculous they can be helpful. I had never read a book by Pete Hautman but I might try one of his better known books in order to get a better sense of his writing style.

4.3/10