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Showing posts with label grade B+. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grade B+. Show all posts
Friday, 28 June 2013
Author: Lisa M. Stasse
Date Published: July 10, 2012
Grade: B
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
Review: The Goodreads summary is what initially drew me in so quickly about this book. Lately, I've been really falling in love with dystopian novels. Along with this whole Lost similarity, with an island and a higher power controlling things, and different "sides" of the island, mixed in with a bit of Lord of the Flies and Hunger Games, I had very high expectations for The Forsaken.
Let's start off with what I liked. It was definitely a refreshing read because it was so different compared to the young adult novels I've been reading lately. The Forsaken is a very fast paced book, filled with action and adventure, I never found myself bored and my eyes leaped from page to page, desperately wanting more. Along with the many mysteries lurking within the story, there are also many twists hidden for the readers as the book goes on, which is always fun to read.
Although this novel did have a "romance" in it, 1) there was an annoying love triangle (which I found unnecessary and tiring to read) and 2) I never quite believed in the relationship between Liam and Alenna because it all happened so fast. She literally met him, talked to him once, and then they decided they were "apparently" in love with each other. It was pretty hard to feel their connection because they rarely had moments that showed their true personalities. Which leads me to my next point- most of the characters didn't really have much of a personality, especially Alenna, the protagonist. I don't think she showed enough emotion at all, and even when she did, it was boring to read. I didn't really like Alenna- her priorities seemed muddled up. At times, she would be like "Yeah! I'm an independent girl ready to go fight for myself and keep on trekkin'!" and then the next thing you know its all "I miss Liam.". LITERALLY THOUGH. It was irritating jumping back and forth between her two identities. Also, there tended to be a sentence italicized randomly every so often. I don't think it made the sentence any more dramatic. It was just weird.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Forsaken because of its quick pace and really interesting, engaging story line. Although this book was definitely not perfect, with its flat characters and questionable romance, I will definitely stick with the series and I anticipate the release of The Uprising, which is the second book in the Forsaken series.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Friday, 24 May 2013
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Grade: B
Goodreads Summary: If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
Review: When I first heard the premise of this novel, I was instantly intrigued by it. Everything about this book screamed perfect romance. A movie star accidentally emailing you and continuing on a conversation that lasts months? Could this please happen to me?
The book began with the first emails exchanges between Ellie and Graham. They set the tone of the rest of the story really well as you could feel an instant connections between the characters. The more they talked, the more charmed I was by their budding romance.
I was not expecting this book to be long because Smith's previous novel, The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, was fairly short. So it was much to my surprise when I picked up this book, and it was a 400 pages long. For me, that was its one fault. Though I loved reading about Ellie's and Graham's life, I found myself to be wanting to skim over some parts as they seemed to drag on a bit.
Something I couldn't help but notice though was Smith's amazing description. There were many lines that seemed so simple yet poignant, and I found myself rereading certain paragraphs because the writing just so good.
This book is one that will make you feel happy. I recommend it to fans of Smith's previous novels, and any other fan of the YA romance genre. Don't shy away from its length like I almost did though. Otherwise you'll regret having missed out on this one.
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Title: Two-Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Date Published: June 26, 2007
Grade: B
It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.
Review: I was very doubtful whether I would like this book or not. After reading some pretty tough reviews about it, it sounded dreadfully cheesy and frustrating. Surprisingly, I did enjoy it much more than I had initially thought. It wasn't a life changing, amazing novel, but it acted kind of like a guilty pleasure read. A light, super fast, and engaging read about first love and heartbreak.
*SIDENOTE* The cover... Doesn't exactly have much to do with the story (other than a boy and a girl on a road trip). 1) Jordan isn't a blonde, he is supposed to have dark brown hair. 2) It's not supposed to be a small, roofless car- it's Jordan's truck! and 3) I don't think they ever get stuck on the road are are forced to open the hood of the car.
Okay well, firstly, I really liked how the book was from both Courtney and Jordan's points of views. It made the plot fast moving and extremely engaging. I loved seeing both sides of the story. For instance, one of my favorite parts of the book was when Courtney didn't want Jordan to think she was interested in his conversation, so she tried to look busy by rummaging through her bag, even though she was very interested. Then, when we get to Jordan's perspective, he tells us how disappointed and sad he feels because he thinks Courtney didn't care about his conversation. I found that funny.
Jordan... The more I read, the more I liked him. At first, he seemed like an obnoxious, stereotypical "thinks he's so cool" player. But I really fell for him by the end. You could tell he really loves Courtney; the way he held her hair back when she was sick, how he left eighteen messages on her phone, how badly he wanted to be with her. Oh gosh, it was so cute. Courtney was kind of the opposite for me. I liked her at the very beginning, I found her funny and somewhat relatable (I too, would have made an itinerary). But as I read on, she annoyed me more and more. Especially at the end when she was mad at Jordan. I couldn't understand why she was so upset. Courtney seemed so self centered, she rarely thought about things from the perspective of Jordan. And she often over-reacted to everything. However, I think they worked well together as a couple, and I really enjoyed reading about their chemistry.
Although a lot did happen throughout the novel, there didn't seem to be a real climax. Just a bunch of events that happened one after another. Readers had known about the big "twist" since near the beginning of the book. Furthermore, the "twist" was kind of anti-climatic.
Overall though, I found this book very light. It didn't really fulfill me very much. There was no sudden greater life realization that occurred to me while I read it. It's not a book that will stick with me for a very long time. Two Way Street was simply a fun and cute little read.
PAULA :)
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Name: Eleanor & ParkAuthor: Rainbow Rowell
Date Published: February 26, 2013
Grade: B
Goodreads Summary:
"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
Review: After reading John Green's review of Eleanor & Park in the New York Times, claiming that he's "never seen anything quite like it", I was so unbelievably excited for this book. I was about to go on a trip and so I packed it in my carry on bag to read on the flight over because it seemed like such a happy, cute read- perfect for sitting on the airplane. I will admit, it was a captivating read and I ended up reading it all in one sitting, no bathroom breaks and no food breaks (which is a wonder for me). But when I turned that final page and closed the book, I didn't feel satisfied and I was left with a longing for more closure. Something in that book just didn't quite click for me.
I was wrong about one thing, that's for sure. While Eleanor and Park did have their happy, cute moments together that made me smile and go "awwe"... It was pretty dark read, tackling real issues that occur in the present world such as self-esteem, bullying, and domestic abuse. Although I wasn't really prepared for these issues to be in the book, I'm glad that they were there because it helped ground the book into reality. Even though it hurt my heart to read about these issues, they acted as reminders that life has obstacles and learning to get over these obstacles shape us as people. The contrast between the two households juxtaposed the different obstacles Eleanor and Park were having to go through. It was also adorable seeing Park offer not only his love, but the love of his warm, perfect family, to Eleanor. Another aspect of the book I really liked, was how both Eleanor and Park narrated the story, it allowed us to see their characters develop together and separately, in a magical, beautiful way.
One thing that just bothered me so much, and will continue to bother me if I ever do re-read it, is the fact that their relationship felt a bit one sided. I mean, by seeing things from Eleanor's perspective, we knew that she did love him and she did need him, but she rarely told Park what was wrong and he had to push so hard for her to let him in. Park would continuously tell her he loved her and yet she wouldn't say it back. It was so frustrating to read! I loved Park though. I loved his love for her. In the beginning, I admit that their relationship was painfully slow to read- It wasn't painful as in boring, it was painful because I just wanted so badly for them to hurry up and be happy together. When they were together, however, and when everything was going well, their relationship was like a warm cup of hot chocolate, so satisfying and sweet and heartwarming. Overall, it was pretty wondrous seeing this misfit of a couple fall in love for the first time together, and it made me happy to see how happy they made each other.
*SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH*
I didn't like the ending. I think that's one of the biggest problems I had with the book. Everything was happening so suddenly, and then *poof*- I was left with basically nothing. Kind of like a flame that just dies out, leaving no light behind at all. It didn't feel special in the slightest way- on the contrary, it felt boring and normal for such a special relationship. It was a bit depressing as well because throughout the book, it seemed as if Eleanor knew that there would be no "after" in their relationship. And throughout the whole book I had been silently cheering for them to be high-school sweethearts and get married and have a happy life and yaddiyaddiaya. But I was proven wrong, and Eleanor was proven right. And that is depressing to me. I might have been a bit harsh on my grade for this book because overall it was a lovely read with easy-to-love protagonists and for the most part, a storyline that made me feel, really feel quite a lot.
Thanks for reading!
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
Review: After reading John Green's review of Eleanor & Park in the New York Times, claiming that he's "never seen anything quite like it", I was so unbelievably excited for this book. I was about to go on a trip and so I packed it in my carry on bag to read on the flight over because it seemed like such a happy, cute read- perfect for sitting on the airplane. I will admit, it was a captivating read and I ended up reading it all in one sitting, no bathroom breaks and no food breaks (which is a wonder for me). But when I turned that final page and closed the book, I didn't feel satisfied and I was left with a longing for more closure. Something in that book just didn't quite click for me.
I was wrong about one thing, that's for sure. While Eleanor and Park did have their happy, cute moments together that made me smile and go "awwe"... It was pretty dark read, tackling real issues that occur in the present world such as self-esteem, bullying, and domestic abuse. Although I wasn't really prepared for these issues to be in the book, I'm glad that they were there because it helped ground the book into reality. Even though it hurt my heart to read about these issues, they acted as reminders that life has obstacles and learning to get over these obstacles shape us as people. The contrast between the two households juxtaposed the different obstacles Eleanor and Park were having to go through. It was also adorable seeing Park offer not only his love, but the love of his warm, perfect family, to Eleanor. Another aspect of the book I really liked, was how both Eleanor and Park narrated the story, it allowed us to see their characters develop together and separately, in a magical, beautiful way.
One thing that just bothered me so much, and will continue to bother me if I ever do re-read it, is the fact that their relationship felt a bit one sided. I mean, by seeing things from Eleanor's perspective, we knew that she did love him and she did need him, but she rarely told Park what was wrong and he had to push so hard for her to let him in. Park would continuously tell her he loved her and yet she wouldn't say it back. It was so frustrating to read! I loved Park though. I loved his love for her. In the beginning, I admit that their relationship was painfully slow to read- It wasn't painful as in boring, it was painful because I just wanted so badly for them to hurry up and be happy together. When they were together, however, and when everything was going well, their relationship was like a warm cup of hot chocolate, so satisfying and sweet and heartwarming. Overall, it was pretty wondrous seeing this misfit of a couple fall in love for the first time together, and it made me happy to see how happy they made each other.
*SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH*
I didn't like the ending. I think that's one of the biggest problems I had with the book. Everything was happening so suddenly, and then *poof*- I was left with basically nothing. Kind of like a flame that just dies out, leaving no light behind at all. It didn't feel special in the slightest way- on the contrary, it felt boring and normal for such a special relationship. It was a bit depressing as well because throughout the book, it seemed as if Eleanor knew that there would be no "after" in their relationship. And throughout the whole book I had been silently cheering for them to be high-school sweethearts and get married and have a happy life and yaddiyaddiaya. But I was proven wrong, and Eleanor was proven right. And that is depressing to me. I might have been a bit harsh on my grade for this book because overall it was a lovely read with easy-to-love protagonists and for the most part, a storyline that made me feel, really feel quite a lot.
Thanks for reading!
Paula :)
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