What's Left of Me (Kat Zhang)

****

         In an alternate reality, babies are born with two souls inside of them.  As children, the two identities take turns controlling their body.  Eventually, they "settle" - the dominant soul takes control of the body, while the other one fades away.
         Eva and Addie have spent the past three years pretending that they have settled.  It's not too hard; Eva has lost control of their body, so Addie's act is very convincing.  But Eva is still there, and she can't help but wish that she had some power over their life.  When a classmate offers a way for Eva to move again, the girls take it, even though it means risking discovery in a society where hybrid souls are seen as a threat.  

         I really enjoyed this book!  The concept was super cool and seemed fresh in the world of dystopian future.  Addie and Eva were interesting, well developed characters.  I especially liked Eva for her strength despite her limitations, and for her strong desire to experience the world in a way she hadn't been able to do since she was little.  Can't wait for the sequel!

Rating: 4/5

Completed: July 22, 2013

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)

***

         High school freshman Charlie is shy and socially awkward, trying to find his place in a world of people nothing like him.  He ends up settling into a group of older students.  Loyal friends Patrick, Sam, and Mary Elizabeth help Charlie navigate his first drink, kiss, and Rocky Horror Picture Show - and help him figure out who he is and what's important to him.

         This book has gotten rave reviews from a lot of people.  A lot of people.  I really felt like I should have loved it, but I didn't.  That's not to say I didn't like it - it was an interesting story.  However, I didn't feel like Charlie's voice resonated with me.  It was a little childish and seemed unrealistic at times.  People talk about this book as really capturing the teenage experience, but Charlie's not an average teenager, and that definitely comes across in what he says and does.  On the other hand, he does capture that overarching feeling of not fitting in.  Charlie has a strong voice (regardless of my personal feelings about it).  I'm glad I read this book both because it was an interesting story and because now I know what everybody is talking about when The Perks of Being a Wallflower is mentioned.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: July 13, 2013

Why I Haven't Posted Lately, Or, How NaNoWriMo Controlled My Life (Or, A Message from the Queen of Excuses!)

As you may or may not have noticed (I mean, I'm not sure how often you visit me here) I have not posted much lately.  In fact, I have not posted since early November.  Hmm.  Suspicious . . .

Turns out, NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month, aka November - is the most time-consuming thing you could do.  Like, ever.  Basically, I have spent the past month trying to write 50,000 words of a novel.  

Reading?  

         Forget it.  

Homework?

         I could probably just skim this chapter.

Family time?  Social life?

         Nah.

Watching TV?

         Wait, we have a TV?

Okay, I did watch a little TV.  But the point is that I didn't get as much reviewing or blogging done as I would have liked to.  

Hey, it was worth it.  Although I will most likely never ever publish it, I have a (shortish, unfinished) manuscript to my name.  I reached my goal!  And if you've been around here for a while, you know how I am with goals . . .

On the bright side, I will have a little bit more time on my hands now.  Who knows?  I might even be able to post a few reviews.  

The Symptoms of My Insanity (Mindy Raf)

***

         Hypochondriac Izzy spends a good part of her day obsessively worrying whether she has some rare disease or another.  It doesn't help that her mom actually does have a rare disease, one that could possibly kill her.  Although Izzy's mom is in remission now, Izzy isn't quite ready to return to the world of normal.  It doesn't help that her best friend is acting like a completely different person, or that she can't tell whether her crush likes her or not.  When things start to get really horrible, Izzy can't categorize the crazy anymore.

         I know that bad things happen to good people.  Still, I almost think too many bad things happened to Izzy, to the point where it started to feel unrealistic.  Her family was always giving her a hard time, her friend didn't seem to care about what she was going through, and she was played by a guy who pretended to be her friend and knew that her mom had cancer.  The only reason that I could let it slide was that this book was also really funny.  Izzy's hilarious commentary prevented the book from being thoroughly depressing.  If you generally don't like sad books, this might be a good one for you, because it's got plenty of humor and ends on a positive note.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: July 10, 2013

The Madman's Daughter (Megan Shepherd)

***

         Juliet Moreau used to be a member of high society London, until rumors of her father's gruesome experiments came to light.  Dr. Moreau disappeared, his wife died, and an orphaned Juliet was left to fend for herself.  Years later, she runs into Montgomery, her father's assistant, and discovers that Dr. Moreau is still alive and working on a remote island.  Despite the dangers, Juliet accompanies Montgomery across the world to be reunited with her father (and to determine whether the rumors were true).  On the island, Juliet realizes that the rumors are not only true, but may have more to do with her own identity than she would like to believe.

         This book has an interesting, macabre concept: a so-called doctor who has developed a method of turning animals into grotesque, human-like creatures.  The protagonist, Juliet, is unexpectedly daring for a Victorian-era teenager.  She's not at all interested in gender limitations, and pursues science with great interest.  The threat of danger doesn't stop her from doing what she wants.  However, the book fell a little flat of its full potential.  Although the idea was interesting, the actual plot line was pretty darn predictable.  I already knew what the twistiest twist was going to be relatively early in the story.  Shepherd's foreshadowing was a little too obvious.  Another thing that bugged me was the love triangle between Juliet, Montgomery, and Edward, a castaway they picked up on their way to the island.  Sometimes a love triangle is good, sometimes it just makes the protagonist seem confused and a tiny bit shallow.  It was definitely the latter in this case.  That being said, people who are looking for a mix of romance, science, and psychopaths might want to pick up this book.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: July 8, 2013

Nantucket Blue (Leila Howland)

***

         This summer was supposed to be Cricket Thompson's best summer ever: the summer she would go to Nantucket with her best friend Jules Clayton and finally get the guy she's been crushing on all year.  When an unexpected tragedy occurs, though, Cricket is suddenly no longer welcome anywhere near the Claytons.  Instead of canceling her plans, she gets a job cleaning a Nantucket B&B.  There, she makes new friends, lands an internship, and falls for someone she never would have expected.  If she can figure out what she wants, this could be Cricket's best summer, after all.

         Summer is substance-optional, at least when it comes to books.  So I picked up this one thinking that there wouldn't be much to it.  I mean, girl falls in love with off-limits boy at beach?  Gee, I haven't heard that one before.  But there was a little more to the story.  At the start of the book, Cricket seems like a privileged and slightly spoiled "popular girl".  Over the course of the summer, she deals with family issues and a friend crisis.  She meets new friends and realizes that her old identity wasn't really her identity at all.  Nantucket Blue exceeded my expectations in that respect.  Maybe it seems completely shallow, but if you're looking for a light read with a bit more to it, Nantucket Blue is a good pick.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: June 29, 2013

Eleanor & Park (Rainbow Rowell)

****

         Eleanor is not normal, something Park notices the second she climbs onto the school bus with her crazy hair, eccentric clothes, and less-than-perfect body.  But when his classmates refuse to give her a seat, Park does the unthinkable and tells her to sit next to him.  And, to his horror, she does.
         As the weeks go by, Park's interest in Eleanor grows.  She reads the comics that he brings on the bus.  He brings her a stack to take home every night.  She comes to his house and is fascinated by his music.  He starts to make mix tapes just for her.  She eats dinner with his family every night to avoid her own.  Soon, Eleanor and Park want to spend all of their time together.  They want to make this work.  Maybe, though, first love isn't meant to work, especially when the cards are stacked against them.  Maybe they will have to choose between what they want, and what they need to do.

         This was a really really good book.  Yeah, I know that's kind of a lame way to say what I'm trying to say . . . but it's also true.  Eleanor & Park is sad, happy, depressing, exciting, upsetting, and uplifting.  Talk about an emotional roller coaster.  There was some pretty heavy emphasis on first love, etc, but the book also dealt with bullying and various family problems.  It was balanced, at least as far as YA romance goes.  As usual, it's been a while since I've read this book, so I can't remember most of the specific pros and cons.  The fact that I only remember positive things is probably a good sign!  My main criticism of this book is that it makes a lot of references to 80s culture (I mean, a lot) which made me feel very un-hipster.  Which I guess is accurate.  Anyway, if you want a great YA romance, Eleanor & Park was practically made for you - go read it!

Rating: 4/5
Completed: June 27, 2013

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (J.K. Rowling)

*****

         After fifteen years of peace in the Wizarding World, the war against Voldemort is back on.  The Ministry is doing its best to protect everyone, but it can only do so much against a powerful, terrifying enemy who works in stealth.  Harry Potter is coming to terms with the prophecy he heard last summer, a prophecy that brings him to the center of this war.  Now that Harry knows what he should have known years before, Dumbledore has offered to help him.  Dumbledore, the only person Voldemort ever feared, knows more about Tom Riddle's life than anyone else.  He promises to take Harry on his journey through the past, looking for the key to defeat Voldemort.
         At Hogwarts, meanwhile, strange things are happening.  Students are being poisoned, cursed, and attacked.  Nobody knows how, but Harry has a theory.  He suspects that Draco Malfoy has been made a Death Eater (something that nobody else believes) and he's determined to catch Draco in the act.  Throughout the year, Harry takes advice from the notes of a former Hogwarts student, the self-proclaimed Half-Blood Prince, who might be more trouble than he's worth.  Harry and Dumbledore dig deeper into Riddle's murky past, until they finally hit the moment when all of the pieces come together.
It is then that Harry finally understands the magnitude of what must be done to stop Voldemort once and for all.

         I think by now we've established that I am a Harry Potter fan, but I've got to say that book six is not my favorite.  True, there are some seriously exciting parts: Quidditch and romance and poison and adventures with Dumbledore.  Maybe it comes down to the fact that, goody two-shoes that I am, I hate having to sit around while characters make stupid decisions in books.  Most characters do - trust me, I know.  But here we have Harry, and he's taking advice from a book again.  I mean, what happened the last time you listened to a book, Harry?  TOM RIDDLE POPPED OUT!  Throughout book six, I get this horrible sense of impending doom, even when I know exactly what is going to happen.  That being said, this book also contains some of my favorite parts of the series (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Harry's and Ron's relationships, and Harry's final trip with Dumbledore, to name a few).  And those things must outweigh the bad, because I still find it in me to give The Half-Blood Prince five stars ...

Rating: 5/5
Completed: June 25, 2013

Two Harry Potter reviews in a row!  And this one was particularly rambling.  Sorry, people - new content coming up soon.

BookWatch: Allegiant (Veronica Roth)

         Most people familiar with the world of YA books are probably also familiar with the dystopian future trend that's been big for the past few years.  One of the most exciting dystopian series, in my opinion, comes from Chicago writer Veronica Roth ...
         That's right - the Divergent trilogy.
         It is now officially freak-out time, because the third and final book in the series, Allegiant, comes out on October 22 (nine days from today).

         I, for one, can't wait to find out what happens to Tris et al, even if I was a bit annoyed with her in Insurgent.  Hopefully I'll have some time to skim through the books and remind myself of the finer plot points.  And, more importantly, fingers crossed that I don't have too much homework the week the book is released!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J.K. Rowling)

 *****

         Harry Potter has never enjoyed summer with the Dursleys less.  Haunted by the death of Cedric Diggory and anxious for signs of the return of Lord Voldemort, Harry wants to hear news of the Wizarding world.  When he finally does, it is nothing like he had expected.  The Ministry of Magic denies that Voldemort has returned; wizards everywhere think Harry is an attention-seeking liar; and Dumbledore has revived the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society and the only force fighting against Voldemort.  At Order of the Phoenix headquarters, everybody is determined to keep Harry in the dark.  Harry is trying to get through the usual Hogwarts drama on top of everything else: evil teachers, future-altering exams, gossip, rule breaking, and budding romance.  All the while, he knows something much worse is brewing outside the walls of Hogwarts.  And something about the strange dreams Harry has been having makes him wonder how soon it will be before he becomes a part of it.

         Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is one of my favorite books in the series (and also one of my favorite books ever).  My sister divides Harry Potter into three categories: Baby Harry, Angsty Harry, and Adult Harry.  Order of the Phoenix is most definitely considered Angsty Harry (hint: try to count the number of all-caps explosions Harry has in this book).  I know that some Potter fans think Angsty Harry is really annoying, but I kind of like it.  And after all Harry has been through, and all the pressure he feels, isn't it normal for him to get emotional?
         By the time Harry gets to his fifth year, he has seen how twisted and evil some people can be.  For him, it's more than just a glimpse into the "real world".  I would argue that it's in Harry's fifth year that he figures out what he cares about and believes in.  The realizations he comes to after all the angst prepare him to take on the challenges Dumbledore will throw at him the following year.
         Apart from all the seriousness, though, this book is really exciting.  You can't help but feel giddy as Harry and the D.A. defy Umbridge and learn defensive magic behind her back.  You have to laugh out loud at Fred and George's various attempts to cause mayhem in the school, while the teachers turn a blind eye and even encourage it.  You feel your stomach flip-flop when Harry decides that he has to take matters into his own hands to figure out what's going on.  I would even go so far as to say it's epic.

Rating: 5/5
Completed: June 19, 2013

Starting this summer, my sister and I started reading Harry Potter aloud to our younger sister.  It's been really fun to look back at all of my favorite parts of the story and live vicariously through her experience.  For those of you who have read the series, which is your favorite book?  Favorite character?  Favorite scene?  Post in the comments!

Dying to Know You (Aidan Chambers)

***

         Karl knows he loves Fiorella, but that is not enough for her.  She wants proof - written proof, that is, in the form of a Q&A essay.  As girl who considers herself a writer, this seems to be the most romantic thing Fiorella can imagine.  But for Karl, who is dyslexic, it only inspires terror.  Will Fiorella, lover of poetry, reject him when she discovers that he hates to read?
         Instead of telling her the truth, Karl asks Fiorella's favorite author to answer the questions for him.  The lonely novelist reluctantly agrees, and in the process starts a friendship with the shy, reserved plumber that is Karl.  They help each other move beyond the past and restart life on their own terms.

         This time, I'm facing the opposite problem from my last review.  Now I can't remember what I didn't like about this book that merited three stars instead of, say, four.  Aaaaarghhh!  What I will say is that this isn't your typical teen novel.  If you're looking for a super-cute romance, you're not going to get it.  Karl isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill teenaged boy, and things don't turn out the way you would expect them to.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this way you won't fall victim to false advertising.  If you are in the mood for a book that's a little more thoughtful and introspective (which isn't all that common in YA lit), this would be a good option.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: June 10, 2013

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life (Tara Altebrando)

***

         Graduating high school senior Mary has always been a goody two-shoes at school.  She's done everything she could to get into her dream school, Georgetown.  Her college dreams haven't worked out (while the dreams of classmates like jock and bully Jake Barbone, on the other hand, have).  But none of that matters now, because the annual Senior Week Scavenger Hunt is on and Mary is determined that her team will win.  If they do, it will prove that your social status in high school doesn't define you for the rest of your life.  But as the games begin, the drama that has plagued Mary throughout high school is running rampant.  She and her friends will have to rise above it all if they're going to have any chance of winning.

         This book was good, but not awesome.  Mary had her flaws as a character, but could have had more in the way of redeeming qualities to balance things out.  I'm glad I read this book this year (as opposed to the same time next year) because I think I would have become thoroughly depressed by the conclusion if I were a graduating senior.  Mary starts out feeling so determined to win, and so self-righteous, that it takes a while before she realizes that she's not the super-nice girl that she thought she was.  In the end, Mary discovers that she has wasted her life up until now obsessing over social drama and judging others without thinking about what she has done to them.  This reflection over her personality and relationships gets you thinking, and Mary does come out better in the end because of it.  For me, however, it was frustrating that most of the book was spent listening to Mary's whining.  Many of the other characters were also annoying.  To be fair, though, it was a pretty neat scavenger hunt and everyone seemed to learn a good lesson about themselves and becoming adults.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: May 26, 2013

P.S. - Sorry about my little rant there.  I usually try to give a fair review, get the whole picture, and all that . . . But sometimes books can be so annoying!  And it's funny, once there are two months between you and a book, how selective your memory can be.  I know I didn't hate this book (I did give it three stars at the time; I always try to rate a book right away) but I can't remember for the life of me what I liked about it!  Sorry, Tara Altenbrando.
Has a book ever been ruined for you by some annoying character trait or other little thing you couldn't get your mind off?  Which book, and why?  Post in the comments.

This is What Happy Looks Like (Jennifer E. Smith)

****

Author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

         When Ellie O'Neill gets an email from a total stranger who meant to contact his pig-sitter, she replies only to let him know that he got the wrong address.  But one email quickly expands into an online friendship, where Ellie's identity and past just don't matter.
         While Ellie is happy to keep their relationship strictly on the internet, Graham Larkin can't help but want to meet this faceless girl.  And when he gets his chance, filming his next movie in Ellie's hometown, he jumps at it.  When Graham arrives, things get complicated.  Ellie is horrified to discover how famous Graham really is, and even more horrified at the thought of being seen in public with him. If Ellie gets media attention, the result could be the end of her peaceful, secretive life in Maine.

         This was another cute book by Jennifer E. Smith, and a perfect summer quick-read (it took me about a day to get through it).  Ellie and Graham both have their personal problems but are nevertheless likable.  Just like in Statistical Probability, the plot has an overall positive vibe.  However, there is conflict outside of the emotional strife that usually goes along with romance, so it doesn't get too boring.   If you're looking for a fun, light read, This is What Happy Looks Like would be a good choice.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: May 18, 2013

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Robin Sloan)

****

         When you dive into this story, the first person you meet is Clay Jannon.  Clay is a young, modern, and unemployed graphic designer living in San Francisco.  His wanderings in search of the right job lead him to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, an outdated establishment in a rather seedy part of town.  Without really thinking, Clay takes the graveyard shift at the store.  To the front of the shop, there is a small selection of current-day books, which nobody ever seems to buy.  The back of the store, however, is home to a vast collection - a collection Clay is forbidden from looking at.  Most of Clay's customers borrow books from the back of the store.  These people are very eccentric, and Clay is given the task of noting their appearance and state of mind in a large logbook every time they visit.
         Soon Clay, bored of long, lonely nights at the store, begins to investigate the nature of the forbidden books.  When he discovers they're all written in code, he enlists the help of several of his friends - Neel Shah, CEO; Mat Mittenbrand, set designer; and Kat Potente, Googler - to figure out the mystery behind the store.  What they uncover leads them to a secret society trying to answer an age-old question, a question that they become determined to answer.

         People say that you should never judge a book by its cover, but let's face it: most of us do anyway.  This book's cover is simple and attractive, but better yet is the fact that it glows in the dark.  Between the great cover and the inside jacket that promised code breaking, old books, and secret societies, I was sold.  I ended up liking this book a lot.  The characters and plot highlight the very relevant transition from the printed word to the digital word.  Every character is well-developed, the kind of people you would love to meet.  The way that these book sellers, code breakers, secret keepers, and nerds interact makes for a great story.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: May 7, 2013

Macbeth (William Shakespeare)

***

         When Macbeth, a Scottish thane, hears a prophecy that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then become king, he can't help but be intrigued, even if he doesn't believe it's true.  But when the first part of the prophecy falls into place, Macbeth wonders whether he could push things along in his favor.  With encouragement from his manipulative wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan in a quest for power. However, kingship doesn't turn out the way Macbeth had expected.  Haunted by his own wrongdoing and by Duncan's loyal subjects, Macbeth takes desperate action to cling to the only thing he has left - his crown.

         As far as school assignments go, this was pretty good.  It's the second Shakespeare play I've read (the first was Romeo and Juliet).  I liked it a lot.  I could go on for quite some time explaining all of the themes and character developments we discussed in class, but I doubt many people would want to hear it!  Personally, I wouldn't seek it out outside of a school assignment, but if you do happen to like plays or older literature, you would probably like it.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: May 2, 2013

Girlchild (Tupelo Hassman)

****

         Rory Dawn Hendrix is a Girl Scout.  Or at least, that's what she likes to tell people, even though she doesn't have a troop or a leader to call her own.  Life in the trailer park where Rory lives isn't always easy, but the Girl Scout Handbook gives her the practical advice she craves in a world where very little makes sense.  And maybe with the help of the Handbook, Rory can be the first woman in her family to make something worthwhile out of her life.  

         This was a good, but sad, story.  I liked the format, which was a mix of thoughts, journal entries, made-up Girl Scout badges, and more.  Rory grows a lot as a character throughout this book.  It was interesting to see how she came to terms with her troubled past and broken family, and figured out what she wanted out of her own life.  I felt bad for her because she was stuck in life in so many ways.  In the end, though, it seemed like she had embraced her identity and taken control of her life.  I would definitely recommend Girlchild as long as you're up for a sad book.  

Rating: 4/5

Completed: April 24, 2013

Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Éxupery)

****

         A pilot has crashed his airplane in the desert and is stranded with barely enough water to survive.  It is there, while he is repairing his plane, that he meets the Little Prince.  The Little Prince is no ordinary boy - he isn't even from this planet.  He tells the story of his first love and his travels through space.  As he meets new people throughout the universe, the Little Prince comes to understand the most important things in life.

         J'ai lu Le Petit Prince avec ma classe de français l'année passé.  Je l'aimais beaucoup.  Le Petit Prince est très mignon et aussi très sage.  Les aventures du Petit Prince étaient magnifiques . . . il a fait le connaissance des personnes intéressants.  

         Just kidding.  I wouldn't actually do that to you (whether it's because you don't understand any French or because you understand enough French to know that I don't have the vocabulary to write a book review).  Anyway, we read this in French class last year and I really enjoyed it.  Le Petit Prince, or The Little Prince in English, is meant to be a children's book.  It didn't seem too juvenile, though.  Like Winnie-the-Pooh, it is cute and enjoyable no matter how old you are.  Le Petit Prince also has some seriously deep moments.  It would be a good choice to read with a younger child, but you could definitely read it by yourself as well.

Rating: 4/5

Completed: April 19, 2013

BookWatch: J.K. Rowling Strikes Again

         Today I heard some super-amazing news from my sister, who heard it from one of our friends: it was revealed yesterday (thanks to an anonymous tip and a little sleuthing) that J.K. Rowling has written another book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.  YAY!!!  This "debut" mystery novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, earned really good reviews.  It's been out since April, but now that everyone knows who really wrote it, it's flying off the shelves.  I checked Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the library - no luck.  It will probably be a few weeks before I get my hands on it.  In the meantime, I'll try to catch up on my reviews.  Not quite as exciting, but what can you do?
         Do you plan on reading this book?  Were you able to get ahold of a copy?  Post in the comments.

Love and Other Perishable Items (Laura Buzo)

****

         Fifteen-year-old Amelia knows that some things just aren't going to happen, and a relationship with her older coworker Chris is definitely one of those things.  After all, Chris is a sophisticated university student with sophisticated university friends - friends who have had their first drink and their first relationship and their first everything else already.  So Amelia strikes up a friendship with Chris, talking about books, family, and the future, and tries to pretend that their possibly mutual attraction doesn't exist.
         At 21, Chris is not sure what to make of his (platonic?) love for Amelia.  Although she's much younger than he is, Amelia is mature and witty and easy to talk to.  He doesn't think of "Youngster" as, well, just a youngster anymore.  Even when he knows he should.  But no matter how attracted he may be to Amelia, they are living completely different lives that only cross at the checkout of the supermarket.  Chris, who hardly knows what the future holds for him as a soon-to-be graduate, can't picture how Amelia would fit into his adult life.

         This was a cute novel with a little more substance than your average romance.  It's also relatively short if you're looking for a quick read.  The characters were engaging, and their journal entries were well done.  I was also glad that the ending wasn't typical for this type of novel.  It was definitely worth the read.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: April 12, 2013

Summer has been super busy so far!  I just got back from my cousin's wedding, where I had no internet.  Hopefully I'll be able to post more in the coming weeks.  Meanwhile, if you have any book recommendations, post in the comments.  I just got finished with Harry Potter five and six . . . loving that I will be able to count them towards the goal this year!

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II (Denise Kiernan)

****

         In 1942, thousands of Americans were hired by the US government.  The job description: a project that will help to end the war.  All they knew was that they would be paid well and the government would provide for everything they needed.  What they didn't know was what they would be doing or where they'd be doing it.  Among these people were many young women who, for various reasons, packed their bags and hopped on a train.  The train took them to Oak Ridge, TN.  There, they took on jobs from secretary to machine operator, janitor to scientist.  They worked in late-night shifts and slept in houses that had been slapped together just before their arrival.  Though the government hadn't planned for it to happen, the women made their mysterious gated city home.  

         This was such an interesting book.  I've always liked learning about all things WWII, and this was a great perspective on the war.  The author did a nice job of gathering a balanced account of life in Oak Ridge.  I liked how she switched between stories of the women who lived and worked in Oak Ridge and the scientific facts behind the work that they were doing.  The result was an interweaving of facts and personal details that made for a cohesive story.  Because Kiernan went into detail on the accounts of individual women, I felt like I got a good idea of the challenges they faced in all aspects of life in Oak Ridge.  I was really struck by the fact that Oak Ridge residents couldn't even tell their spouses what they did at work - it was that secretive.  The information on the development of the Gadget itself was written at a level that wasn't too overwhelming.  I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the Manhattan Project.  

Rating: 4/5

Completed: April 10, 2013

Clockwork Princess (Cassandra Clare)

***

Book Three of The Infernal Devices - spoiler alert!  (It's kind of hard to explain this book without telling you what happened in Book Two.)

         Tessa and Jem are preparing for their wedding before it is too late for Jem.  However, their plans are interrupted when Mortmain sends his automatons to kidnap Tessa.  He is almost ready to unleash the demon he will use to kill the Shadowhunters, but he needs Tessa to complete his plan.  Both Will and Jem will do anything to rescue Tessa, but they might not be able to muster the force to get her back.

         You know you're behind on your blog posts when you hardly remember what the book was about.  Sorry, guys . . . I've been slacking lately.  It was a close call between books and exams, but somehow the AP and ACT and SAT subject tests and finals won out.  Go figure.
         Anyway, I liked the first two books in this series a lot, but Clockwork Princess let me down a bit.  Maybe it was anticlimactic, maybe it was a little too perfect.  I remember not being a fan of the way the love triangle was resolved for that reason.  Things just don't work out that easily in life.  That's not to say it was a bad book - it was good, and I know people who have followed this series and thought this was the best installment of the three.  Although it wasn't my favorite of the three, if you read the first two books, I'd still recommend reading this one so you can see what happens and decide for yourself what you think of it all.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: March 28, 2013

If you read this book, what did you think?  Are you a fan of the ending to this trilogy?

The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

****

         A tale of high adventure with princesses, giants, murderers, mysterious killers, and everything in between.  'Nuff said.

         Seriously, though, this was a really good book.  The characters are well-developed and sort of comical.  The Princess Bride reminded me of the books I read when I was nine and refused to read any story that took place in the real world, and it would probably appeal to people of all ages.  I'm also told the movie is awesome, but haven't got around to watching it.  Now that school is out for the summer (!) I'll hopefully have time.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: March 23, 2013

Prodigy (Marie Lu)

****

Sequel to Legend - watch out for spoilers . . .

         June and Day have finally made it to Vegas, where they hope they can get the Patriots to give Day the medical attention he needs.  Shortly after their arrival, something completely shocking happens: Primo Elector dies and is replaced by his son.  Nobody seems to know what to think of their new leader, except for the Patriots.  When June and Day ask for help, a trade is proposed.  If the pair will join the Patriots, Day will be taken care of.  They agree without thinking about it, but once the Patriots unveil their plan for the new recruits, June starts to regret her decision.  She doesn't believe in the mission she's been tasked with, and can't help but question where her loyalty lies.  With Day?  The Patriots?  The government that destroyed her family?  Or something else entirely?

         It's been a while since I read this book, and I'm struggling to remember what I thought of it.  I do know that I liked the continuation of the plot line.  I also think Lu handled the characters very well.  It doesn't seem like it, but Legend covers a pretty short time span.  By the end of that book, it feels like the characters have completely changed.  When you think about it, though, it's not realistic for such thorough changes to happen so quickly.  I thought it made sense that June would question her loyalties and that Day would feel the class differences between himself and June in Prodigy.  This was a suspenseful sequel with a cliff hanger ending, and there will definitely be a third book on its way soon.  I'm looking forward to finding out what will happen next and having some of my questions answered.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: March 14, 2013

The Theban Plays (Sophocles)

****

         I read two of the three plays for my English class: Oedipus Rex and Antigone.  The former is the tragedy of Oedipus, a Greek prince who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.  Oedipus Rex takes place years after this has occurred, when Oedipus must discover the truth about his identity in order to save the people of Thebes.  Antigone is the story of his daughter, a defiant young woman who has grown up as the daughter of a disgraced king.  

         I didn't expect to like these plays, probably because books on the school curriculum are hated by the general population.  You end up hearing a lot of bad things about school books whether they're bad or not.  However, I actually thought both plays were really interesting.  The language isn't too difficult all things considered, and there's a lot of action and drama.  Neither Oedipus Rex nor Antigone is very long, so if you were interested in reading a Greek play, this might be the way to go.  (I know that sounds like a long shot, but I think there may actually be some people out there who really are interested in reading Greek plays.  Just a few, but still.)

Rating: 4/5

Completed: March 14, 2013

Perfect Scoundrels (Ally Carter)

****

Book 3 of the Heist Society series

         As a con artist, Kat Bishop knows a trick when she sees one.  When her boyfriend, W.W. Hale the fifth, suddenly and very unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's company, she can't help but suspect foul play.  Kat needs to find out the truth about Hale's inheritance, and fast - something is off and she wants know what before Hale gets hurt.  The biggest problem?  She can't tell Hale what she's doing.  Kat will have to enlist the help of her expansive web of criminals to prevent Hale from losing the company to somebody he'd never suspect.

         This was another great book by Ally Carter!  The plot was exciting and the characters were awesome as usual.  I appreciate the blend of serious, emotional scenes and hilarious banter between characters.  I also love all the names of the different cons that Kat and her family pull off.  It's been a while since I read the last Heist Society book, but Ally did a nice job of making it so that I still sort of remembered what was going on.  If you've read the other books in this series and liked them, you'll definitely like this one as well.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: February 23, 2013

Pivot Point (Kasie West)

****

         When Addie Coleman's parents announce that they're getting a divorce, they want her to decide who she'll live with.  After all, the decision should be simple for Addie: she is a Searcher, so she can look six weeks into the future to see which path is best.  Addie's Search isn't as straightforward as she'd hoped, though.  Life with her dad outside of the Compound is unlike any experience Addie's ever had, and she meets a cute guy in the process.  Staying with her mom and best friend, Addie has the familiar and a boyfriend to boot.  Neither place is perfect, though - dangerous forces are in action regardless of her decision.  And once the Search is over, Addie will have to choose what (and who) she is willing to sacrifice to protect the people she cares about.

         I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and it was executed pretty nicely.  It only took me a few days to read because I always was excited to find out what happened next.  Addie was a likable character with some good friends on the side.  It was cool how each chapter flip-flopped between alternate futures, especially because there was a sort of mirror affect between the two.  Some of the events that occurred changed drastically in the alternate paths, but others were unaffected by Addie's choice.  It was interesting to see how much influence Addie's choices did or didn't have on the future.  I'm not convinced that there will necessarily be a sequel to this book.  If there were, though, I would definitely make a point of reading it.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: February 18, 2013

Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)

****

         Verity is living every spy's worst nightmare.  She's been captured by the Nazis in France before completing her mission, and is now facing torture and a terrible death at their hands.  But first, she has struck up a bargain to give away any information she knows in exchange for a little more time.  Not that she claims to know very much.  Meanwhile, greater forces are in action.  There is a war on, and there are plans that must be fulfilled with or without Verity's help.  Friends are trying to find a way to save the mission that she failed to complete, and possibly a way to save Verity herself.

         This was a really powerful book.  It got a fair amount of hype in the book world, which I would say it deserves.  After reading the first fifty pages or so, I was thoroughly invested in the characters.  Maddie and Verity were well-developed both in Verity's prison confession and the rest of Wein's story.  The book was divided up in a way that added to the excitement and made me feel even more affection and pride for the characters (but I can't properly explain that without ruining the story).  I was on the edge of my seat hoping that things would work out well for the two best friends, even though it was pretty clear that wasn't going to happen.  The ending did turn out to be very sad, but it still managed to be satisfying in its own way.  This is by no means a light read, but it is  definitely worth picking up.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: February 15, 2013

The Collector (John Fowles)

***

         Clegg is a small-town man with a boring job who gets a lucky break and wins enough money that he will never have to work again.  With the power to do whatever he wants, Clegg hopes to improve his life and find real happiness.  At first, happiness means buying an isolated countryside home, which happens to have a very lovely large cellar.  Soon it means following Miranda, the beautiful girl he's fallen in love with, all around London.  But knowing Miranda from a distance is not enough for Clegg; he decides to kidnap her so that he can enjoy her company for as long as he wants.  The only trouble, of course, will be to get Miranda to love him back.

         Sorry, guys, but I just can't bring myself to go in-depth about this book after picking it apart in English class.  This is going to be a short review.  Basically, this book was very creepy.  How can a book about a guy who stalks a girl and then kidnaps her in his van - yes, van - not be creepy?  The Collector deals with some pretty heavy themes, including gender roles, class, and power, and John Fowles does a good job of playing them out in the story.  There's no denying that it's a great candidate for analysis and essay writing.  As we discussed in class, Fowles gets the reader confused about who they like and who they don't.  It's shockingly easy to feel sorry for Clegg at certain points.  In the end, though, I knew exactly how I felt about the characters.  Although I was not happy with the ending, it was fairly realistic.  I can't say that I exactly recommend this book, but it definitely has its merits.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: February 8, 2013

Sorry that I haven't posted much at all lately.  Junior year is really catching up with me - I have heard more than one person refer to this week as "hell week".  Spring break is on its way, which means college visits, but also hopefully more time to read.  In the meantime, I'm still a bit behind on posting, so I'll try to keep 'em coming for the rest of the month.  Have any fun plans for the spring?  Reading any great books?  Post it in the comments.

Shades of Earth (Beth Revis)

**

         Amy and Elder have finally landed on Centauri Earth and are ready to create their new lives there.  Upon arrival, they realize that their new home isn't all it was cracked up to be.  The shipborns don't get along with the frozens (who are now essentially in charge of the operation), and Amy is torn between the two groups.  It is essential that they find common ground, however, because the colony is under attack by strange aliens.  In a new world where it isn't safe to walk anywhere alone, Amy and Elder are determined to discover the secrets that are threatening their lives - including secrets that Amy's father may be keeping from them.

         I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but Shades of Earth just didn't live up to my expectations.  It was super freaky, the kind of book I prefer to read during the daylight hours.  What with the creepy aliens, mysterious weapons, and sinister powers, the whole thing was pretty hard-core sci-fi.  I didn't mind the sci-fi elements of the first two books, but this was just too much.  Also, I found the ending upsetting.  Very upsetting.  Like I said, too much all at once.  Someone who was more into sci-fi might like this book, but I couldn't handle it.  I was so excited to find out what happened to everyone once the Godspeed landed.  In the end, though, I'm not sure that finding out was worth it.

Rating: 2/5
Completed: January 25, 2013

Vortex (Julie Cross)

****

Sequel to Tempest.  

         Now that Jackson Meyer (sort of) understands the dangers of time travel, he is ready to do whatever it takes to protect the world - and his ex-girlfriend, Holly - from getting caught in the crossfire.  He joins Tempest, an offshoot of the CIA that fights a mysterious group of evil time travelers.  The trouble is that the other Tempest agents don't know that Jackson is a time traveler himself.  Meanwhile, Tempest is being attacked by Eyewall, an opposing branch of the CIA with possible connections to the other time travelers.  After a run-in with Holly on a Tempest mission, Jackson realizes that Holly is being sucked back into his life all over again.

         I enjoyed this book quite a lot, but it wasn't as easy of a read as Tempest was.  When I read Tempest, I had a pretty good grip on Jackson's jumps.  The time traveling gets seriously confusing in Vortex.  It definitely doesn't help that none of the characters understand it, either.  On the other hand, it was a really cool action story.  Jackson makes a pretty good agent, and I enjoyed his interactions with the other agents in his team.  Jenni Stewart returns from Tempest, although of course she doesn't know Jackson in this time zone.  She and Jackson get along really badly at first, but by the end they've reached an understanding and have become friends.  I also loved Lily Kendrick, Jackson's new partner at work.  She seems to be softer than most of the agents at first, but once Jackson gets to know her, it turns out she can be pretty feisty and tough.  Despite the fact that Vortex was pretty confusing, the plot and characters were good enough that I'll be on the lookout for the next book in this series.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: January 21, 2013

The Crown of Embers (Rae Carson)

****

Sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns - spoiler alert!

         Elisa is now the hero of Joya d'Arena, but that doesn't mean that her life is any easier.  She has to deal with the discontent of her people, threats to her life, and grief for the loss of two people she loved.  On top of that, her advisors are distracting her from the threat of the Inviernos by trying to force her to marry.  Under the guise of visiting a suitor, Elisa goes to the south to find magic so she can defeat the Inviernos and fulfill her destiny as bearer of the Godstone.

         This book was SO GOOD - holistically, I'd say 4.5 stars.  Like The Girl of Fire and Thorns, it sped by.  One minute I was only a few chapters in, and then all of a sudden I had less than a hundred pages left.  Rae Carson kept me in suspense the whole time, too.  I did notice that in both of these books, it was obvious who Elisa would end up with from the second they started talking.  That being said, it didn't actually bother me at all.  Instead, I got the sort of smug feeling you get when two friends get together and you've known all along that they would.  The Crown of Embers was full of action and excitement.  If you read The Girl of Fire and Thorns and liked it, you will not be disappointed by this book.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: January 20, 2013

Sorry I've neglected the blog for so long!  I've still been reading (there are a few more reviews on the way), but I've been too busy with school to post anything.  The sequel to Tempest is up next.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Rae Carson)

****

         On her sixteenth birthday, Elisa is married to Alejandro, king of a neighboring country, to seal the deal on a treaty.  This would be difficult enough without the fact that she bears the Godstone, a sign that she will perform a service for God, and is targeted by enemies everywhere.  Elisa may be one of God's chosen, but she doesn't seem fit to take on any kind of divine task.  She is an overweight, coddled princess without any of the power or commanding air of her older sister.  Once she arrives in Joya d'Arena, Elisa is faced with even more danger and mystery than she had faced at home.  She knows why she must keep her Godstone a secret, but doesn't understand why Alejandro wants to keep their marriage under wraps as well.  Worse still, Elisa is being hunted down by unknown forces who will go to any lengths to get her Godstone.

         This was a really good book, the kind that you don't want to stop reading.  It was a nice change of pace to read about a heroine who really isn't all that heroic to start out with.  Elisa doesn't slip into her role as the leader of an underground resistance group easily - she's too busy trying to walk fast enough to stay with the group and keep the pangs of hunger at bay for that.  I enjoyed seeing her go from a pampered princess to a hardened warrior.  It was a fairly smooth, believable shift: Elisa wasn't so tough by the end of the book that she was unrecognizable.  Instead, it felt like she had just grown up.  Plus, the story kept me hooked the whole time.  There weren't any parts that were slow or boring.  If you're looking for a book that you can't put down, give this one a go.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: January 10, 2013

Finals are over!  I survived!
Hopefully this weekend I will have plenty of time to get reading.  I've already got three books lined up. It's a relief to have a few days completely to myself . . . except studying for the SAT.  Whoops.
What about you?  Are you working hard this weekend or getting a little time off?

Happy New Year!

Hi, everyone!

I can't believe 2012 is over.  Thanks to everyone who checked in to read my posts and follow my progress!  Sadly, I didn't even come close to my goal this year: I clocked in at 49 books.  On the bright side, now I have a clean slate and a whole 365 days to shoot for a new goal.

I've decided that my 2013 goal will be 75 books.  That seems a little more reasonable, even if it's sad to lower the goal.  I figure that with standardized testing, two AP exams, and college applications ahead of me, I'm not going to have tons of free time on my hands.  My plan is to go at it until the end of June.  Then, I'll reassess the situation and decide if I should bring the goal back up.

This year, I've also decided to count books that I reread towards my goal.  Several people have told me that I should do it, and far be it from me to argue against something that makes my life easier (and allows me to read more Harry Potter).  As long as I read the book from cover to cover, not just skipping around to my favorite parts, it counts.

Hopefully everyone will stick around and keep reading the blog this year!  If you want to be notified when I post something new, try following Books on the Bluff.  Also, don't forget to comment on any of my posts if you have something to say.  You don't need to be a follower to do it.  I would love to get to know some of the people who read the blog this year!