EVERY DAY

– Exceeds Expectations

Book Summary: Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Every Day by David Levithan Book Review Overview:

• The genderless main character makes you redefine what love means
• Sweet romance with an undeniable connection between two characters
• Beautiful writing; you will want to mark up passages

Imagine if you woke up in a different body every day, but was in love with the same girl? How far would you go to make this love work? In David Levithan’s most unique novel yet, he explores this concept as A wakes up every day in a different body of a wide variety of teens.

What makes EVERY DAY by David Levithan so ground-breaking is the fact that the protagonist is not confined to a single gender. A is genderless; neither a boy nor a girl. A does not feel more comfortable or at home depending on the gender of the person. Admittedly, it is a tough habit to break not to refer to a character using pronouns but A stresses so many times in the novel that A does not categorize as one or the other. I think that this is important because of the message that David Levithan is trying to point out in regards to love: gender does not matter. Love should be between two people. That’s it.

At first, I worried that I would not be a fan of the romance in EVERY DAY. The protagonist meets Rhiannon from the very first chapter of EVERY DAY by David Levithan. There’s an instant spark; they have chemistry. My biggest fear was that this would turn out to be a meaningless insta-love match. I was wrong. David Levithan is a talented author and he evokes so much feeling through A. You are instantly able to feel the connection between A and Rhiannon and it feels like they’ve known each other for a lot longer.

I fell in love with the writing in EVERY DAY immediately. David Levithan has written a book that will make you want to mark a passage to read over and over in the future. The writing alone was a reminder as to why David Levithan book is one of my favorite authors ever.

EVERY DAY is easily one of my favorite David Levithan books right next to Boy Meets Boy and The Lover’s Dictionary. EVERY DAY by David Levithan is a book that I can see myself reading over and over again.

Other Book Reviews:
Jane & Carin
Reading or Breathing
The Young Folks

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

WONDER

– Exceeds Expectations

Book Summary: I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Wonder by RJ Palacio Book Review Overview:

• Mostly told through Auggie’s perspective but also switches to the perspective of other characters
• Inspiring and touching story; Auggie is such a delightful character to read about
• Makes you think twice about how you act towards someone with a disability

There is always some hesitation in my part when picking up middle grade novels, because there’s always the chance where the novel is not as accessible to older readers. I didn’t have a problem with WONDER by R.J. Palacio in that aspect. I think that Palacio does a wonderful job of making her writing appeal to readers of all ages.

What surprised me the most about WONDER by R.J. Palacio is the impact it had on me in terms of my thinking of how I act towards someone with a disability or a handicap. Auggie is such an inspiring character to read about. His life is hard – there’s no doubt about that. And it made me sad to read about him. But Auggie is such a fighter and he tries so hard no matter how many obstacles get in his way. Auggie made me put my problems into perspective. My problems seemed so petty in comparison to the life that he lives. Furthermore, WONDER by RJ Palacio made me think about how I conduct myself in public. WONDER will make me think twice next time I see someone with a disability or a handicap.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the switching perspectives throughout the novel. For the most part, the novel is told from Auggie’s point of view, but randomly switches to other characters such as his friends. My dislike for the multiple perspectives was short-lived; I fell in love with Palacio’s writing style and I loved seeing Auggie from other people’s eyes. My love for him as a character grew even more.

The ending of WONDER by RJ Palacio gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. As a reader, I felt like I grew so much with Auggie on this emotional roller coaster. His character was developed so well throughout the book and I wanted to give him a massive congratulatory hug at the end.

WONDER by RJ Palacio is the kind of middle grade novel that should be read by all. It’s not just a “children’s” book.

Other Book Reviews:
Poetry to Prose
The Reading Date

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY

– Acceptable

Book Summary: Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they’ve known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin’s orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously – and at great risk – documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father’s prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys Book Review Overview:

• A novel set during a part of history that you never hear about
• Obviously not a happy book, but the main character continues to persevere throughout the book
• Ending was a little disappointing and anti-climactic

Though I’ve heard great things about BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys, I fear that it is the kind of book that I would have to be craving to want to pick up – but would never find the time to. So when I saw that it was available for audiobook download from my public library, I decided to pick it up. The most I knew about BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys was that it was a historical novel that took place around World War II. Little did I know, it is a novel about a part of history that gets very little attention.

When you hear a novel that’s about World War II, instinctively you think the Holocaust. For the opening scenes of BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys, that’s what I thought was happening in the audiobook. Boy, was I wrong. Lina and her family live in Lithuania. When the military comes knocking on their door, I really did not know much about Lina or her family or why they were being taken away. The family’s relocation also came as a shock to the characters. They had no idea what was going on and no one knew where Lina’s father was. Her family had been ripped apart and they had no idea what was in store for them. Lina and her family were sent to labor camps because Stalin had not approved of her father’s actions.

Coming into BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys, I knew that the novel was not going to be a happy tale. Lina and her family are mistreated, left hungry, and overworked. I knew that a handful of the many Lithuanians in the novel would not survive. Similar to novels about the Holocaust, it was hard for me to see a happy ending for Lina and her family. Though her struggles seemed hopeless, it did not stop Lina from being such a determined character. No matter how hard life seemed to get, Lina continued to be determined and persevere.

There is a bit of romance in the book but of course, it isn’t the main focus of BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys. The romance did remind me a bit of The Diary of Anne Frank. Despite the horrible circumstances, Lina experiences some normal teenage stuff such as liking a boy for the first time.

While listening to the audiobook, I did encounter a few problems. First, the pacing of the novel is slow. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys is not one that fills me with excitement; on the contrary, the novel fills me with dread. I dreaded that the characters had to suffer so much. Because the novel itself had a slow pacing, the audiobook was even slower. It was easy to lose interest in the audiobook and it was not uncommon for me to take breaks. Furthermore, the novel alternates between past and present. Lina often has flashbacks of what life was like before her relocation. It would seem easy to notice line breaks in a novel that distinguishes a flashback, but in an audiobook you have nothing more than a pause. I did get used to the flashbacks in BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY but it always took me a few seconds to realize what was going on.

Lastly, my biggest qualm with BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys is the ending. It just felt really anti-climactic. For me, it just ended. There is an epilogue that is set years into the future, but there is a huge gap in between the end of the book and where the story picks up in the future. It was quite disappointing to listen to an audiobook with an unsatisfying conclusion.

However, reading (ugh, “listening”, whatever…) to BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys taught me a part of history that I never knew before. One of the things I love about historical novels is learning something new and I am so glad that I was able to do just that when I picked up BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys.

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys is recommended to readers who like books like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Number the Stars as well as other World War II / Holocaust novels.

Video Book Review:

Other Book Reviews:
Devour Books
Miss Print
Redeemed Reader

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

WITHER

– Acceptable

Book Summary: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

Book Review Overview:

• The concept is intriguing but it just went against my morals/ethics
• The romance felt forced and unnecessary
• But the novel still manages to entertain and the world-building is quite fantastic

I’m surprised that WITHER by Lauren DeStefano has not stirred up more controversy. I found myself having such a hard time picking up this book; not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because I did not agree entirely with this dystopian society. In Rhine’s world, humans thought they had perfected medicine. Cancer was cured. Diseases were eradicated. But something had gone wrong. Though the first generation lives full and healthy lives, their children and their children’s children are not so lucky. Women die at 20 and men die at 25. There is no cure. The world is at a chaos trying to make as many babies as possible before the human race dies off.

WITHER by Lauren DeStefano is the kind of book that will make you think hard. It will make you question your morals; it will make you question medicine and ethics. While I love a book that makes me think, WITHER by Lauren DeStefano was also a book that made me frustrated. I found it despicable that girls as young as thirteen were being carted off the streets and basically sold into prostitution. The most frustrating part of the novel is that the main character, Rhine, is unfortunately incapable of changing society. She represents only a tiny fraction of the big problem. The only thing that she can really change is her fate. She cannot find a cure for the disease, nor can she somehow stop the Gatherers from selling girls into prostitution.

However, written in the first-person narrative, I found it quite easy to put myself in Rhine’s shoes. I like how she did not just accept her fate and that she had to play her cards just right to have any chance of escaping. On the other hand, I don’t know if there’s anything particularly striking about her personality that makes her stand out against other protagonists.

It’s very easy to sympathize with Linden as a reader because he is treated as a naive little kid who just lost the love of his life. Despite the fact that Linden is able to go beyond the walls of the mansion, his freedom is severely limited by his overcontrolling father. Though I knew I should sympathize with Linden even just a tiny bit because he was duped by his own father, I still can’t find it in my heart to feel sorry for him. Why? Well, there’s that little fact that he impregnated a thirteen year old. Yes, it was one of the sister wives. Yes, the sex was consensual. But it’s quite obvious that Cecily is still a little kid. Linden has his sweet moments and he is a nice guy. But it is not okay to take advantage of an equally naive and misguided thirteen year old.

And ahem, unnecessary romance much? I just didn’t feel it with Gabriel. I honestly think the romance was completely unnecessary. If I was locked up and forced to be someone’s bride, the last thing I could possibly think about is getting it on with another guy. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between Rhine and Gabriel. I thought the romance felt a bit forced and it was something that sparked out of convenience.

I know I just spewed a bunch of negativity, but despite it all, WITHER is still a rock-solid debut from Lauren DeStefano. Though I never finished reading Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, WITHER by Lauren DeStefano is reminiscent of the first fifty or so pages of Handmaid’s that I had read. However, I find DeStefano’s writing style to be a lot more accessible.

Furthermore, I admit that the world-building is kind of fantastic. The fact that DeStefano has me so riled up about this society and its amoral characters says something about the writing. DeStefano has the ability to get readers striking conversation and starting debates.

And finally, I guess I have to take back what I previously said about the covers. Okay, they aren’t the most beautiful covers ever, but the cover jacket of WITHER is actually 100% relevant to the novel. Wow, imagine that.

I would definitely recommend WITHER by Lauren DeStefano to fans of dystopian novels like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Matched by Allie Condie. Just be prepared to get your sense of morals and ethics a bit tested.

Why I’m Biased: This is a hyped-up book. I also got my copy of WITHER signed by Lauren DeStefano so I feel obligated to like it.

Other Book Reviews:
21 Pages
Book Purring
Diary of a Bibliophile
Pass the Chiclets

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

DON’T LET ME GO

Summary: Some people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his in high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real, honest, tell-the-parents relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even when local kids take their homophobia to brutal levels, Nate is undaunted. He and Adam are rock solid. Two parts of a whole. Yin and yang.

But when Adam graduates and takes an Off-Broadway job in New York—at Nate’s insistence—that certainty begins to flicker. Nate starts a blog to vent his frustrations and becomes the center of a school controversy, drawing ire and support in equal amounts. But it is the attention of a new boy who is looking for more than guidance that forces him to confront who and what he really wants.

Book Review Overview:

• Heart-wrenching tale that will make you cry and laugh
• Perfectly flawed characters that are so realistic, so inspiring
• You don’t have to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or whatever to read this. Whatever your sexuality is, you will relate.

I didn’t believe the hype before I picked up this book. I needed one more book to read in 2011, and Brent urged me to pick up J.H. Trumble’s DON’T LET ME GO. I already knew that Brent was a massive fan of the book, and since I was in the mood for a contemporary novel, I asked Brent to Lend Me his ebook copy of the novel. I read this in less than 24 hours in two sittings. It’s one of those books where I had to force myself to put it down and go to bed.

Trumble is such a talented writer. I loved the alternation between past and present because it gave a lot of insight on how Nate and Adam’s relationship started and progressed. Furthermore, Trumble has that rare ability to make you cry in one paragraph and laugh out loud in the next. I urge you strongly not to read this in public; your reaction may cause other people to give you weird looks.

DON’T LET ME GO is relatable to everyone because the basis of the novel is the relationship between Nate and Adam. It doesn’t matter that the main characters are gay because the characters are so easy to relate to. Trumble puts you in Adam’s shoes and you feel his heart break. Like Nate, as much as I wanted to trust Adam, I just couldn’t do it. A million different scenarios ran in my mind about all the things that Adam could do to hurt Nate while he was in New York City. I didn’t want to think the worst of Adam, but Trumble made it so difficult not to. In addition to Adam, Nate is also so flawed which made him even more realistic. He’s not perfect either, but he works to make himself a better person. Nate has trust issues and he has to learn to accept that people won’t judge him based on his past. Trumble creates such realistic characters and brilliantly captures what it is like to be in a long distant relationship including the insecurities, trust issues, and the reunions.

Furthermore, DON’T LET ME GO reminded me on how lucky I was to live in a liberal area and have attended such a liberal school. It reminded me that there are teens out there who are not so lucky and who do not have the freedom to be who they want to be. Nate is such an inspiring character to read about because despite the fact that he was bullied and abused, it does not stop him from standing up for what he believes in. He’s inspiring not only to the teens in the novel but also to teens reading the novel. Nate made me want to do something to help gay teens who live in more conservative areas.

I’d highly recommend DON’T LET ME GO to those who are fans of David Levithan’s novels and bittersweet contemporaries. I highly urge you to support this fantastic author and buy this book.

Why I’m Biased: I was influenced by two reviews raving DON’T LET ME GO, written by Ecey and Brent!

Other Book Reviews:
Ece Red
The Naughty Book Kitties

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

THE FUTURE OF US

Summary: It s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have never used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend.

They power up and log on and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Review Overview:

• Alternating perspectives with fantastic characters
• Culturally relevant but at the same time a blast into the past of the 90′s
• I can’t wait to buy the finished copy and reread!

If I could describe THE FUTURE OF US using a movie, the obvious choice would be The Social Network. The plots are no where near similar, but the the lasting feeling that I got from watching the film and reading THE FUTURE OF US was the same. I was able to relate to these characters, partially because of a website, but mostly because of the well-written characters.

I admit that I knew nothing about this book before I snatched it up at BEA. I picked it up randomly since I hadn’t read any of Jay Asher’s other works and at the time, I had no idea that he co-wrote it with Carolyn Mackler. When I finally went through my books later that afternoon, I knew that I had something epic when I read the book’s summary. Josh and Emma discover the wonders of Facebook. The problem is, it’s fifteen years in the past just when dial-up Internet is starting to get popular. They discover themselves on Facebook, and at first it’s a bit of a shock.

Asher and Mackler provided me an insight into a world before the technology boom that we have today. I know that the Internet wasn’t widely used in the 90′s. I learned all about it in my Media Studies class this past spring semester – but I wasn’t thrust into their world when I read my media textbook. THE FUTURE OF US is a historical read in a sense where teens were just dying to have beepers – not even cellphones! – and couldn’t talk via Instant Messenger because the people who had IM was very limited. It was definitely a flashback into the past.

I loved the alternating perspectives between Emma and Josh. It made both so relatable knowing what was going on inside their heads. It was so fun to root for the main characters and read about them toy with the destinies. The book is also laugh out loud funny. Just the silly observations that Emma makes about Facebook had me cracking up. Yes, in reality there’s no way a person could have over 350 friends. Emma and Josh had fantastic chemistry and I loved every scene that the two best friends were in.

Since I did get an ARC of this book in May at BEA, I feel like there still could be (and probably will be) substantial changes to the book. This is one of the reasons why I am so excited for this book’s actual release. The changes that can be made can only strengthen the novel and make it even better.

I loved THE FUTURE OF US because it is so culturally relevant at the moment. It made me question my actions online and hesitate before I post a silly Facebook status. THE FUTURE OF US was such a fun read. I hated to put it down, and I wish I could have put my life on hold so I could gobble it up in one sitting. THE FUTURE OF US is a fantastic concept with equally brilliant execution. Do not miss out on this one!

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR

Summary: 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.

Review Overview:

• Fun novel to read that takes you along on a truly epic cross-country road trip
•  A very realistic romance with a hopeful ending
• A must-read for road-trip enthusiasts and those going on vacation

Matson creates such a fun book to read full of souvenirs from Amy and Roger’s adventures across the country. Their playlists and receipts are fun to read as a companion to their journey across the country.

Despite the setting of a cross-country road trip, the AMY & ROGER’S isn’t completely light and fluffy. I guess I wasn’t expecting a road trip novel to be mixed in with a bit of seriousness, but Matson wonderfully combines a fun light-hearted adventure with serious family issues. I wasn’t sure at first if Matson can add a heart-wrenching topic into the mix but Matson definitely makes up for everything towards the end of the book. While fluffy and light at some parts, AMY & ROGER’S tugged at my heartstrings and made me a bit teary-eyed.

The romance is cute. You definitely start to feel the tension more towards the end, but it wasn’t enough to make me squee in delight. I think the progression of their relationship is realistic especially based on the amount of time that Amy and Roger have spent together. I loved that the ending was open and hopeful. Again, the ending was realistic. They weren’t devoting undying love to each other which really wouldn’t have made any sense. They met, like what? A week ago? It was sweet and I can only imagine that it would be an excellent start to a relationship.

AMY & ROGER’S is pretty inspiring. It makes me want to take a cross-country road trip as well. I think it’s also an excellent book to read while on traveling (and yeah, I was actually traveling when I read this) since it gave me a lot of ideas of random souvenirs to keep from receipts to pictures of random signs or whatever that amuses me.

The book was certainly enjoyable, but it lacked that special something to propel me to give it a four-star rating. I wish the book could have been more of an emotional joyride, whether it made me laugh, cry, or squee in delight – it wouldn’t have mattered. My emotional connection with the characters were not as strong as I would have liked for a contemporary novel.

This is definitely a must-read for those going on a road trip and very much recommended to take with you on a trip.

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

WANT TO GO PRIVATE?

Summary: Abby and Luke chat online. They’ve never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn’t she care? Everyone tells her to “make an effort,” but why can’t she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she’s losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she’s his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn’t who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don’t, they’ll never see Abby again.

Review Overview:

• Abby’s character will definitely be relatable to younger teens
• Since this is a novel about an Internet predator, be warned: Littman does not sugarcoat anything
• A must-read for young teens who are just starting to be or are already active on the Internet

WANT TO GO PRIVATE? is a thrilling and realistic portrayal of a girl’s experience with an online predator.

Initially, I was put off by Abby’s character. I couldn’t quite relate to her since I had a smoother transition into high school. However, I think there are a lot of young teenagers who will understand what she is going through. Just starting high school, Abby feels lonely. She wants things to remain as they were, but her best friend Faith is quickly being acclimated to her new environment and making new friends. Drifting apart from her friend and family, Abby starts socializing with a man online and quickly befriends him.

Written in first person, Abby’s chat conversations added authenticity to the novel.  However, the chatspeak used in the first part of the book did bother me after a while, but this is a very minor complaint on my part. After all, I would hate to be a hypocrite. I use them too, but maybe not to that excess – anymore, at least!

Since this is young adult, I wondered how far Littman could possibly take it. This is a novel about an Internet pedophile; they do some pretty sick things. As much as I would love to immediately pass this off to my 13 year old cousin to warn her about the dangers of the Internet, it probably would not be the best choice. WANT TO GO PRIVATE? got quite explicit. My jaw dropped. I highly praise Littman for having the audacity to write out the chat transcripts between Abby and Luke. The novel would not be the same without them.

Each part of the novel increased in intensity. Reading the first part of WANT TO GO PRIVATE? was like watching a teen horror flick. You know what’s just about to happen, but no matter how hard you scream at the characters, you know that they are walking straight into trouble. It was just so frustrating to read Abby make so many mistakes, but I knew they were inevitable.

I love how the second part of the novel changed in perspective. The different point of view left me just as clueless as the other character’s as to Abby’s whereabouts. It left me hanging at the edge of my seat. At that point, it was impossible to determine what exactly happened to Abby. I felt helpless as Lily and her parents. It felt like I was reading a crime drama. It’s obvious that Littman did her research very well. WANT TO GO PRIVATE? was very realistic and at the same time managed to completely suck me in.

The ending was probably my favorite part of the book. I ended up discussing this book with my mom because she’s big into crime TV. She said that she always wondered about the after. Littman makes the book about more than just a crime: it’s about Abby – what caused her to start talking to a stranger and how she changes during and after. The story isn’t over until the crime is solved. For the victims, it’s also about what happens when they return back to their lives.

Every teenager needs to read this. Littman warns about the dangers of the Internet without sounding didactic. This can happen to anyone, no matter how many time we think that it could never be us. Littman is a master at capturing serious issues in the lives of teenagers while maintaining a genuine voice.

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

UGLIES

Summary: Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. Not for her license — for turning pretty. In Tally’s world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to be pretty. She’d rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world — and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Review Overview:

• Without a doubt, this book makes you think about society today and in the future
• Romance felt a little bit rushed; there’s a bit of chemistry — but it’s really not the focus of the novel
• Hoping to read the rest of the series before school starts in the fall!

I had been wanting to read this series for a very long time, but I never really got around to getting a copy. My friend Tasha is a huge fan of the series and finally lent me hers and I finally got around to reading it. Unfortunately, I started reading UGLIES in the middle of finals, BEA, and the end of the semester which meant that I really did not have much time to just sit down and read. My reading experience had been extremely choppy and it made it difficult to really get into the book. However, despite my personal setbacks, I was still able to enjoy UGLIES overall, and it definitely made me think.

Tally lives in a society where at sixteen, you turn pretty. Initially, I found many, if not all, to be extremely shallow. Uglies called each other terrible names like Zitface and Squint that basically pointed out their flaws. There is this obsession with facial symmetry and looking perfect, and Tally could not wait until she turns pretty herself and moves to Pretty Town across the river. I didn’t think that I was going to be able to relate to Tally at all, but she does grow as a character as the book progresses. We learn the secrets behind becoming pretty – secrets that still make my mind boggle – and Tally realizes that the whole world that she had known growing up may not be as perfect as it looks.

Other than the issues of self-image, beauty, and plastic surgery, Weseterfeld also brings up many topics that makes readers think. The book is way more than just about a teenager in a world where everyone turns pretty. He also makes readers think about issues such as genetic modification and experimental medicine. Like a good dystopian novel, he made me think of society today and how our actions could impact the world in the future.

There is a bit of romance in the novel, though it is far from the main focus. I did feel that it was a bit rushed, but there is some chemistry between the two characters. The romance does play a bigger part toward the end of the novel, and I am curious how it picks back up in the second book.

UGLIES definitely gives readers a lot to think about. Westerfeld is a fantastic world-builder and he absolutely makes you stop to think while reading. UGLIES is a fantastic example of what a dystopian novel should do: it should entertain but also make you question your actions and today’s society and how it could affect that future. The scariest part about the UGLIES? While the concept seems outrageous, there are probably many people out there who wouldn’t mind living amongst beautiful people.

I can’t wait to continue the rest of the series! I hope I can get to them all before school starts up again in the fall. UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld is definitely recommended to fans of dystopia and science fiction.

Post written by Muggle-Born.net

AWAKEN

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

I love dystopian novels so I jumped at the chance to review this galley! I was hooked straight away from the summary. I have to admit that after the first few chapters, I was not sure that I was going to like this, but I judged way too quickly! Maddie is such an easy character to get along with. She tries to follow her parents’ wishes, trying to be that “perfect” daughter – it’s something that, I think, we all struggle with as a teenager: getting the approval of your parents. However, at the same time, we learn very early on that there is another side to Maddie: her rebellious streak.

I love the romance in AWAKEN! One of the things that really seal the deal for me in terms of a book is a good love story, and AWAKEN does not disappoint. Justin is a great character. There was a lot of build-up and good chemistry between the two characters. I think Katie Kacvinsky does an amazing job setting up the romance in the book. It was one of the reasons why I kept on reading.

In terms of secondary characters, I have to love Clare. Being online all the time, Maddie really has no real friends, so I was happy to see that she was able to form connections out in the real world. With Justin as one of the main characters, it was nice to see more female characters in the novel. I felt like Maddie needed that female sidekick and she definitely got it with Clare.

Furthermore, I love that the entire time that I read, the book made me think about life in the digital age. As a teenager who is constantly online, I can definitely find myself relating to Maddie who is so dependent on technology. It makes me wonder what would happen if we do take technology to the next level and make it even more immersed with our lives. I think a lot of teens can relate to Maddie’s story and will make them think about what they’re doing the next time they are socializing online instead of face-to-face conversations.

I think the best part about Kacvinsky’s dystopian novel is that I can see it happening in the future. It’s a scary thought, but the way we are already dependent with technology, I would hate to see ourselves move into this direction. In addition to AWAKEN being such a fun read, it sparks thoughts in my mind which is a definite plus in my book.

On the other hand, the plot was just okay for my tastes. I do not think that the plot keeps you on your toes or keeps you guessing until the very end, but there are a handful of action-packed scenes that kept me interested. With that being said, I was really disappointed when the book ended because I wanted more! I am really curious to know whether or not there will be a sequel to AWAKEN because I really do not feel that Maddie and Justin’s story is over. I guess we will have to find out!

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book. I think others who would enjoy this read are those who love dystopian novels, tech-savvy or heavy Internet users, and romance lovers.

Thank you so much to HMH Galleys from NetGalley for allowing me to review this amazing book!

Other Reviews:
The Simple Pleasure of Reading

Post written by Muggle-Born.net