(Randi): This Book Gives Me SPARKs - review

Title: Spark (Elemental Series #2) 

Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: K-Teen
Publication Date: August 28th, 2012
Page Count: 345 (not long enough!!!)
Genre: paranormal fantasy (elementals)/romance
Audience: young adult
Source: bought & also received a copy from the author
Rating: 4.5 I would take a crazy roadtrip with this book and totally hit on all the Merrick brothers :)

Goodreads Summary: 
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

You can read my review of Storm (the first book in the Elemental series) here 

My thoughts:  Ohmygoodness. Gabriel Merrick. I liked Chris Merrick (the main character in Storm), but older brother Gabriel...I loves Gabriel. I actually loved this book even more than the first. And I love Michael even more now as well. Okay, so in book 1, Gabriel seemed like a little bit of a brat. (Forgive me, Gabriel, but it's true!) However, in this book, we see the real Gabriel - we find out why he comes across as the tough guy. And how he really is a good guy at heart. Layne is a great female lead, and (even though I liked Becca) I think she's a much stronger character than Becca; I feel more for Layne - her life has been rough and she's dealing with it. I loved her little brother! The one complaint I have with this book is about what happens with Layne in the end, after the fire. (If you've read it, you'll know what I mean.) I felt like it sent a message about body image that I didn't really agree with. BUT, that's my only complaint. Seriously. One complaint. The rest was brilliant. 

The awesome thing about this series is that I'm not even a huge paranormal romance fan. But this series blows my mind. The characters are well developed, the plot is killer, and despite being paranormal fantasy, it's so realistic! The characters act like teenagers. I apologize because I sometimes find it hard to review a book I loved so much. Seriously, this is a favorite series. And if, like me, you're not even a fan of YA paranormal fantasy romance, try this one out because I was incredibly pleasantly surprised (pleasant is too gentle a word)...ecstatically surprised.

I cannot wait for book 3, Spirit, to come out in May! SO glad we don't have to wait a year between each book! Also, besides being an awesome writer, Brigid Kemmerer is a serious sweetheart. She sent me a signed copy of Spark! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! Superawesome. Buy her books. All of them. And then buy them for your friends.

FTC Disclaimer: All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

The Sunday Post (9)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

This Week 

Becky: This week has been intense.  I've actually been doing my homework in almost every spare moment and have shunted reading off to the side.  I've also been working on a side project of coming up with a binder full of story-time/book-list/program ideas so I can hit the ground running when I get out of school.  I squeezed in some movies with my friends and hope to start some creative writing again soon.  Luckily I have a few reviews stored up :).  

Randi:
This week went by in a blur! I took two super-high-stakes exams (Praxis II exams), went to a baby shower, and did lots of homework. I didn't get a chance to do much reading, though I'm working on a David Sedaris collection for class and just started The Probability of Miracles. Two weeks until Thanksgiving break, and then hopefully I'll have some time for free reading again! I also can't wait for elections to be over, so I'm looking forward to that this week. Have a great week, folks!

*to go to the related post click the picture

Reviews

Randi and I take a look at some of the books we've read recently.

This week's Top Ten is Kick-ass Heroines selected by Randi.  See what her other nine picks were!

Help me decide what I should read next!  Turns out my friends are demanding I read We Need to Talk About Kevin on the double, so help me pick out of The Tiger's Wife or The Song of Achilles.

Randi and I went head to head reviewing the night circus and gave it an unprecedented double 5 star review.  See why we adored it. Next Week
Monday:  Spark, by Brigid Kemmerer (Review) Tuesday: Top Ten Books for people who liked X Wednesday: Picture Book Spotlight Thursday: Twice Baked Thursday: Alabama Moon, by Watt Key Friday: The Lions of Little Rock, by Kristin Levine (Review) Saturday: The Good Braider, by Terry Farish (Review) Sunday: Private Peaceful, by Michael Morpurgo (Review)

Review (Becky): Boy Meets Boy

Considered groundbreaking upon its publication in 2003, Boy Meets Boyis now 10 years old and David Levithan's debut about two teenage boys finding love is still in print and still as heartwarming. The world was different when Boy Meets Boy first appeared and attitudes have changed, but this novel is just as relevant and enjoyable as it was then.

Title: Boy Meets Boy
Author: David Levithan
Pages:185
Genre: Contemporary realism (GLBT romance)
Audience: YA (mature middle graders could handle it)
Rating: 3 stars: I'd friend this book on Facebook



Levithan wrote a town surreal but beautiful, where all orientations were accepted for the most part.  McDonalds was vegetarian, no one was poor, there were as many openly gay students as straight, the MC (Paul) was accepted by his family and friends and always knew what he wanted.  It was all very pleasant, and I'd love real life to be so easy...but it isn't.  The problem with this frame is that it's so far from any reality that I couldn't get deeply invested in it.

The character conflicts were mostly drama with barely a crumb of actual issues.  I ended up being most interested in Tony, whose parents seemed to be the only ones anywhere who saw a conflict between being gay and being intensely religious. Jodi was also an interesting character, though she never really saw any resolution and her rational for suddenly doing a 180 on her personality were never given.  I didn't really get a strong sense of what any character looked like.

Despite the surreal, happy-go lucky quality of this novel, it was a charming read.  It was nice to imagine that the world could be like this.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

(Randi): I've Been WONDERSTRUCK! - Review

Title: Wonderstruck

Author: Brian Selznick
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: September 13th, 2011
Page Count: 640
Genre: pseudo-graphic novel, historical fiction/contemporary (two points of view)
Audience: middle grade
Source: bought
Rating: 4.5 I would take this book for a day at the museum followed by ice cream

Goodreads Summary: 
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

My thoughts:  First off, this book is half full-spread artwork, half prose. Rose's story is told through pencil drawings that stretch across both pages and is interspersed throughout Ben's story, which is told through words. The pages fly by when you're reading! I felt a connection to Ben right from the start as we learn he has just lost his mother and doesn't know his father. He's living with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, and the poor boy doesn't feel welcome at all. His quest to find answers leads him to New York City from Minnesota, all alone I might add. He makes a friend there who tries to help him, but urges him to stay in NYC rather than returning home. Both are young boys (tweens) and their characters are very realistic. I took a little longer to warm up to Rose simply because you don't get as much info on her at the beginning as you do about Ben. Also, you have no idea what these stories have to do with one another. But don't worry - they come together in the end!

This story doesn't have a nice and neat, all strings tied up, we know exactly what's next for Ben kind of ending. And I appreciated that because it felt real and true to the story. It's the beginning of a coming-of-age story, but you know that the future is out there waiting for Ben, and even though you close the book not really knowing what's next, you're left with a feeling of hope that Ben will be okay. It's a bittersweet ending because you learn things you wish weren't true, but it all feels right. I think to have it any other way would feel incredibly false. Overall, I think this book definitely targets that middle grade audience, but I see it appealing to reluctant readers at middle grade level and up; the combination of artwork and prose as well as the mysterious atmosphere imparted by the side-by-side storylines pulls the reader in, and I think it is very capable of encouraging non-readers to search out more books. (Sorry for getting a little teacher-y there!) Selznick has another book, recently made into a movie, called The Invention of Hugo Cabret which I'm also excited to read. I love his innovative style and the writing is both lovely and real. 

FTC Disclaimer: All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Review (Becky): Luna

Title: Luna
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Pages:248
Genre: contemporary realism (GLBTIQ)
Audience: Young Adult
Rating: Five Stars- I'd marry this book but yet again, I am not its type.

Goodreads Summary:
Regan's brother Liam can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female namesake, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night. In the secrecy of his basement bedroom Liam transforms himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change-Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives? Compelling and provocative, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.

What a book.  I cried so much while reading it, which is highly unusual for me.  The issue of transgender isn't one I know much about or was previously very comfortable with.  This book helped me understand on an emotional level what it would be like to feel to be born one way but feel and think another.

I liked that we got the story from Re's view, because it was easier for me to relate directly to her and see her brother/Luna through her eyes.  It was less of a shock than telling the story from Luna's perspective would be to many people, so I think it can reach a wider audience.  I also liked that the story focused on how painful it is (or can be) for the whole family, as well as the transgender individual who is transitioning.  I did find the parents of Luna somewhat monstrous.  I feel like Luna was too forgiving of them and I'm not sure they deserved it.

I would recommend this to many people, including those going through a transition themselves, family and friends of a transgender individual, and those just trying to understand the process and the feelings.
A fair amount of reviews on goodreads criticism this book for having a "too stereotypical" transgender character.  That may be true, but I don't necessarily view it as a negative.  There are people like this and I think it's a good intro to the topic for those completely unfamiliar, resistant or new to it.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

What's Next (15):Becky

 

What's Next is a weekly feature started by Hafsah at IceyBooks. Basically, we need your help deciding what to read next! So check out the books below & vote on what YOU think should be our next read!

I'm in another award-winner mood.  This time I'm focusing on The Orange Prize for Fiction, to give the alex awards a little break lol.  The Orange Prize goes to the best female author of a full-length novel in the UK.

 

The gripping international bestseller about motherhood gone awry.  Eva never really wanted to be a mother - and certainly not the mother of the unlovable boy who murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a much-adored teacher who tried to befriend him, all two days before his sixteenth birthday.

Now, two years later, it is time for her to come to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and Kevin's horrific rampage in a series of startlingly direct correspondences with her estranged husband, Franklin. Uneasy with the sacrifices and social demotion of motherhood from the start, Eva fears that her alarming dislike for her

own son may be responsible for driving him so nihilistically off the rails.

Weaving a brilliant latticework of family legend, loss, and love, Téa Obreht, the youngest of The New Yorker’s twenty best American fiction writers under forty, has spun a timeless novel that will establish her as one of the most vibrant, original authors of her generation.

In a Balkan country mending from years of conflict, Natalia, a young doctor, arrives on a mission of mercy at an orphanage by the sea. By the time she and her lifelong friend Zóra begin to inoculate the children there, she feels age-old superstitions and secrets gathering everywhere around her. Secrets her outwardly cheerful hosts have chosen not to tell her. Secrets involving the strange family digging for something in the surrounding vineyards. Secrets hidden in the landscape itself.

But Natalia is also confronting a private, hurtful mystery of her own: the inexplicable circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfather’s recent death. After telling her grandmother that he was on his way to meet Natalia, he instead set off for a ramshackle settlement none of their family had ever heard of and died there alone. A famed physician, her grandfather must have known that he was too ill to travel. Why he left home becomes a riddle Natalia is compelled to unravel.

Grief struck and searching for clues to her grandfather’s final state of mind, she turns to the stories he told her when she was a child. On their weeklytrips to the zoo he would read to her from a worn copy of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, which he carried with him everywhere; later, he told her stories of his own encounters over many years with “the deathless man,” a vagabond who claimed to be immortal and appeared never to age. But the most extraordinary story of all is the one her grandfather never told her, the one Natalia must discover for herself. One winter during the Second World War, his childhood village was snowbound, cut off even from the encroaching German invaders but haunted by another, fierce presence: a tiger who comes ever closer under cover of darkness. “These stories,” Natalia comes to understand, “run like secret rivers through all the other stories” of her grandfather’s life. And it is ultimately within these rich, luminous narratives that she will find the answer she is looking for.

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.

Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not — strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess — and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper — despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Twice Baked Thursday: The Night Circus

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Pages: 387 (11 discs)

Genre: Fantasy (magical realism)

Audience: Adult

Source: Own audio-book (Becky); bought paperback (Randi)

Rating: Five stars-I'd pledge undying, slightly obsessive love to this book (Becky)

5 - I'd follow this book to the ends of the earth (Randi) I'd already be there and I wouldn't share.

Goodreads Summary:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Our Thoughts

Becky in black. Randi in purpley-blue. 

I'm not going to say this book changed my life, but I do feel different after having read it. Umm, YES. It's one of those books that makes it hard to move on from the world and delve into another book world; total book hangover.  Just like The Thirteenth Tale! It seemed to me like Morgenstern's was the real world, and mine was just a boring dream. Yes!!!! I dreaded finishing the book and being left outside the dark, glittering, romantic world of the circus. It feels so completely real. Crazy (and awesome) amounts of description in this book! Now that it is done, I'm already feeling like I should re-read it. How bout we trade for a bit? I'd like to listen to the audiobook. :)  Deal!  Well, I need hardcover so I'll check it out haha.  But you can borrow mine! YAY! This obsession should give you an indication of how strong the description and world-building is. I don't always get a book hangover, but when I do, it's from a book with a beautiful and entrancing world like that of The Night Circus.  I don't always want to buy every copy so no one else can have it, but when I do it's because I'm crazy. LOL.

The characters felt familiar, yet freshly imagined.  Two old magicians battling it out, with dubious morals and outrageous powers. That idea indeed does feel familiar, but so new here! Lord of the Rings anyone?  Two star-crossed lovers-Romeo and Juliet, and of course, a jilted woman.  But that oversimplifies, because these familiar character-types have been richly and originally fleshed out in complex and likable or interesting ways. Or sometimes not likable (I believe I said OR likable), in the case of Celia's father (he gives me the stabby urges...). I would not have minded suddenly becoming Celia or Poppy, lol. I wouldn't mind being anyone in this book! I want to eat all the circus food and see all the tents, especially the one with all the bottles. 

What really makes this book shine, and the reason I feel I need to own it in both audio and hardcover is the detail.  The imagery Morgenstern uses is decadent, dark, and original. And beautiful, enchanting, and ... glittery (You all know what I mean by that, right? Right?). She assaults every sense. Seriously. Her description of the tents and performances within the circus make the magic in Harry Potter look boring.  Yes, I did just say that. WHOA woman! ...Okay, so no joke. The description in this book does outshine the description in the world of Harry Potter. BUT, in HP's defense, The Night Circus is not YA (though it does have immense crossunder appeal, I think).  I maintain that YA books can/should try to achieve the same excellence of description as adult books.  Sorry HP.

So many people either loved or hated this book I had to try to see it from another perspective. Alas, I cannot. Sorry fellow Geeks Who Read book clubbers! ;) I think the prevalence of this imagery is too much for some readers, and slows the plot down for them. Okay, yes, this seems to be the problem for some. They would prefer more action or more dialog.  While I don't exactly "understand" that pov, readers who need a fast plot should probably try something else. Agreed. Although this book goes by far too quickly because, if you're like us and devour all the description, you will not want to put this down. I struggled to put it down AFTER I finished reading it. I don't mind the naysayers, I'm the jealous type anyway. BUT I READ IT FIRST! ;) But I read it BEST!!!! It's okay, I'll share. I never will.  Also, I cannot wait for Erin Morgenstern to write another book. This was a DEBUT, folks. I see even greater things ahead for this woman! Though I must admit, it's hard to imagine things greater than this at this point! If she doesn't write more quickly I'm going to lose it.