GoddessLibrarian

Fire--Kristen Cashore

2009-11-19T14:24:00.002-05:00

This is the companion book to Graceling. It's not a sequel or even really a prequel but is set in the same universe. There is one overlapping character but it's not necessary to have read Graceling first. If you haven't read Graceling, you're missing out! Get on that.

Fire is a monster. The only thing that makes her a monster is that she has colorful hair and can read people's thoughts and control their minds. Her father was the same way and was power-hungry and cruel and ultimately perished. Determined to be different than her father, Fire, the last human monster, sacrifices everything she can to fix her father's wrongs and to be her own person.

Cashore has once again written a really strong female character. While this book was a little heavier on the romance than the action, it was still a great story. I would love to read a third book tying Fire and Graceling together.

Blog-note: I have 3 kids now (including a 5 month old baby). I'm no longer working as librarian at all. I still read but it's hard for me to find the time to blog about them. And when I do it's often well after I've read the books and when I am wicked tired and incoherent. Therefore this blog is just a pale version of what it once was. Sorry. But cut me some slack.

Punkzilla--Adam Rapp

2009-11-19T14:10:00.002-05:00

Punkzilla
Adam Rapp

I read this book ages ago. The details are fuzzy.

14 year old Jamie, aka Punkzilla, is AWOL from military school and on the road heading for his dying big brother. Told through a series of letters to his brother and other members of his family, the book shows Punkzilla's journey on the road, as well as his inner journey away from being a screw-up.

As is common in Rapp's other books (33 Snowfish), the subject matter and the language are raw and edgy. Punkzilla's trip is not an easy happy one--it is disturbing and gritty and nothing that a 14 year old should ever go through. The end of the book is not a nice sitcom ending, but it is somewhat hopeful that Jamie might actually have found a place he can belong.

I would definitely recommend it for older teen readers and not the younger tweens.

The Time Traveler's Wife--Audrey Niffenegger

2009-08-20T14:50:00.003-04:00

No, this isn't a review. I'm only "reviewing" the YA books I read. But I want to keep track of the grownup books I'm reading for my mom's book club too.

While you're here mosey on over to that follow button to the left and click on it. There ya go.

King of the Screwups--K.L. Going

2009-08-20T14:37:00.003-04:00

Liam is a pretty boy in trouble with his Dad for the last time. His father is fed up with his screwups and decides to ship him to his parents to straighten him out. Liam's fashion model mom isn't strong enough to stand up to her husband, but manages to send her son to her loving brother-in-law instead. While stuck in a small town with his largely unknown uncle, Liam learns about the true meaning of family, as well as his own family history.

This was a good quick read. Liam is a likeable character even if for most of the novel he thinks that he has no personal responsibility over his screwups. He grows throughout the story. I'd recommend it to high school readers who can better understand the identity crisis Liam endures.

The Unnameables--Ellen Booraem

2009-07-27T14:30:00.005-04:00

Medford Runyuin is a typical 13 year old who feels like he doesn't fit in or belong to his society. Unfortunately for him belonging in this society is CRUCIAL. Medford lives on an Island where everything, even the people, is named after its use--and anything without a use has no name and cannot be trusted. Carpenters are called Carpenter, Farmers are called Farmer and children are able to choose which of their parents names/trades they wish to pursue. Medford has an uncertain future because of his unknown past. He washed up on the Island and was taken in by a carver and his wife. Although he works with the carver the town is not quite sure whether he can live up to the Carver name. Medford's guilt over secret feelings about unnameable objects has him unsure of himself as well.

This was an entertaining read and a good commentary on art for art's sake. There's humor--one of the main characters is a "goatman"--as well as fantasy and would be good for middle school readers and older.

Jellicoe Road--Melina Marchetta

2009-06-28T06:06:00.004-04:00

Let me start by saying that I am out of the loop with YA lit now. I don't know what's coming out until I see it on the library shelves. I don't know who the recent Printz winners are or what books are creating the latest buzz. I'm no longer working as a YA librarian, in fact at this moment I am not working at all since I had my third baby 3 1/2 weeks ago. So I picked this book randomly off the shelf the last time I went to the library. I didn't even realize it was the Printz winner until I saw the seal later on.

This book was so good.

17 year old Taylor Markham attends a boarding school in Australia. She's been there ever since she was 11 years old and her drug addict mother abandoned her at a McDonalds. She is naturally a little messed up from the experience. The school is set up into houses and each house has a student leader that takes care of the younger students in the house. A teacher is assigned to each house, but does not live in it and has very little responsibility. The student leader shoulders most of the burden. Taylor is the unwilling house leader for her house, as well as the reluctant leader of an underground community. The students are all in a war with the Townies--kids who live in the town--and the Cadets--kids from a military school who come out for a few weeks each year. They fight over territory and make deals and war based on a purple book handed down to the students from 20 years ago. Taylor must deal with negotiating with the Townies and with the Cadets (the leader of which is someone Taylor has a mysterious history with) while coping with the absence of Hannah--a beloved volunteer at the school who picked Taylor up from the McDonalds and trying to understand her strange dreams about a boy in a tree.

There's so much in this book it's hard to summarize anything. It's nearly impossible to put down. Taylor begins her journey as untrusting and bitter and eventually learns to open herself up to other people. She finally accepts her past, learns the truth about her family, and is able to move on and look to the future. I cannot say how much I loved this book. It's not the fantasy I usually rave about... but Marchetta pulled me in to the world she created and I could not leave until I was done with the book. It's well-written, the characters are complex and interesting, and the story is riveting. I highly recommend it!

Graceling--Kristin Cashore

2009-06-22T06:03:00.003-04:00

In Kristen Cashore's fantasy novel there are people called Gracelings who have extraordinary gifts. Some are graced with cooking skills or healing skills or mind reading. Katsa is a young girl graced with killing. Her uncle, King Randa, uses her abilities to maintain control over his subjects, as well as her. She does not like being the king's bully but she doesn't see a way out until she meets another strange Graceling from another kingdom.

This book has everything you want. Fantasy, adventure, romance, social commentary, political intrigue, mystery. Katsa is a strong female character who stays true to her ideals. She is determined not to marry or have children. At one point I was disappointed because I thought that certain events were going to change her mind, but she didn't. She didn't change her true essence to please a man or anyone else. Cashore did a great job of creating a really strong heroine. She starts out a little lost and not understanding her grace, but by the end of the book she learns what her grace really is and what she can do with it. She finds her place in the world and accepts it.

This was a great book and I look forward to reading the companion, Fire, when it comes out in the fall.

Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot--Andrew Auseon

2009-06-10T08:12:00.005-04:00

I enjoyed Andrew Auseon's first novel Funny Little Monkey and was not disappointed by his second. Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot is an immensely creative and imaginative look at life after death. The story opens with Jo-Jo, a 17-year old boy, who has lost his girlfriend and his desire to live. He intends to commit suicide when he is distracted by the naked body of a young girl floating in the water. The sight of the body is enough to delay him and arouse his curiosity. When he decides to touch the body the unbelievable happens--she opens her eyes and comes back to "life." Jo-Jo learns that there is an Afterlife--just not quite the heaven we imagine. More of an "other life", the Afterlife is a place to go to try to fix the mistakes made the first time around. When Jo-Jo makes a poor decision he follows the girl back to the Afterlife and is given a second chance at "life" and needs to choose whether or not to take it.

The story is pretty damn cool. Auseon's vision of the Afterlife is unique and wonderfully described. But his description of the band that the young girl is in--The Fiendish Lot--and the music they play is just out of this world (no pun intended). I found myself wishing for a soundtrack. I would love to know if Auseon had a band in mind as he created the Fiendish Lot!

Auseon really hit his stride with this novel. I enjoyed it a lot and was really annoyed that I had only 30 pages to go when my water broke in the middle of the night and I went into labor--without the book packed! Luckily I managed to finish it when I got home. I highly recommend this and look forward to his next books.

Starclimber--Kenneth Oppel

2009-04-04T15:08:00.003-04:00

This is the sequel to Airborn and Skybreaker. It is just as good as the first two.

Matt Cruse is still in the Air Academy and hoping to land a job as an officer on an airship and work his way up to captain so he can seriously compete for Kate's affection and win the approval of her parents. While on break from school both he and Kate are invited to take part in a brand new adventure--in space. After a grueling 2-week training camp, Matt is ready to embark on the very first mission to space, but not without some hesitation as he has just learned that Kate is engaged.

The entire book is exciting and thrilling. As expected things don't quite go as planned and what started out as a simple mission to space turns into a race for their lives. Along the way we learn Kate's true motives and intentions.

This is a great blend of fantasy, adventure and romance. A must read for fans of the series.

Stravaganza: City of Secrets--Mary Hoffman

2009-04-04T14:47:00.002-04:00

The Stravaganza series was supposed to be a trilogy. I am so glad Hoffman decided to go for more. As with the first three books there is a new protagonist, a new stravagante who travels between our world and the alternate world of Talia.

Matt is dyslexic and insecure in our world, but once he travels to Talia he is able to read with no problems. He discovers the other stravaganti in his world--Georgia and Sky and Nick--as well as the ones in Talia. Readers will be happy to see Luciano and Arianna return as well.

The entire series is a wonderful fantasy with a historical feel to it. It could spark an interest in the history of Italy--on which Talia is based--and the real people and places that inspired the series. A must read for any fan of the series.

Revolutionary Road--Richard Yates

2009-04-04T14:43:00.003-04:00

This is not a teen book so I'm not really reviewing it. I'm just putting it here in case I ever forget that I read it and make the horrible mistake of reading it again. Which would be a pity because there are so many good books for me to read. (I read it for my mom's book group. I'm not leaving YA lit behind...)

Guinevere's Gift--Nancy McKenzie

2009-04-04T14:36:00.002-04:00

This is book one in the Chrysalis Queen Quartet. I will not be reading book 2.

Guinevere is 13 years old and a tomboy living with her uncle and aunt since the death of her parents. There is a prophecy that she will grow to be the highest lady in the land but nobody takes it seriously, least of all Guinevere. Her aunt, the Queen, is jealous of the prophecy nonetheless and tries to advance her own daughter and hold Guinevere back.

I love Arthurian legend and usually enjoy anything even remotely related to it, but I just couldn't get into this book. It took me a long time to read it and even longer to be able to post about it.

Young tween girls would probably enjoy it, but the true Arthurian fan won't find anything new or special here.

Breaking Dawn--Stephanie Meyer

2008-10-04T12:01:00.003-04:00

I don't think Meyer will ever be able to match what she had with Twilight. I enjoyed New Moon and then the series started to lose it with Eclipse. And now we have Breaking Dawn. Twilight was just so GOOD. Breaking Dawn is, well, okay.

I read it quickly because I wanted to see how it all ended. I liked it better than most of my friends did. But there were problems. I'm not sure how I can go into them without spoiling the book. Let's just say the major plot points of this book felt like a cop-out to me. It felt like she didn't have a vision when she started the series, didn't anticipate the success, and she was grasping at straws at the end.

I enjoyed the book in the sense that I had heard so many negative things about it from my friends, that I thought it was going to royally suck. And when it didn't suck, I was pleasantly surprised. I think it's a must-read to conclude the series, but it's a bit disappointing.

Superior Saturday--Garth Nix

2008-10-04T11:47:00.003-04:00

If you're a "regular" reader of this barely updated blog, you'll know of my love affair with Garth Nix. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do when this series ends... I guess I'll have to wait for his next one.

Superior Saturday is the 6th in a 7 book series. I reviewed the last one here. You can get links to the others there as well.

Arthur, the rightful heir, has collected 5 parts of the will and 5 keys. Since using the keys are slowly turning him into a denizen, he has only kept one key in an attempt to keep himself human. In this book Arthur tries to find the 6th part of the will and 6th key, as he also tries to keep the House from disappearing into nothing.

I cannot tell you if he is successful. Not because of a desire to keep you unspoiled. But because this book is a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER.

This series is just amazing. There's adventure and fantasy and mystery. But there's also a lot of deep stuff for adults. There's the religious framework underlying the series...the 7 deadly sins... and so much more. This would make a great book discussion title. Or series discussion title.

Lock and Key--Sarah Dessen

2008-08-27T20:36:00.002-04:00

17 year old Ruby didn't plan on her alcoholic mom abandoning her. She didn't plan on living alone and taking care of herself. She sure didn't plan on getting caught and being sent to live with her older sister Cora--who she hadn't seen in 10 years. But what she didn't plan most of all was finding a home.

I love Sarah Dessen and I've heard mixed reviews of this book. It wasn't her strongest, but I still enjoyed it. It was kind of funny how I could pick up on little things that have changed in her writing because of her life-changes... she recently had a baby and she had a character who was trying to have a baby and not successful. In one scene she's taking her temperature in the morning and Ruby assumes that she must be sick, but because things in MY life have changed as well, I instantly knew what she was doing (charting). I don't think that would have been in there 10 years ago.

There was definitely a message in this book, but I don't think it was as heavy-handed as I've read from other reviewers. Certainly not enough to detract from the overall quality. I'm a big Dessen fan though so maybe I'm biased.

Something to Blog About--Shana Norris

2008-08-14T20:32:00.002-04:00

I picked this book up because of the title. It was a nice quick read. Here's the summary from the library catalog:

When pages from tenth-grader Libby Fawcett's password-protected blog are posted all over Yeardley High by her nemesis Angel Rivera, whose father is dating Libby's mother, the whole school finds out her humiliating secrets, as well as those of her friends and acquaintances.

I enjoyed the story and I liked the blogging aspect of it. I read it last month but forgot to post about it. It's your typical high school girl has her diary exposed story, but the blogging twist is new.

Powers--Ursula K. Le Guin

2008-06-12T19:44:00.002-04:00

Title: Powers
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Pages: 502 p.
Publisher: Harcourt
ISBN: 9780152057701

This is the third book in the Annals of the Western Shore series. The first was Gifts
The second one was Voices and I have somehow not posted it here. I must have been pregnant.

Powers is about a young slave boy named Gavir who is able to both remember the past exactly (photographic memory) and remember things that haven't happened yet (predict the future). He doesn't understand his visions until after they have already happened. He is happy enough for a slave, trusting his "Family" completely, until a tragedy strikes and he questions his entire existence. He escapes slavery and begins looking for his true home and identity.

Le Guin is a good story teller and has created a likable, albeit naive character. All of her main characters are flawed in some way--Orrec, Memer (from Voices) and now Gavir. The ending of this book links it to the previous two and hints at more stories to come. It looks as though Le Guin is gathering her heroes... perhaps in the end they will change their oppressive world and get rid of the conflict of occupied countries and slavery?

Although the story itself does stand alone, fans of the first two will want to read this one as well.
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Falling--Doug Wilhelm

2008-05-14T20:01:00.002-04:00

Title: Falling
Author: Doug Wilhelm
Pages: 241 p.
Publisher: Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux
ISBN: 978-0-374-32251-9

I wonder if I'm falling away from YA books... I just couldn't feel this one. It felt forced. The plot was okay (older brother gets hooked on drugs, younger brother can't deal, falls in love, jeopardizes new relationship), but it just didn't feel true to me. The main characters felt a connection way too easily, quickly, and while that can indeed happen I just didn't see it here. I hate saying bad things about books. I would rather not do a review than a bad one. So I'll end here and just say this was not one of the best I've read.

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The Heroin Diaries--Nikki Sixx

2008-05-14T19:55:00.002-04:00

Title: The Heroin Diaries-A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
Author: Nikki Sixx
Pages: 413 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-8628-6

This is a must read for not only Motley Crue fans, but for parents and teenagers. Anyone who thinks the sex, drugs, rock n' roll lifestyle is glamorous is in for a wake-up call. First-hand accounts from band members and other people and interspersed with Nikki Sixx's diary entries. It's amazing to see how badly he was doing and how other people could see some of it but just let it go because he was still making music.

This is an amazing read. There's raw language and adult situations. Classic sex & drugs. But parents should really let their teens read this and get the true story of a heroin addict.
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The sweet, terrible, glorious year, I truly completely lost it--Lisa Shanahan

2008-04-10T20:29:00.003-04:00

Title: the sweet, terrible, glorious year I truly, completely lost it
Author: Lisa Shanahan
Pages: 297 p
Publisher: delacorte press
ISBN: 9780385735162

Gemma Stone (HAHA. Get it? Gem Stone. GEMSTONE) has always been a calm shy girl who throws up when she speaks in public. The same year that her sister gets engaged and plans a crazy wedding, Gemma discovers that she can keep the bile down if she's speaking in character--in a play on stage. She also discovers that the school delinquent is a gifted actor and a true friend.

I gobbled this book up. It was fun. It's Australian so some of the slang is odd--but in a good way. It's a fun quick read and I'd recommend it. And I now have my new favorite phrase in the world: chucking a birkett*.

* "IN MY FAMILY, when anyone rides the wave of their emotions, we say they're chucking a birkett. When the emotion drives out all common sense, we say they're chucking a big one. The telltale signs are: flaming cheeks, shortness of breath, bulging eyes, and a prolonged illogical outburst."
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Sweethearts--Sara Zarr

2008-03-22T16:10:00.003-04:00

Title: Sweethearts
Author: Sara Zarr
Pages: 217 p
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
ISBN: 0316014559

I was lucky enough to get this title as an ARC. I read it in ONE DAY.

Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick are both outcasts in their elementary school and naturally bond with one another. They are best friends and understand each other like no one else does. And then one day Cameron disappears. Devastated and heartbroken Jennifer morphs into Jenna--a popular, friendly, pretty girl who is the exact opposite of Jennifer--and moves to a new school leaving her past behind. Until the day Cameron Quick reappears in her life.

This is a wonderful poignant story about friendship, love and loss. There are some deep issues in this book--the story of emotional abuse that Cameron endures at the hands of his sadistic cruel father is the most important one. There are mentions of sex but nothing is ever fully described. I would recommend it for junior high and up.

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Beige--Cecil Castellucci

2008-03-22T15:59:00.003-04:00

Title: Beige
Author: Cecil Castelluci
Pages: 307
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763630669

Katy lives in Canada with her mom and has had very little contact with her American rock star father until her mom needs to go on an archeology dig without her. The only person who can take care of Katy for those 2 weeks turns out to be the Dad she never knew. Two weeks turn into the whole summer as her mom gets more and more interested in the dig and Katy feels more and more left behind until she snaps and realizes she has a lot more in common with her musical father than she thought.

There's a lot in this book and that summary doesn't even do it justice--father/daughter issues; mother/daughter issues; friendship; self-esteem; drugs. There are loads of issues but it doesn't feel overwhelming or preachy. Although the issues are serious, it's a fun read. Katy is a likeable character even when she's not being so likeable. Katy's Dad, "the Rat", tries so hard to be a good dad and make up for lost time. He's funny and charming and a really good guy but it takes Katy the whole summer to figure it out. Beige is a quick read and well-worth it!

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Dramarama--E. Lockhart

2008-03-05T20:32:00.003-05:00

Title: Dramarama
Author: E. Lockhart
Pages: 311 p.
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN: 9780786838158

Sarah is somewhat of an outcast at school until she auditions for a summer program at a musical theater school and decides to reinvent herself as Sadye. She meets Demi, a black gay boy, at the audition and they instantly become best friends. They both get in the program and look forward to having a wonderful summer making it "big." But when Demi is more successful and talented than Sadye turns out to be, their friendship is put to the test.

I have no experience with musical theater and I'm not a big fan of musicals and Broadway and all that jazz and I LOVED this book. Even though Sadye does whine a bit at times, I still liked her character and I wanted her to succeed. I liked her unorthodox friendship with Demi and how Lockhart was not afraid to talk about both the racial and homosexual issues between them. It was a nice satisfying read and well worth having had to stay up late to finish reading it when I have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to take care of children.

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Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List--Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

2008-02-06T18:52:00.000-05:00

Title: Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List
Author: Cohn, Rachel and David Levithan
Pages: 230 p.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN:978-0-375-84440-9

The authors of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist are at it again with Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. Clearly, they like long titles, but I guess when you have two authors they each need to get the same number of words...

Straight girl Naomi and gay boy Ely are best friends. As close as siblings, if not closer, they have been together their entire lives through the good and bad times. Naomi's Dad had an affair with one of Ely's moms and they kept their friendship strong even through that. In order to remove any potential for conflict they created a No Kiss List--a list of people that neither one could kiss. It works well until Ely breaks the rules and kisses Naomi's boyfriend.

The kiss is just the catalyst that Naomi needs to reexamine her relationship--with Ely, not with Bruce the Second (her boyfriend). She finally admits that she has always wanted more with Ely than he could give her and that she needs to have an identity outside of him. The friendship is forever changed.

Cohen and Levithan have already proven that they can write well together. This book is further proof. Naomi and Ely are both interesting, complex people that I wanted to read more about. I'm not sure how this one was written; the point of view changed with each chapter but there were more than just the two main characters. I'm not sure who wrote which section and that's the mark of a great writing partnership. I look forward to their next collaboration!

As with Playlist, there are f-bombs and adult situations. Naomi and Ely are both in college and there's plenty of dorm-room shenanigans. I would keep this one for the high school teens.

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Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy--Ally Carter

2008-01-23T20:02:00.000-05:00

Sequel to I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, this one is not *quite* as fun, but it's still entertaining and definitely leaves you wanting to read more stories. There's romance, spy-stuff, and loads of references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There was one sentence with both Buffy AND Veronica Mars and my head almost exploded! Lots of girl power. Good book.

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