Shatter Me

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pub: 2011; Harper
Pages: 338
Genre: Young Adult, Series, Dysfic

Did anyone else immediately think X-Men when reading the summary of this one?  If she touches you, you die!!  Enter Rogue.  Only not really...because at least Rogue found others like her and poor Juliette got sent away to a prison.   Isolation even.  For a seriously LONG time.

Aaaand then enters a kid from her old 'hood.  His butt gets thrown into the solitary cell, making it not so solitary.  Adam doesn't seem to recognize her and she goes through all of the emotions like: can I trust him or not?  AND he's so dreamy AND I don't want him to know I'm a monster because my touch will kill him.

But there's a bigger master plan going on.  The Reestablishment - crazy government in this dystop- decides that maaaybe they shouldn't have locked up Juliette and instead use her as a masterful weapon against the good guys.

There's a struggle.  And another hottie that enters the front.  Although, I don't know  if we can really call him a hottie when he is actually suppose to be evil.

Bottom line though?  The book was a quick read, but fairly forgettable.  I'm not quite sure why I had it stashed away on the shelves.  Especially because the cover isn't all that impressive either.

Of course this is going to be a trilogy (series?)  Who knows if I'll read the next one.  I suppose if it pops up on my shelves unexpectedly also, I might.

Matched

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Narrator: Kate Simses
Pub: 2010; Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 369
Audio Length: 9 hours 54 minutes
Genre: Audio, Young Adult, Dysfic

I absolutely dug this book and I was excruciatingly weary of listening to it because EVERYONE had strong opinions about it.

Also, it surprised me.  After reading the brief back paged summary I assumed the book would wholly be about a community that matches up individuals for families and it would take more of a romance road, disputing compatibility and identifying what love might be.

But that was just a superficial front.  There's so much more in this community.  The members are matched for EVERYTHING: partners, lifestyles, locations, jobs.  And that's if you're lucky enough to be a member of society.  You could be misfortune enough to live in society but be outcasted.  Those individuals lose the right to even partner up.  And they get the worst jobs ever.

Cassia is a member of society.  Her parents love her and she has a wonderful best friend, Xander.  Things only become more perfect when Xander is chosen as her mate.  Everything that Cassia could have ever wanted is coming true.

But then, the next day when she puts in the memory thingamajig that tells her all about Xander another boy's face shows up - Ky.  That can't be right and The Society quickly tries to correct its mistake.

Too late though.  Out of curiosity, Cassia begins to form a friendship with Ky that quickly turns to love.  The novelty of it opens doors to questions about The Society that she wasn't expecting.  Plus, her love for Xander hasn't changed either.

Matched might seem like another YA trilogy with a love triangle but it is so much more than that.  It's definitely a wonderful introduction into the dysfic genre.  It's action packed but not unavailable.

I also thought that the reasons why the Society was created made sense.  For example, there are 100 songs and 100 books and 100 pieces of art - much like how we create the 1001 books you must read before you die, the Society eliminated the excess because it was just TOO MUCH.  How easy is that to understand?  The question begins with, would you give up some freedoms to have a quieted mind.

As for the audio portion - REALLY FANTASTIC.  Immediately upon finishing this one, I downloaded the next in the series.

Skinny

Title: Skinny
Author: Donna Cooner
Pub: 2012; Point
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic, Eating Disorders

EVERYONE who has read this seems to have loved it, claiming it was oh so powerful.  And yeah, sure, I thought it was original and dealt with self-esteem issues and biggest thing that most books about weight loss deal with and that's the reasons behind the weight gain.  Or more importantly just because you're skinny doesn't mean all of sudden your confident.  But, I was pretty meh about the whole process.

First, I was a bit uncomfortable with how quickly the author brushes over Ever's decision to have a gastric bypass ESPECIALLY since she's a teenager.  There was barely any conversation with the father (who only shows up occasionally) and worst yet, the decision is made by Ever because of a cute boy and getting his attention.  And okay, sure, I can believe that being a motivating cause for a teen to want surgery...but is that enough for her to get the surgery? Of course she didn't tell pops the initial reason and yeah, they mention (gloss over) how her health is at jeopardy because of her weight.

What I DID like though was the process after Ever had the surgery.  The author made sure that losing the weight - even with gastric bypass - was easy.  She still had to watch what she ate and the amount. Also, the exercise. This was a biggie because I think that many thing gastric bypass is an easy way out and I'm glad Cooner proves that idea wrong.

So, Skinny is a process.  It's Ever's journey through weight loss and finding herself.  There were faults, but the intentions had merit. 

Easy

Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Weber
Pub: 2012
Pages: 304
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

This is a quick collegiate read the deals with date rape (in my assumptions) accurately.

Jacqueline and her boyfriend break up almost immediately after they start college together.  She's heartbroken because that's how she identified herself, popular fratboy girlfriend.  After some nagging by her BFF she goes to a party but ditches early.  Bad mistake. Never leave a party alone in the middle of the night.  Jacqueline comes > . < that close to getting raped by another frat boy.  But she doesn't because Lucas, this quiet boy in her stat class, beats the life out of him.

Jacqueline cannot deal so she pretends it didn't happen, refusing to go to the cops or even telling her bestie.

Life goes on in college.  She gets a tutor because her breakup put her in such a funk she began failing a class.  Her and Lucas have a few more run-ins. There's some making out and gossip and fights.

And then it comes back to that one night again.  Because usually, if someone's gonna do it once, they're gonna do it again.

I don't know if it makes sense to say this is a good book when the subject is rape.  So, I'll leave it at, this is a real book.  

Pure

Title: Pure
Author: Julianne Baggott
Pub: 2012; Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 431
Genres: Young Adult, Dysfic, Series,

I don't even know where to begin with this book.  Hands down this is on my hit list for 2012.

I can't remember how I heard about it, but what grabbed my attention was the description of the narrator: a post apopclyptic world where bodies are mangled with whatever objects were closest, and in the case of Pressia, one hand is replaced with a child's doll.  

How is that for creepy? And then somehow word spread that Pure was YA so I ended up being all hell to the yeah -drool-drool-must-read.  But folks, lemme tell you, this book is NOT young adult.  I mean, it's young adult in the way that Ender's Game gets marketed as young adult, but it's really much more of a gateway book, in my opinion.

This book is thick.  And not just in the many pages, but in the details, and in the construction of this not so far away world.  There are horrific scenes that left my tummy in knots and conspiracy theories within our government and details that just made me squirm.  Because, without being much of a conspiracy theorist myself, part of me was all like I can see it.

There's this dome right and it's been built as a protection for any nuclear warfare.  And then the detonators go off and not everyone makes it into the dome (were they ever really intended to?).  Within that flash most individuals are decimated.  Others, are worse off. (There's this scene where a man has been merged with a car engine).  Some make it after their new attachments and adapt (Grandfather with the fan in his throat) others turn into mortifying creatures (Groupies - those who were merged with others; Dusts - those who formed with an actual part of the Earth) who no longer act human.

In the beginning, the people outside of the Dome believed that the Pures (those who remained unharmed because they were in the dome's safety) would come and help.  When that doesn't happen, a self-created military police form recruiting sixteen year olds to build an army to take down the Dome.

Life in the Dome isn't as perfect as the Wretches (those outside) imagine either.  Everything is very Brave New World in there.  Food is capsules; children and teens get reprogramming for behavior and strength; the government in rule is God.

And then a Pure escapes.  Or runs away from the Dome.  Partridge's father is one of the heads of this new government but he feels unsettled, especially living in his brother's shadow - the brilliant one; the one that killed himself.  Partridge also believes that the mother he was told died is actually a wretch, living outside of the Dome.  In the hopes of finding her, he escapes.

Partridge meets Pressia and a unique pairing begins. But that's not the end of the characters and stories even though those two bring the characters together.  Joined together we are faced with many questions about humanity and its potential. 

This is not a warm fuzzy novel, but it's powerful and worth the read. 

Shattered Souls

Title: Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsey
Pub: 2011; Penguin
Pages: 336
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal

I think that the only reason why I picked up this book was for the cover.  Absolutely gorgeous, yes?

And thank god it's a beautiful cover because the book itself was pretty forgetful.  Sure, I've been going through this YA fiction thing the latter part of this year, and I've definitely found that it's easy to forget what you've read if you move from one book to the next without jotting down ideas BUT it still seems to me that if a book has a lot to offer there will be some vague feelings associated with it, right?

Weeeelllll, I'm coming up with zilch.

Lenzi is somewhat of a ghost whisperer, although she doesn't realize it at first.  In fact, she believes she just might be going crazy like her father who recently committed suicide because he could no longer hear the voices in his head.

But it turns out that she's more than crazy and it takes Alden showing up to reveal what her true destiny is - to send lost souls to their other world by assisting them in unresolved concerns.   Alden knows this because he is her Protector and they have been working together for centuries.

Now, y'know how I said that this book was pretty forgetful in the ocean of YA that I've been devouring?  And that part is true, I mean, heck, the writing was fairly uneventful even...BUT if I was a legit tween I'm sure this book would have been listed on my top ten faves because it has desperation and reincarnation and tragic love and everything that would make me all kiddy-swoon.  Of course, now, being an adult reading YA, I need a little bit more than that.

Best bonus?  This is a first in a series (or trilogy, who knows) but it ends perfectly.  I feel no compulsion to pick up the second book, scheduled for 2014 because it ends subtlety.

A bit of confusion though?  I went to the author's page on Goodreads to see if there was going to be a second book and Mary Lindsey answers the question What is taking so long?  Her response: That’s a great question. It should not take two years to write this kind of book.  And then she goes on sharing when the book will come out.  But what got me was the statement THIS KIND OF BOOK.  I don't get it, is she talking about the YA genre? Like, obviously it's lesser than adult fiction so she should be able to write YA quicker? (Evidently, Lindsey writes adult fiction under another name as well).  I'm not quite sure how else to take that statement and if she didn't mean it like how it sounds then that doesn't make her very eloquent does it?

Shadow and Bone

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pub: 2012; Henry Holt
Pages: 358
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

First lemme be honest and up front.  I read this book in a day.  I didn't MEAN to read it in a day, much less in two sittings...it just happened that way.  Which, sure, it's not the first...but it IS a first where the book is filled with world-building and unpronounceable hierarchies.   Normally fantasy scares me because of that reason alone.  My mind tends to wander if there's not enough scaffolding done and my control-freak nature has a hard time of letting things go and flow until my brain catches up and goes, oh yeah, that's what they do.

So here it is: Alina and Mal were orphaned children who ended up in the same home causing them to end up lifelong friends.  The world they live in, Ravka, is in turmoil.  After they were tested for abilities (what appears to happen to all children) and they come up normal, Alina & Mal grow up and become a part of the Second Army.  Their world has been split in the middle by the Shadow Fold, this creeptastic darkness that looms in the middle of their territory.  I immediately associated it with the Nothing of The Neverending Story.  What's even more terrifying is the Fold is home to these creatures that fly and chow down on human flesh.  The onslaught is absolutely hideous.  But I'm kinda jumping around all the place, aren't I?

I mentioned abilities....and this is partly where fantasy books (or historical books with hierarchies) leave me confused.  I forget character names in television shows that I watch religiously, so learning of a new Order just muddles my mind.

The Darkling is the highest in this Order; he is feared and for obvious reasons - his ancestor created the Fold.  Underneath him are an elite group of warriors with magical powers (they vary from healing to destroying).  Only higher to the Darkling is the King of Ravka.  Like I said, there is a lot of time spent on developing this story.  And whereas it would usually make me run for the hills, I couldn't help but devour it.

Alina is an amazing character.  She's in love with Mal, her best friend, but refuses to tell him because he's such a player and she's kinda mousy.  Still, her mousiness doesn't stop her from having a quick wit and a wee bit of defensive attitude.  Her depth grows when her gift is revealed: she's doubtful, frustrated, and definitely petulant at times.  And yes, it probably wouldn't be a YA without a bit of a love triangle (the Darkling is evidently a bit dreamy and mysterious) but it WORKS because she's separated from Mal and spends so much time with the Darkling and she's a teenager, which for me, in this situation, means easily swayed by the environment that surrounds her. 

There's a lot of emotional manipulation going on here.  And the swaying of political power.  Also, what is HUGE for me was the characterization.  There weren't any stereotyped individuals, like no one was completely evil or completely good.  The motivations of most characters made sense.

Definitely one of the best reads in 2012 for sure.

I Hunt Killers

Title: I Hunt Killers
Author: Barry Lyga
Pub: 2012; Little Brown & Company
Pages: 361
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Series, Suspense

I FREAKIN' LOVED THIS BOOK.  

Seriously.  It was amazing and got me all creeped out in this most-excellent-stephen-king-meets-criminal-minds sorta way.

I want everyone to read this book.  Well, everyone who is slightly warped and okay with criminal profiling and sociopathic behavior etcetera etcetera.

Jazz is seventeen years old and lives with his going-nuts grandma in a sleepy small town in nowheresville.  It would be all lame and normal except Jazz's father is in prison.  Yup.  He's the notorious serial killer, Billy Dent, known for killing over 100 women.  And even more perverse?  Billy raised Jazz to think like a serial killer, prepped him to follow in his footsteps.  Jazz grew up keeping his dad's trophies organized and the details of the murderous acts filed away in his mind for safe keeping.  Plus Billy made a point of bestowing words of wisdom, such as: the easiest way to remove evidence of a body (cut it up? use chemicals?); the importance of paying attention to that last breath, and slicing a body is just like slicing chicken.  Um, ew.

Jazz wakes up every morning reminding himself that people are real; they feel things.

This novel is a brilliant look at a nearing adult fighting against his nature AND nurture.  He's a pro at manipulation.  He was trained by the best.  He constantly hears dear ole dad's voice in his head and he has to hush his nightmares that are part memories part fears.

And as if that wouldn't be enough to write about THE IMPRESSIONIST shows up.  A new serial killer paying  homage to Billy and Jazz is determined to figure out who the killer is even if the town thinks he might be the prime suspect.

Also.  He has help.  This wonderful side-kick best friend, Howie, who is classic nerd with a hemophilia issue.  Perhaps not the best man to go into fighting crime with, but he's uber loyal and has a crazy cool sarcastic sense of humor.  Oh and then there's Connie, Jazz's girlfriend.  She's a hit or miss with me.  I mean, she's definitely well written.  Her need to show Jazz that he's not his father is SO typical of a teenage girl right?  But, you know, even though I'm sure I would totally have been Connie in the same situation, it sorta irks me knowing that and wishing that instead I'd have been more you have issues so deal with them and come to me when you're over it you freak, which she kinda does, but not really.

I got this book from the library but desperately want to go out and purchase my own copy and reread it.  Especially because it's a - wait for it....wait for it - part in a SERIES.  (Betcha didn't see that one coming, huh?)  Don't let that sway you though.  Run out and buy this book!

The Unbecoming of Mara Deyer

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Pub: 2011; Simon & Schuster
Pages: 452
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Series

I'm probably one of the last to have read this book, so I won't say ohemgee that ending?! Because that's what EVERYONE said and if EVERYONE said it then we all know bout that ending.

Yah hear me?

But YOU GUYS there's something I have to admit to and I might be on my own lil' biblio-island but I have completely forgotten EVERYTHING about this book.

For realz.

Like, I was reading the summary from Goodreads and NOTHING was coming back to me.  So then I started googling spoilers and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and still naaahsiiing.  Are you kidding me?  I know that I've been on a reading rampage but something should jog my memory.

Zilch.

Then, I began questioning whether or not I actually read the book.  But sho' enough, I have a start and finish date on Goodreads.

So what gives.  How is it that this novel has impressed so many individuals and I seriously could read it over again a week later with nada recollection.

*shrug*

After struggling with this for some time I have a bit of vague wispy memories of closing the book thinking oh yeah, I'll read the second one.  But that's about all I can come up with. 

Bruiser

Title: Bruiser
Author: Neal Shusterman
Pub: 2011; HarperTeen
Pages: 328
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism

This book! Man.  I had no idea what to think.  S'okay; Bruiser is this tough melancholic loner that has caught Bronte's eye.  Bronte being the sister to the very alpha-male jock, Tennyson.  This is definitely not acceptable.  I mean, Bruiser's name is Bruiser. Duh.  But still, Bronte's a fixer and she sees something deep within and wants to bring it out.

On a completely personal side note.  I TOTALLY get Bronte.  I so would have done the same in high school.

The thing is, Brew (a more human name once the two realize that he's well, human) has a deep secret which forces him not to let his guard down.  He takes on the from the people he cares about.

How clever of a plotline is that?

The book is told in multiple characters, which I'm usually not a fan of because MOST OF THE TIME each character sounds the same.  And here, maybe they do.  I don't know. I wasn't paying much attention because the whole premise was wicked cool.  I mean, it throws in the question of codependency and what one person feels and who is actually feeling it and MAN!

I loved me some Brew.

Although sometimes I wanted to punch him because really there's only so much someone should take.

The book kinda reminded me of Powder.  Did anyone see that?  I couldn't even tell you if it was a great movie or not seeing as I saw it as a kiddo.  But it did leave an impression on me.

Another totally awesome and wonderful thing?  I got to MEET Neil Shusterman about the same time I was reading this book.  I stumbled upon his tour at the local B&N, which NEVER HAPPENS.  Seriously.  Authors are afraid of Florida, I think.  He's such a cool guy and read from his newest book UnWholly.  

Fingerprints of You

Title: Fingerprints of You
Author: Kristen-Paige Madonia
Pub: 2012; Simon and Schuster for Young Readers
Pages: 272
Genre: Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult (?)

Think you had it rough as a teenager?  Try living Lemon's life:

I mean, first, your NAME is LEMON. (Strike one, yes?)  Then you fool around with this tattoo artist that your mom has the hots for - a lil' bowchickabowwow - and lo and behold baby coming soon. Which opens a whole lot of daddy issues since yours has been MIA since birth.

Oh and it of course it doesn't help that your mom has her very own commitment issues and stability is a word you only know via the dictionary.

Yup.  That's Lemons' world at the tumultuous age of seventeen.  So what's the solution?  Of course a road trip clear across the country to Cali with your bestie to seek out your pops and get ANSWERS to life's most difficult questions.

This was a coming of age story like none other.  And seriously, can you look at the cover again?  Le gorgeous.  My buddy Fizzy Jilly gabbed about this book and I was all - ooooooh shiny and also that story line sounds fascinating. 

And about halfway through it I finally figured out what vague film atmosphere it reminded me of.  How many of you remember the flick Mermaids with Cher? Winona Ryder? It totally had that vibe going for it: Mother working through her own issues that cause daughter to have issues similar to deal with which eventually leads to aha moments as all grow up and become a closer family.

Well done Madonia because here the characters are pretty quirky.  And who can resist a main character who is a book nerd?  I mean, holla, can't we all relate?  PLUS I love the descriptions of San Fran.  Duuuude, I want to go there like yesterday.  The food! The stores! The scenery! Loved all of the details.

Final thoughts: While typing this up I realized that the book was published by S&S for Young Readers which is interesting because while reading the book itself and EVEN THOUGH the protagonist is a teenager, I never ASSOCIATED it as a Young Adult book.  I know there are some serious thoughts in that statement because first I was all well, it didn't read like fluff in the way that most coming of age young adult fic does but as soon as I THOUGHT that I felt guilty, like, YA contemporary is all teddy bears and text messages.  Which I know it's not.  But still.  I can't deny that thought.  So I should ponder this a bit more.  Why I disassociated this as a YA book even though our girl is obvs a teenager.  If you've read it, any thoughts to help me figure that one out?

The Beautiful Between

Title: The Beautiful Between
Author: Alyssa Sheinmel
Pub: Knopf for Young Readers; 2010
Pages: 192
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult, Fairy-tale-ish


"If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel"

That is exactly why I picked up this book because I am a self confessed fairy-tale retelling addict.  I also find that it's difficult to find contemporary retellings.  Or even adult retellings.  Are there any other there that I'm missing?  Help please. 

I also rated this a three-star as soon as I finished reading it, which means that I had to have dug it right?  Well, I'm (trying) to write this review a couple of months later and I can't remember ANYTHING about this book.

So I cheated and read some other reviews.  There's a vague memory in my brain somewhere.  Connelly's father died but she doesn't know why nor does it ever occur to her to ask her mom.  There's this popular boy (Jeremy) at their private richy high school who befriends her and he's going through issues because his sister is sick.  They form a friendship, not a romance, which is a plus because there's just not that many books out there filled with boy/girl friendships when the boy/girl are actually interested in opposite gendered luuurve.  (IE - in real life, folks, you don't have to be gay to have friends with the opposite sex).

Still.  I can't remember much about this one.  

Maybe I should change my rating from a three to a one because of that.

Between Shades of Gray (Audio)

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Narrator: Emily Klein
Pub: 2011; Penguin Audio
Pages: 344
Audio Length: 7 hours; 47 minutes
Genre: Young Adult; Historical Fiction

I obviously understand why this book made such noise in the literary community, both young adult and not.

While listening to Between Shades of Gray I kept thinking, man where have I heard something so familiar? Of course it's pretty obvious.  Young Lina's story of being a girl in the midst of war mirrors all of the stories that we heard about the Jews in Nazi Germany.

The difference here?  Lina wasn't Jewish.  Or German.  She was Lithuanian and it wasn't Hitler who ordered her family to be taken from their homes to die in work camps, but Stalin.

I have a colleague at work who is Russian.  Well, she's not exactly Russian, only kinda.  What I mean by this is, her country (Ukraine) was taken by Russia and so she identifies with both.  She's the one who recommended this book to me.  Ignorantly, I told her that I had long since reached my fill of World War II books (don't judge, my grandma lived in East Germany during the war so I grew up hearing her first hand experiences).

I listened to this book over the summer and IMMEDIATELY upon returning to work apologized to her about my cavalier position when she first said I should read it.  She was surprised and it obviously didn't keep HER up at night like it did me.

But folks...this book is Important.  Because it tells the story that we don't really spend time listening to, and that's about Stalin and his malicious reign over Russia and how so many people lost their homes because they thought differently.

Because of THAT this book is Important.  My mouth was agape most of the time.

As far as the audio goes....the narration was superb.  The accents were believable (possibly real?) but didn't make me twitch in the ears trying to figure out what was being said. 

Shelter

Title: Shelter
Author: Harlan Coben
Narrator: Nick Podehl
Pub: 2012; Putnam Juvenile
Audio: Brilliance Audio
Length: 7 Hours
Pages: 304
Genre: Audio, Mystery, Series, Tweens, Young Adult


LOVED THIS BOOK.

And I totally picked it up because it was a short audio, which happens to be ALL that my fuzzy brain was capable of listening to after the #italong debacle.

Also, I trust Coben as a mystery/suspense writer because I've liked both of the adult books that I've read.  Plus, he's pretty darn prolific, so that has to mean something, right? Of course, part of me was a bit weary because it's like singers/musicians who go into acting....sometimes they just shouldn't.  And maybe this would be the case for Coben's transition into middle grades. 

Ummm, I had NOTHING to worry about.  This book is hardcore.  Hardcore enough that part of me actually wished I had a kid of my own to tell him to read it.

So what's it about? Well, here's the thing...I don't want to give up too many of the deets because after the initial disc there were plenty of times I just had to take a "whoa" moment.  But, briefly.  Mickey is living with his uncle because his dad died in a car accident and his mom's kinda went off the deep end after his death.  Mickey has this hottie of a girlfriend named Ashley and things don't suck as bad as they did.  But then, Ashley disappears.  Like, her parents don't even acknowledge her.  So Mickey is all hell bent on finding her which leads him to a new friend, Emie (who knows how it's spelled because I was listening, but she is a rock star!) and Spoon (who is much more like the Robin side kick to Mickey's Batman superness).  The enter the underworld of this town and there are moments when I feel like Stabler (SVU peeps) is going to show up.

And the ending.  Oh the ending.  My mouth dropped and I wanted to hit my head on the steering wheel because THIS ENDING is the reason why I hate finding series because I want to know what happens next NOW and count.

How about that audio?  Once again I'm winning in the narration department.  Nick Podehl did an amazing job changing his voice in believable ways.  There's even a thug with a lisp and it works!  Also kudos for a male doing a decent female voice. 

Shiver (Audio)

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrator: Jenna Lamia & David Ledoux
Pub: Scholastic Press;2009
Pages: 392
Audio Length: 9 hours and 44 minutes
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Series, Young Adult

I am not a big werewolf fan.  I can totally get into the vamp scene.  After all THEY'RE sparkly.  But werewolves are right up there with zombies.  ESPECIALLY if we're talking romance.  I mean...animals or the undead?  No thank you.

So. I had no desire whatsoever to read the Shiver trilogy.  (1) It's about wolves and (2) it's a trilogy.  But then I listened to The Scorpio Races which moved me from a horse-hating fool who ended up eating her own words and adoring it and I figured if there was anyone out there who would convince me that werewolves don't suck, it would be Ms. Stiefvater.

And I guess she sorta did.  There is a huge truth in the fact that Stiefvater researches her folklore and then takes those amazing stories and turns them into her own.  Because of THAT, I utterly dig the 'behind the scenes' of these weres, their mythos was pretty okay.

Still.  She didn't sell me enough to necessarily want to finish the trilogy.  I'm pretty okay with how the story ended in the first book and although it's not as though life is resolved, I can walk away from it peacefully.

And the narration? Definitely a winner.  I enjoy the two narrators for alternating chapters. I don't think it would have been as fantastic without that element.

Scorpio Races (Audio)

Title: Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrator: Steve West & Fiona Hardingham
Pub: 2011; Scholastic
Pages: 409
Length: 12 hours; 6 minutes
Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy; Adventure

How a book began a 1 star and moved to a 5-er OR how audio books can sell even the most who-cares-story.

I checked out Scorpio Races from the library because EVERYONE raved about it last year.  "Ohemgee this is the best fantasy book in forever"  I shrugged shoulders and moved on.  But then, I was browsing through audio downloads that were available immediately because I desperately needed some company in the car and whadoyaknow this popped up.

I guess for a Young Adult book it's pretty lengthy at 400 pages (are the words big?) and I'm going to tell you something that will probably shock the pages outta you.  I disliked this book until maybe the last 100 pages (1).

So why the meh attitude and how did it change?

If you aren't familiar with Scorpio Races, in a nutshell, islanders tame vicious water horses once a year for a grisly race down the island.  The winner receives money and the losers are thrilled to be alive.  Seriously.  These water horses are vicious, they seem to love human flesh.

Sean has been the winner for the past several years and this race proves to be the most meaningful one yet - he'll get his financial freedom AND his horse.

Puck is one of the competitors, coming in as a first year.  And oh yeah.  Puck's a girl AND she's going to ride a horse NOT a water horse.  There's some family drama going on that makes it nearly impossible for her not to race.

So we have competition.  We have female-powerfulness.  We DON'T have romance (initially)!  So far three things that should make it a winner.  BUT...folks I have a confession.

I d.i.s.l.i.k.e. horses.  Like seriously DISLIKE.  I don't get it.  I don't understand people who go all ga-ga over the beasts.  I don't think they're cute, pretty, svelte, beautiful, [insert any other adjective here].  Nor do I think they're especially loveable (although I have friends who swear by it).

Why did I continue listening then?  The audio version of this book is fantastic.  Ahmayzing.  The narrators are wonderful and engaging and they have accents.  I truly felt as though I was listening to their side of the story while the book was going on.  They were THAT engaging.  Plus all of the other characters were kinda interesting.

So I ignored the horses.  Which was terribly difficult to do considering they were EVERYWHERE.

And then something happened.  I can't remember really when my opinion shifted, but I do know that I'd leave working out and make it home just to sit in my driveway to listen longer.

By the time the book was over, I found myself rating it five stars.  Although I admit, I don't know if I would have continued reading if I wasn't listening.


___________
(1) 100 pages is merely an estimate since it was an audio book.

Chime (Audio)

Title: Chime
Author: Franny Billingsley
Narrator: Susan Duerden
Pub: 2011; Dial
Length: 10 hours 13 minutes
Pages: 361
Genre: Young Adult; Fairy Tale; Fantasy




This book.  THIS BOOK.  I spent the first half (maybe more) wondering what in the world was going on.  I seriously had a moment where I thought about looking for some homemade sparks notes version.  And then the book just came together in this big WHOOSH and my mouth was hanging wide open and I was sitting in my car in my driveway waiting for a perfect spot to stop the audio.  BUT THERE WASN'T ONE because it was SO FREAKIN' good and instead I just sat there, listening longer.

Franny Billingsley really stepped up her game.  It is hard  for me to admit this, but man did this book manipulate me, you know...in that I'm feeling frustrated but I'm still going to come back for me.  (I've read other reviews and this seems to be a trend).

So what is this book about?  Geez.  I can't even go there.  It's about a young girl named Briony who is a TOTAL unreliable narrative in this brilliant way.  I mean she just loathes herself and the whole time you're gonna be sitting there scratching your forehead because it just doesn't make sense why she would.  Oh and then there's Rose, her slow sister, who just rocks my world.  Rose will always be a favorite character because her personality was full and complete and Real.  It's impossible to tell what Rose's ailment is, and it's presented that she fell from a swing and hit her head, not making her right.  But she's amazing and brilliant and I'm gushing, I know.

Then there's Eldric who comes from the city and quickly becomes a good friend of the sisters AND OF COURSE there's FEELINGS on Briony's part

And there's Old Ones and Magic and this villainous bog spirit who is causing strife.  There's legend and a Moon Child, even if she's not really a child.  There's a father who's a priest who can't see what's in front of him and a dead stepmother who still controls Briony's thoughts.

WOW.

Have you not read this yet?  Get to it.

Thoughts on the Audio Version

I cannot exclaim enough how the narrator, Susan Duerden, really made this book.  Because this is a fantasy novel, albeit contemporary fantasy (is that what you would call it when it mixes current world with fantastical?) and Duerden creates the atmosphere perfectly.  She will transfix who ears, tickling them with individual character voices, all with their own charming accent.

Crash Into Me

Title: Crash Into Me
Author: Albert Borris
Pub: 2009; Simon Pulse
Pages: 257
Genre: Young Adult; Suicide; Contemporary

You know what is REALLY annoying?  When you loo at a cover and think one thing only for it to turn out to be something completely different.

That's how I felt about Crash Into Me.

I admit.  I'm judgey.  I TOTALLY judge a book by its cover.  If I haven't heard anything about it (which is why reviews are oh-so-important) then it's basically if there's cover appeal.  So.  Take a good look at this cover.  Doesn't it look saucy? Like, there's going to be this love story going on which two misunderstood characters.  But they get each other.

I figured it would be a fun summer read.

Then I read the back aaaannnnd wellllll it IS kinda about misunderstood youths.  There's a group of four kids who go on a suicide drive cross country visiting the sites of famous suicides.  At the end, they're suppose to off themselves.  Okay.  Perhaps not the summer romance read I was expecting but it still sounded kinda neat.  (And of course I mean neat in the clever story line way NOT in the yay young people killing themselves way).

But it fell short.

I wanted to LOVE this book.  And I only kinda mildly liked it.  There were only a few moments where I wanted to roll my eyes.

Oh.  It was a quick read. 

Butter

Title: Butter
Author: Erin Jade Lange
Pub: 2012; Bloomsbury
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult, Bullying, Suicide
Etc: Huge thanks to NG & Bloomsbury


If you hear the premise of this book, I guarantee you that it will interest you enough to pick it up.  And even after I tell you all the reasons why I disliked the book, go ahead and STILL pick it up, because it's a quick read.

Butter is JP's nickname.  He is this amazingly obese high school boy who has no friends and finds comfort in food.  He knows he's disgusting, I mean, why else did his father stop talking to him, but it can't help it.  [There's this anguish-filled scene where he is at the dining room table stuffing himself but as soon as his parents - his audience - leaves, he quits because there's no one to observe him eat.]

Butter is also in love with a classmate Anna and via Instant Messaging begins an online relationship with her.  Of course, IRL she doesn't acknowledge him.  UNTIL, in a desperate move Butter creates a web page - "Butter's Last Meal".  He marks New Year's Eve to be the day that he eats himself to death.  AND does it via a live feed on line for anyone to watch.

This depressive move sparks an interest from all of his classmates.  All of a sudden he is known.  The cool kids invite him to eat with them and even then invite him to hang out.  Butter is confused with all of this attention.  He likes it but can't believe that they really want to watch his death.  I mean, they don't.  Not really, right?

This book is an amazing commentary on our "watch the car crash, bottle knecking" life style.  For that I can't appreciate it.  As a society we are drawn to reality television and it would not surprise me in the least that there would be some sick punks out there who would watch something as disgusting and tragic as a lonely kid eating himself to death.  I mean, seriously...others out there must remember those horrifying underground cult films Faces of Death right?  There's an audience for this sort of creeptastic stunt.  THAT part is what drew me in.

Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.  I wasn't too fond of Butter as a person and it had nothing to do with his insecurities, depression, or poor choices.  I just couldn't picture him as a real character (although the desperation he felt is assuredly real).  Also, I couldn't buy in to the fact that NO ONE in the WHOLE FREAKIN' SCHOOL didn't rat him out.  Sure, there was discussion on making this Event secretive, with a password protective website and all, but really?!  And the whole attitude from people who shared their opinion was, oh he won't REALLY do it, and if he tries it's not like he'll REALLY die but seriously, no one told on him?

Finally, the thing that bugged me the most was the wrap up speech on bullying.  In a nutshell, it quickly turned into a PSA for anti-bullying and what it might look like to be bullied.

Unspoken

Title: Unspoken
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Pub: 2012; Random House for For Young Readers
Pages: 370
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Series
Etc:  Thanks to NG and Random House for the read.


Kami Glass is a high school investigative journalist in a small town in England. Her life is pretty normal EXCEPT she has an imaginary friend that she has talked to her whole life. Jared is the voice in her head. He has a life of his own and in every way is three-dimensional, except in the physical sense. Kami has lost friends over this weird quirk of hers and part of her doesn't want to think hard enough about it because she just might be crazy.

Pushing the crazy out of her head she is intrigued by a returning family in town, The Lynburns. For some reason the Lynburns are feared by most of the townsfolk and anytime Kami asks questions about the folklore surrounding them, people hush up.

THEN leaving the library after some research, Kami discovers that Jared is not just a voice in her head but a real person. Aaaaannd a Lynburn.

Hands down this is one of the most creative concepts ever imagined. I loved the notion of an imaginary friend a la potential schizophrenia is in fact a real person. Plus how Kami and Jared ended up being connected was well thought out. (Hint: it has nothing to do with soul mates).

Also, guys what else is different about this YA? The parents are involved. Yup, Kami and her family have this campy sorta relationship filled with smart sarcasm and doting. She also has a best friend, Angela and her brother Rusty who are sorta extended family.

Kami is clearly a female protagonist that falls in the anti-googly-boy-eyed team. She's smart and dedicated to her career and often is the sound of reason when it comes to her relationship with Jared. In fact Jared ends up being the passive "my-life-is-nothing-and-you-complete-me" mentality. It's a different change of pace.

Unfortunately the story was only meh. Don't get me wrong. The Unspoken is a fast-paced read. Seriously. I read it straight through one night and really felt that lack of sleep the next morning. So the pacing wasn't what did it in for me. Nope, instead, there were too many moments that reminded me of Harry Potter. Not in the wizardry school sorta way. There's no Hogwarts. But the gist of it. How the good vs. evil is set up against each other. At least in The Unspoken the enemy's name can be spoken. Heh.