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| Name : | Anagha U. |
My Reviews
Liz Gallagher’s debut novel, The Opposite of Invisible, is a captivating story of teenage love and friendship. Alice, who is the perfect example of a teenager trying to find her identity, is satisfied to spend all her time with her best friend, Jewel, until her crush, the popular Simon, starts to notice her. Jewel also wants to be more than friends. Alice suddenly goes from being invisible to being the talk of the school. Even though the plotline is familiar, the characters are very well portrayed. I felt as though I had known Alice for so long, she was so endearing; Jewel, Simon and Mandy are also very real characters. The first person, present tense tone is easy-to-read and unique. My only regret was that the book is so short; I wanted to read a little longer about Alice’s life.
Sensitive Themes: Having sex as teenager, Next to no profanity
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
Saving June follows Harper Scott, as she learns to live and deal with the sudden suicide of her “perfect” older sister. In this refreshingly simple but raw novel, Harper is devastated when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, without even telling anyone why. With her mother weak and her father gone, Harper, the rebel, the disappointment, must step up to her sister’s place. Although the two sisters weren’t as close as they had been, Harper understands her sister better than others. She is determined to do all she can to give June what she wanted most-to go to California. With her best friend, Laney, and the mysterious boy (Jake) who knew June, she takes her sister’s ashes cross-country to spread them in the waters of California. Who knows? She might even find strength and love…
This book was a very honest portrayal of the loss of a loved one. Harper wasn’t wild with anguish, nor was she hard as a rock (at least not by the end). Still, after reading a book so similar to it in plot, but with added thriller and historical elements, I can’t say it ended up in my list of favorites. Although Harper spent quite a lot of time describing the funeral and all the pain after it, I felt detached, like a third person, especially in the beginning. I couldn’t seem to sympathize with the girl. Harrington isn’t the best at describing loss and pain, but she’s excellent at creating solid, believable characters. Harper was relatable, and Jake was satisfyingly mysterious and intriguing. She’s also really good at tension between the characters. There were curse words in the book, but they seemed appropriate, and the author finds a nice balance with some big words as well.
The scene at the beginning - in June’s room - was very powerful, and I loved it, but the rest of the first third of the book seemed a little too slow-paced, even if it is reality fiction. Anyway, it really started to get good at their first stop – Jake’s friend’s house. It was fun to learn more about Jake, his friends, and his past. I also started liking Harper’s personality after about 150 pages or so. She wasn’t like other kids: she was smart, and she stayed up to date with current events. As she herself said, “I’m not, like, willfully ignorant, the way a lot of the kids I go to school with are.” There’s quite an unexpected turn of events towards the end – merely a side plot, but it was good, and it sped up the pace. I don’t want to say anything more in fear of spoiling it. Jake’s “powerful secret” was disappointing. Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but it wasn’t as big a deal as it was made out to be, and frankly, I think both parties in that little incident were acting utterly ridiculous.
The book’s filled with a lot of unnecessary details, like the argument about the extinction of punk between Jake’s brother and his customer. That was a page or two that I would have cut without a backward glance. A lot of what passed in the car was also just insipid details. Another thing I didn’t like was how fast Jake and Harper went from a cute, long-time-coming kiss to what I assume is the young adult version of erotica. That was a bit uncomfortable.
There are tearjerker moments. When Harper finally cried, when she emptied the urn, and again when I read Jake’s song – I shed a tear or two. Tt may just be that I cry easily, but it was because of these moments that this book earned an extra star.
Overall, I liked Saving June. It has the simplest of plots, and yet one of the meaningful. And the ending was just beautiful. Nothing I haven’t heard before, but I recommend it to any general YA reader.
Spark Ideas: How would you deal with the sudden death of a sibling/close relative, especially by suicide? Is it okay to run away to deal with the pain? Do you believe in sex before marriage? How about abortion for teenage mothers?
Originally posted in my blog (be sure to drop by!): http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
*SPOILERS ABOUND BELOW*
For once, I thought it was acceptable to put spoilers, since we're going to watch it all on TV soon anyway ;) THIS IS FOR ALL BOOKS OF SECRET CIRCLE!
Review: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is furious when she is forced to move from sunny California to a dilapidated old house in the middle of nowhere – all for a grandmother she never has never known. After a week of humiliation by the school bully, she meets Diana, who introduces her to the group of friends that “rule” the school. She is drawn to Diana’s beauty and concern and they become fast friends. She often feels like she is part of their group, but is excluded from some secret, which turns out to be that they are all witches, even Cassie. Cassie is quickly initiated.
In The Captive, the Circle is beset by dark forces-from the skull Adam dug out.
The whole group must cooperate if they want to fight this powerful magic. Meanwhile, Adam and Cassie become very close, and they admit to their mutual love, but decide to keep quiet about it. In the third part of the Secret Circle series, Faye is enraptured by the power of the skull is determined to have it all to herself. She blackmails Cassie into getting it for her, while slowly influencing many of the members to side with her instead of Diana. She thus cheats her way to head of the Circle. With Faye as leader, the Circle breaks into chaos. The spirit in the skull is revealed to have enormous power, but by the end, shy, quiet Cassie leads the group to the defeat of Black Johm.
Overall, I liked the first book well enough. It’s the kind of book you would read in one sitting. It definitely drew me in
and held my interest, and I couldn’t wait to get the sequel, but I’d probably forget it pretty soon if it weren’t for the coming TV show. I was dissatisfied with a couple of things: 1) The tests to join the Circle are treated as if they were a big deal, but if I recall correctly, all Cassie had to do was not have fear in her heart (LOL!) and step into the Circle with the dagger to her throat. This was the proclaimed “tests”. Not that big a deal.
Another thing that seemed incomprehensible is that these two (Adam and Cassie) are teenagers and together for no more than twenty minutes, and they’re in love? That’s a bit ridiculous, don’t you think, even with magic? I say it’s the raging hormones. Lol. I thought the characters were well-developed, but the physical characterization was a little too obvious. White for purity, and black for evil - it’s as if the author is punching you with a great big “DUH”. But it's all good because Faye (the evil one) redeems herself in the end. Woot!
Lastly, I am a tiny bit disappointed that it is being made into a TV show. For one, scriptwriters take the book and do crazy things with just to keep it going, which usually degrades the actual thing. And secondly, if you wanted to start yet another paranormal TV show, why this one? Why not Richelle Mead’s series? Why not something by Lauren Kate, Amber Kizer, Melissa de la Cruz, or even Maggie Stiefvater? This book is perfectly average compared to other books of the same genre. Just because one series has produced a hit doesn’t mean you should jump on board with every series produced by that author.
I enjoyed the second book much better than the first one. Now that the first had set the pace, this one got to be filled with many of the action moments, which I enjoyed immensely. One thing that hasn’t changed since book 1 is its predictability. I could guess the skull’s relationship to Cassie by the end of the first book, and it is obvious she will be voted leader and will fix everything (she is, after all, the protagonist). At the end of the day, I like the message this book sends to girls, but plot and narration have a lot more work to do if they want to reach out to a wider audience. With that said, the book series and its author has its own set of fans, and I totally respect and support that.
*I don't usually bash books like this-I apologize!
Originally posted in my blog (be sure to drop by!): http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
*SPOILERS ABOUND BELOW*
For once, I thought it was acceptable to put spoilers, since we're going to watch it all on TV soon anyway ;) THIS IS FOR ALL BOOKS OF SECRET CIRCLE!
Review: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is furious when she is forced to move from sunny California to a dilapidated old house in the middle of nowhere – all for a grandmother she never has never known. After a week of humiliation by the school bully, she meets Diana, who introduces her to the group of friends that “rule” the school. She is drawn to Diana’s beauty and concern and they become fast friends. She often feels like she is part of their group, but is excluded from some secret, which turns out to be that they are all witches, even Cassie. Cassie is quickly initiated.
In The Captive, the Circle is beset by dark forces-from the skull Adam dug out.
The whole group must cooperate if they want to fight this powerful magic. Meanwhile, Adam and Cassie become very close, and they admit to their mutual love, but decide to keep quiet about it. In the third part of the Secret Circle series, Faye is enraptured by the power of the skull is determined to have it all to herself. She blackmails Cassie into getting it for her, while slowly influencing many of the members to side with her instead of Diana. She thus cheats her way to head of the Circle. With Faye as leader, the Circle breaks into chaos. The spirit in the skull is revealed to have enormous power, but by the end, shy, quiet Cassie leads the group to the defeat of Black Johm.
Overall, I liked the first book well enough. It’s the kind of book you would read in one sitting. It definitely drew me in
and held my interest, and I couldn’t wait to get the sequel, but I’d probably forget it pretty soon if it weren’t for the coming TV show. I was dissatisfied with a couple of things: 1) The tests to join the Circle are treated as if they were a big deal, but if I recall correctly, all Cassie had to do was not have fear in her heart (LOL!) and step into the Circle with the dagger to her throat. This was the proclaimed “tests”. Not that big a deal.
Another thing that seemed incomprehensible is that these two (Adam and Cassie) are teenagers and together for no more than twenty minutes, and they’re in love? That’s a bit ridiculous, don’t you think, even with magic? I say it’s the raging hormones. Lol. I thought the characters were well-developed, but the physical characterization was a little too obvious. White for purity, and black for evil - it’s as if the author is punching you with a great big “DUH”. But it's all good because Faye (the evil one) redeems herself in the end. Woot!
Lastly, I am a tiny bit disappointed that it is being made into a TV show. For one, scriptwriters take the book and do crazy things with just to keep it going, which usually degrades the actual thing. And secondly, if you wanted to start yet another paranormal TV show, why this one? Why not Richelle Mead’s series? Why not something by Lauren Kate, Amber Kizer, Melissa de la Cruz, or even Maggie Stiefvater? This book is perfectly average compared to other books of the same genre. Just because one series has produced a hit doesn’t mean you should jump on board with every series produced by that author.
I enjoyed the second book much better than the first one. Now that the first had set the pace, this one got to be filled with many of the action moments, which I enjoyed immensely. One thing that hasn’t changed since book 1 is its predictability. I could guess the skull’s relationship to Cassie by the end of the first book, and it is obvious she will be voted leader and will fix everything (she is, after all, the protagonist). At the end of the day, I like the message this book sends to girls, but plot and narration have a lot more work to do if they want to reach out to a wider audience. With that said, the book series and its author has its own set of fans, and I totally respect and support that.
*I don't usually bash books like this-I apologize!
That is probably how I'd describe this book in one word-cute. But then, I'd say any 30-page picture book was cute. SO, let us go to our senior advisor on children's books (my amazing 8-year-old sis) for more details. Here are her opinions (edited slightly to prevent grammatical mistakes):
On the storyline? Loved it!
On the Pictures? I do not like the pictures because I think the pictures should have more details and should be colorful.
On the Characters? I love the characters. Prancer is my favorite character in the book because he is funny and nice, and because Prancer is my favorite reindeer.
On the Language? It was hard for me to understand.
On typos: None! Hurray!
On the Ending? I love the ending of this book because it is very nice and sweet. The ending is my favorite part of the book.
A Christmas Secret is a must-read for kids to get into the Christmas spirit! Filled with 30 pages of adorable characters, simple pictures and charming storyline, it is simply beautiful. The book has a small size that would be perfect for stockings and little hands. The font seems to be perfect for a new reader, the only hitch seems to be the intermediate-level words that don't match up with the target audience. That may work out well if you and your child are planning on reading it together. You won't be able to resist saying "Aww!"
As always, I've got our senior advisor on children's books (my amazing 8-year-old sis) to tell us more about the book:
Grammy comes to visit Bub’s house and Bub is very excited because she always brings surprises. Grammy brings a coloring book and some bubble gum. What she does not know is that Bub is not allowed to blow bubble gum. But Bub blows anyway. What happens next teaches us a lesson about obedience.
I think I added in that last part. ;) Anywayz, let's ask her what she thinks of it, shall we?
On the plotline? It was funny! :)
On the Pictures? I realy like the pictures. They are so cute. The people look like bubble gum (with hair).
On the Characters? I don't like Bub. He doesn't listen to his mommy.
Your Favorite Character? Sis is funny-she tattles. I like Grammy too. Grammy is so nice.
On the Language? It was easy to unnerstand.
32 pages of adorable characters, colorful pictures and a moral. What more could you ask for?
I wasn't sure what the Harringtons were (I guess that's part of the charm!) but they were cute as a button. Bub, the naughty trouble-making little boy, Sis, the picture of an annoying little sister, and sweet Grammy all make up the charming little family. And let's not forget the super Mom, who comes to the rescue when the bubble gum is plastered on Bub's face! With a picture on every page and easy vocabulary and large font, this is a great book for a beginning reader!
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-peanut-buttor-tweatment.html
When Saba’s twin brother is snatched from her by the violent Tonton, she must embark on a long and dangerous journey with her little sister to retrieve her beloved brother. On the way, she will encounter terrors, sorrows and the man who will change the way she sees the world. With her unique writing style and unforgettable characters, Young had me from the very first page.
I read this book in less than three days, which is unusual. I like to take my time with a book and balance it with two or three others of different genres, but I couldn’t peel my eyes away from this one. It is 500-pages long, but I didn’t realize how they flew by and the book was over. It’s a dystopian but that doesn’t come close to describing the extent of this book. It’s got a little bit of everything: action, suspense, drama, and romance. More importantly, it is an adventure and an amazing one at that.
It’s slow going at first, but once you get used to the present tense style and crude, broken words, the language used makes it seem more authentic. The author succeeds in keeping it consistent too, which is difficult when you’re trying to change the narration style. That’s one of the most striking parts of the book.
Here's an alternate cover
As for characters, I actually didn’t like Saba all that much. She is close-minded, hostile and cruel. The way she treats Jake and her little sister, Emmi is heart-wrenching. It’s one thing to be emotionally stunted and another to knowingly cause pain. Jake is exactly the opposite - fun-loving, resilient and quite open with his emotions, he’s the perfect guy, but sometimes he took it a little too far. It made him seem a tad unrealistic. Guys don’t show that much emotion and no sane creature would put themselves out only to be crushed-again and again.Emmi is definitely my favorite character. She has all the best qualities of Saba - loyal, brave and gutsy, without the emotional baggage(lessness). Epona, Ash, Ike and Tommo are well-formed supporting characters with critical roles. I wish I could have explored their backgrounds further...maybe in another book.
Speaking of which, did you know that this is the first of a series? Name’s Dustlands. I was overjoyed when I found out. I can’t wait to go on another ride with Saba, Jake, Lugh, Emmi and others. Another fun fact: this book is also being made into a movie (film rights by Ridley Scott) and I believe it will be released in 2014? Hurray!
Overall, an epic book with a masterfully created world, gripping plot and characters you’ll love. This is the perfect book to fill the Hunger Games void.
Recommended for: Fans of The Hunger Games and Enclave (Ann Aguirre)
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-geek-girl.html
Review: A true gem
This was definitely one of the better romance/chick-lit books out there. I'm a slow reader, but I stayed up well into the night to read this one and finished it in one day. I must warn you there is a load of sap, but it's good sap. I loved it. There were so many instances I wanted to bawl my eyes out and by the end, it was "Break out the tissues for the silly romantic!" Sure, it was predictable in a way all romance novels must be (if only she had told him the truth in the first place...), but I didn't really mind. Still this isn't just any romance novel. It's coming-of-age, it's finding identity, and much, much more. It's good enough to be read in a girls' book club. Outstanding, really :D
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
Review: Now the unique part of the series is that it is a monthly series, so it's a whole bunch of short stories which I suspect will be combined into one huge book. My review is on the first part of the series which is about 12 pages long :)
The beginning of this short story seemed a little out there - a group of young ladies in a Victorian time period are visiting a zoo when a wolf escapes and comes near Katherine (Katie) Harker. Although she has never actually been near a wolf, she beckons him to her and he is happy to come near her and let her rub his muzzle. Katie seems a little foolish for that reason - holding out her hand for a wolf! And an Alpha Male at that! But it sort of makes more sense the more you get into the story.
What I didn't enjoy was the narration. The author is not that great at portraying the historical time period (why can't it just be in present day?) and some of her sentences are kind of senseless. Take this for example: "Once they were safely settled into Dr. Seward's carriage, they all felt much better." Not exactly beautiful composition, but luckily, the whole story is not like that. Also, I don't particularly like the main character, Katie. Take a look at her love life: "Katie, enjoying the attention even though she really was not interested in this young man, smiled very prettily..." Um, what? That is probably exactly the opposite of how I like my heroine to be.
Overall Opinion: Other than these two qualms, I think this was quite an interesting beginning to the series! I enjoyed the stuff about vampires (yes, there are vampires) and Katie's vampiric urges, and the end totally left me hanging and I was left surprised and intrigued. A true cliffhanger! Narration could definitely use a LOT of work though.
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
My first thought was "Hahaha!", my second though was "Oooh! That doesn't sound good!", and my third thought was "Hooked!"
Though not too original, this debut novel from author K.C. Neal is enough to make you visit her blog, her Twitter, her Facebook, everything in search of some elusive info about the second in this cool new series. That's how much I loved The Discovery. The book starts out innocent enough - a bake sale and the protag's cookies are by far the best. You meet the best friend, the archenemy and some cute guys who seem to hover around Corinne (the protag). But then you realize this boy-magnet thing is not normal. In fact, it is unheard of. And then you start to suspect...
The book itself is short and sweet. The 100 or so pages flew by so quickly that I kept trying to turning pages in disbelief. How could it have ended already? Just when it was getting to the horrific and awesome part, the book ended. What a cliffhanger! I need Book 2 right now!!
Corinne and Mason are generally likable characters, and they have great chemistry, although Corinne seems to be yet another version of the emotionally stunted heroines (romantically) we've come to see in many YA books nowadays. (If you're listening, it's really getting pathetic, writers! Please do me a favor and change it up once in a while!) After Mason returns, Ang (the best friend) just sort of disappears - whenever something important happens, she is with her family or helping relatives. I was hoping to see more of her. I really love her character. She's has a bubbly personality but she can be serious and is quite intelligent for coming up with the cookies experiment (what's the experiment? I guess you'll just have to read it to find out!)
And the not-so-awesome: The narration needs some work. It isn't very mature yet, but I'm not dwelling on this since it's her first book. Also, the text messages will really get to you, especially if you're a teenager (as I am). I think they were supposed to provide some sort of unique narration, but all it did was annoy me. Here's one: "Thx for the update gr8 2 hear" That is so stereotypical! Most teenagers don't actually text like that and it really bothers me. Other than that though, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see more by this author!
Recommended for: Fans of paranormal YA and The Secret Circle (L.J. Smith)
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/ Drop by for more reviews, giveaways, etc
"I got caught watching the one person I was supposed to not care about"...
Review: Told from alternating points of view of Sam and Heven, this prequel to Masquerade grabs you from the very beginning. I usually make notes while reading, but I hardly knew when it began and when it had ended!
As for characters, I love Sam, who seems to be the unrequited love type (god, I love those!), but I don’t really like Heven. What I don’t understand is his love for her. She’s just an average girl. What’s so special about her that Sam falls in love without ever having talked to her? I do adore her name though. Sam is such a mediocre name compared to Heven. I definitely can’t wait to see Heven in Masquerade - how she changes and becomes worthy of such adoration and all that.
The cliffhanger end rivals those of the Vampire Diaries. I reached the last page and all I could think of was No no no no no! I NEED to know what happens! NOW! :P So don’t get Before without Masquerade! I'm warning you!
Recommended for: Fans of Maggie Stiefvater and anything paranormal!
Questions I can't wait to get answered in Masquerade: What exactly is Sam? What happened to Heven? How will it affect her personality? Why is the “deal” so important? Why is Sam required to pretend Heven doesn’t exist?
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-giveaway-whiteout-cambria-hebert.html
"The snow was endless, a heavy blanket on the outdoors; it had a way about it. A beauty. But I knew that, like many things, beauty could be deceiving."
Review: Now, I don’t normally read paranormal romance, especially not of the short story variety, but with Cambria’s style of writing, it turned out to be a very sweet little ride. Though not too original, it was well-written, nicely flowing with lots of details which made all the difference in the world. I awesomely loved Grace. She’s brave, caring, and - of course - pretty. Knowing Cambria, it wasn’t surprising to see a werewolf (excuse me, wolf-shifter) as the protagonist in the story :P I’m surprised I didn’t see one in Before...unless...Sam is one....
Anyway, it’s the perfect holiday book, and the end will put a smile on your face. I have to admit I enjoyed the action parts just a little bit better (but then I’ve always loved the guns more than the hearts), and this totally fulfilled my action tastes. Although I usually prefer the full-length novel, Whiteout did a pretty good job of summing it all up in about 25 pages.
Note: This short story is not related to Masquerade or Before, its prequel.
Final verdict: Definitely worth checking out!
Recommended for: If you like paranormal romance, take a look!
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
Review: My 5-word description: Suspenseful but not well executed
Plot: One should keep in mind while reading this book that it is a true crime novel and thus everything recounted in it has actually happened. I though that this book had a marvelous plot, especially with the nonfiction aspect, and both the investigation and court case were authentic and well-written.
Characters: The protagonists were fairly likable. You can’t feel for the antagonist, Kristin, at all. Okay, so she’s the antagonist and we’re not supposed to sympathize with her, but I feel like the author should have given us something to help us understand her actions a bit better. There is certain something missing in the development of the characters.
Style of Writing: One of the unique things about Caitlyn’s books is that she just lays out the whole story for the reader without any of the descirbing emotions (she’s a bit like Hemingway for that reason) most authors use. Her journalist background is the reason for this unemotional retelling of events in Poisoned Love. She spent innumerable hours just researching the case and getting all the facts straight. That’s one thing I admire about the book. It is filled with those minute details that make a crime story believable. Also, a bit of an academic tone through the narration, with few instances of everyday language. Although this is unique, it isn’t something I particularly enjoyed. I actually like having the author use a conversational and informal tone while narrating.
Descriptiveness: Rother lays out everything for you in a journalistic tone, but she isn’t overly sentimental. She does however add in innumerable detail, a lot of which wasn’t actully necessary to understand the background. In fact, all the detail kind of detracted from the suspense. I don’t think the book needed 500 pages to explain the case: after about 150 pages, Rother starts to get really redundant, and that really starts to get on my nerves. The book also contains a few pictures of the Greg and Kristin earlier in their life, and some of the investigation and court case. This was one of my favorite parts of the book because it's so shocking and you realize just how real this story is.
Recommended for: Adults; fans of true crime and Ann Rule
You are left wondering - “Why?”
Originally posted on my book blog.
I had a hard time starting this book – for the first 100 pages, I kept picking it up and then putting it back down. You were just shown various seemingly unconnected events without any explanations whatsoever. I am SO glad I picked it back up though! Once I had slugged through the beginning, the rest was an amazing, captivating read!
Characters: I think the best part of Every Other Day was the characters. They are REALLY well-portrayed and it is impossible not to love them, especially when you learn more about their backgrounds. For most of the book, Kali is shown as a protective martyr and it is interesting to see her transformation for a hostile, loner to a more open, caring person.
Plot: There is so much mystery and suspense – about the chupacabra, Bethany’s father, her own mother, Zev and the unnatural supernatural creatures and the way it all weaves together to create a gripping story. Even if you had hated the book all that time, it is impossible to deny that the showdown in the end will make you jump and down with excitement – it’s a gigantic BAM! Fortunately, there’s no romance to spoil the fun although I have no doubt it will be added in the sequel.
Setting: It isn’t just an awesome paranormal world, it’s an awesome alternate world where Darwin discovered, not evolution, but supernatural creatures. Here, demons, vampires, zombies and dragons are common knowledge and are protected by the government as “endangered species”.
Disclaimer: I do not hold responsibility if this book makes you distraught, you crash into something jumping and down with excitement or if you miss your appointment reading this ;)
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