Review: Six Rules of Maybe

Title:  The Six Rules of Maybe
Author:  Deb Caletti


     From GoodReads, "Scarlet spends most of her time worrying about other people. Some are her friends, others are practically strangers, and then there are the ones no else even notices. Trying to fix their lives comes naturally to her. And pushing her own needs to the side is part of the deal. So when her older sister comes home unexpectedly married and pregnant, Scarlet has a new person to worry about. But all of her good intentions are shattered when the unthinkable happens: she falls for her sister’s husband. For the first time in a long time, Scarlet’s not fixing a problem, she’s at the center of one. And ignoring her feelings doesn’t seem to be an option..."


     I found myself loving this book and especially the little pearls of wisdom from the author Deb Caletti mixed into main character Scarlet's observations.  There were many times that I would pause my reading to write down some of the author's words because it connected with me so.  The writing is so beautiful.  I have recommended this book to many students, unfortunately not too many have finished the book saying that it had too much detail.  
     I liked the relationship between Scarlet and Hayden, even though I knew that it probably wouldn't go anywhere.  I also liked the interconnectedness between Scarlet, her sister, and her mother.  They were such different characters, but it all came down to a love of each other.  I would recommend this book to deep thinkers.

Review: Trapped

Title:  Trapped
Author:  Michael Northrop


     From GoodReads, "The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....


Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision..."


     As I sit underneath my comforter in my relatively warm house and watch the snow fly all I can think of is this terrific book! I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it.
     Three friends are inside school and notice that it is beginning to snow... a little at first and then in great gobs.  School is let out early (I can hear students' cheering), but instead of going home on the buses, the boys decide to stay and work on a shop project.  As they work it continues to snow, unfortunately it doesn't stop for a long while, but by the time they realize it, they are trapped.
     The student that are trapped along with the three friends are as different as night and day.  It was interesting to see whether the dynamics and stereotypes that they have within school would carry over to the story.  The wonderful writing by Michael Northrop made me so engaged in the story that at times I felt as if I was right in there only to realize that I was safe in my own house.
     The story starts with what most of the students think is a mild snow and transitions into a life-threatening dilemma.  Being from the midwest, it was easy to see how this could happen.   I also liked that Northrop didn't hold back from the scarier parts of what might (and in this case did) happen.  Several of the things that I am absolutely afraid of were in this book and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  Some might think that this book is written for a mainly male audience due to a few of the inside jokes of the boys in the story, but I found it to be refreshingly unique and I think it will appeal to a female audience as well.  There were a few loose ends in the book that I didn't care for, but I predict a snowfall of fans. (Pun intended!)

Review: Desires of the Dead

Title:  Desires of the Dead
Author:  Kimberly Derting


     From GoodReads, "The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger."

     As a huge fan of The Body Finder, I was very much looking forward to reading the second installment in the series.  I didn't like this book as much as the first book, but it was still an enjoyable read.
     The main character, Violet, is your typical, average, every-day student with the exception of the fact that she can sense dead bodies... they actually call out to her.  I absolutely love Violet's character and her abilities.  I think that she is so expertly written by Derting that a possibility of many books with different plots, twists, and turns would be possible.  In this book, she is being stalked by someone and Derting has added the element of reading the stalker's thoughts along with Violet's, which gave the book a new and different perspective.  I liked the fact that every time I thought I had everything figured out, I was completely wrong.
     In the first book, I liked the budding romance of Violet and her best friend Jay.  In this book, they are still a couple and there are developments to their relationship, some are a little quick for me, but would probably happen that quickly in the real world.  Violet is still unsure, at times, which makes for interesting reading because I really liked her perspective on things.  I also liked the addition of the not FBI, but something characters of Sara and Rafe and think that they will probably play a pivotal role in the next book.    This book is another good read by Kimberly Derting and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Review: Cryer's Cross

Title:  Cryer's Cross
Author:  Lisa McMann


     From GoodReads, "The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried."


     Cryer’s Cross is the fourth book I have read from Lisa McMann and once again she didn’t disappoint me.  It has been awhile since I read a book with so much suspense and mystery that was not a paranormal.  It felt really real to life and I think that is the scary part.  It had grief, mystery, suspense and surprisingly romance in the mix.  The main character Kendall is very strong, brave, and real.  It was easy to relate to her because I am from Nebraska and a small town.  So if you liked Lisa McMann’s other books, or need a break from paranormal, but like suspense, or just need a break from girl drama books this book won’t disappoint you!  I highly recommend!

Review: Vesper

Title:  Vesper
Author:  Jeff Sampson


     From GoodReads, "Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?"

     I was really excited to read this book because it seemed that it was going to be a unique book in the science fiction/fantasy realm.  It is unique, however, I don't think that it is unique enough to stand out when there are so many awesome book offerings out there.

     The main character, Emily Webb, is the sort of girl that I normally like to read about.  She's shy, kind of geeky, and really only has one close friend.  If the whole story was just written in this perspective, I might have liked it more.  Unfortunately, there are multiple aspects/characters to Emily's personality.  There is the Nightime Emily persona, which is the daredevil, try-anything-once, kind-of girl and there is also the other side of Emily, which isn't exactly human side.  The problem with the multiple personalities thing was.. that most of her personalities really annoyed me.  

     The story itself was also confusing.  Even reading the last pages of the book, I still found myself asking, "What is going on here?" and although there will be at least another book, I am honestly not interested in reading it at all.  In fact, there were times throughout the story when I found myself wishing that the killer had better luck in offing Emily... Daytime, Nighttime, or otherwise.  

     

Review: Delirium

Title:  Delirium
Author:  Lauren Oliver


     From GoodReads, "Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love."

     I was a little hesitant to read a futuristic book, but decided to give it a shot because I absolutely loved Lauren Oliver's previous book, Before I Fall.  I found that the future aspect of this book didn't bother me at all.  Delirium has so many good things going for it.  It has suspense, mystery, but best of all, a forbidden love story.  Any book that has a love so strong and has so much potential and so many obstacles... this book really moved me!  I kept reading, thinking... "Come on, please make it work!"  

     Then there is the secondary character of Alex.  The one that main character, Lena Holloway, shouldn't be with.  The one who the society says is all-wrong for her.  Alex is thoughtful, mysterious, and romantic.  This is a book you have got to read!

     The only bad thing about the book is that the next on isn't coming out until 2012!  Will I read it?  You bet!

Review: Here Lies Bridget

Title:  Here Lies Bridget
Author: Paige Harbison


     From GoodReads, "Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.
When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.


And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough…."


     This is one of those books that when you finish it you say to yourself, “I didn’t see that coming!”  At first I was thinking, this is just another story about a bratty teenage girl. I was so wrong!  Trust me when I say….read to the end and you won’t be sorry!  I definitely had that smile and feel good feeling at the end.   Paige Harbison did a great job of writing the main character, Bridget Duke.  Bridget was so annoying, bratty, and a total snot!  But…..can you change a teenager like this?  I will say yes, but I will not tell you how!  All I can say is I loved the book and totally recommend to anyone, especially a bratty teenager!  HaHa   I look forward to reading Paige Harbison next book.

Review: Head Games

Title:  Head Game (A Pretty Tough Novel #3)
Author:  Keri Mikulski


     From the back of the book, "Taylor Thomas is calm, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court.  A total all-star.  Pry the ball from her fingers, though, and watch her go from future All-American to wary wallflower.  She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!
     Now, with the summer showcase game AND playoffs rapidly approaching, Taylor's basketball career is TOTALLY on the line.
     But Taylor doesn't know which way to turn first. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!).  And she can't decide between Zach- the super-popular, super-tall, super-off limits basketball superstar- and Matt- the sweet boy from her English class (who may just be dating her BFF's older sister!- drama!).
     Can Taylor stop her head from spinning long enough to strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?"


     First things first... if you are a girl who likes sports, Razorbill, a division of Penguin Publishing, has a series of books called Pretty Tough series about girls who like to play sports.  The first two books are about soccer and football and this one is about basketball.  I must say that as a person who is not athletically inclined (but loves to watch the sport), I really enjoyed this book as well... in fact, it's a slam dunk!
     I think the reason I liked the book so much was because it wasn't just about basketball, but also about how friends and/or teammates treat one another and also had a pretty sweet romance in it as well.  The main character, Taylor, was easy to identify with (even though she is six-feet-tall and I'm only five foot three),  I could still understand how she was feeling.  This was a girl who cared about how she treated other people and felt bad if she didn't treat people well, even if it wasn't always her fault. It was fun to read about how she set her mind on a boyfriend who was taller than her, which was a handicap because not too many of the boys she knew (and were attracted to) fit this criteria.
     This book was about teen romance, people pleasing, being part of a team, and a whole lot more.  Some people may be disturbed that the goings-on between the boy's basketball team and the girls team affected the girl's team play, but not the boy's... however, as a person that deals with high school drama on a daily basis, I find it to be true and troubling.  I think that girls ages 10-16 will appreciate the book the most, but there are some high school girls that will like it as well.  Overall, if you read this book, it won't make you feel "foul".

Review: The Lipstick Laws

Title:  The Lipstick Laws
Author:  Amy Holder


     From GoodReads, "At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?"


     Every school has a Britney Taylor.  You know the one……she gets any guy she wants, wears only the best clothes,  and has a group of followers with hefty laws to follow to belong.   There are also plenty of girls like April Bowers.   The girls trying to just exist in the social nightmare called high school.  So when Britney asked April to eat lunch with them it was a definite yes!  I know this sounds like your typical “mean girl book or movie” but I found it was still a great read.  I really enjoyed April Bowers because even though she joined the Britney Taylor clan, she still never lost her sense of what’s right and wrong.  So when the clan ousted her, she wasn’t going to just sit back and do nothing about it!  April rallied all the girls who had supposedly wronged Britney Taylor and gave her a taste of her own medicine.  In finding this elite group of ousters she gained some great friendship and caught the attention of a boy she had her eye on.  So in the end everything works out.   It was a great read so give it a shot!