Thursday, December 30, 2010

You by Charles Benoit

You by Charles Benoit
Hardcover, 223 pages
Published August 24th 2010 by HarperTeen
“This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go.You’re just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can’t be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place? There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time’s running out. How did this happen?
You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn’t make that lead to his own destruction.
In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful—and unsettling—portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering.” – Goodreads
My Opinion: I have to say that this book was not what I was expecting. It was very real and the emotions were so clear that I felt them as Kyle was feeling them. Charles Benoit did a great job writing in second person. It made the book so much more personal and easier to relate to Kyle. Kyle is a typical teenager I think. He just doesn’t know what he wants out of life and that is so easy to relate to. The emotions were very clear and I found that in the way Kyle thought sometimes, I found myself thinking that is so true. This was an amazing read and I can’t believe that I haven’t picked it up sooner. Definitely recommending to a lot of people.
I think however that my favorite character had to be Zack. I understand that he is a little weird in that way that he ends up controlling people into doing what they do, however my favorite line in the book is said by Zack and he says, “Don’t blame me Mr. Chase… I never told you what to do, I never tell anyone what to do. I make suggestions, I provide opportunities, and I make them very tempting, but when it comes down to it, everyone makes their own bad decisions.” (Benoit, 215) It reminds me of something the devil would say, and now that I think about devils, it reminds me of  the movie Bedazzled and Elizabeth Hurley. But I love that he says that because when we act we rarely think about the consequences to our actions and what might happen because of them. I really enjoyed the book, hope you guys do too.
Overall: 5 out of 5

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Another Pan

If you like mythology and Peter Pan... here is the book for you! When I first picked it up I thought it was about the Greek God Pan. But I knew it wasn't when I saw the name Wendy Darling. This book has quite a twist on the disney character but I think it was for the best. It is a lot more adventorus and is set in modern times. I got a good laugh whne I read that Wendy had a Facebook. Wendy is quite popular, while John is a nerd-like boy that wants to be popular. There is no other brother though and no Mrs. Darling either because she ran off in the middle of the night. There is still the Lost Boys but they're all over the world. There is no Wonderland either. There is Egyptian Mythlogy in this book. I really did love this book.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published November 9th 2010 by Feiwel & Friends
“Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.
There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.
Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.
Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.
But, it’s not.
Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.” – Goodreads
My Opinion: I think this book was interesting. It almost seemed like Jack was experiencing a split personality disorder. However, I think it was due to his traumatic experience that caused most of the things to happen. I really liked Jack he didn't want to show any weakness and wanted to be brave and that in my opinion is why he keeps saying in the book, "Jack doesn't cry" when he gets scared or feels alone. I enjoyed this. It was new and different. I haven't read anything like this before, so that was an experience as well. I though that it was very well written because it was easy to see how much Jack cared about his friends and to sympathize with him and what he is going through. it was well written because in the book, its difficult to decide which place is the real world, London or Marbury until the end at at least. Reminds me of a story called La Boca Noche Arriba by Julio Cortazar in the aspect of the not knowing which world is real. I think that is what I liked most about the book, the mystery of it. I really enjoyed this book.
5 out of 5

Friday, December 17, 2010

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 594 pages
Published December 7th 2010 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published 2010)
“Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.
Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.
But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?” -Goodreads
My Opinion: Oh my goodness! That’s all I have to say for now. This was an amazing finish, not as good as I would have liked it to be. I wanted a little more action. However, the mystery of who killed Tatiana kept me going and who was Lissa’s sibling. That definitely made up for it. And I’m glad that Rose ended up with ____________ and not ________________ in the end. They are perfect for each other and hopefully, the spin off will cover ______________’s perspective of Rose’s and ___________’s relationship. This was a great addition and a great finish in my opinion of the series. It’s amazing how everything sort wrapped itself up. And I think that the spin off will be from Lissa’s sibling’s perspective. That would make things interesting in my opinion. Can’t wait for it!
Rose definitely grows as a character in this novel and we learn more about how she sees the world and we learn about how she feels about taking care of everyone. We also learn more about Lissa and Dimitri and Adrian. We also learn more about Abe and what he is willing to do for Rose.
Overall amazing!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

"A “perfect fit for those seeking expressive writing, emotional depth, and lush, cinematic romance, cementing [Ockler] comfortably next to similar teen favorites like Deb Caletti, Carolyn Mackler, and Sarah Dessen.” —Booklist

Things in Delilah Hannaford’s life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can’t seem to keep it together anymore. Her “boyfriend” isn’t much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family’s painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?
Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.” – Goodreads


I loved this! It deals with many themes, depression and family and friendship, as well as discovering yourself. The book is about a girl named Delilah Hannaford and its set in Vermont. She has problems with her and she wants to make their relationship better at the same time as solve the rift, that caused their leaving the family home and never coming back before this, between her grandmother and mother. The plot revolves around the mystery of the rift as well as how no one in her family, now only her mother, aunt, and herself, wants to talk about their other sister. At the same time, Delilah learns more about herself and what true friendship and love are about.
It was so easy to relate to her because alot of high schoolers feel that way and even adults do too because we lose ourselves at some point in our lives and try to find ourselves again. Delilah rocks!
Great story I LOVED it!!!

Last Sacrifice Chapter 1

The first chapter of Last Sacrifice! Yay! Last Sacrifice is the last book in the Vampire Academy series. However, Richelle Mead has said that this will not be the end of the Vampire Academy world. There will be a spin off, still untitled that will have cameos of Rose but it will not be about her and her perspective.
FOR CHAPTER 1 CLICK HERE!