What Light by Jay Asher

What Light by Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: YA Fiction-Holiday Romance

Pages: 256

Publication Date: October, 2016

Rating: 1/5

Summary:

Sierra’s family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon; each year the family travels to California to sell their trees at Christmas time. She has dealt with having a separate life in each state her whole life; this means adjusting to splitting time between her best friends, schools, and homes.  Sierra usually spends her Christmases selling trees and hanging out with one of her best friends, Heather. That is, until she meets Caleb, a kind-hearted guy who made a huge mistake in the past. Sierra becomes determined to help Caleb find redemption in the eyes of the community and his family.

Pros:

·       Following the life of a girl whose family operates a Christmas tree farm sheds light on a profession that not many people think about.

·       Caleb is a likable main character with some redeeming characteristics.

·       I enjoyed the Christmas setting.

Cons:

·       The plot was rather predictable and boring; the whole time I was reading I kept wondering when something interesting would happen.

·       Sierra fell into the romance novel trap of pursuing someone who, in the long-run, will probably not work out and using the L-word far too soon.

·       The parents seemed to cater to Sierra the second she complained and were wishy-washy.

Final Thoughts:

            I really wanted to like this book; I loved Jay Asher’s other book Thirteen Reasons Why. I just could not get into this one. It felt like there were so many interesting plot lines that could have been explored, yet the author went with the more cliché plot. It felt like the story and the characters fell flat. Perhaps if the plot was less predictable, I would have felt the intended heartbreak and cared about the romance in it.  If you want a quick holiday read, maybe this book is for you.

Beautiful Creatures

 

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Genre: Young Adult-Fantasy

Pages: 563

Publication Date: December, 2009

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

            Ethan Wate has lived in the small, southern town of Gatlin his whole life. Everyone knows everyone else in Gatlin, except for the mysterious town hermit, Macon Ravenwood. For years Macon has kept to himself, until his niece, Lena Duchannes, moves to town. Suddenly everyone is talking about the mysterious and dark estate they live on. Against everyone’s advice, Ethan befriends the new girl and discovers centuries of well-kept secrets the town holds.

Pros:

·       The authors paint a vivid picture of the southern lifestyle of Gatlin and the dark atmosphere of Macon Ravenwood’s property.

·       A suspenseful and intriguing plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.

·       The characters were well-crafted, especially my favorite, Amma!

Cons:

·       My only issue with the book is that the main characters fell into the common YA novel trap of having the characters fall in love instantly and suddenly forget all common sense.

Final Thoughts:

Definitely a great read if you are looking for a YA fantasy book with elements of paranormal romance. Although this book does use the cheesy love at first sight trope, it has significantly less than other series. The plot is fast moving; even though the book was 563 pages, I finished it in two days.

Also, the book is definitely way better than the movie!

10 Bookish Gift Ideas

Do you know what you are going to get the bookish people in your life, or yourself? Before you head out shopping, take a look at this list!

1. A bookish scarf! 

Etsy.com

You can get it from Cyberoptix on Etsy for $44.00! 

2. Relive your childhood with literary paper dolls.

Chroniclebooks.com

You can finally play with Poe, Hemingway, and Shakespeare!

Get it from Chronicle Books for $12.95.

3. Hold all of your books in this olde book backpack.

Thinkgeek.com

Get it from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

4. A set of pencils for book lovers!

Etsy.com

Jot down all your thoughts with these adorable pencils!

Get them from Icey Designs on Etsy for $13.95.

Check out the other pencil sets here!

5. A book journal to record all your bookish thoughts.

Amazon.com

This is my definitely my favorite on the list; I use mine all the time!

Get it from Amazon for $14.99!

6. Literary soy candles.

Etsy.com

These candles help immerse you further into your favorite books!

Get it from FromThePage on Etsy for $11.00.

Check our more literary candles here.


7. Decorate bookshelves with these lovely bookends.

Wayfair.com

These adorable bookends can spruce up any shelf!

Get them from Wayfair for $90.00!

Check out more bookends from Wayfair here.

8. A fun phone case!

Etsy.com

Decorate and protect your phone with a cute bookish case!

Get it from Chicklitdesigns on Etsy for $29.00

Check out more literary phone cases here.

9. A dozen literary paper roses.

Notonthehighstreet.com

If you don't mind knowing a book lost it's life for this gift, you can buy a dozen paper roses!

Get it from Not On The High Street for $130.77.

10. A tote bag!

Litographs.com

Each tote bag shows an image comprised of about 20,000 words from the book.

Get it from Litographs for $29.00.

Check out more of these bags here.

After by Amy Efaw

 

After by Amy Efaw

Publisher: Viking Books/Speak

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Pages: 350

Publication Date: August, 2009

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary: Devon has everything going for her at school; she gets stellar grades, plays club soccer, and is on the varsity soccer team. She spends 9 months lying to herself and those around her after one night’s mistake. Experiencing nothing but shock when she gives birth, she decides to dispose of the infant in a dumpster. This novel follows the Devon through the repercussions of her terrifying actions.

Pros:

·       The plot is unlike anything I have read before.

·       This is a fast-paced, haunting novel that will stick in your mind for a long time.

Cons:

·       The main character’s attitude throughout the book made it very difficult to feel connected with her.  I did not care what happened to her in the end.

·       Although there are multiple main characters, they were not very developed.

Final Thoughts:

            After is a fast-paced young adult novel that deals with a pretty heavy topic; I would recommend to the older YA crowd. It has a very unique topic that is sure to stick with the reader for a long time!

Children in the Holocaust

Children in the Holocaust and World War II: Their Secret Diaries by Laurel Holliday

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 432

Publication Date: June, 1996

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

            This anthology has collected excerpts from the diaries of 23 children who lived during the Holocaust and World War II. The children’s ages range from ten through eighteen years old. These diaries address topics including life in the ghetto and the horrors of concentration camps. Some excerpts focus on the day-to-day actions of people while others only address major events in the war.

Pros:

•        The variety of ages, genders, and countries give a comprehensive picture of the terrors of the Holocaust.
•        Each of the diaries has a different focus and tone to it. Some of the accounts were of rich children from other countries that were barely affected, others discussed the horrors they experienced first-hand.

Cons:

•        Some of the diaries became a bit boring towards the end of them as some of the day-to-day details are no different than of someone not affected by the war.

Final Thoughts:

Definitely a great book to flip through if you want to gain a better understanding of the different experiences of families in the war. More often than not, Anne Frank’s diary is the main diary that is remembered despite the multitude of other accounts that have been published. 

Since You've Been Gone

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 450

Publication Date: May, 2014

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

One summer morning Emily wakes up to find that her best friend Sloane is nowhere to be found. After two weeks of going to her house and calling her in hopes of finding her, a letter arrives in the mail. Sloane had sent a list:

1.     Kiss a stranger.

2.     Go skinny-dipping.

3.     Steal something.

4.     Break something.

5.     Penelope.

6.     Ride a dern horse, ya cowpoke.

7.     55 S. Ave. ask for Mona.

8.     The backless dress. And somewhere to wear it.

9.     Dance until dawn.

10.  Share some secrets in the dark.

11.  Hug a Jamie.

12.  Apple picking at night.

13.  Sleep under the stars.

Emily sets off to complete the list and in the processes meets unforgettable people and creates long-lasting memories.

Pros:

·       It was nice to see a book focus on a friendship between girls rather than pushing that aside in favor of a romantic relationship, although there is some romance.

·       A relatable story for anyone who has ever found themselves without a huge group or friends or feels overshadowed by their best friend.

·       Left me smiling every time Emily completed an item on the list.

Cons:

·       There was one plot point that did not have closure at the end.

·       Some parts were a bit predictable.

Final Thoughts:

A great, quick read that is filled with some unpredictable moments that will leave you smiling! I’d recommend this as a summer read for high-schoolers. I loved that it focused on the loss of a best friend which is often overlooked.

“Date someone who'll wait to make sure you get inside before driving away.”

Why Not Me?

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Genre: Nonfiction-Humor

Pages: 240

Publication Date: September, 2015

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

            Mindy Kaling, from The Office and The Mindy Project, shares humorous glimpses into her life. Her essays explain what it is like to be an actress and a writer. She shares stories of her college years, her dating experiences, and what it is like to be a plus-size female who is also a minority in showbiz.  

Pros:

·       You do not need to know much about her to be able to laugh at this book! It is filled with very relatable stories that would be funny no matter who they happened to.

·       All of her essays are written so frankly that you really feel connected to Mindy.

Cons:

·       A couple of the essays got a bit long towards the end.

Final Thoughts:

            Great book if you are looking for something that will make you laugh! It is very easy to get into even if you have little background knowledge of Mindy Kaling; she explains what you need to know to find the book funny. It’s a great read during your morning commute (that is, if you take the bus…don’t read and drive!)

Everything, Everything

 

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Pages: 310

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

            Madeline has lived the past 17 years of her life from the safety of her decontaminated house due to a rare disease that has made her allergic to almost everything. All she has is her mom and Carla, her nurse that stays with her every day. Her life gets a bit more complicated when Olly moves in next door and stares at her through the window. The encounter is the beginning of a friendship and journey they embark on together. This book illustrates how to live life when you don’t have much of a life to live.

Pros:

·       The format of the book was visually appealing; there were a lot of illustrations that cleverly gave more insight into the main character.

·       Very interesting plot that moved quickly and have unexpected turns.

·       Great character development; although this was a quick read, I felt like I really got to connect with the characters.

Cons:

·       As someone who does not usually enjoy romance in books, there were a few parts I found to be cheesy.

Final Thoughts:

            A very interesting story of a girl with a disease who must decide how to live her life despite her restrictions. The author was able to craft a story that kept me wanting to know more; I finished this in one afternoon! Definitely a great read for any fan of YA fiction. As someone who is not a stranger to the medical world, it gives an interesting perspective on how to live life but also manage an illness.

The Bluebird House

The Bluebird House by Rae Ellen Lee

Publisher: Five Star

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

            Molly, a middle aged woman stuck in an unsatisfactory marriage, is attacked by a moose as she is out in the woods. This close-call with death makes her realize how unhappy she is; upon recovery she decides to divorce her husband and make a new life for herself. After staying in a friend’s cabin for a bit, she falls in love with a dilapidated building in an old mining town. This building, known as The Bluebird House, has a mysterious past that she uncovers with the help of Ben, the handsome carpenter who has been tried and acquitted of a horrible murder. As Molly settles into this new town, she tries uncover of The Bluebird House’s past and make sense of the details of the gruesome murder Ben was tried for.

Pros:

•        This cozy novel could make anyone want to live in a small, middle-of-nowhere town in the mountains. All the locals know each other and hang out at the local bar, the nature sounds lovely, and the resident’s histories are intertwined.
•        The character development keeps you wanting to know more about everyone’s lives.
•        The author paints a beautiful picture of The Bluebird House and the scenery of the town.

Cons:

•       The plot was a bit slow at times, if it were not for the great character development I may have lost interest.
•        There were a couple of unclear parts the author could have explored more.

Final Thoughts:

A great book to read on a rainy afternoon, the descriptive language will make you forget that you don’t actually live in an old mining town where everyone knows each other. Although the plot is a bit slow at times, the characters will draw you in and keep you reading until the end.