Tease by Amanda Maciel
In our day and age, bullying is a big deal. Some kids are bullied to the point that suicide seems like the best option to escape. This book is about bullying from the side of the bully.
Emma Putnam killed herself in March. Her parents claim it was due to the bullying she received from Sara and Brielle, but we'll never know because we never "hear" Emma's side of the story. We do, however, "hear" Sara's.
The book goes back and forth from the present to the events that lead up to Emma's suicide. Apparently, Emma has a thing for the boys because she has earned a reputation for being loose and a boyfriend stealer. She steals Sara's boyfriend, and that is part of why Sara and Brielle bully her. They call her things like skank and slut because they feel those names are earned by her actions. They pull pranks on Emma, like sending her fifty roses for Valentine's Day. Apparently, it all gets to Emma because she kills herself.
Sara, Brielle, and a couple of others are going to trial because Emma's parents believe they should pay for driving Emma to suicide. Once again, I have a hard time believing that's all that drove her to that. There's a story there that the reader doesn't know. Now, this in no way means I am downplaying bullying, but without her side, we just can't know for sure.
Anyway, Sara is the one telling the story, and it is clear that a lot of what she does to Emma is because her best friend is doing it. I am not trying to absolve Sara either, but peer pressure makes us do bad things sometimes. And yes, this is me speaking from experience. By the end of the book, I felt some empathy for Sara.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
TAYSHAS #9
Conversion by Katherine Howe
I had no idea that this was on the list until I accessed the ebook site for the school. Had I known earlier that this was on the list, I am fairly certain I would have read it before now, as I have been debating with myself whether I should purchase this book.
In 2012 in Danvers, Massachusetts, several girls mysteriously come down with illnesses. No one knows why. It makes national news, there is no cure, and still no one knows what's causing this. Colleen sees all this going on, but doesn't understand what's going on around her. Then she has to research The Crucible to bring up her grade in APUSH. What she finds makes her realize, to some extent, the similarities between what is going on now and what went on in 1692, particularly since Danvers used to be known as Salem Village.
What I liked best about this book was that it jumped from 2012 to the early 1700's. I love the Salem Witch Trials, so getting so read something based on real events after the trials was a treat for me. I realize both stories in this book are fiction, but both are based on real events, and I found that interesting. Glad I read this one.
I had no idea that this was on the list until I accessed the ebook site for the school. Had I known earlier that this was on the list, I am fairly certain I would have read it before now, as I have been debating with myself whether I should purchase this book.
In 2012 in Danvers, Massachusetts, several girls mysteriously come down with illnesses. No one knows why. It makes national news, there is no cure, and still no one knows what's causing this. Colleen sees all this going on, but doesn't understand what's going on around her. Then she has to research The Crucible to bring up her grade in APUSH. What she finds makes her realize, to some extent, the similarities between what is going on now and what went on in 1692, particularly since Danvers used to be known as Salem Village.
What I liked best about this book was that it jumped from 2012 to the early 1700's. I love the Salem Witch Trials, so getting so read something based on real events after the trials was a treat for me. I realize both stories in this book are fiction, but both are based on real events, and I found that interesting. Glad I read this one.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Dysfunctional Family Time
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Camille is a reporter for a small Chicago newspaper. Her editor gets wind of a murder mystery in her home town, and sends Camille home to cover it. While there, Camille finds herself reliving moments of her childhood with her mother.
Camille had a younger sister who died because she was sickly, or so everyone believed. It took coming home to investigate the deaths of two young girls for Camille to find out otherwise. Camille also becomes acquainted with her youngest sister, who is not what she appears to be.
The whole time Camille is home, she is mind f#$%ed by her mother and sister, and this causes issues. Camille does end up finding out who the killer is.
I know I did a bad job summing this up, but I REALLY don't want to give it away. I could not put this one down. I wish there were more of Flynn's books because she keeps me enthralled. They're fiction, but they draw the reader in, and they feel so real.
Camille is a reporter for a small Chicago newspaper. Her editor gets wind of a murder mystery in her home town, and sends Camille home to cover it. While there, Camille finds herself reliving moments of her childhood with her mother.
Camille had a younger sister who died because she was sickly, or so everyone believed. It took coming home to investigate the deaths of two young girls for Camille to find out otherwise. Camille also becomes acquainted with her youngest sister, who is not what she appears to be.
The whole time Camille is home, she is mind f#$%ed by her mother and sister, and this causes issues. Camille does end up finding out who the killer is.
I know I did a bad job summing this up, but I REALLY don't want to give it away. I could not put this one down. I wish there were more of Flynn's books because she keeps me enthralled. They're fiction, but they draw the reader in, and they feel so real.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Great Thriller
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
After reading Gone Girl last year, I had contemplated reading Flynn's other novels. The reason I went ahead with this one is because I saw it was being made into a movie, and I wanted to read it first. This was a good decision.
The best way I can describe this is a cross between Amityville Horror (the original movie, as I have never read the book) and In Cold Blood. Reading this, you would never know it was fiction.
In the early hours of January 3, 1985, Patty, Debby, and Michelle Day were killed in their home. The youngest child, Libby, made it out safely, and the oldest child, Ben, was convicted of their murders. Twenty-five years after the murders, Libby, running out of money, is approached by a group who is convinced that Ben didn't commit the murders. Libby finds herself on a mission to find out the truth about what happened.
Flipping between the perspective of Libby in the present and Ben and Patty on that fateful day in 1985, we, the reader, finds out what really happened. There are some interesting twists and turns, as well as some disturbing imagery, but, all in all, a book that holds your attention.
After reading Gone Girl last year, I had contemplated reading Flynn's other novels. The reason I went ahead with this one is because I saw it was being made into a movie, and I wanted to read it first. This was a good decision.
The best way I can describe this is a cross between Amityville Horror (the original movie, as I have never read the book) and In Cold Blood. Reading this, you would never know it was fiction.
In the early hours of January 3, 1985, Patty, Debby, and Michelle Day were killed in their home. The youngest child, Libby, made it out safely, and the oldest child, Ben, was convicted of their murders. Twenty-five years after the murders, Libby, running out of money, is approached by a group who is convinced that Ben didn't commit the murders. Libby finds herself on a mission to find out the truth about what happened.
Flipping between the perspective of Libby in the present and Ben and Patty on that fateful day in 1985, we, the reader, finds out what really happened. There are some interesting twists and turns, as well as some disturbing imagery, but, all in all, a book that holds your attention.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
TAYSHAS #8
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
No joke, I chose this book because the cover kept popping up in my dreams. Is that weird or what?
Cadence is from a wealthy family in the northeast. She is the oldest grandchild, and every summer, they travel to the family's own private island off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. There, her grandparents have their own house, her mother her own house, and her two aunts each have their own house. Every summer, she spends with her cousins, of which, she is closest to Johnny and Mirren, and Johnny's quasi cousin, Gat. They refer to themselves as the liars.
As the book begins, Cadence is nearing her eighteenth birthday, but is having trouble remembering the summer she turned sixteen. All she knows is that an accident happened, but she doesn't know exactly what happened to cause the accident or the immediate aftermath. All she knows is that as a result, she has these awful headaches and everyone babies her now.
Now that she is headed back to the scene of the accident, things have changed, but bit by bit, she remembers what happened that one awful summer.
This started off slow, but once it got going, was a very good read.
No joke, I chose this book because the cover kept popping up in my dreams. Is that weird or what?
Cadence is from a wealthy family in the northeast. She is the oldest grandchild, and every summer, they travel to the family's own private island off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. There, her grandparents have their own house, her mother her own house, and her two aunts each have their own house. Every summer, she spends with her cousins, of which, she is closest to Johnny and Mirren, and Johnny's quasi cousin, Gat. They refer to themselves as the liars.
As the book begins, Cadence is nearing her eighteenth birthday, but is having trouble remembering the summer she turned sixteen. All she knows is that an accident happened, but she doesn't know exactly what happened to cause the accident or the immediate aftermath. All she knows is that as a result, she has these awful headaches and everyone babies her now.
Now that she is headed back to the scene of the accident, things have changed, but bit by bit, she remembers what happened that one awful summer.
This started off slow, but once it got going, was a very good read.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
My First Signed Book
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
I bought this book because the author came to my school library a couple of weeks ago. Admittedly, when I saw it was dystopian, my first thought was "Ugh, another one?" because there are so many dystopian novels out there right now. In fact, I probably never would have read this had the author not come to my school, if you want the truth. So, I met the author, and she signed my book. She is totally cool, and for someone so young, I was and am totally blown away by her writing. I am so glad I gave this book a chance. I will be buying the "prequel" novella and the sequel to this, and I have put it on my list of lit circle books for my classroom.
Told from the perspectives of Meadow and Zephyr. Meadow lives on a houseboat with her father, older brother, and younger sister. Her mother was killed sometime before. Zephyr is a ward, which more or less means he grew up an orphan. They live in Florida, in what today is the Everglades. People are given rations based on their job for the society. What makes this society interesting is that when it gets dark every evening, hundreds of people are killed, and no one knows why. Meadow has been trained all her life to survive by her father. Zephyr's job is to pick up all the dead bodies.
Meadow and Zephyr meet, and find that they need to find out the mystery of the killings. What will it cost them to know the truth? How can they stop it?
I don't want to give too much away. Just trust me, you want to read this book.
I bought this book because the author came to my school library a couple of weeks ago. Admittedly, when I saw it was dystopian, my first thought was "Ugh, another one?" because there are so many dystopian novels out there right now. In fact, I probably never would have read this had the author not come to my school, if you want the truth. So, I met the author, and she signed my book. She is totally cool, and for someone so young, I was and am totally blown away by her writing. I am so glad I gave this book a chance. I will be buying the "prequel" novella and the sequel to this, and I have put it on my list of lit circle books for my classroom.
Told from the perspectives of Meadow and Zephyr. Meadow lives on a houseboat with her father, older brother, and younger sister. Her mother was killed sometime before. Zephyr is a ward, which more or less means he grew up an orphan. They live in Florida, in what today is the Everglades. People are given rations based on their job for the society. What makes this society interesting is that when it gets dark every evening, hundreds of people are killed, and no one knows why. Meadow has been trained all her life to survive by her father. Zephyr's job is to pick up all the dead bodies.
Meadow and Zephyr meet, and find that they need to find out the mystery of the killings. What will it cost them to know the truth? How can they stop it?
I don't want to give too much away. Just trust me, you want to read this book.
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