Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
It's not often that I feel ignorant, or worse, ashamed of my ignorance, but reading this book made me feel that way. Apparently, this is something I never learned about in school, and I should have. We learned about the atrocities Hitler committed on the Jews, but we somehow overlook the atrocities Stalin committed in his effort to "annex" other countries to the Soviet Union.
Lina was fifteen, with aspirations to go to art school, but instead was carted off to a work camp in Siberia with her mother and younger brother. That sounds bad but not so bad when put that way. It didn't happen overnight. For six weeks, she was crammed in a cattle car with others. People died. They went hungry. She saw her father in another car briefly, but he was carted off elsewhere.
In Siberia, they were forced to work for very little rations. They got sicker, but Lina and her family persevered. Then, after a year in captivity, she and her family were moved to another labor camp in the Arctic Circle, where the sun doesn't shine for months at a time. They get sicker, they get colder, more people die.
I realize I have oversimplified this, but the truth is, this is something you need to read for yourself. I can't make you feel the things I felt when I read this; you have to do it yourself. I will say this though, it is a powerful story, and one that needs to be told, even if it is a work of fiction. These things happened, and the only way to prevent their happening again is to become educated about the situation.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
TAYSHAS 11
The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
Clearly, the narrator of this book, Linus, didn't see The Silence of the Lambs. If he had, he would not have helped the sketchy looking blind man put something into the back of a van. If I learned anything from that movie, it was that sometimes it doesn't pay to be a good Samaritan. This was one of those times. Linus missed this lesson, helped the blind guy put something in a van, and is promptly knocked out by chloroform.
When he wakes up, he finds himself alone in a six "bedroom" bunker with no food. After a few days, a nine year old girl, Jenny, joins him. She figures out how to get food from their captor, who they never see. A few days after that, a woman, Anja, and a drug addict, Fred, join them. A few days later, a fat, jerky guy, Bird, and after that, Russell.
For months, they are in the bunker. Anytime they try to break out or destroy something, they are punished, usually by loud noise or noxious gasses. As time passes, they get more desperate.
I am going to stop there because I am afraid I will give too much away, and I don't want to ruin this one. This is well written, and well worth the read, if only because I am almost certain that there are places in this world where these things happen.
Clearly, the narrator of this book, Linus, didn't see The Silence of the Lambs. If he had, he would not have helped the sketchy looking blind man put something into the back of a van. If I learned anything from that movie, it was that sometimes it doesn't pay to be a good Samaritan. This was one of those times. Linus missed this lesson, helped the blind guy put something in a van, and is promptly knocked out by chloroform.
When he wakes up, he finds himself alone in a six "bedroom" bunker with no food. After a few days, a nine year old girl, Jenny, joins him. She figures out how to get food from their captor, who they never see. A few days after that, a woman, Anja, and a drug addict, Fred, join them. A few days later, a fat, jerky guy, Bird, and after that, Russell.
For months, they are in the bunker. Anytime they try to break out or destroy something, they are punished, usually by loud noise or noxious gasses. As time passes, they get more desperate.
I am going to stop there because I am afraid I will give too much away, and I don't want to ruin this one. This is well written, and well worth the read, if only because I am almost certain that there are places in this world where these things happen.
Monday, January 25, 2016
TAYSHAS 10
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
Madeline is what you would call a girl in a bubble. If she steps foot outside her house, she could get sick and die. If someone who isn't approved comes into her house, she could get sick and die. There are no pets, no real plants, no real life. She just exists, really. It's only Madeline, her mother, and her nurse, Carla.
Then one day, things change. Olly and his family move in next door. Madeline is intrigued by him, and they strike up a friendship via email and instant messaging. Carla breaks the rules and allows Olly into the house on multiple occasions. Madeline and Olly fall in love, and Madeline is willing to risk everything, including her life, to be with him.
To say she has truly lived, just once, she and Olly run away to Maui. It's a wonderful, brief time of happiness for Maddy. Then she gets sick and has to come home. She loses Olly, though it is by her choice. But then she learns something that will change everything.
Madeline is what you would call a girl in a bubble. If she steps foot outside her house, she could get sick and die. If someone who isn't approved comes into her house, she could get sick and die. There are no pets, no real plants, no real life. She just exists, really. It's only Madeline, her mother, and her nurse, Carla.
Then one day, things change. Olly and his family move in next door. Madeline is intrigued by him, and they strike up a friendship via email and instant messaging. Carla breaks the rules and allows Olly into the house on multiple occasions. Madeline and Olly fall in love, and Madeline is willing to risk everything, including her life, to be with him.
To say she has truly lived, just once, she and Olly run away to Maui. It's a wonderful, brief time of happiness for Maddy. Then she gets sick and has to come home. She loses Olly, though it is by her choice. But then she learns something that will change everything.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
TAYSHAS 9
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Finch and Violet-was there ever a more unlikely pair? Finch is fascinated by suicide and, at the beginning of the book, is standing at the top of the bell tower at school, contemplating the jump. Violet, haunted by the death of her older sister. They meet at the top of that tower, and each credits the other for saving them. This, along with an assignment for US geography, leads to an unlikely friendship.
Over the course of their wanderings, Finch causes Violet to see that just because her sister is gone, it doesn't mean that she shouldn't be able to live. They fall in love, and you think this will save them both, but does it?
What I loved about this was that there were two broken people who found each other, and found that life could be bearable again, for a while anyway.
Finch and Violet-was there ever a more unlikely pair? Finch is fascinated by suicide and, at the beginning of the book, is standing at the top of the bell tower at school, contemplating the jump. Violet, haunted by the death of her older sister. They meet at the top of that tower, and each credits the other for saving them. This, along with an assignment for US geography, leads to an unlikely friendship.
Over the course of their wanderings, Finch causes Violet to see that just because her sister is gone, it doesn't mean that she shouldn't be able to live. They fall in love, and you think this will save them both, but does it?
What I loved about this was that there were two broken people who found each other, and found that life could be bearable again, for a while anyway.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
TAYSHAS 8
Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash
This book was so good. It kept me captive from beginning to end. So many emotions-as a teacher, as a parent.
Alys is a violinist and a junior in high school. Her brother Luke is a senior, and was accepted to MIT. One day, Alys is in the library, and a gunman starts shooting. She comes face to face with the gunman, who spares her life. It is her brother. He took out fifteen of their classmates and staff, and then killed himself in the science lab. No one knows why.
Alys, through no fault of her own, becomes a pariah. Everyone treats her differently, almost as if she is the one who committed this horrible atrocity. Alys, also has a really hard time because she doesn't understand why Luke would have done this thing, and because she just loves her brother. She can't seem to let him go, and sees him everywhere. She gives up what she loves most, and loses nearly everyone in her life.
This book pulls at all your emotions. I highly recommend it.
This book was so good. It kept me captive from beginning to end. So many emotions-as a teacher, as a parent.
Alys is a violinist and a junior in high school. Her brother Luke is a senior, and was accepted to MIT. One day, Alys is in the library, and a gunman starts shooting. She comes face to face with the gunman, who spares her life. It is her brother. He took out fifteen of their classmates and staff, and then killed himself in the science lab. No one knows why.
Alys, through no fault of her own, becomes a pariah. Everyone treats her differently, almost as if she is the one who committed this horrible atrocity. Alys, also has a really hard time because she doesn't understand why Luke would have done this thing, and because she just loves her brother. She can't seem to let him go, and sees him everywhere. She gives up what she loves most, and loses nearly everyone in her life.
This book pulls at all your emotions. I highly recommend it.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
TAYSHAS 7
Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles
I chose this one because I recognized the author's name. In the grand scheme of things, this was a good choice because it was a fast read.
I'll be honest, I lost track of the number of people whose lives contributed to this book. There were several people who had a story to tell, and some of those people had three chapters to tell their story while others had four. What was neat, however, was how connected each person's story was to other people's stories. We got to hear about the kick who is always bullied, the head cheerleader, the "losers," the gay basketball player, the creative writing teacher, and many more.
Like I said, the interconnectedness is what makes this book great. These people probably have no idea how connected they are to the people around them. There needs to be more books like this out there.
I chose this one because I recognized the author's name. In the grand scheme of things, this was a good choice because it was a fast read.
I'll be honest, I lost track of the number of people whose lives contributed to this book. There were several people who had a story to tell, and some of those people had three chapters to tell their story while others had four. What was neat, however, was how connected each person's story was to other people's stories. We got to hear about the kick who is always bullied, the head cheerleader, the "losers," the gay basketball player, the creative writing teacher, and many more.
Like I said, the interconnectedness is what makes this book great. These people probably have no idea how connected they are to the people around them. There needs to be more books like this out there.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Spookiness Abounds
Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
I have had this book for six months, and finally decided to read it. That was one of the better choices I have made lately.
Alexis is a sophomore. She's a loner, and finds herself in trouble fairly frequently. She has a younger sister, and they live in a cool, yet spooky, house. One night while she is taking photos, Alexis sees a strange light that seems to follow her and her sister, Kasey, into the house. Then weird things start happening, and I don't just mean a nice boy paying attention to Alexis. Kasey starts acting funny and becomes increasingly violent. Alexis just thinks that Kasey is having a mental episode, but a classmate hits the nail on the head: Kasey is possessed.
So, it's up to Alexis to figure out how to save her sister. To do that, she has to find out who is possessing her, and what they have used to do it.
This was in excess of three hundred pages, but the story moves so fast you don't realize it's that long. Such a good, spooky, fun read.
I have had this book for six months, and finally decided to read it. That was one of the better choices I have made lately.
Alexis is a sophomore. She's a loner, and finds herself in trouble fairly frequently. She has a younger sister, and they live in a cool, yet spooky, house. One night while she is taking photos, Alexis sees a strange light that seems to follow her and her sister, Kasey, into the house. Then weird things start happening, and I don't just mean a nice boy paying attention to Alexis. Kasey starts acting funny and becomes increasingly violent. Alexis just thinks that Kasey is having a mental episode, but a classmate hits the nail on the head: Kasey is possessed.
So, it's up to Alexis to figure out how to save her sister. To do that, she has to find out who is possessing her, and what they have used to do it.
This was in excess of three hundred pages, but the story moves so fast you don't realize it's that long. Such a good, spooky, fun read.
Friday, January 8, 2016
TAYSHAS 6
Zac and MIA by A.J. Betts
As per the norm, I read the "bad" reviews on Amazon for this. Many people said this book tries too hard to be The Fault in Our Stars. Several said they loved Zac and hated Mia. I read it anyway.
Zac and Mia are eighteen and almost eighteen respectively. At the beginning of the book, Zac is enduring a stint at a cancer hospital because he's just had a bone marrow transplant due to his leukemia. A few days into the book, a new neighbor comes in, blaring Lady Gaga. They develop a relationship through the thin hospital walls that relies on knocks and taps. Eventually, they become Facebook friends.
The new neighbor, of course, is Mia. She has osteosarcoma, which, in this case, is not so bad compared to other people in the cancer hospital. Her odds of survival are good, but Mia doesn't see that. She's angry that it's cancer. She's angry at everything it's taken from her, including her leg because it was either her leg or her life.
After being released from the hospital after her amputation, Mia runs away. She's embarrassed because of her leg, her loss of hair, of what her life is now. On a layover on a bus trip, she checks out an olive farm, which just happens to be run by Zac's family. They reconnect, and Zac makes her see that she is worthwhile, and she gets the help she needs.
While Mia is getting better, Zac seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. Does he no longer care? What happened to him? Then she figures it out.
I have to disagree with the Amazon bad reviews. I didn't think this was a TFIOS try hard. It was its own story that touched my heart in its own way. It gave me some serious feels along the way too. And the people who hated Mia and called her a bitch? I think her behavior was perfectly justified, given what happened to her. I thought it was probably an accurate estimation of the reaction of many when they get a cancer diagnosis. And anyway, she wasn't angry and bitchy all the time. She was human.
I liked this book, and I feel I am a better person for having read it.
As per the norm, I read the "bad" reviews on Amazon for this. Many people said this book tries too hard to be The Fault in Our Stars. Several said they loved Zac and hated Mia. I read it anyway.
Zac and Mia are eighteen and almost eighteen respectively. At the beginning of the book, Zac is enduring a stint at a cancer hospital because he's just had a bone marrow transplant due to his leukemia. A few days into the book, a new neighbor comes in, blaring Lady Gaga. They develop a relationship through the thin hospital walls that relies on knocks and taps. Eventually, they become Facebook friends.
The new neighbor, of course, is Mia. She has osteosarcoma, which, in this case, is not so bad compared to other people in the cancer hospital. Her odds of survival are good, but Mia doesn't see that. She's angry that it's cancer. She's angry at everything it's taken from her, including her leg because it was either her leg or her life.
After being released from the hospital after her amputation, Mia runs away. She's embarrassed because of her leg, her loss of hair, of what her life is now. On a layover on a bus trip, she checks out an olive farm, which just happens to be run by Zac's family. They reconnect, and Zac makes her see that she is worthwhile, and she gets the help she needs.
While Mia is getting better, Zac seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. Does he no longer care? What happened to him? Then she figures it out.
I have to disagree with the Amazon bad reviews. I didn't think this was a TFIOS try hard. It was its own story that touched my heart in its own way. It gave me some serious feels along the way too. And the people who hated Mia and called her a bitch? I think her behavior was perfectly justified, given what happened to her. I thought it was probably an accurate estimation of the reaction of many when they get a cancer diagnosis. And anyway, she wasn't angry and bitchy all the time. She was human.
I liked this book, and I feel I am a better person for having read it.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
TAYSHAS 5
Elena Vanishing by Elena Dunkle
It's no secret that I am drawn to books/movies/tv shows about broken people. When I read the blurb for this book on the Overdrive website, I thought this would be a good one to read-a memoir about a woman and her experiences with anorexia. While it was a good read, I find that I didn't like Elena very much, and this made it hard for me to sympathize with her situation.
I understand being driven, and making good grades. I don't understand scheduling every second of your day because you need to be in control that much. I don't understand asking for treatment, but then not doing your best to make treatment work. I don't understand treating your loved ones horribly because they don't understand and are only trying to help.
For most of the book, Elena seemed to be one of those me me me personalities, and I really can't stand people like that. At one point, a classmate is asking her a question, and she admits she doesn't really hear what he's saying but she assumes that he is asking her out. Because she thinks she is beautiful and irresistible and that's all boys want from her. Stuck up much?
I did feel a little something for her when she miscarried, but not a lot. She knew she would probably lose the baby, but still drank a beer and smoked because it was going to die anyway. Then she professes to have loved that baby so much. Her actions say otherwise.
I am happy that she seems to have overcome her eating disorder because I don't wish that on anyone. I just wish the narrator was more likeable because I might actually care that she overcame this, and I don't.
It's no secret that I am drawn to books/movies/tv shows about broken people. When I read the blurb for this book on the Overdrive website, I thought this would be a good one to read-a memoir about a woman and her experiences with anorexia. While it was a good read, I find that I didn't like Elena very much, and this made it hard for me to sympathize with her situation.
I understand being driven, and making good grades. I don't understand scheduling every second of your day because you need to be in control that much. I don't understand asking for treatment, but then not doing your best to make treatment work. I don't understand treating your loved ones horribly because they don't understand and are only trying to help.
For most of the book, Elena seemed to be one of those me me me personalities, and I really can't stand people like that. At one point, a classmate is asking her a question, and she admits she doesn't really hear what he's saying but she assumes that he is asking her out. Because she thinks she is beautiful and irresistible and that's all boys want from her. Stuck up much?
I did feel a little something for her when she miscarried, but not a lot. She knew she would probably lose the baby, but still drank a beer and smoked because it was going to die anyway. Then she professes to have loved that baby so much. Her actions say otherwise.
I am happy that she seems to have overcome her eating disorder because I don't wish that on anyone. I just wish the narrator was more likeable because I might actually care that she overcame this, and I don't.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
First of the New Year
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Aside from being the first book I finished in the New Year, this is my first first edition of a book. I am honestly surprised I bought it, despite being signed by the author, because the one other book I read by this author, I didn't enjoy.
It almost seems that there are two stories going on in this book. By that, I mean there is the story that is what you read in the chapters themselves, about Mikey and his friends, but then there is the paragraph/chapter description that is a whole other story. The chapter descriptions are what is happening in the background with the indie kids that helps explain the weirdness Mikey and his friends experience.
Mikey, his sister, Mel, Jared, and Henna are mere weeks away from graduating from high school. Mikey has issues with OCD. Mel was once an anorexic and died for a few minutes. Jared is a quarter god, and Henna is the girl Mikey has been in love with forever. Weird things are going on in their town, but it only seems to affect the indie kids-until Mikey and Henna are in a car wreck. Then they see deer (and people) with glowing blue eyes and a zombie deer.
Even weirder things are going on in their lives. These four just want to make it to graduation because they know if they can make it there, everything will be ok.
It's a wild ride, but one I enjoyed reading.
Aside from being the first book I finished in the New Year, this is my first first edition of a book. I am honestly surprised I bought it, despite being signed by the author, because the one other book I read by this author, I didn't enjoy.
It almost seems that there are two stories going on in this book. By that, I mean there is the story that is what you read in the chapters themselves, about Mikey and his friends, but then there is the paragraph/chapter description that is a whole other story. The chapter descriptions are what is happening in the background with the indie kids that helps explain the weirdness Mikey and his friends experience.
Mikey, his sister, Mel, Jared, and Henna are mere weeks away from graduating from high school. Mikey has issues with OCD. Mel was once an anorexic and died for a few minutes. Jared is a quarter god, and Henna is the girl Mikey has been in love with forever. Weird things are going on in their town, but it only seems to affect the indie kids-until Mikey and Henna are in a car wreck. Then they see deer (and people) with glowing blue eyes and a zombie deer.
Even weirder things are going on in their lives. These four just want to make it to graduation because they know if they can make it there, everything will be ok.
It's a wild ride, but one I enjoyed reading.
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