The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
This was another one that is on the nominee list for the 2017 TAYSHAS list, and judging by what I have read so far, the theme of this year's list is rape. This is the third book that has dealt with this subject, and of the three, this one wasn't as well done.
During Christmas break of her freshman year of high school, Eden is raped in her own bed by her brother's best friend. He threatens to kill her if she tells anyone, so she doesn't tell anyone. This eats away at the person Eden was. She starts smoking, smarting off to her parents, drinking, and sleeping with random guys. None of these things are terribly surprising, given the circumstances. The problem is that there are too many holes.
This book encompasses Eden's entire high school time frame. There are times when leaving one school year for another where things happen, things that seem important, but there's no explanation why. Also, the school year won't even be over before we are subjected to the next school year, and the reader never knows what happens during the summers. Case in point: between her junior and senior years, something happens between Eden and her parents to the point that she starts referring to them by their first names. What happened? No idea.
And that's the problem I have: too many gaps. Also, the book doesn't have any heart until the end. The very beginning and very end, Eden seems real, but all those pages in between, not so much. I almost feel as if the author doesn't really know what she's writing about because there was no feeling, and there was this disconnect.
I know this is a sensitive topic, but it can be written about in a way that makes you feel something for the people it happened to. I have read several books on this topic, and this book just didn't measure up.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
Summer Reading #11
What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler
This is loosely based on one of the many rape cases that have come to light in recent years. You know the ones I am talking about: the ones where the girl is too drunk to give consent, and the boys, usually athletes of some kind, take turns raping her. This is something that is showing up way too much these days, though I am sure social media has a lot to do with that.
In this case, it all started at a party. Kate, our protagonist, was there. She got wasted, and a guy friend of hers took her home, then he came back to the party to get his truck. The guy, Ben, is a basketball player, and has been Kate's friend for most of their lives.
At this party, another girl gets wasted to the point that she loses consciousness. Four boys from the varsity basketball team take turns raping her. Everybody at the party sees it happen. This was a Saturday. The following Tuesday, these four guys are arrested at school, and the media stays camped out at the high school. The victim, hasn't come back to school. Once word gets out, there's a lot of victim shaming. You know what I mean: people saying she was asking for what happened to her because of what she was wearing, bringing actions from her past up to justify what was done to her.
Turns out, there's a video. As far as anyone at school knows, the video no longer exists, but a group who helps in situations like this has found the video and threatens to release it if the rapists don't change their plea to guilty. Kate sees the video, and reports it to the school counselor. The site where she saw the video no longer exists, but the counselor reports the information to the principal, who fires her. God forbid justice should prevail when the state basketball championship is on the line!
Kate ends up taking what she knows to the police, and ends up a pariah. I hate that that's what happens to people who do the right thing.
So much about this book bothered me-the rape, the victim shaming, the treatment of Kate when she comes forward. The thing is, I still want kids to read this. How else can we get it through to them that all of these things are unacceptable?
This is loosely based on one of the many rape cases that have come to light in recent years. You know the ones I am talking about: the ones where the girl is too drunk to give consent, and the boys, usually athletes of some kind, take turns raping her. This is something that is showing up way too much these days, though I am sure social media has a lot to do with that.
In this case, it all started at a party. Kate, our protagonist, was there. She got wasted, and a guy friend of hers took her home, then he came back to the party to get his truck. The guy, Ben, is a basketball player, and has been Kate's friend for most of their lives.
At this party, another girl gets wasted to the point that she loses consciousness. Four boys from the varsity basketball team take turns raping her. Everybody at the party sees it happen. This was a Saturday. The following Tuesday, these four guys are arrested at school, and the media stays camped out at the high school. The victim, hasn't come back to school. Once word gets out, there's a lot of victim shaming. You know what I mean: people saying she was asking for what happened to her because of what she was wearing, bringing actions from her past up to justify what was done to her.
Turns out, there's a video. As far as anyone at school knows, the video no longer exists, but a group who helps in situations like this has found the video and threatens to release it if the rapists don't change their plea to guilty. Kate sees the video, and reports it to the school counselor. The site where she saw the video no longer exists, but the counselor reports the information to the principal, who fires her. God forbid justice should prevail when the state basketball championship is on the line!
Kate ends up taking what she knows to the police, and ends up a pariah. I hate that that's what happens to people who do the right thing.
So much about this book bothered me-the rape, the victim shaming, the treatment of Kate when she comes forward. The thing is, I still want kids to read this. How else can we get it through to them that all of these things are unacceptable?
Friday, June 24, 2016
Summer Reading #10
Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson
James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. This was the first book of his that I have read in more than a year because it appears that I got burnt out on his work. However, I love that he has branched out, and is now writing some young adult stuff. I guess, technically, he has been doing that for a while, if you consider the Maximum Ride books, and I do, but this was so different even than his other YA titles.
This is a lovely combination of prose (diary entries that don't read like typical diary entries), and a graphic novel. The graphic parts are more supplemental, and not 100% necessary to understand the story that is being told, which, for those of us who aren't huge graphic novel fans, is a good thing.
Told from the point of view of Margaret aka Maggie aka Cuckoo aka Kooks, who is a high school student-a junior, probably. Maggie's mother took off, so, after a ten day stint in a mental facility, she has to stay with a foster parent, her next door neighbor, Mrs. Morris. Maggie has a great group of friends, who refer to themselves as the Freakshow. All the Freakshow wants to do is unite the groups at school so high school doesn't suck, but one of the Haters does everything he can to ruin everything.
Reading this, I would like to believe this is what life is like for high schoolers. In some ways, sure, it is, but for the most part, this is too clean. I mean, yes, a girl attempts suicide and that awful Hater boy more or less assaults Maggie, but this is not real life. I know this because I teach high school and I have a teenager. There's a lot more going on. Not only that, the language doesn't match up to what I hear everyday from typical teens. None of this should sway you from reading this book, but if you are looking for something real about high schoolers, this isn't it.
James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. This was the first book of his that I have read in more than a year because it appears that I got burnt out on his work. However, I love that he has branched out, and is now writing some young adult stuff. I guess, technically, he has been doing that for a while, if you consider the Maximum Ride books, and I do, but this was so different even than his other YA titles.
This is a lovely combination of prose (diary entries that don't read like typical diary entries), and a graphic novel. The graphic parts are more supplemental, and not 100% necessary to understand the story that is being told, which, for those of us who aren't huge graphic novel fans, is a good thing.
Told from the point of view of Margaret aka Maggie aka Cuckoo aka Kooks, who is a high school student-a junior, probably. Maggie's mother took off, so, after a ten day stint in a mental facility, she has to stay with a foster parent, her next door neighbor, Mrs. Morris. Maggie has a great group of friends, who refer to themselves as the Freakshow. All the Freakshow wants to do is unite the groups at school so high school doesn't suck, but one of the Haters does everything he can to ruin everything.
Reading this, I would like to believe this is what life is like for high schoolers. In some ways, sure, it is, but for the most part, this is too clean. I mean, yes, a girl attempts suicide and that awful Hater boy more or less assaults Maggie, but this is not real life. I know this because I teach high school and I have a teenager. There's a lot more going on. Not only that, the language doesn't match up to what I hear everyday from typical teens. None of this should sway you from reading this book, but if you are looking for something real about high schoolers, this isn't it.
Summer Reading #9
Library of Lost Souls by Ransom Riggs
The third, and I hope final, book in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, this one was all right. Better than the second book, but not as good as the first.
Assuming I remember correctly, this one picks up where the second book leaves off. Jacob and Emma, with the peculiar dog, Addison, have just lost track of their peculiar friends and are searching for their ymbrine, Miss Peregrine. Jacob has discovered that he can communicate with hollows, just like his grandfather could, and this is something that will be of some use later in the book.
They, with the help of a new friend, Sharon, make their way to Devil's Acres, where they believe all of their friends have been taken by Caul. While there, they meet Caul's brother, Bentham, and discover that they are both brothers to Miss Peregrine. Caul is set on destroying the peculiar way of life so that he can become all powerful, and it is up to Jacob and Emma to see that he doesn't do that. Then there are some unexpected, questionable allegiances.
All in all, this one wasn't too bad. It took nearly half of the book for it to get good, but once hitting that point, I wanted to know what happened.
This series, the first book in particular, opened my eyes to a new approach to writing: using old pictures to tell the story. Since I read this one, I have read others of a similar premise, and it has been nothing but a good experience.
The third, and I hope final, book in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, this one was all right. Better than the second book, but not as good as the first.
Assuming I remember correctly, this one picks up where the second book leaves off. Jacob and Emma, with the peculiar dog, Addison, have just lost track of their peculiar friends and are searching for their ymbrine, Miss Peregrine. Jacob has discovered that he can communicate with hollows, just like his grandfather could, and this is something that will be of some use later in the book.
They, with the help of a new friend, Sharon, make their way to Devil's Acres, where they believe all of their friends have been taken by Caul. While there, they meet Caul's brother, Bentham, and discover that they are both brothers to Miss Peregrine. Caul is set on destroying the peculiar way of life so that he can become all powerful, and it is up to Jacob and Emma to see that he doesn't do that. Then there are some unexpected, questionable allegiances.
All in all, this one wasn't too bad. It took nearly half of the book for it to get good, but once hitting that point, I wanted to know what happened.
This series, the first book in particular, opened my eyes to a new approach to writing: using old pictures to tell the story. Since I read this one, I have read others of a similar premise, and it has been nothing but a good experience.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Summer Reading #8
Since She Went Away by David Bell
This book was released yesterday, and I already finished. One thing I love about David Bell's books is that they are suspenseful without being gory. This was definitely a whole lot of suspense.
Jenna's best friend, Celia, went missing one night. Jenna feels immense guilt because she'd invited Celia out, and then ran late. In her mind, if she had been there, Celia might still be safe. No one knows if Celia is alive or dead, and all that they were able to find when she went missing was one of her earrings, a family heirloom, that she never took off.
Jenna has a fifteen year old son named Jared who is involved with a girl named Tabitha. Tabitha's dad is incredibly strict, and Tabitha is supposed to come straight home after school. As it turns out, Tabitha's dad is a killer, and kidnapped Tabitha, whose real name is Natalie.
Reading this book, it seems like Jenna and Jared are always involved with the police. Between the disappearance of Celia to the situation with Natalie, the police always seem to be at their house. This is actually a good thing because the police take Jenna and Jared seriously, which comes in handy more times than you would think.
I don't want to go into too much about this book because it is suspenseful. I don't want to take that away from anyone who may want to read this. Trust me though, this is worth the read, and the ending is a bit of a surprise. While you're at it, read all of David Bell's books; you won't regret it.
This book was released yesterday, and I already finished. One thing I love about David Bell's books is that they are suspenseful without being gory. This was definitely a whole lot of suspense.
Jenna's best friend, Celia, went missing one night. Jenna feels immense guilt because she'd invited Celia out, and then ran late. In her mind, if she had been there, Celia might still be safe. No one knows if Celia is alive or dead, and all that they were able to find when she went missing was one of her earrings, a family heirloom, that she never took off.
Jenna has a fifteen year old son named Jared who is involved with a girl named Tabitha. Tabitha's dad is incredibly strict, and Tabitha is supposed to come straight home after school. As it turns out, Tabitha's dad is a killer, and kidnapped Tabitha, whose real name is Natalie.
Reading this book, it seems like Jenna and Jared are always involved with the police. Between the disappearance of Celia to the situation with Natalie, the police always seem to be at their house. This is actually a good thing because the police take Jenna and Jared seriously, which comes in handy more times than you would think.
I don't want to go into too much about this book because it is suspenseful. I don't want to take that away from anyone who may want to read this. Trust me though, this is worth the read, and the ending is a bit of a surprise. While you're at it, read all of David Bell's books; you won't regret it.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Summer Reading #7
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
I read this for the first time in the spring of 2009. I was in my methods class, observing, and a student had this on her desk. I was intrigued by the cover, as usual, so I put it on hold at the public library. I finished it the same day I picked it up. My children ended up getting me a copy for Mother's Day the same year.
Fast forward seven years. I have read this at least a handful of times, and now have a second copy, signed by the author. This was my first foray in to modern, young adult literature, and it has stuck with me since the very first time I read it. It's also a book I encourage my students to read, not because I want them to follow in Hannah's footsteps, but because I want them to see how their actions affect everyone around them. That is a powerful message.
One of the best things about this book is that it is told from two perspectives: Hannah, the girl who kills herself, and Clay, the boy who wanted to know her better. That is a trend these days-telling stories from more than one perspective. Unlike most, where the speakers take turns by chapters, Hannah and Clay take turns sometimes line by line. It was brilliantly done, and I have not seen a multiple perspective book done so well.
The story itself is simple: Hannah Baker kills herself, and leaves audiotapes detailing her reasons for doing so, hence thirteen reasons why. The story starts out with Clay mailing a box of audiotapes, then goes into flashback to when he received the tapes himself.
Clay came home the day before to a package addressed to him. There was no return address, so Clay had no idea who sent the package. He is intrigued, so he opens it to find seven audiotapes, numbered per side, 1-13. He locates a tape deck, and puts in the first tape. He is horrified when he hears Hannah's voice, the girl he had a crush on, a crush he didn't act on because she had a reputation and he didn't know how her reputation would affect him. She explains the tapes, and that if a person receives the tapes, then they are one of her reasons. Again, Clay is horrified, as, to his knowledge, he never did anything to Hannah.
Prior to receiving the tapes, Clay received a map of the town in his locker. There were locations marked with red stars that correspond to locations mentioned on the tapes. Clay decides he doesn't want to chance his mother hearing what is on the tapes, so he makes an excuse to go to a friend's house to borrow his walkman. For the rest of the night, Clay listens to these tapes and goes to the locations to try to get into Hannah's mindset.
While he understands Hannah is ultimately responsible for the action she took, he now understands what led her there. This makes it hard for him to face his classmates, especially the ones who have already received the tapes and those who will receive the tapes.
Like I said, this is a book I read again and again because it just stays with you. It really makes you realize how your actions affect others and are tangled up in their actions and lives too. Brilliant book, and one I highly recommend to everyone.
I read this for the first time in the spring of 2009. I was in my methods class, observing, and a student had this on her desk. I was intrigued by the cover, as usual, so I put it on hold at the public library. I finished it the same day I picked it up. My children ended up getting me a copy for Mother's Day the same year.
Fast forward seven years. I have read this at least a handful of times, and now have a second copy, signed by the author. This was my first foray in to modern, young adult literature, and it has stuck with me since the very first time I read it. It's also a book I encourage my students to read, not because I want them to follow in Hannah's footsteps, but because I want them to see how their actions affect everyone around them. That is a powerful message.
One of the best things about this book is that it is told from two perspectives: Hannah, the girl who kills herself, and Clay, the boy who wanted to know her better. That is a trend these days-telling stories from more than one perspective. Unlike most, where the speakers take turns by chapters, Hannah and Clay take turns sometimes line by line. It was brilliantly done, and I have not seen a multiple perspective book done so well.
The story itself is simple: Hannah Baker kills herself, and leaves audiotapes detailing her reasons for doing so, hence thirteen reasons why. The story starts out with Clay mailing a box of audiotapes, then goes into flashback to when he received the tapes himself.
Clay came home the day before to a package addressed to him. There was no return address, so Clay had no idea who sent the package. He is intrigued, so he opens it to find seven audiotapes, numbered per side, 1-13. He locates a tape deck, and puts in the first tape. He is horrified when he hears Hannah's voice, the girl he had a crush on, a crush he didn't act on because she had a reputation and he didn't know how her reputation would affect him. She explains the tapes, and that if a person receives the tapes, then they are one of her reasons. Again, Clay is horrified, as, to his knowledge, he never did anything to Hannah.
Prior to receiving the tapes, Clay received a map of the town in his locker. There were locations marked with red stars that correspond to locations mentioned on the tapes. Clay decides he doesn't want to chance his mother hearing what is on the tapes, so he makes an excuse to go to a friend's house to borrow his walkman. For the rest of the night, Clay listens to these tapes and goes to the locations to try to get into Hannah's mindset.
While he understands Hannah is ultimately responsible for the action she took, he now understands what led her there. This makes it hard for him to face his classmates, especially the ones who have already received the tapes and those who will receive the tapes.
Like I said, this is a book I read again and again because it just stays with you. It really makes you realize how your actions affect others and are tangled up in their actions and lives too. Brilliant book, and one I highly recommend to everyone.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Summer Reading #6
Hello Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer Smith
I keep seeing this book on the shelf at the bookstore, but wasn't really drawn to it until I saw that it was on the consideration list for next year's TAYSHAS books. Then, Amazon had it for ninety-nine cents or something, so I knew I needed to give it a whirl.
First, this is an incredibly quick read. I read the prologue and one chapter before I went to be last night, and finished a little while ago. Half the book I read in the car today, and I napped, so I didn't devote tons to getting this read.
In a nutshell, Aidan and Clare are going to college on opposite sides of the country. It's their last night in town together, and Clare has a list of stops they need to make. These stops are all places that were important in their relationship: where they first kissed, where he said "I love you," you get the idea. Clare wants to do this as a way to say goodbye. She is of the opinion that they can't, no, shouldn't stay together in college; that there's no way it can work. Aidan doesn't feel that way, and plans to use this time together to show her she's wrong.
What's cute about this is that each chapter is about what happens at each location they visit. You would think this would make for a choppy read, but it doesn't. Everything flows. I found myself siding with each of them. I was pleased, overall, with the book.
I keep seeing this book on the shelf at the bookstore, but wasn't really drawn to it until I saw that it was on the consideration list for next year's TAYSHAS books. Then, Amazon had it for ninety-nine cents or something, so I knew I needed to give it a whirl.
First, this is an incredibly quick read. I read the prologue and one chapter before I went to be last night, and finished a little while ago. Half the book I read in the car today, and I napped, so I didn't devote tons to getting this read.
In a nutshell, Aidan and Clare are going to college on opposite sides of the country. It's their last night in town together, and Clare has a list of stops they need to make. These stops are all places that were important in their relationship: where they first kissed, where he said "I love you," you get the idea. Clare wants to do this as a way to say goodbye. She is of the opinion that they can't, no, shouldn't stay together in college; that there's no way it can work. Aidan doesn't feel that way, and plans to use this time together to show her she's wrong.
What's cute about this is that each chapter is about what happens at each location they visit. You would think this would make for a choppy read, but it doesn't. Everything flows. I found myself siding with each of them. I was pleased, overall, with the book.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Summer Reading #5
The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory
I have read several books by this author, as she writes about one of my favorite topics: Tudor England. Once I became fascinated with this time period, I read several books, both fiction and nonfiction, to acquaint myself with this era.
Going in, I knew a fair amount about Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, but what is nice about Ms. Gregory's books is that the reader gets an insight as to what her subjects might have thought about what was going on around them. I love this because it gives the reader something they may not get from reading nonfiction books about these very real people.
That is not to say that these books are always historically accurate. This has never been a problem for me, as I am well versed enough from the nonfiction books I have read. However, it seems to be that Ms. Gregory takes as few liberties as possible when telling her stories of these great women. I have learned a great deal about the wives and daughters of Henry VIII, as well as the important women involved in the Wars of the Roses.
I always look forward to Ms. Gregory's novels, and just found out she has a new one coming out in the next couple of months. You can bet I will be ordering it.
I have read several books by this author, as she writes about one of my favorite topics: Tudor England. Once I became fascinated with this time period, I read several books, both fiction and nonfiction, to acquaint myself with this era.
Going in, I knew a fair amount about Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, but what is nice about Ms. Gregory's books is that the reader gets an insight as to what her subjects might have thought about what was going on around them. I love this because it gives the reader something they may not get from reading nonfiction books about these very real people.
That is not to say that these books are always historically accurate. This has never been a problem for me, as I am well versed enough from the nonfiction books I have read. However, it seems to be that Ms. Gregory takes as few liberties as possible when telling her stories of these great women. I have learned a great deal about the wives and daughters of Henry VIII, as well as the important women involved in the Wars of the Roses.
I always look forward to Ms. Gregory's novels, and just found out she has a new one coming out in the next couple of months. You can bet I will be ordering it.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Summer Reading #4
Tragedy Girl by Christine Hurley Deriso
Anne recently lost her parents to a drunk driving accident. She moved in with her aunt and uncle in one of the Carolinas for her senior year of high school. There are a lot of changes for her due to all of this, but she seems to be adjusting ok.
On her first day at her new school, she is accused of checking out a guy, and is told to stay away from him. This would prove to be difficult, since the guy, Blake, has a locker right next to Anne. They hit it off, and go out on a couple of group dates.
Blake has his own tragedy that he is dealing with. Over the summer, his girlfriend drowned, and though he tried to find her, he couldn't save her. Their mutual tragedies is initially what draws Anne and Blake together. Blake, in her uncle's words, is too smooth. He seems to do and say what is expected of him, giving Anne and those around her a false sense of security.
It doesn't take long before Anne sees the other side of Blake, and she doesn't like this side of him. She also learns some truths about Blake that are unsettling.
This was a fast read, but not terribly engaging. I thought there would be more to it when I read the back of the book at the bookstore. Oh well, they can't all be winners.
Anne recently lost her parents to a drunk driving accident. She moved in with her aunt and uncle in one of the Carolinas for her senior year of high school. There are a lot of changes for her due to all of this, but she seems to be adjusting ok.
On her first day at her new school, she is accused of checking out a guy, and is told to stay away from him. This would prove to be difficult, since the guy, Blake, has a locker right next to Anne. They hit it off, and go out on a couple of group dates.
Blake has his own tragedy that he is dealing with. Over the summer, his girlfriend drowned, and though he tried to find her, he couldn't save her. Their mutual tragedies is initially what draws Anne and Blake together. Blake, in her uncle's words, is too smooth. He seems to do and say what is expected of him, giving Anne and those around her a false sense of security.
It doesn't take long before Anne sees the other side of Blake, and she doesn't like this side of him. She also learns some truths about Blake that are unsettling.
This was a fast read, but not terribly engaging. I thought there would be more to it when I read the back of the book at the bookstore. Oh well, they can't all be winners.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Summer Reading #3
Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
This book is one of the nominees for the 2017 TAYSHAS list. I was intrigued by right away because the title is a line from Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale. When I read the blurb, it talked about a pregnant cheerleader. I had preconceived notions as to how she found herself in that state, and I was wrong.
Hermione is co-captain of her cheerleading squad. She goes to a school where cheerleading is the only sport that does well. It's a big deal. At the beginning of the book, Hermione and her squad are headed to cheer camp right before school starts. She is dating a boy on the squad, Leo, who thinks it's cute to give her a box of condoms because he expects things from their relationship. In fact, Leo expects that Hermione spend all her time with him, and he can't deal when she doesn't.
Near the end of camp, there is a dance. Hermione receives a cup of punch from someone at the dance, and when she goes to throw the cup away, she starts to feel funny. Someone put a roofie in her drink. You guessed it, this poor girl is raped at camp. Sadly, or maybe thankfully, Hermione doesn't have any recollection that this happened. She is found unconscious by the lake, and it is obvious what has happened.
When she gets back to her hometown, she has to wait a couple of weeks to take a pregnancy test, and unfortunately, she is. Rumors abound at school, including those spread by her boyfriend that she got what was coming to her, and that she was asking for it because she was talking to other guys. This made me hate Leo even more than I already did, by the way.
Luckily for Hermione, she has some really great people in her life to help her through all of this. She has tough choices to make, and never really gets a chance to move on. She still cheers, and works hard to make something of herself, but without the closure of the rape, dark clouds will hang over her head.
I enjoyed this book. It was very real, and relevant, given all the information we are being inundated with regarding the Stanford rape trial and its unfair sentencing. This book sheds light on a growing problem in our society, and I feel that it will be of some good to anyone who reads it.
This book is one of the nominees for the 2017 TAYSHAS list. I was intrigued by right away because the title is a line from Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale. When I read the blurb, it talked about a pregnant cheerleader. I had preconceived notions as to how she found herself in that state, and I was wrong.
Hermione is co-captain of her cheerleading squad. She goes to a school where cheerleading is the only sport that does well. It's a big deal. At the beginning of the book, Hermione and her squad are headed to cheer camp right before school starts. She is dating a boy on the squad, Leo, who thinks it's cute to give her a box of condoms because he expects things from their relationship. In fact, Leo expects that Hermione spend all her time with him, and he can't deal when she doesn't.
Near the end of camp, there is a dance. Hermione receives a cup of punch from someone at the dance, and when she goes to throw the cup away, she starts to feel funny. Someone put a roofie in her drink. You guessed it, this poor girl is raped at camp. Sadly, or maybe thankfully, Hermione doesn't have any recollection that this happened. She is found unconscious by the lake, and it is obvious what has happened.
When she gets back to her hometown, she has to wait a couple of weeks to take a pregnancy test, and unfortunately, she is. Rumors abound at school, including those spread by her boyfriend that she got what was coming to her, and that she was asking for it because she was talking to other guys. This made me hate Leo even more than I already did, by the way.
Luckily for Hermione, she has some really great people in her life to help her through all of this. She has tough choices to make, and never really gets a chance to move on. She still cheers, and works hard to make something of herself, but without the closure of the rape, dark clouds will hang over her head.
I enjoyed this book. It was very real, and relevant, given all the information we are being inundated with regarding the Stanford rape trial and its unfair sentencing. This book sheds light on a growing problem in our society, and I feel that it will be of some good to anyone who reads it.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Summer Reading #2
Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle
I bought this book because I love all things John Green. It wasn't until I read the author's blurbs that I realized that I have read and enjoyed two of Maureen Johnson's books as well. I had been somewhat hesitant to purchase and read this because it is technically a book of short stories, of which I am not the biggest fan. Having read this though, I would argue that this is more a book that contains three novellas, rather than short stories.
One thing I really liked about this is that the stories are all connected, even though each story is written by a different author. There are characters who play a part, however large or small, in all three of these stories. The characters are well developed and real, which is something I love about books I read.
Another thing I liked was that everyone had something to overcome in their life, and found resolution to their problems. I enjoy happy endings, but only if they aren't sappy and are realistic. I also enjoy seeing characters work through their problems. I can't believe I put this off, now that I have read this.
I will say this: even though John Green is the reason I bought this book, Maureen Johnson's story is the reason I loved this book. Read it.
I bought this book because I love all things John Green. It wasn't until I read the author's blurbs that I realized that I have read and enjoyed two of Maureen Johnson's books as well. I had been somewhat hesitant to purchase and read this because it is technically a book of short stories, of which I am not the biggest fan. Having read this though, I would argue that this is more a book that contains three novellas, rather than short stories.
One thing I really liked about this is that the stories are all connected, even though each story is written by a different author. There are characters who play a part, however large or small, in all three of these stories. The characters are well developed and real, which is something I love about books I read.
Another thing I liked was that everyone had something to overcome in their life, and found resolution to their problems. I enjoy happy endings, but only if they aren't sappy and are realistic. I also enjoy seeing characters work through their problems. I can't believe I put this off, now that I have read this.
I will say this: even though John Green is the reason I bought this book, Maureen Johnson's story is the reason I loved this book. Read it.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Summer Reading #1
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
I read this when I was eleven, but didn't finish until I was thirteen. This didn't hold my attention at the time, and I let other books come before this one. So, I decided to re-read this, hoping that I would enjoy it more now that I am older. I didn't.
First, there is the problem of this bearing no resemblance to the book I read all those many years ago, which means I probably read Through the Looking Glass, as I remember reading about Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the chess game, and other things that, apparently, pop up in that book.
Second, I have seen several movie incarnations of this book, and this is problematic too. Very little of this book is actually covered in the movies, and that which isn't is somewhat boring.
So, it looks like I need to read the second Alice book to see if it is what I read when I was a girl.
I read this when I was eleven, but didn't finish until I was thirteen. This didn't hold my attention at the time, and I let other books come before this one. So, I decided to re-read this, hoping that I would enjoy it more now that I am older. I didn't.
First, there is the problem of this bearing no resemblance to the book I read all those many years ago, which means I probably read Through the Looking Glass, as I remember reading about Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the chess game, and other things that, apparently, pop up in that book.
Second, I have seen several movie incarnations of this book, and this is problematic too. Very little of this book is actually covered in the movies, and that which isn't is somewhat boring.
So, it looks like I need to read the second Alice book to see if it is what I read when I was a girl.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Ending of a Magical Trilogy
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
Now that Gemma has trapped Circe, you'd think that all would be well, and Gemma can share the magic with the inhabitants of the realm as she has wanted. Sadly, you would be wrong. More people than ever are after Gemma and her power, and plan to sacrifice her to the Tree of All Souls in the Winterlands. The people who are after Gemma will do anything to get to her, including trying to recruit her brother.
In this post, I want to focus less about what happens in terms of plot, and more on the things that bothered me. The biggest thing that I found bothersome were Gemma's "friends." I have a hard time believing that they loved Gemma for who she was as a person, and instead only loved her because she was a vessel for the magic. I believe this because they were always giving her a hard time if she didn't bend to their will whenever they wanted to go to the realms and she didn't. Friends aren't supposed to guilt friends the way those girls did. Felicity, an admiral's daughter, was lower on the food chain than Gemma, yet she treated her as if she were her superior. At the time, these things would have mattered. Then Ann. I liked her for the most part, and I was happy when she finally did something for herself as herself. And Pippa? I know there is NO WAY that girl was Gemma's friend. She really only wanted what Gemma had, and I was happy to see what ultimately happened to her.
Then there's Kartik. For crying out loud! He could have just been real with Gemma after he was no longer in the Rakshanna instead of being distant and asshole-y.
On the whole though, I loved this trilogy. Gemma reminded me a bit of myself, and I could relate to a lot of things about her.
Now that Gemma has trapped Circe, you'd think that all would be well, and Gemma can share the magic with the inhabitants of the realm as she has wanted. Sadly, you would be wrong. More people than ever are after Gemma and her power, and plan to sacrifice her to the Tree of All Souls in the Winterlands. The people who are after Gemma will do anything to get to her, including trying to recruit her brother.
In this post, I want to focus less about what happens in terms of plot, and more on the things that bothered me. The biggest thing that I found bothersome were Gemma's "friends." I have a hard time believing that they loved Gemma for who she was as a person, and instead only loved her because she was a vessel for the magic. I believe this because they were always giving her a hard time if she didn't bend to their will whenever they wanted to go to the realms and she didn't. Friends aren't supposed to guilt friends the way those girls did. Felicity, an admiral's daughter, was lower on the food chain than Gemma, yet she treated her as if she were her superior. At the time, these things would have mattered. Then Ann. I liked her for the most part, and I was happy when she finally did something for herself as herself. And Pippa? I know there is NO WAY that girl was Gemma's friend. She really only wanted what Gemma had, and I was happy to see what ultimately happened to her.
Then there's Kartik. For crying out loud! He could have just been real with Gemma after he was no longer in the Rakshanna instead of being distant and asshole-y.
On the whole though, I loved this trilogy. Gemma reminded me a bit of myself, and I could relate to a lot of things about her.
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