Stolen by Lucy Christopher
I saw this one day at the bookstore with my daughter. It was on one of those YA Must Read tables, so I read the back cover. The premise sounded good, so I bought it.
In a nutshell, Gemma is travelling with her parents. They have a layover in Bangkok, where she meets a guy at the airport coffee shop. His name is Ty. Ty drugs her coffee, and kidnaps Gemma, whisking her off to the middle of nowhere Australia. Turns out, Ty has been stalking Gemma since he was 19 and she was 10, which is not creepy at all. *sarcasm* She's now 16, so he stalked her for six years, all the while building a house in the middle of nowhere. He was convinced she would ultimately fall in love with him. Sadly, I know it happens, and it did here too. She does manage to get away, and this book is Gemma's letter to Ty about the time he had her.
Really, this sounded good. I just wish it was as good as it sounded. I was more than 200 pages in before I got to the "I can't put this book down" point. No one should have to be that invested in a book for it to be good. I have to wonder how it won so many book awards, as boring as it was. I am happy to say though, there was nothing sexual, so I can let my daughter read this. Only a couple of f-bombs dropped, if you have a problem with that. Seriously though, I wouldn't waste my time.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Based on a poem
His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm
This book is based on the poem "My Last Duchess " by Robert Browning, which was based on historical events. In this story, Lucrezia de Medici is married off to Alonso, Duke of Ferrara. He cannot seem to consummate their marriage, but blames her. In order to get an heir, he plots her death so he can marry elsewhere.
In the meantime, Lucrezia falls in love with a painter who came with Fra Pandolf to paint a fresco and later her portrait. The painter gets wind of the duke's plan, and tries to save Lucrezia.
If you've read the poem, you think you know the story. What if you're wrong?
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Fall Reading List Possibility #13
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
It was on the list, so I got it off the shelf. Immediately, I thought this might be a bad idea. Why? Because the cover describes it as a combination between Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace, both of which I hated. Also, this is the oldest book on the reading list. I wondered why. Apparently, this is the first book that is considered young adult. Well, that seemed to explain why it was on my reading list. It had to be done, so I read it.
I'll be the first to admit that this book was nothing like the two books it was compared to. It was actually much easier to read, and stay focused on. I won't say I enjoyed it, however.
This book takes place at a Catholic boys' school in New England. There's a corrupt teacher, and a "secret society." We hear from several different character's perspectives. It's about a school fundraiser, and what happens to the one boy who decides he doesn't want to participate. It's not good, and the ending is a bit unresolved, as the reader doesn't know what happens to the dissenter.
What would have made this better, in my opinion, is knowing why Jerry didn't want to sell the chocolates. For the first two weeks, it makes sense, but after that, he doesn't give much of a reason. Then again, if everyone knew why he didn't want to sell the chocolates, it probably wouldn't have ended the way that it did. I also really wanted to see Archie get what was coming to him, but that didn't happen either. Those things were a bit of a let down for me.
It was on the list, so I got it off the shelf. Immediately, I thought this might be a bad idea. Why? Because the cover describes it as a combination between Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace, both of which I hated. Also, this is the oldest book on the reading list. I wondered why. Apparently, this is the first book that is considered young adult. Well, that seemed to explain why it was on my reading list. It had to be done, so I read it.
I'll be the first to admit that this book was nothing like the two books it was compared to. It was actually much easier to read, and stay focused on. I won't say I enjoyed it, however.
This book takes place at a Catholic boys' school in New England. There's a corrupt teacher, and a "secret society." We hear from several different character's perspectives. It's about a school fundraiser, and what happens to the one boy who decides he doesn't want to participate. It's not good, and the ending is a bit unresolved, as the reader doesn't know what happens to the dissenter.
What would have made this better, in my opinion, is knowing why Jerry didn't want to sell the chocolates. For the first two weeks, it makes sense, but after that, he doesn't give much of a reason. Then again, if everyone knew why he didn't want to sell the chocolates, it probably wouldn't have ended the way that it did. I also really wanted to see Archie get what was coming to him, but that didn't happen either. Those things were a bit of a let down for me.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Fall Reading List Possibility #12
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This has been on my Kindle for months, it looks like it may be on my young adult reading list for fall, and I was shamed by my team because I hadn't read it yet. All these are reasons I decided to read this book at this time.
Melinda is raped at a party during the summer before her freshman year of high school. All her friends hate her because she called the cops, and they broke up the party. No one knows the reason why Melinda called the cops because Melinda can't talk about what happened. She has become a social pariah for something that wasn't her fault.
When she does talk about it, the person she tells doesn't believe her, and thinks she is just jealous. School becomes an unsafe place for Melinda from time to time. She does, however, find some solace in the project she has to complete for art, a hidden away closet, and the flowers she plants in her yard.
I thought that this was well written, considering the author is an adult trying to think like a teenager, She does a good job with it, and Melinda is believable. Not all books written this way are successful. I would like to read more from this author because of her treatment of this book.
This has been on my Kindle for months, it looks like it may be on my young adult reading list for fall, and I was shamed by my team because I hadn't read it yet. All these are reasons I decided to read this book at this time.
Melinda is raped at a party during the summer before her freshman year of high school. All her friends hate her because she called the cops, and they broke up the party. No one knows the reason why Melinda called the cops because Melinda can't talk about what happened. She has become a social pariah for something that wasn't her fault.
When she does talk about it, the person she tells doesn't believe her, and thinks she is just jealous. School becomes an unsafe place for Melinda from time to time. She does, however, find some solace in the project she has to complete for art, a hidden away closet, and the flowers she plants in her yard.
I thought that this was well written, considering the author is an adult trying to think like a teenager, She does a good job with it, and Melinda is believable. Not all books written this way are successful. I would like to read more from this author because of her treatment of this book.
Monday, April 20, 2015
TAYSHAS #18
The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos
Harry, when he was eight, was tied to a dogwood tree by children he wanted to play with. They ran off when it started to rain, and the tree was struck by lightning and caught fire with Harry still tied to it. Physically and emotionally scarred, Harry has a hard time with life. He's a loner and is picked on a great deal. One day in junior high while being bullied at lunch, another kid, Johnny, stands up for him.
Harry and Johnny become friends and start a band. Things go well for them, and they go on tour. There are problems.
What I got out of this is that Harry never stands up for himself, even when, or especially when his best friend is the one who treats him badly. If I have one complaint, that's it-that Harry just takes what's dished out.
Harry, when he was eight, was tied to a dogwood tree by children he wanted to play with. They ran off when it started to rain, and the tree was struck by lightning and caught fire with Harry still tied to it. Physically and emotionally scarred, Harry has a hard time with life. He's a loner and is picked on a great deal. One day in junior high while being bullied at lunch, another kid, Johnny, stands up for him.
Harry and Johnny become friends and start a band. Things go well for them, and they go on tour. There are problems.
What I got out of this is that Harry never stands up for himself, even when, or especially when his best friend is the one who treats him badly. If I have one complaint, that's it-that Harry just takes what's dished out.
Friday, April 17, 2015
TAYSHAS #17
Torn Away by Jennifer Brown
Jersey is 16, and lives with her mother, stepfather, and pre-school aged little sister, Marin. One day, just before school was out for the year, Jersey's mother took Marin to dance class, and a horrible hurricane hit. Jersey lost her house while she was in the basement. Two days later, her stepfather found her, and informed her that the tornado took her mother and sister from her.
As if this isn't bad enough, no one seems to want Jersey. She really has no one to take her in, until the most unlikely people do.
This was a gut wrenching, realistic novel about loss.
Jersey is 16, and lives with her mother, stepfather, and pre-school aged little sister, Marin. One day, just before school was out for the year, Jersey's mother took Marin to dance class, and a horrible hurricane hit. Jersey lost her house while she was in the basement. Two days later, her stepfather found her, and informed her that the tornado took her mother and sister from her.
As if this isn't bad enough, no one seems to want Jersey. She really has no one to take her in, until the most unlikely people do.
This was a gut wrenching, realistic novel about loss.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
TAYSHAS #16
Rotten by Michael Northrop
I thought I was done with TAYSHAS for this year, but then I got my ducks. One of my ducks is a black and tan dog, that I got because it reminded me of my black and tan dachshund. One of my librarians said it looked like Rotten. When I gave her a confused look, she asked if I read the book with the dog on the cover. I hadn't and it was there, so here we are.
JD is just home from upstate, and his mother rescued a Rottweiler while he was gone. Johnny Rotten, or JR, is what JD has decided his name is. JR doesn't like men much, but JD is working on him. One day, one of JD's idiot friends comes over and gets bitten. This bite is thrown out of proportion, and JD and his mom are now being sued. Things don't look good for JR, who has a bully breed history. Will JD be able to save his canine buddy?
I thought I was done with TAYSHAS for this year, but then I got my ducks. One of my ducks is a black and tan dog, that I got because it reminded me of my black and tan dachshund. One of my librarians said it looked like Rotten. When I gave her a confused look, she asked if I read the book with the dog on the cover. I hadn't and it was there, so here we are.
JD is just home from upstate, and his mother rescued a Rottweiler while he was gone. Johnny Rotten, or JR, is what JD has decided his name is. JR doesn't like men much, but JD is working on him. One day, one of JD's idiot friends comes over and gets bitten. This bite is thrown out of proportion, and JD and his mom are now being sued. Things don't look good for JR, who has a bully breed history. Will JD be able to save his canine buddy?
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