My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jody Meadows
I saw this was on the TAYSHAS consideration list, and got really excited. I love all things Tudor, and thought this was going to be a young adult, historical fiction about Jane Grey. It was, kind of. You know, if Edward VI, Lady Jane, and Guildford Dudley actually lived.
And there's the problem I had with this book. They lived. And turned into animals.
There were so many times I wanted to give up on this because it was such a disappointment, but I didn't because I am not a quitter (and if it makes the final TAYSHAS list, that's 1/3 of a duck!)
Also, in their efforts to be funny, they threw in works from other authors/tv shows/songs/movies. I was not amused.
If you love all things Tudors, I would not read this. Save yourself. If you know nothing about the Tudors, you'd probably be safe reading this because you won't know any better that this is historically inaccurate.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
Chasing Ghosts
You Were Here by Cori McCarthy
It's Jaycee's graduation day, which is exactly five years to the day after her brother, Jake's, graduation. The difference is that Jaycee doesn't die as a result of truth or dare gone bad. Jaycee saw him die, and this has done a number on her.
In an effort to be closer to Jake, Jaycee goes to the scene of his death every year on its anniversary, and then goes into the abandoned asylum because she knew Jake liked to go there. On the night of her own graduation, she is accompanied by people who once were her friends, all of whom have their own problems to overcome.
This is a book of finding who you are, and finding your true friends. This one definitely deserves to make the 2017 TAYSHAS list.
One thing I would like to point out, since this is something I recently had lessons over for my own students, and because it is not something you see very often: This book is a mix of point of view. When we read Jaycee's chapters, they are told in first person, but Zach and Natalie's chapters are third person limited. It's unusual to see two different types of point of view in one story.
It's Jaycee's graduation day, which is exactly five years to the day after her brother, Jake's, graduation. The difference is that Jaycee doesn't die as a result of truth or dare gone bad. Jaycee saw him die, and this has done a number on her.
In an effort to be closer to Jake, Jaycee goes to the scene of his death every year on its anniversary, and then goes into the abandoned asylum because she knew Jake liked to go there. On the night of her own graduation, she is accompanied by people who once were her friends, all of whom have their own problems to overcome.
This is a book of finding who you are, and finding your true friends. This one definitely deserves to make the 2017 TAYSHAS list.
One thing I would like to point out, since this is something I recently had lessons over for my own students, and because it is not something you see very often: This book is a mix of point of view. When we read Jaycee's chapters, they are told in first person, but Zach and Natalie's chapters are third person limited. It's unusual to see two different types of point of view in one story.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Another Broken Soul
Empty by K.M. Walton
This is another book that my on level students are reading for their lit circles. It had me even more hooked than the last one by this author did. I just hurt for the protagonist.
Dell is sixteen. Her world has fallen apart. Two years ago, her dad left with the woman he cheated on her mother with; he doesn't seem to care about Dell in any way, and certainly doesn't pay child support for Dell and her toddler sister, Meggie. Dell was on the softball team, but after she doesn't deliver what the coach is accustomed to, he cuts her because she is overweight. Dell's best friend, Cara, is getting ever more distant, wanting to be a part of the popular crowd.
And boys? Boys only like Dell when she does some sumo cow routine. The boy she likes has an evil girlfriend, and he himself hurts Dell in the most despicable way.
Dell eats to soothe her soul, rather than talking about her problems. If she had talked about her problems, she likely wouldn't have found herself in the mental state and physical state she is in. Her whole situation is heartbreaking.
I can't talk about the ending. Just know it did not end how I wanted it to.
The author certainly knows how to write about pain. I commend her for that. Having read both books that she has written, I hope that her work somehow helps others to see their self worth.
This is another book that my on level students are reading for their lit circles. It had me even more hooked than the last one by this author did. I just hurt for the protagonist.
Dell is sixteen. Her world has fallen apart. Two years ago, her dad left with the woman he cheated on her mother with; he doesn't seem to care about Dell in any way, and certainly doesn't pay child support for Dell and her toddler sister, Meggie. Dell was on the softball team, but after she doesn't deliver what the coach is accustomed to, he cuts her because she is overweight. Dell's best friend, Cara, is getting ever more distant, wanting to be a part of the popular crowd.
And boys? Boys only like Dell when she does some sumo cow routine. The boy she likes has an evil girlfriend, and he himself hurts Dell in the most despicable way.
Dell eats to soothe her soul, rather than talking about her problems. If she had talked about her problems, she likely wouldn't have found herself in the mental state and physical state she is in. Her whole situation is heartbreaking.
I can't talk about the ending. Just know it did not end how I wanted it to.
The author certainly knows how to write about pain. I commend her for that. Having read both books that she has written, I hope that her work somehow helps others to see their self worth.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
A Look at Broken People
Cracked by K.M. Walton
Truth in advertising: I read this because it is one of the grant books I chose for my on level classes to have for lit circles. Little did I know I would enjoy it so much. Then again, it's about broken people, and we know how I am drawn to books like this.
This is about two sixteen year old boys, Victor and Bull.
Victor is fairly wealthy, but his parents make it known all the time that they wish he'd never been born. There are a lot of things he can't do or say because it might offend his mother. His parents cancel his trip to Europe with them because he did not ace, as in score 100%, on his SAT. He's bullied at school by Bull, and he thinks that the only being who gives a damn about him is his dog, Jazzer. On the morning that his parents leave to go to Europe, without telling him good-bye, he finds Jazzer dead, and decides to end it all. He takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills, and wakes up to find himself in a psychiatric ward.
Bull is not in any way wealthy. In fact, at one point, he is eating a heel piece of bread because that is the only food in the house. Bull's grandfather, who he refers to as Pop, beats him fairly regularly. His mother is a drunk who does nothing to stand up for him, and he doesn't know who his father is because he never wanted Bull to be born. Bull is blamed for the family's circumstances, but it is obviously not his fault. To escape, he takes books to a cemetery to get away from it all. Yes, he is a bully, but it is likely a result of his upbringing. One day, he's had enough, and tries to shoot his Pop, He misses and shoots himself. Pop tells the authorities that Bull was trying to kill himself, and he ends up in a psychiatric ward.
The bullied and the bully are sharing a room in a psychiatric ward. Things will definitely get worse before they get better.
I enjoyed this book. I liked that we got Victor's point of view and Bull's point of view. It didn't end the way I expected, but I wasn't disappointed with the ending. I can't wait to discuss this with my students. Every one of them who is reading this is really enjoying it.
Truth in advertising: I read this because it is one of the grant books I chose for my on level classes to have for lit circles. Little did I know I would enjoy it so much. Then again, it's about broken people, and we know how I am drawn to books like this.
This is about two sixteen year old boys, Victor and Bull.
Victor is fairly wealthy, but his parents make it known all the time that they wish he'd never been born. There are a lot of things he can't do or say because it might offend his mother. His parents cancel his trip to Europe with them because he did not ace, as in score 100%, on his SAT. He's bullied at school by Bull, and he thinks that the only being who gives a damn about him is his dog, Jazzer. On the morning that his parents leave to go to Europe, without telling him good-bye, he finds Jazzer dead, and decides to end it all. He takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills, and wakes up to find himself in a psychiatric ward.
Bull is not in any way wealthy. In fact, at one point, he is eating a heel piece of bread because that is the only food in the house. Bull's grandfather, who he refers to as Pop, beats him fairly regularly. His mother is a drunk who does nothing to stand up for him, and he doesn't know who his father is because he never wanted Bull to be born. Bull is blamed for the family's circumstances, but it is obviously not his fault. To escape, he takes books to a cemetery to get away from it all. Yes, he is a bully, but it is likely a result of his upbringing. One day, he's had enough, and tries to shoot his Pop, He misses and shoots himself. Pop tells the authorities that Bull was trying to kill himself, and he ends up in a psychiatric ward.
The bullied and the bully are sharing a room in a psychiatric ward. Things will definitely get worse before they get better.
I enjoyed this book. I liked that we got Victor's point of view and Bull's point of view. It didn't end the way I expected, but I wasn't disappointed with the ending. I can't wait to discuss this with my students. Every one of them who is reading this is really enjoying it.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
A Gothic Romance
The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard
This was the book that came in my September Lit-Cube, which was curated by the author herself. Not sure why it took me so long to read, as the book is quite good. I guess I am just not feeling like myself, as I usually get through at least a book a week, and this has not been the case since school started.
At any rate, I highly recommend this new adult book.
Juliet just lost her mother. Juliet is deaf, and has been since she was eight years old, when she contracted an illness that also took her father. Her uncle helped raise her, and now he is pushing for her to marry a viscount who wants her house. Juliet is not happy about this, and plans to do everything she can to keep this from happening.
I need to back up a smidge.
While at the cemetery for her mother's funeral, Juliet wanders and finds a man who is trying to get into the grave area of a man named Hawk. The man is angry. There is an unusual flower planted at the grave. Juliet digs it up, and discovers that the petals of this flower allow her to see the ghost of the man who is buried there.
Juliet finds that she is in love with this ghost who has some unfinished business. She also finds that she ultimately likes, and maybe even loves, the man who was intent on taking her house. How will she juggle these two loves, and what mysteries surround the two of them?
This was the book that came in my September Lit-Cube, which was curated by the author herself. Not sure why it took me so long to read, as the book is quite good. I guess I am just not feeling like myself, as I usually get through at least a book a week, and this has not been the case since school started.
At any rate, I highly recommend this new adult book.
Juliet just lost her mother. Juliet is deaf, and has been since she was eight years old, when she contracted an illness that also took her father. Her uncle helped raise her, and now he is pushing for her to marry a viscount who wants her house. Juliet is not happy about this, and plans to do everything she can to keep this from happening.
I need to back up a smidge.
While at the cemetery for her mother's funeral, Juliet wanders and finds a man who is trying to get into the grave area of a man named Hawk. The man is angry. There is an unusual flower planted at the grave. Juliet digs it up, and discovers that the petals of this flower allow her to see the ghost of the man who is buried there.
Juliet finds that she is in love with this ghost who has some unfinished business. She also finds that she ultimately likes, and maybe even loves, the man who was intent on taking her house. How will she juggle these two loves, and what mysteries surround the two of them?
Sunday, September 18, 2016
A Pottermore Trio
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics, and Pesky Poltergeists
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship, and Dangerous Hobbies
As the title of my post suggests, these were available on Kindle from Pottermore. Three delightful novellas for any fan of Harry Potter. I loved all three. In reading these, I learned more about some of the professors at Hogwarts in terms of their backgrounds. I also learned, to a certain degree, how JK Rowling came up with the names of the characters, as well as their personalities.
Another nice thing was learning about the Sorting Hat, the Chamber of Secrets, and stories of a couple of the ghosts who roam the halls of Hogwarts.
A quick read, all three of them, but invaluable to a true Potterhead.
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics, and Pesky Poltergeists
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship, and Dangerous Hobbies
As the title of my post suggests, these were available on Kindle from Pottermore. Three delightful novellas for any fan of Harry Potter. I loved all three. In reading these, I learned more about some of the professors at Hogwarts in terms of their backgrounds. I also learned, to a certain degree, how JK Rowling came up with the names of the characters, as well as their personalities.
Another nice thing was learning about the Sorting Hat, the Chamber of Secrets, and stories of a couple of the ghosts who roam the halls of Hogwarts.
A quick read, all three of them, but invaluable to a true Potterhead.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Prequels Can be Creepy Too
Escape from Asylum by Madeline Roux
I am so glad I stumbled across the first book in this series a couple of years ago! If I hadn't I would not have had the opportunity to read five (four, and one of novellas) books that revolve around an asylum. Of all of the books in this series, this one was my favorite.
Being a prequel, this one has nothing to do with Dan, Abby and Jordan, and I was so ok with that. I mean, what could they have done with that as a prequel anyway? Tell about their lives before they came to Brookline that summer? I don't know that that would have been worth reading. Thankfully, this takes place roughly fifty years prior to the events in the original trilogy.
Ricky is brought to Brookline by his mother and stepfather because they can't deal with him anymore. He is angry (he attacked his stepfather), and *gasp!* had a relationship with a boy. Obviously (eye roll here), this is enough to put a person in a mental facility. While there, Ricky meets Kay, a transgendered teen, who may never get out unless she starts acting like "her true self."
Ricky actually doesn't have it as bad as some of the other patients at Brookline because the warden has bigger plans for Ricky. Plans that include "curing" him without lobotomizing him or shock therapy. In theory, this sounds good, but every other time the warden has tried this, patients have died, including Ricky's biological father.
Will Ricky become a pawn of the warden's? Will he ever get out of this place? Read this book and find out.
I am so glad I stumbled across the first book in this series a couple of years ago! If I hadn't I would not have had the opportunity to read five (four, and one of novellas) books that revolve around an asylum. Of all of the books in this series, this one was my favorite.
Being a prequel, this one has nothing to do with Dan, Abby and Jordan, and I was so ok with that. I mean, what could they have done with that as a prequel anyway? Tell about their lives before they came to Brookline that summer? I don't know that that would have been worth reading. Thankfully, this takes place roughly fifty years prior to the events in the original trilogy.
Ricky is brought to Brookline by his mother and stepfather because they can't deal with him anymore. He is angry (he attacked his stepfather), and *gasp!* had a relationship with a boy. Obviously (eye roll here), this is enough to put a person in a mental facility. While there, Ricky meets Kay, a transgendered teen, who may never get out unless she starts acting like "her true self."
Ricky actually doesn't have it as bad as some of the other patients at Brookline because the warden has bigger plans for Ricky. Plans that include "curing" him without lobotomizing him or shock therapy. In theory, this sounds good, but every other time the warden has tried this, patients have died, including Ricky's biological father.
Will Ricky become a pawn of the warden's? Will he ever get out of this place? Read this book and find out.
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