Book Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie
Artwork: Ellen Forney

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Little, Brown

Paperback Publication Date: April 1, 2009
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Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend and all-white school in the neighboring town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside himself that he never knew existed.

Inspired by his own experiences growing up, award-winning author Sherman Alexie chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.

ARC Review: Positively Beautiful by Wendy Mills

Title: Positively Beautiful

Author: Wendy Mills

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Publication Date: March 3, 2015

Source: On the Same Page ARC Tours

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

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In this heart-wrenching story of love and loss, a teen grapples with a medical question that could change everything.

Erin Bailey's life changes forever the day her mom is diagnosed with breast cancer. It's always been just Erin and Mom, so living without her is not an option. Life takes another turn when the cancer is linked to a rare genetic mutation, and Erin must choose whether or not to have her own DNA tested. Her only escape outlets are a new friend she met in an online support group and flying lessons, where looking to the horizon calms her deepest fears. But when a flash decision has Erin flying away to find her friend, she embarks on a journey to new love and a better understanding of the true meaning of beauty.

This thought-provoking story brings readers to the emotional brink and back again as they experience Erin's fear, her frustration, and ultimately . . . her freedom.

My Review

A few simple words can't explain what reading Positively Beautiful by Wendy Mills will do to readers. It's an emotional roller coaster of a read that will have readers laughing, smiling, swooning, and crying. You will be in tears by the end of the book. I promise you that. The book will literally transform the way readers think about life and death.

The novel starts out by introducing readers to sixteen (almost seventeen) year old Erin Bailey. She is your average American teenage girl. She does well in school and has a best friend. She's not the most popular girl in school, but I wouldn't say she's on the lowest rung of the social ladder. She's also got a nemesis like quite a few girls do in high school. Her best friend meets a boy, and soon they all begin to hang out with Michael, a boy who used to be quite popular until he decided to drop it all. Pretty status quo, right? Well... that's just the beginning of the book.

Mills introduces the main problem of the book - Erin's mom's cancer diagnosis - rather quickly, but after reading the whole novel, I like that she did that. With the inclusion of a very quick diagnosis, Mills creates a very realistic case of what it's like to battle cancer because cancer really can strike anywhere and at any time. 

If you read the synopsis, you know that Erin's mom discovers that the cancer is linked to a genetic mutation. Some of you may already be aware of this gene - the BRCA gene - because Angelina Jolie recently decided to have a mastectomy because of it. After Erin finds out that she could be at risk, she orders a kit to have her own DNA tested. I thought that Erin was brave for wanting to find out the truth, even though everyone, including her mom, is insisting that she wait until she's older to be tested. I admire Mills for bringing this into the story. It really shows that some people want to know just how they could die.

I also enjoyed that there were a few things going on in this book. It's not just about cancer (although the aforementioned cancer is the reason that Erin does a lot of what she does). There are some heartbreaking moments between Erin and her best friend. There are some times when you'll feel so bad for Erin that you want to jump into the book and give her the biggest of hugs. You'll see Erin go online to find support groups to help her cope with the genetic mutation that is destroying her family. Erin also tries to distract herself with flying lessons so she can feel closer to her late father. Erin is a mufti-faceted character that I think will connect with many of today's teens.

If you're only looking to read a few new books in 2015, this should be one of them. It's emotional and it's raw, but it will teach you about life and love when it seems like all hope is lost in the world.

Book Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Ember

Publication Date: October 11, 2011 (Originally published on October 26, 2010)

Rating: ☆☆☆

Synopsis:
"I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

My Review:

I've seen many readers and reviewers gush about Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, but I really don't see what all the fuss is about. For me, this was just an okay read. There were some good things about the book, but there were a lot of details that I questioned.

The plot is something new, refreshing, and unique. I've never read a book about two people, let alone strangers, corresponding through a notebook. Cohn and Levithan are definitely masters at originality for coming up with that idea. I did find it to be a bit unbelievable because the book takes place in New York City. I could see someone picking up the notebook to read it or investigate it, but I can't imagine it going any further than that.

Now about that "whirlwind romance." The romance does not develop until the last few chapters of the book. The seeds are definitely planted early, but the notes that Dash and Lily exchange seem more platonic than anything. I did not expect to see a romantic relationship develop between these two. A friendship? Yes, but not a romance. There are also some references to the other love interests and potential love interests in Dash and Lily's lives. The Dash/Sofia relationship/friendship makes sense, but the Lily and Edgar moments seem out of place.

The characters are okay. At times, I found myself thinking hard and questioning the Dash/Lily love connection. Dash just seems so much older and more mature compared to Lily, so I think that's another reason that I didn't buy into the plot. Lily annoyed me so much while I was reading. At times, she acts like a spoiled twelve year old instead of the teenager that she is. Out of all of the characters in the book, I'd have to say that I like Boomer the most. He brings a little bit more humor to the book, and I could imagine running into someone like him on the street.

My favorite moment in the book is the second chance encounter between Dash and Lily. I literally laughed out loud when it happened, and I kind of hope this book becomes a movie because I can see that being a great movie scene.

I felt like both authors were trying too hard to make their book stand out and become an elite book. Don't get me wrong, I love references to the classics and other great books, but it was too much. As an English teacher, I can honestly tell you that some of the references are going to fly right over a lot of heads. If it gets teens reading classics, great, but I can just see so many of them pushing through it and never bothering to look up the books and poems that Cohn and Levithan refer to in this novel.

The writing also bothered me. There were too many run-on sentences by both Cohn and Levithan. I don't know if they were trying to be ironic because they poke fun at people who get annoyed with run-on sentences, but it really bothered me. I found that I had to re-read so many of them just to understand what was going on in the story.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is a good book, but it's not a great book. I probably would have liked it a little better if some things were changed, but it's a nice book to pick up and read if you're trying to find the Christmas spirit.

Book Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver + GIVEAWAY

Title: Panic

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

Synopsis:
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Review:

When I first decided to read this book, I saw a lot of people on social media saying that they couldn't understand how it was going to be a stand alone book from the description that was provided, but Panic is definitely a standalone novel. I was probably one of the few people who liked the idea of it being a standalone, and it made me even more excited to read this book from Ms. Oliver.

If you're looking for a complex YA heroine, Heather really isn't it. She's not very complicated, and I liked her for that. I feel like she represents the average teenager of today. She and her sister have a tough life. She's just trying to find her way through life after graduating high school, just like most teens do. She realizes that everything will change when her when her friends, Bishop and Nat, move away and she remains stuck in Carp. Dealing with friends moving away is something that teens, especially economically disadvantaged teens, deal with all the time. On top of feeling sad about losing her friends, she also has to deal with some relationship problems. She's a very realistic YA character.

The pacing of the plot in this novel is great. I never felt like things were being rushed or included just for the sake of trying to get readers. Oliver's descriptions of events in the book are almost perfect; she makes you feel like you're actually watching everything. I like the details that Oliver includes in the challenges of Panic. I could actually tell that she took the time to think of a big game like Panic, but she also put a great deal of time and thought into making the game seem like it's real with the many different challenges and rules. 

Although I was able to correctly predict a lot of events and plot details in this book, I'd definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary YA fiction. I'd also recommend it to readers who like mysteries and thrillers. I think it would appeal to readers of those genres and even introduce them to the others if they haven't read them yet because it is a perfect blend of thriller and contemporary. 

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Damsel Distressed Release Day Blitz + Giveaway

 

Title: Damsel Distressed
Author: Kelsey Macke
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Buy Links:

Amazon 
Barnes & Noble  
The Book Depository 
Kobo 

Synopsis:
Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.

When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.

While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.

And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.

Damsel Distressed is the story of Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a 12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself together.

Track Listing:

1. Heavy
2. No Goodbye
3. Something About
4. Sinking
5. Don't Wake Me Up
6. Let Me Go
7. My Strength
8. Unseen
9. Always Too Late
10. The End is Just the Beginning
11. Breathe Easy
12. Edge of the Fall

Kelsey Macke has been creative for as long as she can remember. From an early age she was on stage singing, penning poetry, and writing notebooks full of songs. When the idea for her debut novel, Damsel Distressed, popped into her head, she was undeterred by the fact that she had no idea how to actually write a novel. Her bff, the internet, was her guide, and after much trial, error, and candy, she finished it, and set out to get it published… a process far more difficult than, the internet (now her mortal enemy), had lead her to believe.

Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.

This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.

DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.

Author Contact Information:

Website

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Interview with Kelsey Macke:

1.     Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!

Raw, sassy, swoony, hopeful, dramatic

2.     Where did you get the idea for Damsel Distressed?

DAMSEL DISTRESSED was inspired by so many things. Some of it came from my own experiences as a teenager, and other moments were inspired by my friends. Still other facets of the story and characters were shaped by my experiences as a teacher in high school and middle school. There are little whispers of so many lives on the pages of my book and I hope that everyone who reads it finds a little sliver of their own experience in the words.

3.     Damsel Distressed touches on several sensitive topics. What made you write a book about body image and self-harm? What do you hope your readers will take away from it?

In school, I was never thin. I may have been average, in reality, but the feeling of being bigger than all my friends was real. In adulthood, my own emotional eating resulted in weight gain that eventually lead me to an unhealthy weight for my size, which was brought to my attention during a health screening.

I have definitely experienced a complicated, and sometimes painful relationship with food and body image. When I was younger (and even when I got older), those emotions were often fundamental in how I saw myself, and I wanted to express that experience through Imogen.

The other side of Imogen’s primary problems exists in the realm of mental health issues. I am a vocal advocate for the destigmatization of mental health needs and care. I have spent most of my career as a teacher working with young people who have emotional/behavioral difficulties.

Sometimes, it seems like the hardest part of living with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or any number of other conditions, is that those who haven’t experienced it rarely understand the complexities involved in recovery.

There are no easy solutions, you know? It can be hard in YA to write a character and keep the readership from saying/thinking, “Oh my gosh. Stop whining! Go get some Xanax and get on with it.” But those types of oversimplifications are damaging and hurtful to the real young people that our characters represent.

It was important to me that Imogen’s problems be as authentic as possible.

4.     Theatre is an important part of Imogen’s life. How does being in theatre help her? If she didn’t have theatre, what would it mean for her?

Theatre, for Imogen, is an anchor. Her mother was involved in theatre, so her connection is in part a way to hang on and not let go even though it’s been 5 years since Mom’s death. Beyond the connection to her mother, however, Imogen feels at home in the sound booth (her theatre work of choice is running sound, not being on stage) because it allows her to connect to other people in a real and meaningful way, but also allows her the space to be in her own head and watch from a safe distance.

Theatre is such a wonderful part of development for so many young people and adults (including myself), and it was very exciting for me to honor that work with my book. 

5.     Damsel Distressed is going to be accompanied by Imogen Unlocked, a “soundtrack of original songs written and performed by Wedding Day Rain.” What do you like most about having a companion album? In what ways does it allow the reader to dive deeper into Imogen’s head?

Having a soundtrack for this book was a weird, crazy, ambitious idea, but now that it’s done, I can’t imagine my book without the songs that accompany it.

The songs come after critical scenes, and in most cases, the songs directly continue the emotional weight of that chapter.

I like to think of the book as Imogen’s thoughts, as she is aware of them, and the songs as the things she doesn’t even know she’s got swirling around in her head.

6.     Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?

My research on compulsion disorders and self-harming behaviors was incredibly enlightening, and necessary. However, it was also incredibly difficult and emotional for me to study, because I can’t help but think about the individuals who live with the burdens of these issues every day.

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Review: Side Effects May Vary

Title: Side Effects May Vary

Author: Julie Murphy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: March 18, 2014

Format: Hardcover, First Edition

Source: Purchased

What if you'd been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, who she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that's as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch-nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger). But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she's said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she caused irreparable damage to the people around her—and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books

Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Format: Hardcover, Barnes & Noble Collector's Edition

Source: Purchased

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Review

Okay... I'm going to warn you that my review of this book is very critical. I did not enjoy this book, but I would appreciate that you respect my opinion. If you really loved this book and might get offended by a negative review, please feel free to stop reading. I won't mind. I didn't know if I actually wanted to publish my review of this book on my blog, but I have decided to publish it.

When I first decided that I wanted to read this book, it was because the synopsis was interesting. A lot of people were talking about it too. And not just the people on Goodreads. I literally heard about this book all the time. Then I started reading, and I realized that the kind of cancer that Hazel originally had is the kind I am most likely to get. It intrigued me enough to keep reading. I mean why not, right? I kept thinking that maybe I could learn something about it in case it were to happen to me.

Unfortunately, that was where my interest in the book stopped. The Fault in Our Stars was very predictable. I pretty much knew what was going to happen as soon as a new character was introduced. The only thing that really surprised me was the characterization of Caroline. Other than that, I really don't know. I couldn't stand it.

I really thought it would be this great book because I have heard and read many great things about it, but I just don't think it's that great. So many people told me to read it, and I wanted to smack them in the head with the book upon completing it. 

It was so easy to read that it was almost boring. Actually, I think it was boring, even the short chapters, which I feel are just included to speed along the plot. I read this book so slow because of how boring it is, and I am not a slow reader. That is one reason why it was not an enjoyable read for me.

Augustus and Hazel are two characters who angered me. They were overly annoying. I've met a lot of teens, and not one of them talks like that. I can't even imagine someone with cancer, especially a teenager with cancer, speaking so beautifully all of the time. Don't get me wrong... some of what they said was awesome, but it wasn't realistic.

Also, I was quite offended by how Green romanticized cancer. I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose, but that's how it comes off to me. I've actually seen and heard kids wish that they had cancer because of this book. I'm sorry, but we can't live in a world where people want cancer because cancer is not the kind of disease that one should wish on themselves.

I understand that the book is not supposed to be a cancer book. I guess it is a book about living with cancer. If you ask me, Green failed. I just felt like it was another book about a kid with cancer. It made me angry to see cancer presented this way because I've seen quite a few of my brother and sister's friends die of childhood cancer and this book was not a realistic depiction of the suffering I've seen.

I honestly just don't understand all of the hype about the book. It seems like it gets bigger and bigger by the day. It's not going away. While I'm sure people will say that it's an amazing book, it's definitely not the most amazing book on the planet. There are better realistic fiction books out there, and I'm only sorry that I didn't stop reading this book. I could have saved myself some time.

  

Review: Love Letters to the Dead

Title: Love Letters to the Dead

Author: Ava Dellaira

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher.

She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

My Review

Love Letters to the Dead is one of those books that you won't want to put down, but you want to read it like you're pouring honey in winter - slowly. I wanted to cherish every single moment that I had with Laurel because I knew it would end all too soon, and I didn't really want it to end. I wanted to learn as much as I could about Laurel and her friends and family. I wanted to understand everything that made her tick.

The characters in this stunning debut novel are fantastic. The plot is raw and real. I felt like what happened to Laurel could have happened to anyone I went to high school with because it's not too far removed from what happens to some teens. (I would know... My cousin died when she was thirteen, and seeing how her sister reacted was devastating.) I think the story of my cousins is part of the reason why I was so involved in this novel.

I would recommend this novel to any teenager or adult who is looking for something realistic to read. I'd also recommend it to anyone who has ever lost someone unexpectedly because there is real pain in that, and I was able to really feel Laurel's pain as she grieves for her sister. It's a remarkable book that everyone should read.

Love Letters to the Dead is beautifully written, and reminded me very much of one of my favorite books, The Perks of Being a Wallflower because it deals with growing up and dealing with some challenging situations. It's also an epistolary novel (just like Perks), and because of that, you feel an immediate connection to Laurel.

Read this book. You won't regret it.