Project 17

Project 17
written by Laurie Faria Stolarz



I thought this book started out pretty strong, had a decent middle with a good amount of action, and then just decided to fall flat on its face. It starts out with character sketches, giving the reader a good idea on the main players in the story. The characters are discussed and developed throughout the rest of the book, but for the most part, around the middle, the focus shifts drastically to plot. The plot is interesting, but the end resolution...boooooo-ring. So ridiculously boringly predictable. The characters, they're great, they're well-developed, three dimensional, realistic people, with the possible exception of Liza. I went into this under the assumption it is a psychological thriller, but it's just not. It's a thriller that happens to be set in an abandoned psych ward. No mind-twisting in this one! It's one of those books where the reader feels like the author was rushing to meet a deadline and didn't put all their effort into the story, leaving us with a lame ending. I was just completely underwhelmed by this book, it had so much potential (the idea of possession comes to mind), but blew it.

Rating: 2/5

Take Me There

Take Me There
written by Susane Colasanti



While Take Me There is written in the same honest tone Colasanti's readers have gotten so used to, there's just something a bit off about the whole thing. Other than Nicole's issue, which isn't revealed until the very end, it's all about the relationships. I don't want to read only about boy trouble! The characters were well-characterized, but they still didn't seem like well-rounded individuals with big concerns, again, with the exception of Nicole at the end of the book. Maybe if Nicole's problem had been the focus from the start, and it had begun with the confession, maybe that would have made a better book. Complaints aside, I am still head-over-heels in love with Colasanti's writing. I love how she can mention casual details (ex: Rhiannon & Nicole having a big fight last year) without massive elaboration, but adding so much to the characterization. Yes, they did have lives before the book, and they will have lives afterward, and this is just one moment, one tiny glimpse into their world, but not the whole story. I love that. Colasanti knows she has smart readers who can create their own characters, so she mentions these little things, not quite details, because they are important tidbits and not just extra nonsense, and she leaves it up to the reader to figure out the details. I'm a bit torn on the multiple points of view. Nicole's story did not really work with the other two until the very end, and I was disappointed by that. Her story bored me; it was underdeveloped and disconnected. On the other hand, I really liked reading James' parts, and Colasanti's take on a boy's thoughts was pretty interesting. The ending was fantastic, I just wish it had happened sooner. Not Colasanti's best work, but I'll take it regardless.

Rating: 4/5

The President's Daughter

The President's Daughter
written by Ellen Emerson White



I was first alerted to this book's existence via Free Book Friday Teens, where it was given away at some point. I thought it sounded really great, a West Wing for teens, so I immediately requested that my library buy a copy. First things first, I love the cover. I looked at the covers of the older versions, and to put it bluntly, they were atrocious. This one is sophisticated and carries the same dignity the text does, it's no wonder they were reprinted. It was really interesting seeing the dynamics of the first family from a teenage girl's point of view--a teenage girl whose life is being drastically shifted as she and her now presidential family move into the White House. The title is a little irritating, since for the majority of the book, Meg is not exactly the president's daughter, but really more the candidate's daughter. That's a spoiler if I've ever seen one. I was surprised that Meg had a big family, I'm not sure why, but prior to reading the books, I had thought it was just Meg and her single mother, and I almost think the plot would have been stronger with just the two of them, Gilmore Girls meets West Wing, basically the most amazing thing possible. I was glad to see how the First Husband grew into his role, and definitely hope to see more of him in the rest of the series. I was also shocked that Meg's mother's party was revealed. I had definitely thought it would remain ambiguous, and the diehard Democrat in me was, obviously, pleased. I do wonder how Republicans perceive this book, just out of curiosity. Does the party revelation ruin something in it, or is it still a great read? Anyways, this is really a fantastically well-written, well-rounded, wonderful book, and I enjoyed it immensely!

Rating: 5/5

Impossible

Impossible
written by Nancy Werlin



I had a lot of book websites recommending this book to me, and I didn't understand why. A fantasy book? But I'm not really into those! I gave in, eventually, and I'm so glad I did. The writing style immediately grabs you and pulls you into an extraordinary world where realism and fantasy blend seamlessly. It's Kathryn Reiss, with a lot better writing and geared at a much older audience. At first, it's a typical, ordinary, teenage novel, but very soon ordinary turns to so far beyond ordinary you never could have seen it coming. There were parts of the book where I was honestly scared to keep reading, the suspense was so bad and I didn't have a clue what would happen next. I did read it though, I read it all the way through in one sitting. There is no way I can possibly capture how amazing this book is in a little review. It's just one of those things that you have to read it to believe. The plot sounds ridiculous when you first hear of it--family curse? in a YA novel? come on!--but I do hope you give it a try. It is now, without a doubt, one of my favorite teen books.

Rating: 5/5

Charmed Thirds

Charmed Thirds
Megan McCafferty



I enjoyed Charmed Thirds a lot more than the preceding two books, but Jessica Darling still amazes me with her ability to grow down instead of up. She is annoying as ever, and now has new things to obsess about, oh boy! The writing, as usual, is what keeps me reading, although now there was the added intrigue of a YA book set in college. I wish there were more of those, it's nice to know that someone out there caters to the college crowd. Unfortunately, with college come more grown-up situations that Jessica finds herself in, and to be quite frank, hearing her talk about that stuff is pretty darn gross. The girl just has a disgustingly perverted mind! She is still insufferably angsty about the dumbest, most shallow things, but I guess she's got it all made, so what else is she going to complain about, right? Such a spoiled main character! Anyways, I've always loved McCafferty's ability to write such long books but make them so fast paced, but I think she got a little carried away. This one skips a lot of important things, things I would have liked to read about, and the pacing goes from fast to supersonic, no good. I think it really was a mistake to skip through college so quickly, in just one book. Jessica mentions all these college people and experiences and it's a huge shame that we don't get to learn more about them, particularly as they sounded a heck of a lot more interesting than Jessica herself. I did find myself pleading, for the majority of the book, that this was finally the end of Marcus Flutie, begging that Megan McCafferty would take the path Meg Cabot neglected to take, letting Jessica realize that having a boyfriend is not the most important thing in the world. Sigh. I suppose she does still have two books to get rid of him. I am however, glad there's hope...or Hope, I guess I should say. The character with the least page-time is probably the one I am most interested in. Another thing I was pleased about was the inclusion of a bipolar character. Kudos, McCafferty, for showing that anyone can be bipolar, and that it's not necessarily an obvious thing. I find myself wondering what on earth could be left in Jessica Darling's never-ending whine fest, but I guess I'll keep reading to find out.

Rating: 3.75/5

Fade

Fade
written by Lisa McMann



Prior to even beginning the book, I was theorizing as to what the title could possibly mean. Was Janie's ability going to fade, or was it her consciousness? In the third book, would it be her ability or herself that was gone? I began reading, intrigued before even the first page. The writing tone was just as amazing as it had been in the first book. As much as I loved the two broken protagonists, I wanted them to get it together, to talk, to discuss everything. The writing continually got to me, so strong, so lyrical, and all the while, the characters, well-developed things they are, kept getting on my nerves. I thought a lot of the plot was actually quite predictable and slow-moving, but the emotions throughout the whole book were so real and interesting to read about. I can't wait to see what happens in the third book, and I'm sure many readers echo this sentiment. Long live the awesome that is Janie and Cabel!

Rating: 3.5/5

Looks

Argh, a week. A whole week without updating or really getting much reading done. Is this what this stupid college thing is going to do to me? And I'm not even there yet! I am extremely sorry for the lack of updates, but I cannot make any promises--these next two/three weeks are probably going to be the most hectic of my life. Here's hoping I can find some time to get at least some reading done! Anyways, silly ranting is over, time for a long overdue review.

Looks
written by Madeleine George



Looks is a really amazing unique book, written in a vividly honest perspective. It is one of the best embodiments of high school awkwardness that I have read in a long time, and that is very refreshing. I was glad to see a teacher, Mr. Handsley, playing a role, giving this book even more parallels to Speak than the already evident ones (narration by a "invisible girl", fly on the wall high schooler). The really striking thing about this is that all of the characters, no matter how minimal a role they play, are extremely well-developed, and you will get emotionally attached to at least one of them, no matter who you are. It's an interesting commentary on life, particularly a teenage one, where everyone tries so hard to break out of that invisible mold we're all at one point or other stuck in. We are all connected, and yet we barely notice it. The moment when the girls are at long last given names to match personalities is a powerful one, reminding us that thin or overweight, we are all one.

Rating: 5/5

mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan Site

mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan Site
written by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen



In their return book, Ben Schoen and Emerson Spartz decide to go for an interesting Q&A debate format. As they mention in the opening (which, by the way, incorrectly names the podcast 'MuggleSpace', which gets on my nerves), many of their views will get on your nerves, and I may be paraphrasing on that one. I found myself continually asking "Did they really have to go there?" and raging at the book. I almost felt like some of the debates, if not all, would have been better off if they'd been argued by fans, leaving the end result ambiguous and up to the reader to decide, as opposed to giving definite answers. The arguments are quick, concise, and compelling, sure to keep your attention in their fun, conversational tones. It really made me wonder what JK Rowling herself would think of some of these arguments, and I almost feel like there'd be some she'd certainly disagree with, although I won't pretend to know how she thinks. I think the one argument that bothered me most of all (and there were many) was the titular one, Should Harry Potter Have Died? I don't know, I kind of feel like if you're going to name your book Harry Potter Should Have Died, that should also be the conclusion you should reach in your debate, as opposed to "Harry should have lived." Maybe that's just me.

Rating: 4/5

Broken

Broken
written by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry



This has to be one of the most bland books I've read recently. The plot is slightly pointless--an outcast girl who is trying to make her way through high school finds that she breaks glass when she gets frustrated, without touching it. It attempts to mimic your typical Cinderella story, but fails miserably. The writing is jerky, as if reading from an overdramatic soap opera script. There is nothing compelling you to keep reading because nothing happens. At one point, Ash's father says that he didn't want her to break a valuable piece of glasswork that belonged to Ash's deceased mother, and I thought for a moment that that would go somewhere--maybe Ash's mother had the same glass-breaking ailment and her father knew about it? Nothing. The entire story is just disjointed--Harvey-Fitzhenry should have focused on either making it realistic or a fantasy, because instead, she's jarred a tiny fantastical element in a real world that sticks out really strangely and makes for an unpleasant, awkward read.

Rating: 1.5/5