Full Tilt

Full Tilt
written by Neal Shusterman



This book starts off fast, wasting no time with detailed introductions. This does result in a bit of confusion at the beginning, but not to worry, it's all cleared up through the rest of the book. It's a real roller coaster ride (pun not really intended ;P) of a book, suspenseful and thrillingly spooky in all the right places. In terms of characters, some of them are really compelling, while others are left slightly flat. Unfortunately, one of those flat ones, in my opinion, was the main character, which made it a less interesting read. I was very glad to see two brothers so close in age as the main characters, I don't think we see enough brothers in contemporary YA fiction, and I'm glad someone out there is writing YA that is appealing to boys. Shusterman has quite the imagination, and he makes up in imagination what he sometimes lacks in the writing itself. The ending was a bit predictable and felt a bit like one of those "it was all a dream" scenarios, although it wasn't quite that drastically bad. Overall, cool premise, neat delivery, but it could have used just a little bit of tweaking here and there.

Rating: 4/5

Also by Neal Shusterman:
Everlost

I got this book from...:BookMooch

Scarlett Fever

Scarlett Fever
written by Maureen Johnson



The Martins are back in full force in this sequel to Maureen Johnson's 2008 release, Suite Scarlett! Scarlett Martin and her spectacularly quirky family are up to their usual funny business, snarky and sharply witty as ever. You thought Maureen Johnson was done with characterization? You were very, very wrong indeed. Characters that seemed to be developed to death got even more complex in their new storylines. I was especially glad to see more of Marlene, even though I found her "big reveal" to be underwhelming, but she was the most fascinating of the Martin siblings to me. There was an even more expanded focus on each sibling, but at the same time, the sibling dynamic is retained, and each character could be looked at as simultaneously an individual unit and a group. It's a rather complex plot, but it all really just comes down to this one heartwarmingly crazy family in the end. Johnson has quite the talent of making sure that her descriptive passages are interesting, rather than falling into everyotherauthor's trap of boring overly-long descriptions. It's a very low-key, laid back, calm, even toned book, even during big events. I did have to question the introduction of Dog-Murray, as he did just seem to be that stereotypical cute doggy sidekick, not serving any larger purpose. One thing I do have to point out--following Maureen Johnson through twitter, her blog, etc, made this really a more dynamic, interesting read. Somehow, having known her a little better, it's almost as if you can hear this crazy stuff that's on page, coming directly out of her, nodding your head all the while going "oh yeah, that's Maureen." Such fun! Next book, please?

Rating: 5/5

Cover:

Which do you like best?

or


Cause personally, I wish they'd gone with the latter. What do you think?

Also by Maureen Johnson:
Suite Scarlett

Devilish

I got this book from...:Borders

Booking Through Thursday

You may have noticed–the Winter Olympics are going on. Is that affecting your reading time? Have you read any Olympics-themed books? What do you think about the Olympics in general? Here’s your chance to discuss!

I am a proud Olympaholic. I love the games, I live for them for these few weeks. I have read Apolo Anton Ohno's autobiography, but I think that's the only Olympic themed book I have read. YES, they are impacting my reading time--I don't think I've read a single book since they've started =O

The Glass House People

The Glass House People
written by Kathryn Reiss



I don't know what it is about Reiss that I found so appealing when I was younger, but that appeal level has gone significantly down. I still do find some of her books to be positively fascinating, but really? She calls this a book? It begins slow and continues to be slow throughout the sequence of events. In comparison to Reiss's more supernatural books, this is a complete bore. It contains an obnoxiously simple and linear plot in which pretty much nothing happens. The entire book continues to basically be a broken record, with no real resolution, twists, anything much. It's unnecessarily melodramatic, and at multiple times I found myself uncontrollably laughing at the absurdity of it all, especially at what were supposed to be the more tense parts. The only well-developed truly round character in the story is Grandad, and he doesn't play much of a role at all until the unsatisfying end. This is not a book worth your time. I love her supernatural ones, but this really was nothing special.

Rating: 1.5/5

Also by Kathryn Reiss:
Time Windows
Pale Phoenix

I got this book from...:SwapTree

City of Ashes

City of Ashes
written by Cassandra Clare



I was not very satisfied by this volume of the Mortal Instruments series. I think it was summed up well by a friend of mine as just being a very weird book. The writing is unnecessarily melodramatic while the plot moves along quite slowly, except during the important parts, where it seems to zoom by too fast. For the most part, the characters are kept realistic, although they all do go through their brief moments of flatness. The cultural references are a fun addition, adding a bit of extra enjoyment throughout the book. Like I had said in my review of City of Bones, the love triangle is overdone, like so many other books. The additional drama with Simon's character seems ridiculously overdone to me, particularly the supposed vampire vs. werewolf drama, as if we needed more of that. The cliffhanger was crazy awesome, and I can't wait to read more, but by God, I hope we are done with the disgustingness that is Jace/Clary. I don't need to read about siblings who are madly in love with each other, I really don't. Anyways, looking forward to getting my hands on City of Glass, and, oh, one last thing. Dumbledore would so win in a fight versus Magnus, no questions asked!

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book from...:Secret Santa!

Ten Things I Hate About Me

Ten Things I Hate About Me
written by Randa Abdel-Fattah



Ten Things I Hate About Me has plenty of positive aspects which outweigh the few faults it does have. It's a little predictable with Timothy's subplot, as well as the overall big deal of Jamilah/Jamie's identity. It's a little preachy at times, but the moments of preachyness do fit in with the plot. The characters are pretty well-rounded, and I particularly enjoyed the characterization of Jamilah's father. It's conversational and relaxed storytelling, and while the writing's not the greatest, it's still a good book. I know it's one I and many other girls, Muslim and non, can relate to, maybe on different levels, but relate nonetheless. The environment Jamilah has been brought up in is captured really well and again, is something people can identify with. It is pretty unique to read a young adult book about Muslim cultural identity, and I applaud Abdel-Fattah for writing the way she does. I enjoyed this book, much more than Abdel-Fattah's other book, Does My Head Look Big in This? I thought this one was more down-to-earth and relatable.

Rating: 4/5

I got this book from...:Library book sale

Vegan Virgin Valentine

Vegan Virgin Valentine
written by Carolyn Mackler



Okay, so here's the deal about Vegan Virgin Valentine. It's a good story, I won't deny it. It has interesting quirky characters and a good set-up with V being Mara's niece and all. The writing's pretty good as well. But here's what it's lacking--interest. Nothing much happens. It's all flatlined, really. The story plays a little too deeply into high school stereotypes, and Mara's just a boring character, reminding me of straight-A overachieving little Rory Gilmore. It's a cliche story, but it's still pretty cute. I was just a little saddened to see everything work itself out so conveniently, with no big climax or anything. The plot moves slowly, and it does come to a point where everything slowly, lazily builds up, but there's no explosion of a moment. It's as cool and laid-back at the ending as it is through the rest of the book. Not a bad story, just could have used a bit of life and energy.

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book from...:Swaptree

The Westing Game

The Westing Game
written by Ellen Raskin



What can I say? I love this book. I love the tone, I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the plot twists. If there is a perfect book in this world, this is it. It's quirky in its humor, catchy in its suspense, drawing the reader right in and refusing to release them. There's nothing typical about this unique Newbery winner. The Westing Game takes the phrase 'diverse characters' to a whole new level. The mystery itself is so absorbing, the clues are there all along, but they're hidden so well and laid out so subtly within the text, and you're so immersed in the story that you, along with the other characters, suspect everyone. The format is great, too, short, snappy sections that are the perfect length. Everything comes together for a satisfying resolution, but the novel and its contents never leave your thoughts.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Chatham University's Jennie King Mellon Library

Princess Academy

Princess Academy
written by Shannon Hale



While sometimes wordy, this book has a really catchy plot that is sure to grab and keep the reader's attention. The characters are fascinating dimensional people that the readers will really come to care about very early on in the storytelling. The story may feel predictable at times, and then all of a sudden it turns around and baffles the reader with astounding twists. It's a Newbery Honor winner, which, for kids, makes for some boring books, but this is a genuinely likable and interesting read, despite Newbery status. The title may involve the word 'princess', but it really isn't an overly girly book at all. It's a surprisingly original work of fantasy, although the storytelling has its low-tempered dull points. The end result of the princess picking is a little rushed, but adorable all the same. The romance throughout the book is subtle but sweet all the same, feeling like a marvelous new beginning rather than an ending.

Rating: 4/5

I got this book from...:Chatham University's Jennie King Mellon Library

Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle
written by Polly Horvath



Everything on a Waffle is yet another Newbery Honor winning parental sob story. It's a little different than the others, but the main idea still remains--an 11 year old main character with parents who are not currently in the picture. I have read three Newbery books in the past few weeks, and all three follow the exact same plot. What on earth? It's sad the first time to see a young character without parents, but by now, it's getting infuriating. Anyways, it's a pretty dull book, nothing much happens, and like The Higher Power of Lucky, it's just a long senseless ramble in book format. Again, it doesn't seem like kids of the target age group would enjoy this book very much. The one really cool thing about this book, though, is that it has recipes in each chapter. The ending was satisfying, without giving away too much, the child's dreams are, for once, indulged, although I do worry that it may give false hope to children who have lost someone close to them?

Rating: 1.5/5

I got this book from...:Chatham University's Jennie King Mellon Library

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book
written by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Dave McKean



I think I am one of the very few people who truly disliked this book. It has a slow start, keeps going slowly, coming to a very anticlimactic and predictable ending. Not only that, but it is extraordinarily difficult to understand with the vocabulary used. The target audience is 6th-8th graders. They are not going to understand what is going on. I'm sure it's Newbery material because of this fact, because the award committees want the best written book, but I can't see kids actually picking this up and reading it and liking it. It's not written for kids, in a kid friendly way. If I was a kid, the language in this book would drive me up the wall in confusion, rendering me incapable of focusing on the plot at all. I really feel like this was written for an awards committee rather than the readers themselves. It's a very chaotically unclear and unnecessarily wordy book. The premise is fascinating, but it's not written in a way that takes it to its full potential. It's so overhyped to be this fantastic, amazing book...when it's really quite a bore. The characters are flat, there's no action, it's poorly constructed. All of the action takes place at the very end, with no build up. I honestly think it would have been a better book with just the first and last few chapters. It's just...lame. Not done well. It could just be me, but I don't think Neil Gaiman is as great a writer for this particular audience as he is hyped up to be.

Rating: 1.5/5

I got this book from...:Chatham University--Jennie King Mellon Library

It's Kind of a Funny Story

It's Kind of a Funny Story
written by Ned Vizzini



It's Kind of a Funny Story, my new favorite book, is a quirky and honest read that comes with a very unique narrator. I've never really seen anything remotely like it--it's definitely a book that would appeal to boys, with Craig's dryly hilarious way of looking at the world. So, it's a book about life in a psychiatric hospital, and I guess the word 'hilarious' is probably not the first one to come to mind with that scenario, and yet, it really is. Craig's outlook and subsequent narration of the goings-on around him are a blast to read, serious, heartbreaking, and unexpectedly funny at the same time. Like I said earlier, it's a ridiculously honest book, with the real tone of a real kid. The fact that the book was written by someone who had gone through a remarkably similar experience (and in fact, began writing the book only a week after his own stay at a hospital) makes a world of difference. The story moves at a good pace, with a great cast of well-developed characters that really brings it all to life. Each character has their own story, their own personality, their own life, and we get to witness a glimpse at all of that through Craig's over-perceptive eyes. I was just a tiny bit disappointed at the ending, in particular, the overly-happy non-subtle resolution with Noelle. I felt that was extremely overdone. Other than that, I'm glad it ends somewhat happily, but still makes it a point to address the fact that Craig is not cured and still has a long way to go ahead of him. The book definitely makes it a point to address the diversity of psychiatric problems. I'm not going to lie--it's a triggering book, but I would go so far as to say it is a necessary read for people who can handle it.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Borders