The Book Addict Reviews: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 2 stars for most of it--but the ending pushed it up to 3 stars  

Borrowed this book from the library.  

In A Nutshell:  
After Nora survives the attempt on her life, she thinks that it is time to return to normal, but with one wonderful exception: she has a boyfriend that she loves.  But almost as quickly as her life started looking up, turmoil starts again.  Patch starts to pull away--and then starts to pursue Marcie Millar.  As Patch withdraws, Nora starts to hang out more with Scott Parnell, the boy she knew growing up who recently returned to Coldwater, Maine.  But Scott seems to have secrets of his own--could they end up threatening Nora's life again?

Review:  
Second books in series have become a road block for me.  After the intrigue and suspense of book one, book two always feels like a let down.  Crescendo followed this pattern for me.  For the majority of the book, I was bored.  Nora went from whining to wallowing in self-pity--and her mood seemed to completely depend on Patch.  If he is ignoring her--Nora is whiny.  If he is spending time with Marcie--Nora is wallowing in self-pity.  And watching Nora swing between these two emotions is boring.  

It also started to remind me of the things about Bella from Twilight that I did not like.  The relationship between Nora and Patch does not seem healthy.  Nora seems to be so devoted to Patch that when the relationship starts to sour she cannot cope.  She keeps putting herself in dangerous positions and risking her life--either to test Patch's status as her guardian angel or his commitment to her?  I am not always sure.  Whatever her ultimate motivativation, I found myself getting frustrated with Nora more often than not.  

However, my feelings about the book changed completely after the last quarter of the book.  At that point, the flow of the story seemed to change almost instantaneously (almost like a switch had been flipped).  The action of the book sped up.  We started to learn so much about the characters, the history, and some of the reasons why.  I could not turn the pages fast enough--and could not wait to get into the next book.  I wanted more.  

On a side note,  I do want to know what was up with the science teachers in this town.  In Hush, Hush, the biology teacher forces Nora to work with Patch. In Crescendo, the chemistry teacher partners Nora with her archenemy, Marcie Millar.  What is the physics teacher going to do to Nora?

Recommendations:
I am lucky--the next book was immediately available at the library:
 

The Book Addict Reviews: Tempest by Julie Cross

Genre:  Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Time Travel
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 2 stars   
Received this audiobook from my book blogging buddy, Jen Ryland from YA Romantics.  

In A Nutshell:  
Jackson Meyer has all the appearance of a "normal" guy.  He goes to school.  He has a girlfriend.  He is unsure how to handle his father.  He misses his sister desperately.  But he has recently learned that he has the ability to time travel.  However, time travel for Jackson is not like what you see in the movies.  His trips do not change the past--the people he meets do not even remember talking to him.  He cannot travel to the future.  But something has changed for Jackson--his normal life has been threatened by people he has never met...

Review:  
I was a little hesitant to jump into a time travel book after reading The Time Traveler's Wife.  Consequently this book sat on my shelf for a long time, but as part of my pledge to get the books I have at home read I decided to give it a try.  I am glad that I did.

In some ways, the characters seem a little stereotypical.  Jackson is the perfect rich kid who is also brilliant.  Holly is the perfect contrast as the good girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is beautiful enough and smart enough to attract Jackson.  Adam is the smart to the point of nerdy side-kick--he does not attract the girl but he is always there to save the day.  Initially, I was not impressed.  But as the story unfolded the characters gained depth that made them more interesting and took them away from these stereotypes.

Julie Cross' approach to time travel helped to draw out some of the complexities of these characters.  Jackson's time travel adventures only affect him--the people he interacts with and the changes he makes to events are only remembered by him.  But we can still learn a lot about him from the choices he makes even when he knows that it is fruitless.  We can also learn a lot about Holly and Adam from the interactions he has with them at different points in time.

Uncovering the complexities helped me to relate more to the characters--but I still felt the characters were a little too good to be true.  Adam seems to always have the answers and the skills needed in every situation.  Holly seems to have every attribute that Jackson wants and needs.  Jackson seems to be able to charm himself into or out of every situation.  Sometimes it feels a little too easy.

But I do not mean to give the impression that I thought Tempest was all bad.  Despite some of concerns about the characters, the story drew me in.  Jackson is a good narrator.  He has wit and a good eye for details.  His charm and charisma work as well on the reader as they do on the other characters.

The approach to time travel is unique.  Jackson's time travel adventures only affect him.  He is the only one that remembers the interactions he has with people during his time jumps.  The people he meets and talks to do not remember the encounter when he returns to the present.  The actions he takes do not change the results of the events in the present time.  But this approach also leaves me with my big question that I hope will be answered as the series continues: if time travel does not typically affect the present--what is the point? 

Recommendations:
I happened to pick this one up just before the release of the next book in the series--after the last couple of chapters I could not wait to read the next book to see where the story went from there:

The Book Addict Reviews: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Borrowed this book from a friend who recommended it.  

In A Nutshell:  
Nora Grey has a new biology partner--one she did not pick and one she does not understand.  Patch is quiet, complicated, and secretive.  But somehow he knows things about her that even her best friend does not know.  Nora is confused, but slowly her confusion shifts to intrigue and interest.  And slowly Nora learns that there are forces in her life that she never expected--forces she used to think were the stuff of myths and legends.  

Review:  
This book raced through the informal book club in my office--everyone who read it raved about it.  So when my turn came, my expectations were rather high--which kind of worried me especially when I learned that this book was Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel.  What if it did not live up to my expectations?

However, I am happy to report that this book definitely lived up to my high expectations.  Becca Fitzpatrick put together a gripping story that had me turning the pages as quickly as I could.  I was so engrossed at one point that I missed my stop on the light rail and had to walk a little longer to get to my office.  But it was worth it because the story was so good!

Becca Fitzpatrick impressed me with the characters she created and the growth that we see over a relatively short period of time.  For instance, Nora Grey has a complicated and gripping history that contributes to her unique combination of vulnerability and strength.

Becca Fitzpatrick, also, created interesting relationships.  For instance, Nora and her best friend, Vee, are an interesting combination of birds of a feather and complimenting opposites.  Together, they make a pair that I want to be friends with.  I want to be in Vee's Neon going to Enzo's for coffee and pastries.

And in the end, Becca Fitzpatrick left me with a cliff hanger that made me want to run out and get book two as quickly as possible.   

Recommendations:
I immediately requested book two from the library (good thing I already read two of my three resolution books and have the third partially done before Crescendo was available--or I may have failed on my resolutions before I really got started!):

The Book Addict Reviews: Inside by Maria V. Snyder

Genre:  Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Received this book as a gift from my blogging buddy, Jen Ryland from YA Romantics.

In A Nutshell:  
Trella is a scrub.  Trella lives on the Inside.  As a scrub on the Inside, she has very definite ideas about her life.  Some of them come from the education received in her care facility (i.e., uppers are living the life of luxury while she is scrubbing the pipes).  Some of them have come from her interaction with others (i.e., her preference for sleeping in the pipes rather than the crowded barracks).  But her unique strength and her unique talents have given her the unique opportunity to be the instrument of change--if she is willing to take the chance. 

Review:  
Admittedly, I love Maria V. Snyder!  I have not read a book by her that I did not love.  So I had high expectations when I started Inside and Maria V. Snyder did not disappoint me.

First, Maria V. Snyder created a complicated and interesting world where the rules and norms are designed to separate and divide the population.  The distrust is so prevalent that even when they come together against a common enemy, they divide again afterwards and give others the opportunity to destroy them again.  The way that Maria V. Snyder presents this deeply embedded distrust and the way it permeates every aspect of their lives is telling.  It is subtle.  It is not based on any one making a conscience decision.  It is based on these ideas being told in little ways in every aspect of their lives.  It is in what they teach their children, how they interact with each other, and how they interact with people they do not know well. 

Second, Maria V. Snyder created an interesting cast of characters.  In particular, Trella intrigued me.  I felt reasonably confident throughout the story that she was on the good side.  But she is flawed.  She makes mistakes.  She sometimes believes the wrong person.  She sometimes does not believe the right person.  And she sometimes does not take into account the effect her decisions and actions have on other people, particularly those people who chose to follow her when the odds were stacked against them.

Third, Maria V. Snyder created interesting dynamics in the relationships between her characters.  In my opinion, the relationship that most exemplifies this is the one between Trella and Doctor Lamont.  This relationship goes from one extreme to another as each of these characters learns more about how and why they ended up separated.  The lack of trust and understanding mirrors the lack of trust and understanding in the world as a whole.  As the situation of their world changes, this dynamic within their relationship changes.

Finally, Maria V. Snyder always seems to have one more trick up her sleeve.  In all of the books by Maria V. Snyder that I have read, I have found that every time I think I know what is going to happen or who is going to be on the "bad" side--I am wrong.  Things are always just a little different from what I expected--but still realistic and believable within the confines of her story.  This is not an easy combination to accomplish over and over again--but it is one of the biggest reasons I am always excited to hear about a new Maria V. Snyder book.  

Recommendations:
I cannot believe that I missed the release of the second book in the Healer series--I want to read it so bad!

However, buying a new book is not in my immediate plans particularly since I have a Maria V. Snyder book in my box that must be read soon.
 

The Book Addict Reviews: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Genre:  Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Social Situations
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Received this ARC in a giveaway from one of my favorite blogs: Jen Ryland/YA Romantics 

In A Nutshell:  
Anna Ryan has to move.  Her father has just taken a promotion that requires he move to another beach.  But Anna is not sure that she wants to leave.  She lost her mother here and she is afraid that with leaving she will lose her again or maybe lose more of herself.  For Anna's father though, this move means coming back to the place where he met her mother and to the memories of her that are the happiest.  And he wants to share all of that with Anna--if she will let him. 

Review:  
I was so excited when I opened the package with this book because on the cover of the book is a review by Sarah Dessen.  As many of you know--I love her books.  So the review made me confident I would love this book too.  And I did.  I do think that fans of Sarah Dessen will really like Jessi Kirby because their styles and the topics that they approach have a lot of similarities. 

Anna is a fairly private person who has had to hide a lot of secrets within herself.  This personality does not generally make for a great narrator.  At the beginning of the story, I was a little frustrated because Anna was not sharing very much of her story.  However, as the story progressed I found myself really drawn to Anna.  I wanted to find out her story--and I wanted to be there as Anna figured out her story.  I wanted to see Anna find some peace.

At the end though, I was a little disappointed that while the primary story was tied up, some of the side stories did not get tied up.  What happened with the track team?  How did Ashley and Anna work everything out?  I wanted to know more--and see if Anna found closure. 

Recommendations:
After reading Jessi Kirby's first book--I cannot wait to read her next:

But this book also made me realize how long it has been since I read a Sarah Dessen book--I need to read another one soon!

The Book Addict Reviews: Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre:  Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 3 stars   
Bought this book with my birthday discount at Changing Hands.  

In A Nutshell:  
Ashley Hannigan sees herself as a "normal kid."  Not special enough to go to college.  Not special enough to worry about prom.  However, she is surrounded by friends and classmates who feel prom is one of the most important day of their lives.  These different orientations to prom collide when the faculty advisor to the prom committee steals most of the money that was raised for prom.  At that moment, Ashley shows her true colors by stepping in to help her best friend who wants the prom experience more than anything in the world.  In the process, Ashley's view of herself, what she wants, and what she deserves starts to change in significant ways. 

Review:  
I picked this book up after reading Speak.  By comparison, Prom seems frivolous.  It seems trite.  It seems underwhelming.  Those were my initial reactions to this story.  I had expected a story that touched me in the same way that I had been touched by Speak.  However, after some time away I realized that was really not a fair way to rate this book.  This book never claimed to be like Speak. 

So, I started to look at this story on its own merits.  As a light-hearted book, Prom delivers a unique cast of characters.  I think my favorite was Nat's grandmother who could moonlight as a professional baker if only she were not so obsessed with swimming (many times with her clothes on).  Prom delivers a strong coming-of-age story.  The Ashley we see in the beginning of this story would not even recognize the Ashley at the end who makes a stand for herself in a big way.

After recognizing these elements of Prom I realized that I really liked this book.  I am glad I read it, and I cannot wait to read another one of Laurie Halse Anderson's books.  I am sure she will surprise me yet again--but this time I will not let my initial feelings be dictated by the expectations set by other books I have read by her.

Recommendations:
If you have not read Speak, I cannot recommend it strongly enough--this book really shook me to the core:


The next book I would like to read by Laurie Halse Anderson:

The Book Addict Reviews: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Genre:  Young Adult, Social Issues
Order Online: Amazon.com
Review for previous book in series: here
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 3 stars   
Borrowed this book from the library.  

In A Nutshell:  
This book surprised me in so many ways--from a change in narrator to a change in the focus and feel of the story, but in the end I came to love it.  I do not know what more could be told of the story of Mia and Adam, but I really want to have them return because I am not ready to let them go.

Review:  
It took me longer than I initially anticipated to finish this series.  The first book had hit me so strongly that I just knew I was not emotionally prepared to finish Mia's story yet.  And in some ways, I am glad I waited.  But in some ways I felt this story lacked some of the power and emotional punch of the first.

A big part of the change was the complete change in narrator.  Instead of following Mia, we (the readers) are now following Adam.  This took me by surprise and took me a little bit to get used to--particularly since the title of the book was Where SHE Went. Eventually we learn where she went, but in reality this book seemed to focus a lot more on what happened with Adam after the end of If I Stay.

The change in narrator also affected the feel of the story.  Where Mia as narrator had a strong focus on her feelings and emotions--Adam as narrator had a stronger focus on actions.  He was so confused by emotions (both his and Mia's) that he kept his focus on the actions.  What Mia did.  What he did.  What his bandmates did.  This is not a bad thing--but it was unexpected after reading the first story where Mia was very focused on her own emotions and feelings about the accident.

But the end worked for me.  It made all of my confusion about the change in narrator and the change in focus work for me.  It made me glad I read this book and this series.  It made me hope that there was more to the story of Mia and Adam because I am just not ready to give them up.

Recommendations:
I was looking to see what else Gayle Forman had written, when I found a book I want to read because it reminds me a little of a book I had to read for school that really impacted the way I see globalization and its effect on the world:

The Book Addict Reviews: Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz

Genre:Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires  
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Previous Review of Series: here
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 3 stars   
Borrowed book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:  
After the frustration with Bloody Valentine, I admit that I did not jump into Lost In Time with the highest or most positive expectations. But I am so glad that I did finally pick it up because it was so much better and more engaging than I expected. 

Review:  
After reading Bloody Valentine, I was so disappointed that it almost made me want to stop reading this series.  But I am glad I gave Lost In Time a chance because it brought back many of the aspects of the series that I had grown to love.  In particular, I really loved how Melissa de la Cruz was able to string together three completely separate storylines (specifically Jack/Schuyler, Allegra/Ben/Charles, and Mimi/Kingsley/Oliver) without losing continuity or having the elements cross over between the storylines causing confusion.

The one issue that is very frustrating for me is the repeated references to Florence.  I feel like we (as readers) have been patient with the references to this life style without substance and context.  There were numerous times throughout this book where I wanted to scream "what happened in Florence--tell me already!"

But overall, I felt more drawn into the story of Mimi/Kingsley/Oliver.  I found that I started to see Mimi as more than a shallow bitch--she revealed more emotion and more depth than I expected after stories up to this point.

Recommendations:
After this one, I feel more optimistic about tackling a book that has been on my TBR pile for a while:

The Book Addict Reviews: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mysteries & Detectives, Family Life
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars
Borrowed this book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
When I first heard about this book, I was not sure what to expect.  Would it feel too much like a picture book to hold the attention of an adult?  But I kept hearing people talk about it so I took the plunge.  This book is not like any picture book I have ever read before.  Yes, some elements of the story only come out in the illustrations, but the story that Brian Selznick weaves is much more complicated and full of intrigue than any other picture book I have ever read.

Review:
Hugo has been left alone in the train station where his uncle (who was serving as his reluctant guardian) serviced all of the clocks.  Afraid of what could happen to him if the officials at the train station learn he is alone, Hugo has taken over servicing all of the clocks hoping that no one notices him.  As this story unfolded, I really felt terrible on Hugo's behalf.  He went from a very loving and caring household with his father, to feeling like a nuisance and an inconvenience.

This loss of the connection he felt with his father led Hugo to fixate on the one physical thing that he still has to connect to his father.  And through the illustrations, we are able to capture some of the nuances and impact of Hugo's feelings and reactions more realistically than I imagine we would in a written text.  We see his face and how his expressions change the same way we would an acquaintance or a friend.  And that is the progression that Hugo made for me over the course of the story--he went from being an acquaintance I wanted to understand to a friend I valued.

But Brian Selznick did not just create one endearing character, he created a whole cast of them.  From the Station Inspector Hugo is constantly hiding from to the Etienne the friend who starts the chain reaction that brings Rene Tabard to Georges Melies' door, there is so much complexity and intrigue that I did not want the story to end.  Even now I want to know what happened after--what adventures did Isabel and Hugo go on after the final scene? 

Recommendations:
I just saw that Brian Selznick has another book out--and now I have to read it!

Short & Sweet: Free Four by Veronica Roth

And to the point! Sometimes it is nice to read a short story or a novella, but it is not always fair to compare them to longer stories with more time for plot and character development.
_____________________________________________________

Genre:  Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Free Online: Facebook 

Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 3 stars
Novella available for free at link above.  

In A Nutshell:  
I am glad I read this after reading Insurgent because I would not have wanted to have the surprising fact I learned in Insurgent ruined for me.  But I am also very glad that I read this novella because I think it gave me much more insight into Tobias.  The only downside is that it made me crave more written from his perspective!

Review:  
I just learned about this novella--which meant that I read it after reading Insurgent, and I am not sure that I would have wanted to read this first.  There is an important aspect of Tobias revealed in this novella that is also revealed in Insurgent.  And I am not sure I would have wanted to know that aspect of his feelings about Dauntless before I found out about them in Insurgent.  I enjoyed learning the truth at the same time Tris did.

However, I did really enjoy getting inside Tobias.  I would love to see more stories told from his perspective because in many ways I think they compliment each other well.  Tris seems much more naive and sheltered than Tobias does, but I think that is because she is younger and been away from her family for less time.  In comparison, I think Tobias knows more about what is going on around him but is not always as perceptive as Tris.  Together--I think they give unique, and in important ways, different perspectives on the events going on around them.  And with the complex world that Veronica Roth has created, two different perspectives give us so much more insight into the truth.

Recommendations:
I need recommendations!  I want to find more novellas to read.  Do you know of any good ones?  Please share (pretty please with sugar and honey).  :)

The Book Addict Reviews: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Genre:  Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Borrowed book from a friend. 

Note: There may be spoilers to Divergent in this review.  If you have not read Divergent, please see my review. 

In A Nutshell:  
I do not think I have eagerly anticipated a book this much since the last two Harry Potter books.  I was on a countdown for months waiting for this one to be released.  And all I can say is I was not disappointed--but now I am on another countdown for Book 3 because one again Veronica Roth left me begging for more!

Review:  
Dauntless is divided--those that have aligned themselves with Erudite are wearing blue arm bands and acting as guards.  Those that have not are in hiding, planning, waiting for the ideal time to show their fearlessness and the leadership to make a stand.

Tris is divided--she is hiding the fact that she murdered one of her best friends from everyone (even the person she loves most).  She is struggling with how to honor the sacrifice her parents made with their lives.  She is not sure how to best handle her feelings for Tobias.

Tobias is divided--he does not necessarily want to tell the world who he is but more and more his true name is gaining him access to information.  He is cautious about his feelings for Tris--and the more he feels that she is hiding something important from him the more he feels he needs to pull away.  But he made the decision to stay in Dauntless based in part on his feelings for her--he cannot throw that away lightly.

What I wanted most when I started the book was more information about Tobias.  I loved that Insurgent allowed me more insight into who Tobias was, where he came from, and how all of that affects how he approaches the world.  As much as I loved Four in Divergent, I found Tobias in Insurgent more interesting and more compelling.

At some points, I was frustrated with the lack of trust between Tris and Tobias.  Every time they going got tough or the answers were not readily given, they seemed to be willing to drop each other or at least believe the worst of each other.  For people who claim the level of love and dedication that they do, it seemed they had very little faith in that love, that dedication or each other.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realize that this wish-washiness is more of a sign of their background.  Tobias had very little experience with true love or true dedication.  Tris, as a Divergent raised in Abnegation, came from a family who displayed love in a way that she either did not fully understand or did not fully meet her need for love.  

And that is probably what I love the most about Veronica Roth's writing.  She reveals a lot of the details in subtle ways.  A careful reading of her books is rewarded with more insight and more connection with the characters and the story she has woven. 

And then at the end she drops a bomb--now I cannot wait to read the next book!

Recommendations:
According to Goodreads--Book 3 (still untitled) will not be out until Fall 2013.  I do not know how I can possibly wait that long!  But in the meantime, I just found this short story about Four--and really is there ever enough of him?
Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story

The Book Addict Reviews: Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

 
Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery
Order Online: Centrinian
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 3 stars  
Book given in exchange for an honest review. 

In A Nutshell:  
I love fantasy.  I love adventure.  But more than loving any particular genre--I love a good story written well.  I found all of these things in Talisman of El.  

Review:  
From the moment I read the summary of Talisman of El, I could not wait to read the book.  In some ways my anticipation scared me; I feared there was no way that it could live up to my expectations.  But it did.  Alecia Stone did an excellent job of weaving a story that excellent dialogue that brings us into the heart of interesting and endearing characters.

Charlie is a character that immediately tugs at your heart strings.  You will be drawn into his story.  The strong use of dialogue will draw you into his character.  And the adventures that he and his friends go on will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I could not put it down--I wanted to be part of the group. 

Recommendations:
After reading this book, I want to read more fantasy books!  My friend has been raving about this author--so I want to start:

The Book Addict Reviews: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Genre: Young Adult, New Experiences, Family Life, Social Issues
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info:  Website | Goodreads
Rating: 3 stars
Borrowed book from library. 

In A Nutshell:
It is almost ironic that I had read this book and was writing this review when an event happened that changed my life forever (if you don't know what I am referring to please see Taking A Break).  After everything has happened, I re-read what I wrote and the magnitude of this story hit me even more.  As someone who has lost someone important in the blink of an eye, I can say this book has an impact beyond what I initially thought and expected.

Review:
It has often been said that your life can change in the blink of an eye.  Mia can tell you that better than anyone.  One moment she was in the car with her family listening to a classical song and finguring  the next moment she is looking at the crumpled remains of the family car and watching the emergency rescue people trying to save her life. 

Wait--how can she be watching that?  Mia struggles with seeing everything going on around her, seeing everything that is happening to her, but not quite understanding what it all means.  Is she alive?  Is she dead?  Does she want to continue to fight to live?  Does she want to join her family?  But the biggest question she has is how to make what she decides to do actually happen?

I have seen this idea of the consciousness leaving the body in movies such as Ghost Dad and Ghost, but I feel that Gayle Forman has added something different to the mix.  In both Ghost Dad and Ghost, the ghosts desperately want to get back to their bodies or their lives.  Mia struggles with what she wants to do.  Either way, she knows her life has changed.  So which way will she choose? 

Recommendations:
In some ways, the ending disappointed me a little.  There was no closure, but I just learned that there is more to Mia's story:

The Book Addict Reviews: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Love & Romance
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: First time: 4 stars/Second time: 2 stars
First time: Borrowed the book from a friend/Second time: Borrowed the book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
This story intrigued me--the idea of love as a disease that must be cured.  My initial reading of this book left me on pins and needles eagerly awaiting the next book's release.  But it is not a book I can re-read often because my second time through I found Lena to be a very annoying narrator.

Review:
Love is a disease--and like many diseases the scientists and doctors have sought for and apparently found a cure.  A procedure that all 18 years old in the established cities have to protect themselves from being infected by love.  But with the loss of the ability to love, they lose some of their memories from before the procedures, their ability to establish meaningful relationships, even their ability to care for their children and families.  

I read this book over a year ago--and I loved everything about it.  Since Pandemonium is coming out soon, I decided to re-read this one to prepare to read the next one.  I found my feelings changed quite a bit upon re-reading.  In particular, I found Lena to be a very annoying character.  She seems incapable to focus on the task or issue at hand.  And since she is the narrator--we have to read all of her scattered unrelated thoughts as we go through the story.  More than one time I wanted to slap her cheek and shake her a little like they do on television in order to get the character to focus.  Focus Lena Focus!!

But Alex kept me coming back for more.  There was something about him that always drew me in--from the first moment that Lena saw him at her evaluation.  I was almost as bad as Lena as I eagerly anticipated the next time that they would hang out so that I could read about him again.

I felt for Hannah.  I think she would have more eagerly accepting of Alex and the opportunities he presented because she already seemed posed to rebel against the life that was prescribed for her.  As I eagerly anticipate Pandemonium, I hope that Hannah is there and that there is something good in store for her.
 
Recommendations:
Despite my so-so feelings after re-reading this book, I cannot wait for the next book.  I am intrigued and excited to see what comes next for Lena, Hannah, and Alex:

The Book Addict Reviews: Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 2 stars
Bought this book at YAllapalooza. 

In A Nutshell:
I had very high hopes for this story but my overall feeling after reading it I only feel disappointment.  I did not find it funny or charming or interesting.  The elements that I hoped would spark my interest all felt underdeveloped or unexplored. 

Review:
Doug Lee is doomed to spend eternity as an awkward, overweight, nerdy teen--all because that is who he was when he was turned into a vampire.  In order to sustain himself, he tries to attract girls.  But he has no better luck as a vampire than he did before.  He is forced to feed on cows to curb his appetite.  To compound these mounting problems, Doug's behavior at a convention has drawn the attention of a failing Vampire Hunter television show which needs to catch a vampire to stay alive itself. 

The storyline had a lot of potential.  The person I spoke to at the bookstore said that she laughed out loud throughout the entire book.  However, I am chalking this one up to an example of how every story does not work for every reader because I did not find a lot of humor in this book at all.  Maybe I missed the humor because I did not feel connected to any of the characters.  I thought that Doug was a jerk most of the time--particularly to his best friend.  His best friend was a likeable enough person, but then I wanted to know why he put up with Doug's treatment.

SPOILER ALERT

The characters that most sparked my interest were the older vampires that set out to mentor Doug and the other newly created vampires.  Where did they come from?  How did they find the teens?  How did they live?  Which led me to another of my frustrations with this book--the world created in this novel and how vampires fit into the world is never fully explained.  We only see Doug's lessons and then later learn that his mentor lies a lot--so we never really learn a lot of how this world works.   

Initially, I thought the television show would be a nice diversion, but instead I found its clunky and awkward.  Then when the show was finally starting to really get close to Doug--and the action and intrigue seemed eminent--they get cancelled.  The host starts focusing on a show idea that had nothing to do with this story.  At that point, I frustratedly had to ask why was it even part of the story!

Recommendations:
I have talked to a few people who have told me to give Adam Rex another chance--so I will with:

The Book Addict Dares You To Read: Sarah Dessen

I love having the opportunity to challenge people to read books that I personally found compelling or interesting or just all out fun.  But I want to know what you think?  Have you read the book?  Did it stick with you?  If so, why?  If not, why? _________________________________________________

My blogging buddy, Jen, repeatedly recommended Sarah Dessen books to me--and I would put them on my TBR list and there they would stay.  Then I finally sat down and read one and I was in love.  Her characters are flawed, human, relate-able, cute, fun--anything that positive you can say about a character.  Her stories are engaging, believable, and all around fun to read.  In short, she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Here are links to the reviews for her books that I have written so far:
Just Listen
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
What Happened To Goodbye

And here is the review for my latest Sarah Dessen read:


Genre: Young Adult, Love & Romance, Siblings, Family
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Borrowed this book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
Sarah Dessen masterly tells a difficult story with an optimistic tone--so rather than feeling overwhelmed at the end.  I felt hopeful and happy with the world as the story ended, but I wanted more.  I wanted the ending to stretch out a little longer. 

Review:
Lock and Key may not be my favorite Sarah Dessen novel but I still loved it.  The story centers around two teens who have no where to go--or at least feel like they have no where to go. 

Ruby had been taking care of herself ever since her mother disappeared.  She is going to high school by day, working her mother's delivery job by night, and dealing with the electric company, the lack of running water, and the housekeeping in her spare time.  But what else can she do?  There is no one else in the world who cares about her, right?

Then we learn Nate's tale of abandonment on the part of his mother after she started a new family with her new husband.  It may not have been too bad except his father is abusive and using Nate as free labor in his errand running business.  There is no one in the world who cares about him, right?

There is a balance between empathizing with the teens and wishing they could see the options to get help around them because there are people who are willing to and want to help them.  Part of the time, I wanted to call out to Ruby and Nate--tell them to accept the help available to them.  But more than that, I was heart broken because there should not be a need for teens to be worried about not feeling loved, cared for, appreciated, and safe.  That should be a given for them. 

While the basic storyline tugged at my heart, I commend Sarah Dessen's ability to handled the complicated and emotional story with finesse.  The focus is not on the sad elements--the focus is on the hopeful elements.  Throughout the story, I was optimistic.  I always had the feeling that it was going to turn out well.  I was happy. 

Recommendations:
And my favorite part was that Sarah Dessen brought back glimpses of some of my favorite characters from her other books--Annabel on the radio or Kristy and Bert at the mall.  It almost makes me want to re-read my first Sarah Dessen to see if I recognize some of my favorite characters embedded in the story:

The Book Addict Reviews: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Genre: Young Adult, Social Situations, Parents, Emotions & Feelings
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Borrowed this book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
After reading Crank, I was hopeful that Kristina would get the help that she needed.  While I loved Ellen Hopkins poetry and style, I did struggle with some aspects of the story.  But I am hopeful that in the final installment many of my concerns will be addressed.

Review:
I always struggle with my emotions after reading Ellen Hopkins' books.  Her use of poetry to tell her story is unique and full of emotion.  Her writing is powerful and full of impact.  All of these things I love.  But the topics she covers in her stories are tough.  They are gritty.  They take a long hard look at the parts of society that tend to be ignored or glossed over.  All of these things make me very glad I read her books, but not really sure I will re-read them very often.

Glass continues the story of Kristina, who we met in Crank.  She has promised herself and her new son that she is done with the monster.  She will get her GED and continue the life she had before her trip to visit her father, or at least as much of that life as possible now.

But the call of the monster is too strong--and Kristina cannot resist it.  Slowly she gets in over her head and ends up losing everything; her family, her home, her freedom.

The entire time I was reading this book, I wished that someone had gotten Kristina professional help; particularly during the time when she had been dedicated to being a good mother.  It felt like her love for Hunter would have been enough enticement to encourage her to change her life.  Addiction is not something that a person can generally give up through willpower alone--and I feel like that is even more true for someone so young.  It almost felt too late by the time that Kristina's mother took a stand--and the stand of kicking her out without another option seemed a little counterproductive to me.  Why not offer to send her to rehab?  I agree that she probably would have said no--but then I would be upset with her.  Right now, I am angry with her mother!

I was hoping the Kristina/Bree break would be explore more in this book--particularly the hints that the split within Kristina started before she went to her fathers.  What prompted it?  Why can she not bring the two parts of herself together into one--and have a clearly defined sense of self. 

Recommendations:
I have the final book in this series on reserve--I am hoping that the final installment will address my concerns:

I have also ordered the supplemental book that I was looking forward to:

YA Trivia Game Wrap-up

On my best blogging buddies has invited me to join in her Valentine's Week special:


What a great way to celebrate Valentine's Days!  I hope you all enjoyed the trivia questions.

Without further ado--the lucky winner is: Jane.

And now for the answers to this weeks questions:

Which Sarah Dessen couple works for Wish Catering?
a) Annabel and Owen
b) Macy and Wes
c) Remy and Dexter
d) Ruby and Nate

This question comes from:

The other characters are all from other Sarah Dessen novels that I have read.

What famous YA couple had the following conversation:
(Person A) “Don't touch any of my weapons without my permission."
(Person B) "Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay,"
(Person A) "Selling them on what?"
(Person B) "A mythical place of great magical power.”

a) Jace and Clary
b) Magnus and Alec
c) Will and Tessa
d) Jem and Jessie

This question comes from:

The first two couples are from the Mortal Instrument series and the second two sets of characters are from Infernal Devices series.

In Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, who is Aislinn most likely to pick as her Valentine?
a) Keenan
b) Seth
c) Donia
d) Beira

This question comes from (okay this one may be a little obvious):

All of the character names come from Wicked Lovely.

Which of the following YA characters are not partnered correctly?
a) Brittany Ellis/Alex Fuentas
b) McLean Sweet/Dave Wade
c) Ronald Weasley/Hermione Granger
d) Lizzie Bennet/Charles Bingley

The correct answer for this question comes from:

The incorrect answers are from Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen, and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

Michael/Eva and Claire/Shane are two famous YA couples, where do they live?
a) Morganville, Texas
b) Vampire Academy
c) Transylvania
d) A Wrinkle In Time

This question came from the following series:


In Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, what is the name of Owen's radio show that Annabel listens to?
a) Tunes for Lovers
b) Anger Management
c) The Midnight Hour
d) The Rush Hour

This question comes from (again I think it may be obvious):

When I first heard the name of Owen's show I literally laughed-out-loud so it stuck out to me. I always remember it. The only other one that comes from a book (that I am aware of) is The Midnight Hour from Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn.

In what series do Yelena and Valek fall in love?
a) Castor Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
b) Wings by Aprilynne Pike
c) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
d) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

This question comes from (I like these obvious ones!):

I do not have many keeper books--but this series has been a keeper for me. Until I loan it out to everyone I know!

Remember, it did not matter whether the answer was right or wrong but I do want to know what you thought of the questions. How did you do on them?

Jen and I are planning to do another trivia game in March to celebrate The Hunger Games movie release. So please come back an play again.