Tag Archives: 2018 books

Book Review: Visions Of Heat by Nalini Singh

Posted in Books, diverse books by

Book: Visions Of Heat by Nalini Singh

Published March 2007 by Berkley Sensation|332 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Psy-Changling #2

Genre: Adult Romance/Paranormal Romance

Hailed as a major new talent in paranormal romance, Nalini Singh takes us deeper into the world of the Psy and the changelings in her latest extraordinary novel, where a gifted woman sees passion in her future – a passion that is absolutely forbidden by her kind…

Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous – aching need…exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.

Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced – and keep her from Vaughn.

I really liked Visions Of Heat!  I especially liked Faith and Vaughn together.  Thought Sasha and Lucas from the previous book aren’t the focus, I do like that we see them in this book, and that we still get their story, even though they aren’t the main couple in this book.

I really like the world, and I’m intrigued with the F-Psy and how isolated they are.  She lives in her own little bubble and I thought it was interesting that she decided to try to get out of it and break free.  I particularly liked seeing Faith outside of the compound she’s lived in for years, and how she begins to adjust to the outside world.

We get more of this world we saw in Slave To Sensation, and I’m curious to see if we’ll see some of the other packs and Psy in the other books.  I’m sure each book will focus on a different couple, if this book and the one before it are any indication.  She really built on the world, and though you don’t need to read the first one to understand what’s going on in this one, I still think the world and characters are good enough that you’ll want to read each one in order!

It did seem more political than Slave To Sensation- Faith is a possibility for an opening on the Council, and it’s pretty much for the control they’d have over her, and because of what she can do.  I think that’s why it’s so interesting that those with abilities like Faith are so isolated.  I mean, they do seem to train them to see certain things, but it’s interesting that they don’t try to control them more.  I don’t know if we’ll see more of the F-Psy in future books (or that we’ll see one as powerful as Faith is supposed to be), but I am curious to learn more about what they can do.

I did like her dad, and he seemed pretty cool, all things considered.  He did seem to care about her, which seemed unexpected, considering how cold and emotionless the Psy are supposed to be.  Maybe they’re not all alike after all.

We do see more of the Silence Protocol, and the NetMind, and I hope we’ll continue to see more of it in the books to come.  I’m sure we will, and while I’m fairly certain each book is going to focus on a different couple, I’m sure we’ll see appearances from Faith, Vaughn, Lucas and Sascha.  I’m very curious to see if the Psy will rebel and change how things are done.

4 stars.  I really liked Visions Of Heat, and I can’t wait to start reading the next one!

Book Review: Lumberjanes, Vol 7: A Bird’s Eye View by Shannon Watters and Lumberjanes, Vol 8: Stone Cold by Shannon Watters

Posted in Books by

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 7: A Bird’s Eye View by Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Noelle Stevenson (Creator), Grace Ellis (Creator), Carey Pietsch (Illustrator), Ayme Sotuyo (Illustrations), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Brooke Allen (Creator)

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Edition #7

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

All Lumberjanes are on deck when the High Council comes to camp for inspection!

The High Council is coming to camp and counselor Jen is determined to make everything perfect, even though a storm is brewing and kittens from the boys’ camp are manifesting magical powers. It’s every Lumberjane on deck as the girls do their best to prep the grounds for inspection . . . but there are some storms no one can prepare for.

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series is a story of friendship, hardcore lady-types, and kicking a lot of butt. Don’t miss out on the continued adventures of the Lumberjanes written by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (Super Cakes) with stories illustrated by Carey Pietsch (Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift) and newcomer Ayme Sotuyo.

Collects issues #25-28.

Volume 7 is cool because 1- crazy kittens and 2- a visit from the Lumberjanes Grand Lodge.  They’re pretty cool, and while we might not see them again, I hope we do.

I mean, these ladies are clearly friends, and have been for a long time.  I can totally see our campers becoming these ladies when they’re older.  I hope that’s their future, because they’re pretty cool, and they have this great friendship.  I love that they have to go rescue the grand lodge, and that Jen wants them to pretend like they’re actually good, and that nothing weird happens.  I feel like the Grand Lodge would totally be okay with the weird goings on.

Can I talk about the magic kittens?  Because THEY’RE KITTENS AND THEY’RE MAGIC!!!!  Sorry, magic kittens are pretty cool.  Especially magic kittens at camp.  They’re pretty cool, and I wouldn’t expect anything else.  I can’t wait to see what happens next, considering how this one ends.  I’m pretty sure that we’ll see that in the next volume, and I’m curious to see where it goes.  It was definitely unexpected, which I think describes Lumberjanes so well.  It’s a good and fun unexpected, though, which makes this series fun.

4 stars.  MAGIC KITTENS!!!  Clearly, I loved the magic kittens, but this has been a fun series to read so far.  I can’t believe I’m almost all caught up, because it means I have to wait for each one to come out.

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 8: Stone Cold by Shannon Watters

Published February 2018 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #8

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

Five best friends at summer camp take friendship to the max when they team up to defeat the strange forces lurking within the surrounding forest.

Excited to have Barney starting their first week at the camp, the Roanokes run over to the Zodiac cabin, only to find everyone turned to stone! Between strange shadows and Diane being back, it looks like April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are going to have their hands full trying to find a cure for their friends . . . as long as they don’t look the wrong thing in the eye first.

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series is a story of friendship, hardcore lady-types, and kicking a lot of butt. Don’t miss out on the continued adventures of the Lumberjanes written by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (Super Cakes) with stories illustrated by Carey Pietsch (Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift).

Here’s the thing.  I’m all caught up on Lumberjanes, at least what’s been collected into the larger volumes.  But…as much as I’m enjoying Lumberjanes, and as much as I really like Lumberjanes, I’m starting to think that reading all of them so quickly, and so close together, worked against it a little bit.  It’s definitely gotten harder to review each volume, to the point where I’m not really sure what to say.

I did like seeing what was going on with Diane, and how the Roanoke cabin tried to get the Zodiac cabin back.  I love how they stuck together to help out a neighboring cabin, and how important this little camping community is to all of the girls.  I liked seeing them work together, and seeing how close all of the girls are has been one of my favorite things about the Lumberjanes.

One thing I do miss seeing is the description of the different badges before each chapter.  We saw it in some of the earlier volumes, where a different badge was featured, and it always seemed to relate to what was going on in that particular chapter.  Now that I think about, we didn’t see it in Volume 7 either.

I know Noelle Stevenson has only been listed as a creator on the last 2 or 3 volumes, and I’m wondering if maybe she was the main one behind it, and if she’s not as involved in the series now as she was before.  I liked it, and I’m a little sad to see it go, but I’m hoping it comes back.

I also liked all of the Greek mythology in this one, and I’m glad that we learn more about Diane and what was going on with her.  I hope she sticks around, because she’s pretty cool.  And I like how friendship is really important in this series.  I really feel like it doesn’t come up as strongly or frequently as it does in this series.

4 stars.  I really liked Volume 8, but I miss seeing all of the different badges the girls can earn while they’re at camp.

Book Review: Lumberjanes, Vol 5: Band Together by Noelle Stevenson And Lumberjanes, Vol 6: Sink Or Swim by Shannon Watters

Posted in Books by

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 5: Band Together by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Grace Ellis, Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published December 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumbejanes Collected Edition #5

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

What gives, two-legs?!

It’s a battle of the bands… with mermaids! April takes it upon herself to restore a friendship that has fallen apart, but will she be in over her head as her above water friendships take a hit? When friendships are challenged, can the Lumberjanes save the day? Don’t miss out on this exciting collection!

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, Runaways), Shannon Watters, and Kat Leyh and illustrated by the tremendously talented Brooke Allen (Home for Mr. Easter) and Carolyn Nowak (Rungs).

I can’t believe I’ve read 5 volumes of the Lumberjanes already!  Volume 5 is my favorite one, I think.  For some reason, I really liked the mermaid battle of the bands, and while I liked seeing the start of camp, it felt out of place.  Like, why wait until volume 5 to show the arrival at camp?  That part, I didn’t particularly like, and it made the timeline a little off.

Still, it was nice to see how they became friends, and maybe we’ll see more of it in the future.  I like that friendship is important to the girls, and while I want to see more of how they became friends, I also am not sure about the flashbacks.  Maybe I’ll feel differently if they come up in the future.  I also think I tend to take their friendships as presented- they’ve always been friends, as far as I’m concerned, but I have mixed feelings about actually seeing it.  Maybe I just wasn’t ready or in the mood for it.  Or maybe it was just unexpected.

Basically, I liked it but it wasn’t something I loved.  It was nice, though.

And you can’t go wrong with mermaids.  I hope we see more of the lake and what’s living in it.  It can’t be just mermaids, and I hope we see more of whatever else is living in the lake.  Considering everything else that’s living near the camp, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there were other creatures in that lake.

4 stars.  I did like (but didn’t love) the flashback of seeing the girls meet each other.  I also loved the mermaid battle of the bands.  It was fun to read!

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 6: Sink Or Swim by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson (Creator), Kat Leyh, Grace Ellis (Creator), Carey Pietsch (Illustrations), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Brooke A Allen (Creator)

Published April 2017 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Edition #6

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

Knot on your life!

All is fair in love and badges! Or so April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley thought until they met the mysterious counselor, Seafarin’ Karen. When the Lumberjanes decide it’s time to learn more about the theatrical yet intriguing counselor, things take a turn for the strange. Between a sudden storm hitting the camp, shapeshifters, and strange portals,
this is one badge that the Lumberjanes must go above and beyond for.

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series is written by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh(Super Cakes) and illustrated by Carey Pietsch (Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift).

Collects issues 21-24.

I liked Seafarin’ Karen!  You can’t go wrong with portals and shapeshifters and mysterious counselors.  Seafarin’ Karen is cool, and while I have the feeling that she’s made her one and only appearance, I hope we see her again someday.

The pirate ship was cool, and pirates are pretty awesome.  I’m just waiting for ninjas to show up.  I’m curious to see what else we’ll see.  Anyway, I liked their adventures at sea.  It’s odd, though, because I don’t have much to say about this volume.  It’s fun, and there are a lot of wacky adventures, which is what I love about this series.  At this point, I just don’t have a lot to say about this one.  Maybe I’ll have more to say about the following books.

4 stars.  I really liked it and it’s fun.  Seafarin’ Kare and the selkies are pretty cool.

Book Review: Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan, and Lumberjanes Vol 4: Out Of Time by Noelle Stevenson

Posted in Books by

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Aubrey Aiesa (Letterer), Brittney Williams (Illustrator), Aimee Fleck (Illustrator), Faith Erin Hicks (Author/Illustrator), Rebecca Tobin (Illustrator), Felicia Choo (Illustrator), T. Zysk (Illustrator)

Published April 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #3

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

IF YOU GOT IT, HAUNT IT!

Trying to take advantage of the first quiet day at camp in a while, Mal and Molly’s date takes a bizarre turn with the appearance of the Bear Woman! Back at camp, Jo, April, and Ripley must stay on their toes as they try and earn every badge possible, which ends up being a lot harder than any of them ever planned.

This New York Times bestselling series continues with Lumberjanes #9, “If You Got It, Haunt It Badge;” #10, “Abscence Make the Heart Grow Fondant Badge;” #11, “Go Ball-istic Badge;” and #12, “Oldie but Goodie Badge.”

The more I read Lumberjanes, the more I like it!  Each girl has their own personality, and you can really see that in the ghost stories they choose to tell.  It wouldn’t be summer camp without ghost stories told around the camp fire!

You also see the girls go off in different directions for a “quiet” day at camp.  No day is quiet with these girls around, and two of our wayward campers have this epic adventure, while the rest of them try to earn badges- unsuccessfully, of course.  I almost forgot about the whole badge aspect of the Lumberjanes, and that they’re actually supposed to be earning badges.  You’d think their adventures would result in earning badges, and learning new skills but I guess it’s hard when the supernatural and weird takes over.

Still, I’d be both surprised and disappointed if they had a normal day at camp.  Even the typical day of activities becomes interesting and I like not knowing what’s going to happen, and what adventures are in store for our Lumberjanes.

We see more of the Bear Woman, and I have the feeling she’s not going anywhere.  I hope we see more of her, and get more of her story.  She seems pretty interesting.

I’m not really sure what else to say about the Lumberjanes.  I liked this one.

4 stars.  I really liked it, especially the ghost stories and how different they were.  I’ll definitely keep reading.

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 4 by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis (Co-Creator), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Aubrey Aiese (Letterer), Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published July 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Edition #4

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

The mystery of history!

Jen just wants a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley the basic survival skills needed without any supernatural intervention. But when a blizzard hits camp, Jen finds herself separated from the girls and in more trouble than ever… until a mysterious taxidermist swoops in to save the day. Who is she and what is her relationship to Rosie? Join Jen as she finds a way back to her girls, and a way to save the day!

This New York Times Bestseller and Eisner Award-Nominated series is written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, ADVENTURE TIME™), and Lumberjanes co-creator Shannon Watters, and illustrated by Brooke Allen (A Home For Mr. Easter).  

The Lumberjanes continues with Volume 4, and it seems pretty standard that while I don’t love it, I still really like it.  It’s fun, of course, and like with every other volume I’ve read, there are some really fun adventures!

It seems like their camp has had quite the history, and I liked seeing one of the campers who’s living in the woods.  It makes me hope that we see more history of the camp, because I have the feeling the weirdness of the forest and the camp isn’t limited to this group of campers.

I really like Jen, and she just wants a normal day at camp, where she teaches the girls survival skills without something weird happening.

So something weird happens…what else but a blizzard is going to happen?  And of course, Jen gets separated from the campers, where she comes across an old camper who just happens to know Rosie and the Bear Woman, and that is where we get some camp history.  I liked it because it put the camp in perspective, and you get the sense that things have really changed.

It makes me wonder what else has happened at the camp, and what else is in the woods.  It’s a strange area, but maybe that’s the whole point.  Maybe there is a reason this camp is located in this place.  Or maybe not but weird things just have a tendency to happen.  Either way, it makes it fun, because I like seeing all of the craziness at this camp.

4 stars.  I really liked it, and I feel like with each volume, we’re learning more about the camp and the campers!

Book Review: Lumberjanes, Vol 1: Beware The Kitten Holy And Vol 2: Friendship To The Max by Noelle Stevenson

Posted in Books by

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 1: Beware The Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke A Allen (Illustrator), Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Brooke Allen (Illustrator), Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Various (Illustrator), Carey Pietsch (Illustrator)

Published April 2015 by BOOM!Box|128 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #1

Genre: YA Fiction/Graphic Novel

FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!

At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together… And they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here. 

Collects Lumberjanes No. 1-4.

I feel like I’ve heard a lot about Lumberjanes, and I really wanted something that wouldn’t take forever to read, so it seemed like time to pick it up.  I’m glad I finally did, because it’s really cute!  I know I’m late to the Lumberjanes bandwagon, and if you haven’t picked it up, you really should!

So, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not, so I only requested the first one from the library.  I ended up liking it so much that I requested the rest of the series from the library.  I kind of wish I had done that in the first place, because right now, I’m wishing I could just read all of the volumes that are out, instead of having to wait to read it.

I didn’t love it, and I think it’s because it seemed so short!  I don’t normally go for graphic novels (I know I’ve read the March series and a couple of the Mouse Guard ones, but that’s about it), and while I really liked the story, the characters and the illustrations, I also felt like I didn’t have enough time to really get into it.  It didn’t seem like enough story, but it does seem like graphic novels are pretty short, so maybe I’m just not that used to it.  I’m much more used to novels, so it’s probably just me, and not actually the book.

I’m torn, because on the one hand, I want to read each one and let it sink in before starting the next one.  But at the same time, I feel like I’ll like it a lot better if I just binge-read them- maybe that will make it easier to get into.

I liked the setting- it’s summer camp for a Girl Scout type organization, and I like that each chapter (or section, whatever you want to call it) has a little introduction about different badges and that at the end of each chapter, you get photographs of the different adventures these girls have.  It definitely has a summer camp feel to it, and I can’t wait to see what hijinks ensue for this group of girls.

I liked the artwork as well.  I liked the colors, and it’s very summer camp.  Not surprising, with that being the setting- there’s a lot of greens and blues and browns, and it all comes together very nicely.

It’s definitely great for middle grade and up, but I think everyone would like it.  Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, it had more of a comic book feel to it instead of a graphic novel, but since I’ve never picked up a comic, I think I just automatically jumped to graphic novel.

I loved the friendships the girls had with each other, and it’s nice seeing them be friends and getting along.  Not that we don’t see it in middle grade and YA, because we do.  There’s just something nice about friendships, where one of them doesn’t leave the others behind for the more popular crowd.  And it’s nice to see a group of friends, instead of a character with, like, one friend.  Maybe it’s just on my mind because I’ve read a few books recently where I’ve encountered a friend making friends with someone in the more popular clique, or books where someone’s trying to figure out what happened to their only friend, who happens to be missing.

Anyway, I didn’t love it, but I did really like it!  I don’t know if I’ll get the strong feelings for this series that everyone else seems to have, but maybe I just need a little more time than everyone else.

4 stars.  I really liked Lumberjanes, and I loved the friendships the campers have with each other.  I just think I need a little more time with Lumberjanes to really get into it.

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 2: Friendship To The Max by Noelle Stevenson (Writer, Creator), Grace Ellis (Writer, Creator), Shannon Watters (Creator), Maarto Laiho (Colorist), Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published October 2015 by BOOM!Box|126 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #2

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

What a mystery!

Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are not your average campers and Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types is not your average summer camp. Between the river monsters, magic, and the art of friendship bracelets, this summer is only just beginning. Join the Lumberjanes as they take on raptors and a sibling rivalry that only myths are made of.

This New York Times bestseller and Eisner Award-nominated series is written by awesome all-star Noelle Stevenson and brilliant newcomer Grace Ellis, and illustrated by the tremendously talented Brooke Allen.

Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max includes issues 5-8 and the first fourteen pages of Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison.

I really liked The Lumberjanes so far!  It’s really cute, and I love the friendships between all of the girls.  There are a lot of hijinks and shenanigans, and it was a fun volume to read.

I did enjoy it more than the first volume, and I think it’s because I was more into the story and the characters.  Some characters, we see more than others, and while I’m not sure who is who, this group of campers definitely seem to find trouble.  I liked seeing Jen, and she has her hands full with this group.  I am getting used to the characters, and they all have their own personalities.  I’m sure I’ll get to know them more in the volumes to come.

I am glad we learn what was going on the first volume.  The craziness makes a lot more sense now than it did in the first volume, and I’m glad it was explained.  Considering how things seem to go for these campers, it’s not surprising that weird and crazy seems to follow them.  Things are calm and peaceful one minute, and the next…something bizarre happens.  It makes it fun, because you never know what’s going to happen next, but at the same time, the story doesn’t exactly seem…coherent.  It works, though, and I’m starting to like how calm things are one minute before they veer off into something weird.

I also like that each chapter is a different badge.  It does connect, and it makes it seem more Girl Scout-type summer camp.  I love the polaroid pictures at the end of each chapter, and those have a scrapbook feel to them.  Overall, I love that’s a field guide sort of format, and sometimes, it seems like each adventure the girls have is a different chapter in the field guide.

The campers are such good friends, and I really like that about Lumberjanes.  Things aren’t always perfect, but they are there for each other, and they know they can rely on the other girls to help them out.  It’s weird how little you see awesome friendships in YA (at least in my experience, but maybe it’s because I tend to gravitate towards things with at least a little romance in them), but it’s fun to see friends having adventures and good times.

The setting is perfect for all the weird things that happen, and there are a lot of possibilities.  It’ll be fun to see what else these campers have to deal with.

4 stars.  I didn’t love it, but I still really enjoyed Lumberjanes, Vol 2  I think it’ll keep getting better as it goes on.

Book Review: Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Posted in Books by

Book: Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Published May 2013 by Little, Brown Books For Young Readers|284 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: None

Genre: YA Contemporary

Ashleigh’s boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he’ll forget about her while he’s away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh’s friends suggest she text him a picture of herself — sans swimsuit — to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits “send.”

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone — until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he’s the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh’s photo — and didn’t look. 

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn’t always tell the whole story. 

I wanted to love this book, I really did.  I’ve read a few of her books, but none has lived up to the expectations that Hate List set when I read it years ago.

I do like that Brown tackles serious topics- everything from school shootings to abusive relationships to sexting.  I appreciate what Brown is trying to do, and you see how much backlash there is for what Ashleigh did.  I really came to hate Kaleb, and how he wasn’t really sorry for what he did.  At least, he didn’t seem truly sorry, and only seemed to care because of how it might affect his future.  You see the consequences of one action (for both of them), and it seems like Ashleigh bears the brunt of it, which is unfair.

She wants to fit in, and she really changes a lot.  I didn’t particularly care about past Ashley (she seemed boring and whiny, in my opinion) but present Ashley is a lot more interesting.  I’m not sure why, but the jumping around in time didn’t particularly work for me, and I felt more disconnected from it than I thought I would.  It’s like, I like the concept of her books, and on the surface, they seem like books I’d love, but in reality, I’m not as interested in them as I think I’m going to be.

That being said, I think her books are worth checking out if you like books that deal with issues teens night be dealing with today.  While I didn’t feel anything during (or after) reading this book, I can see why people really like it.  I just wish it were for me.

2 stars.  Thousand Words wasn’t for me, but I can see why people like it.  I wish it had something more, but I can’t really identify what was missing.

Book Review: The Start Of Me And You by Emery Lord

Posted in Books by

Book: The Start Of Me And You by Emery Lord

Published March 2015 by Bloomsbury|376 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: The Start Of Me And You #1

Genre: YA Contemporary

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live? 

Emery Lord is becoming one of those who I absolutely love.  I wish she had more books I could read, because her books always leave me feeling like a sobbing mess curled up in bed.  I remember when I used to feel this way about books all the time (as in, the first few years of the blog), and I wish I felt more like this with the books I read.

So, this one, I wasn’t sure about initially, and I really liked Paige.  At first, I was irritated with the label of having a dead boyfriend, and people seeing her differently.  For a guy she was only dating for a couple of months when it happened, it seemed to be this big huge thing that happened in her life, and I didn’t quite get it.  I wish we had seen more of her time with him, because I has having a hard time caring.

I’m glad she had quiz bowl, and that she was determined to have a plan to get everything back to normal.  I’m glad I stuck with it, because by the end, I ended up loving it.

One of the things that really struck me was her relationship with her grandma.  For some reason, it made me think of my grandma, and how much I really miss her.  That sobbing mess I was by the end of the book?  It’s totally because of everything that happened with her grandma.  I don’t know why, but Lord’s books just wreck me, and while I wasn’t sure about it at first, I’m glad I stuck with it.  She won me over, and I don’t know why I doubted that I would end up loving it.

I also loved her friends, and there was something really cool about their friendship.  Lord does friendships and feels and love so well, and this book was no exception.  All of the girls are so different, but I’m glad Paige had great friends and I liked how they were there for each other.  They are all very lucky to have each other.

5 stars.  I loved The Start Of Me And You, and I can’t wait to read the next book.  If you want a sweet, cute contemporary with cool friendships, this is the book to read.

Book Review: Likel1k3 by Jay Kristoff

Posted in Books by

Book: Likel1k3 by Jay Kristoff

Published May 2018 by Knopf Books For Young Readers|402 pages

Where I Got It: I own the hardcover

Series: Likelike #1

Genre: YA Sci Fi

On a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.

Eve isn’t looking for secrets—she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she’s just spent six months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, and the only thing keeping her Grandpa from the grave was the fistful of credits she just lost to the bookies. To top it off, she’s discovered she can destroy electronics with the power of her mind, and the puritanical Brotherhood are building a coffin her size. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it.

But when Eve discovers the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls home, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic conscience, Cricket, in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, infiltrate towering megacities and scour the graveyard of humanity’s greatest folly to save the ones Eve loves, and learn the dark secrets of her past.

Even if those secrets were better off staying buried.

I’m not sure what to think about Likelike.  I read this one because it was this month’s book club pick, and I get why people like Jay Kristoff.  I don’t know that I would have picked up Likelike if it were not for book club, but it’s different.

At first, I had a hard time getting into.  Partly because of the…terminology I guess.  It’s my least favorite thing about sci-fi, and I generally don’t read a lot of sci-fi focusing on robots.  Not only that, but I had a hard time keeping up with who was who, and I had to read the first few chapters a few times just to figure out who the characters were and what was going on, because I wasn’t getting it.  It could have been me, it could have been the book, but that is neither here nor there.

It also felt painfully slow, and the memories that Eve had were kind of disjarring.  I mean, you knew she was remembering things, and there are some secrets that should have stayed secret.  This is a dark book, and it is definitely not for everyone.  I don’t know if his books are ones I would like- there were things I really liked about this one, but I also don’t know what to think about it.  Between this one and Illuminae, which I couldn’t finish because the formatting drove me up a wall, I don’t think I’ll seek out one of his books.  I’d give it a try if it were for book club, maybe, but on my own?  Probably not.

I liked the plot twist (as obvious as it was), and I like the premise of the story.  I liked the world that Eve lived in, and it’s a futuristic wasteland.  I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it, and it is different than a lot of the other sci-fi I’ve read.  It stands out, and in a good way.  If you’re looking for something unique and that doesn’t shy away from the dark side, this is the book for you.  There is no happy ending, but I’m oddly fine with that.  I had the feeling it wouldn’t have a happy ending, and it seems like happy endings are not his thing.

Also, I don’t read a lot of sci-fi.  Well, something so strongly sci-fi.  Set in space, yes.  Dystopia, definitely yes.  Maybe sci-fi that’s not super-technical, but something like this?  Usually not.  Maybe it’s just not my thing.

Anyway, I did like the world he built.  It’s vivid, and I could picture things so clearly.  Honestly, while I’m not sure what to think about this book in book form, I’d probably watch the hell out of a movie or tv show based on Lifelike.  I’m pretty sure it would be interesting to watch, and all of a sudden, I’m thinking that this is one of those books that I’d like far better on screen than in print.  Or maybe, I’d like it better as an audio book, but I’m not sure if that’s something I’m interested in doing.

I feel like I’m making no sense at all with this review.  My thoughts are all over this place for this one, and I can’t seem to get them organized.  Or in a way that’s cohesive and makes sense.  I think it’s time to move on, because I have no idea where I’m going with this.

My Rating:  So, I’m not actually going to rate this one.  Well, not yet.  I have no idea what to rate it because I have no idea how I really feel about it.  So for now, Likelike gets no rating.

Audio Book Review: Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel, Narrated by Full Cast

Posted in Audiobooks, Books by

Book: Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel, Narrated by Full Cast

Published April 2016 by Random House Audio|Length: 8 hours, 28 minutes

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Themis Files #1

Genre: Adult Sci-Fi

An inventive debut in the tradition of World War Z and The Martian, told in interviews, journal entries, transcripts, and news articles, Sleeping Giants is a literary thriller fueled by a quest for truth – and a fight for control of earthshaking power.

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved – its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top-secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery – and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

I really liked Sleeping Giants!  It was one of those books I tried reading ages ago, before realizing I’d like it a lot better as an audio book.  I’m glad I switched to the audio, because I really liked the audio book.

I think the comparison to World War Z and The Martian is actually a pretty good one.  The interviews and such we see in Sleeping Giant did make me think of World War Z and The Martian, and I think the fact that it’s told through interviews translated really well to audio.  And why I struggled with it when I tried reading it in print.

I really liked seeing all of the people involved in trying to figure out the giants.  It’s definitely a mystery, and I feel like you really get to know the characters.  Because of how the story is told, you don’t get the inner thoughts of the character, and you do see things from a distance, but even then, I still felt like I got to know the characters and what they wanted.  Even the interviewer, and he somehow seemed more anonymous, which meant I was more intrigued with him than with anyone else.

There is a lot of backstory that we don’t get.  There are all of these different files, but some are skipped over- we’ll go from, say, File #12 to File #23.  It means there’s a lot that we don’t get, and I’m wondering if we’ll get more in the books to come.

I also really liked the idea of the novel.  I mean, a giant hand is discovered and they’re trying to figure out what it means, and how it got buried on earth?  What’s not to like?  I just want to know what it all means.  I guess I’ll have to listen to book 2 to find out.

As for the narration, I really liked it!  World War Z is the only book I’ve listened to that had a full cast, and wasn’t narrated by 1 or 2 people.  I liked that it had multiple narrators, because it really made each person distinct.  I mean, I wasn’t completely paying attention to who was who, but I did like all of the narrators, and thought that they each had their own voice and personality.

4 stars.  I really liked Sleeping Giants, and I especially liked it as an audio book.  I know certain files were skipped over, and I kind of wish that we knew what happened in those gaps, and that we knew more about the mysterious interviewer.  But overall, it’s a pretty interesting story.

Book Review: Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

Posted in Books, diverse books by

Book: Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

Published February 2018 by Counterpoint|143 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: None

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction/Memoir

Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman’s coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder; Terese Marie Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma. The triumphant result is Heart Berries, a memorial for Mailhot’s mother, a social worker and activist who had a thing for prisoners; a story of reconciliation with her father―an abusive drunk and a brilliant artist―who was murdered under mysterious circumstances; and an elegy on how difficult it is to love someone while dragging the long shadows of shame.

Mailhot trusts the reader to understand that memory isn’t exact, but melded to imagination, pain, and what we can bring ourselves to accept. Her unique and at times unsettling voice graphically illustrates her mental state. As she writes, she discovers her own true voice, seizes control of her story, and, in so doing, reestablishes her connection to her family, to her people, and to her place in the world.

This is one of those books that seem really popular, in the sense that everyone is reading it, so I figured I’d read it and see why people love it so much.

So, I wanted to love it, but it was just okay for me.

A big part of it is both the length and the writing style.  I wasn’t expecting it to be so short.  It’s not even 150 pages, and that’s including the Q & A at the end, plus a forward at the beginning.  It’s not long at all, and I think that’s why I finished it, because I really struggled with her writing style.

It felt like I was reading diary entries or her notebook, and her memoir felt really disjointed and all over the place.  Stream-of-consciousness is what comes to mind, and so Mailhot jumps around in time and place.  It is one of those books you really have to pay attention to, otherwise you’ll miss something.  Not only that, but it felt like I was reading a collection of essays.

It’s not completely Mailhot’s fault, since I went into this book expecting a more traditionally written memoir.  I also felt like I was reading the same thing over and over- it felt like each chapter involved Mailhot pining after someone, while lamenting over having one child, while her other child was taken away from her.  There didn’t seem to be any resolution or movement, and I think, what it comes down to, is that I was expecting something very different than what this memoir contained.  I also thought the usage of the word you throughout the book made me feel like I was watching things from a distance, and I had a hard time connecting with her.  I had a hard time keeping up with her thought process, since it does meander around quite a bit.

It’s a shame, since there were a few sentences that were absolutely beautiful and poetic.  I wanted to like it, I really did.  And I tried so hard to like it, but I just didn’t have it in me.  I can see why so many people love it, and I really do think that the reasons why people love it are the reasons I didn’t, but not every book is going to be for every person.  This clearly wasn’t the book for me, but I am glad that it is a book that works for so many other people.

2 stars.  Heart Berries was just okay, and I was definitely expecting a more traditional memoir.  Even though it wasn’t for me, I can see why so many people think it’s a great read.