Review: Night Music

Night Music
by Jenn Marie Thorne

Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: March 19th, 2019

NIGHT MUSIC is the story of an unlikely romance set against the backdrop of race, family relations, and music during a summer in New York City. Ruby, the youngest in a family known globally in the classical music scene, has lost the love she once held for the piano and faces a newly uncertain future. The insecurity and jealousy Ruby feels when her father takes young prodigy Oscar under his wing, and into their house, fades into admiration and maybe even love. As Oscar becomes the poster child for a prestigious music school, he must deal with the historically white nature of the industry as unsettling truths come to light. Ruby and Oscar must fight these head on to ensure both her family’s reputation and his future. 

This is a delightful rom-com that tackles real issues, fleshed out enough that it's not just a “trashy” romance novel. The prejudice Oscar faces and expectations others have for him are grounded in the unfortunate truth of modern society and aren’t glossed over to further the plot. Rather, race relations and classism make up a large part of the story and feel integral to the novel as a whole. Ruby feels inadequacy and failure, but she is able to push forward to a degree, a rare presentation of such a storyline being told in a realistic and relatable manner. All the characters have personal flaws that are fleshed out, which is not often seen in this genre.

Review: A Heart in a Body in the World

A Heart in a Body in the World
by Deb Caletti

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 18th, 2018

A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD is a timely and gut-wrenching novel by Deb Caletti that follows high school senior Annabelle on her run across America, as she tries to outrun her grief. Following a personal tragedy in her hometown of Seattle that is slowly revealed as the story progresses, Annabelle, a cross-country runner, sees no other solution than taking a 27,000 mile trek to Washington DC. As she powers through the physical toll, she comes to term with her own emotional trauma.  In doing so, she accidentally becomes the face of a nationwide cause, but only ever intended to run away from the memories of the past that plague her mind. Hers is a raw and passionate cry for justice in a time of Never Again and mental health activism, and leaves behind a strong message. 

I have never so strongly wanted to reach into a book and give a character a hug. I felt like I too was on her emotional journey (but not the actual running part, thank god), and could see her struggle on every page. Caletti tapped into what it feels like to grieve and rage, as well as the inner conflict that comes with wanting to move on, and manifested that into Annabelle. This is a must-read book, but be warned, have a box of tissues ready.

Review: We Regret to Inform You

We Regret to Inform You
by Ariel Kaplan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 21, 2018

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU by Ariel Kaplan is the scariest, most terrifying horror story I've ever read, and it's a contemporary rom-com. Mischa is a perfect student with all the grades, scores, and extracurriculars that should guarantee her a spot at any college she wants. Yet, she experiences every high schooler's worst nightmare when every single college she applied to rejects her, leaving Mischa without a plan. Digging deeper, she finds her applications have been sabotaged. With a growing list of suspects and still no college plan, Mischa fights the clock to discover who did this to her and uncovers a much darker secret. 

As a rising senior, college is one of the most pressing things on my mind, and it was fun to read the worst possible outcome in a humorous way. The writing and characters were consistent and relatable, and although the beginning may have been a bit better than the rest of the book, it was still an enjoyable page turner. Kaplan seemed to have a better grasp on the actual high school experience than most YA authors, which was refreshing and made the story more immersive and realistic. The ending was a bit rushed and I would have loved a more elaborate conclusion. Overall, this was a fun and exciting read that other high schoolers should check out! 

Review: Invisible Ghosts

Invisible Ghosts
by Robyn Schneider

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

INVISIBLE GHOSTS by Robyn Schneider is another cutesy high school romance starring your typical insecure relatable quirky teen and the hot boy who understands her, but this time, with ghosts! Rose spends her school days with girls she doesn't really like and her afternoons watching TV and hanging out with her older brother Logan, who coincidentally, died five years earlier. This has been her life for years, but when her childhood friend (and now a super cute guy) Jamie moves back to town, her world as she knows it changes. As her relationship with Jamie blossoms, she finds that the memory and ghost of Logan is holding her back. 

I loved Schneider's first book and have been eagerly awaiting this one. Though some plot points felt a bit rushed or not fully fleshed out, the concept was fresh and the characters felt real and supportable. This was a perfect combination of both cheesy romance and paranormal mystery, both managing to compliment without overshadowing the other. The story was consistent and believable throughout and never felt overdramatic or unrealistic. I would highly recommend this for high school fans of magical realism or those wanting to dip their toes into the paranormal waters.

Review: The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik

The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
by David Arnold

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 22, 2018

In THE STRANGE FASCINATIONS OF NOAH HYPNOTIK by David Arnold, high schooler Noah Oakman wakes up in a world where everything he knows, with a few exceptions, is slightly different: small changes that seem meaningless but are eerily inexplicable and random. Noah tries to piece together what happened to him by investigating the few things that stayed constant, which he calls his "fascinations". With no explanation as well as problems besides that parallel universe of sorts he has found himself in, Noah does everything he can to bring his life back to the way it once was.

A refreshing and well-written book, Arnold's third book is a delightful piece of realistic fiction with the tiniest hint of sci-fi/magical realism. It has already been optioned by a film studio to be turned into a movie. The intellectual nature of Noah's thoughts and interests, while familiar, was a clean and realistically executed example of the classic "deep, moody, and knowledgeable of a lot of obscure novels and philosophers" trope common to YA main characters. The confusion I felt reading it and trying to understand what was happening perfectly matched Noah's, and was resolved by the end of the story, making this book more of an experience than a passive read. I would highly recommend this to any fans of authors such as A.S King, Lauren Oliver, and John Green.

Review: Emergency Contact

Emergency Contact
by Mary H.K. Choi

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 27, 2018

EMERGENCY CONTACT by Mary H.K. Choi follows Penny Lee’s first year of college in Austin, Texas. An aspiring writer, Penny is excited to finally leave behind her high school years and start fresh in a new environment. Meanwhile, Sam works at a coffee shop and is struggling to get by, much less work towards his dreams of directing movies. Through texts and the dual-perspective aspect of the novel, readers follow the timeline of Penny and Sam’s relationship throughout the novel. 

We found this to be a good, if a tad cluttered, first novel from the author. While Choi’s ambitious attempts to tackle many subject matters were generally successful, they fell flat at others. We would have liked to have see some aspects of the novel developed more, such as Sam’s relationship with his mother and some of Penny’s pre-college experiences. However, Choi did a good job of addressing diversity and it was easy to connect with the two main characters and their natural-feeling relationship. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and we recommend this for people looking for an uplifting story told in a unique way!

*Trigger warning for sexual assault.

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Review: The Place Between Breaths

The Place Between Breaths
by An Na

Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: March 6, 2018

The PLACE BETWEEN BREATHS by An Na explores the impact of schizophrenia on a family. After her schizophrenic mother disappears and likely dies, Grace's father devotes himself to finding a cure for the disease. As an intern in her dad's lab, Grace works at her own personal dream of becoming a scientist, while juggling high school and her best friend's personal dilemma. Without the attention of her father and an absent mother, Grace slowly slips into her own world, succumbing to the disease herself.

I really wanted to like this book, and although it was beautifully written, I was definitely confused for most of it. There were abrupt time shifts back and forth without much explanation or background, and it took me a while to figure out what was happening. Plot lines were started and never finished, and big details were left out. However, the flashback scenes of Grace's childhood with her mother were incredible and raw, provoking real emotion. The book ended a bit abruptly, but it almost felt like all of the faults I found within the book were intentional, invoking the effects of schizophrenia itself. Still, this was a wonderful and quick read and I would highly recommend it!

Review: All We Can Do Is Wait

All We Can Do Is Wait
by Richard Lawson

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: February 6, 2018

ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT by Richard Lawson follows the different perspectives of a group of teenagers in the aftermath of a horrible tragedy. In a hospital waiting room in Boston, five strangers wait to hear news of their loved ones, and find solace in each other. Though taking course over a single night, their diverse pasts are explored, leading to realizations and breakthroughs on behalf of the characters. More than just a disaster story, ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT sheds a light on the effect of the relationships we have with others and the idea of unity in the face of catastrophe.

Lawson brings energy and excitement into each page, yet is able to keep the narrative grounded in reality. Each character is vastly different and allows for a multitude of experiences to be shown, and are all relatable in their own ways. The revelations that occur throughout the story are done in the most realistic and effective ways, creating dimensional portrayals of characters rather than used simply for dramatic effect. However, all the events are merely a backdrop to the connections they create with each other, the real star of the story. I loved this book and the way it conveyed emotions and relationships, and would highly recommend it!

Review: Meet Cute

Meet Cute
edited by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: January 2, 2018

MEET CUTE, a romantic anthology with contributions from top YA authors, tells the stories of 14 different couples, starting and ending at their beginnings. From the classic to the creative, each author takes his or her own spin on the infamous "meet-cute", or the way in which two people meet. A wide range of settings and characters are represented, including sci-fi worlds, typical high school environments, unlikely pairings, and several LGBTQIA+ relationships. The outcomes faced by the couples differ from romantic to sorrowful, as many of the authors are aware of the cheesiness and impossibility of actual meet cutes, and choose not to have a happy ending, which is surprisingly refreshing and grounding. New twists on old tropes make these stories exciting and unique, and there are definitely a few shocks in store.

I really enjoyed this short story collection, and would highly recommend it to any YA reader. There wasn't one story that I didn't like, and they were diverse enough to stay interesting. The only problem I had was with how short some of them were and how abrupt the endings could be, but that was the premise of the collection (in a way) so I was already expecting that to be the case. I'm a big anthology fan in general, and this one was no exception. Even the stories that didn't have the most fairytale type endings were still uplifting, making this a perfect light--yet still meaningful--read.

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down
by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young People
Publication Date: October 10, 2017

John Green has done what I thought was impossible: he has out-John Greened himself. This is TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN in a nutshell: an emotional tale riddled with obscure literary references that only someone who has read an entire library would understand, the quirky best friend(TM), and too many internal monologues to count ...and I loved every second of it. More than just a romance, or a look at teenage friendship, or a coming of age adventure, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN is about personal struggles with mental health and the inescapability of one's own mind. Aza, the main character, tries to live her life and not be controlled by her "thought spirals", but is held back by the very thing only she has control of: herself.

This book was a bit different from some of Green's other books, in that it was less plot based and more based on the internal emotions of the main character, but I think that he was really able to convey true and raw depth of the characters, especially Aza. His own personal experiences with mental health are visible through Aza; her struggles don't seem fake or exaggerated and are grounded in the roots of John Green's own fight. This is not a book to read passively; it demands a deep connection from the reader to actively root for and against the characters, often at the same time. Following the publication of this book, there is likely to be a trend in YA focusing on mental health, as seen in the effect of Green's other books after their releases, yet I doubt any of them will be able to match the caliber and power of TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. There were definitely some problems, don't get me wrong. The freedom of these 16 to 17 year olds to do whatever they wanted is highly implausible, and the lack of any actively responsible parental figures is a bit strange, but these are commonly overlooked in YA fiction, whether it be a misunderstanding of the lives of modern teens or the need to further the plot, but it doesn't have too much of a negative effect on the novel as a whole. I was really impressed at this book overall, and hope that John Green doesn't take as long to write his next one. 

Review: She, Myself, and I

She, Myself, and I
by Emma Young

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

SHE, MYSELF, AND I by Emma Young is a fresh and unique new release that tells the tale of Rosa, a paraplegic who takes part in a new innovative surgery that transplants her brain into the body of a donor. As she struggles to come to terms with who she has become, Rosa becomes obsessed with knowing more about Sylvia, the girl whose body she took. Along with the help of a new romantic interest, Rosa explores the story of the dead stranger who allowed her to live.

This book was such a fun yet intriguing read, and I couldn't put it down. The philosophical debate on what makes a person who they are, and the difference between one's brain, body, and potential soul was such an interesting plot, and I thought about it for days after I finished reading the book. It is not that common for YA books to be so intellectually fascinating, and this theme of what people are at the most basic level was one I don't think I've ever read about before. The characters felt genuine and their struggles realistic, and though the romance aspect was a bit cheesy, it was still a delight to follow. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to see what Young writes next.

Review: Keeping the Beat

Keeping the Beat
by Marie Powell and Jeff Norton

Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: April 4, 2017

KEEPING THE BEAT by Marie Powell and Jeff Norton follows an all girl rock band on their rise to fame that brings them from England to LA, and the path each girl takes once they get there. The hodgepodge group of five girls barely talked at school, but an opportunity on Britain's newest reality show to become a world famous band throws them together into living a SoCal life of nonstop partying and celebrity status. Yet each girl faces their own personal problems that threaten to tear the band apart, and possibly the lives of those around them.

Though the premise seemed a bit cliché, the writing and dialogue was fresh enough to keep it a fun and exciting read. The characters were an interesting take on old tropes and felt well developed and layered. While some of the plot points seemed to be a little out of place and the last few chapters were a bit rushed, it all came together cohesively in a way that kept my attention. Each of the girls brought a unique viewpoint to the story at large and helped tie the book together. I really enjoyed this book as a fun suspenseful read that I would definitely recommend to someone who is looking for the same kind of exciting easy reading experience.

Review: Goodbye Days

Goodbye Days
by Jeff Zentner

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

GOODBYE DAYS, Jeff Zentner's sophomore novel, takes a look at the ramifications of sorrow, loss, and how to move on. Carver, Eli, Blake, and Mars had been thick as thieves since they were barely teenagers; they formed an inseparable group entitled the "Sauce Crew" by the members themselves. Yet, when three of the foursome meet their untimely end the summer before senior year due to a car crash, Carver, the lone survivor, is faced with the blame. Mere moments before the crash, Carver texted Mars, the driver of the car, asking where they were since he was waiting to be picked up by the other three, and that text was found open on Mars's phone at the wreck. Facing a legal battle brought on by the judge father of one of his friends and struggling with his own grief, Carver finds support in his family and what few friends he has left, including the former girlfriend of one of the victims, and tries to make peace with the loss of his friends through a series of memorial "Goodbye Days".

This book was a bit unusual to me; it had a strange mix of beautifully crafted and powerful sentences next to choppy and awkwardly phrased dialogue, but it still managed to get its point across. While I couldn't understand exactly why Carver was being blamed for the accident, rather than Mars who was actually driving the car, his struggle with his losses and mental health felt raw and honest. The goodbye days, while emotional, felt a bit cheesy and unrealistic, but they were the main way that the perspectives and backstories of both the victims and their families was introduced into the story, and for me, that was the best part of the novel. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its dynamic character relationships and fresh take on the classic YA friend/family death trope. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys books like LOOKING FOR ALASKA or 13 REASONS WHY.

Review: #Famous

#Famous
by Jilly Gagnon

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: February 14, 2017

#FAMOUS by Jilly Gagnon is a cute and light foray into the ramifications of accidental internet stardom. After Rachel's picture of Kyle, the hot guy who works at the mall's hotdog stand, goes viral, the two have to figure out how to live their lives while experiencing their 15 seconds of fame, and determine what will stay the same and what's going to have to change. Though it was a bit cheesy and trope-filled at times, the interactions between the characters seemed genuine and realistic. The story flowed smoothly with good laughs and consistent behavior throughout, though there were definitely some stand-out scenes. Like many recent YA books, this novel uses tweets and texts as part of the storyline, and Gagnon really integrated these as into the story cleanly and really added another level of character to the plot all together. If you're looking for a fun and chill read and are a fan of classic high school cheesy romances, I'd definitely recommend this book.

Review: True Letters From A Fictional Life

True Letters From A Fictional Life 
by Kenneth Logan 

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publications Date: June 7th, 2016

Kenneth Logan's first novel, TRUE LETTERS FROM A FICTIONAL LIFE, is an astoundingly genuine story about a teenage boy coming to terms with his own sexuality and its impact on his world. James, a moderately popular jock with a charismatic girlfriend and a seemingly perfect life, struggles with his affections for one of his closest male friends. With no one to turn to James writes letters to him and all the other people in his life to help him process his feelings. Guilt from lying to his girlfriend, friends, and family, and for an injury that happened to one of his peers, James finds a connection with a boy from another school and slowly learns to accept himself, doing his best to ignore what other people think of him.

            
This story is easily one of the most realistic and honest LGBTQ+ coming of age tales in a while, and I felt as though I was a part of James' life. The unbarred descriptions of the conflicting emotions he felt were natural and seemed as though the author had true insight into what James was experiencing. While the story was masterfully told, there was also a rawness and a truthfulness that made it an emotionally captivating account from a shockingly life-like narrator. From the moment I picked it up, I was unable to stop reading until I had finished and by the last page I was crying, not only because of the story, but because it was over. I recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested by this genre and promise that it will be one of your best reads of 2016. I'm thrilled not only by this book, but by the potential this author has and I'm extremely excited to see what he does next.

Review: Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories
Edited by Stephanie Perkins

Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

In SUMMER DAYS AND SUMMER NIGHTS, twelve of YA's biggest stars contributed short summer related romances to this anthology. Wonderfully edited by Stephanie Perkins; a perfectly fitting end of year read as spring slowly turns into summer. Each author brought their own personality and writing style to their story, however the different tones and moods cohesively merged into a fun and easy reading experience with something to offer all readers. No matter what your interests are- cutesy feel-good love stories, fantasy, LGBTQ relationships, horror, grand romantic gestures, futuristic technology, family drama, or sci-fi- you'll be able to find a chapter in here that you'll enjoy. It also allows for the reader to pick and choose what they want to read and skip the stories that don't interest them. The shortness of the stories compared to most novels was actually beneficial, as the plots had to move forward quickly, without the unnecessary backstories and side stories that are often so tiring in other books. I really loved reading this book because I got to both read stories from some of my favorite authors as well as discover some new ones and I never got bored of a story because they were over so quickly. 

Review: The Haters

The Haters 
by Jesse Andrews 

Publisher: Abrams Books
Publication Date: April 5th, 2016

In THE HATERS, Wes, Corey, and Ash are fugitives from band camp and the next big thing (according to no one). Once realizing jazz camp is a total bore, they ditch and hit the road, determined to make it big in their self-named “Haters Summer of Hate Tour”. Follow Wes as he tries to get with Ash (or anyone), Ash as she tries to keep her mysterious rich girl reputation, and Corey as he tries to figure out what the heck is going on. With songs such as "Trees are Eating My Dad Right Now Pt. 1" and a never-ending argument about the name of the band, how long can their tour last before they are caught by the cops and sent home? Andrews offers a fresh take on YA literature in a novel riddled with different writing formats including Wikipedia articles, conversations in script, and a stream of consciousness from the (often immature) perspective of Wes. This was honestly one of the funniest books I've read in a long time and I would highly recommend it!

Review: The Great American Whatever

The Great American Whatever 

By Tim Federle

Publication Date: March 29, 2016 

Publisher: Simon and Shuster Books For Young Readers

Meet Quinn Roberts- the prototypical sarcastic screenwriter teen in the aftermaths of a personal tragedy, desperate to lose his virginity, with a lame social life and an interfering friend. Forced to attend his first college party by said interfering friend, he meets and spends a week with hot college boy Amir, complete with cliché introspection, awkward sexual experiences, failures, and life changing revelations. With no plans for his future, a dead sister, a mourning lethargic mother, and a broken air conditioner, follow Quinn as he attempts to turn his life into the perfect screenplay. What could possibly go wrong?

Federle has brought a new perspective to the classic,self-deprecating viewpoint of an angsty teenager. Quinn's voice rang true throughout this novel, as a relatable character suffering from the same cringe worthy moments and insecurities that we all suffer from. Riddled with funny quips and obscure pop cultural references, this book was a smooth story that finished itself effortlessly. I especially enjoyed how the fact that Quinn was gay was not used as a major plot point or a personality trait.I'd highly recommend this book, especially for fans of David Levithan or John Green.

Review: Hear

Hear by Robin Epstein

Publication Date: December 29, 2015

Publisher: Soho Teen 

Kassandra Black thought her life was over when she got expelled from her high school and the admission to her dream school revoked. With nowhere else to apply and her future in shambles, she must spend the summer working in her mysterious uncle's teen program, H.E.A.R., at Henley University in exchange for acceptance into the school. Turns out, she and her fellow students in H.E.A.R. are handpicked lab rats on her uncle's quest to analyze ESP capacity. Soon, Kassandra realizes that she is doing things with her mind she never thought possible, and she is terrified. If that weren't enough, an ominous mystery, with more questions being asked than answered every day, is taking over the lives of her and the other H.E.A.R.s. With their lives and others in danger every step closer they get to the truth, they must learn to use their gifts and work together in order to survive.

   

In the never ending stream of new books being released, it is rare to find a unique concept, let alone one as well written as this. The story moved along quickly without unnecessary prose, but gave enough details and emotions to add depth to the characters. I really enjoyed how the story focused more on the paranormal and dangerous aspects of their ESP rather than the romantic subplots. I found myself sucked into the story, reading for hours at a time in anticipation for what would happen next. I would highly recommend it for anyone with in interest in sci-fi, paranormal, mystery, action, romance, or fantasy.

Review: A Thousand Pieces of You

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Publication date: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Harper Teen

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU by Claudia Gray is a science fiction romance novel about parallel universes, betrayal, love, and deception. Marguerite's parents are genius scientists, who along with their students Paul and Theo, invented an alternate dimension jumper known as a Firebird. Marguerite's father is murdered and the Firebird and Paul disappear, so it is up to Marguerite and Theo to cross the parallel universes to find Paul, and avenge her father's death. In each new dimension, they must live out the life of their counterparts while trying to hunt Paul down. However, not all is what it seems and Marguerite must find out who to place her trust in or risk getting killed.

When I first started this book, I thought that it was going to be a cliché story. However, after a few chapters, I easily saw how utterly wrong I was. The severe and sudden plot twists completely shocked me and I physically could not bring myself to put the book down. I would have appreciated a bit more foreshadowing throughout, but I still read the entire book in one sitting. The sci-fi tone of the story intertwined perfectly with the historical and futuristic aspects in a smooth and appealing way. I would recommend this book for ages 14 and up for mentions of drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence.