Review: Scythe

Scythe
by Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: November 22nd, 2016

Scythe, by Neal Shusterman is a creative and unique story about compassion. Two young teenagers, Citra and Rowan must compete to be part of an organization that maintains the population number regularly in a world where humanity is in control of everything. Neal Shusterman creates this beautiful relationship between the art of killing, Citra and Rowan. As an overall creative book, I would recommend this to anyone who likes scientific fiction and a little bit of young romance.

                                                          

Review: We Are the Wildcats

We Are the Wildcats
by Siobhan Vivian

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 31st, 2020

For every gal out there looking for her next girl-power novel, your search is over! Everything you desire can be found in Siobhan Vivian’s We are the Wildcats. This story, told from six unique perspectives, unfolds over the course of one night, following the trials and truths of an all-girls field hockey team. Siobhan Vivian takes the best aspects of every book you’ve ever read- the drama, the friendships, the secrets, the complex backstories created for numerous interesting characters- and combines them into one amazing novel. This story proved itself incapable of ever being boring, as I was constantly flipping eagerly to the next page, dying to see what would come next. Once you start reading, you won’t regret it, I promise                                                                      

Review: The Red Scrolls of Magic

The Red Scrolls of Magic
by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: April 9, 2019

Set between the events of CITY OF GLASS and CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS, THE RED SCROLLS OF MAGIC follows the warlock Magnus Bane and his Shadowhunter boyfriend Alec Lightwood through their trip across Europe. Finally together despite the odds, all Magnus wants is to treat Alec to the vacation he deserves. But when rumors begin to circulate that Magnus founded the demon-worshipping cult the Crimson Hand, Magnus and Alec must leave their vacation behind to track down the cult before they can cause any damage. As demons follow their every step and deadly secrets are revealed, both Magnus and Alec must find a way to dismantle the cult before they destroy the world—and their relationship—for good.

I can’t think of a single thing that I did not like about this book. Starting with the obvious, this book was a welcome return to one of The Mortal Instruments’ power couples, Magnus and Alec. After the original series ended, many readers assumed that CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE would be the last we saw of the two of them together, but this book proves that wrong. Giving each of the boys their own point of view, the authors make sure to not only continue with what the original story has created, but to also reestablish their relationship and character traits in a way that doesn’t jolt readers who haven’t picked up the series for a while. One of the main ways the authors did this was by providing enough details to keep readers unconfused while recharacterizing both Magnus and Alec through various quirks in their internal dialogue, and by having them do/say certain things. I really appreciated this as I myself haven’t read any of the The Mortal Instruments books in a while and was afraid that I would be confused. But through the authors’ recharacterization and description, they avoided any confusion that a reader could possibly have.

THE RED SCROLLS OF MAGIC also marked the return of one of my favorite things about Clare’s writing: her plot. Paced not too fast and not too slow, I loved how Clare and Chu included just the right amount of fun and seriousness to make this book shine. What I mean by this is that books often contain a multitude of jokes to keep with the lightheadedness of some of their characters. But what often happens with this is the author can get too heavy-handed with the jokes and the book can lose its seriousness. I’ve seen this happen many times, and yet never has this happened in any of Clare’s work. Though she does have a lovable cast of always joking characters, the most obvious in this book being Magnus Bane, she still masterfully creates an atmosphere of tense joking throughout the book. Readers will be impressed with how she manages to maintain this through her serious plot to keep readers both invested in the action and mystery of the book, but not bored from lack of fun.

Overall, THE RED SCROLLS OF MAGIC is a book that no Shadowhunter Chronicles fan should miss out on. THE RED SCROLLS OF MAGIC will keep fans both old and new entertained for hours on end.

Review: Sky Without Stars

Sky Without Stars
by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 26, 2019

Set on the planet Laterre, SKY WITHOUT STARS explores the world as revolution begins to spark, in a very “Les Mis in space” way. But whether it was the breathtaking setting, or the deep phenomenal writing, I couldn’t get enough. Although the book does fall into some of the same YA cliches that could hurt a book like this, the interesting direction it takes left me surprised and hungry for more. Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Review: The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried

The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried
by Shaun David Hutchinson

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 19, 2019

Shaun David Hutchinson’s newest novel, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED, is a stunning portrait of friendship and love in the face of loss. There are many things that can be said about this novel, but one thing you cannot say is that it is a young adult trope. In an age where it feels every YA book has the same plot, this novel is a delightful exception. A young adult, aptly named Dino, is working at his family’s funeral home when his ex-best friend July, who died, suddenly comes back to life in front of him. In a whirlwind of a night, Dino and July must come to terms with their hatred of each other and learn to value the important things in life.

This was the first Hutchinson book I’ve read, and upon finishing it, I immediately went searching for another book of his to read. He has an inexplicable talent for storytelling and not for a second did I want to put this book down. It was a thrilling read that kept me interested throughout while expanding on the relationship between Dino and July in a fascinating manner. Hutchinson writes with such emotional precision that I never doubt for a second that the characters are real, despite the unlikelihood of someone rising from the dead. In the end, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED is a wonderful book with a wildly original concept that is a must-read for lovers of young adult fiction.

Review: The Cold Is In Her Bones

The Cold Is in Her Bones
by Peternelle van Arsdale

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: January 22, 2019

Her whole life, Milla has lived in constant fear of demons who are very much real. Confined to her family’s farm and only ever seeing her parents and brother, Milla is surprised when a girl named Iris arrives on her doorstep. At first, Milla believes that this is her chance to live a new life. But when Iris shares the secret that the village is cursed by a demon who possesses girls at random, and that the demon has now come for Iris, her chances are ripped away. When Iris is captured and imprisoned with other possessed girls, Milla must rescue her and break the curse forever. But Milla now has a secret of her own: she is changing, and may soon become a demon too.

Uniquely written and bursting with beautiful prose, THE COLD IS IN HER BONES is unlike most young adult books that I have read. Right from the beginning of the book, the author’s unique writing style is apparent. This is seen most clearly in the atmosphere that van Arsdale has established throughout the book. Dark and brooding, it astonishes me that an author could write in a way that so obviously carries a book’s mood. In most young adult books, a dark atmosphere can only be seen at pivotal moments. But in THE COLD IS IN HER BONES, van Arsdale tries her best to keep it constant, making sure that her tone isn’t annoying or overdone, but careful and well thought out.

One of the things that contributed the most to this is the mythology behind the story. Quickly established within the first sixteen pages, it begins with the tale of a plucky girl who doesn’t seem to live by anyone’s rules but her own. But as things go when demons are involved, her world is shattered in a way that ruins her, establishing the Medusa retelling that the author continues with throughout the book. Readers will find this little prologue to be the perfect foreshadowing as it establishes the ways of the village people and their values right off the bat without seeming forced. But what it also does is introduce the book’s sense of evil while giving another side to it. From one perspective, the demons are evil, and from another they are wondrous. This is a theme that van Arsdale continues with throughout Milla’s story, something which I enjoyed because most books are written in black and white while this one is written in a multitude of colors.

Another thing that I enjoyed about this book were the characters. Unlike the characters that YA fantasy books typically feature, the characters in THE COLD IS IN HER BONES seem very realistic both in their behavior and characteristics. The clearest example of this are the knots that both Milla and the girl in the prologue have in their hair. Most female characters don’t have knots in their hair and if they do it isn’t as big of a deal as it is in THE COLD IS IN HER BONES. And though this might just seem like a simple quirk that the author wanted to include, readers will come to realize the symbolism behind the knots, and the value the community places in smooth hair. And yet Milla doesn’t mind them. Continuously throughout the book we get to explore more of the tomboyish Milla and her unique ways. What is so special about this is that van Arsdale utilizes parts of her characters that might have been forgotten or ignored in another book, and packs them with hidden symbolism and meaning. I thought that this made her book that much more distinct from other YA.

But van Arsdale doesn’t only limit her abilities to the main character. Side characters are one-of-a-kind like this too. One example is Milla’s brother Niklas. Both caring and devious at the same time, Niklas perfectly captures what it means to be a brother. The author was able to communicate all the true and utterly accurate mannerisms of a brother. From changing from teasing to supportive in a matter of minutes to being a friend unlike any other, I was taken aback by how the author wrote his character. I also thought it was interesting how the author captured what it means to be a sister through Milla’s character. In her family she is both loved and held at second rank to her brother. She both loves him and hates him. In many YA books this isn’t the case, as characters usually make up their mind about someone and stick with their original judgment throughout the book. But it is clear that van Arsdale didn’t want THE COLD IS IN HER BONES to be just another YA book.

If you’re looking to read a fresh take on a classic myth while desiring to discover a new side of YA, THE COLD IS IN HER BONES is the book for you. Filled with lush storytelling, nuanced characters and deep meaning, THE COLD IS IN HER BONES is a book that demands to be read.

Review: Dry

Dry
by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2018

DRY, by father and son Neal and Jarrod Shusterman, portrays an apocalyptic society where in one day water becomes a scarcity and people will do anything to stay alive. When the Tap-Out leaves Alyssa’s family and all of California without a water source, her parents set out to receive water from organized stations along the west coast. When they don’t return, she and her brother end up banding together with her geeky next door neighbor to try and find her parents and survive. As events escalate and it becomes harder and harder to stay alive, people begin to lose sense of societal morality as their need for water becomes more and more desperate. While bleak and frustrating at times, the Shustermans paint a vivid picture of hope in a sea of disparity. 

I really enjoyed this novel although not in the way I had expected. Alyssa’s story is at times excruciating-- it’s rife with false hope, deceit, and of course torture in the form of dehydration. In times of crisis, the worst is brought out in much of society. However, Alyssa and her crew, while at times dysfunctional, stick together through thick and thin despite the extreme situations they must endure. While the characters are well fleshed-out and complex, DRY imagines a vivid nightmare, which more than the characters, takes on a life of its own. Considering the reality that much of California remains in a drought, this conflict hits close to home. In between chapters, different perspectives from victims of the Tap-Out described how the Tap-Out had reached and destroyed many lives. Each person dealt with their own desperation in different and often heartbreaking ways. The effect of these interludes was a sense of realism that in other books you don’t feel as much. Instead of Alyssa and her gang facing an isolated problem, the reader sees how, while they persevere, much of California loses hope. I found this story touching, terrifying, thrilling and ultimately hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys excitement and adrenaline-filled books.

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: Finding Felicity

Finding Felicity
by Stacey Kade

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 20, 2018

Caroline Sands has never had a friend. She’s had people she could chat with and people she was friendly with, but has yet to find anyone who could register higher than a distant acquaintance. When her stressed-out single mother began to worry for the state of her social life, Caroline made up friends for herself, stealing their names from characters out of the old 90s T.V. show Felicity. Now she’s moving halfway across the country to college. It’s an opportunity to transform herself into the outgoing, popular person she’s always wished she could be.

FINDING FELICITY is a refreshing take on the coming of age trope. Like most YA novels, there’s angst, interfering parents, and A Boy, but the book doesn’t quite follow the predictable course I figured it would at the beginning. It’s an interesting look at loneliness and isolation in the two places where friends are a hugely important part of your life—high school and college. Introverts will relate to Caroline’s struggle to navigate social dynamics. Ultimately, FINDING FELICITY is a sweet, mostly light-hearted book on friendship and belonging.

Review: This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil
by Emily Suvada

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 7, 2017

THIS MORTAL COIL by Emily Suvada explores a futuristic world in which gene hacking allows people to change their DNA. A global outbreak of a plague that kills most of the population leaves teenager Catarina Agatta alone with her father, Dr. Lachlan Agatta. After Lachlan is killed while creating a vaccine for the disease, Catarina is recruited to figure out how to release it.

This was the first science fiction novel I have read in a long time, and it reminded me why I love the genre. The intersection between coding and DNA in this book gives it a fresh premise and prompts thought about human nature and technology in our own world. Suvada found a balance between explaining the science-related aspects of the story so that it was realistic, while not getting bogged down with an overwhelming amount of detail. Though the book itself is fairly long, the story is filled with plot twists(!) and action to keep it moving. The title’s reference to HAMLET was also appreciated and added another layer to my reading of the novel. However, teens will enjoy THIS MORTAL COIL, regardless of their HAMLET knowledge. 

Review: Such a Good Girl

Such a Good Girl
by Amanda K. Morgan

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: June 20, 2017

SUCH A GOOD GIRL by Amanda K. Morgan is about a high school senior named Riley Stone. She is perfect. Riley gets straight A's and has never done anything bad in her life. She accidentally falls in love with her French teacher and she suspects he loves her back. The decision they will have to make will change their lives forever. She has to figure out the best course of action. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was very interesting and it was set up nicely. The book was concise. There is a really crazy and surprising ending.

Review: Deep Water

Deep Water
by Katherine Nichols

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: May 2, 2017

Based on a true story, DEEP WATER depicts the drug smuggling journey of Eddie Otero over the span of about ten years. Eddie starts his operation by swimming across the ocean, eventually moving up to trucks and boats loaded with millions of dollars of marijuana. Eddie and his friends from school and work escalate from a two-man team in Coronado to an international smuggling operation. The main story is sporadically interrupted by interludes of the police trying to catch them, but not in a way that creates two major storylines. The police are like a secondary story that runs parallel to, but does not overwhelm, the main plot.

I really liked this book, and found it very interesting, especially because it really happened. Every few chapters cover one to three years, which helps portray the amount of time passed very well. This book is very gripping and usually builds great suspense right before, during, and right after each shipment. I found it interesting how the dynamics of the group worked, how they interacted with larger drug lords, and why they continued their illegal business.

Review: Alex, Approximately

Alex Approximately
by Jenn Bennett

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 4, 2017

ALEX, APPROXIMATELY by Jenn Bennett is about an east coast teenage girl who moves to Los Angeles and has to navigate her parents' divorce, getting her first job, and of course, love. When she lived in Washington, her life was simple and she started to develop a storybook romance with Alex, her online boyfriend. But when she moves across the country to meet him for the first time she falls for Porter, a risk taking surfer. Who will she choose? Or is there even a decision to make... I thought this book was very well written, playful, and definitely a page turner. If you're into rom-com's and books about teens this is for you.

Review: Confessions of a High School Disaster

Confessions of a High School Disaster
by Emma Chastain

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

Adjusting to high school can be hard... Especially when you fall in love with a senior who has a seemingly flawless girlfriend, have parents who are splitting up but can't admit it, and are the lead in the school musical. CONFESSIONS OF A HIGH SCHOOL DISASTER by Emma Chastain is told by Chloe, a lovable but flawed high school student. Throughout this witty, hilarious diary of an ordinary teenager, we follow her as she navigates friendship, the role of family, and most difficultly, love. I thought it was very interesting for the book to be written from her perspective as a diary so we get to see her life day by day, without one detail missing. This book was very well written.

Review: The You I've Never Known

The You I've Never Known
by Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: January 24, 2017

THE YOU I'VE NEVER KNOWN by Ellen Hopkins is a narrative told in both poetry and prose that is primarily centered on truth and self-expression. Ariel Pearson lives under the authoritative, sometimes abusive rule of her father. Throughout the novel, Ariel struggles to define her sexuality and individuality, telling her story through poetry symbolic of whomever influences her life the most at a certain moment. Although the metaphors are sometimes a bit cliched, I personally really enjoyed the poetry format. Additionally, the story of Maya McCabe, an impregnated teenager seeking comfort and reassurance in the arms of an older man, occasionally enters the story, though her role is unclear until the end of the book. This book was insightfully written and had enough light moments to keep the overall mood from being too dark. That being said, I would caution readers that there are references to sex, drugs, and violence in this novel, though they primarily take place off-screen.

Review: Avalanche

Avalanche
by Melinda Braun

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 29, 2016


AVALANCHE by Melinda Braun was an intriguing and exciting book about a boy named Matt and his best friend who go on a skiing trip in the Rocky Mountains. All seems fairly normal until an avalanche hits them, and they are stranded. The book covers Matt's journey and fight against the elements for survival. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its unique and realistic suspense. The tragedies that occur and the triumphs that happen leave the reader without a chance to predict what will happen next. I would recommend this book to slightly older people because of the darker plot, and the use of some poor language. However, the book kept me excited the whole time, and its realism kept me on edge throughout.

Review: Fate of Flames

Fate of Flames
by Sarah Raughley

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 22, 2016

When I first started reading FATE OF FLAMES, I was skeptical. When looking at it, the cover and (to be perfectly honest) the name just screamed, “HEY! YOU! THIS IS ONE OF THOSE NOT VERY GOOD PERCY JACKSON-ESQUE BOOKS.” But when I started reading the book, I found that I couldn’t stop.

With its great characters, amazing concept, and excellent writing, the author, Sarah Raughley, creates a whole new (but scarily realistic) world filled to the brim with monsters, magic, and just the right amount of butt-kicking action.

Another thing that I found so attractive about the book is its realism, because it truly brings to light how transitioning from a normal life to killing monsters with magical powers would not only not be instant, but also in some aspects psychologically difficult.

This can be seen in all the “Effigies” in the book, with (to not mention any names) one running from the action, to others who have been alluded to have become alcoholics. Others like the main character, Maia, are at first terrified of fighting against Phantoms, the monsters that leave trails of destruction, wherever they appear.

In summary, this book left me hungering for more, which luckily seems to be coming with FATE OF FLAMES being only the first book in the Effigies series. So without further ado, I wholeheartedly recommend you read FATE OF FLAMES by Sarah Raughley.

Review: Scythe

Scythe
by Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 22, 2016


Citra and Rowan live in a world that has conquered hungry, disease, war, poverty and, most importantly, death. Humans are immortal. However, with the population constantly rising, Scythes are the only ones allowed and obligated to take lives. After mysterious encounters with a scythe, Citra and Rowan become a scythe’s apprentice-a job neither of them wants. But after their mentor’s mysterious death, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another and must learn to become effective killers to stay alive.

Don’t be fooled, SCYTHE is not your classic YA dystopian novel. This book is an action-packed, thought-stimulating and intriguing story with a small--and I mean very small--dash of romance. Shusterman tackles the notion of mortality, immortality and suicide with surprising grace and has his audience contemplating whether or not they actually want to live forever. The characters themselves are relatable and complex, especially Citra and Rowan. These two characters connect tremendously to YA readers because, despite being confused teenagers, they are forced to make life-altering decisions and grow up early. Teenagers in high school can relate to that sort of pressure with college applications looming over their heads. Overall, SCYTHE is the perfect read for both boys and girls looking for an out of the box dystopian.

Review: Boy Robot

Boy Robot
by Simon Curtis

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 15, 2016


Although the main characters are robots with special powers, BOY ROBOT is really a book about finding one’s identity. It’s a book packed with drama and action but, more importantly, it forces the reader to think about powerful ideas such as self identity, trust, and what it truly means to be human. One will not forget the relatability of the main character, Isaak, nor the conflicts that he faces as the book progresses; plus, did I mention that the action and sci-fi sequences were, for lack of a better word, AWESOME.

The author’s writing style was enjoyable, with the viewpoint of the book changing between its interesting cast of characters every couple of chapters. This left me hungry for more, and completely surprised that this is Simon Curtis’ first novel. I would highly recommend BOY ROBOT to any lovers of sci-fi, or to anyone who just wants a great book to read.

Review: The Diabolic

The Diabolic
by S. J. Kincaid

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 1, 2016

In the dystopian novel THE DIABOLIC, by S.J. Kincaid, Nemesis, a Diabolic, devoted her entire life to protecting Sidonia Impyrean (Donia) at any cost necessary; it was what she was created to do. As a result of Senator Impyrean, Sidonia’s father, committing a treacherous act against the empire, Sidonia is summoned to the Emperor's palace, the Chrysanthemum. Nemesis, realizing that Donia is in danger, poses as Sidonia and goes to the Chrysanthemum in her place to protect her, convincing everyone that she is Sidonia Impyrean. When the Emperor damages Nemesis in a way she could not predict, Nemesis plots to kill the Emperor with the help of his crazed nephew and heir, Tyrus Dometrean. Throughout the book, Tyrus helps Nemesis realize that she has human aspects in her when she thought she had none, and causes her to realize that it is possible for her to have emotions the way others do.

I enjoyed reading THE DIABOLIC, and I would give it a rating of seven out of ten stars. There was good character development for most of the main characters, and some of the main characters, such as Tyrus, have their background briefly explained later in the book where it has a greater effect. When Nemesis is collaborating with Tyrus, she forms a small bond with him. This connection evolves throughout their partnership and Nemesis realizes that she is forming a connection to someone other than Sidonia, which mortifies her. Still under the grip of the Emperor, she realizes that she may never see Sidonia again, failing her one purpose in life. This eventually makes her less reluctant to bond with Tyrus, and forms somewhat of a love triangle between her, Sidonia, and Tyrus. Nemesis’s love for Tyrus seems a little bit unnatural to me because Tyrus is the first person Nemesis allowed herself to attach to, not because he was the first person she was attracted to, but because he was the first person to attach to after Nemesis’s realization about Sidonia. When Nemesis first arrived in the Chrysanthemum, the Emperor commands her to tell one of her Servitors (human-like creatures unable to think) to skin herself alive, which has some vivid imagery of the gruesome flay. There is one character who seemingly dies, but then is revealed to be alive, but then dies for real in the presence of Nemesis shortly after they reunite. I did not like this story arc because while it does cause emotional trauma for Nemesis needed for the story, it does not do much for the reader. I have already experienced this character's death, and it has less of an impact the second time, even though Nemesis’s presence makes it much more sad. I think it would have been better to either have that character seemingly die, or only die the second time. There is also a point in the story where the Emperor destroys numerous entire planets. There is a sense of loss and grief in the following chapters, but in my opinion, there was an extreme disregard to the actuality of the loss. These people are sad and scared that they lost their homes and families, but very few people show it. To me, this book resembles a mixture of SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and PATHFINDER. If there was a sequel to this book, I would want to read it. I would also want to read other books by S.J. Kincaid after reading this, but this book does not make me want to put her other books at the top of my list.