Review: The Agony House

The Agony House
by Cherie Priest
Illustrated by Tara O'Connor

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2018

THE AGONY HOUSE written by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Tara O’Connor initially attracted me because of Priest’s previous work I AM PRINCESS X. Once again I find Priest and O’Connor make expert use of integrating illustration to add dimension and mystery in duality to richly written characters and settings. Despite them being similar in that aspect, THE AGONY HOUSE is wholly its own in story and structure. Denise and her family move back to New Orleans to fix up an old, run-down house in hopes of making a small bed and breakfast with what little savings they’ve got. As they begin renovations, strange occurrences lead Denise to suspect supernatural presence. When she discovers an old manuscript for the unpublished comic, Lucinda Might, in the attic she can no longer deny the connection between her house and the comic book. Throughout the novel she acquires a cast of friends and begins to uncover the secrets within the “agony house” are far more sinister than she could have imagined.

Despite Denise’s optimistic, light, often sarcastic demeanor, the story, aided heavily by the comic drawings, is able to maintain a spooky, yet not terrifying, tone. While the narrative focuses on the supernatural mystery it also lightly explores her family's economic difficulties, race prejudice in New Orleans, and, in general, Denise’s struggle to fit in in this new, unfamiliar town. By the end you’ll feel satisfied and definitely will want to flip back to the beautifully illustrated comic pages. I’m excited to see what comes next for Cherie Priest as her first two books are simply addictive.

Review: Long Way Down

Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds

Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: October 24, 2017

LONG WAY DOWN is the story of Will, a young boy whose brother was just shot down and killed. Following the rules of his neighborhood- Don’t Cry, Don’t Snitch, Get Revenge- he seeks his brother’s killer. But now in an elevator ride down to the street he begins to realize that sometimes bullets miss. And there is always someone else who knows the rules.

Told in lyrical verse, I really enjoyed this book. The author uses this method to give a new meaning to words that would otherwise be meaningless. The whole story is told in a bit longer than sixty seconds which creates a panicky feel to the story. Reynolds also uses slang of this particular neighborhood that adds to the realness of the story despite it being written in verse. The urgency of the situation is also magnified by the fact that the main character is only fifteen years old, a strange age for someone to be preparing to shoot someone down. But his stream of thoughts is accurate for someone of his age and connects more with the readers.

This book is perfect for contemporary book lovers looking for their next obsession. It is definitely one that will leave you thinking, both because of the situation itself and because of the double meaning ending. Throughout the book, you are constantly forced to stop and think both because of the words used and the imagery provoked. I would recommend this book for older readers because of the situation and some of the language used.

Review: What Happens Now

What Happens Now

by Jennifer Castle

Publisher: Harper Teen 

Publication Date: June 7, 2016 

WHAT HAPPENS NOW, is about Ari Logan, a girl who sees a boy from afar (Camden Armstrong) and immediately falls in love with him. The summer that she first sees him, Ari never gathers the courage to talk to Camden, but the next summer is different. Ari is living with depression and finds herself forgetting her own demons as she figures out Camden's real self. I am a blossoming fan of romance novels and I really loved this book! It was very well written and the plot was compelling. I highly recommend this to romance and drama lovers.

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: Meet Me Here

Meet Me Here 

by Bryan Bliss 

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Publication Date: May 31, 2016

MEET ME HERE, is a captivating story that takes place over the course of one night, and yet as a reader I felt I had known Thomas his whole life. Thomas is faced with choosing between the decision his brother made, to join the army and fight like everyone around him believes he should, or run away from that life, letting everyone down. Over the course of his graduation night, while faced with his decision, Thomas starts to realize that despite having been in the back of his mind all his life, there might be more ways to look at the situation than he always thought. All the characters in this book, from Thomas, to his brother, to his hometown friends, to the neighbor he hasn't talked to in years up until this night, come alive so vividly. By the end of this book you might just feel that you've spent your graduation night alongside Thomas, and the town he grew up in might start to feel like it was your hometown too.

Review: The Art Of Being Normal

The Art Of Being Normal 
By Lisa Williamson 

Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 

THE ART OF BEING NORMAL is told from the perspective of two transgender teenagers – Leo Denton and David Piper. Leo is new to Eden Park School, and wants nothing more than to start over and move on from his past identity as Megan Denton. Meanwhile, David is having trouble telling his parents that he identifies as a girl and beginning his transition into life as Kate. The two meet and eventually befriend one another, finding comfort in their shared experiences. The author struck a good balance between realistically writing about the struggles that a transgender teen may face, and keeping the story uplifting and hopeful. Although the novel does have gender identity as a major theme, it focuses more on the general idea of being open to and accepting diversity, making the story relatable for almost anybody. The engaging plot line and lovable characters make THE ART OF BEING NORMAL a great choice for any teen looking to get a basic understanding of issues in this realm, or simply somebody looking for a good story.

Review: This Is The Part Where You Laugh

This Is The Part Where You Laugh 
By Peter Brown Hoffmeister 

Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books For Young Readers 

THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU LAUGH is a funny, irresistible, yet dark and gritty novel that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. Travis’ only goals for the summer are to stay out of trouble, hone his basketball skills for the next season, and search for his homeless mother. He is handed the opposite when his best friend, Creature, is attacked by a gang member, throwing Travis’ whole world off kilter. This book is not for the faint of heart. It addresses drug abuse from the heart-wrenching perspective of a teenage boy who grew up with an unstable mother and now lives in a very poor environment. Travis’ actions aren’t always justified, and he finds himself involved in more than one fight by the end of the novel. The author chooses to use short, choppy language that fits nicely with the way the story line is played out. I would recommend this book for adventurous readers. 

Review: The Problem With Forever

The Problem With Forever 
by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Publication Date: May 17, 2016 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

In THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER, Mallory Dodge has had a rough life in the foster system. She's had a hard time trusting people and speaking up but now finds herself with loving, adoptive parents. Encouraged to spend her senior year in a traditional high school (rather than homeschooling), she unexpectedly runs into Rider, a boy who once lived in the same foster home. They have a history and their relationship flourishes because of their past ties. Mallory and Rider are extremely likeable characters with well written chemistry. Armentrout does a nice job showing not only Mallory, but several other characters learning from their past experiences to start shaping their futures. 

Review: The Blood Between Us

The Blood Between Us 
by Zac Brewer 

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2016 
Publisher: Harper Teen 

THE BLOOD BETWEEN US is a dramatic, suspenseful novel that ultimately explores the role of family in adolescence. Protagonist Adrien has been forced to contend with his fiercely competitive sister, Grace, for his entire life. But when he receives news that his adoptive parents have died in a lab accident, the fragile bonds between them shatter and they separate for years. After being forced to return to the same boarding school, Adrien begins to suspect Grace’s involvement in their parents deaths, and becomes determined to discover the truth. This story was both fast paced and realistic, with enough character development to provide authenticity and depth and enough suspense to keep the plot interesting. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a realistic mystery. 

Review: Don't Get Caught

Don't Get Caught 
By Kurt Dinan

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: April 1, 2016

DON'T GET CAUGHT is a (semi) realistic fiction story about a group of high schoolers set up by the notorious pranking group, The Chaos Club.  When the book’s protagonists are "caught" vandalizing a water tower thanks to the Club, the five seek revenge and together grow to be not only a legendary prank team themselves, but close friends. I completely fell in love with each character; all unique, funny, and relatable in their own ways. The dialogue is quick and witty and the plot is full of twists and revelations. DON'T GET CAUGHT is such a fun and thought provoking read! 

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: The First Time She Drowned

The First Time She Drowned 
By Kerry Kletter

Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Philomel Books 

Cassie O’Malley is an eighteen year-old with a troubled past who was involuntarily admitted to a mental institution for two and a half years. Now she’s finally free to start her life again--but problems from her past resurface even as she struggles to ignore them. THE FIRST TIME SHE DROWNED is a compelling, sometimes disturbing, emotional exploration of the complex bonds between mothers and children. I thought that the prose was very engaging and kept my interest even when the plot was slow. There’s a bit of romance and a touch of witty humor that I thought really helped to balance out the bleak moments. This is a coming of age story in which Cassie has to break free of her past in order to have hope for a better future. 

Review: Take The Fall

Take The Fall 

by Emily Hainsworth

Publication Date: February 16th, 2016

Publisher: Balzer & Bray/ Harperteen

TAKE THE FALL, tells the story of Sonia Feldmen.  After the death of her best friend Gretchen, she watches as her town, her family, and she, herself, fall apart. To the distress of everyone around her, she teams up with Gretchen's Ex- boyfriend, Marcus, the primary suspect.  She and Marcus attempt to uncover exactly what happened that night, and figure out their feelings for each other.  All is not what it seems, and the identity of the murderer will shock you. There are mature themes, and the topics the book discusses may be upsetting for a younger audience.  However, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting, and interesting read.