Mini Reviews: Young Adult Edition

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

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The Kingdom is a science fiction thriller that I pretty much read in one sitting. If you like the show Westworld, then this book will be right up your alley. The Kingdom is a futuristic theme park, and the princesses that live there are Fantasists, androids who are growing beyond their programming. The story is told in alternating chapters between the past and the present through Ana's point of view, the Fantasist on trial for murder of a park employee. Although somewhat predictable at times, this book is well-written, unsettling, and full of interesting takes on the themes of princesses, technology, and more. I can't wait to highlight this book at work so it can find itself in the hands of more readers. (I am a Teen Librarian.)

There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

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Sandya Menon doesn't disappoint with her latest novel. As I was once a teen dealing with weight issues, I was very happy to see a book with a fat main character who was okay with her body, even if her mother wasn't. Sweetie is smart and kind and freaking awesome. Ashish was also a delight to read about as he was recovering from his first major heartbreak. The only reason I am giving this book four stars instead of five is because it was a little too perfect, and I think it could have benefited from some more conflict or have Sweetie have a few flaws. Otherwise, There's Something About Sweetie was a cute book that I think many will enjoy. Readalikes: To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin, Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, and If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann.

Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra

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Symptoms of a Heartbreak is a 2019 version of Dougie Houzer. Saira is a 16 year old doctor dubbed the "girl genius" with a big family and a couple of complex friends. I had a really hard time getting into this novel. It was just too unbelievable for me, and I had a hard time following all the different characters at first which was kind of confusing. However, I liked the diverse characters, and how Saira had to figure out what it means to have an adult job, to be a friend, to have a first love, and some family drama. I do think teens will enjoy this one!

Mini Reviews: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, Renegades, & Endangered

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
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A dark and intense read, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is not for the faint of heart. As a young girl, Minnow is brought along with her family to live in a cult. As she grows older she starts questioning the ways of their leader and suffers extreme punishments for her curiosity, leading her to flee. Once she escapes, her community burns to the ground, their leader is found dead, and Minnow finds herself in prison. Minnow is an interesting main character who struggles with figuring out who she really is while telling readers her story of how she became in prison, what happened while she was growing up in the cult, and the death of their leader. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a well written but disturbing novel that brings something new to the genre.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer
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I have loved everything Marissa Meyer has written, and Renegades is no exception. Nova, also known as Nightmare, is seeking revenge against the Renegades. Adrian, also known as Sketch, is a Renegade seeking justice. When their lives collide things get interesting. Filled with an abundance of interesting superheroes and villains that prove life is not always so black and white, Renegades also offers a whole lot of fun action scenes and surprises. This book is perfect for both the avid superhero fan and the average fan.




Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
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Endangered will make you smile, cringe, and cry. It's both uplifting and heartbreaking, and I loved it. Endangered is a great choice for readers who enjoy cute animals and/or an intense page-turning survival story. For whatever reason, I was hesitant to read this book, but I'm really glad that I was forced to read it for class. I was blown away. It opens readers' eyes to the hard life and strength of the people living in the Congo while also showing that the lives of the adorable endangered Bonobo monkeys are precious as well.

Mini Reviews: Suddenly Royal, Prince in Disguise, Duels and Deception, Long Way Down

This post contains a whole bunch of mini reviews of books I read last year that I never got around to reviewing. I'm hoping to stay on top of my reviews this year, but with grad school and work I don't know how well that will actually go. We shall see!

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase
Goodreads


This book was a whole lot of fun to read! I don't know what I would do if I found out I was actually royal. Probably freak out at the attention and all the responsibilities that would give me anxiety, but I sure wouldn't mind the money or the traveling. If you haven't given this one a try yet I suggest that you do. You will want to meet the great characters in this book, especially Prince Yummy.

Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm
Goodreads


I wasn't a big fan of this one. It had its cute moments, but it was too cheesy for me. I also had a hard time liking the main character Dylan. After one too many eye rolls and obvious plot points I can only give this one two stars. This book just wasn't for me. However, I can see many teens and reality fans enjoying this book.

Duels and Deception by Cindy Anstey
Goodreads


I loved this book! This one is a perfect choice for historical fiction, mystery, and romance fans! Miss Lydia Whitfield is trying to be a strong woman who is taken seriously. It's too bad she gets kidnapped. I loved the carriages, the different characters, and the romance.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Goodreads


Written in verse and incredibly powerful, Long Way Down is a must read for teens and adults. Will's brother was murdered and he must decide if he should stick to the rules and seek revenge or try to break the cycle. This book is eye opening and heart breaking.

Have you read any of these books?

Mini Reviews: Wolf by Wolf, An Ember in the Ashes, & The Beauty of Darkness

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (2015)
Goodreads


This is an alternate history book, and I thought it was very unique. In the world of Wolf by Wolf it is 1956 and Hitler is still alive and has won World War II. How does he celebrate? With the Axis Tour, an annual deathly motorcycle race. Yael is going to race. Yael plans to win. Yael wants to assassinate Hitler. I loved Yael. Reading about her experience on this race is crazy! She has to take the identity of someone else to be able to race which makes her racing experience that much more dangerous. There are some interesting characters and a unique plot in this novel. The ending is explosive. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (2015)
Goodreads


I liked An Ember in the Ashes a lot. I loved the setting. I liked the action in the trials. It had an amazingly horrible villain. I think the two main characters could have been a tad bit less annoying, but other than that I liked them. Laia was just a little whiny at first, but grew a lot. I liked Elias just fine, but it took a little bit for me to love him. The side characters were not as strong as they could have been. I think the next book will be interesting. I liked this diverse young adult fantasy novel. Overall, this was a really well written book with a wonderful setting and an interesting story. I was really disappointed with the love story junk though. We didn't need any of that, but all of the intense action scenes made up for that.

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson (August 2016)
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What a way to end a trilogy! I absolutely loved this final book in The Remnant Chronicles. Readers will get action, romance, suspense, wonderful character growth, and so much more. Lia, Rafe, and the rest of the cast are back in this epic novel. Fans of this series are not going to be disappointed. I would give anything to get another book with these unforgettable characters. Okay, basically I just gushed a lot but that is the only way I can express my thoughts on this book. Now, go read it!

The Outlander Series 2015 Reading Challenge Giveaway!

I can't believe my Outlander challenge has officially come to a close. Time flies. I am so sorry that I ended up getting two months behind with the Outlander posts, but I have a really good reason. I bought my first house and got a second job a couple of months ago, which in turn made for one crazy summer. Anyway...

Even though I failed at my own challenge, some of you succeeded and deserve to be recognized for your efforts. Whether you read 1, 2, or all of the books in the series, you can enter to win a $10 gift card to The Book Depository or Amazon! Heck, I even have a free entry for anyone who originally signed up in the challenge, because I of all people know that sometimes you have the best intentions but life gets in the way. Not to mention that I never pass up an opportunity to help support my fellow book nerds' bookish buying habits. ;) All you have to do is share the links to your reviews on the books in the rafflecopter below. It can be a link to a blog post, a tweet, a goodreads review, etc. Anything that shows that you read the book counts. Good luck!

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How many books did you read? I read two. I still plan to finish the series in the nearish future.

Mini Review Pile-Up: Some Girls Bite, The One That Got Away, & Go Set a Watchman

Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires #1) by Chloe Neill (2009)
341 pages
Genre: Adult/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: NAL
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but I was doing fine until Chicago’s vampires announced their existence to the world. When a rogue vampire attacked me, I was lucky he only got a sip. Another bloodsucker scared him off and decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Now I’ve traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude—and servitude. Right…

But someone’s out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

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My Mini Review:  Being a fan of vampire books and always being on the prowl for a new one to try out I was excited when I stumbled upon this one. Since I live near Chicago I had to give this one a try. I am glad I did. Not only did I obviously love the Chicago (and its suburbs) setting, I really enjoyed the characters, especially Merit and Mallory's friendship. There are also plenty of swoony and frustrating guys present as well. Merit is a woman that didn't want to be turned into a vampire and although she seems a little whiny about this at first, she learns to adapt and becomes such a strong character that I couldn't help but like her. My favorite thing about Merit, she doesn't just swoon over the master vampire Ethan and agree to do what he says, she still stays independent. Some Girls Bite was worth the read and better than I thought it would be. I really got into the story and am excited to read the next book in the series, because I really need some more sexy steamy tension between Ethan and Merit in my life.

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase (March 2015)
352 pages
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.

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My Mini Review: I don't read a lot of adult romance books, but this book was delightful. The One That Got Away was an excellently written romance novel. It is a perfect summer read. The main character, Sarina, is very likable. She is a strong and independent woman who I kept cheering on out loud ,"you go girl!" as I read. Although it took longer than I would like for Sarina to choose who she wanted to be with I still liked the romance, but it wasn't my favorite thing about this book. My favorite, I absolutely loved to hear all about Sarina's architecture jobs. It was very interesting. The Bottom Line: I would read something else by this author, no questions asked.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (July 2015)
278 pages
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience.

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision--a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.

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My Mini Review: I don't even know where to begin with this review. I can start by saying that I don't regret reading Go Set a Watchman. At the same time I have to say that it was a little weird. There wasn't a strong plot, facts didn't match up with what was in To Kill a Mockingbird, and really it was just weird. BUT, if you read the book not as a sequel, but as a manuscript/rough draft/original idea for To Kill a Mockingbird, you will enjoy it a great deal more. Do I think reading To Kill a Mockingbird was worth it? I do. Do I think people should be cautious and understand that it doesn't read as a sequel before beginning the book? Yes I do. I could go into more details about this book, but I won't. Instead I just want to say that this book didn't hurt how I feel about To Kill a Mockingbird at all if that is what has you worried.

I Try Some Graphic Novels

Besides reading Through the Woods by Emily Carroll I never really read any graphic novels before. I finally decided it was time to give them a try. Here are some quick reviews on the ones I have read so far. I'm hoping this post will get you to try some graphic novels, or perhaps you can see what ones I have read so far and recommend more for me to try out. Either way, I am excited to hear what you think about graphic novels in the comments below! (Sorry if some of my reviews get a little repetitive. I could only think of so many ways to say how I felt about the illustrations.)

Five Stars

El Deafo by CeCe Bell (2014)
Goodreads

The Cover: Perfect.
The Illustrations: I love that instead of humans the characters are all rabbits. The pictures do what they should, make the story even better. They were just right.
The Story: It was heartbreaking, adorable, and educational. This is a graphic novel that every person young and old would enjoy and should read. I loved every page.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (May 2015)
Goodreads

The Cover: Just looking at the cover will clue you in on how awesome this book is.
The Illustrations: Love them! I knew I would since I loved the author's illisturations for the cover of Fangirl. Yup, that is the same person!
The Story: It's unique, hilarious, and everything I could want in a hero/villain story. I love the relationships between all the main characters, the evil plots, and how spunky Nimona is.

The Babysitters Club (#1): Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier and Ann M. Martin (2006)
Goodreads

The Cover: It matches the mood of the book and it is cute. What more could I ask for?
The Illustrations: I really enjoy all of Raina Telgemeir's illustrations.
The Story: It was a wonderful and super cute graphic novel. I reminisced about when I was young and a babysitter, and of the original babysitter books. I had a fun time reading it.

Four Stars

Amulet by Kazi Kibuishi (2008)
Goodreads

The Cover: I must know about this bunny, and this monster behind the door!
The Illustrations: Pretty freaking cool. The use of color is awesome.
The Story: This was darker and creepier than I thought it would be, but it was still really good. I think kids will love the adventures this book holds inside its pages. The next book in the series looks good too!

Smile by Raina Telgemeier (2010)
Goodreads

The Cover: Simple and perfect. I love the shiny braces on the smile.
The Illustrations: They were cute and fun.
The Story: I loved this story. Not only did it send a great message to its readers, but I related to it on a personal level. I too had braces when I was younger and pretty much went through everything Raina did. I think both kids and adults will like this one.

Lumberjanes Vol 1 (#1-4) by Noelle Stevenson (2015)
Goodreads

The Cover: This cover didn't do a whole lot for me for whatever reason. I still like it though.
The Illustrations: I am running out words to describe the illustrations in graphic novels. They are all unique and so far I have enjoyed them all, including this one.
The Story: This was a humorous story about a group of girls from camp who just so happen to come across some crazy creatures on their adventures. It was a lot of fun!

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley (2013)
Goodreads

The Cover: Fits with the title and the story. I like it. Although a picture of delicious food would have been just as good.
The Illustrations: They worked for me. I loved the pictures of all the food.
The Story: Although at times I struggled to follow the story since it isn't necessarily told chronologically, I really enjoyed Lucy's adventures with food. It made me hungry and the recipes she provides sound delicious. I will have to try some.

Primates by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicksm (2013)
Goodreads

The Cover: I love everything about this cover! All three girls and the types of primates they studied along with a lush green leafy background is flawless.
The Illustrations: They are just as good as the cover, adorable and fun!
The Story: What a fun way to learn about Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas! This was a cute and informative read. Female scientists for the win!

Three Stars

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1 No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona (2014)

Goodreads

The Cover: Simple. I love it!

The Illustrations: They have the perfect comic book and super hero vibe for the story.

The Story: I love the diversity happening in this book, but the story wasn't really for me. I think many will enjoy it and that I am just one of the few that only liked it and didn't love it.

Exquisite Corpse by Penelope Bagieu (May 5, 2015)
Goodreads

The Cover: I like it, but there isn't really anything to write home about.
The Illustrations: They fit really well with the story.
The Story: I enjoyed the idea of a girl stumbling upon a writer that had faked his own death. It was entertaining and the ending was fabulous. I just wasn't a fan of any of the characters.

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act (The Wicked + The Divine #1-5) by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson, Cowles (2014)
Goodreads

The Cover: Eh, I like it but it is kind of boring.
The Illustrations: The drawings of these intense characters were amazingly well done. They just fit.
The Story: Although it was a little hard to follow at first, I did enjoy the story. The idea of these famous pop stars actually being Gods that are reincarnated every ninety years was interesting. My favorite character was Lucifer.

Three Random Mini Reviews: The House of Hades, The Bride Wore Size 12, & The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

The House of Hades by: Rick Riordan (2013)

583 pages

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books

Genre: YA/Adventure/Mythology

Source: My husband bought it for me!

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

My Review: Rick Riordan has done it again! He created a fun and wild ride for the young half-bloods in the Heroes of Olympus series. Reading about Percy and Annabeth's struggle through Tartarus was harsh and amazing at the same time because who doesn't love some Percy and Annabeth togetherness time? Characters from past Percy Jackson books are brought back in to play. Leo's plot line gets better and Frank is no longer super annoying. Basically this book was just plain awesome. Riordan always manages to have just the right amount of humor among the bleakness that the heroes always have to face. We find out more about the prophecy in this book and get some answers. I do wish I would have gotten a little more Jason time though. The ending has me on the edge of my seat impatiently waiting for the last book in the series.

The Bride Wore Size 12 by: Meg Cabot (2013)

392 pages

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Romance

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: Heather Wells is used to having her cake and eating it too, but this time her cake just might be cooked. Her wedding cake, that is.

With her upcoming nuptials to PI Cooper Cartwright only weeks away, Heather's already stressed. And when a pretty junior turns up dead, Heather's sure things can't get worse—until every student in the dorm where she works is a possible suspect, and Heather's long-lost mother shows up.

Heather has no time for a tearful mother and bride reunion. She has a wedding to pull off and a murder to solve. Instead of wedding bells, she might be hearing wedding bullets, but she's determined to bring the bad guys to justice if it's the last thing she does . . . and this time, it just might be.

My Review: I am really hoping this book isn't the last in the Heather Wells Mystery Series. Once again I enjoyed the easy read and the wonderful characters in The Bride Wore Size 12. I pretty much love every single character in the book. I just can't help it. The book is just so charming and a great book to read while curled up on the couch with some hot chocolate. It brought me many laughs and I always have fun stepping into Heather's shoes trying to solve the latest mystery in the dorms that she works at. The only thing I would have liked was a little bit longer of a book so we could have more time focused on the romance between Cooper and Heather and just a longer story in general. It felt a little rushed to me. Overall Meg Cabot continues to write hilarious mystery novels and this one shouldn't be missed.

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by: April Henry (2013)

224 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

Genre: Thriller

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: “Take her out back and finish her off.”

She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her.

And that she must run.

In her riveting style, April Henry crafts a nail-biting thriller involving murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. Follow Cady and Ty (her accidental savior turned companion), as they race against the clock to stay alive.

My Review: This is one thriller where I couldn't see all the big reveals in advance, meaning that I actually was shocked at times and this made it very enjoyable to read. Plus, who doesn't love a main character that is having problems remembering who she is? The characters are a little awkward at times but other than that I didn't have a problem with them. It does have some great suspense and some good action scenes but some of it was just kind of eh. Ty risking his life for a stranger (the girl who doesn't know who she is) and the not so great big picture of why the girl (the same girl who doesn't know who she is) is being chased is what bumped this review down to three stars.Sorry I don't give her name but I can't really. I can say it wasn't boring though. The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die is good if you are looking for a quick read and a young adult stand a lone novel.