HAPPY SUMMER + REVIEW: RUIN & RISING

Happy summer! After the end of the school year (for most of you teachers, students, and parents!) and a much needed break, we are returning with some great books and summer literacy tips over the coming weeks. However, just because we took a break from the internet doesn't mean we took a break from reading--let's be honest, that will probably never happen! So we ran into a bit of a problem, considering the long list of books read in the last month and a half and choosing which ones to post reviews on. We've picked a few of the best to share, starting with Ruin and Rising (a much anticipated trilogy conclusion from author Leigh Bardugo), and as for the rest, we'll refer you to the following links to Goodreads if you want to browse the good and the bad of our summer reading so far!

Boy Snow Bird
A Snicker of Magic
Annihilation
The Winter Horses
The Glass Castle
On the Road
The Brothers Karamazov
She Is Not Invisible
An Untamed State
All Joy And No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood
It Starts With Food
We Were Liars

and now, you should really read this . . .

Ruin and Rising
by Leigh Bardugo
**** 4 of 5 stars

Henry Holt & Co.
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 417
Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Synopsis: 
The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. 

 Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. 

But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

I love to love the villain. That is where the power in this book--and the series--lies. He was complex and so easily evoked sympathy and interest--you can't help it. This also opened the door for the story to examine issues such as good and evil in individual people. Really, I was hoping that there would be even more scenes with the Darkling, but what there was ended up being pretty satisfying. And if he's not your flavor, there's plenty of other attractive guys to take your pick from.

Some significant details in the ending were surprising, but overall it followed a fairly predictable path. Still, because the characters were so well done--including a great cast of secondary characters--the ending to this series was on point. Because it was easy to read and imagine, I think I'll have a lot of success recommending this book/series.

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REVIEW: THE HERE AND NOW

The Here and Now
by Ann Brashares
** 2 of 5 stars

Delacorte Press
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: YA, Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 288
Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Synopsis: 
An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to. Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love. This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

 Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

 From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

The premise was really great, but the plot execution didn't live up to it. I got hung up on some really critical plot points that were resolved seemingly out of nowhere (or were the result of characters not doing things any rational person would have done), and the whole relationship between the two main characters seemed like it sprang up out of nowhere--it would have been nice to see more of a build up to that.

I would have loved to seen more of the back story. It could have really been great: the idea of people time traveling back to the past because the future has become a climate-change pandemic-disease mess is really fascinating and plausible, but the book has very little of this--instead focusing on the romance part. Which, by the way, was able to do silly things like play cards at the beach or go out for mexican food with no real sense of urgency when the plot situation called for extreme urgency. The time traveling from a diseased future idea was interesting and realistic enough for a bit of a thrill--hopefully there'll be more of that in the next book.

An advanced copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

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REVIEW: THE WINNER'S CURSE

The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkoski
**** 4 of 5 stars

Farrar Straus Giroux
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance
Pages: 355
Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Synopsis: 
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love. 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

The pensive tone drew me in, and the clever world-building kept me fascinated.  That familiar but foreign setting (I loved the Greco-Roman influences) as well as the political plot were well crafted--with interesting warfare dynamics--conquerer and conquered and all of that. Of course, along with the political plot is the strong romantic plot. In fact, it could have been a little better if it was a somewhat lighter on the romance and stronger on the fantasy-world-building aspect, although the slow building of the romance makes it seem more real than a lot of the other YA relationships.

I appreciated that it was thoughtful and direct in approaching certain issues--class equality, power, etc.... but at times maybe a little too obvious about it for a more sophisticated reader. I also have to mention how softly and brilliantly the music was woven into the book--it provided an extra layer of the characters that they needed. 

I have a feeling that this is going to be a great series! It has all the right components--a complex but not confusing fantasy world, political dynamics, and romance. Readers of Shadow & Bone (The Grisha trilogy), Legend by Marie Lu, and Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge would love this.

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REVIEW: CRUEL BEAUTY

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So unexpected! I really was surprised how much I liked this. While the main character was a little predictable at times, I really couldn't stop reading until I found out what happens. It's suspenseful even though you know how the story of Beauty & the Beast ends; the integration with other fairy tales and mythology, which at times can make the reader feel lost, are interestingly layered to create that suspense. Despite her predictability, Nyx is strong and witty and the dynamic with her sister makes things much more interesting. Of course the Beast character (ummm, how to pronounce his name??) is handsomely captivating and dark, and Shade completes the love triangle to make things even more interesting--especially at the end!

Cleverness, style, and a lovely use of language are not missing. Sure, there's lots of talk of being a maiden and that sort of thing, but it doesn't describe anything beyond kissing.  And although I think the plot and all the fairytale story lines are slightly too complex for really wide acceptance,  I think this one might become a popular underground favorite.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. 

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REVIEW: BEAUTIFUL CREATURES (PLUS A QUICK NOTE FOR RELUCTANT READERS)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I read this because it's a hit with a lot of my older middle school & high school students, and hey! It's a movie! and I can see why a lot of them like it. There's a sense of the anxiety and rebelliousness against the lack of control you have over your life, which some people could relate to. There's also the "electrifying" feeling of first love, despite the outcast or popular nature of the girl or boy involved. The mysteriousness and secretive nature of one of those persons involved in the relationship. The annoying presence of irresponsible and obtuse adults. Sound a little familiar? These ever-present elements of paranormal YA are very much present in this book, but maybe that's why so many other readers like it.


There was plenty about the "Caster" (witch, essentially) aspect that felt original, and the setting in the South gave it a mysterious and slightly old-timey Gothic feel. However, the rest of the South-ness about it was so narrow minded and cliche, I could barely stand it. And Ethan sounded like a girl. This would have been so much better told from 3rd person perspective.

So I'm not a fan. But if you're into this genre, you might also like Hush Hush, Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls series), Evermore, Fallen, . . . And here's a quick, IMPORTANT note on these: even though they're not my personal preferred reading, I really enjoy the fact that they have enough appeal to some reluctant readers to get them into reading. Sure, they're not reading highest quality stuff, but getting into these books, and their innumerable sequels, actually is a fabulous gateway into other (perhaps better) books. So while I might not rank them very high, they do have an important place on the shelf, particularly for reluctant readers.

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REVIEW: STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars (but really more like 3.5 . . .)

Strands of Bronze and Gold  has a slow simmering suspense that is successful--I think that because you already know how the story goes so you can enjoy the ride, looking for small hints and manifestations of the macabre in the characters and plot. This book also has a dark undercurrent--enough that it could go from picturesque and fascinating to suddenly chilling.

The pre-Civil War South and Wyndriven Abbey were so atmospheric and while they aren't the typical settings for the Bluebeard story, the extra historical fiction flavor they added was well-matched to the story and the controlling, secretive Bluebeard character. Some of the description parts are a little slow, but they do ultimately serve the plot in adding more to the story and characters. The well-imagined main characters of Sophia and Bernard had a lot of depth and the author took the time to explore the dynamic between the two of them--the charming and the naivete, the controlling and the curiosity, that is part of the Bluebeard story.

I think the ending would have been better without the last chapter. Instead, leave it as she is running into the preacher as she emerges from the woods . . . have the suspense that is present throughout carried through the ending. All those extra details and explanation are out of touch and paced differently from the rest of the story and it throws it off.

Recommended for fans of Monstrous Beauty, The Scorpio Races, The Madman's Daughter, Tiger Lily, The Raven Boys, Midwinterblood . . . wow, I'm kind of realizing now how many slightly dark and chilling retellings of traditional tales there are out there. It's definitely a fun and entertaining genre.

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REVIEW: REQUIEM (DELERIUM #3)

Requiem by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Absolutely, whole-heartedly, I love her writing. So poetic. I'm pretty sure I've read this whole series just for that, and everything else was just something on the side.

I really didn't feel so strongly about the plot and characters as I did the writing, though--something I've been feeling the whole series. It felt the same as a lot of other dystopian books, and wasn't anything incredibly exciting. These characters (as is somewhat typical in dystopian YA) often have severe communication issues, and if they just took a second to talk to each other, then the book would be shorter by half. But they don't, so we get to live through their angsty, broken-hearted drama.

But I'm ok with that, because I love her writing. Did I mention how great it is? It's a dream to read, and I often found myself enchanted by the metaphors and flow . . . so enchanted that the rather sudden, open ending didn't sting quite so much. Other things that I didn't notice or mind so much were how it seemed a little too long--building up to something that didn't quite happen, or the unresolved feeling you're left with. It was entertaining, and had some thoughtful ideas on love and freedom that probably could have been explored more, especially with Hana coming back into the story.

I'd recommend this for readers who are into dystopian romances with some action parts, like those who enjoyed the Under the Never Sky books, the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin, and the Across The Universe series by Beth Revis.

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REVIEW: THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER

 The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The premise and general storyline were actually really fascinating and promising... I enjoyed the throwback to H.G. Wells and the creepy Victorian thriller feeling, especially after the first few scenes. And the twist at the end.... wow! didn't see that one coming! And the other twist at the very end was pretty surprising too... And will probably draw interest to the sequel. However, I did feel like the plot was loose... There were long bits of unimportant sitting around punctuated with moments of real action. It definitely could have used some tightening up, and really, didn't need to be that long. 

Also, it focused entirely too much on the love triangle. I got so sick of it and all of the main characters' cliche thoughts, like "my skin was on fire where his fingers brushed my arm . . ." Seriously, get it under control here! While I never really connected with her character, I was pleasantly surprised by the other two love interests--at first they seemed to be rather stock characters but turned out to have a darker side that made them more interesting. 

Overall, I wouldn't recommend for struggling readers because of the length and loose plot, but it was interesting in concept and at those intense moments of action, which would be enough to carry you through to the next moment. You might like this if you liked the Delirium series, The Selection, or a romance with a slight dark, fantasy/science fiction-y twist. Or maybe Frankenstein lite + teenage girl hormones romance.

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REVIEW: PRODIGY

Prodigy by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This action-packed sequel comes at you with not only a thrilling, stumbling romance set in an intense and foreboding future America, but also questions about the differences between right and wrong, oppressors and the oppressed.This book--even more so than the first one--brings it. If you were ever lukewarm about Legend, well then, I bet Prodigy will change your mind about this series!

Oh, June & Day. Good distinction between the two voices. We really went deeper into the characters this time. June stayed true to her militaristic self, sharp and logical, and so she understandingly bumbles around in her relationship with Day, who also struggles in the communication department. Not to worry though! There are plenty of sparks between them. And other characters. What?! Let's call this a love square. And I'm on team Anden, who blazes into this book along with a more fully developed cast of secondary characters, including the lovely, grown-up Tess and perceptive, I'm-in-it-for-me Kaede. Cheers for Kaede!

Lu doesn't hold back when she dishes out further context of this futuristic (more or less united) States of America. The wider perspective and placement of their world post-climate change was realistic, startling, and well done. Definitely a little foreboding, as well . . .

Prodigy wasn't afraid to ask questions this time--questions that maybe the reader was having all along. Like, was it really ok for June to do all that stuff to Day's family, and he still likes her? Hmm. Who/what is right/wrong? I love that this book questions right and wrong things about the characters, the Republic and the Colonies, and loyalty. It didn't miss on talking about class differences either--there is definite tension between the haves and the have-nots in this book.

And wow. Great ending. Enough closure but also enough that I am imagining all sorts of thrilling endings for the next one, which I can't wait for.

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REVIEW: SHADES OF EARTH

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a way to finish! I have to admit that I was a little nervous for how this third book was going to go, but it didn't disappoint! Revis picks right up where the last book left off--which I kind of like--no need to rehash everything. Shades of Earth is about Amy and Elder as they land and begin to settle on the new planet. And if dealing with life on an unknown planet isn't enough, they also have to deal with the rift between shipborns and Earthborns, surviving, and oh, facing hostile "alien" life that is trying to kill everyone.

I was a little wary of the whole landing on a new planet/alien thing, and thought, oh great--this could be weird and just awful . . . but it wasn't! It has both familiar and otherworldly elements, which gives it an overall realistic feel, with still some of the fear and mystery of the unknown . . .

Secrets, secrets, secrets. This book is full of secrets. The clues are there if you look for them, but even if you do pick up on a few things, you will still be surprised when all of these secrets come to light, and you are totally blown away (or at least far enough away that you can get a look at it all) and think, wow, I didn't see that coming. Also, there are character fatalities. Like, a lot. I don't know how she could have realistically told this story without some death (they are going from space to a world of unknown danger, after all) but Revis sure isn't scared of letting her characters die.

I'm so glad that the narrative was written in the two perspectives of Amy and Elder. Not only does it allow a lot of depth, but it allows for you to see these multiple perspectives and question whether a decision is really right or wrong. Maybe wrong from one person's perspective, but right from another. This play with ethics/morality is something that Revis did in the first book, and I love the extra dimension it adds, and how it also allows for the romance between Amy and Elder to actually seem realistic, and doesn't neglect real issues like race and prejudice.

One final note: I think that the cover change is a good thing, because it will appeal to a wider audience. The sci-fi-ness of it will attract boy readers I think, but don't let the sci-fi look of it turn you away! There is so much more to it than that! SO good!

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RECENT RECOMMEND SUCCESS

I've had some crazy success with book recommendations lately. I recommend books a lot-- to family, friends, friends of friends, co-workers, random strangers, etc. I'm always elated when they liked the book I suggested. Especially if it's a book in a series, then they tell me about their mad rush to get their hands on the sequel and I feel a little thrill of happiness. The books below are a few that I've recommended to people lately that have been a huge hit. If you haven't read them yet, well, I recommend that you do.

For those who like YA, some romance, and a little paranormal, or who won't mind being totally sucked into a book for a little while:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin
Mara wakes up in the hospital, the only survivor of an accident that killed her friends and ex-boyfriend. She can't remember anything. Her family soon thereafter moves to Florida, where she starts in a new school and tries to remember and deal with what happened. And hello! hot boy at school with a British accent who seems to be everywhere and also interested in Mara! And whoa! crazy things start happening to Mara that she can't explain, but memories are starting to come back and with Noah's help she's starting to figure things out. Just as you think that you have it figured out, another piece of the puzzle shakes things up. And the relationship between Mara and Noah is something you will easily get caught up in. (See my review here.)

Yes the sequel is out (The Evolution of Mara Dyer), and don't scream, but the last one (The Retribution of Mara Dyer) comes out this fall.



The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
From the chilling and atmospheric beginning in a graveyard where sixteen year old Blue sees the spirit of a boy that is either her true love or that she will kill . . . all the way through the end--this book is fabulously sinister and beautifully written. Blue becomes friends with a tight knit group of boys who go to a local private school, and who are involved in solving an ancient mystery (which is a somewhat re-imagined version of a real Welsh folk tale). But as she is brought into their strange and sometimes haunting search, she is also reminded of a warning that she will bring about her true love's death with a kiss. That warning goes off in her head more and more as she feels stronger and stronger about the boys--one in particular. While the fascinating details and the complex characters might seem a little much at first, stick through the first bit and you will be thrilled with the way this turns out.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
So this one is nonfiction, but I would put it on everyone's must-read list. Seriously, I have it out on like quadruple loan and it's never sitting on my shelf for very long. So let me tell you, this guy makes it through a rather rough and delinquent childhood in which he learns to channel his energy into running, then becomes an Olympic track star/record breaking athlete, joins the Air Force in WWII, flies these ridiculously high-fatality planes, is shot down in the ocean and survives on a raft for 47 days just to get picked up by the enemy, spends the rest of the war and then some in various horrific POW camps, and eventually is able to come home. For sure this guy is some kind of Odyssean rockstar and his story is so amazingly written by the lovely Hillenbrand. (See my review here.)




So, have you read any of these? What books that you loved came your way on recommendation? I'd love to hear!

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REVIEW: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever not read a book because of a cover? Just saw it and thought, how could that possibly be any good with a cover like that? There's no way I'll like it, the cover reminds me of (fill in the blank), and I don't like that stuff. Sad, but true. There are many, many, works of jacket art that should never have come to be. This was one of those for me. (Am I the only one who thinks those shoes are not that cute?) But lucky for me, I have a very insistent friend who is very non-judgemental.

Obviously, this is a Cinderella story. If that's not enough for you, there's more that involves cyborgs as well as lots of juicy secrets and volatile diplomatic dynamics between a futuristic China and Lunar (a Moon kingdom). This intrigue really added a great extra layer on top of the Cinderella story that makes the characters and setting more exciting. And of course, will allow the story to be extended past the total cliffhanger of an ending. Yup, good enough to read the rest of the series!

A lot of Cinderella stories have predictable romances, but this one was well balanced because it wasn't totally instalove and way overdone . . . the relationship between Cinder and Kai seemed to progress naturally and is still full of possibilities and excitement. Punctuated with great bits of humor kept things entertaining and Cinder more endearing. Some things that had the potential to be really interesting left me with questions- like how does the whole cyborg thing work? How is the author going to continue the Cinderella story in the sequel? But I am stil excited to see more themes and storylines explored in greater depth (hopefully!) in the next books in the series.

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REVIEW: Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, now I see the reason for the hype, and I'm a little wistful thinking how I put off reading it for so long. I thought this book would just be another one about a teenage relationship with a head-over-heels heartbroken girl and a dashing-somewhat-emotionally-shallow boy, and it is about a teenage relationship with a head-over-heels heartbroken girl and a dashing-somewhat-emotionally-shallow boy, but it's so smooth that it makes me feel as if I'm living my own silly teenage relationships over again. The good parts are focused on, but the bad parts not skipped over either. I feel like I'm back in high school with the rosy memories of it and a few of the blunt realities thrown in to keep it real.

And that is what I liked about it. What I liked less was how often Min referenced movies (I kind of got bored with that after a while) and the somewhat contrived feel of her character. Her narration got a little jagged in some parts. The cutesy-ness of Min & Ed's relationship really bugged me sometimes, kind of like their characters did (note: some content). But really, that wasn't the best part of the book for me.

But this is what was, and this is why you should read it: the narrative style was fabulous. Daniel Handler is just a fabulous writer. The way he makes you feel the emotion of a place or of a situation is powerful . . . the images he uses to create that are powerful and will make you feel like you really are back in high school or remembering like a slap in the face what a breakup was like. You know it's good when the writer can make you feel so raw and nostalgic and everything else. Bravo.

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REVIEW: Reached, by Ally Condie

Reached by Ally Condie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Standing on the shaky legs of the Rising's rebellion, Cassia, Ky, and Xander must follow who they believe to be the Pilot in order to save millions of lives as well as resolve the feelings and connections between each of them.

Although slow to start, I found myself wrapped up in the story before too long. I expected it to be more intense, but really even what I thought were the intense parts weren't hardly intense at all. Other parts were hard for me to like because I would rather experience, or figure out from hints the author leaves, what's happening in the story rather than being told through lots of rather one-sided explanatory dialogue from the characters. Also, I felt like they were all just dancing around the resolution at the end, when it seemed SO OBVIOUS. I mean, come on Cassia! Put two and two together here and speak up for the poor boy!

Writing this last book from the perspective of the three main characters was a good move. It was nice to get inside the head of each. I just didn't like how it each of their voices seemed to blend together in the narrative, so I was constantly having to check the top of the page to see which character I was reading. They weren't distinct enough.

Have to say though, it was such a lovely thing to read because Condie's writing is nothing if not poetic. It flows through every page and is just dreamy. It makes her characters more relatable and and easier to understand, especially since the way she ties Cassia, Ky, and Xander all together seems perfect, in a bit of a familiar dystopian-girl-stuck-in-a-love-triangle way. Really though, I enjoyed the way she wove their stories and actions to be so connected, and resolved in such a neat fashion. Definitely not a bad ending to the series.

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Insurgent

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not much world building or setting explanations to start out with. If you haven't just finished reading Divergent, you will feel a little lost. This contributed to me not caring about many of the characters, even when they died--this book didn't give me much of a reason to care about them, even if they were big players in the last one. I hardly remembered any of them, then combine that with the fact that even more characters are introduced, and I could care less.

One part that I thought was interesting was getting into the mind of Tris. It took me a while to get past the fact that she just sounded whiny and confused all the time (like most of the book) to the point where I realized that she is dealing with a seriously traumatic event, and having a hard time with it. I would have loved something that prompted me to think that earlier, but for most of the book she just bugged me.

Mixed up in that was all the teenage romance drama with Four. So back and forth and so drama. Put that together with Tris' mental issues and somewhat self-injuring tendencies, and it smacked a little of Twilight. Because of this, I felt like there really wasn't too much action. A lot of running around from different places to other places, but I didn't feel like the plot really advanced until the last fourth of the book. This was the total opposite of Divergent, where the action and character development took center stage and the romance was a wonderful side part of the book. Switch that, and you'll have Insurgent.

A redeeming quality would be the storyline, but even that was a bit predictable at the end. And of course it's a series book, so you'd be silly not to expect a cliffhanger. I really liked Divergent, so I think I will read the next one, even though this one was a bit of a disappointment. I do want to see where the storyline goes, and overall I like her style of writing. So we'll see, right?

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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Mara wasn't the all-too-common lame girl character.  Of course this new romance with Noah is way to obsessive, but what can you do? She does have other talents and things going on in her life. She also had a family life. I really liked that part of it--her relationships and interactions with her family were central to the book and she really loved her family. Yes, she has issues, but without the support of her family she would be much worse off. I loved that the family was depicted that way.

I would have liked this book a lot less had the writing not been so good. Really engaging, and descriptions of character's feelings were well done. And one final side note: the whole Spanish teacher character was lame and so laughably unrealistic that it bothered me. Also note that there is quite a bit of sexual innuendo and swearing and such; content not appropriate for all readers.


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Across the Universe

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One of the standout dystopian novels I've read recently. Very believable with the science aspect of it, and space as a setting added a little something. Characters were well developed, especially the dilemmas they faced individually. I love how the dilemmas had you convinced that one thing was ethical and moral, and the next moment you were able to consider just the opposite; an accurate reflection of the struggles the characters were going through. Ending was fantastic.



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