Down, by Norah McClintock

From Orca Books:  “When James and the rest of them talk about the other guys, their faces get all twisted so that they don’t even look like themselves. I wonder if I looked like that when I beat up that guy. I sure was mad enough.”

Remy must control his anger or lose his freedom.  Remy has just been released from juvenile detention and is back in his old neighborhood. He went away because he severely assaulted a guy who insulted his girlfriend—Asia. As a white boy dating an immigrant, Remy has had to take a lot of the inbred racism that exists in the inner-city—from strangers, his family and even the police. When the white kids and the “outsiders” start scrapping over the local basketball court, Remy is caught between sticking up for his friends and siding with Asia, who is now seeing Marcus—the leader of the other group.

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Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Down comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

This was a really interesting story about anger and racial hatred.  I’m not too happy with the ending, but I guess it is realistic, and that is the point of these novels–to have a real life lesson.  Overall I did enjoy this novel, and I think it was really interesting to see inside Remy’s head as he struggled with his anger and doing the right thing.  McClintock is a superb writer, and I’ve enjoyed all her novels.

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

{Review} Shine by Lauren Myracle

From Goodreads:  When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it.  Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery.  Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

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Abrams Books and their imprint Amulet Books have been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 1st, and WOW—this is just a phenomenal novel, and I highly recommend reading it!  I was pulled in by the very first page, in which a news article describes the hate crime committed against Patrick, a young homosexual male, living in a small, poverty struck town hell bent against homosexuality.  Using the news article as a starting point, Myracle is able to drop the reader directly into the story, creating a sense of suspense and foreboding from the very first page.  I was so enamored by the story that I read all 376 pages in one sitting, losing track of time and all else around me as I was engulfed by the plot—a testament to Myracle’s wonderful writing ability.

All the characters are extremely real, and Myracle has done a magnificent job creating a story of mystery and suspense, in which everyone is a suspect.  I highly enjoyed following Cat as she acquires knowledge that slowly sets her closer to finding out the truth, though it may cost her her life.  Cat is a wonderful protagonist, and I love how developed she is.  The constant flux between past and present, as Cat explains her life and inklings through her investigation, feeds the reader small bits of information, which in turn helps spur the novel on.  It’s a riveting tale, especially as, like everyone else in town, Cat has secrets of her own.  Yet, her secrets have caused her to pull away from everyone she knows and loves, creating a rift between herself and the community.  It is only through the atrocity of the hate crime against Patrick that Cat is able to rouse from her solidarity and become a modern sleuth, attempting to do that which the police will not: find the offender. 

This is a real gem of a story, with great themes about love, forgiveness, and healing, and it’s one I plan to read again and again.  As my first taste of Myracle’s writing style, I must say I was not disappointed, and am excited to read her other work.  Five stars.

Announcing the James LePore Thriller Novel Giveaway Winner!

The contest for a James LePore thriller novel has just concluded, and I’m excited to announce the winner…

 

 

And the winner is…

 

     

      Phanee of http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/

           A copy of A World I Never Made has been sent from Amazon, as per Phanee’s choice! 

 

 

 

Phanee has been notified via email and has responded.  Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round! 

 

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

 

Death Whispers, by Tamara Rose Blodgett–Ends 5/12 – USA ONLY

 

 Shine, by Laruen Myracle—Ends 5/13 – INTERNATIONAL

Death Whispers, by Tamara Rose Blodgett (The Death Series #1)

From Goodreads: Caleb can’t seem to stop the accidental zombie raisings, the science experiments are murder, and road kill has taken on a whole new meaning; add in the two dudes dogging him at school and he’s about to explode.  When he finally gets the courage to ask Jade out, things start going his way…until her dad starts stalking her and the government starts stalking Caleb. How does he defeat them, protect Jade, and shake the jerks that are making him miserable?

Caleb has the most rare of the paranormal powers, Cadaver-Manipulation (aka corpse-raiser). In this world of the future, with Brain Impulse “pulse” Technology’s wide-spread use and influence keenly realized, routine school inoculation has expanded to include a pharmaceutical cocktail, which once administered, unlocks the genetic potential for paranormal abilities. Using this small window of puberty, teens who have the genetic propensity find themselves manifesting extraordinary gifts; some of which garner the full attention of our government. Caleb must camouflage his new “talent” during the mandatory eighth grade Aptitude Test so that he remains undiscovered while establishing choice for his future. However, events beyond his control systematically reveal Caleb and his friends, which force them to fight for their freedom. In the midst of this struggle, his girlfriend’s father battles to reassert his abusive dominance in her life while a couple of “peer enemies” thwart his efforts of secrecy at every turn. In the explosive climax, Caleb must protect his friends, and Jade, the one he loves…at all costs.

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I really like this novel.  I especially love that the main character is male, as more often than not, lead roles in YA literature are female (why is that?).  I’ve been looking for something along these lines to promote reading among my male student for a while, and thankfully, I’ve now found it.  With a main character that can raise corpses, how can you go wrong?

It is obvious that Blodgett spent a lot of time writing Death Whispers, perfecting the scientific and technological aspects of this futuristic dystopian novel.  I was reminded of one of my favorite TV shows, Heroes, as I read.  While many young adults will come into their special power during puberty, not all will choose to use their powers for good.  And, with many new powers coming to light each year, the government, of course, is going to be on the lookout for any powers that may be politically important.  One main difference, though, is that all young adults know that they may manifest these powers, and they are, therefore, subjected to a mandatory AP test to determine their placements in high school—which I think is a really ingenious idea that Blodgett incorporated into the novel, as it creates suspense in the terms that “big brother is watching you.” 

As the synopsis states, Caleb has a very rare talent, as do a few of his friends, and it was really fun to follow the characters as they discover their different abilities and learn to control and hide them, especially as the ever looming government could easily swoop in at any moment.  What I really love about these powers, especially Caleb’s, is that Blodgett doesn’t sugarcoat them.  For instance, the corpses don’t come back as they were in life, but rather in their various stages of decompose, including the smell.  It was really interesting to read about this, and Blodgett writes in such a way that the reader can easily visualize it (though thankfully not smell it!).

This novel takes place over a few months, and another aspect I really enjoyed was that I was able to keep pace with the timeframe.  Keeping the reader on point with elapsed time can be very difficult for writers, and I’ve read many books in which the events all seem to happen within a day, and no timeline is ever provided for the reader, causing confusion.  Blodgett, however, easily guides the reader through the story without having to state the time and, because of this, the love story portion of the novel becomes feasible, as it obviously doesn’t happen “overnight.”   

The dialogue in the story, as well as the action, was also very well done.  Caleb and his friends banter back and forth much as my students do every day in the classroom, and I catch them doing very strange things in class as well, such as sticking things in their nose and ears…  Blodgett captures the true essence of adolescents in her story, making her novel that much more enjoyable.  As the story unfolds, events seamlessly build off each other, capturing the reader’s attention until the very end.

I know that my favorite character should be one of the main ones, but actually, my favorite characters is Ali, Caleb’s mother.  Why?  As I’m an English teacher and older adult, I find we connect.  She has a strong love for her son and also a strong love for English.  She is constantly correcting Caleb’s language and, as exasperating as that can be to others, I love it!  I do it all the time too; I see myself in her, and I see my students in the young adult characters, solidifying Blodgett’s capability of creating very real characters that we can all connect with in some manner.

Something else I absolutely adore about this novel is the Caleb’s relationship with his parents.  Caleb goes to his parents, first and foremost, when he realizes he’s in trouble.  Most YA novels deal with characters that feel they need to hide everything from the adults in their life, and I loved that this was different.  I’ve read many YA novels in which adults are excluded or deemed untrustworthy, and it was refreshing to finally read a YA novel in which an adolescent trusts his parents.  Caleb goes to his parents on many occasions, and though they can’t always help him, the moral support that is there is awesome, and it portrays parents in a positive light, whereas, more often than not, YA literature portrays adults negatively.  I like this positive reinforcement because that’s an aspect that teens need in their lives—adults who listen and care—yet Blodgett doesn’t paint all the adults in her novel as such, in order to keep with the reality of the world.  Not all the adults (or other teenagers, for that matter) in the novel can be trusted, and Caleb and his friends aren’t obtuse.  They see the warning signs and give their trust sparingly—they have a great sense of “street smarts,” as my parents would put it, and I enjoyed that very much.

Of course, the technological aspect of this novel was amazing.  As it takes place in the future, technology must be vastly different, and Blodgett does not disappoint!  She has taken our current technology and morphed it, creating “pulse” technology in which cell phones read our thoughts and send them virally.  Hence, texting and calling are obsolete.  I loved reading about this, and how the characters used it, and I would live to see “pulse” technology actually come to fruition someday—though that could be a nightmare to us teachers in the classroom…

Overall, this novel was great, and I highly suggest adolescents and adults read it alike.  You will not be disappointed!  Four stars! 

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Watch for the release of Death Speaks, the sequel, late summer!

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This Giveaway is now CLOSED.

Winners: 

EBook: Becky Paulk from Book Bite Reviews

Print Book:  SpadesHigh from Spades High Reads

Fairy Godmother-In-Law, by Joshua Grover-David Patterson

When Artie meets his blind date, he’s shocked to discover that when she says she’s a princess… she really does have a fairy godmother.

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Okay folks, this is just too funny.  I laughed out loud and snickered the entire time I read it.  I had the best time reading this short story, and was only saddened that is ended so soon.  I think Patterson is an exceptional writer and definitely one to watch.  I read his novel Mercy the other day, and that was absolutely fantastic (see my review, you need a copy of that novel!).  So, the first thing I did after completing Mercy was pick up a copy of Fairy Godmother-In-Law (it’s only .99 cents), and it was great!  Patterson has sheer talent and he covers all his bases in his writing, leaving no stone unturned and entertaining the reader until the very end.  I suggest you pick up both this short story and Mercy from either Amazon or Barnes and Nobel–you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you do!  Four stars!

Announcing The Goddess Test Winners:

The contest for The Goddess Test has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that I had a lot of entrants, so I’ve decided to pick two winners, instead of just one, using Random.org.

 

 

 

And the winners are…

 

 

     Liliebook from http://liliebook.blogspot.com

     Alli from http://magnet4books.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Emails and tweets have been sent out to the winners.  If I don’t hear from them within 48 hours, I will select another winner using Random.org.  Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winners… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round! 

 

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Your Choice of one of James LePore’s Thriller Novels—Ends 4/28 – INTERNATIONAL

 

Death Whispers, by Tamara Rose Blodgett–Ends 5/12 – USA ONLY

 

 Shine, by Laruen Myracle—Ends 5/13 – INTERNATIONAL

 

 

Interview with Aimee Carter–Author of The Goddess Test

Aimee Carter was kind enough to answer some questions for me in conjunction with my giveaway of her AWESOME novel, The Goddess Test:

 

What led you to write your debut novel, The Goddess Test? 

This is a bit of a long story, actually, so my apologies right off the bat! I’ve been a big fan of mythology since I was a kid, and I’ve always wondered what happened to Hades and Persephone, which is a myth that really stuck with me from the first time I read about it. As I grew older, I began to see the myth from Hades’ side of things, and with how isolated and lonely a god he was, his perspective fascinated me. Especially with how often Hades is depicted as ‘evil’ in pop culture.

When I began to write original stories at age fifteen, I already had this brewing in the back of my mind, the idea of a girl who’s forced into a situation like Persephone’s. However, as the idea progressed, it occurred to me that I had an opportunity with a modern-day story to write a sequel of sorts – what happens after Hades and Persephone’s marriage is over. It took me a while after that to figure out the new girl’s story, but I began to outline. And outline. And outline some more. I don’t know how many drafts of outlines I went through over the course of a year or two, but finally I settled on one I liked. I was writing another story at the time, and I was also a full-time college student, so my time was limited.

However, the spring I began to write The Goddess Test, I had my wisdom teeth taken out. I was supposed to work on the set of a Hollywood film that was being made in the area (as a production assistant, which is a fancy title for ‘You there, get my coffee!’), and my surgery was scheduled for a few weeks before production in the area was due to begin. But somehow during the procedure, my dentist had to remove pieces of bone from both sides of my jaw, essentially breaking it in two places. Needless to say, it wasn’t a pleasant healing experience.

But instead of being too disappointed about not being able to work on set, I finally had a chance to write the story I’d spent years upon years thinking about and outlining. All in all, I’d say I made out pretty well, all things considered. I didn’t wind up dating Michael Cera, but hey, it all worked out in the end.

What were your inspirations for the novel, if any, and what made you pick Greek mythology as a starting point?

I didn’t consciously pick Greek mythology. I just happened to love the myth of Hades and Persephone, and I’d been itching to explore Hades’ side of things for a long time. The story went through so many versions and so many drafts, but in the end I wound up with something I would have wanted to read, and that’s the most important thing to me when it comes to writing a story. If I wouldn’t want to read it, I can’t possibly expect anyone else to as well.

What is the writing process like for you?  Do you have a special place that you like to write, or any special rituals that you go through before/during the writing process?

The writing process tends to vary for me. My habits evolve, and while I can write anywhere, I prefer to write in a bookstore or cafe. I write every day, usually a few thousand words, but sometimes only a sentence or two. I always listen to a song on repeat in order to drown out the sound around me, though usually the song I listen to doesn’t have much significance to whatever I’m writing. The mood has to match though. I can’t listen to an upbeat song during an emotionally difficult scene. I always write on a computer (though I outline on paper), and I usually have to disconnect myself from the internet. With smartphones, however, that tends to be a bit tricky.

What character do you identify with the most in The Goddess Test?  Why?

I identify on some level with nearly all of them, I’d say, especially the most prominent characters. In order to understand the characters’ motivations and feelings, I really have to know them and get where they’re coming from, and not relating to them at all makes it difficult. However, as far as relating to their situations, I’d have to say I identify most with Kate. I lost my mother when I was a kid, and I grew up worrying that something was going to happen to my father as well. Oddly enough, during the editing process for The Goddess Test after it’d been sold to my publisher, my father had a series of serious health issues, and I did most of my editing in a hospital room. That heavily influenced Kate’s emotional state taking care of her ill mother, and it really helped me relate to her more as a character. Personality-wise though, we’re pretty different.

Are any of your characters or stories based on aspects of your own life?

None intentionally, though what Kate goes through with her mother was heavily rewritten after I discovered what it was like to be my father’s sole caretaker. As nice as it would be, I’ve never met a Greek god in the middle of the woods. I purposely try to keep my real life and my character’s created lives as separate as possible. Otherwise my creative space would be limited, so to say, as I would likely feel compelled to stick to the ‘truth’, therefore restricting what could and couldn’t happen in the story. And I hate those kinds of restrictions.

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

I hope they enjoy it! Honestly, I didn’t write it with a lesson in mind. It very clearly is not strict mythology, as I found that to be too limiting to the story I wanted to tell. Therefore I did my best to make the story logical and relatable to the original myths. I also tried to keep the characters as human as possible with motivations, desires, and back story that got ‘lost’ in the constant cultural shifts, as well as the retelling and evolution of mythology over the years. I didn’t set out to write a lesson in Greek mythology or loving your parents or not talking to dark strangers in the middle of the night. I set out to write a fictional story that I and hopefully others could enjoy, and more than anything, that’s what I want. And even if the reader doesn’t enjoy it, I’m extremely grateful to everyone who gives it a chance.

Do you have a playlist in mind for your novel?  If so, what music would you recommend a reader listen to while reading?

I don’t! I wish I remembered what songs I listened to while writing this, but while I have a few for the second book, I have yet to stumble across a song that really works for the first book. The only song I remember listening to during the editing process is Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Angel’, but even that’s more of a mood than anything.

I don’t listen to music while I read, but I’d recommend that the reader does anything they’d like to do. Whatever makes them comfortable while reading, since reading is the important part.

Why did you choose YA literature as a starting point?  Did you always want to write for this age group, or did it just happen?

I started writing original stories when I was a teenager, creating characters who were my age, and although I grew older, my characters never did. I do tend to write with older teens in mind – Kate is eighteen at the start of the first book – but mostly I write what I’d like to read. And I’ve yet to come up with an idea that would be better suited for the adult market than the YA crowd. Honestly, I think YA literature is some of the most entertaining stuff out there today. Teenagers tend to insist on quality, logic, and compelling characters, and they won’t sit through a hundred pages of nothing to get to the good stuff. There’s a reason so many adults gravitate toward YA lit as well, and I think that has everything to do with how friggin’ amazing YA fiction is.

Do you have a favorite author or novel that you recommend your fans read?  What are you reading right now?

Right now I’m in the middle of Josephine Angelini’s Starcrossed, which comes out in late May, and I’m loving it. I’ve also recently picked up Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, and after reading the first few sections, I’m dying to read more.

My three favorite books, in no particular order, are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (and if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for?), Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (character-heavy science fiction with a heavy psychological and political twist, and something I reread at least once a year), and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling. The Harry Potter series is the reason I stuck with writing, and I wouldn’t be in this position today if it wasn’t for Ms. Rowling.

How you do feel about eReaders?  Do you think they enhance or detract from the reading experience?  What’s your personal preference?

I don’t own an eReader, but my father has two. I can definitely see the convenience of having one, especially since I’m forever dragging books places and getting them messed up. But I love the idea of turning the page and holding it in my hand. I might get an eReader in the future for trips and the like, so I don’t have to lug around a suitcase devoted solely to books, but for now, I’m content without one. Besides, I’d be too afraid of losing it to bring it anywhere.

You’ve just been signed for a new book series (yay), so could you tell us a little bit about the series and how it came to be? 

Yes, I literally just signed the contract a few weeks ago! The first book is called Masked, and it’s the first in a dystopian trilogy about an orphan who is forced to take the place of the Prime Minister’s assassinated niece. I can’t say too much about it, but I will say that I love writing in this world. The book’s already written, and it was actually the book I wrote while The Goddess Test was on submission, mostly during the time frame when I thought it wasn’t going to sell. As a result, I really pushed myself, and I’m so proud of the results. I’m not entirely sure when it’ll be released, but I’ve heard August 2013. Don’t quote me on it though, as that’s all subject to change.

Thanks so much for having me!!

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Thank you Aimee!!!  I am honored that you are my first author interview on my blog!

 

This giveaway is now closed and winners have been chosen:

 

Winners:

 

Liliebook from http://liliebook.blogspot.com

     Alli from http://magnet4books.blogspot.com

Bumped, by Megan McCafferty

HarperCollins has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, April 26th.  The synopsis is as follows: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

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I am torn on a rating for this novel.  I liked it for the most part; the writing is very well done and it’s a very interesting twist to the usual futuristic novels out there.  However, I struggled with the religious aspect of the novel and the underlying statements about teen pregnancy that it seemed to promote.

First, in terms of the religious aspect, I feel like it was an extremely degrading look at religious groups, zoning in only on the bad and never delving into anything good.  I was reminded of the Amish and their lifestyle as Harmony explains her life in the Church, which wasn’t portrayed in a positive way at all—and only looking at the negative behind any group or aspect in life always taints it.  I do not necessarily think that this was McCafferty’s goal for the novel, but that is how it came across to me, and I was less than pleased with that piece.

In terms of teen pregnancy, I feel like there was too much positive reinforcement for it, and not enough negative.  I am extremely glad that there is a tonal shift within the novel, and that some of the characters undergo changes of heart, yet this portion of the novel was at the very end and seemed rushed; the characters made their decisions quickly, without a lot of explanation.  I would have liked to see much more inner struggle within the characters as they make this change in belief, but I think that is where the next novel will pick up, and I am curious to see how everything plays out.

Aside from those two aspects, I really enjoyed the writing style.  Although I was confused in the beginning by the slang Melody uses (this is a futuristic novel afterall), so was Harmony, and it was nice to figure it all out with her.  I also really enjoyed the back and forth style of the chapters.  One chapter was Melody’s viewpoint, and the next was Harmony’s.  This was ingenious, and it kept me extremely interested as each chapter always ended before all the information was given, so there was never a prime place for me to stop and put the novel down (and I didn’t want to either!).  I read this novel in one sitting, and although not all the characters were as developed as I would have liked, I am sure that further development will take place in the next installment, for which I cannot wait.  Three stars. 

The Restorer, by Amanda Stevens (Book I in The Graveyard Queen Series)

Harlequin has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in two days, on April 26th.  The synopsis is as follows: 

NEVER ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEAD.

NEVER STRAY FROM HALLOWED GROUND.

NEVER GET CLOSE TO THE HAUNTED.

NEVER, EVER TEMPT FATE.

My father’s rules.

I’ve never broken them…until now.

My name is Amelia Gray. I’m a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman’s brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I’ve been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims— lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I’ve vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

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This was a really chilling tale.  I admit I was freaked out on more than one occasion, and ended up sleeping with the lights on… Stevens has a gift for writing scary tales, and she has really endeared herself to me.  This novel has it all: crime, intrigue, cover-ups, murder, a secret society, underground tunnels, forbidden romance, and ghosts.  It doesn’t get much better than that!  I love that this story is written for adults; I feel like I haven’t come across many ghost stories that aren’t YA, and it’s a nice change of pace.  I learned a lot about graveyards and symbolism and, I know it’s a bit morbid, but I loved it.  The background of Oak Grove Cemetery, and the people buried there, is extremely interesting  and I was drawn in as Amelia researched the cemetery, coming across shady characters and seemingly unrelated tidbits of information, only to connect them all in the end.

Stevens does a wonderful job keeping reader interest while the plot unfolds, adding many twists to the story.  It was impossible to put this novel down, and I found myself reading late into the night.  I loved the constant twists and turns as multiple murders are uncovered and ghosts attempt to make contact with Amelia.  Stevens does a wonderful job enveloping her novel in mystery and everyone becomes a suspect.  The ending was shocking, and I especially love that Stevens doesn’t give anything away; I was kept guessing until the very end.  While not all my questions were answered and there are some loose ties, I believe these will be tackled in the next installment of the series, and I just can’t wait to unveil the secrets of Amelia’s father and mother, as well as those of The Order of the Coffin and Claw, an underground group that seems to delve in the dark arts!   Four stars!    

The Abandoned, by Amanda Stevens (Prequel to the The Graveyard Queen Series)

There are rules for dealing with ghosts. Too bad Ree Hutchins doesn’t know them.

When her favorite patient at a private mental hospital passes away, psychology student Ree Hutchins mourns the elderly woman’s death. But more unsettling is her growing suspicion that something unnatural is shadowing her.

Amateur ghost hunter Hayden Priest believes Ree is being haunted. Even Amelia Gray, known in Charleston as The Graveyard Queen, senses a gathering darkness. Driven by a force she doesn’t understand, Ree is compelled to uncover an old secret and put abandoned souls to rest—before she is locked away forever….

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I don’t know how to rate this novella.  On its own, I’d give it a 4/5 because it’s a really great read that will have you reeling after it concludes.  It’s very short, but packed with suspense and is extremely creepy.  It does leave the reader with many questions though, but as it’s a prequel, I was under the impression that the answers would be revealed in The Restorer.  This, unfortunately, is not the case.  Actually, the prequel and The Restorer seem to have little in common aside from the fact that Oak Grove Cemetery is a hotspot for activity, Amelia and Devlin are characters in both stories, and there is a mysterious group of elite that go by the name of The Order of the Coffin and the Claw.  Yet, neither Amelia nor Devlin play a big part in the prequel, as they do in The Restorer, and The Order is never fully explained in either text.  While the cemetery is eluded too through unexplained events, that too is vaguely touched upon in the prequel.  Instead, The Abandoned deals with two main characters, Ree and Hayden—a student and a paranormal investigator.  While the story surrounding these two characters is interesting and even frightening, it is not fully concluded, and these characters and events are never mentioned in The Restorer, making me wonder what the real purpose of the novella plays in the series.  It is apparent that those in The Order of the Coffin and the Claw take part in scary rituals and delve in the dark arts, covering up for each other, but anything beyond that is still a mystery. 

I really did like the novella but, after having read The Restorer, I am saddened that there is not more of a connection between the two stories.  Of course, I suggest reading The Abandoned, but keep in mind that it really isn’t a precursor of events in the main novel and, therefore, not mandatory to understand The Restorer.  Either way, I did enjoy The Abandoned; I just wish it had more to do with the actual story in The Restorer.

Currently, The Abandoned is a free download at Amazon online, though I don’t know how long that will last—perhaps only until The Restorer releases on April 26th.  I highly suggest picking it up, especially since it’s free—you can always read it later on, either before or after The Restorer.  Stay tuned tomorrow for my review of The Restorer—which I loved (until then, go download this novella).  Three and a half stars for this novella!

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen — The Novel Versus the Movie

From Barnes and Nobel:  As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

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I began this novel with trepidation as the synopsis didn’t draw me in.  I actually only picked it up because, last spring, I needed one more book in my cart to obtain free shipping, so I sent a request out over facebook.  The first response was from a co-worker of mine stating that Water for Elephants was the best book she ever read.  So, I added it to my queue and achieved free shipping.  When the book came, I lovingly put it on my shelf, and that’s where it sat for a few months.  Then, one day when I couldn’t find anything else to read, I finally picked it up.  I have one word for this novel: PHENOMENAL!!  Have you ever noticed that the novels you put off always end up being the best ones?  This happens to me all the time.  I did the same thing with The Hunger Games, letting it get dusty on the shelf, and then I read it and just wanted to kick myself for putting it off for so long.  My new motto is that, if I don’t want to read it right now, I better read it right now because it’s going to be phenomenal.  So far, that motto hasn’t steered me wrong.

But anyway, back to the novel.  I LOVE this book.  I was instantly enveloped by the mystery of the prologue, in which a murder takes place.  I’m not giving anything away, even though I really want to, but I will say that, when you come across this same section in the novel later, you need to read it carefully. 

The first chapter of the novel speeds ahead to the present, where a bitter Jacob Jankowski, the protagonist, resides in a nursing home, alone and forsaken by his family.  The writing style that Gruen evokes is extremely powerful, and her seamless change between past and present is breathtaking.  As the story builds, Gruen unveils tiny snippets of the past and present to further engage the reader, and I loved every minute of it.

It is obvious that a lot of love and care went into writing and researching this novel, and Gruen is able to place the reader in the center of the Great Depression as the story unfolds.  As I read, the world around me disappeared and I became enveloped in the circus life.  The writing is so detailed and descriptive that you can almost hear and smell it all, and Gruen’s characters are realistic and wonderfully developed.  I love them all… even the ones I hated as I read.  If you read nothing else for the rest of your life, at least read this novel–if I gave more than five star ratings, it’d be the book to get more than five!

With the book being so phenomenal, I approached the movie the same way I originally approached the novel: with trepidation.  It is a very rare occurrence for a movie to be as good as the book, and with Robert Pattinson taking the lead, I was wary of this movie.  However, I was happily surprised.  Water for Elephants is an extraordinary movie, and one I can’t wait to see again and again!  Like Gruen’s writing, the movie is fluid and beautifully produced.  Francis Lawrence, the director, has taken this novel to a new level with his visuals, adaptation, and cast.  Everyone, including Pattinson, delivers an award winning performance and I was in awe as I watched.  Lawrence makes the novel come alive before your eyes in his breathtaking adaptation, and although there are discrepancies between the movie and the novel, as there always are, Lawrence did an amazing job portraying the novel on screen.  I highly recommend seeing this movie as it’s just that amazing, but, as always, I suggest reading the novel first.  Five stars all around!

Responsible, by Darlene Ryan

From Orca Soundings:  Erin sucked in a sharp breath. “And I know you, Nick, because I can smell the stink of trash anywhere.”
Shut up, Erin, I thought. Just shut up. Let them shave your head and get it over with. Nick bent over and grabbed Erin by the jaw, pulling her up so she was sitting. She was shaking. There was a smirk on his face, and I could hear how hard he was breathing. He pushed his mask up onto the top of his head.

Kevin has to do the right thing.

Kevin Frasier is in a new high school—his fourth in the last year. He is trying to get along and not cause any waves. When he falls in with Nick and his friends, Frasier ends up going along as the group bullies and threatens their way through the school. When Nick starts tormenting Erin—and she stands up to him—the harassment escalates until Kevin is forced to make a difficult decision and risk everything.

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Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Responsible comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

I liked this novel.  It’s a really fast-paced read that any reluctant reader will love.  There is no down time, and the story sucks you in from the very first page.  It has a lot of suspense packed into a very span of writing, and I was on the edge of my seat as I read.  Ryan is a great writer, and I really enjoyed the themes presented in the novel.  I don’t think anyone can hear them enough, young and old alike: do the right thing, even when it’s not easy (especially when it’s not easy).  Four stars.

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

Anyone Can Die, by James LePore

From Goodreads: James LePore’s first novel, A World I Never Made earned raves from reviewers, readers, and fellow authors alike. Blogcritics called it, “An outstanding first novel, and a wonderful thriller.” Bella Online said, “I highly recommend this compelling suspense story filled with vivid characters and haunting storylines. A story that will stay with the reader long after the final pages.”

Now LePore returns to the characters of A World I Never Made to present us with three suspenseful and unforgettable stories:

Till Death Do Us Part: A young Pat Nolan and his wife are on their honeymoon in New Mexico when they find a bond they did not know they had as they are forced to confront trouble in the form of a surly trio of locals.

God’s Warriors: Megan Nolan, a cynical American woman on her own in Europe makes a life-changing decision that both reveals and belies her true character.

Max: Max French, a quirky, deadly and, in his own eyes, oddly lovable FBI agent faces a personal drama that will set the course of his future.

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A World I Never Made is my favorite novel of LePore’s; it’s filled with suspense and drama and I read it all in one sitting.  I love that book, so imagine my excitement when I found out there were three short stories that accompanied the novel!!  Each story further explains the characters in the novel, giving the reader more insight into their psyche.  LePore writes, “I fall in love with my characters, and when my novels are done, I am not quite ready to let them go.  Writing the stories in Anyone Can Die closed the circle for me…  a suspense novel cannot really slow down for long flashbacks that are meant to fill in the blanks of central characters, no matter how well written they may be.”  I really enjoyed these short stories as they have further endeared the characters to my heart.  I highly recommend that you read A World I Never Made and then pick up Any Can Die.  You won’t be disappointed, trust me!!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Released Yesterday: The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True, by Gerald Morris

 

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True, by Gerald Morris, released yesterday, and I highly recommend it for MG readers (especially since it provides a great background for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which is a novel my 12th graders have to read for English 12)!

 

Synopsis:  In the third installment in the Knights’ Tales series, Gerald Morris tells the laugh-outloud tale of King Arthur’s most celebrated knight, and nephew, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. With lively illustrations by Aaron Renier, Morris creates a captivating and comical medieval world that teems with humor and wonder.  This chapter book is sure to set young readers on another rollicking and hilarious Arthurian adventure!

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This is a great coming on age novel for middle grade readers, and it is most enjoyable.  The novel is illustrated, which helps bring the story to life right on the page.  Yet, the illustrations do not overpower the imagination of the reader; they are tastefully done and evenly interspersed.

To read the rest of my review, click here.

Releasing Today: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, by Elizabeth Laird

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in the United States today.  So, without further ado, here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:  In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.  Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process. Originally published in the UK, this book has a powerful blend of heart-stopping action and thought-provoking themes.

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This was a really interesting historical novel, and I’m glad that it’s making its debut in the United States this month.  As the synopsis states, it deals with Scotland in the seventeenth century, an aspect we don’t study very often in the States, yet the events in this novel mirror events in the U.S., specifically the Salem witch trials.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel as Maggie and her grandmother are accused of witchcraft.  I think what I enjoyed the most about this is that Laird never explicitly states whether the grandmother and Maggie are actually innocent.  Laird did a phenomenal job writing this portion of the novel, and I found myself pulled in different directions as the story unfolded.  At times I was convinced that Maggie and her grandmother were truly innocent, only to be confronted with information that made me later questions their innocence—and the answer is never blatantly stated.  I enjoyed being able to figure it out for myself, without Laird telling me what to think; this was refreshing as I was able to make my own decision based on the text.

However, what the synopsis doesn’t tell you, and what you need to know, is that this novel also has extreme religious undertones, and only half the novel deals with witchery.  Many of the characters are highly religious and they quote from the Bible often, which is fine, but not my forte.  I understand that religion is imperative for this historical novel as it deals not only with false accusations of witchery, but also with King Charles’ attempt to force protestants into submission.  However, I found myself skimming large passages where the characters rehash previous statements, or quote excessively from the Bible, and I just didn’t enjoy that portion of the novel.  This, of course, is a personal preference, and you may come to a different conclusion as you read; it just isn’t for me.  Three and a half stars.