#ComeClean with Seventh Generation

I'm so stoked that when I have a family I will already know so much about about children and what to look out for. By going Here you can join a community of parents and couples trying to conceive or adopt that truly care about raising a clean generation. By joining you can receive coupons and free products to try just like I did. Sometimes you just have to try it for yourself. It's important that we force every company to disclose what chemicals they put in our detergents and household cleaners.

Seventh Generation

I have only just started using Seventh Generation products but I already love them. Ever since I was diagnosed with diabetes I've read nutritional information label on everything I eat. So why haven't I been more concerned with what I use to clean my home or my clothes or my dishes. Chemicals that I would never want anywhere near me are hidden behind camo words like fragrance or surfactants. By joining the Good Generation website I gained valuable insight. I also scored free product which has always been a plus for me. That's what Seventh Generation is about. Raising a clean generation. And I'm proud to get behind this movement.

2016 New Year Resolution

A tad early but I have already decided on my resolution for 2016. I'm not going to make any promises about writing a certain number of reviews a month or a goal for the entire year. Instead I have resolved in the next year to finish the series I have reviewed on here where applicable.

For instance the Castor Chronicles will not be revisited. I never finished Beautiful Creatures and I will not be picking that book up ever again. Other books may not have sequels yet when they do I will read and review them.

This is my working list of books I will be reviewing next year to fulfill this resolution. With determination I'm sure next December this post will have links to where I have reviewed these books.

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
The Body Electric by Beth Revis
The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan
The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Dutton Books

Publishing Year: 2012

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: Hazel Grace is our protagonist and we follow her story as she battles cancer and the knowledge that she will eventually die. Early in the book she meets Augustus Waters who has lost his leg to cancer and is now in remission. The only thing he fears is oblivion and Hazel believes oblivion to be inevitable. The Fault In Our Stars follows their story from the first time they meet and tells their love story.

I always promise myself I won't read any book where a character has cancer. It never ends well and I usually cry my bloody eyes out. Lurlene McDaniel destroyed my heart early on and I've never gotten over her novel 'A Rose For Melinda'. And yet here I am writing a review for a book filled with cancer. That being said what originally drew my attention to this novel was the movie adaption I'm sad to say. For me it usually goes that I read the book then see the movie. But not this time, I heard nothing but amazing reviews and comments about it. So I watched it and cried and then made my boyfriend watch it. He cried also.

So having already seen the movie, and knowing the ending I was sure I wouldn't let the book hit me on any kind of emotional level. I was wrong. The book delivered the same amount of heart-string tugging that the film did. All in all it was a good read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others. The only reason it loses two points from my rating is Hazel Grace. I found it difficult to relate to her. In the movie she seemed more sophisticated and wise, but not so much in the book. In the novel she came across more emotional and more prone to mood swings.  Now I have to say that this is my personal opinion, because knowing how many people love this book there are plenty of readers out there to disagree with me.

Rather than end on that sour note I would like to point out my favorite part from the novel. "It's a metaphor, see: you put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing." In this quote Augustus held a cigarette in his mouth and Hazel Grace flipped her lid. Reasonable considering cigarettes are linked to cancer and he was in remission. I know it's a popular one but it is indeed my absolute favorite. It was quirky and made Augustus, or Gus if you prefer, stand out and defined him nicely as a character.

Movie Review: The Host

Ages ago I did a book review for Stephanie Meyers' book The Host and surprisingly it was a great book. It should have gotten the publicity that Twilight didn't deserve. Its a book I cannot shut up about.
Since it also had a film adaption I decided back when it first came out that I would watch it-despite my wariness. The movie Eragon has left deep scars on my soul.

First, I was not disappointed with the movie, it kept to the story line and I recognized various bits of dialogue from the book. But I also can see why it had already been knocked down to five dollars at Walmart. Besides Mel's quips it was very dry and slow moving. The in depth view we have to Wanda's emotions in the book couldn't be conveyed sufficiently in the film. Wanda/Mel had multiple scenes were they stared directly into the camera, it repeatedly seemed like they were breaching the fourth wall.

Several minor characters were cut such as Kyle's girlfriend and the soul who possesses her body. While I don't feel that the lack of these characters affected the overall plot I was disappointed not to see them. For a movie that ran a full two hours and some change I expected a little more detail.

Finally the last scene in the movie and in the book. It was so drastically different from what I imagined. I pictured the confrontation happening somewhere in the desert not in the middle of the city. I feel like that could be a fault on my part as a reader. I'll have to go back and read the book again to make sure I didn't overlook the setting. Somehow I know I did.

Still despite all that I'm still hoping for a sequel to the book and eventually the movie. I can't stand how open ended they both were. Twilight becomes a saga and The Host still remains a standalone? Nope. Not liking it.
 
Question: Does anyone else agree that an author's most successful book may not be their best work?

How to tell your boyfriend is from the north

This is a snippet of a conversation I had with Mason, my boyfriend yesterday.

Mason: When does hunting season end?
Me: I don't know.
Mason: Is it the same as in the north?
Me: I don't know. Who do you think you're talking to?
Mason: Well when do they stop wearing camoflague?
Me: ...This is the South. They never stop.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Year: 1982
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:
It is 1914, and Joey, a farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of World War I on the Western Front. When Joey is dragged away, his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he is forced to leave behind. In the army the beautiful red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off the battlefields. Amongst the clamoring of guns, and while plodding through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. And if it does, will he ever find Albert again?
Review:
The biggest problem I had going into this book was its length. Its shorter than any book I've read in years. Despite that I know its been adapted into a movie and has become popular so I decided to give it a chance and I am so glad that I did. I got more emotional over this book than most. Not to say its up there with an Ellen Hopkins novel but it did unexpectedly tug at my heartstrings. Then again I love animals so maybe I'm a tad biased.
The setting also appealed to me, there is no genre I love more than historical fiction and thanks to this novel I saw a side of WWI that I had never considered. In my history classes we discussed the artillery and evolution of weapons but the use of horses was never brought up.
It was throughly engaging and due to its shorter length there was never a dull moment. The plot was continously moving forward and before I knew it I had finished the book. It ended in a satisfying way for me, although with a twinge of sadness. This is one I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to read and just needs a little fix. Perfect to read in a doctors office or on a lunch break. No hidden symbolism or deep meaning that makes you question everything. Just a good book.

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publishing Year: 2005
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:
As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents act more oddly than usual. Then her father drives the entire family across several state lines-and leaves Bethany with an aunt she never knew existed. Bethany's only clue is a few words she overheard. "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." The mystery intensifies when Bethany gets a package from her father containing four different birth certificates from different state, with different last names-and thousands of dollars in cash. And when a strange man shows up asking questions, Bethany realizes she's not the only one who's desperate to unravel the secrets of her past.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. Its thought provoking and deals with difficult relationships but it doesn't go into much detail. Bethany certainly shows an emotional reaction to finding out she's a clone and anger towards her parents for deceiving her but then the story is wrapped up quickly and it's all blown over without a satisfying resolution.

It also dances around the ethics of cloning and Bethany's mother's breakdown. But because of the time frame cloning wasn't illegal when Bethany was born so her father doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. And then in the epilogue she reveals that her and her mother are in therapy. Every loose end is tied up but the conclusion was very anticlimactic.

But regardless it was still a good book, and I like where it took me. Bethany was a lovable character and her tale was certainly endearing although I wanted to slap her role models.

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Year: 1974
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
All his life Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother, Sam. Sam is smart and brave an always knows the right thing to do. Everyone in town admires him. Until now. Sam has enlisted in the new American Revolutionary Army. He talks about defeating the British and becoming independent and free. But not everyone in town wants to be a part of this new America. Most people are loyal supporters of the English king-including Tim and Sam's father. War is raging and Tim knows he'll have to make a choice. But how can he choose when it means fighting his father on one side and fighting his brother on the other?

Review:
I didn't expect much from this book. I saw that it had won some awards and although I was certain it was meant for a younger audience I hopes it would satisfy my need for a historical fiction novel. I didn't expect it to be this good.

I haven't read many books set during the American Revolution but every single one has been promoting the Rebels. I enjoyed seeing not only the Loyalist perspective but also one of a pacifist. It was different and I enjoyed reading a book that focused on the consequences of war rather than the glory of it.

The only think it didn't do was touch my emotions. I didn't feel sad when Sam died-does this count as a spoiler considering the title? Nor did I sympathize with Tim when he was caught between his brother and Sam. I read it in a mild state of apathy but still found it enjoyable.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Series: Fairytale Retellings #2
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publishing year: 2011
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too. Years later, they find themselves in South Carolina.  Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is. 

Review:
I expected this to be completely different from Sisters Red, the first book in this series. You can see my review of the first book here. I was partly right. Unlike the other book there is only one narrator in this one. That is probably the biggest difference between the two. And I have to say I liked that aspect, it was much easier to follow the story from one point of view. I also found myself liking Gretchen, she has a lot of spunk. Her brother, Ansel, I didn't care much for, but this didn't surprise me. As an only child in reality I've never been fond of siblings in fiction. Slightly weird but it's mainly because I have a serious lack of understanding about the relationship between siblings.

Anyway I started this book with the assumption that the books were linked solely by their roots in fairy tales, but I was wrong. They do share an overall plot line involving the fenris. I am genuinely looking forward to reading the third book.

The fenris spin made me absolutely love this series, this is one of the few times I can say the sequel conquers the first book. I'm a sucker for anything resembling werewolves. Sweetly had several surprises and it kept me guessing. Every time I thought it was becoming dull or when I began predicting the next scene I was wrong.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Hyperion Press
Publishing year: 2012
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: 

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Review:

It took me a while to get used to the voice of this book. For one it's in first person, which I am slowly becoming used to but its an uphill battle. For another it didn't have a good start.

First sentence: "I am a coward."

Okay that's not too bad. It does generate curiosity, which is always good but the next ten pages or so are dull. Secondly, I just found it very hard to like the narrator, at first anyway.

Thanks to some pretty awesome reviews I stuck through the boring bits and got to the more interesting ones that other reviews promised. Now I can say without a doubt I love this book. It's not an all time favorite of mine but neither is it a castaway.

As far as WWII novels go, I prefer Soldier X. It's a little less detailed, and oddly enough I like that. Still it was nice to learn so much about planes. It was hard at first but after two hundred pages I could say I had learned a little something.

What really pulled me in was the characterization and relationships between the characters. It was written to come off as sincere and genuine. It succeeded. There was no insta-love or fake friendships.  The ending was heartbreaking because I felt that I truly knew Julie and Maddie as people. It was so realistic, this story could have been based on a true story.

When all was said and done and I closed this book, one quote remains in my head. 

"Fly the plane, Maddie."

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Philomel

Publishing year: 2012

Rating: 5/5

 Synopsis:

Panic grips the city!
There is a killer loose in New York City, and Carver Young is the only one who sees the startling connection between the recent string of murders and the most famous serial killer in history: Jack the Ripper. Time is winding down until the killer claims another victim, but Carver soon sees that, to The Ripper, this is all a game that he may be destined to lose.
 

Review:

There are so many words to describe this book: steam punk, science fiction, historical fiction...awesome. Most historical fiction I read takes fictional characters and places them in true historical event or time period. Well Ripper does that and more. If I had to name something similar I would point to Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Why? Because real historical figures are present such as Teddy Roosevelt and Jack the Ripper and the book doesn't take too many liberties with history. Sure it's unlikely that Old Jack had a son, and there were no ripper murders in New York but neither did Lincoln hunt vampires.

What I found amazing about this novel, besides the way the mystery unravels which for lack of a better term is epic, is that Petrucha shows a human side of the ripper. If this story has a moral, it would br that no one is wholly good or evil. Jack for example started off as a good man but circumstances and his reactions slowly changes him. But even after that we can still see he cares for Carver. In his own way.

And what a name for his son, Carver. Considering that Jack is best known for carving people up. Punny!

I didn't catch it when reading after all I was so tangled up in the plot that I didn't take the time to analyze the details but this novel definitely falls into the science fiction sub-genre steampunk and historical and science fiction all in one? I am in heaven.

I don't think this will have a sequel. There's room to work with the characters, no doubt and I'd love to read more of their adventures but I don't see that as possible unless Carver catches Jack.

Question time: Is having a father a big influence in a boy's life? Do you think Carver would be a different kind of person if his father raised him?

Remembrance by Theresa Breslin

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Publishing year: 2004
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
It was the largest conflict the world had ever known. It covered three continents and lasted five years. Millions of soldiers returned wounded, millions more never returned at all. In the summer of 1915, in a small village in Scotland, the Great War has already begun to irrevocably alter the course of five young lives.

Eighteen-year-old John Malcolm enlists in the army, eager to fight for his country. His sweetheart, 15-year-old Charlotte, stays behind to earn her nursing certificate, along with John Malcolm’s twin sister, Maggie, who recognizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself. Charlotte’s brother, Francis, sees only tragedy in the war, but feels the pressure to join up. And Alex, below the recruiting age, is determined to reach the front lines somehow.

Review:

Quite simply a wonderful book. I remember reading it for the first time in middle school and falling head over heels in love with it. I found both Charlotte and Maggie to be wonderful characters, and very well developed. We see Maggie's jealousy that her brother prefers spending time with Charlotte and we see Charlotte rebel against her mother. Neither character is an angel and that appeals to me.

I've always had trouble finding any YA historical fiction set during WWI, let alone anything worth reading which is why this book remains in my favorites. Finding books set during WWII is no problem, it seems like everyone is writing about Nazi Germany today, but I do wish there was more about the first war. 

What I love and hate about this book is the ending. Being set in the middle of the first world war, there is no way it can end happily. We do see character death, and while I was disappointed, I think it puts the book on a realistic level.
 

Soldier X by Don Wulffson

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing year: 2001
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Erik Brandt barely knows what Germany is fighting for when he is drafted into Hitler's army in 1944. Sent to the killing fields of the Eastern Front, he is surrounded by unimaginable sights, more horrific than he ever thought possible. It's kill or be killed, and it seems clear that Erik's days are numbered. Until, covered in blood and seriously injured, he conceives of another way to survive. Filled with gritty and visceral detail, Soldier X will change the way every reader thinks about the reality of war.

 Review:
This book took me by surprise in a wonderful fashion. I initially chose it because its a short book and because I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year I don't have a lot of time to read. Couple that with a need for some bloody historical fiction and I have to say I picked a winner. The action was fast paced and scarily realistic. The main character ends up scarred for life and no character is untouched by the war.

What I really liked about this book in comparison to others say, The Berlin Boxing Club, for example was that it showed multiple sides of the war and didn't pull any punches. It shows us the side of Germany we often glance over in these books, because after all, not every German soldier was a Nazi. A fact I strangely don't remember my history teachers ever mentioning ...hmm. And it shows us both the good and bad sides of Russia as well. Violence and slaughter abound and I think this book very accurately portrays the war and it's affect on soldiers and civilians of every nationality.

What I didn't see coming was the romance. I thought it was a coming of age story, which it was, bit the synopsis gave me no hint that there would be love between the pages of this novel. And what a love! It wasn't overdone or sappy but light, poignant, and expertly written. A Russian and a German from opposing sides falling in love, I absolutely adored it.

Question: If placed in a life or death situation could you desert a duty you had pledged yourself to? Why is it that being branded a deserter wasn't a heavy concern in Erik's mind?

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

Genre: Contemporary
Publishing year: 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Rating: 3/5
Series: Companion to Triangles

Synopsis:
Witnessing the fallout from the poor choices their parents make and the lies adults tell themselves, three teens are clinging to the last remnants of the secure and familiar world in which they've grown up. But the ground is shifting. What was once clear is now confused. Everything is tilting.
Mikayla is sure she's found the love her parents seem to have lost, but is suddenly weighing nearly impossible choices in the wake of dashed expectations. Shane has come out, unwilling to lie anymore about who he is, but finds himself struggling to keep it all under control in the face of first love and a horrific loss. Harley, a good girl just seeking new experiences, never expects to hurtle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.

Review:
I don't feel that this book lives up to the standard set by Hopkins' other books. It just felt flat to me. Before reading Impulse, I could only remember one time I had cried over a book, and that book was A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. But Impulse and several books after it made me burst into tears.  Just not this one. At least part of my problem is that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.I honestly didn't like a single one aside from Alex, and he wasn't involved enough for me to grow attached.

The biggest issue is the number of narrators. In every other book by Hopkins we might have three to five main characters, it just depends. But it seems like every character in Tilt had a say. Mikayla, Dylan, Tyler, Shelby, Shane, Alex, Harley, Lucas, and a few others. While getting a peak into character's head was interesting it really made it hard to focus on the story. I felt myself getting turned around and confused several times and it became frustrating when I began mixing up the characters. Whose sister is that? Wait is this girl's parents the ones getting divorced or is it that other girl. By the end of the book my head was spinning off into space.

The only character I came close to liking was Shelby, but knowing her fate from the get go stopped me from becoming emotional over her narrations. Having already read Triangles, I knew most of the plot spoilers for this book already, but I did like getting into Mikayla's head. She seemed childish in the first book, and while I'm not ready to completely change my opinion of her, she did take a small step to redemption in the end.

Question: How many characters are too many?

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy
Publishing year: 2000
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Queen's Thief #2
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:
When his small mountainous country goes to war with the powerful nation of Attolia, Eugenides the thief is faced with his greatest challenge. He must steal a man, he must steal a queen, and he must steal peace. But his greatest triumph-as well as his greatest loss-can only come if he succeeds in capturing something the Queen of Attolia may have sacrificed long ago.

Review:
Most reviews of this book are favorable and I do enjoy it as well, just look at the rating. But almost everyone seems to have chosen this book as their favorite in the series. I disagree. The first book, The Thief, had more action and the next book, The King of Attolia has more romance. I like this novel, it just isn't the highest ranking in the series for me.

 Anyway what I like most about this book is the witty dialogue between Gen and Irene, they're always snapping at each other and the best part about this book is that it doesn't have insta-love.

"She was very pretty." After a pause he added, "And very kind." Page 316.

"You have any mistresses and I'll cut your other hand off." Page 316.

I just love how Gen isn't fixated on the loss of his hand. Sure he misses it and it causes him annoyance but it doesn't stop him from falling for Attolia and he honestly doesn't seem to hold a grudge against her. In fact it seems that she is more bothered by it than he is. Interesting development. The changes we see in Attolia from her brief appearance in The Thief  to the ending of this book are drastic. She seems completely capable of love and even forgiveness.

Favorite scene is when Attolia is sending a messenger back to Eddis and since her enemy the Mede is present she has to layer the message to have a double meaning.I found her word play clever and sweet.

"What remains of his life, he spends with me, so you understand messenger?" Page 285.

I bet no one else has ever accepted a marriage proposal with those words. That she played the Mede for a fool only adds to my delight. Unlike The Thief, this book is written in third person and we see several scenes in the point of view of the Mede. Just as he thought she was playing into his hands, he was playing into hers. Hard not to love a book like this one, although I promise The King of Attolia is better.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy
Publishing year: 1996
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Queen's Thief #1
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
Because of his bragging-and his great skill-Gen lands in the King's prison, shackled to the wall of his cell. After months of isolation, he is released by none other than the King's scholar, the Magus, who believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. The thief he needs for the long, dangerous journey is Gen. To the Magus, Gen is just a took. But Gen has some ideas of his own.

Review:
The second time I have read this book in less than a year and it still remains a resounding masterpiece in my mind. For once I am glad to read a book written in first person, it adds to the story in such a way that third person could never accomplish. Gen is able to surprise us over and over again because he is the only voice telling the story. He doesn't narrate every moment of every scene and leaves out minute details. However he leaves clues that get our brains whirling. He has a bump in his hair? The long hair he uses to hide objects he has stolen? We didn't read about him stealing anything did we? Oh yes, we did, Gen just didn't tell us, he showed us.

I thought Turner told this story in a brilliant fashion and I absolutely adore the world she set it in. So many resemblances to Greece and Greek mythology, I felt right at home. Of course having the gods become more than just mythological figures was a nice twist that unsettled me for a moment. It reminds me of the Percy Jackson series in a way.

One minor annoyance was the use of guns. In the setting and time period I envisioned there were no guns and I found myself having to adapt to their sudden appearance.

Without a doubt Eugenides is my favorite character. He is completely self-assured and confident of his abilities. But he has his flaws like all great characters do, from his swearing to his sulking he reminds us all that he is indeed human.

There are four books in this series, and I have read them all. But I plan to reread each so that I can review them here, so it shouldn't surprise anyone when my next review is of The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

Genre: Science Fiction
Publishing year: 2004
Publisher: Puffin
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:
In the future, in a place called Satellite City, fourteen-year-old Cosmo Hill enters the world, unwanted by his parents. He's sent to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Freight class.
At Clarissa Frayne, the boys are put to work by the state, testing highly dangerous products. At the end of most days, they are covered with burns, bruises, and sores. Cosmo realizes that if he doesn't escape, he will die at this so-called orphanage.

When the moment finally comes, Cosmo seizes his chance and breaks out with the help of the Supernaturalists, a motley crew of kids who all have the same special ability as Cosmo-they can see supernatural Parasites, creatures that feed on the life force of humans. The Supernaturalists patrol the city at night, hunting the Parasites in hopes of saving what is left of humanity in Satellite City. Or so they think. The Supernaturalists soon dins themselves caught in a web far more complicated than they'd imagined, when they discover a horrifying secret that will force them to question everything they believe in.

Review:
My first thought is that this could have been better. I love the idea of this story more than the actual writing. I honestly expected more of Colfer.

The action is wonderful, especially the drag race scene. The story moves quickly and the reader isn't likely to get bored. Its the characters that drag it down. None of them are fully developed and while I realize Colfer is working on a sequel to this book which I hope will flesh out these characters more fully, this novel was really lacking in characterization.

Another issue I had was with the narration. Thankfully it was in third person but even so there was so much head jumping. We spent the majority of the book with Cosmo but we frequently visited Mona, Ditto, and Stefan. Other readers may not find this annoying but it's a pet peeve of mine.

The ending. Trying not to spoil it completely, I just felt that very little had been fully addressed. Is Ditto now the leader of the Supernaturalists? Does Cosmo still want to know his parents? Has Cosmo finished grieving for Ziplock? It could have been more conclusive and still left room for a sequel.

For further reading I'd suggest Half Moon Investigations and The Reluctant Assassin, both by Eoin Colfer.

Question: We see a lot of orphans in young adult fiction, do you think the lack of parental guidance plays a significant role in the development of these characters?

Lost by Jacqueline Davies

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publishing year: 2009
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:
Essie can tell from the moment she lays eyes on Harriet Abbott: this is a woman who has taken a wrong turn in life. Why else would an educated, well-dressed, clearly upper-crust girl end up in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory setting sleeves for six dollars a day? But Harriet isn’t the only one who is lost. Essie wanders between the opposing emotions of her love for the young would-be lawyer who lives next door and her hatred for her mother who seems determined to take away every bit of happiness that Essie hopes to find. As the unlikely friendship between Essie and Harriet grows, so does the weight of the question hanging between them: Who is lost? And who will be found?

Review:
This was an entirely different take on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire for me. Essie was born in America, so unlike other books on this topic she doesn't encounter any language barriers. She is no greenhorn. But this book really isn't about the fire, nor about labor laws or unfair working conditions. Its about a girl whose entire world has been struck off-kilter and she believes her own delusions.

I do like how she escaped the fire though. Other protagonists ran to the roof, jumped, or squeezed into a elevator but Essie made sure her friend made it into the elevator car first and slid down the cable right after.
She is scarred for life but I think that is what makes her such a strong character. Every other protagonist came through physically unharmed but Essie didn't. I think this is far more realistic than other books I've read.

I won't spoil the actual ending anymore than I already have but let's just say it didn't sit well with me. I'm a big fan of happily ever after endings and although I know this story couldn't have ended with everything ties in a neat little bow, I needed more closure.

On characters, I am torn between smiling and wanting to throttle Jimmy. I was glad to see him gain his independence in the end but just the fact that he kissed Easier while he was engaged and the simply disappeared irritates me. He ran away with his tail between his legs and that's horrible. By the end of the book he never redeems himself and that was a large factor when I rated this book.

Question: Have you ever places someone's wants and desires before your own, such as Essie dis for her sister, to the point your happiness depended solely on theirs?

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Publishing year: 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Scarlett and Rosie March have spent years hunting the Fenris-werewolves who took Scarlett’s eye in a brutal attack years ago. Donning blood-red cloaks and wielding deadly hatchets, the sisters kill Fenris to protect other young girls from a grisly fate. Yet even as the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is lethal with an ax and is Scarlett’s only friend-but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they’ve worked for?

Review:

First I want to say that I read this in one sitting. That’s right, it’s that good. The writing is fast-paced, and never dull. The imagery is bold and defined. For example:

“His irises were dark sienna, the red-brown shade of Autumn leaves.” Page 2.

No matter the scene, it’s always detailed in a way that makes you feel like you’re there. A few times when reading about the Fenris attacks a chill went down my spine. It became incredibly easy to see those creatures with yellow fangs and patchy fur in my own house. This is a brilliant book to read late at night.

As for what kept this from achieving a perfect score, it begins with the beginning. Har har.  I was lead to believe this was written in third person thanks to the prologue and later I discovered the epilogue was also in third. Everything else was in first person with each chapter being narrated by the sisters. I’ve never been a big fan of alternating perspectives except with Across the Universe and it was also okay in this book.

I loved that this book was set in Georgia, especially since so much action took place in Atlanta. It seems childish but I’m always delighted when the setting of the book is a real-life location near me. It just makes it easier to fall for the book.

Another minor thing. Their cat is named Screwtape. I bet there’s a story behind that and I am so disappointed Pearce didn’t throw in a bit more of a backstory that way. Still every time Silas was attacked by the cat I had a good chuckle.

Sadly, the plot was a bit predictable. I had the basic ending sketched out after the first hundred and fifty pages or so. I’m not sure if that’s because I was on the lookout for a plot twist or not but it was still disappointing.

The age difference between Rosie and Silas was also a hurdle I had to overcome. If memory serves correctly, Rosie is sixteen to Silas’s twenty-one. When they’re in their thirties five years won’t make much of a difference but for this novel, I had to suspend my disbelief and that’s a hard thing to do. I understand why Silas has to be twenty-one but I don’t see why Rosie couldn’t be eighteen or nineteen. And while I’m on this topic. The scene where Silas and Scarlett kiss. Rosie never finds out and that irks me. It’s as though Rosie is second best to Scarlett for his affection and that’s not okay. It completely undermined Silas as a character.

One last piece of criticism. I read somewhere that this book was listed in the top 100 ranking of young adult books for feminists. Or something along that line. I just don’t see this as a feminist book. Every female character aside from Rosie, Scarlett, and Oma March is shown as superficial and vain. They’re overheard talking about nail polish and described as dragonflies. Brightly colored and flitting about. I might be missing a clue here. No doubt that Rosie, Scarlett, and Oma lead self-empowered lives but I don’t see how this can be called a feminist book when every other girl is so shallow.

Despite all my negative thoughts this is a book I’d recommend and I definitely plan to check out other books by this author.