Tag Archives: genre: contemporary

Book Review: The Waiting Tree by Lindsay Moynihan

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the waiting treeInfo:
Title: The Waiting Tree
Author: Lindsay Moynihan
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Children’s Publishing
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT
Page Count: 218 (paperback ARC)
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Simon Peters wants to stand up for the truth about who he is. His love for Stephen is unwavering, but does he have the courage to defend it when his entire church community, including his eldest brother has ostracized him? Trapped in a cashier’s job he hates, struggling to maintain peace with his brothers after their parents have died, and determined to look after his mute brother, Simon puts everyone else’s needs before his own. It takes a courageous act of self-sacrifice on Jude’s part to change both of their lives forever. Jude, who knew that when the fig tree in their yard began to bloom, it was his time to finally be heard and to set Simon free. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
When I read the summary for THE WAITING TREE, I thought the book would be about Simon’s difficulty in being gay in a community where Being Gay Is Not Acceptable. In part, that’s some of the story, but Simon also has a lot of other problems. THE WAITING TREE is his journey of self-discovery.

Simon and his three brothers were orphaned after their parents died in a car accident. Simon didn’t even get to finish high school. Instead, to help out financially, he had to get a job at a place that’s very reminiscent of a certain big blue retailer. Simon works nights because during the day he watches his twin brother, Jude. Jude has never spoken a word in his life and can’t take care of himself. On top of everything else, Simon lives in an economically dead and conservative town, so there aren’t a lot of options. And the very worst part? His boyfriend, Stephen, was sent to a “de-gay” center after Stephen’s dad found the two having sex.

THE WAITING TREE is not a cheerful book. It is realistic and gritty, but also hopeful. I think a lot of teens will empathize with all the burdens Simon has. Times are tough for teens and young adults (and everyone else), and I think readers will understand what Simon is going through. They might even feel like they’re going through the same sort of thing themselves — overwhelmed by everything, and just getting through day by day.

And that’s exactly what Simon’s doing — living day by day. His main concern is Jude. Second is his love for Stephen. As I read THE WAITING TREE, I was both sad and hopeful, and I enjoyed seeing Simon eventually realize he couldn’t just sit back and shuffle through life, that he had to take steps if he wanted to change things.

I would have liked to see what happened when Simon went to get Stephen. The ending was my least favorite part because it was open ended; I’m the type of reader who likes closure. But otherwise, I enjoyed the book, and I don’t think I put it down while reading. It’s not a very long book (the ARC is 218 pages) so it’s easy to finish it in one or two sessions.

Simon and Jude stole my heart, and when Jude made a very painful decision, I actually said, “No, don’t do it!” As for what that decision was, you’ll have to read THE WAITING TREE to find out, which I recommend you do. Although it’s a Young Adult book, I think adults would enjoy it too. As I said, it’s not a cheerful book — there’s a lot of bad stuff going on I didn’t mention — but I think the message behind the book is a good one.

Socialize with the author:
Lindsay Moynihan:
Website
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Twisted Summer by Lucy V. Morgan (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for TWISTED SUMMER by Lucy V. Morgan. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can visit the rest of the stops here.

twisted summerInfo:
Title: Twisted Summer
Author: Lucy V. Morgan
Release Date: April, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? No
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Page Count: 169
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

A dark New Adult romance

You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.

With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.

Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It’s a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).

They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.

TWISTED SUMMER is just that — the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.

What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.

The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Lucy writes sharp contemporary fiction, usually with a liberal splatter of filth. She is a Lyrical Press author and a screenwriter.

Her upcoming new adult novel, TWISTED SUMMER, is a gutsy take on forbidden love starring an even gutsier heroine.

Her contemporary series, encompassing CHAIRMAN OF THE WHORED and THE WHORED’S PRAYER, features slick London lawyers with a penchant for sensual violence. It’s definitely on the darker side. BEAUTIFUL MESS, her current release, is a snarky, sexy friends-to-lovers romp.

Lucy is currently working on new novels, and is developing a paranormal television series with producers (think The Vampire Diaries meets The 4400).

She is still trying to kick her dirty Pepsi habit.
Website

– leeanna

Book Review: Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

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pretty girl-13Info:
Title: Pretty Girl-13
Author: Liz Coley
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Psychological, Mystery
Page Count: 352
Rating: [5/5 stars]

Summary:

Reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart case, Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing and powerful psychological mystery about a girl who must piece together the story of her kidnapping and captivity.

Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods alone on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she’s returned home…only to find that it’s three years later and she’s sixteen-or at least that’s what everyone tells her.

What happened to the past three years of her life?

Angie doesn’t know.

But there are people who do — people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren’t locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her “alters.” As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?

Liz Coley’s alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing – and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
PRETTY GIRL-13 is a book that flew under my radar. I don’t usually read contemporary fiction, because I like something supernatural or magical to spice up a world. But once I read the first few pages of the book, I couldn’t finish it fast enough. I devoured PRETTY GIRL-13 in one sitting, blocking out everything around me and getting annoyed every time I needed to take a break.

The book starts with Angie returning home from a camping trip. Or so she thinks. When she greets her parents, she’s shocked by their reaction. They claim she has been missing for the last three years, and that she’s now 16. But the last thing Angie remembers is her Girl Scouts camping trip; she thinks she is 13.

From there, PRETTY GIRL-13 takes off. I usually try not to spoil the plot when I review a book, but in this case, I REALLY don’t want to say anything more. I went into the book blind, which I think is the best way to read it. If you’re debating reading this book, try to avoid spoiling yourself.

I can say that this is a dark psychological mystery. The author goes into some dark topics that you usually don’t see in a young adult novel. Angie’s story is chilling, terrifying, and emotional. At the same time, it’s inspirational and hopeful, because Angie is not a victim. She is a survivor. And let me tell you, she survives a lot.

Looking back, there are some aspects I could critique, but I’m not going there. I was fully immersed in the book while reading. When I finished, I felt empty, because there weren’t any more pages to turn. I read upwards of 100 books a year, and very few leave me with a physical reaction. I already know PRETTY GIRL-13 is going to be one of my favorite books of 2013, and it’s only April.

It is a fast read, so if you’re in doubt, give it a try. And while I read it in the space of a few hours, it’s a book that has stayed with me in the two weeks it’s taken me to write this review. Oh, lastly I do have to say that the prologue threw me for a loop, since it’s written in second-person POV, but almost all of the book in third-person. You’ll see why the prologue is different when you learn Angie’s story.

Socialize with the author:
Liz Coley:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the forgotten onesInfo:
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Release Date: April 30, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? Danaan Trilogy #1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Page Count: 177
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE FORGOTTEN ONES is an interesting blend of contemporary and fantasy. Main character Allison is twenty-one, which places the book in the new adult age range, but it reads sort of like a young adult book, so I’d recommend for fans of either or both. She has some experiences of young adult characters, like dancing around a guy she likes, but also experiences of adults, with her desire to take care of her mother on her own.

I liked Allison. She’s responsible and smart, and doesn’t let a cute guy sway her from her intended goals. Allison’s mother has schizophrenia, and she blames herself for her mother’s disorder, because it developed after she was born. Her mother’s parents have always taken care of Allison and her mother, but now that she’s an adult, Allison feels it’s time for her to step up.

The first half of THE FORGOTTEN ONES is contemporary. There’s a hint of the fantasy world to come, because Allison has strange dreams, but otherwise, she lives a pretty normal life. It’s only when her long lost father shows up that she learns the truth about him: he’s a Danaan, an Irish fairy. Allison rightfully resents her father for leaving her mother pregnant and alone, so she’s not happy that he claims he’s the only one that can fix her mom.

When Allison enters Tír na n’Óg, aka Irish fairy stomping grounds, the fantasy part of THE FORGOTTEN ONES comes alive. I liked that the author turned to Irish mythology for inspiration. Allison quickly gets stuck in the middle of Danaan politics in an attempt to rescue her mother. She doesn’t know who she can trust, because Danaan are verrrry tricky. But she has an ally in Aodhan, a human who gradually turned Danaan after spending hundreds of years in Tír na n’Óg. I found Aodhan an interesting character because he’s a good example of what happens to humans when they spend too much time in Tír na n’Óg.

Allison does have a love interest, Ethan. She’s known Ethan since they were kids, and although they shared a pretty passionate kiss a few years ago, she doesn’t want to get anywhere near a relationship with him. As I said above, Allison doesn’t want to be detracted by a guy because supporting herself and her mother is more important to her. Inevitably, though, they head towards a relationship. Ethan’s a nice guy, but I wasn’t convinced of their attraction to each other.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES is a good start to a new series. It is a short read at only 177 pages. I would have liked to see a longer book because I think the story and characters could have been expanded upon. I had trouble keeping track of all the different Danaan because they were introduced in quick succession. I also thought the ending was somewhat abrupt. However, the author did intrigue me enough for me to want to find out what happens next to Allison.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide.

About the author:
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops for THE S-WORD blog tour. The tour is hosted by Shane at Itching For Books. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

the s-wordInfo:
Title: The S-Word
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books
Source: Edelweiss/Blog Tour
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery
Page Count: 304
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie’s looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she’s caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie’s own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I almost passed over THE S-WORD. As a rule, I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction. It’s just not my favorite genre. But so far in 2013, I’ve read a couple of great contemporary books, so after reading the summary for THE S-WORD, I decided to give it a try.

I am happy I did. I like when YA books go deep into issues, and THE S-WORD explores quite a few, like bullying. I also like when YA books are realistic, and THE S-WORD is. There’s sex, drinking, and all the stuff teens do that adults don’t like to think they do. I think it’s important that teens have these realistic books, so that they have examples of how life can really be, instead of the sanitized and unrealistic relationships that populate many YA books.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox.

THE S-WORD is a powerful book that explores what the word “slut” really means. As Lizzie herself says, in a diary entry, “Ask a hundred people the meaning of that word and you’ll hear a hundred answers (p. 89, ARC).” The author leaves it to the reader to come up with their own meaning.

At the start of the book, Lizzie is already dead. But, as Angie says, Lizzie didn’t go quietly. A few days after Lizzie’s funeral, “Suicide Slut” shows up on lockers, the words written in Lizzie’s handwriting. Determined to find out who is making fun of her best friend’s suicide, Angie delves into the reasons why Lizzie took her own life. It’s not a pretty look, and Angie’s not always a character I liked. That was a plus for me, because usually, I am a character-driven reader, but the story the author created was compelling enough for me to overlook the fact that Angie was somewhat psychotic at times.

THE S-WORD is also a mystery, with layers of story surrounding the truth about Angie and Lizzie. It was a book I didn’t want to stop reading, because I had to find out what was going to happen next, or what truth would be revealed.

Excerpt:

Miss Popularity is found on the bleachers of the football field, positioned perfectly so the boys below can see all the way up her long, long legs, past the hem of her skirt, and then . . . nothing. her legs cross at the thigh, cutting off the view just when it gets interesting. We girls learn early what to show and what to hide, to walk that tightrope between useless prude and usable slut. p. 7, ARC)

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour wide

About the author:
Chelsea Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.

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– leeanna

Book Review: Kings of Ruin by Sam Cameron

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kings of ruinInfo:
Title: Kings of Ruin
Author: Sam Cameron
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Source: Bold Strokes Books/NetGalley
Series? Unknown
Genre: YA, LGBT, Adventure, Contemporary, Supernatural, Science Fiction
Page Count: 193
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Danny Kelly cares only for rock ‘n’ roll and fast cars. Too bad he’s stuck in the capital of country music and he’s banned from driving until he turns twenty-one. Plus he likes other boys, a secret that he’s vowed to keep until he graduates high school. When his stepdad’s new truck roars off on its own, Danny discovers a secret that is endangering cars and drivers across America. It almost kills Danny, too, until he’s saved by seventeen-year-old Kevin Clark. Kevin’s gay, handsome, and confident, but working with his dad’s secret government organization has left him lonely. It’s going to take a weekend of car chases, fiery explosions, and country-western singing to save the citizens of Nashville from certain death—but can Danny protect his heart and secrets as well? (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
KINGS OF RUIN is a compelling mix of contemporary and the supernatural. I sat down to read a few chapters and before I knew it I’d finished the whole book. I was that into the story and the characters.

Danny and Kevin are teenagers with one big thing in common: they each lost someone they loved in a car crash. Otherwise, they have some differences. Danny won’t admit that he’s gay, and has a girlfriend to keep up appearances. He doesn’t know the truth about how his father and brother died. Kevin is proudly out but single because of his job — he and his father are part of a team from the Department of Transportation who hunt down Ruins all over the U.S. Kevin’s mother died in a crash caused by the Ruins. Think of Ruins as malevolent spirits that take over cars because they like killing people and creating chaos.

The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Aside from Danny and Kevin, there’s the rest of the Ruin hunting team, and I got the feeling they all had interesting back stories of their own. In particular, I liked Mrs. Morris, and the way Danny thought about her when she fills in for his physics teacher: “She was easily the most beautiful woman Danny had ever seen. If it weren’t for the whole gay thing, he might have fallen a little bit in love with her right then and there (p. 17, ARC).”

Some of the other characters that shined were 2KEWEL, FIREBUG, and CHOPR. I don’t know if they would appreciate being described as cute, but they were! The author infused personality into the toy cars and helicopter, and they were an important part of the story even though they couldn’t talk.

I had fun reading KINGS OF RUIN, and I hope there will be another book to continue Danny and Kevin’s story. As you can probably guess, a spark pops up between the two boys. I liked how meeting Kevin made Danny re-evaluate keeping his sexuality a secret. And, although both boys are gay, KINGS OF RUIN isn’t a coming out story. It’s just part of who they are.

I only wish the book had been longer. I thought there could have been more explanation about the Ruins, as I had some questions about them (how does the government know about them? what happens to Ruins after they’re zapped? etc.), and I would also have liked to see some more romance between Danny and Kevin. However, the hints of romance in the book were realistic, and I was happy that they didn’t fall instantly in love and ride off into the sunset together.

KINGS OF RUIN is a well-written YA book full of adventure. I’d recommend it for guys, because there’s a lot of car talk and both main characters are guys, but I think anyone would enjoy it.

Socialize with the author:
Sam Cameron:
Website

– leeanna

Review: Safekeeping by Karen Hesse

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safekeepingInfo:
Title: Safekeeping
Author: Karen Hesse
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Dystopia
Page Count: 304

Summary:

Radley just wants to get home to her parents in Vermont. While she was volunteering abroad, the American People’s Party took power; the new president was assassinated; and the government cracked down on citizens. Travel restrictions are worse than ever, and when her plane finally lands in New Hampshire, Radley’s parents aren’t there.

Exhausted; her phone dead; her credit cards worthless: Radley starts walking. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
When I read the summary for Safekeeping, I thought it would be an action-packed, the world has ended, Radley is gonna kick some butt type of book.

Sadly, it isn’t.

Now, I’ve read a couple of Karen Hesse’s novels before, and one, Letters from Rifka, is a book I read over and over when I was younger. So perhaps I should have expected a more contemplative book, but I assumed Safekeeping would have lots of action, based on the summary. I hate when summaries give the wrong impression!

So what is Safekeeping about? It’s about Radley’s inner growth. There are some heavy handed messages in this book, such as the message that we don’t need stuff (possessions) and that we should take care of others. Even when she’s starving and lonely, Radley can’t help but think about orphans she helped in Haiti before returning to America. I had a hard time believing it.

Safekeeping includes 50 of the author’s own photographs, which I thought would be a neat addition to the text, as they are another way for Hesse to share her vision. But a lot of the time, the photographs didn’t go along with the vignette, and so I would be confused as to why there was a picture of a cow.

There’s just not a lot that happens in this book. Almost all of the action is offstage, and the worldbuilding is very sparse and unbelievable. If America descended into chaos — the prisons filled with malcontents, disease running rampant, the electricity going out, and the Internet shut off — I have a hard time believing that mere months after, the country would be back to normal.

The one thing I did like about Safekeeping is Radley’s realization that she needs to appreciate her parents more. Young adult fiction has a tradition of the absent or neglectful parent, so I was happy to see Radley miss her parents, as well as think of ways she could show them she loved them when she sees them again.

Rating: 2 owls

Socialize with the author:
Karen Hesse:
Website

– leeanna

Review: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

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the chosen oneInfo:
Title: The Chosen One
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Release Date: May 12, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: Library
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Page Count: 213

Summary:

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much—if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.

But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I’ve read quite a few books inspired by polygamist cults lately, so The Chosen One didn’t have that much impact for me. For the most part, these books have similar stories: Inside a polygamist compound or community, a young girl is promised to a much older man, to be one of his many wives. She wants to marry someone her own age, someone she really loves, but that’s against the rules of the community, and the boy is usually beaten and exiled. The marriage and treatment of the boy she loves is the impetus for her to flee, leaving her family and the only life she knows for the “Satan filled” real world.

I’m oversimplifying, but not by much. I’ve read three similar books in the past few weeks, and they ALL have that basic storyline. I really wish the authors would try something new.

The Chosen One is no exception. The book follows that basic storyline, although Kyra’s parents are more sympathetic than usual. They actually try to protest when the Prophet promises thirteen-year-old Kyra to her sixty-year-old uncle. Usually, the parents see the marriage of their daughter as a way to improve their own standing, especially if she is promised to a man high in the Prophet’s standings.

There’s a lot of dark stuff in this book. Graphic abuse of minors, including a baby; the murder of a girl who tried to run away; and unfit (mentally ill) children being killed. Kyra herself goes through abuse at the hands of her husband-to-be. So I would take that into consideration, if you recommend the The Chosen One for younger readers.

I almost wish Kyra hadn’t had a secret romance. While Joshua is a sweet guy, I feel like her interest in forbidden books could have been enough of a push for her to leave. Kyra sneaks out weekly to the local library’s bookmobile. I actually wished for something like this to happen when I read a similar book (Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez Greene), so I was happy that one author picked up on how books can change lives. I just wanted them to have more of an impact!

In the end, The Chosen One isn’t super original, but there’s only so much that can be done with this basic story. The author’s style is the big plus of this book. I tend to prefer more substance, but The Chosen One is written almost in verse, which I thought captured Kyra’s thoughts in a good, authentic way.

Quotes:

And when we did kiss, it was all my fault.
[...] On the piano bench.
Smelling the soap he uses.
Watching his hands.
Hardly thinking of mine. (p. 37)

If I ever leave
(should I even think this?
no, I shouldn’t even think this)
if I ever leave
(maybe I could) (p. 55)

Rating: 3 owls

Socialize with the author:
Carol Lynch Williams:
Website

– leeanna

Review: Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez Greene

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keep sweetInfo:
Title: Keep Sweet
Author: Michele Dominguez Greene
Release Date: March 9, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Library
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Page Count: 215

Summary:

Alva Jane has never questioned her parents, never questioned her faith, never questioned her future. She is content with the strict rules that define her life in Pineridge, the walled community where she lives with her father, his seven wives, and her twenty-eight siblings. This is the only world Alva has ever known, and she has never thought to challenge it. But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year-old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose—and how impossible it will be to escape. (summary from amazon)

My Review:
I had a hard time deciding between 2 and 3 owls for Keep Sweet. I’ve read many similar stories, so the plot wasn’t new to me, and while I mostly enjoyed the book while reading, I kept having the feeling that it’s been done before, and done better. So I went with 2 owls.

As I’ve said, I’ve read a lot of similar books. For some reason, I find the FLDS community fascinating. Maybe it’s me wondering how something like it could still exist. I’m not sure. Anyway, I’ve read Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall, and Church of Lies by Flora Jessop. I recommend all of those, all memoirs. On the fiction side, I’ve read The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff and Hidden Wives by Claire Avery. So, I have some experience in this “genre.”

My big problem is with Alva Jane, the main character. For a girl that never went to public school, and whose teacher was a thirteen-year-old school dropout, Alva Jane’s voice is way too mature. I could have believed her knowledge more if she’d had forbidden books or something, but at the start of Keep Sweet, Alva Jane is a perfect member of the community.

I also thought Alva Jane’s questioning her faith and beliefs came a bit too swiftly. Yes, I know she experiences some very violent events during the book, but when contrasted with her mother’s zeal, and Alva Jane wishing she was just like her, it felt off to me for her to change so quickly. Maybe if the book had been longer, and Alva Jane’s character had more room for development, it would have worked for me.

Along with the short length of the book, the ending is way too rushed. Keep Sweet moves very quickly from Point A to Point B to Point C.

However, there are some things in Keep Sweet that I liked. One is Brenda, an outsider joining the community, which you don’t often see. The conversations between Alva Jane and Brenda are a good way to see the differences between the Pineridge (fictional FLDS community) and modern life. Another thing is that the author wasn’t scared to hurt her characters. Alva Jane has some very bad things happen to her, which may make the book unsuitable for younger readers.

I’d recommend Keep Sweet only if you haven’t read other books based on the FLDS.

Rating: 2 owls

Socialize with the author:
Michele Dominguez Greene:
Website

– leeanna

Review: Shift by Em Bailey

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shiftInfo:
Title: Shift
Author: Em Bailey
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary
Page Count: 320

Summary:

She obediently takes her meds and stays under the radar at school. After “the incident,” Olive just wants to avoid any more trouble, so she knows the smartest thing is to stay clear of the new girl who is rumored to have quite the creepy past.

But there’s no avoiding Miranda Vaile. As mousy Miranda edges her way into the popular group, right up to the side of queen bee Katie – and pushes the others right out – only Olive seems to notice that something strange is going on. Something almost . . . parasitic. Either Olive is losing her grip on reality, or Miranda Vaile is stealing Katie’s life.

But who would ever believe crazy Olive, the girl who has a habit of letting her imagination run away with her? And what if Olive is the next target?

A chilling psychological thriller that tears through themes of identity, loss, and toxic friendship, Shift will leave readers guessing until the final pages. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
At first, I thought Shift was going to be scary. I mean, the inside flap describes it as a “psychological thriller.” And I did have a moment or two where I went, “Okay, that is creepy,” but before long, my thoughts changed to, “That’s it?”

“That’s it?” sums up how I feel about this book. I really don’t like when something obvious is kept secret when I’m reading — Olive’s “Incident” — yet the author reminds me over it over and over and over again. I knew what she had tried to do the first time it was mentioned. I suppose her unreliable mental state is part of the book — I never knew if I could believe her or not, and I got tired of that pretty quickly.

I also had a hard time believing that Olive’s mother didn’t notice what was happening to her. After becoming friends with Miranda, Olive physically wastes away. I highly doubt her mum wouldn’t have seen that happening, and wouldn’t have been watching over her, especially after Olive had a problem with her medication.

I was disappointed with the ending, too. After the same thing happened twice, the ending was a fizzle. I didn’t feel any urgency or fear for Olive, just a general blahness. Hence my “That’s it?” thought for the book as a whole.

Rating: 2 owls