Title: The Elite

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: April, 2013

Number of Pages: 323

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending. [From Goodreads]

Quote:

It’s the most wonderful and terrible thing that can ever happen to you… You know that you’ve found something amazing, and you want to hold on to it forever; and every second after you have it, you fear the moment you might lose it…

Love is beautiful fear.

Review:

I love this series so much. It’s a “light” read, but there’s more than meets the eye. The fun of the Bachelor/Cinderella story is balanced by the more serious nature of the dystopian world and the mounting “dissatisfaction” with the monarchy therein. The Selection (Review) set the stage for this, but The Elite takes the hints and whispers of a near uprising and turns them into violent acts and riots. The climax is on its way, and for that reason, I can’t stand the idea of waiting till May 2014 for the final book in the trilogy.

Of course, if you’re not into the social commentary side of things, there’s still much to have fun with in The Elite. However, as most second installments are, this book is riddled with trouble and conflict, all in preparation for what I’m sure will be a fantastically stressful climax.

With conflict comes irritation, in my opinion. There’s no way that every character can handle conflict gracefully (or even rationally), so it’s inevitable that some become a nuisance. The cast of The Elite is no exception. I found that America dug her hole deeper and deeper as the book progressed, particularly in the ever-maddening love triangle area, but, as usual, she proves that her integrity can’t be shaken so easily and that, despite her mistakes, she intends to make things right.

In fact, America’s development is one of the most exciting elements of the book. As she becomes more and more aware of the strife that strains her country, she is simultaneously forced to consider the idea of becoming the princess and being in a position of power. The combination of the two means that she has the potential to do great things for Ilea, but America soon realizes that being princess (or prince) does not guarantee the freedom to do what one believes is right. It may mean sacrificing her beliefs and idly standing by as people are taken advantage of – whatever it takes to have the favor of the King.

Did I say I was going to talk about the “fun,” lighthearted stuff? Sorry. Haha.

There is a lot to be found in the pages of this book. The challenge to win over Prince Maxon continues, but only a handful of girls remain. Every girl steps up her game, perfecting her strategies, and, because of the nature of the competition, this is always at another girl’s expense. So, of course, there are ample opportunities for drama.

However, as many of you know, that sort of drama is less fun and more torturous for this wordbird. Yet, I can’t resist a complicated love story. What girl doesn’t like to watch the development of a relationship, against all odds? I’m Team Maxon all the way, and although I couldn’t stand the stressful moments in their relationship, I mean “couldn’t stand” in the most ridiculous, girlish way, which translates into: I had so much fun.

So, yes, this series brings out the silly girlishness in me, but it can appeal to people looking for “heavier stuff.” I appreciate that they’re easy reads, but I always enjoy a more serious aspect, and The Elite supplies both. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced read that combines lighthearted fun with a thought-provoking dystopian world.

P.S. I finally claimed Wordbird on BlogLovin’. Check it out! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: April, 2012

Number of Pages: 327

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. [From Goodreads]

Quote:

If you don’t want me to be in love with you, you’re going to have to stop looking so lovely. First thing tomorrow I’m having your maids sew some potato sacks together for you.

Review:

This is the most enjoyable YA book I’ve read in a long time. I missed that feeling of urgency you get when a book excites you so much that you just cannot wait to know what happens. You can’t read fast enough, and you wish you could just “inhale” the book and have it over with. The Selection gave me that feeling. It’s not a literary masterpiece, it’s not a Pulitzer prizewinner, but it’s fun, it’s well written, and I’m so glad I read it.

America Singer is a very likable character. I know people say that all the time. What does it mean? In this case, it means that I always understood her motivation, admired her morality, and found her funny, quirky, and very real. I would want her as a friend, particularly if I were a part of The Selection. Her loyalty and willingness to be herself are the qualities I admire most, as they’re ones I hope to develop. They, along with her sense of humor, are what make her stand out in The Selection, and standing out is hard to do when you’re up against 34 beautiful women, most of whom have more money, better looks, and higher rank than you.

Though the Bachelor-meets-Cinderella element is fun, the most intriguing aspect of the book is Illea, the country that consists of what was once the United States and Canada. Within Illea is an eight-caste system, the details of which have been posted on Kiera Cass’s website, here. This system is both fascinating and disturbing, and America’s situation (spotty employment, hardly enough food, etc.) as a Five makes the dysfunction of Illean society evident, though I wish the hardships of her life had been discussed in more detail. It isn’t long before she’s the only five left in the competition. The tension surrounding the caste system, not to mention the frequent rebel attacks and the many clues that there is more behind the rebels’ anger than meets the eye, provides the book with a seriousness and gravity that it would otherwise lack.

One of the most controversial elements to the caste system is the way it limits interaction. There is no way a Five would ever interact with a One, let alone a member of the royal family, as anything more than a nameless employee – if it weren’t for The Selection. Similarly, very few people marry below their caste, and America’s mom would never hear of it. However, America has fallen in love with a Six, Aspen, and has met with him as often as possible – past curfew – for years. This forbidden love becomes more of a problem when she is selected and even more of a problem when America must reluctantly admit to herself that Prince Maxon is not the stuck-up jerk she expected him to be.

In other words, yes, there’s a love triangle.

I’ve made my feelings about love triangles quite clear, and I’ll admit that this is the most frustrating part of the series for me. I’m Team Maxon all the way, and my silly anxiety over who America will choose is eating away at me. However, this love triangle is less maddening than some, as America seems to have greater control over her heart and senses than many female YA protagonists, and for that, I’m grateful.

Overall, The Selection is addictive, entertaining, and a delightful addition to the world of dystopian YA. It’s a fairy tale in a dystopian world, and what could be more fun than that?

P.S. I finally claimed Wordbird on BlogLovin’. Check it out! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Author: Matthew Quick

Published: August 13, 2013

Number of Pages: 273

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I’m sorry I couldn’t be more than I was—that I couldn’t stick around—and that what’s going to happen today isn’t their fault.

Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school’s class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out. [From Goodreads]

Official Review Sent to Little Brown:

Matthew Quick’s third Young Adult novel, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, is tough to swallow, but it deals with difficult topics that need addressing. Quick heard Leonard’s voice asking to have its story told and has done so with magnificent skill, creating a book full of confusion and chaos and neglect, but never hopelessness. If there’s any one moral to Leonard’s story, it’s that the world is a dark place, but good people can be beacons of light, and in the end, light penetrates the darkness.

Review:

I finished this book approximately three minutes ago.

It’s still moving through me, circulating in my veins, soaking into my mind, making it fuzzy and stuck half-way in reality, half-out.

I have other things that need doing right now, but I feel the need to review this book while it’s still coursing through me.

I’m not sure how I feel about Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. It’s not my favorite of Matthew Quick’s books, it’s not the most enjoyable – in fact, it often made me uncomfortable – but the things is: That’s the point. This book isn’t a generally happy book. It deals with uncomfortable topics. Tough things. Abuse, neglect, depression. These are things we don’t like to spend too much time thinking about, but Leonard Peacock reminded me of what I already knew was true but had forgotten: there are people who don’t get to choose whether or not they have to think about these things, and it’s crucial that we don’t forget those people. That we don’t turn a blind eye to what makes us uncomfortable simply because it’s hard.

Leonard’s mother, Linda, was the beautiful yet tragic personification of the phrase “turning a blind eye.” Her inability to focus on Leonard, her eagerness to see what she wanted to see, or what was easiest to process, wasn’t just absurd. It was sad. I’m still saddened by the idea that she will never appreciate her boy for what he has withstood. As Leonard says at one point, she’s missing out.

So, like I said, this book is hard. There’s a profuse amount of f-words and gruesome images, but, however much I disliked them, I came to realize that they are a part of who Leonard Peacock is, for now, and that because I came to love him, I could deal with them.

I have no doubt that some people will be turned off quite quickly by Leonard’s depression and “angst,” but there’s a reason for his angst. It’s not like his prom date stood him up, or he didn’t get a car for his eighteenth birthday. Leonard is lost, and Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is the story of his realizing that being lost is not the end of the world, that finding his place in the world may take time but that it – his place – is out there somewhere, and he’s the only one who can fill it.

That hope, that optimism, is the light in a dark book. Matthew Quick, who I’ve respected and admired since his first YA book, Sorta Like a Rockstar (here’s the review and an interview he graciously participated in later), has written yet another magnificent, one-of-a-kind book. I think that’s what I love most about his books. There is nothing quite like them. They aren’t even particularly like each other. And that’s how you know that his characters are telling their stories, as opposed to him spinning tales of his own. Matthew has managed, yet again, to hear the voice of a character with a story that needed telling and to take it upon himself to tell it.

So, whether or not the book made me uncomfortable at times, whether or not I ever read it again (I’m not sure I could handle it), I appreciate it for its honesty, its bluntness, and its message. As Gandalf would say, “Not all those who wander are lost,” and I think that’s what Leonard is trying to figure out.

Ultimately, I came to love Leonard. At first, I pitied him. Now, I still feel sorry for him because of what he’s been forced to deal with, but I admire him. As his few, true friends know, he has a light in him that shines into the dark world. He has the potential, and, even more importantly, the desire (whether he admits it to himself or not) to make people happy, and what’s pitiful about that? Nothing.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a chaotic book. It throws your emotions right and left and swings them back and forth, but it teaches without being preachy. It’s full of dark things, but lovely things are sprinkled in between, like Humphrey Bogart films and Hamlet and banana chocolate-chip pancakes. It’s bittersweet, but so is life, and I think that’s the point.

So, thank you Little Brown, for the galley, and thank you Matthew Quick, for listening to the voices in your head that need to have their stories told, and for telling them.

Until July 14th, I, and most people I know, had never heard of The Cuckoo’s Calling. Now, most of us own a copy and are reading it as quickly as we can. The revelation that J.K. Rowling is the author behind the pseudonym Robert Galbraith certainly shook up the world of books.

The reviews on the back of the book, written before the leak, are hilarious. It seems some of the reviewers were psychic. Mark Billingham says, “Cormoran Strike is an amazing creation and I can’t wait for his next outing. Strike is so instantly compelling that it’s hard to believe this is a debut novel…” Mike Cooper couldn’t have known how true his last sentence is, “Robert Galbraith’s debut is as hardbitten and hard-driving as its battered hero. CUCKOO’S CALLING scales the glittering heights of society even as it plumbs the dark depths of the human heart. A riveting read from an author to watch.”

For those of you who haven’t been keeping up with all the news, the leak was the friend of the wife of Rowling’s lawyer. The woman, Judith Callegari, posted the author’s true identity on Twitter. In a statement, Rowling expressed her anger at having been outed as The Cuckoo’s Calling‘s real author:

“To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I had assumed that I could expect total confidentiality from Russells, a reputable professional firm, and I feel very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced.”

Needless to say, I’m glad I’m not Judith Callegari or Rowling’s (former) lawyer. How could you ever live down betraying the woman who created Harry Potter? Talk about shame. And public humiliation. You can read more about Rowling’s statement, as well as the law firm’s pathetic attempt to save-face, here.

But I think the real question is: Why the charade? Publishing under the pseudonym resulted in sales that were microscopic in comparison to what Rowling could have gotten. Approximately 1500 copies of the book sold between April and mid-July. Since then, it’s risen to the top of every best-sellers list I’ve looked at.

Rowling insists that she was enjoying the anonymity, and it doesn’t seem as though she ever intended to announce her authorship, which is what fascinates me most. The pseudonym allowed her to prove that she could receive critical acclaim without her name slapped onto the front of her book. Though The Cuckoo’s Calling wasn’t selling all that well, the reviewers liked it. No one can say Robert Galbraith wouldn’t have found his way to best-seller-dom with book two or three or four. Maybe Rowling didn’t mind the idea of biding her time – after all, she doesn’t need the money.

The Guardian article, “JK Rowling tells story of alter ego Robert Galbraith,” goes into detail regarding Rowling’s motivations. I can’t help but wonder how long she thought she could keep it up. Beyond the first book, no doubt, but she’s so well known that I can’t believe her secret could have remained a secret forever.

All the same, it’s a shame she didn’t get to reveal her identity on her own terms.

Even more shameful is what this whole scenario says about first-time authors. Despite solid reviews, The Cuckoo’s Calling wasn’t flying off the shelves. I’d never heard of it before, and I work in a book store. What does this say, then, about readers? What does it take for us to open a book and take a chance on something? I wish I could say I’d bought The Cuckoo’s Calling before I’d known who the author was. I wish I was a fan of Robert Galbraith’s and J.K. Rowling’s. Considering I haven’t read much crime fiction, there’s a good chance I’d have never picked up this book without knowing the truth of its authorship.

This saddens me. I’m reading the book now, and though I’m at the beginning, I can see that it is a great piece of fiction. Its tone is dry yet detailed. The characterization is remarkable and the premise unusual. The humor is clever and often grim (yes, grim humor). I would not know any of this if Judith Callegari hadn’t tweeted J.K. Rowling’s secret. Yet another Guardian article highlights the negative repercussions of Rowling’s “ruse” and the skewed views of the book world, which you can read here.

Whatever Rowling’s motivations and expectations, one thing is undeniable: We’ll be seeing a lot of Robert Galbraith in the future. And I, personally, am happy about that. If you’re as interested as I am in this whole pseudonym thing, check out this post on Barnes and Noble’s Book Blog, “5 Authors Who Used Pseudonyms.” It quite cleverly points out that J.K. Rowling has always used pseudonyms, her real name being Joanne Rowling.

Whatever you think of all this drama, I heartily recommend The Cuckoo’s Calling. If you’ve read it, what did you think of it?

Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Published: June 2011

Number of Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience.

As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here – one of whom was his own grandfather – were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason.

And somehow – impossible though it seems – they may still be alive [From Goodreads]

Quote:

“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.”

Review:

This is the sort of book that is impossible not to judge by its cover. The cover is awesome. I think that was what initiated the book club girls’ interest in it. Thankfully, the book itself is great, too.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is not at all what I expected. I was hoping for a bit more creepiness and scare-factor, but I was generally satisfied by the read. I enjoyed that history was woven into the story quite deftly by the hands of the author. The premise was interesting and the development of the plot fun to observe, but I found that the characters were lacking life.

That’s quite a statement about a book that I still rated 4/5, but let me explain. There was nothing particularly unlikable about the characters. Some of them were witty, some were sweet, some were gruff but kind. They had personalities, sure. However, their personalities were packaged, two-dimensional, and rather uninteresting. I felt like there was little or no character development. Jacob, in particular, seems much younger than he really is. This, along with the character’s two-dimensional-ness, caused the romantic subplot to feel forced and awkward. Actually, one of the characters I found most intriguing was Jacob’s dad, and he plays a rather insignificant role in the story. Characterization and character development were undoubtedly this book’s greatest flaws, which is disappointing to a person who reads primarily for characters.

All the same, it’s the premise of the series that saves it. I love the ideas that Riggs toys with and am excited by the direction in which I believe the story is headed. The magical elements are fascinating and allow the book to stand out from the sea of YA titles. Riggs does a good job of revealing the character’s secrets and abilities, answering just enough questions and revealing just enough through the course of the story to keep the reader satisfied but curious.

Jacob’s voice, despite his character’s static qualities, was another high-point of the novel. His occasional wittiness was just the sort of spark that the book needs more of. I wish the dialogue had been as witty and less scripted (a confusing description, considering this is a book and therefore “scripted” by default, but you know what I mean). Overall, being inside Jacob’s head is enjoyable and comfortable. His bits of insight are welcome but not conspicuous enough to disrupt the narration.

In the end, I found Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children‘s greatness relies heavily on the use of old photographs. Riggs spent hours going through people’s collections of photographs in order to find some that fascinated him, and then he worked those into the story whenever he could. I appreciate that hard work and can attest that it pays off. The photographs add an awesomely unique dimension to the book and were possibly my favorite element.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is not a perfect book, but it is a good one and a promising start to the series. I’m excited to see where Riggs’ efforts will take him and what adventures he has in store for these delightfully peculiar children. I heartily recommend the book to book clubs, as it was a huge hit with mine. There are some good discussion questions online, too.

Title: Clockwork Princess

Author: Cassandra Clare

Published: March 2013

Number of Pages: 592

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. [From Goodreads]

Quote:

“No one can say that death found in me a willing comrade, or that I went easily.”

Review:

I was plagued the entire second semester of school by anticipation of this book. My friends were reading it and frantically whispering about it all the time. Now, having read it, I know why.

Clockwork Princess is the perfect ending to this incredibly fun series. It’s full of surprises, and therefore certain to disappoint some who hoped for a less bittersweet conclusion, but I thought the ending was quite appropriate. The Infernal Devices is not a cheery, uncomplicated series. Clockwork Princess reflects the conflict and struggles that the trilogy deals with, but it also testifies of the importance of love and family, a virtue that I believe is at the core of the entire story.

Perhaps that is why I loved the series so much. It isn’t “preachy” at all, but it, through the story and characters, testifies that the bonds of family are stronger than the force of any adversary, any darkness. It sounds corny, I know, but life is corny. Well, the good parts of it. So, at risk of being corny, I have to say that I appreciate the sentiment at the core of this trilogy and recommend that everyone read it. You get a fantastic message cloaked in action and Victorian-era London and steampunk awesomeness.

Plus, the awesomeness of the characters is mind-blowing. I love the cast of characters in this series, and it’s in this book that they have the opportunity to show their true colors. They rise above awful circumstances and fight to be honorable. The ending is so satisfying because there’s a sense that everyone has done all they can to be good people, they’ve risen above challenges, and they’ve held onto their loved ones. They’ve managed to remain optimistic in a dark world, and they’ve discovered the light in it.

Concerning the plot, this is the faster-paced of the last two books in the series. It’s insanity from the very start. Magic and betrayal and death all play a part. Naturally, those three “characters” mean surprise after surprise. I was listening to the audiobook in the car, and every time a disc finished, I had to pull over or have a passenger put the next in immediately because the suspense was just too much. All the relationships, all the mysteries, all the conflicts come to an exhilarating climax. Mortmain lives up to his frightening reputation, his character sick and menacing and strangely pitiful. The clockwork creatures become even more powerful and despicable. Meanwhile, Tessa is developing into the sort of heroine she reads about. As you can see, a lot happens in the 592 pages.

This series is fun. It’s full of humor and has a dash of silliness, but it is so much more. It has a deeper level and message, and that’s one of the things that allows it to surpass The Mortal Instruments in my esteem. There’s more spirit in these books.

If you’re interested in steampunk, this is a series for you. If you’re interested in a story about family, this is the series for you. Sure, it’s not perfect. It’s not a literary masterpiece. But it’s dynamic. Three-dimensional. Give it a read.

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Published: December 2011

Number of Pages: 528

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

In magical Victorian London, orphan Tessa found safety with the Shadowhunters, until traitors betray her to the Magister. He wants to marry her, but so do self-destructive Will and fiercely devoted Jem. Mage Magnus Bane returns to help them. Secrets to her parentage lie with the mist-shrouded Yorkshire Institute’s aged manager Alyosius Starkweather. [From Goodreads]

Quote:

“It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.”

Review:

So… I was a little late to the game with this one. Sort of. I got the ARC ages ago, but life got in the way (don’t you hate it when that happens?), and I found, over a year later, that the only way this was going to be read was if I listened to it to and from school. I decided to do just that, and I am so glad that I did. Clockwork Prince sealed the deal: I enjoy The Infernal Devices trilogy even more than The Mortal Instruments. Why?

Clockwork Prince is not the most action-packed book ever. Instead, Clare spends time developing characters and atmosphere in order to create a book that I could feel. This was particularly exciting because this isn’t just any old book – it’s Victorian-Era steampunk. Who doesn’t want to become engrossed in that world, enveloped by the oxymoronic eeriness and charm of late 19th-Century London? Furthermore, snuggled within Clare’s Victorian London is the Shadowhunters’ London Institute, which houses some very endearing people.

You’re introduced to the cast of the trilogy in the first book, Clockwork Angel (review), naturally, but I didn’t feel like I got to know them until I was entrenched in Clockwork Prince. These characters became so dear to me that the inevitable Jem-Tessa-Will love triangle didn’t irritate me as much as most love triangles do. Instead, I sympathized. These three people love each other so much that the love keeps them kind. It keeps them devoted. There was no back-stabbing or deceit. Their love and its strength allowed me to respect them no matter what mistakes they made. I appreciate and admire them for never compromising their beliefs or dreams while keeping each others’ feelings in mind. This is how I wish all people behaved. A love triangle usually turns people against one another, but this one simply emphasized the integrity and nobility of these characters. (How cool is that? I’m still jazzed about it.)

Beyond those three, the secondary characters step up and become integral to the story. Quirky Henry, patient Charlotte, poor mislead Jessamine, wise Sophie, quiet Gideon, naive Gabriel – these are people the reader gets to meet and, even more importantly, gets to know in Clockwork Prince. Their varying levels of charm make them a very entertaining and (in most cases) lovable cast of characters.

As I said before, this is not the most action-packed of Cassandra Clare’s books, but it has its own merit. It tells a story of people, not things or events. It does a fantastic job of escalating the anticipation of the moment when the Shadowhunters will finally confront Mortmain, the “Hand of Death,” their enemy. The man with an odd fascination with Tessa. The man with the ability to make metal come to life. He’s certainly a gruesome character, and the second installment in this series only serves as further proof of this. The mysteriousness of Mortmain is only matched by the mysteriousness of Tessa herself. She continues to wonder what she is, where her strange powers have come from, and what her purpose is. And the reader aches under the pressure of curiosity, too. It’s just splendid. Clockwork Prince increases the suspense of the trilogy’s story-arc and plays the part of “the quiet before the storm.”

When I finished, I looked everywhere for an audiobook of the final book in the trilogy, Clockwork Princess. When I finally located it, I delved in. It’s the perfect conclusion to the series. Review coming soon!

Title: Boy21

Author: Matthew Quick

Published: June 2013

Number of Pages: 250

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in gray, broken Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish Mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, he takes care of his disabled grandfather, and at school he’s called “White Rabbit”, the only white kid on the varsity basketball team. He’s always dreamed of getting out somehow with his girlfriend, Erin. But until then, when he puts on his number 21, everything seems to make sense.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. A former teen basketball phenom from a privileged home, his life has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he now answers only to the name Boy21—his former jersey number—and has an unusual obsession with outer space.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, “Boy21” may turn out to be the answer they both need [From Goodreads]

Quote:

“Someday an opportunity will come. Think about Harry Potter. His life is terrible, but then a letter arrives, he gets on a train, and everything is different for him afterward. Better. Magical.”

“That’s just a story.”

“So are we- we’re stories too.”

Review:

As you would know if you were following my blog long ago when I posted a review of Sorta Like a Rockstar, I’m sorta like a Matthew Quick fan. I loved SLARS because it was inspiring and sweet and funny all at the same time. Those were the qualities I was hoping to find in Boy21, and each was represented in a quirky, highly unusual way.

I suppose that’s what stood out most about Boy21. It is a charmingly unusual book. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it. It deals with issues that I see on TV but have never experienced through a novel, and it deals with them in a way that makes them accessible. Somehow, I found that I was able to understand Finley’s situation, though I’ve never experienced anything even remotely close to what he does. His environment and family are vastly different from mine, but Quick illustrates them in a simple but detailed way that allowed me to feel entirely immersed in Finley’s life.

And, as he did in SLARS, Matthew Quick has introduced readers to another set of wildly lovable characters. For me, there was a distinct sense that I was being introduced to these people, as opposed to a sense that they had been created to tell a story. This story belongs to them, not to the reader or the author. When I realize that, I know that a book is good. The characters have lives of their own, a presence, a realness to them that allows the reader to befriend them. I loved that little attributes of the characters took on more significance as the story was relayed – take Finley’s quietness, for instance.

In fact, that is one of the most remarkable features of the novel – seemingly innocuous things have hidden significance. I eventually realized that this book is a riddle to be puzzled out before it’s understood. As I neared the end, all the little details that had been clattering about in my head fit themselves together into a very complete and very beautiful story of the lives of two boys. It became undeniable that the story belongs to both of them and that it was absolutely essential that Finley and Russ became friends.

If there’s one way to make Madeleine happy, it’s to make friendship a key part of a novel, and that’s what Matthew Quick seems to have done with both SLARS and Boy21. It’s clear that friendship and family have a way of holding together lives that should be falling apart. I find that to be quite inspiring and true. So does Finley, in the end. And that’s why I loved Boy21.

Happy Summer!

Title: Mind Games

Author: Kiersten White

Published: February 2013

Number of Pages: 241

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost. [From Goodreads]

Quote:

Their smiles are lies.

Most smiles are.

Official Review:

As you all should know if you’ve been reading Wordbird for a while, I’m a huge Kiersten White fan. Not simply because her first series was a delightful breath of fresh air but because she’s an awesome person. Just awesome. There’s no adjective that describes her better. It should come as no surprise, then, that though I was flustered by school, I made sure I read her newest book, Mind Games. It’s so unlike her first series that I was a bit wary – you see, I love the Paranormalcy books so much – but I’ve definitely come around.

Mind Games is unusual, to say the least. For the first time, I read from the perspective of someone who is blind (Annie). This is not a common disability for a narrator to have, considering narration usually relies heavily on descriptions of what can be seen. I think the fact that Kiersten managed to paint a picture without actually using color is pretty magnificent, and she did a fine job of it.

However, Fia, the real protagonist, does have her sight. The flip-flopping narration between Fia’s point of view and Annie’s was one of my favorite aspects of the book. The POVs would shift just at the right moment to drive you crazy and motivate you to keep reading. I definitely preferred Fia’s POV, primarily because I found her snarkiness amusing. Initially, said snarkiness may seem irritating, but I found that 1) it is funny and 2) as a reader, I sympathized with her as I learned about what troubled her, and suddenly her rough edges made a lot of sense.

Fia’s character was immensely popular with the girls in my book club (we read this recently), and they all agreed that, though they enjoyed Paranormalcy, too, Mind Games is their favorite book of Kiersten’s. Part of this preference may be attributed to the fact that Mind Games is definitely the “edgier” of the two. In a sense, Kiersten’s books are maturing alongside her readers, which I think is fantastic. Mind Games deals with older characters, grittier action, and has a generally darker feel. It’s for this reason that, though I can’t seem to stop doing it, a comparison between Paranormalcy and Mind Games isn’t quite fair (one protagonist gets excited about lockers, the other about dance clubs) – they are very different books and each great in their own ways.

One low-point was the fact that the book is feels like it’s building up to the rest of the series. This is typical of a first installment, but I do wish that this book could operate as a decent stand-alone as well as a fixture in a series. All the same, Kiersten doesn’t let all the background information bore you. Instead, she weaves it into the present. For instance, one chapter may be set in the present, but the next is set four years before. For this reason, it’s essential that you pay strict attention to the chapter titles. A friend of mine failed to do this until about halfway through the book, just as the confusion was about to make her give up – which would have been both silly and disappointing, as the jumping between one year and another is perhaps one of the book’s best features.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about Mind Games. I, unlike most of the book club girls, can’t swear that I love it more than Paranormalcy, which totally stole my heart, but, as I said, the books are each excellent in their own right. Mind Games is fascinating, introducing readers to a world that is technically our own but feels totally alien. I love that aspect of it and am absolutely bursting with questions. The moment I finished, I looked up the release date of book two because I can’t wait. Kiersten White has, yet again, created a fantastically unique cast of characters in an extra cool version of our own world and blessed us with yet another great series.

Kiersten, you rock.