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October 28, 2013

Review: Anywhere but Here by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Title: Anywhere but Here 
Author: Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Publisher:
 Simon & Schuster Canada
Publication date: October 15, 2013
Genre(s): Young Adult/New Adult (Contemporary)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 320
Cole’s small town is a trap he’s determined to escape in this fresh and moving debut novel that balances loss with humor.

Ever since his mom died, Cole just feels stuck. His dad acts like a stranger, and Lauren, his picture-perfect girlfriend of two years, doesn’t understand him anymore. He can’t ditch his dad, so Cole breaks up with Lauren. She doesn’t take the news very well, and Cole’s best friend won’t get off his case about it.

Now more than ever, Cole wants to graduate and leave his small, suffocating town. And everything is going according to plan—until Cole discovers the one secret that could keep him there…forever.
I've always been a sucker for realistic fictions, and this one started pretty good. Oh oh, you're probably thinking "why did she just say started?", because it went pretty downhill after that. Yes, I was disappointed. I really liked the idea, and the plot was interesting, it just didn't go into the direction I wanted it to be. I'm not saying it was a bad book or anything, I enjoyed it, but it just wasn't as good as I had hoped it would have been. The main protagonist, Cole, lives in a small town called Webster. After his mother passed away last year, he's been wanting to get out of the "Web", as they call it. His guidance then gives him a pamphlet of film school in vancouver, and he decides to start the short film for the application, and then study there. 
The characters were great. To me, Cole seemed like a very confused kid. He has a great girlfriend, who he suddenly decides to break up with. He doesn't even bother speaking with his dad, or try to communicate with him as family members should do. Cole's best friend, Greg, doesn't even like the fact that Cole broke up with Lauren, and everything is just messed up. Towards the middle, somethings were just confusing in this book. The plot was all over the place, and I didn't really get much of anything. I still read on though, and I was glad that things weren't confusing anymore.  Another important factor is the romance, and let me tell you, the romance was literally all over the place! I was not happy with how it ended in the romance part, and I just did NOT understand Cole. It really frustrated me. 
Overall, this book was good. You might think I hated it from my review, but it was an ok book. There were somethings I hoped would have been different, but I really liked the ending (aside from the romance). If I had to give this book a mood, it would be quiet. It felt very quiet to me. I would definitely look into Tanya's future books, and I would recommend this to any of those who like realistic fiction/contemporary books. 

October 27, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (16) - Our very late but awesome book haul!

Meme Hosted by Tynga's Reviews

We know we are at the end of October, and we have no other excuse… wait.. yes we do have an excuse and that is our humungous pile of reviews that needed to be posted. So yea, other than that… no other excuse to post our second half of our August book haul so late. Though We haven't received that many books in September and October and we're on a book buying ban so you're not missing much. However this book haul is awesome. All we can say is that we love Strand and wish we lived in New York!  




Books received for review:
Six Months Later | Pretenders | Unbreakable | Pawn | Perfect Ruin | Crash Into You | Ketchup Clouds

Books bought: 
The Cuckoo's calling | Poison Princess | Just One Day | Parallel | Fire with Fire | Pivot Point

Tan Lines | Evernight | The Hunt | The Prey | Shadow Falls | Shutdown

What did you get in your book haul? leave your links below!

 

October 24, 2013

Review: Red by Alison Cherry

Title: Red
Author: Alison Cherry 
Publisher:
 Random House Canada
Publication date: October 8, 2013
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Source: Publisher
Format: Finished Copy
Pages: 320
Felicity St. John has it all—loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent. And she’s right on track to win the Miss Scarlet pageant. Her perfect life is possible because of just one thing: her long, wavy, coppery red hair.

Having red hair is all that matters in Scarletville. Redheads hold all the power—and everybody knows it. That’s why Felicity is scared down to her roots when she receives an anonymous note:

I know your secret.

Because Felicity is a big fake. Her hair color comes straight out of a bottle. And if anyone discovered the truth, she’d be a social outcast faster than she could say "strawberry blond." Her mother would disown her, her friends would shun her, and her boyfriend would dump her. And forget about winning that pageant crown and the prize money that comes with it—money that would allow her to fulfill her dream of going to art school.

Felicity isn’t about to let someone blackmail her life away. But just how far is she willing to go to protect her red cred?
In Scarletville, Red is what matters. Redheads are considered as royals, and brunettes and blondes are frowned upon. Redheads have privileges, while others don't. Felicity St. John has the perfect life. She's pretty, has amazing friends, and a hot boyfriend who every girl is drooling over. Felicity's mother, who also happens to be the manager of the Miss Scarlet pageant, is obsessed into preparing her daughter to win the pageant. In truth, Felicity doesn't even want all that, because in truth, she's all fake. It's pretty shocking, but it's true. Felicity's mother has been dying Felicity's strawberry blonde hair bright red all her life. No one knows her secret, and if anyone does find out, she'll be known as a "strawbie" and will be at the lower class. 
Reading this sounded a bit childish. Like, who would discriminate against hair color? It's just HAIR, but that's not the point. Looking at the bigger picture, this book shows how you aren't supposed to change who you are just to please others. Through this book, Felicity gets blackmailed into doing things because someone found out her secret. She sacrificed a lot, and I just thought that it wasn't worth all the hard work. Felicity was a great character to read about. Her mother, Ginger, was a really annoying character who just wanted to shape her daughter the way she wanted. I just felt like chocking Ginger, because how can she not see that this isn't what her daughter is passionate about? The plot of the story was great, and it was really interesting to see what Felicity would do every time she gets another note from her blackmailer. 
Overall, this wasn't a fun contemporary, but it was definitely a great read. Gives a great message to all those teenagers out there. Do what you love, and don't let anyone decide anything for you. Not only that, but this book also shows that each and every person is equal. We shouldn't care weather that person is a "redhead" or a "blonde". In the end, I loved the book, and I was definitely rooting for Felicity throughout the whole time. Will definitely be looking out for Alison Cherry's future books!

October 21, 2013

Double Review: Paradox by A.J. Paquette & Only Ever Always by Penni Russon

Paradox.
Paradox by A.J Paquette
Publisher & DOP: Random House Canada, June 25, 2013
Genre(s): Young Adult (Dystopian/Post-Apocalystic)
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Pages: 240
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo

Ana has awoken in a strange place. The only thing she knows is her name, which she discovered was pinned to her jumpsuit when she woke up, and directions. Experience. Discover. Survive. With those directions, she realizes that she has no memories, and has no idea why her jumpsuit contains knives and a pistol. With the touch of a button, a hatch opens up from the rocket she has been in and steps into a hostile planet. But she isn't the only living thing there. A mysterious creature that looks like a giant worm with a gaping mouth full of teeth is hunting something down, and by the looks of it, it seems to be hunting Ana and her newly discovered traveling companion, Todd. With a ticking clock, a crisis on Earth, and lives on the line, how is Ana supposed to save the world, and everybody she has come to love?


This book is amazing! I couldn't relate to anyone in this book, which is a bit sad, but it didn't bother me too much. I think my favorite character is Ana, only because none of the other characters were described as good as her, which isn't a shock, considering the fact that the book is based on her. She just has this kinda air to her, you know, the whole, "I think rationally in extreme situations and I pull through pain." kinda attitude that I wish I had. The way that the conflict was built and how the trip was described was written nicely, and nothing felt out of place in the story.


Paradox was written in third person, focusing entirely on Ana, which is ok, because her role in the story was the most interesting (insert a big fat "DUH!!" right here). The flow was ok, but it wasn't the best. It seemed a bit fast pace, but it was ok. I didn't mind too much. The writing style was very serious, as Ana is a very cut-and-dry person, but there were some nicer parts to the story. I recommend Paradox to teens ages 13-16. 


Only Ever AlwaysOnly Ever Always by Penni Russon
Publisher & DOP: Random House Canada, August 11, 2013
Genre(s): Middle Grade (fantasy)
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Pages: 180

There are two switching POVs in this book, Claire and Clara. Claire is a kinda boring character, but Clara is so much more interesting! Her storyline is great, while Claire's is.....eh. I can't relate to either of the characters. I gave this book 2 stars, because a lot of things bothered me. I actually thought of dropping it, but decided not to because I hadn't read that much. I wasn't TOO disappointed. The writing style bothered me a lot. Claire's part was written in a mix of second and third person narration. Which is as confusing as it sounds. I have decided I hate second person narration. Its like, "You got off the bed." and I'm like, "No I didn't!". Its all very confusing. 

Also, Claire has to deal with her uncle dying. Yes, it is bad, and I feel awful that her uncle passed away. But Clara has to deal with her ONLY family, Andrew, dying, has to live on the streets until captured by Lady, a sinister baroness who only wants to be feared, but loved at the same time, and has a boy named Grey who wants her to run off with him. All the stress of everything Clara had to deal with was way too much! I wish the whole book was based only on Clara, as it was much more interesting. 

Overall, Only Ever was not that good. I don't think I'll be reading it again, but if there is a sequel, I might pick it up. I expected quite a lot from this book, what with the lovely cover (Don't judge a book by its cover, I KNOW!) and all of the good ratings on Goodreads, but I was let down. If you still think if the synopsis is interesting, you should pick it up, and at least check it out.

October 20, 2013

Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing
Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Publisher:
 Balzer + Bray
Publication date: December 31, 2013
Genre(s): Young Adult (Romance)
Source: Edelweiss 
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.
Wren Caswell was not an unfortunate girl. She's not popular, but she isn't an outcast. She is a quiet, good girl who always does the right thing and never causes trouble. But now her plan to be quiet and good has gotten boring, and she wants to live life with rules on her own. Grayson Barret is popular and handsome and everyone liked him at St. Gabe's. Except he doesn't go there anymore. After being expelled for being a ''term paper pimp", Gray has to quit the lacrosse team, and move to a different school. During a dinner party at Wren's family's catering hall, Grey and Wren's paths collide (in a very unfashionable way, might I add) and result is this adorably cute tale of these two teens.
*WARNING: CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF INSTA-LOVE*
This book is so cute. As long as you don't mind instalove, which is basically love at first sight. Good thing I didn't mind that, because I loved this book! Wren was such a good character, and Grayson was so well developed. I could relate to Wren a bit, because she isn't popular, but she isn't exactly a social outcast, kinda like me. Nothing bothered me in this book, other than Luke and his idiot-ness. I mean like, if a person says no to something, just drop the topic!
The writing style was good to me, but I seem like the only person who likes alternating point of view, so if that bothers you, then this book is not for you. The flow was great, and the story was cute and humorous. I think I would love to read more books by this author. Totally recommended to teens who love a good romance novel.
 

October 18, 2013

Double Review: The Slither Sisters and Teacher's Pest by Charles Gilman



The Slither Sisters by Charles Gilman
January 15th, 2013
Random House Canada
4/5 stars
Add to Goodreads
A copy was provided by the publisher for review

This book immediately starts off from where Professor Gargoyle left off. Now that Robert and Glenn know the real truth behind Lovecraft Middle School, they keep facing dangerous situations. Two of their classmates are actually used as a disguise for two snake-women. Being disguised as middle schoolers, no one is suspicious of their actions. Robert, Glenn, and Karina make it their mission to not let the snake-women get away with what they are planning. This book turned out to be my favorite of the three I have read so far. I loved the adventures, and the story plot was really interesting. Now that Robert and Glenn know exactly what's happening in their school, they know what they're getting into. What's more exciting is that we meet two new characters that actually help the kids in their mission. In this book, Robert and Glenn's friendship grows, and it's great that the readers are able to see that. Also, the pictures in the book just make reading this a much more fun experience!! I really couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book. Despite it being a middle grade read, I really found myself enjoying it and looking forward to when I would be able to continue reading on. 




Teacher's Pest by Charles Gilman
May 7, 2013
Random House Canada
A copy was provided by the publisher for review
3/5 stars

I started this book as soon as I could because of how much I loved The Slither Sisters. Teacher's Pest was probably the most different of the three. It revolved more about Glenn and Karina, and it was great to find out more about the two. Karina was always just a "ghost", but this book really made her feel more real. We knew close to nothing about Glenn's family, but it's in this book where we actually find out more about his personal life. Let me give you a piece of advise. Do NOT read this book while eating, because there are many disgusting images in this book. Looking at the cover, you can obviously assume that you will encounter a lot of bugs in this read. Let me tell you, I hate bugs, and I was really disgusted at some parts during this book. *shivers* Anyways, the plot wasn't as great as the second book, but I was still able to enjoy myself. One thing is for sure, I can NOT wait for the fourth book! I really want to find out what happens next, and I'm shocked at how much I actually enjoy this series. I always thought that I would never enjoy middle-grade books, but I'm wrong. If you think you're too old for middle grade, you're not! These books are just so much fun and full of adventure, you'll find yourself enjoying them anyhow!

Click here for the review of Professor Gargoyle