A Belated Introduction

Hello there!

My name's Robin, and I'm a junior in high school (fun, I know). In case you haven't noticed, this is a blog wherein I review books or talk about books. Just generally speaking, really. More things I write about are books, books, books, books. So this is going to come at you in three parts.

1. Where This is Coming From

Two and a half or so months ago I started volunteering at my local library because I knew that the NHS (National Honors Society) kids would all be abandoning their posts, so I took it up instead. And I'm so glad I did, even though I'm not actually like touching books all the time. My first day I labeled, my second day I organized the puppets, last week I checked books into storage, and this week I picked out children's books for the summer reading list for 0-3 year olds. I asked about reviews, and then I realized I could just do my own, and viola.

2. What's Going On

Every Tuesday I pick up 3 books when I go to the library. I finished two of three last week, and so my last one I will finish and review over the weekend. The three for this week I will write reviews for and they'll go up Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week.  Then the same goes for the following weeks, and those that I fail to finish I will review on the weekend. And these updates will go up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when I don't have a review finished. They'll probably be lists or the like, so I hope you enjoy!

3. Who Am I

Hello, how are you? I'm a musician (hence the playlists), a book lover (hence the reviews), and a longtime blogger (hence the blog). Over time you'll get to know me better, and hopefully someday I can redirect you also to the blog I've run for years.

Peace out girl scouts
XO

R

REVIEW: The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy By Kate Hattemer Review

Following in the large and un-fillable footsteps of John Green, Kate Hattemer strove in this debut novel to accurately capture what it's like to be in high school. And that she did, as we follow the dynamic foursome of close, nerdtastic friends on their vigilante rampage against the reality TV show that has taken over their arts school. As it all progresses, our lead finds himself lost, trying to figure out why everything suddenly seems different. So will their long poem take down the TV show?

I had high hopes for this book, and I wasn't completely disappointed. The plot was original, and the way that Hattemer fit the TV show in doesn't feel like a new writer approaching her first novel hoping to present some bright and shiny new idea that relies on the novelty of TV. While some books that rely on technology instead of skill, Hattemer's plot utilizes it without letting it be the defining part of the book. When all is said and done, I won't look back on this book as a book about a reality TV show. The uniqueness of this book are the characters, who are unparalleled in YA. I will remember the unique struggle of the main character Ethan, as he struggles, overlaying an imagined person or personality over a real person or personality, psyching himself out so much he can no longer see clearly or really understand relationships.

My issue with this book isn't the main character being whiney, as a lot of people complain of him being, because his sarcasm is entertaining and his whiny-ness is really characteristic of teenagers-- I would know, I am one. My issue is that learns his lesson really late, and I would have liked to see character development further through the novel. The issue is addressed (in my opinion) too late in the book. I think Ethan's relationship with Bacconaise the gerbil was hilarious and quirky, and I found it funny when Ethan would talk to Herbert, his drawing mannequin, but I think that this all needed to have resolved sooner.

I like the way that Ethan's love life was handled, especially the lack of a definite ending (no spoilers, I promise). I love the way it developed, and I love the way that it all progressed. I adored Maura, the ballerina, and her storyline. And she was just one of the spectacular support characters in the book. The main teacher, dubbed BradLee, had such a distinct character-- I mean, he has a favorite punctuation mark for goodness sakes (the interrobang, if you were wondering which, looks like ‽. My favorite is the ampersand (&)). And then there's Miki Figgin Riegler. This is the most John Green about the whole book, along with the spectacular themes.
In fact, it's had not to think of John Green while reading this book, due to the extensive references of the long poem "Cantos" by Ezra Pound. These references are essential to what makes this book so incredible. I can't imagine myself enjoying this book without them. One central idea of the book is a Pound quote, "I should have been able to do better." With John Green, incorporating other works is something he does in a lot of his works (especially his claim to "popular" fame, "The Fault in Our Stars"). Hattemer's use of Pound's work is perfect in the book, and makes the plot work.
I'm definitely interested to see more work from this author, and would one hundred percent pick this book up again!

Rating: 4.5/5
Would I Recommend: Yes! It's laugh out loud funny.
To: Readers of John Green or anyone looking for an easy read that has actual substance and humor.
If you liked...
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Any John Green book, esp. Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My Playlist for this Book:
Out of my League by Stephen Speaks
All the Small Things by Blink 182
Give a Damn by A Rocket to the Moon

Links:
Buy this book on Amazon here, from Barnes and Noble here, from Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
See this book on Goodreads here and Shelfari here.
Read a review from Kirkus here and see this book on the author's site here.


Peace out book scouts :)

R

REVIEW The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Cassie was raised to be perceptive by her mother, who made her living as a con artist until her murder acting as psychic. Which meant Cassie had nowhere to go, as her father was overseas. She's shipped off to live with her grandmother however pretty soon her talent to read people was flagged in the FBI's system and she found her way out of her situation: she was invited to join an elite training program run by the FBI. She saw this as her opportunity to help others from experiencing the heartbreak she'd been dealing with due to her mom's murder, so she moves to DC. Soon, the new case her teachers are working on turns personal, sending her and her four classmates into a tailspin chasing a serial killer on the coattails of the FBI.

I found this book while checking in books at the library I volunteer at and switching them to storage, and checked it out as soon as my shift was done. I read in that night. It was a relatively easy read, as it reads more like a crime show episode than anything else. I think this book would be a great read for anyone who's not the biggest reader as the entertainment value of this book rivals crime shows. I have no big complaints about this book, really, which is awesome.

As far as romance goes, I just wanted to address this because it's such a big part of young adult fiction, but with this story the focus of the book is Cassie and her relationship with her past instead of her romantic relationships. Yes, there is romance, and yes, it is my least favorite kind: a love triangle. But the dynamics of the love triangle are so integral to the story without the focus being on the romance but rather the interplay between the involved characters and how those interactions affect the plot. For once, the heroine isn't stupidly more worried about her love life than the issue at hand, so that really impressed me.

The police terminology defined was all information I'd already gathered through my years of watching crime shows with my parents every school night, but they were presented in a new way and were demonstrated without collapsing into any sort of cheesiness so I take no issue with that. For those not as well versed in criminal terms, the crash courses on the theories are perfect and concise.

I'm excited to see how the love triangle carries into the next installment of the series, which I will be reviewing soon, and I'm anxious to see if the terminology is as well defined and established. I'm excited to see how they handle the continuation (no spoilers) and am worried that it was also follow the way a TV series can, dragging one storyline through episodes or seasons even.

As far as the characters go, there are quite a few. I found some the agents to be a bit cliche, but not necessarily in a bad way. However, Cassie is the only one who really had character development, but considering the fact that she's the only one who was under duress, and some of the characters seemed a bit flat at times, but I had to strain to even think of that. I love the characters, don't be wrong, I just think that the background characters were unevenly represented and yeah, they all had purpose in the the plot but I think that at some times there were too many characters.

Overall, this book is a fast read that is entertaining through the end, and it is so well written and well organized and well developed. I would definitely read it again, and look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Rating: 5/5

Would I recommend: Yes

To: Anyone who loves crime shows, especially shows like Criminal Minds. Anyone who isn't huge into reading, as this is as entertaining as a TV show.

If you liked...
Virals by Katie Reichs
Heist Society by Ally Carter

My Playlist for this Book:

Conspiracy by Paramore

Sometimes (Alternate Version) by A Rocket to The Moon

Think About It by American Authors

:)

R

REVIEW Stolen by Lucy Christopher

A Printz Honor book, "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher is the haunting account of a 16 year old girl, Gemma, who was kidnapped by Ty, a rugged and handsome older man with an undeniable fire behind his eyes. As the book unfolds in an Australian desert so far removed from everything that all Gemma can ever find is sand, sand, and more sand. She hates the land because she didn't chose it, she hates Ty for taking her there. But as Ty himself unfolds, and Gemma starts listening, things don't seem quite as black and white.

 *Trigger Warning: This book is about kidnapping. Do not read if this or the topic of Stockholm Syndrome is a trigger for you!*

When I started reading this book, I was hesitant because the girl who recommended it to me responded to me saying that I already hated Ty from reading the synopsis by saying she did too but reading the book changed that. My fear was that the book would glorify it, and defend his actions, and romanticize the idea of being kidnapped by a man who was "different." But this book isn't like that.

Written as a letter to Ty, this book goes through the story with such a raw honesty and intense intimacy the pulls at the heart strings. If you find yourself prone to skipping to dialogue, this book might be bit hard to get through because of the way it's written. However, as it is written as a dialogue, written as a letter, I'd say it is still worth a shot. I have little to complain about with this book.

The way that it was written was innovative and fresh, and proved most effective to tell the story. No spoilers, but the whole way this was written is tied up nice and neat and beautiful at the end. The story as a whole is so incredibly well put together-- my only complaint would have to be that one transformation comes slightly too late in the book. That being said, I think the way that Christopher developed the character relationship was flawlessly executed. Her attention to detail and the care she took with not rushing the progression and with not rushing Gemma's opening up to the idea of getting to know her captor are the only way that this book work. Without her careful, close-eye, this book would have fallen flat. All she had to work with was the relationship between Gemma and Ty, the relationship between Gemma and the land, Gemma and London, and Gemma with her situation. This and her contrast of nature and city as well as her exploring beauty and art might sound like a lot but compared to most YA books, she has a very limited field to work with. And that she does, without overworking any section. In short, this book was so elegantly and honestly written and arranged that I am surprised it's not being taught at my school currently.

In the way that "Speak" brought rape into conversations in classrooms, I believe "Stolen" follows suit, helping to bring up this conversation in this generation. In the age when Amber Alerts are sent directly to our phones and the stories of the victims of abduction are so sensationalized that we are so desensitized to it that I assumed this book would make light of Stockholm Syndrome. I'm impressed with this book and know that I will be going out and buying my own copy because I got mine from my school's library.

My Rating: 5/5

Would I recommend: Yes Yes Yes

To: Anyone who enjoys innovative YA fiction, anyone who enjoyed "Speak" or novels that deal with similarly serious subjects.
If you liked...
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

My Playlist for this Book:

Basket Case by Sara Bareilles

Hero by Family of the Year

When You Can't Sleep at Night by Of Mice & Men

Links:
Buy this book on Amazon here, on Barnes and Noble here, Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
See this book on Goodreads here and Shelfari here.
Read a review of this book on the Guardian here, and see the book on the author's website here.

:)
R