THROUGH TO YOU

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What did I think? Hmmm. I'll have to think about that.

This was an interesting story. Great premise - alternate universes, and as I'm a sucker for time travel (which generally involves alternate realities), it was excellent on that count. The way the two realities differed provided the mystery and plot. And this was such fun because the characters were the same - just, different.

Cam was hard for me to picture at first. Former football star, popular, jock who then gets injured and withdraws. The whole juxtaposition of that kind of threw me at the outset, this odd compilation of details that didn't fit into a nice box. But this character didn't lapse into the stock bad-boy or the injured, fragile kid. He was just a guy who is dealing with a lot of loss and coping the best he can.

Viv is a character we only know through Cam's eyes until we meet her - and even then, it's not really her. So that contrast made it fascinating. This is especially true because Nina is new to Cam, and he only knows her as one person. Cam's mom and dad just frame him out, as does Mike. Owen is a wonderful surprise that I didn't expect.

The pacing seemed a bit slow in parts, but it always picked right back up. it would have been nice if the characters had asked some obvious questions or reached obvious conclusions without things being so drawn out. But, I never got bored. I will say this: Cam and Viv's relationship seemed shallow after a bit. And what I would have expected to be a more heart-tugging reunion turned out to be just what it should have been, based on the way the characters were. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that the scenes lacking depth only reflected the characters in them.

The plot surprised me; I have to say that I did wonder who the bad guy really was. it wasn't predictable. And I did like the ending very much. I was afraid it would stop earlier, but fortunately it followed through to an appropriate point that didn't leave the reader wondering. It wasn't trite, but it was nice.

As always, I listened to the audio version. The narrator was ok - he didn't wow me at all. I think it could have been better done. But I say this because of the timbre of his voice. I think Cam should have had a more high-school, higher sounding voice. This narrator made him sound borderline whiny at times.

This is the author's debut, and it is a good one. While it didn't knock me down with emotional intensity or have me at the edge of my seat with suspense, it was a great story. I'm looking forward to more from her. If her next novel has this good a premise, it will definitely be worth a read.

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THE GENIUS OF LITTLE THINGS

The Genius of Little Things by Larry Buhl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a pleasure this book was to read! I received it from Read-4-Review and just loved it.

Larry Buhl has taken the typical awkward high school senior and raised him to the next level. I did not expect this character at all. I found myself alternately laughing and shaking my head throughout the story.

Tyler, the main character, is fascinating because he is such an odd combination of things. Many authors address the Foster Care system in a sappy, analytical, or disparaging way. But here, it is simply a component of what has shaped Tyler's personality. He is not an "expected" person at all. He is focused, logical and driven. He seems like someone who might have Asperger's Syndrome. He does not communicate well with others. And when he does things that don't make sense to others (and vice versa), he simply seems to shake his head and simply move on. He obsesses, but not in a way that is creepy. He is sympathetic without being pathetic.

I loved that this book is written like a diary. The lists that Tyler makes are laugh-out-loud funny. But here's the interesting thing: while I was laughing at Tyler, I wasn't laughing at Tyler. It's as if all along this character knew what he was saying was funny, explaining things in a witty way that was not self-deprecating but also not offended at what we, as readers, would think. He wasn't laughing with me, but he was so analytical that he didn't see why I wouldn't laugh at him.

The secondary characters were varied and interesting. Carl and Janet had experienced a situation I did not expect, which although out of their control was nonetheless one for which they felt responsible. Normally the whole lack of communication between them and Tyler would have annoyed me. In this case, not so. Janet's sister was a hoot. The kids that Tyler tutored annoyed me like they annoyed him.

Tyler also gets into trouble, but not because it's just cool to do it. Amid the laughter about his observations, there is a deeply troubled boy trying to cope with his circumstances. Somehow this is always apparent without being glaring.

My only problem with this story was the ending. It seemed to come out of nowhere. And yet, it was abrupt in a way that Tyler was abrupt. I hope that was the author's intention, because it didn't work and yet worked - just like Tyler himself.

This story was a departure from my normal genre, and a welcome one. It's worthy of a re-read simply for the laughter alone. UCSD, you're in for a treat!

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THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adore this book.

Where do I begin? The slow awakening of a person who is realising that she's a person. The introspection. The observation -- I think it's the observation that grabbed me the most. The development of odd relationships. The insight, and the growth into response.

I know I'm being vague here, but honestly, that's just what I loved about this book. I didn't expect this and was really bowled over. I think I expected more sci-fi, more of a straight-line story with lots of action. Oh, no. This is a slower -- not dull, it's well-paced -- unwrapping of philosophical issues about identity.

I especially liked the way Jenna looked up words and defined them. I love the way her relationship with Lily evolves. I love the way she grows into herself and becomes someone else.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this on audio. Jenna Lamia reads it and she's fabulous.

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CINDER

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few problems - mainly, that it was predictable. But any author who can take a fairytale and turn it into this is pretty talented.

I enjoyed the characters - none of them are really formulaic, as such. I would like to have known more about what was going on in Kai's head, but then again - Cinder was the main character. Some things seemed a little too-good-to-be-true, like this friendship between Cinder and Kai. But hey, it's Cinderella we're talking here, so all the rules are put on hold.

This isn't the best book I've ever read. But it certainly was enjoyable.

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LEGEND

Legend by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Move over, Hunger Games. Make some room on that YA Dystopian shelf.

I have been devouring YA Dystopian romance lately. Many of the authors I've read have been very young, and their writing has shown it. How refreshing to read something that truly finds the balance between "dystopian romance" and dystopia that has been graciously seasoned with just a dash of romance. Just enough. Perfect.

The characters here are clearly drawn. We know who everyone is as much as we want to know. The main characters are revealed layer by layer, which is exactly the way they should be revealed. And although some are formulaic, some surprised me.

I loved the ending, which left me both satisfied and yet looking forward to more. No cliffhanger, thank God. And no love triangle! There was the hint of one, but it faded into the central focus of the story. It was just enough to keep me interested.

I also liked the narrative going between the two main characters, told in first person. Having just finished another YA Dystopian which was told in third person but still went between the two characters drove me insane. If you're going to move between two points of view, then move between two points of view already!

The audio version has narrators, not really voice actors, so be forewarned. If you want the thing acted out, you should read it in print and leave it to your imagination.

Although I'm looking forward to Prodigy, I think I may wait until later this year to read it. I liked Legend so much that I don't think I can stand a cliffhanger that takes a year to resolve. That said, I highly recommend this book.




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THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is absolutely delightful.

I laughed. I cried a bit. I laughed some more.

I loved the characters, all of them, and the honesty between them.

I loved all the wonderful word pictures. Call the literary devices what you will - it was beautifully done.

I loved the poems, the pieces of things she'd write (even though that did make her a little strange).

I'm looking forward to more from Jandy Nelson. I read a book by Sarah Dressen just after this and was left wanting - so formulaic, so cut out of a pattern - which this book is decidedly not. It is surprising and funny and warm and, well, delightful.

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SHATTER ME

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My impression? "Out of balance."

I'd give this 3.5 stars, not just 3. I agree with Book Geek - this isn't dystopia, it's flat out romance. I'm starting to understand that there's an entirely new genre of young adult fiction that echoes those trashy paperback romances - "dystopian romance." Now don't get me wrong, I love me a good romance. And young adult romance in particular is very sweet, rather than trashy. But this isn't dystopia, so if you're looking for that, look elsewhere. It's simply a romance set in a dystopian future.

I loved the beginning of the book. Mafi at least jumps right in with the romance and the general setting was very intriguing. The whole numbers thing fell right into step with insanity, so she did set us up for a wild adventure. But she quickly descended into a rather tedious series of events that either weren't that interesting or didn't move fast enough or weren't told well, I'm not sure which. The story lost momentum right after it got interesting. So as far as the plot goes, adjust your expectations appropriately going in.

On the subject of the writing - the thing I noticed first? A lot of alliteration. Good grief, every sentence is full of it! And the similes, and the endless ethereal descriptions of feelings - clearly this author is very young as a writer and while she bodes great potential, she is no Lauren Oliver.

It is also important to mention that I listened to this book rather than read it. While other reviewers were put off by the word repetition and endless crossing out of lines, that didn't bother me. When a voice actor does it, it makes sense. In fact, it took me a little while to realize that the sound of a pen going across a page was the "sound" of the character crossing out lines in a journal. You get the effect without having to be annoyed by the way it looks on paper.

As for the story in general, I found that the balance of plot and characters to be off. By this I mean that the plot could have been stronger if the characters had been stronger. I would have cared more about the action if I'd known the people better - all that describing could have been put to much better use by giving us more about Warner's background, Adam's background, even Juliette's background. To simply say that her family had to move a lot doesn't really give us any idea about how she came to be the way she is. If Mafi was going for the young adult version of the trashy romance novel, she succeeded. But if she had taken a more mature approach and focused on the background of the story, she would have had a great dystopian plot enhanced by the romance between the characters.

I have great hopes for Mafi. I think she's going to grow into herself as an author. I'm looking forward to more from her. And I did enjoy the book overall, despite its problems.

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DUALED

Dualed by Elsie Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well now here's a dystopian that has something to offer. It reminded me of Insurgent and Blood Red Road, and even Legend. We have a young impulsive heroine who has some priorities and the maturity to put her emotions aside to accomplish them.

OK, not really your realistic 15-year old, but this is fiction. And dystopian fiction at that. And on the plot side of things, we've got some Hunger Games action with the whole government-says-you-have-to-kill-your-twin thing.

This story was full of action and angst without being overmuch of either. What I loved was the plotting, the scheming, the planning of an assassination. I loved the way we were able to get inside West's brain. And the whole having to figure out how to beat someone that thinks just the way you do was a highly entertaining puzzle. On the down side, I didn't really see what being a Striker had to do with much. It seemed like unnecessary filler, and although the story moved well, there was a slowdown midway. And this had to do with the whole Striker thing. Fortunately, it picked back up at the end.

Chord was a character I liked most of the time. I do wish he'd be a tiny bit more take-charge with West, but he was there just enough to let us see how West developed. And West, while emotionally (and predictably) immature, made up for it in the responsibility department. I think it would have added to things if Chord had just throw up his hands in frustration with West. At least we readers would have had some emotional release.

There was no profound musing philosophy, not really many witty remarks. There were a few heart-wrenching situations. It was nice to have a few surprises, and not have everything be predictable.

So all in all, it was a great read. I'm looking forward to the sequel.




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ARTICLE 5

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving this a solid 3.75 stars. I feel as if I have a love/hate relationship with this story. Not surprising, when you read all the reviews. People generally are on the "I love it!" side or the "This was a total waste of my time" side.

On the positive side, the story was pretty good. Some true lovers of the genre were disappointed that everything wasn't explained. For example, the war wasn't explained. Was it a civil war? Were our borders breached? I'm not sure it mattered in the long run. There was a war, it was terrible (as are all wars), it's over now, and the FBR is in control as we start the story. The Articles, as well as martial law, were made clear.

The pacing was good. There was a lot of action and suspense. It was predictable if you read this sort of thing all the time; there were no real surprises. There were some really creepy scenes, which added to the appeal of the book. It was nothing if not entertaining. This speaks to the writing, which was good. It wasn't overly flowery or poetic, which would have been inappropriate for this sort of plot. There was really nothing profound, either. And I didn't find it witty or funny or smart. These are things which would have made it better, but the book was still good without them. I think it just reflects that this author is young in her writing.

I had some serious problems with the characters. First off - great name, Ember Miller. Love that name! And for someone with such a great name, you'd think she'd have a functioning brain cell! There were so many times I found myself yelling at her idiocy that I almost gave up. It was hard to like a main character who wasn't just badass stubborn, but just flat stupid. She did impulsive things, didn't really learn anything from her mistakes, and most of all, didn't change until the very end. She never apologized for her behavior, blaming Chase for everything. And the thing that bugged me the most was the way she held this idealistic expectation of the world even when time after time it proved to be a bad place. I wanted to smack her and yell "Duh! What did you THINK was going to happen?" What may have been planned as naivete came across as willful, spiteful, childish behavior. She was anything but sympathetic.

I did like Chase. He was as likable as Ember was irritating. His PTSD was believable. He was honest. The only fault I think he had was his dogged determination to "just keep her safe." I think one of my favorite parts of the book was when (view spoiler)[ they have the conversation on the road after getting away from the crazy lady in the trailer. He finally tells Ember that she's an idiot. (hide spoiler)] Emotionally, Chase did all the work. It might have been ok if she had at least appreciated it.

The angst and tension between the characters really got on my nerves. Just when I thought they'd finally be honest and get somewhere in terms of trusting each other, they would retreat or make asses of themselves. And here's the thing: I had to keep reminding myself that these two were 17 and 19 years old. Ember's maturity level should have risen far before it did based on her circumstances. If she was supposed to have street smarts from growing up poor and avoiding the soldiers, then she should have had more common sense than to think she could trust people.

In the end, Ember did redeem herself, so I suppose that also redeemed the story for me. It's ok to dislike a character in a story as long as the story is still good. I don't think Simmons wrote a bad story, or wrote a good story badly. She just wrote a really irritating character with no common sense. For me to have gotten as mad at her as I did tells me that Simmons did a good job. If I hadn't cared about Ember, then it would have been a badly written book.

Jenny Ikeda does a great job with the narration. And all things considered, it's a good read. I'm looking forward to the sequel, since Ember has (hopefully) finally gotten a clue. It's about time.



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