Fairy tale...check. Fantasy...check. Romance...super check. Dark and twisted...many many checks.
This was a very interesting book. The plot, the characters, and the setting were intriguing and the writing kept me enthralled. I couldn't put it down!
Fairfold (the setting) is an extremely vivid and imaginative setting. You could easily write several books just based on it and the people living there.
I was a little disappointed with Hazel at first, but she slowly came into focus as I read. I adored Ben from the beginning. Both of their romantic relationships add to the story, but Ben's LGBT role is the better one. I personally appreciate a novel that takes this step easily, and The Darkest Part of the Forest does just that.
I think it's a fantastic book! Enjoy :)
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Monday, October 26, 2015
Book 14 (audio): Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Look--another historical fiction book!
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is set in Philadelphia, PA as yellow fever sweeps through the capitol. Sixteen-year-old Mattie Cook helps her mother run the coffee house that her father left behind when he passed away. Her grandfather also plays a prominent role in the story, as well as Eliza, a freed slave, that works as a cook in the coffee house.
This book is set during an actual yellow fever epidemic that wiped out around 5,000 people just in Philly. The sweltering summer heat keeps the fever moving through the city streets. Everyone tries to do the best they can with what they are given, and droves of individuals leave the city in hopes of finding themselves in an area that hasn't been affected by the fever. Mattie is forced to overcome obstacle after obstacle, first being sent away to a friend's farm, then not being allowed to leave the city, eventually catching the fever herself, and so many more.
At first, Mattie seems like a naive child, only really caring about the matters that affect her personally. Her hardships push her to change and adapt, creating a young woman who is decisive, strong, empathetic, and caring. She is an impressive character and embodies traits of quality.
I would recommend this novel to anyone!
This book is set during an actual yellow fever epidemic that wiped out around 5,000 people just in Philly. The sweltering summer heat keeps the fever moving through the city streets. Everyone tries to do the best they can with what they are given, and droves of individuals leave the city in hopes of finding themselves in an area that hasn't been affected by the fever. Mattie is forced to overcome obstacle after obstacle, first being sent away to a friend's farm, then not being allowed to leave the city, eventually catching the fever herself, and so many more.
At first, Mattie seems like a naive child, only really caring about the matters that affect her personally. Her hardships push her to change and adapt, creating a young woman who is decisive, strong, empathetic, and caring. She is an impressive character and embodies traits of quality.
I would recommend this novel to anyone!
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Book 13 (audio): Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I am falling behind! I need to review several books that I have read in the past month.
I picked up Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys based on the recommendation of another wonderful teacher at school. When I was chatting with her about the fact that I was actually enjoying historical fiction, she jumped at the chance to suggest this to me.
The story begins in 1941 Lithuania, when Soviet-era Russia invades the country. Lina, along with her mother and younger brother, are forced out of their home late at night. They end their journey at a labor camp in Siberia. Her father was arrested a few days before this took place and Lina is frantically, desperately, trying to find ways to contact him.
Throughout her time at the camp, she deals with the struggles of a working life with too little food, too little comfort, and too little empathy. Her talents as an artist keep her connected to herself and give her something to put a little bit of energy.
Once again, I realize how completely unaware of history I am. I feel like this is one more piece of WWII that I was missing. The book itself is such an easy read and so touching. If you are an emotionally connected reader, this will get the tears!
One more interesting piece to this book is that Ruta is actually the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Her personal connection to this historical event adds to the power of her writing.
Definitely give this one a try!
I picked up Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys based on the recommendation of another wonderful teacher at school. When I was chatting with her about the fact that I was actually enjoying historical fiction, she jumped at the chance to suggest this to me.
The story begins in 1941 Lithuania, when Soviet-era Russia invades the country. Lina, along with her mother and younger brother, are forced out of their home late at night. They end their journey at a labor camp in Siberia. Her father was arrested a few days before this took place and Lina is frantically, desperately, trying to find ways to contact him.
Throughout her time at the camp, she deals with the struggles of a working life with too little food, too little comfort, and too little empathy. Her talents as an artist keep her connected to herself and give her something to put a little bit of energy.
Once again, I realize how completely unaware of history I am. I feel like this is one more piece of WWII that I was missing. The book itself is such an easy read and so touching. If you are an emotionally connected reader, this will get the tears!
One more interesting piece to this book is that Ruta is actually the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Her personal connection to this historical event adds to the power of her writing.
Definitely give this one a try!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Book 12: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I decided to read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand after seeing many of my students carrying it around last spring. I didn't realize that there was already an adult version of this book, but the young adult version is in depth enough that I don't feel as if I missed anything major!
The book itself is a biographical account of former olympian and World War II survivor, Louis Zamperini. His harrowing ordeal of being lost at sea and then captured by the Japanese is a tale of strength and faith. After just a few chapters, I was completely hooked. I wanted to know more about what happened to Louis Zamperini and how he was able to come out alive on the other end.
Laura Hillenbrand does a fantastic job of weaving his story with photos and tokens of his and his fellow soldiers' lives. Her way of writing out his survival story is vivid and descriptive, sucking you into that world as you read. It is beyond obvious that she did her research before sitting down to write this book. There were moments that I had to stop reading, because the material being described was that impactful. The time he spends in the POW camp will make you pause, and the images are descriptive.
Ultimately, this book is extremely captivating. I kept connecting with the story and I cared for him and what he went through. It represents such a terrible time that our country, and our soldiers, went through that this book is a must-read.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Book 11: Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau
Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau is the sequel to The Testing. I'm currently reading the final book in the trilogy, Graduation Day, so I have to be careful not to confuse the two!
Cia is continuing in on her journey. She is now studying at Tosu University and assigned to an independent study program that doesn't thrill her. She was fairly confident in her own abilities and the degree she wanted, but they chose to assign her somewhere else.
The troubles are brewing below the surface. Cia has nightmares and feels as if there is something she should be remembering. She finds herself trying to recall her testing experience and basically investigating the happenings in the University. She starts to question what is happening around her and the people that she is getting to know. Who should she trust?
I think this is a solid sequel to The Testing. Cia continues to prove herself as a strong female lead. The story focuses on her and not on her relationship with Tomas. There is a small element revolving around a possible rebellion, but that plot wasn't fully developed.
The book had it's weaknesses, but overall, I enjoyed it. I quickly picked up Graduation Day, so I hope to finish it soon!
Cia is continuing in on her journey. She is now studying at Tosu University and assigned to an independent study program that doesn't thrill her. She was fairly confident in her own abilities and the degree she wanted, but they chose to assign her somewhere else.
The troubles are brewing below the surface. Cia has nightmares and feels as if there is something she should be remembering. She finds herself trying to recall her testing experience and basically investigating the happenings in the University. She starts to question what is happening around her and the people that she is getting to know. Who should she trust?
I think this is a solid sequel to The Testing. Cia continues to prove herself as a strong female lead. The story focuses on her and not on her relationship with Tomas. There is a small element revolving around a possible rebellion, but that plot wasn't fully developed.
The book had it's weaknesses, but overall, I enjoyed it. I quickly picked up Graduation Day, so I hope to finish it soon!
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Book 10: This One Summer
This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki is the third book I read for my book club. It is a graphic novel about a middle school girl named Rose and her summer vacation. Each year, her family stays at a lake house in Awago Beach. Her younger friend, Windy, is also there every summer.
The pictures were drawn beautifully and had small details that contributed immensely to the story itself. The artwork was probably my favorite part of the story--I examined all of the pages closely, thinking about the choices that the illustrator was making.
This book is basically a memoir about a girl's summer. The beginning is the arrival at the lake house and the end is the leaving of the lake house. Over the course of the summer, the two girls experience quite a bit of drama surrounding local teenagers. They face several issues that I think teens can connect with, but nothing really comes of it...no lessons learned, no problems solved...they just experience.
I think the moment that disappointed me the most was the way Rose reacted to the local girls and the words she used to describe them. It saddened me that she would make the statements and brush it off as if it was no big deal. That vocabulary is my reason for not recommending this book for middle school. It is definitely a YA choice, but I am sure there are many students that can connect to the issues taking place throughout the novel.
This one is touchy. It has very sensitive material, so it would be up to the reader or the parents to determine if it is an appropriate read. It is also a very quick read since it is a graphic novel.
The pictures were drawn beautifully and had small details that contributed immensely to the story itself. The artwork was probably my favorite part of the story--I examined all of the pages closely, thinking about the choices that the illustrator was making.
This book is basically a memoir about a girl's summer. The beginning is the arrival at the lake house and the end is the leaving of the lake house. Over the course of the summer, the two girls experience quite a bit of drama surrounding local teenagers. They face several issues that I think teens can connect with, but nothing really comes of it...no lessons learned, no problems solved...they just experience.
I think the moment that disappointed me the most was the way Rose reacted to the local girls and the words she used to describe them. It saddened me that she would make the statements and brush it off as if it was no big deal. That vocabulary is my reason for not recommending this book for middle school. It is definitely a YA choice, but I am sure there are many students that can connect to the issues taking place throughout the novel.
This one is touchy. It has very sensitive material, so it would be up to the reader or the parents to determine if it is an appropriate read. It is also a very quick read since it is a graphic novel.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Books 8 and 9: Linger and Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
It appears that I really enjoy Maggie Stiefvater. Over the summer, I finished one series (the Wolves of Mercy Falls) and started another (Raven Boys). I've written in the past about her book Scorpio Races, one of my personal favorites!
I finished the remaining books in the series rather quickly because I wanted to know what would happen to Grace and Sam. Would their love story work out when everything seemed to be working against them?
In the first book, Shiver, Sam and Grace were the primary points of view. In the second book, Linger, Cole St. Clair and Isabel are added into the chapter rotations. These characters bring a completely different perspective to the chaotic situation that is taking place in their lives. While Sam and Grace tend to have a positive outlook, Cole and Isabel are depressive, negative, and fighting to stay in the present. These four characters gel perfectly.
In the finale book, Forever, the relationships and characters are developed into much deeper levels. Isabel really shines as a main character in this book. Overall, it was a solid conclusion to the series. I don't want to give away too much since you have to know how Shiver (book one) ends to really understand the plot details of books two and three.
I finished the remaining books in the series rather quickly because I wanted to know what would happen to Grace and Sam. Would their love story work out when everything seemed to be working against them?
In the first book, Shiver, Sam and Grace were the primary points of view. In the second book, Linger, Cole St. Clair and Isabel are added into the chapter rotations. These characters bring a completely different perspective to the chaotic situation that is taking place in their lives. While Sam and Grace tend to have a positive outlook, Cole and Isabel are depressive, negative, and fighting to stay in the present. These four characters gel perfectly.
In the finale book, Forever, the relationships and characters are developed into much deeper levels. Isabel really shines as a main character in this book. Overall, it was a solid conclusion to the series. I don't want to give away too much since you have to know how Shiver (book one) ends to really understand the plot details of books two and three.
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