Book Review: Hope was Here by Joan Bauer

Goodreads Review: What happens when a saucy, optimistic teenager and a terrific short-order diner cook head to Mulhoney, Wisconsin? Great apple pie, a killer mayoral election, and a heartfelt story about life in a rural town.

Readers will immediately fall in love with 16-year-old Hope. She has bounced from place to place, serving plates of meat loaf and frittata specials to diner patrons cooked up by her aunt Addie, with whom she lives. Since changing her name from Tulip to Hope, this protagonist always tries to live up to her name, offering readers an uplifting look at politics, love, friendship, and, literally, life, as a waitress at G. T. Stoop's Welcome Stairways diner. -Soozan Baxter

My Review: Ok, so for whatever reason the Goodreads review for Hope was Here isn't like the other book reviews on Goodreads, as I think it's a bit too revealing for a review. I've only added the first few paragraphs and I linked it so you can read the rest of their review.

This was a great book. Hope had a distinct, realistic personality. While reading through this book, I could actually see myself walking into a diner, ordering food, and listening to this group of characters talk around me as I'm enjoying the chef's favorite. I liked the multiple layers in this story. There's Hope's issue of having a mother who gave her away, a father who left and her adopted mother who is also her aunt who loves her and cares for her. Hope's spent a good portion of her life moving to different cities and we learn that someone embezzled money from her and left them essentially broke. Now in the new city in Mulhoney, Wisconsin, there's the added layer of small town corruption and the desire for good against evil. Or what is right and what is actually happening in politics.

It's obvious, to me, that this was a very well-thought out story, that it was plotted very well and that the dialogue seems to flow naturally and never comes across forced. Each action and reaction has a purpose, yet it comes across so effortlessly that you barely notice the correlation between that particular scene and the next plot twist.

I feel like I can relate to this story and I think other readers can as well. There's a segment where the owner of he diner, G.T. reveals he has cancer but still decides to run for mayor. The main questions: Will he live long enough to make office? Will he even make office?

All the characters and scenes in the story work well together, and all these questions floated in my head until I finished the story and wished that there were new questions to be answered.

Score: 4/5

Book Review: Pieces of Me by Charlotte Gingras

Goodreads Review: Mirabelle's art teacher tells her she has talent, but what good is it doing her? Almost fifteen and friendless, Mira is plagued by dark thoughts. Her body seems to be changing daily. Her mother is domineering and half-crazy and her father — well, he's her ex-father, mostly out of Mira's life and awkward when he's around. Then she meets free-spirited, confident Catherine, a knockout who makes the boys' jaws drop. Not only is Catherine good at art like Mira, she also knows about kissing boys. Mira has never kissed anyone and doesn't understand the hungry way boys are beginning to look at her. Now that Mira's finally found someone she can talk to, her dark thoughts are vanishing. But as her friend encourages her to come out of her shell, Mira finds that her new-found confidence can still be shattered in an instant. Only after Mira faces a betrayal and a tragedy can she begin to put the fragmented pieces of herself together.

My Review: Did you know that Pieces of Me was initially published in Canada in French under the title La Liberte? Connais pas ... and it won the Governor General's Literary Award?

Me neither. Did you know that Pieces of Me was initially published in Canada in French under the title La Liberte? Connais pas ... and it won the Governor General's Literary Award?

Me neither. I don't normally come across books written in another language first, but I definitely will be looking for foreign books in the future. Mirabelle has such a unique outlook on life and her words are poetic. Hailing from a small town with a half-crazy mom (portrayed perfectly) and a father who left when she was young, Mira is figuring out who she is and gathering the pieces of herself.

Through heartwarming experiences, like having Cath as a friend and expressing herself through her art, we see Mira's world through her intelligent, yet lonely eyes. I loved reading this book. It was as if I could feel Mira's loneliness and desperation for a friend filling me up like a balloon.

She eventually overcomes her loneliness and comes to grip with her life after she goes to therapy and tells her secrets to a blind woman whom she helped on her first day. Each action by Mira is clear, and yet there's subtle undertones that create depth to her life and meaning.

Her relationship with the 'birdman' is interesting. He's her art teacher, and she views him as more than a teacher, but as a potential serious love interest, which I thought was a bit bizarre. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of stories out there that have the teacher/student relationship so that aspect is believable, but I guess it was a bit weird for me to read through it.

There were a small few loose ends that I would've liked to have been tied up, but in reality it's all good. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The imagery was beautiful and the characters were unique.

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: A Corner of the Universe *Contains Spoilers*

Goodreads/Barnes&Noble Review: A 2003 Newbery Honor Book

The Barnes & Noble Review
Bringing back memories of her extraordinarily moving yet quietly told novel Belle Teal, Ann M. Martin (who also pens the popular Baby-Sitters Club series) takes us back to the 1960s, where we spend a not-so-typical summer with one girl and her mentally ill uncle.

Hattie Owen enjoys peaceful Millerton summertimes with "houses nodding in the heavy air," being in charge of Miss Hagerty's breakfast tray at her parents' boardinghouse, and drinking lemonade on the porch after supper. Yet this year, it's different -- Hattie's uncle Adam is coming home. Returning from a Chicago school that's just closed and whose existence is kept quiet by adult family members, Adam is a 21-year-old man with a child's mind, having a knack for talking quickly, a savant-like ability for remembering weekdays, and a passion for I Love Lucy. Hattie and Adam wind up spending precious time together -- including a visit to the recently arrived carnival with Hattie's new friend, Leila -- which makes her feel soulfully connected to her uncle, especially when he declares that she's "one of the people who can lift the corners of our universe." But when Hattie takes Adam on the ferris wheel one night, it sets off dramatic events that lead Hattie's family to strengthen its bonds and changes her life's outlook forever.

A novel with a flavor similar to Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixieor Kimberly Willis Holt's When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, this absorbing look at a shake-up of one family's small-town normalcy will bring you to tears but leave you feeling ultimately triumphant. Martin paints her characters masterfully, letting Uncle Adam's unsure energy carry an unpredictable foreboding beneath the story while Hattie builds a gradual rebelliousness against the denial and unspoken truths that surround her. A powerful work that presses all the right emotional buttons and touches on all-too-human themes, A Corner of the Universe is one book that should not be missed.

Matt Warner

My Review: As with all of the other YA books I review on this blog, they are random. They are books that have caught my interest in some way, whether it's the cover, the content or the author. This book is a Newberry Honor Book (good sign) and the author, Ann M. Martin, wrote the Baby-Sitters Club series (another good sign). Those two pluses, coupled with an interesting concept and a unique story line, seemed to spell success.

But for me ... not so much. I did enjoy Hattie and her family, but I felt like there wasn't enough to keep the book going. I agree with Hattie about the time frame, which is also the first paragraph in the prologue:

"Last summer, the summer I turned twelve, was the summer Adam came. And forever after I will think of events as Before Adam or After Adam." - A Corner of the Universe, prologue pg. 1

So while reading, it was Before Adam or After Adam. Adam is an interesting character, and it's never disclosed what exactly he has, although the reader can surmise that he's mentally-ill. I could feel the tension between the adults whenever Adam was in the room, and viewing Adam from a child's perspective was brilliant. Hattie doesn't consider her 21-year-old cousin as mentally-ill. Rather, he's another friend in her life.

But there wasn't anything that could keep the story moving. The only thing that was exciting, the only changing event, was the arrival of the carnival and Hattie's new friend who worked at the carnival who left as suddenly as she came into the story. Half of the story was based around Carmel's Funtime Carnival but I think it's all external. There are cases where Hattie's choices directly influence the next scene, but there's too many of them where they're coincidental.

**Spoiler**

When Hattie breaks the rules and tells Adam to sneak out of the house so they can go to the carnival at night, I can see that happening. That's believable. What's coincidental and annoying, however, is when they go on the ferris ride and it breaks down. Yes, these things do happen, but I don't like how it was completely by chance. Then, there were a handful of times where Adam seemed to like Angel Valentine. Cute comments. Adam staring at her breasts. Then Adam walks in on Angel and her boyfriend making out (perhaps more). Adam leaves and is missing. They don't find him. They've looked everywhere. Until, they find his body. Adam killed himself.

Hattie's convinced at first that Angel killed him because she had a boyfriend and Adam caught them doing inappropriate things while in the boarding house even though they aren't allowed to.

It's a nice puzzle and every piece fits into it perfectly, but some of the pieces seem extremely smoothed, like it's too easy for it to be placed. I liked how she tied in 'A Corner of the Universe' into the story. Also, I don't like books where halfway through I'm wondering, "Sooo what's going to happen next?" I like character choices, which this one is, but I feel like there needs to be a plot running alongside it. Even a loose plot. Having a carnival plop in the middle of a small town, for me, doesn't count.

It's an interesting read but I don't think I'll read it again. It's interesting to note that Ann M. Martin had a mentally-ill uncle as well, but she never met him because he died before she was born.

Rating: 3/5

Book Review: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book #1) by Rick Riordan

Gooodreads summary: In this stunning collectors' edition of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson’s world is brought to life with eight full-color plates by the series jacket artist John Rocco. The edition comes in an elegant slipcase with a ribbon bookmark, rough edges, and cloth cover—a perfect keepsake for fans of this truly epic series.

After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

This first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

My Review: So for this book, I made the mistake of watching the movie first before I read it. This is one of those rare cases where the movie is SO MUCH BETTER than the book. I really enjoyed watching the movie.I thought it had a great foundation, the events made sense, and it had a sense of completeness.

I was less than thrilled with the book. In fact, I kept reading it thinking, "OK, maybe it'll get better this chapter ... or this chapter ... or this chapter ..." but to no avail. I'll save the "I didn't like this, and this, and this," because I don't feel like sounding like a broken record. But I was not happy overall.

It's amazing to me how a book and a movie can be called the exact same thing yet be completely different. I did like the gripping beginning but after that ... not so much. The events were SO MUCH BETTER in the movie, I can't even believe it. Everything made so much sense whereas in the book I kept thinking um ... what?

I love Greek Mythology. I think this concept is great. Absolutely, 100% great. But the execution in the book not so much. The movie? YES. I know, I keep going off about the movie. I'm sorry.

So, this is one of those rare cases that paints me, but I have to say it. Don't read the book. Watch the movie instead. I hate to do it, and I'm sure that there's going to be people out there who disagree, but oh well.

Rating: 3/5

And I'm giving it a 3 BECAUSE the movie was so much better than the book. If it was just on the book alone, I would've given it a 2. That's my honest opinion.

Book Review: Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth

Goodreads Review: Ba slipped the gold bangles from my wrists. The gold ones were plain so I didn’t mind taking them off, but I loved wearing my milk-glass bangles and the lakkh bracelets.

"A widow can't wear bangles,” she said. "They are signs of a woman's good fortune. When your husband dies it's over."

"What if my good fortune comes back?"

“It doesn’t.”

Pretty as a peacock, twelve-year-old Leela had been spoiled all her life. She doesn't care for school and barely marks the growing unrest between the British colonists and her own countrymen. Why should she? Her future has been planned since her engagement at two and marriage at nine.

Leela's whole life changes, though, when her husband dies. She's now expected to behave like a proper widow: shaving her head and trading her jewel-toned saris for rough, earth-colored ones. Leela is considered unlucky now, and will have to stay confined to her house for a year—keep corner—in preparation for a life of mourning for a boy she barely knew.

When her schoolteacher hears of her fate, she offers Leela lessons at home. For the first time, despite her confinement, Leela opens her eyes to the changing world around her. India is suffering from a severe drought, and farmers are unable to pay taxes to the British. She learns about a new leader of the people, a man named Gandhi, who starts a political movement and practices satyagraha—non-violent protest against the colonists as well as the caste system. The quiet strength of satyagraha may liberate her country. Could she use the same path to liberate herself?

My Review: What a beautifully written book. With so many thoughts expressed with the intricate placement of words, it was hard for me to read quickly reading as after I'd finish a particularly thought-provoking sentence. I'd pause, reread the sentence, then look around my room so I could absorb the statement before writing it down on a sheet of notebook paper.

We listened to many stories that if you wrote them in the sky, they'd fill it up and there'd be no room left for the stars. - page 111

All of the loose ends were swiftly tied at the end of the book like a present and I felt complete after reading it. There weren't any questions left unanswered, except one. What happens to Leela now? In some books, the questions need an answer. Why did the protagonist do that? Where are they going? Why did they decide to get back together with him? But here, the answer wasn't necessary. I didn't need to know, and in fact, I'm happy the author didn't provide an explanation.

The rest of the day slipped from my hand so swiftly that I wrote it down in my notebook, "Happy times are light and fast, sad times are heavy and slow. They all end, though, and what remains is me. Just me." - page 165

The overall idea of this is hard for me to grasp. Not because it isn't explained well. But because this practice is actually continued in society in India. That the idea of equality between men and women is radical, and in a small town like Jamlee, this story has happened before. I knew about pre-arranged marriage, but I haven't heard the flip side, of what happens when there is a woman widow. Even though I may not agree with it, I do understand that different cultures have different customs.

Having a female widow in Indian culture is looked upon as having bad luck. There's even a word for it: raand. It's also a term for "widow," but used as a derogatory term. And if you're a female child widow, like Leela, you're not allowed to marry again and you must resist temptation or else shame the family. The subject matter is chilling without being chilling.

When I look at American society and the fact that celebrities, as well as people not featured in the news, can get married and then divorce after a period (a day) only to marry someone else, it makes me think. A lot. Of course, I think people should marry and divorce whomever they want at any time interval they want. Their marriage and divorce is not my business. But to read books where marriage is forced and divorce is not an option, it's a little unnerving and it seems like Americans are just throwing away the sanctity of marriage. And the fact that gays who love each other can't marry yet complete strangers who just met can marry and then divorce is a bit ridiculous. Sorry, that's my own personal opinion.

Anyway, back to Leela and Keeping Corner. This book opened my eyes to a time and culture that was different than my own and I really enjoyed that. I love learning. I love the beauty in words. And this provided a complete completion of both.

Leela was in the highest cast, brahman, in Indian culture. She had wealth, gold bangles and jewelry, and long, thick hair. When she became a widow, she traded in her lavish clothing for a chidri, a woman's sari worn in Gujarat, no jewelry, and she had to shave her head. I think it's extraordinary. I wish my copy wasn't a library book so I could place it on my bookshelf. Rating: 5/5

When she came to the part, "A widow's arms are forever quiet," she stopped and took me in her arms. "I'm glad you've filled your sounds with feeling. It makes you aware of who you are. As you go on writing and expressing your thoughts, it'll open up a whole world inside of you. Your inner self is like an onion: you keep peeling it, and a new layer is always there."

It was strange to think of my inner self as an onion, and it was impossible to think of a journey I could be taking while keeping corner. - page 261

Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows & Mary Ann Shaffer

goodreads summary: “ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

My Review: I think I may be the only person who doesn't have this book in a Must-Reads or a Top 10 Book List. It was beautifully written, but for me some of the characters blurred together. Maybe it's because it's written in letter form, but I wasn't sucked into this book like I have been with others.

Let me back up. My two favorite characters are Elizabeth and Dawsey. Elizabeth had such a fire in her soul in the way she was described and I love strong female characters. Dawsey seemed like the typical guy-next-door: intelligent, shy, average looks.

But Juliet Ashton, the protagonist, is a different story. At first she's likeable. Taken into the life a Guernsey, she meets people by letters and she eventually writes a book about the people of Guernsey during WWII. She eventually meets everyone and falls in love with the people, the island and her love interest.

I completely understand becoming attached to people by researching a book, but I'm thrown out of the story at the end. Even though I didn't like Mark, I thought he had a point. I thought in a way the people were using her to babysit Kit, and using her in different ways. At least, that's the way I interpreted it. I know it's not how it's intended to go, but I couldn't help but think that here she is, taking care of this little girl, on an island with people she hasn't met and has left the only home she knows.

I did enjoy the twist of O.F. O. F. W. W. toward the end, and I appreciated and liked learning all of the stories in the book. I'm always sad when I read a book with a deceased author. It's like I can never ask the author the questions that I want answers to, and I guess I'll never know. It has a wonderful premise and great individual characters, but something was off for me. It didn't drag me in and ensnare me like other books I've read. But a part of me keeps wanting to go back for more. I keep wanting to like it, but for some reason, I can't.

3/5 For now. I'm planning on re-reading it someday, but as of right now it didn't draw me in and some scenes completely took me out of the story.

Book Review: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Goodreads Review: Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean.

Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting.

It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn't have to be a jerk just because people think he's one.

It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences.

And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise. . . .

From confused to confident and back again, one thing's certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

My Review: I think this book would be great as a nice summer read. I would've thought that all four characters would've had a chance to meet each other at one point, but oh well. Can't have everything in life. Or in a book. But I am glad that they all didn't recount their experiences when they were at Paradise.

I liked that each character had a distinctive voice. It makes me a little leery to read books with multiple viewpoints simply because most of the time the characters are indistinguishable. But it was nice reading through their points of view chronologically, and seeing how each character changed, as well as inadvertently changed the other characters as well.

Each has their own sets of problems to deal with. I felt that Jena's was most relatable. Her insecurities shined through in the prose, and it does give you a flashback of being a teenager and unsure whether a guy likes you or not. Dakota's a bit iffy. I eventually liked him in the end, and his voice was probably the most distinctive. I thought Skye was a a tad cliche. The typical spoiled child who has another side to her that no one sees that makes the ready feel sad toward her. It just goes to show that not everyone you meet with a happy face is, well, happy. I thought Owen's was just a male version of Jena's, and it was interesting seeing the twist in character traits.

A little snippet from the book I enjoyed:

"What is it with you and quotes?" I asked, wiping my palm on my jeans. "You know so many of them."

"I used to think I collected quotes because I had no life, so I had to feed off other people's," Jena said. "But now I've realized I like them because they make me feel less alone. Like we're all going through stuff and we can share our wisdom with each other. I don't know. I guess quotes make me feel more connected."

"Like we're all in this together?" I asked.

"Exactly," Jenna said.

Tangled, page 297.

Review: 4/5

Book Review: The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

Goodreads review: Sally is sixteen and uncommonly pretty. Her knowledge of English literature, French, history, art and music is non-existent, but she has a thorough grounding in military tactics, can run a business, ride like a Cossack and shoot straight with a pistol.

When her dear father is drowned in suspicious circumstances in the South China Sea, Sally is left to fend for herself, an orphan and alone in the smoky fog of Victorian London. Though she doesn't know it, Sally is already in terrible danger. Soon the mystery and the danger will deepen - and at the rotten heart of it all lies the deadly secret of the ruby in the smoke...

My Review: Let me get it off my chest right now. I love this book. I love the writing style, I love Philip Pullman and I love the plot. Right from the beginning, this book captures you and takes you into the world of Sally Lockhart in Victorian London. Her dead father, her new friends, and that scary old lady add to the richness of text and depth of setting.

Whenever Jim talks, I smile on the inside. Ok, you got me. And out. Most of the time when I read books set in a different time and place, there's something amiss. Like, the characters in 16th century England don't say 'like'. At least, I don't think they do. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, back to the story at hand. I'm a huge fan of Philip Pullman and his writing. He always manages to capture emotions in such an artistic and poetic way, it makes me pause and reread his writing. There's also an abundance of rich text in the story as well, so even though it's a children's book, the vocabulary doesn't feel that way.

Do yourself a favor and read this book now. I know it's older and not on one of the Reading Challenges, but please go get it. Philip Pullman is a wonderful writer, and his writing shows just how wonderful reading a good book can be. 5/5

Book Review: Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

goodreads review: Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

my review: I'll have to admit, at first I was a little skeptical about reading this book. Composed entirely of tweets, blogs and emails, how was the reader supposed to identify with the characters? And how could there be any character development, as well as plot?

Boy, was I wrong. I adored this book from beginning to end. Each of the characters (Claire, Charlotte, Will and Benn) had their own unique voice so even though at first it took a few pages to adjust to reading tweets, by the end it was as normal to read as a regular fiction book composed of sentences and paragraphs. I'm a huge Science Fiction nerd (my favorite show is Battlestar Galactica and my favorite movie is LOTR) and I always love whenever authors create geeky characters, and, it's a minor detail, but I loved the quick toss-in between 'SyFy' and 'SciFi'. If you don't know the significance of that statement, it's ok. Not everyone can be a geek.

I truly loved each of the characters in this book and distinct voices of the characters made this book a success. If there wasn't a distinction between the characters, this book would've flopped. But I could tell the difference, and loved the blogs and emails as well. I loved that each of the characters had their own personality traits delicately woven into the fabric of the novel, and that helped create a unique aspect to each of the characters.

On a separate note, I also loved the design of the book itself. Each page had a different background depending on who was in the conversation, and I think this concept of creating fake social media accounts could actually apply (if it hasn't already) in real life.

My favorite part? All of it. Do yourself a favor and read this book. A quick read, but certainly insightful and entertaining. I think this book, with its tweets and blog posts, has more content and character development than some other regular books with thousands more words than this one.

Basically, I want more of this book and its characters. Right now. :)

Rating: 5/5