Book Review: American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld

American Wife is a fictionalized account of the life of an unlikely First Lady of the United States, Alice Blackwell. It is loosely based on Barbara Bush, but very loosely, in that she is First Lady during the time period that Bush was president, and Alice may have had some of the same beliefs that Barbara did but a different background. And her husband, Charlie, had a much different background also.

But, American Wife was entertaining for the most part. It is the story of a childhood, a romance, a marriage, and ultimately a political career. But the presidency doesn't happen until the last 120 pages. A lot of the story is about their marriage, at times struggling, and Alice fitting into Charlie's very affluent family after her middle-class childhood.

Alice's first-person narrative flips back and forth in time quite a bit, and this technique worked well for me. Especially during the presidency years, she is very introspective about fame and how it changes a person and how she fought these changes. Somewhat repetitive, I still found these insights helped the reader relate to this very unique situation.

American Wife would not fit into my "must read" category, but it certainly was not a waste of time. If you are interested in seeing the rise of a political career from the First Lady's perspective, this is a good one. Sittenfeld did a lot of research into first ladies of the time period, and I felt her observations were authentic.

Published by Random House, 2008
Copy obtained from my personal library
558 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Cutaway by Christina Kovac @christina_kovac

The Cutaway kept me guessing and did a good job building up the tension.

Virginia Knightly is a television news producer who has been relieved of her producing duties.  Good thing, because she's become intrigued with a missing person's case.  A young attorney in Washington D.C. has disappeared after leaving a restaurant with her husband.

It's D.C., so there's politics involved.  Virginia's ex is investigating the case, and maybe he's lying to her? There's a varied cast of characters and things start to look like a police coverup.  But why?  What did this very young, inexperienced attorney have that would make her a target.

I liked Virginia.  She's strong and resilient.  She's smart, and I found it easy to root for her. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in The Cutaway.  It kept me guessing as Virginia follows leads and you think, "now she's got it!" but no...that's not it either.  I didn't figure it out until she did.

The author is an experienced reporter and familiar with TV news and assumes the reader is too.  I'm not.  I did wish for a little more explanation of the workings of the news cycle, and what is involved in getting the nightly news on the air.  There were some terms and expressions that I didn't quite understand.  I really don't even get the title. Well, I guess I understood kind of, but there was a lot of tension over stories and timing that I just didn't feel.  I don't think this took anything away from the actual story, but I think she missed an opportunity to educate her readers.

The other thing that was a small issue is the denouement.  After the case is over and done, there is a lot of personal stuff that gets resolved.  Maybe I was just tired, but it seemed like a lot of pages of this. Once again, not a huge issue.

The Cutaway is definitely a worthwhile read for mystery fans.  Especially if you like the kind where it's about investigative reporting and not about police procedure. I think older teens would enjoy The Cutaway also.

Published by Atria, Marcy 21, 2017
eARC obtained from NetGalley
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

The Diabolic is a thrilling adventure that kept me glued to the pages.  But -- Red Queen meets The Hunger Games (from the blurb)? I don't really see that comparison.

Nemesis is a diabolic, basically a robot who looks and acts like a human.  Diabolics are bonded to one person, to protect them for life at all costs.  Nemesis is bonded to a senator's daughter, Sidonia.

When it is decreed that diabolics are illegal and all must be destroyed,  Sidonia's mother plots to keep Nemesis a secret to protect her daughter. Sidonia is in danger because her father is rebellious.  He wants to learn about science -- something that is forbidden in this world.  The emperor summons Sidonia to the Galactic Court. Since her mother is so fearful, she decides to train Nemesis to pose as Sidonia and go in her place. It is very difficult for Nemesis to hide her special abilities and act like a human, but she must or all will be lost.

Once Nemesis gets to the court, she learns quickly of the corruption and pure evil of the emperor. She also learns more about herself and her capability to be much more like a human.

The tension ramps slowly but steadily.  No one can be trusted, and Nemesis witnesses betrayal after betrayal. At the same time, she also learns to accept her feelings -- things she's never felt before -- and create a bond with someone besides Sidonia.

There is a nice balance between science fiction, political intrigue, and the emotional aspects of Nemesis' growth. The Diabolic has a solid ending and appears to be a stand-alone (surprise!) But the world is such that more stories could be coming, and I would welcome them.

I'm looking forward to recommending The Diabolic to my teens.  They will certainly enjoy it.

Published by Simon & Schuster BFYR (November 1, 2016)
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
416 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee

Every Falling Star is a harrowing memoir about a young boy first fighting for his life and then escaping from North Korea.

Sungju lives a life of wealth and comfort in the capital city of Pyongyang.  His father is high up in the military fighting off the evil Americans and South Koreans.  His life drastically changes when his father falls out of favor with the government and he and his parents are sent to Gyeong-seong for a "holiday."  Sungju very slowly realizes that his family is now helpless.  They get nothing from the government, and even if his parents worked, they would not be paid.  He has led a very sheltered, brainwashed life and has difficulty adjusting to their abject poverty.  He can't let go of his loyalty to Joseon (the natives' name for North Korea.)

After both of his parents leave him to find food and don't return, Sungju must learn to survive on the streets.  He forms a gang and after struggling, starving, and being beaten, they become very adept at stealing to survive.

Every Falling Star is very difficult to read. There is so much heartbreak and suffering, it was hard for me to pick it up at times.  I did think the book was a bit long.  The trials Sungju and his "brothers" must go through become a bit repetitive.  I realize this is all true, but we know at the beginning that he is going to escape, so I just wanted to get to that part more quickly.

Ultimately this is a story about family and love.  Sungju's gang become his family, and even to this day he worries about them and is trying to help them, and many others, from afar.

This book, although set in a different country, had the same feel as McCormick's Never Fall Down, so if you have kids who liked that book or like stories about different cultures and survival, point them to Every Falling Star.

Published by Amulet, September 13, 2016
ARC obtained from School Library Connection Magazine
316 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Flawed has an interesting premise in which the government has gone a bit mad. It seems there are criminals, but there is a whole other category of people called Flawed -- those who have committed some moral indiscretion. It was a bit too much for me to believe.

There is a separate court that determines if you are Flawed, and let's just say, if you appear before that court, you are certain to be deemed Flawed. There are "whistle blowers" who turn people in. And if you are Flawed, you must be branded, wear a red arm band with an "F" on it, and your rights in society are severely limited. This is for your entire life. You are never freed, and your family suffers because of it.

Celestine is our main character. She's always been the good girl and tries not to draw attention to herself. But when she assists an old man who is having trouble breathing, her entire life changes, because that man was Flawed and you are not allowed to aid or assist a Flawed person.

So not only is this system strange and unbelievable, it turns out there is corruption and Celestine  suffers because of it. She unwillingly becomes the poster child against the Flawed system. People are pushing her in different directions, and she can trust no one. But she also is kind of indecisive and doesn't always make good decisions. She is young, so I can get over that.

Flawed moves at a quick pace and kept me engaged. I did want to know what was going to happen, even as my eyes were rolling because I just couldn't buy this absurd premise. So I have mixed feelings. The book was entertaining, but just went a bit beyond my capabilities to really accept this system of government. Flawed ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm not sure how I feel about spending time in this world for the rest of the series.

I think teens might buy into Flawed more than I did. It is a bit political, but for the right reader, this might be part of the appeal. It's easy to read and may elicit some emotion.

Published by Feiwel & Friends, April 5, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
336 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: Dreamstrider by Lindsay Smith

I had some problems with Dreamstrider. Granted, fantasy isn't my favorite genre, but there's more to it than that.

Livia is a Dreamstrider. She can take over people's bodies while they are dreaming. Or, something.... She's working for her government, the Barstadt Empire, to help determine if and when their enemies are going to attack and to help find a way to stop them.

Livia used to be a tunneler, a low class citizen that lives in poverty underground. She was saved by a professor who studies dreams because of her talent. The deity in this Empire is the Dreamer. Livia is devout; fervently praying to the Dreamer for his guidance. And the "devil" is the Nightmare. But supposedly the Nightmare no longer exists. Livia believes Nightmare is coming back, because she has encountered the Nightmares while she is dreamstriding. Or something...

The politics and the religion are intertwined. The whole Dreamstriding experience was confusing and I never really understood what was going on. There are a lot of characters introduced, but many are superficial. I couldn't sink my teeth into the magical lore of this world. And, one of my biggest problems with fantasies, things are sometimes resolved too easily by using magical elements.

The ending was confusing. I can't really say much without giving it away, but Livia figures something out, and I didn't understand how or why it "fixed" everything like it did. There is also a lot of verbose, flowery language that maybe was supposed to explain her revelation, but really didn't mean anything. The romance was the best part of the story, and that part I understood!

I didn't know any of the characters well enough to care about the outcome, with the exception of Livia. The explanations of the dream world and dreamstriding was unclear, and the rules seemed to keep changing. I never understood why priests can be in the dream world, but they aren't dreamstriders -- because they are priests? Or something... I can just keep on with my questions, but you get the idea. Dreamstrider was just really muddled for me. Kind of like this review.

I hate writing negative reviews. I respect authors, including Smith, because I certainly couldn't do any better. But I also think that when I have to read passages over and over, and try to make lists of places and characters and still don't fully understand what is going on, then I need to reveal my difficulties. I can't recommend this book, but I encourage you to look for other reviews that are more positive.

Published by Roaring Book Press, October 6, 2015
ARC obtained from School Library Connection Magazine
391 pages

Rating: 2/5

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Book Review: Sekret by Lindsay Smith

The historical aspect of Sekret was compelling and that's probably why I had problems meshing the paranormal aspect into that setting.

Yulia is trying to survive in the USSR in 1963. This is a world of long lines for rations, hiding from the KGB, and using the black market just to survive. Yulia has a special ability that helps her make good deals -- if she touches someone she can read their thoughts and emotions.

Yulia gets captured and taken to a house where several children with these types of abilities have been training to spy for the government. Yulia knows they have taken her mother and brother somewhere, and her only goal is to escape and rescue them. It is difficult to trust any of the students, since they have varying types of mind reading and pushing abilities. Also, their captors have the same abilities, sometimes even stronger.

So Yulia is trying to survive and keep her captors happy, all the while trying to figure out how she's ever going to escape. They are being hunted by the CIA and Yulia decides maybe they would be better so she's trying to get to them to escape to the west.

I'm not sure what set wrong with me about Sekret. I enjoyed the atmosphere. This was also the time of the space race, and you get the Russian perspective on that. I think the alternate history bothered me a bit. Usually I love this type of story, but some of the powers that the characters had were a bit vague, or maybe too convenient? I had trouble believing the tension as it built. I didn't feel my heart pounding like I think I should have. Like I said, I'm not sure.

I did enjoy reading Sekret. It is written well; it's quick and easy.  I think teens who enjoy alternate history fueled by a paranormal element will enjoy Sekret. The second book in the series, Skandal, was just released.

Published by Roaring Book Press, 2014
Copy obtained from the library
345 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: In a Split Second by Sophie McKenzie

In a Split Second is billed as a thriller -- and it is -- if you can suspend some disbelief and just have fun with it. It is also supposed to be a "romantic thriller," and while there is a romance building, it's not a central theme.

Charlie's mother was killed in a terrorist bombing in London. A very poor, future London where the economy has been decimated and the public has lost all trust in the government. Charlie ends up living with her aunt and uncle who are very rich, and much better off than she and her mother ever were.

She meets Nat at school. Nat's brother has been in a coma ever since the same explosion. Nat has found evidence that his brother was actually involved in the bombing and wants to find out who his associates are that put him up to this. Charlie finds out some information that makes her think Nat is the one that planted the bomb.

So Nat has to come clean to Charlie. They both end up involved in an organization, also secret, that supposedly is trying to find the same people that Nat and Charlie want to find and make them pay for all the damage they have done and stop them from doing more.

Nat and Charlie, along with two other teens are trained to become a terrorist "cell" and their assignment is to infiltrate the bad guys and find out what they have planned next.

Yea, it's kind of far-fetched. I had to do some eye rolling. Nat and Charlie are at times very gullible. They didn't notice any of those red flags that jumped out at me. They also seem to take to this underground life very easily. They learn their combat and espionage skills almost magically. And, of course, they become romantically interested in each other.

Which is the other problem I had with In a Split Second. I hated the distrust and misread signals between these two. They are constantly thinking the other one isn't interested anymore -- for no real reason. There's a lot of wining about each other that I could have done without.

In a Split Second is fast-paced. The story is easy to follow, even with the dual narration. There is a nice build up of tension and of course, a twist at the end. This phase of the story has a nice conclusion, but there is definitely more story to tell. I would recommend In a Split Second to teens who want a fast-paced political thriller. I'm not sure there's enough depth to the story for most adults or those with more experience with this type of story, but it will hold younger readers' interest.

Published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, March 10, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
368pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: All Fall Down, by Ally Carter

Don't forget to enter the 2015 EBook Reading Challenge hosted right here!

Carter has created yet another powerful teen girl in All Fall Down, the first book in her new Embassy Row series.

Grace has been sent to live with her grandfather, the ambassador, in the U.S. Embassy in the fictitious country of Adria. Grace's mother died three years ago, and her father is away serving our country.

Grace witnessed the death of her mother, who she believes was murdered by a man with a scar on his face. The authorities claim it was an accident, and that her mother died in a fire. When Grace sees the scarred man in Adria, all of the counseling she has received goes down the drain as she tries to determine who this man is, and make him pay.

Grace is assisted by some other teens -- all kids who live in various embassies in Adria.  They sometimes believe her, but sometimes it is difficult because she has no support from the adults in her life. When she overhears the scarred man talk about committing another murder, their quest to find him and stop him gets even more exciting -- and dangerous.

Even though there are tense parts in All Fall Down, the story has a lighthearted tone, and even a hint of romance towards the end. Grace and her friends are rebels, doing things over and over again in defiance of the rules. This is especially dangerous because breaking the rules could mean starting a war!

As with Carter's other series (The Gallagher Girls and Heist Society) the plot is a bit far-fetched. But the determination and resourcefulness of these characters makes it worth going along for the ride. Grace seems to be a more troubled character than those in the other series. The dramatic ending reveal is, of course, a bit unbelievable too, but that's not why we read these books. The ending is satisfying, although it leaves much room for the continuation of the series.

The pace is frantic, and the book reads very quickly. Teens who have enjoyed Carter's books will definitely want to check out All Fall Down. 

Published by Scholastic, January 15, 2015
ARC obtained from Library Media Connection Magazine
310 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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