Annette's Book Spot: realistic

Showing posts with label realistic. Show all posts

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Book Review: Room, by Emma Donoghue

Although well-written and well-paced, Room is not a book I enjoyed. Room is not the kind of book I usually read. So, why did I read it? Room is a nominated title on the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award list for 2013-14. There are 22 books on the list, and Room is the last book on the list that I needed to read.

I don't like books about realistic suffering at the hands of a demented human -- especially when the victim is a young person. I'm probably one of the only people in the world who hasn't read A Child Called It. I don't want to. But when it comes to the Abe Lincoln list, I'm stubborn, so I read them all.

Room is about a 5-year-old little boy, Jack, and his Ma who are confined to a room. There'a bed, a toilet, a stove, sink, rug, TV, and table. Jack was born in this room. His mother has been here since she was kidnapped 7 years ago.

So, it's awful. Depressing. Heartbreaking. And, yes, I guess somewhat hopeful, but it takes a long time to get to that point. Ma is ingenious in raising Jack to be healthy and smart. He can read. But he doesn't understand that there is anything outside of Room. When his Ma begins to describe the outside, Jack is very confused.

As I said at the beginning, the book is interesting. Jack is telling the story, so he has a backwards way of talking and describing, but it's easy enough to understand and adds to the realism. I guess it's too real for me.

This is not a book I would have picked up, had I not had a reason. I know what kinds of books I like -- and this isn't it. But, if you like this sort of story, then Room is a great one. I'm not going to give the book a rating, because my discomfort is purely a personal thing and has nothing to do with the quality of the literature.

Published by Little, Brown, & Co., 2010
Copy obtained from the library
321 pages

Rating: N/A

Monday, December 31, 2012

Book Review: The Sin-Eater's Confession, by Ilsa J. Bick @ilsajbick

Bick has done it again with The Sin-Eater's Confession. The book had me riveted throughout the entire story.

I enjoyed the way The Sin-Eater's Confession was written. We learn that our main character (I don't know his name, and I'm not sure it was ever used) is in Afghanistan. He's ready to volunteer for a mission from which it is quite likely he won't survive. But first, he has to get something off his chest. He's been hiding a secret that is eating him up, and he's going to write a letter and tell us about it.

He was a straight-A student and had applied to attend Yale. He wanted to be a doctor. He worked two jobs, volunteered in the local ER, studied, took a couple of college courses, and didn'tt have much time for anything else. But when a friend dies, he helped out on the family's dairy farm and ends up taking his friend's little brother, Jimmy, under his wing.

This leads to all kinds of problems, and I really don't want to go into too much detail. Jimmy does something to make his parents so mad that they take him out of school, and forbid our main character from coming near him. Jimmy has also ruined the reputation of our main character, making everyone think they might have had a homosexual relationship.

Things spiral out of control. A most interesting aspect is living this through the eyes of our main character. He's questioning his relationship with Jimmy just like everyone else. He's never had a relationship with a girl, so does that mean he's gay? The inner dialog is realistic and heartbreaking.

Everything gets worse when he witnesses some violence and does nothing about it. We see him struggling to decide what to do (and making some really stupid choices) and because of this inner turmoil the rest of his life pretty much falls apart.

I couldn't put The Sin-Eater's Confession down. I was riveted, wondering what he would decide to do. Wondering how he ended up so far from his original path. The family dynamic is excellent. His parents are caring, but not perfect. He doesn't have many friends, but he uses them effectively. The town was, unfortunately, probably typical of a small town. "We don't have any gays here." And the pastor and his followers are creepy and awful.

The Sin-Eater's Confession uses a somewhat dramatic situation to describe absolutely realistic reactions. Bick has a background in psychology, and it is much evident in The Sin-Eater's Confession. Fans of realistic fiction won't want to pass this one up.

Published by Carolrhoda Books, January 1, 2013
eBook obtained from NetGalley
320 pages

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Book Review: All These Lives, by Sarah Wylie @sarah_why

In a book market that seems to be inundated with books about cancer, All These Lives holds it own.

Dani and Jena are twins. Jena is battling cancer, and is very sick. Deni has always been told by her mother that she has nine lives. As a way of coping with Jena's desperate situation, Dani tries to give some of her lives to Jena. She believes that if she gives up some lives, someone in the universe (hopefully Jena) will grab on to one of them. So Dani puts herself in some dangerous situations.

It's really heartbreaking. Dani feels guilty because she's healthy. There's nothing she can do; she doesn't know how to handle this situation and her parents aren't helping very much.

Don't get me wrong, the parents in All These Lives are THERE. They are doing everything they can for Jena and trying not to neglect Dani, but it's not easy. I felt the desperation. The chaos. The not knowing which way to turn. The heartbreak when Jena turns worse, the joy when she has a good day. All the while not understanding why Dani is behaving the way she is. Wylie writes these emotions with expertise.

Jack is the main secondary character, and adds a little romantic tension. This isn't the main focus of All These Lives, but Jack helps Dani realize that she isn't the only one with problems. All These Lives is a pretty short book, but I still felt it lagged a bit in the middle. There was some down time where not much happened. But, it quickly picks up and it was never so bad that I wanted to give up.

Dani does grow and learn. The ending isn't all tied up neatly, but there's some adjustments by everyone and things are more hopeful.

This is an interesting contemporary about a topic pretty much everyone can relate to. Many teens will be interested in All These Lives and I won't hesitate to recommend it.

Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, June 5, 2012
eBook obtained from NetGalley
256 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Book Review: The List, by Siobhan Vivian

The List is a compelling contemporary that deals with high school teen girls and their self image.

The premise is a bit of a stretch. Every year at the beginning of homecoming week, a list is posted all over the school with eight names on it. Two girls from each class - the "ugliest" and the "prettiest." Apparently this is an annual tradition, one that the administration has done nothing about. As I work in a high school, I find this hard to believe. But I do know that kids are cruel sometimes, and the way the rest of the story played out is plausible.

We are introduced to each of the eight girls in separate chapters, and then we see how they all deal with this fame. You would think that the "pretty" girls wouldn't have problems, but even they have a difficult time dealing with this notoriety.

Vivian did a great job creating unique, identifiable characters. There's the previously home-schooled girl, the athlete who apparently looks like a boy, the presumed homecoming queen, and the girl who embraces her ugliness. The characters and teen interactions really made The List.

There is, of course, the mystery of who made the list. And the new principal is even making attempts to find out. The reader does find out at the end, but I didn't really feel that was key to The List.

Teen girls who love contemporary stories about the struggles of being in high school should definitely seek out The List. It's a quick book, written in an easy style, and I'll put this one on my list for reluctant girl readers too.

Published by Push, April 1, 2012
ARC obtained from the publisher for review
332 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, March 26, 2012

Book Review: The Goodbye Quilt, by Susan Wiggs

While I enjoyed The Goodbye Quilt immensely, it's not a book for everyone. And, as I mostly review young adult, or books appropriate for young adult, you should be warned that this doesn't fall into either category.

Perhaps I should start by explaining why I read this book in the first place. Well, my daughter is getting married, and I read How I Planned Your Wedding, which is written by Susan Wiggs and her daughter, Elizabeth. It was hilarious, and I wanted to read something by Susan -- she's a romance writer.

The Goodbye Quilt isn't a romance. It's a "niche" book, and I fill the niche.

Molly is going to college across the country, and she and her mother, Linda, are going on a road trip to deliver Molly. Linda is also making a memory quilt for Molly, using fabrics from all sorts of places from her childhood. As Molly drives, Linda works on the quilt. The story is told by Linda, and she regales us with stories of Molly's childhood as we go along.

I'm a quilter. I have a daughter who went away to college, and will soon be married and moving out of my house. So you can see why I could very much relate to the story. It's well written, and was well-narrated. The pace was a bit slow at times, especially when Linda was taking us back in time, but I liked the meandering pace. Some might not.

The Goodbye Quilt is a short book -- only 224 pages, and that was also a plus. I don't know if I could listen to much more than four disks of this story. It's a story about a woman finding herself after her only child leaves home. There are many episodes of inner struggles to figure out what she's going to be, now that she doesn't need to be a mother any more. The ending was predicted, but still satisfying.

I still want to read one of Susan Wiggs' romances, but I am not sorry I read The Goodbye Quilt. Recommended to adult women, probably mothers, whose children are growing up.

Published by Mira, 2011
Audiobook obtained from the library
224 pages

Rating: 3/5

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Book Review: Fall for Anything, by Courtney Summers

Fall for Anything is a realistic contemporary story that many teens will enjoy.

Eddie is obsessed with figuring out why her father committed suicide. He was, at one point, a famous photographer, but had run away from that fame. He still took pictures, just didn't publish any of them. Unlike Eddie, her mother has shut down, spending most days in bed or wondering around in her husband's robe, seemingly unconcerned about Eddie or her father's motivations.

Often, in the middle of the night, Eddie visits the building that her father jumped off when he committed suicide. One night, she meets Culler Evans, who claims to be her father's student. Eddie begins a strange attraction to Culler, as they both try to figure out why her father chose this path.

Milo is Eddie's best friend since second grade. He has been supportive and has stuck around, even when Eddie hasn't been totally honest. There's a bit of a love triangle here, but it doesn't overpower the story. It's a story about a teen who's struggling, and at this point doesn't have much support from her mother. She has friends, and of course, latches on to Culler, who she believes can help her do the one thing that will make her life better - find out why her dad did what he did. In the end, after suffering even more betrayals, there is some hope that Eddie and her mother will find some closure, but it's not perfect.

I enjoyed reading this story. Summers' writing flows well and is easy to read. I never felt strong emotions towards any of the characters. I never wanted to quit reading -- I was invested -- but this isn't a story that will stick with me for a long time. It was a good story, nothing more. I would recommend this to teens who like this sort of problem novel, filled with teen angst, but there are probably other books I would recommend first.

Published by St. Martin's Griffin, 2010
Copy obtained from the library
230 pages (tried to read this for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge, but didn't quite make it.)

Rating: 2.5/5

Monday, February 20, 2012

Monday Memories: Cut

Welcome to my meme, Monday Memories, where I feature favorite books we've loved from the past. You can link to an old review, or write something new about a beloved book from your past. Really, what's important is not the book, but why it is memorable to you. So, have fun reminiscing, and leave a comment below, so we can all enjoy your memories.

I also wanted to let you know about another wonderful blog that you should check out. Ashley @ Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing does a weekly post called Memory Monday. She has been posting about her childhood memories of books. What's great about Ashley's site is that she is asking for guest posts for her Memory Monday event! So hop on over there and check it out.

Cut, by Patricia McCormick is such a powerful book. It's one of the first YA books I read that made me think, "Wow! Every teen girl would love this!" I thought it was something true to their voice, dramatic, and delivering a message. It's also helpful that the book is relatively short.

Since then, there have been many books that have had this effect on me. Ellen Hopkins' books, for one example. But Cut was my first. It still gets checked out regularly, without my prompting. We have a couple of copies, and have replaced this book more than once. It's one of those books that teens read and then ask, "Do you have any more books like this?" Written about twelve years ago, it still packs a powerful punch. If you read teen contemporaries and you haven't read this one, it's worth your time.

Share one of your cherished book memories!

You can do a Monday Memories post on your blog. Copy my button and link back here, so others can see all the other posts. Leave a comment below with the link to your post.

Or, just leave one of your Monday Memories right here in the comments.

Be sure to visit some other blogs that have posted their links. Thanks!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Book Review: Graffiti Moon, by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon is a beautifully written book that teens will easily relate to.

Lucy has just finished year 12, and is planning on celebrating all night with her friends. They hook up with some boys, and Lucy wants to find the elusive Shadow, a graffiti artist that she has been trying to find for a long time. As the night goes on, she realizes maybe Ed, the guy who is helping her find Shadow, is an interesting guy himself. They are both interested in art - Lucy in glass blowing, and Ed in painting and drawing.

But, things go bad. Ed lies, he puts Lucy in danger, and things quickly spiral out of control. Besides, he has a girlfriend-or at least he told Lucy he does. And, it's difficult for him to hear Lucy rave about Shadow, when Ed knows he IS Shadow--but he's vowed not to tell anyone about his alter ego.

I loved the characters. Ed and Lucy have such entertaining dialog, that I laughed out loud several times. I really loved their mentors, Bert and Al, too. I'm so happy there were strong adult figures in their lives. And their friends behaved like friends. The conversations and reactions seemed very authentic.

Crowley's writing is lyrical. Leo's poetry, Lucy's glass, the graffiti and all the artistic references are magically described. At times, it was like I was listening to music, the prose flows so beautifully.

I do have a couple of minor negative comments, which had little effect on my enjoyment. I got confused, at times, about who was narrating. This may have to do with the ebook format, and flipping back a page usually got me back on track. Also, I really hate when the romantic tension is created by characters just not telling each other the truth. I got past this, though, since I could relate to Ed's difficult situation.

It's a feel-good book, with a little tension, but a satisfying ending that teens who are fans of contemporaries must read. I look forward to getting this one in their hands.

Published by Knopf, February 14, 2012
eBook obtained from NetGalley
272 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Book Review: The Girls of No Return, by Erin Saldin

The Girls of No Return is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It is very slow and deliberate, but very elegant.

Lida has had some problems. She is being contacted by someone from her past named Margaret, but she isn't ready to talk to her. She hasn't seen Margaret for two years, and it's apparent that something happened, involving Margaret, that Lida is seeing a therapist for. The therapist suggests that Lida write down what happened. And so she begins.

Lida is being dropped off at a school for troubled girls in the wilderness of Idaho. I thought the set up here was a bit slow, introducing the (beautiful) setting and the characters, but Saldin's writing is very lyrical.

The setting and characters are important. The hikes, the lake, and the camping trips are an important part of the Alice Marshall school and the story. Lida's nemisis is Boone. She's the bully who lives in Lida's cabin and has a "special" way of welcoming all the newcomers. Lida is a loner, never speaking much or trying to make friends until a new girl, Gia, arrives who Lida is attracted to. They begin a clandestine friendship, because Boone absolutely despises Gia. And, as Lida finds out, there's much more to Boone that what appears on the surface.

As we are getting to know these characters, who are diverse and wrought with problems and typical teen attitudes, we are wondering, "What is Lida's Thing?" Everyone else is wondering too, because she isn't sharing any of her past with her teachers or school mates during their "Circle Share" meetings. Margaret teaches the outdoor class, Lida's favorite, but she still isn't going to confide in her.

Saldin expertly reveals more of Lida's character bit by bit. And we also get to know a little about the other characters, but some still remain very mysterious. Since we only hear what Lida hears, just how much of what these girls share are lies?

The triangle here isn't a love triangle, but a friendship triangle between the three girls -- Lida, Gia, and Boone -- with Lida very much in the middle. There is a horrible occurrence at the culmination, but there's much to absorb along the way. And, the future is hopeful, at least for some of our characters. The strength of this book is in the telling -- the descriptive metaphors and the characters that burrow into your heart. The plot is a slow burn, but worth it.

Recommend this to teens (as well as adults) who like contemporaries, boarding school stories, problem kids, and beautiful prose.

Published by Arthur A. Levine, February 1, 2012
ARC obtained from the publisher for review
345 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Book Review: Drowning Instinct, by Ilsa J. Bick

I was really moved by Drowning Instinct. It's a really unpleasant story, but well-written, with characters who have problems for which there are no easy answers.

The first scene in the book is Jenna, our 16-year-old main character, in a hospital emergency room talking to a detective named Bob. He obviously wants information that Jenna has, so he leaves her a digital recording device, so she can feel free to talk.

The rest of the story is Jenna's description of her life. She's had a dysfunctional childhood with a mother who is a drunk and a domineering father. She was critically injured in the fire that burned down her grandfather's house. She misses her brother, who used to be the only person she could talk to, but he is away.

Her father decides to take Jenna out of therapy and move her to a new, private high school. Jenna becomes friends with Mr. Anderson, her chemistry teacher and track coach.

I really don't want to say too much. Suffice it to say, Jenna has problems, and as she very slowly reveals the extent of these problems through her narrative, your heart breaks. She finds some comfort, and possibly some healing, by spending time with Mr. Anderson. These characters, especially our narrator, become our friends. There is a slow progression, but it's very steady, and at no time did I feel the exposition was dragging. Every piece added something to my understanding of the situation or characters. There are also a few surprises along the way.

By the time I got to the climactic ending of this book, I didn't know what to think. It's confusing -- and we wonder, just like Jenna, what to believe. Bick really sums up her (and my) feelings in the acknowledgments at the end of the book. I can't really quote it, because this is an ARC. But, basically it's that there's not always a clear line between the predator and the victim. Relationships are complicated and you can grow by being in a damaging relationship, as well as a healthy one. Good people can make bad decisions, and get too deep into improper situations before they realize it.

I love how the book's title ties into the story. I won't tell you how, but it's a totally appropriate title, and I appreciate it. I think this is one for more mature, high school age teens. The subject matter is somewhat disturbing, but those who are ready and enjoy realistic "problem" novels will be enthralled with this one.

Published by Carolrhoda Books, February 1, 2012
eBook ARC obtained from NetGalley
352 pages

Rating: 4.5/5