Book Review: Strings Attached, by Judy Blundell

Strings Attached is a historical fiction novel about the early 1950s when we were just entering the Korean War.

To me, this novel seemed historically accurate. The New York described in the book was easy to picture, complete with dance halls, gangsters, and air-raid drills. Kat has left her home in Rhode Island to become a famous Broadway star in New York after breaking up with her boyfriend, Billy. Billy has enlisted in the army and will be going to Korea. Billy’s father, Nate, is connected to the unsavory side of society. He “gives” Kat an apartment to stay in (for her and Billy, when he comes home, of course.) He also brings her nice, fancy clothes and helps her get a great job as a dancer at the Lido Night Club. But he assures Kat, there are no strings attached. And of course, there are.

Blundell nicely uses flashbacks to explain Kat’s family history. She’s from a set of triplets whose mother died giving birth. Her father and her aunt have been struggling to keep them in food and clothing. The flashbacks also explain the history and demise of her relationship with Billy. Just when it seems Billy and Kat might be able to patch things up and have a future together, things fall apart rather quickly, mostly because of Nate’s unscrupulous behavior.

The story is well-written, and I could feel for Kat. Some of the other characters were not as well developed; this is definitely Kat’s story. There’s not much action, but the story moves at a steady pace. It is somewhat predictable, and at times I just wanted to scream at Kat for being so naive and not seeing what she was getting herself into.

My main problem with the novel is its ability to appeal to teens. Even teens who are historical fiction fans may have a problem with the slow pacing and lack of tension or suspense of this one. I enjoyed learning about this period and place, but I’m a nut about historical fiction. I think it will be a hard sell in the library.

Published by Scholastic, March 1, 2011

Copy obtained from the library

310 pages

Rating: 3/5

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What Makes a Book "Young Adult?"

It's been a long time since I posted a question, but here's one that I've been pondering for quite some time.

What makes a book “Young Adult?” I know that the age of the characters is a big part of that nomenclature. But isn’t there more to it? 

Last year when I started reading Revolution, I remember thinking, “Oh, I thought this was YA.” I didn’t think it read like a YA book (even though I thought teens would love it.) Then I found out it IS considered a YA book. But there’s nothing to keep an adult from whole-heartedly loving that book. I was confused.

I’m currently reading Strings Attached. I know the main characters are teens, but I really think this book has very limited appeal to the teens I deal with on a daily basis. Not that it isn’t a good book, but I keep thinking of my mom, who was a teen during this period of time, as I read this book. I want to recommend it to her—I think she’d love it.

Is it just the age of the characters? Or is there more?

The main character/narrator in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is eleven years old. I don’t think a single eleven year old would enjoy that book, and not many teens would either (although I LOVED it.) In The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Lisbeth Salander is in her teens or maybe early twenties. This book isn’t marketed for YA, but certainly could be enjoyed by teens.

I know when it comes to book that include romance, if there’s too much sex, that book is going to be marketed to adults. No brainer. Same for language. What about violence? Is there a limit to how much violence is in YA books? I think there is, but I can’t say I have read many overly violent adult books, so I don’t have any comparisons. (Sex I’ve read; violence, not so much.)

There are so many examples that don’t “fit.” Besides the age of the characters, what makes you think “teen” when you read a book?

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Book Review: Cuentos, by Edwin Stark

Cuentos is a surprisingly good collection of short stories of the horror variety. I say surprising because I’m usually not much of a short story fan, but many of the stories in this collection were “complete” enough to entertain me.

The ebook is devided in sections, the first is stories about vampires, then there are a few apocalyptic/zombie stories, and then the last part contains several science fiction stories involving artificial intelligence.

My favorite was probably one of the vampire stories, "The Recycling Kid," where a 15-year-old kid gets stuck in a sewer with a vampire. I liked how the story unfolded and was resolved.

I find that too many short stories are just an event or just describe a situation. I like any story, whether short or novel length, to have a beginning, a plot, a build up of tension, and an ending. And like I said, most of Stark’s stories had this. The writing is very good. The vocabulary was rich and the descriptions were vivid. The plots are imaginative, believable, and scary. One story is a bit gruesome, and I found myself doing some skimming. There are some grammar and typographical errors which some good editing could easily take care of.

Edwin Stark speaks to the reader between most of the stories, and I think this helps set the stage and added to my enjoyment of the stories. It took me a while to get through these stories. I enjoyed just picking this one up and reading a story or two in between other full-length works. It was a nice change of pace.

If you are a horror fan and are interested in some intriguing short stories, this book is definitely worth your time.

Kindle edition self-published.

217 KB

Copy obtained from the author for review

Rating: 3/5

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IMM - A Whole BOX of books!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren every week, so please go check out the other awesome blogs who have posted their links!

I review for Library Media Connection Magazine, so this week I received a box of books from them for review. This is always very exciting; usually I haven't heard of the books, but in some cases I've read the author before. So, here's what I received in the "box:"

Body of Water, by Sarah Dooley

Captured,by Maggie L. Wood

The Darkening, by Maggie L. Wood

Desert Angel, by Charlie Price

 Shifting, by Bethany Wiggins

Story about this one. I received the ARC, which has the cover on the left. This week on someone's WOW post, I saw the cover on the right, and commented that it looked like a good book, but I hated snakes so much that I didn't know if I could hold on to the book to read it. Now I can, because I got the book with a different cover! (Although I must admit the cover on the right is awesome.)

The publishing company always sends books as gifts for reviewing, and this time I received What Comes After, which I reviewed for a blog tour, but didn't own the book, so I was very happy to get this too!

For Review from the Author:

Darwin's Children, by Natasha Larry

Downloaded for FREE for my Kindle:

 

 Waterfall, by Lisa T. Bergren

I had an exciting week -- but I'm going to be very busy! And, I need to squeeze every minute of fun out of this one, because school starts the next one. (But I love my job, so I'm not too disappointed....) Hope you had a good  week too. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you got. Thanks for stopping by.

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Book Review: The Last Little Blue Envelope, by Maureen Johnson

When I first began reading The Last Little Blue Envelope, I got a sense of déjà vu. It seemed like this was the same story as 13 Little Blue Envelopes, but the introduction of some new characters and an adventurous plot soon drew me right back into the story.

Yes, Ginny is going back to England because someone has found her backpack with all the letters in it, including the last one. She meets this person, Oliver, and he’s not very nice. She also surprised Keith with her arrival, and she is surprised in turn, by his new girlfriend, Ellis. So things don’t start out very positive for Ginny.

Not only is this an adventure book, it’s mostly a road trip book. Johnson writes an exciting adventure where pretty much nothing goes according to plan. And it’s all led by Aunt Peg, through her last letter to Ginny.

Since we’ve read Johnson’s first story about Ginny, this one is somewhat predictable, but I found myself not caring. I was along for the ride and enjoyed the characters interactions and their ability to overcome obstacles no matter what the cost. These are memorable characters, and that’s what made this one special for me.

I would consider this a must read for anyone who has read the first book. I don’t think it would be as enjoyable if you haven’t.

Published by HarperTeen, April 26, 2011

Copy purchased by me.

280 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

 

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Following on Friday (Thank God....)

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison for hosting the Follow Friday event once again! This week's question is:

Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?). 

I'm going to answer this question below, since it is similar to the TGIF question.....

TGIF happens over at GReads! so make sure you get over there to check it out. Her question this week is:

Taking it Personal: Which books have affected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

This is a hard one for me. I think I am the sum of all that I have read, throughout many years. I think of Charlotte's Web, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, just to name a few, that have fed my need to read, as well as taught me some important life lessons. There are many more than these, but that's what came to mind first. I do a regular post called Monday Memories, and I talk about books from the past that have influenced me. I think those posts sum it up the best.

I hope this Friday finds you looking forward to a great weekend! Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I hope you will come back soon.

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Book Review: In the Woods, by Tana French

In the Woods is a dark, sinister, psychological thriller wrapped up in a murder mystery. The characters also have their own stories which make the book more complex than it appears.

Rob Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox are investigating the murder of a 12-year-old girl at an archeological dig in Knocknaree, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Many possibilities need to be investigated—residents are protesting a new highway that will shut down this important archeological site, and there is a strange dynamic among the victim’s family. But one important possibility is that this murder is connected to a 1984 murder of two children on this very spot that is, as of yet, unsolved. The big secret, that only Cassie and Rob know, is that those two children were Rob’s friends, he was with them in the wood when this murder occurred, and he remembers nothing.

Cassie and Rob work very well together; their personal relationship is one of deep friendship, but nothing more. The evolution of this relationship, and it’s development throughout the book, adds much personality to this story.

The eventual resolution of the case is tense, as well as surprising. French is an amazing story teller, and keeps the reader guessing throughout, revealing every aspect (and there are several) of the solution with painstaking detail.

I guess that’s my one little problem with the book. French is very detailed. I feel like I know enough about Cassie and Rob that I could buy them Christmas presents. Every detail throughout their entire past is explored. Every detail of the 1984 murder is examined. Every detail of the case and every interview and every step are painstakingly described. The personality of every character is explored. This makes the story rich, I guess, but at times I just wanted to get on with the story!

I listened to this audio book, narrated by Steven Crossly, and I thought he did a great job. His voice was steady and soothing, with enough subtle difference between characters that you could understand, but not over-acted (which is my pet peeve in a narrator.) His British accent gave an authenticity to the narration, and I really enjoyed it. At over 20 hours I think this was the longest audio book I’ve ever listened to.

I’m not sure this book has much YA appeal. I would only give it to my diehard mystery fans. Adult mystery/thriller fans will appreciate it, and I would recommend it with the understanding that it is a bit long. French has published a second novel, The Likeness, in which Cassie is the main character. Her third book, Faithful Place, features a character from The Likeness.

Published by Viking, 2007

Audio book obtained from the library

429 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 3/5

 

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Book Review: Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth, by Andy Hueller

Can you believe that Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth is exactly what our main character loves to do?

This story is a delightful middle grade fantasy that is full of quirky characters and fanciful situations. There are a few different perspectives to the plot, and this may cause some problems for younger students, but if they can deal with it, they all tie beautifully together at the end.

Cal, our main character, is an orphan who has been sent to an orphanage at the center of the earth, under the South Pole. This town, called Robert, contains an orphanage that exists on the light side, and a prison, that is on the dark side. The orphans don’t have it very good, as is the case for most fictional orphans, but Cal is particularly mistreated because of his unruly bright red hair. He spies on the groundskeeper, Mr. E, who is our stone skipper, and has more to his story than we first anticipate.

Another plot line deals with the discovery of Bart’s Screw--the screw at the South Pole that was covering up the real story of what’s at the center of the earth. Apparently it isn’t the hot magma that we all believe it to be. This part of the plot begins twelve years in the past.

There’s also the story of a young couple, Ron and Julia, who have all sorts of bad luck right around the time that the screw was being discovered and during its “unscrewing.”

So, Hueller has written a rather silly plot, but it’s so intriguing, and the characters are what made me keep reading. I can’t mention them all, but they are all very memorable. It sounds a bit convoluted, and for a while it is, but you just have to find out what happens to Cal, and all the wonderful characters you are introduced to. Well, maybe not Principal Warden, the head of the orphanage. Don’t really care what happens to that monster.....

I think this would be a great classroom read aloud. If you could do some different voices, like some of my grade school teachers could, you would have them mesmerized. This would be a good one for reluctant boy readers and anyone who enjoys an entertaining, over-the-top fantasy.

Published by Bonneville Books, August 8, 2011

ARC won from  Britta @ I Like These Books (signed and personalized by the author)

237 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

 

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Book Review: Divergent, by Veronica Roth

I’ve read countless reviews raving about how great Divergent is, and this review isn’t going to be any different. I’m also going to try to make this pretty short, since I know you’ve all read many things about this book.

First of all, a comparison to The Hunger Games is unavoidable. Both stories have a society that is grouped – factions in Divergent and districts in The Hunger Games. In both books the main characters spend a great deal of time in training. But, these stories are both great; they are well-written, exciting, and have much that makes them unique. I can’t tell you yet which one I liked better – I loved them both.

Roth writes characters that just jump off the page. My heart pounded right along with Tris, and I felt her pain as she made a decision about her faction. All of the side characters brought out strong emotions – whether hate, love, heartbreak, or tension. She really gets you inside all their heads.

The plot was unstoppable. I read the first hundred pages, and then had to stop to read a tour book. When I went back to Divergent, I finished it in one sitting – almost 400 pages. But this book doesn’t feel long. It reads easily and fast, and is compelling enough that it is difficult to put down. It isn’t a realistic world, but dystopias aren’t supposed to be, just as most paranormal stories aren’t. That’s what you get when you pick up a book like this, so don’t expect everything to feel like it makes sense. You have to suspend your disbelief and have fun – go along for the ride and enjoy it.

The story has a satisfying ending, but also leaves you wanting the next installment, because it is obvious that everything isn’t resolved.

Divergent is a must read for dystopian fans of any age. It’s also a great one to give to someone new to the genre. I just can’t imagine what’s not to like?

Published by Katherine Tegen, May 3, 2011

Copy obtained from the library

496 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 5/5

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Monday Memories: Reader's Digest Condensed Books

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. I'm hoping to do a guest post for her soon!

Reader's Digest Condensed Books. We used to have some of these on the shelves in my house when I was young. It was one of those things that I would pick up and read if I didn't have anything else to do, or any other books to read. They were also nice if you were interested in a story, but didn't want to spend the time reading the entire book, because they were condensed. I was surprised to find out that they were published until 1997, according to Wikipedia. Every story is listed by volume on this site. There are some very popular stories! I don't really remember any specific stories that I read, but I asked my husband, whose family also had some of these, and he said he remembers reading Don Quixote, USA. So I looked it up, and it was published in Vol. 67,  the autumn of 1966.

We don't remember how we got them. They came through the mail, but I don't know if you subscribed to them, or if they sent them on consignment, and you either paid or shipped them back. I wonder if my mom remembers.....

It just reminded me of being a kid that loved to read. You would just grab anything that was around, and in this case, there were some pretty good stories available. Anyone else remember these or have these in their house? Do you remember any of the stories you read?

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!

 

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