Review: I Am The Messenger.

Author: Markus Zusak

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers  

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Summary: Meet Ed Kennedy—underage cabdriver, pathetic cardplayer, and useless at romance. He lives in a shack with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, and he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That’s when the first Ace arrives. That’s when Ed becomes the messenger. . . .Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission? 

After I finished this novel I had to sit back because I was in awe at the mastery of the writing, the power of the message, the truth of such stories. This book has weaved it's way into my soul. I Am the Messenger captures the the dilemas I go through as a young person. Its depicted my frustration and insecurities and also my hopes and unfulfilled wants.

Once again his language is magic. The dialogue takes on the action of the predominant emotion. If he wants to reach for a friend, the words reach. And the way he breaks his sentences to evoke emotional pauses is poetic. Zusak has a perfect combination of length and pauseI. In a way, his writing transcends language.

Ed is a protagonist whom you come to care about within the first couple of pages, and whose story is deeply engrossing, emotionally engaging and also inspiring. As Ed submerges himself into these strangers' lives. He learns to care for them personally and insightfully discovers a message for them that will alter their lives. Sometimes the messages are easy to deliver, other times they require a lot of strength. The characters were also well-written. They had depth. At the beginning, there were some characters who I immediately labeled as flat and two-dimentional. As I progressed through the book, though, I realized I was wrong. Every character has their own problems and their own way of dealing with problems. 

Ed is an understandable, down-to-earth guy who we respect and want to do good. His friends, while not perfect role models, are supportive, funny, and real. The addresses hold many interesting people in store, and even though most of them aren't angels, they're at least honest.

The absolutely only thing that took away from the book at all was the ending. I thought it was rather rushed, and tied up a little too neatly. It was a little bit of a "huh? What just happened?" ending." I was never quite sure that I really understood who was sending Ed on these missions. Though I adored Ed's understanding that he isn't the messenger, but IS the message.

 

 I think there is a unique beauty in Zusak's story. Ed discovers the changing power in simple, personalized messages of love, even if they're ones he's forced to deliver. Ed's story is simple proof that if a guy like him can stand up and do what he did, then maybe everyone can. "Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of." 

Zusak leaves us with our own challenge. We have to find our own names on an ace and we have to discover the real messege: that anyone, no matter how ordinary can be great.

Review: Perfect You

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Summary: And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them.... Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

Elizabeth Scott's second novel is a poignant tale about first crush, anguish of losing a best friend, and the bemusement that comes with having to parent...Your parents. PERFECT YOU is a story of one girl's struggle to fit in to a world that keeps changing

The biggest strength of this book is Elizabeth Scott's ability to authentically capture the complex, conflicting feelings in a love/hate relationship. Underneath his flirtatious facade, Will is not what he seems. I loved the clever arguments and smart banter between himself and Kate. Elizabeth Scott has a talent for flawed girls with a unique voice and her leading men border on the divine.However, at times I lost my patience with Kate failing to believe over and over that Will may honestly want to go out with her, that he may ACTUALLY like someone like her. 

Also, I felt that Kate was too-quickly forgiving Anna of her unwillingness to acknowledge her around her new friends or stand up for Kate when she's being laughed at. I could not get pass how Kate was so willing to overlook everything Anna had done (or hadn't done, in this case) every single time. As soon as Kate was ready to forget that Anna and her would never be real friends again, Anna suddenly makes an appearance, says a sweet word or two, and Kate's all for it again. Yes, I realize that's the author's point, trying to emphasize that to certain people, it doesn't take much for that glimmer of hope to appear and disappear again, but it's somewhat annoying and off-putting.

And while I felt like it all wrapped up a little too fast as Kate's bleak outlook peaked, the ending was still rewarding and offered just enough closure in the epilogue-like final chapter. Props to Scott for not sugar-coating any of the harsher realities of teen and family life.   I mean, 99% of the time, the parent realizes his/her mistake, grows up, learns a lesson, and becomes a better person. Here, you’re kind of hit with reality. Not everyone realises their mistakes or wants to change themselves. People, even our parents, can be selfish.

 PERFECT YOU has just the right combination of humor, charm and weight to satisfy any reader, eventhough it had it flaws it was still an enjoyable read.

Review: Anatomy of a Boyfriend

Author: Daria Snadowsky 

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary  

Summary: Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body. Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love. And then came the fall

I think what sets this book apart from others is how brutally honest and real the portrayal of first love actually is. First kisses and first touches are awkward. Anatomy of a boyfriend was able to show the innocence of both character's brilliantly. It felt raw. Unlike so many romance books which seem to gloss over love and sex, Snadowsky showed that exactly what it is for a teenager to fall in love for the first time.

At times I found the narrator irritating, but the voice was believable. The main character was inconsistent at times, her actions didn't match the given descriptions. Dom somehow goes from being a bookish, reserved girl to being a sex-crazed, clingy girlfriend in a matter of weeks. For me, this just was not a believable transformation. On the other hand, her supposedly boy-crazy best friend, Amy, displays much less of this behavior and is much more tolerable than Dom, in my opinion. There were some funny moments, but the heartbreak scenes weren't expanded as much and seemed a bit rushed.

The sex scenes seem to have caused some controversy. I personal felt that those scenes were very clinical and seemed to lack a lot of emotions. I was somewhat disappointed at the way it was approached as it ended up reading most of all like a book version of American Pie, as seen from a girl's point of view. Snadowsky doesn't waste any time with euphemisms or by dodging the issue, and instead boldly sweeps readers off their feet as she captures the awkwardness and confusion. There's two different sides of me that were conflicted while reading this book. The curious side, and the cringing side

The ending wasn't as satisying as I would have wanted it to be. I wished that the book would have offered a little more conclusion in this department: was it really love? Should she have waited? Is there a point at which you can tell the difference? This novel is quick, interesting, and at times, laugh out loud funny. This was a good book to pass time, but it has some serious flaws. The astute reader will pick up on the many parallels between Snadowsky's book and Blume's hit Forever, they serve as a sort of tribute to the groundbreaking author.

Daily Dose Monday #001

Daily Dose Monday is hosted by Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly and features inspiring/magical images that you would like to share with your readers 

 

Every picture is a story waiting to be told.

Review: Stargirl

Author: Jerry Spinelli   

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Summary: Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love. 

This book reminded me a quote by Quentin Crisp  

"The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another." 

After I read this book, I began questioning the unspoken rules we all follow at our high school. 

Why do I wear what is acceptable to wear? 
Why do I make 'acceptable' jokes? 
Why do I watch 'acceptable' TV shows? 

Why do I choose to conform? 

Simple. Its better to be in than out. 

Then I read about Stargirl, who is her own person and does things her own way and she was simply... 

Breathtaking. 
Wonderful. 
Inspirational. 

She filled me with a great passion to be my own person, and to go around and do things that feel right by me. 

This book is truly a classic, because the author was able to pinpoint our need to fit in and do the 'okay thing. 'It explores a lot of issues centered around social conventions and how they play in our lives for good or bad. Spinelli's insights are thought-provoking and engaging. It was never 'preachy' and I didn't ever feel like I was being talked down to. In the end, the book makes you want to be a better person, perhaps in ways that aren't quite "normal." .  

 Yes, I put this book down and thought: Its time I decided to choose what is okay for me and what isn't. Don't you love when a book affects you?

Review: It Started With A Dare

Author: Lindsay Faith Rech
Publisher: Graphia
Genre: Young Adult
Summary: Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different. Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status.While this rebel image helps secure CG’s newfound popularity, it also propels her through a maze of unprecedented chaos, with each new lie and every dare opening doors that, in most cases, were better off left shut. CG is on a collision course with disaster. Will she be able to keep up the façade? Or will the whole world find out she’s a fraud?
Cover: I absolutely love the cover. It fits the main character perfectly



I think there is always a problem when you come start reading a book with expectations. The reviews for It Started With A Dare were pretty good, and when I recieved this book I was expecting a funny and poignant coming of age story. But CG's (main character) personal growth was marred by her constant pathological lying and an often callous disregard for other. Yes, CG was funny and she did make me smile every now and again, but in the end I didn't really like her as a character. Personally, its important that I 'connect' with the main character, if I don't then I don't care what happens to her and that's how I felt by the end of the book.

When everything blows up in her face, I don't think CG is truely remorseful. Eventhough she had hurt a lot of people.

The pacing in the novel was great and the climax was...climaxtic. But my real problem with the novel was the characterisation. This was a character-driven novel, but I didn't feel like any of the characters were fleshed out. I think the majority of the characters were just too sterotypical. The rich kids were all mean, snobby and a bitch. The poor kids were all humble, sweet and generally good people. The novel were ridden with stock characters and it brought the book down.

The voice was the best part of the book. It, credit to the author, sounded like a 15 year old girl.

There was a lot of 'tell' and not enough 'show' in the novel. We are told CG thinks she is invinsible and a 'nobody' but we don't really ever see where these feelings stem from. She also ditches her best friend (who is romantically interested in her) because she no longer wants to be a nobody. But I felt it was a douchy thing to do.

There was a lot of potential in this book, and a lot of themes that the author could play around with. However, I again felt like it was all underdeveloped and the author mainly scratched the surface and didn't really dive into things.

At times the plot was hard to believe and quite unrealistic and coincidence played to big of a role. And CG's lies were a bit out of control and over the top and I didn't understand how anybody would believe them.

The dialogue was snappy and at times funny. It was a quick read and some younger teens may find it enjoyable.

However for me it was somewhat of a disapointing read.

Waiting On Wednesday #001

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine 

There is no book cover. There nothing but a book title and a small blurb.

It's about a boy.
His name is Clay.
He's building a bridge.
And he wants that bridge to be something truly great and miraculous.

A book called BRIDGE OF CLAY.

A book written by Markus Zusak.