In the Path of Falling Objects by Andrew Smith.

I decided to join a group of bloggers in reading through all of Andrew Smith's novels this summer in preparation for his new novel coming out later in the year. I had never even heard of Smith, but I am game for anything, so I joined up and downloaded the first book to Homer in anticipation.

The first novel was In the Path of Falling Objects, which was originally published in 2009. After reading a bit about the story online, I figured it was a story I would usually gravitate towards-two brothers who have been pretty much abandoned by their family, a road trip, and, of course, a girl.

Little did I know that the book also contained a bit of CRAZY. And that it was well-written. And that I would fall in love with it.

When the book opens, Jonah and his younger brother Simon are walking away from the life they have been living. Their older brother has been away in Vietnam. Their father is in prison. And their mother left them weeks before. After the electricity was turned off, Jonah decided to leave in search of their brother, who may have deserted and come back to the States. All they have with them is a backpack with a few items of clothing, ten dollars, a gun, and a bundle of their brother's letters.

The brothers are soon picked up by Mitch and Lilly, who are also leaving their lives behind. As the brothers drive further and further away with Mitch and Lilly, their relationship is truly tested...and stuff gets crazy.

When I began, I really thought that this story would be about the brothers and their journey to finding their older brother. It was obvious from the beginning that Jonah and Simon had a rough relationship. They pick on each other, fight, and just generally get on each other's nerves. Simon did that annoying little sibling thing-you know, where he would bother Jonah on purpose, just to get him mad? Their relationship reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my older brothers and younger sister when we were kids. We always irritated each other on purpose. There is one point where Simon calls out Jonah on being an insufferable big sibling-always telling him what to do-and that really struck home for me.

The brothers also had some obstacles to overcome. Lilly's character was definitely a turning point for the boys and how they felt towards each other. As a "hot" girl, she came between them and drove a wedge in their relationship. This is something I was unfamiliar with-the idea of siblings fighting over a love interest (mainly because my sister is 6 years younger than me and well, that would have been odd. When I started dating Matt, she was 10). I think this little conflict showed the brothers that they weren't as close as they thought, and that they must work through it.

However, even though the brothers and their relationship was a central part of the novel, there was also the crazy element that Smith through in...in the form of Mitch. I don't really know how to describe Mitch, except that he was a nutjob and offered the brothers a chance to band together. I can't say more than that without giving anything away...

But I really did step away from the novel loving it. I like "issue" novels, as they are sometimes called, because they seem more real to me. I just had a conversation at work yesterday about why I like novels with ambiguous ends, with disturbing themes, or sad endings. I mean, is life ever 100% of the time perfectly happy? No. So when a novel can show real issues in a way that strikes home, I love it. The problems presented here definitely fell in that line of thinking.

My one critique of the novel is this-there wasn't enough character development. Besides Jonah and his older brother (who we "meet" through his letters), I didn't feel at all connected to any of the characters. I didn't really understand Lilly and her situation (or why Jonah and Simon were attracted to her, besides the fact she was "hot"), and I think Mitch was a bit too over the top for me. I missed some of the connection to their lives. But, I still loved the novel...and ordered a hard copy of it to read again.

So if you're looking for a YA novel that's a bit off the beaten path, I would definitely give this one a recommendation! I know I am always looking for new, contemporary authors, and I can't wait to see what else Andrew Smith has in store for me this summer.

Andrew Smith Saturdays is hosted by Roof Beam Reader, Smash Attack Reads, Not Now...I'm Reading, and Lady Reader's Bookshelf. They have discussion posts up every Saturday to participate in (I am a horrible participant and didn't in any for this novel), and have books up for grabs before every readalong starts. The next novel up is Stick, which is currently on it's way to my doorstep, and all discussions will be over on Adam's blog. I hope you'll decide to join us!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 

I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this book because I don't write that much about YA. And, I am sure that some of you are scratching your heads a bit to see me posting about a new release in the midst of Shakespeare Reading Month.

But the simple fact is: I really love Young Adult Fiction. It wasn't always that way. When I was a high schooler, there wasn't a lot to pick from in the YA section. There was a lot of fluff and only a few books of substance. That has gone through a significant change. I rediscovered YA in college, and in particular, when I took a YA literature course. That course taught me a lot about literature (maybe even more than my serious classes), but the one thing that sticks out was my professor telling us,

"Young Adult fiction is slowly becoming the most important literature coming out today. It is the only division of literature that allows for and welcomes significant change. All of the exciting literature is coming from there."

And I have to agree. While I can certainly name popular "adult" books, I can think of far more young adult books to hit the scene with more power and gusto. Twilight. Harry Potter. The Hunger Games. Percy Jackson. And the list goes on.

John Green is one of the YA authors that I have the most respect for because his books uphold a very high standard. All of his novels are realistic, passionate, and well-written. When I open one of his books, I know that I will find a lot to love. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy this when it came out, and I was a bit heartbroken I was going to have to wait to read it.

My mother saw my sad facebook status the day the book came out and went to purchase the book for me (thanks mom!). I brought it down to Florida with me, and I started it at 11pm one night. I ended up going to bed just before 2:30 that morning, after reading the book straight through.

Green has not disappointed me and has confirmed what I have come to strongly believe-that Young Adult fiction is important and should be valued higher than it is. When a writer can create something this powerful and wonderful, the naysayers of YA fiction need to check themselves.

For those who don't know, The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel, a 16-year-old teenager battling terminal cancer. She is currently okay, thanks to a miracle drug that is giving her more time. She isn't in school, but instead finished high school at home and takes community college courses. She has to lug an oxygen tank around with her wherever she goes, and wheezes without it. There is a scene where a young girl asks about the tubes in her nose, and Hazel has to explain it. I cannot imagine that kind of existence.  Life has dealt her a crappy hand, but she seems to be surviving, pushing through, and accepting the way things are.

She meets Augustus Waters at a group session for teens with cancer. The two immediately become fast friends and where Hazel has clear evidence of her disease, it seems as if Augustus is fine.

But remember, this is a book about kids with cancer, and Green points out clearly in the beginning that both teens are really living on borrowed time.

Now, I read a lot of Lurlene McDaniel books as a young pre-teen. Those books were full of kids battling cancer, falling in love, and struggling with parents. And while I drank them all up with longing and the idea that love could conquer everything, like cancer, they did not have the impact that Green's novel had. Perhaps I was so deeply moved by Green's novel because of the family members in my life who have fought cancer since my bout with the tragic love stories in McDaniel's books. I lost my paternal grandfather immediately after my high school graduation because of a battle with cancer. I lost my paternal grandmother a few years ago the Monday before Thanksgiving to a battle with cancer. I was holding her hand when she passed away. Matt's mother battled breast cancer last year and is in remission, and his step-dad is currently undergoing chemo treatments for lymphoma.

Let me tell you, cancer is not beautiful or lovely. It is rough and frustrating and nothing like those Lurlene McDaniel books I read when I was younger. Cancer isn't fair. It attacks not only the person with the disease, but those around them. I remember driving my grandmother to treatments and listening to her talk in the car about how she hated it. How much she hated that she knew she had limited time left. She could do nothing about it and neither could I.

But Green tackles that head on. He doesn't gloss over cancer-no, that is part of his main focus. Hazel mentions at one point in the book that she is a grenade-ready to explode at any point to hurt those around her. She cannot control when or where. It is that kind of statement that makes Green's novel so powerful. He doesn't dumb down the pain or the impact of what the disease does. I commend him for that.

The biggest thing I found to love in the novel was Augustus' obsession with leaving a legacy. I think we all feel this a bit, and maybe more so when you know you are living on borrowed time. I found that I could relate to Augustus. He felt that as a teen, he had so much left to live and would be leaving nothing behind. I could understand that feeling, and I think it is a feeling that rings true for so many of us. We want to be remembered not just by those we intimately knew, but by everyone. I know that when I lost my grandparents I felt a bit of anger that so many people didn't know how wonderful they were. I wanted to scream it out, but couldn't.

Augustus only wants to be known for something other than being a kid with cancer. That is what drives him, what frustrates him, and what he discusses with Hazel-that the cancer cannot define who they are. They must strive to battle the cancer and live a life for themselves-one not ruled by treatments, drugs, and scary results. The must live for an infinite amount of time and build something for themselves and their families.

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

When I finished reading the novel, I was alone in the very dark hours of early morning. I read the last portion of the novel with a lump in my throat and tears burning in my eyes because it is that type of book. It was real and powerful and everything I expected from Green and more. The teenagers felt like teenagers. Of course they were far cleverer than I ever was at that age, but I knew people like them. I could relate to their very real struggles, and of course, the love they felt for one another.

It was a beautiful, beautiful book. It made me think long and hard about the purpose of life, my own legacy, and how much I love reading beautiful books with meaning.

This is one you shouldn't miss.

Review: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.

I feel the need to start this off with a couple of notes. I want you all to approach this "review" knowing a few things off the bat. First, THIS post is the result of a couple of hours of writing. My first three drafts didn't sound right because I attempted to tiptoe around some issues. That didn't work.

Second, I know you might be scratching your head and asking, "Why are there books with DRAGONS on a book blog?" My answer to that is that before I started this whole shebang, I read a great deal of fantasy and science-fiction.

Third, I have tried my best to keep massive spoilers out of this post, but I'm assuming you have some knowledge of the the books' general storyline.

Fourth...I debated not even posting this. I may even take it down.

And lastly, this isn't much of a review. I usually don't feel comfortable writing about authors' work when they're alive...especially when it is in an unfavorable light. But, not writing about my frustration would be unfair to myself. I need to vent.

Anyway, I did my best. Here we go.

Ah, Christopher Paolini...I avoided Eragon with a vengeance when it first came out. Back then, I was a hardcore fantasy geek, and while I adored the dragon on your cover (because hey, dragons are pretty awesome), I was unsure whether your young writer skills would live up to my high expectations. I mean, really, I spent my teenage years reading Anne McCaffrey's epic Pern series. Now, there is a writer who wrote epic dragon fantasy!

I eventually caved after my sister read Eragon. I knew that the second book, Eldest, had come out, so I received a beautiful box set for Christmas one year. I sat down and read them both.

I came away thinking "Hmmmm." Because I was young at the time, and not exactly sure of all the literary reasons why the books didn't sit right with me, I couldn't voice why the story felt off. I mean, it had a lot of elements I love in epic and high fantasy. There was an evil villain, a prophecy, an orphan...and hey, a beautiful blue dragon. I LIKE dragons...when they are done well. And while the story in Eragon was something I could see myself loving, I didn't love it. I liked it, but I wasn't convinced.

If we fast forward a few years, I was excited to learn that the third book, Brisingr, was being released. It had been a few years since reading the first two, and in the time in-between, I had gone to college, earned myself a degree in English, and read a lot more literature. The details of the books were hazy, so I determined to listen to them on audio as I went to and from work (I was long-term subbing in a district an hour from home-I listened to a lot of audio books that year).

When I finally got my copy of Brisingr, I was disappointed to hear that contrary to what I was told, the third book was not the end of the trilogy. Instead, I found out that Paolini couldn't wrap the story up in three books and needed a fourth book. I didn't mind. I LIKE long series. So I read Brisingr and was incredibly disappointed. Why were there random rambling passages? Why did it feel like nothing happened?

Again, it took years for Paolini to finish the next book, Inheritance, which is the book that just came out in November. For some reason, I was eager to reread the series, and I spent the last week plowing through all 4 books, all 2700+ pages of them.

I began with excitement. It had been three years since reading the series, and I was excited to revisit your world and get the whole story in one long, extended read. I had been looking forward to this experience for weeks, knowing that once I finished my piles of obligations books that I could dive into something fun and enjoyable.

:(

^THAT is my unhappy face. Because while there were certain pieces of the books that I still liked this time around, I felt like slogging through all 2700+ pages of this "cycle" pushed me over the edge.

Now, I'm not trying to come across as snarky, mean, rude, or anything of the sort, but I really had a hard time with the fact that the publishers and editors let Paolini do some of the things he did in this series.

It wasn't the length that bothered me. Like I said before, I LOVE and enjoy long fantasy series. In fact, the longer and more involved the story, the better. I like getting lost in a world for a long period of time.

If it is done well.

Paolini didn't need the fourth book. There were pages upon pages of material in the third and fourth books that served absolutely no purpose-at least in the way Paolini constructed the story. There were side stories and threads that had nothing to do with propelling the plot forward. Instead, I felt cheated when I closed the last book. Why did I spend hours slogging through side story when it didn't matter in the least? If I am going to read a long piece, I want it to be worth my while. This wasn't.

My other huge irritation was the fact that Paolini needed to be more critical of his diction and choices. There were so many convoluted similes and metaphors that served no purpose and distracted from the story. I had to stop many times to share something with my husband.

For example, in the first book, Eragon is traveling and notices a storm approaching. Now, Eragon has lived a sheltered life so far. He grew up in a small village, which he has never left. He can't read or write and hasn't had any formal schooling. So why does he compare the storm clouds to a grand cathedral and explains the expressions of the "gargoyles" he sees? It makes no sense and pulled me completely out of the story.

Another example takes place in the fourth book, when in the span of three pages, the only focus was on a minor character's fingernails. Yes, his fingernails.

I know Paolini is young. Heck, he wrote Eragon as a 15-year-old. My own writing at 15 was awful, so props to him for managing to get his book published and widely read. But, his inexperience shows. By the fourth book, it is clear that he had to wrap up loose ends. After the climax, he spent another 100 pages wrapping everything up...and he did it badly. Paolini needed some more guidance from someone-someone to show him that describing everything was not the way to construct a story. The reader needs to be able to construct their own interpretation based on the few, good details a writer shows. Spending pages describing what each dwarf king looked like and what they were wearing is pointless when they disappear from the rest of the series after the next chapter. Does a reader need all that detail? Absolutely not. It serves no purpose and distracts from the real story.

And that isn't even the worst of it. I haven't even scratched the surface of all the little details that bothered me as I read.

Is my disappointment clear enough?

I think what bothers me the most is the wasted time. Like I said, I read hundreds of pages this week that amounted to nothing. They served no purpose. They didn't advance the story in any way. Now I am left feeling like Paolini stole precious time from me. So yes, I am disappointed.

More than anything, I am mad that Paolini didn't wait. The core of his story was great. He had something that was interesting, inventive enough, and the base for a great fantasy epic. But the overly descriptive, rambling, and pointless writing took away from everything he tried to accomplish. Had he edited, reworked some parts, and deleted a whole lot of pointless side story, he would have had something I would have truly loved. But he didn't. Instead, he finished this "cycle" of books with a disappointing end note.

I'm not sure what else I can truly say. If you've read this, or any of the books in the series, please comment below with your own thoughts. I'm curious to see what others have to say about this series.

Review: Ranger's Apprentice-The Lost Stories by John Flanagan.

I have been following this series since the first one came out. I was in my local bookstore shortly after the fifth Harry Potter book was released (I'm dating myself here). There was a display out that said "For Harry Potter Lovers." I remember walking around the display and dismissing most of the titles. Then I saw the first book in this series, The Ruins of Gorlan, and picked it up. After glancing over the synopsis, I bought it.

And I have bought every title since.

I love this series. And sometimes is embarrasses me just how much I love these. But I do. I was sad last spring when I went to pick up the tenth book in the series to find a "last book" sticker on the front. I was a little heartbroken, but got over it. So when I saw this one on my recent excursion to the store with Matt, I clutched it to my chest and squealed until he said he would buy it for me.

So why do I love these so much?

First, they are just plain good fantasy stories. Flanagan manages to create a lively world (modeled on Europe), full of drama, suspense, and mystery. There is a huge cast of characters, but every one of them seems lively and true. There is danger, adventure, sword fights, and lots of description of battles and tactics. That part of the book always reaches my nerdy little core.

But what Flanagan does so well is creating a world where good does triumph. These are intended for the MG/YA age group, and they teach lessons without being overly preachy. They have a nice balance of action to moral, and I find that I really like that.

I also think Flanagan does a superb job with the fighting aspects of these. Each of the different groups have their own fighting style and weaponry, and he truly brings that to life. He also manages to have multiple cultures interacting, without belittling any of them. I think this is what makes these so successful. Where one culture or way of life is usually placed above others in fantasy type novels, Flanagan successfully shows how each culture and way of life is equally important.

And the stories themselves? Wonderful. These are great "boy" books for boys who don't like reading. When I was teaching a younger age group, my male students got hooked on the series (this was when there were only 4 or 5 out) because there was less of the icky girl stuff. The action and violence was there, but in a tasteful way.

So, yeah. I love this series. And I cannot wait to share them with my own kids!

As for this title in particular, Flanagan decided to create something to bridge the gap between this series and his new series (the first title comes out in November). Since the series doesn't necessarily go in a linear direction, there are a few time gaps here or there. There are also a number of questiosn left "unanswered." This title, The Lost Stories, was a way for Flanagan to wrap up loose ends as well as answer some fan questions.

There are nine stories in this volume (some of them rather lengthy), and while I love some more than others, they really rounded out the series. There was more information about the founding of the Ranger Corps (the main character, Will, is a Ranger), more development of relationships between characters, and a really touching story about what happens to the Ranger's horses (this was such a sweet story).

What surprised me, though, was the transition to giving a small amount of information about Flanagan's new series. I didn't know much about it, but apparently it will be based off another land in this world of Flanagan's (Will's world, and that of the series, is named Araluen, based on England. The new series is based in the country of Skandia-a lot like the Vikings). This just made me more excited for that series to debut!

It was a great, fast read, and one that helped the first few hours of Saturday's readathon fly by!

Has anyone else read any of this series?

Review: The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

I am probably one of the last people to read this series. :) Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but it certainly feels that way! The first three books in this series have been on my bookshelf since 2008. I picked them up at a Scholastic warehouse sale, hearing that they were good from some of my students (I was student teaching at the time). However, the sat, unloved, on my shelf.

I picked up the fourth title when it was released in paperback, but after hearing that a fifth book would complete the series, I decided to wait for that one too. When it finally came out in paperback, I finally bought it to complete the set.

A couple weeks ago when I had two snow days in a row, and was stressed to the max, I wanted something to relieve all that pressure. After asking on Twitter, I settled on this series and dove into the first title, The Lightning Thief.

I was immediately hooked. The storyline was fun, original, and surprisingly accurate to the original myths. My knowledge of Greek mythology is limited, but after researching some things I didn't remember, it turns out Riordan knows his stuff! After a while, I began to trust him and quit looking things up on Wikipedia.

The first book introduces us to Percy Jackson, a young boy who always has strange things happening to him. He eventually winds up at Camp Half-Blood where he learns the truth about his parentage. His father, turns out, is an Olympic God. Apparently the gods get a little frisky for human mates, creating half-blood children with powers. Percy is thrust in "hero-dom" and must save the day. Of course, there is a prophecy about his future, which adds to all the mystery and suspense.

Part of me wanted to not like this. After all, it was fun literature and not overly deep. I was gaining a great appreciation for literature like I do when I am reading War and Peace, but I love it anyway. Every moment of it was wonderful and exciting and captured my imagination.

The second book, The Sea of Monsters, picks up a year later. This was my second favorite of the series, since the storyline was so familiar. We see a lot of the myths and legends rampant in Odysseus' tale from The Odyssey, and since we all know that I love Homer, I loved every moment of this. It was excited and captured the essence of the monsters and villains perfectly. When Percy encounters Circe? I was in love with that chapter.

The third book, The Titan's Curse, was my favorite of the series. It picks up the story later on, and we begin to see a new maturity and strength in Percy. I am always bothered by series where the main character shows little growth, especially over a period of time. But Riordan made sure to have his characters grow, and that is clear in this novel. There are scenes where Percy is challenged to do things he never thought he could-that shows growth.

We also get to meet Atlas (just in time for my Atlas Shrugged readalong? Is there a big connection there?). That was a myth I was unfamiliar with beforehand, so I am glad Riordan threw it in. :)

The fourth book, The Battle of the Labyrinth, was my least favorite of the series. While the writing was certainly good and captured my attention, I had a hard time getting into the story. Perhaps it was the way they story developed, but in certain areas, I felt the story was rushed. In other places, I wanted more action. I also was not a fan of the character Rachel. I think she took away from the action and pace of the story. I was also unhappy with the fact that I didn't get the answers I thought I deserved. I wanted more.

The last book, The Last Olympian, was the perfect ending to a superb series. It made up for the last book with powerful passages and gripping action. I was flipping pages as fast as I could read them. I couldn't wait to see what would come of the prophecy, who would win in the last major battle, and what would happen to Percy. I was sucked in.

The battle scenes and action were non-stop. It comes close to the Battle of Hogwarts for my favorite fictional battle of all-time. I loved the scenes in New York City. But more than anything else, I LOVE how Riordan brought his series to a close. The answer to the prophecy was perfect and fitting to the growth and change Percy underwent throughout the series. I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying ending.

So if you have been avoiding this series thinking they won't be any good, or that they're silly, or that they're trying too hard, you need to set those thoughts aside and give them a try. I found them to be fun, action-packed reads that did something original. And did it WELL.

And if that recommendation isn't enough for you, I read all five books in four days. THAT is how hooked I was.

If you've read this series, what did you think? What was your favorite book?

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

When I first heard about this title, I was so excited to get my hands on it. Perhaps it was the idea of a dystopian society where love is outlawed, or the hype, but I felt this was a contemporary book that I would sink my teeth into and love.

I ended up getting a copy from my husband and I read the novel this weekend during my "Outta the Rut Readathon." And to give you a first impression of what I thought, let me tell you the following: I read the first half and set the book down for a lunch break. And then I didn't want to pick the book back up again. I just didn't want to finish it.

But I did finish it. I wanted to be able to say that I had so I can explain why I didn't like it.

I feel I should first say that there was no problem with the actual writing. Oliver is good at her craft and writes in a way that immediately draws in her reader. I was sucked in for the first few chapters. And, it was only the writing ability that kept me engaged. Otherwise I never would have finished the book.

So why didn't I like it?

I think it all comes down to two points. First, the story was incredibly predictable. I knew where Oliver was headed and guessed the ending halfway through. There was only one direction that Oliver could have taken it...and that's where she went. In addition, we could guess what Lena (the MC) was going to do. Oh, her friend who she hasn't talked to in a month is in trouble? OF COURSE she's going to go after her. Like I said, predictable.

The "twists" were also predictable. The fact is, so many authors use "twists" to "shock" their readers that they are worn out and ill-used. There must be some school of thought where authors say, "I know that my readers won't expect this!" so they do it. The problem is, every author, particularly in dystopians, uses these twists. They don't surprise us anymore.

When I finished, I felt like I had read a novel that I had read before. There were the same basic plot conventions, the same quirks, and the same outcome. I was not impressed.

My other big problem with the novel was the pacing. It felt off to me. At times there was too much description, and other times, not enough. Sometimes the action was heavy and intense, and other portions seemed to crawl forward. It annoyed me. A more specific example is the end of the book. The last few scenes exploded and only lasted a few pages. When I finished I couldn't help thinking, "Ummm, what happened? Did I miss something?" Oliver sped too quickly through the action.

I want you all to know that I have nothing against Oliver, YA, or dystopians. I don't review YA here regularly, and I haven't read a great deal of it recently because of my own classics project. But I have read a LOT of YA and dystopian novels in the past, and before this current stream of them has come out. But I find they are getting tired. There are too many and they seem to be recycling the same plot points and conventions-just like paranormal YA titles. It is what happens-there is a cycle.

Why do you think stream-of-consciousness writing done by Faulkner and Woolf died out? Partly because it is a difficult technique to master, but also because as a genre, the market was saturated in their lifetime. Think of cheesy horror films-they have had a heyday but gradually they are dying out. The point is, after a number of years and MANY versions of the same basic plot, audiences get tired of it and move on to the next thing.

I think the whole dystopian genre is on its way out. But, that's my opinion and I can be completely wrong.

Going back to Delirium, I think I might read the sequel, even with all this being said. I am curious to see where Oliver takes it (and to see if I'm right), but I'm not sure. I think I may just be jaded in regards to contemporary literature and YA (similar to Jillian's recent experience). Don't let my biased and grumptastic opinion deter you from reading this. After all, I read this shortly after reading Oliver Twist and Siddhartha. Perhaps not a good mix?

What did you think of this one if you read it? For those of you who read "heavy" fiction a lot, how has is "spoiled" escapist reading for you?

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

When this book was announced, I squealed inside. From the description, I knew that it was something I would love. Part of me wished that something like this would have come out when I was younger.

When I was actually a teen, there was very little in the way of science-fiction or fantasy in the YA section. The YA genres have boomed in recent years. I never remembered having this much selection and hype as a teen searching for titles to read.

I owe my love of science-fiction to reading Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game as a ninth grader. It hooked me on the genre and since, I have acquired quite a liking for science-fiction. Back then, I was forced to roam the scary adult shelves and find things to read that way. It was no always a success. While the sci-fi elements captivated me, some of the storylines were just not what I wanted (as a fourteen and fifteen year old girl).

This novel, however, would have made my beginning sci-fi loving heart burst with happiness. So I knew I had to get it, read it, and share my love with all of you. I managed to read this in the course of two long reads (sunday night and monday morning). It was lovely and I was hooked on the idea of the story.

One of the first things that I love about this book is that the publisher made a reversible cover. I think that was an AWESOME idea and I am hoping more publishers pick up on that idea. In addition to the beautiful cover seen above, the inside was a diagram of the ship-seen below:



I actually switched my cover around to the diagram I loved it so much. Cool idea!

I also loved the manner of telling the story. Through a dual narration, Revis takes on a story of mystery, murder, and deception. I love having multiple narrators in a novel. The trick to having multiple people tell a story is that they each need to have a distinct voice to make it believable. if the characters sound too much alike, I don't buy. Revis succeeds and the voices of Amy and Elder come through strongly. I particularly love the portions when Amy is frozen and "dreaming."

Another thing I loved about this novel is the setting. As a sci-fi nut, I love using ships and other planets as the backdrops for stories. More and more fantasy/sci-fi literature is breaking away from that, so I am glad that Revis chose the ship, Godspeed, as her setting. It makes the story much more powerful-the fact that the characters can't hide or run away.

The other strength of the novel is Revis' writing. It is powerful. There were some sentences and passages that literally took my breath away;

"This is the secret of the stars, I tell myself. In the end, we are alone. No matter how close you seem, no one else can touch you."

I also loved this passage;

"I am as silent as death.
Do this: Go to your bedroom. Your nice, safe, warm bedroom that is not a glass coffin behind a morgue door. Lie down on your bed not made of ice. Stick your fingers in your ears. Do you hear that? The pulse of life from your heart, the slow in-and-out from your lungs? Even when you are silent, even when you block out all noise, your body is still a cacophony of life. Mine is not. It is the silence that drives me mad. The silence that drives the nightmares to me.
Because what if I am dead?"

She truly has a gift.

However, there were some things that didn't work for me. And I don't know if my reading of classics has tainted other forms of literature, but I found myself criticizing a few things in the novel.

The first is a scene that takes place during the "Season" in the book. Those of you who have read the book will know what I am talking about. I felt the scene was out of place and unnecessary to Amy's story. I don't know if it was there for shock value, or if Revis felt it was needed to get her point across, but I felt it was unnecessary and took away from the beauty of her writing to that point.

The second problem I had was calling this a pure sci-fi novel. While there was certainly sci-fi elements to the story, I wouldn't really call this sci-fi. Earlier I mentioned one of the other big youth sci-fi novels of all time is Ender's Game. Both of these novels share some of the same elements: set on a space ship, murders, mystery, and young characters. What sets them apart is the scientific elements. Card really develops the science behind what goes on in space. Revis does not (I should point out that she stated in an interview that this was intentional).

Personally, if I am going to read something sci-fi, I want the scientific element. I want the in-depth explanations and theory. That is what makes the genre. So for me, I would call this "soft sci-fi" or just a dystopian type novel. And there is nothing wrong with that classification. I just want to point out that it was not what I had expected based on what I read.

In all, Revis tells a compelling tale, and one that certainly hooked me. Perhaps you will feel the same.

Outta the Rut Readathon Post 5:

Our internet has been down all morning or I would have posted sooner. Didn't mean to wait so long for a post!

Last night I ended up beginning Across the Universe by Beth Revis and got to around page 160 before calling it a night. But hey, it was progress and I got me jump-started.

Since I don't have school today or tomorrow, I decided this morning that I would simply keep going and see how much reading I could get in. I work up by 8am and flew through the end of Across the Universe, about 200 pages. I have mixed thoughts about it, but I'll leave my explanations until I post my review. I also grabbed Candide off the shelf, but decided to read through Lauren Oliver's Delirium first. Matt had picked it up for me and I figured I may as well, especially considering it is a new release. I am about 180 pages in at this point and already have strong feelings about it (again, you'll have to wait for a review).

I think these YA titles are what I needed to jump-start my reading. I am looking forward to finishing Oliver's book and moving on to finishing Candide today. I have a couple other things in mind that I might read after, so I think I am FINALLY in a reading mood and accomplishing a lot. Of course, I wish I would have read more classics than these two YA titles, but well...I needed it.

Review: Pegasus by Robin McKinley.

I own everything by McKinley and I love her writing dearly. When I saw she had a new novel coming out over the summer, I knew I was going to have to get it and read it. That's just how it goes with favorite authors. I'm sure you understand.

Not to mention, this book has one of the most beautiful covers that I found myself staring at lovingly. I am a sucker for a beautiful cover, so there was no doubt that I needed to get this book.

I ended up reading it last week when I was in need of some comfort. There was some stuff going on that I need to get my mind off of, so I looked for some welcoming arms in the words of a favorite writer.

McKinley didn't disappoint me.

I'm gong to say from the beginning that McKinley's writing style can be extremely off-putting if you aren't familiar with her. I have read all of her novels and short stories, and pretty much in the order she wrote them (that was unintentional). Over time, her style has developed and she has a very distinct way of writing her tales. And she generally has two types of stories: a revision and alternate view of a much-loved fairy tale, or an original fantasy novel. Usually people love her fairy tale retellings, but I love both.

In Pegasus, she focuses much more on the fantasy aspects, but develops it richly and slowly. There has been talk on Goodreads that she is losing her touch, but I prefer her slow and deep way of building the story. In two of her most recent novels Dragonhaven and Chalice, she did the same gradual build of plot. McKinley takes her time to develop everything. She gives us background details, explanations of history, and true insight into the characters before she brings in the heavy pieces of the plot.

This novel builds from the same approach. At the beginning, the reader knows that Sylvi will be bonded to a pegasus on her 12th birthday. It has been a long ritual that dates back to the days when humans first entered the Pegasus' land. It had been a time of war and the human population saved the Pegasi from invading creatures. To show good will and evidence of their alliance, members of the ruling class are always bonded with a pegasus.

Sylvi is the princess of the humans living in the valley and on her 12th birthday, she is bonded to her pegasus, Ebon. Leading up to this moment, McKinley has us explore the purpose of this whole ritual through papers Sylvi finds in the library as she studies. So when the bonding happens and Sylvi discovers she can speak directly to her pegasus, we know its a big deal. Ever since the beginning, humans and the pegasi have not been able to talk. Instead, each bonded pair relies on a magician to interpret between them. The fact that Sylvi can speak to Ebon and vice versa is what launches the problems in the novel.

The rest of the novel discusses what happens after their bonding. In small flashbacks, Sylvi is fleshed out even more, and the situation the two characters find themselves in is made more serious. The magicians are lurking in the background full of displeasure over what has happened and political turmoil is starting to brew.

But it all travels at McKinley's even pace. She never once rushes the story into the action. Instead, she continues to build the tension and heartache of the characters. She weaves beautiful tales of her fictionalized history and allows the reader to feel like a part of Sylvi and Ebon's bond. She never once preaches or makes the reader feel stupid. Instead, you are a part of the story and you learn as Sylvi learns.

It is well done and beautifully executed, but I can see why it could be so off-putting.

I think many readers are used to writers giving them what they want. If we want action and suspense, we're going to get it. In Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, she keeps up the romantic triangle and the action throughout the entire novel. As the reader, we were always on our toes and we ate it up. I am sure you could say that for many novels in the same vein. But in Pegasus, McKinley takes it at her own pace. Yes, she wants us to enjoy it, but she is building something grander than what we expect. And that takes time.

There is also the issue of the method of bringing up important information. This was the sole thing that bothered me in the novel. Instead of finding a way to bring up relevant information as it was needed in an effortless way, I always find myself recalling a memory with Sylvi where she remembers some piece of information. This meant that a chapter would start with Sylvi at 16, but a memory would take her back to 12 to learn something, and then we would spring forward again. I can understand using this technique every once in awhile, but every time Sylvi needed to know something, we went down memory lane.

The only other thing that slightly bothered me is that the story isn't complete. I had no idea going into this that the full story wouldn't be in the book. The story ends (rather abruptly) with ideas of a sequel. I wish I would have known that going in so I wouldn't feel as sad to set this one aside. :)

All that being said, I adored Pegasus. I found it to be a beautiful weaving of friendship, love, and the meaning of tolerance between two different peoples. I look forward to what the next book will bring in 2012.

Review: Thunder Rolling in the Mountains by Scott O'Dell and Elizabeth Hall.

I was kind of a Scott O'Dell junkie when I was a kid. I read a lot of his work and was always bringing my copies with me on road trips. All of my copies are battered and beaten now, but I love them. Like all of the books I reread in November, they are a part of my childhood.

This particular novel may even edge out Island of the Blue Dolphins as my all-time favorite.

Thunder Rolling in the Mountains was the book O'Dell was working on in 1989 when he passed away. His wife, Elizabeth Hall, finished the novel. It is basically the story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people.

Like many Native American tribes, the Nez Perce were told they had to leave their lands and go to a reservation. Instead of giving in, they fled, in hope that the United States Army would leave them alone. The speech Chief Joseph made when his people were captured is famous, and it something I had my students learn when I taught United States history:

"Tell General Howard I know his Heart. What He told me before I have in my heart. I am tired of fighting, Looking Glass is dead. Too-Hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food; no one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."

As a child, I was fascinated with the lives of the Native Americans, and this story of survival and fighting was one that gripped me far more than any other that O'Dell wrote about. It made me crave knowledge about other tribes in the United States and what happened to them as well.

And in terms of historical fiction, O'Dell did his research. He outlined the battles and the deaths of the Nez Perce people beautifully. And while his narrator, Sound of Running Feet, seems detached and hollow, it fits the tone of her tribe's story. They were running from their only home in hopes that they would find aid somewhere, and in the end, many died.

I think I can blame O'Dell for spurring my love of history at such a young age. Stories like this are why I find history so fascinating to study. And it probably led to my decision to earn a history degree along with my English degree. In my college classes where we discussed indigenous tribes and peoples, I was always fascinated and in love with the depth and strength of their cultures.

I was reminded of all these things this time around and I wish there were more novels like this for young adults. I always craved more historical fiction as a child and teen, and in the time in which I was growing up, there weren't as many options.

If you are looking for a starting point for Native American culture and history, I can suggest nothing better than O'Dell's works for young readers. They are passionate, well-written, and thoroughly researched. They helped mold my own passion for history, perhaps they can help a child you know as well.

Review: The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger by Lois Lowry.

In another return to my youth in the month of November, I decided to reread a book and its two companion novels that has had a large impact on me as a person. The Giver remains one of my all-time favorite novels, even after this reread. You would think that after all of the great classic literature I've been reading that it would somehow begin to pale in comparison.

It didn't.

I have already reviewed this novel as part of my "Thursday Treats" feature, and you can find that review here, but I still have more to add.

Jonas is turning 12 and like all the other members of his society, he will be given a role to fulfill. When the time comes, however, he is given a special role, that of the Receiver. It will be his job to take on the memories of the past-of war, snow, colors, pain, and real family-so that his community will not have to.

This time around, I will still incredibly moved by Jonas' story. After all, he is only a 12 year old boy and he is faced with a world that he begins to question. I was reminded how much I love Lowry's way of letting the story speak for itself. And the open ending still made perfect sense.

I think that no matter what I read, or often I reread this novel, that it will remain a cherished friend. It moves me every time I read it and I cannot recommend it enough.

I remember that when Lowry released the first companion novel, Gathering Blue, people were outraged. Some felt it was taking away from the power of The Giver and others wanted more answers.

I always viewed it as a separate entity, which is why I recommend both companions as much as I recommend The Giver.

In Gathering Blue, we are introduced to another young person, Kira, and her society. Like Jonas' community, Kira lives in a place that is highly regulated. Those with deformities are killed and it is only by her mother's love that she is saved. Kira, born with a twisted and malformed leg, must battle the society around her for her entire life. As something less than perfect, she must work harder.

She is eventually taken in by the Guardians and given a task, to fix the woven robe that the Singer wears each Gathering. The Singer tells the tale of human history-the suffering, wars, and peaceful times-to remind those in the community of what was.

Like Jonas, Kira begins to realize that her world is not perfect and there are many things that need to be fixed. In the end, she decides to stay behind in her community to help fix it and who the people living there that there is another way to live.

To be honest, Gathering Blue is my least favorite of the trilogy and mainly because unlike the other two main characters, Kira doesn't seem to make as big of a sacrifice to fix her world. I would say more, but I don't want to ruin it for you. But don't let that statement take away from the fact that this is still a powerful little novel in its own right. It gives us another take on what may happen in the future.

The final book in the trilogy is Messenger. In this final chapter of the set, Matty lives in a village that is a safe haven for those escaping other communities. Matty had escaped years earlier from Kira's village and lives in safety.

Surrounding the village is the forest and Matty is one of the few who can navigate its twisting paths. After the people of his village begin to change and determine to close the borders of their village forever, Matty is sent to fetch Kira and post warnings in the forest to those who are seeing safety.

On his way home, Matty has to make decisions about what he is willing to do to save the people who took him in, and what he is willing to give up.

The first time I read this novel, I bawled like a baby. That NEVER happens to me, so that should tell you how emotionally draining this novel was. The last few chapters are so packed with emotion and tough decisions that they get me every single time.

I love Matty. He is the perfect, unselfish character and the strength he has always warms my heart. He struggles his entire life to find happiness and eventually gets there.

I am grateful I read this again. They moved me just as much on this reread as they did before and I cannot tell you how much I want to place a copy of each of these novels into your hands. And if you do decide to read them, I hope you love them and cherish their strength just as much as I do.

Review: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

*Consider this your warning that this is a long post. :) That is all.*

I never read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis as a child. While I knew of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (my best friend loved it), I never had any real interest in picking up the books.

At times I wish I could go back and shake myself and shove these books into my young hands. Part of me feels as though I missed out on the magic and wonder of that in my childhood.

Anyway, the first time I read these was in college. When Matt found out that I had never read them, he made me. When he was a kid, he read them with his family and watched the old BBC versions on tape over and over again. And since there can't be something that Matt has read, but I haven't, I knew I had to read them as soon as possible. I did, I loved them, and it has been love ever since.

During this reread, I really just wanted to be reminded of why I loved them so much. It had been a couple of years since picking them up, so I wanted to revisit their wonder and see if the magic was still there. I decided to read them in the new chronological order that the publisher chose (I read them in publication order the time before), and while it made sense to read it in chronological order, I think I prefer it the other way.

First up was The Magician's Nephew. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Narnia, this first book explains the beginnings of Narnia. Digory and Polly become friends in London and eventually get into trouble with Digory's Uncle Andrew. Uncle Andrew had created rings to take individuals in and out of our world, and has Digory and Polly become his first subjects. The explore the world inbetween worlds and land in a mysterious place where they awaken an evil witch. She travels back with them-first to London, and then to Narnia when they make their way there.

I love this book for its explanations and descriptions of the beginning of Narnia. It very much hearkens to the beginning of the world outlined in Genesis, with the creatures and plants all arriving from the bidding of a higher power (in Narnia-Aslan).

I also love the way Lewis talks about the loss of innocence and sinning in a way that is approachable to children. Digory's mistake of bringing the witch into the novel (you hear more about her in later novels) is a sad mistake, but he learns from it.

The character of Uncle Andrew is always frustrating though. I hate when adults act like children (even in real life) and I find him to be a frustrating fellow.

But I love the imagery of the trees growing from nothing, and the sprouting of the famous lamp post in the woods. The animals getting their right to speech is also a wonderful scene and makes my nerdy little heart happy. And of course, the creation of the magical wardrobe sets up the rest of the series wonderfully. In all, I loved this first book much more this time around.

Up second is probably the most well-known of the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And while I certainly love this one, I don't love it as much as some of the others. Perhaps I know the story too well, but I don't feel the magic and wonder as keenly as I did the first few times I read it.

This novel has four new children for us to follow-Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Digory is still in the novel (he plays the part of the old professor who has the wardrobe in his country house-time passes differently in Narnia than in the real world), but doesn't play any significant role. The Pevensie children are whisked away to Narnia through the magic wardrobe and are immediately thrust into world politics. The White Witch is wreaking havoc on the land and it is their goal to bring that to an end.

I do love the dynamic with these children, that develops through the rest of the novels where they pop up. Peter, as the oldest, is the proud and heroic. He seems to know what to do when the other flounder and seems to be a natural born leader. When he and his siblings become the high kings and queens of Narnia, he leads with strength. I always liked Peter.

Susan is the oldest girl and probably my least favorite of all the children. Even in this novel, you can tell she doesn't want to believe in the magic of Narnia. She assumes it is children's play and seems to be the first to place blame on someone else.

Edmund is the third child and while he falters in this novel, I still love him. I think we all have a little Edmund in us that wants to get out: selfish, sick of being seen as a "little" brother, and yearning to be something better than our other siblings. I know I had feelings like that as a child-that competition with my siblings to prove myself. So I love Edmund's character for that kind of honesty.

Little Lucy is also a great character. She serves as the innocent being, the one that others can turn to when there is a need for something childlike to be done. She is the one who runs to comfort others and asks the things that the readers need answered. She shows that she is growing up in later novels, but she is one of the only human characters who maintains her innocence and her belief in the magic of Narnia.

The third novel, The Horse and His Boy, has the Pevensies as background characters. Instead, the focus is on a boy named Shasta and a talking horse of Narnia called Bree. Both live in the land south of Narnia as slaves. They escape to find their way north into free lands.

I really couldn't remember this novel when I came around to it this time. I find that is had less of the magic, but I still loved it on this reread. It discusses a lot of what it means to be free, to be oppressed, and to find your true identity. I found it to be a more mature novel than some of the others, with some deeper issues at play. It was originally the 5th book published and in publication order, the later books were more mature in theme.

With the Pevensies as adults in this novel (it takes place during their long reign in Narnia from their first visit), it seems a little off, like it doesn't quite click into place. For this one, I liked where it was placed in the new line up, but could see where it could be confusing in publication order.

The fourth novel, Prince Caspian, is one that I thought I knew based on the movie. It is the only novel I had only read once before, so I was surprised by how much was different.

Caspian is a prince of Narnia, but runs away from his uncle who wants power. He has to summon up the talking beasts of Narnia to recapture his throne and return Narnia to its former glory. In despair, he blows the ancient horn to call for help.

The horn was given to Susan in their first trip to Narnia as children, and the four Pevensie children return to Narnia (far in the future from when they left it) to help Caspian.

The book has a big epic battle near the end, but for me, the most exciting part was watching the children rediscover their faith in the magic and wonder of Narnia. Lucy, Edmund, and Peter recapture that spirit quickly (Lucy is first, of course), but here is where we see that Susan has turned away from belief in magic and wonder. Susan is seen as the snooty older sister, too old to play childish games, and to play. She has lost her childhood and youth and the reader can see it beginning to slip away.

It is sad to think that many people lose their sense of imagination and their ability to marvel at wondrous things as they age. They lose their ability to have faith and believe in the unbelievable. It is sad, but I can think of people I know personally who have had this happen.

Book five is my all-time favorite of the series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and I cannot wait to see the movie coming out soon. We are introduced to a new character, Eustace (cousin to the Pevensie children), who I just love. Only Edmund and Lucy return (Peter and Susan are told at the end of Prince Caspian that they will never come back), so Eustace provides us with a new character to begin to relate to. He is a selfish and snotty boy that you can't help hating at the beginning.

The three children join a ship, the Dawn Treader, on a voyage to the ends of the world with a grown-up Caspian and a cast of other characters. Together, the venture past known lands to discover many mystical and beautiful islands. Each island brings a new adventure and challenge.

I love this novel for the sense of adventure and the quest all the characters find themselves on. Each land has something new to offer and as a reader, you are never bored. You kind of get swept away with the characters and experience each land with them.

The Silver Chair was the other novel I didn't remember as well. Eustace is joined in Narnia by a classmate, Jill, and together they set off on a quest to find Caspian's son Rilian.

My favorite part of the novel comes at the very beginning when the two characters first land in Narnia. Jill doubts the magic and wonder of Narnia, so Aslan confronts her. Its an interesting conversation about faith and belief that I am still thinking about.

As for the rest of the novel...well, it has its slow parts. I found the journey of the two main characters with Puddleglum (a marsh-wriggle) to be tedious. There didn't seem to be as much action in the middle of the book, and while the characters do see marvelous things, they didn't wow me.

When they finally find Rilian, they must help him combat his own demons before making their escape back to Narnia. I suppose you could compare this with resisting temptation and the fight to hold on to what you believe. But I did love the end section and message it conveyed to me. I'll let you explore it on your own (you need to keep some of the magic you know).

The last and final book in the Narnia series is The Last Battle. Overall, this is probably my least favorite book, until the last 3 chapters. I'll get to those in a bit.

This novel sets up the end of the world of Narnia. Eustace and Jill are sent back to aid King Tirian of Narnia in the destruction of an evil plot. A clever Ape found a lion's skin and convinced his donkey friend to wear it. Together, they pretend that the donkey is Aslan, and begin to draw a following to the false figure.

With the few creatures they can find to aid them, Tirian, Eustace, and Jill lead a revolt, but what happens is the end.

The world of Narnia comes to a close in the last three chapters, much like ours does in the Book of Revelations. It tells the story of Judgment and the end of days. If you are Christian, you'll see the parallels here more than anywhere else. Aslan calls his faithful creatures to him and together they watch the end of Narnia-through flames and water.

I won't comment on it more than that, but the imagery in the last three chapters is beautiful, as Lewis "destroys" the world of magic and wonder he created. I can't pretend to say anything profound about it, so I won't. But I was reminded how angry I felt the first time I read it that the good guys didn't win in an easy way.

I will comment on the fact that Susan;s loss of childhood is repeated here. I wonder if Lewis does it as a kind of warning-against losing all innocence as you get older, losing your sense of wonder and faith. It makes me sad, that people are like that.

In all, I am glad that I reread these when I did. I was reminded of their beauty and how they made me feel the first time I read them. I still felt wonder and magic. And I cannot wait to share these with my own children (very far off into the future). :)

Thursday Treat #28: I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

While I adore Zusak's The Book Thief, I am focusing on one of his other novels today. For me, this novel is closer to my heart. The center focus of it is something many of us go through and for that, well, I love it.

The main character, Ed Kennedy, is an underage cab driver. He lives with his dog and his life seems to be going nowhere. Ed is somewhat complacent with the direction his life is going. Then Ed stops a bank robbery and his life begins to change when an ace from a play card deck arrives in his mail. Ed is sent on missions, to hurt or help as he is needed.

Throughout the process, Ed grows. He begins to realize what happens when we make choices, good or bad. He learns about the mistakes he has made, the assumptions he had about himself, well, they are all wrong.

Each message and note to him allows Ed the opportunity to do things he wouldn't have done before. He reaches out to individuals who have it far rougher than he does to comfort them, give them guidance, and set them straight. He becomes a person who cares about the people and world around him, and forgets to focus solely on his own misery.

It is an inspiring book. The way Ed begins to handle the darker side of life thrown at him really grabs hold of the reader. You meet Ed as a pathetic teen, who believes in nothing but continuing to work at his crummy job. But once he believes that someone believes in him, it all begins to change. Ed takes on an assertive tone, and finds the courage within himself to push the people around him-strangers or friends.

This is a novel I need to praise more and recommend. I think it is overshadowed by its brother (The Book Thief), but I cherish it a little more. I can relate to Ed and his struggle. Looking at this cover reminds me to be kind to the people around me and to help others as much as I can. It certainly is a message we all need to hear.

But the best part of my own copy is that it is signed, along with my copies of The Book Thief and Getting the Girl. Zusak came to my hometown about 3 years ago for a reading and to promote The Book Thief. I begged my mother to go with me, and she did. He was a great speaker and inspiring. He talked to everyone who came to his signing, and personalized messages in each book. All three of the books have their own special message. In this book, "Here's to coffee drinking dogs, barefoot shoes, and love..."

This is a novel that holds a special place in my heart. I hope you all pick up a copy at some point, and give it to a friend in need.

Thursday Treat #27: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

"You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything."

The reason I picked up this novel is as special to me as the story itself.

Two years ago (the first year I was out of school and looking for a full-time teaching job) found me answering a phone call the day before school started. I wound up at a school an hour north of my home as a long-term substitute for eight months. It was a great experience and I loved every minute of being there.

Besides teaching history, I was also responsible for a class called "Guided Academics" which was a study skills based class for the large at-risk population in the school. One of their requirements was to read for 20 minutes a day.

There was one girl in my class that I was almost scared of. She was prone to some violent reactions and I never knew when she would be in class. We argued when she was in class about the reading requirement. She continued to tell me that there were no books in the world that she could relate to, and there was nothing that I could suggest that would interest her. In desperation, I sent her down to the library and told her to come back with 3 books that might be interesting. I would read one with her if she did so.

She came back with 3, and Thirteen Reasons Why was one of them. I went and bought a copy to read with her, and together, we finished the book in class during silent reading time. After that, we seemed to get along and she tried a few others books I recommended (like The Perks of Being a Wallflower). It was one of the best teaching experiences I've had.

But the book itself? Marvelous. It's the story of a girl, Hannah, who committed suicide and left behind 13 tapes with the reasons why she did it. Clay finds the tapes and begins to listen....and learn what drove a normal teenage girl to kill herself.

It is a book that I struggled to put down. The power of Hannah's voice over the tapes haunted me. Her struggle with identity and coming to terms with life's difficulties was something that my teenage self could have related to. I also found that when she listed her thirteen reasons (in reality, 13 people) why she did what she did, it made me think of moments in my own life when I didn't reach out to someone else who needed help. The book was an eye-opener, and truly powerful. My student told me she loved it because it felt real and honest. That is all I could have hoped for as a teacher.

"A lot of you cared, just not enough. And that...that is what I needed to find out.

But I didn't know what you were going through, Hannah.

And I did find out.

The footsteps continue. Faster.

And I'm sorry.

The recorder clicks off."

Thursday Treat #26: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

I discovered Diana Wynne Jones when I was in high school. At the time, there really wasn't a huge YA section in the book store, so choices were pretty limited. Nowadays, YA is booming and it takes up far more space than it used to.

I sometimes had a hard time finding something wonderful in the YA section at the time, which is why I turned to a lot of adult fantasy and science fiction. But one day my eyes caught on the collection of work by Jones, and I began picking up titles off the shelf. I believe, that on that day, I picked up not only Howl's Moving Castle, but also the first two books in The Dalemark Quartet, and some of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. I ended up loving them all and went back for more.

Howl's Moving Castle, however, is fantastic. It has been a bit since I have read it, but I reminded of how wonderful it is because of the film. The glorious Miyazaki had a hand in directing it (other films include "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke") and I loved every minute of it, even if it was different than the book.

Sophie is a girl who believes that she is unattractive and plain. She worked in a hat shop until the Witch of the Waste came in to purchase a hat. Unhappy with her service, the witch turned Sophie into an old woman. Sophie leaves and finds her way out to where the wizard Howl has his castle. In a series of events, Sophie moves into the castle and finds her way as a part of Howl's craziness.

During all of this, Sophie has to learn how to overturn her own curse...as well as fix Howl and the others living in the castle.

The first time I read this, I fell in love. I mean, it had all the elements I loved in a fantasy-originality, a wizard, a fire demon who is pretty funny, and a little romance. It was a story that was perfect for my age and one that I cherish. I am so glad I read it when I did, and that I discovered Jones at a young age. I had the opportunity to love her and cherish her as a young adult. I think that had I read this when I was older, I just wouldn't have loved it the same way.

I will say that I also loved the film, even with the story being slightly different. It was similar enough to the book in the right ways that I could love it as well. The beautiful animation and soundtrack didn't hurt either. They made a beautiful story pop from the screen.

This is probably one of those novels that solidified my love for the gentler tones of YA fantasy and science fiction, and one that reminds me that when I can, I am going to return to that world.

Thursday Treat #25: The Giver by Lois Lowry.

"We thank you for your childhood."

As a child and teenager, I don't think there was another book that I read more than The Giver by Lois Lowry. From my first reading of it in the fifth grade, The Giver has remained one of my all-time favorite novels, if not my SOLE favorite.

Lowry's novel about a future with no color, music, feeling, history, or choice had a deep and lasting impact on me as a child. I could not imagine not being able to see the colors around me when the leaves changed in fall, hear the music that moves me so, or remember the stories of our past.

It was a book the frightened me, as I worried that we as a society would someday forget to pass on the lessons of the past.

It is a beautiful and heart-breaking book that is sometimes dismissed because of its "Young Adult" status (THAT is a whole other rant). I have always clung to it, since I find in Jonas a courage I don't know that I would have myself. The Giver was the beginning of dystopia and all of the modern dystopian novels can pay it homage for what it accomplished.

Jonas turns 12 and his role in his community will be assigned to him in a formal ceremony. As his friends learn their future roles, he is passed over. When it is finally his turn, he learns that he will become the next Receiver of Memory, the only person in the community who feels and remembers what came before.

If you haven't had a chance to read this, you need to go and get a copy. It is a book that has helped define who I am as a person and what I believe. I don't think I can remember a book that I have read with a stronger message.

"Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo."

Book 53: An American Tragedy and Book Stats.

Title: An American Tragedy

Author: Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945)

First Published: 1925

My Edition: Signet Classic (seen at left)

Pages: 859

Other Works Include: Sister Carrie (1900), Jennie Gerhardt (1911), The Titan (1914), Twelve Men (1919), A Gallery of Women (1929)

This book intimidates me. I mean, it is a massive brick of a book with super small print. It scares me because of its sheer size and weight. Besides, it is by an author I have no experience with. So yes, I might have a reason to be frightened.

However, the premise of the novel intrigues me and even before I embarked on my challenge, this book was on my TBR list. I owe that to a young adult novel, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, that I read last year. In the YA novel, the crime committed in An American Tragedy comes into play. Since reading that Donnelly was inspired by Dreiser's work, I knew that I eventually wanted to read this massive brick of a book (and I fully recommend Donnelly's novel as well).

I know that the "Crime" in the crime in the story is about a murder, but if this was just a story about a single murder, I know the author could have shortened it from the 859 pages of tiny text. I am looking forward to how this develops and plays out. And if it can keep me entertained for as long as it will take for me to read it!

I will also be reading Sister Carrie in the future, provided that Dreiser doesn't make me pull all of my hair out.

Thursday Treat #24: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.

When I was 8 or 9, one of my older brothers came home from school with this book in hand. They were reading it in class and he was bored and hated it. I was curious about it, so I grabbed it and stole upstairs to read.

I only got a few chapters in before he took it back, but he promised to bring it back for me. Eventually my mom bought me my own copy, which I finished quickly.

What I found in Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell was a story of survival and courage. At this same stage in my life I was discovering the wonders of Laura Ingalls Wilder and The Little House on the Prairie. Much like Wilder, O'Dell captured a small portion of history and survival in a way that made it so appealing to me as the reader.

I truly believe that O'Dell and Wilder showed me how history was the story of the people who lived in it, not the facts. I have them to blame for that degree I have from MSU.

And it was a story like this-of a girl left alone on an island for years-that truly captured my imagination. Forgotten by her people in the middle of a storm, Karana is left alone for years on an island. Instead of being able to rely on those around her, she is the one who must hunt and gather. She must make her own weapons to survive. And survive she does.

It was a story I read over and over again. My copy of this book is battered and torn in two, but I still love every page of it. I ended up getting every Scott O'Dell book I could and reading them, and while a few more were wonderful and enthralling as well, Island of the Blue Dolphins remained my favorite.

This book is probably the reason I loved Robinson Crusoe so much, as well as countless other tales of survival and loneliness. It was the first of the genre I had read and for that, I remember it and cherish it.

Vacation Book Reads Part 1:

When I went on vacation two weeks ago, I brought with me some "fun" books that I had been harboring since...well, not that long ago. As books have been released over the past year, I have snatched up a few titles that I knew I needed to add to my collection. My original intentions were to read these when I finish my project, but I needed a break. So I stopped reading classics for about a week and a half and treated myself to a few of the things I had been stashing away.

I brought five books with me on vacation and they were from two different series that I have been following for a few years. Both had a book recently released, so it was a great excuse to dive in and read to my heart's content.

This first post is over two books in one of my all-time favorite YA series: Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. I even wrote a Thursday Treat post over this series back in January.

The first book I read, or Book 7 in the series is called Erak's Ransom. It was released a few months ago and since I own the other 6 books in hardcover, I purchased it a week or so after it came out (my books have to match, but that's a whole other discussion). It had been sitting on my desk since I bought it, and collecting a fine layer of dust while it taunted me.

When I began reading this up north, I literally began to fly through it. Everything I read in the eleven months prior to this has been a "classic" so I was surprised at how fast I was flipping pages and getting into the story.

The story itself lived up to my expectations. The characters were still familiar and developed. The plot-line was excellent and allowed the reader to learn more about the world within the series. This volume, in particular, had a lot of action that reminded me of the first 4 in the series (books 5 and 6 seemed to slow down a bit). This made me really happy, as that is part of the reason I love the series. It was action-packed and fun.

My one complaint is that the writing seemed off. It seemed a little wary in some parts, and a little contrived. Perhaps I have been spoiled by all of the great writers I have been reading lately, but Flanagan seemed dry in certain parts. However, the overall experience was enjoyable and I finished all 373 pages in about 3 hours. It was a great afternoon read at the end of the dock.

Book number 8, called The Kings of Clonmel was released earlier this month. I picked up a copy right before my birthday, knowing I would read it right after book 7. I started this right after finishing Erak's Ransom, and again, I was swept right into the story.

In some respects, I found this book far more mature than the previous volume. The focus was more political and offered a lot to think about. But, that being said, I didn't enjoy the story as much. When I read a book like this, I want to have fun and be swept away. And I wasn't in quite the same way. I thought the plot sounded too much like a prior book, and I was disappointed in the "Twists" Flanagan threw in.

Where Erak's Ransom was fast-paced and action filled, this one plodded along and seemed almost boring in certain parts. And for a series I usually rave about, I am coming away with little positive to say. I generally recommended these to my struggling male readers when I was teaching, but if I was a student and got to this book, I think I'd be a little peeved.

Again, the writing did not catch me in quite the same way as it used to, but I fared better writing wise with this volume than the previous. I do honestly think that my perceptions of good and great writing have changed since starting my project.

With all of this being said, I did enjoy the first two of my five book "fun reads." It was nice to visit with some old friends, and to realize that my reading tastes have slightly altered. I think I am going to be a much bigger critic of what I read than I ever was before, and I owe that to the classics and authors I have been reading.

I just want to say real quick that while it seems like these might be a little negative, I really did enjoy them both. I think I would have enjoyed them more reading the series all together, or if I wasn't shifting from some dense reading (An American Tragedy) to these in a matter of hours. It was hard to readjust.