Jellicoe Road Review

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Title: Jellicoe Road (also known as On The Jellicoe Road)

Author: Melina Marchetta

Series: None

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: August 26, 2008

Genre: Realistic Fiction; Mystery; Contemporary; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 419

Format: Hardcover
goodreads

Taylor is leader of the boarders at the Jellicoe School. She has to keep the upper hand in the territory wars and deal with Jonah Griggs - the enigmatic leader of the cadets, and someone she thought she would never see again.

And now Hannah, the person Taylor had come to rely on, has disappeared. Taylor's only clue is a manuscript about five kids who lived in Jellicoe eighteen years ago. She needs to find out more, but this means confronting her own story, making sense of her strange, recurring dream, and finding her mother - who abandoned her on the Jellicoe Road.

The moving, joyous and brilliantly compelling new novel from the best-selling, multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca.

                                            

To anyone that has not read the Finnikin of the Rock series, this is for you. I am officially handing you a formal invitation to read one of my favorite series.

Now, to anyone that has not read Jellicoe Road, you might want to add that to your to-do list. Near the top of the list is my recommendation. Preceded by a big fat #1 would be appropriate also.

Taylor Markham has a past. A secret one that even she hardly ever looks back on. Her past is one that she would rather forget. One she would rather replace. She would rather not remember the mother that abandoned her on Jellicoe Road. When Hannah, the closest thing that Taylor has to mother, abandons her too, Taylor’s not so easily willing to forget. Besides becoming the new leader of the boarders, and her ongoing occupation with trying to decipher her strange dreams, she must find Hannah, wherever she may be, with only a out of order, loose-leafed manuscript to guide her. But then, of course, things get complicated. The complication’s name? Jonah Griggs. Yet another piece of Taylor’s past she would rather forget. But, things are still too easy; not only is Griggs nothing like his scrawnier, younger self that Taylor seems to remember, he is also leader of the Cadets, only one of the two gangs Taylor must thwart in the territory wars. The world is against Taylor as she fights to reveal a past she’s not sure she wants to uncover. Not only will Taylor learn more about herself than she ever knew she could, she will also discover a secret buried deeper than her own that will not only change her life, but everyone around her as well.

Do you like boarding school underground societies? Sparks of romance about to burst into consuming flame? Protective and loyal friends willing to endure the depth of the earth for you? If you said no, then this blog really is not the place for you. If you said yes, then congratulations, I think you've just found your perfect novel. Not only does this book have all of these things (and so much more), it is also deeply riveting and will hang over your head for months. The secrets are so mysterious and the characters so seamlessly portrayed, I really don’t know how anyone could not love this book. I read this a couple months back, and I still think about it. I wonder about the ending, the middle, and the beginning. If I could, I would buy it, just to have it on my shelf. Just so I could know I could revisit the characters whenever I wanted.

Yeah. This book is that good.

Taylor has it rough: abandonment (on two cases), and a strange dream she can’t stop having. A boy on a tree branch, listening to her every thought and secret, but telling only so much as to make her more lost that she already was. I love how, through it all, Taylor never stops being strong, determined and pugnacious. She wasn't scared of doing what she had to in order to discover the truth. Both she and Jonah were that way. Jonah a bit more enigmatic, but broodingly intriguing and easy to love. Raffy and Chaz, two incredibly well rounded characters were perfect friends and totally admirable. Especially Raffy, who keeps Chaz on his toes. The romantic connection between Jonah and Taylor was my favorite kind; consisting of two independent people who interlock perfectly with each other. Neither of them depends on the other, just relies on the other for support. They coexist, instead of depend. One doesn't make the other. They make themselves, and their rough edges just happen to match up with each other. It’s beautiful and true. They don’t try and change the other, they accept and embrace instead. They bring out the best in one another.

It makes since that if you love E. Lockhart (which I do), you will love Melina Marchetta (again, that’s me). Their novels are so similar, both in their topics, but also in style. They have strong female heroines that just seem to overtake the story, but in a good way. They let their character run the show, instead of the plot or setting. Like Lockhart, Marchetta also has strong beginnings. Most reviews that I have read mention a slightly strange and ambiguous start, which is true. But you must power through. You’re dropped in the middle of story that you have absolutely no idea what is going on, but it’s a wonderful story. I promise. When you figure out the beginning and the ending to the middle you seemed to have been dropped into, you’ll love it. I know I did. And I won’t forget about it anytime soon.

This book has taken up the very proper place on the right hand side of the screen, just under the words “Books I Love”. If you look close, you’ll find it, and, just as soon as I get my hands on them, I’m sure Marchetta’s other novels with take up residence right next to it. 

Maze Runner Movie vs. Book

Many books turned to movies have obtained considerable failure while going from white page to silver screen. Take Percy Jackson, for example. Probably the worst movie rendition of a book that I have ever seen. Sure, Sean Bean and Logan Lerman were there, but even that couldn't have saved the movie. There is risk in making a motion picture based on a top-selling novel. For one,  the audience you're appealing to is a majority of book nerds (like me). If you skimp of the book details, there will be talk of an uprising. We want it done, but we want it done right. 

I absolutely love the Maze Runner book. Not so much a fan of the entire series, but the Maze Runner itself is fantastic. The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure just went downhill for me. It was violent, and I felt the author lost all sense of the story. It warped too much and eventually bored me. (Honestly I can't even remember how this series ends...) While it ended badly, the series started out well with the Maze Runner. When I went to the theater, I just hoped that the movie makers didn't mess it up too bad. 

First thing that the Maze Runner movie people did right: Dylan O'Brien. Second thing they did right: the setting. Exactly like the book! And not just the setting; the story and the character were all so close to the book. I loved the cast (except for Theresa, but I'll get to that later) and Chuck was the highlight of the movie. O'Brien was perfect for this role. He was exactly like how I imagined Thomas in my mind. And the Grievers (even though they scared the crap out of me) were just right. When I read the book, they were less scary, and I think they could have toned it down in the movie. But overall, they were great. And the action was fantastic. Watching this movie, I finally understood what the term "at the edge of your seat" meant. I must have held my breath for two thirds of the entire movie. 

Things the Maze Runner people did wrong: Theresa, and the violence. I did not like the girl casted for Theresa; they could have done so much better. She was a mediocre actress at best. Secondly, the violence. While the book was violent, book violence is different from movie violence. In books, you can kind of just skim past all the blood and gore, while in movies, you kind of have to watch it. I didn't like that I had to watch it. The book was violent, I'll admit that, but the movie seemed even more violent than the book. 

By the time the theater lights faded in, I liked the movie. My heart was pumping hard and the book nerd inside of me was satisfied (and not just from watching O'Brien for two hours straight). Fans of the Maze Runner I am sure will be fans of this movie. Not even the person sitting behind me who felt it necessary to kick my seat of five minutes could ruin the movie for me. It was good, and I liked it, and I think other people will too. 

What I Thought Was True Review

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: What I Thought Was True

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Series: None

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 15 2014

Genre: Realistic Fiction; Contemporary; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 422

Format: Hardback

goodreads

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-you-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

It’s hard to be a fan of authors like Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han, or even Huntley Fitzpatrick if you don’t on some degree love summer romances. My Life Next Door, another romance by Fitzpatrick, detailed what it was like to love a life you could never have. What I Thought Was True explains the difference between what we think are facts, and what things are really like.

Both are incredibly intriguing romances worth finishing in one sitting.

Gwen Castle doesn’t live in a million dollar mansion. She doesn’t go to a posh private school or drive a sports car. No. She works at her dad’s burger shop. She helps her mom pay the bills when it’s a little too hard to make ends meet. In other words, she is nothing like Cassidy Somers a.k.a The Boy That Never Should’ve Happened. He comes from a life of Harvard and bottomless bank accounts, while she comes from Portuguese fishermen and housekeepers. They come from different worlds. They don’t belong together. But if that’s true, why is it so hard to keep away from him? When Cassidy gets hired as a lawn boy in the same neighborhood Gwen takes a job taking care of the rich Mrs. Ellington, she runs into him more than she would like. A lot more than she would like.

One thing that is hard to find in other books that this one seems to capture perfectly is the relationships. You can’t really find another summer romance with the intense, truthful, and incredibly accurate relationships this one has. The connection between the friends in the story was perfect. The romance was topsy turvy and real. The thing most book authors seem to forget is that no relationship ever happens smoothly and without kinks. And, even if they did, they would be boring and would go nowhere. I mean, who wants a boring relationship?  The story itself also brought something worth having. The subplots, minor romances, and minor characters were almost as interesting as the main ones. Em, Gwen’s little, not-quite-autistic, different-than-everyone-else brother was my favorite character, and not to mention, essential to this book’s charm. And let’s not forget Cass. Cassidy Somers. Ahh….Don’t you just love the characters that remind you that the boy you are looking for in real life doesn’t actually exist? I mean, really. Reading books has caused my standards in men to skyrocket. I really don’t think anyone will compare.

What I didn’t like was Fitzpatrick doesn’t seem to have an understanding on the emotional turmoil that relationships and love brings. You’d think boys and girls bounce back from relationships like they were made from rubber. And that just doesn’t happen.

In the end, I liked this book. It was nothing like the light summer read that I was expecting, but it was still good. One thing I learned: we don’t always have a smooth ride on the road of love, and we don’t always travel it with Prince himself, but, then again, why would you want it any other way? Besides, what fun are relationships without a little drama?

Promise of Shadows Review

Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Title: Promise of Shadows

Author: Justina Ireland

Series: None

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Genre: Greek Mythology; Romance; Fantasy; Supernatural; Young Adult

Pages: 371

Format: Hardback

goodreads

Zephyr Mourning has never been very good at being a Harpy. She’d rather watch reality TV than learn forty-seven ways to kill a man, and she pretty much sucks at wielding magic. Zephyr was ready for a future pretending to be a normal human instead of a half-god assassin. But all that changes when her sister is murdered—and she uses a forbidden dark power to save herself from the same fate.

Zephyr is on the run from a punishment worse than death when an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend (a surprisingly HOT friend) changes everything. Because it seems like Zephyr might just be the Nyx, a dark goddess made flesh that is prophesied to change the power balance. For hundreds of years the half-gods have lived in fear, and Zephyr is supposed to change that.

But how is she supposed to save everyone when she can’t even save herself?

I’m just going to put this out there: Any Greek mythology book is really just playing for second. Two words: Percy Jackson.

With that said, this is a very good second place. It’s not a Percy Jackson, but it is good. Zephyr Mourning is a Harpy. But, unlike how Greek mythology really goes, she is not a chicken with the head of a woman. No. She just has wings, and bright blue hair. Apparently having flying apparatuses on your back and unnaturally colored hair makes you a harpy. Not what I was expecting, but okay. Even with her feathery wings and electric hair, she still is not a very good harpy. Not good at magic, not good at killing people. She just can’t seem to do anything right. When her sister is murdered and she does the unthinkable in retaliation, things take a turn for the worst. With dark magic at her side, she must learn to fight for not only herself, but also for others.

I start with the things that I liked. I liked the main character. I liked the romance. I liked the spin on the “light always beats dark” theme. Zephyr, unlike many other heroines, is not a badass, or morally righteous. She can’t kick butt at will or have any incredible skills. All she has is her dark magic that is strangely evil-like and her blue hair. She doesn’t even have wings. And yet, she is supposed to be the famous Nyx. While she herself is not capable of awesomeness, her dark powers are just plain cool. I loved how Ireland played with the irony of dark powers being good and light powers being bad. I liked how the main protagonist had antagonistic tendencies, giving intricate depth to the character.  

Here’s the thing: I have a thing for bad boys. Or, rather, fictional bad boys. You know, the jerks that the girl has to reform and crack the hard sexy outer shell to get to the even sexier sensitive stuff. Well, the love interest just happened to be one of those boys, more or less. While the romance was sudden, it was also sweet and touching.

I thought this book was incredibly creative. I wish that it wasn’t a standalone; it has so much potential! But still, it was worth reading. More than worth it, I would say. And the cover is just gorgeous, isn’t it?

Solstice Review

Solstice by P.J. Hoover

Title: Solstice

Author: P.J. Hoover

Series: None

Publisher: Tor Teen/Macmillan

Publication Date: June 1, 2013

Genre: Science Fiction; Futuristic; Mythology; Fantasy; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 384

Format: Hardback

goodreads

Piper's world is dying. 

Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.

An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, Solstice is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.

Piper lives in a world that’s boiling and above 120 degree temperatures are to be expected. Piper, living under the control of an overly-protective mother, has never had much of a life. On her eighteenth birthday, all of that is about to change. She’ll discover worlds she never thought existed and secrets never meant to be uncovered. With the help of Shayne, a mysteriously dark guy who seems to know more about her than she does, she’ll learn things that will turn her life upside down. Solstice combines Greek mythology and dystopian science fiction to create a novel about discovering who you really are.

I was not impressed for about the first half of this book. The whole time I was reading it, the thought “two stars, two stars, this such a two star book,” kept floating around in my head. Honestly I didn’t even think I wanted to finish it. A serious case of nauseating insta-love made me roll my eyes every two pages and the shallow depth of the characters about made me want to gag.  I had serious problems with this book. It was only past the half-way point where I actually thought, “okay, fine, maybe I can actually finish this sucker”.

First of all, the setting. I will give credit to Hoover, it was interesting that she combined two genres on the opposite ends of the spectrum of YA. Greek mythology and science fiction are an interesting combination. Sure, it was a good idea. Was it done well? Eh. Not really. If you are going to combine two different genres, you have to give equal time to both genres, and that is just not something that Hoover did. Her focus was more on the mythological part and the dystopian part took the back seat. Without the development, the setting was confusing and left too many loose ends. The book probably would’ve been better if there wasn’t a dystopia element at all. The mythological element of the story, however, was an entirely different story. You could tell the Hoover knew what she was talking about. The Persephone and Hades spin off was enough to keep me interested (and is probably the only reason why I rated this two stars, not one). But let’s face it, after Percy Jackson, there just really isn’t any competition for Greek myths anymore.

Secondly, the characters. I could not stand the main character, Piper. Too fake and superficial. And stupid. I found out the big “surprise” about five thousand pages before she did. And her reaction to learning these “secrets” and “revelations” was way too accepting. It wasn’t realistic. There was no denial, at all. And don’t even get me started on the sickening insta-love. Yuck.

Overall, not impressed. The Greek in it was good, everything else was not. Wouldn’t recommend it and not worthwhile. If I want to satisfy my Greek myth craving, I’ll just reread Percy Jackson. 

Unspoken Review

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Unspoken

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Genre: Supernatural; Fantasy; Romance; Gothic; Mystery Young Adult

Pages: 370

Format: Hardback

goodreads

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Get ready kids, for some serious bookage.

Kami Glass, an aspiring world-changing journalist, is like any other ordinary girl. Well, except for her witty sarcasm, slightly overenthusiastic go-get-‘em attitude, and her obsession with discovering the secrets of her little English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Oh, and the boy in her head that she’s never met and loves that keeps talking to her in her head.

Okay, so maybe she’s not so much like any other ordinary girl.

When the Lynburns (the mysterious legends of Sorry-in-the-Vale) come back to their home, two Lynburn sons, one of which has a special connection with Kami, make an appearance in her life. Something strange is happening over at the Lynburn mansion, and Kami intends to get the scoop. What starts as secret digging quickly turns into a murder mystery as peculiar killings happen all over their quiet (or quiet up until now) town. Gothic romance and supernatural mysteries collide in this original story about magic and dark secrets.

I actually read this book about a week ago, and I am just now writing the review. I have a good reason, too. If I had written it any time before now the review would probably look something like this: I can’t…I–I don’t…Why is–Why can they–How is–Ahhhhhh!

And no one wants to read that.

No joke. This book is amazing. You may have to excuse the rare peeks at the narcotic fangirl I am so desperately trying to conceal as I write this review. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

First off, the writing. The writing!! I want to be a writer, but when I read someone with this level of talent, I get depressed. Cause really? No one should be that awesome of a writer and be that funny. I cracked up out loud like twenty four hundred times throughout the entire novel. IT WAS SO FUNNY! (See: narcotic fangirl just make an appearance. Deep breathes, Blots) I would share with you some of the few incredible genius hysterical moments, but I don’t feel like writing a novel of a post today. Cause seriously that’s how long it would take.

Secondly, the characters were perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. One more time now, Perfect. I loved Kami. You know when you read a character that is so incredibly awesome that you say, the entire time you are reading the novel, “I wish I was like her/him”. This was the character that I couldn’t stop saying that about. She was so spunky and had so much gumption and was so hilarious. And Jared was the best bad boy. So deliciously dangerous and swooningly endearing. Yeah, Ash was okay, but he wasn’t a Jared. And I really liked Jared. I also really liked Angela, Kami's lazy and bristly best friend who didn't like people in the slightest. Yeah, she was a joy to read. 

To any of those reluctant readers out there who may be wondering: “What about the inevitable insta-love that is obviously going to happen?” My answer to you is, “There is none!” And there isn’t. No matter how much you want there to be, there isn’t. No matter how much you pray and pray for the romance to come quickly, it doesn’t. It’s excruciating. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And the best, best, best, best, best part about all of this is that I don’t have to wait for the sequel! It’s already out! And the third book is following quickly behind. There is goodness in this world.

I loved this book so much, and the fangirl inside of me is ready to devour the sequel and any more that comes after that. That kind of makes the fangirl in me sound like a stomach, which I guess she kind of is, always ravishing for the best books mankind has to offer. That also sounds kind of gross…Anyway, please read this book, and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Untold

Tandem Review

Tandem by Anna Jarzab

Title: Tandem

Author: Anna Jarzab

Series: Many-Worlds Trilogy #1

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 8, 2013

Genre: Science Fiction; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 428

Format: Hardback

goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real--until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love--one who knows her secret, and one who thinks she's someone she's not.

"Everything repeats. You. Your best friend. Every person you know. Many worlds. Many lives-infinite possibilities. Welcome to the multiverse."

Sasha has an unfortunate crush on the best-looking guy in school, named Grant. She is pretty sure he doesn’t even know she exists. But when Grant asks her to prom, she is surprised but quite understandably happy. Prom night is perfection: the dancing, the guy, the dress. Sasha doesn’t think it can get much better than this–until Grant takes across something called the Tandem into another universe that parallels ours. Then, he tells her that his name is not actually Grant but Thomas and she is going to be forced into impersonated a mysteriously vanished princess if she ever wants to go home again. Yeah, this is going to be fun.

It’s hard to do parallel universes right. I have read so many bad ones that I almost didn’t believe that a good one even existed. But, apparently it does. Parallel universes are hard to do (which is probably why nearly everyone gets them wrong), but Jarzab makes it surprisingly simple and even a little bit interesting. You’ve gotta admit, the thought of another universe with another you that may or may not look identical to you, may or may not love the same things you love, may or may not speak the way you do is intriguing. It certainly entertains my mind for hours on end. I could probably just sit and think about the possibilities of parallel universes and never be bored. While Jarzam could’ve added even more depth to her story by elaborating on the exact implications of parallel universes, I am glad she kept as simple as she did. No one wants to read something that gives you a headache.

I finished this book relatively fast. What can I say? I’m a saucebucket for romance. And Jarzab does romance almost as well as she does parallel universes. I loved Thomas even though there was that whole Stockholm syndrome thing going on. Couldn’t help it. I just really like Thomas. Callum, the prince whom Princess Julianna (Sasha’s doppleganger) is supposed to marry, however, was oh-so coincidentally movie-star handsome and seemed very very fake the entire book. I really could not stand that character or how he was written. It just made me frustrated. The “chemistry” between Sasha and Callum was forced and unbelievable. It was annoying.

Overall, not a bad book. Just relatively okay. A good book for filling up time and space. Maybe in another universe, I love this book, but not in this one. I’ll probably read the sequel, but I’m not falling out of my chair waiting for it. 

Tether