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MINI-REVIEWS: Five Tomorrows, Wolf Brother, Fame Fatale

Posted by Anastasia on February 27, 2012 No Responses »

Feb 272012

031. Five Tomorrows by Sarah A. Hoyt
Publication: Goldport Press (January 4, 2012), ebook, approx. 119pp / ISBN none
Genre: Science Fiction, Short Stories

Read: February 13, 2012
Source: Freebie

Mini-Review

I have a really hard time remembering short stories, especially when I read a whole collection of them all at once. So I can’t exactly remember which story in this collection of five sci-fi shorts was my favorite– I think it was the first one, though. That one was about these genetically altered kids who were bred to be super-soldiers and lived underwater and stuff. It could totally be expanded into a full-sized YA book, and I think it’d even do pretty well if the ending was changed a bit.

The best thing about this set of stories is that they all take place in the same universe, just in different points in time. I like it when things like that happen, idk why. It’s more neat, I guess? Continue reading »

REVIEW: A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

Posted by Anastasia on February 15, 2012 6 Responses »

Feb 152012

029. A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Publication: Candlewick (March 2, 2010), originally published 2006, ebook, 389pp / ISBN 0763629308
Genre: MG Historical Fiction

Read: February 8-10, 2011
Source: Bought (Amazon)

Summary from Amazon:

Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence. So when the charming Miss Hyacinth chooses her to take home, the girl is pleased but baffled, until she learns of her new role: helping to stage elaborate séances for bereaved patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing the “secret child,” she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience. It takes a shocking betrayal to make clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this novel from Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz features a feisty heroine whom readers will not soon forget.

Review

Things I thought this book was about: ghosts, death, people drowning in some sort of romanticized/gothic romance sort of way, angst and sadness and other things I’m scared of.

Things this book is actually about: ghosts and death and little kids drowning, Spiritualism, con artists, family and love and adorable snarky orphan girls kicking butt! Continue reading »

MINI-REVIEWS: Boy Meets Girl, The Wizard, the Witch and Two Girls from Jersey, Stupid Fast

Posted by Anastasia on February 7, 2012 4 Responses »

Feb 072012

020. Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
Publication: Harpercollins (January 1, 2004), Paperback, 383pp / ISBN 0060085452
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Read: January 27-29, 2012
Source: Bought

Mini-Review

Sometimes you just want to read something fluffy and silly and easy on the brain, and Meg Cabot’s books are really good for that. I haven’t read many of her adult books, but I think they’re basically like her teen books, only with older characters who have slightly different goals (starting families rather than making prom queen, for instance). Boy Meets Girl is adorable, with adorable characters and an adorable plotline. And as a bonus, it’s written in an interesting way: through emails and phone calls and IMs instead of straight narrative stuff. Continue reading »

REVIEW: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Posted by Anastasia on January 31, 2012 3 Responses »

Jan 312012

013. Withering Tights by Louise Rennison
Publication: HarperTeen (June 28, 2011), originally published 2010, ebook, 291pp / ISBN 0061799319
Genre: YA Fiction

Read: January 22-23, 2012
Source: Bought

Review

I’m a big fan of Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson books (diaries and drama and lots of humor!) and so when I found out that she was starting a new series, one that starred Georgia’s cousin, Tallulah, I was super-duper excited. After reading it…okay, yeah, it’s not my favorite LR book ever, and in fact it just made me miss the Georgia books even more¹. Continue reading »

REVIEW: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Posted by Anastasia on January 27, 2012 11 Responses »

Jan 272012

014. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Publication: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (April 26, 1993), ebook, 210pp / ISBN 0440237688
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Dystopia

Read: January 24, 2012
Source: Bought

Summary from Amazon:

Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Review

I’ve put off reading this book for FOREVER, mainly because I really hate the cover. That old dude? Makes me think of The Cay. And The Cay? Made me cry my eyes out when I was in fifth grade. I hate crying, and I thought The Giver would make me cry, so I stayed away. Simple! Continue reading »

REVIEW: The Green Man by Michael Bedard

Posted by Anastasia on January 13, 2012 4 Responses »

Jan 132012

003. The Green Man by Michael Bedard
Publication: Tundra Books (April 10, 2012), eARC, 320pp / ISBN 1770492852
Genre: YA Magical Realism/Fantasy

Read: Jan 2-3, 2012
Source: NetGalley

This book will be released on April 10, 2012!

Review

I hadn’t realized that The Green Man is a sequel to another book when I requested it at NetGalley, but in retrospect I don’t think it matters all that much. Apparently it’s got some of the same characters from the first book in it, but the POV is mostly from a new character, so I don’t feel too annoyed that I read this one first before reading the previous book.

O’s aunt Emily is weird and probably crazy, but in the best sort of way. She’s a poet who owns a bookstore, and though O has reservations about spending the summer with Emily at The Green Man she wants to help her out after Emily’s recent heart attack. What O finds at the bookshop and about aunt Emily’s past, leads to a more exciting, magical, and poetry-filled summer than O ever expected. Continue reading »

The Sunday Salon (Dec. 11): REVIEW: Pagan’s Crusade by Catherine Jinks

Posted by Anastasia on December 11, 2011 2 Responses »

Dec 112011

158. Pagan’s Crusade by Catherine Jinks
Publication: Allen & Unwin (May 17, 2010), originally published 1992, ebook, 246pp / ISBN 9780763620196
Genre: YA Historical Fiction (could also be MG, I suppose)

Read: November 30-December 1, 2011
Source: Singapore Public Library

Summary from Amazon:

Down on his luck and kicked in the pants one too many times, sixteen-year-old Pagan Kidrouk arrives on the doorstep of the Templar Knights in medieval Jerusalem, looking for work as a squire. He’s expecting only some protection from the seedier aspects of life on the street and a few square meals. Instead, Pagan finds himself hard at work for Lord Roland de Bram – an exciting life of polishing Lord Roland’s armor, laundering his garments, and even training to fight by his side.

But as the Infidel Saladin leads his army to Jerusalem, it becomes more and more difficult for Pagan and Lord Roland to discern what action to take or whom to trust. Neither Saladin’s army nor the Christian Crusaders offer easy answers. Is a bloody battle for control of the Holy City inevitable?

Review

Things I love: historical fiction, the medieval era, and snarky protagonists. This book? Is all those things! Yay!

I’ve actually been wanting to read this series for a while, ever since I read and enjoyed CJ’s Evil Genius. Evil Genius is set in the modern times and it’s a action/thriller sort of thing; Pagan’s Crusade, meanwhile, is set during the medieval period and is a historical fiction/humor sort of thing. Continue reading »