"Independent Study (The Testing #2) by Joelle Charbonneau; a Review by Anne

Independent Study (The Testing #2)

by Joelle Charbonneau (Goodreads Author)

Independent Study (The Testing, #2) 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14  ·  rating details  ·  69 ratings  ·  30 reviews

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the governm...more In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her. (From Goodreads.com)

 

I love it when I pick up a sequel a few months/years after the first book and am transported back into the world with out the "what happened in the first book question" rattling around in my head. That's exactly what happened with Independent Study.

Charbonneau did an excellent job of placing the reader back into Cia's world a few month after we left her. This was the perfect place because the basic classes and her studying hard would have been a boring story. Now we see what area of Cia is going to concentrate on. Of course life is not easy for our hero. She stands out among the students and is the target of something more sinister. Cia is still the strong, smart, moral girl that we met in The Testing, only better. She has not lost her kindness or moral compass, but reality has crept in and nags at her to think about what is happening.

If you liked the first book, you will not be disappointed in the sequel. By the way, it ends in a perfect place, leaving you wanting more, but knowing where the next one will go, she does not make you crazy waiting. Thank you Ms. Charbonneau.

 

Review by Anne a Yellow Book Road Team Book Club Member

"The Testing #1 by Joelle Charbonneau; A Review by Anne

The Testing (The Testing #1)

by Joelle Charbonneau (Goodreads Author)

The Testing (The Testing, #1) 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91  ·  rating details  ·  2,098 ratings  ·  625 reviews

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a colle...more Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. (From Goodreads.com)

 

I read this book a few months ago and fully enjoyed it. I enjoyed the take on how the characters were accepted into university. They didn't just take the SAT, fill out an application, and write an essay. They had to be chosen. Once chosen, they were sent to the capital and put through a series of tests, if you failed, you were out. If you succeeded, you went on to the final test, a journey through the destroyed part of the city. The rules, no rules, you just needed to survive. In true dystopian...more I read this book a few months ago and fully enjoyed it. I enjoyed the take on how the characters were accepted into university. They didn't just take the SAT, fill out an application, and write an essay. They had to be chosen. Once chosen, they were sent to the capital and put through a series of tests, if you failed, you were out. If you succeeded, you went on to the final test, a journey through the destroyed part of the city. The rules, no rules, you just needed to survive. In true dystopian fashion, to the death. I enjoyed the main character, Cia, a very strong, smart, and moral young lady. She was placed in many horrifying situations, and reacted in an intelligent fashion. YEA, a smart main female character. This book went around my classroom and everyone enjoyed. If liked The Hunger Games, Legend, Matched, Divergent, try The Testing. See how hard it is to get to college.

 

Review by Anne a Yellow Book Road Teen Book Club Member

"Stealheart (Reckoners #1)" by Brandon Sanderson; A Review by Wyatt

Steelheart (Reckoners #1)

by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)

Steelheart (Reckoners, #1) 4.36 of 5 stars 4.36  ·  rating details  ·  184 ratings  ·  81 reviews

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend...more Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.(From Goodreads.com)

 

The main thing that I loved most about this book was the characters lack of ability to form proper metaphors. In this the author was truly original. It was the comic relief in times of trial for the characters, and constantly made me laugh out loud in public places, often times causing people to give me funny looks and glares at me in places like the bank. The author supplied the perfect amount of action, mystery and that little touch of love interest to keep me interested throughout the entire book, as well as an amazing twist in the story at the very end that will leave your mind swimming in the possibilities of the next book. Truly a great read, I would recommend it for anyone.

 

Review by Wyatt a Yellow Book Road Teen Book Club Member

"How to Love" by Katie Cotugno A Review by Mia

How to Love

by Katie Cotugno

How to Love 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17  ·  rating details  ·  104 ratings  ·  56 reviews

 

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—R...more Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice. (From Goodreads.com)

 

How to Love is the real reason you should be looking forward to October. Screw Halloween, this book is so much easier to devour than candy, and leaves you wanting more, not a sick feeling in your stomach.

The storyline goes back and forth between Before and After, which isn't as confusing as it seems. If you're lazy (like me sometimes) and you forget to read what it says at the beginning of the chapter, you can get a little mixed up, but you can always figure it out in the end. I think it was a really interesting choice to write the story in that way, but I can see why. Having two stories (or two parts of the same story, in this case) going on at the same time makes the reader want to keep going and going so that they can find out what happens next in the past or the present.

Reena is one of those characters that you want to yell at the whole time, but you know that if you were in her situation, you would be doing the exact same things. Sawyer isn't what I would call my dream guy, but Cotugno writes him in a way that I fall in love with him and his sappy romantic ways. When I picked up How to Love I was told that it was going to be pretty cheesy, and in some ways it was, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's another book with the perfect amount of cheesiness.

 

A Review by Mia, A Yellow Book Road Teen Book Club Member

"Loud Awake and Lost" a Review by Mia

 

Loud Awake and Lost

by Adele Griffin (Goodreads Author)

Loud Awake and Lost 3.82 of 5 stars 3.82  ·  rating details  ·  11 ratings  ·  3 reviews

LOUD. There was an accident. Ember knows at least that much. She was driving. The car was totaled. She suffered back injuries and brain trauma. But she is alive. That's the only thing left she can cling to.

AWAKE. Eight months later, Ember feels broken. The pieces of her former self no longer fit together. She can't even remember the six weeks of her life leading up to the...more LOUD. There was an accident. Ember knows at least that much. She was driving. The car was totaled. She suffered back injuries and brain trauma. But she is alive. That's the only thing left she can cling to.

AWAKE. Eight months later, Ember feels broken. The pieces of her former self no longer fit together. She can't even remember the six weeks of her life leading up to the accident. Where was she going? Who was she with? And what happened during those six weeks that her friends and family won't talk about?

LOST. One by one, Ember discovers the answers to these questions, like a twisted game of dominos. And little by little, the person she used to be slips further and further away.

In the wake of her critically praised young adult psychological thrillers, Tighter and All You Never Wanted, National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin has created another triumph. Loud Awake & Lost is an unflinching story of loss and recovery. (From Goodreads.com)

 

If I was grading/reviewing these books in a curve, all of those other books would have failed. Okay, not all of them, but the best any of the others would get is a B or B-. Loud Awake and Lost blew me away. I sat down to read a few chapters, and came back to the real world a couple hours later with only a few chapters left. To any aspiring writers out there, read this book if you want to learn how to master the plot twist.

The thing I loved the most about the book was that it's a mystery, but it's not like Nancy Drew. Eden already knows she was the culprit (and the victim, in a way), she knows the gist of what happened, but she's trying to uncover the events that led to the accident. I wondered if it was just a coincidence that she didn't remember any part of the time in her life when she grew distant from her crew, but then I realized that there are no coincidences. If you're reading this, that means you probably haven't read the book, in which case I'm only humoring myself by adding that reference.
Everything about Loud Awake and Lost is absolutely amazing, and I will definitely read it again.

 

Review by Mia, A Yellow Book Road Teen Book Club Member

"The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy #1)" A Review by Ayanna

The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy #1)

by Sherry Thomas (Goodreads Author)

The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy, #1) 4.07 of 5 stars 4.07  ·  rating details  ·  90 ratings  ·  67 reviews

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-...more It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to revenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life. (From Goodreads.com)

 

The novel "The Burning Sky" by Sherry Thomas is a good fantasy adventure. It has magic, adventure, and a kindling romance going on between a great new elemental mage of her generation and a prince who only seeks to fulfill a prophecy.

The novel itself starts slow paced with the main character Iolanthe Seabourne living a normal life trying to protect what she knows and holds dear, but with a single bolt of lightning her whole life is thrown into chaos. The inquisitor a menacing character then comes after her to use her to her own ends, but the prince Titus comes to intercept.

The story elevates after each complication that Titus and Iolanthe encounter, it gets harder and harder to hide the greatest elemental mage of the generation when almost everyone is a spy and a traitor. Its a novel full of lies and deceit but with a bond and a friendship forming that makes one believe it will all work out.

I liked the book, even though it wasn't action packed and full of suspense it kept me wanting to know how the characters would survive under so much watch. This novel is one that makes you want to get the next book to see if the romance goes further, to find out what will happen now that they have striked putting their destiny into motion. like any good book it propels you to follow the characters through their story.

Review by Ayanna, A Yellow Book Road Teen Book Club Member

"Another Little Piece" by Kate Karyus Quinn a Review by Amanda

Another Little Piece

by Kate Karyus Quinn (Goodreads Author)

Another Little Piece 3.73 of 5 stars 3.73    

The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series in Kate Karyus Quinn's haunting debut.

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundred...more The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series in Kate Karyus Quinn's haunting debut.

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past. - Goodreads.com

 

This book was not what I expected, but in a good way! I fell in love with Dex kind of (like a book character kind of love)The only problem I saw with the book was that it was confusing at first, but in the end I understood it.

 

Review by Amanda, a YBR Teen Book Group Member

"Eat, Brains, Love" by Jeff Hart a Review by Mia

Eat, Brains, Love

by Jeff Hart (Goodreads Author)

Eat, Brains, Love 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95    

Two teenage zombies search for brains, love, and answers in this surprisingly romantic and laugh-out-loud funny debut novel with guts.

Jake Stephens was always an average, fly-under-the-radar guy. The kind of guy who would never catch the attention of an insanely popular girl like Amanda Blake-or a psychic teenage government agent like Cass. But one day during lunch, Jake's...more Two teenage zombies search for brains, love, and answers in this surprisingly romantic and laugh-out-loud funny debut novel with guts.

Jake Stephens was always an average, fly-under-the-radar guy. The kind of guy who would never catch the attention of an insanely popular girl like Amanda Blake-or a psychic teenage government agent like Cass. But one day during lunch, Jake's whole life changed. He and Amanda suddenly locked eyes across the cafeteria, and at the exact same instant, they turned into zombies and devoured half their senior class.

Now Jake definitely has Amanda's attention-as well as Cass's, since she's been sent on a top-secret mission to hunt them down. As Jake and Amanda deal with the existential guilt of eating their best friends, Cass struggles with a growing psychic dilemma of her own-one that will lead the three of them on an epic journey across the country and make them question what it means to truly be alive. Or undead.

Eat, Brains, Love is a heartwarming and bloody blend of romance, deadpan humor, and suspense that fans of Isaac Marion's Warm Bodies will devour. With its irresistibly dry and authentic teen voice, as well as a zombie apocalypse worthy of AMC's The Walking Dead, this irreverent paperback original will leave readers dying for the sequel that's coming in Summer 2014. - Goodreads.com

 

I absolutely loved Eat, Brains, Love. It has everything: comedy, romance, strong characters, and zombies.

The characters all seem so real, even though you wouldn't find them in our world, but they're still teenagers. Yes, they have different abilities and mutations, but they still think like teenagers (most of the time) and it's easy to connect with the characters.

There were still several things that were left unanswered or unclear, which is why I deducted half a star. (GoodReads should let us use half stars... Just saying). I was kind of disappointed with the ending. There were a ton of different possibilities, but I guess it makes sense, it's not a super cliche happy ending, and it's not a total letdown where everyone dies. But it is in past tense, so I should have seen it coming. It leaves room for a sequel, but I feel like if there is one, it would be super lame. It's not a huge cliff hanger, but I guess it could go either way.

That aside, I totally loved Eat, Brains, Love, and I would recommend it to anyone who just enjoys being entertained.

Side note: there needs to be a parody poster that goes with this book about practicing safe sex to avoid being zombiefied.

 

Review by Mia, a YBR Teen Book Group Member

"Projection" by Risa Green a Review by Mia

Projection

by Risa Green (Goodreads Author)

Projection 3.68 of 5 stars 3.68  ·    

When 13-year-old Gretchen Harris's mother is murdered at Gretchen's 8th Grade graduation party, everyone in the town of Delphi, California, suspects a power struggle within the Oculus Society: Delphi's version of the Junior League. Gretchen's best friend, Jessica Shaw, might even hold the key to finding the culprit withThe Plotinus Ability: the Oculus Society's jealously g...more When 13-year-old Gretchen Harris's mother is murdered at Gretchen's 8th Grade graduation party, everyone in the town of Delphi, California, suspects a power struggle within the Oculus Society: Delphi's version of the Junior League.  Gretchen's best friend, Jessica Shaw, might even hold the key to finding the culprit withThe Plotinus Ability: the Oculus Society's jealously guarded secret power to trade souls, which hinges on a kiss. Gretchen's hope at finding the murderer ends in tragedy when Ariel Miller—the class outcast—stalks Gretchen and Jessica and surreptitiously films them exchanging a kiss to test if the Plotinus Ability is real, not knowing their motives. The ensuing YouTube video ("Popular Girls = Secret Lovers") goes viral, Gretchen's and Jessica's lives are further shattered, and they vanish from Delphi.

Flash forward two years later: Ariel is suddenly the most popular junior in town, but wracked with guilt over what she did to Gretchen and Jessica.  When both girls reappear after their mysterious absence, Ariel finds herself pawn, suspect, and key player in their scheme to bring the murderer to justice. - Goodreads.com

 

Honestly, I think Projection was great. It was well written, and interesting, and engaging, but it was missing something. I'm not really sure what that is, but it's the thing that makes the reader force all of their friends to read it, because they need someone to share all of the feels with. Maybe that's the problem; I didn't get any feels. I didn't really care about the characters. Yeah, they all have their little sob story, but they don't have very strong personalities, there isn't really anything to relate to. It's like, "Oh your mom was just murdered? That sucks. You'll get over it. Here's some flowers. Bye." In another case, I might have been sobbing my eyes out and screaming at the universe for being so cruel.

I think the story was very intriguing, and the chapters set in ancient Rome were placed perfectly. I'm really bad at solving mysteries so those really helped out. The one really weird thing about Projection was that about a third into the book, the main story just jumps ahead 2 years, which is kind of confusing at first, but it works. I think that this is the main reason why you don't really get to know the characters. That and the fact that they aren't even in their own bodies for a lot of the time, so they're pretending to be each other.

In all, I wouldn't go so far as to tell someone the absolutely have to read it, but if they asked me if they should read it, I would say yes.

 

Review by Mia a YBR Teen Book Group Member

"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell, a Reivew by Mia

Fangirl

by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads Author)

Fangirl 4.47 of 5 stars 4.47  ·    

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Han...more A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? - Goodreads.com

 

This is going to be a short review, because there's nothing I didn't like about Fangirl. The characters, the plot, the style... Every part of Fangirl is exciting to read. Even if though it's not fantasy, and Cath's life is pretty normal, it's still exciting and you still care. This book is a good summer beach/pool read, but it's a good read anytime. All I know is I'll be fangirling over Fangirl for a while.

Review by Mia, a YBR Teen Book Group Member

"Asylum" by Madeleine Roux a Review by Taya

Asylum

by Madeleine Roux (Goodreads Author)

Asylum 3.09 of 5 stars 3.09  · 

Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arriv...more Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity. - Goodreads.com

 

I found this book to be chilling, in a good way. How the author incorporates insanity into a somewhat sane mind was brilliant. There were times when I was reading it and I found myself feeling scared of going into my own places of insanity. It was definitely a nightmarish book that made it hard to go to sleep. The beginning had a certain aspect of reality to a teenage mind which helped later on in the book for getting absorbed into the story and characters. Some of the transitions from chapter to chapter were kind of rough, and there were times when I didn't know if it was being written in second or third person. But in all I really enjoyed this book and the way it consumed the reader.

 

Review by Taya, a YBR Teen Book Club member

"The Eye of Minds" by James Dashner a Review by Taya

I personally did not enjoy this book. The storyline revolved mostly around gamers and the game they were in and as I am not a gamer myself I could not really relate to the story and what was going on. I also did not know a lot of the language they were using because I am not a gamer. Compared to his series The Maze Runner I thought it was weak and did not have a good hook. I also did not find the end of the book to be much of a twist because I guessed that was going to happen fairly early on in the book. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy playing video games because it does have a lot of interesting concepts they just are not concepts that I am interested in.

"The Beginning of Everything" by Robyn Schneider a Review by Taya

"The Beginning of Everything

by Robyn Schneider (Goodreads Author)

The Beginning of Everything 4.02 of 5 stars 4.02    

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra fi...more Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings." Goodreads.com

 

I loved this book. It was very relatable and the characters reminded me a lot of some of my friends. Each chapter had it's own reality to it, which helped in it's relatability. I am not usually someone to like sappy love stories, at least not when it comes to reading, but each sentence was so well written and placed that you didn't feel like it was unrealistic as in most sappy books. It was a book that made me have emotions towards the characters, it made laugh and tear up, and to me that is the test of a good book, is if it can make you feel, or bring memories to the surface that were once long forgotten. This book is definitely a keeper and I know I will probably read it more that once.

 

Review by Taya, YBRTeen Book Club Member

"Far Far Away" by Tom McNeal: A Review

It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the fa...more "It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the family. But it hasn't been up to Jeremy alone. The truth is, Jeremy can hear voices. Or, specificially, one voice: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the infamous writing duo, The Brothers Grimm. Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when the provocative local girl Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a grim chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings. . ." Goodreads.com

"Young adult veteran Tom McNeal (one half of the writing duo known as Laura & Tom McNeal) has crafted a novel at once warmhearted, compulsively readable, and altogether thrilling--and McNeal fans of their tautly told stories will not be disappointed." Goodreads.com

"What follows is the strange and fateful tale of a boy, a girl, and a ghost." Thus begins Tom McNeal's new book for young adults, Far Far Away. The narrator of this dark and grim tale is none other than Jacob Grimm himself. He is obligated to watch over young Jeremy Johnson Johnson to keep him safe from the unknown Finder of Occasions. During Grimm's watch, we enter the small town of Never Better and discover the quirks of life in a small town. Not only is this book awesomely creepy, Jeremy is a wonderful character that draws the reader in. He is smart, quiet, and desires a better life, one outside of town. He lives with his father, whom he takes cares of since his dad has withdrawn from the world due to severe depression. The plot moves along with wonderful added details about the Brothers Grimm's life and works. If you are a fan of modern day fairy tales, the Brothers Grimm, or just like a dark and creepy tale, be sure to pick up Far Far Away. Warning, you might just get taken far far away.

Review by Anne Armstrong

"In The Shadow of Blackbirds" by Cat Winters: A Review

"In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?" Goodreads.com

"Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time." Goodreads.com

For some reason, I fought reading this book (too many people told me I had to read it). I finally opened it up and a few hours later, I couldn't put it down. Living in San Diego and knowing some of our history is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book. Winters did a wonderful job of describing 1918 San Diego, Coronado, and Balboa Park. The 1918 photographs inserted in the book added a nice touch to the realities of the horrors of the Spanish Flu and WWI.

Another reason why I enjoyed this book is the main character, Mary Shelley Black. This young lady has a scientific mind, she enjoys taking apart and putting house hold items back together. She believes in the science of the world and when unexplainable events begin to happen to her, she doesn't freak out, she goes on a quest to learn about what is happening to her. This is in a time when women were working in the factories but were still not able to vote or think for themselves. Throughout the story, Mary Shelley never lost touch with who she was and what she needed to do.

I recently finished "Illusion" by T. Brown, very similar to "In The Shadow of Blackbirds" with spiritualism, mediums, and searching for lost loved ones. What Brown was lacking, Winters gave the reader. Throughout the book the reader gets a sense of the true horrors that were happening during this time, the war, the flu, the amount of loss of human lives and the desperation of people trying cope with the loss. The sense of desperation added to the plot, creating a wonderful experience for the reader.

Finally, I know I liked a book when I try to find a way to bring it into my English classes. This book would be perfect for 11th grade English. The detail that is given about War World I and daily live in San Diego (1918) was wonderful. I was horrified about the descriptions of life in the trenches, the way soldiers with PTS were treated, and the images of dead bodies laying on the streets waiting to be picked up. This book is a perfect way to bring in American History to the English class.

Go out and get this book. Devour it, share it, and look forward to the next novel by Cat Winters.

Review by Anne Armstrong

"Game" (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga: A Review

Billy grinned. "Oh, New York," he whispered. "We're gonna have so much fun."

"I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history's most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent." Goodreads.com

"In an effort to prove murder didn't run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo's Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz's door asking for help, he can't say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple—and its police —running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer's murderous game." Goodreads.com

"Both the stakes and the body count are higher in this suspenseful and unstoppable sequel from acclaimed author Barry Lyga." Goodreads.com

Holly Cow, what a sequel! Once again, Mr. Lyga did not disappoint me (however he left me on the hanging on a very large cliff). If you enjoyed I Hunt Killers, be sure to read Game. The only suggestion I have for the reader, wait to read this until 2014, when the next book comes out. That way you won't be stranded on this damn cliff for so long.

Jasper is still a great character, he has not solved his internal conflicts, and still questions his motives. This time around we get to know Jasper's girlfriend a bit better. She is feisty, strong willed and only wants to help Jasper; this can be a problem some of the time. We also get to know more about Jasper's background, his mother, his father, and his father's warped sense of the world. The plot moves along at a fast pace with a few sub plots running alongside. Lyga ties in all of the plots by the end of the book, but like I said before, leaves you dangling from a very large cliff.

Read I Hunt Killers and Game. Once again some of the scenes in this book are brutal, but they advance the plot and shows the brutality of Jasper's world.

Review by Anne Armstrong

"I Hunt Killers" by Barry Lyga: A Review

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

"Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view. And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod." Goodreads.com

"In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?" Goodreads.com

I loved this book. I have hooked many students into reading with this story (It has been 'adopted' a few times from my classroom library). Jazz is a great character who struggles with the fact his dad is one of the most notorious serial killers of the 21st century. This allows the author to create some intense internal struggles. From page one, you like Jazz and want him to succeed in the story. Along the way you glimpse into his psyche and learn about life with a murdering father.

Warning, there are some brutal scenes in this book, but they add to the story, plot and character development.

Review by Anne Armstrong

Teen Book Club

Yellow Book Road Teen Book Group is a success!

The Yellow Book Road Teen Book Group is designed for readers of Young Adult Literature. The propose is to read books before they are published and review them for the store.

The best thing about this group is that each group member gets to pick their own book. We are presented with a basket of books that are about to be released and we select what we want to read. We've read books such as Eye of Minds by James Dashner, Below by Ryan Lockwood, Don't Look Now by Michelle Gagnon, My Totally Awkward Supernatural Cursh by Laura Toffler-Corrie, and Asylum by Madeleine Roux.

The reviews are a very important part of this book group. Many of our customers are in search of a good Young Adult novel. The Teen Book Group reviews are created to help guide customers choose books they will enjoy and stay away from books that just don't have what it takes.

If you are interested in joining The Yellow Book Teen Book Group stop by the store any Tuesday morning at 10:30.