BOOK REVIEW: Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

What happens when a group of Tribeca high school kids go in for flu shots . . . and end up being able to read each others' minds? - goodreads

 Go back in time when you were in high school. Think of all the stupid, pointless stuff circling in your brain at any given time? Would you want to share it? All your insecurities, your crushes, your secrets? Of course not.

Then think of all the time when you thought getting a flu shot was a good idea.

Put them together and you get "Don't Even Think About It". You go for a flu shot and all of a sudden your secrets are revealed and you are able to read minds.

I enjoyed the way that each of the teenagers deal with finding out about their new found super power. Some are freaked right the shit out, some think its amazing, some want to tell while others want to hide it.  I think Mlynowski showed every possible reaction.

Relationships are tested throughout the book. I mean how could they not be when you can read each other minds? I liked how each of the main characters had a different problem they had to overcome/deal with.

At the end they have to decide one main thing; to keep the ability to read minds or to fess up and get rid of it. The way this goes about is written really well, forcing you to ask yourself the same question. I mean, for me personally I would keep it. But I also would like to know how to control it. There would be no surprises anymore, but also a lot less disappointments... who knows....

I give this book 4 stars because it was a very interesting concept. Some of the writing did seem juvenile at times, but it shouldn't be forgotten that it is a young adult book.

BOOK REVIEW: Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always by Elissa Janine Hoole

Cassandra fears rocking the family boat. Instead, she sinks it. Assigned by her English teacher to write a poem that reveals her true self, Cassandra Randall is stuck. Her family's religion is so overbearing, she can NEVER write about who she truly is. So Cass does what any self-respecting high school girl would do: she secretly begins writing a tarot-inspired advice blog. When Drew Godfrey, an awkward outcast with unwashed hair, writes to her, the situation spirals into what the school calls "a cyberbullying crisis" and what the church calls "sorcery." Cass wants to be the kind of person who sticks up for the persecuted, who protects the victims the way she tries to protect her brother from the homophobes in her church. But what if she's just another bully? What will it take for her to step up and tell the truth? - Goodreads synopsis.





This book was a netgalley read exchanged for an honest review.

Cass is an atheist teenager stuck in a family who is overbearingly religious. She is slowly realizing that she has been a follower all of her life and hasn't really been who she actually wants to be. And when she tries to, people are all like 'whoa Cass, this ain't you, go back to normal". I get this. I mean, everyone has done it at some point, put out a persona because you think its what people want from you. You just go through the motions and then sometimes you just fall into that sub-type.  ( I'm not as shy and quiet as people think but sometimes its easier just to go with that then all of a sudden be outgoing and get stared down). Because Cass isn't sure about who she is, it was very hard to get a grip on her character. She is also very hypocritical. I mean she says she hates how the mean (ie: popular) girls bully and make fun of people for no reason at all, yet she does it herself.She even says that Drew (a girl who is in Cass' youth group and the schools 'loser') wouldn't be bullied if she actually put effort into her looks. She thinks its irresponsible when her best friend lies to her parents, yet she does the same thing with starting the blog. So Cass is I guess a fair representation of a high school student to be fair.

A main portion of the book dealt with the church. They seemed strict and very powerful in the community, I mean they even want the towns' winter carnival cancelled. And yah. I don't know. I could enter a whole rant on religion and how its fine to believe in what you believe in but don't shove it down every one's throat. But I won't subject that to you. Just respect that people have different beliefs, and while they can't all be right they can't all be wrong either.

I enjoyed the novel,  I just felt like there was too much going on in this book that it didn't know what to focus on. I mean it dealt with religion, gay rights, suicide, bullying, self-discovery, love.  I wanted to know what happened to each of the characters, but in a more though provoking way, not just  a sudden happy ending. I'm not saying it was a bad ending, I'm just saying that it felt rushed, like the author realized she only had 20 pages left to work with and BAM just make everything work out for the best. Not exactly realistic in my eyes.
 I didn't get the cover art either. I liked it, but after reading the book I see no connection to a mason jar filled with light.


2.5 stars.
 

REVIEW: Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek

This is my very first publisher review. When I put my name in Net Galley, I initially did it just to see what all the fuss was about, and I certainly wasn’t expecting anything to come forth. But lo and behold 3 publishers replied almost instantly. I’m sure they just send out stuff anyways to any new joiner, but it made me realize that hell, I kinda do like reviewing. It’s what makes me go to work every day.

Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek is released in September 2013 and I do think people should go and read it. It is a great young adult read.

Unintentionally I read this on the heels of Thirteen Reason Why. And it was very similar subject matter, but it had its own specialty. However, I recommend not reading the two books back to back because you will no doubt draw parallels to them.

Now that that is out of the way, I enjoyed this book.  From the beginning it paints a good description of the setting. You get a feel that this is small town Connecticut which on the outset is liberal, but the people in it are far from it.

The story is written from Reyna’s point of view. She transfers to a new school due to the rezoning of her neighborhood. Meaning, she leaves her best friends behind and have to start new.   Reyna is trying to fit in, going from part of the popular clique to knowing nobody and having nobody talk to her. Left with no choice really, she befriends Olive, the only girl who actually talks to her.

Olive is a brutally honest girl that by the gods of high school is put on the bottom of the social totem pole.  Once you read more into the novel you realize why she is that way and you sympathize with it. 

Reyna and Olive eventually become good friends; realizing that they have a lot in common. Reyna lost her mother at an early age and Olive, essentially lost her mother to the drink.  Eventually they become close enough for Olive to divulge a big secret to her. That secret tears them apart.

My one thing that I did not like about this book is that it is strangely reminiscent of Mean Girls. Even the names are similar (Reyna FeyàTina Fey, Gretchen Palmer (the popular girl who befriends Reyna after Reyna realizes how ‘weird’ Olive is)àGretchen Wieners.  While the main plot is not the same, I kept feeling similarities that made me wonder if Sara Kocek watched the movie a lot before writing.

Without spoiling the ending, I enjoyed the twist at the end.  You go into it thinking that Reyna is the main character but nearing the end you end up seeing Olive as the protagonist. I also think the best character of the book was Levi. He is Reyna’s boy-toy and he is the most compassionate and open minded person in the book.  The teacher, man oh man, I wanted to punch him right up side the face. Once you read it you will understand why, and well if you don't- then you deserve a punch in the face too.  

I give it 4 stars and not just for the HP references throughout the book. It is a book that can resonate with many teens as it deals with issues such as popularity, bullying, suicide, homosexuality, religion and divorce- to name a few.

On a side note, I enjoy the cover art. Probably something I'd pick up without reading the back.

Thanks for NetGalley and Albert Whitman & Company for letting me review this book.

BOOK REVIEW: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

I was wandering around Chapters with a huge stack of books, a common sight (although I do end up putting them back- that damn responsible adult in me) and I happened to find myself in the Young Adult section. While I was browsing, the Chapters associate came up to me and started raving about Obsidian. I had never heard of it before and decided to give it a go. One thing I should have been wary about is that she said it was like Twilight but with aliens.  [On a side note: I did enjoy Twilight, yes it was shitty writing and you wanted to smack the lead character, but it did what a book is supposed to do, entertain you.]

Katy is new in town and obviously looking for things to fill her time. Then walks by hottie hot Daemon.  His twin sister Dee, befriends Katy instantly.  With Daemon giving snarky comments about ‘Katy’s kind” and being a royal asshat they eventually all start hanging out together. Because Katy is clumsy, in order to save her life in a near death experience- I believe with almost getting hit by a car (sounds familiar hey?)- Daemon has to show his true powers, of course making Katy question what the fuck he is.  When aliens interact with humans, some alien mojo (not my words) gets left onto them, essentially forming a big beacon to the alien hunters. Well in this case another alien, tribe?? Can I call it that?? Anyways this other alien tribe wants to steal all of the powers, so in order to save everyone; Katy has to stay close to Daemon which causes sparks to fly (not just the ones alien superpowers create).  Throughout the book they go back and forth from hating each other to wanting to kiss each other. There was some romance and some sexual tension, which for a YA book was pretty intnese at times; and hell it does make you more entertained reading it.

I don’t know. It was okay; but it just seemed like I did read this before . It was Twilight, just instead of vampires it was aliens.  One sparkled, one was made of light.   Both girls were stupid not to listen to the constant warnings of the amazingly gorgeous guy. Armentrout did write some good scenes, some great dialogue but some of her under handed comments was a bit too much. It was Twilight. Don’t’ make lines “well we don’t sparkle” Everyone knows it’s a dig, and I did laugh at it but still…  do like that Katy had some balls in the book. It wasn't a I must have you, or I will die type of relationship.

I can see why people love it. It’s a young adult romance story about the ordinary girl getting the hot guy. I give it 2 stars. I was expecting more based on the Chapters associate recommending it.  I am also kind of upset I put down all my other books to buy just this one.But, because I know htis is #1 in the Lux series, I will probably read the other ones. (One of my reading bad habits. I just need to know what happens and apparnelty do not value my time by reading shitty books)