Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Holy Macaroni, y'all.

I am going to be straight with you. I read If I Stay, I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. If I remember correctly, it was a title we considered for our Mock Printz, but then ultimately decided against it (my memory is blurry on exactly why). Anyhow, I am not telling you all this to do some sort of back-handed compliment thing - I just wanted to illustrate the allure, the (impossible to ignore) compulsion to read the same story told from another perspective. This came in and I HAD to pick it up. Immediately. I had to know.

Now, this isn't exactly the same story, it takes place three years after Mia comes back from her coma, but essentially it is dealing with the same thing.

I ate it up.

I almost read it from cover to cover and was irritated when I had to put it down to, you know, work and stuff. The melodrama that distanced me in the first book totally worked for me this time. that I loved it! I loved Adam, even though he had me rolling my eyes. The tension between Mia and Adam was exquisite and even though you don't start getting to the real meaty bits until about 3/4s of the way through the book, you don't mind because the whole book is just propelling you along.

Good stuff.

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Book Source = Tayshas Review Copy

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Read the name Pete Hautman  as the author on a book and know something really good awaits. Patti listed him as one of her Top YA Picks of All Time and I can't argue. I heard about his latest, The Big Crunch, a while ago due to all the great buzz and early reviews and was very interested. A steamy romance by Pete Hautman? Yes, please. I was reminded of the novel when Leila of Bookshelves of Doom recently reviewed it for Kirkus. I immediately checked my local library and picked it up during storytime. In honor of yesterday's Read Across America, I read The Big Crunch.*

I can't imagine a more appealing cover. The comic book panels tell a relationship story without even reading the inside cover. (Which you shouldn't do since, as was pointed out, the main character is listed there as Jen not June. What happened there, Scholastic?)

The novel's title refers to the Big Bang Theory, which June is studying in physical science.  As Pete says in his video, it's a metaphor. (LOL)

According to Mr. Reinhardt, this was called the Big Crunch, when the entire universe became and infinitesimal dot. And then the Big Bang would happen all over again. She found that reassuring - that no matter how messed up the universe got, it would eventually have another chance to get it right.

June and Wes's romance is lots of Darcy/Elizabeth looks and thoughts and longing. They talk about sex, but it's about waiting. Not the abstinence-only kind of waiting, but the right-time kind. I'm trying to remember if there was much, if any, swearing. So all in all a clean romance between two likable protagonists who don't know if they'll be together forever, but who know that what they have is love, is special, and is theirs. Concussions, black-eyes, hot chocolate, stolen cars and all. Nice job, Mr. Hautman.

The Big Crunch could rival the upcoming What Happened to Goodbye as my favorite swoon-worthy book of the year. Curious, the fathers of the girls in both books have jobs about saving companies that require the family to relocate often.

*Almost in one sitting last night. Finally pulled myself away to watch Top Chef. I'm hoping the top 3 are Carla, Antonia, and Richard. Mostly I'm Team Not Mike.

Matched by Ally Condie

In Cassia's world, the Society makes every decision for you, from what you eat to who you marry. When her match contains a surprising mistake, Cassia begins on a journey that will lead her to question everything about her life, including herself.

Okay, I see why people really love this book. The world-building is intriguing and well-imagined; the ethics very blurry. Nothing is truely what it seems, nor is anything black and white/good or evil. Cassia herself is both likeable and irritating at turns. And the boys, even moreso.

I especially liked how the romance was handled in the story. Cassia loves them both; she really is torn for most of the book. And the relationships change in a believable manner, over months and due to time spent together and things learned, just as real romances do. Cassia becomes an adult, in a way that many of the adults around her never do.

Even the side characters are well-drawn and believable. Gavin, her Grandfather, her parents, they all seemed very real and very stuck in the world they live in. Even when they make the "right" decisions (as if they really get to make any) things can take an awful turn.

I'll be thinking about this story for some time. And while I do see the similarities others have mentioned to The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time, I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing...

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet can sense dead bodies. Not any dead body, only those that have been murdered. They give off echoes, colors, sounds, and other sensations. Those that are responsible give off corresponding echoes.

She can also sense dead animals. She can barely stand to be around her cat (which, to me, begs the question, why does she keep it?!) I must say I had something of a problem with this, only because I don’t think that animals hunting and killing other animals ever constitutes murder (in my notes I went on at length, be thankful I spared you). So anyway, I decided to go with Violet being able to sense violent endings. Ahhh, yes. Much better.

Enter a serial killer, who is killing young ladies in her town. Girls she’s known and grown up with. Violet feels compelled to seek him out using her special skill set. When is this ever a good idea? Oh, that’s right – never! Violet soon finds herself in increasing danger.

There was some really great suspense in this book. Interspersed with Violet’s narrative are chapters written from the killer’s point of view and they are flat out creepy. We see how he picks his victims, how he traps them, but thankfully not what happens after – which would have been too much. Leaving that to the imagination makes it even creepier in my mind. There were some great plot twists in here too that were unexpected.

All in all though, this book was not for me. Violet has a special power, but still needs to be rescued by the various males in her life. Part of this I understand, yes, she has a special power, but she hasn’t really explored it and this whole serial killer situation thing is totally new. So it isn’t like she’s a super hero or anything. But still, Jay was a little too protective for my taste. I found him stifling. I wanted to tell him to back off. And there was that little matter of a sexual assault that happened on a date Violet has with a school friend. It wasn’t spoken of in those terms and that is exactly the problem I had with it. Or I could be overreacting. It just seemed like it was a serious thing.

***SPOILERS***

Do killers really ever burst into a detailed explanations, doing everything but tapping their fingers together like Mr. Burns and letting off evil laughter (muahahahahaha) before they are going to kill you? Do they? I mean, I guess it’s possible. It just doesn’t seem realistic. It seems like a way for an author to info-dump on the reader. I would have preferred Violet to learn of the ins-and-outs of the methods from her uncle after the fact. Oh and the fact that he dressed up in camo complete with camo face paint to chase her through the woods was just too much for me. I kept thinking of the episode of Arrested development when Tobias followed Lindsay on her date with the homeless dude dressed up in blue-man makeup all the while blending into walls and vending machines. I do not blame this on the author in any way – this is the type of thing my brain just does. It makes it hard for me to take things seriously. I had a similar problem when reading The Road when they were eating babies. So, yes, very much a personal problem.

***end of spoilers***

So my conclusion? The romance is steamy and the suspense will keep you turning the pages. I think teen girls will like it.

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Book Source: Library Copy

Demon Chick by Marilyn Kaye

Jessica Hunsucker’s life is going to Hell. Literally.

On her sixteenth birthday she discovers that her mother sold her to the devil in return for unprecedented power.This, conveniently happens after a makeover which makes Jessica, no pun intended, totally hot.

There are a lot of things I liked about Demon Chick. I loved how Hell was portrayed. Instead of fire and brimstone, it was just incredibly and endlessly boring. Things are kind of grey and beige, furniture mix-matched and worn, not much to do, only fast food to eat – which to a teenager might seem sort of great at first until you get sick of the permanent gut-rotty feeling fast food gives you. Early in her stay Jessica finds a book, hoping for some sort of escape she picks it up:

The back cover of the book hung limply, and I could guess why, even before my examination of the binding confirmed my suspicion. An entire section of pages had been torn out. The last section, of course. A mystery with no resolution. I could read it, get into it, and never know whodunit. Well, what did I expect? This was Hell.

Funny right? The entire book has this breezy tone which makes this more of a comedy than anything else. It is total light enjoyment reading. Even so, there are occasions when I would have preferred more of a serious look at things.

For instance, it gave me the major yucks that Jessica was given (yes given!!!) to a demon who was much older than she was. Now granted, he wasn’t such a bad guy, but the whole situation was sort of floated over and it gave me the creeps.

***spoiler alert***

Jessica’s mother is pure evil, bent on world domination, so I really wasn’t all that upset when she was assassinated. However, it kind of made my stomach flop when Jordan (the mastermind of the assassination and Jessica's temporary lover man) doesn’t experience any repercussions.

Jessica describes him as seeing the forest, but losing the trees (or something to that effect). He gets the big picture, cares about saving the earth and so forth, but isn't that interested in saving individuals. As is evidenced by his blantant manipulation of every female within arm's reach (not that Jessica seems to realize this – she’s much too busy adoring him regardless of everything).

I half wondered if Jordan hadn’t made his own deal with the devil. Now if the author had gone that route, I wouldn’t have been so bothered that one of our "heroes" was such a total sleaze. And he was. Sleazy. An assassinating sleaze. Maybe my problem is that I thought he should have had a comeuppance. There was no comeuppance! Jessica just thinks, "oh I'll always be second to saving the world, I'll just trot back on down to hell where Brad with make me his main priority. Toodles." And I found that unsatisfying.

***end of spoilers***

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Book Source: Tayshas Review Copy

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Alex is a gangbanger, Brittney a little rich princess, together they equal star crossed love. The story is told from both of their perspectives and we soon discover appearances can be very deceiving. Not to mention, kind of hot.

Teen girls will gobble this up and pass it on to all of their friends. It is total teen girl wish fulfillment. Hot bad boy, good girl more complicated than she appears, love that conquers all. It wasn't quite my cup of tea, a little too melodramatic, but that is a taste thing - not a fault of the book. The dialogue was a tad unrealistic, but I find it often is in romances and so I think that those looking for a romance won't mind. I was breezing through it until about the half way point and that's when it all got a bit much for me.

But what I really want to talk about is the cover. Hot Latino teen boy, check. Hot white chick, check. So far so good people. I'm loving the pose of the couple. I'm loving their intensity. Ok, moving on...Hot Latino teen boy with tattoos....um....check. Supposed Latino teen gang kid with tribal tattoos?!? Yes people. It is true. Apparently if you are in the Latino Bloods you do not go with the regular gang tattoos you go tribal. (*Urgent Update* I can't seem to find the cover which graces my personal copy online - it all has another cover which appears to have a much more appropriate tattoo. Apparently someone went wtf is this sh*t and changed it. Hmmm, does that mean I got some reject cover? And if so, rant over, but what's up with me getting some crazy defect cover?)

If you click on the picture it is a lot less blurry. I could not find a picture big enough to really examine the replacement tattoo. And, in full disclosure, it's not like I'm some gang tattoo expert (because I know you were all thinking I totally was ha ha) I just feel strongly that they don't sport tribal tattoos that hit their height of popularity in 1995).

What I can say is it has the absolute, most awesome, best ever book trailer. Sassy and sarcastic. Me like. HOWEVER, if you watch the book trailer you will see that the book the kids are holding looks suspiciously like the copy I have. El Scandaloso!



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Book Source: Tayshas Review Copy

Manga MIni Reviews

With the craziness of the summer season, my reading habits have been really erratic. Honestly, I haven't been able to finish many novels--I just keep losing my focus. However, my appetite and attention for manga is as high as ever, and I have read some good stuff lately. So, here are a few small reviews for the manga lovers out there.


Night of the Beasts by Chika Shiomi

Aria is a strong girl with a no-nonsense attitude. When strange killings begin to take place in her town, apparently by wild dogs, she soon discovers that they have something to do with her family and with the handsome guy she just met, Sakura. Can her ability to calm the beasts prevent the murder of 4,000 people? And save the man she is falling in love with?


This one is by the same manga-ka as Canon and the artwork is very much her style, kind of retro 80s with sharp chins and impossibly wide shoulders. Night of the Beasts is a lot darker, though. Aria and Sakura are much more likeable, too. After just one volume, you are so rooting for them to succeed and get together. I can't wait to see what happens!

Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase

The author of Fushigi Yuugi and Ceres: Celestial Legend once again brings us an intriguing and hilarious love triangle. Riiko has been repeatedly rejected by the boys she likes when she meets a strange salesman who gives her a card for "Kronos Heaven," an online specialty shop for lovers. Curious, Riiko designs her perfect boyfriend; shockingly he arrives that very night boxed in a crate and waiting for he kiss to awaken him! .

This one is just plain fun. Night and Riiko are a cute couple, especially when Riiko is trying to teach Night about the real world. However, Soshi is such a good guy, you can't help but root for him, too. And Riiko's debt and her constant attempts to pay it off are so funny! In the end, Riiko learns a lot about romantic relationships and Night learns a lot about the world; Soshi learns to share his emotions. The ending is bittersweet, but perfect.

Monkey High by Shouko Akira

Haruna Aizawa transfers to a new school after a highly publicized scandel involving her politician dad. She is determined to lay low and just observe the "monkey mountain" that is high school. But, her crazy classmates have other ideas, dragging her into their silly antics. Not only that, but she finds herself drawn to the most unexpected boy--Masaru (or Macharu, as his friends call him), a short, funny monkey of a boy who is a strange mismatch to Haruna's good looks and serious nature.

The things I love about this manga are the supporting cast, the great match-up of two unexpected leads, and the tension, oh the tension. Haruna and Macharu's friends are varied, loyal, and hilarious; anytime the group is together you know they are going to have a good time! And Atsu--it is so easy to both love and hate this boy at the same time! He is perfect--beautiful, fun, friendly but at the same time kind of narcissitic and manipulative. You really want to just hate him, but every time you think you can, you learn more about his past, his life, and his motivations that just make you still love him.

I really do love that Haruna and Macharu don't match. And, that for once in shojo, it is not the girl who is strange, silly, and funny. While Macharu may seem kind of one-dimensional at the beginning of the story, slowly you begin to realize that he is human and complex, even if he smiles all the time. He gets angry, despressed, and confused like all teens do. And he wants Haruna to see him as a man....

And thus, the tension. While Haruna obviously loves Macharu, she has a lot of trouble seeing him as a man. She loves his childish nature, but he isn't going to stay a child; he is already becoming a man. The biggest angst moments come when Haruan and Macharu get into misunderstandings or when Macharu wants to move their relationship on to the next logical level. Will they ever move beyond kissing? Do we want them to?

Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara

Hmm, more love triangles. I'm beginning to see a theme in my current reading...

Ann and her mother move to the small village of Shimane from Tokyo after her parents divorce. At first, Ann hates it, but slowly she makes friends with Daigo, Fuji, and Shika. When her mother commits suicide, Daigo and her friends are the only thing that keep Ann together. But when Ann decides to move back to Tokyo to live with her Dad, will Daigo's and her relationship survive? Oh, and Fuji will be in Tokyo too, and he obviously has a thing for Ann...

This one is sweet and sappy with moments of darkness and comedy. I love the whole cast and want them all to be happy. But the interlacing relationships can make things very difficult, especially when you add in the emotional family baggage that everyone (except Daigo) seems to carry as well.

Sand Chronicles has won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shojo manga in Japan and ALA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2009 list.

Tail of the Moon by Rinko Ueda

Usagi is a training to be a kunoichi (female ninja) in her family's ninja clan, but she is hopelessly inept. Finally, her great-grandfather, head of the clan, gives her one final chance--to become a full ninja she must travel to Segachi and become the wife of the great ninja Hattori Hanzo, and bear him a child. But Hanzo has sworn never to marry, so Usagi has her work cut out for her!

This manga is so much fun! It is populated with famous Japanese figures from the Tensho era, but is pure ninja romantic situational comedy! The boys are beautiful; the girls are gorgeous and strong; and Usagi is a complete mess. I laugh on nearly every page...

Well, I guess that's all for today. I'll keep you posted on the newest manga and graphic novels I get my hands on!

Book(s) source: Public library

The End of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

Well, I finished it last week, but it has taken me a while to fully digest and accept that it is over.

I loved the ending! The breaking of the curse was so simple but I didn't even guess how it would happen. This series made me laugh, made me cry, and made me so angry. I felt like I knew these people. And I am going to miss them all, even Akito.

Also, I like that Takaya-san didn't seem forced to make sure that everyone ends up with someone. While the ending is happy, it is not pat or forced. It fits the lives of the people in the story.

I really fell in love with the side characters, especially Tohru's mom and dad and Shishou. It was great in a story with so many broken homes to see some responsible and loving parents. Oh, and Hiro's mom was loving and hilarious.

I forced myself to reread the rest of the series before reading the ending, and I noticed something. If you read it with some knowledge of future events, you notice that there is a ton of foreshadowing. Not to mention lyrical prose, consistent themes, and beautifully imagery, both drawn and written. This series could stand up against some classic literature for its use of the true literary elements!

So, go, reread the whole thing, and enjoy it on an entirely different level.....

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson

Guy is a self-made man. A foundling who worked his way up into the upper echelon of society, but doesn't care particularly for its trappings (he actually refused a knighthood). Tessa is a princess who has fallen on hard times, but doesn't mind because she lives to serve art. Nerine is Guy's insufferable fiance who finds it hard to be in love with anyone because she is so incredibly in love with her own face.

I feel like Ibbotson enjoyed writing this. I feel like she wrote it with tongue firmly in cheek. I feel like she would be a freakin' hoot to hang out with. All this is based on nothing except for her strangely unrealistic fluffy historical romances that don't seem to be based in any sort of factual reality and yet are still amazingly un-put-downable.

"Maxi's face fell. He had spent five minutes arranging the feather in his hat at an angle which would give pleasure to his intended, and though he tried not to be vain about his legs, he would have been foolish not to know that few men could carry off lederhosen the way he could."

"The English were swine of course, everyone knew that, but they did understand breakfast."

That, in a nutshell, is why I must now hunt down the rest of Ibbotson's books and read them all.

Previously: A Countess Below Stairs.

Kissing Booth by Lexie Hill

Spring break is over and Lisi and her three best friends are planning to run a kissing booth for the Spring Carnival. However, the problems begin mounting up. Mo (short for Molly) has defected to the Populars; Bella is deep in pursuit of an out-of-her-league jock; Johnny is completely distracted over his film project; and Lisi herself has to find a way to get her crush, Brett, to be her first kiss before the Carnival. Before it's all over, secrets will be revealed, friendships will be tested, and Lisi will be kissed. But by whom?

This book was much more entertaining than I was expecting. Granted, Lisi was a bit more oblivious than I could handle at times, but she is supposed to be. And here friends are fabulous! Everyone had more depth than it first appears. The pacing of the story is good and the build-up pays off in the final chapter.

And yet, probably the main reason I liked it so much was that it reminded me of my favorite teen movies from the Eighties. Now that might be a turn-off for some, but it was great to discover that the simple confusion and fun of teen romance can still create a great story.

So, if you feel like a little romantic situational comedy, here is your book!

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

Anna, a Russian Countess who escapes Russia with her family during the Russian Revolution, lands in England. With no money and no prospects, she takes a job as a maid in an English household to help ends meet. There, she of course, inevitably realizes she is in love with the Earl of Westerholm. Romantic shenanigans ensue.

Seriously, this book contains no historical accuracy or research, but I loved it anyway. Who couldn't love a book where displaced Russian aristocracy simply take jobs as chauffeurs and maids without a complaint? The help instantly recognize that they are living far below their station, but their hard work and general loveliness win them over anyway.

In true romantic fashion, Anna somehow manages to snare her true love away from a rabid eugenics follower who is only after the respect his title will bring her. One is sure of a happy ending even when Anna's love is such a gentlemen as to refuse to spurn his fiance despite her having alienated everyone he loves (including the beloved Jewish friends, the lovely crippled best friend's baby sister, and the simple cook assistant, not to mention a host of others too numerous to mention).

Truly, this book is pure awesome.