Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

On the changed Louisiana shoreline in the perhaps not so distant future, when the ice caps have melted and weather patterns have changed significantly, Nailer works on Bright Sands Beach breaking down old ships. He's young and still scrawny enough to crawl through ducts collecting copper wire and other scavengable parts of the ship. He's hoping when he gets too big to fit into the ducts he'll be able to work on heavy crew, the teams that take apart the hulls of the ships. He's worried that he won't be strong enough or big enough but he decides not to worry about it.
After a hurricane rushes through the beach, Nailer and his best friend Pima have the day off work while the bosses try to get the beach organized enough to start again, so they decide to go in search of fresh seafood. Out on a spit of land (that becomes an island in high tide) they find a beautiful clipper ship wrecked on the beach. Pima and Nailer go inside the ship and begin to scavenge, thinking this is their ticket out of Bright Sands Beach, just one big Lucky Strike will save them a lifetime of back-breaking work. They just need to find a way to protect it.
While going through the ship, they find the dead bodies of the crew and the body of a swank girl, around their age. With gold rings on her fingers, a diamond in her nose, and gold around her neck, Pima and Nailer know they've hit the jackpot. They decide the best way to get the rings off the girl is to cut her fingers off. Much to their surprise, the girl is awake.
Nita is the daughter of one of the big global shipping agents, and she's being chased by one of her father's employees because Pyce wants to do something illegal. Pyce thinks if he holds Nita hostage, her father will let Pyce do whatever he wants with the company. When Nailer's father (a cruel drug addict) finds Nailer, Pima, and Nita, he decides he's going to make the deal with anyone who comes looking for Nita. Nailer and Nita escape towards the Orleans (the remains of New Orleans, most of which is underwater) searching for one of her father's ships that is still loyal to Nita and her father. When they finally find one, Nailer wants to make sure it's all right (his father has shown up in the city at the same time) but it ends up that Nita's taken.
Nailer finally gets his wish and gets to sail on a clipper ship while they search for the ship that has Nita prisoner. They find it, of course, and Nailer helps with a plan to trap the ship and get Nita back.
There's a lot going on in this book. I had a not so easy time going through the book. I didn't dread reading it but it didn't move quite as fast as other books I've read (like Wither by Lauren DeStefano). It's an adventure story, a dystopia story, has slight political comments, it just felt like a jumble of story lines while being not entirely certain what kind of book it wants to be. I definitely didn't dislike it, but I think if it had not been this year's Printz winner I would have been less inclined to finish it. Ship Breaker is a well-written interesting story, especially if you like adventures. It might appeal a little more to male readers than female readers, but that's not to say female readers won't like it. Definitely an adventurous story. I think my issue with it is that I wasn't expecting it to be an adventure story. But as I said, it's well-written and interesting and should appeal to readers who approach the book without any preconceived ideas of what it's about, other than an adventure.

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Georgia Nicolson's stories may be at an end, but fans need not fret: this summer will see the release of Withering Tights, the first in Louise Rennison's new series.
Tallulah Casey, fourteen and a half, never had a boyfriend, never been kissed, is away to Dother Hall in Yorkshire for part of her summer break. Tallulah wants to be in the arts and Dother Hall is a performing arts school. The summer term is a chance for new students to see if they have what it takes to be full time students at Dother Hall. Tallulah really wants to be a full time student and start the term in September, except she's got one tiny thing holding her back: she's got no talent. Or at least hasn't been able to display any talent during her term, except poor Irish dancing, bad improvising, terrible singing, and flying off her bicycle into the wings of the stage.
She tries, oh she tries, and she meets some wonderful (and talented friends): Vaisey, Jo, Flossie, and Honey, as well as young Ruby, whose father owns the pub across the way from the family Tallulah is staying with.
But not only does Tallulah intend for this to be her summer of stardom, she also wants it to be her summer of love. Enter the Woolfe Academy boys, the Hinchcliff brothers, and Ruby's older brother Alex. Because really, you didn't the story was going to be entirely about school, did you? Tallulah does have her first kiss (and her second-ish), and a few of her friends experience love. Almost. Kind of.
In the end, Tallulah finds a way to earn her keep at Dother Hall (after a few scares that she may not get to start the term in September with Jo, Vaisey, Flossie, and Honey), especially after their adaptation of Wuthering Heights.
Much like the Georgia Nicolson books (which I love), not a great deal happens in the book, but Rennison has such a great way of ending the stories that you want to find out what happens to the characters next (and I'm feeling a love-rectangle coming on, much like with Georgia, though I'm hoping Lullah picks who I think she should pick, but it can never be that easy). Withering Tights is a fun, easy, lighthearted read, and I admittedly am looking forward to the next one. Just like with Georgia, you just can't get enough of Tallulah. (Though I almost think I might like Tallulah more than Georgia ... is that possible??)

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Micah fully admits she's a liar. She does it a lot. Sometimes it's small lies, sometimes it's big lies, sometimes there's a little truth mixed in, but does she ever tell the whole truth? She promises the readers she's going to try.
A classmate, Zach, has been missing and then found dead. Micah breaks her story into before this happened, after it happened, and various histories (history of me, history of the school, family history, etc). Each bit reveals more and more of Micah, her classmates, her family, and her history with Zach, which is more than anyone ever expected.
She becomes sort-of friends with Zach's girlfriend Sarah and his best friend Tayshawn, and ordinarily Micah is in the background of her school life, but with Zach's death (and a large portion of the school thinking it was Micah who did it) and her relationship with Zach, Micah is suddenly under the microscope, not where she would like to be. These three very different students are grieving for someone who meant a great deal to each one of them, and that's a great dynamic to see, how they are drawn together.
Periodically Micah will reveal a lie--a tiny one usually, but a lie nonetheless. It makes you rethink her entire story. When one of the biggest reveals come, it left me thinking it was just an excuse Micah had used, another lie, and that left me on uneven footing for the rest of the book, as a great deal of the story required the reader to believe Michah's reveal.
It's not made clear in the book why Micah is writing this: is it just for her sake (which is what she claims) or is there a darker reasoning behind it? The book is broken into three parts, all of which have Micah claiming to tell the truth.
I was definitely interested in this book, having read many reviews of it and hearing a lot about it, and really, it's an unusual idea, and then the werewolf part came in. I'm not against supernatural characters, I just wasn't expecting one. So perhaps it was my fault, but it threw me for a loop.
One thing I did love about the story is that I still don't know if Micah was being entirely truthful. I think that was pretty awesome to have this great story, and the reader still is not sure what is laid out before the reader is actually what happened. A well written, engaging story (if you can suspend your disbelief), Liar is recommended for readers interested in mysteries.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine and her twin brother Rowan scramble to keep living, even though like all of their generation, they will be dead before they're old. Girls die at 20 and boys die at 25 due to a virus that is so far unexplainable. The First Generations are adults in their 60s, 70s, the first (and only) genetically perfect generation. No one is certain how long they will live, but a number of them, including Rhine & Rowan's parents, have lived long enough to watch their first children die and are now on their next set of children.
At 16, Rhine is taken by Gatherers, people who prowl the streets for girls who will become brood mares to the wealthy, and taken far from her home and imprisoned by Linden and his father Vaughn. Rhine, along with Jenna (18) and Cecily (13), become Linden's wives. His first wife, Rose, the girl he grew up with and loved naturally, has turned 20 and is in the process of dying. 21 year old Linden has married Jenna, Rhine, and Cecily, but pays them little attention while Rose is still alive. Once she dies, he begins to spend time with each of his wives, first at night (each girl has her own bedroom), then during dinner and afternoons. Rhine reminds Linden of Rose, and it is her similarity to Rose (and closeness, the two girls spent time together before Rose died) that draws Linden to her.
Rhine is determined to escape. She does not want to be trapped in the gilded cage of the mansion whose grounds she cannot escape. Her first attempt to run away (during a hurricane) goes badly, and it is her friend Gabriel (one of the house attendants, who is near her age or a couple years older) who saves her from blowing away. Vaughn knows Rhine was trying to run away and warns her of what can happen if she tries again. Part of Rhine's plan is to become Linden's first wife, the wife he brings to parties and out into the world, so she is nice to him without ever really letting him into her past life, she lets him sleep with her in her bed but never consummates their marriage. She finds there is more to Linden than she originally thought, and a friendship grows between them.
Being a sister wife is more fulfilling than she originally thought as well, as she becomes as close as sisters with quiet, withdrawn Jenna and demanding, slightly bratty Cecily. Linden is easily intimidated when his three wives are together and generally lets them have their own way when they are.
Vaughn is a sinister character who had a son live to age 25 then die. Linden's mother died during childbirth and so Vaughn is desperately seeking a cure to the virus to keep his son alive. Rhine thinks Vaughn's desperation leads him to keep Rose's body in the basement laboratory to try different cures.
Wither is the first book in the Chemical Garden trilogy and I am curious to see where the story will go from this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters (even Linden) and I don't know what Rhine will do next. She is so intent on getting to her brother Rowan (who may or may not still be at their home in Manhattan) that you want her to find him, but you know even if she escapes from Vaughn, she will still die when she's 20. But you still want her to escape. Wither is definitely a worthwhile read for high school students and older. I look forward to the next book and hope I won't have to wait too long.

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

April Bowers is a not very well known sophomore at her high school. Her best friend Haley moved over the summer and April is not looking forward to her sophomore year totally friendless.
She is completely surprised when she is paired with super-popular Britney Taylor in gym class and even more surprised when Britney asks if April is new to the school. So what does April do? April lies: Yes, this is her first year at Penford High. For some inexplicable reason (to April), Britney takes a shine to April and decides that she will be a new project to work on. April is brought into the spotlight as a friend of Britney and followers Erin, Jessica, and Brianna. After a month or so of being Britney's "friend-in-training", Britney decides it's time for April to take the Lipstick Oath. This means following Britney's 7 Lipstick Laws (including not gaining more than 3 pounds, choosing fashion over comfort, revealing all your secrets upon initiation, and doing what's best for the popularity of the group, despite individual wants) and April has grown so addicted to having friends and being popular that she agrees.
Oh, April. April tries to follow the Lipstick Laws and though she's uncomfortable with certain aspects of her "friendships" with Britney & the gang, she does what she's told because she knows Britney can make her life a living hell. Finally, at a party that April doesn't want to be at, with people she doesn't want to be with, April escapes the cops and ruins clothes borrowed from Britney. A misunderstanding (and total bitchiness on Britney's part) results in April being kicked out of Britney's circle of friends and back to loserhood.
She calls Haley (whom she has been in touch with and who has told her to stay away from Britney) and hears the Britney Taylor saga from Haley, including revealing a chubby childhood, a messy parental divorce, and Haley's own booting from Britney's friendship. April & Haley determine there MUST be other girls at Penford High who were once involved in the Lipstick Oath and now resigned to social outcasts, and April finds a way to get in touch with them. She meets three other girls this way and they share their Britney horror stories. They decide they have to get even with Britney for making their lives hell. The plot goes well for the Lipstick Lawbreakers then Britney turns her evil powers on April and it goes back and forth like this.
Now, I know high school is no picnic, it's an awkward time for everybody, and that some people are downright mean, but I wonder just how realistic this is. Why would a sophomore rule the school's social hierarchy? Are students really that mean? I got really worried when one of the pranks involved someone's peanut allergy. Even if it's not a bad allergy (that you know of) it's definitely not something to encourage messing with. I was glad that that aspect didn't come to pass. I was also a little disappointed that when one of the characters took the high road, her antagonist did not follow suit or end up looking ridiculous herself but had to give April one last embarrassing moment. I really appreciated that April did end up taking the high road, and that she realized she was also doing the same thing as Britney had once done (that was painfully obvious to everyone but April; she came around though).
While I found some of the treatment of the girls a little cringe-inducing, The Lipstick Laws (published in April) is still a good story. I was really concerned April was not going to let all this meanness go, and I'm really happy she did. I know it's difficult to, and it can't always be done gracefully, but I think it sets a good example. I'd recommend The Lipstick Laws to readers as young as middle school as I'm not sure some of the language ("boobicle cubicle") and actions would translate to older high school students. It comes out with a positive result, lessons learned, and comfort with being one's self.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora and Patch are back, though not together for very long. Patch reveals (rather reluctantly) that the archangels are watching him and Nora and if he makes it known he's fallen for Nora, the archangels will banish him to hell. Not a very happy prospect for either of them.
So, when Nora discovers this she pushes Patch away. She doesn't want him to go, obviously, so she thinks if she keep pushing him away he won't leave her. But this frustrates Patch. Nora becomes frustrated when Patch spends more and more time with Marcie Millar, Nora's high school nemesis. Torn between her love for Patch and her insecurity, Nora keeps botching their relationship up. (Yes, I totally blame Nora.)
An old family friend is back in the picture, and just like Nora was drawn to Patch's badassness, so she is drawn to trouble maker Scott. Scott is another Nephilim involved in some dark happenings, a blood society of Nephilim who want to stop the fallen angels from taking over the Nephilim's bodies every year. I hope this part of the story comes back in the last few books, I think it's a very interesting storyline and provides more depth (to make it more than just a love story).
Marcie and Nora are partners in summer school, and Marcie strangely attempts to be nice (or at least as nice as Marcie can be) to get information about Patch. But then she just tortures Nora with stories of what Marcie and Patch are doing. Surprisingly Marcie invites Nora to a summer party and Nora gets into a little bit of trouble (which doesn't come out until later).
Vee and Patch's friend Rixon start dating and since Nora broke up with Patch she feels like the third wheel with Vee and Rixon. Vee is not as present in this book as she was in Hush, Hush, being wrapped up with Rixon. Nora's happy for her but wishes she had her friend to herself more often.
And of course, Nora gets in trouble. She steals something from Scott and Scott becomes desperate to get the item back which leads to an intense showdown at the Delphic amusement park where the bad guy is not who you expect.
Nora also learns a little bit about her family history, which ends the book on a cliffhanger and I can't believe I have to wait until October 2011 to find out what happens next. I admit, though I was reluctant to start the books, I've been sucked in. I really like how Fitzpatrick writes, and though I get a little frustrated with Nora because she's stubborn, insecure, and doesn't talk to Patch when that would help a lot, she's overall a likable character. I really like Vee too and hope she plays more of a role in future books. Patch is not my type of guy but I can see the appeal.
So, Crescendo the second book in Becca Fitzpatrick's series is recommended for high school students and older. I enjoyed it and I look forward to the rest of the books!

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

Maggie Blair is a naive girl living with her grandmother on a small island off the coast of Scotland. Maggie's mother died after giving birth to Maggie, and her father died when she was still very young, so she has been living in a tiny cottage with her gruff grandmother ever since. Elspeth knows how to use herbs, is an excellent midwife, and uses charms to help people. Though more often than not, Elspeth ends up cursing people (just to try to scare them) to keep them away. In 17th century Scotland, however, curses and charms can get you accused of being a witch. Which is exactly what happens to Elspeth, and Maggie is swept up along in the imprisonment and trial of her grandmother. A nasty serving girl named Annie give testimony against Maggie, claiming Maggie practices witchcraft as well, which gets Maggie condemned along with her grandmother.
Maggie escapes (I won't tell you how) and manages to get to her father's brother's home on the mainland. Uncle Blair is married with four children, and a wonderful farm. Maggie feels a little out of place at first, but it grateful to have somewhere safe to be. Her uncle is a Covenanter, someone who believes the King of Scotland should not be the head of the church (as the King is in England) and this causes great turmoil in the area. Uncle Blair refuses to attend the village church because the minister has been chosen by the King. I feel that the idea of the Covenanters was not fully explained within the story (there is an afterword but it comes a little late). Uncle Blair believes so strongly in his beliefs that he is arrested and taken from his family (and the family's storeroom is sacked and ruined). Maggie feels guilty as there is so little food left to feed the family and decides to go in search of Uncle Blair. She has a companion on her journey north into Scotland who helps her make the journey. She finds Uncle Blair months later, imprisoned, and does not know how to help him. So she works. Maggie ends up relying on other people to make things happen--it's her grandmother who gets her out of the witch trial, her friend Tam who helps her north to find Uncle Blair, and a soldier to help Uncle Blair get home.
Maggie is constantly questioning her faith and whether or not she will end up going to heaven, should something happen to her during her adventures, and while that is a valid question for Maggie to ask (especially since she was not really raised with religion), when she asks it, the questions seem like afterthoughts, as if the author was reminded, oh, Maggie should be asking about her faith.
I like the adventure part of the story, I like Maggie searching for a new home, I like who she finds along the way, I think that's a clever way for the story to go. However, there is so much to the story, it feels stuffed full of plot, and when the end comes, it is tied up so quickly. I think the ending is a little unrealistic, but I appreciate the positive outcome for the "good" characters and the not so positive ending for the "bad" characters.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is an interesting story; Maggie is a naive character (which goes well with the time period the story is written in), the journey part of the story is gripping, and most of the other characters are well drawn. A book for older teen readers (patient older teen readers), Maggie's story is good for those interested in the drama Maggie goes through.

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Amelia is looking forward to a summer in the city of Baltimore, far from her tiny home of Broken Tooth, Maine. Staying with relatives, it is the goal of Amelia's summer to come away engaged to a young man (or such is her brother's goal in sending her there). In 1889, Amelia knows there are few options open to her besides marriage, and so goes with the excitement of a trip before her, and summer away from her father and sister-in-law (her parents being dead).
Amelia finds a great friend in her cousin Zora, who has a bit of a mind for trouble as well. The two finish school and then the real joy of the summer begins; two young women, free from classes, looking forward to their futures.
Zora is excessively fond of Thomas Rea, the doctor's son, and knows that she and Thomas cannot marry until he is finished with school, for he must have a way to support a wife. Amelia is immediately taken with a Fourteenth (a young man hired to make a dinner table sit 14 instead of an unlucky 13), Nathaniel Witherspoon, starving artist. It is not the match Amelia is expected to make. Stolen moments throughout the summer, however, bring the two closer together.
Sounds like just another period young adult romance, no? It's definitely more.
The book opens with Amelia being locked in the attic of her brother's house in Maine in the fall of 1889, after her trip to Baltimore. She reveals dark details of why she has been locked up, why she was sent away from Baltimore, and the agony Amelia is living in, trapped.
Mitchell then flashes back to the summer of 1889 and Amelia's arrival and introduction to the family she will be living with. Witty remarks endear Amelia to Zora immediately, and not long after Amelia arrives, she has the strangest vision as she stares into the sunset from the parlor, a vision of Zora & Thomas dancing together. When this comes true, Amelia confesses to Zora and the two begin sharing Amelia's abilities with their friends. Once the word spreads, a number of young women are clamoring for Amelia to tell their futures.
It's fun, at first, but then Amelia begins to see darker futures, mundane futures, and when she starts writing down what she sees, she dreads the visions. Once, she thinks she is able to avert tragedy, but it can never be so easy as that, as Amelia reminds us when she cuts back in from the present.
Nathaniel is not quite what he seems either, able to seemingly suddenly appear when Amelia thinks of him, calls to him. He is mysterious and entirely inappropriate for her, but the two appeal to each other more than either can explain.
When the first tragedy strikes, Amelia is shocked, as it's a future she thought she had prevented. The trouble is, Amelia could not see how this one future plays into the rest of the futures surrounding her and her world begins to tumble down. The sad events happen quickly and discover why Amelia is sent home.
The story, beginning with Amelia in Maine after the events have taken place, leave the reader constantly wondering just what happened to have her returned home, and ruined. It is an easy story to read, one that keeps the reader intrigued and involved, and the sad Gothic nature of it make the reader wish for a happy ending. A different than expected ending occurs, one that works well with my reading tastes. All in all, The Vespertine is a book I would recommend to young adult readers who like historical fiction and a bit of supernatural. It reminded me a little of Libba Bray's A Great & Terrible Beauty, but The Vespertine does not delve as much into the supernatural world as Bray's trilogy. A worthwhile story that leaves the reader with chills.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Due out in February 2011, Lauren Oliver's Delirium is Ally Condie's Matched mixed with Scott Westerfeld's Uglies. Being a fan of both those books, I am a fan of Oliver's Delirium as well.
In Lena's gated city of Portland, love is a disease, one for which there is a cure, and you must be 18 before you can have the cure. Lena is closing in on her 18th birthday (95 days, she tells herself), prepared to be free from the worries of love--after all, it took her mother. Lena's mother had the procedure 3 times and each time it failed and when the regulators came to take her for the 4th time, she killed herself instead. Lena's father died when she was just a baby, so from 6 years old on, Lena lived with her aunt and uncle, trying to live down the fact that her mother had the disease and had it so badly she was willing to take her own life.
Love is even given a scientific, scary name: amor deliria nervosa, and Lena is as frightened of it as she is about everything else. Her best friend Hana is outgoing, vivacious, beautiful, and only recently beginning to show signs that she is not looking forward to her cure. Knowing the cure will change both girls so much that they will not have the same deep abiding affection for each once they have the cure, Lena still longs for it. The end of their friendship is coming and that makes for arguments and awkward conversations.
Lena meets a boy (as always) who is so different from other boys. He has been cured, so it is all right for Lena to spend some time with him. He reveals a secret that Lena is not prepared for and runs from him, only to realize that she can't stay away, doesn't want to stay away from him. Alex opens her eyes to the world beyond Portland's borders, the forbidden Wilds, where the Invalids live (the people who refuse to have the cure), to thinking beyond what she's always blindly accepted, to realize that so much of her life has included lies.
Delirium is a compelling story, swiftly paced (especially towards the end), prodding readers to not so blindly accept everything they're told, but to look into the truth, to learn for themselves. Oliver does a great job of showing how a friendship can change and deteriorate after so many years of friendship, that it's part of growing up and coming to terms with who each of you are. I really appreciated that about the story, as it's something that happens frequently to teenagers of that age, about to embark on a new part of life. Oliver's writing is natural, and Lena's distress and restlessness grow with her new found understanding of the society she lives in. The book is definitely left open for a sequel, and I hope Oliver writes one. (And I hope that something that appears very bad is not bad in the sequel, but I think I'm dreaming.) Definitely enjoyed the book, but then I'm a fan of the dystopia/awkward future genre.
Delirium is set to be released February 1, 2011.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

I re-read HP7 because the film came out in November and the only time I read HP7 was the day it came out (14 hours of reading). So needless to say there were a great many details I had forgotten.
As with Persuasion (and really more so, as I'm sure a number of people have read this book already), I am not certain how to review this. I took my time reading the book, which was very nice. Every time I felt myself getting sucked into the story (which really isn't not too difficult) I made myself finish the chapter and put the book down. It was great to savor the story and think about everything that got revealed (the whole Dumbledore-Grindelwald thing I had forgotten about, as well as the Deathly Hallows) and understand how everything fell into place over seven books. A fantastic re-read. Still love the epilogue and still want more. Next step: see the movie!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I was not overly keen on reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick--it is another YA supernatural/paranormal romance, and having read the first three Stephenie Meyer Twilight books, I have had my fill. But a friend recommended it (and I got her to read The Hunger Games trilogy, which she loved) and went so far as to loan me her copy of it, so I read it (while on vacation without any other books to tempt me).
It opens with high school sophomore Nora, living alone with her mom (her father died about a year ago), best friend Vee, and sudden new classmate, Patch.
Oh, the mysterious dark male student. Nora is determined to not get involved with boys, wanting to get out of high school and on to college and no guy is good enough for her. But Patch, suddenly her new biology lab partner, draws her in and tempts Nora to do things Nora would not do before. Nora's the safe girl, the well behaved girl, but Patch is the dangerous one, hanging out in pool halls, riding motorcycles. He feels wrong for her but she can't keep away.
Well it comes out that Patch is a fallen angel (there's the paranormal bit). I admit I was a little skeptical when I first started to read: girl in school, slightly loner-ish, absent parents, meets dark mysterious boy with a secret, turns our to be supernatural, girl is constantly in peril ... it was reading a lot like Twilight. Though I appreciate the story Stephenie Meyer is trying to tell in Twilight (and the other books) I can't freaking stand Bella and all the books are filtered through Bella (I think that's why I find the storyline more interesting in the movies).
Becca Fitzpatrick is a better writer than Stephenie Meyer. I like Nora. I think Nora is well developed and Patch was more developed at the end of the book. Vee could use a little more of the storyline (but that's because I like her), more of the fallen angel stuff could be revealed (as I'm sure it will be in the next books), but overall, I'm intrigued to read the next book and the first thing I did when I finished Hush, Hush was put Crescendo on hold at my local library. Which is saying a lot compared to dreading reading the next book in the Twilight saga (I still have to read Breaking Dawn, and want to read it to get it over with, but am not looking forward to it). The pace of Hush, Hush picks up towards the end and there are some moments of suspense that make you want to keep turning the pages. I liked it. I liked it enough to want to read the second one, which is pretty good for me.
Overall, I recommend Hush, Hush, especially if you're a fan of the supernatural romance bit. It's a light fluffy read, perfect escapist literature.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

The author of The Luxe series has begun a new series set about 30 years later. Bright Young Things opens in late spring of 1929, when best friends Letty and Cordelia have finished the school year and are ready for new adventures in the world. While their guardians may have plans for them, the girls have different ideas. Living with her strict aunt and uncle, Cordelia is convinced her father is the famous bootlegger Darius Grey who currently resides in New York. Letty wants to be a singer and knows New York is the place to be. So the two sneak out of their Union, Ohio town and take an eastbound train to New York City.
Everything, of course, does not go according to plan. Barely a full day in New York and Letty and Cordelia get in an argument and the two separate, Cordelia to find her father and Letty left to be alone and fend for herself.
Letty is not left alone long, thanks to a worker at the speakeasy she just visited and so Letty gets a job as a cigarette girl. Cordelia does find her father and is quickly (and easily) accepted into the family fold, which includes older brother Charlie, who is dating socialite Astrid Donal.
Astrid, whose mother is on her third marriage, is a privileged young woman who stays out all night and sleeps til noon and uses her charms (and pouts) to get Charlie to do what she wants. She really does love Charlie (so she claims) and it's a very tense relationship with a many break ups and reconciliations but they do care about each other. Astrid takes to Cordelia right away and Cordelia is pleased to have a new friend, since she doesn't know what has happened to Letty.
Letty is getting along all right and has met a very kind young man, Grady Lodge, who takes her out and shows her the city. Letty also acquires Good Egg, a greyhound whose racing days are over. When Cordelia and a young man she meets (and is expressly asked not to spend time with) return to the club where Letty works as a cigarette girl, Letty can't stand the idea of not being a success as Cordelia is in her new clothes and with her posh gentleman friend. So Letty gets up on stage and belts out a song but before she and Cordelia can be reunited, Cordelia is whisked away.
What I found predictable about this book are the bad turns of events that were so obvious to me (and perhaps it has to do with reading Godbersen's Luxe series and knowing there's always going to be something to bring the story down) that I just wanted her to get to that point. I will say it ended on a better note than some of The Luxe novels, so I'm hoping this series might have a better ending than the other one. I can't help it, I like happy(-ish) endings. I didn't think Bright Young Things was as engrossing as The Luxe books, but I don't doubt that the story will pick up in the next title (as I'm sure there will be a next title as there are too many loose threads to end the book just as it is, not to mention the impending collapse of the stock market in October of 1929). Though I wasn't as hooked as with previous Godbersen books, she can certainly tell a story that teenage girls will love to read.

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

Which Team are you on? Zombies or Unicorns?
I am most fervently on Team Zombie. Though I have to say, many of the stories I liked best in Zombies vs Unicorns are unicorn stories. The book is a fantastic collaboration amongst popular YA writers who had a ton of fun writing the stories. I like that Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier prefaced each story with a discussion (though I would have liked to see stories by those two as well) and I could easily see they were enjoying the task of editing these phenomenal stories.
Some of my favorite unicorn stories are Naomi Novik's "Purity Test", the tale of a unicorn out to find a human to help save unicorns, and neither the human nor the unicorn are what one would expect; "The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn" by Diana Peterfreund, which asks what if unicorns were really dangerous, something which Peterfreund addresses in her novels Rampant and Ascendant (neither of which I've read); Kathleen Duey's dark "The Third Virgin" tells the tale of a different kind of unicorn; and probably my favorite, Meg Cabot's "Princess Prettypants", in which a sixteen year old girl does not get the car she's pining for.
On the zombie side of things, Alaya Dawn Johnson's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is excellent, told from the point of view of the partially cured, lovelorn zombie; on the other side is Cassandra Clare's "Cold Hands", telling a love story from the point of view of the human in the human-zombie relationship; Scott Westerfeld's "Inoculata", about what the cure for zombies might be; Maureen Johnson's humorous "The Children of the Revolution", which you just have to read because trying to explain it, it sounds crazy; and the chilling "Prom Night" by Libba Bray, sharing what happens when it's the adults that become zombies and how the kids take control (but still manage to have a prom).
All of the stories are excellent (to be expected from such wonderful writers) and I love that the book is set up with alternating zombie and unicorn stories. Also that there's handy little zombie and unicorns pictures at the top of the page so you can skip the unicorn stories or the zombie stories, but I would suggest not skipping stories. Zombies vs. Unicorns is a entertaining, funny, chilling, amazing read. Also, I totally want a poster of the cover (showing the battle of zombies vs. unicorns). Although I love the unicorn stories as much as I love the zombie stories, when it comes down to it, it's still zombies that will bring about the end of the world ....

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

When we last left Alek and Deryn in Leviathan, they were aboard the Leviathan (the giant living flying whale) and on the way to Istanbul on top secret business to deliver some mysterious eggs to the sultan.
As Behemoth begins, Alek and his fellow Austrians are maintaining their Clanker engines that they've attached to the Leviathan to get out of the Alps. It's a tenuous sort of peace between the British and the Austrians, if only because each knows they could not have escaped without the other, but Count Volger knows that once they arrive in Istanbul, they'll have to escape from the Leviathan, to find safety and wait out the war.
Deryn has successfully kept her secret (that she's a girl disguised as a boy to serve on Leviathan) and finds herself growing closer to Alek. And, heaven forbid, feeling like a girl towards him. She's still terrified that someone will find out (and someone DOES, but I won't say who) and she'll be kicked off the ship. She gets sent on her first command mission (which is a success and yet goes miserably).
The Austrians escape the Leviathan (something else that is a success yet goes miserably) and Alek becomes involved with anarchists, who desire to overthrow the sultan. He also meets Lilit, one of the anarchists, and a very intelligent and well trained young woman (she can pilot a walker). And an American reporter, who's too clever by half with recording bullfrog.
Deryn of course manages to be a part of this group and also comes up with a brilliant idea to help save the day. But all operations are not without loss. The Leviathan comes to the rescue once more; could this be the parting of Deryn & Alek?
Behemoth is full of action and adventure, lively moments as well as thoughtful ones, and great imagination. Perhaps one of MY favorite things about Scott Westerfeld is his portrayal of strong, independent, intelligent young women. There's a great deal of young adult literature out there starring female characters who are not so fantastic. Yes, Deryn is disguising who she is, but that doesn't change the fact that she's just as capable as the rest of the middies, and Alek. Westerfeld's character development and imagination for stories is amazing, and I eagerly look forward to the final book in the trilogy!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

It's finally here and I'm finished: the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, was published on Tuesday and I've read my copy in two days. I needed to have a little time to think about the book before I reviewed it. DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED.
I was expecting the immediacy of the Games to carry into the beginning of Mockingjay; instead there was a lot of waiting, discussing, and politics. I thought it was interesting that Collins chose to show so much of the war was on appearances--something that we know is true, but that doesn't really call our attention. District 13 wanted to use Katniss as a rallying symbol for the rest of the districts, but Katniss was of course wary of being a symbol--the girl on fire can only do so much. But when she decides to help out, to overthrow President Snow, Katniss throws herself into it, visiting the different districts, helping how she can, training to be a soldier, and working to bring about the downfall of President Snow.
Gale is in District 13, and is responsible for the survival of people from District 12--it was his recognition of the bombings that got people to the Meadow and to escape with the help of District 13. He is as adamant as ever to bring down the Capitol, even teaming up with Beetee to come up with some new weapons and strategies. While Gale would not tell Katniss what decision to make, he is glad when Katniss makes the decision to be the Mockingjay.
At first all Katniss does is help make "propos", or propaganda spots, cursing the Capitol, trying to encourage the Rebels in the various districts to keep fighting. This is not quite enough for Katniss and in her usual determined manner she disobeys orders to help how she wants to help. But the cameras, as always, love Katniss and her fire.
Things get a little tricky when Peeta is rescued from the Capitol--but he's hardly himself. President Snow has "hijacked" Peeta, changing Peeta's memories so that every thought of Katniss is dangerous, that he perceives her as dangerous, and that his primary purpose is to kill Katniss. After he does attack Katniss, she is shocked and frightened and defensive--Peeta has always been the only person who thinks positively of her, but now Peeta sees her as everyone else sees Katniss.
When Katniss discovers she's not allowed to participate in take over the Capitol, she is angry--after all, she's the one who helped make this happen. But President Coin has only ever needed Katniss as a rallying point and now that all the districts are united, her usefulness has worn out. Never one to be left out, Katniss does the training that all soldiers in District 13 undergo to make sure she can participate. Katniss' greatest test comes when she has to obey orders instead of doing what she wants. But she passes the tests to become a soldier and is part of a sharpshooter team in the Capitol.
Everything that can wrong, does. The abandoned streets of the Capitol have been essentially turned into a giant Arena and the sharpshooter team--and the rest of the Rebel soldiers--must work their ways through the booby-trapped streets to reach the Circle, the center of the Capitol. It's not easy, but the remainder of the sharpshooter team reaches the Circle, where Katniss sees a group of Capitol children roped off in the cold, huddled together. Suddenly packages, like those in the Games, drop from the sky, with food and clothing. The children take the packages and begin to open them when half the packages explode. Rebel medics, who have already reached the center of the city, rush in to assist the children when the other half of the packages explode. Katniss is injured, being on the edge of the explosive range, and Prim--lovable, caring Prim--is one of the medics killed.
When Katniss' burns heal and she comes out of some of her shock, President Coin has taken over Panem, President Snow has been tried and condemned to die, and Katniss will perform one last work as the Mockingjay. She is the one to kill Snow.
She speaks to him before he is set to die, and he plants the seed in her head that it was Coin who ordered the bombing of the children, with the twice exploding packages.
The seven remaining Hunger Games victims are asked by Coin whether or not there should be a final Hunger Games composed of Capitol children--the majority vote will rule. Johanna, Enobaria, Haymitch, and Katniss vote yes. Peeta, Annie, and Beetee vote no. There will be another Hunger Games--perhaps even including Snow's granddaughter.
Katniss is in front of the Capitol in her Mockingjay suit, with her specially designed bow, facing down President Snow. But it's not Snow she kills ....
Once the war is over, Katniss is returned to the remains of District 12, but she doesn't want to be there, she doesn't want to interact with anyone--which works well because the only people who are in District 12 are a drunken Haymitch and Greasy Sae, who cooks for Katniss. Her mother won't return, and Katniss is left to spend most of her time alone. Gale is working in District 2.
Peeta eventually returns, after having been through so much, and having been un-hijacked--he can look at Katniss without wanting to kill her. She rebuilds her relationship with Peeta, beginning with friendship.
It's a good ending to the trilogy, though I was surprised that Katniss' mother and Gale were so willing to leave Katniss to herself. I did like the darkness and light comparison--Katniss is the dark, and Peeta is the light, has always been the light, to keep Katniss balanced. I thought it interesting that Collins showed so much of the war being propaganda, that there was little following the troops on the ground, the feelings of the people. It felt more about Katniss and District 13's revenge against Snow than the liberation of the people. It was a moving book, I did nearly cry at the end (but then I cry a lot at well written books), and it was good to feel it completed. The epilogue was nice, as it gave a nice wrap up of Katniss, but not of the other characters. I wish there had been a bit more about the remaining characters and not just Katniss and Peeta. One day I will re-read all three books and take more time to read them to catch what I have missed, because I always feel like I miss something.

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger

High school senior Bianca has two gorgeous, wonderful best friends: Casey, tall cheerleader captain with a short pixie cut of blond hair, and Jessica, super bubbly brunette. Bianca is a bit cynical herself, and doesn't fully enjoy going to the club that her friends always drag her to, but does it because she loves them (and to keep them from going home with someone like Wesley Rush--the school's biggest womanizer).
One night at the Nest, the club Casey and Jessica drag Bianca to, Wesley Rush approaches Bianca. She tells him to get lost but he says he's trying to get with one of her friends--it doesn't matter which--and that by talking to their DUFF, he has a much better chance of doing so. Bianca has never heard that term before so Wesley obligingly explains: the DUFF is the Designated Ugly Fat Friend, the one girl in a group of girls who looks worse than the others. And by paying attention to the DUFF, Wesley reasons, he'll look like a great guy to Casey and Jessica. Bianca, never one to hold back, throws her Cherry Coke in Wesley's face and drags her friends out of the club.
She doesn't tell her friends what has happens between them and it's only one of many things she keeps from Casey and Jessica: her parents are divorcing (her mother has been largely absent anyway), her father slips back into his alcoholism (after being sober eighteen years), and Bianca is trying to find out how to relieve the stress, how to keep from going crazy. She discovers her escape is actually Wesley Rush--making out with Wesley keeps her mind from thinking about her parents. She spends more and more time with Wesley (and both keep is a secret) and Bianca's friends begin to feel she's avoiding them. She never likes to talk about herself or her problems much (Bianca's standard answer is "I'm fine" and Casey knows she's lying every time she says it). Bianca gets deeper and deeper into her struggle and her world continues to unravel when her mom shows up. She keeps running to Wesley and after one hook-up, she realizes that it's more than just screwing around--for her. Wesley's not interested in a DUFF so Bianca tries to forget him and hooks up with her crush, sweet, dorky Toby Tucker. Although things are approaching normal, Bianca still thinks about Wesley and being the DUFF.
I think all teenage girls have felt like the DUFF amongst their friends, and Keplinger does a great job of having the characters take control of the word and have confidence in themselves and each other. DUFF is a good read (definitely for older teens), and I love Bianca's character. She's balanced well by Casey and Jessica and it's nice to see confident but still vulnerable teens. The DUFF comes out in early September.

Jane by April Lindner

With all the attention being given to Jane Austen's novels, it is nice to see a modern retelling of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Being familiar with the story, there were not many surprises in April Lindner's Jane, but I love the way Lindner updated the story.
Jane Moore is suddenly orphaned by the accidental death of her parents. She has just finished her first year at Sarah Lawrence and can't afford to start the next year at the university so she gets a job as a nanny for Nico Rathburn, a famous (and infamous) rocker. It is Jane's obliviousness to pop culture that earns her the job--she's heard of Nico Rathburn but has only heard one of his albums that her older brother listened to when she was much younger. (After the sale of their parents' house, Jane's brother took off with the money, and Jane's older sister doesn't want to be involved at all with the family.)
Maddy is a charming five-year old charge, and nineteen-year old Jane enjoys taking care of the little girl--she has time to read, to continue painting and walking, and the housekeeper Lucia is good company. She's at Thornfield Park, the enormous Connecticut home of Nico Rathburn, for a month before she meets him. I love that Lindner kept the first meeting between Jane and "Rochester" the same: Jane is walking along a road when a sports car comes tearing around a corner and nearly hits Jane--the car swerves to avoid her and the driver comes out to berate Jane for walking on the side of the road. Neither realizes who the other is until Jane returns home later in the afternoon.
Jane's attraction to Nico is not immediate, but it grows on her and she tries to deny it to herself, for a famous photographer, Bianca Ingram, is spending a great deal of time with Nico and his band in preparation for his next tour. Jane is determined that Nico is going to marry Bianca and tries to slip away, but that leads, of course, to Nico's confession of affection.
But anyone who has read Jane Eyre knows that Nico's attempts to make Jane jealous are not the only obstacles to them being together and yes, a crazy wife shows up in this version of the story and Jane disappears, meeting up with the St. John family, who give her a place to stay and a job and also a chance to go to Haiti to make a difference in the world. But somehow Nico calls to her and will she be happy unless she finds him again?
Those who know Jane Eyre know the answer. It's a fantastic retelling of a classic novel, good for young adult readers and I think I may have even convinced my grandmother to give it a try too. The book comes out in October, and I recommend it to those who love Jane Eyre and also those who like improbable love stories.

The Widow and the King by John Dickinson

Ten years after Phaedra escaped to the mountains with her young son Ambrose at the end of The Cup of the World, we find Ambrose a twelve year old, with little idea of the world beyond the mountains and the pool.
A stranger comes unexpectedly; Ambrose is fascinated by the young man and even watches entranced as he shaves. Raymonde has discovered the Book that has been in his father's possession since the downfall of Tarceny ten years before, the Book with all of Tarceny's discoveries about witchcraft. Raymonde has come to set the Prince Under the Sky free.
Phaedra discovers what he's up to and tells Ambrose to run, to run to her friends Evalia and Adam diManey at Chatterfall. Ambrose starts to run, but doubles back to watch the confrontation between Raymonde and his mother. He sees Raymonde push his mother and she ends up in the Pool where the Prince Under the Sky lives. He also does not see his mother emerge from the pool.
Ambrose makes it to Chatterfall, but has to leave and travels with Baron Lackmere to the Court of Develin, where he lives in secret for the next six months. He feels awkward and constantly watched and followed by the Prince Under the Sky, and is visited by Raymonde, who continually tells Ambrose that he doesn't want to kill him, but he will. It's uncomfortable for Ambrose and not a happy time for him.
Of course, things can't stay as they are, and the Prince Under the Sky has Develin attacked. Ambrose flees and finds Baron Lackmere and they travel to Tarceny, where Ambrose tries to decide who and what he is.
Like The Cup of the World, The Widow and the King is a thick, rich fantasy that moves at a steady pace but keeps you drawn in. Though there is lots of action and battles and chases, the important part of the book is the development of the characters and the changes that Ambrose goes through. Dickinson does a great job at making each book appear finished, but knowing there's one more book I'm curious as to what will happen with Ambrose next. I look forward to the final book in the trilogy, The Fatal Child.

whoops

Double whoops: I started this post in February and yet somehow never got around to completing it.
Perhaps my goal should be to update once a month. I might be able to handle that. Maybe.
Just because I'm not posting certainly doesn't mean I'm not reading. Finished recently (really just within my memory): Forever Princess by Meg Cabot, Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis (aka Meg Cabot), Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, and Looks by Madeleine George.
I enjoyed that Cabot linked Forever Princess and Ransom My Heart, the latter being Mia's senior project, a historical romance in medieval England. The main character in Ransom My Heart, in my limited Cabot-reading experience, was different from most of Cabot's heroines in that she was a little more assertive, a little less wishy-washy. However, Finn still didn't think she was much to look at, which is a trait most of Cabot's main characters share. It is a good story, about a girl who kidnaps an earl (but doesn't know he's an earl), and it's a little racy, there being some sex scenes in it (which has Mia rather concerned when she thinks about sharing it with her friends). Definitely an engrossing story, well written and moves at a decent pace. Forever Princess, sadly the last in the Princess Diaries series (sadly for me anyway, I love those stories), begins at the end of Mia's senior year. She's trying to decide what college to go to, whether or not she wants to go to prom, what to do about JP, what to do about turning 18, you know, what to do about life in general. A rather large shocker (and perhaps what turns Mia back to her diary, as she hasn't written in it since her junior year) is that her ex-boyfriend Michael shows up back in New York. Mia has to ask herself, is she really over Michael? Is JP definitely The One? Or is Mia just as confused as she's always been? A happy ending for Princess Diaries fans, but the book definitely should get scooched to the Young Adult area--there's more than just talk about sex in this one.
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is, as one of my colleagues described it, a character driven story, and Rachel is an intriguing, funny, determined character. I'll be the first to admit that I often do not read books typically chosen by book clubs, but after the insistence and positive reviews of a friend, as well as my own obsession and interest in Hawaiian history, I gave in and read the book. I am very glad that I did. Rachel contracts leprosy at the age of 7 and is sent to a hospital outside of Honolulu. When she fails to get any better, she is sent to the island of Molokai, where most leprosy patients are sent essentially to die. Thankfully, her uncle is on the island, so she is not completely disconnected from all family and that makes being there as such a young girl a little easier. Rachel grows older on the island, adventures out with other teenage girls, gets a job, falls in love, and attempts to live as normal a life as possible, trapped as she is. Major events in Hawaiian history pass over and around the people on Molokai, often not finding out until much later what occurred. This novel is driven by Rachel, so if you begin the novel and do not enjoy her character or are expecting something BIG to happen, you'll not enjoy the book. It is well written and moving and a rewarding read. Highly recommended, if you enjoy well developed characters and are happy to watch a character's life.
Looks by Madeleine George is a tale of a fat girl and a skinny girl, to put it bluntly. Meghan spends her life trying to blend in to the scenery, trying to be ignored, trying to walk past the bullies who tease and torment her, just trying to get to her classes. Meghan is a watcher, she watches and listens to what goes on at the school and speaks as little as possible. Twig thin Aimee is new to the school and is looking for something to enjoy, something to be a part of, and finds Cara and the school's literary journal. Meghan tries to warn Aimee about Cara, but Aimee is a little freaked out by the girl who watches people and appears to have no friends. When Cara does something Aimee finds unforgivable, she and Meghan team up to bring revenge on Cara (and as a bonus for Meghan, humiliate the jock who spends his time torturing Meghan). This is a short book but powerful with strong characters that does not focus on the girls' eating disorders, though there are a couple of scenes that dramatize the hungry--Aimee and her taunting carrot sticks, refusing to allow herself to eat them, and Meghan eating and eating to calm down and not feel so empty. Does their revenge turn out the way they would like? Is revenge the best way to feel better? It sounds great when planning it, but both girls learn that sometimes you can't take things back. Excellent reading.
That's it for this short post; on to the next one to cover some of what I read in the rest of February.
I remain, the (procrastinating) Savage Librarian.

Even 100 years later, love triangles stay the same

In Rumors by Anna Godbersen, the second of the Luxe novels, Penelope Hayes, Diana Holland, and Elizabeth Holland are back for more. It's been two months since Elizabeth's 'death', and Diana is impatiently awaiting the moment she can see Henry Schoonmaker again. The seemingly perpetual playboy was forced into an engagement with Elizabeth by his father and her mother (the Hollands are in some financial difficulties). While keeping up appearances with Elizabeth, Henry fell in love with reckless, lively Diana. As Rumors opens, Henry is supposed to be in mourning for Elizabeth but is pining for Diana just as much as she is for him. He wants nothing more than to be with her, spend time with her, and yes, even marry her (the only girl he's met who could draw him into marriage, he's convinced). However when Henry reveals his passions to his friend Teddy, Henry is reminded of the strict rules society lays down that would certainly frown upon Henry marrying his dead fiance's sister (this sounds like a soap opera). The Hollands, their financial crisis not ending upon Elizabeth's death, are trying to keep afloat and their lives together and Mrs Holland has now pinned all her hopes on Diana for a rich catch (Henry is never thought of by Mrs Holland). Penelope is playing the virtuous changed young woman, Elizabeth's death having a profound effect upon her and trying to take up the role as the well behaved rising social sweetheart (even though Penelope knows Elizabeth's not dead and hates the person she's becoming). She has set her sight on Henry, remembering their lustful trysts of the previous summer, willing him to love her as she loves him. Elizabeth makes an ill-advised return to Manhattan in response to a slightly panicked telegram from Diana. Will travels with her and the rumors of Elizabeth perhaps not being dead at all abound in Manhattan. In the meantime, Diana and Henry give in to their passions and are quietly discovered. Penelope of course discovers this and gives Henry and ultimatum. I only have on real complaint with the book. I find the way that Godbersen keeps Elizabeth in Manhattan a terrible direction to take the story with her character (there are so many other options that would have left me much more satisfied as a reader), though admittedly, I will read the next book, if only to find how the Holland girls will get out of the messes they're in.
Just barely started The King's Gold by Yxta Maya Murray, the second in the Red Lion Series. An interesting opening thus far. I'm curious to find out how this one will work out. Until that's finished, I remain your Savage Librarian.