Book Review: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

If you are a fan of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books, you will not want to miss this collection of short stories set in Grisha. Bardugo relates that these folk tales and fairy tales are of the sort the characters in her Grishaverse novels might have heard when they were growing up. No worries if you haven’t read the Grishaverse novels, but this book might lead you to them.

Six tales, each magical and mysterious in its own way, await you. The Witch of Duva is a tale reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel but much edgier. In The Too-Clever Fox, a hunter is traveling throughout the countryside eradicating the animals in the forest. Koja, a clever fox thinks to outsmart the hunter. Can the less-than-perfect second daughter of a poor family save the village from the ravenous monster, who is a second son of the king? Read  Ayama and the Thorn Wood to find the answer. If you are into mermaids, When Water Sang Fire will be one not to miss. 

All six of these tales capture the imagination. Some will teach a valuable lesson. As you turn the pages, do not miss the ever-changing illustrations in each story. They are almost as interesting as the stories.

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Book Review: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

ALL HEARTRENDING = ENTHRALLING READ

Award winner.

Coretta Scott King Honor

Newbery Honor

Printz Honor

Walter Dean Myer Award

Written in free verse

(which is not my thing),

I sat down one morning

to try and force my way through.

But before I knew it

I couldn’t turn the pages

fast enough to

keep the story going.           

Brother Shawn murdered and

Will knows the neighborhood rules:

    1.   Crying. Don’t.

No matter what.

    2.   Snitching. Don’t.

No Matter what.

    3.   Revenge. Do.

    No matter what.

So he finds his brother’s gun

and he’s on his way

to right a wrong

when the elevator

sets him on an otherworldly trip.

From the 8^th floor to

the ground floor, the deceased

will step on with a little word

or two for Will.

Don’t want to give

too much away.

You need to experience

this book for yourself.

See the cycle

of violence some live

each day.

What does Will do?

Follow the

neighborhood rules

or break the cycle?

No regrets 

will you experience

from having read

this novel.

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Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

A novel ripped from the headlines but in this case, we are given unlimited access to the thoughts and feelings of the central character. What an eye-opener that is for the reader! You may have heard of this book even if you haven’t read it yet.  A debut novel, it quickly because a New York Times best seller for this Mississippi author.

Starr Carter lives in a poor, black neighborhood and attends school at a posh suburban prep school. It’s like she’s trying to balance two separate lives. After attending a party in the neighborhood that breaks up due to a fight and gunshots, Starr is in the car with her childhood friend, Khalil, when they are pulled over by police. In front of her eyes, the unarmed Khalil is shot and killed by police. Starr is thrust into the aftermath – social unrest, police investigation, grand jury testimony, media coverage – all while trying to deal with her grief and anger.

This is a well-told story. There are too many components to mention them all. Starr’s father wants to stay in the neighborhood; Starr’s mother wants to move to the suburbs. Starr’s boyfriend is white, and her father doesn’t know about him. One of Starr’s best friends at school is a racist that doesn’t even realize she is one (and it takes Starr a while to figure that out). Khalil might have been a drug dealer but if he is, will you be sympathetic when you hear why? Starr wants to do the right thing but she is scared and what she says or does not say may destroy her community and endanger her life and the life of her family.

I agree with a review I read that this is a book that should be read by everyone, not just teens. 

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Book Review: Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Do you think about what someone might be doing when you send them a text?  Do you ever send a text when you think/know they might be driving?  In Goodbye Days, Carver Briggs is waiting on his three best friends (Mars, Eli, and Blake) to pick him up from work, and he sends them a simple text:

 Where are you guys? Text me back.

Their vehicle rear-ends a semi-truck and all three teenagers are killed.  When the driver’s phone is recovered, it contains a partial response to Carver’s text. This book covers the ensuing days with flashbacks thrown in.  Carver deals with guilt, grief, and the possibility of criminal charges for negligent manslaughter.  He starts a friendship with the girlfriend of one of his friends and she is an ally at school where no one knows how to treat him anymore.  Blake’s grandmother wants Carver to spend a goodbye day with her to share memories and say goodbye to Blake.  Eventually, Carver will spend a goodbye day with Eli’s and Mars’ family as well. 

I picked this book to read because I had previously read The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, and it was a truly good read.  This book did not disappoint.  It was thought-provoking.  I also learned a few new words like pareidolia, synesthesia, and oeuvre.  In his previous novel (and this one as well), I feel connected to the characters.   Both novels also touch on teens questioning the religion of their parents.  This is a natural question during the teenage years:  Do I share my parents’ beliefs?  Zentner speaks to this issue without belittling or negating anyone’s belief system. 

One of the lines I liked:  “For the most part, you don’t hold the people you love in your heart because they rescued you from drowning or pulled you from a burning house.  Mostly you hold them in your heart because they save you, in a million quiet and perfect ways, from being alone.”

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Book Review: Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Date Published: September 25, 2012
Number of Pages: 272 (available in print & as downloadable eBook)

Review: This book is probably best suited for young teens and tweens. It's full of  humor, zombies, and adventure. In the book, Joshua, his best friend Milton, and the new girl Sophie are thrown together on an adventure. In a world of superheroes and villains, Joshua's life as the child of two super villains is very extraordinary. When he develops superpowers his life really
starts to get interesting. When Joshua's parents are taken along with nearly every super villain in the world, Joshua turns to his friends for help. When they discover that Sophie's father, a superhero who may not be as super as everyone believed, might be involved with the kidnappings, things get messy. This story is full of plot twists and laughs,and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

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Book Review by Stefani: Paperweight by Meg Haston (ARC)

Author:  Meg Haston
Genre: Young adult, contemporary, mental health
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
304 pages, hardcover (288 ARC)

Check out the full synopsis on Goodreads.

Shout out to the wonderful Little Shop of Stories for letting me take this ARC! Check them out if you’re ever in Decatur, GA!

Paperweight is an extremely difficult book to review. It’s also an extremely difficult book to read. I’ve never had an eating disorder and it was hard for me to read this. I can’t even imagine how triggering this book could possibly be for someone who’s had (or has) an eating disorder.Paperweight makes you uncomfortable. It pulls you completely out of your comfort zone and doesn’t hold a damn thing back. It puts everything out there in the most raw and honest way possible. And it’s difficult to read it because of that. But it is so worth your time.

Haston has done a wonderful thing with this book. She’s created Stevie, a girl with Anorexia Nervosa, who believes that her disease makes up everything she is. Again, I’ve never had an eating disorder nor have I ever been in a treatment facility. But I feel like Stevie’s story is authentic. It feels real. Stevie doesn’t miraculously get 100% better. That’s not life. The way she changes is subtle, believable. Honestly, Stevie is unlikeable at times. She’s selfish and mean, but her voice felt right.

If I had to describe this book in four words, they would be: Honest. Real. Emotional. Painful. This book is brutal, you guys, and I think you have to be in a certain emotional state to read it. I’m still not sure how I made it through certain parts, but I made it through because Stevie did.

The bottom line: Paperweight is a hard one. It’s hard to read and hard to review. It’s brutal and honest and raw, and I definitely don’t think it’s for everyone. It could be potentially triggering if you’ve dealt with (or are dealing with) an eating disorder. Stevie’s voice is one to listen to though. She’s honest and real, and that’s what scares me the most.

Rating: I honestly don’t know how to rate this one. I’m going to go with an 8, but not for the freaking fantastic, but rather because it’s memorable.

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DON'T miss this

This book was published in 1998 so you may have missed it.  I just have one word for you...DON'T.  While the author is African American and the cover art portrays an African-American teenager, this book will speak to you whatever your ethnicity.

FROM THE BACK COVER:  Maleeka suffers every day from the taunts of the other kids in her class.  If they're not getting at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades, it's about her dark skin.  When a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, shows up at their school, Maleeka can see there is bound to be trouble for her, too.  But the new teacher's attitude surprises Maleeka.  Miss Saunders loves the skin she's in.  Can Maleeka learn to do the same? 

This book is a mere 171 pages.  A winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. 

If you haven't read it, request it at your local CMRLS library!

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Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

It's senior year and Greg Gaines has managed to make it thus far through high school maintaining social invisibility by being cordial but not overly friendly to every single group at his school. He has only one (albeit unlikely) friend, the short, African-American, foul-mouthed, chain-smoking Earl. During their free time, they play video games and make their own movies--horrible movies, with no redeeming value, according to Greg, but it amuses them and occupies their time.

Earl fully intends to finish out high school under the radar and hanging out with Earl in his spare time--until Rachel gets cancer and Greg's mom decides they should be friends. Against his better judgement and in spite of his almost unbearable awkwardness, he does. Or he tries to. And then he and Earl decide to make Rachel: the Film. And Greg starts to lose all hope for his invisibility.

Y'all, this book is HILARIOUS. I know it seems unlikely since the word "dying" is actually in the title, but I laughed until I cried. Greg is narrating the story, and his self-deprecating humor lightens the mood considerably, he refers to this book as a "horrifyingly inane ... unstoppable barf-fest." The best part of this book might actually be Earl: crude, rude, disgusting, and surprisingly sincere. This book is a winner. Check it out here.

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MICHAEL VEY: The Prisoner of Cell 25

When I heard about this book, a YA novel by Richard Paul Evans, I thought, How in the world can this author write a science fiction novel for teens. I mean, he's a wonderful adult author; but his books for adults are nowhere near science fiction.

Imagine my surprise when I quickly got caught up in his story about Michael Vey and the other 'special' teenagers that were born on the same day in the same hospital. Michael is just your normal, average 14-year old that happens to have electrical powers. In the start of a new series, Evans tells the story of Michael and other teenagers that were born at a hospital that was testing a new machine (MEI) that is supposed to make MRIs obsolete. As a result of the test, many of the babies that were born in the hospital died; those that survived all have some type of supernatural power or skill.

This first book in the series introduces Michael (who is already well aware of his power); and through a series of events (including the kidnapping of his mother), Michael learns how he obtained his electrical power. He will be called upon to either join or fight the evil company that is trying to use his power and the others' powers to control the world.

I would highly recommend this book.

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Printz Watch 2012 (part 2)

In our last post, we talked about how eager we are at the Pearl Library to hear the winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature (it will be awarded in January). We're furiously reading books that have received excellent reviews, Printz "contenders," if you will. Here's four more great books that you have access to in your library that may just take home the gold:

Between Shades of Gray by Reta Sepetys

In 1941, 15-year-old Lina, her mother, and her brother are cruelly taken from their home in Lithuania by Soviet guards and shipped to a labor camp in Siberia. She finds out that her father has been sentenced to death. Their only crime is being Lithanian. Read about Lina's fight to stay alive, her desperation to stay connected to her love of art, and her determination to get her family out alive. This book is based on the true story of the author's family and thousands of other Lithuations who were forced to work in labor camps for over a decade and then warned never to speak of it.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Meet Anya Borzakovskaya. The daughter of Russian immigrants, all she wants to do is fit in at her very American private school, which is difficult with her name and her looks. Her only friend is not really a friend. Until the day she falls down a well and meets Emily. The downsides to this beautiful new friendship are that Emily is dead...and she may not be exactly what she seems. This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel is a great look at a cultural family...with a twist.

The Piper's Son by 2009 Printz Winner Melina Marchetta

Tom has been self-destructing since his beloved uncle Joe died in an overseas terrorist attack. He's dropped out of college, ignored his music, watched his family come apart at the seams, and fallen in with a shady crowd. When he hits rock bottom, he finds himself living with his aunt Georgie (who is pregnant and dealing with her own grief), and is joined by his estranged father. Tom's journey as he begins to deal with his grief and reconnect with his friends and family is difficult to read, but beautiful to watch.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Mikey's sister Karyn has accused Tom Parker of raping her. She won't leave the apartment. Their family is imploding and social services is getting involved. Tom's sister Ellie doesn't want to believe that her brother is capable of such a horrible thing. When Mikey and Ellie meet, the attaction is almost instantaneous and what follows is trouble: complicated, agonizing trouble. Do you have to choose sides between family and love?

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Printz Watch 2012

Over here at the Pearl Library, we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 2012 Michael L. Printz Award, which will happen in January.

Exactly what, you might be asking, is the Printz Award? The Printz Award is given each year to the book that exemplifies excellence in young adult literature. It's like the Newbery or Caldecott Award, which you probably heard about in elementary school, except this award is given to books written for teens. Since its inception in 2000, the award has been given to books you already love, such as Going Bovine by Libba Bray, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and Looking for Alaska by John Green. This award celebrates the amazing books that are being written for young adults and we are so excited about it!

With the help of a fantastic blog called, hilariously, Someday My Printz Will Come, we've been reading up a storm over here at Pearl, trying to keep up with books that are predicted to be "contenders" because of the reviews and stars that they've been getting. Here's a few of the books that we've read that are available from your library:

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma is a haunting and weird story of the love between two sisters. Late one night, Chloe discovers the body of one of her classmates in the reservoir and is promptly sent away to escape from the trauma. When she returns two years later, she realizes that her older sister Ruby has done something, has changed something, because of her desperation to have Chloe back. What is happening with London? What, exactly, is going on? And how far will it go?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a take on the ancient Celtic myth of the ancient celtic myth of the capall uisce, terrifying war horses, that are wildly, mostly untamable, and have a taste for human flesh. In this story, the Island that Puck lives on hosts races on these horrible beasts every year. This year, she is determined to win for her own reasons. The only problem is, no woman has ever raced before. And four-time winner Sean, who has his own secrets, doesn't like the idea of a woman on the beach...

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson is a gritty and realistic look of the effects of drug and alcohol addiction and how one girl struggles to live her life post-rehab. Maddie meets Stewart at rehab, which, she realizes, is a pretty terrible place to meet your boyfriend. But as she readjusts to life back at home, in school, and post-addiction, her relationships and life become much more complex than she expected.

Chime by Franny Billingsley might just be our favorite Printz read so far. Briony lives near the swamps that she loves and grew up playing in, but she is no longer allowed to go in them, because when she goes there, she can see The Old Ones. But only witches can see The Old Ones. And in Briony's village, they hang witches. So Briony's secret eats at her as she cares for her twin sister, Rose, and as she interacts with the dashing Eldric, who appears in her village...and who makes her want to tell her secrets. But she must never forget: it's all her fault. And the only way this will end is with her swinging from a noose.

Click on any of the above links to request the books that sound interesting to you and click here to find out more about the Printz Award. Have you read any of the winners? Which are your favorites?

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Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs has been getting a lot of press. Like...tons. So those of us at the Pearl Library purchased a copy for our collection to see if it lives up to the hype. Check out this synopsis:

"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children , an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive..."

See why we were curious? We dove right into it. The book is interspersed with creepy photographs that the author actually found (he didn't take them for the book). Check out the cover image above. Now look at it closely...what's a little weird about that little girl? Yeah...she's definitely levitating! All of the photos in this book are just as creepy and off-kilter and add to the unease and spookiness of the story. We loved it. Check out our copy and find out if Jacob will discover what's truly going on in the ruins of this orphanaged. Or...is it ruined at all?? Click here to be put on the waiting list to read this book...you don't want to miss this one.

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When Does Love Become Obsession?

'Some secrets are strong enough to pull you under...'

From the cover of Deb Caletti's newest book Stay, and there are numerous times in this story that you believe the secrets are going to pull someone under.

Clara (a recent high school graduate) and her father are spending the summer at the beach in hiding. Clara has spent the previous year in a relationship that turned obsessive and her father wants her out of harm's way. Now, no one -- family nor friends -- knows where she and her father are spending the summer. Their story goes back and forth from the present to past events. As the story unfolds, you see the start, middle and disintegration of Clara's relationship with Christian. But unexpected is that her father has a secret of his own. As their summer passes, Clara meets Finn and her father meets Sylvie. Both Finn and Sylvie have stories of their own.

Clara struggles constantly with her fear...the fear that no matter where she goes, it may not be far enough away from Christian.

Rarely do I give in to the urge to 'look forward' in a story, but in this book I could not resist. I almost ruined it for myself, but I caught myself just in time. :P

I will definitely be checking out some of Deb Caletti's previous books.

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Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine Ellery is sixteen years old. She has been kidnapped, separated from her twin brother, and forced into a polygamous marriage. She is obviously upset by this event--but not at all surprised. In Rhine's world, modern science has led to a terrible turn of events: the life expectancy of a male is twenty-five and females only live to age 20. Desperate to populate the world, wealthy families kidnap young brides in order to keep the world's population from dying out.

Rhine adjusts to her life as a virtual prisoner in her new husband's home, as well as the company of her sister wives. But as her relationship with her husband, Linden, begins to become complicated, will she lose her desire to escape? Secrets are brewing in the compound, and knowing too much has Rhine fearing for her life.

This book is recommended for fans of the dystopian genre, examples of which include The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Bumped.

This book is the first installment in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. Click here to request it.

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Like GRAPHIC NOVELS? Try a GRAPHIC BIO!

Yummy, the Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a biography of 11-year old Robert 'Yummy' Sandifer through the eyes of his classmate, Roger. This book is a dramatization of true events that occurred in Chicago during 1994. Eleven-year old Yummy, a member of the Black Disciples gang, guns down a 14-year old girl. The book tells of the events following the shooting that garnered national headlines, including a cover story in Time magazine.

Winning a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, the book is fast-paced and will appeal to readers of graphic novels and readers of true crime stories.

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Book Review

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or ... Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all--so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So ... happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.--http://www.sarahdessen.com/the-truth-about-forever

This is a wonderful book for summer because it is light and happy. Dessen explores the idea of being perfect. What does perfect really mean after all? Is being perfect actually attainable? Macy, the main character, learns that letting go can sometimes give you the most happiness. It's ok to think and act out of the box every now and then. She learns that the death of a loved one is hard, but that you can move on and be happy even after they are gone. The character of Wes is unforgettable in this book. He is a genuine person and a likeable character. Don't miss this book by Sarah Dessen!

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Book Review

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia’s mother is busy saving other people’s lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia’s head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way – thin, thinner, thinnest – maybe she’ll disappear altogether.--http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-wintergirls/

This is a must read for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson. Much like her book, Speak, this book is a powerful page turner. Subjects like anorexia and bulimia are tough to write and about and to read, but Anderson does a marvelous job of writing this book. The reader is really able to tap into the life of a girl with an eating disorder. The obsessive calorie counting and weighing show how traumatic eating disorders can be. The void left by Cassie's death brings Lia to the forefront of her own emotions. Will she choose to live or to die despite what she has witnessed with Cassie?

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The Knife That Killed Me - A Dark Read

In the Author's Note at the end of this book, Anthony McGowan says, "The Knife That Killed Me is dark all the way through. Instead of making the reader laugh, I want to grip him or her by the throat, gradually increasing the tension until it hurts. It's a harrowing story but, I trust, a compassionate one too." I can definitively say, I believe Mr. McGowan achieved his goal.

The last page of this book was turned last night and still the events are stirring in my head. Is high school really this bad for some students?

The book opens with a description of the knife that killed him and then proceeds into the story of Paul Varderman, a young man who is a loner looking to be a part of the life we call 'high school.' Will he join in with the freaks or perhaps, Roth's group, a bully feared and hated by everyone? This book evoked so many emotions: fear, outrage, disbelief, compassion...

At the end of almost every chapter, I meant to stop and put the book away never to finish the end; but I couldn't do it. I HAD to follow through to the very end...bet you will, too!

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The Scorch Trials

This summer, Mara reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The thrilling dystopian tale ended on a cliffhanger, so the librarians here at Pearl were very excited when the next book, The Scorch Trials, came out in October.

Thomas and his friends have escaped the Maze, but it seems like their tests are only beginning. The action starts right away in this book, throwing the Gladers into what is myteriously being called "Phase Two": The Scorch Trials. The boys are given very vague instructions: head north and survive the Flare (a mysterious disease). If not, death is imminent.

The boys head towards their destination, even picking up some new friends. But as they progress further and further, more questions come up than are answered: Where is Tom's friend Teresa? Where did this boy, Aris, come from? Is the shadowy organization WICKED who seems to be behind all of this for good or for evil?

The book is extremely fast-paced and exciting, and the interactions between the characters alternates between hilarious and extremely strained. This book also ends on a cliffhanger, which will be resolved in the final installment, The Death Cure, due out next fall. I can't wait! Click here to request The Scorch Trials from your library. But be sure to read The Maze Runner first--available here.

Check out more about James Dashner at his blog.

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Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie is the story of Cassia, a girl who lives in a world that is governed by the Society. The Society decides where you will live, what and when you will eat, where you will work, who you will marry, and when you will die. The Society's decisions are perceived as perfect, and are for the good of all the people. All teenage girls look forward to their Matching ceremony, where they discover the identity of their future mate. Cassia is elated when she is matched with her best friend, Xander. But she's shocked when a computer screen shows her the face of someone else as her match: the quiet and elusive Ky. She is told by the Officials that it was just a computer error, but Cassia is not so sure, and this event sets her off onto a journey of questions and discovery: are the Society's decisions really perfect? And should she continue to follow them blindly? If you enjoyed other dystopian books such as The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, Matched might be perfect for your next read! Matched is the first book in a planned trilogy; be sure to look for the next book, Crossed, when it comes out late next year.

Read more about Matched at author Ally Condie's website. Request this book by clicking here.

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