Ash by Malinda Lo

 The story of Cinderella is well-known. Ash has lost her mother, cares deeply for her father and struggles with the sadness that envelopes her everyday. When her father marries the ultimate wicked stepmother with two bratty children, Ash doesn’t think it can get much worse. That is, until her father dies.

What makes this telling different is the magical world that is not filled with cheerful mice and birds but rather a dark fairy world that entices Ash, especially the fairy prince Sidhean who offers her escape from the world she has come to not feel a part of. As the story goes on, Ash is introduced to the king’s huntress, Kaisa and struggles to decide what her future will be-the ultimate release or following her heart.

I decided a while ago to not write unbiased reviews. Lots of people do-this is my blog-I’m good with that. I’m so glad I did so I can say that I loved this book! Of course I’ve read a lot of lgbtq but this book has a magical, lyrical quality that transcends that angle. You can easily look at this as a Cinderella story with a lesbian twist.  That is a beautiful quality to me and readers will be thrilled to see themselves represented. Beyond that,the characters are beautifully developed, the world in which Ash lives is recognizable and comfortable with little effort and the language, sense of place and sense of self is well, magical. I was transfixed. 2009, 272 pages.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

“You buy everything don’t you?”

Micah is a pathological liar-she will lie about anything to anyone. Why? Because she can. Even when her secret boyfriend is murdered in Central Park it is near impossible for her to tell the truth. Except, of course, to the reader. Why would she lie to you?

But she does, repeatedly. As the story continues Micah weaves together a picture of her life before Zach’s murder, after Zach’s murder, her family life and history of her family.  All the while alluding to the great family secret.  Once invested in a version of the truth another one comes along and then another one until at the end of the book you have no idea what, if anything, was true.

This book drove me nuts.  I say that because I believe it is an important thing to note for advising a potential reader. Liar is a frustrating read that relies on that reader frustration to fuel the story. Readers who enjoy that manipulation of belief with no clear answers will probably enjoy it. For those that appreciate closure, they might go stark raving mad.  Those two camps of readers will help determine pacing and characterization. If you enjoy the frustration it will fly. If you find yourself unable to connect with an unreliable narrator take Nancy Pearl’s advice and let this one go. Life is too short! 2009, 376 pages.

Are These My Basoomas I see Before Me? By Louise Rennison

Being the tenth and the final installment of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson my review will be vair, vair wistful and nostalgic.  Ah, Georgia, you cheeky minx-oh how you have entertained us with your crazy teenage angst and red-bottomosity.

I’ve reviewed several of the books already here and this one is much the same. Georgia is your average teenager full of angst and humor with parents who are trying to rediscover their youth, a younger sister who is slightly mad and a most cranky and wonderful kitty cat, Angus, that often steals the show.  In this installment loose ends are tied up as Georgia finally makes a decision between Masimo and Dave the Laugh.  The characters are familiar, the pacing is very fast thanks to the diary format. My only complaint is that I think Rennison was trying to hard to make the final one memorable.  Laugh out loud laughter is not unheard of and I am thrilled to learn that among my friends, I am not the only one to take on the language oddities of Georgia. Dear Gott in Himmel. 2009, 310 pages.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

“Some friends fade away…others disappear”

Chris and Win have been friends for as long as each of them can remember. After high school graduation the two embark on a countrywide trek from Virginia to Seattle on their bikes before each head off to college.  Like many friendships that grow up together, Chris and Win know each other probably better than any other person on the planet. They know the troubles they face at home, the dreams not willing to let go to the flaws that make them human. But, as the journey nears the end Win leaves Chris on the side of the road with a flat tire and a ton of resentment. Resentment that continues to grow until the FBI shows up  and Win is nowhere to be found.

I started reading this book because my sport of choice is cycling and it got me thinking about what an adventure on my bike would be like-especially with my bff. After I stopped giggling at that image; I was quickly drawn into the story. It grabs you from the beginning as a good thriller should and intertwines stories from the present and the past expertly while dropping clues just when you think you’ve figured it out. The characters are relatable and heart wrenching in their growth. 2008, 245 pages.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

With the cliff hanger provided in Hunger Games, the first book in the trilogy, I was like many fans waiting in anticipation for Catching Fire to be released.  Catching Firepicks up after the Hunger Games and Katniss and Peeta have returned home to District 12.  Katniss is uncomfortable with Peeta’s admission that their planned romance to win isn’t so business like for him as she also wrestles with her changing relationship with her childhood friend Gale.

A surprise visit from the President of Pelham quickly brings the harsh reality that Katniss and Peeta has sparked a revolution with their “love” defiance of the Capitol. With everything and everyone at stake they travel to the Capitol in hopes of squashing any rebellion. Epically failing, the Capitol shows how cruel it can really be and changes the very rules their society functions on. Will the spark become a fire or will everything be lost?

I stayed up late, really late, on a work night to finish this book. Like many readers, I am already attached to the characters and am wanting to watch them grow. I’m wanting the plot to evolve and develop into something new and I want revolution. Well, come on, the whole theme begs for it. Collins delivered to an extent on all three and I was left with my mouth hanging open at the last sentence so I’m keeping the jury out.  Book 2 is always tough and I think that is part of where it lost its punch.  Here’s to hoping that book three will provide the release that continued to build-even if only in the background-in book two. 2009, 291 pages.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

When a book gets enough buzz surrounding it that the reviews don’t just compare it to Twilight but rather say it’s the first book to be just as good as Twilight-collection development librarians take notice. I sure did as did the young adult librarians in the system and as it turns out, everyone else.

The premise. Grace is fascinated with the wolves that live in the woods behind her house-especially the one with the yellow eyes that watches her. Despite an attack when she was young that should have killed her, she is a fierce protector of the pack.  What she doesn’t know is that the pack is not a group of average wolves, but are rather werewolves. The wolf with the yellow eyes is named Sam and during the summer, he changes to human.  After years of watching each other, fate is about to bring them startling close.

I admit, when I first started reading Twilight, I rolled my eyes a lot until I got hooked into the story. There is only so much teenage angst one can handle when you are no longer a teen. Shiver started the same way for me only it took me much longer to get hooked on the story. I haven’t seen that problem in the teens reading the book either, so I’ll chalk it up to my age.  The adrenaline mixed with the absolute certainty that this is the only person for you is an irresistible pull for many teens. The characters are well drawn and compassionate in situations that could easily bring out the worst in them.  I think readers who wanted just a little bit more from Twilight will find enjoyment in Shiver. 2009, 390 pages.

“Your life is sometimes a st one in you, and then, a star.” ~Rilke

Girl, Going on 17 Pants on Fire by Sue Limb

Having spent the summer blissfully in her boyfriend Fred’s arms, Jess starts the school year shockingly single and instantly finds herself in a quagmire of situations that are hilarious, over-the-top and life changing. Of course, isn’t that what being a teenager is all about?

This is the third book in the Jess Jordan series. A British take on the teenage experience, the series if off-beat and funky.  Like Louise Rennison, Sue Limb makes her readers laugh at the most embarrassing moments because face it, we’ve all been there. Engaging, relatable characters. Quick story line that could be set anywhere minus the few references to British terminology.  2006, 204 pages.

Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

Touching Spirit Bearis one of my favorite books after getting a very enthusiastic push to read it several years ago. I’ve even traveled to see Ben Mikaelsen speak.  It was a profound book about the outward manifestations of inner damage and the redemption you can almost be forced to find under the right circumstances. Fall seven times, stand up eight.

The Ghost of Spirit Bear picks up with the main characters Cole and Peter who have a tenuous grasp on their recovery. Being thrown back into a harsh school environment they struggle to find their way.  Isn’t the true test of recovery when you can handle anything under pressure? Will Cole resort back to his violent past? 

I listened to this book on audio and it was a quick listen. It didn’t move me like the first book did-it had too many cheesy moments and didn’t have the gritty, harsh feel I was expecting. That said, readers are already attached to the characters and will want to see what happens to them.  I’m a little disappointed tho-I expected more. 2008, 154 pages.

(Re)cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

The sequel to Cycler, Recycler picks up three months after the end of Cycler with the same basic premise. Jill McTeague has a unique problem in which for 4 days of the month she transforms into Jack-all parts assembled…if you know what I mean. Jill has a tough decision before her. Does she go to New York with her best friend Ramie so that her alter-ego Jack can be with his girlfriend 4 days a month or does she follow Tommy, and her own heart, on his long planned road trip across the United States?

I looked forward to reading Cycler wondering if the author was going to deal with sexual fluidity and the idea of two genders in one body. She does, but in a subtle way that tries to not offend anybody. Cycler took me a bit to get into-it seems like I was reading the author flushing out the idea of Jill and Jack before my eyes with mixed results but I was still hooked by the characters and their situations.

So, imagine my surprise, when reading an advanced readers copy of Recycler that I found that the ideas have been flushed and everyone is on much more solid ground.  Jack is given a much more prominent role in both substance and thought. The reader cannot help but get to intimately know Jill and Jack in their journey. They are sympathetic characters that despite the crazy scenario-people can relate too. The story moved between the viewpoint of Jack and Jill which can slow the pace down a bit but it still moves quickly. The really tough issues are dealt with almost too easily but readers will easily forgive. Its just one of those books that make you go hmmmm…cue music. 2009, 288 pages.

Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang

Chloe Grace is a teenager born into a life of celebrity thanks to her adopted rocker dad and Grammy award winning actress mother. Thrown into the spotlight all her life, when her parents seem on the brink of a divorce Chloe decides she can’t handle it anymore and enrolls in a regular school as a regular kid, Lily. Will a “normal” teenage experience be less drama filled?

This is a light, easy read to enjoy on a weekend. The characters are mildly developed-you really only get to know Chloe-which is part of teen fiction-and the pace is moderate. While most teens will not relate to the glamour filled world Chloe lives in, we all can relate to wanting to fit in and not make any waves in high school. 2009, 245 pages.