June 2013 Recap

Nicole Read

Ashley Read

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Nicole's Favorite 

Read

Ashley's Favorite 
Read

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Nicole's Favorite 

Cover

Ashley's Favorite 

Cover

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Nicole's Challenge 

Recap

Debut Author Challenge

21/12

2013 Sequel Challenge

13/13

Contemporary Challenge

12/10

2013 Reading Challenge

102/125

Ashley's Challenge 

Recap

Debut Author Challenge
10/12

Paranormal Reading Challenge
14/28

Dystopia Reading Challenge
15/20 

2013 Reading Challenge
62/65

Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden

Author: Jessi Kirby

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Pages: 288, Hardcover
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

Review

I can think of only a few times in my life that I have done something that my mom did not approve of. Or stepped completely outside of my comfort zone. I am a creature of habit. I stick with what I know. What is safe. Do I wish I was more spontaneous? Sure. Do I wish I had the courage to take more chances. Of course. But it's easier said than done. It's scary to do something for which you have no reference point. To put yourself out there. Completely vulnerable. With failure as a possibility. Having no idea of what happens next. 

For these reasons and more I could so relate to Parker. Her reservations to deviate from her path. To take a chance on a boy. To let down her mother. This is so me and my entire life. And when she did do something unexpected, rebellious even, it was like I was living vicariously through her. Testing out something new, something exciting. Her journey was inspiring. Her growth even more so. This story really demonstrates that it's ok to take chances. On that cute boy. On yourself. It's amazing how far Parker comes in the end. And even though we aren't all going to go on some crazy road trip to realize that, the steps in took for Parker to reach that point, and the lessons she learned, are all real and can apply to anyone. 

And Julianna's story is just as moving. Hers is more about falling in and out of love. How sometimes perceptions can be deceiving. How there are hidden depths to everyone. And how different people can bring out different sides of you. I think we can all relate to this. People are complex. Things aren't always as they seem. And who hasn't fallen in love (or felt like they were)? Julianna had insecurities. She had doubts. No matter the choice she makes someone will get hurt. And like Parker, she was also scared of deviating from the future she has come to accept. Then something terrible happens that you can never prepare for. And when your life gets flipped upside down, how do you handle it? 

I loved everything about this book. The writing was wonderful and I was completely invested in the outcome. The story within a story was fascinating. And both spoke volumes to me. Books like Golden are the reason I love Contemporary so much. They move you. They make you feel okay about decisions you've made. And they teach you how to deal with decisions you might some day make. They give you hope. They remind you that you are not alone. They are real.

REVIEW #125: Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman

Title: Kindness for Weakness

Author: Shawn Goodman

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Pages: 272, Hardcover
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest meets Catcher in the Rye.

A fifteen-year-old boy from an abusive home desperately seeking his older brother's love and approval starts pushing drugs for him and suffers the consequences.

The synopsis for this book does not reveal much so I didn't really know what to expect when picking up Kindness for Weakness. I guess my love of contemporary and male POV is what really compelled me. That, and what we do get in terms of a summary hints at a serious and thought-provoking story. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I read this book because it was every bit as eye-opening as I thought it would be. Shawn Goodman told a story that needed to be told. And it broke my heart. 

Meet James:

"I know how stupid this sounds, but I don't feel like a kid, at least not like the kind of fifteen-year-old kid who should be hanging out with friends and getting busy with girls. For one thing, I don't have friends. And there have never been any girls. But the main reason I don't feel like a regular kid is because I have to worry about so many things. I worry about Louis staying under the cops' radar. I worry about my mother paying the rent on time so we won't get evicted again. I worry about what I'm going to eat next, and if I'll ever have enough money to take a girl out on a date (assuming there will someday be a girl who would go on a date with me). But my biggest fear is that the world has made up its mind about me: I'm not wanted. I'm out. This is what fills my head when I walk the trestle that cuts through the backyards of other people' lives, people who are wanted. Those who fit in."

Doesn't your heart just go out to him? James is a good kid in a bad life. And in the life he lives, his Achilles heel is seeing the best in people. Despite evidence to the contrary, James believes that his brother Louis has his back. But when James gets busted for selling drugs for Louis, he finds himself alone, sentenced to a year in juvie.

James knows what he did was wrong so he understands and accepts his punishment but it is clear that he doesn't belong there. The other kids are filled with violence and hate. Everyone is always fighting and belittling one another to prove who is the toughest. And some get out only to wind up right back in for another offense. And the guards are even worse. They are corrupt and unforgiving. They use excessive violence to maintain order and are never held accountable for anything. Nobody is trying to help these kids. Nobody cares.

I have never read anything like this. Seeing juvie through James' perspective, the perspective of good, was both heartbreaking and condemning. James was so aware of himself and his surroundings. Despite the odds, he managed to stay true to himself. It wasn't easy. And there were bumps in the road. People tried to break him down. To make him like them. But James was better than that. He knew better than that. 

I am not a 15 year old boy from a broken home with no friends and no hope so I can't say that I could relate to James but I could definitely feel for him. His loneliness and simple desire to be loved could not be ignored. It was like a physical presence in this book. It's what got him in trouble in the first place.

At the beginning of the book, James had so much learn, especially where others were concerned. He wanted so much to be strong. To be able to do something about all of the bad in his life. To be a man. At first he didn't understand what that meant. At first, he looked up to his brother. But he slowly learned, with books to guide him. His journey to be brave and take control was inspirational. And he comes so far by the end of the book.  He deserves so much credit, so much more than he gave himself. He was an amazing kid.

The ending literally broke my heart. Shattered it to pieces. I am sure it will bring many of your to tears. But I am so grateful to Shawn Goodman for telling this story. Thank you!

I'm Waiting On Shadow of the Mark (Carrier #2) by Leigh Fallon

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

This week I chose...

Title: Shadow Of The Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
Series: Carrier #2
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 9th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Leigh Fallon's Shadow of the Mark, the sequel to Carrier of the Mark, is a captivating love story set against the lush backdrop of Ireland. Megan knew she was destined to be with Adam from the first moment she saw him and now they are determined to be together. But Megan and Adam are Marked Ones, and a romance between two Marked Ones is strictly forbidden...and could cause worldwide devastation. Leigh Fallon's Shadow of the Mark is a great choice for readers who love Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush.

I really enjoyed the first book Carrier of the Mark, so I have been looking forward to this one! Both books are set in Ireland which is really awesome because I love reading books that are set in places I want to visit :) I think the cover is just gorgeous.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday (24) - June 25th

                           

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten list is "Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013"

Nicole's Top Five:

Ashley's Top Five:

What are your top ten?

REVIEW #124: Reboot (Reboot #1) by Amy Tintera

Title: Reboot

Series: Reboot #1
Author: Amy Tintera

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Pages: 365, Hardcover
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

 

Reboot is one of those books that is fast-paced and packed with action. Something was always happening and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what came next. You tell yourself, just one more page, one more, and before you know it you’ve finished the book because you just couldn’t put it down.

The synopsis does a good job introducing this story so I’ll skip right to what I really loved about this book - which was Wren mostly, but Wren and Callum together too. Wren, as a 178, is one of the deadliest Reboots. And let me tell you, she is totally badass. She is also considered the most inhuman. But Amy Tintera did an amazing job making Wren appear logical and matter-of-fact as opposed to cold and unforgiving. This portrayal was perfect because it left room for her to show emotion later and have it be believable. Wren might not be easily controlled by her emotions, or as quick to feel and show them, but with the right Trigger - Callum - she can feel as the others do.

And I say can because she wasn’t sure she could in the beginning. Everyone believed she was just a mindless shell and she started to believe that about herself too. It was amazing watching Callum slowly bring out her humanity and her slowly give in to it. I was happy to see her realize she wasn’t as dead as everyone thought. And it was a great moment when she stopped listening and started making her own decisions.

The relationship between Callum and Wren was both sweet and exciting and I loved watching it deepen. Humans are naturally scared of Reboots but even Reboots are scared of Wren. Very few Reboots engaged her and she really didn’t know how to handle Callum at first, who was all sunshine and rainbows and not afraid of her in the least. The stark contrast in their behaviors and mannerisms created an interesting dynamic and was a joy to experience.

So even though I’ve focused my review on Wren and Callum, there is other stuff going on, more or less involving restlessness and rebellion among the Reboots. This is where the action and adventure comes in and it’s good stuff. That’s all I’m going to say.

I expected to like this book. Even so, it exceeded my expectations. Wren and Callum are the type of characters that stand out. Kind of like how Day and June stand out in the Legend series and make it all the better. If you like that series, I expect you will enjoy this one. 

Favorite line:

"'Do that thing where you look blank, like you have no feelings at all.'

'I think that's just my face.'"