Winterspell by Claire Legrand

Title: Winterspell
Author: Claire Legrand
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 30th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 464 pages
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince . . . but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums.

New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor's ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother's murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.

Her home is destroyed, her father abducted--by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they're to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets--and a need she can't define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won't leave Cane unscathed--if she leaves at all.

Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear.

Review

Winterspell was a captivating, magical, dark re-telling. It got a bit weird at parts but it was ultimately a pretty good story. Character wise, my favorite had to be Anise; she is a fantastic villain! She has weaknesses, a back story, and a soft side. Anise is overcome with revenge, hate, and power so she is a strong and well developed villain. Clara on the other hand got a bit annoying at times and was very quick to forgive Nicolas for his wrongdoings. The love story between the two was not my favorite for that reason; Clara’s emotions towards him shifted so quickly throughout the story.

The writing was quite descriptive yet at points I felt like it caused me to lose my place. Some of the fight scenes were hard to follow, especially the first big magical fight scene. It was the introduction to this dark magical world and I would have like more explanation and clarity it to what in the world was happening. Once the initial explanations unfolded, the world building was well developed. It was dark, creative and well detailed, making it easy to visualize and immerse myself into the story. I really enjoyed the magical aspects but at times the plot seemed to drag. The ending was great, it was complete and brought all lose ends to a nice close.

Overall, I would recommend Winterspell if you are in the mood for a darker retelling with a well developed magical world. It does get slow at parts but in the end it is still a pretty enjoyable read!

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Title: The Sea of Tranquility
Author: Katja Millay
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: November 13th 2012
Pages: 426
Source: Audible, Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

Review

I don't typically gravitate towards books involving troubled teens finding, and saving, one another. Of all the issue books that I might be inclined to read, this topic is one of the least motivating to me. Perhaps that is why I have yet to continue with Katie McGarry's books after Pushing the Limits (although I do intend to). It's not that I can't enjoy them (clearly). Honestly, I'm not really sure why I shy away from them.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I often find these types of stories to carry a certain level of  coincidence and unbelievability with them, The Sea of Tranquility included. Or maybe since I can't relate, I never fully connect with the characters. I've connected with other issue books, but maybe because these characters have been through something traumatic, their personalities and behaviors are changed to a point beyond which I could ever understand. I'm just speculating here...

My point is that despite my hesitation with this subject matter, The Sea of Tranquility still captivated me. And although I might not have experienced the same level of emotion or have come to love this book to as great of an extent as many others given my disposition, I can understand why this book has warranted that reaction and I still enjoyed it greatly. There was something about it that was irresistible.

My fascination with Nastya is what ultimately pulled me in. She was a puzzle to me, one that I needed to solve. I wanted to know the details of what happened to her, wanted an explanation for why she stopped speaking and continued to remain silent, and wanted to understand why she behaves the way that she does. Katja Millay doesn't give this information freely and keeps readers desperate to read faster. Whereas Josh was less of a mystery because his story was given more readily.

I also loved the innocence to this story. Nastya and Josh were good people who had bad things happen to them. And they might have been lost and confused and angry and desperate, but they never lost their innocence. Their pasts and their journey's were distinct to this story and pulled at my heartstrings.

I admit that I had started to hope for an ended that didn't come to be, but I am still pleased with the ending that was given. I like when characters end in a good place.

All in all, this book had a certain readability to it. Nastya and Josh are complex characters and their stories are heartbreaking. As far as troubled teens go, Nastya and Josh's story was one of the better ones.

Winger by Andrew Smith

Title: Winger
Series: Winger #1
Author: Andrew Smith
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Pages: 439
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

Review

This book broke my heart in two. Here I am, enjoying 400 pages of Ryan Dean West antics, giggling over the comedic sketches, and wondering what stupid thing he is going to do next that will result in him getting his ass kicked when BAM, Andrew Smith throws a 92mph curveball that hits me square in the chest. There might have been tears.

On the surface, this book is about a 14-year-old boy at prep school, navigating the trials of adolescence, thinking and acting as 14-year-olds do. He also happens to be two years ahead in school, which doesn't make his life any easier. But he vows that this year is going to be different, despite landing himself in the dorm for troublemakers and starting the year with his head in a toilet. He starts making moves on the girl he’s been crushing on, starts standing up for himself and his friends, and starts taking risks that he was too scared to take before. Of course this is cause for all sorts of mayhem and one very entertaining book.

But the ending made me realize that this book was about so much more than I originally thought and is what ultimately made this a 4.5 star read for me. Although it came at a steep price. :(

Although I am not, nor was I ever, a 14-year-old boy, the voice of Ryan Dean West felt very authentic. I really felt like I was in the head of a 14 year old. Andrew Smith's writing is perfect. And it was funny! And there were illustrations (see below)!! I might have rolled my eyes at some of the silliness (in a totally endearing, big-sister kind of way) but I spent most of my time smiling and laughing and eagerly awaiting whatever mess Ryan Dean would find himself in next. Ryan Dean West totally won me over <3

And there was a big emphasis on friendship and team unity that I just loved.

I don't know if I've done this book justice. I struggled to find the right words for this one. But it's a new favorite of mine and I highly recommend it, if you haven't yet read it. This is truly a unique and wonderful story told in a unique and wonderful way. I can't wait to continue Ryan Dean's story in Stand-off.

And below is an example of one of the many illustrations you will find in this book :)

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Title: The Book of Broken Hearts
Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Pages: 352
Source: Audiobook, Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Review

“I was falling in love.
I am losing my father.
With Emilio Vargas.
To smoke and shadow.
My heart fluttered.
My heart aches.
To feel it.
To deny it.
Life.
Death.
Possibilities.
Endings.”

THIS QUOTE RIGHT HERE. This is what this book was about. And it broke me.

What the synopsis doesn't tell you is that Jude's father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. He is deteriorating before her eyes and she is helpless to stop it. Soon he won't even remember her. So that is why she is spending the summer with him, fixing up his old bike. It's in these moments that her father is most alive - recalling the days he rode around South America in his youth. Jude's dedication to her father and watching her cope with his illness was raw emotion. She was so strong, loyal, brave, kind. My heart went out to her. 

All the while Jude is falling in love with a boy she swore she wouldn't have anything to do with because of a pact she made with her sisters as a child. A pact her sisters won't easily let her forget. 

I loved everything about this book. I loved Jude and I rooted for her as she learned to stand up for herself and allowed herself to go after what she wanted. I loved her crazy sisters, even if they were so bossy and unreasonable at times. The family dynamic was honest and full of love. I loved Emilio and his swagger but also his patience and understanding when it came to Jude and her father. I loved the Spanish culture that was very present in this story. Everything was done so well. 

This book was beautiful.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher:Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Pages: 352
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Review

Honestly, this book wasn't quite what I was expecting given the synopsis. Sure her *5* "love letters" get mailed out but I think the part about "causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters" and "she learns to deal with her past loves face to face" is an exaggeration. There wasn't a whole lot of confronting going on, or dealing with past loves. 

Truthfully this story is about two boys; one she thinks she loves, and one she pretends to love. When Josh, her long-time best friend and sister's ex-boyfriend, gets one of her letters, Lara Jean saves face by pretending to be in a relationship with Peter, her first kiss and now popular boy. Peter of course agrees to be in a pretend relationship with Lara Jean to make his ex girlfriend jealous. And in this pretend relationship, Lara Jean has all sorts of new experiences and discovers all sorts of new feelings. 

But despite feeling a little deceived and a little disappointed, I still liked this book. And here's why:

• After I got over my initial shock that this one wasn't quite what I expected it to be, I thought I had the plot line figured out, but found myself surprised again at the direction this book took. But this time in a good way. 
• Lara Jean's family is amazing and has a super close bond. After losing their mother Lara Jean and her two sisters, Margot and Kitty make sure to take care of their father. They all take really good care of each other and have an amazing relationship. But then Margot hops the pond to go to school in Scotland and Lara Jean has to step up and the family has to settle into a new routine. It was great to observe. 
• The battle of the boys was fun. Peter and Lara Jean couldn't be more opposite so it was interesting to watch them try to fake a relationship. And the complicated dynamic with Josh kept  me wondering too. 
• Although I couldn't exactly relate to Lara Jean, she is shy and a little boring, I liked watching her come into her own, and step out of her comfort zone a bit. 

Anyway, I picked this one up because I wanted to read a light contemporary and that is exactly what I got. This is a cutesy book, maybe even a little silly, but has a solid storyline. I'm not sure how well it will hold up against other contemporaries, but it's worth giving it a shot.