Book Blather

Perry Stormaire is a normal high school senior– he is busy applying to college and rehearsing with his band –until he agrees to go to the prom with the Lithuanian exchange student who is staying with his family. It turns out that Gobi Zaksauskas is not the mousy teenager that she seems but rather an attractive, confident trained assassin. Instead of going to the prom, Perry finds himself on a wild ride through the streets of New York City as Gobi commandeers the Jaguar his father lent him for the prom in order to take out her targets. Perry learns a lot about himself – and ends up with some amazing material for his college application essays.

Short of it: The cover for this one is a bit deceiving, but hands down it’s a perfect boy book. Full of action, blood, and a lot more I really enjoyed this fast paced book.

Plot: Oh man, talk about going from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds. I have this habit of not knowing what a book is about before going in/guessing the plot from the cover and Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick was not at all what I was expecting. I thought it maybe some chick-lit adventure book, but oh was I ever wrong. Adventure, yes. Chick-lit, oh heck no.

Perry’s prom night will surely be one he’ll never forget. Let’s skip the fact that he didn’t even want to go in the first place, but instead of dancing under twinkling lights he’s becomes an accomplice on a killing spree. Sure, these men may not be “good” guys, but Perry is hardly thrilled to be helping out. Not only does he have to get a handle on the whole murder thing, but he also has to figure out exactly who Gobi is and why she’s on this mission. Gore, action, drugs, under-cover rings…well this book has about everything. The plot truly sucked me in and kept me there until the very end.

The only thing that bothered me a little was the admission scene at the end. I know he was on the waiting list, but by May he should have known if he was in or not. His essay and everything else should have been submitted way before this event ever happened. He should not have been submitting (resubmitting?) anything this late in the game. He should have been choosing classes, dorms, and orientations. I know it may be a small detail, but one I thought was worth mentioning nonetheless.

Character: For the most part, Perry is your typical high school senior. It’s a typical situation of following the path your parents set for you or the path you want. Perry’s father wants him to follow in his footsteps by going to a prestigious school and becoming a lawyer, even though Perry’s true passion is music. Of course, like most kids in his situation, they’ll do anything to make their parents happy even if it makes them miserable. Gobi, is all her insanity, slowly gets Perry to realize this as the night progresses. I applauded Perry as he finally got the nerve to stand up to her father and do what he wanted to for a change. Of course, after the night he had been through, disappointing his father probably seemed like a walk in the park.

Romance: There is quite a bit of tension between Gobi and Perry once she turns from zero to hot, assassin babe. Honestly, I’m not sure why, but this somehow worked for me. Who cares if Gobi is 24 or if she made him an accomplice in murder. Could I see it being anything long term? Oh, heck no. But a fling caused from a shared experience? I would almost bet on it.

Writing: Schreiber creates a fast paced and tightly woven story in under 200 pages. Within the first couple of chapters I was hooked and didn’t want to stop until I was finished. I liked the essay questions that each chapter started with, however, some of them didn’t quite fit and felt a little out of place. Still, it was a nice addition, especially how the book ends. And from what I can tell they were true college essay questions. Overall, I enjoyed Schreiber’s style and look forward to any other YA books he publishes.

Librarian-Mode: This is a great boy book and will work well for anyone who likes action books/films. I’ve been in a film/book match mindset lately (I blame Fab Films!) and the entire time I read this one thought it would be a perfect pairing for Boondock Saints. Book wise, I did agree with the Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist pairing. Yes, the plots are completely different, but I think that fast-paced, New York crazy adventure style gives them a similar feel that fans will enjoy.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else decide which book I read for English. And whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

The Short of It: A fast read that ultimately quite fun. I had a bit of trouble with the predictability and some depth issues, but overall enjoyed it.

Plot: I suppose you could say this book is a cautionary tale about doing the right thing. Brooklyn’s life is a mess and is in a complete downward spiral, mainly due to her “best friend” aka puppeteer. The same best friend who lets her take the fall for a crime they both committed. Brooklyn is let off the hook easy with community service hours in a, wait for it, nursing home. Why must community service always be in a nursing home? One were they’re paired up with a grouchy old person who they end up connecting with. Tell me, when does this happen in real life? Yes, it’s sweet, but so overused. The blog was a fun aspect. Something I can see someone, especially a teen, doing. In fact, I’m pretty sure it has been done on a lesser scale (like choosing what I’m wearing today). I’ll even say I can say the choices were ultimately believable. Not because they were the “right” thing, but because they landed Brooklyn in embarrassing/no fun situations like being on the debate team, trying out for rugby, and skipping a hot club opening. Brody was pushing that her voters were pointing her in the right direction, and maybe some of them were, but I doubt most of them were. Of course, there’s no saying how many of her voters were teenagers. Perhaps some were adult-ish age who would point her in the right direction. The only true issue I had with the book is that Brody glossed over some serious issues. I felt like she could have done so much more with those conflicts, especially where Mrs. Moody and her son were concerned since she was in the majority of the book. I felt like the issue with her sister was needlessly thrown in as another way to show Brooklyn that no one was perfect. Brody could have shown this many other ways that she could have brushed by easy, but the issue she choose really deserved a little more page time. (Sorry for being vague, I’m trying not to give anything major away.)

Characters: Brooklyn overall is a very likable character. Even when she is being stupid, you can’t help but root for her. She can be a bit bratty at times, but the majority of the time she is funny and even a bit charming. I enjoyed seeing her transformation from being a stuck-up princess to someone who is more down to earth and caring. It was nice to see her find her footing and discover who she really was. It was kind of ironic to see her go from one person telling her what to do to a couple of dozen, but at least the blog readers sent her in the right direction. And in the end, she was finally ready to follow her own destiny rather than let others decide it for her. She got several cheers from me when she finally reached that point. I was left with the feeling that she would continue down that road and would end up at a happy future.

Romance: Ah, the classic bad, charming boy verse the geeky, loser boy. I hate ruin who she ends up with, so I won’t say much on it. However, the outcome was is quite predicable. I could see who she would end up almost from the start. Not only does one get so much more page time, but he also fits better into her lifestyle. That being said, I’m glad she ended up with who she ended up with. He’s cute, charming, and will definitely treat her like a true princess and an equal at the same time. Their scenes were hands down my favorite and would have liked to see them together even more than they were.

Writing: Beyond what I’ve already talked about, I have no issues with Brody’s writing. Her books have this charming quality that makes them likable even if they do have a few issues. She does well at pacing and has created another fast, witty read that most middle school/early high school girls will eat up.

Librarian-Mode: I would definitely hand over Brody’s other book The Karma Club to anyone who liked this one. Beyond that I would consider Tweetheart by Elizabeth Rudnick, Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson, and Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do in Europe by Jane Harrington. So, now it’s your turn…have you read My Life Undecided? If so, be sure to let me know what you thought.

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

The Short of It: I had a lot of fun with this one. There is nothing groundbreaking about this novel, but it’s highly entertaining and perfect for Veronica Mars fans.

Plot: Deadly Cool is your typical who-dun-it plot-wise. The storyline is rather predictable, but I can’t remember the last time I read or watched a murder mystery where I wasn’t able to pick out the murderer before the reveal. However, the tone of the book is what sets it apart from other mysteries. It’s not dark or scary or even remotely creepy. In fact, it’s got a lot of humor in it. While it is predictable, it still has a few nice twists thrown in, especially towards the end and is overall quite enjoyable.

Characters: Hartley is what sold this book for me. She’s sassy, independent, and not afraid to follow her instincts. Hands down reminds me of Veronica Mars. Granted, she’s not quite kick-butt as VM yet, but I’ll be interested to see if that changes as the series continues. I love that Hartley wasn’t willing to go back to her ex, even when he tried over and over. Yes, she was tempted, but she stuck her ground and refused to “restart” things with him. She makes a lot of blunders along the way, but I see her detective skills only getting better as time goes by.

Romance: Honestly, there isn’t much romance in this one. She breaks up with Josh when he finds out he’s cheating. Yes, she’ll clear his name and still has some feelings for him, but she won’t be going back to him. I know we don’t see much of Josh, but overall he feels like a douche to me, so I’m glad he’s out of the picture.

There is a little tension with bad boy, Chase, but that’s basically where it stays. There is one hilarious scene in his bedroom and a little flirting, but it doesn’t go beyond that for these two. However, I can see that changing in the next book, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Writing: Deadly Cool is full of great lines. I kept reading certain parts aloud to my friends so they could experience the greatness as well. Don’t believe me? Check out the opening lines:

There are three things you never want to find in your boyfriend’s locker: a sweaty jockstrap, a D minus on last week’s history test, and an empty condom wrapper. Lucky me, I’d hit the trifecta.

And it only gets better from there. There were several times I laughed out loud because of something Hartley said or did. Halliday scores a home run with Hartley’s voice and I can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Librarian-Mode: Okay, admittedly I don’t read many mysteries; one of my weak spots in reader’s advisory. But I don’t know that this truly fits in with typical mysteries. I tend to think this one may play well with the Pretty Little Liars fans, though. It’s also a perfect recommendation for those who love Veronica Mars or Castle.

So, now it’s your turn…have you read Deadly Cool? If so, be sure to let me know what you thought.

Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?

Plot: There is something about the strive for perfection that I can relate to. I suppose that we can all relate to. That balance between becoming what your parents wish and what you wish is tricky. And when you’re 16…17…18…it’s hard to make your parent see you are more than just a silly child and that your dreams are not fantasies. While the means to get there may be different, the basic strive to perfect is fundamentally the same.

Out of four character Hopkins presents, Cara was my favorite. I related to her struggle the most out of all of them. I kind of adored all the scenes with Dani and the way she sent Cara’s world upside down (in a mainly good way.) Had I been reading the print version, I would have had to force myself not to skip ahead to her parts. I hate everything she is put through due to Sean, but I love the way that Dani helps her through, too. I believe out of the four she is the one that grew the most through the story and has one of the most hopeful, bright futures ahead of her. Among all the sadness she somehow finds a way to be who she really is.

I would be remiss not to mention Andre. He came in pretty close behind Cara as my favorite, although, I felt like he had the least to overcome. Still, I love how he had a good head on his shoulders and was by far the most grounded. Love may have made him do crazy things, but he never lost that cool, level headed thinking. His dreams may not line up with his parents, but he that making money wasn’t all there was to life. The whole doing what you love above all and you’ll find a way to pay the bills is a message I try to sell daily. Andre’s parent may not be happy, but he’ll go far–and maybe even earn his own mansion on the hill.

Audio: Hopkins has a way with words that truly makes her the Queen of Verse. Perfect is no exception, and for me, was brought to a whole new level via the audio book. Hearing the words spoken aloud really turned up the wow factor. With each character having their own distinct voice, they became real like, tangible, as if I were listening to one of my best friends talk.

I will admit there was a little confusion as to who was who at first, especially between Cara and Kendra, but once I had the voices down I was set. Honestly, I’m not sure if the mix-up would have disappeared so fast if I had been reading the print version; if only because Kendra and Cara were so closely tied together/had a lot in common. For example, they were both cheerleaders, both popular, and both loved Connor. However, their paths to perfection are quite different so I would have gotten it straight, but hearing their voices made it much easier.

My only complaint about doing audio for Perfect is I missed the different typography that Hopkins brings to her novels. I was able to pick up some in the way she ended and began a character with the same word/ideas, but the rest just doesn’t translate to audio. While the audio worked brilliantly nor do I regret choosing it over print, but I do plan on flipping through a print version to see what subtle messages Hopkins added through it.

Have you read Perfect? If so, be sure to let me know what you thought!

When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill: Each year all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination .

It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called ArtimÉ. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.

But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of ArtimÉ that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

Plot: The tagline says Harry Potter meets Hunger Games, but I’m not quite sure it fits. I’ve been saying The Unwanteds is what would happen if Matched, Unwind, & Harry Potter had a baby. While there were elements that I had seen in other books, nothing quite like what McMann brought to life. A world that almost instantly drew me in and didn’t let go. The story was fast paced and enjoyable from start to end. Alex can be moody and whiny at times, but he and his group of friends were great characters. I kind of wish the friends, especially Samheed and Lani, had gotten more page time, but overall they were a nice rounded group.

I think the other thing I would have liked to seen more of was Quill and maybe even ArtimÉ. Don’t get me wrong McMann paints a decent picture of both, but I would have liked to have seen the people/creatures/things in each world a little more. We actually see very little of Quill. It is mainly through flashbacks and through Aaron’s eyes, which both felt a little jaded to me. I would have like to have seen the world through Samheed’s eyes a bit more–he was one of the few characters who had loved Quill, but wasn’t a complete monster. With ArtimÉ, there was just so much. I would have liked to learn more about the past student/families and the various creatures that lived there. And OH, the blackboards. I could have done with a lot more interaction with them!

The battle that comes is of no surprise. McMann foreshadows that almost from page one. However, the twist and turns that happen during the battle are nice. There were several things I had not seen coming and was pleasantly surprised, even if it did wrap the plot up into a nice little bow. I’m not sure if McMann is planning to turn this into a series, there is certainty room to, but works well as a stand-alone. And while a little on the larger side, I think this quick read is perfect for MG reluctant readers.

Audio/Narrator: There is something to be said about good narrators. Often they are what make an audio book and Simon Jones is no exception. There were a couple of his voices that took me a bit to get used to — like Simba’s and a couple women’s voices — but once I did they worked perfectly. Ms. Octavia was probably my favorite voice; the southern sweet drawl he used fit her like a glove. The different voices Jones used helped distinguish the character and really brought them and the world to life. I enjoyed his narration/story so much I even brought the discs into work with me one day so I could continue to listen.  It goes without saying that I would happily listen to any book that he narrates in the future.

Have you read/listened to The Unwanteds? If so, be sure to let me know what you thought!