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So sweet and glamorous and fun! A really good, light summer read.

The tone of this novel is so dark and bleak and mysterious that opening the book to a new page feels like crawling into a bed draped in red velvet and black satin while a thunderstorm rages outside your window over the sea. Yeah, its that depressing. There is not mistaking the tone of "Rebecca", that wasn't the issue. I had issues with the total lack of a cohesive theme. The beginning was slow but I warmed to it quickly. The young, unnamed protagonist, an orphan charge of a wealthy and insufferable woman named Mrs. Van Hopper, falls unexpectedly in love with Max de Winter while attending her mistress in Monte Carlo. She agrees to marry him and is whisked off on a short honeymoon before going back to Max's estate in the West Country, Manderley. Mrs. de Winter tries hard to draw Max into a loving and fulfilling relationship, but she soon learns that Max's first wife Rebecca still haunts the halls with her larger-than-life presence after he accidental drowning a year before. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, seems to hate Mrs. de Winter, and she wonders why her presence as the new wife seems to unwelcome at Manderley. Nothing is what it seems to be, and Mrs. de Winter discovers the secret behind Rebecca and Max's relationship, which could ruin their future as man and wife. There is really no comment on the protagonist because she has absolutely no voice and no real role in the novel. She reminds me of Nick in "The Great Gatsby"- a narrator who is more of an observer than a central character. She is very meek and deferential and we really don't know much about her. I know it is central to the novel that she is pushed aside and not given anything to do, but I was waiting for her to gain a voice and stand up for herself, and it never really happened. I'm glad there was some hope for her and Max at the end, because for most of the novel, the tone just made everything feel doomed from the start. I had trouble grasping what this novel was really about. Was it a tragic romance, with the young couples' love hindered by the foreboding dead first wife, or was it a crime mystery? It only reminded me of "Jane Eyre" in tone, not in plot. I gave this novel four stars because of the parts of the novel when Mrs. de Winter believes she will never be able to take the place of Rebecca. There was so much sadness and despair, and the writing was so beautiful, and I really felt for the narrator. But then everything changed and I had no real reason to feel bad, and that sort of ruined my reading experience. This is a weird book. The imagery of Manderley is so gorgeous and vivid; I felt like I was really there for some parts. But the plot was too twisty and there was no unified conflict from start to finish. I don't think I'd read it again, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. It was well-written, but the plot twist didn't impress me.

Awhile ago I got into watching old Siskel & Ebert movie review clips on Youtube, and one of the films they reviewed was Two Men and a Little Lady. I remember Ebert said he felt terrible for saying it, but that he really didn't like the actress who played the titular little lady. Siskel agreed, but they were laughing, because you're never supposed to dislike a kid, right? They're small, cute, innocent...they didn't do anything to us. But, alas. I am not a saint. I thought Jack was annoying as a narrator. That is the sort of comment I really hate when other people make, because it negates the entire purpose of the book. It means that I missed the point completely. This is definitely a novel that is based more on craft and perspective than on subject, but the problem is, I really cared more about the subject. Room is a novel told from the perspective of 5-year-old Jack, who's mother (called only Ma) was kidnapped at age 19 and forced to live in an eleven-by-eleven shed in the backyard of a psychopath. Jack's whole world is Room--he eats his meals, bathes, watches TV, and learns how to read and write in Room. He doesn't know anything else--but Ma certainly does, and she plans to get them out of there. Ma is one of the most interesting, intelligent, and inspirational characters I've read in a long time. She's insanely inventive, making games and lessons for her son, raising him to be a loving and kind person while she is being raped in captivity for seven years. We are always on her side--her hope is fierce and we can sense her urgency and panic. She never once falters in her need to get out of the room, and we experience her desperation through Jack. We are rooting so badly for them to get out of there that it is incredibly hard to be sympathetic towards Jack, who does not want to leave the safety of his Room. Ma exudes this sort of endless strength that we don't often get from characters, especially characters who have been through trauma. Ma survived the Room and gained her freedom, and I often wished that she was just the narrator of this story and it was a contemporary lit/thriller type of novel. Having a child narrator is an ambitious and difficult feat, especially in an adult novel. And the main issue I have is with the pacing. It takes a long time for Jack to grasp ideas--stairs, pancake syrup, buying things at the store, playing on a playground--and instead of being involved with him, I got easily bored. There was also so much repetition, which makes sense for a little boy who lived by such a structured daily schedule, but we can only hear about him peeing/pooing/"having some" (breastfeeding) so many times before it gets annoying. And this is not a fault in writing or the story, but a fault in the reader--I just don't have the patience for this type of narration. Narration and pacing issues aside, this novel touches on so many topics that really can't be dealt with outside the situation, which was interesting. For example, Jack was raised by a loving and kind mother in a world with only two people, so there are things in our world--families of different races, the concept of divorce and step-parents, same-sex couples, people with mental illness--that do not faze him at all. One could argue that if raised in the right homes, all children can see the world that way, but over time, the world influences children and teaches them to parrot back bigotry and prejudice they see on the news, hear at school, etc. Jack is more concerned about why he cannot breastfeed anymore or why he cannot hug his brand-new friend at the library. Without Jack narrating, this story would easily fall into the legal drama/revenge thriller type novel, filled with lawyers and police officers and courtroom scenes. Part of me wouldn't mind this story in that setting. But the other part of me knows that this is the type of story we will read again and again, in the news and on the book shelves, but it will never be told quite this way again--focused on adaptation, new beginnings, and the overcoming of fear. I may not have liked Jack, but I've certainly never read anything like this.

I've had this book for years but I've just bothered to read it now. It held my interest, even though I think the demographic is a little below my age. It is just my kind of book (I love dystopian fiction). I'll definitely read the sequels, since I have no idea how it will end.

This one started off a little slow but it really got intense and action-packed. It was even a little bit scary at times! The last 100 pages were so gripping, I read them in about half an hour, and I almost cried. I can't wait to start the next one!

I took a chance after reading all of the nice things everyone said about this novel, and I am so, so glad I did. This book, a strange intertwining tale that links kleptomaniac Sasha with past-his-prime punker Bennie, reads more like an enthralling volume of short stories, reminding me of JD Salinger's tales- they include the same cast of characters and allude to many others, past and future, but it always makes sense and it always has meaning. This is, in no way, a silly book or a light read. This novel depressed the hell out of me many times with heavy losses of family, hope, and dreams that absolutely crush the many characters of this book. At times I felt like Egan didn't care about her characters, the way she would so subtly add a paragraph about how a prominent character had committed suicide years later or had a divorce or lost a job or sold their body, but I realized that these characters weren't just fiction, they were real people with real stories that had to be told, and Egan let us down as gently as she could after we got so attached to them. This was not a lightweight book, and it tells us that even fictional characters don't always get happy ending. But alas, many times I felt tears spring to my eyes as one of those many characters, after so many years (and chapters) of struggle and downfall and humiliation, rises up in the most unexpected and touching way possible. My favorite part of the novel by far was the part right in the middle that surrounded the story of Kitty Jackson, a struggling movie star, her manager Dolly, a woman whose career mistakes landed her a stint in jail and a lifetime of humiliation, an unnamed foreign general being accused of genocide, and an aging, cynical journalist named Jules Jones who somehow pulls these people back to the story of Bennie and Sasha. Their story, which seemed the most disconnected from the rest of the novel but also the most interesting by far, hit me in a way that no reading has hit me before. It was inspiring. It was imaginative. It was so, so smart. And it worked- on its own and with the rest of the novel. This book will make you think because it doesn't really have a point. Much of the action is reflections of times past instead of current events, and many of the people don't mean anything until you think back and realize that they were mentioned once in chapter two or something like that. Every single sentence in this novel has a purpose, which is astounding to me. Everything meant something. To me, one of the themes of this novel is that everything happens for a reason. A decision that you make can affect so many others in so many ways, and you may not even know it. Maybe others didn't get that out of this novel, but after thinking on a long car ride today, I feel like I worked out this jigsaw puzzle of a book. This book had energy, and music, and history, and even elements of a slightly dystopian future. This book had everything I wanted and everything I needed, and this book was absolutely thrilling and amazing. I fell in love with it.

Another amazing book that I couldn't put down! I love the incredibly colorful cast of diverse and interesting characters and seeing how they all connect. I also love how the HP books advance in writing style and content as the characters grow up. I'm so glad that I finally gave this series a chance. (I must say though- I liked the third book a little better because of the whole Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew drama. But this book was still absolutely amazing and enthralling. I also cried!)

I love getting lost in this world so much that I fear the end of it. I stayed in the bathtub for an hour and a half to finish it tonight, barely breathing for the last few chapters, so engrossed in tales of Hippogriffs and dark magic and time-traveling and so many other wonderful things that make me so happy. These books make me feel like a child again, and I especially loved this one.

Another really great book that I could barely stop reading from beginning to end! This one was even more exciting than the first. I am rrally interested to learn more about the whole Parseltongue thing, and I love reading about the past at Hogwarts and all of the heroes and villians. I am starting the third tonight!

Well, about ten years too late, I've read the first Harry Potter novel. And guess what? I found it quite enjoyable. I was never bored, often enchanted, sometimes giggling, and always interested. I'm really excited to get sucked into the rest of the novels like everyone else!

Two words about "Soulless" and the entire "Parasol Protectorate" series: New. Obsession. I am not even lying, I am head over heels in love with everything about this book. I bought "Soulless" over a year ago (at Border's Books, so you know I waited awhile!) and I just got around to reading it now, and wow, am I glad I did! This is a great female-power, hilarious, imaginative, colorful, delightfully British, steampunk, sci-fi brilliant, deliciously sexy book, and I am pretty much drooling to get my hands on the rest of the series! The story begins with the scrumptious Miss Alexia Tarabotti, a half-Italian spinster at the ripe old age of 26, and her unfortunate slaying of a strange vampire at a fancy party (which was disappointly devoid of snacks) with her silver-tipped parasol. She is a preternatural, which means she cancels out the supernatural characteristics of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts when she touches them, but it also means that she is unfortunately devoid of a soul. She is also a bad-ass. She's pretty much the queen of WHATEVA WHATEVA I DO WHAT I WANT and she is a total nerd, super-smart when it comes to science and history. She often butts heads the with Lord Connall Maccon, a BUR agent and the Earl of Woolsey, as well as the alpha werewolf of his pack. The vampire Alexia killed is a rove, not belonging to any hive, which is a mystery to Alexia and Lord Maccon. They find out that several young, unaccounted-for vampires and werewolves have gone missing, and the presence of a strange wax-faced man might be the source. Alexia is soon sought out by several parties for her rare preternatural state, which doesn't bode well for her. Through all of this mystery and confusion, Alexia still finds time to be absolutely perfect. The girl is brilliant and curious, never one to sit back and let the men talk, and she has many fabulous friends, including the flamboyant vampire Lord Akeldama and the fashion-challenged Miss Ivy Hisselpenny. She's a total science nerd and always wants to know how things work, and she loves talking to other science-minded folks. She isn't crazy about her family, but as long as she's left with her library, she does okay for herself, and she enjoys walking in the park and dancing. She loves food unashamedly and I wholeheartedly agree with her opinion that all good parties should have refreshments. She loves a good argument, which is great, because she finds herself the object of Lord Maccon's desire- and disdain. Let's talk about the relationship between Alexia and Connall, shall we? Two more words- PANTY DROPPER. I normally don't get off on books and erotica. I can enjoy it, sure, but it has to have really great characterization and storylines to make me really get into it. The relationship between Alexia and Connall, two people who are both dominant and snarky and brilliant and strong and awesome, is so steamy and hot and clever and well-written, and it is a romance that is NOT based on archaic misogynistic principles, and it is everything I've ever wanted in a fictional romance. I love, love, LOVE it. Everything about it. I love the romance, I love the way Carriger writes urban fantasy, I love every odd and quirky character (Professor Lyall and Ivy make me smile), and I love how I am ordering the four remaining novels from Amazon tomorrow. I recommend this book to any stylish, bad-ass feminista fantasy lover who wants a new heroine and a new fave fictional couple, along with a great new fantasy world to explore. I read this in less than two days- if that says anything about how addictive this book is, you'll give it a chance.

I feel like a bad fantasy fan because I enjoyed this book mainly for the lack of sci-fi action scenes and the addition of more interaction between the characters I love so much. I think Clare has a talent for dialogue and characterizations, and that is what draws me most to her books. The action scenes and fantasy plots are fantastic, but Clare is multi-talented. I was laughing, crying, and loving this book. But to be honest, I'm getting a little bored with the series, and I'm getting really bored with Jace. I love the story but I'm ready for some sort of closure.

Well, if you've paid attention to my reviews of the two previous novels in the "Mortal Instruments" series, you'd know that I was kind of over the moon about them. I still stand by the fact that they are intriguing, sexy, and fun, but I simply cannot gush in the same way, because a peculiar event occured between the time I read the second book and this book. You see, I read the Harry Potter books for the first time, and realized that much of the "Mortal Instruments" material was shamelessly ripped off from Harry Potter. I know, I know, I am seriously the last person to figure this out, but still, it is kind of disappointing. I thought this series was so imaginative, but really, it is mostly recycled into something a little more mature and romantic. That being said, I will not abandon these books, or any other books by Cassandra Clare. I still love the story, I love Clary, I love Luke and Simon and Isabelle and Alec. The characters are truly original. And Clare really knows how to capture the teenage voice and use it in a funny and realistic way. Is this a truly original series? No. But it still makes me read fast and want more, which is fine by me.

Another serious win for teen fantasy novels right now! I believe we no longer have to be ashamed of our vampire/werewolf/warlock/witch/demon/angel fiction anymore. This book series is really great, I'm not joking. Its daring, sexy, scary, interesting, heartbreaking, multidimensional, moving, and wonderfully imaginative. I love to lose myself in a city where warlocks wear leather pants and satin tracksuits and your best friend turns into a vampire. This book is alarmingly realistic since we already live in the world- we just have to imagine the supernatural parts. Clary, the female protagonist who is struggling with a new life as a Shadowhunter and trying to keep her old life close to her heart, is really a great character because she is so average! She loves to draw and wears regular teen girl clothes and has a best friend she watches anime with, she loves her mother and her "uncle" and does what it takes to keep her and her loved ones safe. She is also completely admirable because she isn't one of two regular teen fiction stereotypes- the shy virgin or the slut. She makes out with guys she likes a lot and doesn't feel ashamed, she just does it, and I love that! I think we would be great friends if she wasn't, you know, fictional. Now onto the juicy stuff. The action in these books is up to par with fight scenes in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, it is suspenseful and scary and never gets dull or repetitive. The demons and Silent Brothers and actually quite scary (my favorite scene in the first book is still Clary killing her first demon, I can't wait to see how that will be done in the movie) and I wish I had the imagination that Cassandra Clare has. Valentine is truly destined to be a classic fantasy villain- he's a big, evil, powerful, manipulative asshole who needs to be taken down. The boat scene in this book had me on the edge the whole time, which is hard because I rarely read action/fantasy books. This one definitely delivered on the thrills. Now let's talk about Alec. I'm proud of Alec (hell, I'm proud of Cassandra Clare) because I've never met someone like him before. By that I mean I haven't read a gay teen boy in a YA fiction novel who is anything other than GAY, you know what I mean? Alec is strong. He is afraid of being a Shadowhunter sometimes. He fights like a BA. He loves his family to death. He can be a little bit of an asshole. But he is also struggling with keeping his sexuality and relationship with Magnus Bane under wraps. I love how he gets true storylines that do not revolve around his sexuality but he is still portrayed as a moving and troubled gay character. I have high hopes for Alec in this series. The negatives? Few and far between. Something I don't really like about a lot of YA books is how authors never give the female protagonist female friends. Clary even says that she's never had true girl friends. Why is this? Is it that stupid, untrue stereotype that female friends only cause drama and are hard to deal with? I love my girlfriends more than anything, they are the most important people in my life, and I would kill for them. Even tomboys have female friends. It just seems pretentious to me, like she only hangs out with boys, la-di-da, too good for dumb chicks. Not a fan of that. I thought at the beginning of this novel that I was going to get bored with all of the new characters, but that ended up being false- I love all of them. Now I'm just nitpicking because I don't have many complaints about this book. Also, pseudo-incest. Drama fantasy complete, case closed, she's done her job. I'm officially obsessed. Can't wait to buy the next two and devour them in a week this summer!

The way I felt reading the "Lord of the Rings" books is the way I feel reading "Graceling". There are some super wild action parts, and then there is a lot of walking and a lot of waiting. This is LAME. But this book wasn't all lame. "Graceling" is a teen fantasy (true fantasy with castles and princesses) about a young woman named Katsa who is "graced" with the ability to fight to survive. She is strong and powerful, but this gift hasn't always been easy to live with. Her cruel and selfish uncle, King Randa, seeks to use her grace for his own purposes, and when Katsa dares to defy his wishes, she leaves his palace for further pursuits. Her new friend, Po, is a Lienid fighter whose grandfather was kidnapped by the evil King Leck. They set out to discover the truth and to save Leck's young daughter, Bitterblue. Po and Katsa grow to love each other, but Katsa doesn't know how to deal with Po's secret, powerful grace. I've read a lot of reviews that trash Katsa and say she's not a feminist character, which I don't understand. Katsa is not perfect and she closes herself off, but she is also complex and very vulnerable. Something I really enjoyed about this book was the sisterhood Katsa held with other women. Too many YA books have these teen girls who hate other girls for petty reasons and only dote on men. Katsa has a strong sense of protection and a great love for other girls. Her love scenes with Po were very emotional, but I also loved the tender teaching moments between her and Bitterblue and the begrudging mother-daughter relationship with Helda. She wants to save and protect and she refuses to sit down and let others take care of her problems. She lives in a patriarchal setting but has a decidingly unfeminine grace, which makes her a powerful protector of the other women who may not have her gifts and skills. I loved Katsa and I admire her. Like I said, this book has slow parts. It reminded me of "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins or "Crossed" by Ally Condie. There was just too much transition and it got a little dull. But the ending was great although quite sad. This book will surprise you, and I definitely recommend it, especially to young fantasty fans. I'm nervous about reading the sequels, because I heard they have nothing to do with this book. I want to read more about Katsa and Po! But I would love reading about other graced characters. I'd give the other books a shot.

Eh, this seemed like more of a quick, trashy read than anything else. While it covered important and realistic LGBT topics maturely, I felt like it was written for teenage girls to woo at instead of for teenage boys to learn from. Entertaining but not groundbreaking.

I really loved this book. It was imaginative and completely new- I've never read anything quite like it. Thom is an incredibly believable and sympathetic character, and the action and romance keeps you on your toes. This isn't a technically perfect novel, but what it lacks in convention it makes up for with heart, emotion, and style.

I'm going to be brutally honest and I may sound mean, but here it goes. This book was a drivel-driven, actionless, poorly written piece of junk. It made me never want to read zombie apocalypse books or Stephen King books ever again, it was that bad. Let me tell you why. First of all, it was one of those "step by step" books, meaning it had barely any emotion but every little bit of motion is described in dull detail. I didn't get to know any of the characters at all, even though I loved the realtionship between Clay, Tom, and Alice. I wish there were more sentimental scenes and less poorly-thought-out conversations where the characters unrealistically hatch out hypothesis and theories that are only there to help the reader figure out what is going on. I think I'm a little spoiled by other great apocalypse/horror/zombie books, because this novel lacked the emotional depth and feeling of isolation that so many other books possess. It really just wasn't a good piece of fiction. I never felt suspense, I was always bored and waiting for something to happen, I rolled my eyes at cheesy dialogue, and I wondered why a horror mastermind like Stephen King would even bother publishing this. I just can't see the genius who wrote "It" and "Christine" in this book.

Ah, to have friends such as these. <3 Must-read for all teen girls.

One of the only novels that I know of that can be described as a "children's mystery". This was such a wonderful story that I loved as a little girl, I will surely revisit it in years to come.

One of my very favorite "fairy tales" as a little girl! This really is the perfect novel for kids. The heartwarming, heartbreaking tale of little Sara Crewe is one that all ages can enjoy. I certainly loved it! This is a very engrossing and adeventurous read, and it will supply many wild princess (and servant) fantasies and fun games for little girls forever.

Marking this book as "read" makes me realize that I remember A) Loving it, B) Not reading the third in the series, and C) Not remember a whole lot from it. I seriously need to read this book again, I remember being totally drawn into it.

I read this book for my Ebglish class in sixth grade, which in my opinion was too old for the novel. It was cute, and I didn't hate reading it. But I don't think it was a very positive book for young adults, especially girls. I don't really like how the boy didn't want her then he did suddenly, and of course it ends up all hunky-dory and such. Not a favorite of mine.

Come on...if you are a girl between the ages of 10 and 80, there is no reason not to have read this book. This novel embodies the excitement of getting your first period, your first bra, your first everything involving your body. It was exciting, admit it. You remember those days. Reading this book at a certain age starts to let the magic loose a little, so I recommend it to young girls. And I'm not a huge fan of Blume's adolescent books because much of the sexual terms, practices, and behaviors are incredibly dated. But it does bring back fun memories.

I started out really, really hating this book, but I stuck with it. By the end, I didn't love it, but I can understand how people would like a teen book with such an epic scope. "Going Bovine" is about a teenage boy named Cameron who, after a series of perplexing hallucinations involving pink-haired angels and fire monsters, is diagnosed with mad cow disease. After such a short and generally sucky life, Cameron is going to die. I didn't feel a whole lot of love towards Cameron to begin with- he seemed like a mopey little boy who was an ass to his parents, hated his part-time job, and wished the pretty popular girl would suck his dick. So, in other words, a totally average teenager. I hate when we are expected to have buckets of sympathy for a character who actually has it pretty well...like, buck up, kid. But after his diagnosis, we start panicking along with Cameron. He goes through all the feelings of someone who realizes he really hasn't lived much during his life. But, alas, this is a 500-page novel, so we know all is not for naught. Cameron meets Gonzo, a spastic kid with a hypochondriac mother, in the hospital, and Cameron realizes that he must find a mysterious Dr. X to save the world or some shit. The plot actually gets pretty contrived for awhile as this turns into Super Teen Adventures while Cameron and Gonzo escape the hospital and start looking for "signs" as to what they are supposed to do. I was pretty bored with this book for awhile, just because it felt very formulaic. First they go here and pick up a clue. Shenanigans happen here. They get a car and go to a party here. Trouble, uh-oh, we better go! It was basically 300 pages of this. I think Bray tried too hard to be quirky and surreal, putting these characters into all these wacky situations, but we never got real close to any of the passing characters or places, which just left me confused and exhausted. And I for one was NOT a fan of the part with Balder, even though I'm guessing he's a fan favorite for avid Bray readers. But at the part when they got to Daytona Beach, I started getting into the plot again. Things were going well for the characters- Cameron got his angel, Gonzo got his man, Balder got sent home- so we know the end is coming. And the end of this novel is very touching, well-written, and ambiguous enough to satisfy both optimistic and bitter readers alike. I just didn't connect with this novel because I didn't get the chance to become connected to these characters. In a book as long as this, you'd expect some kind of emotional connection, but it just moved way too fast.

I have a lot of respect for Alice Sebold for writing such a heartbreakingly truthful piece of non-fiction. It takes a lot of guts to write something so deeply personal, especially something as tragic as rape. Sebold is able to tell an intricate story with both bluntness and style, not sparing any details but adding a lot just with her writing style. Some parts went slowly, such as the parts in the courtroom, but they were needed for the novels' progression, so I understand. It was a very eye-opening book.

This a book that many of my friends hyped up quite a bit, so when I read it, I was actually a little disappointed. It was a very imaginative story and a really inventive idea, with a lot of true emotion. I liked the whole "one main character, one unseen voice" type of narration. We felt closer to Hannah than to Clay, which was a great change from other novels. I did think that this novel got to be melodramatic in spots and the ending didn't surprise me. I don't know why we were supposed to feel sorry for Clay, because he didn't do anything to help, but I suppose that's the point of the book- to get help before it is too late. It was alright, but not earth-shattering.

Wow, what a great classic children's book! I cried after reading this, cried sad little kid tears. It is a very magical and innocent story that will pull emotions from kids and adults alike.

I went to the library a few times when I was younger and got four or five books. Sometimes they were all bad, but sometimes, every single one was a keeper. This one was by far a keeper. I read it in one evening while I was babysitting my neighbors, so I probably wasn't the world's most efficient sitter, since I was so engrossed in this heartbreaking story of a rape victim who feels like she cannot tell her story. She secludes herself and dorwns in art and books and loneliness before finally realizing her courage, which is something all teen girls can relate to. I think I need to re-read this one again soon.

I'll say right now that the only reason I liked this play was because my English teacher made it really fun. She explained everything well, got to the point, kept us interested. I wouldn't have understood a sentence of this play without her help. But I did enjoy Lady Macbeth and her strength and will, and even her eventual craziness. I actually saw the play, too. Halfway through it my mom whispered, "I am in hell right now," then we left and got gyros and baklava.

This is easily in my top-ten favorite books list and it always will be. I read this entire novel in the bathtub one evening in eighth grade, the water turning cold and my toes wrinkling as I became engulfed in the heartbreaking tale of young Ponyboy Curtis, born into a wolrd where he didn't belong but couldn't abandon. I can't begin to list the good things about this book. It instills a sense of family values and sibling love, it has action that keeps you holding your breath until the next page, the characters are three-dimensional and very unique and fun (Johnny the sweetheart, Two-Bit the goofball, Cherry the princess, Sodapop the heartthrob), and I could relate to every sentence. I felt akin to the characters in this book, I felt like they were my friends, and I loved it. The fact that SE Hinton wrote the entire thing when she was younger than me makes the book all the more magical. I really recommend this to everyone- adults, kids, teens, rich, poor, whathaveyou. I will always have a special (golden) place in my heart for this novel.

I won't deny that I was obsessed with the Twilight series in seventh and eighth grade. I'm not that vain. But I will deny ever thinking that the romance between bella and Edward was anything but unhealthy, co-dependant, and downright creepy. This book ticks me off a little bit when I re-read it because the heroine is so mind-numbingly dull and slow. She cannot do a thing for herself, and it really sucks, because this generation needs a few more Katnisses and Hermiones and a few less Snow Whites. I did enjoy the fantasy elemtns- the werewolves, vampires, all that stuff. I really believe Meyer's fantasy world, she is a creative woman, I don't doubt that. She can blend fantasy, romance, and horror effectively. But is each genre perfect? Not by a long shot. This is the weak-link wishy-washy romancer of the saga, and I only recommend it if you are a Twihard. If not, you won't like it.

If I could give a fantasy novel more than 5 stars, I would definitely give this book about seven. Not since my slightly awkward Twilight days in middle school has a YA fantasy series captivated me to much. I bought this book four days ago and read about a hundred pages a day, completely lost in my own head in a land of Shadowhunters, vampires, glamours, werewolves, you name it. I've found a new strong, funny, interesting heroine in the stubborn Clary Fray, a drastic and welcome change from the weak and helpless Bella Swans on the literary world. I've found a new fictional hunk to adore in Jace and a new budding side-plot romance between Alec and Magnus (at least that's what I'm hoping, I've only read the first book, no spoilers!). I have literally become obsessed with these books already. The thing I really loved about this novel was the actual scare factor. I was actually a bit creeped out by the violent, macabre imagery, which is always a plus for me (I'm a horror junkie). This book was way scarier than the last novel I finished, Stephen King's "Cell". I really can't wait to read the next books...this series is truly magical.

I remember this as being my first "grown-up" book behind "Jewel" by Bret Lott and "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch, and I really enjoyed all three books. This book's hype was a little irritating, so the story was a little bit tired when I read it, but Picoult's natural writing talents and knowledge of the legal system really brought a lot of emotion into a much-hyped novel. I also knew the ending before I read it, which really wasn't a good thing since the ending was so moving and shocking. I suggest not reading it if you know the ending.

What a gorgeous setting for a classic fairy tale story! "Ash" is a retelling of Cinderella set, shockingly enough, in the actual setting and time period of the classic Cinderella story, but with a young woman falling in love with the king's huntress rather than Prince Charming. I was really excited to read this, since YA is still lacking in good stories with LGBT characters, especially in fantasy. And Malinda Lo did not disappoint. "Ash" follows the basic concepts of Cinderella- Ainsling is a young girl living in Rook Hill with her mother and father, growing up loving the fairy tales told by her mother, especially ones about young girls lured by the magic of fairies. Ash's mother dies and her father marries the selfish Lady Isobel, giving Ash two snotty stepsisters, Ana and Clara. Ash's father soon passes away, leaving Lady Isobel with his debts- and Ash. Ash is delegated to a servant's job, her only refuge the deep magical woods, where she meets a handsome fairy, Sidhean. Eager to escape her miserable life, she forms a bond with Sidhean, going against the tales about fairies being tricky and conniving. Ash then meets Kaisa, the strong and talented King's Huntress, and she is immediately enthralled. When Kaisa asks Ash on a hunt, Ash must makes compromises to go, including a deal with Sidhean. If he keeps granting her wishes, she belongs to him. And this doesn't bode well as Ash begins to fall in love with Kaisa. I loved the beautiful fantasy imagery of the novel, as lovely and sweet as any childhood fairy tale. The romance between Ash and Kaisa was also very sweet and innocent, but believable. "Ash" is a great novel for pre-teens, straight and LGBT alike, because it is a fresh, pretty, and more inclusive twist on a classic story we all know and love. It was a quick read and I think that it was aimed at a lower reading level than YA, but I really enjoyed it. It isn't the type of retelling you often see.

** spoiler alert ** So I have this little fantasy where I find Lauren DeStefano, wherever she may be, and I storm into whatever room she is occupying, and I throw my copy of "Wither" down on the table and scream, "NOW I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK!!" This is just a fantasy, of course, I'm not creepy. Or a stalker. Those things are bad. But I realized, as I begun this review, that I won't really be writing much of a review rather than a in-depth drawn-out analysis of a damn YA dystopian novel. So, get comfy. BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK. Let me begin by saying that this novel had the potential to be a very important book. Has anyone read a little novel called "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood? Yeah? Probably one of the most important novels written within the past century? "Wither" consistently reminded me of that book. Rhine Ellery, 16, is kidnapped by a bunch of men and married off to a wealthy young man named Governor Linden, whom she is expected to have children with. Her marriage is polygamous and she has three sister-wives. Rose, the eldest and first, is dying of old age at 20, because that is the cut-off in this new, dystopian world. They tried to make a world with no disease and they doomed their next generation, where women die at 20 and men die at 25 (an arrangement with implications that I don't really understand). Therefore, women are corraled like cattle and forced to marry into plural-wife households to have more children, so those children will grow and live to 20 or 25, and have more children, who will also die young. They are barely holding on to the threads of society. The problem? We have no idea who "they" are. This novel touches on a lot of subjects I actively seek out when looking for dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction. How can they further the human race when humans are dying so quickly? How do the dynamics between men and women change? Are women treated better or worse? Does religion/politics/money/disease factor into these changes? How much freedom are people given and how do power structures change? First of all, the dynamic between men and women most certainly changes, because men are seen as leaders ("Governors", which makes no sense) while women are seen as broodmares. Rhine, who was kidnapped and taken from her brother, wants to escape her new husband and her scary grandfather Vaughn, but she is kept under lockdown in her new house. So we accept that the conflict in this novel is to escape her new home, escape a short life of being raped and bred by an unwanted spouse, return to her brother, and die the way she wants to die- as a free woman. There you go. All the elements of a great YA dystopian novel. Adventure, intrigue, drama, and sadness. But then it got weird for me. Rhine has two new sister-wives who married Linden at the same time she did. Jenna, 18, watched her sisters die, and has accepted that she will die in two years in Linden's house, and she can hate him all she wants. Cecily, the youngest wife, is only 13. 13 years old. She grew up in an orphanage that bred girls for marriage, and she is obsessed with sex and babies, devouring the Kama Sutra and books about pregnancy. This is disturbing to me, and I know that DeStefano wants it to be scary as hell. I also know that DeStefano wants us to sympathize with Linden, the young husband, who is sheltered away from the harsh realities outside his home and has no idea what really happened to Rhine and his other wives. But then Linden has sex with young Cecily, and he has sex (quite happily) with Jenna, and then he makes advances towards Rhine, and I'm kind of over him. He isn't an innocent. He's a 21-year-old man who breeds with four different younger women and expects them each to fall in love with him in turn. I don't like him, I don't feel bad for him. He is also the enemy, and even if he's not evil, he is like the Commander in "The Handmaid's Tale"- he's a victim of this dystopia but he still holds a LOT of power over the women. We aren't supposed to fall in love with him, we're supposed to be cautious of him. Which brings me to the shift in conflict. As Rhine bides her time, Cecily gets pregnant, and things start shifting towards the girls needing have babies, and it comes off as creepy to me. Cecily complains to Jenna and Rhine that they need to start having babies so she doesn't have to have them all, and then Rhine walks in on a post-coital scene between Jenna and Linden where Jenna admits Linden has sex with her often in different positions to further the chance she'll have babies. These girls are being bred. Nothing more. They love each other, and they tell each other secrets, but in the end, they are being bred. That should make Rhine want to escape even more, but then she goes to a party with Linden, and she tells him she loves him, right after a really interesting scene- another "governor" has a young, pretty wife on each arm, twins, both pregnant, like in some fetish magazine. And then I wonder if the reader is supposed to be getting off on this a little. Because Rhine is scared, and she needs to get the hell out of there. Yet she cuddles with this husband, trusts him, tells him she loves him. And I, as the reader, cannot enjoy that. I want her to find Gabriel, the servant she plans to escape with, and run. But so much gets in the way before that (not to mention Rhine's multi-dimensional pride at being gifted "first-wife" status) that I can't enjoy the story until the end, when I breathe a sigh of relief. Now onto the very confusing power structure of this novel. In other dystopian novels, we have clearer motives for this polygamous prisoner-wife forced marriage situation. Sexism? Patriarchy? Religion? I needed some sort of explanation that never came. Was it the government forcing these children into marriage? The first generation elders? Was it legal or did people just look away and let it be? What seperated the rich and powerful's marriages from the poor's? It just seemed way to archaic and weirdly romantic to come off as harrowing dystopian turmoil. If Rhine had escaped and ran into the city, would she be protected by the government (if there even is a government system anymore) or would they turn her in? I needed a bigger villain. Sure, Vaughn is her warden, but who was controlling Vaughn? I had so many unanswered questions, yet all I seemed to read about was how Rhine looked so much like Rose that it made Linden all sad. Therefore, this novel failed to make a statement, which I think is the main point of any dystopian novel. There were positives, if you just look at the surface of the pretty book. The sisterhood between Rhine, Rose, Cecily, and Jenna was touching. I'm glad DeStefano decided to forego the rivalry and have them turn to each other for support. It was so sad to see these young girls in the winter of their lives- only a few years left to make a difference, and they were pampered prisoners. I gave this book four stars for many reasons, and the complicated connections between the girls was one of the most important. But if you're looking for a new, fresh book, this won't really impress. I went in wanting Rhine to absolutely burn down this mansion, run so fast, fight to the death and GET OUT. I thought that was the point. And then were are forced into this stuffy, scary, awkwardly sexual polygamous situation with a man I never liked or trusted, and the intense feeling this novel was supposed to produce just turned into suds. I wanted more. I wanted something smarter, something more complex. I guess I don't know why I expected that.

I've never had a whole lot of patience for the high fantasy genre, but "Empress" seriously blew me away. The novel starts with Hekat, a young girl sold into slavery by her highly abusive father, who slowly rises to higher and higher power through her bravery, strength, and sheer faith in her god. That is the simple summary- but this huge, 720 page tome of a story is too deep and too heavy to shorten into a simple paragraph. This is more than a rags-to-riches novel. This is a fantasy story, yes. But Hekat is not a traditional fantasy heroine, nor is she really a heroine at all. We start out sympathizing with her but we soon revere and fear her. She is 100% ruthless and always sure of herself, arrogant to the point of coming off as spiteful and coldhearted. She is highly manipulative and uses everything god gave her to come out on top. The way she sacrifices her body to Raklion warlord and devotes her entire being to make sure that her son Zandakar will rule the world absolutely astounds me. I don't really like Hekat but she is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read and I respect her. This book is full of very developed and interesting characters- I loved the earnest Vortka, the delusional Raklion, the slimy Abajai, the damaged Dmitrak, the tender-hearted Lilit, the honorable Hanochek, and the conflicted Zandakar. My favorites are Hekat and Vortka, though. Their relationship is so odd and fragile that we have no idea what they mean to each other but we want them to be happy. Another thing I liked about this novel was the portrayal of women. Women were warriors and religious leaders without being exceptions, they just had the same lives as men. There weren't as many boundaries between men and women as there seems to be in other fantasy novels. Was there some misogynistic elements? Yes. But women are respected and revered, unlike, say, women in the ASOIAF series where strong interesting women are exceptions rather than rules. Although I loved the action and the intense drama, what kept me reading was the complete focus on blind faith and how Miller constructed a world where faith could be proven and sinners could be smited by a truly almightly god. Good and evil are known, not guessed on, and altough Hekat comes off as evil, her faith in her god both saves her and dooms her. I've never read a fantasy novel where faith is so focused on, and that was a really interesting aspect of this novel that made me sit down and think. I read this epic novel in less than a week because it had constant action that really sucked you in mixed with thought-provoking themes that force you to reflect. I recommend this book because it transcends genres. It is a fantasy book, but the strange yet strong bond between Hekat and Vortka may appease romance fans while the love between Hekat and her son will appeal to fans of drama and family stories. All in all, this is a true high fantasy piece that fans of "The Lord of the Rings" and "A Song of Ice and Fire" will love. Don't expect to identify with Hekat, but do expect to fall in love with her amazing story.

I had low expectations for this book and I ended up finding it way more smart and intriguing than I originally thought. It definitely reminded me of books like "The Giver" and "1984", but with a woman's persepctive. It got a little slow during the second half and the ending was depressing, but it was a well-written, solid read (although I didn't understand the lack of LGBT interest in the Matched world, seeing as this is a 2011 YA fiction novel)

This series frustrates me so much because it can be really, really good and then it can be really, really bad. Good: -Zombies are awesome and the action scenes make it impossible to put the book down. -Very diverse characters (Latina woman, Indian man, Chinese man, etc. Not a racially exclusive novel.) -I LOVE LOVE LOVE the backstory parts...Seanan McGuire is amazing at writing a history of an entire half century. The details are perfect. -Lots of twists and turns, and a HUGE one at the end. -Hot sex scene that I wasn't expecting. <3 -Really solid sequel that blends the old story with new, interesting plotlines. Bad: -Shaun is kind of an asshole, but he is portrayed as this awesome hero, even though he is totally unlikeable. -As with the first novel, I had issues with the repetition of little details, like blood testing and cola vs. coffee. Could get quite boring. -Many parts just dragged. -I couldn't take the whole "Georgia in my head" thing seriously. It was just really unrealistic and awkward to read. The writing is definitely flawed. This series isn't perfect. But it is intricate enough for me to stay interested, and all in all, this was a good light read.

I knew I would love "Interpreter of Maladies" right from the first page. I was expecting a challenging read, about a culture that is unfamiliar to me. But I was very surprised at how well Lahiri is able to communicate the pure essence of American life. I always end up feeling frustrated with authors lamenting the American dream or American consumerism, but Lahiri writes about the things we all actually feel and experience as Americans- marriage, miscarriage, leaving home and moving elsewhere, starting a new home, infidelity, and parenthood. But Lahiri's distinct perspective provides us with a cultural point of view that we don't often get in American literature, and that point of view is what makes these stories special. My favorite in the collection was "This Blessed House," about a young married couple who have known each other four months. Sanjeev has a clear vision of what he thinks his life should be like while his spontaneous wife Twinkle plays it by ear and is enamored with the Christian-themed treasures they find hidden in their new home. The story culminates in a dinner party where Sanjeev notices his business associates seem to prefer his wife's charm and silliness over his stoic demeanor- and Sanjeev cannot help but be charmed by Twinkle as well. I love how we don't really know what the future holds for these characters and we don't really know what they are thinking. Every action in the end is ambiguous and very real, which makes it such a unique read. I also enjoyed "Mrs. Sen's" and "The Third and Final Continent" because they so perfectly capture these minuscule blips in time, those minor acquaintances that may or may not make a difference but still somehow matter in the end. That is the essence of American life for me- life moves so fast here that we rarely look around and see what we've experienced. There wasn't a bad or boring story in this collection. Each and every character will draw you in and make you think, but they will also remind you of yourself. This is a fantastic collection, and my words do not do it justice. Update 9/22/13: Having read this book for class this year, I can love and appreciate it even more. I especially enjoyed "Bibi Haldar," "A Temporary Matter," and "The Third and Final Continent" even more the second time around.

This series about a group of rich, spiteful, lovelorn Manhattan socialites in 1899 is tawdry, tacky, and sexy but I LOVE IT. Although this is basically like the Gossip Girl of yesteryear, the author stays true to the times and writes fantastic tales that really conjure up the setting. The novels are suspenseful and show an array of characters. I can't wait to read the rest, this book was so much fun!

This one was a tough pill to swallow but it was absolutely necessary. I remember how hard it was to read "Speak" and this one was even harder. I felt physical pain while reading harrowing descriptions of 18-year-old Lia's slowing heart, bird bones, and less-than-100-calories-a-day diet, but I believe that is what Laurie Halse Anderson wanted. This was a painful book- no holds barred, dirty, descriptive, depressing, manic, blurry. I'm still a little shakey right now, but in a good way. I'm a little cold.

I really wanted this book to be good since I am a hugely devoted Hilary Duff fan, but it just fell flat. I never got to know the characters or get close to them. there was no insight, no intrigue. That kind of sucks, since the idea itself was awesome and I wish the book would've been worked on more. The book could've been good but the writing was too bad for me to even remotely enjoy it. The ending was so inventive, too! What a great concept! The problem? There was too much lame lovey-dovey junk and not enough backstory and cool fantasy details. What a waste.

The only reason this book got three stars from me is because the ending was amazing and perfect. The book itself, meaning the first 450 pages or so, was junk. I feel bad for saying this because Stieg Larsson was really a great, educated, interesting storyteller and he knew his stuff, and the first two novels of the series ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Girl Who Played With Fire") were really action-packed and interesting. but this novel's pace was waaaay too slow for my taste, and it spent way too much time introducing this cop and that doctor, this lawyer and that secret agent. It was, basically, boring as hell. The only redeeming qualities of this book were the great bits where we got to know Lisbeth Salander a little better and the great ending, that didn't necessarily wrap everything up but was conclusive in its own way. The first two are great whole this one was sadly subpar.

This book seemed more fast-paced and stimulating than the first one, which will ensure that I will definitely continue with this series. I also like how more sides of Rizzoli are shown. I feel like I am getting to really know her character now. I just wish the TV series wasn't a tease because I really wanted more of Isles (she was on the cover of my copy of the book, after all). I can't wait to read the next one and see how it goes, since the Surgeon and the Dominator have somewhat met their end (but have they really??)

The Color Purple is not the kind of novel I often pick up willingly. I've always preferred something happy, fantastical, glittering. Optimistic and quirky, strange yet smart. This novel is painstakingly honest and brutal, simple but very poignant. I read the entire life of a very average woman in less than two days, the life of a woman who could not fight back but somehow prevailed in the end. I was cautious reading this novel, because I feared I could not relate to it. But this isn't so much African-American lit as it is women's lit or just plain American lit. This was a deeply feministic novel to me, which I wasn't expecting. Some women acted like men and some men acted like women, or did they? Maybe they just acted like people, without set gender roles, with nothing that couldn't be broken down in some way.

I'm not the type of reader to bash classics because I can recognize literary merit without actually enjoying it. I didn't enjoy "Huckleberry Finn" or "A Tale of Two Cities" at all but I don't go around and say that they are terrible, crappy books, because I know that they're classics and there must be a good reason for it. Unfortunately, I feel the same way about "Wuthering Heights", which is a shame, since I very much enjoy other Bronte sister books. The main problem I had with this novel is the fact that there was not one character I really cared about. The novel begins with Mr. Lockwood, a narrative character without any real connection to the story, stopping at Thrushcross Grange, looking for a place to stay. He sees the unpleasant family that lives there- Heathcliff, Hareton, Cathy, and their servants Joseph and Mrs. Dean (Nelly/Ellen), and he is curious about their odd circumstances and connections to each other. Throughout the novel, the story of this strange little family is revealed, and there is much loss, anger, sadness, rivalry, and unhappiness among them, and most of it can be traced back to the forbidden and doomed romance between Heathcliff and Cathy's mother Catherine. My interest just wasn't in this book as I read it. There were so many characters and I had a hard time keeping track of them. I couldn't stand most of them, either! I found Catherine and Cathy to be such awful examples of literary heroines- they are stuck-up, spoiled, immature brats who just make life miserable for the people around them. The men and boys are all either cranky, pompous, or pathetic. The ending was a good ending I thought, and it did emphasize the bleak and dark tone of the novel, but I wasn't sad when it ended. It takes a certain person to like certain books, and I just wasn't a fan of this one. I felt no connection to it.

While reading this book, I was truly transported into another time. A time where Brooklyn was a cramp tenement-packed city with trees growing from the concrete, where a penny went a long way for a child and women threw rocks at young girls who had babies out of wedlock. This setting was oftentimes horrifying and dirty, sad and bleak, ridden with sickness and thankless work and unfair hardships. But the epic tale of the Nolan family, especially the daughter Francie (who is eleven at the start and about seventeen at the end), is never without hope. They live a hard life but they have love and they have happiness and faith, and I loved every page. I love how the Nolan family was pretty insignificant and they never do anything spectacular, but their story is an epic. They have a tale and Betty Smith did such an amazing job telling it. The book was full of rich imagery and sensual details, and I learned so much about the time. I will re-read this one many times and it will always hold a place in my heart.

This novel about a little girl who encounters a secret place in her new home where her parents aren't her parents at all seems like a scary novel for kids and a new cult classic for adults. Since I enjoy both, I thought I'd give it a try. It was a creepy book, but it didn't really affect me that much. I found it odd that the heroine was never afraid of anything, never so much as gasped in shock or commented on the stressor. It seemed silly at times, but I guess that can be a good thing in a pre-teen novel. Cute, but definitely for the younger crowd. I must see the movie!

As I read the side-quel to this novel (Atwood's Oryx and Crake), which was inhabited by two male main characters and one flat, one-dimensional female character, I had one predominant thought: "This book would be better if Margaret Atwood had female protagonists." Well, that worked out well, didn't it? Atwood always shines the brightest when she writes from the strong female perspective, and this book really proves that. It is much more emotional and interesting than the male-dominated predecessor and I felt like it was a little more deep. A great story...can't wait for the next one!

Men make decisions, and women make sacrifices. It's a common theme, but it still hurts to read it. Tess of the D'urbervilles was always one of those books that I'd heard of here and there, but I'd never really learned about the plot or the characters. I'd always lumped it in with the other classics, like Pride & Prejudice, and it never caught my attention. But a friend from college recently told me it was her favorite book, so I had to check it out. And I did enjoy--thought it left me feeling so sad and empty. I'm usually wary about classic novels that revolve around issues of chastity, virginity, and purity, only because they seem so dated while so many other women's issues are still a problem. Like, why read about an archaic issue if there are newer and more relevant issues to be discussed? But I was so shocked upon reading Tess and realizing how truly relevant it still is! Alec D'Urberville is pretty much the epitome of the "Nice Guy," the guy who believes women are leading him on, while in reality, he's the one pressuring and pushing until they have no choice but to give in. Angel Clare was also the stereotypical example of the pious double-standard, a man who does not remain chaste but expects his woman to at all costs. It was an excellent story, but it still makes me so sad and angry to see that very little has changed. I was also struck (again, continuously, always) by how men were allowed to do as they chose with their lives while the women had to do what was best for the greater good. Alec D'Urberville got to run off, find religion, drop it, then take a mistress, all while Tess lost a child, marriage, and ultimately, her life. Decisions and sacrifices...so very different, and so very unfair. I know the world wasn't fair, and it still isn't fair. But damn, does it piss me off! I loved Tess as a character because she was far from perfect--she was passive yet stubborn, pious but hesitant of religion, strong but born into a world where she was beaten until she was weak. She sacrificed her entire life for everyone else's happiness, and she was basically shit on for it in the end. I liked the ending, because it was realistic, but I wanted more repercussions for Angel. I would have loved to read this book in high school...it would have generated a lot of discussion about women, morals, and forgiveness.

Come on, Stephenie Meyer. Just come on now. get off the computer, stop reading Fan Fiction, and write a delightful guilty pleasure like the first three books, because this book was total shit. Not only was it contradictory to everything she wrote in the first three novels (Twlight, New Moon, and Eclipse), it was poorly thought-out. Too much plot crammed into one hugely bad book. Jacob is lonely? That's because he loves Bella's unborn demon spawn, of course. Oh, and you can throw sacrifice out the window, because Bella got everything she could ever want in the end. No conflict, no action, just suds. I had a huge issue with the baby part. It tells young girls that once you get pregnant, your life REVOLVES around the child. Nothing is important anymore but your damn fetus and you must cut off all ties from your former life. Yeah, alright. Oh, and you should also willingly and peacefully give up your own life for the sake of the unborn child's because all women are selfless martyrs. I will freely admit that I have a huge feminist bias which may have obscured this story. But I can only see the creep in all of the characters I used to love- Edward was a possessive broody jerk, Bella was a little saintly doll with no real big girl emotions, and Jake was a little sad sack. This just fell flat and didn't deliver at all.

I would never deny that this is a haunting, horrific story that leaves me feeling freezing cold even in the warmest room. The landscape desolate, the two people hollow shells of their former beings, there is no happiness to be had here. But the problem for me was the way it was written. I felt very far away from the characters, and even if that was the point, it was a distant chilly little read. Not the best dystopian novel I've read by far, even though it has been highly acclaimed.

Hm, what can I say about this book without being offensive? It was sickening. It was saddening. It freightened me to no end. And it was my fault that I was so disturbed, because I read this book when I was only about twelve. At that time it was a horror story- what if mommy and daddy did that to me? It was sort of like a legend at the school library, we all passed it around secretly like it was forbidden. This book has to be read at the appropriate age level to see it for what it really is- a brave man's horrifying childhood story of abuse and neglect. I can appreciate it now, But I couldn't years ago.

I recall loving this insanely strange and humorous short story after reading it in class. I'm surprised it is even on here as a whole book since it couldn't have been more than a dozen pages long. But I like the snarky feminism and satire underneath the quirky plot.

Starting this book, I had low expectations. I, like many teens, went through a Holocaust fiction phase about two years ago when we read "Night" for English class, and I am a little bit tired of the genre, although it is an emotional and delicate one. "The Book Thief", about a young German girl named Liesel who lives with her accordion-playing foster father and insulting but loving foster mother on Himmel Street during World War II, didn't impress me too much at first. Actually, the writing itself, which is very ambitious and abstract, impressed me quite a bit, but the story did not. Eventually, it finally got me, and I gave in to the sheer excellence of a good story. Did I laugh when a young, quirky boy named Rudy painted himself black with coal dust and pretended to be Jesse Owens? Yeah. Did my heart tug a little when Max, a Jewish man the Hubermann's hide in their basement, wrote Liesel a book over the painted pages of "Mein kamp"? Oh yeah. This book was a great story, but it took me a long time to get into only because it is A) a long book and B) YA fiction, which tends to be somewhat slow for me sometimes. But I'll be honest- I was nearly sobbing at the end. The end really hits you hard, believe me. If you cry when reading, have TWO boxes of tissues handy, and definitely give this book a try.

This book started slow and I thought I wouldn't like it. I'm not a huge fan of fiction geared towards adults that revolves around children, and I thought the storylines with Simon and Lavinia were really boring at first. But I soon realized that I was starting with these little trivial storylines and growing with this cast of characters, and soon I was sucked into the story. I loved Kitty's suffrage and how passionate and shameless she became. I loved Jenny and how honest she was. And by the end, the children (now teens) impressed me. Give this one a chance, it sticks with you for awhile. A very good historical novel.

This is one I will be thinking about for a long time. Set in the 1930's and 40's in a small North Dakota town called Argus, this wonderfully-written novel tells the tale of Fidelis Waldvogel, a man who has emigrated from Germany with his wife Eva and their sons Franz, Markus, Emil, and Erich. Fidelis is a good, somber, distant man who plays a small part in the novel, although the story revolves around him. The main, glowing character is a woman named Delphine Watzka, who ran away from Argus as a teenager to escape her alcoholic father Roy. She traveled with a man named Cyprian who had a balancing act that Delphine joined it, but when they return to Argus, Delphine is enchanted by both Eva and Fidelis, and she becomes a large part of their lives. She is amazingly strong, stronger than a lot of female characters who I love, and she really inspired me. It is rare to find a novel that is both character and plot driven. Even the minor characters are three-dimentional and interesting, and I want to know more about them. Delphine is the kind of woman I want to be- strong, full of heart, and always searching for the place she is needed the most. This book is so detailed with emotion and love, and I never wanted it to end. I really got lost in it. My favorite kinds of books are epic novels that span over several years to let you watch the characters grow. Needless to say, by the end of the novel, they were all my cherished friends.

I would probably give this novel three and a half stars because of the tearjerker ending and beautiful Paris backdrop, but I had to settle with three because Ernest Hemingway is such a rip-roaring asshole. Hadley Richardson was Hemingway's first wife and they were married for about five years. They had one child together. The novel takes us from their first meeting in the US, innocent and sweet, through the roaring 20's and all of the failures and successes that came with it, and then down into the spiral of alcohol, literary rivalry, and extramarital affairs. I very much enjoyed Hadley because she had a good head on her shoulders and always did what she believed was the right thing. Too bad she had no backbone. Towards the end of their marriage, Hadley was living in the same house as her husband and his mistress Pauline, and the two even had sex in bed while Hadley was still there. She was a doormat to a misogynistic, tyrannical, stubborn, pompous husband and I hated him from the beginning. I am not a fan of Hemingway's writings, never have been, and this only cements my dislike for him. I know it is fiction, but he was still a cheating douche. I'm still a sucker for any book set in the 1920's- I tend to be like Gil from "A Midnight in Paris," believing that it never got better than Paris in the 20's. I love reading about the Fitzgeralds, Gertrude and Alice, Ezra Pound, and all of those other famous figures. This book held my interest but I just couldn't muster even a spark of affection towards Ernest Hemingway. I'm glad Hadley got her happy ending- I waited until I finished the novel to look her up online, and it made me smile to know that meek little Hadley did not remain just the Paris wife for the rest of her days. As for writing style, I'm a little surprised at the amount of acclaim this novel garnered. It is excellent prose (I especially enjoy the beginning when Hadley's early life is examined in detail), but this isn't exactly a mind-bending novel. It is a better-than-average piece of historical semi-fiction, but the amount of praise it received seemed a little overblown to me.

Well-written but I didn't understand a damn thing that was going on.

I think the only thing I could do to improve this book would be to add more. I felt like some plots weren't as wrapped up as I'd have liked them to be, such as the tale of the Blind Assassin itself. Margaret Atwood has a beautiful knack for writing, with such amazing imagery that I feel like I'm sitting right there in Port Ticonderoga, and this story was just amazing. A must-read Atwood novel.

As a edgy, interesting sci-fi novel, I give this book five stars, but as a Margaret Atwood novel, I give it four. Why? Because I've been spoiled by her books. The Edible Woman, the Handmaid's Tale, and the Blind Assassin are all in my top ten because they portray amazing female characters who are in no way perfect but have great stories. I'm not sure I understood Atwood's vision after reading Oryx and Crake, a novel about the last man standing in a world that has collapsed around him due to the greed of a narcissistic science genius. I'm not saying it wasn't an excellent, enthralling, chilling read, because it was. I had to stop and think at the end, and when I have to reflect after reading I know I read a good book. But I absolutely adore Atwood's female protagonists, and basically the only filled female character in the novel (Oryx) was very two-dimensional and dull. In this aspect I was disappointed.

This graphic novel was really funny and very enjoyable, but also eye-opening and educational. I learned a lot about Middle Eastern life, especially for teenage girls. I had no clue that these girls who lived through the revolution in the 70's and 80's once had many of the priviliges I have but had them taken away. It made me so sad and really angry, since it seems nothing has really changed since then. I'm really glad Marjane Satrapi can reach out to a young audience and make something hip and easy to understand for girls. I can't wait to read the next volume!

I felt it while reading The Bell Jar. I felt it during Girl Interrupted and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I suddenly feel so much akin to a character with a mental illness that it scares me. I could relate to Craig Gilner, a stressed Brooklyn boy who ends up in the psychiatric center of Argenon Hospital, so much that it scared me. The debilitating pressure. The sleep issues. The eating problems. Tne strange trains of thought. At first that scared me. But then I realized the point of the novel- it is okay to have a mental illness. Nobody needs to be ashamed of that, and it won't ruin your life if you get help. The book was hilarious and awkwardly delightfully, youthful and smart. I loved the characters (I oddly even liked Aaron and Nia, they weren't antagonistic, just clueless) and I can't wait to see the film to see how they are brought to life. The symbolism is great, too; I loved the way Vizzini uses maps to explain people's brains. That is very inventine. A great book that really helps with understanding mental illness, especially in teens.

I love my zombie books, but this read more like a military memoir than a infection-filled disease-fest, which is what a zombie tale should consist of. It was a smart book but it just couldn't keep my interest. I think you have to be a fan of war fiction to appreciate it.

I'm making my way through the Percy Jackson books at a pretty steady pace, and I must say that I am way too old for them but I still love them. After taking a mythology class last quarter, I have been obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology. This series is full of humorous, clever mythology refernces- Riordan does his homework. The characters are all believable and amusing, and they make me remember what it was like to be a pre-teen. I love how one of the main, strong protagonists is a girl and one of the antagonists is female, too. I like how these aren't male-dominated novels. If I was younger, I could be more enthralled in them, but now, I am happy to sit back and feel smart as I pick out mythology stuff.

I don't have enough praise for this dark, harrowing, smart, and blunt novel about a young but weathered girl named Temple who must travel the South, escaping from a vengeful man who wants her head on a platter. This book is a hard one to top for me because it is such an epic tale, full of colorful characters and heartbreaking emotion. Temple is my favorite book heroine of all time because she is not only tough as nails and afraid of nothing, she has a truly kind heart and is extremely funny and full of live in a dying world. I cried when I read this book. I don't see how you couldn't.

Any book that opens with two reckless journalists on a motorcycle sailing over a sea of oozing, limping zombies is usually golden for me. And for the most part, this was quite a good book. But if not for a few little things, it could've been a GREAT book. First of all, it is a little hard to get in to. I started it in December and just finished it now, in April. The novel is lengthy and tends to repeat, such as parts that explain hazard-zones, blood tests, and different strains of the so-called Kellis-Amberlee "zombie" virus. These descriptions can be long-winded, and I lost my focus. But the second half of the book really delivers. This could easily be made into a fantastic, action-packed, emotional movie or TV series, and the seemingly awesome author Mira Grant has a serious knack for characters and storytelling. Could the novel have been a bit more polished? Yes. The dialogue was cheesy and many parts could've been edited out. But this one will please both the action junkies and political crowds, no doubt. And honestly, the end will make you freeze. It has a HUGE twist and is very emotional. I suggest this one. Even though it was an endeavor, it was worth it.

Now I have a lot of favorite books, if you haven't noticed already. I'm not to stingey with my 5-stars. I can't help that I have broad tastes and that many things intrigue me. But I am going to make a bold statement and say that The Bell Jar is my favorite novel of all time. Why, may you ask? Because it scares me how much I can relate to it. I can honestly say I've never attempted suicide or been depressed enough to receive medical care, but I share a lot of "Esther's" views about men, relationships, marriage, children, and writing. Especially writing. The Bell Jar is the main reason why I write at all- it is my main inspiration. The imagery that Plath provides, both in her prose and poetry, is deeply disturbing to me but hey, that's cool. It's me, I like being disturbed. When there is blood in Plath's work, it is almost always coming from a vagina. Sex is always awkward and uncomfortable. Bodies are rarely washed and hair is always dirty. Men are disgusting and chauvinistic pigs who cannot be trusted. We don't get happy endings. But that's okay. I love it for what it is- a big, depressing mess that was never truly finished.

I read this book last spring, and to be honest, I was a little afraid. I wasn't really sure what to expect...it wasn't my first dystopian novel but it was my first dip in the pool of feminist literature, and it was a pretty lofty start. But one page in and I knew I was in love with both the novel and Atwood's writing. The book was intriquing through-and-through, with never a dull moment or unneeded chapter. Margaret Atwood is obviously brilliant and knows what she's talking about. She knows her history (religious and otherwise), and it shows in her writing. The story of Offred is heartbreaking and callous, raw and always painful. I was seething at parts, just at how horrible the women were treated, and it made me fear my future (what is that actually happened to us?). But by the end, I was swept into a sotry of survival and willpower, of trying to survive and in a whole new world when you actually had experienced a normal one before. I truly envy Atwood's writing- how the grossest, roughest words can be made into beautiful prose and how she can create an enchanting story out of such horrible circumstances.

I remember when I was little, my aunt Amy was reading this at my grandmother's and planned to lend it to my other aunt. When my grandma inquired about the novel, Amy said firmly, "Mom, don't read this book. It is disgusting and shocking and you will hate it." I knew then that I had to get my hands on that book. Unfortunately, I only got to read it this past summer instead of braving it when I was eleven. But I'm glad I waited, since it would've shocked my delicate sensibilities if I were any younger. Hell, it shocked my sensibilies now. The novel is astounding to say the least. It makes you feel dirty cover to cover, and I feel like a bad smell is lingering in the air as I turn the pages- yet I couldn't stop turning them. The book covers all sorts of lovely taboo topics- statutory rape, lesbianism, psychology, pharmaceuticals, shock therapy, and, well, poop. Every page is harsher than the last, and the end was somewhat unsatisfying, but hey, it is non-fiction. Sort of. Too bad the moving was awful. But yeah, great book. have a strong stomach when you read it, though.

Sherman Alexie is not only a good writer--he's funny as hell. The book is semi-autobiographical, which makes the humor shine even brighter. He doesn't take anything too seriously, but he knows when to drop the jokes and just have a moment with his characters. I learned a lot from a book that is intended for the middle-school crowd, and that's a pretty big deal. Was it perfect? No. I wasn't really the demographic, either--the book was often sexist and made creepy jabs at "deflowering the white virgin", which as a woman makes me a little unhappy, especially since young girls will be reading this. But that's one of those things that maybe I don't connect with because I'm white, so I take it with a grain of salt.

Middle school was rough for me (a chubby girl with wire-rimmed glasses who couldn't afford Hollister clothes) but one of my many vices was a good old Sarah Dessen novel. I loved the drama, the unbelievably amazing boys, and the girls who had real-life problems that I could relate to. But I always related the most to , since Owen was pretty much the man that I would create for myself if I ever got the chance. I also loved how music-oriented it is, since I'm a huge audiophile. I loved the indie-radio station thing, since it's a personal dream of mine to run a radio show. But after I re-read the book a few months ago, I was less attached to it. Maybe Dessen's writing isn't as amazing as I'd remembered it, maybe the girls aren't as sympathetic as I once thought. Perhaps I've just grown out of her books. But I still loved the plot and all the cute details, and it remains my favorite Dessen novel.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a novel that depresses me, because I know that it has touched me in a way that maybe not many other books will touch me in a lifetime. It made me cry, it was so touching. Picture this: "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac is swooning from your car's speakers as you stand in the bed of a pickup truck, your silky prom dress fluttering around your ankles and your hair streaming down your back like a cape as you rumble through a dark tunnel, the lights dimming and the world rushing by you at a million miles an hour. The world feels just about perfect, and as Chbosky wrote, you feel infinite. This book made me realize that wow, there are weird kids like me and wow, they do find love and wow, I should never take acid. A perfect teen book.

I usually have pretty low expectations for books that have been recommended to me by certain epople, including the one who recommended me this book. I gave it a try anyways, since I needed to read it for my Best-Sellers class, too, and my hopes weren't high. But I definitely felt foolish after I finished it and was nearly gasping for air, it was such an exiciting novel. I loved it! First of all, I basically worship Suzanne Collins for writing a piece of fiction that can be considered, under my terms and my teacher's terms, a feminist novel. They are few and far between these days, especially for YA fiction, but this one blew me away. Katniss is strong and tough as nails and does what she has to do to survive (she's also a total bad-ass). I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and Peeta is one of the first supposed fictional "love interests" that I've been infatuated with. Perfect for women of all ages, even though there is some violent imagery.

I will always remember this as one of two middle-school books I truly loved (the other being S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders). I think this book is the root for my love of sci-fi/post-apocolyptic/dystopian fiction, and it was a very good place to start. It was chilling to read and deeply emotional, but also very inventive and thoughtful. Seeing this book listed makes me want to read it again!

This is a book I was worried I would not like but ended up loving. It is such a foul book, gross, depressing, slimy, makes your skin crawl. Pretentious with a narrator who is quite the scum of the earth (a narcisstic hebephile who is deluded to the point of thinking himself a hero). This book is not light and it may be satire, it may be sarcasm, Nabokov holds no punches when it comes to language and content. I loved this book, and it will forever scare me. Read it. Lolita will always be in the back of your mind, sucking on a lollipop, sinking ships with her childlike beauty and forever being a symbol of innocence lost.

I loved this book from the first page to the last. This is why I'll probably never be a book critic- I just don't have words for the way I feel about those life-changing novels. I felt teleported to different places and different times, I read 100 pages in what felt like ten minutes. I've never read a book with such an in-depth narration, and I've never been so intimate with a protagonist as I am with Cal. What I loved the most about this novel was the epic story. I fell in love with the forbidden romance of Desdemona and Lefty, I understood Tessie and Milton, I craved The Object and held Chapter Eleven's hand. I was invited to more than a century of emotion and secrets and I never wanted the story to end. This is the great American novel.

What a beautiful book! The story, the descriptions of the fine kimono and lavish lifestyles of the geisha, even the heartbreaking reality of the lives they really led. This book trapped me from the first page and I got completely lost in it. The best picture of Japan I have ever experienced.

I re-read this recently for my Critical Approaches to Literature class and I upped the review a star, but I still wouldn't declare this one as one of my favorites. I love the mythology (I'm actually writing a paper on the parallels between painful, traumatizing childbirth and Victor Frankenstein's creation of his monster) but the prose was so slow and plodding sometimes, I nearly nodded off. I'm glad I could appreciate it a little more when I got to college, though.

A lot of great plot and emotion for such a short read. This is also the first book that I think everyone in my class enjoyed, even the guys!

NO, just no, It was awkward and drivelly and just so bad compared to other books of its genre.

I cannot rate this book. It stressed me out so much i could even finish all of it.

Published 2012! PUBLISHED 2012! I KNOW this book hasn't been PUBLISHED because it would be in my hands RIGHT NOW! Goodreads, if you could see the look of disdain on my face right now...well hmmp! lets just say if Looks could Kill!.

I'm still waiting for the romance :( It's over and i'm unsatisfied!

"relationship that crossed the line" I can already feel my heart aching.

New to the post apocalyptic world genre but not Mari Mancusi, Tomorrow Land is a YA post-apocalyptic adventure that includes not a love triangle and is not an endless series. The novel starts with our own molly millions, not a damsel in distress but a superhuman super enhanced teenager-to be. The book alternates between 2030 and 2034, showing how everything came to a devastating end, the cure to the Aids virus killing adults and teenagers who thought it was nothing more but their LTF. The book has a litany of characters, her pill popping mother, her boy crazy best friend, her "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" Father and her stalker of an admirer. Mancusis writing is detailed and well scribed creating a world not too distant from our present. She writes of characters in depression, writing well and in depth descriptions as too why they become so. This book tugs at the heart strings and makes you want to believe in love if nothing else, as more characters succumb to the virus and mutate to mindless, flesh seeking Zombies the gang make their way to Disney world. This book came to an end all too soon and, I enjoyed every moment, the twists and turns making that much better.

Review to come

I cant handle this. She ended up with the WRONG guy! Don't read if you dont want your head to explode! Because once you read this one, you feel like you need to read the next one and then when you read that one you have no head to explode, so then YOU just scream ALOT in frustration, and then hate the author for ruining your perfect guy and not finishing the second book, because you're tooo mad. Emotionally Taking, brain aching, heart breaking Series that WILL make you EXPLODE!

Well, well well. Lookie what we have here. her best friends borther suggests that there would be sneaking around and midnight rendezvous. There weren't It was still a good book but eh, not what I expected.

The moonstone series I was given each this entire series as part of Net galley This series has great promise and each character is likable. A quick and light read which could have been developed on the series is for teens on the younger end. The story is linear but holds promise if further into the series the stories do gain some depth. Overall and quick and cute read (separate reviews to come later)

Invisible sun Book review Read as a stand-a-lone there is never a boring moment in this book filled with action and Mischief we are a welcomed into a dystopian, crazy awesome world. Did that not sell you on the book? Well, there's more, so much more. Firstly I would like to thank the publishers allowing me to receive the Arc and can I just say what an Arc. I'm not in the Habit of writing all rave reviews but ...I made an exception. Having never read the predecessor of this book, I can't give a full review, but this book can be read on its own. So to the review! The writing was fast paced and perfect for this Sci-fi book with snappy dialogue which was original (aren't you tired of reading the same book in a different cover) and definitely kept me entertained. The dialogue helps communicate what the characters mean to each other with no forced ermm's and aah's. The Characters themselves were original distinct and you could not help but fall in love with them and can I mention there awesome gadgets (props to Gill) these gizmos's are ingrained into the characters and aren't there for looks. This book itself tells a story that you would literally believe could happen in oh I don't know ...a couple thousand years' time. An all-round entertaining book that I would recommend to you it has something for everyone may I mention the tension and an intensity of a thousand burning suns , romance and well I'll definitely be picking up Black whole! Buckle in for an awesome ride! Out March 27th

Excuse me but I think I read wrong, 2013? I do not want a Kate Daniels book 5.5 as Goodreads so kindly pointed out or a mini story or one line sentence teasers, I want the date to be bumped forward! Lets see if I remember this series in 2 years time *hmmph*

Halflings book Review By heather Burch Having been my first angel book I was practically flying off my chair when I got the chance to read this book, thank you netgalley and my beautiful beautiful ARC! This book is Action packed and showcases this from the upstart. As if being a teenager was crazy enough with just human boys, but when love triangles emerge with ANGELS!! Yes angels...ok Halflings, but still angels nonetheless and being chased by hells little pets, Nikki has more than she's cut out for. So much for normal *sigh*. But then again, what's normal in this world eh? From vampires to angels, unbelievably hot, powerful angels who are here to guard you and dog your every step Mace, Raven and Vine (may I take a minute to say how much I adored these "lost boys") Who are these boys? They are halflings- half angel and half human; the product of fallen angels and humans. Nikki is at centre of a war that's brewing and she's going to need all the help she can get, caught between two worlds, two boys and two sides. Falling from grace has never been so fun! However be warned this book ends in a major cliff-hanger and having been the first book in the series there are quite a few loose ends and the plot somewhat lacking but the amazing grace (ok, ok I'll stop with my not so great puns) amazingly hot characters and an intriguing back story this book will definitely have you wanting more. Suited for 14+

Partials Book review Take a peek between the covers (or in my case my shiny new laptops Adobe programme) And you'll get sucked into a post-apocalyptic dystopian book where you'll meet Kira and her world. It's crazy! Insane! Mindboggling-ly good with well written characters and a good plot. The pregnancy age is dropping, the pregnancy rate is increasing and the senate is "Doing things wrong!" But one woman...ok, ok "teen" is willing to brave it and make a difference. Kira is brave and stupid brilliant and all round loyal. She has an amazing boyfriend and great friends with names like Kochi and Isolde, who all love her and are rather goofy. This book is well explained with not too big gaping holes in the logic or explanation (though there is quite a bit of explanation) The thing that was not so great about this book was the beginning there was a lot of world building and character building for the first 100-150 and that kinda dragged but when things kicked of it really kicked off! This book is for the brave and stupid we have lurking inside of us it will appeal to you on a level you won't have realised it could reach and it will definitely have you hooked. Mindboggeling-ly amazing has you hanging on the edge of your seat awesome, you won't be able to read it and read it again and then read the next one!

Hellsbane Book Review Emma Jane is the new and unsuspecting Illorum on the scene. From a mystic psychic to God's power on earth this certainly gave this tough cookie a fright. When delivered in the package of your high school crush and his sword, no his actual honest to God Touch-me- and-awaken-new-powers, sword no good can come from that especially when you're told you're half angel your mom was raped and you've gotta cut off your family so they don't get killed. There is SO much was going on in the book. The reader is thrust on an emotional rollercoaster from "what? There's a God?" to Tommy and her ever so hot angelic mentor Eli. Emma Jane takes on her new role with a passion, but there is a way out. Kill the man who impregnated your mother, after speaking to her mother leads to dead ends Ms Jane is soon set on another path filled with action, adventure, mystery, drama and oh so delicious romance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Emma Jane seems like a trouble magnet her snarky sense of humour and that little I-have-to-fall-for-you LITERALLY to be with you Mentor Eli, is hot!

New Girl Go into a library enough and you'll eventually get caught on a shelf in a book that sends your brain the thought that this time, the book is going to... Swallow me whole That's how I felt with this books. Becca's lost gone missing and the "new girl" suddenly shows up trying to be her, according to some. Becca came into their lives and changed it, got people the guys they were pining fo , parties and fun she was their saviour and when she disappeared they built her into this deity or goddess they never saw her for what she truly was, half of them didn't even know her but either way they took it out on "New girl" This book is a re-telling and when review a re-telling, it well... really hard. This book was funny how many people do you know that would tell someone to "shut up you're turning an ugly shade of red." This book, well Becca at some points other than being a "pathological liar" and well Creepy, creeped me out, she was manipulative and you could really tell she was screwed up, knew she was screwed up and could do nothing to stop it. Her family and given up on her and she was lost. This book covers the topic of rape, it wasn't a full out lecture or even a lecture but you get to see the devastating affects and two different takes on it. New girl is cool; everything Becca wanted and the dream like state where she meets Becca and Becca explains the truth were scary and so well written. That's what this book was well written, it swallows you whole, takes you in, makes you believe and when it spits you back out you want to go back in and stay there. Against your better judgement, against the devastating news of Becca. New girl ends up catching the eye of Becca's ex and is instantly warned against it but she can't help it neither can Max they like each other and that's that, no matter how hard they try to. Dana the best friend is tormented by Becca's disappearance and knows secrets lots of secrets that she kept and in the end do come out. This book really shows the torment and suffering one girl's disappearance can cause especially a Girl like Becca's. Whether this book is an accurate depiction or retelling I don't know but I will say that this book was beautifully written and I would recommend it for older teenagers and adults alike.

This book is that kid at school that everybody knows, but doesn't, but wishes they could talk to and when they do, they think why do I know you? BUT, then think that the good times with this kid was worth everything else. If you don't have that kid, or haven't talked to that kid, you missed out or you should. The teenager epitomised, and ridiculously well written this book brings out the funny, the ugly and the downright quirky as well as the heart wrenching pain of every teenager. Brilliantly, eccentrically fabulous and totally self absorbed. I loved it. You will too if you don't I guess you're that kid and don't know yourself very well, because you are awesome!! This book simply put is the teenager on the shelf.

Unsure why i read this book...or even if i liked it. I mean i was hooked but i dont think for the riht reason...?

I like it but .... And yes, theres always a BUT. What about Cogon, i did not just go through all of that, for THAT. OK no dice, no deal, NOT FAIR! Good thing i had the next book next to me, but no i read the first chapter then got mad!