Okay, it’s decided. I’m a huge fan of Sarah Crossan. This book was just so wonderfully written! I love the mix between poetry and prose in her books, and the main character of this book, Apple, was so great. I just love Apple’s voice (or rather, Sarah Crossan’s voice?) and I can’t wait to read more of her books. I wasn’t such a fan of The Weight Of Water, also by Sarah Crossan; the whole thing was written in poetry, but that wasn’t what I didn’t like (actually, I really loved it.) It was just a bit slow. But Apple and Rain was amazing!

Title: Apple and Rain

Author: Sarah Crossan

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication date: August 14, 2014

Source: library

Synopsis: When Apple’s mother returns after eleven years away, Apple feels whole again. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother’s homecoming is bittersweet. It’s only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is that she begins to see things as they really are.

A story about sad endings.
A story about happy beginnings.
A story to make you realise who is special.

The first thing I loved about the book was, like I said, Apple’s voice. I think I really loved the setting most, actually, because it affected the voice of the characters. The book was set in England, and it only made me want to visit even more! (I did have to get used to different spellings; like realize is spelled realise, etc. It didn’t bother me too much, though.) I could hear her voice so clearly in my head, and I really liked that. Each of the characters had very different voices, in fact, and it made the book even better.

In the beginning of the book, Apple had a major attitude towards her Nana, and she would say things like, When mum comes back… and it really made me so mad! I couldn’t understand why Apple even wanted her mother to come back; she left her child to be raised by her grandmother, and Apple acted like such a brat to Nana! So there’s that. I really detested Apple’s mom – oh, sorry – mum. 🙂 And I really didn’t appreciate Apple’s attitude, either. It really bugged me.

Buuut when Apple’s mother finally made her grand appearance, I was happy for Apple. I could understand how excited she was… even though, being a much more sensible 13-year-old than Miss Apple over there (who is 14, I might add!), I was so ticked off at how this “mum” acted. UGH! It made my blood boil. For a while there, I didn’t really want to keep reading, because it dragged on a bit. It took Apple a while to get her head screwed on right.

The plot was too good for me to put down, though. You’ve got your sorry excuse for a mother (sorry, sorry! It’s just the way I feel, argh!), the boy-next-door character, who at first Apple doesn’t like, and then of course she falls for (I called it), Nana, Apple’s father and her stepmother (who she also doesn’t like), and one other character who I just wanted to squeeze so hard! (She made me really sad and happy, at the same time. Just… FEELINGS, people!) The characters were great, and I couldn’t just put the book down.

And yet, I totally saw the ending coming. It just wasn’t a surprise! I was a little disappointed, and I was hoping for something a little different, but that’s really my one downer. (Oh, and Apple’s mother. Did I mention that already?!) There was one thing I LOVED about this book. It made it all worthwhile:

[learn_more caption=”Spoiler alert!”] Rain, Apple’s little sister. It almost made me tear up! (Almost – I actually didn’t cry, surprisingly.) As a big sister, I just… felt the urge to hug Rain at any given moment! At first, Apple and Rain (yep, there’s the title!), are at odd ends, because they’re fighting for the attention of their mum. But then they get closer, and I just loved it. The sisterly dynamic was so sweet![/learn_more]

There was some content I should warn you about:

[box type=”warning”] Like I said, I really hated Apple’s mother! She threw several parties throughout the book, when Apple was staying with her. There was drinking, and even Apple drank too much. (And her mother allowed it! See what I’m saying?!) There were also some kiss scenes; they didn’t sit too well with me, because I don’t like to imagine a fourteen-year-old kissing that much… just… no. Ew. Other than that, the book was overall clean. [/box]

Apple and Rain gets four stars!

have you read apple and rain? do you want to? are you a fan of sarah crossan? let me know!

Mini reviews are great when (as unfortunate as it may be), I don’t have a lot to say about a book. It’s just me, and my blunt (rather sad) feelings because quite honestly, I didn’t enjoy the book. Now, there’s two things you need to know about my reviews: 1) I rarely pick up a book, going in, thinking I won’t like it. I just don’t. Therefore, 2) I rarely ever rate a book beneath 3 stars. When I rate it 3 stars, it’s either leaning towards 2 or 4 stars, but only once in the history of this blog have I given a book a 2-star rating. SOOO don’t take my word for it if I give a book a 3-star rating. Just don’t, okay?! It means I am confuzzled, and a confuzzled Emily is an unhappy Emily.

Either way, I still want to share my opinions on these books, because I’ve wanted to read them for a while and I want you to hear what I have to say… as confused as I may be.

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur

Okay. I’ve passed this book dozens of times in the past three or four years. That’s right – I’ve wanted to read this book since I was ten or eleven years old, and quite honestly, I probably would have enjoyed it more back then. You know, before I was a proper reviewer (ha!) and became all smart about book plots and characters and whatnot. I related to the main character, Elise, very much. For me, at least, it’s rare that I’ve found a book where a character is… not so much a bully, but let’s call her a “dumpee.” The one who dumps the friend for a “cool” friend, when she’s really getting “dumped” herself. Yeah, I was that girl. Been there, done that. So I understood Elise.

Reading some of the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, a lot of readers said they found Elise annoying, and I have to agree with them… but since I related to her on such a high level, she wasn’t as annoying to me. Does that make sense? That said, she annoyed me for a different reason: she wasn’t that deep. I mean, her dead father leaves her a scavenger hunt of keys to open eight mysterious doors with messages for her, and she didn’t react the way I thought she would. She was just kind of shallow. Because she affected how the plot went so much, I was left feeling like “Huh. So that was the book. Okay then.” I just thought a lot more could have been done with this amazing plot.

3 stars

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

I had really high expectations for this book, and unlike with reviewing Eight Keys, I almost feel a little guilty about giving this one three stars. It was really disappointing, because I’m such a fan of Miss Martin. See, the main character, Rose, has Asperger’s Syndrome. She’s obsessed with homonyms, and rules, and truly… she bugged me. Here’s why I feel guilty for not liking this book as much as I would have liked: Rose’s voice is spot-on. The way she handles herself, and the people around her – it’s quite like what I would imagine someone with Asperger’s Syndrome would think, feel, act like. So… I know that this can be a tricky thing to feel like, because like I keep saying, I feel bad about not liking her, and I’m having doubts about even admitting this! The way she talked (not very many contractions…?) It didn’t feel natural, and though her voice was spot-on, and incredible, it was… stiff. The plot was very sad, but I didn’t feel anything. Does that make sense? I’m not 100% sure I’m making any sense right now… yeah. Sorry! Confuzzled Emily. 🙁 I didn’t enjoy this book very much, and I hate myself for it, but… ugh.

3 stars

so that’s where I stand with these two books. have you read them? do you want to? i would really love to know: what do you do when you feel confused about a book??

I was blown away by Lynda Mullaly Hunt yet again. Her debut novel, One For The Murphys, was recommended to me by my pen pal, Brooke, and I absolutely loved it. Her newest book, Fish In A Tree, came out this year, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! Plus, after interviewing Miss Erin E. Moulton, she recommended this one to me as a great contemporary read. I was so excited when my library got a copy. I love Miss Hunt’s writing style, and she’s become one of my favorite authors!

Ah, yes, my book photography. Do ya see it? Get it? Fish in a TREE? Couldn’t help myself.

Title: Fish In A Tree

Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Publication Date: February 5, 2015

Source: library

Synopsis: The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.

“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

I love Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s books, because she shines the light on teachers, parents, social workers – adults who care about their kids and show them the love and help they need. In Fish In A Tree, the main character, Ally, has always had a hard time learning to read… but it’s not until she meets her 6th-grade teacher, Mr. Daniels, that she learns she has Dyslexia. With the help of her teacher, Ally begins to make progress in her reading, and she realizes she has other gifts that others have to work at – like her art. And best of all, Ally starts to believe in herself again.

I’ve always had wonderful teachers – in private and public school, and my mom! (Home-schooler in da house!) 😉 I’ve never been afraid to ask for help in something (although I haven’t always liked “constructive” criticism…), but then again, I’ve never struggled in school. It was really insightful to read from Ally’s perspective, and I know that she’ll inspire many other kids, too.

I wish that there were more scenes about Ally’s dad, who was overseas. There was one part when Ally, her mom, and her brother, Travis, got to video chat with her dad. There was some conflict there with Ally missing her dad, but I felt like more could have been done with that. Also, her grandpa. It’s clear that she had a really great relationship with him. Ally talks about her grandpa introducing Alice in Wonderland to her, and being a great influence in her life… but I really wish I could have seen more with that. Honestly, I wish her grandpa was still alive in the book!

Overall, I thought the plot kind of left some loose threads. I was confused for a while there… I mean, I knew Ally was kind of missing her grandpa, and she definitely missed her dad, but then there was the school thing. I wanted the conflicts to be more connected. They just felt seperate, and at the end of the book, it still felt incomplete.

But Ally’s friends were awesome, too. Between sassy Keisha and future-Albert-Einstein Albert, I liked how the book showed the development of the friendships. In the beginning of the book, Ally doesn’t really know Keisha and Albert, but soon they become close friends. I liked watching the trio become closer, instead of the book starting right off with the three being friends. So it was great having those protagonists cheer Ally on; through mean girls, and school troubles, and family hardships.

I give Fish In A Tree three stars. I wanted to give it four stars, but the ending is a deal breaker for me. I did still enjoyed it, and I would love it if you’d read it, too.

so! it’s discussion time! have you read this book? do you want to? have you read one for the murphys, by the same author? oh, and how do you feel about stinky endings? deal breaker or no?

That. Was. So CUTE! It was the fluffiest, cutest book I’ve ever read. It was a great contemporary, romantic friendly read. (Har-har.) It didn’t get too mushy for me, it was clean, and I LOVED the main characters.

Title: Better off Friends

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Publisher: Point

Publication date: February 25, 2014

Source: library

Synopsis: For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

Let me just start off by saying that I NEED a Levi. He was so sweet! All thirteen-year-old boys need to take him as an example. Granted, he is a fictional character, but who cares?! I think I’ve fallen hard. 😉

The first thing I loved about the book, right off the bat, is the switching perspectives. It was done really well. The story is told in past-tense, through the eyes of Macallan and Levi, so in between each chapter there’s a conversation between the two, looking back on what happened in the chapters. Their conversations were so funny! They really are adorable together, best friends or more than just friends – either way, I loved their relationship. Read this snippet of one of their (epic) conversations in between a chapter:

Macallan: What is it about guys and having to out-bench-press or outrun one another? Why does everything have to be a comparison?

Levi: I don’t know – testosterone?

M: That’s your excuse for everything.

L: It is? Well, does it at least work?

M: No.

L: Okay, what about you girls?

M: What about us, the clearly superior gender?

L: Yeah, you’re not biased.

M: Of course I’m not. We women are a rational, nonjudgmental breed.

I think it’s clear I love Macallan, too. She’s also someone I wish I could be more like. Even after losing her mom in the fifth grade, she had a “quiet strength” about her (to quote Levi.) She stood up for her friends and thought things through carefully… and she was super quick, and witty. (small spoiler) And she also had the guts to punch a football player in the face! I was rolling laughing! 😀 (spoiler over)

Even though the book was a great example of how girls and boys CAN, indeed, be the best of friends and not have to date… being that Macallan was a girl, and Levi a boy, there are just some things the opposite gender doesn’t understand. But it made for some pretty funny chapters!

Both Levi and Macallan were both very distinguished. I’m not quite sure if that’s the word I’m looking for, but what I’m trying to say is that their personalities were very uniquely written, and they were hilarious! As a whole, the book was swoon-worthy, and incredibly funny.

I liked the time span of the book, as well. The good first bit of the book was brief, important moments in Levi and Macallan’s friendship that led up to the big question – should they be more than friends? It started off when the two first meet, at eleven, and ends when they’re sixteen. It kind of dragged out for a little bit… I got kind of tired of the whole “boy likes girl/girl’s not interested/girl likes boy/boy’s not interested/girl and boy both like each other/now they don’t” kind of thing.

Buuuut for all the ups and downs of the book, the ending was smooth and easy. Plus, it left room for a sequel… and if Elizabeth Eulberg decided to do that, I would be all for it! 😉

[box type=”warning”] There were a few parts that included some kissing. It didn’t bother me too much (in fact, the few times Macallan herself walked in on her friends kissing, she referred to it as “face sucking.” It totally grossed me out, but I had to laugh!) but I thought I should give some of you a heads-up. Also, there was one scene on page 206 where there was a not-so-nice word used. Other than that, there wasn’t anything too inappropriate. [/box]

So here are my initial thoughts:

• The FLUFFY adorableness that is Levi & Macallan made the book so, so cute.
• The humor was a riot. I cried laughing. 😀
• There were some great lessons in the book. For me, I don’t think dating should just be “something you do” when you like someone in middle and high school, so I really liked the point Better off Friends made – that guys and girls really can be “just” friends. Even though there was some romance in the book, I loved that.

[learn_more caption=”(Small spoiler)”] And more importantly, the lesson that instead of falling for a friend AS you date, if you take time to be friends first, then you fall for your best friend. And THEN date, and it’s even better. (Sorry for getting kind of rant-ish here, but I really do feel strongly about that.) ;)[/learn_more]

Four stars for this book! I’m thinking I’m going to buy a copy of my own, since I liked it so much. 😀

so have you read/heard of better off friends? what do you think?

I’ve been a bit behind in writing up my reviews these days, and since I’m on a book high this week (remember hearing about those in my book slumps post? I sure hope this doesn’t put me in another reading slump!), I thought I’d go ahead and do another mini reviews post. So without further ado, I bring you three easy reads that I definitely loved!

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

I saw and an ad on Goodreads for the sequel to Between the Lines and immediately wanted to read it! It looked hilarious. I mean, why WOULDN’T I want to read a book about a girl’s fictional crush who comes to life?! I really enjoyed the first book… it dragged on for a bit, and I thought it could have been shorter, but that’s really my only downer. I loved the switching perspectives, and the chapters where we could actually read scenes from the book Prince Oliver is stuck in. The pictures were incredible, as well. The ending felt a little unfinished, but it does leave plenty of room for a sequel – which I’m excited to read!

4 stars!

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine 

The Wish was a tad cheesy, and I didn’t enjoy all the “spooning” that went on (aka kissing 🙂 ), but overall it was a cute, quick read. I was expecting there to be a moral lesson at the end (a girl who desperately wishes to be popular and finally gets her wish? Something will definitely be learned), and there was, but it was different than the lesson I was expecting. I loved it, though. The character development felt natural, and significant, and all of the characters were very unique.

3 stars!

Rapunzel: The One With All The Hair (Twice Upon A Time series #1) by Wendy Mass

I’ve been wanting to read Wendy Mass’ Twice Upon A Time series for a while now, and I love how she writes the classic fairy tales with middle-school age kids… and they’re so realistic! Rapunzel certainly sounds like a twelve-year-old to me. The first sentence of the book had me laughing. “I seriously CANNOT BELIEVE what has happened to be today.” I’m a big fan of switching perspectives, especially boy/girl perspectives (Between the Lines was similar in that matter). I also liked that the romance is as borderline as Middle Grade “romance” needs to get, in my opinion. There’s the “oh, I’ve never thought a girl is pretty before… hm. This is weird” kind of thing going on, but no smooching. (Unlike in The Wish.) The ending is well-written, in the fact that the book is finished, but there’s still a lot left for the characters in the story-realm. Rapunzel was short, easy, funny, and… well, really adorable! ♥

Rapunzel gets 3.5 stars. (I hate giving books .5 ratings, but I really couldn’t choose between 3 or 4 stars!)

So have you read any of these books? Do they sound like something you’d read?

Oh, my heavens, I don’t even know where to start with this book! It was just the best. History, romance, suspense. It’s one of my favorite kinds of books. I liked the way it was written, it was almost like it was in third person, yet it was in first person. (Does that sound weird? It’s sort of hard to explain.) I was a little confused by the cover, because it gives the impression that the book is more of a Middle Grade contemporary love story, rather than a MG historical fiction, with a little crush in the mix. But either way, I loved the story!

Title: The Romeo and Juliet Code

Series: The Felicity Bathburn series #1

Author: Phoebe Stone

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Publication date: January 1, 2011

Source: borrowed from the library

Synopsis: A sudden trip to a seaside house. A boy with brown sugar eyes. And then , a mysterious letter.
Felicity’s glamorous parents have a secret. When they leave her with distant relatives in Maine, far away from the battles of WWII, Felicity hopes they won’t be gone for long. Her new Uncle Gideon hides things. Her Aunt Miami is star-crossed. And Derek, a kid her age, refuses to leave his room.
But Felicity needs Derek’s help. Gideon is getting coded letters from Felicity’s parents, and she’s sure they’re in trouble. Can Felicity crack the code, heal the family and save her parents, all while surviving her first crush? It’s a tall order for a small girl, but Felicity is up for the challenge.

So, the book is a historical fiction. I mean really, the cover and description are so vague. At first, by the cover, I thought it was a contemporary, like I said, and then I was thinking “Oh, WWII, maybe it’s a flash-back sort of thing,” but it’s not. And it’s not all lovey-dovey, either. So there’s that. The cover is just all wrong.

But the story is all right. Sooo many mysteries, and then I didn’t even know something was a mystery until the end and it was just crazy good. Felicity (or Flissy, as her family calls her), is sent to live in Maine with her American relatives while her parents go back to London, closer to the war. And you know what? I’m really liking the British perspective. Between this one and Finding Ruby Starling, I really want to read more books set in England!

The historical aspect of the book is perfect. From the mentions of seeing the newspaper headlines to give the reader a feel for what’s going on, and Felicity sending and receiving a letter from President Roosevelt, it’s not so in-your-face, but it also plays the main role in the story.

Flissy’s crush was so sweet, as well. As I said, it’s not a romance, but then at the end you get a little feeling that there’s something between Felicity and Derek, but they’re eleven and twelve, so it’s not going to be anything big. Just enough to make your heart swell. 😉 (Another misleading thing… the title. There actually is a Romeo and Juliet Code, it’s not just referring to Felicity’s crush.)

The ending was wonderful. I was flabbergasted, really. Some threads were still left undone, but I give it the benefit of the doubt, because there is a sequel. (Which I am SO SO SO excited to read! (*Squeeeee!!*)

5 stars!

So what do you think of The Romeo and Juliet Code? Sound good?

Dear Opl completely knocked my socks off. The book is, as Shelley Sackier describes, “a humorous look at grief, obesity, and diabetes.” It really is exactly that. I was pleasantly surprised at Opl’s witty, sarcastic humor on some heavy topics. The book addressed many things, yet kept me laughing out loud!

Title: Dear Opl

Author: Shelley Sackier

Publication date: August 4, 2015

Source: e-ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) from Netgalley

Synopsis: After two years of hiding beneath a sugar-laden junk food diet meant to soothe the bitter loss of her dad, thirteen-year old Opl Oppenheimer is told she’s gained so much weight she’s pre-diabetic and now must start weighing far more than she ever bargained for.
There are three things that keep Opl busy during her eighth grade days: fighting the new “mock meat and healthy colon” cafeteria cooks, attempting to crush a celebrity chef’s reputation because he slings mud on any food that tastes good, and finding a pair of jeans that still fit. What she doesn’t count on is needing time to win back her best friend, illegally employing a penniless ex-rodeo clown, and solving the problems of teenagers who write in for advice on her blog. Finding room to fit everything in is proving as impossible as following her mom’s ridiculous diets. Only now, Opl has no choice. It’s do or die. How Opl determines what it is she’s truly hungering for and how to fill herself and her world is the heart of this timely, contemporary novel.

There were two things that bothered me about the book, so I’ll start with those, so that we can end on a good note. =)

1: In the beginning of the book, Opl really bothered me. She showed no interest in shedding her weight, even when she got the news that she was pre-diabetic, and was completely rude to her one good friend. While she was hilarious, and I did love the humorous insight to the issues the book addresses (grief, obesity, friendship, diabetes), at times her humor came off as sarcastic and whiny. She could also be ignorant, and there were parts of the book that made her sound dumb.

2: Opl’s little brother, Ollie, confused me. Opl doesn’t completely pay attention to her brother, but does mention the fact that he’s always dressed up in some costume or another: Lady Gaga, Mrs. Clause, ER nurse. This wasn’t explained at all, and I wasn’t sure to make of it since it didn’t seem to have to do with the story at all. At the end of the book, this is explained, and it made perfect sense. But for most of the book, Ollie sort of had me scratching my head. He was just sort of there, but unexplained.

Not too many low points, but they did turn me off. Now, let’s move onto the pro’s!

1: Just like another book I’ve recently read, Finding Ruby Starling, I loved Dear Opl‘s positive view of the internet. It was neat, reading about a thirteen-year-old girl who blogs, in a book! (Of course, I could relate to Opl on that note!) Opl’s friends and family encouraged her to blog, and I loved seeing how blogging became an outlet to Opl, a safe place where she could share her thoughts and get feedback from others.

2: Opl craves food. All the time. So much, this book is one of the few that’s made me SERIOUSLY HUNGRY! I loved the character development in Dear Opl, and Opl’s food cravings played a big role in that. As she decides to eat healthier and become more active, this slowly fades away, yet the focus on what Opl is really hungering is perfectly written and addressed, and I loved that.

3: Alfie Adam. Mr. Adam is the British chef determined to change the way people eat, one country at a time. (He plays a real-life Jamie Oliver in the book.) Opl’s opinions on “The Grunch” (Grinch + Lunch) had me rolling my eyes and laughing all at once. I remember watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution with my family when it was on TV. Watching some of the kids in the schools absolutely refuse to try any new healthy food, even after seeing how the junk food they eat is processed, had me dropping my jaw – completely grossed out! I couldn’t even begin to understand those kids. (My family and I can go on sugar spikes, but for the most part, our pantry is full of organic cereals and whatnot.) So now I got to read from the perspective of one! I loved it.

4: So many topics, all in one book. Just to name a few: Obesity. Diabetes. (Health, in general.) Loss. Grief. Seventh-grade friendships. Bullies. Acceptance. Family. And a lot more. They all touched on each other, and everything wrapped up to blend one story together. No loose threads were left hanging.

All-in-all, Dear Opl was a fantastic read, and I think I’ll buy the book once it comes out, since I enjoyed it so much!

3 stars! (A few main flaws, but overall enjoyable!)

Would you like to read Dear Opl when it debuts in August? Have you read anything that sounds similar?

Finding Ruby Starling was nothing like I expected it to be! The book was cute, and funny, and everything I love in a Middle Grade contemporary – but there was also a turn of events I most definitely wasn’t expecting. The book is written through a series of emails between Ruth and her long-lost twin sister, Ruby, and their friends emailing them. The voice of a modern-day twelve-year-old is so on point, it was hilarious!

Title: Finding Ruby Starling

Author: Karen Rivers

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Source: borrowed from the library (hardback)

Synopsis: THE PARENT TRAP comes to the digital age!

When Ruth Quayle used a special app to search for pictures of herself online, she found dozens of images of “Ruth Quayle” — and one of “Ruby Starling.”

When Ruby Starling gets a message from a Ruth Quayle proclaiming them to be long-lost twin sisters, she doesn’t know what to do with it — until another message arrives the day after, and another one. It could be a crazy stalker … but she and this Ruth do share a birthday, and a very distinctive ear….

Ruth is an extroverted American girl. Ruby is a shy English one. As they investigate the truth of their birth and the circumstances of their separation, they also share lives full of friends, family, and possible romances — and they realize they each may be the sister the other never knew she needed.

I love how the book is described in its blurb – “The Parent Trap comes to the digital age!” I love long-lost twin stories, and I especially loved how Ruth and Ruby reacted when they found out the truth, thanks to some pictures on the internet. I thought I was going to cry, I was laughing so hard! Here’s an excerpt from when Ruth emailed Ruby about being twins.

And then, just like that, it was obvious. I figured it out!!! It wasn’t like in movies where the heroine solves the case and then there is a big swell of music, even though I sort of felt like there should be. My eyes were overflowing with tears. Because… well… Ruby Starling, WE ARE IDENTICAL TWINS!

At first, I was a little wary about the book because a lot of internet lingo was used, like “obvi” and “j/k.” The first several emails had a lot of exclamation points and all-caps, and I was worried Ruth would be like that the entire book. I really liked Ruby best at first, because this is how I would react if something emailed me this.

‘Ruth’: You are mad. Bonkers. Get stuffed. And don’t write to me again, please. Your note was very upsetting. Yours truly, Ruby Starling P.S. You are very good at Photoshop. A little TOO good, don’t you think?

Everything – from the reactions, voices, and feelings – of the twelve-year-old girls is SO perfect. I can totally see a twelve-year-old girl being just like that! I couldn’t even imagine an adult writing the book. Karen Rivers’ voice was just so funny. I really hope my friends (who aren’t much of a bookworm) read this book, because some of them (cough cough Sydney) talk just like Ruby and Ruth. 😉

I also loved the parents in the book – Ruby’s and Ruth’s. They were very realistic, and great parents, but of course you see through the eyes of a twelve-year-old girl, and the way Ruby and Ruth see the world and their parents is realistic, too. However, the girls weren’t rebellious and didn’t talk back to their parents, even though (in my humble, thirteen-year-old girl opinion), their parents didn’t really pay attention to their daughters at times.

I didn’t like how Ruth’s dad talked about Buddhism all the time, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. I mean, hey, Buddha did have some good quotes. Ruby’s mom totally bugged me, too. It wasn’t until the end of the book that Ruby FINALLY got to talk to her mom about having a twin. I was so anxious to see how that played out, and it really went deeper than I thought would happen for this book. How could a mom keep one twin and not the other?!

Another interesting aspect of the story was the internet. Aside from emails, Ruth also had a tumblr blog, and that was really neat. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this one in the way that it portrayed and used the internet to tell the story.

I also didn’t know that this was the second book in a series – it turns out some of the characters in this book first appeared in The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers. I really didn’t need to read the first one to understand Finding Ruby Starling. I think it’s more of a companion novel than a sequel, which is great. I can’t wait to read The Encyclopedia of Me, though!

Finding Ruby Starling gets five stars!

Have you read Finding Ruby Starling or The Encyclopedia of Me? What do you think of them?

Whoa! I was so impressed by Chasing the Milky Way. The first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous cover, and then the synopsis totally cinched the deal. Every word kept me freaking out, but it was so beautifully written, I couldn’t help but feel right at home with Lucy, Izzy, and Cam. It’s one of those books I randomly decided to pick up in the library, but I’m so glad I did!

Title: Chasing the Milky Way
Author: Erin E. Moulton
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: June 12, 2014
Source: borrowed from the library (hardback)
Synopsis: In a book that pairs science with mental illness, and heart with adventure, Erin E. Moulton delivers a moving story about family, friendship and the lengths we go for the people we love.

Lucy Peevy has a dream–to get out of the trailer park she lives in and become a famous scientist. And she’s already figured out how to do that: Build a robot that will win a cash prize at the BotBlock competition and save it for college. But when you’ve got a mama who doesn’t always take her meds, it’s not easy to achieve those goals. Especially when Lucy’s mama takes her, her baby sister Izzy, and their neighbor Cam away in her convertible, bound for parts unknown. But Lucy, Izzy and Cam are good at sticking together, and even better at solving problems. But not all problems have the best solutions, and Lucy and Izzy must face the one thing they’re scared of even more than Mama’s moods: living without her at all.

I always love books that show a unique child’s perspective under serious circumstances. However, I was slightly surprised at how much Lucy (the main character, who is twelve years old), took control. I mean, she really had to be, because at times her mom could be a sorry excuse for a mother. And I mean that in the best way possible, because Lucy’s mom really did try. And I admit, I was pretty ticked off at her for the majority of the book, but she really came through. You could really tell Lucy and her mom both loved each other, and had a special bond.

The book did read a little slow for me at first. Once Lucy and her friend Cam are on their way to BotBlock (the robot competition they saved all year to enter – planning to use the money they win to save for college), I thought there would be more scenes at BotBlock, but most of the book was their journey TO BotBlock. (Side note: seriously, BotBlock is a total tongue twister!) The scenes were Lucy’s mom would get in one of her moods (good or bad) or hallucinate were intense, but some scenes in between were a little slow.

I did love all the descriptions and detail that went in to Lucy’s mom’s mental illness. This is one of the few books that I’ve read where the parent has a depression or something unbalanced in their mind, and it was so done so well. The thing is, Lucy’s mom’s lows are LOW, but her highs are also extremely HIGH. Both sides of her were equally touched on, so I could see her good and bad points. Lucy was angry with her mom at parts of the book – and I admit so was I! – but like I said, they both came through.

I will say it made me extremely grateful that I don’t have to remind my parents to take medicines so that I can go to school and not worry my mom will disappear, or she’ll forget to buy groceries. I was SO angry with Lucy’s mom… pretty much the entire book. And there were some parts when I was mad at Lucy, too – I was all “NO JUST ASK FOR HELP OMG YOU’RE JUST A KID.” Of course, that just made the story more realistic, but I was still mad. Like I said earlier, though, Lucy’s mom does come around, and you get to see all of her moods and see who she is when she’s on her medicines, being herself, and who she is when she’s not at her best point.

Also – BotBlock. I really liked reading about Cam and Lucy’s robot, PingPing200. How they began to make it, descriptions of what he looked like. PingPing was pretty much a character himself throughout the book, because the main goal in the story is to make it to BotBlock. And PingPing is there for the whole ride.

There’s so much more I could go on about – the worry about being taken away from their mom, the ending just being SO beautiful. It was an amazing story!

[box type=”warning”] There was some foul language in the book; on the following pages: 15, 17, 103, 121, 151, and 190.[/box]

Chasing the Milky Way gets four stars!

Have you read Chasing the Milky Way, or any books by Erin E. Moulton? Do you want to? Have you read any books where the parent has a mental illness?

Come back Wednesday for an interview with author of Chasing the Milky Way, Erin E. Moulton!

Whoa. Yep. This was a… whoa book. I mean, I finished it and just stared at a wall for five minutes. I’m not even kidding. It’s a book I tear up talking about. Or in this case, writing about it. Hang on, lemme grab some tissues. Kay. Got my tissues. *deep breath.* (Sorry, I’m a crier, alright?!)

Title: Once was Lost

Author: Sara Zarr

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Source: bought at consignment sale

Synopsis: Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor’s kid, it’s hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam’s personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

From what I’ve noticed, Sara Zarr writes some pretty deep books. I got this one at a consignment sale, and I recognized the author’s name. It wasn’t until I got home I realized Sara Zarr is also the author of The Lucy Variations, a book I totally DNF’d (Did Not Finish), because it was, uh, boring. I could see how some people might think this one is boring, too, and in the beginning I’m gonna be honest. It was all I could do to not just throw the book across the room. The whole mood of the book was so SAD!

Let me explain. PK. (Preacher’s Kid.) Whose mom just landed in rehab because of a DUI. And her father may or may not be flirting with the young youth pastor. And one of her friend’s (or more-than-a-friend) sister has just disappeared. Uh-huh. Sam’s starting to doubt God, and I was starting to doubt this book. Buuut I kept going, and it was ah-maaaaz-ing. Grace. (Hahahahaha! See that? What I did there? Once Was Lost. Amazing Grace. Yep.)

The main character, Sam, was completely confused. About God, love, her mom, her dad, her friends. Basically, her whole life. I seriously wondered how Sara Zarr could pack so much in such a short book. But one way or the other, she did, and it was awesome.

The little love story was pretty good, but what I really appreciated about the romance in this book is it’s not the main plot. If anything, the relationship between Sam and her love interest, Nick, got them both through some hard times. But then it wasn’t like they were together just because they were hurting. It was more than that. It was perfect. And the way it ended was perfect, too. It left you wondering, but pretty confident in how it would turn out.

Okay, THE ENDING. The ending was PERFECT. I know I’m throwing that word around a lot in this review, but it seriously was. But it was sad, too. (I know, I know, I’m not making any sense.) It just sort of left me stunned. Plus I finished it at night, and the thought of the 13-year-old girl who went missing in the book tugged at my heart. Because that happens everyday. And it freaks me out. But the great thing about this book is Sam learns that whether or not you know it, God’s got everything in his hands.

While we’re talking about the girl who went missing in the book. This book has some pretty heavy material. [learn_more caption=” Spoilers! (More Detail about the content; if you’re not sure about reading this, or are a younger reader, have your parents check this out. ;)”] The girl does end up being found, but as it turns out, she was kidnapped by a 47-year-old man no one even ever suspected, an organist at their church. (I know, awful and creepy!) It doesn’t say what he did to her or go into detail. (It just gives that. The facts.) The book talked about the fact that the girl could have been murdered, but nothing went into detail. As the story progresses, it’s on the news that a human hand is found in the woods, but it’s not linked to the little girl who went missing, and it’s kind of joked about. “Hey, everyone, if you’re missing a hand, call this number on the radio…” Still, the book does have some content that may not be appropriate for younger readers, or depending on your standards. [/learn_more]

Overall, this book was incredible! Five stars!

So does this sound like something you’d like to read? Have you read Once Was Lost, or any books by Sara Zarr?