Beautiful, Unputdownable, Worth Every Tear | Mini Review: None of the Above by I. W. Gregorio

None of the Above by I. W. Gregorio

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: April 7th, 2015

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

"I cried so much while reading this, but every tear was worth it."

I've been eyeing this book for some time now, so I'm grateful for Dahlia's Book Club for giving me that extra push. This is a fabulous novel and is so important. It's so important for people to learn more about those who are intersex and what that is like, and this book hopefully provides some more visibility on the topic. So much of the focus of LGBTQ+ discussions leaves out intersex, leaving most people very unaware of what that actually means. This is manifested in the majority of Kristen's school.

This story broke my heart and then slowly healed it again. I learned so much along the way, and it was just an emotional rollercoaster. The characters really add such a depth to the story and to the conflicts. I feel like there might be criticism about some of Kristen's friendships, but oh my gosh did I see my own middle/high school friend dynamics in there (minus the partying). And I would hate to think about how non-tolerant those in Kristen's school were, but to be honest, I don't find it surprising. High school can be so ruthless and terrible, and teens can be so quick to tear one another down. But I think another important experience and lesson to be learned here is that despite all the terrible people (or the good people who make bad decisions), there are also really decent and amazing people who don't care and will stick up for you. And seeing that in this book was such a treasure. I cried so much while reading this, but every tear was worth it.

But before I forget or get sidetracked, I want to bring it back to this being about a girl who just founds out she's intersex and is struggling to figure out her identity when she feels it's being taken away. It is just so powerful, but it's also so impactful for anyone who goes through a time where they feel they're losing/they have lost their identity, even when it's something that doesn't truly define you or your personality. I just think this story was beautiful, and I couldn't put it down.

That being said, there were large parts of the story that were pretty predictable, including that ending. And there were a few other things, but I think they are far outweighed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and while it wasn't my favorite, it sure is amazing and definitely needs to be read by all.

None of the Above: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

I. W. Gregorio: Website | Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Great World Building and Exploration of Identity, But Where Did Everyone Go? | Mini Review: Audiobook: The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu (Audiobook)

Publisher: Walden Pond Press

Release Date: September 24th, 2013 

On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city saved by the magic woven into its walls when a devastating plague swept through the world years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow, who spends his days in the dark cellar of his master's shop grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island. Oscar's world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it.

But it's been a long time since anyone who could call himself a wizard walked the world, and now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill; something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the trees will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it.

"There's so much depth to Oscar, and I love the exploration of identity and what it means to be human and to be growing up."

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was actually introduced to it through Dahlia's Book Club, and I decided to listen to this instead since finding time to read in college is hard.

There's so much depth to Oscar, and I love the exploration of identity and what it means to be human and to be growing up. Growing up can be so hard and so isolating for anyone, but social interaction is particularly difficult for Oscar. I also really enjoyed Callie as a character and how she is one of the few people to see through everything that prevent people from really getting to know or care about Oscar. Their friendship is so beautiful and so important and shows how important acceptance and love are, how much someone can change your life.

The world was really interesting, and I loved the premise of the story. I thought the story carried itself well, and I almost always wanted to keep listening. I'm still getting used to listening to audiobooks, but this wasn't particularly difficult to get into. I was glad there weren't long descriptions, but there were also so many times where I found it difficult to get any image of the setting. Like I know what the places are called, but it was still difficult to visualize much that wasn't the forest or garden.

The ignorance of the people also bothered me beyond belief. As much as it could be realistic, I don't see how everyone could just be brainwashed to forget simply because they were scared...but maybe that's because I never lived through something like that. My other biggest problem with the book was how quickly so many seemingly important characters just left the story, from Master Caleb to Wolf to Madame something (the one who Callie was working under) to the baker. There was so little exploration of these characters, and maybe the author didn't find that important, but it's such a shame.

But overall, I enjoyed the book, and it was worth the time.

The Real Boy: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Anne Ursu: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Real, Raw, Palpable, Heart-breaking, and Hopeful | Mini Review: Finding Center by Katherine Locke

Finding Center by Katherine Locke
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: August 17th, 2015

Zed and ballet are my two greatest loves

It took all of Aly's strength to get them back after a tragic accident ripped them from her six years ago. A long road to recovery led to her return, dancing full-time for the District Ballet Company and carrying Zed's child. But Aly is slipping. Each day becomes a fight to keep her career from crumbling under the weight of younger talent, the scrutiny of the public eye and the limitations of her ever-changing body. A fight she fears she's losing.

I'm scared Aly is broken to her core

Zed recognizes the signs, but he doesn't know how to fix her. The accident left him with his own demons, and while he wants nothing more than to take care of the woman he loves, it's getting harder the farther downward she spirals. When Aly's life is threatened and Zed's injuries prevent him from saving her, he's never felt so useless, so afraid he's not capable of being the man Aly and their child needs.

With new life comes new hope. And with their fractured lives already hanging by a thread, Aly and Zed must discover if they have what it takes—both together and apart—to rebuild and carry on.

"This book in particular is raw and haunting but also hopeful."

"It made me feel understood too, and that made me feel a little less alone."

THIS BOOK. I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this, but I was really missing ballet, so I picked this one up. And I'm so glad that I did.

I loved Second Position, but I didn't realize I could fall in love with Locke's story even more. Yet Finding Center did just that. It still contained the ballet that I love and was looking for within Locke's story, but this one hit so much more and focuses much more on the characters and their development. 

The story continues with the emotional character development in the first book. I absolutely love how Locke handles mental illness within her books. She handles it deftly and carefully but doesn't leave anything out, doesn't sugarcoat anything. This book in particular is raw and haunting but also hopeful. We see that there's a way through. It never leaves you, but it gets easier, and you learn how to handle it amongst everything else in life.

But the journey to get there is an emotional one. There are so many ups and downs, so many miscommunications, so much that is conveyed. Locke shows how people can change but also how slow and how much of a process it is. The changing point of view is especially effective in this book and in getting the message across. Both are going1 through so much and shut others out, but we can see both sides of it, and I think that is so important and so well done.

The book is never lagging, and the struggles are so real and palpable. My heart broke so many times, and I cried so much while reading this, not just because the plot was often so sad and distressing but also because it just understood what it felt like. I definitely don't have anything close to what Aly and Zed are feeling and going through, but I can understand how they felt. It made me feel understood too, and that made me feel a little less alone. (And of course the dance/ballet portions are beautifully written, as always. The conflicts are well written and envisioned, and I loved every moment of it.)

I implore you to go read it (and/or Second Position).

Finding Center: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Katherine Locke: Website | Twitter | Tumblr 

Mini Review: We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist (ARC)

We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 23rd, 2014

A bright, poignant, and deeply funny autobiographical account of coming of age as an amputee cancer survivor, from Josh Sundquist: Paralympic ski racer, YouTube star, and motivational speaker.

Josh Sundquist only ever had one girlfriend.
For twenty-three hours.
In eighth grade.

Why was Josh still single? To find out, he tracked down the girls he had tried to date and asked them straight up: What went wrong?

The results of Josh's semiscientific, wholly hilarious investigation are captured here. From a disastrous Putt-Putt date involving a backward prosthetic foot, to his introduction to CFD (Close Fast Dancing), to a misguided "grand gesture" at a Miss America pageant, this story is about looking for love--or at least a girlfriend--in all the wrong places.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC via NetGalley. This did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

I was originally interested in this book because I have never been in a romantic relationship, and I thought this book would offer at least a little of insight as to why that might be. Or rather, why it was like that for someone else. I also heard that Josh is hilarious, and I was interested to see what he had to say on the matter.

Perhaps my favorite part was all the diagrams and the various other ways he presented information outside of the normal text. These portions were amongst the most hilarious and often presented information that wouldn't have been as funny in text form. Josh's writing itself is pretty straightforward and blunt, which I enjoyed. However, as funny as parts of it were, I think I was expecting much more humor, and I only got a little bit of that.

Something else I had a problem with was the way the book was the way he split up his stories, making them seem like scientific experiments. I guess I could understand why he made the decision to split up the stories and girls in that way, but it bothered me a bit. Not only were some sections clearly weaker than others, but it made it seem as though females can be understood in this scientific way rather than understanding their complexities.

I do think that he did a pretty good job of exploring his thoughts on the reason he hadn't been in a romantic relationship before. For the most part, he kept me interested. But it was pretty clear what his real message was--probably similar to the message he gives at various speaker events. I didn't necessarily have a problem with this, but at times, it was a bit overwhelming and so obvious, and I was hoping it wouldn't be. I did appreciate his message though, and I think it's an important one which I connected to it a lot. He seems awkward the way I am, but it's important to see how self-worth and acceptance may be a huge part of this and can at least be a huge first step.

We Should Hang Out Sometime: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Josh Sundquist: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

Flashback Friday (#8): Mini Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Release Date: May 1st, 2012

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

So I never meant to write this review or mini-review, but I've decided to write small reviews for some of the books I've read semi-recently and haven't reviewed to give myself time to sit and finish some books.

Anyway, I think I'm one of the few people that actually enjoyed Insurgent, potentially a lot more than Divergent. I found Tris to be more bearable and didn't find myself nearly as much at odds with her as I did before. I thought Veronica Roth did a great job at creating tension between the characters, but it also meant that much of it came down to Tobias' actions. It killed me to see how he was acting and reacting. He was such a hypocrite, but I can't help but love him. Yes, so much would have been easier, so much wouldn't have happened if he had just listened or if they had just communicated better! But obviously it wouldn't have been as exciting if they had just done that. ;)

I liked the mix of action and Tris' internal struggle. Some people might have found it slow, perhaps in the way I found the beginning of Divergent so boring. I'm glad Roth took the time to explore Tris' emotions and to let her work through her grief and come to terms with all that happened in Divergent. So often in action novels, that internal struggle and working through grief is forgotten about or pushed aside in favor of more action. Maybe that works for some people, but it was so much more realistic to see Tris struggle, and it made everything she did so much more compelling. I truly felt connected to Tris; I could understand her. She's still human, just like the rest of us. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU KILLED SOMEONE? WHAT IF THAT SOMEONE WAS YOUR FRIEND? Yup, there you go.

I really loved this book, and I'm hoping I'll enjoy Allegiant more than other people have enjoyed it.

Insurgent: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Veronica Roth; Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Mini Review: Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 13th, 2011

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

I wanted a lot out of this book, and I had high expectations, but I was so, so disappointed. It's a ballet book, so of course I had to pick it up and read it. I loved the dance portions so much, and I appreciated how they were written. It was interesting to see it represented in verse, which is different from the other dance books I've read.

But once Remington/Rem came into the picture? I just couldn't. Sara was just so obsessed, and he was so lame and obviously using her. She was so convinved of their relationship, but it was so blatantly obvious, and I just couldn't deal with it. I could predict the direction the book was going to take, but I hated how it was sort of an abusive relationship--at least the way I interpreted it--that almost felt like it was supposed to be okay because she was so naive?

I couldn't deal with that or with the characters and their interactions, so I just put it down. I wish I could just take all the dance parts and read them, but I very sadly couldn't get through the other parts of the book.

 Audition: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Stasia Ward Kehoe: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr

Mini Review: #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso

#GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso
Publisher: Portfolio
Release Date: May 6th, 2014

At seventeen, Sophia Amoruso decided to forgo continuing education to pursue a life of hitchhiking, dumpster diving, and petty thievery. Now, at twenty-nine, she is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Nasty Gal, a $100+ million e-tailer that draws A-list publicity and rabid fans for its leading-edge fashion and provocative online persona. Her story is extraordinary—and only part of the appeal of #GIRLBOSS.

This aspirational book doesn’t patronize young women the way many business experts do. Amoruso shows readers how to channel their passion and hard work, while keeping their insecurities from getting in the way. She offers straight talk about making your voice heard and doing meaningful work.

She’s proof that you can be a huge success without giving up your spirit of adventure or distinctive style. As she writes, "I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool. Then let’s do this.”

I was expecting so much out of this book, but oh gosh was I not impressed. I don't doubt that it's feminist. She's very much all about girls doing what they want and not letting other people tell them what to do. She's all about girl power and giving females tips and whatnot. But the voice that she writes in! Ugh. I can't fault her for being very straightforward and blunt, but that's what didn't appeal to me. She came off as patronizing for much of the part of the book that I read. Her tone and voice were really off-putting to me, and I couldn't stand to be reading that. I didn't bother finishing the book. It definitely wasn't for me.

 #GirlBoss: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sophia Amoruso: NastyGal | Twitter | Instagram

Mini Review: Popular by Maya van Wagenen

Popular by Maya Van Wagenen
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: April 15th, 2014

Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular?

The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.

I have never been part of the popular group, nor do I expect to ever be. I'm too awkward, shy, reserved, etc to be. Most of the time, I struggle with liking myself, let alone expecting/thinking other people (to) like me. I had heard about Popular last year, around the time it came out, and I heard that many people loved it, so I finally decided to check it out. I wasn't disappointed!

Maya is quirky and the whole situation she puts herself in for a school year is definitely interesting. I love how she showed that real life can have just as much drama as all the drama written about in books. Oftentimes, what happens in books really does feel very different from my experiences, and sometimes, I wonder why people don't see that you don't need to be in a romantic relationship to have drama. Maya's story is really unique and so new, and I really enjoyed reading the book. Though slow at times, for the most part, it read like real life, and I loved that quality about it.

The writing was a little simplistic for what I was expecting and there were some gaps that I wish had been filled in, but otherwise, I was really satisfied with her story. I loved the connections and some of the modern takes on Betty's advice. I loved her take on popularity, though I don't know that I necessarily agree, at least not from my experience at school and thinking about who the popular kids at my school are. But I've heard popularity is different later in life than it is in high school. Thank goodness. Anyway, I would definitely recommend Popular, especially for those that feel alone, unlikeable, unappreciated, unpopular.

Popular: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Maya Van Wagenen: Website | Twitter

Flashback Friday (#7): Mini Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: January 8th, 2013

Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

"[Allyson's] personal journey to finding herself and finding her own strength is so powerful and almost inspiring to me."

Note: I originally wanted to make this a mini-review, but then I started just writing. I'm still going to call it a mini-review though because I'm not really covering most of what I cover in my reviews.

A little more than halfway through reading this book, I was ready to give this book a 3 or 3.5, but then, the story began to change, and it began to reshape itself, totally becoming a story that I loved and connected with.

I enjoyed the beginning. I did. But the pacing felt wonky, and the book wasn't really keeping me engaged. I loved the setting for the story, but none of it felt particularly "real" for me, not because it can't happen, but because there was something that was missing for me. It was cute but also a really awkward situation when you look at it in a grander context. I mean, I wish I could do something similar--end up in a random place in Paris and explore the parts that tourists don't tend to see--but I don't think I'd ever do it with some guy I just met.

And then Allyson's loss of identity and sense of self just made it all crash down even further. Maybe it's because I've never been in love or anything, but I couldn't get why she couldn't just get over it. I know, easier said than done, but she had barely even known him!

But then it began to pick up, and Allyson's journey began to fascinate me. On the one hand, I still wanted to shout at her to get over it, but on the other hand, her personal journey to finding herself and finding her own strength is so powerful and almost inspiring to me. I totally understood Allyson's self-doubt, and I connected to that. I've been in her place, feeling all that self-hate, faking for so long you don't even know who the real you is anymore. I deal with that every day. But her story and her journey gives me hope.

I also really enjoyed the discussion about the difference between being in love and falling in love. It's a distinction I never used to think about, but now, I'm constantly thinking about the difference between the two phrases. We see them as equal phrases, but what if they're not?

Anyway, I think another reason I began to greatly connect to Allyson is that I'm about to head off to college. Her fallout with Melanie is everything I fear about going to college and that feeling of everyone moving on and becoming someone new draws in and scares me at the same time (which is funny because I'm that person that can't wait to get out of high school, doesn't really have any friends so it doesn't really matter, and am really excited to finally be who I am/be someone new). And she has really interesting relationships with her roommates. I'm scared I'll be like that too--too anti-social and with too much social anxiety to make any friends (which I know is irrational but whatever). But then there's Dee! He's such a big part of Allyson's journey, and he's such an amazing character that came in at the perfect time in the book. I wish I could have more friends like him!

Overall, it was slow and a bit disappointing at first, but the latter portion of the book really made up for a lot of it and left me with lots to ponder.

Just One Day: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Gayle Forman: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram

Mini Review: In Real Life by Jen Wang and Cory Doctorow

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second Books
Release Date: October 14th, 2014

Anda loves Coarsegold Online, the massively-multiplayer role-playing game where she spends most of her free time. It's a place where she can be a leader, a fighter, a hero. It's a place where she can meet people from all over the world, and make friends.

But things become a lot more complicated when Anda befriends a gold farmer--a poor Chinese kid whose avatar in the game illegally collects valuable objects and then sells them to players from developed countries with money to burn. This behavior is strictly against the rules in Coarsegold, but Anda soon comes to realize that questions of right and wrong are a lot less straightforward when a real person's real livelihood is at stake.

"I'm impressed by this story, and I'm so glad it lived up to my expectations."

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the publisher. This did not impact my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for it.

In Real Life is another fabulous book from First Second. Not only am I huge fan of the fact that the book involves girls who game (which is so rare in books but pretty common in reality), but I'm also really happy about the way the girls, particularly Anda, are drawn. Yay for body diversity and no body shaming! I loved the colors and illustrations in the book, and it worked so perfectly with the plot. The book is gorgeous.

Speaking of the plot, I really enjoyed it. I was drawn into the story, rooting for the various characters. The story really makes readers think about their actions and about the consequences of your actions on someone else. In our globalized world, you never know how what you do affects people you've never even met "in real life." In Real Life explores morality and the struggle between what's right and wrong. So often in life, it's not a black or white answer, and there's no way we can anticipate what the affect of our actions and words can be. And the book explores globalization, economics, politics, and culture in a cohesive, understandable way. It's rarely done well, but I think it was amazingly well incorporated in In Real Life.

Andi grows so much throughout the book, and it's so evident, even though it's gradual and realistically done. I'm impressed by this story, and I'm so glad it lived up to my expectations. My only issue is that as some other reviewers have mentioned, it feels like there's a very fine line between a white girl coming in and saving the Chinese kids and a normal girl just trying to accept herself and coming to terms with her mistakes, leading her to help the Chinese kids save themselves. I don't really know how I feel about this. On the one hand, once I saw someone else mention this, I could see the issue, but while/after reading the book and before reading other people's thoughts, I didn't really notice this or find this to be an issue.

In Real Life: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Jen Wang: Website | Tumblr | Twitter

Cory Doctorow: Website | Twitter

Flashback Friday (#6): Mini Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 3rd, 2005

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

"[Looking for Alaska] is decent, but it didn't really work for me."

To be honest, I was disappointed. So many people love this book, and I guess I could see why. Maybe I went into it expecting too much. But I don't think I would have liked it much two or five years ago either.

Pudge's voice just didn't work for me in the way Charlie's voice didn't work for me in Perks. I didn't particularly feel anything for any of the characters, and though I understood them and ther actions to some extent, I personally didn't connect or feel compelled by the story. I was able to predict the ending well in advance, despite this being one of the few books in which I didn't read ahead. There was just something missing here that worked so well for me in TFiOS. I've been told that people who know someone who committed suicide got much more out of it though. 

However, the one thing that made me keep reading and made me give the book the additional .5 was the deep implications found in the novel. The book did make me think. It made me question. It made me talk to people about some of the issues brought up in the book. 

All in all, the book isn't horrible. It's decent, but it didn't really work for me. I liked how it made me think, but it didn't do so much for me beyond that. People mention Alaska being a MPDG, and I can definitely see why. I feel like this is a book that I'd only recommend to certain people.

[To be honest, do I even need to include these links?]

Looking for Alaska: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

John Green: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram | Vlogbrothers

Mini Review: One, Two, Three by Elodie Nowodazkij (ARC)

One Two Three by Elodie Nowodazkij
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 26th, 2014

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year,seventeen-year-old Natalya Pushkaya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present. Keeping him an arabesque away proves to be a challenge for Natalya and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

When upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley. This did not impact my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

I have to admit that it's been a while since I've read this book, as in I read this in July or August, and it's now February. As you can probably guess, this means that I've forgotten most of this book. Because of this, I'm grateful that I took notes. I've decided to just type out my notes and label this a mini-review. I hope this doesn't work out too terribly! (The notes in the brackets are notes I'm adding now.)

• Yay for ballet!
• Rehab with mom felt a bit too easy and/or unrealistic. [I wouldn't know, as I don't have the experience but compared to other books, this is my take on the situation.]
• Some of the dialog felt awkward, forced, and/or unrealistic
• Though I love Tonia and Nata's relationship, it was SO obvious and felt way too rushed
• Love Karina-so cute!
• LOVE Nata and Becca's friendship--one of the stronger/strongest aspects of the book
• Becca's relationship with James seems really sudden, but it's cute and it works
• The Spanish mix-in felt really awkward, but that might just be me
• Iffy about Nata's parents' friendship with Derek and Mina
• I enjoyed the inclusion of Russian culture, but sometimes it felt weird
• For example, Nata says thank you in Russian to Becca and says she does that when she's emotional, yet she barely knows Russian
• Holy plot twist! Well done with the Yuri point but the one about Tonio and Camillo's bet wasn't really addressed much or handled well [I don't know if you can guess, but I have no idea what this is about, so I hope it isn't spoiler-y]
• I love how Natalya comes to see that ballet isn't all that matters and that some other aspects of her life are more important
• Ending felt really abrupt and a bit too open-ended for my taste, as too much was left unresolved [It seems this may be the first in a series?]
• The book is about change, friendship, trust, and forgiveness.

One, Two, Three: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Elodie Nowodazkij: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Mini Review: Stars and Swipes; Hugs and Misses by Wilhelm Staehle

Disclaimer: I received these for review from the publisher. This did not affect my thoughts in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

Stars and Swipes by Wilhelm Staehle
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: December 3rd, 2014

Stars and Swipes illuminates lesser-known--maybe for good reason--moments in US history. Join the Boston Terrier Tea Party, Lady Liberty struggling to flag down a cab in New York, and Lewis & Clarke & Dwayne for comedic insight into the Land of the Free. Send a historic barb to your favorite patriot!

Okay, I actually do really love this because I'm a fairly big history nerd but especially an American Revolution history nerd, so I got such a kick out of these cards. I loved most of them, and I just found them to be hilarious. I really want to share this with my US History teacher because I know she'd love it. I honestly can't even think about parting with some of these cards because they're just so great. I absolutely love this set, and if you're a history nerd, particularly an American history nerd, I highly recommend that you check this out!

Hugs and Misses by Wilhem Staehle
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: December 3rd, 2014

Hugs and Misses is full of lovelorn ladies and roguish gentlemen suffering through painful encounter, indecent proposals, tasteless pick-up lines, and failed attempts at charm. The postcards feature the truths about love and relationships that we're not permitted to say aloud (lest we find ourselves sleeping upon the couch).

While I loved the history one, this one fell a bit short for me. I didn't enjoy this nearly as much, probably because I didn't find the jokes as funny. There were a few I didn't understand, a handful I really liked, and the rest were pretty mehh to me. I'm still not sure how I feel about this pack. I can see some people loving it, but it didn't stick completely with me. I might give this away at some point. ;)

Stars and Swipes: Quirk Books | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Hugs and Misses: Quirk Books | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Wilhelm Staehle: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Mini Review: Above the Dreamless Dead

Above the Dreamless Dead: World War I in Poetry and Comics edited by Chris Duffy
Publisher: First Second Books
Release Date: July 15th, 2014

As the Great War dragged on and its catastrophic death toll mounted, a new artistic movement found its feet in the United Kingdom. The Trench Poets, as they came to be called, were soldier-poets dispatching their verse from the front lines. Known for its rejection of war as a romantic or noble enterprise, and its plainspoken condemnation of the senseless bloodshed of war, Trench Poetry soon became one of the most significant literary moments of its decade.

The marriage of poetry and comics is a deeply fruitful combination, as evidenced by this collection. In stark black and white, the words of the Trench Poets find dramatic expression and reinterpretation through the minds and pens of some of the greatest cartoonists working today.

"If there's one word I could use to describe the book, it would be poignant."

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This did not affect my review or thoughts in any way, nor am I being compensated for this review.

Wow. Just wow. I read this back in July, but I still can't forget about the book. If there's one word I could use to describe the book, it would be poignant. Both World Wars were obviously incredibly devastating, but you get a first hand look at what it was like for the soldiers through the trench poetry. There were definitely some poems I loved more than others. I generally like poetry with "pretty" writing more, so some of the poems in this book weren't for me. Overall, however, I really liked the mix of experiences and poems found within the book. Some were very difficult to decipher, but I really enjoyed reading most of these.

I had to take this slower than most of the other First Second books I've read. It's very hard to process the poems because of how much of the weight you feel from the soldiers. You feel what they're feeling, and it's a lot to take in. At first, I had hard time really getting into the book, but I really enjoyed the later half of the book.

The artwork varies because they're all different artists. Some of it is very gory, and some can be triggering. Some are beautiful, some are comical. There were definitely a few poems+comic combos that made me cringe, and those are the ones I wouldn't read again. Overall, however, the book is moving and impactful. After finishing, you're left needing a moment of silence and contemplation just to soak it all in. It's harrowing and poignant, but it's also so important for people to read about the experiences of these soldiers that endured and suffered so much.

Above the Dreamless Dead: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Mini Review: Zita the Spacegirl Series by Ben Hatke

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Publisher: First Second Books

Zita’s life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of an eye.

When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

What a great start to the series! I absolutely love Zita, who is spunky, brave, clever, and so much more. She is such a loyal friend, and I love her personality. I'm so glad to see a young heroine, which is so refreshing and so needed. In a world where most of our superheroes are male, I'm so happy to see a young, female hero too. I enjoyed her adventures, and the other creatures that she befriended along the way are awesome. The book sets up the next book extremely well, and this is definitely a quick read that is highly recommended for young children but that can also definitely be enjoyed by those of us that are older.

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Release Date: September 4th, 2012

Publisher: First Second Books

Fame comes at a price...

Zita must find her way back to earth...but her space adventures have made her a galactic megastar! Who can you trust when your true self is overshadowed by your public image? And to make things worse...Zita's got a robot double making trouble--while wearing her face!

I thought it was so interesting to see Zita deals with her newfound fame after Zita the Spacegirl. I continue to love Zita, her personality, and her persistence. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Zita impostor, nor did I find the plot to be as engaging as in the first book...until the end. The end shows how much both Zita and her impostor change throughout the book, particularly the impostor, and I think the impostor's sacrifice, as well as the fact that they all end up working together, is so important and vital, and that really sticks out to me. The book, much like the first, is well written and definitely recommended.

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Release Date: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: First Second Books

Zita the Spacegirl has saved planets, battled monsters, and wrestled with interplanetary fame. But she faces her biggest challenge yet in the third and final installment of the Zita adventures. Wrongfully imprisoned on a penitentiary planet, Zita has to plot the galaxy's greatest jailbreak before the evil prison warden can execute his plan of interstellar domination!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect my thoughts in any way, nor am I being compensated for this review.

An absolutely fabulous end to a fabulous series! Again, Zita is consistently awesome, and I love her. I really like how the characters and plot arcs from the previous two books make an appearance and/or are important in this book, and it adds a lot to it too. Basically, everything from the previous two books were just amplified in this one. I love the team work, and I just love the lessons to be learned in this book. I love how The Return of Zita the Spacegirl emphasizes how by helping others, you help yourself. This book, I feel, is such an important one for young people to read, and I'm sad it's not in the hands of even more children (and teens and adults)! As I said, a fabulous series ender. I can't wait to see what Hatke is coming up with next.

Zita the Spacegirl: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

The Legends of Zita the Spacegirl: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Ben Hatke: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr 

Review: Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu

This will be the first time I'm writing mini reviews for books! I decided to do it this way since they're books in the series and because I'm honestly a bit short on time (DARN SCHOOL).

Legend by Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)
Release Date: November 29th, 2011

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

I honestly had high expectations for this book. Maybe a little bit too high. I'd heard amazing things about both this book and the series as a whole. I was expecting amazing. I don't know that it delivered that, at least compared to what I was expecting. Instead, I felt as if the majority of the book dragged on and on, and I just couldn't get into it. Perhaps it was just the time that I read the book, and I'd definitely like to reread it again some day. I also couldn't connect to or really care about the characters. I did sort of root for them, but I didn't have any strong pull towards them.

All in all, it was full of twists and turns and a whole lot of deception going on. The plot was interesting but slow at times, and I felt like it dragged on quite a bit for the first half or so, finally picking up at the end (then, it was heart-racing, fast-paced, and fun to read). The characters stood on their own and of their own merit, but I often had a hard time connecting to them or really caring a lot about them, which is usually so necessary in a series.

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)

Release Date: January 29th, 2013

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

Prodigy was much more intense than Legend, and I don't think it suffered Second Book Syndrome. It shined on its own, and I found it to be stronger and more compelling than its prequel. It was in Prodigy that I really became invested in the characters and their mission. It was fast-paced and heart-pumping throughout. This was a much quicker read, and I enjoyed it a lot more. I felt that there were still so many unanswered questions from the first book that I was hoping would be answered in this book but weren't.

Overall, Prodigy was a solid second book, far exceeding my expectations. It kept me at the edge of my seat. The characters were much better written. Some parts were predictable, and I can see the set up for Champion, but it's much more well laid out. The pacing felt a lot better, and I was glad to finally feel connected and attached to the characters.

Legend: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

Prodigy: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Despository | IndieBound

Marie Lu: Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter