A Fun, Informative, Quick Read | Fun Science by Charlie McDonnell

Fun Science: A Guide to Life, the Universe, and Why Science is So Awesome by Charlie McDonnell
Publisher: Quadrille Publishing
Release Date: October 20th, 2016

Welcome, fellow humans (and others), to the the world of FUN SCIENCE! I'm Charlie, also known across the internet as charlieissocoollike.

In my book, I'll be taking you on an awesome journey through the cosmos, beginning with the Big Bang through to the Solar System and the origins of life on Earth, all the way down to the particles that make up everything around us (including you and me!).

Expect frequent digressions, tons of illustrations of not-so-sciencey things (NB a microwave flying through space), and pages packed with my all time favourite mind-bending science facts.

So, get ready for a faster-than-the-speed of-light (OK, not quite) tour of all of the best and most interesting things that science has to offer us… and most importantly: WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE!

Disclaimer: I received a copy for review from Midas Public Relations for this blog tour. This did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this post.

Let me start by expressing how thrilled I am to be a part of this blog tour and to be the last stop. But without further ado...

For starters, let me give you a little background in case you don't know me. I am not a science person. There are some things within the sciences that interest me but more on a surface level, like a "I think this is sort of interesting and just want to know about it as a layperson, without getting all technical about it" sort of feeling, but beyond that, I am definitely not a science student. Unless you count the social sciences, I suppose. ;)

But when I saw that Charlie, also known as charlieissocoollike on YouTube, was coming out with this book, I got super excited. So many YouTubers are coming out with books, to the point where it's just exasperating, but I actually really like this one because I knew Charlie would really put all the time and effort into making this the best it could be. I knew that it would actually be informative and offer something useful and practical for readers.

I quickly realized that Fun Science is very much organized like my science seminar this semester is organized, giving a broad overview of the major sciences, starting with the large and ending with the small. This is the perfect companion to what I'm learning now and is so much more fun!

What I think the book does best is to take what would normally be boring to those of us who just can't deal with the sciences and makes them exciting and less intimidating. The doodles and pictures are funny and quirky. Information is provided in extremely colloquial writing, with many jokes and puns abound. It's colorful, the fonts vary, the text is easy to read through, and more. I quite like the fun facts inserted, as well as the "notes" interspersed throughout. I actually quite liked that Charlie would refer to himself, so that it feels more personal and more like a conversation. And all of this is presented in a way that isn't too childish but also could be understood by younger audiences.

This is the perfect introduction to science and is perfect if you're looking to gain some knowledge on the major sciences and all of the stuff you should have (and hopefully did learn) over the years in science class. It's a nice refresher and keeps from being boring or slow. Fun Science does exactly what it sounds like it does...it makes science more fun! For a non-scientist, Charlie sure does get the information across well. Perhaps it is precisely because he isn't a scientist that he can effectively present the information this way. Whatever the case, it works.

The book is very well designed, from the gorgeous, colorful cover, to the starry endpapers, to the drawings I mentioned above. It's like a fun textbook!

If you're at all interested in upping your science knowledge a bit, I would highly recommend Fun Science! It's a lite, fun way that will make you sound like you've spent much more time studying basic science than you actually have.

Be sure to check Charlie out on YouTube as well! His videos are fabulous, and I believe he's making videos to go along with the book.

About Charlie McDonnell

Charlie McDonnell is a Vlogger, Filmmaker and Musician from Bath, who currently resides in London. Charlieissocoollike currently has 2.3m subscribers and Charlie has 686k twitter followers, 201k on Instagram and 313k Facebook followers. Charlie, who started posting YouTube videos in 2007, became the first Video Blogger in the UK to reach one million YouTube subscribers. Beyond his own channel, Charlie has worked on many online video projects, notably "Science of Attraction," hosted by Derren Brown, and a vlog series from behind the scenes of Doctor Who for the BBC. He's also worked with many brands to produce videos for his own channel, including Microsoft, Pixar and Disney and is a regular participant in Radio 1's Internet Takeover show. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend and their cat, Gideon.

Fun Science: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Charlie McDonnell: YouTube | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Diverse Collection of Kick-Ass Ladies | Wonder Women by Sam Maggs

Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: October 4th, 2016

Ever heard of Allied spy Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman whom the Nazis considered “highly dangerous”? Or German painter and entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian, who planned and embarked on the world’s first scientific expedition? How about Huang Daopo, the inventor who fled an abusive child marriage only to revolutionize textile production in China?

Women have always been able to change the world, even when they didn’t get the credit. In Wonder Women, author Sam Maggs introduces you to pioneering female scientists, engineers, mathematicians, adventurers, and inventors—each profile a study in passion, smarts, and stickto-itiveness, complete with portraits by Google doodler Sophia Foster-Dimino, an extensive bibliography, and a guide to present-day women-centric STEM organizations.

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

Long time no see, everyone! So, this isn't really a comeback, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this incredible book with y'all. I loved The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy and knew I had to pick this one up too.

Wonder Women is pretty straightforward in its organization. The 25 women are split by category, and within each category are a few highlighted women whose stories are told, along with a few shorter introductions for a handful of other ladies at the end of each section. Then, the whole category is capped with an interview with a current day wonder woman in the field.

Albeit the intros/stories being short, they are concise, provide the background of these women, and explains what they did and why they're often left out of history. It's so sad to see these women, who span time periods, backgrounds, and locations, who were cheated out of their glory by greedy men who didn't appreciate and respect women in their fields. I feel guilty for not knowing most of these women (but am glad I know some of them). It's such a sad skewing of history and helps to perpetuate some people's perception of female weakness and inability, when that is clearly not the case. These women should receive all the credit they rightfully deserve. I only hope that history rights itself from now on, not lessening the accomplishments of women across all fields.

As a non-STEM student with many STEM friends and in a STEM-dominated school, it was interesting that Maggs chose to mostly highlight women in the STEM fields, which I totally understand. These fields are seriously lacking in female representation, and the time to change that is NOW (or really yesterday). But I would've loved to hear about the ladies in other fields who were similarly cheated out, who don't get the credit they deserve, who also did incredible things in their fields but aren't praised and respected for it and who were also lost to history and time.

But returning back to the point, I really love Maggs' voice in this book as well. It's colloquial enough but still professional enough to get the point across; it connects to young people and to fangirls and boys everywhere. This is a simple enough read for slightly younger audiences, which I think is great because people of all ages can begin to learn about these women. And this is a great starting point; I know I've certainly looked up some of these women to learn more about them/their contribution.

I truly love this fabulous little book and will certainly be recommending this to friends and sending it as gifts. This is clear proof that our textbooks need to change to reflect true history, not just male history, and that we need to stop looking down on women and diminishing their accomplishments and innovations in all fields. If this book can teach anything, it's that when women are given access, they can do and achieve incredible thing. So thank you to these pioneering ladies who did incredible things and have left incredible legacies; the world would not be the same without them, and I hope we will celebrate them some day the way we celebrate Watson and Crick, Einstein, and others.

Wonder Women: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sam Maggs: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

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In addition! I would like to bring your attention to Quirk Books' pre-order campaign for Wonder Women. You still have a few days to pre-order and submit proof!

Everyone who preorders will receive a download link to these two incredible pieces of art inspired by the book and the women included in it. You'll also be entered to win one of two SIGNED and framed versions of these prints. So what are you waiting for???

So if you'd want these, here's the link again! 

A Beautiful, Sad Story About Friendship, Hope, and Miscommunication | Tour: Review: The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald (ARC)

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Publisher: Holiday House
Release Date: April 1st, 2016

Fourteen-year-old Oscar Dunleavy is missing, presumed dead. His bike was found at sea, out past the end of the pier, and everyone in town seems to have accepted this as a teenage tragedy. But Oscar's best friend Meg knows he isn't dead. Oscar is an optimistic and kind boy who bakes the world's best apple tarts; he would never kill himself, and Meg is going to prove it.

Through interwoven narratives, the reader learns what really happened to Oscar. His sweet life had turned sour after Meg's family moved away. Though Meg didn't know it, Oscar had a manipulative bully plaguing him with toxic humiliation. Meg must confront the painful truth of Oscar's past six months—and the possibility that he might really be gone. Surrounded by grief and confusion, she starts to put the pieces back together.

With a poignant ending and memorable characters, this story of love and friendship reminds us to keep hope in our hearts.

"It's really a beautiful and sad story about friendship and miscommunication and appreciation and hope. "

"Obviously it makes sense for the story to be centered around Oscar, but it felt like all the other characters were fairly one dimensional."

Disclaimer: I received an ARC as a part of the blog tour celebrating the US release of this book. This did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this. 

Before I begin, I wanna say Happy Book Birthday to Sarah Moore Fitzgerald! Today is The Apple Tart of Hope's US release day! *celebrates*

I went into this book without any idea of what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. The Apple Tart of Hope seems to straddle the line between middle grade and young adult a bit, and it is a nice short book with a gorgeous cover.

Anyhow, I thought the two characters, Oscar and Meg, were interesting. I can't say I remember exactly how I thought and/or thought when I was fourteen, but this book is definitely on the lower end of young adult and reads as such. We learn a surprising amount about Oscar even despite his disappearance/death, and in fact, we learn much more about Oscar than about Meg. I love how fleshed out Oscar was as a character. He's quirky and awkward but endearing, and everything that happens to him is terrible. I think we're able to get a good sense of what kind of person he's like, but I didn't feel the same way about Meg. Her story was told through his and the focus was still on Oscar. She lacked the same depth and characterization that Oscar had. We barely got a sense of who she is and about what it was like for her to move to New Zealand once she was there. I can understand the purpose behind setting up her story that way, but it always felt like we were seeing Meg at a glance. It felt like this with the other characters too. Obviously it makes sense for the story to be centered around Oscar, but it felt like all the other characters were fairly one dimensional. 

The story itself read, as I mentioned, very much like a MG/YA crossover, but not in a bad way. I love how it works for a slightly younger audience but without skimping on the complexity. The book deals with mental illness and bullying, as well as how death impacts people, and I think it does a good job of exploring these but at a level where those in the crossover section wouldn't find it too much. There's this great balance that's struck, which I really appreciated. The plot pans out slowly, but I think the pace works, if a bit too slow for me at times. It's really a beautiful and sad story about friendship and miscommunication and appreciation and hope. It's heartbreaking to see what Paloma does, and it's hard to imagine someone being that cruel, but I know that kind of treatment is also a reality for many people. Seeing the events unfold tore at my heart, especially seeing how so much of what happened hinged on a bit (or rather, a huge) miscommunication. I don't think the end was too difficult to guess, but seeing how things got to that point was what was most important, at least to me.

I think the book is perfect for anyone looking for a crossover genre or looking for a "lighter" book dealing with tough issues. The book isn't perfect, but it's a nice short book that does offer something a little different. If you're looking for something quick to read, The Apple Tart of Hope would be a good book to sit down with for a few hours and finish.

The Apple Tart of Hope: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sarah Moore Fitzgerald: Twitter | Lit Agency Page

A Wonderful Intersectional Feminist Read | Review: The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller (ARC)

The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: March 8th, 2016

Staid, responsible Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters living in a small English market town in 1861. The girls' father is a plant hunter, usually off adventuring through the jungles of China.

Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan fails to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid, meaning that he will be thrown into debtors' prison and the girls will be sent to the orphanage or the poorhouse. Elodie's father has one last chance to return to China, find the orchid, and save the family—and this time, thanks to an unforeseen twist of fate, Elodie is going with him. Elodie has never before left her village, but what starts as fear turns to wonder as she adapts to seafaring life aboard the tea clipper The Osprey, and later to the new sights, dangers, and romance of China.

But even if she can find the orchid, how can she find herself now that staid, responsible Elodie has seen how much the world has to offer?

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

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this except that I knew it was going to be an amazing feminist-y read. Ever since I read Waller's last book, A Mad, Wicked Folly, I wanted to read more of her works. I felt even more excited about this book after my video chat with her and Sofia. And when I saw that this was going to be set in China, I knew I had to read it.

I'm not even sure where to begin this review. Just like A Mad, Wicked Folly, the book followed a determined young woman--Elodie--through her life in England, where she feels underestimated and trapped. I loved seeing her transformation throughout the book as she leaves her sheltered home and takes matters into her own hands. If anything, I loved her even more than Vicky because I agreed with her actions more and it was easier to feel sympathetic to her/her situation. That being said, I didn't find the other characters as compelling. I thought the characters represented various walks of life and points of view which I really appreciated and loved. I loved Ching Lan's storyline, and it was interesting to see it from Elodie's point of view and from that time in history. At first I didn't really like Ching Lan but more because we were viewing her from Elodie's perspective, but as we learned more about her, her situation really struck me and very strongly shows cultural differences and how they impact our lives. And though I loved Alex, I don't know how I feel about his relationship with Elodie. It was pretty obvious and predictable and just didn't feel very authentic to me. I do think their relationship changed over time, and it became less of a thing, but it sat weirdly with me for a while.

I thought the parent-daughter relationships and sibling relationships were particularly interesting here, as well as the idea of a chosen family. I found these to be much more compelling, particularly showing Elodie's growth. She cares so much about her family and that never goes away, but she also learns that sometime we need to be selfish and put ourselves before our family members. She learns to be her own person outside of her family, but it's clear she doesn't care about her family any less because of it. The feminist message in this book is just fabulously done, and I think it was much clearer (and perhaps more explicitly stated) than in A Mad, Wicked Folly, but I just loved how this dealt with how culture plays such a big part in feminism and about intersectionality (and seeing supportive males).

I also really appreciated the two settings, England and China. Even though I'm Chinese (and Taiwanese), I've never visited the country, yet Waller perfectly captures the atmosphere of Chinese neighborhoods (but without the same Western lens we experience it here) and really captures the culture. I could picture all of the locations. It was just beautifully crafted.

However, I did have some qualms about the book. As I mentioned briefly earlier, I didn't really feel as connected to these characters. Though their stories were compelling, I wasn't pulled into them. In addition, there was a lot more build up before the actual trip to China than I was expecting. I suppose that it's necessary as it builds the backdrop for the second part of the book, but it really dragged for me. And even once we arrived in China, I didn't feel as though the pace picked up. Normally I'm okay with a character-driven, not high paced book, but without feeling the same pull to the characters, it made it a bit of an effort to keep reading the book. I know some people DNF'd the book, and I could understand why, but I'm glad I stuck with it until the end.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought the messages were much more developed than the author's previous novel, despite a more dragging plot. The setting was done very well and really captured the culture and atmosphere.

The Forbidden Orchid: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sharon Biggs Waller: Website | Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Intense, Engaging, Fun, Kick-Ass, Political, and Incredibly Complex | Review: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: January 5th, 2016

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

"It's intense and engaging. It's fun and kick ass and political and just so complex."

Ahhh, let's take a moment to talk about the hype monster surrounding Truthwitch. I'm not going to lie; I added to that hype as part of the #Witchlanders team. But I will admit that there were many times when I knew I was just playing/adding to the hype. Don't get me wrong, I love Sooz and am not ungrateful for the street team, for the experience, and for my clan (Aether!) (on a side note, I felt a twinge of pride every time Aether was mentioned in the book hehe), but it sometimes felt like a little much, like everyone was always seeing something about Truthwitch, which I guess was the point of the street team.

But moving on, I was very much looking forward to this book. I really enjoyed Dennard's first series, Something Strange and Deadly, and I loved that the book was meant to focus on a badass female friendship. I kept hearing amazing things about the book from people who had read the ARC, and it didn't help that I kept talking and thinking about it.

I loved it as much as I expected to. I love the characters and the way Dennard builds up characterization and really shows how people change, even within the time frame of the novel. Dennard has always done a great job of creating interesting, complex characters and conflicts, and Truthwitch is no different. Each character has a different background, different experiences, different motives, and different goals, yet they're woven together to create this story, and it works so well. And of course, there's Iseult and Safiya's friendship, which is just so fabulous and so nice to see. The way they complement one another and support and love one another is everything I could have hoped for and more. They are stronger when they are together, but they still have flaws, both individually and together, and I loved that. Seeing how intertwined their stories are was just such a treat, and I love how much love they showed to one another, either out loud or within their narratives. It's the kind of friendship I would want, that strong bond that becomes hard for others to even begin to sever. There's this loyalty and sense of wanting what's best for the other--almost to a fault--that is so powerful and does lend itself to some conflicts as well. To be able to see both of their thoughts and see how much they both love one another is important and well-done and just fabulous. The romance that is set up is also just all heart eyes. I love it!! Sooz has such a way with writing interactions and relationships (of all kinds), and it's one of the strongest aspects of this novel, for sure. It's a fantastic fantasy novel that sets up for a much grander set of challenges ahead, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book. This book is so full and so much happens. It's intense and engaging. It's fun and kick ass and political and just so complex.

The map is gorgeous and accompanies her grand world building. At times it was an uphill battle to fully comprehend everything. The magic system and its intricacies are a bit difficult to fully grasp at first and aren't fully fleshed out because the characters already (of course) know how it works and the history behind it. I think Dennard does a wonderful job of explaining it as best she could, but there were still many points at which I just didn't understand what was being said or explained. But while I think it's important to understand the magic within the Witchlands, I could still follow the story.

The book was such a ride and kept me turning pages. However, there are slow(er) portions, and I could see others getting put off by that. Particularly at the beginning, it can be a bit tedious to get through the set up where there's not much happening yet, but I definitely think it picks up. As with any novel, there are also some spots throughout where the action lulls, and I could see that affecting people's read of it. I didn't mind it too much because that was where a lot of important developments occurred and where I saw a bit of the political aspects of the world and of the conflict. I personally found that she still captured my attention and kept me engaged, even if not as much as I was hoping or as when it was an action-packed scene.

I found that Truthwitch read very much like her Something Strange and Deadly series, which is fine by me because I enjoyed the series. However, some of the things I didn't like as much about the SSaD series did carry over, and I still saw parts of it in the novel. If you didn't particularly like her writing or style of storytelling, you might not enjoy Truthwitch. I don't know yet how Truthwitch stacks up again SSaD, but I'm thinking that this is a step up, an improvement (again, not that SSaD wasn't good!). She has certainly improved a lot and has created yet another wonderful set of characters and an enthralling new world. I cannot wait for the next part of the adventure, but even more so, I cannot wait to see more of the wonderful friendship she has woven into an already intricate story.

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

Susan Dennard: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | YouTube

A Beautiful Story About Friendship and "The Future" | Review: Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler (ARC)

Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Release Date: November 17th, 2015

Reagan Forrester wants out—out of her trailer park, out of reach of her freeloading mother, and out of the shadow of the relationship that made her the pariah of Charytan, Kansas.

Victoria Reyes wants in—in to a fashion design program, in to the arms of a cute guy who doesn't go to Charytan High, and in to a city where she won't stand out for being Mexican.

One thing the polar-opposite best friends do agree on is that wherever they go, they’re staying together. But when they set off on a series of college visits at the start of their senior year, they quickly see that the future doesn’t look quite like they expected. After two years of near-solitude following the betrayal of the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Reagan falls hard and fast for a Battlestar Galactica-loving, brilliant smile-sporting pre-med prospective... only to learn she's set herself up for heartbreak all over again. Meanwhile, Victoria runs full-speed toward all the things she thinks she wants… only to realize everything she’s looking for might be in the very place they've sworn to leave.

As both Reagan and Victoria struggle to learn who they are and what they want in the present, they discover just how much they don't know about each other's pasts. And when each learns what the other’s been hiding, they'll have to decide whether their friendship has a future.

"Thank you, Dahlia, for writing this book. The world needs it; people who were like me in high school need it."

Disclaimer: This review is based of of the ARC, which I won from the author in a giveaway. This did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

Every time I read a book written by someone I know and love, I hope that I won't be disappointed because that might create awkward situations. But once again, I need not have worried. Dahlia and her books are forces to be reckoned with, and it's part of why I love them.

There is no doubt that the book's strength is its focus on a strong, positive friendship. Reagan and Victoria's relationship is so solid and so important. So often, books focus on romantic relationships or on friends that tear one another down. While those are certainly real experiences, so many of us hope to have or have the kind of friendship that Victoria and Reagan do. I love how they complement each other while also being completely different. I think my best friend Jess and I are like that in many ways. While we definitely have some things in common, we're both very different people. Yet, she's one of the people I'm closest to, and I can't imagine how much more horrible high school would have been without her. Just Visiting made me think about all of my own experiences with her in high school, and while it wasn't quite like that of Reagan and Victoria, their friendship reminded me of how much I treasure my own, both now in college and before in high school.

Another one of Dahlia's strengths is writing complex, intersectional characters who develop throughout the book. It's something that can become easy to expect from all books after you've read a book or two by Dahlia, but then you remember/realize that it doesn't carry across all books (which is sad and terrifying to think about and needs to be changed). But more than having these characters, I love how the different parts of them don't necessarily define who they are. Certainly, being Mexican is a huge part of her identity and shapes who she is, but there's more to her than being Mexican. It's a central theme but not the only one. Almost all of the bigger characters (Reagan, Victoria, Dev, "Freckles," all the parents, etc) in the book are intersectional in different ways, but they are not token characters hoping to give the author and the book diversity points. Instead, it's genuine and reflects how many people in real life are.

Dahlia also has a way of writing heartbreaking tensions and conflicts and excels at weaving a story in a way that makes you smile and laugh in one moment and cry in the next. There's just something I love about her writing and the way she tells stories. I hope she never loses that magic.

Speaking of magic, she also writes the most amazing, magical romances and romantic scenes. *swoons* And I love how while it is a big part of the story, it's not all that there is. In fact, there's so much more said about "the future," the uncertainness of it. I actually recently wrote a blog post on Infinite Golden Floors about my own doubts over my future. It's not something that goes away once you're in college. I've only just started, but so many of my upperclassmen friends have no idea either. But to be honest, do most people ever truly know? But it's especially daunting when you're on the cusp of entering a new part of your life, whether that's graduating high school or graduating college. With my younger sister and many of my friends applying to colleges now and having just gone through the process myself last year, I completely understand that feeling as a high school senior of having to get ready to leave everything behind--all the friends and people you've known most of your life, your home, etc. Of course, not everyone leaves home and some people do stay friends, but again, it's not something you can know for sure. And choosing a college is difficult too--it has to be affordable, be in a desirable location, have your intended major (if you're going in with one), etc. It's so much and can be so overwhelming, but it's also so much better when you have a friend to get through it with you. And to see struggle in book characters can make the feeling so much more validating, can make some feel so much less alone.

It's funny I rated this 4.5 because now that I'm writing this book, I'm not sure what criticism I had for this book. Maybe it was that I felt like something was missing, some missing piece. It may have had something to do with the parents or with wanting certain things to have been talked about a bit more (like how Reagan was forced to type up an assignment even though her teacher knew she wasn't able to at home and would have to go to the trouble of finding another way to get it done). But those are so minuscule when you look at everything else in this book.

If you haven't read any of Dahlia's books yet, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. She always writes the most amazing stories that never fail to make an impact. Thank you, Dahlia, for writing this book. The world needs it; people who were like me in high school need it. And to all the high school seniors out there, you are not alone. You can make it through.

Just Visiting: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Dahlia Adler: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Quiet, Raw, and Subtly Perfect | Review: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 6th, 2015

What if you aren't the Chosen One? The one who s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you're like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week's end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

"The Rest of Us Just Live Here is just a beautiful book that I will treasure forever. It's quiet, raw, and subtly perfect."

This book has been on my radar for a while now, but I got even more excited after attending Ness' book signing at Books of Wonder and heard him speak about it and the different themes in the book. I was not disappointed; this book delivered and more.

This book won't be for everyone. It's about the "other" people, the ones who aren't off saving the world. It's about all the people that feel like they could never be the hero and probably wouldn't want to be. It's even about how being "the chosen one" (or in this case, the "indie kid") isn't all that great if you were actually to be one of them. Some people will find portions of this slow and boring, and maybe it is at times, but I liked the slow nature of some of the parts of this story. I love how this doesn't just forget about all the school stuff, about the "real life" stuff. I love how there was more of the mundane because it's what most of us go through every day in high school. It may come off as boring, but there's so much drama in that (but different from the drama in other contemporary novels). It's about showing how our every day lives are just as important as the lives of the "indie kids."

I loved the focus on friendship in The Rest of Us Just Live Here. Yes, there was a bit of romance, and I wasn't always the biggest fan of Mikey's obsession, but I could understand it, and I think it was handled well in the end. I didn't have the amazing group of friends in high school that they have in this book, but I loved every minute of their interactions because it felt real to me. 

The support they provided one another was also really important to me. The honest portrayal of friendship and of defining family for oneself and of mental illness was HUGE. This is the kind of book I wish had come out while I was still in high school. So many of Mikey's anxieties and doubts were/are similar to my own. His insecurities are so much like mine, so I think that what he learns from Mel and Jared and the rest of them are so impactful and could honestly help so many teens. A lot of my deeper connection with this aspect of the story also came from what Ness said during the signing, and it's something that will stay with me for a long time.

The conversation about being the one who belongs the least in the group, of being the least important, is very much something that has stuck with me in the time since I finished this book. The week or two after finishing the book were tough for me because I was feeling exactly this, but I'm not going to lie about how much the book helped me get through that time. To say I read this at exactly the right time would be an understatement. Overall, I just think he does such a great job of having a raw, open, real portrayal of mental illness and of how it affects a family.

But moving on, this book was also hilarious at times. The short inscriptions telling the reader about the indie kids' situations at that point in time were such a treat, showing not only a progression in time but also how those "hero" stories and their timelines would play out in real life. It's an added layer that adds just enough flavor. And there is enough action to keep the story moving but without overwhelming the characterization. The way it picks up and comes together at the end was just brilliant.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here is just a beautiful book that I will treasure forever. It's quiet, raw, and subtly perfect. It's not about being flashy and all out. It's about the little moments and how those little moments mean so much to us, something that can be forgotten about when we have action-packed books. I highly, highly recommend this read.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Patrick Ness: Website | Twitter | Tumblr

A Hilarious Broadway Parody | Something Rotten! on Broadway

A friend from high school and I had been planning to see a Broadway show together even before we graduated, and only the other day did we finally make good on those plans and saw Something Rotten! 

I have heard nothing but good things about Something Rotten! but still went in without much of a clue on what it's about except for the fact that it's funny. What an understatement. This was such a fun show, parodying musicals and Broadway itself, as well as Shakespeare. It takes place during Shakespeare's time. We watch as two struggling playwrights who are trying to make money while having to compete against Shakespeare. The older brother, disheartened and desperate, turns to an unlikely source and finds out that the next big thing is going to be musicals. He also finds out that Shakespeare's most famous play is going to be called "Omelette." 

Hilarity ensues as they try to write a musical about breakfast and eggs. Any Broadway fan will get a kick out of the show and the songs featured. There are so many references to different shows, some obvious and others more subtle. Those who don't understand the references likely won't appreciate Something Rotten! as much, and they'll definitely know they're missing something as the rest of the crowd laughs. But even if you're like me and only got maybe 75% of the references, you can tell they're making fun of Broadway while on Broadway.

The actors do an amazing job, from Christian Borle as Shakespeare to Brian d'Arcy James as Nick Bottom to Heidi Blickenstaff as Bea, there is so much mixed talent on the show. The songs are upbeat and fun. The show is so great for when you need a break or just want a laugh. 

But even beyond the hilarity is a level of depth in the story arc. It's not just about Broadway but also about talent, being true to yourself, freedom, happiness, family, and loyalty. It's about learning who to trust and who not to trust--including trusting in yourself. It's about taking a stand and being your own person. There are two fierce and amazing females who show that they are brave and smart and clever in their own right. 

The end was kind of shaky in my opinion, and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but overall, I think the show wrapped up nicely. It shows how success and happiness don't necessarily have to come from fame and how fame isn't always all that it lives up to. It's about starting over but without changing who you are.

This is such a beautiful and hilarious story that anyone, but especially Broadway fans, will enjoy. There's a dash of history, a lot of wit, some literature and writing, and so many laughs. I highly, highly recommend this show and would see it again if I could afford to.

A Celebration of Diversity, Friendship, and Geek Culture | Review: An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes by Randy Ribay (ARC)

An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes by Randy Ribay
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: October 16th, 2015

As their senior year approaches, four diverse friends joined by their weekly Dungeons & Dragons game struggle to figure out real life. Archie's trying to cope with the lingering effects of his parents' divorce, Mari's considering an opportunity to contact her biological mother, Dante's working up the courage to come out to his friends, and Sam's clinging to a failing relationship. The four eventually embark on a cross-country road trip in an attempt to solve--or to avoid--their problems.

Disclaimer: I received a copy for review, but this did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

"At the heart of the story, it's about coming together during hard times. It's about trust and acceptance."

I haven't been seeing this book around the book community, and I wish more people were talking about it. For all the talk about diversity, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes is such a great example of a book that seamlessly features diverse characters. Though those aspects of the characters are important to their story and their identity, it's not the main focus of the story.

I enjoyed the different characters, though I don't think any of them really stuck to me or really impressed me. They were all at a level playing field, and there were merits and great parts of all their story arcs. Sure, there were some characters who annoyed or angered me at times. There were others I really cheered on. I didn't really like the way their perspectives were split in blocks rather than with switching chapters because it made the overlaps a bit awkward, but I thought each portion was comprehensive and interesting.

What really made this book great was the focus on friendship and overall geek culture. Though the reason they are going on a cross-country trip is concerning, they stick together and look out for one another. They all have their own issues, and they, at times, forget about the fact that everyone else is going through things too. But at the heart of the story, it's about coming together during hard times. It's about trust and acceptance. I don't play D&D, but I love that the story depicts a group of people who originally came together because of a mutual interest but then grew to something more. SO many of my friendships came about this way, but it's rarely depicted in books.

The book was a pretty quick read, though a bit slow/dragging at times. It was easy to get caught up in everyone's drama, and I loved when story lines finally intersected. We got to see some select scenes from both/all perspectives, and it really shows how we think we pay attention to others, when we really spend a lot of time thinking only of ourselves--not in a selfish way, necessarily.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The cover still makes me so happy every time I see it, though there's no concrete reason why. I love the geek love. I wasn't wowed by the book, but I would recommend it, particularly if you're looking for another "diverse" read.

An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Randy Ribay: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Invisible Helicopters, Bomb Threats, Mental Illness, and more | Review: I Crawl Through It by A.S. King

I Crawl Through It by A. S. King
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22nd, 2015

Four talented teenagers are traumatized-coping with grief, surviving trauma, facing the anxiety of standardized tests and the neglect of self-absorbed adults—and they'll do anything to escape the pressure. They'll even build an invisible helicopter, to fly far away to a place where everyone will understand them... until they learn the only way to escape reality is to fly right into it.

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

"I still don't really know what happened in the book, but it will definitely stick with me for a while."

Where do I even begin? When I finished I Crawl Through It, I was lying in bed reading. All I could think was woah. This book blew my mind; it made me think deeply about our society and how we treat mental illness and PTSD. It left me speechless. I still don't really know what happened in the book, but it will definitely stick with me for a while.

This is the kind of book you want to read with other people because you'll want to talk about it. You'll want to attempt to work through your confusing, probably jumbled up thoughts. You might try to pretend like this isn't the crazy, weird book that it is, but it is. It's labeled surrealist fiction, and I think that's a good way to explain it. There are sometimes invisible, sometimes not invisible helicopters, a girl who turns herself inside out, a girl whose hair grows every time she lies, and a girl who is two people in one body. There are bomb threats and a crazy bush man. There is so much going on, yet it's so hard to tell what's actually happening.

But I could see how the different pieces represent different struggles and the way society treats them/the victims. You can see the messages about what testing does to kids, how people deal (or don't) with grief, how important family is (but how ruined these families are), how society and rape culture impact the victims/survivors, what it feels like to realize that no one is better than anyone else, etc. There's a lot of social commentary in this book, but it's really the way the story was presented that makes you think about them/realize such commentary. I Crawl Through It makes you think deeper about these issues because they come to you--or at least they did to me--when you're trying to figure out what everything in the book means.

By the end of the book, my mind was blown. At that point, it's pretty clear what the messages are, even though the book doesn't end perfectly and leaves a lot left unanswered. I didn't find that to be a problem, however. I think it leaves enough resolved and enough open-ended. There's honestly not that much more to say because it's so hard to talk about anything that happens. I connected to the characters because I could understand their struggle, yet it always seemed like there was a gap between the characters and me as a reader because of the writing and surrealist nature. In the end, I think that the book is more centered on the ideas than on making characters likeable or whatnot (not that characters need to be likeable).

I would highly recommend this if you're looking for a thought-provoking book. I would highly recommend it for book clubs or buddy reads. I Crawl Through It will make you think about our society, and I think it brings about really important social discussions and commentary.

I Crawl Through It: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

A. S. King: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: The Chase by Balak, Sanlaville, and Vives

Last Man: The Chase by Balak, Sanlaville, and Vives
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: October 6th, 2015

Richard Aldana, the mysterious stranger who entered the Games in the first volume of Last Man, continues to defeat all of his competitors, despite his outlandish refusal to use any magic, and to rely solely on martial arts. With young Adrian fighting at his side, he's beginning to look like a likely contender for the Royal Cup. But in a breathtaking twist, everything changes: this world is not what you thought it was, and Richard Aldana is certainly not who he claimed.

With the same fast-paced, action-oriented storytelling and gorgeous art asThe Stranger, the third volume of Last Man changes all the rules, and will leave readers eagerly awaiting Book 4!

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

I've become invested in this series in a way I didn't expect, but here I am, back reviewing the third book to the Last Man series. I still find myself a tiny bit shocked by the graphic-ness of the books in this series, but it's not a bad thing, just something you don't see often, at least in what I'm used to reading/seeing.

I think every book in this series just gets better and better, building off of the books before it. The Chase is no exception. My favorite aspect of this installment, however, is how it finally gets to the female empowerment. Finally, finally, finally Marianne gets her time to shine. And how badass is she? She sticks up for herself, takes care of Adrian, and kicks butt all at the same time. She shows that she doesn't need someone to take care of her. In a male-dominated world, she's so underestimated, but she finally steps out of the shadows and takes the leading role.

On a different note, I feel as though this installment didn't really give any answers the way I hoped it would. Marianne seems to have gotten the part of the map from Aldana, but what about the bike? I feel like she had that there the whole time, so who did she get it from? How does she know about these other worlds? And of course, the book ends with yet another confusing Aldana scene. Just when I thought I was starting to get a better sense of the story, they throw this curveball, and I'm left trying to figure out what just happened! I guess that's how they get us to keep reading, though. ;)

Another great installment! I can't wait to find out what happens next.

The Chase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Review: The Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: September 29th, 2015

Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes!

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

As soon as I saw that Gene had a new book coming out, I knew I needed to read it. Add to it the fact that this new series is meant to teach kids coding--something I'm interested in learning--and I knew I needed to read this at some point. And both Gene and Mike certainly didn't disappoint.

Secret Coders makes learning basic coding interesting, fun, and easy. People of any age could understand the book. I liked the sense of interaction in the book, and they did a fine job of keeping me engaged the whole time. I don't know that I agreed with all the ways they presented information, but I remained interested throughout the whole book, so I guess it's okay. Older audiences may find the "now you try" parts a little elementary and reminiscent of children's shows that do the same, but it's not a big hindrance in the story.

That being said, not much actually happened in this book. Most of the book was set up and background that will propel the later books. The ending was definitely a great cliffhanger that will leave readers wanting the next book already. Many of the conflicts also didn't feel very fleshed out, but I figured it's more a first book in a graphic novel series thing than anything else. I'm hoping they'll be explored more later!

In addition, we didn't actually learn much coding in this one, so I'm not sure how much each book will roughly cover. I don't mind how little was taught, but I can only imagine how much more there is to coding than the very basics presented in this first volume. I'm definitely looking forward to the later books!

Lastly, I continue to love Gene's smooth inclusion of diverse characters. He never seems to be inserting them for the sake of including them. It's all included very seamlessly, and I love that about each of his stories. A character is never defined by the way they look, the way they identify, whatever. This kind of representation is so refreshing to see, especially in graphic novels, where characters are drawn out and pictured on every page. I can't wait to see what's to come!

The Secret Coders: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Gene Luen Yang: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Mike Holmes: Website | Tumblr | Flickr

Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (ARC)

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 1st, 2015

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This doesn't affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for this.

"I wasn't fully convinced by the story and a lot of it seemed unrealistic to me."

Woah is this a hyped book in the blogging community right now! I started reading this right around the time the hype really took off, so I had pretty high expectations. The premise of the story is really interesting and totally new, and the cover is simply gorgeous.

The first thing I noticed about the book was the format. The mixed format/mixed media was very well done. At times, we got to see the story from both Maddy and Olly's point of view (but not in the traditional sense), and it was spaced out enough that it was tasteful and didn't overwhelm. It added to the story and was certainly effective. The short chapters also make this a quick read without feeling choppy.

But I finished feeling conflicted about the book and the story. I think we got a good sense of the characters, particularly Maddy and Olly, and the two of them were certainly complex, but there was little else. Of course, it makes sense because Maddy hardly knows anyone, but I felt like we were missing something in that. There could have been more development in the other characters, but I could also understand the focus on Maddy and Olly. Their interactions were one of my favorite parts of the first half of the story. But later on in the book, I just started to find so much of it to be completely irrational, and I couldn't see that ever happening, logistically and otherwise. It left me feeling unconvinced, uncomfortable, and almost annoyed. When they [SPOILERS] ran away together, I just felt so uncomfortable about the whole situation. It just seemed so unrealistic, particularly given the circumstances they're both in--but particularly Maddy. [END SPOILERS]

In addition, though I started off really supporting their relationship, that started to change as the story went on. There's something about the way in which the relationship developed that just bothered me. I hated feeling as though she just fell for Olly because he was a guy that just happened to pay attention to her. I can understand how refreshing that may have felt for her, but I feel as though her feelings developed more from that than from really being attracted to him as a person. The romance arc felt a bit like that of Romeo and Juliet.

But the biggest thing that irked me was probably Maddy's illness itself and the way it was portrayed and explained. After reading Cait's review, I realized that I had found similar plot holes, though I didn't really think about it until after I finished reading. But even beyond that, unlike many others, the ending honestly didn't surprise me. There were hints along the way that weren't difficult for me to piece together. I don't want to spoil anything, but it was just so obvious to me. I had expected it early on in the story. In addition, her body's reaction to being outside seemed wrong to me. If you're in a sterile environment your whole life and haven't been exposed to almost anything and all of a sudden go out into the world, where you're surrounded by different bacteria and just things (I'm not science-y enough to really say any of this for sure) that your body has never built up a resistance to, you're going to get sick pretty quickly. But oh look, Maddy is fine. I mean, it does help build up to the reveal at the end, but at the same time, it's not consistent with someone who's been so sheltered her entire life. (Speaking of that, it's so sad that her mother would subject her to that kind of life. I can understand her mother's motivation, but I think part of learning how to live and take care of yourself and be safe is to be in situations where you have to help yourself. Without life experiences, how can you grow? How can you learn to save yourself? Her mother's logic just astounds me.)

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't as great to me as it seems to have been for others. I wasn't fully convinced by the story and a lot of it seemed unrealistic to me. I didn't like the way chronic illness was addressed and used as a plot device. But I didn't hate the story, the characters, or the book either. It just didn't have the wow factor at all. I can see why others would enjoy it, but this didn't completely work for me.

Everything, Eveything: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Nicola Yoon: Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram 

Tour: Review: Little Robot by Ben Hatke (+giveaway)

Little Robot by Ben Hatke
Publisher: First Second Books
Release Date: September 1st, 2015

When a little girl finds an adorable robot in the woods, she presses a button and accidentally activates him for the first time. Now, she finally has a friend. But the big, bad robots are coming to collect the little guy for nefarious purposes, and it's all up to a five-year-old armed only with a wrench and a fierce loyalty to her mechanical friend to save the day!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review. This did not affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for it.

As soon as I heard about Little Robot, I knew I wanted to read it. I loved Hatke's Zita series, and I wanted to see more of his work. This one did not disappoint!

First, Little Robot is just so cute. It seems to be aimed at a younger audience than Zita was, but I still really enjoyed exploring the content of the book. Even though there are very few words (and most of the words are more onomatopoeia than anything), the images convey so much of the story and emotions. Hatke really allows the artwork to take the lead in this one. Because of its surface simplicity, this book is great for young children just starting to read. At the same time, the depth of the illustrations make it enjoyable for older audiences as well. The images really speak a thousand words.

I found that there wasn't a lot of substantive background or information on the world, the girl/her background, and the robots, but it wasn't a big deal and aren't the focus of the story. I did, however, want to highlight the main character, whose name we don't even know. Once again, Hatke seamlessly includes a female protagonist, this one a black female protagonist. It's so rare to see such representation in books for young children, particularly graphic novels, but Hatke always manages to do it well. It's not made into a big deal, but that's what is so amazing about it. In addition, I love how she gets to use her skills to solve problems. She takes things into her own hands, and she's smart and capable of solving her own problems. Again, we rarely see young females take this kind of lead and we rarely see them use their own smarts. I just love how Hatke doesn't make a big deal out of it--it's just a part of the story and a part of her character.

I absolutely adored Little Robot, and though I don't know if this one trumps the Zita series, this is one that shouldn't be missed, particularly if you're looking for books for young children/beginner readers.

Giveaway!
Ends September 26th

~~

~Must be 13 or older or have parent permission

~US only

~Winner must respond in 72 hours or a new winner will be chosen

~I am not responsible for lost packages. The book will be sent by the publisher.

~I don't accept entries made from giveaway accounts. Sorry!

All you have to do is tweet:

I want to win a copy of @BenHatke's Little Robot, featuring an amazing female PoC protagonist, from @FlytoFiction! http://flytofiction.blogspot.com/2015/09/tour-review-little-robot-by-ben-hatke.html

(or something similar)

OR 

Comment below and tell me your favorite children's book featuring a female and/or PoC as protagonist!

Review: Those Girls by Lauren Saft (ARC)

Those Girls by Lauren Saft
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: June 9th, 2015

Junior year, the suburbs of Philadelphia. Alex, Mollie and Veronica are those girls: they're the best of friends and the party girls of the school. But how well does everybody know them--and really, how well do they know one another? Alex is secretly in love with the boy next door and has joined a band--without telling anyone. Mollie suffers from a popular (and possibly sociopathic) boyfriend, as well as a serious mean streak. And Veronica just wants to be loved--literally, figuratively, physically....she's not particular. Will this be the year that bonds them forever....or tears them apart for good?

Lauren Saft masterfully conveys what goes on in the mind of a teenage girl, and her debut novel is raw, honest, hilarious, and thought-provoking, with a healthy dose of heart.

"To say that I enjoyed it wouldn't be entirely correct but to say that I didn't wouldn't be either. I think this book is important, and I think it's important to see some characters whose morals we can't/won't/will never agree with."

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NOVL. This didn't affect my review in any way, nor am I being compensated for it.

I was really struggling with this book when I started reading it. I started it maybe two months before its release date, thinking that that would be more than enough time. Unfortunately, I didn't even finish half of it before its release date. The reason I was struggling was that I struggled to care about the characters. The three main characters were just such seemingly terrible people. I really only semi cared about one of their story lines, but even then, it was often weak. But then I read Grace @ Words Like Silver's post/discussion about morality in YA, tying it directly to Those Girls. And it really made me think and made me think about the book, the characters, and its importance.

As I mentioned, I really didn't like the characters and only really semi liked one for the first quarter of the novel. The girls were just horrible. To everyone. Including one another. They tore people down, used words and talked about things that I hate to read, hate to hear, etc, they seemed to have such petty problems that they brought on themselves. They drank too much, partied too much, everything too much. And I hated that because it reminded me of everything I hated about high school. It reminded me of those girls. Which is the whole point, I guess. But I was tired of it all. I was nearing graduation, when I could finally leave these people, start over, get out.

But as I made myself continue on, wanting to be able to properly take part in Grace's discussion, my opinion started changing. I still hated a lot of the things they said and did, but I started to understand the girls a little bit better. I could see Alex's insecurity within myself. I could see her missing opportunities, taking things the wrong way, and I realized that maybe I had been a bit like that too. She was the one that I identified with and cared about most in the book. I was really rooting for her. Molly, whom everyone seems to characterize as the meanest, didn't come across as mean to me as she seems to have to other people. I could see how she said things to protect herself. I hated seeing her struggle to get out of a horrible relationship. I hated seeing how much she needed someone and how much she thought she was all alone. She started to grow on me, and I came to root for her too. Veronica is the only one of the three girls I still couldn't come to like by the end. Yes, perhaps I did come to feel bad for her, but ugh, almost everything about her bothered me. Even with all of her own struggles, she's like the epitome of all those girls I couldn't stand in high school.

I find it interesting that so many people DNFed this because they couldn't find this story believable. They couldn't believe that girls would tear one another down this much. They couldn't stand that these girls were being so mean to one another--their supposed best friends! They couldn't take all the partying and the drinking and the drugs. But you know what? As much as I hate those things too, it's actually not that far of a stretch. It's actually pretty close to reality, pretty close to what those girls do. And it's funny because most of the reviewers saying the above things are adults; I think many high schoolers would agree with me. It's not that uncommon. It's not too extreme. It happens. It's reality, and it's a reality for many of those girls, or so I assume, never having been one of them. So I think it's important to not discount this book right away on those counts. I also think that that's where Grace's post on morality really came into focus for me. Just because we don't agree, just because we can't see ourselves doing all of that, doesn't mean it's not real and doesn't mean that they should be censored from the books that are published.

I definitely don't agree with the blurb that this book has "a healthy dose of heart," but I do think this book is important. Despite it being anti everything I believe in, at least on the surface, I did come to understand the girls a bit better. I could see some of my own struggles within theirs, although they aren't very similar in its causes. I saw my own insecurities and fears. I saw that maybe I had gone about things the wrong way too. I saw that the girls tearing one another down behind one another's back wasn't all that different from some of my friends. Some reviewers say they don't understand the girls backstabbing one another, and I could understand. So many of their problems stemmed from the fact that they didn't listen to one another, didn't talk to one another. They were too caught up in their own problems. But I don't know, I think many of us are like this. I think many of us don't stop to think about how we communicate with others, with our friends, too. The book made me think about how I communicate with the people I know, especially my friends. I can't imagine how many arguments and fights and horrible times could have been avoided if maybe we all stopped being so insecure and so caught up in our own head and problems and worries and started talking. The girls had so many of the same fears and insecurities but didn't realize. They didn't speak up. And I found that I identified with many of the thoughts they had about their friends and about themselves. It rang true to me. And it's both scary and important. It's important because it made me think about all of those girls that I hated, all of those girls I hated without really getting to know. Not that they would have likely wanted to get to know me and not that we had anything in common, but I think that maybe I started to see that there's more to them. It's not like I didn't think about it before, but between this book and graduation, I just stopped caring. I stopped caring about how different those girls are. I stopped caring about their partying and drinking and drugs. I stopped caring about what they thought of me. Because we all have our own problems, and it does me no good to be so caught up with them. Because I think I secretly cared more than I thought I did. Not in that I cared about them per say but in that we feed these people's popularity, and in the end, it doesn't even matter to those of us on the outside. And I think that showing their experiences are important to us too because it's important to understand them as people too. It's important to not judge them so quickly. It's important to realize that they're not anything more or less than we are. You don't have to agree with what they do to understand them on a more complex level. People aren't just their actions.

When I realized this and started to actually care about the issues and started rooting for certain characters, I found myself wanting to read more and more of the book. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the girls next. I wanted to see if everything I was hoping for would fall into place as it does with most books. And then that one thing happened, and I just felt so mad and disappointed, not only in the characters but also in the author, because I thought that the story could have ended nicely, could have ended well. I thought that the book should have ended well. And what happened also brought into question everything I had begun to think about Alex and Molly, and I just couldn't deal with what they did. Because I could excuse a lot of other stuff, but what they did was inexcusable. It's illegal and totally wrong and stupid. And if the girls just talked to each other, if Alex hadn't been so scared, if Alex had voiced her fear and her opinion on not actually wanting to do it, if Veronica and Alex just admitted stuff, if Molly had told her friends how lonely she felt, maybe things would have turned out differently. And then the ending left me feeling so conflicted. At the moment I finished the book, I couldn't believe the book just ended like that and ended on such a bad/good note. It was a good moment but still bad circumstances. And I wanted a happy ending. But I've come to realize that I love that Saft chose to end the book how she did because it shows that we have to deal with the consequences of our actions. And more than that, it shows how sometimes we stick with the people who hurt us most because there's too much history, there's too much insecurity, and there's also too much complexity--because the people who hurt us most can sometimes also be the ones we feel we need most. This was so important to me once I realized this because it summarized so much of my own experience in middle/high school. I stuck with some friends that I probably shouldn't have, that caused more harm than good for me mentally and emotionally, but I couldn't walk away, even after something bad happened (though nowhere near as bad or illegal as in Those Girls).

So when I finished the book, I had a hard time putting together my thoughts and rating the book. To say that I enjoyed it wouldn't be entirely correct but to say that I didn't wouldn't be either. I think this book is important, and I think it's important to see some characters whose morals we can't/won't/will never agree with. Because despite what some may think, such people exist and are out there, and I think we can learn from understanding their experiences and because I think this book showed me how similar we can be, even if not in the ways we can immediately identify. We're all human after all. The book does a great job of showing the thoughts of the three girls, giving us insight into how bad things start and spiral. The book rang true to me, and the truth--the reality--hidden in it surprised me in a good way.

This book certainly isn't for everyone. I understand all the people who DNF'd the book. I almost did too. But now I'm glad I read the book, if only because it really made me think, more so than I could have ever thought I would with this book.

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