Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

This is our book club book this month--we meet on the 29th, so I will write more following our discussion.  I will say this--I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!!

Esther Friesner: Sphinx's Princess

Had to finish this one today so I can start the next one!  I liked this one almost as much as Nobody's Princess, but I am hoping that the second isn't as disappointing as Nobody's Prize was as a follow-up to the awesome first book.

I appreciate the historical component Friesner includes in her books, and I don't feel like it is a pretentious history book of a read, but rather a fun and exciting story.  Friesner also writes some strong heroines and I really appreciate Nefertti's inner dialogue and struggles to be herself.  I love Egyptian history--especially their spiritual beliefs and multitudes of Gods, but towards the end of the text, the "One" references (impending impact of Christianity) became obvious and tacky--but that might just be me.  Overall, total candy read--fast-paced, and I am hoping that mean-king bites the big one in book 2! 

Jillian Larkin: Vixen

While the cover is beautiful, it is misleading and disheartening.  There are 3 main characters, and EACH should be on the cover.  They are each VERY different, and this cover makes them seem like they all blend together and have no individual characteristics.

I tried to avoid the negative reviews on GoodReads, and I am glad that I did.  I enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed being taken back in time to flapper days and the prohibition.  Lorraine bothered me, Clara intrigued me (though her secrets and story perhaps were too drawn out, but I know why Larkin did what she did), and Gloria was the one I wanted to be.

I am nervous for what will come in book two due in 2011, especially with the way Lorraine and Gloria's stories left off, and interested to see how one of the final events will play off in the next book.

The story did seem familiar--think Titanic's love story only with no boat, during the 20's and an African American piano player versus Leonardo DiCaprio.  And some of the scenes, while completely essential, seem almost too contrived (Lorraine showing Gloria how to fire a gun, individual, hands-on music lessons with Jerome, Marcus falling for the girl instead of staying true to the "plan," etc), but overall this was a really fun read, and a fun time period.

I wish more was developed with the flapper lifestyle versus the socialite lifestyle, but I think that book 2 will bring that since it appears that one character may be on the lam.
I did love the vernacular.  "Cats pajamas,"  "flibbertigibbet," and "barney mugging" --LOVE IT!! I also was envious of the time period where flat-chested women with short, bobbed-hair  were the epitome of flapper beauty--women taped themselves to ensure a flat chest and true flappers cut their hair off rather than just pin it up.

I am looking forward to book 2, even though the title (Ingenue) might not get the appreciation it deserves. 
One thing about this book though--recommending this book to students will really require knowledge of the student--a student with good vocabulary, an interest in history, and a student who will look up unknown things--speakeasies, Chicago in the age of prohibition, flappers, etc. 

The three-person narration makes the length manageable and it was a pretty quick read--even for 417 pages!!!

Amy Efaw: After

Meh...I had really high hopes for this book. 
Yes, it was extremely well written--excellent descriptions, different imagery employed, interesting story--but the manner in which the story was conveyed is hard to fall in love with. 
Then again, the subject matter isn't one to fall in love with.
From page one, the reader is confused.  Action occurs immediately, and I tried to figure out what was happening.  I understand that Efaw wants the reader to experience what Devon experiences, but later in the text there is just too much left out, too many holes, too many unanswered questions that the technique isn't as successful as it could have been. 
It isn't a secret that this book is about Devon, a straight-A amazing soccer player who is sent to juvinile detention for putting her baby in a dumpster after its birth.
The book spans 8 days, but in mini-flashbacks, what happened with Devon and IT is painfully and slowly revealed.  And the end of the book? Seriously?  Irritating isn't a harsh enough word, but I understand the attempt. 
Overall, I am not sure if I can sell this book to my students because of the odd structure and the fact that I didn't totally get into the book until mid-way.  I gave it more of a chance than many would.  But I really wanted to like it. 

Jennifer Brown: Hate List

Read this over the duration of my flights yesterday.

Really, I can't say much more than what Brown did in her Author's note, her conversation/q&a session, and on her website.

Valerie was bullied the majority of her school years. When she met Nick, she thought she had met the one person who truly understood her. Just like she was, Nick was bullied, was an outcast, had a crappy home life, and felt like a loser. After another incident in which Valerie was the target of a bully, she starts writing a list of people and things she hated--which grew into the "Hate List" that she shared with Nick.

But Nick took this list seriously. And Valerie, in an attempt to escape who she was and what her life was, didn't see the signs. When Nick opened fire May 2nd, 2008 picking off people on the list, people who had hurt him, who had hurt Valerie, the one person he was closest to had no idea what he had intended to do.

This isn't the story of another school shooting. This is Valerie's story of survival, of redemption, of healing, and letting go and moving forward.

The reader will loathe the way Valerie's family treats her--even though Valerie was the one to stop Nick from killing more people when she dove in front of popular Jessica--Valerie's 2nd biggest enemy--saving her life, and taking a bullet in the leg before Nick turned the gun on himself. Brown's reasoning at the end of her book for the horrifying behavior of her family makes perfect sense--Valerie has to find her inner strength on her own. Fight her fight by herself. Find herself by herself.

Amazing. Unsatisfying ending, but actually perfect for Valerie.

I am looking forward to Brown's next book which deals with a teenage abusive relationship.

James Dashner: The Maze Runner

2 Days. Yep. Almost as good as The Hunger Games.

But, it did take me a while to get used to the language that the Gladers created and immediately forced the reader to try to decipher--much like Thomas' experience. Well, exactly the same since he is the character that we follow.
Thomas wakes up with no clear memory as to who he is or where he is. We come to learn that he has been dropped into this society of young men who have created their own society with one focus: to learn how to escape the maze that is outside the stone walls that close every night.
There are mechanical/bloblike creatures that live in the maze (Grievers) whose "sting" requires a serum that triggers memories of the past for the victim. And the memories aren't good.
I still don't know what has happened to the world, and there was a total tear-jerker moment.
Luckily, there was ONE female character introduced to the book, but her role isn't big until the last third or so.
I will have to say that I might not have picked up this book had I known it is actually a trilogy with book 3 not due until next year some time!! ARGH. This book leaves the reader in a lurch because it includes two chapters of The Scorch Trials (book 2) and gives a HUGE cliffhanger.


I am going to have to get book 2 this weekend. BLARGH.

Julia Hoban: Willow

Wow. Amazing. I finished this in two days. Willow has experienced something that no teenager deserves. Her parents drank too much at dinner and asked her to drive them home. It was raining and she lost control of the car. And she lost her parents in the accident.

To deal with her pain--which equates to avoiding her pain--Willow cuts herself.

I loved Patricia McCormick's Cut, but Willow's story is so emotional--I bawled throughout the second half of the book. The way Hoban describes the turmoil Willow experiences is realistic and I actually feel like I have a better understanding of why cutters choose to manage their pain in this fashion.
There is a "first time" scene written very well, and Hoban blurs the fine line between passion and pain, love and hate, and while this book is very young-adult friendly (they will love how Willow and Guy's relationship develops), any adult who may work with teenagers or know of cutters, should read this book because of the way this method of control is described. Awesome awesome awesome book.

Sharon Draper: Copper Sun

Wow. I am so sad I haven't read this book sooner. Draper's language is AMAZING.
This is the anchor text the class I am subbing in uses for the "Survival and Perseverance" unit.
Amari's story (an African slave) alternates with Polly's (a white indentured servant).
The horrors Amari survives, and the journey the two of them must endure are extremely powerful. Draper's extensive research is completely evident, and I learned that there were safe-havens for runaway slaves beyond the underground railroad and "north."
Really an amazing tale, with super characters and beautiful descriptions. Awesome vocabulary with strong context clues, and while there are many horrifying incidents described within this text--they are essential to the overall text as a whole.

Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl

SLOWWWWWWWWW start. Ani/Isi is a pain in the royal petutie. But then, she starts to get a personality, and gain courage in who she is--not what she thinks she should be or what others want her to be. And then I couldn't put it down. There is action, fighting, murderous plots and interesting and dynamic characters and relationships. While I probably should have seen one of the twists coming, I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the ending. I know that this is book one of a "trilogy," but book two is about Enna (Ani/Isi's friend) and told from her perspective, and book three is from the perspective of a boy character who makes an appearance at the end of book one.
I am not in a rush to finish the trilogy, but I am very glad that I FINALLY read this one. Note this cover--this is the cover I own. The reprint editions are cheeseball with more "realistic" cover models. Bleck. Give this book at least 120 pages, it will pay off!

Suzanne Collins: Mockingjay

I am so sad that this series is over.
I read this in one sitting--about 4 hours--and I bawled.
So much of what I was moved by are spoilers, so I won't be too specific, but know that this is an excellent and VERY satisfying conclusion.
I wasn't expecting many of the twists and turns, and the tension throughout is so palpable I am beyond envious of Collins' ability to craft an amazing story.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!!!