Book Review: Paper Towns

Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm having a difficult...

I really wish I could...

Words are not so much with me right now.

THIS BOOK. While I LOVED The Fault in Our Stars (and I believe that John Green and Hank Green are helping to create a generation of thinking, reading, deep, pensive, adventurous, brave teens- #Nerdfighters!), I did not expect to love this book.

I loved it from the get-go. The characters are beautifully flawed and pained and REAL. I couldn't help telling my fiancé that I know these kids. They aren't named Margo, Quentin, Radar, Ben, Lacey, and Angela, but I know them. They are teens I've encountered in my years in the classroom.

And they are the minority.

John Green is making it okay for the smart, kind kids to BE smart and kind, to show that they have multiple dimensions. There are some who always have been and always will be, that's for certain, but for those who feel two-dimensional, like they have to hide or cover the cracks in themselves from everyone else in high school or even as young adults, John Green shows those kids a reality where that's okay. He shows them how we are all cracked and sinking to an inevitable end, and it's okay for us to live and embrace our cracks and look at one another truthfully and with dimension.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. TFIOS was a 4.5 by comparison, but this is definitely a solid 5. I want to hug each of these kids and tell them how proud I am of them and how I think that they are so courageous and smart and funny.

READ IT.

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Book Review: Wild Magic by Tamora PIerce

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series consumed my youth. I LOVED these novels as a kid. After re-reading, I understand why.

Things I liked:
-great character development
-interesting, fast-paced plot
-there are no lags in the story
-the world and the characters are charismatic and beautiful
-tactful dealing with difficult issues


Things I Didn't Like:
-sometimes predictable
-somewhat optimistic: many of the plans succeed. I would like to see more struggle.

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Book Review: Beautiful Creatures Manga, (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl & art by Cassandra Jean

Beautiful Creatures: The Graphic Novel by Kami Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will preclude this review by saying I have never seen the film or read the novel version of this story, but now, I'm planning on doing both.

What I Liked:
-great characterization (for everyone except Lena)
-impacting images
-artistic symbolism and imagery
-interesting blending of supernatural/fantasy mythos
-elements of mystery
-beautiful art (other reviewers have complained about the sketchy style, but I think it added a depth and rawness to the characters)


What I Didn't Like:
-distinct lack of Southern culture
-Lena felt very flat until the end. There was no character progression for her until the final few pages.

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Book Review: Gandhi: A Manga Biography by Kazuki Ebine

Gandhi: A Manga Biography by Kazuki Ebine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This manga was a solid 3. There are things that could have been improved upon, but overall, I enjoyed it and learned a great deal.

Pros:
-the transitions of Gandhi's lifetime were made clear (sometimes with manga, the passage of time is not made so clear)
-the different perspectives were refreshing
-the dialogue was human and was excellent integrating real quotes from Gandhi's life

Cons:
-the editor/translator should have paid better attention. There are many misspellings in the dialogue
-sometimes the transitions from one character to another were abrupt

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Book Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I won't lie to you. I probably would never have read this if my boyfriend had not been so incredibly passionate about it.

I would have missed out on a story that may very well do for my adulthood what Harry Potter accomplished in my youth.

Things I loved:
-Kvothe's character development was astounding. Seeing his past self and his future self side by side gives such a significant juxtaposition between then and now.
-The side characters are just as amazing. They have depth and breadth and lives that are just as complex as Kvothe's, and Rothfuss treats them with human respect.
-The story was beautiful, intricate and detailed yet still wild and unkempt, just like traditional oral epics. There is a method to this madness.
-The world. Rothfuss has created a mysterious world full of familiar faces that I just wanted to learn more about (and I will continue to in book 2).

Things I did not care so much for:
-Repetitious phrasing (usually in descriptions). When Rothfuss said something he liked, he returned to it.
-References back to foreshadowing
-There were some typos and grammatical errors (but that's more on the editor than the writer)

I loved this novel and I'm ready to get back to this world.

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Book Review: The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this as continuing education for my school per request of my principal. This is a solid 3 star book, and I'll tell you why. The beginning was good, but toward the end, it started to feel too fluffy. I would have liked to see some real challenges overcome through being positive and patient. I mean, it's likely I missed the point.

I've always considered myself a positive person and a great many of those rules are applicable in life as well as within my faith. I think a true cynic would get nothing from this book, but I still agree with the premise.

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Book Review: Still Life by Louise Penny

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like my review is probably NOT the most accurate because mysteries are generally not my cup of tea, however, Still Life is the exception. Still Life is like a strong cup of Earl Grey with just enough kick and a little sugar thrown into the mix.

The beginning was slow. I'll tell you that right off, but so many first novels in series are slow. The world, characters, and environment have to be set up, understandably. Once you get past the set-up, however, there is no turning back.

The characters are flawed and beautiful. It is quite rare that one finds a novel with characters who are so inherently human that you understand them, even to the point of committing murder. More than anything else, however, Still Life is about relationships. There are breathtaking and sometimes poignant romantic relationships, complex mentor/mentee relationships, and relationships among friends and neighbors in a small town. There are quirky and enigmatic side characters whose stories I so DESPERATELY want to know!

On a technical note, there were some grammatical errors and typos, but Louise Penny's style makes them almost unnoticeable. She switches seamlessly from one perspective to another- sometimes with as many as three or four perspectives on one page. It makes for a fast-paced read.

I will continue this series because I've fallen in love with Three Pines (and who doesn't have at least a little crush on Jean Guy Beauvoir?)




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Book Review: Book Love

The Book Hacker is back! Sorry for my temporary absence. In the past few months, I've experienced a break-up, got a new (and AMAZING) job, relocated my entire life, and attempted to adjust to all of it.

I'm so excited that this is my first book to review since my sabbatical. I highly recommend it!


Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers by Penny Kittle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've only been on the teacher side of the desk for four years, but I'm thoroughly convinced that this idea is what's going to change education. It would have changed my education for sure. Penny Kittle clearly knows the students of today.

Not only does she enlighten on her philosophy, but she also elaborates on practical ways educators could apply this in the classroom. My whole classroom format will change because I read this book and I believe my students will be better for it.

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Teaser Tuesday: Not a Drop to Drink

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!


Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From Chapter Twelve of Mindy McGinnis's Not a Drop to Drink: 

In the dark field, it felt to Lynn like predators 

would see Lucy not only as the easiest target 

but also as Lynn's weakness as well. 

She hoped Lucy could feel the affection 

coursing through her fingers, 

even though the grip on her tiny wrist was iron. 

As I've mentioned before on Twitter, but not on here, I am SO excited about this novel! I got to visit the Dark Days panel at ATBF a couple weeks ago and let me tell you, Mindy McGinnis is incredibly charming and an absolute delight in person. Her dark YA novel sounds like one I can really sink my teeth into. I just got it from Amazon today, so I'll let you know how it goes!

My current thoughts.

Book Review: Peter Pan

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read this before but it's been ages. I love the tale of Peter Pan and Wendy, of the Lost Boys and poor, arrogant Captain Hook, and reading it again via audio certainly gave me a new appreciation for the Boy Who Will Never Grow Up and the Girl Who Wanted to Grow Up.

It's a beautiful story, and the audio, narrated by Jim Dale who also read the Harry Potter audio books, is breathtaking. I wish I had heard this before I read it in book form because it truly is one of those books made to be read aloud. Jim Dale does every single voice differently and is able to capture these personalities with skill and imagination.

Reading this is truly like a return to childhood, to a self you forgot you knew.

Just like Peter, this book awaits children and adults everywhere who may have forgotten the beauty of imagination and the power of hope and joy.

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Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know other reviewers have used words such as "blase" (which, to be fair, is quite 'blase' in and of itself) to describe this novel, but let's get down to the nitty gritty of it all. I know it's the "hip" thing to not like the books everybody else is reading and, honestly, before I picked up one of John Green's novels (this is my first, but NOT my last) I figured he had to be overrated.

I. Was. Wrong.

Write that in your datebooks because I don't say it often, but I was very wrong in my prejudgment of this novel.

Pros:
The characters are charming, poignant, and painfully real. In the face of tragedies too huge for most adults to experience with a smile, they manage to insert light, carefree, intellectual humor. I laughed as much as I cried in this novel, and let me tell you, that's saying something. Green does not romanticize the struggle with cancer, but rather gets deeper into the fact that no matter how old a person is, he or she has an identity. No matter what their struggle, they have a sense of humor and the ability to be a beautiful soul. The love story here is one of the truest and greatest I've ever read, perhaps because of the short time frame, perhaps because of the circumstances. I don't know. Either way, it's a book I will use in my classroom and recommend to anyone I meet.

Cons:
... I can't really think of any, unless you include massive emotional upheaval and tear-wrenching catharsis.

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Book Review: Where the Stars Still Shine

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Firstly, I really liked this book. I will probably read it again and I will DEFINITELY use it in my classroom. That being said, there were some weak spots.

Pros: Excellent character development and story arc within a relatively short period of time. The main character experienced major changes from the beginning to the end of the story and showed maturity and growth. Actually, all of the major characters are surprisingly well developed. The imagery Doller uses is phenomenal. She uses lovely and interesting metaphors in her descriptions. It also includes such a beautiful and realistic representation of mental illness that is severely lacking in YA literature. I also love the big crazy Greek family!

Cons: There were some instances where authenticity was an issue for me. I felt like some of Callie's reactions were unrealistic. It seemed to me like she would be the kind of person to push back more during certain instances where in the book she passively went along with it, but at the same time, I understand why she didn't.

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Apologies...

Ok. So I lied. I didn't post every day this week. ...

For the Cumbercookie followers out there, here is a full fledged, highly organized, and well-thought-out apology delivered by the oh-so-lovely Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes:

I got lost in a book or two. And I think I might be getting sick and needing extra-ridiculous amounts of sleep.

Also, I got up to 2,500 words in my novel!  

YAY!

Now only about 78,000 more to go! Jeez-a-loo

Anyway, I'm sorry. Expect more and better posts this week!

Austin Teen Book Festival 2013 or #ATBF13

This weekend consisted of so many books which will be reviewed sometime in the near future. I know. I feel like I always say, "I'll get to it," but I will. Promise.

My bookish girl friends and I headed to Austin this weekend (all of us childless adults, mind you) for the Austin Teen Book Festival and it was AMAZING! We had absolutely the best time and got to see/meet some great authors who gave us advice on writing, publishing, etc.

Honestly, I'd forgotten what that looked like.

So many nerdy people in nerdy t-shirts! So much fangirling!

ALL THE BOOKS!

 I repeat,

 ALL. THE. BOOKS!

I will write a new post later this week complete with images and snippets of what happened.

Expect an update each day!

Book Review: Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this, book, but having been a huge fan of the movie I was slightly disappointed in some areas, but impressed in others. I like Bridget, but at times her whining and incompetence were irritating. I like Daniel much more in this one. Mark, of course... Well, I liked the film version because of Colin Firth (I mean come ON!) And Bridget's mom was developed so much better in the book! It was an all around pleasing read, light-hearted and silly.

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Book Review: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is really a 4.5, but either way, it was an exciting read! I've always loved Greek mythology, and it is woven into every aspect if this story! I know I was late jumping on the bandwagon, but I'm so glad I did. I'm definitely a fan of the demigods and their adventures.

Percy is a great and magical hero; a truly exciting coming-of-age story!

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Book Review: Can You Keep A Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Sophie Kinsella! Her heroines are relatable without being overly incompetent and irritating. I wasn't the biggest fan of Jack, but Emma felt like my BFF. Loved it! Definitely going to re-read!

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Book Review: Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was recommended this book by a friend, and it is of the hard science fiction variety. While it was an easy read, it dealt with strong and controversial topics. If you are somebody who generally goes for this sort of thing, you'll probably find it highly enjoyable. Militaristic propaganda abounds, and the battle scenes (though few and far-between) are riveting. The main character adds just enough humanity to make this feel real.

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Book Review: Board Stiff

Board Stiff by Kendel Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I. Love. This. Book!

With her debut novel, Kendel Lynn introduces us to the spunky, albeit unlucky board-director-turned-private-investigator Elli Lisbon, for whom Murphy's Law is a daily plague. She is smart, though, and her guts get her into and out of many a tangle. While mysteries are generally not my cup of tea, I am a huge fan of this novel and now the entire genre and I want to devour them all! The writing is intelligent, the wit quick, and the humor rampant.

Read it.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

This a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is books dealing with tough subjects including but not limited to suicide, depression, eating disorders, drug use, etc. 

In other words, books that make my face do this.

1.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky-

I remember reading this when I was in high school and I loved it. Chbosky captures teen-hood perfectly. At least, teen-hood as I knew it. You've seen me post about Perks before. I've read it more than any other book except the Harry Potter series.  It also has great music. If you never have, READ THIS BOOK.

Topics include: depression, suicide, drug-use, homosexuality, homophobia

2.  The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

While this is technically a short story, I’m including it. It is also, for all intents and purposes, a public service announcement about women’s health issues, but I digress. The protagonist deals with post-partum depression using methods men came up with in the 1920s, including sitting in bed, not lifting a finger, etc. Eventually, this drives her insane. While it is a humorous account, Wallpaper really speaks to issues women dealt with at the time. 

Topics: women’s health, depression, mania

3.  The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman

This is a play about two women who run a school. A little girl gets in trouble at the school and makes up a story about the women being lesbians and how all of their lives are ruined after that.  There is also a great film starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. 

Topics: the power of lies, truth, identity

4.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

This is a book we often teach in high school because the students care so greatly about the character. It is about a girl who experiences something just before her first year of high school and then sinks into a depression in which she loses all her friends and disconnects with her family. 

Topics: Depression, anxiety, sexuality, bullying, rape

5.  The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Contrary to the poorly-made Lifetime movie, the novel that inspired it is highly unsettling and brilliant. Two students who are in love decide to kill themselves. One survives, the other does not, and he gets blamed for her death. The tricky thing? The parents are friends. The students had been friends their whole lives. 

Topics touched on are: suicide, depression, rape

6.  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A man loves a woman for five years and builds his whole life around the hope that they’ll be together. She loves her cheating, old-money having husband,, but decides to have a fling anyway. 

Topics: adultery, murder, alcoholism

7.  Night by Eli Wiesel

This true to life account from Wiesel about concentration camps during WWII will break your heart. There is so much truth and so much pain packed into a tiny story.  

Topics: war, death, racism

8.  Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

This is about middle-school age book about a girl going on a road trip with her family. She tells the story of her friend Phoebe who, in turn, tells the reader about our protagonist and all she’s been through. 

Topics: death, divorce

9.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It is about a girl who loses her family during WWII and gains another. So much death and pain and growth. LOVE this book.

Topics: war, death, racism

10. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Personally, I don’t think we have enough books written by Native American authors about their real life experiences. In this novel, the protagonist deals with wanting a future in an environment that expects him to fail. 

Topics: bullying, alcoholism, bulimia, gang violence