I really like Tiffany Jackson- she is down to earth and you can tell she is writing to tell a story that all should hear. And I truly loved reading this story, at least, the premise of it. I got very confused with the different times, which on the surface was fairly clever and outside the box writing, but I still got confused. And while the story was poignant- about the perils of parental drug and alcohol abuse, which is often coupled with child abuse, the end was just odd for me. I feel like the story could have been told just as well without the "twist". However, as said, the book was still a good read that made me laugh and broke my heart. That's what makes a book good.
3/5 stars
I really like Tiffany Jackson- she is down to earth and you can tell she is writing to tell a story that all should hear. And I truly loved reading this story, at least, the premise of it. I got very confused with the different times, which on the surface was fairly clever and outside the box writing, but I still got confused. And while the story was poignant- about the perils of parental drug and alcohol abuse, which is often coupled with child abuse, the end was just odd for me. I feel like the story could have been told just as well without the "twist". However, as said, the book was still a good read that made me laugh and broke my heart. That's what makes a book good.
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4/5 stars
For a high school book, I thought this one was perfect for those teens that like angst, but not too much angst. There was light mystery, love, and grief mixed up into a cute story about a girl who is dealing with the death of her sister. The only thing that seemed kind of like plastic were her parents. They were included in the story, though, which was a nice change in many YA books. It was also one of those books that seemed to mix up quite a few different issues in life, but it didn't feel like Ms. Israel was trying to push every agenda in a high school world. Definitely one for our high school shelves! 5/5 stars
You have to listen to it. I loved listening to Serial Podcast and this is very similar. No twists or turns that were unexpected, but it was enjoyable to watch the other characters in the book figure things out. There has to be a second one. I will make it a priority to listen to when it comes out. 4/5 stars Not knowing a whole lot about Charles Dickens, this was completely enjoyable. From the author's note at the back, there were several parts that were taken from a very fictional point of view, and with some of the characters, it is completely understood. For a Christmas book, it was fun to start the season with this book, and I'll admit, it does kind of want me to read some of Dicken's books. I'm not really a fan of his writing (they are far too smart for me), but I will maybe try if I have a chance. Probably not, though. I may wait until the Muppets make a version of David Copperfield or something, first. But I digress- the book itself was enjoyable. I internally giggled at some parts, and I internally cringed in sadness. Nothing to elicit outward feelings, but that's just me. We learn of the family of Charles, his financial woes, and hence the creation of the literary motif of Christmas. 4/5 stars This book is good when you realize that it is written for Young Adults and when you don't compare it to Ready Player One. And, I have to say, the ethical dilemma in this book at the end truly had me thinking. Set in the future, the reader experiences the economical impact of virtual life vs. real life. The readers also experiences what determines a person to be considered "good" or "bad". No huge surprises for me, but pretty entertaining nonetheless. I'm sure the 2nd book will be just as good, as Marie Lu has never disappointed me (ok, I only read one other book, but it was good, too.) 3/5 stars Is it ok to not like any of the characters in a book? I'm not talking about a character that you hate so much that you have to find out what happens (Enter Title Here was a perfect example). I'm talking about characters that you can't help but roll your eyes and think, "Seriously? I doubt I would truly want to know this person in any way, shape, or form." But then again, someone apparently saw the potential and did a movie which from the trailer looks pretty good. Had a book club on this book. No discussion questions, and it was a pretty lame discussion. What do you talk about? This lady who has a very unhealthy need for social and male attention, another woman who doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks about them but suddenly turns maternal with her son, and a husband who truly has no idea what just hit him. He just sits there, waiting for someone to tell him what to do, then doesn't do it. So there you have it. I will watch the movie, and maybe I will have a different opinion after the movie. 2.5/5 stars More a 2.5, sort of a right-in-the-middle type of book. There were some good themes- friendship, be nice to people, don't mess with dark magic. It will be an ok addition to our library, but it isn't one that I personally will jump up and say, "Yes! I love the book where the dead girls all go zombie like in Walmart at 2:00 in the morning". But if that sentence just made you want to read the book, then go for it. 3/5 stars
Have you ever had a book where you felt like you really didn't like it, but if you admitted it, then you kind of felt like a jerk because of the content? Yeah, that was this book for me. I truly appreciated the fact that it was centered on different American Indians living today, knowing how their ancestry is still relevant in this day and age. But it was hard to understand with all the different characters. And it was dark and depressing (which may have been the point). I can say, however, that the book brought to light some issues that have been largely ignored or misunderstood for at least my lifetime. And, I liked how it was centered around a Powwow, which are pretty fun. I enjoyed the one I went to when I lived in Albuquerque. But it was still a sad ending. |
AuthorI'm a high school librarian. I love to read. Really. Love. To. Read. Archives
December 2023
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