American Street

American Street

Ibi Zoboi

ISBN:  9780062473042

A coworker of mine is starting a Young @ Heart book club, focusing on titles that appeal to readers who are, obviously, young at heart.  While many of the titles are young adult, not all of them are.  The characters, however, are all young adults facing a variety of challenges and experiences.  This title is scheduled as their first selection.

Summary

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola must figure out what her version of the American dream will look like now that she is facing a new life in America without her mother.  Recently immigrated from Haiti, Fabiola struggles to fit in with her rambunctious American cousins, understand the culture of Detroit, explore a new romance, and retain her Haitian and vodou roots.  As she finds herself moving deeper into her new reality, she quickly realizes that freedom is not free, and she must find out what she really wants.

What I Liked

I loved that this book integrated elements of Fabiola’s Haitian and vodou roots in a realistic, respectful way.  Not only are Fabiola’s beliefs an important part of her life and rher decisions, they are described with beautiful detail and realism.  The author does an excellent job of blending both Fabiola’s home culture and her new American surroundings while being respectful of both.  Throughout the story, the reader clearly feels the tension of trying to reconcile two very different worlds to create an individual dream.

What I Didn’t Like

I’ll admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve read a young adult book, so it took me a while to get into the dialogue and slang that was used by the characters.  While I was still trying to figure out the “voices” of the characters, I had a hard time getting into the story.  I also didn’t really care for the stories of the different characters that were dropped into the overall plot.  While I appreciated the background that they provided about different characters, as a whole, I found them a little disruptive and hard to reconcile with the rest of the writing.

Overall Feeling

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite read.  As a young adult book, it’s a fairly quick read once you get into the story.  The story does do a great job of making you think about the cost of your dreams and what you would be willing to sacrifice for your family.  It’s also an interesting look at different cultures and how they come together to make up individuals.  The story raises important questions, but for me, they were sometimes lost in the writing.  I’d recommend reading it as a good coming of age story that forces you to think about the issues impacting families today.

Mountain Dog

Mountain Dog

Margarita Engle, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov

ISBN:  9780805095166

I started out reading all of the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees with the best intentions.  Summer reading derailed part of the reading, and now, our copies of the books are almost always checked out.  Which reminds me…I need to start on the 2016-2017 list earlier (maybe right away), although I am still going to try and read all of this year’s nominees.  Anyway, my most recent read:  Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.  Of all the books I’ve read so far, this one generated some of the most complex emotions.  I alternately loved and hated it, but it’s definitely one not to miss.

Summary

When Tony’s mother is sent to jail for dog fighting, he goes to live with a great uncle he didn’t even know he had.  He is so used to fear and anger from his old life that he is very hesitant of this new one, made even harder because there is nothing in common between the two worlds.  With the patience of his uncle and his uncle’s search-and-rescue dog, Gabe, Tony slowly learns that there is good to be found in the world, often in unexpected places.

What I Liked

This book has a beautiful plot.  Tony’s story is heartbreaking, and yet all too realistic.  As I read, I couldn’t help but think of how many Tony’s might be out there without a loving uncle to save them.  I also loved the use of two perspectives:  both that of Tony and of Gabe.  While Tony’s segments teach us about his struggles to embrace his new life and to find trust and love again, Gabe’s narration provides us deeper insight into the complexity of this struggle.  Gabe’s simple happiness provides the perfect foil to Tony’s emotional turmoil, and through his dedication to loving Tony and proving that happiness exists, we can easily see Tony begin to open his heart again.  What I think I loved best about this book is that the emotions are raw and real.  Yes, there is happiness and love.  But there is also anger, and fear, and resentment.  Engle does not shy away from any emotion, and has a more realistic, meaningful story because of it.

What I Didn’t Like

At first, I wasn’t thrilled that this book was written entirely in free-verse poetry.  I’m not sure exactly what I expected, but from the book’s summary and even the cover, I guess I was anticipating action-packed chapters.  Which, to be fair, this book does provide.  While I initially thought that having the book written in such a poetic format did a disservice to its plot, in reality, I think it provided for a sense of drama and intrigue that focused on the emotions in a way that more traditional writing might not have allowed.  While it did take some getting used to, I didn’t find reading poetry to be nearly as distracting as I thought it would be.  My only other complaint would be with Gabe’s chapters.  While I love his as a foil for Tony’s emotions, at times I thought that he was included too often and without offering anything additional to the plot, as though he were merely repeating ideas from previous chapters.

Overall Feeling

When I started reading this book, I thought that I would hate it.  By the time I finished reading it, I loved it.  It was actually one of my favorite titles that I’ve read from the list so far.  This book has it all:  emotion, character, drama, and intrigue.  It addresses hard topics fairly, but without shying away from the realities of the situations.  It forces you to think, and, more importantly, to feel Tony’s story as you read it.  I will, however, admit that this book isn’t for everyone.  The poetic writing style may be a turn-off for some readers and discourage them from fully enjoying the text.  I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or animal stories.  However, given the complexity of the emotions described and some of the situations Tony encounters, I would recommend this title to the older end of the Bluebonnet audience from a maturity standpoint.  Still, this is one you absolutely MUST read from this year’s list.

The Vanishing Coin

The Vanishing Coin

Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane; illustrated by Eric Wight

ISBN:  9781250029140

In the latest round of Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees, it’s time for another chapter book.  Due up:  The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan (with assistance from Magician Mike Lane).  Once again, this book is the first in a series.  The book reads quickly (I was able to finish it in a day), but overall, I did not find it to be on the same level as the other nominees.  While billed as a chapter book, I found the text to simple, the story line too simplistic, and the character development too flat to be on par with the other chapter books that I’ve read so far.

Summary

Mike Weiss has just started fourth grade, and despite his best efforts, the school year is turning out to be as terrible as every year before it.  He’s terrible at staying focused and on task, and, much to his dismay, is in the principal’s office within the first week of school.  Added to his problems, his classmate Jackson is a grade-A bully, and, due to his parents’ new friendship with the neighbors, he has to spend his afternoons with the somewhat nerdy, definitely female Nora.  Just when it seems that all hope for the year is lost, Nora and Mike stumble upon The White Rabbit, a hidden magic shop in a local shopping center.  Has Mike finally discovered something that he can be good at?

What I Liked

Initially, Mike presented as a very likable character, a fourth-grade boy struggling with attention problems and poor academics.  However, given the brevity of the story, Mike as a character is never fully developed.  The author touches briefly on his struggles in school, and his frustration at always letting those around him down, but these feelings are not fully explored.  Also, I enjoyed the inclusion of the magic tricks that Mike was learning, since it gave the reader a chance to practice magic as well and learn something while reading.  However, I didn’t like that they appeared in the middle of the chapters as Mike was practicing them.  I found them distracting, and think they would have been better served somewhere else in the text.

What I Didn’t Like

Even though this book was easy to read, I just couldn’t get into the story.  I felt like character development fell short, the plot line was lacking, and the book ended abruptly.  Even though I read this book knowing it was the first book in a series, I expected some conclusions by the end of the book.  However, it ends as if there are more chapters to read, and there is no plot resolution for any of the issues presented.  Readers will have to read the second book if they want to know what happens with Mike and Nora.  While the language is simple and straightforward, I found it too easy to read as a chapter book.  There was nothing to challenge me while reading.  Although the ideas of struggling with what you are good at and disappointing others are good, they lack development to fully explore the issues.  While Mike is a fourth-grade student, the book in no way appeals to a fourth grade audience.

Overall Feeling

While this story may appeal to some readers, as a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award, it falls short.  The story and its writing and too simplistic to put it on par with the other nominees.  The book, while enjoyable, will not hold the attention or interest of an older audience, and lacks the appeal of some of the picture book titles on the list.  Reading the sequel will be a requirement to anyone who hopes for plot resolution, so I don’t recommend this title for anyone who is looking for a one-and-done read.  I would recommend this book for younger readers and reluctant readers who need something simple and to the point.  An interest in magic is also a must to make this novel more appealing to readers.

Sky Jumpers

Sky Jumpers

Peggy Eddleman

ISBN:  9780307981271

The latest round in my quest to read the Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees was another chapter book, Sky Jumpers.  From the cover, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the book, which happens to be the author’s debut novel and apparently the first in a series.  While the book was a good read, and enjoyable, I have to say that I didn’t really find anything particularly original or amazing about the book that made it stand out from the other nominees.  However, if you don’t read it, you are missing out on a good book.

Summary

Hope lives White Rock, a little town in a crater formed by the noxious green bombs of World War III.  The war, and its bombs, changed many things about the world, from the way that elements interact to the creation of the Bomb’s Breath, a dense cloud with air that is impossible to breath.  Because the war decimated everything, the town must now invent what it needs to survive.  Each year, an inventions contest determines who has created the best invention to improve their way of life.  The only problem is that Hope is, well, hopeless at inventing.  She’s good at adventure and taking risks, neither of which her town supports.  Just when Hope feels like there is nothing more she can do for her town, disaster strikes.  Hope may be the only person who is able to save the town from certain destruction, but is she brave enough to take on this risk?

What I Liked

I liked the overall moral of this story.  Overall, it teaches you that you don’t have to be good at the same things as everyone else to be a useful member of a team.  The story is engaging and fast-paced – just when Hope and her friends overcome one obstacle, something else arises.  Hope is someone identifiable and yet heroic.  It is easy for the reader to sympathize with her struggles, as we’ve all had things that we aren’t good at, and moments when we feel like we’ve let down the team.  The plot is adventurous and yet believable, and forces the reader to think about actions and their consequences.  The alternate setting also raises subtle questions about how our decisions today will impact our future.

What I Didn’t Like

Overall, while the book was enjoyable, I didn’t find the plot to be particularly original.  Having tasks assigned to characters to better the community seemed reminiscent of The Giver.  While the plot was clearly its own story, in many parts it seemed very intuitive as to what would happen next based on the type of story.  I also didn’t like that while Hope started out as her own character, strong and independent, it seemed for much of the story that she was hopeless without the help of her male counterparts.  She couldn’t save the town on her own – she had to have two men travel with her to assist her.  Ultimately, though, Hope is the real reason for the story’s conclusion, and in the final chapters is able to stand alone as the powerful character I hoped she would be.  Also, while I enjoyed the alternate setting, I didn’t feel like the effects of World War III, or the reasons leading up to the war, were clearly explained enough to provide context for the story.  While the effects of the green bombs are critical to the town and its survival, I would have like more history interwoven in the story to explain the current situation.

Overall Feeling

This is an enjoyable, adventurous story.  It raises compelling questions, although sometimes reading as an overdone stereotype of the adventure novel.  It is easy to follow and moves quickly, and readers will enjoy the constant action and obstacles.  For a book in a series, the title stands alone as a story, and allows you to feel some resolution to the plot, while still wondering about the future.  Most importantly, the book encourages you to be yourself to be the best help to your community, which is a powerful message.  I recommend this book for anyone who wants a fast-paced, adventurous, sometimes futuristic, and overall fun story.

Saving Lucas Biggs

Saving Lucas Biggs

Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

ISBN:  9780062274625

After breezing through a picture book on my lunch break for my last Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee, the next on the list was a chapter book.  But, with summer reading now behind us, I have much more free time available for reading, and I had no trouble reading Saving Lucas Biggs in just a few days.  And, while the book was different from anything I’ve read in a while, I have to say that it was quite good, and one that I’m happy to recommend to others.

Summary

When Margaret’s father is convicted of a crime that she knows he didn’t commit, she doesn’t know how to process it.  Worse, Judge Biggs, the notoriously heartless and evil company judge, has sentenced her father to death.  As the verdict is handed down, Margaret’s father begs her to repeat the foreswearing, although she doesn’t know why.  But when her best friend Charlie and his grandpa Josh propose an idea so crazy that it just might work, Margaret realizes that sometimes, promises must be broken.  Margaret must now go back in time to when Judge Biggs was just a boy, in the hopes of preventing the past that formed his present.  But history resists, and this is no easy task.  Will Margaret be able to change the past and save her father, or will her efforts be in vain?

What I Liked

While this book is a classic story of good versus evil, the way it is presented offers so much more.  Not only does Margaret learn about right and wrong, she learns about treasuring the moment, never giving up on those you love, and finding strength in each other when you have no strength on your own.  The story is told from three perspectives:  Margaret, Grandpa Josh (as a boy), and, at the very end of the book, Margaret’s best friend Charlie.  The alternating perspectives are not only interesting, and useful in speeding the plot, but they also allow a depth of understanding unavailable otherwise, by presenting the story from many sides.  The plot is multi-layered and beautiful.  While it is the story of Margaret and her hope to save her father, it is simultaneously the story of a downtrodden, abused community that finds strength in doing what is right, even when it is hard.

What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, there wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this book.  But, one thing that I didn’t like was the inclusion of a chapter in Charlie’s voice at the end of the book.  The story is really that of Margaret and Grandpa Josh, and while Charlie is important, I didn’t feel like his role in the story merited his own chapter told from his perspective.  Other than that, my only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more background about Margaret’s dad and his role at the company.  Since the company’s history is so integral to the story, it would have been interesting to have more insight into how Margaret’s family fit into the company overall.

Overall Feeling

This book has a stunning, heartfelt message.  It manages to encourage deep thought, while simultaneously lulling the reader into thinking it is just a story.  The triumph of good over evil is not guaranteed, and thus the story doesn’t come across as trite or overdone.  The obstacles against Margaret are realistic and compelling.  While it’s true that history resists, it’s even more true that humans resist, too.  The truth of the struggle lies in the Margaret and Grandpa Josh working through people, and realizing that humanity is much more complex than just changing a single moment.  While time travel is admittedly not something realistic, the story is written in such a way that the reader is completely certain of the ability to move through time.  More importantly, the story gives the reader a strong sense that any individual has the power to exact change in the world.  I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventure, realism, and the power of friendship.

Emily’s Blue Period

Emily’s Blue Period

Cathleen Daly

ISBN:  9781596434691

With summer reading, I have to admit that I’ve fallen behind in reading the Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees.  Luckily for me, the next book up on my list was a picture book, which I was able to read the other day during lunch.  I’m not sure what I expected going into this book, but I was definitely surprised by the depth of the topics covered.

Summary

Emily loves art and painting, and she loves the way it allows her to express herself.  When her life gets turned upside down, she finds that the art that she has been painting just doesn’t match her feelings.  With the help of her knowledge of art, and the encouragement of her art teacher, Emily finds the perfect the perfect medium to express herself and her mixed-up feelings.

What I Liked

While this book is a picture book, Daly doesn’t shy away from difficult topics.  Emily’s family life is mixed up, and her dad no longer lives at home.  The book explores not only the raw emotion of this change (Emily wants to paint only in blue to express her deep sadness), but also the complexity.  When faced with the task of painting her home, Emily must confront the fact that she has not one, but two homes.  Even Jack’s response to furniture shopping captures the tumultuous nature of this change.  Throughout, Daly sprinkles artistic facts and information, allowing the reader a glimpse not only into Emily’s mind and heart, but also into the wider subject of art.  Further, the simple illustrations subtly and expertly utilize color and dimension to further capture the emotions in the book, adding a secondary, powerful telling of the story.

What I Didn’t Like

I didn’t like the use of “chapters” in this book.  The book reads like a picture book, and while the chapters indicate the different phases and periods of Emily’s artistic life, I found that they made the text more choppy and segmented than it needed to be.  I think the story flowed enough on its own, without segments, and pausing throughout detracted from the overall message rather than adding to it.  Although I can appreciate the intent in this layout, I would have preferred the book without it.

Overall Feeling

This book is simultaneously simple and complex.  At the outset, it seems to be an exploration of artistic styles, but in truth, it is actually a complicated look into the heart and mind of a confused little girl in the midst of a life crisis.  The reader simultaneously learns about grief, emotions, and healing while also gaining further appreciate of art history.  The message of the book is powerful, yet written in such a way that you almost absorb it rather than consciously read it.  Overall, I recommend this book to anyone willing to explore difficult topics, and not afraid to look at their own emotions in the process.

Always, Abigail

Always, Abigail

Nancy J. Cavanaugh

ISBN:  9781402293030

This is the second chapter book that I’ve read from this year’s Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees, and I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than the first title that I read.  Although I have to admit, you can’t really consider this a chapter book when there aren’t specific chapters in it.  The book is more like a diary, with Abigail’s lists chronicling the majority of the events that happen.  The word bubbles and slight graphics used throughout also help break up the text into different segments, even if there is never a specific chapter.

Summary

Abigail Walters looks forward to sixth grade as the chance to really begin her life.  From the start, she has lofty aspirations of becoming a pompom girl, gaining the attention of boys, and finding popularity with the other “cool” kids.  But, despite her best ambitions, a place on the pompom squad is not in Abigail’s future, and she finds herself as a mere alternate with a lot of spare time on her hands.  Separated from her best friends Alli and Cami, Abigail finds herself not only not a pompom girl, but not even in the same homeroom or classes.  instead, she’s paired with school outcast Gabby Marco on Old Hawk’s friendly letter assignment.  As Abigail starts to realize that she has very little in common with AlliCam, she discovers that Gabby isn’t quite as bad as she first seemed.  But when Abigail suddenly gets a chance to be a permanent member of the pompoms, she finds she must choose between what she’s always wanted and what she’s starting to become.  Can she successfully navigate the middle school drama and find an answer she can live with?

What I Liked

Abigail’s quandary – choosing between popularity and what she feels like is the “right” thing to do – is something incredibly relevant.  Cavanaugh does a great job of describing Abigail’s inner battle in a way that makes sense to the audience.  Abigail can feel when she’s being a troll, without fully being able to articulate why she feels that way.  The struggle presented between doing the right thing and being accepted is something that most girls can easily identify with, even if they aren’t cheerleaders in their own right.  Unfortunately, it’s a topic that can be found in just about any school.  As Abigail starts to feel the distance between herself and AlliCam, the reader also starts to discover some of the politics and hard decisions of popularity.  Because Abigail has so many “normal” experiences – sleepovers, going out to eat with friends, being paired up for a class assignment – the reader is able to see her own situations and experiences in Abigail’s story.

What I Didn’t Like

Although Abigail’s list-making was often entertaining, I didn’t like that the book didn’t have clear divisions between parts.  Sometimes it was hard to tell how many days had passed or when events were supposed to have taken place.  Although the book covers the span of an entire year, it is unclear throughout the book how much time elapses between events.  Also, Abigail’s end choice seems very dramatic.  Instead of finding a way to successfully navigate the two worlds that she wants to inhabit, she is forced to choose between one or the other.  Popularity or Gabby – there is no middle ground.  While I appreciate that this makes Abigail’s decision more dramatic (and emphasizes the importance of making one’s own decisions and doing the right thing), it also seems somewhat unrealistic.  Why couldn’t Abigail be an influence for good with the pompom girls?  Having such a strict division between the “good” and the “bad” in the story undermined some of the overall message.  I think we all know that no one (not even Gabby Marco or AlliCam) is completely good or bad, but in the book, the characters are only given one dimension.  However, the choice between doing what is popular and doing what is right is the more important element of the story, and that is clearly and effectively conveyed.

Overall Feeling

This book is an enjoyable read, and definitely has a relevant and relatable subject.  Abigail, although sometimes obnoxiously simplistic in her thinking (and very genuinely girly in her approach to some topics), is an endearing character that the reader quickly comes to love.  Her struggle to discover herself, even if it means addressing the uglier parts of her character, is one that we can all relate to, and doing so in the context of middle school makes her even more realistic.  While I doubt that many boys will be interested in this particular title, I think the girls will definitely appreciate both the plot and the characters.  The almost-diary approach of Abigail’s list is also likely to appeal to even reluctant readers, because it breaks the text into small chunks that can be read quickly.  You can read as much or as little of the book in one sitting as you like, depending on how many lists you want to explore.  I recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore what it means to be a good friend.

The Night Gardener

The Night Gardener

Jonathan Auxier

ISBN:  9781419711442

This year, I have decided to read all of the nominees for the Texas Bluebonnet Award.  I’m curious as to what types of books are nominated each year, and I want to be able to make appropriate recommendations to parents and children who are interested in reading the necessary five books to vote.  I decided the easiest way to start was at the top of the list, which happens to be arranged alphabetically by author, and so this was my first read.

Summary

Kip and Molly are down-on-their-luck Irish orphans looking for a job, and more importantly, a warm bed and a hot meal.  Against the recommendation of everyone the come across, Molly has obtained employment as a housemaid for the Windsor family in their home in the sourwoods.  However, when they arrive, the mistress of the house tries to turn them away, telling them that it is no place for them.  Molly is insistent, however, and Mistress Windsor begrudgingly allows them to stay.  Molly and Kip soon realize that something is wrong with this family – the master and mistress, as well as their two children, seem to lose their color a little more each day.  At night, the sound of footsteps haunts the halls and no one is able to rest peacefully.  After exploring the house, Molly learns of the tree that it is built around – a magical tree that will grant the wishes of your heart.  In exchange, however, the tree demands a drop of receiver’s soul.  As Molly and Kip slowly watch the Windsor family fade, they realize that they must save themselves – and the family – from the horrible Night Gardener who tends the tree with the sweat of fear from their nightmares.  Are two children strong enough to break this curse?

What I Liked

This book undoubtedly has a powerful message about greed and lust.  Although it is not apparent at first, the further you get into the story, the more you begin to realize the consequences of selfish decisions and thinking only of yourself.  I also enjoyed that the characters’ struggles with right and wrong (and selfishness) were realistic.  The reader can identify that sometimes it is hard to turn away from what you most want in the world.  Auxier does a great job of making the struggle dynamic and realistic – and helping his character’s realize their own motivations and truest desires throughout the struggle.

What I Didn’t Like

First of all, I found this book the be very dark and disturbing.  While it was advertised as reminiscent of Washington Irving and Edgar Allen Poe, I expected a tamer version given the younger audiences.  However, that is not the case in this book.  The descriptions are vivid and often brutal – the snapping of bones, dripping of blood, and other elements are not disguised at all in the text.  I also found the context to be poorly explained.  Molly and Kip are Irish, and often revert to phrases common to their Irish brogue, yet most children would not recognize this phrasing or understand its use.  The fact that these are Irish children seeking work in England is important to understanding their situation, and yet it is not clearly explained to the reader.  Without some background knowledge of history, these elements are lost.

Overall Feeling

Overall, I am not a fan of fantasy or darker imagery, and I was not impressed with this book.  I found it to be too dark and twisted to be enjoyable, and I would personally be wary of recommending it wholeheartedly to children.  To appreciate the struggle of the plot, the reader must have a highly developed sense of good and evil and be willing to struggle with that throughout the text.  The vivid descriptions, as well as mature subject matter, make me wary of recommending the book to a younger audience.  Still, the message is worthwhile if you can look beyond the creepiness and darkness.  Overall, I would recommend this book for older readers who enjoy equal parts fantasy, fairy tale, and ghost story.

Since You’ve Been Gone

Since You’ve Been Gone

Morgan Matson

ISBN:  9781442435001

This is a book that I picked up at the Texas Library Association annual conference.  One of the great things about going to the conference, I discovered, was finding new authors or even new books by some of my favorite authors.  When I was sorting through the books that I picked up and trying to decide what to read first, I settled on this one for no particular reason.  Mostly it seemed like a good summer read on a good topic.  But, I was pleasantly surprised by this one.  Where I initially expected fluff and a quick, “fun” read, I found a novel with real substance.  I loved every minute of reading this book.

Summary

Emily has always been the quiet side of the dynamic duo of Sloane and Emily.  She’s quieter, more in the shadows, and content to just tag along on Sloane’s adventures.  And Sloane has plenty of adventures planned for this summer…until she’s just not there.  Emily can’t imagine a summer without Sloane.  But, Sloane has left something behind – a list of 13 tasks designed to pull Emily out of her comfort zone and into the world.  Emily’s not sure that she’s up for everything on the list, but she knows she has to do something.  Maybe this summer can still be the epic summer it was planned to be after all.

What I Liked

I loved that this book was real.  I could really relate to Emily.  Her struggles to come out of her comfort zone really rang true with me, and I could picture myself (or remember myself) facing similar challenges.  And, Emily didn’t always succeed the way that she wanted to.  The author avoided having the story work out perfectly all the time, because that’s just not realistic.  I also felt that the author really captured the raw emotions associated with losing someone.  It’s easy to think that death is the only way to lose someone, but distance and losing touch and other factors also count as loss.  As someone who’s lost people to a variety of factors, I could really relate with the emotions and complexity that the author portrayed.

What I Didn’t Like

Once again, this turned out to be one of the books that I absolutely loved.  The one thing that I found a little frustrating with this book was the use of the running playlists.  They seemed to be important to the characters and added to the plot, but at the same time, I wasn’t familiar with many of the songs and felt like I was missing some of the subtleties of the plot.  I felt like the playlists should have been better explained or perhaps not as many included in the story.  But, I loved at the end how the playlist was incorporated as part of the story.

Overall Feeling

This was a great book and one that I highly recommend reading.  I felt like this book really spoke to me and that I connected with the characters.  I loved that this book encouraged me to explore my own emotions and look critically at my own responses to situations.  Even though it was a work of fiction, I felt like this story really had a purpose and a message for the readers.  You can enjoy it just as a good story, but I think you do yourself a disservice.  This is a book meant to be enjoyed thoroughly, read repeatedly, and shared.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

ISBN:  9780142424179

After hearing so many good things about this book (and a good bit of curiosity seeing that they would be making it into a movie), I decided that I had to read this book.  And, I’ve found that recently there have been some really great young adult books on the market that even adults can enjoy.  So, I went out and picked up my copy.  Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I literally finished this book in two days. It was one of those books that I enjoyed so much, it felt like my “normal” life was interrupting when I couldn’t read.

Summary

Cancer patient Hazel Lancaster is living with a terminal diagnosis.  Although her therapy has been successful in giving her a few more years, there is no doubt that her case is incurable.  Hazel has come to terms with this, until she meets the fabulous Augustus Waters at her parent-mandated Cancer Kids Support Group.  Suddenly, life isn’t as black and white as it had seemed.  Where Hazel once had everything figured out, she’s now about to discover what a plot twist can be in real life.

What I Liked

I loved that this book was fluid, emotional, and real.  As a narrator, Hazel tells her story exactly the way that I would expect if she were a teenage girl sitting across from me.  There is sarcasm, there is confusion, and there is emotion, but it rarely seems forced.  I also love that this book doesn’t shy away from difficult issues – death and decisions are real in every page.  Not everything is an easy choice, and the good guys don’t always win.  But, the book is more powerful for that.

What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, it’s hard to find something that I didn’t like about this book.  It was well written, had excellent plot development, and addressed issues that many books won’t.  If I had any complaints, it would be that perhaps a few of the supplemental characters, like Kaitlyn, were not really developed in story.  But, being the love story of Hazel and Augustus, that’s also something that I’m willing to overlook.

Overall Feeling

This was one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time.  I love a book that inspires emotion in me, and this book definitely did this. I laughed, and I cried, and I lived every moment of it. I definitely put this book on a must-read list for anyone who appreciates a good love story, or even someone just looking to take a harder look at themselves and life.  It may be a work of fiction, but this book is one of those true gems that inspires us to look in and beyond ourselves.